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aclmart22 · 10 months ago

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Navigating Excellence: Unveiling the Best Tour & Travels Companies and Stock Brokers in Gurugram

1: Gurugram's Journey Awaits: Best Tour & Travels Companies

In the fast-paced life of Gurugram, where deadlines and targets define the routine, the need for rejuvenating getaways is paramount. Gurugram's residents seek the expertise of the best tour & travels companies to transform their travel dreams into unforgettable experiences. Let's explore the top choices, the best 9 tour & travels companies in Gurugram, where every journey becomes a seamless adventure.

2: Crafting Wanderlust: Criteria for the Best Tour & Travels Companies in Gurugram

Choosing the best tour & travels companies in Gurugram involves evaluating their offerings, customer reviews, itinerary options, and the ability to cater to diverse travel preferences. Gurugram's avid travelers seek companies that go beyond the ordinary, curating experiences that align with their wanderlust and provide a perfect blend of adventure and relaxation.

3: Gurugram's Travel Pioneers: Best 9 Tour & Travels Companies

1. **MakeMyTrip**

MakeMyTrip stands out as a travel giant, offering Gurugram's residents a comprehensive platform for booking flights, hotels, and holiday packages, ensuring a hassle-free travel experience.

2. **Cox & Kings**

Cox & Kings, with its legacy in travel, provides Gurugram's travelers with curated tours and experiences, spanning both domestic and international destinations.

3. **Thomas Cook**

Thomas Cook caters to Gurugram's travel enthusiasts with a range of travel packages, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience for those seeking leisure and adventure.

4. **SOTC**

SOTC combines personalized service with a diverse range of travel options, making it a preferred choice for Gurugram's residents planning vacations that cater to their specific preferences.

5. **Yatra**

Yatra, known for its user-friendly interface and competitive pricing, offers Gurugram's residents a platform to book flights, hotels, and holiday packages with ease.

6. **Travel Triangle**

Travel Triangle revolutionizes the way Gurugram plans vacations by connecting travelers with multiple agents, allowing them to customize and choose the best-suited travel package.

7. **Kesari Tours**

Kesari Tours, specializing in group tours, offers Gurugram's residents a chance to embark on memorable journeys with like-minded travelers, creating a sense of camaraderie.

8. **Club Mahindra Holidays**

Club Mahindra Holidays provides Gurugram's families with the opportunity to create lasting memories through vacation ownership, offering a variety of domestic and international resorts.

9. **Klook**

Klook, with its focus on unique and local experiences, appeals to Gurugram's adventure seekers, providing a platform to discover and book activities worldwide.

4: Navigating the Financial Seas: Best Stock Brokers in Gurugram

While Gurugram's residents embark on journeys around the globe, they also navigate the financial seas with aspirations of wealth creation. The city seeks the guidance of the best stock brokers to make informed investment decisions. Let's explore the top choices, the best stock broker in Gurugram, where financial aspirations meet strategic planning.

5: Precision in Investments: Criteria for the Best Stock Brokers in Gurugram

Selecting the best stock broker in Gurugram involves a meticulous evaluation of trading platforms, brokerage charges, research and analysis tools, and customer support. Gurugram's investors demand brokers who not only provide seamless trading experiences but also empower them with the knowledge and tools needed for successful investments.

6: Gurugram's Financial Architects: Best Stock Broker in Gurugram

1. **Zerodha**

Zerodha, with its user-friendly platform and low brokerage fees, is a favorite among Gurugram's investors, offering a seamless experience for both beginners and seasoned traders.

2. **Upstox**

Upstox, known for its low-cost trading and advanced trading tools, caters to Gurugram's residents seeking an efficient and cost-effective trading platform.

3. **Angel Broking**

Angel Broking, with its research-driven approach and diversified investment options, serves Gurugram's investors looking for comprehensive financial services.

4. **ICICI Direct**

ICICI Direct combines the trust of a renowned financial institution with a robust online trading platform, offering Gurugram's residents a comprehensive range of investment opportunities.

5. **HDFC Securities**

HDFC Securities, a reliable name in the financial sector, provides Gurugram's investors with a platform that seamlessly integrates trading and investment services.

6. **Kotak Securities**

Kotak Securities, with its diverse range of financial products and personalized services, caters to Gurugram's investors seeking a holistic approach to wealth management.

7. **Sharekhan**

Sharekhan's expertise in stock trading and research-based recommendations makes it a preferred choice among Gurugram's investors looking for tailored investment solutions.

8. **Motilal Oswal**

Motilal Oswal, known for its research-driven insights and a wide array of financial products, serves Gurugram's residents aspiring for strategic wealth creation.

9. **Axis Direct**

Axis Direct, with its user-friendly platform and a bouquet of investment options, resonates with Gurugram's investors seeking simplicity and diversity in their investment journey.

7: Sailing through Journeys and Investments: Gurugram's Dynamic Lifestyle

In Gurugram, where journeys around the world and investments in the financial markets define the dynamic lifestyle, the choices of the best tour & travels companies and stock brokers reflect the city's pursuit of excellence. Gurugram's residents seamlessly navigate between exploring new horizons and making strategic financial decisions, creating a lifestyle that is not just fast-paced but also well-informed and enriched by diverse experiences.

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just-a-ghost00 · 2 months ago

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The reason why they fell so hard.

Images found on Pinterest. Each spread consists of 5 cards. The messages will be written as if it were from the POV of the person you were asking about.

Group 1

9 of pentacles, queen of swords, 9 of swords, 5 of swords, the Sun

You're so freaking addictive. Every time you push me away, I can't help but to love you more. I was just raised that way. I was taught to work hard for what I wanted. I was taught that love should be deserved and was not to be messed with. I was taught that caring was fighting. Fighting for the sake of those you love. Fighting against those you love. I know, I was not raised in the best conditions. I know, I may not know what love is. But I know that I want you. And that, neither of us can deny. I fell for you because you never let me have my ways. You call me out and push me to be better. You never need me. You never wait for me. You just are. And you are perfect. Everything about you is rock solid. I don't have to worry whether you're gonna make it out. Because I know whether I'm here or not, you'll make it to the top. You did not wait for me to be who you are and that won't change. Whether I'm around or not, you're still gonna slay. And to know that someone so strong cares about me fills me with pride and desire. You got under my skin. Even if I wanted to push you away, I couldn't. You're everything I see. All I think about. Every decision I make is tainted in your color. Your warmth has penetrated through the cracks of my walls and now I cannot help but to seek for their comfort. I was alone. I was cold. I felt scared and misunderstood. I was tired. So exhausted of having to work so hard only to be met with silence. I struggled so hard to be where I am. The road to success is lonely, I've been told. Though I knew it, I couldn't help but to hope that I would find people along the way who would be there through thick and thin. But there were none. And then you came in. And everything changed. My sky is clearer because you chased the storm. How could I not fall for you after all?

Complementary information : this person is first and foremost attracted to your mindset as proven by the fair amount of sword cards in the spread. They may be a sapio sexual. If you tend to be considered the brains of your friend group, then this is one of the reasons why this person is head over heals for you. Another thing I'm strongly picking up on is sarcasm. You may not hold your tongue in presence of this person. You may tease them a lot or downright mock them when they're being rude or acting silly. There may not be a lot of people around this person that dare talk back to them. But you do. Somehow this shows this person that you are someone they can count on. Another important factor is your independence and your abundance. If you have your own business or you are a very active person, you make your own revenue and are able to provide for yourself and your family, then this person is in awe of your success. Even more so if you happen to be popular among your peers. You leave a very good impression on this person because of how serious and dedicated you are to yourself, your work, of how straightforward and fair you can be with others. You have a very strong moral code that gets this person weak in their knees. Your generosity may also touch them deeply. If we're talking about physical aspects of you, what stands out to me is that you may look very youthful and bright compared to other people. That may be true especially if you have a style that is a stark contrast from the rest of your circle. Or at least you're very different from what this person is used to. You represent some kind of extraordinary factor in their life. For instance, if this person has always lived in one city and in this place they only see very skinny and pale people but you are a bit chubby and of a darker skin tone, you will automatically strike this person right away. This person seems to be attracted to what is different from them. You represent the unknown, adventure. That may be very electrifying to them. There may be a bit of fetichism hiding under all that attraction.

Group 2

Ace of pentacles, Wheel of fortune, Magician, 3 of cups, 2 of cups

You took my breath away. The moment I met you, I knew I had to have you. You became as essential to me as oxygen in a matter of seconds. It's not just because of your beauty, your grace, the way you talk or cary yourself. It's about how perfect our meeting was, how in a heartbeat you became the answer to all of my prayers. I didn't know I needed you until I laid eyes on you and God do I feel thankful for being able to experience this. I feel so lucky being with you. It's like you're every one of my dreams come true. You're smart, patient, kind, loving, generous. You never bring me down. You never ask of me more than I can give. You never give me more than I can chew. You're always so fair and just. You just have that magic to you that I can explain. It's like someone has casted a spell and now all I can see and think of is you. To be honest, I wouldn't mind you casting a spell on me if that meant that I got to be with you for the rest of my life. You're so fun to be around. So chill. I just feel so good with you. Our dynamic is perfect. We match like to puzzle pieces. Made for each other. I'm sure fate has a lot to do with this. You were my destiny. I'm sure of it. Our meeting was no coincidence. I mean, you came in at the perfect time and the perfect place! If that's not destiny, I don't know what is.

Note from reader : this person's energy is so sweet omg they're just in awe of you. I get a very flirty energy from them. I got the message that they were especially drawn to your lips and hips. I heard "hips don't lie" lmao They think you're their Shakira. This person likes to tease apparently. For some I'm getting that you're a witch or you're into the occult arts like tarot and such. This person may tease you about this but they have nothing against it. It's just something they find hard to believe. But when they see you they can't help but to question everything they think they know. They legit think that you put a spell on them because of that. This person is aware that you use tarot as a way to manifest. They feel intrigued by that. You intrigue them more than you will ever know. I get a lot of sexual energy coming from this person, though the cards don't show it as much. However, I'm picking up on the fact that your person may be in a third party situation. Or at least, they were when you first met. What could have contributed to their attraction for you was the fact that you represented a way out.

Group 3

The Emperor, 3 of cups, The Empress, The Lovers, Judgement

Babe, can't you tell? How could I not fall for you? My princess. My love. You are gorgeous. Gorgeous in every way, as if God himself made sure that your creation would be a success. You are wife material. You are THE woman. Everything about you makes me go crazy. I want to protect and love you with all my might. You are my equal. My other half. The Yin to my Yang. Even if I wanted to hate you, I just couldn't. We're so good together. There isn't even a need to question or doubt it. It makes perfect sense to me that we should be together. You are an absolute queen. You are fierce, strong, independant. You value yourself without bringing others down. You stay true to your word and your principles. You've never been disrespectful to any body. You've built yourself up so brilliantly. You are smart and observant. You always know what to do, what to say, when to talk and when to remain silent. You are perfectly balanced and mature. Your life and accomplishments are the solid proof of your authenticity and worthiness. You are popular, admired among your peers. I always hear such good things about you. How could I not love every part of you? How could I disregard such a gorgeous being? That would be foolish of me. To me, our love is as obvious as the sun rising each moring and the moon shining in the night sky.

Note from reader : if this person hasn't asked you out already, I think they're going to do so soon. And let me tell you, they're no joke. They want to wife you up ASAP. My appologies to gentlemen and non binary people, as the channeled message mainly mentioned women. I feel like even though the message was written this way, the general content still applies to you. If you or this person is a Taurus or an Aries, this is your sign that you picked the right group. Gemini and Scorpio could also be relevant. What this person loves the most about you is your body. I'm hearing Ed Sheeran's song in my head. This person feels a strong magnetic pull towards you that they just cannot resist no matter how hard they try. They've expressed the fact that your personality and ethic is what got them going, but I think what drew them in first were your looks. I'm especially picking up on your curves overall and your sense of fasion. You looked very balanced to this person. And very mature. From first glance they thought "this person knows what they're doing". It's like they thought you purposefully matched certain clothes together because you knew how good it made you look. And looking at you they thought that you would make a good team. After all, this person is represented as the Emperor and you are the Empress. So they may be into fashion as well. Maybe they're the kind to wear couple outfits. And when they met you they immediately pictured you together because your style matched theirs.

#just-a-ghost #pick a card #pac reading #love pac #tarot reading

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navybrat817 · 2 months ago

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Hold You Tight: Part 10

Pairing: Club Owner!Bucky Barnes x Female Reader

Fic Summary: The owner of The 107th wants you to be his girl whether you like it or not.

Part 9 | Series Masterlist | Part 11

Chapter Summary: You're determined to have a good day today.

Chapter Word Count: Almost 4.4k

Chapter Warnings: DARK AU, tension, mild dirty talk, unease, possessiveness, inner turmoil, slight feels, Bucky Barnes (he's a warning, okay?), more warnings to come.

A/N: More Hold You Tight and thank you for your patience! Hope you lovelies continue to enjoy. Bucky edit by the beautiful @nixakimbo . ❤️ Beta read by the lovely @whisperlullaby , but any and all mistakes are my own. Divider by the talented @firefly-graphics . Please follow @navybrat817-sideblog new fics and notifications. Comments, reblogs, feedback are loved and appreciated!

The next day you cautiously looked around your bedroom as you opened your eyes. You expected to find Bucky in bed beside you since you wouldn’t have put it past him to sneak back into your place once you fell asleep. It was a relief to find yourself alone. It also surprised you that you slept so soundly, but the night before had mentally worn you out. Bucky and his crew were a lot to handle.

If you truly accepted that you were going to be Bucky’s girl, you’d have to get used to them.

“No,” you whispered. You weren’t going to accept it. Not today. Bucky may have taken a few hits at your inner armor, but you’d repair it. You couldn’t give in. But last night, thinking of asking him for your own space at his place, he was luring you in his direction. You had to tread carefully and not lose your resolve.

You got out of bed and went to retrieve the necklace that Bucky gifted you on your first “date”. The diamonds sparkled and reflected the light as you admired them. Beautiful, lavish, something you could easily lose if you weren’t careful. A gift for a pretty doll. Not for someone like you.

“Just buy me a collar and show the world that you own me,” you muttered.

Grabbing your phone, there were no new texts or calls from Bucky. You weren’t sure if that was a good or bad thing, but you’d take it as a small win that he hadn’t blown up your phone. Smiling to yourself, maybe you could have another small win today. An opportunity.

“Hey! I know it’s short notice, but are you free Saturday? Maybe we can do a small girls' day outside of the city if you aren’t busy with wedding prep.” You sent to Addison. “And I can’t wait to hear about The Terrace.”

It didn’t matter to you that Bucky had some sort of power in various parts of the city, more than you could possibly imagine. You were still your own woman and you wanted to spend time with your friends. After he had a hand in messing up your night with Addison, he owed you that. And the best part? If you went outside of the city, it meant you could have fun at a place he couldn’t touch.

Right?

“The Terrace was AMAZING! I can’t wait to tell you all about it. And are we sharing a brain? I was just getting ready to text you! How about The Winery at Hunter’s Cove? It’ll be fun!” Addison sent back.

You frowned at your phone. The Winery at Hunter’s Cove was beautiful and the perfect place to relax with a drink and good company. Reading that should’ve filled you with joy, but your shackles rose up. It didn’t feel right. Did Bucky or Nick or someone have anything to do with that?

After a second, you laughed. Your nerves were continuing to get the better of you. It wasn’t as if you could go the rest of your life with second guessing everything. It would drive you crazy.

“Just give me a time and place to meet and I’ll be there. Can’t wait!”

A bright smile on your face, you got ready for the day with a spring in your step. A spark of optimism lit within you and you let it spread as you set out your work clothes. You even sang to yourself in the shower and drew a smiley face in the fogged up mirror before you dressed yourself. It was going to be a great day.

“I’m walking on sunshine. Whoa-oh,” you sang as you opened the front door.

“And don’t it feel good,” you heard from the hallway.

“Shit!” Your heart pounded as Bucky stood there with an amused smile on his face. How long was he waiting there? Did he know you were leaving right now? “Bucky, what are you doing here?”

God forbid the man give you even half a day to breathe.

“I know I said I’d try to meet you for lunch, but I couldn’t wait. I thought it’d be nice to take you to work instead,” he said, his eyes still sparkling as he moved closer. An impeccable suit like always, but today he wore an aqua shirt. He was really leaning into the shirts that enhanced his eyes. “You’re in a chipper mood. That’s nice to see.”

You were in a bit of a chipper mood until now. No, you wouldn’t let him showing up put a damper on things. “Just determined to have a good day,” you explained, looking at his arm before you took it. “I’m actually glad you’re here,” you added. You did have to talk to him about Saturday and, well, whatever the future would bring.

“Yeah? I’m glad I’m here, too.” His eyes lit up as he glanced at you. He looked over the moon and you had to sweep your gaze down to avoid his stare. “Is it bad if I admit I stayed up way too late staring at your photo?” He smiled, leaning in like he was telling you a secret.

If you had to guess, he likely jerked off to your picture. How long would that keep him satisfied? His control had to be diminishing. “A picture of me is hardly a reason to lose any sleep.”

“Worth every second of lost sleep. I definitely need more pictures.” Your stomach dropped when his smile widened. “You know, the more I think about it, I kind of want to replace that painting in my office. Maybe it could be a photo of us or even just you? Or Steve could paint us! I know he’d love that.”

Guilt brewed within you since he sounded so enthusiastic and you would likely crush that mood, but you pushed that feeling aside. There was no reason for you to feel bad in the least. “So, I’m going out with my girlfriends on Saturday. Somewhere outside of the city,” you blurted out to change the subject, staring at the elevator door when the smile slipped off his face.

You were suddenly terrified of his reaction and you were about to step into a very small space with him. There would be no hiding. So much for treading carefully, but it was better in this case to just rip the bandaid off.

Bucky’s stare was almost impassive as you went into the elevator, which had your heart speeding up. “You’re going outside of the city?” His voice was soft, but had an edge that threatened to cut through you like a knife. “Without me?”

“It’s just a short girls trip. A bit of time with my friends. You understand, right?” Your voice cracked, your body tight with tension. “You and I didn’t have any plans, so maybe you can hang out with the guys.”

“I don’t want to hang out with them. I see them all the time,” he said, bringing his lips to your ear with a shaky breath. “I want to be with you.”

The air thickened, the elevator feeling smaller than usual as you considered his words. He didn’t sound upset that you wanted to go, but because you wanted to go without him. Sympathizing with his loneliness wouldn’t help your case, not when he manipulated things in his favor.

“I know this may not be easy, but you need to accept that I have friends, Bucky. That I had a life before you… showed up. It wasn’t much, but it was mine,” you said, not daring to turn your head and risk his lips touching yours. “It’s good for us to have things outside of each other. And may I remind you what you said on our first date? You said you wouldn’t stop me from spending time with my friends or having hobbies.”

Bucky almost seemed to need you and no one had ever needed you before. But he couldn’t completely depend on you for whatever it was he needed either. Relying on you too heavily wasn’t healthy. It wouldn’t just smother you, it would eventually destroy you both.

“I remember,” he said, his voice barely audible. “I just don’t know if it’s safe for you to be so far away from me for the time being. I think I’ve said I don’t even like you being in this building because my place is safer than yours. And if I haven’t, I’m telling you now.”

Worry crept into your face as you inched away a bit and faced him. “Why wouldn’t I be safe going out with my friends?”

His blue eyes narrowed, but there was no annoyance there. “Kotyonok, you may be innocent in some ways, but you aren’t naive or that forgetful. I told you last night that you need people looking out for you if you’re with me,” he said, your stomach sinking more. He was right. “And you must be aware that I have my hand in things outside of the club. You’ve seen some of the company I keep. Do you think everything we have was earned through honest, hard work?”

The men Bucky surrounded himself with lived in the gray. You couldn’t ignore obvious signs, like how Marc reacted to hearing his name. Bucky even treated your courting that way, breaking in and intimidating you. “It’s none of my business,” you said. The more you knew, the harder it would be to get away. “I haven’t even looked for anything about you online.”

“The harsh reality is that it’s going to become your business, at least it will to a certain extent. I can’t leave you in the dark, but I don’t want you fully exposed.” He sighed, suddenly looking tired. If you didn’t know any better, you’d say there was a hint of regret there. It disappeared quickly. “As far as looking online, you probably wouldn’t find much. We work hard to keep it that way. I don’t even have social media. Though if I did, it might just be photos of you and the two of us together.”

“So, you don’t want me to go out of the city for my safety?” You asked, stepping off the elevator. You wanted to believe that was his twisted reason for having you move in so soon and not because he wanted you close for his own selfish desires. Wasn’t it selfish though for dragging you into his world without so much as a warning or giving you a choice? “Do you really think people outside of your circle know we’re ‘together’ yet? You said it yourself, you don’t have social media and it isn’t like I’ve been in your life for that long.”

“As far as I know, no one is aware,” he said slowly. After what he did to John for merely insulting you, you prayed no one would be stupid enough to cross your path and try to cause you hurt or harm. “But I don’t know if I want to take the risk.”

“You wouldn’t be taking the risk. I would. And it isn't fair that you’d expect me to put my life on pause,” you argued, seeing Ray standing outside of the car. How the hell did they get a spot right in front of the building? “Ray, would you kindly tell your boss that I should go out with my friends on Saturday? Please?” You cut him a pleading look, needing this.

Ray blinked twice. “I’d rather not get involved in that quarrel,” he said, looking at his boss. “But perhaps if she really does want to go and you’re unable to accompany her, boss, someone could discreetly keep an eye on her.”

“Yes! That’s a great idea. Thank you, Ray,” you smiled before Bucky could interject. You wouldn’t normally agree to someone hovering nearby, but right now you could kiss Ray for the suggestion. “See? I get time with my friends and you don’t have to worry about my safety. Problem solved.” You even flashed him a soft smile for good measure.

You weren’t sure if it was your smile, the stare from his bodyguard, or the combination that made Bucky nod, but your heart soared. “I guess I’ll have to see if someone is free.” He let out a humorless laugh and raked a hand through his hair as Ray looked at his feet. “Using one of my men to sway me? You’re playing dirty. I’m impressed.”

“Or maybe I’m just learning how to play your game,” you said, ducking into the car with Bucky right behind you. The happy feeling was back in full force. Had Bucky not agreed, you would’ve been defiant and gone anyway. Who knew how that would’ve gone? This was a better compromise. For now.

“Ray really does have a soft spot for you,” Bucky said once the door was shut, taking your hand. “It would worry me if he wasn’t so loyal.”

“Worry about what exactly?” You asked.

“Him trying to get you away from me.” He smiled a bit, making you shift in your seat. Did he know you had tried to get Ray on your side? “But he isn’t a man to typically let his emotions drive him. He’s loyal.”

“He won’t try to get me away from you, Bucky. He knows you’re happier because I’m in your life and wouldn’t risk changing that,” you said, thinking back on your conversation with Ray. It wasn’t like you wanted to assure Bucky that you two would be together, but you also didn’t want his bodyguard on the man’s bad side indirectly because of you. Not when he watched out for you. “Maybe he isn’t a man driven by emotions, but I think he does care about your emotions.”

“Maybe,” he smiled softly as he kissed your hand, making you gasp when he gently nipped one of your knuckles. “There’s something else you want to say. I can feel it.”

You took a deep breath, steeling yourself. “If I move in with you, I need my own space.”

He looked surprised. Not entirely, but there was still a flicker there. “So, you’ve accepted that you’re moving in with me. I’m glad to hear that.”

“I said ‘if’, Bucky.” You had to emphasize that. “I’m not saying it’s going to happen, but you do need to give me some leeway if it does.”

His tone was calm, dare you say serene, when he asked, “And what exactly would your own space entail?”

“An area for me. Not for you, Ray, or anyone else. Just me,” you said. Nothing in your life felt sacred anymore. You needed your own sort of safe haven and a place to relax, even if it was in the prison he helped create. “That’s important to me and I won’t budge on that.”

“Okay. A space just for you if that’s what you want. I won't let anyone go in there,” he promised.

Your gaze was skeptical. Why was he being so agreeable? Well, agreeable to a point. “That would be really nice,” you said, your eyes shifting from suspicion to gratitude.

“But as far as sleeping arrangements, I want you in bed with me,” he said, his voice raspier as his gaze went to your legs. “It’s a shame you have to cover yourself up for work, but I’m looking forward to helping you out of your clothes. I wonder if the smell of those petals seeps through the fabric. I can’t wait to find out.”

“Bucky,” you whispered, his gaze telling you to part your thighs. You didn’t, even when he sighed.

“Sorry. I shouldn’t get us worked up and make you late for work,” he said, sounding anything but sorry before he reached for something beside him. At least he didn't push it further. “Before I forget.”

“What’s this?” You asked as he handed you a book.

“The one from the shop yesterday. You left it here last night.”

“Oh.” You were so eager to get out of the car that you had left it behind. There was also a small stack of books on the other seat you hadn’t noticed before. “And what are those?”

“I went back to the shop and got more from that same author,” he smiled, brushing his knuckles over your cheek. “You seemed to like the book you were reading and I don’t recall seeing any of those books at your place.”

The gesture took you by surprise. “How? The shop opens later and was closed by the time you brought me back last night.”

“They were kind enough to open a little earlier than usual for me,” he said.

You ran your hand over the spine and smiled before you could stop yourself. It was the kind of gift you wished for, books to line your shelf. “You didn't have to do that,” you said when you caught him staring. “But thank you.”

“You have such a beautiful smile,” he whispered, brushing his hand over your cheek again before he took out his phone. “And you just inspired me.”

“How did I do that?” You questioned, watching him quickly type a message. “And should I be scared?”

“I can’t spoil the surprise,” he winked, typing a bit more. “But I do have a plan and I think you’re going to like it.”

“We’ll see about that,” you said, your mind drifting to work. “I’m curious. You mentioned that the last flower your dad gave to your mom was a black dahlia. Was that her favorite flower?”

He paused before he put his phone away. “No. She loved alstroemerias.”

“The Peruvian Lily. Those are beautiful,” you smiled. His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “That’s one of the flowers I like to donate to the hospital because they have no fragrance, but still brighten up the room.”

“I know.” He swallowed, a shine in his eyes before he blinked a few times. “Yellow ones.”

Your eyes snapped to his face. “I donate a lot of flowers. It’s oddly specific that you know I donate yellow alstroemerias.”

“I told you I did my research on you,” he whispered.

“So, what? You got… hospital footage or something of me?” You felt your blood boil. How many boundaries did he cross, rules did he break? “I saw the look you gave Thor. You didn't want him to mention that, did you?”

His gloved hand curled a bit. “He was complimenting you, but I wasn't ready for that conversation. At least, not last night.”

“Why not?” You asked. Why did it matter?

“Because you already think I’m crazy,” he said. You didn’t deny that. “And what I tell you, you may either agree with me that fate brought you into my club and life or that I really am crazy.”

“I don’t know what that means,” you said. The grave look in his blue eyes gave you pause. The fond gazes and even the heated, intense ones, you were almost used to them. Sadness? That was something else.

“You’ll find out soon enough.” He nodded toward the window. “You should head into work.”

You didn’t realize the car stopped. Work would be a good distraction anyway. “I’ll get the books later.”

“And I’ll walk you to the door,” he offered.

Helping you out of the car like he did every other time, he guided you toward the flower shop with a possessive touch. “You know, you haven’t asked where I’m going on Saturday.”

“I’m sure I’ll get it out of you, especially if one of my men needs to be nearby. Maybe I can buy you a new outfit to wear,” he said, tracing a finger along your neck. “Or maybe a collar to show off while you tell your friends all about me.”

“A collar.” Your body went rigid, remembering what you muttered in your bedroom. “Why would you…”

“Maybe I’ll see you at lunch? I’d love to look around the shop.” He pressed a kiss to your forehead. “Have a good day and be good,” he added, opening the door and giving you a pat on your ass before you went inside.

You looked over your shoulder as he went back to the car. The first thing you were going to do when you got home was tear your place apart from hidden microphones or cameras. You should’ve done that the second he broke into your place. You live and you learn.

“And who is that handsome young man?” Mrs. Crandle asked from behind the counter.

You smiled as you turned toward your boss and the owner of the shop, one of the kindest people you had ever met. It was a good sign that she didn’t recognize Bucky. “Someone who thinks he’s my boyfriend,” you teased a little. You couldn’t burden her with the whole truth.

She raised an eyebrow. “Oh?” She knew you hadn’t dated in ages. “And what do you think?”

“I think he’s very determined to win me over,” you said, going to put your bag away.

“Let him!” She called after you.

“Maybe!” You called back.

As you went about your tasks, you pondered on what Bucky had to tell you and the anniversary Marc mentioned. It had to do with Bucky’s mom, it had to, but what did that have to do with you? Not every customer became registered in the system, but your team did a great job of keeping order history for deliveries, parties, and more. Nothing came up when you searched “Barnes”.

You tapped your finger against the keyboard before you straightened up. Hospital donations likely wouldn’t have a name saved since you weren’t usually given the patient names. You did, however, keep track of the dates. If you knew the range to check…

“Excuse me?” A deep timbre pulled your attention away.

You glanced up to find one of your regular customers towering over the counter. Blue eyes crinkled behind his glasses when he smiled, his dark curls adding to his boyish charm. For such a large and imposing man, he kept his shoulders hunched and voice gentle. Like he was trying to make himself look friendlier. “Clark, hi. Sorry about that,” you said, closing out your search screen. Mrs. Crandle was back in her office and you wouldn’t make her help him. “How are you today? A dozen red roses, right?”

Clark usually showed up once a month to get a dozen roses for his girlfriend. No more, no less. But the mention of his usual order made his smile disappear. “Actually, I don’t think I’ll be needing those today.” He took off his glasses to clean them when you set out the bouquet, though there wasn’t a spec of dirt on the lenses. “I, um… Well, I’m not in a relationship anymore. We broke up a couple of weeks ago.”

“Oh. I’m so sorry.” You felt terrible, especially since you weren’t sure what to say. It wasn’t your business regarding why things ended, but he always seemed so happy when he purchased the roses. “Are you okay?”

He put his glasses back on, his eyes holding a weight of sadness. “I’m sorry, too. And I’m not sure if I’m okay. Everything seemed fine and then it fell apart.” He sighed, looking around the shop. “I’m not even sure why I came here today.”

You felt for him. You really did. “Well, it could’ve been part of your monthly routine and you went on autopilot? Or you wanted to go somewhere familiar?” You suggested, looking around, too. “Or maybe you thought the bright atmosphere would help?”

He nodded after a moment. “It could be any of those things.” Scratching the back of his neck, he sadly chuckled. “It’s just an empty feeling being alone again, you know?”

“I do know. Emptiness can weigh a lot and it’s very lonely to walk alone. But that walk, no matter how long or short, makes us stronger. It gives us a chance to grow until we find someone to walk with us again. And when that happens, things will look much brighter.” You said, your heart heavy as you selected a couple of roses from the bouquet. “I’m sorry. You didn’t ask for my input and that’s probably the last thing you want to hear.”

“No, that’s… Thank you. You’ve always been really kind. Insightful.” He glanced down as you put the roses in his hand, his large hand closing around the stems. “What are these for?”

“I’m happy to help,” you smiled. “They’re for you. No charge.”

He gazed at you before he placed them back in your hand. “You take them.”

You weren’t sure why the gesture made you feel uncomfortable, but it did. Maybe it was because he was fresh out of a relationship. “Oh, no. I couldn’t. I’m surrounded by flowers,” you said, gesturing with your free hand. “You keep them. Or you could always give them a neighbor or someone who needs cheering up.”

“You sure you don’t want them?” He asked when you passed them back again. You pulled your hand away quickly, refusing to let it linger. “You really have been so kind to me whenever I’ve stopped in.”

“Well, you’re a great customer.” You also didn’t want to have to explain to Bucky that a customer tried to give you flowers. “Take them. I insist.”

Flashing you a warm smile, he relented. “Thanks,” he said, hesitating when he went to turn away. “Maybe I’ll see you around sometime?”

“I’m sure you’ll see me at the shop,” you said carefully. Unease filled you, which didn’t make sense. Clark was a regular customer who wanted nothing to do with you. But if he did have some sort of intention, you weren’t about to lead him on. “I hope things look up.”

Clark hesitated again before he pushed his glasses up and headed out of the shop without another word. You swallowed, staring at the remaining roses as if they would tell you what to do next. For now, you’d have to brace yourself for Bucky stopping by for lunch. And maybe you’d ask him if there were any devices hidden around your place and save you the trouble of tearing the rooms apart.

Though you had a feeling you weren’t going to like the answer.

Awful nice of Ray to suggest some leeway, wasn't it? Is Clark going to be a problem? What's Bucky going to think? Love and thanks for reading! ❤️

Masterlist ⚓ Bucky Barnes Masterlist ⚓ Ko-Fi

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chaoticace2005 · 9 months ago

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List of why the Radio Demon disappeared for 7 years:

1. His fight with Vox ended really badly and he needed to recover.

2. He went somewhere to acquire more power.

3. He had a mission to do because of his deal.

4. Vox confessed his love for Alastor. Alastor had no idea how to respond to this so he ghosted Vox for seven years. But Vox had access to cameras everywhere so the best way to ghost Vox is to ghost the city.

5. Met a wise old man who taught him the secrets to life, he had a training montage.

6. Took a gap year(s) to “find himself”

7. Extended tea party at Rosie’s

8. His shadow got pissed at him and decided to swallow him, sending him to a shadow dimension that he drifted in for seven years.

9. His friends from the other side finally caught up to him and he had to repay his debt

10. His tailor went on sabbatical and he couldn’t leave his place without the proper amount of drip so he had to wait for him to return.

11. There was a shortage of red hair dye, he had to wait for them to restock.

12. Someone took a photo of him with his tail out. He went on a mission to hunt them down and DESTROY them.

13. He went to the Hellmart to cause $50,000 in TV damages (Tomota vid reference)

14. He was busy making diss tracks for everyone he knows and lost track of time.

15. Susan beat him in a bake sale and he had to hide out of shame.

16. Honeymoon with his cane.

17. Fell into a coma

18. Found out about the Alastor-Body Pillow Vox had and then had to ensure they were never manufactured again.

19. He accidentally saw part of one of Angel’s pornos and was traumatized. He had to leave Pentagram City because everyone he went he saw his face.

20. Hung out with Lilith who dished tea about Lucifer.

21. Was told he was “outdated” so he took the time to educate himself on modern slang.

22. Tried to find an obedience trainer for cats.

23. He time traveled seven years into the future and just decided to run with it.

24. Alastor was killed. That’s not Alastor. That’s a shadow acting as him.

25. That’s not Alastor, that’s his twin brother.

26. Walked in on a role play session between a Vox and Valentino-Dressed-Up-Like-Alastor and needed to find a way to erase the memory.

27. Bonked his head. Woke up and thought his name was Bob, he lived a nice, happy life until he bonked his head again.

28. Fell through a portal and woke up in a dimension where his name was a bird named Crane who was a janitor in a world of King Fu and pandas.

29. Got access to the season 1 script so he could mentally prepare. He’s been rehearsing his lines and doing his best to make his performance as disturbing as possible.

30. Went to the dentist. When they tried to help him he ate them, so he had to find another dentist, who he also ate. This went on for a while.

31. Was run out of town by his dentist who got annoyed he kept dodging his appointments

32. Got relationship counseling for him and his shadow.

33. Was just out having a good time, partying, and consuming souls.

34. Went on a seven year long bender.

35. Rosie told him he was an “arrow” so he went to archery classes. Turns out she was wrong and archery really isn’t his forte.

#hazbin hotel #hazbin hotel memes #stupid hazbin hotel lists #alastor hazbin hotel #hazbin hotel alastor #alastor #staticradio #radiostatic #one sided #(Aka vox is a simp)#aroace alastor #radio demon

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solbaby7 · 11 months ago

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Masterlist

Last Updated: 10-30-24

REQUESTS OPEN — BLURB BAR

ACOTAR

One Shots

Rhysand

Psychological Warfare

While the Cats are Away, the Mice will Play

Put On A Show

Win You Over

Enchantress

Look What You Made Me Do

Temptress

Stuck Like Glue

Heat of the Moment

Azriel

A Guy Who Takes His Time [ part 2 ] completed

Run

Wanting You, Wanting Me

Tripping Over You [ part 2 ]

Make You Feel Something [ part 2 ] completed

Life of the Party

Tainted

Jolene

Still Your Best [ part 2 ] [ bonus ] completed

Hollow

Blurred Lines [ part 2 ] [ part 3 ] [part 4 ] completed

Teach Me [ part 2 ] completed

Maneater

Calypso part 2 coming soon

Drifting Away

Good Enough To Eat

Since You Have A Lover

En Cognito

Cassian

Take What You Need

Killing Me Softly [ part 2 ] completed

Angels Like You

I Dare You

Forbidden Fruit [ part 2 ]

Multi-Parts

Rhysand

shy!reader mini-series

summary: Poor Illyrian baby Rhys really needs a massage

[ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] completed

Azriel

summary: You wander somewhere you don't belong; don't get caught

[ 1 ] [ 2 ] part three coming soon

Cassian

summary: Cassian's been busy and you get his attention no matter how toxic the tactics may be

[ 1 ] [ 2 ] completed

BLURB BAR REQUESTS

[ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ] [ 9 ] [ 10 ]

[ 11 ] [ 12 ] [ 13 ] [ 14 ] [ 15 ] [ 16 ] [17] [ 18 ] [ 19 ] [ 20 ]

CRESCENT CITY

coming soon

The Fourth Wing

coming soon

#masterlist #acotar masterlist #acotar fics

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stayevildarling · 1 month ago

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Emily Prentiss x Reader- Breaking Point

A/N: I have just finished watching Season 9, Episode 14 and while watching, I kept thinking about this scenario with reader instead of JJ 🫶🏻

Prompt: The BAU had been working on a case for weeks, so close to finally catching an Unsub before he manages to take you. Emily returns from London as soon as she hears.

tw/tags: mention of unrequited love, mention of abduction, mention of torture, mention of blood, mention of weapons, mention of gunshots, mention of attempted sexual assault, angst/hurt/comfort

word count: 3.5k

taglist:

@lunaticwhittaker , @billiebeanhoward , @lanawinters-ily , @kenzbro , @minaslittleone , @httpfiftyshadesofgay @whitelotus00 , @ninaahelvar , @paulsonsratched , @vintagepaulson , @isle-of-earle , @grilledcheeseandguavajelly , @lucyintheskywithxanax , @fanfics4world , @mymiraclewitch , @hazard-to-myself , @awritersometimes , @wastdstime , @p1pecleanerwitheyes , @queen2234 , @ihartnat , @lifebyinez , @ahsatanizgay , @blu3dimples , @stepintomyworld

,,Go home Y/N'' your boss sighs as he notices you still working through files in the late hours of the night, finally some leads on the case the BAU had been working on for several weeks now, this one tougher than any case had been before. You glance at him, your eyes pleading with him but he doesn't budge, knowing you needed the rest, knowing you are essential to the team and needing you bright and early in the morning. ,,That's an order'' he suggests with a raised eyebrow, yet a smile on his face. ,,Okay'' you sigh, before collecting your things. ,,Good night Hotch'' you mumble as you head to the elevators, feeling the effects this case has had on your body and soul.

You had been part of the BAU for years, putting many criminals away but this had been unlike anything you had seen before, several murders of high rank people, either from law enforcement or the military, the team and you assuming this was something far above your paygrades but trying your best nevertheless. As you step into the bustling city, still busy despite it being the middle of the night, you begin making your way home, walking through the streets while glancing at your phone, staring at your home screen and smiling as you see the photo of Emily she had sent you from London months ago. You know you shouldn't have put it as your screensaver but you had missed her terribly, having seen her with Morgan and Penelope a few months back.

But the pain of her departure had lingered, this case numbing the pain at times but as soon as you stepped away from work, she was haunting you again, in your daydreams and at night when you couldn't sleep. Emily and you had been introduced through the BAU, quickly assigned as partners and working cases together, slowly beginning to learn more about each other until you became inseparable. Always having each other's back, always stolen glances and comforting hands resting near each other. And slowly throughout the years you had began to love Emily, never saying a word as you never thought she could love you back, unaware of her feelings for you that had been obvious to everyone besides you both. And when she told you about the job in London and have her leaving to the other side of the ocean, you struggled to cope with the loss of your partner at work and your sun, her undeniably the reason for you to keep going.

You had been struggling with rough cases, unable to have Emily nearby and invite you over for some wine to unwind while you snuggled on her sofa with Sergio. No one to subtly place a hand on your knee when travelling with the jet and some turbulence hit, Emily knowing you hated those especially. And ever since her leaving you hadn't felt complete, drowning yourself in work instead of dealing with the loss of the greatest thing you never really had anyway. But you rather loved her without her loving you back and had her nearby than the occasional calls and texts from afar.

As you carry on walking, distracted with the pain of Emily‘s absence, you dont notice the person having followed you for a few blocks, usually always having your guard up. And before you can react, you feel a piece of fabric on your mouth and nose, trying to escape the person holding you down but before you can even fight back or scream, shadows haunt your vision and make everything black and quiet for a while. You miss the way the same unsub and ultimately organization that the BAU had been chasing for weeks and had captured you, forced you into a van in an alley and taking you away. You miss the way they throw you into a cold and dark room, your legs and hands chained and how the sun had set a while ago as they left you rotting in the abandoned basement, waiting for you to regain consciousness .

„Where is Y/N?“ Morgan asks as everyone gathers in the briefing room, ready to spend another day on catching the unsub that had been taunting them for weeks. „She was here late last night, Garcia try calling her“ Hotch orders and the blonde instantly nods before trying. „Straight to voicemail sir“ she explains, the concern already written on her face as this was highly unusual for you, even when spending hours at night in the office, always back bright and early the next morning. And your boss knew just as much and so without hesitation he glances at Morgan and Blake before ordering them to check your apartment, having a bad feeling, knowing how serious you are about this job and also knowing how serious the people are that they are currently trying to find.

By the time you snap out of it, your breath hitches and you try moving your hands but notice the handcuffs on you. Blinking a few times you try to understand your surroundings a bit better, the only light source a nearby door, some light creeping in from underneath. You try your hardest to get out of the restraints but without success, only adding to the cuts and bruises on your wrist from the small struggle the night before. It doesn‘t take you long to realize who must have taken you and knowing from the other victims that you had less than 24 hours, sincerly hoping your team would connect the dots and find you in time.

And of course they had figured this out, finding your apartment empty and learning from surveillance that you never returned home, retracing your steps and finding your phone broken and smashed in an alley. They are quick to get back to the BAU, informing the necessary departments and working their hardest on solving this and finding you, knowing time is of the essence. „Any news?“ Morgan asks hours later, having gone over the same steps and different approaches for hours. „The state isn‘t very willing to help“ Hotch sighs, knowing they needed more ressources. „Then what are we gonna do? we need to find her“ Garcia urges before he walks away, nodding in agreement. „We call in reinforcements“ he mutters before he calls the one person he knows cares about you enough to help and also has the resources to get them closer to answers.

„Hotch what‘s wrong?“ Emily‘s voice rings through the phone as she stands in her office. „It‘s Y/N, she‘s been taken“ he explains and before he can give her any details she already grabs her belongings. „Brief me on the plane“ she says in determination before instantly getting on a jet and making her way over, ready to drop everything for you at any given moment. And it doesn’t take the team long to brief her about the case while she flies in, Emily using her connections and position to get as much information as possible and shedding some light on some things you hadn’t been able to solve so far.

„Finally awake“ a dark voice mutters and you glance at the person standing in front of you, recognizing him from one of the photos from the files, not a suspect but having some sort of connection to this whole thing. „What do you want?“ you hiss, feeling anger washing over you for how they had taken and beaten you. „We need information“ he calmly explains before he drags you by the cuffs and sits you on a chair. By the time you figure out what they wanted, you knew you are doomed, they had beaten you for hours trying to get answers out of you about the BAU and you ultimately realize that they had been after Hotch and the team and getting access to all the files all along, all the victims so far only a pawn to get to what they truly wanted and access to the FBI databases.

„I‘m not telling you anything“ you hiss, knowing you would rather die than give them anything. You knew the consequences of giving them the codes and information they wanted, knowing it would end up in the wrong hands, knowing it would put so many more lives at risk. „We‘ll see about that“ another one smirks, the two men having taken turns over the past few hours. He grabs a cloth before putting it on your face and grabbing a bucket of water, causing you to choke and the ability to breathe leaving you as panic begins settling in.

„I‘ve got a hit“ Garica screams as she managed to use some of Emily‘s information and the entire team, including the brunette who had landed a few hours ago, instantly by her side. Meanwhile, you struggle to stay concious, your body bruised and tired, blood running down your face from the repeated beating. They had threatened your team and family but not having any family left and knowing everyone at the BAU was safe, knowing they would have figured this out by now, you don‘t give in, knowing other than to you, there was no real danger. And as the fight to stay alive and concious grows harder, your mind takes you back to Emily. Her eyes and how you would so often get lost in them, her soft hands and how they would make you feel safe. In your delusional state, she is right there, telling you it‘s okay and to let go.

You had never fallen for anyone the way you had for Emily. She was your sun on a rainy day, your own guardian angel, always having your back on cases, never letting you walk into a scene alone. You would cry on each other‘s shoulder after a rough case or laugh at silly jokes together and celebrate your successes together. You adored her confidence and how she never backed down in life ever. You loved how fierce and determined, yet truly kind she was. No one in the BAU understood victims the way Emily did, no one comforted them quite like she did and it caused your heart to flutter every single time when witnessing it. And your mind slips to how she may react when hearing this, if you couldn‘t make it out of this alive, wishing and hoping you could have seen her once more and told her all the things you had been too scared to tell her so far.

„She‘s not gonna break“ one of the unsubs sighs in frustration as the other one paces in circles. „We will see about that“ a third one appears, you too far out of it by now to realize what is going on or even attempt to remember their faces and voices or figure out their identities. He walks over with a revolver, dragging you up and pouring a bucket of cold water over you, snapping you out of your state momentarily as the shock takes over. „Answers now“ he demands before he presses the gun firmly to your temples, counting down before holding down the trigger. You had done this sort of stuff in your training before but nothing could have prepared you for how truly terrifying this was, knowing at any given moment it could all be over. The pain in your body and head is overwhelming but still you don‘t break, the determination to keep your family safe and not give them what you had worked years for to protect.

„Fine“ one of them mutters before walking over and messing with his belt, knife in his hand. „Maybe this will get you to loosen up“ he smirks before he begins undressing you, knife pressed firmly against your throat, the blood running down your neck. „Please don’t“ you cry out, internally hating yourself for giving them something, for showing them fear and knowing this was your breaking point. You close your eye and brace for what is about to happen, knowing you would never give them what they wanted and sincerly hoping they would kill you after this as you couldn‘t stand this for much longer.

But just seconds before they manage to succeed and break you, the door bursts open, flashlights momentarily blinding your vision as you hear your teams voices and gunshots seconds later, the unsub dropping to his knees in front of you. „Oh god“ you hear Emily‘s voice as she runs towards you, instantly getting you out of the chains as you collapse into her arms. The shock and pain run so deep that you dont even register who ended up saving you, that the woman of your dreams was truly right there, holding and soothing you as she takes your shivering body into her arms and carries you outside to an ambulance. You are in and out of it for a while, the bright lights from inside the ambulance blinding you, your ears ringing from the sirens but feeling someone holding your hand, assuming it was a member of your team, unaware it was Emily, the concern written deeply on her features as she stays beside you every step of the way.

It takes hours of pain medication, the doctors doing all sorts of checks and you laying in a hospital bed for you to wake up again, greeted by the steady beeping of machines that you are hooked up to and bustling noises from the corridor of the busy hospital. You can still feel the same person holding your hand, wondering as you open your eyes who would have been there this entire time. Once your eyes open, they fall upon Emily, who‘s head rests on your bed, her hand never having stopped to hold yours. She is awake in an instant as she notices the slight tremble in your hand and her features brighten once seeing you awake. „Hi“ she whispers, her eyes brimming with tears, despite trying to hold them in, seeing you so bruised, beaten and hurt. She had always felt protective over you, hating that she let this happen while she was away, consumed by guilt.

„Emily?“ you ask a little confused, your voice still rough from what your body had been through. „I‘m here“ she smiles sadly, her chin quivering ever so slightly. Your eyebrows furrow before you speak again „But why?“ you ask confused, not understanding the connection between the BAU and Interpol for this case. And she can tell, almost smiling at your dorkiness if it wasn‘t for the severity of the situation and the hell they had put you through. „I‘m here for you, silly“ she chuckles a little, squeezing your hand a little tighter and you realize then she had saved you and never stopped holding your hand from the moment you collapsed into her arms until now. You want to speak, ask her why she had gone through such lengths and flown all this way for you but you remain silent.

When your gaze averts hers for a moment, the flashbacks overwhelming you for a second, a thick silence follows, a painful one as Emily can see it in your eyes you are deeply traumatized by what they had done to you. „Honey?“ she snaps you out of it gently before your eyes lock with her own again. „Can I- I ask you something?“ she stutters and you nod weakly before she glances at your body. „Did they- did he?“ she struggles to finish her sentence but you quickly shake your head and she sighs in relief, a tear streaming down her face and with a shaky hand you manage to wipe it away. „Thank you“ you whisper, your voice weak and tired, knowing those words aren‘t enough but for now they are all you can manage. „Always sweetie“ she chuckles before giving you an encouraging nod that you could rest. „How long?“ you mumble as you try and keep your eyes open. „Don‘t worry about that right now, I‘ll be right here when you wake up“ she promises and you nod before letting sleep wash over you again.

And Emily being Emily, she kept her promise, staying by your hospital bed until you were ready to go home, driving you home and looking after you, helping your body and soul recover. She covered for you in the BAU for a while until you were cleared by the doctors, several evaluations later. Currently, the two of you sit in your apartment, after a long day back at the BAU, Emily insisting on accompanying you and making sure it all goes smoothly. Two glasses of wine by your side and a movie playing in the background. Your eyes dart between her and the tv, trying to ignore your racing heart and the familiarity of having her beside you, wishing every evening could look like this.

„Em?“ you ask carefully before her head snaps towards you, a soft smile on her face before concern takes over as she sees the sadness on your face. „What‘s wrong?“ she asks, having been worried about you, knowing what had happened affected you more than you led on. „I was just wondering- when.. when are you going home?“ you ask, her eyes averting yours for a moment as you try and not let your emotions wash over you how you feel about the thought of her leaving. There is silence for a while before she reaches for the remote, pausing the TV and turning her body towards you. „I was talking to Hotch and I was thinking about staying.. for good“ she explains camly, despite the small smile in the corner of her lips. „What?“ you ask confused, your eyebrows furrowing upon hearing her words. „There are several positions for me, including section chief and I miss profiling“ she explains and you listen intently to her every word.

„But what about Interpol and London?“ you ask confused but she shakes her head and chuckles. „I did my fair share there and learnt a lot but.. I think I‘m ready to come home“ she explains, her eyes a little teary. Her words don‘t register properly and so you stammer out a quiet „Are you doing this because of me? because if you are - Emily I‘m fine I promise“. There is silence as she reaches for your trembling hand, taking it into her own before her eyes lock with yours. „I- it is but not because of that“ she explains and yet again your eyebrows furrow in confusion. She knows she should have done this a long time ago, her feelings for you never leaving her, the distance from London to you only making it much harder as she hadn‘t been able to focus on much without you by her side.

„I don‘t want to be so far away from you anymore“ she admits, struggling to lay out her emotions and vulnerable side in front of you. „Emily what are you saying?“ you ask confused as your heart beats considerably faster inside your chest. „Don‘t you know?“ she asks after a pause and the way her eyes sparkle and her hand holds onto you, it suddenly makes sense. Why she came in the first place and why she hadn’t left your side. She cared and loved you just as much as you loved her. „I do- I just can‘t believe you..“ you answer but pause, the words too raw and scary to be said. „That I love you? because Y/N I do“ she admits, suddenly a completely different side to Emily, her usual carefulness and vulnerability replaced with an openness that takes your breath away.

Your eyes fill with tears, never having thought the events from the last few weeks would lead to this. „I love you Emily“ you admit in return, your eyes speaking to each other and your hearts beating in synch. At first your eyes dance together before the gap between you closes, letting out all the raw emotions and whispered confessions, the fear of this not being requited go. But the two of you leave it at this for now, knowing this was only the beginning of what you two deserved. „Come here“ she orders as she sees your tear stained vision, holding you in her arms. The two of you lay together in silence, soaking up each other‘s warmth and what neither of you had allowed to happen in the past few years. „You okay there sweetheart?“ she asks after several hours of comfortable silence and you nod into her chest before she sees a cheeky smirk on your face.

„What?“ she asks with a raised eyebrow before you mumble „If getting taken means this then I‘ll gladly volunteer again“ you joke but she doesn‘t laugh, this being too soon and too raw still. „Too soon?“ you ask with a pout and half smirk and she nods before kissing your forehead. „Definitely too soon but I adore you silly“ she smiles. And the two of you stay this way, neither of you letting go, knowing now that the truth is out there, you wouldn‘t leave each other ever again, Emily finally having found her true home and purpose, you.

#Emily prentiss #Emily Prentiss x reader #Paget brewster #Paget Brewster x reade #lgbtq #criminal minds #criminal minds one shot #Emily Prentiss drabble #Emily Prentiss x you #Emily Prentiss x y/n #emily prentiss smut #criminal minds evolution #emily prentiss fanfiction

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aclmartsjaipur · 6 months ago

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Navigate Delhi's Insurance Landscape with Confidence: Top 9 Insurance Services for Your Needs

Delhi, a bustling metropolis, offers a plethora of options when it comes to securing your future. But with so many insurance companies and brokers vying for your attention, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. This guide simplifies your search by presenting the Best 9 Insurance Services in Delhi. Whether you're seeking life insurance to protect your loved ones, health insurance for peace of mind, or car insurance for on-road security, this comprehensive list has you covered.

1. Finding the Right Fit: Brokers vs. Insurance Companies

Before diving into specific providers, it's crucial to understand the distinction between insurance brokers and insurance companies:

Insurance Companies: These are direct providers offering their own insurance plans. They can be life insurance companies like HDFC Life or general insurance companies like ICICI Lombard, specializing in car, health, or property insurance.

Insurance Brokers: These act as intermediaries, representing various insurance companies and offering a wider range of plans. Brokers can compare policies, negotiate premiums on your behalf, and guide you towards the option that best suits your needs.

Choosing between a broker and a company depends on your preferences:

Convenience: If you prefer a one-stop shop, an insurance company might be ideal.

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2. Top Brokers for Personalized Service in Delhi

Ethika Insurance Broking Company: Renowned for their exceptional customer retention rate, Ethika specializes in group health insurance policies, offering expert guidance and personalized service.

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RTF Insurance Brokers: Renowned for their expertise and customer-centric approach, RTF offers a comprehensive range of insurance solutions, catering to both individual and corporate needs.

3. Reputable Insurance Companies in Delhi

HDFC Life Insurance: A leading life insurance provider, HDFC Life offers a diverse range of plans for financial security, wealth creation, and child education.

Max Life Insurance: Another major player in the life insurance sector, Max Life provides comprehensive life insurance solutions with flexible riders to tailor your coverage.

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aclmarts998 · 8 months ago

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To know more about the "Top 9 Business in City", "Best 9 Business in City", "Best 9 Insurance Services In delhi", "Best Insurance Services In delhi", "Best 9 Private Schools in delhi", "Best Private Schools in delhi". We recommend you to visit the ACL Marts. To see the Industries best rated and top businesses in the Delhi, Faridabad, Noida, Gurugram.

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aclmarts03 · 10 months ago

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aclmart22 · 10 months ago

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Navigating Legal Horizons and Culinary Frontiers: Unveiling the Best Legal Consultants and Kitchen Appliances Manufacturers in Gurugram

1: Advocates of Justice: Best Legal Consultants in Gurugram

In the dynamic city of Gurugram, where legal complexities often intersect with business and personal affairs, the search for the best legal consultants becomes a journey for advocates of justice. Navigating the intricacies of the legal landscape demands expertise, diligence, and a commitment to safeguarding the interests of clients. Let's delve into the top choices, the best 9 legal consultants in Gurugram, where each consultation is a step towards legal clarity and protection.

2: Legal Prowess Unveiled: Criteria for the Best Legal Consultants in Gurugram

Choosing the best legal consultants in Gurugram involves a meticulous evaluation of their specialization, track record, client testimonials, and the ability to provide comprehensive legal solutions. Gurugram's businesses and individuals, known for their discerning choices, seek legal consultants who not only offer sound advice but also serve as trusted partners in their legal journey.

3: Gurugram's Legal Guardians: Best 9 Legal Consultants

1. **Advocate Raman Deep Singh**

Advocate Raman Deep Singh is a distinguished legal consultant in Gurugram, known for his expertise in civil and criminal law, providing clients with effective and strategic legal representation.

2. **Legal Aid Solutions**

Legal Aid Solutions is a legal consultancy firm in Gurugram, offering a range of services, including family law, corporate law, and real estate, ensuring comprehensive legal support for clients.

3. **Sethi & Sethi Associates**

Sethi & Sethi Associates specializes in corporate and commercial law, catering to Gurugram's businesses with legal insights and solutions that align with their growth objectives.

4. **AKS Law Associates**

AKS Law Associates is recognized for its proficiency in intellectual property law, providing Gurugram's businesses and innovators with legal strategies for protecting their intellectual assets.

5. **Khurana & Khurana, Advocates and IP Attorneys**

Khurana & Khurana is a leading intellectual property law firm in Gurugram, offering a spectrum of legal services related to patents, trademarks, and copyrights.

6. **Vidhikarya Legal Services**

Vidhikarya Legal Services is an online platform connecting clients with legal experts in Gurugram, ensuring accessibility to a diverse range of legal services.

7. **Legal Resolved**

Legal Resolved provides online legal consultation services in Gurugram, offering a convenient and efficient platform for clients to connect with experienced legal consultants.

8. **Advocate Vimal Dhawan**

Advocate Vimal Dhawan specializes in real estate and property law, offering Gurugram's clients legal expertise in matters related to land, construction, and property transactions.

9. **Neeraj Associates**

Neeraj Associates is a multidisciplinary legal consultancy in Gurugram, providing clients with a comprehensive range of legal services, from litigation to corporate law.

4: Culinary Excellence Unveiled: Best 9 Kitchen Appliances Manufacturer In Gurugram

While legal consultants safeguard the interests of Gurugram's residents, the city also celebrates culinary excellence through innovative kitchen appliances. Exploring the best kitchen appliances manufacturers becomes a quest to equip kitchens with cutting-edge technology and design. Let's explore the top choices, the best 9 kitchen appliances manufacturers in Gurugram, where each appliance is a testament to culinary innovation.

5: Beyond Cooking: Criteria for the Best Kitchen Appliances Manufacturers in Gurugram

Choosing the best kitchen appliances manufacturers in Gurugram involves evaluating factors such as product quality, innovation, customer reviews, and the ability to cater to diverse kitchen needs. Gurugram's culinary enthusiasts seek kitchen appliances that not only enhance efficiency but also add a touch of style to their cooking spaces.

6: Gurugram's Culinary Maestros: Best 9 Kitchen Appliances Manufacturers

1. **Kaff Appliances**

Kaff Appliances is a renowned kitchen appliances manufacturer in Gurugram, offering a range of products, including chimneys, hobs, and built-in ovens, known for their sleek design and advanced technology.

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Prestige is a household name in kitchen appliances, providing Gurugram's residents with a variety of cookware, electric appliances, and innovative kitchen gadgets.

3. **Bosch Home Appliances**

Bosch Home Appliances is synonymous with quality and innovation, offering Gurugram's kitchens a range of appliances, from refrigerators to dishwashers, designed for modern living.

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Havells Kitchen Appliances cater to Gurugram's kitchens with a range of products, from mixer grinders to induction cooktops, known for their durability and performance.

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LG Electronics extends its expertise to kitchen appliances, providing Gurugram's residents with refrigerators, microwave ovens, and dishwashers that boast advanced features.

8. **Miele**

Miele is a luxury kitchen appliances brand in Gurugram, offering residents high-end solutions, including built-in coffee machines, steam ovens, and wine coolers.

9. **Sunflame**

Sunflame is a trusted name in kitchen appliances, providing Gurugram's households with a variety of products, such as gas stoves, chimneys, and electric kettles.

7: Harmonizing Legal and Culinary Pursuits: Gurugram's Lifestyle Symphony

In Gur

ugram, where legal consultants safeguard justice and kitchen appliances manufacturers elevate culinary experiences, residents embody a lifestyle that harmonizes the pursuit of legal protection and culinary innovation. The choices of the best legal consultants and kitchen appliances manufacturers reflect Gurugram's commitment to a well-rounded and enriching life—where legal clarity and culinary excellence seamlessly come together, creating a lifestyle symphony that resonates with the essence of both protection and innovation.

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commandershepardvasfuckit · 15 days ago

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An Arranged Marriage, part 22

1.6k words

While you absolutely needed summer clothes you got the feeling that Bira had something extra in mind. At least your husband seemed to like it!

(I am feral over my own character, ask box is always open for talking about my writing or just monster fucking in general!)

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“Thanks for helping me with this” you said as Bira lead you through the busy streets.

“Of course! I’m not going to let you drop dead from the heat! I’m just happy Zen’jan waved me down to let me know” Bira responded.

It was quite a walk to the shop, tucked into a corner of the city that was mostly minotaurs, though Bira assured you several times her friend who owed the shop would be able to help.

“Hoonti!” Bira practically yelled as the two of you entered the shop.

The minotaur woman behind the counter looked and smiled, “Bira!” and the two quickly launched into an animated conversation in orcish.

“This is Hoonti, a long time friend of mine” Bira introduced, “and one of the best tailors I know. She’s going to take your measurements and ask a few questions and get started on making you a few things to start with”.

“Sounds good!” you answered.

Hoonti got right to work, buzzing about you with her measuring tape while Bira translated her questions.

“Any preferences for colors? Or any colors you absolutely don’t want?” Bira translated.

“Nothing too bright” you said.

“That’s no fun!” said Bira.

Bira was almost always in bright colors and clothes with fancy trim or details, though Zen always dressed pretty simply. He seemed to be the odd one out though, most of the trolls in the city seemed to be more like Bira with bright, highly detailed clothes and lots of jewelry. The closet thing to jewelry you ever saw Zen wear were the gold bands at the base of his tusks, though he had gotten you a few bracelets and necklaces.

“Okay okay okay, nothing too bright but let me pick one outfit for you, please!” Bira practically begged.

“One outfit” you repeated firmly.

“Just one! And I promise you’ll like it, and so will Zen’jan! It’ll make him happy”.

You raised an eyebrow at her.

“Don’t worry, it’s just something traditional but it needs to be bright! Just trust me” she said.

“Sure”.

Many rounds of questions later and Bira and you were leaving the shop with the promise that Hoonti would drop the clothes off in a few days when she was done.

“So, you and Zen’jan” Bira began.

“Yeah?” you asked.

“He seems a lot happier than usual recently”

You could not help but smile a bit over that. There had been a shift in Zen over the last week, he was more relaxed around the house and was comfortable taking up space. He sat and stood up straight, no longer always trying to make himself smaller, he lounged and stretched out across the bed, he constantly showed you little affections like a hand on your shoulder or waist for a moment when he walked past or a quick nuzzle where he could.

“It’s been a good week” you smiled.

“Well, it’s good to hear that. He’s been doing better in general since you got married, he doesn’t look so tired and drained all the time anymore. He’s never been the best at taking care of himself, though it looks like he’s getting better about it though now that he has someone else to take care of”.

Bira showed you a few more of her favorite places around the city before walking you home.

“I’m happy he has you” Bira told you as she hugged you.

“I’m happy I have him too” you told her.

Three days later Bira and Hoonti showed up in the middle of the day laden with new clothes for you. Skirts, pants, shirts, and dresses of varying lengths, colors, and styles and much better suited for the weather than anything you brought.

They both fawned over you while you tried stuff on, it felt silly with how they fussed over you, but it was still fun.

“Ok ok, last one!” Bira called and handed you the last outfit.

It was several pieces all in a rich shade of red and trimmed with shiny gold embroidery and pearls.

“And I’m guessing this is what you were so excited about?” you asked.

“Just try it on!” she was so excited.

You ducked back into the bathroom to untangle the pieces; a pair of shorts, a wide rectangle of fabric with the beautiful embroidery on one long edge, and a longer thinner rectangle of fabric with the same embroidery in the center of one of the long edges.

“I’m going to need an explanation” you called from the bathroom.

“Shorts on, the wide rectangle ties over the shorts as a skirt, and just wrap the other around you and I’ll help”.

The shorts were shorter than you would have liked, the skirt came down to your mid thighs but because it was tied together it left quite a slit up the side where you tied it on you hip. You wrapped the other piece around you and shuffled out of the bathroom feeling rather exposed.

“Really?” you asked Bira.

“Yes! You’ve seen me in stuff like this! Don’t act so surprised!”

She helped you with the top, wrapping it behind your back and crossing it over your chest and tying it behind your neck. It left your midriff bare, but much to you surprise it at least covered a good amount of your chest.

“Absolutely perfect” Bira smiled.

“Its short” you muttered back.

“It’s good for hot weather, and for dancing! There’s a few festivals coming up that it’s perfect for. And I bet Zen’jan will like it, you should keep it on for when he gets home”.

You chatted with Bira and Hoonti for a while before both left to go about their day. You had to admit you had a lot of movement freedom in the outfit, and while it showed off a lot more than you were used to it was comfy and did look good.

Zen came home later that afternoon, in the last week he had been coming home earlier.

“I hope you do not mind, I stopped by the market in my way home and just picked up- wow” he paused when he saw you.

“It’s looks alright?” you asked.

“More than alright, you look incredible” he sat the food down and crossed the room, quickly placing his hands on your hips while he took a moment to take you in.

“Bira said it would be a good outfit for some festivals coming up”.

“It is, though now I am going to have to actually dress up for festivals to keep up with you” he pulled you closer until you were pressed against him and you could feel him purring.

You could also feel him hard against you. The two of you had been bathing together and sleeping naked, though both of you chose to ignore anything other than cuddling for now.

Zen was breathing hard and you could feel his heart racing being so close to him. He leaned down and nuzzled his forehead against yours before pulling you into deep kiss, wasting no time parting you lips and slipping his tongue into your mouth.

It caught you off guard. Zen never initiated anything, he always carefully waited for you to lean into him to cuddle, or for you to kiss him first. His grip on your hips tightened and you felt him grinding against you, felt the way he panted and moaned into your mouth, how his whole body heaved with every breath.

By the time he pulled away you were breathing just as hard, your heart racing while you looked up at him.

“I am sorry” he muttered, “Was that alright?”

You did not answer, instead you tangled your hands into hair and pulled him back in for another kiss. This time you pressed yourself against him and pulled him close just as much as he did to you. You slipped your tongue into his mouth and ran it along the base of his tusks before pulling back a bit and letting him lead again. His tongue nearly filled your mouth and you happily teased him by sucking on his tongue a bit.

Kissing him was never an elegant affair. His tusks always bumped the sides on your face and you also could not tilt your head at the right angle while you were wedged between them. Then mismatch in size between the two of you meant his mouth always entirely covered yours in an odd way, and it all added up to some rather wet, clumsy, and messy kissing but neither of you minded.

His hand drifted lower, cupping your backside and pulling you to rub against him, leaving an ache between your legs. Besides the night you had gotten drunk together, he had not so much as even hinted at anything more than cuddling, his sudden forward was was a bit odd but not unwelcome.

You pulled away from the kiss, “So, formal wear does it for you?” you teased, though at that moment he had also chosen to nudge your legs apart and press his thigh up against your center, making you collapse forward against his chest and let out a soft moan.

“When I come home and my beautiful wife is all dressed up for me it does” his voice was low in your ear and you could hear the need dripping from it. “And as beautiful as you look all dressed up for me, right now all I can think about is helping you out of it all, if you will let me”.

--------

Next part is in blog, mobile is fighting me with linking things as per usual

Tag list

@blushycadaver @hazyspacefairy @littlelovebug98 @tufflepuff23 @graveblanketgreen @krayziee

#monster fucker #monster lover #teratophillia #terato #monster smut #monster x reader

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nemo-writes · 1 month ago

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⋆˚࿔ ⋆˚࿔ 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐛𝐫𝐞 ; 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝜗𝜚˚⋆𝜗𝜚˚⋆

↣ pack!tf141 x witch!reader

↣ chapter summary; a new face arrives in town, and everything begins to shift. something is terribly wrong strange, but no one is talking.

★ warnings; none!

☆ story masterlist

As the first light of dawn filtered through the windows of the apothecary, you buzzed around, busy with substituting half-way empty jars with new ones full of elixirs and various herbs. The heavy scent of sage hung in the air, mingling with the faint aroma of brewing potions bubbling in the cauldron nestled in the corner. With a flick of your wrist, you lit the candles scattered around the shop, their soft glow casting long but warm shadows around the shop.

Your familiar Sybil, a snow white Borzoi, twitched from her spot under the counter, slightly raising her head in attention. Not a second later, the bell above the door chimed with your first client of the day.

“Well, well, still up with the dawn, I see.” The deep, raspy voice was unmistakable.

Alex stepped into the apothecary with his usual long strides, his dark blonde hair a touch wilder than you remembered.

“And you're still sneaking around at sunrise," you teased lightly. “Here for Farah’s order? I was just about to pour a fresh batch.”

“Yeah,” he replied, as he handed you his usual green thermos for the refill. “She’s been feeling… well, she’s hanging in there. Just a bit more tired lately.”

You hummed knowingly, tightening your apron and moving to get the order ready.

“Have you heard?”

“About?” You replied absentmindedly, focused on getting the exact quantity of steaming liquid into the thermos.

“The new girl that Laswell took in.”

That made you pause and turn to look at him.

Laswell was a witch like you, and a deeply influential one at that. That made her difficult to approach, but even harder to earn her trust. It had taken you a year of back and forth before she allowed you to set up shop in this part of the city. So to say that you were slightly intrigued was an understatement.

“Who now?”

He snorted, stretching over the counter to wriggle his fingers down at Sybil, and who in response raised her large snot to meet them in greeting.

“Apparently a few nights ago Ghost saved this rando girl from the Rose District―”

“What the hell was she doing in the Rose District?”

“Well clearly she’s not from around here.” He retorted, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, which clearly wasn’t. Even people from out of town knew to stay away from that place, especially at night. She was either from another country altogether or really, really, dumb.

“Anyways, he took her to Laswell and she offered her a job on the spot. She even let her settle in the loft above her bar and all.”

“Well, that’s….unexpected? But good for her I guess.”

“But wanna hear the best part?” Shrugging you rang him up, throwing in a few stray herbs in a satin pouch as an extra for his wife.

“She’s magicless, and a total smokeshow.” He was clearly trying to get a rise out of you, and honestly, he was successful. Rolling your cleaning rag tightly, you snapped it against his hand. He yelped in surprise, cradling his hands with mock-indignation.

“Anything else?” He shook his head and dropped the exact amount for the order into the ornate dish you kept beside the register.

“You’re no fun,” he pouted, stashing the flash into his bag before pointing at the satin bag. “What’s this?”

“They should help with Farah’s morning sickness. Just mix them in with her morning tea, a dash of honey will help with the bitterness.”

He gave you a wide boyish grin. “You’re the best, you know that?”

Waving him off and as if telling him ‘oh I know’, you watched him leave with a spring to his step, clearly eager to go back to his wife. You waited for him to disappear from sight, before reaching for your phone in your apron’s pocket.

9:15 am

you: hi

you: everything k? alex told me about the rose district

9:17

👻: 👍🏻

9:18

you: lmk if u need anything

you: btw your order’s ready, you can drop by anytime

you: sybil says hi

(picture attached)

You didn’t get a reply right away, which was strange, but not uncommon for the half-wraith. In the end, he always got back to you. Telling Sybil to stay put and care for the storefront, you moved to the back to organise the rest of the day’s orders.

Once upon a time, Ghost’s go-to place had gone out of business (he had personally taken it down after discovering it was a front for a fairy trafficking ring), and as per Laswell’s recommendations, he had appeared one day to commission you with a list of potions and ingredients, each tailored to his pack’s specific needs. He gave you three days, and you had gone above and beyond to deliver.

You knew you had succeeded in meeting their expectations after he came back the following month with a much bigger and more detailed list in hand. And it was through his monthly visit that you got to know the rest of the pack.

Simon took care of pickups and never stayed long, but long enough to listen to you rant about lousy customers, all while answering to Sybil's demands for pets.

You never got much done with Johnny around, but his charm definitely helped you with sales, especially with the older gnome ladies. The werewolf also played tug with your familiar when the shop became notably busy and you couldn’t take Sybil for her daily walkies.

As the only son of a witch, Kyle liked to help you with just about everything. He especially enjoyed peering over your shoulder whenever you delved into one of your many experiments, smiling like a child whenever you asked for his opinion.

You got to know John last, a human Hunter and their de facto leader. He never dropped by, but whenever you encountered him outside your shop, he never failed to greet you with a warm smile and ever warmer shoulder-squeeze. The older man also was a worrywart to his core, always asking about you and Sybil, as in have you had breakfast/lunch/dinner yet? Did you get your windows insulated for the winter? He can take care of it for you, and oh he got a good bargain on some chicken, let him share some of it with you.

Slowly but surely, they each had wormed itself into your stiff-witchy heart.

10:30

👻: can’t today

👻: sendin’ alejandro

The curt answer made you falter, a mix of disillusion and confusion settling heavily on the pit of your stomach. His lack of response to Sybil's picture was also worrying, that never happened. You struggled not to push him for an explanation.

And so, you waited.

Alejandro made his appearance a few hours later. Again, you left Sybil in charge while you greeted him and his partner, Rudy.

“Preciosa, it’s good to see you.” Alejandro enveloped you in a tight hug and kissed you on the cheek, Rudy following right after.

You returned their greeting just as warmly, guiding them to the back and to the crates stacked neatly and ready for them to take. You watched them work, swaying a little from side to side, before finally mustering up the courage to ask them about Ghost’s unusual absence.

“Is Ghost okay?”

Alejandro grunted as he loaded the crates into the trunk, hand falling over his hips before he turned to regard you with a raised eyebrow. “Yeah he’s fine, por (why)?”

You shoved your hands deep into your apron’s pockets, a nervous habit. “He has never missed a pickup, and he’s not answering my texts.”

“Oh, it’s probably that girl.” He acknowledged dismissively. As if sensing your dismay at Alejandro’s lacklustre response, Rudy chimed in.

“Leah, the new girl working for Laswell.”

Making the most of his receptiveness, you prodded Rudy for more details. “Have you met her?”

He shook his head, tilting his chin towards his partner. “Nope, but Ale has.”

“Well she’s cute, in a mousy kind of way.” He supplied while scratching his chin, and something about his pensive gesture told you that he still hadn't exactly made up his mind about her.

They were quick to leave however, busy with their own things, plus having to drop off the pack’s order. You watched them go, fingers twisting and turning

Yes, hopefully this strange episode would pass.

. . .

Things did not pass, if anything, they only got worrisomely stranger.

A few days later, you found yourself in the supermarket. It was just another part of your routine that you usually enjoyed. You reached for a jar of honey, when you felt it—a shift in the air, a tingle at the back of your neck. Straightening, you allowed your gaze to wander, searching for the source.

And then you saw him.

He stood a few feet away, staring intently at a shelf of cereals. Your heart skipped a beat, not from surprise but from the pleasant flutter you always felt when you saw him. You instinctively moved closer, a full smile already settled on your lips.

“Johnny, hi!”

His head jerked up as if startled, eyes widening when they met yours. For a moment, he looked at you with a strange mix of confusion and surprise, as if he barely recognized you.

“Och aye! Hello there! Whit ye daein' here?"

“Uh, I always shop here on Sundays?” But you know that, you’ve come with me more than once!

"Oh, dae ye no? Well, anyways!” Johnny’s brows furrowed, and he blinked rapidly, like someone waking from a deep sleep. His gaze flickered away from your face and back to the rows of cereal “Whit dae ye think Leah would fancy the most?"

That caught you off guard, so much so that you couldn't give him a rightout answer.

Suddenly, a second figure came from around the corner. It was Gaz. He walked up to the two of you, but something was off.

“Mate, stop running off! We need to get back to—” Gaz blinked at you, as if seeing you for the first time. “Oh, hi?”

“Hi?” You parroted back with an incredulous guffaw.

You just stood there, feeling an unfamiliar and uncomfortable sensation—like the ground beneath you had shifted and you were the only one who noticed. This wasn’t right. Your relationship had always been so easy, and filled with laughter. But now, it was like there was a barrier between you and them, unseen and unsettling.

“Is…everything okay?” You asked them, voice laced with a mix of worry and disbelief.

Gaz looked at you again, but there was no warm recognition in his eyes. “We’re fine,” he said, though his voice was flat. Then, without another word, he turned and walked away, Johnny following him like a shadow, a box of chocolate flavoured loops in hand.

He hated that kind, not even bending whenever Gaz tried to coax him into getting them as a treat.

You watched them disappear down the aisle, dumfounded. The vibrant hum of the grocery store around you flickered slightly as your mind whirled.

Taking a breath, you forced yourself to stay calm. You should head back to the apothecary and Sybil, maybe even check in with Laswell.

She’d know what to do, right? She always did.

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