#Fuck you. Tell me where the beef is from. Tell me what kind of bread you're using

[drumlincountry]

[babybluebex]

looking | joseph quinn x reader

summary: joe catches you looking and rewards (punishes?) you for your efforts pairing: joseph quinn x fem!reader (rpf - don't like, don't read) tags: smut (MINORS DNI), squirting, oral (m! and f!receiving), mostly dom!joe but surprise sub!joe at the end, praise kink, no condom, creampie, cockwarming author's note: yes i have a lecture this morning. yes i am writing this at work. no i will not apologize. enjoy <3 // follow @babybluebex-writes to be notified whenever i post a new story! (also big ole thanks to @freckledjoes for making this gif for me!! thanks a bunch!)

You heard his feet on the landing of the stairs, and then gentle padding as his bare feet sounded on the carpeted hallway as he made his way to the bedroom. These nights were your favorite— Joseph had made you dinner, cheesy pasta with garlic bread, then you had watched an episode of Succession before getting ready for bed. You could tell that Joe was in a sort of mood that night, the kind of mood where he lit a candle at dinner and kissed you and put on Al Green on his record player. He had asked if you wanted to join him in the shower, but you had declined; you had work in the morning, and a randy shower didn't exactly entail an early sleep.

But then, he rounded the corner and darkened the doorway, and you gulped. He looked good; wet curls on his forehead, singlet covering his beefy build, and those underwear, clinging to every curve just right. And he didn't even seem like he knew what he was doing. Joe rubbed his hair dry on his towel as he came into the bedroom, and he went to his dresser, rooting through the top drawer for some pajama bottoms. The silence was deafening, and damning, because Joe turned to you with an amused look on his face.

"What's wrong, love?" he asked. "Cat got your tongue?" He added a dramatic pout to his plush lips, and, fuck, you just had to kiss him.

"You just look really good," you said softly. "Can't I just look at you?"

"Oh, you want to look?" Joe asked teasingly. Oh. So he was in that sort of mood. "I thought it was rude to stare."

"I'm not staring," you told him. "I'm... Appreciating. Admiring."

"Admiring, eh?" Joe laughed. "What exactly are you admiring?"

"Well..." you started, holding out your hand and tracing the shape of his body in the air. He was certified grade A beef that day, finally having regained the weight he had lost to play Eddie, and you loved his plush hips and thick thighs. "And..." You made a cupping motion with your hand, and Joe let out a sputtered laugh.

"So you're staring at my dick," Joe said, shaking his head mirthfully. "I knew I was nothing but a piece of meat to you."

"No!" you exclaimed. Even though you knew he was joking, you didn't want him to think you were doing that for even a second. "I'm just... You just... Y'know? Just admiring every part of you."

"You're drooling," Joe cajoled. He hung his towel on the back of the door and made his way to the bed, and you watched as he grew closer, finally until he was lingering right next to you, his cloth-covered dick inches from your face. God, he smelled so good, you just wanted to take him then and there.

You leaned forward and placed a kiss on his bulge, looking up at him through your eyelashes to see his reaction, and you were overjoyed to see him slowly close his eyes and take a deep breath. "You gonna suck it or what?" he asked in a low voice, and the hot pressure of need slammed inside you belly. You loved when he got like this.

You readjusted yourself in bed, sitting on your knees to reach him properly, and you tugged him forward by his hips to get him closer. Carefully, you pulled down those black briefs, and his half-hard cock spilled forward. He was thick and heavy, beautiful, and you chuckled lightly at the sight before you. "You trimmed," you giggled, and Joe peeked his eyes open.

"Is that a crime?" he asked, and you slid your hands up his thighs, lightly dragging your nails up.

"No," you said. "I just like your bush."

Joe shrugged. "I'll grow it back out," he said. His hand smoothed your hair back, gathering it all up in a loose grip before he flattened his palm against the back of your head, pulling you towards him. You put an end to your games then, taking the head of his uncut cock into your mouth, lightly sucking, just enough to give him a little bit of pressure. Joe made a quiet noise, a sort of hum of appreciation, and you took him further into your mouth. He tasted good, musky but clean, and you moaned around him as your tongue lavished the thick vein that ran along the bottom of his cock.

"That's it," Joe whispered. "What a good girl... You love sucking my cock, don't you?"

You fluttered your eyelashes at him as an answer and took him deeper, then pulled back and suckled at his head for a moment, just to get a reaction out of him. His hand gripped your hair as he moaned, and he gritted his teeth. "Fuck," he whispered. "I knew you liked what you saw."

You pulled off of him with a gasping breath, letting your hand stroke him from balls to tip. "Did you do it on purpose?" you asked.

"Do what?"

"Dress like this," you asked. "Look so goddamn delicious. You know I can hardly resist you."

"That was the plan," Joe admitted. His stomach flexed when you reached up to cup his balls, and you leaned back in, sucking him down again. You didn't usually like giving blowjobs— you hardly ever went down on past boyfriends— but there was something special about Joe that made you want to swallow down his cock every single day, no matter what. "God, you look so hot like this, darling. Love watching you like this."

You moaned softly, then broke away from him, panting to try to regain the breath that sucking him off has made you lose. Joe didn't hesitate to lean down and kiss you, holding your face as his tongue swirled in your mouth, tasting himself off of you. You scrambled backwards to lay on your back, and you tugged Joe in by his shirt, urging him to lay on top of you. He did exactly as you expected, following you and nudging your legs open as he messily kissed you, and he broke the kiss to look down at you. Panties and a t-shirt (his t-shirt), nothing else.

"Fuck," Joe whispered, and he chuckled. His eyes were stuck on your covered pussy, and he wet his lips with the tip of his tongue when he spotted the damp patch on your panties. "Is this all for me?"

"Yeah," you told him. "F'course it is."

"Jesus, I'm a spoiled man," Joe whispered, kissing you deeply again. His hands scrambled to tug down your panties and expose you to him, and his greedy eyes watched as you opened your legs for him, showing him your wet pussy. Your blood was thrumming in every vein with desire, you needed him so badly, and he flicked his eyes up to yours, those lips of his falling open gently. He kissed you once more, then leaned down to kiss your neck, nibbling softly at your skin before trailing his kisses downwards. Ever downwards he ventured, until his warm breath was fanning across your cunt, and he did not waste any time before he licked at you.

The stubble on his chin and cheeks roughed up your thighs as he ate you out like he had never learned how to do anything else. He sucked at your quivering clit and made you cry out in pleasure, his tongue danced on your hole, he even added his fingers to help open you up. By the time the knot in your belly was straining, he was sucking lewdly and shaking his head, making sure that you felt every inch of his fingers and tongue on you. It was so good, it felt so fucking amazing, and you let the knot snap and come undone. You grabbed hard at Joe's hair and almost cried as you came on his fingers; it just felt so fucking good.

"Jesus!" Joe laughed, and you panted as you looked down at him. Something wet was in his beard, and you laughed when you realized that it wasn't just your regular juices. "Good fucking girl, do that again, baby."

"I-I didn't even know I could do that," you laughed breathlessly, letting your head fall back. Joe wasted no time in pushing his fingers back into you, thrusting hard into you and making your toes curl with the sensitivity, and you yelped when the sudden knot burst again, and you were able to watch this time as you squirted quickly on Joe's face. He seemed to love it, smiling up at you and panting, and he pulled out his soaked fingers. He looked at them in awe, wet and glistening, before he touched them to his lips, licking them clean.

You leaned up and stripped off your shirt, and you reached out for him, pulling his hips between your legs again as you shoved his singlet over his head. You discarded it across the room before you kissed him again, tasting yourself on his tongue, and he didn't wait a single second before he grasped his cock and pushed inside you. You were so fucking sensitive from cumming so hard, and you grabbed hard at his shoulders as he instantly started up a pace. He was quick, thrusting messily into you and holding down your hips to keep you where he wanted you, and you hid yourself in his neck. Jesus, he was insatiable tonight; he had made you fucking squirt, and now he was fucking you so hard that you were worried you two might break the bed.

"Baby," you whispered in his ear. "Easy, honey, we have all night."

"I almost came when you squirted," Joe told you. "Fuck me, I'm so close already. Let me cum, and then we can go slower and nicer, but, right now, I need to— Fuck!"

His cock throbbed inside you as he fucked you, and you knew that he was right. He was dangerously close to his release, and you to yours, and you could have sworn that you heard him whimper when you clenched down on him, tightening around his cock.

"Please, baby," Joe whispered. "Let me cum inside you, please, fuck, I need it."

"Fuck, yeah," you breathed. "Cum inside me, please."

Joe's nails dug into the flesh of your hip, and you gasped as Joe moaned deeply, and he filled you. You could feel it inside you, so much thick cum— your poor boy really needed to cum. He moaned in your ear and panted heavily as he tried to catch his breath, and you pulled yourself from his neck to smile hazily up at him. "Was it good?" Joe asked, and you chuckled, brushing back his curls.

"Yes, my love," you told him. "So good. I didn't know I could squirt, that was interesting."

"A surprise, for sure," Joe laughed. "But it was hot. Can you do it again?"

"I don't know how I did it the first time," you chuckled. "I don't know if I can do it again."

Joe huffed out a laugh, and he leaned up on his elbows, rocking his hips into you again. Your nerves were so scorched and sensitive that you instantly let out a yelp, and Joe said, "Well, let's see."

[immoralimmortals]

we hop-skip-jump back with more akatsuki questions! we hope your days have been grand and your songs sweet, tak(?)

if the akatsuki were exposed to the cuisines of our modern, international world, what would each of them gravitate to? would hidan be lured by the cooking of the southern american states, creole, the sausages and cuts and grinds of europe, the whole beasts of the pacific? would itachi look at italian cuisine and feel a deep pang of nostalgia of how sasuke would like this fare? what would these tongues make of our world's bounty?

Hello again! Yes, I'm Tak uvu Some more cusine headcanons for you, dear!:

Honestly I think you nailed Hidan right off the bat. I think he's a connoisseur of meat in specific, if given the time and lack of killing people (so only a world with no Jashin. Probably). I can imagine him, Deidara, and sometimes Kisame having a hot sauce drinking contest. Kakuzu would show up and blow them out of the water once and never participate again. I think Hidan would like beef jerky and pork rinds.

My dad is obsessed with the Red Lobster food chain and now I'm thinking about how Kisame would genuinely enjoy himself while everyone else is only there for cheddar bay biscuits.

My dad just bought at least 100$ worth of Red Lobster gift cards once finding out they're going out of business HE KEEPS ASKING ME OUT TO RED LOBSTER SOMEONE FUCKING HELP M

I've already said in a prior post that Deidara would be OBSESSED with pop rocks. Wouldn't be surprised if he seeks out other kinds of food that give specific sensations, hence the hot sauce bit just now. He'd love carbonated drinks, too. He can bullshit his way into convincing you that yes, Monster Energy Drink *does* require a sophisticated flavor palate! He'd try anything if it had a novelty factor, at least one he can take seriously.

Perhaps obviously I can see Itachi especially enjoying the vast variety of teas that one can acquire in the modern world. My personal favorites tend to be rooibos blends, so I'd like to give him a cup. God, he'd be a great cafe owner. Literal coffee shop AU type of man. I want him to tell me about the floral notes in this morning blend of green tea from the Himalayas. I wanna own a combination tea shop and bakery with him, that'd be the dream.

Kakuzu strikes me as a hardy, heavy food kind of guy. Stews and meats and breads. He'd probably like corned beef and cabbage and potatoes. ...Sorry my Irish in me is coming out. Gravitates to comfort food that keeps you full and warm.

Nagato and Konan are...interesting ones to consider, because whenever I think about them and food I just can't stop thinking about how formative starvation must have been for them. I think they can get overwhelmed by seasonings really fast, anything especially salty or sugary or what have you is in small portions. I don't think they'd deal well with the fact that the most available foods in some societies are saturated with flavor that's overcompensating for shitty processed food. I think if you gave Nagato a bottle of Sunny D it might actually kill him.

Sasori can't taste shit, I think, but if he did he's one of those assholes with PIN POINT PRECISION. Wine connoisseur. Chocolate connoisseur. Will intellectually wreck your shit if you tell him you're making spaghetti and serve him angel hair.

I think Obito would get really disappointed if you told him you were going to get mochi and you came back with the kind you get from the grocery store.

Zetsu still eats people, I can only presume. He might be interested in foods related to "stranger" body parts, brain cheese and haggis, that sort of thing.

Side note: several years ago when I first entered my never-ending Akatsuki phase, I read a really, really cute self insert or reader insert fic where the Akatsuki came to the "real world" and they watched Spongebob and Kisame made what the story described as an adorable face as he was shown how a soda can works. I've been looking for it and my heart yearns to reread. If you happen to find it, please let me know!

[tobiasdrake]

Going deeper into the House of Change can wait. There are more important matters to attend to: Break time!

I don't like different. Different usually means a rock smushes my face into substandard beef chili. The kind that makes everyone at the cookoff give you this quiet look of disapproval until you pack up your things and pretend you're just there to eat.

But if y'all are sure nothing is going to explode and kill me, then....

You know what, you're right. We just fought a boss. Now's a good time to stop and eat. (And maybe I'll catch one of you ripping bread.)

Valuable lessons being taught here. We are all competent adults who are more than qualified to be responsible for a grade schooler.

...which sounds sarcastic but honestly this group is fine. Out of all the parties I've adventured with, this might be the party most suited to taking care of and providing adequate role models for a growing child. We can be a little silly at times but everyone here has their shit together pretty well.

It's almost like we're at the Final Dungeon and everyone's undergone their full stretch of character development already.

@_@ Madame Odile, I did not take you for the kind of person who is... uh... who is interested in... in, uh....

...

Fun. Like. I genuinely thought you were violently disinterested in merriment of any kind. What is--

Ohhh, okay, now that makes a bit more sense.

...wait. Shit. Nobody tell Bonnie but this might mean their sister is screwed.

WHO TOLD BONNIE

Good job, Isa. You lie to that child like your life DEPENDS on it. So help me, if Bonnie starts crying, I will slit my own goddamn throat right here and now in the middle of snack time. And then I will go back in time and punch Odile in the fucking face before she flips her stupid coin.

I am deathly serious! Nobody will have any idea why that just happened. Everyone will think I flipped out for no reason and I will have to lie like I've never lied before.

But in the commotion, Bonnie's childish idealism will be spared.

Crisis averted. Snack time may now commence in earnest.

You know, I've never had plantain chips before. But I've been curious about them ever since I started eating dried fruit. I should give them a try some time.

I mean. I come from an eventful but delicious home, where the food is amazing every night but also we have a lot of family emergencies and crises and insecurities to worry about. I would kill to reach a point of boring-but-delicious stability.

Don't knock it, Bonnie. I know you're still young and the idea of a tumultuous future sounds exciting, but as you get older, you reach a point where you just want a warm hearth, a nice roof over your head, and a soothing plate of orange-flavored cinnamon rolls.

Tolkien was right. Boring but delicious is the domestic ideal.

Bonnie, I appreciate that you care so much about being multicultural that you'll eagerly prepare food you can't even pronounce. That attitude will take you far in life.

Also, Odile deserves this after that stunt she just pulled.

Well. I, for one, salute our Sovereign of Snack Time. Regent of Recipes. Monarch of Meals!

Truly, we all know who the real MVP of this team is.

(It's me, but I'll let Bonnie have this moment. *nods sagely*)

[im2tired4usernames]

@oceanlaceagate

Well ok you asked for explaining so I'm so sorry about the rant that's bound to happen I have beef with this woman like many many MANY homeschool co-op mothers I would like to meet her IN THE PIT

uh I guess trigger warning possibly would be like food diets and possibly eating disorders I'm not sure but I would rather be safe then accidentally harm you friend?

my mother was a crunchy homeschool nutter and her entire social group was crazy homeschool mom cultists.They were all obsessed with clean godly eating and losing weight they constantly kept repeating that they needed to treat their bodies like temples and it really wasn't healthy or good for so many reasons.

well one of the women in that group for as long as i can remember (I've know this lady since I was a lil kid) she believes it's impossible for European women to get fat because of *spins the wheel*

She just has some fucked up made up facts about Europe in general like WARNING SHE'S ACTUALLY ON PURPOSE STUPID

like she has for as long as I can remember believed with E V E R Y FIBER in her body (i have argued so much with her she will not budge in her world this is fact) no one once they hit preteens in france eats bread.

France home of the croissant, baguette and many other carbs bready bakery wonders...

Yeah no one there eats bread that is why French women are so thin and healthy they don't eat bread or any kind of sweets! (She and my mom then tried to make me do that for a bit they were always "suggesting" diets on me it sucked in expecting the thm diet and the melted butter+coffee+ apple cider vinegar diet to have fucked up my body somehow)

Apartly in her world no one in Ireland uses any kind of fat when I asked her to explain wtf that meant she said no one in Ireland uses oil or butter which like..

No that makes no sense where did she even come up with that?!I

Once I took a picture of like some fancy imported butter from Ireland at the store to show her and she and the other moms all straight up walked away and would not look at it. They would not talk to me kept actually doin the "talk to the hand" thing and covering their ears and telling me I'm wrong and stupid and to shut up they will not look at the evidence.

This woman is in her late forties to early fifties she has convinced half the homeschool mother cult that no one in France eats bread with no evidence other then she said so!!!!!

They honest to God believe it also!!!!

Recently she was trying to tell me that no one in the UK eats chicken that it's "looked down on as a disgusting poor man's food" she just went on n on on this long crazy rant that made no sense at all but she acted like she was very intelligent and cultured for knowing this.

My best friend and wife is from the UK and frankly i quickly asked them and they were able to point out this lady is just batshit insane.

Like my wife mentioned there's Nandos everywhere in the UK and that serves chicken mainly I have no clue where she's getting her info or ideas.

She got super angry amd defensive and has gone off saying she has two sources "two very reliable very real and very British people who totally aren't made up there her real Facebook friends that told her yup no one in the uk eats chicken only the USA makes fried chicken poor England is missing out on chicken because they're a bunch of snobs who think it's poor people food" so that's what she believes despite a lot of common sense and evidence to prove otherwise but "how dare I question an elder?!'

I really can't explain it like there's no logic or facts in it I myself don't understand it? I have gotten into many fights with this women.

So many fight

so so so many fights

Stupid amounts of fights

not just over this but like over everything under the sun I swear this woman is living a different reality then everyone else.

she just makes stuff up on a fly and then somehow convinces herself and like a dozen other women in they're 40s-50s that everyone in Europe is significantly skinner because they just happen to not eat the food that one lady dislikes...

like I can't really explain more then that this woman has no evidence, refuses to listen to evidence and has the firmest faith in stupidity I've ever seen it's truly kinda terrifying i wish i had her self confidence but also just wow....

I don't think that she's normal I think a lot of American children do actually learn about other countries? I learned about other countries when I was really young my mom would focus on one a month and then I'd have to do a lil presentation at the end of the month in front of my grandad and we'd cook a meal with some traditional foods from there if possible I had a lot of fun learning recipes from all over the world and we'd get a monthly cd with music from all over the world it was so cool! one of my favorite games when I was little with my grandad was he'd spin the globe point at random n then i had to say thw county, the capital, a famous food item from there and one history fact is famous person if I knew one and it was SO MUCH FUN!!!

maybe it's a new homeschool thing or a church thing or maybe this lady is just straight up purposely stupid I'm not sure? I have no fuckin clue this woman is insane I avoid her every chance I can.

[alba8688]

Love hurts

Chapter 36

Warnings:smut,pnv unprotected sex if I miss anything let me know please ..

Word count:7824

Eddie's pov

Authors note

Smutty Smut mentions the f word Fa g just letting you all know and is a really long chapter so get your snacks and enjoy and hope you like it .

March 12

Eddie’s pov

Im laying here in bed in Dani's room

Waiting for it to be midnight to wish a  happy birthday to my beloved Dani .

She was peacefully sleeping after the good Dinner we had a while ago with her mom and uncle Wayne.

Mrs.Henderson was actually really happy about us being in a relationship,but at the same

She was worried because we started dating while she was a teacher .

But Dani assured her that she didn't know I was  her student that we had actually met the day she arrived at Hawkins at The Hideout .

Which she put one and one together realizing that the was the reason she got home

The day after because she spent the night with me.

Wayne was happy as well, especially because he had somebody else that knew about our secret .

We even told her Hopper knew about us ,we didn't tell her how he found out ,that'll be really embarrassing.

But we where just glad we where able to finally be able to be together as a couple that the world would know she was mine and I was hers .

I didn't care what people would say or think about our relationship, the only people that matter were our family and our closest friends.

The rest of the town can kiss my ass.

——————-

Dinner was delicious. Mrs.Henderson had made beef stroganoff with mushrooms with garlic bread on the side .

Everything was so fucking delicious. I could get use to eating like this other than my regular spaghetios or microwaveable dinner Wayne and I used to have. Mrs.Henderson even gave Wayne food to go ,which made my uncle super excited because he didn't have to make himself food in the morning .

She gave him more than enough.

Dustin was really talkative today ,he even told us about the time he followed me all the way to Dani's apartment and how he found out about us.I'm glad he didn't say or maybe he didn't hear what we were doing before he got there .

I was glad for that because I wouldn't want our parental units to hear about our sex life ,which was great can't complain about the best sex ever.

Damn I miss that apartment ,I miss being with Dani alone, our movie nights ,being with her  everyday without being interrupted ,so that's why today I decided I'm going  to ask her to move in with me to my trailer while her house is finished .

I couldn't be away from her and Nate another day ,I looked at my phone to check the time .

"11:55 pm" I said softly

5 more minutes for her birthday .

I got up from bed slowly trying not to wake her and went to Dustin's room to get one of her presents .

When I walk into Dustin's room Nate and him  were asleep so I try to be as quiet as possible and got the gift from his closet that I had hid there so Dani wouldn't find it.

After getting the gift i went back to Dani's room and placed the gift next to her ,I also had gotten her some flowers but those where for tomorrow for her party,I kind of also had gotten her more gifts even though she told me not to spend too much money on her ,but I did spend too much money on her and I honestly didn't care .

I had to spoil her like she spoils me ,I mean she got me the most expensive chain I've ever had and I take care of it with my life and wear it every single day even to go to sleep .

I might have gone a little Bit overboard with her gifts but she deserves nothing but the best.

You know that money I had saved for the road trip I might have gotten from there to buy her all her gifts.

I know already she was gonna kill me for spending too much money on her but again I don't care I want to spoil her as much as I can.

I might not be able to afford something as expensive as she buys for me .

But one day I promise I'll buy her everything that she deserves and even more.

My watch beep meaning The clock hit midnight ,I lay back down next to Dani, turning her around slightly to face me wrapping my arms around her waist .

"Happy birthday Sweetheart." I whisper on her ear sweetly

"Mmm." She hum

"Happy birthday Dani ,happy birthday Dani ." I started singing to her in her ear .

"Thank you baby ." She said sleepily

"I have something for you ." I whisper

"Huh?" She opened one eye to look at me ,even without makeup she was the most beautiful girl ever. She was my Angel .

Fuck she had me stupidly in love with her.

I reached over the nightstand to get the gift bag and handed it to her .

She sits up with her back against the headboard ,my eyes on her waiting patiently for her to open the gift and also I'm a bit distracted by her being completely naked right next to me .

Her breast on full display and the freshly made love marks from before we went to sleep .

I watch her pull out a small box out of the gift bag .

She opens it slowly to reveal a key inside .

"A key?" She grabs it and looks at me dangling the keys on her hand .

"Yeah,a key to my house ." I say softly my heart was starting to beat irregularly .

"So I get to go in whenever I want?" She ask with a big smile

"Or maybe you can move in with me ."I blurted , Her eyes were wide, her mouth half open.

"Move in with you ?"

"Yes ,you and Nate ,I-I already talk to Wayne and he is ok with everything." I told her stuttering like an idiot.I think I started sweating. Maybe it was hot in here, maybe it was just me getting nervous for her answer .

She looks down at the key then back at me .

"I mean this took me by surprise but you already know my answer baby ." She smiles at me.

"So you move in with me ?" I tilted my head to look at her.

"Yes, but if it's ok with Wayne I mean it's Nate Ozzy and me."

"Sweetheart I already talk to him and he is 

ok with it ." She smiles and nods "so is that a yes?"

"Yes ,I'll move in with you ,but the first thing we are doing is changing that mattress. I don't want to see the  stains of your one night stands to be a reminder that you've been with other girls that weren't me because that makes me so mad  ." She scrunches her nose, crossing her arms over her chest .

"Baby ,you can do whatever you want at my house ." I tell her kissing her forehead.I know she can be pretty jealous ,but it's ok cause I think I'm worse than she is .

"You're gonna regret that ."She moves over to sit on my lap .

"And why is that ?"

"Because you said I could Do whatever I want at your house ."She kisses my lips and my expression changes, realizing what I just said .

"Oh no ,please don't put up the Christmas tree already ." I chuckled

"Noo,that's until November Dummy." She giggle

"I thought it was October when you put it ?" Remembering what Liam Had told me.

"Not anymore ." She Pecks my lips"now can you shut up and Fuck me ." She says in the most  sexiest voice that sends shivers all over my body and she doesn't have to tell me twice cause I was already hard since I woke her up and saw her breast .

"Your wish is my command Darling ."I lift her up a little and align her with my length she looks at me with her half hooded eyes and biting her bottom lip and slowly slides down my length making the sensation feeling incredible and totally forgetting that I was at her mothers house  I let out a loud moan and Dani started chuckling.

"You think that's funny huh?" I said in a low and sultry voice and thrusting up.

She let out the most pornographic moan that got me even more harder if that was even possible .

She immediately raised her hand to her mouth and put her hand on my chest stopping me  "Eddie?"she said breathlessly looking at me she started moving at her own slow pace driving me crazy little by little ,."yes...baby ?" I managed to answer ,but how was I supposed to talk when she was making me feel so damn good the way she moved her hips in circular motion I didn't think I was on this planet anymore I was in heaven ,my eyes roll To the back of my head .

Was now biting my lips to stop the moans coming out of my mouth "I-I want to tell everyone tomorrow at the pool party."she tells me bringing me to reality and she changes her movements starting to jump up and down my legnth making it harder for me to answer the only thing that came out was a groan .

"Ok." I said gripping on her thighs tightly .Fuck she was gonna make me bust right here .

She closes the gap between us kissing me sloppily .

"Are you ok with that ?" She ask

"Mhmm." Was the only thing that came out ,I wasn't thinking straight right now .

I think I was melting with the way she made me feel that way her walls felt in my dick it was an amazing euphoric feeling .

Her wetness in my length  made it easier for me to go in and out without any problem. She was always so ready for me and yeah I let that go to my head .

"Eddie ,oh fuck Ed's"she moaned jumping faster making her breast bounce right in my face ,shit I was in heaven right now .

"Cum." I growled leaning in to suck on that soft spot she loves so much.

And just like that I felt all the wetness from her orgasm dripping down all over my length .

I continue my thrusting helping her ride her orgasm feeling myself getting closer and just like that my orgasm hit me hard moaning loudly, she kisses my lips muffling my moans .

"Happy birthday sweetheart ."

We stayed in the same position for I don't know how long until she finally decided to stand up slowly and peck my lips before she left to go clean herself in the bathroom and brought me a towel to clean myself .

She came back to bed resting her head on my chest and entangling her legs in mine .

"Happy birthday sweetheart ." I whisper before both drifting to sleep .

Morning ....

"Happy birthday mommy !!!" Nate Jumped on top of us in the bed followed by Ozzy who immediately makes himself comfortable on top of Dani.

"Ozzy ." Dani's whines sleepily

I don't even know what time it was but I could see that it was still dark outside.

"Thank you baby ." Dani rasp "come to bed with us." She said sleepily

"Ok,but I want to sleep next to Eddie ." Nate yawns and climbs off the bed coming to my side to laid down picking up the blanket to cover himself.

"Eddie ." He says softly

"Yes buddy ?" I respond sleepily, " Why aren't you wearing clothes ?" Nate asks ,I immediately open my eyes realizing I was butt naked and so was Dani due to one of the birthday presents I gave Dani last night .

"Umm...I ...yeah...I was hot ." Was everything I said"could you turn around buddy so I can change." Nate rolls his eyes and turns around crossing his arms over his chest .

"Tell mommy to put some clothes on too ." Ok ,I have never been more embarrassed in my whole entire life .

Dani got up wrapping herself in a blanket and walked to the restroom chuckling to herself .

"I'm laying down now " Nate tells me, he had his dragon plushie I had gotten for him for his birthday .

I was glad he liked it .

I put on my boxers and a shirt  and checked my phone for the time it was 4am .

"Damn is to fucking early ." I groaned, flopping down in the bed next to Nate .

"Language ." Nate said sleepily

"Sorry buddy ." After a few minutes all I heard  was the small snores of Nate and Ozzy .

How can he go to sleep so fast?

I'm glad Dani had a king size bed because I don't know how we were all going to fit here .

Ozzy was in the far corner then it was Nate then myself .

Dani came out of the bathroom after a few minutes wearing my Dio Shirt and some small shorts and lay down next to me, her being the big spoon, because Nate wanted me to cuddle him .

Just by Dani Hugging me made me feel so comfortable that I fell asleep fast hugging Nate and Ozzy .

-Time skip afternoon-

So short story short we slept more than we were supposed to by waking up at 10am.

I was supposed to meet Harrington at 8am and  I know he wasn't going to be too happy about me being late because the party was starting  at 3 ,but as soon as I checked my phone I had so many missed calls from Harrington.

We were supposed to pick up the cake at the bakery and the balloons at the party place .

I had gotten her red and black balloons because I knew that was her two favorite colors ,I also knew she like hot pink but I couldn't find a hot pink fucking balloon all the pink balloons had Barbie's or other princess shit .

So instead I got her a big latex balloon that said Happy birthday.

They gave us the option of picking up

The balloons the day of the party which it was fine because I had nowhere to hide them .

Harrington had me buy a shit load of balloons  I don't know for what but I still did .

The cake I chose if something more

Her style and her two favorite colors red and black I really hope she did like it as much as I did .

Little Henderson was the one that woke me up first getting after  me saying that Steve has been calling me and other shit .

But I mean who wants to start getting ready for a fucking party  so early in the fucking morning .

Yeah .Harrington does .

But I don't know why he worried so much if we had already paid for the balloons and the cake. I just had to go pick them up .

Shit I also forgot I had to go buy the food as well. I had placed an order for a bunch of Chinese food.I got Dani's favorite chicken fried rice ,jalapeño chicken and other things as well. I was also getting pizza for the people that didn't like Chinese .

"Hurry up!!"I got a text message from

Dustin .

Jesus Christ !!

I could hear him screaming even through text.

I got up fast putting my clothes on and before  leaving I left a note for Dani,and placed a kiss on Dani's lips. I can't leave without my kiss.

But we aren't telling that to anyone because that's not metal at all .

I walked out of the room without making any noise and didn't want to wake Dani up nor Nate .

I heard Ozzy yawning and I turned to look at him and he started wagging his tail .

"Ozzy be a  good boy ok ." I whispered and got out of the room fast. .

On my way out I saw Dani's mom making breakfast.

"Good-morning sweetie  ."

"Good-morning Mrs.Henderson ." She hands me a cup Of coffee and a brown bag to go

"What's this ?"

"Breakfast to go Dusty is already waiting for you in your van ." She tells me sweetly

"Thank you ." I gave her a kiss on the cheek before leaving

She was the nicest lady ever ,she fucking made me breakfast, I ran out of there before I started crying .

And yeah there was Henderson sitting down inside my van giving me a death stare .

I hop on the driver side Henderson giving me a side eye .

"Little Henderson I'm sorry ."

"We are late, we were supposed to do so many things but you'd decided to sleep in ." He crosses his arms over his chest shaking his head

"I'm sorry it was late ." I smile remembering the night before ,fuck it was an amazing night for sure .

"Yeah ,well you Two should keep it low. I'm tired of hearing "ohh Eddie ." "Fuck yeah  Eddie." He says imitating Danis voice .

I blushed so hard and at that moment I wanted to  disappear.I regret not  learning to do magic tricks because if I had I would have been able to disappear right now,but  I don't know if that's even possible .

I didn't even want to look at little Henderson but I could feel his eyes burning in the side of my face .

"Oh little Henderson your sister sounds way hotter than that ." I smirk and continue looking at the road and not at him. I was dying of embarrassment even though I tried to put on a normal face.

"Agh you're disgusting ." He fake gagged

Ha ,got him back .

It was a good come back Eddie .I Tell myself hopefully that way he stops bothering me or maybe Dani and I should be more careful of how loud we are.

Jesus Christ !!

What if her mom heard us too ?

Nope I'm not gonna think of that ....

—————————————-

So after getting the cake and the balloons we headed to Harrington's house he had already decorated the backyard by the pool .

We were making Dani a surprise pool party .

She knew we were coming over to Harringtons for some drinks but she didn't know that it was a party for her .

It was her first real party where she actually got to hang out with everyone and our first public outing as a couple .

Today everyone would know about us and I was nervous I'm not gonna lie.

Harrington knew about us. Apparently he put things together after that night that Dani and I got in a fight because of  my jealousy. He gave me a long speech that I better treat her right or I was going to meet his fist .

But I know damn well that Harrington can't ever win a fight ,that I know thanks to Little Henderson.

But he had nothing to worry because Dani made me change in so many ways ,I never thought that a girl would actually tame me .

For me love never existed. All I ever believed was in a one night stand with whoever I met after a gig or a night out with the boys .

But Dani ,damn she has me so fucking mesmerized she has me under a fucking spell and don't even get me started with Nate I love that boy to death .

Never in a million years would I think I would be loving a kid that wasn't even mine as much as I love Nate. I would do anything for him,I would throw punches at whoever made fun of him Or bully him.

Dani has told me Nate has been home school  since pre school for the reason that when he was in pre school he was bully by fucking pre school kids!!

Man,these kids nowadays are such assholes ,but I blame the parents .

Poor little Nate couldn't defend himself because he couldn't speak but i was going to show him how to defend himself maybe not fighting but how to stand up for himself.

I wanted to protect him ,and now more that this year he is starting 1st grade in Hawkins elementary.

And if any of those little gremlins makes fun of him or calls him any names I'll be the first one to arrive at that school to have a word to whoever was in charge of them .

Yeah ,I would have never thought that I would have myself thinking like that .

I'll even join the PTA shit they have at school just so I can be closer to Nate .

I always thought I wasn't going to be a good father figure but now look at me ,trying to be the best dad for Nate .

"Munson stop playing with that balloons and come help me put up the banner  ." Harrington said, taking me out of my thoughts .

"Going ." I let go of the balloon it almost flew up

To the ceiling but Lucas got it just in time .

"Thanks man ." I told him

"No problem Eddie ." He smiled and ran off with the balloon in his hands and I watched him give it to Max making her smile widely ,im glad those two were trying to work things out .

Good for them..

"Munson stop daydreaming and come help me !!" Harrington shouted he was upstairs trying to hang the banner from the balcony .

"Going sorry ." I walked up the stairs to help him ,but still thinking about how stupid in love I was ,I was down bad for Dani .

Like little Henderson once told me "she has you on a chokehold ." I don't even know what the fuck that  means .

We really need to take that cell phone from him he is always learning new words that make no sense at all.

"Munson ,ok tell me what's wrong you've been in another world ." Harrington tells me getting me out of my thoughts again.

"Huh,sorry man I'm just thinking you know ." I tell him tying up the banner to the railing

"About ?" He ask tying the other side of the banner

"I don't know I'm down bad for Dani and it scares me you know  ." I finished tying up the banner and leaning against the wall .

"You're in love Munson ,I know it's scary but you love every moment of it especially when you're with her ." He smiles looking downstairs at someone but I can't see who he is staring at so I walk over to the railing and see him looking down at Nancy .

"You still love her right ?" I ask without even thinking.

"Ima be honest with you I really do ,I've never stop loving her ,I go out with girls and sleep with them but in my head is always Nancy none of those girls can fill the hole in my chest ,I really truly love her so much ,but what can I do man she is with Jonathan she chose him ." I look down ,Nancy caught a glimpse of Steve watching her and she blushed and waved at Steve and myself .when she was caught.

I could tell she still had a thing for Steve but I honestly don't know what goes through her head making herself suffer with Jonathan ,they're always fighting and he even lied to her about the college he was going to .

I really hope these two finally can get their happy ending.

—————-

After finishing decorating Harrington's house we all headed to our houses to change,I stopped at my house first to get extra clothes .

Dustin was with me. He seemed really excited about surprising his sister. That boy loved her so much and he was also really protective of her .

But that's what brothers are for .

When we arrived Nate was already waiting for us in the living room watching cartoons on the tv ,wearing his dragon swim trunks and Hellfire shirt I've gotten for him he was ready to go swimming .

"Eddie!!" He runs up to me as soon as he sees me walking in the house and jumping into my arms .

"Hi uncle Dustin, I'm glad you're back ." Dustin crosses his arms and raises a brow looking at Nate

"Uncle Dusty you know you're my favorite." He says sweetly at Dustin

I fake gasp and pretend I'm hurt with what he said .

"Eddie, he is my favorite uncle ." He giggles

"I thought I was your favorite ." I pout "you're my favorite but you're not my uncle ." He pauses and jumps down from my arms and sits back in the couch covering his face with his dragon plushie

"Hey buddy what's wrong ?" I walk over to him and kneel down in front of him

He says something but it sounds muffled, but his mouth being covered by the Dragon ,Dustin sits next to him and he has a big smile plastered on his face .

"You're my favorite .." I heard Nate say but the last part he said really low almost as a whisper

I smile and try to take the dragon from him, slowly tickling him .

He starts laughing "are you gonna tell me ." I continue tickling his sides .

"Yes !!" He giggle "But stop." He laughs

"Ok I'll stop ." I chuckle

"You're my favorite Dadda just don't tell my Dadda Liam that because I don't want him to feel bad ,I love my dadda Liam a lot but he never has time to play with me he is always on his phone working  ." I didn't know what to say to him. I know Liam works a lot, he even had to work weekends having two jobs maintaining his and Dani's app and then working with his father,I know one day Nate would understand that .

But what took me by surprise was he said I'm his favorite dad ,did I hear correctly ?

He calls me dad .

Fuck !!

Dani had told me he would call me dad but hearing from him did something to me .

My cold heart suddenly became warm, making me feel so many feelings at the same time ,just like Dani did when she entered my heart .

But these feelings were different. I felt so much love for Nate. These were fatherly feelings that I never thought I was gonna be able to give because I never knew the true meaning of being a father ,but thanks to my uncle Wayne I learned some things .

Tears started trickling down my cheeks and I wiped them away fast with the back of my hand .

"I think you broke Eddie ."

I heard Dustin tell Nate.

Nate cupped my face squeezing it making me look like a fish.

"Are you broken ?" He ask scrunching his nose.

"I'm not broken, I just can't believe you call me dad."my voice sounds shaky

Man,I shouldn't cry. I can't lose my cool in front of little Henderson.

"Nate baby, are you ready ?" Dani's voice came from the hallway saving me .

"Yes momma I'm here with Eddie and uncle Dustin." He shouts back ,

"Ok ,I'll be out in a minute Baby ." She shouts from her room

"Ok,sweetheart ." I shout back

"Ok buddy let's go put your stuff in the car ." I tell him, grabbing his bag "Dani sweetheart, where's your keys to the car ?" I ask her

"On the table next to the lamp in the living room ."

Table next to the lamp ,there they are.

Gotcha

————-

And it wasn't even a minute that Dani took, more like 30 minutes .

After putting the things in the trunk we came back inside and she told us to wait for her in the car and that's where we were right now waiting for her .

"How much longer is Dani gonna take ?" Dustin whined from the backseat .

"I don't know little Henderson ." I turned to check on Nate but he was happily watching videos on his tablet and he had his headphones on so he had no care in the world and Ozzy was sleeping in Dustin's lap..

Nate made my day today That little boy really made me the happiest man alive today he fucking call me his Dad .

Damn !  The tears wanted to come out right there when he call me dad and I  know a few came out but I honestly couldn't care anymore. I was the happiest man alive .

"Sorry I took long ." I was startled by Dani opening the door to the passenger side where I was sitting .

"Jesus Christ !!" I place my hand in my chest trying to catch my breath .

"Sorry ." She coos "now get out." She tells me

"Excuse me ?" I raised my brow,what does she mean to get out ?

"I'm not driving, it's my birthday ." She says in a cute voice ,ok I feel better I thought she was mad at me or something .

I got out of the car and realized that she had dyed her hair the same color she had it when I first met her .

She had reddish orange hair for a while because she couldn't dye her hair red while working at the school and I'm guessing now that she isn't going to work there anymore she went back to  her red hair . Her red hair with blonde tips looks beautiful on her. My heart stops for a moment when she looks at me she looks so fucking beautiful .

Memories from the night I met her flow through my mind and I can't believe I actually am standing in front of her after all those months .

She had minimum makeup on and she look beautiful I can't deny that I was totally in love with her like a fucking idiot if she told me she killed someone I'll help her hide the body ,that's how much fucking in love im With her and it's scary because I don't know how to be a good man to her or a father to Nate . my father was always an ass to me and beat me whenever he didn't like something I did ,he is also the blame that I had a buzzed cut for so long because he said I look like a "Faggot." Because I wanted to have long hair.

I know he hated me because I knew I was the reason my mother was dead .

"Eddie baby are you ok?" I shake my head and smile at Dani "yes sweetheart I was just mesmerized you look so beautiful ." I peck her lips softly

"No ,I don't !! I'm not wearing my usual makeup ." She covers her face

Why can't she never take a compliment ,we are gonna have to work on that .

"So I'm driving your car ?"

"Yes ,you but be nice to him ." She Pecks my cheeks and slides in to the passenger seat

I close the door for her and run to the other side to get in the car .

"So should I be jealous?" I tell her putting on my seatbelt ,she just chuckles and turns on the radio .

I still can't get that hang of that radio is like some alien shit or maybe I wasn't used to that new modern shit .

I was more of a tape kind of guy, maybe I was born in the wrong time .

I adjust the mirrors and my seat. I don't know why Dani likes to sit all the way to the front of the steering wheel but I'm Guessing is the height difference.

So now off to  Harrington's house

At Harrington's

Arriving at Harrington's house I saw a car that I wasn't expecting to see .

Fucking Liam .

Who fucking invited Liam to Dani's surprise party?.

I parked the car far away from his, just because I could ,and got out and went to open the door for Dani. I saw that Nate was still sitting in his car seat looking at me .

I knew what he wanted so I helped Dani out of the car and made my way to open the door for Nate and help him out of his car seat .

"Thank you Eddie ." He smiles, putting his tablet in his backpack and walking to the other side to Dustin and they both grab their bags and head inside the house followed by Ozzy .

That was the whole plan all the time Dani and I went in last ,everyone would get in their positions to surprise Dani .

Plus Dustin and Nate were the signal that Dani was  here so that meant everyone was hiding right now as soon as they saw them walk in .

"Baby let's go inside. I want to get in that pool already ,I can't wait for you to see my bathing suit ." She says excitedly

"Oh really ? Can I have a peek ?" I ask her unbuttoning the very top button from her shirt

"Eddie !" She whined, slapping my hand away "you have to wait ."she giggled and ran away towards the door .

Shit that wasn't supposed to happen. I ran after her calling her name but she beat me by opening the door and closing it behind her .

And all I heard was surprise and Dani screaming .

Shit, I ran and opened the door and there she stood with both of her hands on her mouth, everyone staring down on the floor where Liam was ,ha  did she punched him.

Yeah, she did ...

"Oh shit she got you good " i cackle

"I'm so sorry Liam." Dani kept saying over and over again "is that you scared me ." She kneels down to help him up .

"It's ok, don't worry ." He stood up "surprised ." He winced and gave Dani a hug. His arms went way down, almost touching her ass.

I could feel my eye twitching ,this man had the audacity to do that infront of all our friends and me!!!

I heard some awww and some boos when they hugged.

Of Course they didn't know about us so they were rooting for them to get back together.

But that was going to change today because everyone will know about us .

I still wonder who invited him.

"Have you thought of what I told you ?" I heard him whisper to her and Dani pulled away looking at him ,his arms weren't leaving her waist ,I think that was a very long hug for my liking .

I stood there in back of them like a security trying to protect her from anything .

Our friends gave me  a stare and Jeff and Grant called me over, signaling me for us to go outside .

But I didn't want to move from my spot .

Steve and Gareth came over to my side in case something went wrong .

Their  hands on my shoulders holding me in case I snap .

"Liam ,please not here and if you really want that answer is a no I chose him ." I heard her tell him then look back at me and smile .

I smiled back ,a big toothy smile. I felt Gareth and Steve pat my back and walk away when they knew it was safe and I wasn't going to do anything stupid.

Ok ,suddenly my smile faded .

Did he ask her to take him back ?

When was this ?

And she didn't  tell me ?

Was she thinking about it ?

"Danielle!!!" The door to the front opens and A loud shriek coming out of someone screaming Dani's name follows.

Dani turned around with a big smile on her face and ran past me leaving Liam standing there looking like a fool .

I turned around to see what all the commotion was about a skinny blonde girl around Dani's height was the one making that awful sound .

"Cinthia!" Liam ran over to join the hug

"Cinthia?" Fucking Cinthia who made it her purpose to turture me for two fucking years Cinthia.

Great fucking great .

After that reunion ,Dani went to go say thank you to everyone for making her this party and of course I was by her side like a lost puppy .

Her hand on mine and our fingers intertwined she  pulled me with her saying hi to everyone .

She had no care of the stares we were getting from everyone.

Especially from Cinthia and Liam.

I could feel their eyes burning in the back of my head .

But I just ignore them .

Nobody asks questions as to why she was holding my hand .

Finally after saying hi to everyone we went outside and sat by the pool looking at Dustin and the kids playing in the water .

I kept getting up when I would see Nate go under water, almost pulling my hair out .

"Baby i sit down ,he is gonna be fine ." I feel Dani wrapped her arms around my waist From the back and I jump scared that someone would see us .

"I'm sorry it's just a habit ." I pull her close by her hips, and without thinking or caring I peck her pretty plump lips .

And it felt right so fucking right .

She pulled me right back to her lips wrapping her hands around my neck and I didn't fight it at all. My arms went around her waist pulling her closer to me every inch of her body was align to mine .

Was this her way to tell everyone she was taken ?

Taken by me Eddie the Freak Munson.

I heard gasps and some noo .

Dustin shouted finally .

And then Cinthia's voice was heard

"No fucking way she changed you for the freak !!"

Fuck you cinthia.

Dani pulls away her hands and slides it to my cheek caressing it .

"I love you Eddie Munson ." Cinthia kept talking loudly to Liam saying stupid things, making me mad.

I was about to turn to say something but Dani cupped my face .

"I love you and only you Eddie, I chose you ."she pecked my lips again.

"I love you too sweetheart ."

"Way to go Munson !!" Jeff shouted and our whole friends started cheering for us .

"Finally ,I'm not the only one that knows !!" Gareth shouted

"Hey ,I knew ." I heard Steve tell

Him .

Now our whole friends knew about us there was gonna be no more hiding.

"You want to go in the pool ?"dani ask unbottoning her shirt .

"No, it's fine ." I reply

"Are you sure?" She smiles, taking off her shirt slowly then her shorts .

"Jesus Christ Danielle !!" I gasp she was wearing a fucking two piece bathing suit with black sheer  crop top and a black sheer skirt .

What's wrong baby ? You don't like my outfit ?" She said in a sexy tone

"I-Is not that i fucking  love it but I think you're showing a little bit too much for my liking ." I managed to say through all the drooling .

And plus I didn't want Liam to be eye fucking her .

She giggles and walks over to me "you silly boy I can see you like it very much ." She teased her eyes going down from my face to my growing bulge in my jeans .

Yeah i like a lot and fuck !!!

This was embarrassing. I had to go sit down and cover my growing bulge with her shirt .

"I'll be in the pool Ed's." She shouted and jumped in the pool splashing me .

She took awhile To come out from under the water so I got closer to the edge to check on her and suddenly she emerged from under the pool pulling me in with her getting me all wet .

I wasn't even mad .

Everybody started laughing and cheering,suddenly everyone started jumping into the pool with us except for two grumpy people in the crowd Liam and Cinthia .

I swam over to Dani who had swam away from me giggling trying to be as far away from me as possible while she got distracted by Dustin and Nate. I went under the water and grab her from her waist and pulled her under the water with me crashing my lips in hers.

I've always wanted to do this.

And I finally did and it was the most romantic shit I've ever done in my whole entire fucking life .

It wasn't metal at all .

We submerge from under the water almost out of breath from all the kissing .

Dani wrapped herself around me just like a baby koala.

Peppering kisses all over my face .

"I'm free to kiss you whenever I want to kiss you she giggle peppering my face with kisses.

"Sweetheart you're making me hard "yes I had to ruin the moment but what can I do when she is wrapped around me like that and wearing that bathing suit .

"Get a room!!" Gareth shouted

"Fuck off ,im finally able to touch her whenever the Fuck I want !!" I shouted back flipping off Gareth

"Language !!" Nate shouted

"Sorry buddy ." I said sweetly

"Hey !!that's not fair your nice to

Him!" Gareth jumps in the water splashing Dani and I .

"Hey !!" I splash him back

"Guys !!" Dani squeal then we heard another splash

"Nate !!!" Dustin shouted and both Dani and I turned to see Nate had slipped while he was running by the edge .

But Ozzy jumps in just in time to catch Nate .

"I love that fucking dog ." Liam had jumped in the water too swimming over to ozzy and Nate as well as Dani and I swam over  ,

Nate was laughing and I'm glad he was ok Ozzy came to the rescue now Nate was riding him

All over the pool with Dustin behind them .

As the day became night, most of the family members that had come left, leaving us to continue celebrating Dani's birthday .

Dustin and Nate and the rest of the kids headed over to the pool house to play on Dustin's game system .

They were tired of swimming and I'm glad they were out of the pool because I was dying of the nerves I kept checking on Nate every second .

Maybe I was overprotective but I didn't care.

Dani and I as well and the rest got out of the pool and sat down on the ground in a circle .

Dani was sitting down in between my legs. We had a big towel covering both of us .

Now that I was able to touch her in public I couldn't take my hand off of her .

"So how long has this been going on ?" Robin was the first to ask

"A while ." Dani responds

"Did you know he was your student ?" Jeff ask

"Actually she didn't ." Now i was the one to respond "we met in The Hideout ." I tell

Them

"Shit ,was she the hot girl at the bar that you couldn't take your eyes off ." Grant ask looking at me then at the boys.

"Holy shit !! Yes the redhead !I remember that  night man "Gareth tells me

"Yeah ,yeah shut your mouth ." I hissed I didn't want him Making a fool of myself .

Dani turns slightly and kisses my jaw "Where you watching me from the stage that night ." She giggles

"Maybe ." I bit my bottom lip

"So you Two lovebirds have been dating since when to be exact ?" Robin ask

"Well as soon as I found out he was my student i stop everything ." Dani looks at me recalling the moment we decided to stop everything the night that broke my heart .

"Yeah ,Dani stop everything but having her as my teacher was the hardest thing I ever had to do especially when there was a bunch of horny teenagers flirting with her every fucking single day." I sounded mad and I was .

"So you fell for the freak ?" Cinthia finally spoke she has been quiet all this time listening to everyone talk .

"Cinthia he is not a freak and I would appreciate it if you stop calling him that his name is Eddie ." Dani defended me. No other girl has ever done that for me .

And I felt like the proudest guy in the world. My girl defended me .

Robin and Nancy chuckle I could tell

They didn't like her but we had to deal

With her because of Dani .

"Well you fell for Eddie here ." Cinthia rolls her eyes 

"Yes, I did, it got to a point where  I couldn't see him as my student anymore every-time I would

Look at him his eyes where on me already and it made me so nervous it was hard for me

To teach when he was looking at me with those chocolate eyes ." She stops and looks down at her fingers .

"And what happen next ?!" Steve ask wanting her to continue the story

"Well I saw him with Chrissy one day and it made me mad ,I mean i had no reason to be mad because I wasn't with him I mean two months had passed but he also made me a promise that he would graduate so we could be together and it broke my heart seeing him with her after the promise he made, it broke my heart into a million pieces ." She pauses to catch her breath. I held her tighter to me .

"You asshole ." Robin hisses at me flipping me off

"I didn't break any promise ." I defend myself "I was helping her out to make Jason jealous. I swear that's the truth. I even explained that to Dani that same afternoon in her car and we decided to meet that same night to talk and now here we are 5 months later happy ." I kissed Dani's cheek

"Yes,that night was the best night of my life I mean I was risking everything for Eddie but I knew he was worth it,then I took him to New York as a Christmas gift for him And he met Nate for the first time and he accepted me and Nate ,he didn't judge me for having a kid a a young age ,then Nate got so attached to Eddie and it's rare for him to like someone." She looks at Liam in the last part.

"That right that caught me off guard. I've never thought my son would actually like someone else so fast but He likes you A lot Eddie he even tells me his momma boyfriend is  a rockstar ." He chuckles. Then looks at me "Nate really loves you."

"I love him too and trust me I'm trying

My best to be a good role model for him."

   I can't deny this was the best day of my life .

Finally I was able to kiss Dani whenever I wanted and show her off to the whole world .

I know there are going to be judgements from this town because no matter what someone does they always have to criticize people.

I know Dani is already prepared for all the talk and so am I and we are going to face this together as a couple.

Next chapter

[tinyzoologist]

Um… who let me watch The Bear and The Terror in the same week? Anyway. Welcome to Hickey’s cursed little sandwich shop, where the prices are low and the meat is… something! 

modern AU, 556 words.

cw: implied cannibalism, fantasized violence, all around creepy behavior. 

He sees her through the frosted glass of the shop window. Must be 12:15, then. Every day, like clockwork - wrapped in fur, eyes like frozen concrete. Never speaking and never alone.

“Henry, check the walk-in for extra lettuce, yeah?” Hickey calls over his shoulder, honey-sweet and not a moment too soon. Can’t have Goodsir sniffing around behind the counter, making those big sad eyes at one of his only regulars. Not like Hickey’s still got him chained up in the basement overnight. Not like it’s his fault med school dropouts are pretty damn excellent at cutting meat. Goodsir could leave - so far he hasn’t. And Silence doesn’t need to come and get her lunch here every day - and yet she’s jingling the bell above his door right now. Peculiar thing, that. 

“The usual, love?” he asks, just to see her features curl into a hateful frown even as she nods her head. The dog beside her growls, low and deep in its chest. She doesn’t even have that thing on a leash but it sits there all the same, unmoving on its powerful white haunches, fixing Hickey with eyes that are too blue and too human and just… wrong. 

Coins clack on the countertop. He doesn’t need to count them to know it’s exact change for a tuna melt and a slice of beef tongue. He counts them anyway, flashes his customer a satisfied smirk that makes her flinch. The dog growls again.

“All good out here, boss?” Solomon, that protective idiot, pokes his head out of the kitchen, bread knife in hand as he nervously eyes both woman and beast. 

“Just peachy,” Hickey smiles, gaze still locked on the animal. Pets aren’t allowed in his shop but he’ll gladly make an exception for this one. He’s spent more than a few nights lying awake, wondering what it must be like, walking the streets with that kind of creature at your beck and call, crowds parting for you, knowing in your very bones that those powerful jaws answer to you and you alone… 

“Order up!” Thomas calls from the back. The sandwich is hot in Hickey’s clammy grasp, even through the wrapper. Silence snatches it from his hand, diligently avoiding his skin. He cuts the strip of tongue himself, paper-thin and pink as it curls in the woman’s palm, watches the dog swallow it down, nosing and lapping at its owner’s fingers with so much tenderness… Does it know it could take off her hand with one bite? 

Silence slaps her thigh once and the beast stands, turning to leave. Hickey knows he could tell one of his men to follow her. Knows any of them would jump at a chance to wring a noise, any noise, out of that eternally unmoving mouth. Well, maybe not Goodsir - weak stomach on that one. And scheming little shits they might be, maybe they deserve a bit more of his trust than he’s been willing to give them. After all, they’ve kept their traps shut about the men he’s been fucking in the storage closet, about this place’s previous owner and all the unlabeled hunks of meat in the big freezer chest. They’ve been good. They deserve a bit of fun.

“Tomorrow,” Hickey mutters to himself as the door jingles shut again. He wipes his counter and smiles. 

[theycallme-thejackal]

One MidgeLenny x TSwift Fic Per Day

145. The Way I Loved You

Archie and Gordon head over to the bar for fresh drinks, leaving Midge and Imogene at the table.

Imogene turns to her with a smile. “He’s wonderful, Midge,” she gushes, squeezing her hand.

Midge smiles tightly. “Yeah, he is,” she agrees, looking toward the bar where her boyfriend is leaning on the bar, chatting good-naturedly with Archie.

Gordon is wonderful. He’s kind and generous. He’s good to her. He’s looking for the exact same things Midge is...but it’s not quite right.

She finds herself missing Lenny.

Even though they were a train wreck, even though they both acted insane, she’s never loved anyone the way she loved him. She’s never felt anything as strongly as she did with Lenny. With Gordon, she just...exists.

It would break her heart if she could manage to feel anything for him.

Lenny is wild and crazy and frustrating, but the biggest mistake she’s ever made was letting him go.

“It’s not going to last,” she admits to Susie a few days later as she sits on the other side of their booth at the Stage Deli.

“What isn’t?” Her manager asks through a mouthful of roast beef sandwich.

“Gordon. My relationship. It’s...” She shrugs. “It’s not going anywhere.”

“I could’ve told you that,” Susie comments.

Midge furrows her brow. “Then why didn’t you?” She asks indignantly.

“When was the last time you took my advice about dating?” Susie retorts. “I told you your husband was an asshole, you tried to make your marriage work. I tell you not to date a comic, you fuck Lenny Bruce for months. My best bet is to keep my opinions on your love life to myself.”

“But - ”

Susie waves her hand, stopping her. “Unless somehow your vagina starts writing jokes, I have no interest in getting involved with it. My job is to get you work. My job isn’t to bash your head into a wall until you realize you’re doing something stupid in your love life.”

“But you’re my friend,” Midge whines pathetically.

“Yeah, I am,” Susie agrees. “And the best way to guarantee we stay friends is for me to say as little about your boyfriends as possible, got it?”

Midge sighs, “Fine.”

Susie takes another bite of her sandwich as Midge swirls her spoon in her soup, and she can feel the older woman’s eyes on her. “You’re still in love with Lenny Bruce, aren’t you?”

“I thought you didn’t want to talk about it,” Midge counters with a raised brow.

“You’re moping. You’re not funny when you mope.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“Answer the question.”

Midge drops the spoon unceremoniously. “Yeah,” she admits. “I am. But what difference does it make?”

Susie shrugs. “I dunno. But maybe dating the most boring guy in America isn’t the way to get over it.”

“He’s not that boring,” Midge challenges.

“The guy has less personality than a cardboard box. He’s only famous because he’s a mildly good-looking white guy who knows how to kiss ass,” Susie grumbles. “You went from dating the best comic in the business to a slice of white bread.”

Midge huffs a sigh and leans on her elbow. “You know, if I break up with him, I’ll probably get fired,” she points out.

“Yeah, and?”

“What do you mean, and?” Midge cries.

“You’ve gotten fired before. Unless you’re gonna have a meltdown and refuse to work anywhere but a shitty strip joint, we’ll get through it,” Susie reasons as she bites a fry from her plate.

Midge feels like crying, but she manages to breathe through it. “Why are you being so nice about this?” She asks.

“You��re writing for a guy who isn’t funny - therefore you haven’t been as funny. I want you back on track,” Susie answers easily.

She smiles softly. “Thank you, Susie,” she whispers.

“Yeah, yeah. Eat your soup.”

[aetheternity]

How they simp ft the Aot boys

This is both Aot universe and Modern universe. I’ll separate them accordingly. 

(The charismatic simp): Jean  

•Aot verse:

☆ He's gonna become your friend as soon as he realizes he has a crush on you and he'll do everything in his power to stay by your side when that happens.

☆ He'll slide into the first available seat next to you in the mess hall and bring extra bread so that he can slide it onto your plate if you're extra hungry.

☆ If you spend a lot of time in the library he'll find a book similar to whatever he'd seen you reading before. (Of course he has to ask Armin what kind of books would be similar to your current choice.)

☆ And once he knows your favorite genre he'll head to the library late at night and grab a couple from that genre. Bookmarking his favorite pages so he can talk to you about it and you'll think he's super smart. (He's definitely fallen asleep with many books on his lap, chest and head since he started crushing on you.)

☆ If you have a hobby that's more interactive like sewing or flower picking he'll offer to carry your little basket or wear the thing you're currently stitching up so you can work better.

☆ And yes he did get caught wearing flowers in his hair by Eren. But it was because you'd smiled so fondly at him while sticking daisies in his brown hair. Giggling so cutely when they fell out. And he was gonna take that memory to his fucking grave regardless of what titan idiot had to say about it.

☆ And yes he did get caught wearing a skirt that you were fixing for Historia. By both Connie and Levi.

☆ Levi who went pale in the face and looked as though he was secretly praying for his own demise to come soon as he slowly closed the door and walked away.

☆ And Connie who laughed so hard he choked on his own spit and had to be helped to the infirmary because he was now coughing every time he breathed. So Karma ig 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

☆ He just has to touch you..

☆ Oh God he wants to. He's gonna find a way. Whether it's a little shoulder nudge when you're complimented during meetings by higher ups. Or pats on your back.

☆ If you confide in him about your lack of confidence before a mission he's gonna sit with you and talk you through your feelings.

☆ He does this thing where he leans into you when talking. Rests his hand on your lower back as his breath touches your ear. Whispers sweet compliments into your ear because you need that shit.

☆ And it's good enough to make your toes curl.

☆ Guides you by the wrist through thick crowds so you don't get overwhelmed or lost and sometimes you expect it so you reach out for him and the two of you end up holding hands instead.

☆ He's become your little nurse. Like of course he's worried when you get hurt but there's also the opportunity to fix you up. So silver linings 🙄.

☆ If you're allergic to anything he doesn't have it in his first aid kit. Sometimes you'll get like the smallest little bruise on your knee of some shit. And it's not even from training, you just happened to trip while cleaning the stables and now: thumb sized bruise. But he's like "I don't care, sit so I can clean it."

☆ "It could get infected!" He'll try to convince you but like no, no it couldn't come on now it wasn't even really bloody..

☆ If you just so happen to have extra chores he'll go out and bring you some water then offer to help. Or he'll just ask Levi if he can go help you.

☆ "Those boxes could be heavy." He'll tell the Captain. "We don't need anyone getting unnecessarily injured before the next mission." And of course Levi knows what he's doing and sends him to go help because he honestly doesn't wanna listen to this anymore.

☆ If you have back problems or even if you don't he wants to carry your bag. No you don't get a say in it. But you can go ahead and argue with him if you want to.

• "I just think it looks too heavy."

• "Jean, I'm ok I promise."

• "Ok how about this? Let me hold it for a couple minutes then I'll give it right back."

☆ Yeeeaah. You're not getting your shit back. He's gonna walk you all the way to your designated location and then put the bag down where you need to be for that time period. Even if it completely inconveniences him.

☆ And he won't tell you that he had a meeting that he's now over 12 minutes late to. You don't need to know it'd just worry you for no reason.

☆ He has adapted some sort of like sixth sense when it comes to you. Like sometimes he'll wake up in the middle of the night to pee and just so happens to walk past your bedroom door as you're reading a book on the floor or crying or something.

☆ And now he's sitting with you even though his organs are currently failing.

☆ He'll bring you a glass of water or tea or whatever you want. You want food? He'll find it. Want a book? He'll go get it.

☆ Sometimes he sits in bed with you and just lets you cuddle up to him or reads you a book as you lay on his chest listening to the unsteady beats of his heart. Unsteady cause ya know it's you laying on him. And yeah his face is becoming redder by the second but he can't stop staring at your sleeping face. Even if you snore louder than a titan stomping he doesn't give a single fuck.

☆ At some point everyone thinks you two are dating and they talk to you both as if this is the case but you're not! At least not until Jean finally explains that yes, he does have, "Feelings for you." Tells you exactly how long in fact because to him it's crucial.

☆ When he kisses you it's the type of kiss that makes you suck in air. He takes you by the shoulders, slowly looking for even the smallest bit of hesitation in your face and presses his lips to yours. When you pull away you're lightheaded, pupils blown as you look at him with stars in your eyes.

☆ "Oh.. wow." Is all you mutter.

☆ Good luck, you just fed his giant ego.

•Modern verse:

☆ Modern day Jean is more shy and reserved. He'll definitely try to become your friend but he probably has a lot less opportunities to get you alone.

☆ If you both work at the same place you're probably both confined to your own spaces and if you both go to the same school you might have separate classes.

☆ So here's what he's doing: finding anyway, shape or form to invite you out.

☆ He got an extra ticket to a concert. He'll just not tell Connie and invite you to come with him. Because you know.. you deserve a break after work right? There's a new restaurant opening near him? Cool he's already on the phone telling you their entire menu. (He might have memorized it before calling but he won't tell you he's reading off the menu.)

☆ Sometimes he might go to your desk and leave you something sweet or cute. Like candy or little desk ornaments but he's always too shy to write a note that has his name at the bottom so he settles for staying anonymous. His heart immediately grows three sizes when he sees you playing with the desk ornament he left or eating the candy while typing away at the computer.

☆ He'll look out your favorite band so he can find out when they'll come to the city where you guys live and buy the tickets. Maybe he stays up all night, what does it matter sleep is for the weak.

☆ Or he'll find out your favorite restaurant and go there when he knows you might be going so he can just happen to run into you. No obviously it's not creepy. 😑

☆ If he can't seem to connect with you plan b is to pimp out Sasha. He just has to connect with you! So he'll get Sasha to find out any useful information on you and report back or he'll ask Sasha to become close with your best friends.

☆ If not Sasha then Connie 🤷‍♀️

☆ Once he gets useful information that's when he steps in. Oh you have a presentation for school to work on? He's at your door at 10pm with snacks (that he knows you love thanks to Sasha), energy drinks, and information on the topic you're working on.

☆ I'm talking he brought papers full of information in case you need to beef up your slides. He also brought his own laptop so he can search up any information that seems incorrect. He'll listen to you as you talk about your project and give you feedback on your performance.

☆ This might take all night but he can't help his desire to help you. And of course he's not gonna tell you if he has his own homework to work on.

• "You think it's good? Really?" You'll ask as you close your laptop for the night.

• "You're gonna get an A. Especially since I helped so now it's guaranteed."

• He loves the way you snort and roll your eyes at him when he says this.

• "Thanks Jean, you're a life saver."

☆ If you hug him you might also need to help him up off the floor or bandage him up cause he's gonna hurt himself from the shock and excitement.

☆ If you have a work presentation or just in general need help with something you're doing for your boss. He'll dedicate as much time as he has open to helping you with that too.

☆ Need coffee before your presentation? He's running to the nearest shop. Don't really understand the project your boss gave you? He'll work you through it the whole night.

☆ If you happen to tell him on a Friday that something in your house needs fixing all of a sudden he's 'Fix it Jean' now he's telling you he can fix it tomorrow and the second he hangs up he's looking up how to fix a clogged valve or some shit.

☆ And Sasha and Connie are like, "Sir, what made you think you were a handy man??"

☆ He manages though. Brings like three books to your house and looks through all of them simultaneously. Thinks he messed everything up and is about two seconds away from crying on your floor like a toddler with a spilled juice box but he pulls through surprisingly. Has your shit fixed and gets a little kiss on the cheek.

☆ Which leads into him guiltily explaining the truth and telling you everything. From the trinkets to the tickets to now with this thing he nearly ruined in your apartment. But he's so relieved to see you're grateful for everything instead of annoyed like he'd been believing in his head.

☆ Now he gets a real kiss. And Modern day Jean is built different. He's so nervous to touch you like you're made of glass. But when he does he's got his hands on your sides, keeping you in place like you'll run. Your fingers delicately threading through his hair. Giving you the kind of kiss you don't wanna pull away from. You become so quickly attached to the taste of his lips and the subtle beats of hesitation still lingering on him.

☆ You wanna pull his tongue into your mouth. Keep him so close but he pushes you back. "I wanna take you on a date." He mutters with glassy eyes and bright cheeks.

☆ And obviously you say, "Yes."

(The informed simp): Armin

•Aot verse:

☆ As everyone has said a thousand times before. Armin is an informed simp. And within the first week of knowing he has a crush on you he has information on, your family life before you joined the Corp, your favorite food, your favorite color, your favorite flower, your hobbies etc etc.

☆ And every bit of that information is stored in his file cabinet like brain.

☆ When he found out your favorite color he wore it as often as possible in out of uniform situations. Even if it was just accenting the rest of his clothes he found a way to wear it somewhere.

☆ He skimmed through books that had information on attraction and started subtly complimenting you to make you notice him.

• "Hi, [Name] that jacket really brings out your eyes."

• "It's the same jacket everyone's wearing Armin.."

• "Oh.. yeah.."

☆ Sneaks references to things you like into conversation as often as possible. Because you know, right after a meeting is the best time to talk about how your favorite song is tied to the fact that your mom used to sing it to you to help you sleep?? 😃

☆ More power to him.. he's a little confused but he's got the spirit.

☆ He slipped flowers into your favorite books but it didn't really seem to matter because he was never there when you actually encountered the flowers. (But he did often see you talking about the plants with your friends and twirling them between your fingers) good enough.

☆ He found out ways to better help your digestion. You know because what's love if not healthy bowel movements.. cause like every other attempt made him look stupid so he looked through some books on foods to help keep your colon healthy. And he explained it over dinner..

☆ Safe to say the only one who thought this topic was at all interesting was Levi.

☆ He's absolutely bombing and he hates it. At this point you only give him shy little smiles and then just walk away. He knows you probably don't hate him but he hates that nothing is working for him.

☆ At some point Eren's talking to him solo and he explains that he knows about his crush on you. Following it up promptly with, "Why don't you just tell [Name] that everything you were doing wasn't to be weird, at this point coming clean is probably the only way you could still have a chance."

☆ And he hates it that Eren's right. But he marches right up to you when you have chores out in the stables because if he didn't he'd never say all the things rushing around in his brain.

• "Hi Armin." You greet with that smile.. that smile that makes his stomach tense and his heart want to burst.

• He breathes in before replying, "[Name], I.. like you.." You pause where you're getting water for the horses to see his sun kissed red cheeks. "Everything I've done is because I really like you.." He continues, letting out a shaky breath.

☆ A period of far too long goes by with neither of you saying a word and his blue eyes flicker up to you in concern. When you clap your hands together he nearly parts from his skin.

• "Oh! That explains the weird compliments and the stuff about my mom!" You sigh, slapping your head with a smile. "Oh thank God. Armin I like you too."

☆ More silence because 1. He didn't think you'd like him back and 2. Holy shit you like him back!! He's simultaneously having a party in his brain and melting into the floor.

☆ When he finally kisses you it's unsure. Makes you lean into him. Sweet but subtle like gentle breezes on a hot day. His mouth is closed and his arms cautiously wrap around your waist looking for any sign that you want to get out. But you don't. You just wanna keep pecking his cute little lips because he's so cute and everything he's done is so cute.

• "Finally." You guys turn to see Mikasa and Eren.

• "It's about time." Mikasa greets with a little smirk.

☆ And Armin is practically fainting trying desperately to explain that it wasn't what it looked like but his face continues to tell your little audience that yes. Yes it is what it looks like.

•Modern verse:

☆ Modern day Armin is equipped with an advantage.

☆ Fucking social media.

☆ He went to your page and found out your birthday, your family's last name, how many friends you have in real life. Shit if he dug around long enough he could've probably found your heritage portfolio and your social security. (Social media's a little dangerous sometimes..)

☆ So when he becomes your friend and gets your cell number (Another thing he could've probably dug up online.) He sends you things you might love at any and all times of the day. He spends every free second he has, from lunch time to the last hour he has before he really has to go to sleep researching shit you might like so he can send it to you.

☆ And modern day Armin is so sexy in how he manages to get you into a ton of situations featuring him, your cute little blond simp. Modern day Armin needs to write romance anime 😭

☆ He heard you like aquariums not only did he send you a website to get those tickets way cheaper but he also invited himself (telling you that he was already going). And planned to take you around the city to get your favorite food and any other activities where he could drop his extensive knowledge on marine life. Oh you love astronomy? No problem he was just about to go to the planetarium this weekend, you should definitely go along so he can take you to the planet's light show and stare at you instead of the stars.

☆ Oh your favorite movie is coming out? He had no idea.. he just happened to have an extra ticket to see it the day it comes out. Not only is it now free of charge to you for that but he's also already brought a bunch of your favorite snacks to line his backpack with. Even if your favorite snacks are from a different country he got them express shipped so they'd be there sooner.

☆ He also has weather apps on his phone and laptop so that he'll know if the weather changes even the smallest fraction so that he can take you anywhere else if needed.

☆ Yes he definitely has spent a shit ton of money on you but every time he takes you somewhere your face lights up so beautifully that he'd repeatedly slam his credit card on the table to buy you a plane ticket if you even hinted at wanting it.

☆ In this beautiful opposite world you definitely confessed to him. (You better for his pain and suffering.)

☆ He could've jumped for joy knowing his plans worked perfectly but he simply takes a deep breath, eyes full of contentment as he mumbles, "I feel the same way."

☆ When he kisses you it's with his thumbs lightly rubbing the small of your back. Chewing gum spit out only fifteen minutes ago so his breath was still perfectly fresh. Adding just enough tongue to make you arch and gasp into his mouth. And yeah, he read up on how to do that too. And now that you're his, he's gonna need two jobs cause he came to spoil. No you don't get a say in it.

(The interested simp): Eren

•Aot verse:

☆ Yeah I know this one's weird but let me explain. Eren's simping capabilities are so simple they can be so easily described as, interested.

☆ He legit figured out he had a crush on you and then about 15 minutes later he'd found out everything you'd wanna be if you lived to see the end of the war.

☆ It's so obvious he's simping hard, I mean man's was enamored by you talking about your parents workshop back home. 🙄 You know what I don't even think he was actually interested he was probably playing it up but lowkey disassociated

☆ He definitely gets made fun of for it on the daily too but unlike Jean he kinda shrugs it off.

☆ He's not gonna scavenge the earth for information on you. He's gonna let you tell him and he wants you to tell him. Tell him literally everything about yourself and you will cause he'll know if you don't.

☆ Sometimes he plays little games with you to try to figure out some kind of information about you on like a long ride back from a mission or something. It helps him ease the tension in his brain and gives him something new about you. Win-win

☆ He beat the fucking system by just getting you to talk about you and dropping things you both have in common into conversation. He really did better than Armin!

☆ If you have trouble during training he'll talk you through what you're doing wrong and help you work through your issues. If that leads to some touching well then that's just how things will go 🤷‍♀️

☆ The second he has your favorite color in his mind he's buying you a piece of jewelry with the same stone color. Yes this is him marking you as his and no you probably won't realize but the second you put it on in his eyes you belong to him. And now you can never take it off. 😃

☆ He has a little notebook (not for writing journal entries or anything.) It's just sometimes he forgets certain things you tell him and you pretend to pout when he asks for the information again so he writes it down in the notebook so he can read it and remember it again.

☆ There have definitely been instances on more than one occasion where the two of you would stay up all night talking. Sneak into the other person's room. Sitting on the floor together or side by side on the bed. Those are definitely the best nights because you get to show off your Eren trivia and prove you've retained just as much information on him as he has about you.

☆ Another scenario has presented itself in which you're the one who ends up confessing. Eren would come close cheeks flush with pink and whisper, the ghost of his lips on yours, "I think it's kinda obvious how I feel." When he kisses you it's with both hands cupping your cheeks. So hot against your face. Thumbs curving delicately over your skin. He's leaning into your lips over and over again. Recapturing them every time he pulls back but he also loves making you work for it a little, smirking when you have to strech to capture his lips again. Taking every bit of oxygen from your body. You kinda hold onto him with slightly shaky arms when he's finished. But honestly he's only finished for now cause he'll never get enough of your lips now that he's had a taste.

•Modern verse:

☆ Modern day Eren talked to you before he realized he was attracted to you and you haven't gotten rid of him since the day he realized he wanted you.

☆ He sees you walking to your next class or to the copy machine and he trots his way over to match your pace.

☆ When he's not with you, he's texting you nonsensical stuff he thinks you'll find funny. And when he is with you he's listening to every word you say with the dopiest grin adorning his features.

☆ Sometimes when you're talking he'll unsubtly lick his lips to see if he can make your eyes follow his tongue or he'll lean in closer, kinda crowding you a little if you're both standing. Speaking of crowding he pulls you into him by your hips if you just happen to be standing in the way and someone needs to get past you two.

☆ You'll never understand how much harder he falls for you when you look up at him through your pretty lashes. Hands slightly on his chest.

☆ He loves annoying you. Doing little shit like poking you with the eraser on his pencil or snatching your books from you when you're writing while he's talking. Cause he just thinks you should be staring into his eyes while he talks in the same way he does with you.

☆When he brings you dinner he always brings himself something to eat as well and he'll plop down next to you and ask you for details about your day. Smiling fondly at you when you complain about minor inconveniences.

☆ He loves your fingers so much. If he's not staring into your eyes he's looking at the way your thumb drags over your dripping boba/coffee. The way your fingers click perfectly over every key on your laptop. Every now and then he'll reach out for your hands massaging the knuckles because he just wants to touch them so bad. Bonus points if you smile at him while he does it.

☆ Not gonna lie it could definitely go either way with a confession. But it's probably more likely going to be on you unless he just so happens to accidentally confess while sleepy or drunk.

☆ When he kisses you, he cups your chin pulling you close, angling his tongue so it slides right up against your teeth. He softly hums into your mouth and you can tell he's at least a little nervous but his touch is so perfect. His thumb sliding over the edge of your lips as he sucks your tongue into his mouth. You're more than a little ashamed at the whine you let out when he pulls away. But the way he's blushing makes you feel at least a little bit better.

(The Childish simp): Connie

•Aot verse:

☆ Let's be honest, he doesn't know what he's doing. You know, cause you're his first crush.

☆ He's going to work extra hard to drop even the most random jokes and then look directly at you hoping you laugh. Just laugh cause if you don't he might repeat the joke again and that'd be uncomfortable for everyone.

☆ And when you crack a joke he's out here guffawing like it's the best thing he's ever heard. Like he'll legit pause all conversation with his loud ass laughing and everyone in the room is just like: 😒

☆ If he gives you gifts they're normally things he thinks are cool or awesome but every now and then he'll pick a flower and just randomly stuff it in your hair and when you look at him confused smile adorning your face he'll say, "It fits your face." And then awkwardly gesture at you. All you can really say is thank you.

☆ He practically crashes into the seat next to you at meetings. Jean dead ass started pretending to race him for the seat next to you and one time he tipped the chair over and fell on top of it, Levi made him reenter the room properly after he'd managed to stand up.

☆ He sometimes does that I'm not touching you thing to get your attention or taps your shoulder then looks away as you turn to look at him. He'll poke your shoulder a couple times until he's successful in keeping your eyes on him then he'll hover his finger over your head or shoulder until you roll your eyes.

• "Connie.."

• "I'm not even touching you!" He'll laugh

☆ He does nice things for you but they never really work out well for him. One time he got you a glass of water because he thought you looked thirsty and he placed it in front of you when you weren't looking. You turned from where you were talking with Historia and your elbow tipped over the cup spilling its contents all over your lap and meeting notes. He felt so so bad.

☆ One time you tripped during training and got a huge scratch on your leg and Levi stepped in to care for you. He asked Connie to go get the alcohol and in his excitement he ran back and tripped spilling the entire bottle all over the floor. Eren had to go run to the closest store and get more.

☆ At some point in time he walks into your room and sloppily pours his feelings out to you as you sit on your bed staring at him in confusion. His face is like beet red and he's breathing like he just ran a marathon. But you laugh and tell him you think he's adorable. You think he's gonna hug you when he pulls you in under your arms but he just holds your back super tight with both hands and swings you around till you can't stop giggling. His kiss is sweet a little sloppy cause it's his first but he's eager and cute as he pulls you into his chest. Probably bites your lip in a playful way and you can't help but lean into him.

•Modern verse:

☆ Modern day Connie is probably annoying the fuck out of you. He sends you memes all day! Put your phone on silent all you want you'll just come back to 40+ messages. And he likes to call you when he's not busy which means you're forever regretting giving him your number.

☆ He'll deadass go to the bathroom and face time you in the stall talkin bout some, "What're you doing right now?" And you're like, "Mfer what are you doing right now!"

☆ He takes any given opportunity to flirt with you and he's so goofy you won't realize he genuinely means everything he says,

• "I really hate your last name." He randomly says

• "What'd my last name do to you?"

• He shrugs, "I think you should change it."

• "To what?" You scoff

• "Springer 😘"

☆ And he calls you for the stupidest shit when he's at home:

• "Connie, what's wrong? You called me like four times in a row."

• "Which animals do you think would be the bitchest if they spoke human?"

• "Bye Connie 😑"

• "No wait!"

• "What?"

• "Send nudes."

☆ Loves to lay on you when you're sitting. Like he'll deadass drop his whole weight onto your back while you're sitting in your desk chair trying to work. He's just looking for a way to touch you and doesn't know how to express that.

☆ Yes he does have you in his phone as something crass and no he's not willing to change it. Most likely some shit like fat ass with a heart or Mommy/Daddy as a personal joke.

☆ And yeah you find him super annoying until this one night when he's texting you pics of his old family dog back home and he tells you everything about the dog's life from when he was a puppy to the day he passed and he shows you pics of him kissing the little pups head and holding him and things like that. The last video he sent was him crying while holding a framed photo after the dog's passing during Christmas time. And it's the first time you've ever been provoked to hug Connie instead of choke him.

☆ When the time finally comes for Connie to tell you his feelings you're in a good place to accept them and tell him you like him back. And that's when he pulls you in around the neck and gives you a surprisingly natural kiss. His mouth is parted slightly, hands gripping the back of your shirt a little as he keeps you close. He allows you to take the lead. Forehead warm where it's pressed against his. You both can't help but stay like that for awhile.

(The lowkey simp): Levi

•Aot verse:

☆ Rule number 1 you cannot know he is simping. He'll take it to his grave but if you're not oblivious you'll probably catch on.

☆ When he disassociates during a meeting his eyes get darker in the middle and he just rests his chin on his palm and stares at you. Doesn't matter that the meeting has been going on for more than an hour and he has yet to blink. He doesn't even know he's doing it. When he comes back down to earth he just blinks normally and looks away. And if no one tells him he'll honestly continue to do it. Sometimes in different positions, he's laying back in his chair head forward but his eyes are on you a couple seats down on the other side of the table.

☆ He picks up items whenever he goes into town. And I mean every. single. time. For you and he makes sure it's something you'll love and while you're out training he'll stuff it in a box and place it on your bed.

☆ He writes you anonymous notes with little inspirational words on them in places only you'll find them. But it's inspirational in Levi terms so it's shit like, "Stay alive for tomorrow." And "Don't look down because the sun is up."

☆ When he needs a break from work he just closes his eyes and thinks about you. Sometimes he does it just because he secretly loves that warm floating sensation he gets.

☆ Like Eren he'll trot up beside you whenever he can. But he won't say a word unless you say something first.

• "Hi Captain." You greet when he pops into your peripheral vision.

• Genuinely can not help how soft his eyes are when he looks at you, "Hello." He replies

☆ He'll find some reason to complain about the way his entire squad cleans their rooms so that he can also have an excuse to say he'll reclean them so that he has an excuse to make a bee line for your room first and be trapped in your scent. Taking your sheets off the bed and holding them to his chest, sweeping, getting that extra elbow grease on the windows so they're more spotless than even his standards.

☆ And of course because he doesn't want you to know he's simping hard for you he has to deal with you paying him the same amount of attention as the other higher ups which he hates with a burning passion. Like why don't you like him more? He does way more for you on a level that you can see. You should be more affectionate towards him. You talk to him everyday.

☆ I don't think I need to tell you Levi's shy so you'll be confessing. And you start by telling him you know the notes are from him because while Levi's intelligent he's also stupid. Like who the fuck else has access to your uniform clothes and would care enough to go in your drawers just to leave a piece of paper with the words, "Life is never so shitty that you can't at least better yourself."

☆ He kinda just lowers his head as pink soaks his entire face. And you lift his chin up to press a slow chaste kiss on his lips. He doesn't touch you. He can't bring himself to but he manages to kiss back. His irises so bright when you pull away. "Thank you Captain." You tell him before you leave. He's definitely genuinely worried his heart is getting ready to explode as he stares at the closed door.

•Modern verse

☆ Modern day Levi is a fucking mess. He doesn't know shit about having a crush and he knows it's you really early into meeting you but he's like, why them. He managed to spend his entire existence avoiding romance and yet here you are. He doesn't even know what he wants from you so sometimes he comes off a little more aggressive when he's talking to you.

☆ He stares directly into your soul when you're sitting across from him for any reason. You had to have had a crush on him first because he genuinely doesn't know what to do with himself.

☆ If you invite him somewhere he scoffs immediately following it up with a, "I'll be there."

☆ He rereads your messages whenever he's bored. And if you send him good morning texts he'll be thinking, morning beautiful angel. The one time you sent him a good morning text with a heart he analyzed it so long that he never replied back to you.

☆ The second he figured out how to use personalized ringtones he made yours something soft and sweet. Most likely with violins or maybe with a harp.

☆ A couple times while he was bored during a meeting or class he wrote your initials in cursive in his notebook. One time he wrote it on the front of his notebook by accident and had to throw that one away. Which honestly made him sad because he really liked how it looked.

☆ When you confess to him it's by accident and the way his face lights up is actually the most precious thing you've ever seen. He comes back down to earth slow and admits that he "feels the same." Under his breath of course but you heard and that's what counts.

☆ When you kiss him you instantly notice how small his lips actually are 🥺🥺 like you've stared at them before when he was eating and stuff but his lips are cute and so small. And he's so hesitant to kiss back. But then he does and you can kinda feel the tension leave him a little. His arms a little shaky as he supports himself. It probably looks like two middle schoolers kissing for the first time honestly. Right down to the sitting on the edge of the bed thing. But Levi's lips are so warm and he's such a naturally good kisser that you indulge for as long as you can.

[catdraiochta]

might be a dumb question, but do you work with Mabon at all ? super interested in Him but most places seem pretty empty of any personal experiences w Him and have very, very little historical info if any. ty in advance for your time !

not dumb at all, at all! i do work with mabon in my personal practice, yes. for personal experience i can tell plenty! but as for historical information there's hardly anything at all. i’ll give it a goo and tell all i can! i’m about to ramble on it, so hope my thoughts and research are helpful. grab a pint o’ the black stuff and saddle up! 

history wise: there's the legends of king arthur, and slight implications that he was a minor pre-christianization god.

here's a pdf with the majority of well-known king arthur legends. mentions of mabon are sprinkled throughout. mabon ap madron as he’s known in said legends, is the only surviving version of mabon we have aside from incredibly sparse factoids and speculation about how he was worshiped. it’s very likely that mabon ap madron is mythologically descended from a divine mother-son pair. he is mentioned as early as the tenth century poem Pa Gur, but only as a follower of arthur. 

quote from wiki (sources provided & seems to be accurate, thank fuck) “his name is related to the romano-british god maponos, whose name means "great son". modron, in turn, is likely related to the gaulish goddess dea matrona.” there’s only a few remnants of maponos as well, three statues and few brief mentions, one statuette involving him depicted as a harper and standing opposite a likely diana-adjacent huntress figure speculated to be a depiction of dea matrona or an unnamed celtic goddess. 

he’s also thought to be, from what i’ve read in my 7 years researching (too many sources spewing the same ting for me to link honestly), to be the welsh equivalent of the irish god aengus og, bless him. they have similar epithets and almost the exact same name when translated to english. considering two people with the same name to be the exact same lad is super anglocentric though, and the few mabon venerators tend to think that’s brits makin utter bags out of it.

i’ll reiterate here: there is NO historical evidence or support of him having dedicated feasts, dedicated festivals, or anything even similar to the wiccan “mabon sabbat.”. there is no evidence of him being connected to autumn though neodruids do associate him with the autumn feast. given his epithets and associations, he’s probably more likely associated with spring since as a god he is likely to have been part of a mother-son pair. 

...

my personal practice: mabon is not well known, and hard to place. when i first tried to make contact, it felt like waiting for a snail to come out of it’s shell when it feels safe enough. i approached cautious, kind, with offerings the poor chiseler probably hadn’t seen in centuries! i offered traditional things, nothing fancy. milk, bread with some honey, and some seared beef. it felt slow, and it felt at first like i’d chosen a truly dead god. but then, i felt him there. warmest, softest feeling i’d ever felt, like the excitement, the wonder, the caution, the joy, of meeting a long distance partner for the first time. i instantly felt known, cherished, thanked beyond any gratitude a human could show. i’m normally very cautious with new entities, but i knew i’d got the real mabon then. delira, telling ye. 

after that, i began building a relationship. i used what’s known in the community as a ‘godphone’ to learn more about him, what he liked as offerings, what he wanted from this, what he associated himself with... through that and talking with the few other followers and some neodruids (and one very sweet old welsh woman who told me “the Neighbors will find me where the lord left me”) i’ve found some common UPG associations such as the ones listed in my devotional moodboard/info post. 

mabon, as a deity, is very pleasant and genial in my experience. kind-eyed, sad, fretting of suffering, and such a mumma’s boy! you’ll find he’ll be very welcoming and excited to have followers, very eager to give signs and messages, and accepting of almost any offerings. in my time with him, i’ve found him to particularly enjoy traditional irish and welsh food! scrans picau ar y maen like a mad man. lamb soup and shepherd’s pie are other favourites. selsig morgannwg is one i love to cook up and share with him! 

do not eat food that’s been offered. in generalized celtic tradition, food offered up to our good neighbors or deities are spiritually dead & are eaten by the spirit, and would make you feel drained and bone tired if eaten. 

if you have other questions feel free to ask about it! i love talking and informing about mabon so much, i never mind it. also if anyone has more info or corrections, i’d be happy to hear it! i love learning new things since pre-christian wales is so rarely spoken about. 

EDIT, GOOD SOURCES ON MABON:

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/agora/2018/09/mabon-is-a-god https://www.maryjones.us/jce/mabon.html http://www.godeeper.info/blog/who-is-mabon

[compo67]

"Sam. Don't hold the knife like that."

"Backseat chef, would you stop?"

"No, because I'm not driving anyone in this house to the ER today. It's negative four degrees outside and my ass is staying inside."

"I hate cutting onions. Why can't I use the food processor?"

"What if the electricity goes out, huh? What then? No. You gotta learn the old fashioned way. That's what's wrong with your generation. Always wantin' to do things the easy way."

"There's so much wrong in what you just said--where do I even start?"

"You don't."

"Yeah, sure."

"Pay attention to what you're doing. I'm not donating any fingers."

"Dean, when I get paper cuts you practically perform a skin graft on me. You're not fooling anyone."

"Okay. Stop. Stop, stop, stop. I can't watch this anymore. Gimme the knife. Now. Watch."

"I was doing that!"

"What you were doing was asking for trouble. Are you paying attention?"

"Yes, I'm paying attention."

"Are you paying attention or 'paying attention' like the time I taught you how to change a tire?"

"I was eight and you were doing a shitty job of it anyway."

"Oh my stars alert the authorities, Sammy's got a potty mouth. Must be the onions."

"Shut up. How do you chop so fast?"

"Practice. And technique. I also apprenticed as a chef for some kid named Sam in my younger years. Hand me the bowl."

"Did you mind it?"

"Mind what?"

"Cooking for me all the time."

"Only when you didn't eat whatever I made."

"I wasn't that picky."

"Oh, you were the pickiest little shit from ages four to six."

"And exactly how do you remember all of this, Dean?"

"Excuse you? A big brother remembers this stuff, especially when the four year old's got a temper."

"Wait. What's that?"

"A person's state of mind at a particular time, typically one of anger, but that's not important now."

"No, jerkass, what's that on the cutting board."

"Just a banana hammock pepper."

"A what."

"Banana hammock pepper."

"That's not what it's called."

"Prove it."

"I--decline."

"That's right. I'm the goremane around here."

"Gourmand. You know what? Never mind."

"Well, I'll have you know that banana hammock peppers give the meatloaf a little kick."

"O-kay. I don't remember being a picky eater. And did I actually have a temper or did you just have no patience?"

"I had way more patience with you than you did with me, pal. You had three basic food groups and fuck me if I didn't meet your demands. Looking back, that's when I should've known you'd grow up to be a lawyer."

"Puh-lease. I don't see you complaining when I pay the bills."

"I let you pay the bills. I enjoy my House Husband status."

"Mm. Tell me one food I demanded."

"You just had to be the only kid on planet Earth to eat carrot sticks without ranch. And if you didn't get your precious carrot sticks? I'd get the waterworks and the screams. You were this close to getting kicked to the curb, Bugs Bunny."

"Look, doc, what is everyone's obsession with ranch? It's disgusting."

"Sam. We live in the Midwest. Ranch is its own food group here."

"Yuck."

"Yeah, I know that face. Okay. We've got the onions, the banana hammock pepper, enough minced garlic that I don't wanna touch my dick for two weeks, and some frozen ass broccoli."

"If you're not touching it, I'm not blowing it."

"Ha! That's what you think."

"It's not what I think, it's the law."

"It'll be like a giant bread stick you can suck on."

"Why do I live with you?"

"Because you love meatloaf, that's why. Pass me the other bowl."

"There's ground beef in here."

"Sammy, in order to make meatloaf, we need some kind of meat. And this ain't just any meat. No way. Guys and gals and nonbinary pals--this here is ground sirloin from our friend at the kosher deli. This stuff is like the Bentley of ground meat."

"Have I told you lately that you're precious?"

"Fuck no. I'm starving for compliments here. Fork 'em over."

"On second thought, probably a bad idea. Also, I'd hate to see what's the Kia Soul of meat."

"That's cruel, Professor. I should sue the pants off of you."

"Don't make me say it."

"Yep, sue the pants right off that ass."

"Fine--but never again. You don't have to sue me to get my pants off. Ugh! That felt so gross."

"Relax, I promise not to tell your lawyer friends about this. Okay, Professor. Tell me what we're missing."

"Frilly pink aprons?"

"Sam. Meatloaf is not a joke."

"We just made a joke about pants! Wow, you've got your hand on your hip and everything. Uh... salt?"

"I'm gonna have my hand on your ass later."

"Is that a threat or a promise?"

"Depends on the loaf. Go on, add the salt. Then pepper. Don't take forever. I don't have all the thyme in the world."

"The puns really make the chef. Is that enough?"

"Yeah. We'll do the Worchy sauce and tomato paste later."

"I need to film you saying that. Do we add carrots?"

"You with the carrots. No, we do not. The broccoli is enough. Toss in the bread crumbs and I'll crack in the egg."

"Ew. This is the weirdest texture."

"Quiet, loaf boy. You know how many of these I've made in my lifetime?"

"It feels like..."

"An autopsy."

"Yup. Thanks for that visual."

"Remember that blow job you gave me last week?"

"When last week? I gave you many blow jobs."

"On the contrary, Professor. Only Tuesday and Friday were blow job days."

"Do you keep this written down somewhere? A little black book of blow jobs, perhaps?"

"You're mashing when you should be mixing."

"What about that blow job? Were you grading me?"

"Blowing me is an extracurricular--no need for grades."

"Oh--oh I should not have laughed that hard."

"Just dump the damn meat into the pan."

"Okay, okay. I'm calm now. Seriously--what about the blow job?"

"I'm thinking back to it."

"Ah."

"You wore lip gloss."

"That I did. I'm surprised you noticed."

"Of course I noticed."

"Well, go on. Can I put this in the oven now?"

"Toss it in. Set the timer."

"Forty-five, you said?"

"Uh huh."

"Could you be any less subtle staring at my mouth? Don't answer that."

"You got more of that lip gloss?"

"I might. For the right dick."

"I'm a colossal candidate."

"I swear, I swear I won't laugh so hard next time. Just. Gimme a second. Oh boy. Phew."

"I'm using my A material!"

"It's working, I'm no longer laughing. That much."

"That's how I got you to eat, you know."

"By making jokes about your dick? Even that's a little out there for you."

"No, you jerk. I made you laugh. Worked like a charm."

"You did take pretty good care of me, Dean."

"Did? Still do."

"Absolutely. Let's step into my office for the next forty two minutes and I'll show you more lip gloss."

"And you'll do the thing with your tongue?"

"What thing with my tongue?"

"The twisty thing."

"Your hand gestures do not help. But I'll figure it out."

"Sam."

"Dean?"

"Can we do it here?"

"In the kitchen?"

"Yep."

"No."

"Why not?!"

"I can't."

"And the reason is... why?"

"I can't do it in front of the meatloaf!"

[ajbwasntwriting]

Daughter!Reader x Negan, Reader x Daryl: Chapter 5. Secrets hurt

First | Previous | Next

Listen I don’t know why I decided to give each chapter an artsy title I just did. Also as anyone following this may have noticed this story isn’t gonna be regularly updated but rather updated when I have something I’m proud enough to post though I am determined to finish this series, just school comes first. I hope you understand.

I’ll only post more chapters if previous chapters get a good reaction so if you enjoy this please heart it, reblog it, and/or reply to it. Interaction inspires.

if you wish to be added to the tag list please dm me. All chapters can be found under the tag AJ’s Negan’s Daughter AU

The winter continued like that. He’d bring you food and you’d give him goods, even visiting multiple times a week. Sometimes he’d tell you about the stuff, holding up a jar of applesauce ‘from The Kingdom. The guy who runs it used to own a tiger’ or loaf of bread ‘the hilltop grows the grain, but Alexandria makes it.’ You would hum and nod along, knowing he was just trying to convince you to come back. Mainly because he’d ask if you wanted to come back with him and you would be ‘grateful but happy where you are’

You had asked him to start making lists so you knew what to find and you always tried your best to deliver. Cloths, blankets, kitchen utensils, baby bottles-

“Baby bottles?” you asked, pointing at the item on the list. He nodded.

“John and his wife are pregnant and we don’t have enough to go around.” He explained from the comfort of your couch, feet up on the table.

“But you have some?” you continued, not believing what you were hearing “You have...children? As in...babies?”

“Yea. I keep telling you we’re building a society.” he laughed at your bewilderment. “You’d fit in gr-” your mind ran as what you knew was coming ‘Here it comes again. No never works with these people. How do I get him to shut up?’

“Would you like to stay for dinner?” you cut him off, smiling. You turned to your kitchen unit, pulling out a large bot, a can of vegetable soup, and salted beef that Daryl had brought that day. “You’ve brought me so much it’ll probably go bad before I can eat it all.”

In that time he had stood up and walked over to the kitchen, now leaning on the counter. His sudden appearance made you hold your breath “When did ‘get out’ become ‘stay for dinner’?” he asked, seemingly amused.

“When you stopped understanding what ‘I don’t wanna be part of your group’ meant.” You retorted, cutting up the salted beef with a dedicated kitchen knife. “Are you staying or not?” you turned to him, stopping your cuts for the moment. He nodded with a shallow ‘yeah’, making you smile then go back to cutting. You poured the meat and soup into the pot, placing the lid on top. “Some snow on top to water it down and we’ll be sleeping with full stomachs tonight.”

You had him carry some bowls and a ladle up to the roof. Within an hour the fire outside was lit and the food was cooked atop four bricks you were lucky enough to be able to upgrade your cooking fire with, the old lamp now repurposed into a weapon. There was no conversation but you didn’t feel like you needed it. The wind was calm, letting Daryl look out over the city. “Do you know where the museum is?” He asked while you were stirring the soup.

“A couple of blocks down,” you called back. “Why?”

“Me and a few others are planning on raiding it in the summer” he answered, not turning back to you.

That’s when you realised something. You had heard about all these friends. Carol, Michone, Saddiq, Rosita, Eugene, Henry, Ezekiel, Lauren. He’d mentioned them in passing, saying how they made something he brought you or appreciated something you brought him. Yet he always came alone. It would’ve made more sense if Rick was doing these deliveries, you’d met him before the winter. Sure you stitched up his leg.

The two of you were sitting in front of the fire as it fizzled out when curiosity got the better of you. You swallowed the food in your mouth.

“Why are you always here alone?” you asked, he looked up at you from the other side of the fire. “It makes more sense to have people watching your back but for the past month or so you’ve been visiting me on your own. Why?”

“That’s how it is” he scoffed between mouthfuls.

“That’s how what is?” you snapped.

“You’re allowed to be all secretive but I’m meant to have my cards on the table.” he cut back. You thought it over a second, then went back to eating. You both finished up as the fire mellowed, taking your leave back inside. You carried the pot while he held the bowls. Back in your unit, you piled the dishes into the sink.

“I should get going,” he said, going to pick up his back.

“Y/N!” you nearly yelled. “My name is Y/N,” He looked back at you incredulously. A tense silence fell over you both “Before this,” you waved your hand to motion to the apartment “I was with a few people...including my father. We managed to secure a building, kept the walkers out but after some time new people arrived and a few of them got...Protective, I guess. Including my old man.” You crossed your arms and leant against the sink, the floor now far more interesting than the man in your apartment. “People died keeping me safe when they didn’t need to, all ‘cause my old man refused to let me help, but we were still bringing in new people but not everyone was helping, either cause they weren’t allowed to or didn’t want to. That caused anger to boil in the group and then...more people died.” Thinking back on the Sanctuary tears began to flow, but your voice didn’t shake and your body stayed firm. “I ran away and I’ve been hiding ever since ‘cause I know they’ll kill me if I’m found.” You finally looked back at Daryl who had been hanging on to your every word. You wiped away your tears. “You said I can’t be secretive, well there it is.”

“I didn’t mean-”

“You don’t wanna go home” you cut him off. “You don’t like where you rest your head, that’s why you’ve been spending more and more time out here with me. I get it.” you pushed off the sink, leaning under it to pick up a jug of water to do the dishes with. “You can leave or you can stay the night. I don’t mind.”

You turned your back on him to focus on the dishes. He picked up his things and left without another word. ‘That’s it’ you thought as you scrubbed the pot, now getting more aggressive with it, ‘you fucked up Y/N.’

The following morning you woke up, opened your bedroom door, and saw a familiar red-neck on your couch. You couldn’t stop the smile that plastered your face, but you did grab some clothes from your closet then went back to your room to dress. This time when you left he was up. “‘Morning” he croaked as he stretched. “This couch was a lot comfier the first time.”

Your relationship continued like that for the next while. He’d visit you more regularly, stay for dinner, and usually, he’d stay for the night. You got tired of the complaints about the couch and cleared out the second bedroom. You liked having him visit and were willing to facilitate it. He’d even begun leaving a few things there. Functional stuff like arrows for his bow and fuel for his bike. You found him some clothes and extra blankets, and a bigger bag to carry stuff home.

You didn’t ask why he didn’t want to be with his people. After keeping everything a secret for so long it didn’t feel right, but you could guess. Between your family and your time in the army, you had developed a skill in reading people, a skill you noticed he also had. Maybe that’s why every second didn’t need to be filled with conversation. Though you wish it was so you could know more. He was kind, there was no question of that with everything he did for you without even knowing your name. Though when he came to your apartment he was tense, and he was never happy to leave. This made you think he was going somewhere he didn’t want to be, but he had to be. He always talked so highly of the settlements, trying to get you back there. He must be going someplace else.

The winter passed, your garden began to flourish again, and the walkers thawed. You thought after the winter Daryl would stop visiting but he still showed up. He didn’t come as often for a time, saying he wasn’t gonna make the trip unless he had enough to offer you. You frowned at this “Do come out” you ordered him. “You’ve got people relying on you. Children and everything and I’m able to find stuff in the city you need.”

“I don’t wanna leave you short. Our deal ya know-”

“Screw the deal, Daryl.” you huffed “You’re my friend and I wanna help you”

“Oh we’re friends?” he commented, with a cheeky smirk “Didn’t you try to kill Rick.”

‘So Tara told them’ you thought. “Yes,” you said “In a friendly way.” normally he wouldn’t find that funny, but these past few weeks escaping away to your hide-out had given him a chance to get close to you. “Come and visit me when you can, please? I got nobody else to steal my food.” That afternoon you both search for some last pieces for Daryl, having to go deeper and deeper into the city. You talked about his group’s plan to go to the museum and raid it for seeds and old machinery. You saw first-hand what a crack-shot he was with his crossbow, you whistled as another went down “Not bad bow-boy. How’d you get so good with that?”

“Before all this” you started, walking ahead to pull the arrow out of the dead one. “Me and my brother, Merle, used to move around a lot. We used to hunt sometimes for sport, sometimes for food, but he’d always make it a competition. Decided to learn a quieter weapon so I could beat that son of a bitch.” Another two walkers approached as he spoke. He shot a bolt through one of them while you took the other down with your knife. “After that, he never helped hunting again”

“Sounds like a sore loser” you commented, pulling the arrow out of the walker's head and handing it back to Daryl. He took it and reloaded the bow.

“You have any brothers or sisters?”

“Nah” you shook your head, keeping a lookout while he reloaded. “My old man said I was a miracle baby. Mom was always sick. They thought they’d never have any. I used to hate it but after hearing how Merle left you in a cell while he ran off with your girl, I’m glad.”

“Ahh, he wasn't all that bad,” he commented, walking alongside you.

“No one is as bad as they seem when you know them. At least that’s what my superior officer said”

That evening he couldn’t stay, but he left with a heavy bag and that made you happy. As the evening descended you went back to your unit. The following week would be quiet since Daryl had his big raid coming up. Though you didn’t realise how quiet until you were in the midst of it.

You had scavenged a few things. At this stage, the apartment building had been picked dry but you had a few children’s cloths and some old bandages from first-aid kits that had seen better days. As usual, you had piled everything in Daryl’s room. As usual, you were reading another book. As usual, it failed to entertain you since you’d read it about three times now. As usual, you fell asleep on the couch, not completely though because you heard the front door open.

You sat up sharply. “Dary-”

Thwack

~ Tag List ~

@softsebastian​

[skrltwtch]

Silverware

Prompt: on a first date and A is a werewolf and doesn’t know the cutlery is silver (Source in master list)

Word count: 4,897 words

Genre: Fluff, romance, supernatural

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

I buried my nose in the bouquet of lilies and roses Jake had bought for me. It was the perfect emblem of summer with its warm, sunny hues and fresh, tangy scent — and the perfect segue to the next part of our date. The first part was a visit to the local farmers market, out of which we were now walking. Coming here had been his suggestion. It was something different from the usual first date stuff like coffee or a movie, and I liked it a lot, notwithstanding my initial reservations. I liked him a lot after what I’d seen of him at the market. I felt like the place helped bring out a certain spark between us. For one, there was constant talk about planning for date number two using what we’d seen and bought. If that wasn’t promising, I didn’t know what was!

‘Thank you, Jake. I love it,’ I said about the bouquet.

‘You’re most welcome,’ he said, a broad grin brightening up his face. ‘And thank you for the flavoured olive oil. Makes me kind of wish we didn’t have this dinner reservation …’ His grin turned sheepish in nature. ‘But that’s what’s making me look forward to our next date.’

See?

‘Do you want to call for a taxi or walk?’ he said.

‘What time’s our reservation?’

‘6:00 p.m. on the dot.’

My watch came alive with a flick of my wrist. ‘Let’s walk, then. I want to walk off all the cheese I sampled.’ I’d sampled a lot. In my defence, it was almost that time of the month — and that other time of the month. ‘Do you know the way?’

‘Google Maps can teach me.’

The route Google Maps recommended was scenic. London Bridge looked lovely at this time of day. Its appeal was heightened tenfold with Jake by my side. Could you believe we met on Tinder? It still felt unreal to me. Getting this match used up all my good luck for the year, and we were only at the halfway point. Well, if it meant burning the roof of my mouth most of the time I ate to be able to quit the dating scene for a reasonable amount of time (“once and for all” seemed a little ambitious, though that would be nice), who was I to whinge about the hand fate had dealt me?

The restaurant was located within the Four Seasons. We had been overdressed for the market. Now we were … dressed. I was flattered as fuck that he picked such a lavish place for dinner for a first date. I hadn’t the faintest clue what it was about my profile and our conversations that made him think of a high-end French restaurant helmed by a Michelin-starred chef in a five-star hotel. I did try to talk him out of it (gently). It wasn’t about the cost. Food was one of the things I was more than happy to splurge on. It was just … I never had anyone think this highly of me before, and I wondered if that’d change if … and when … he knew the truth about me.

The host led us into the main dining room and to our table. An amuse-bouche and warm bread came together with the menus. The prices were as expected of the type of establishment this was. Everything sounded good, though this was my first time coming across some of these words. Looking up what each one meant would add to the time something would take to reach our table, and my stomach would sooner eat itself out of desperation.

‘Please don’t hold back,’ said Jake, sensing my indecision. ‘The price is not an issue.’

I did have to hold back. The coincidental timing of this month’s full moon and crimson tide amplified every-fucking-thing I could possibly feel to a divinely hellish degree in the days leading up to them. As it was, I could easily polish off a five-course meal by myself. If Jake wanted this date to go in a less chaste direction after dinner, hell would freeze over before I’d even dream of talking him out of it, first date etiquette be damned. Was the fact that he was such a goddamn catch helping anything? Absolutely fucking not.

‘No, it’s not that. I can’t — I can’t decide what I want,’ I said. It was technically true. I was torn between the beef (never mind that it was £98) and veal … and both of them at once. ‘What are you having? Maybe I can get some inspiration from you.’

‘I was thinking the turbot … or the pigeon. Yeah, I can’t make up my mind either. I’m leaning toward the pigeon …? No, the turbot. Or the scallops …? Fuck. I need an adult.’

‘Let’s choose for each other.’

‘Promise not to hate each other’s choices — or each other?’

‘Pinky promise.’

We locked our pinkies together. I hoped touching him would never grow old.

Once our promise had been sanctified and we separated from each other, Jake signalled for the nearest available waitstaff. One came over almost instantly. The restaurant was bustling with activity, a far cry from however long it had been since we arrived. She took our order in a cordial fashion, not making a bigger deal of how we were ordering for each other than it should be. I chose the scallops for him; he chose the veal for me. I convinced him to start our evening with the langoustine; he sweet-talked me into ending it with the rhubarb. The waitstaff validated all our choices with a knowing smile.

‘I’ve been meaning to ask — and I hope I’m not stepping on your toes here,’ Jake started when our table was just the two of us again. ‘How did you get that scar on your arm?’

It was a matter of time. And bless him. I would never be offended by being asked about the memento of what’d changed my life forever. I would be offended by an adverse reaction to how exactly my life had been changed forever. I raised my arm, giving the scar in question its time in the limelight: brownish-pink, leathery circles arranged in the shape of a crescent, the ones at both ends abnormally large and ragged-looking.

‘My ex-boyfriend’s dog bit me,’ I said. More like my ex-boyfriend was the offending canine. ‘That’s not why he’s an ex, in case you were wondering.’ I’d wanted to be turned. He’d been more than happy to lend a helping set of fangs. Sadly, the idea of us being cute werewolves together was yet another one of those things that simply sounded nicer on paper. It wasn’t all sour between us. We’d sometimes meet for romps. It got lonely sometimes, and it wasn’t like there was an online forum for werewolves to socialise or whatever. I doubted he’d have known of one anyway: he was literally an American werewolf in London.

‘Did it hurt? It’s such a huge scar. Did anything happen to the dog afterward?’ He held up his hands. ‘Am I being nosy? You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.’

I smiled in the hope that it’d soothe his worries. ‘You’re not being nosy. It was … okay for what it was.’ Euphoric. ‘The dog’s fine. It wouldn’t be fair to punish it for an instinct thing.’ Yup.

‘That’s good to hear. I think it’s a bad-ass scar. And I didn’t think it’s why he’s an ex.’

‘Thank you. Most people did. Yeesh. Give me some credit.’

‘I’m not most people … I hope.’ He smirked. The apples of his cheeks turned pink.

He really wasn’t. And I wanted so badly to tell him the truth there and then to see if that’d still hold true in the face of a bombshell like that. I had yet to tell anyone about my lycanthropy: if movies, television shows, books, etc., were anything to go by, I’d assume most people would react with fear or disgust, or both. Chris had been thoroughly flabbergasted when I reacted the way I did to learning why he always turned down my suggestions to go stargazing on nights with full moons. I got what I wanted … eventually.

Maybe I should tell Jake sooner than later. Separate the wheat from the chaff. Then I wouldn’t have wasted my time having pined for someone who thought I was some kind of freak of nature.

That conversation — or rather, thinking about that conversation would have to wait, as our starter, bearing a strong resemblance to a flower arrangement with colours befitting the season, had arrived. Food was always the perfect diversion. So would the inevitable back-and-forth about who could have the third and last langoustine. Splitting it was not an option, for one piece was as big as my thumb. I loved the portion sizes of frou-frou fancy food. So much bang for one’s buck.

‘Bon appétit,’ said Jake. ‘That’s one of … four French phrases I know. The other three are “bonjour”, “omelette du fromage”, and — I can’t say the last one in a public place.’

‘Is it by any chance … “voulez-vous coucher avec moi, ce soir”?’ I made no effort whatsoever to lower my volume — or maintain a straight face. Brazenness blazed through my cheeks.

He put a hand on his chest, feigning surprise. ‘Well!’ He tittered. ‘Since you asked ever so nicely, and in French … This is why your choices tonight have been shellfish, isn’t it?’

‘You got me.’

‘Looking at their portion sizes, I don’t think your plan’s going to work very well. Not that I’d need the help of — shut up, Jake.’

‘Keep going, Jake’ was what I’d have said and wanted if my stomach hadn’t started getting on my case for letting good food get cold. (‘Rubbery lobster? Gross!’) There was something hot about someone like Jake — a posh, proper Englishman, the polar opposite of Chris … okay, no, stop bringing him up, stop thinking about him, goddammit — talking openly, confidently, about his prowess. Such words … coming out of his mouth … in that accent … I quickly pressed my legs together to quell any desires. Which hunger of mine was responsible for this?

Wanting to satiate the one appetite I could at this very moment without earning myself prison time for my troubles, I said, ‘Bon appétit, Jake’, and picked up my fork … which promptly fell onto my plate with the fucking loudest clang. The smell of burning flesh tickled my nostrils — my burning flesh. My fingers were sizzling where the fork touched them. Sizzling! I prayed it was only my nose that could pick up this delectable aroma.

I stared at the cutlery. Trust a high-end French restaurant helmed by a Michelin-starred chef in a five-star hotel to use real silverware, not that cheap silver-plated shit. I prodded the fork handle — and withdrew my finger immediately. Not one of my finer moments. Please don’t tell me Jake saw it.

‘Is everything okay?’ said Jake.

Ah, fuck.

‘Yeah,’ I said, examining my palm. Good news: the burn hadn’t healed and wasn’t healing as quickly as my wounds and injuries (not that I had many of them) did after I was turned, so that was one less question to dodge. I didn’t want to keep lying to Jake. I didn’t like that I had been. How would I explain the absence of a second-degree burn that existed mere seconds ago anyway? Bad news: was this never going to heal because of what caused it? I had been so careful with silver since I was turned. How would I explain a perpetual second-degree burn? Would it out me as a werewolf to people who knew what to look for? Was now really the time for Twenty Questions?

Noticing Jake had been waiting on me to provide some kind of elucidation on my well-being, I said, ‘I guess I have a silver allergy. Can you believe it? Who’s allergic to silver?’

He didn’t need to say, ‘What kind of allergy burns someone?’ for me to hear it in my head.

‘Can you eat, then?’ he said.

I shook my head. As far as I was concerned, silver was lethal. No ifs, no buts, no maybes. If a perpetual second-degree burn was the worst thing to come out of fleeting contact with the metal, so be it. I’d consider myself a lucky lycan indeed.

‘Pardon me,’ Jake said to the waitstaff who’d come with our entrées, ‘would you have any disposable cutlery perhaps? My lady’ — he did not — ‘is allergic to the silverware.’

The waitstaff did an excellent job of not acting like this very dashing gentleman had just dropped the barmiest string of words on her during her entire employment in this line of work. Even I didn’t quite believe it myself. ‘I’ll see what we have, sir, ma’am,’ she said, cool as a cucumber. After she finished setting down our food, she collected all the silverware on my side of the table and left.

‘I don’t think whatever she comes back with would help with your veal. I could cut it up for you?’ said Jake.

Oh, my God. Getting burnt by silver must be the universe’s way of course-correcting the unusual jackpot I’d hit with him. Good Tinder matches were a myth!

‘No, it’s fine. Thank you. I’ll manage … somehow,’ I said. The wooden cutlery the waitstaff had returned with didn’t inspire confidence in me to not fling a piece of meat or a utensil at someone while cutting into my food.

‘We could swap dishes. I’d be fine with the veal. It was in my top five earlier.’

I suffocated a sigh. His scallops looked more like an appetiser than a main. But what choice did I have? I could either eat the veal like the animal that put me in this position or go through the restaurant’s entire supply of wooden cutlery with nothing to show for the effort in my belly and possibly injure someone in the process. Neither option would do any favours for my image in the eyes of the guy I liked and whose bones I’d like to jump at some point, enhanced animal lust or not.

So, I agreed. I tried to draw out the meal for as long as I could. Between the teeny serving and the unwieldiness of the wooden cutlery, I was having a miserable time. Dinner had become a silent affair, a far cry from everything prior to this point. Contrary to the vibe I was putting out, the food had nothing to do with my dour mood. For the first time since I was turned, I wasn’t happy about what I was. Could I never truly lead a normal life? Did I have to lie to every potential suitor and fret about whether they’d accept that other side of me on top of all the intricacies of dating?

There ought to be a dating app for verified supernatural creatures.

‘How’s the veal?’ I said. I had to speak up: I wasn’t being fair to Jake by acting like a sullen teenager over something he had zero control over, and the silence was deafening.

‘It’s — I might’ve done you a favour. How about my — your scallops?’

‘As good as three bites can get. I can’t tell if it tastes funny because of the wooden fork.’

‘This has been a disaster, hasn’t it?’ He flashed a wry smile. ‘Can I be honest? I have no idea what possessed me to pick a place like this for a first date.’

‘It’s a nice place. And it hasn’t been a disaster.’ If anything, I was the disaster. As always.

‘How was the market?’

‘The market was great. I had an amazing time.’

‘Thank God. I’ll take one out of two.’

I reached across the table and placed my hand on top of his. He made things extra saucy by interlocking his fingers with mine. ‘Jake, it’s fine. Today has been wonderful. I should be sorry for making things awkward with my … allergy.’ Nope, that still sounded silly.

‘What? No, don’t be. It’s not your fault.’

It … kind of was.

‘How about ice cream after this? My treat. I’m certain the rhubarb will be so very pretty and so very … nothing.’

He hit the nail on the head. The food we had would do wonders for my Instagram feed while having done nothing for my diet. I appreciated his offer, though I was afraid it would take more than ice cream to fill me up properly … Then again, that was a problem that rested solely in my dominion, not his, and it was one I intended to solve by trawling the likes of Deliveroo and Uber Eats in the comfort of my underthings at home — the one true way to enjoy food.

I asked for the bill the second dessert arrived. I wanted to leave here as soon as possible. I had quite enough of the wooden cutlery. I felt like a child using them. And like I told Jake earlier, I was on the fence about whether to attribute the food’s slightly off taste to them or my unrefined taste buds. Even the rhubarb wasn’t spared. Dessert was supposed to be my safe space, dammit!

I footed the bill in its entirety despite his objections. It helped that the waitstaff presented it to me because I’d been the one who asked, and that I was quick with my card. Sisters watching out for each other, everyone. The plan was then to go about the rest of the evening as if it had slipped my mind to ask him for his half or even bring it up in the first place. It was the least I could do for putting a wee damper on dinner with my … me-ness. He was going to treat me to ice cream anyway. There. We were even now.

The best-laid plans of mice and men often went awry: Jake snatched the bill folder and, taking out his phone, said, ‘Do you have Paym, Pingit, or PayPal? Why am I only noticing now that they all start with P?’

I admitted defeat: ‘Paym.’ It might be harder for him — or anyone — to believe I had none of those apps than that I was a werewolf. Did I want to put that to the test? No.

My phone buzzed with the confirmation that my plan had been a dud. ‘Thank you. Now let’s blow this popsicle stand and head to a real one.’

We left and worked on our next destination outside the restaurant. The staff had to want us out of there as much as we wanted ourselves out of there. The time of day meant we had limited options: ice cream parlours in London seemed to think people would lose the mood for sweet treats the moment the sky turned dark and the air cooled. Inanity. We had to return to where our date started for the one place that was open at this hour. It was just as well: I needed the walk this time to clear my head after what happened at dinner. It hadn’t seemed to dull the shine of his opinion of me, at least. He was as chipper as ever. Unless he was a good actor and paid up as soon as he did so he could ghost me after this and find himself a date that didn’t have some bogus allergy to silver …

Me? Over-thinking things? Never.

‘Do you want to do takeout or eat in?’ I said when we found ourselves less than fifty metres away from the parlour tasked with plying us with ice cream for tonight without a say in the matter.

‘Let’s do takeout and walk back to Borough Station. Full circle.’

The place was crowded: the most logical outcome for the only ice cream parlour open at this time near a tourist hotspot in the middle of summer. Customer turnover was quick, however, and we left with our orders within fifteen minutes. As tempting as their sundaes and waffles — towering, decadent creations of sugary indulgence — looked, we went back to the basics after our overly sophisticated dinner. Unlike before, what we wanted came to us in a snap: for myself, a speculoos gelato; for Jake, a gelato, too, but make it salted caramel.

And this time, we could help ourselves to each other’s food. With permission, of course.

‘A fraction of the price, but infinitely better,’ I said.

‘I hope the same can be said of our second date.’

‘And what would that be?’

‘Dinner at Chez Walker. Has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?’

‘I do think so.’

‘It would have to be the weekend after next, though.’

‘Why? Got another date next Saturday?’ I had a firm enough grip on reality to recognise and accept that a guy like him had to be neck deep in matches.

‘No … next weekend’s the full moon. I thought you’d know.’

I stopped dead in my tracks. ‘Why would I?’ I buried my stammer under a bemused scoff. Like, why would anyone — any not-werewolf, which, as far as Jake was concerned, was what I was — care to know when the full moon was?

He, too, stopped walking and looked me dead in the eye. ‘Imogen, I know what you are.’

I wiped my palms on the front of my dress. They were suddenly so sweaty. So sweaty. Why were they so sweaty? Could he see that they were so sweaty? I tried to defuse the situation the best — and maybe only — way I knew how: ‘Are we quoting Twilight? I’ll have you know that I liked the book when I first read it in 2007. And I thought the movie wasn’t too bad either.’ This was true, and I wasn’t ashamed of it. Any female millennial who said they had felt nothing for Edward Cullen was a filthy liar.

‘I’m not ashamed either to say I read the book and watched the movie. But I’m serious.’

‘Okay … say it, then. Go on.’ Was that how the line went? I wasn’t going to look it up now. On a list of things that mattered in this moment, accurate movie quotes was nowhere near the top twenty.

‘You’re a werewolf. And I know how this sounds, so don’t humour me or —’ His tone had taken on a jittery lilt, uncharacteristic of someone who ought to be humoured, ridiculed (what his next word had to be), or — my worst-case scenario — feared.

‘How did you know?’

His mien changed in a manner that suggested that wasn’t the reaction he’d been expecting. Fuck it. Chris had trusted me enough to tell me the truth after a handful of dates, and he did it because he liked me a lot and he wanted to get it out of the way as soon as possible so that we could move on in some way. (Me asking him to turn me was the real curveball of that conversation.) The least I could do, really, was to extend that same courtesy to Jake. I liked him. I liked him a lot. If he had a problem with what I was, it was better that I found out now that he did than many months down the road. There was no element of compromise to my … condition.

‘You mean I’m —?’

‘Right? Not crazy?’ I showed him my palm. The burn had taken about an hour to reach the healing stage normal people would reach in a week or so. ‘Yeah.’

‘Damn …’ He cleared his throat. ‘How did I know? I was brought up on a steady diet of horror movies and read way too many young adult supernatural books in the day, more than I’d care to admit. That, and my ex-girlfriend’s second uncle was killed by a werewolf.’

‘Shit.’

‘I’m kidding — about the last part. The first two are true. My ex-girlfriend was a vampire, and one of her uncles — I can’t remember which one; it could’ve really been her second — was with a werewolf when we were together. Vampires and werewolves get along quite well, actually.’

‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’

‘How the tables have turned … I’m not.’ He went through his phone with his free hand and, upon finding what he’d been looking for, passed it to me. ‘Look.’

On the screen was a photo of him with his arm around a hazy figure in clothes that were otherwise in focus.

‘Drove me quite mad at first, thinking something was wrong with my phone. Then she went a little … overboard once, and the rest was history. She shared everything about her world — your world — with me. And I’m also in several online paranormal communities, so there’s that. It’s not all as hush-hush as one might think. It just takes an open mind.’

I returned his phone to him. ‘How did you figure me out?’

‘Your “allergy”. I had my suspicions about your scar. Your reaction to the silverware confirmed them. Allergies … don’t do this.’ He took my hand and stroked my palm. The sensation of his fingers on the raw skin was … electric. ‘I’m sorry I put you in an awkward position and you weren’t ready to tell me. What I said … just slipped out. I understand. It has to be fucking terrifying. It’s okay if you don’t want to see me again after this. But I want you to know that what you are doesn’t change a thing about how I feel about you. How you were turned is none of my business. The whole thing is, really. I did an arse thing. I’m an arse. First with the goddamn restaurant, now this. Way to fucking go, Walker,’ he said to himself quietly.

I flung my empty gelato container into the nearest bin, and then my arms around him. I helped throw away his for him, too. ‘You’re not an arse, Jake. This doesn’t change anything about how I feel about you, too. I like you a lot.’ His cheeks flushed deeply under the moonlight. ‘I was freaking out about this whole thing during dinner because I like you a lot. I am so relieved that we’ve gotten to lay our cards on the table.’ I fanned myself with my hand. Don’t cry, Imogen! ‘And because I don’t want there to be any more lies between us, it was my ex-boyfriend who turned me, and he did it because I wanted it.’

‘Oh. Yeah, it still doesn’t change a thing.’ His lips landed on my forehead in a peck. ‘Okay, I never imagined the topic of our exes would come up so often during our first date. Oh, well. Guess they had more of an impact on us than we’d like to think.’

‘Yeah’ — I chuckled, ‘let’s keep walking.’

I peeled myself off him. Our hands remained intertwined. Like dinner, the remaining walk — as short as it was — to the station was a quiet one. Unlike dinner, it was more so that we were simply basking, revelling, in the afterglow of our attraction to each other and each other’s presence. The world felt right again, just as it did at the farmers market.

The next time we spoke was on the train platform. ‘Thank you for the lovely time,’ I said, ‘and for being such a sweetheart.’ I waved my bouquet at him. It still looked pristine despite all the walking we did. ‘For everything.’

‘Thank you, too. I had an amazing time with you today. I can assure you that Chez Walker will serve larger portions than what we had earlier.’

‘I’m looking forward to it.’

‘The weekend after next, then?’

‘Yes,’ I said, grinning. ‘I’d be down for any time before the weekend, too, if Chez Walker is open then.’

‘I’ll speak with the chef.’

He moved in for a goodbye kiss, which I seized wholeheartedly. His smell and the sound of his heartbeat flooded my senses. I could feel his heart beating against his chest under my touch, thumping, thumping away for every second our lips lingered on each other’s. I had to contain myself and keep things G-rated and light, as such kisses were wont to be, though my instincts were screaming, baying, at me to get to satisfying at least one craving tonight. I was the one to break off the kiss for fear of going too far.

‘Just in time,’ said Jake, his eyes doing that thing they did whenever he smiled. ‘My train’s here. I’ll see you next week?’

‘I thought you said you’ll speak with the chef about next week.’

‘I realised I don’t care what the chef thinks. He’ll be fine with it anyhow: he doesn’t have to bust out the good silverware.’

‘Goodbye, Jake.’

‘See you, Imogen. Message me when you get home?’

‘I will.’

We waved at each other, right before the train doors swallowed him up. My train came soon after, too. I spent the entire ride home wondering not what to fill the void that was my stomach with, but what fresh hell the universe had in store for me in return for scoring me a guy like Jake.

[b1ksh88p]

Be Mine Chapter 2 ⛏

Plot: After a couple of days you gather up the courage to visit your new best friend!

Warnings: Angst

You couldn’t get the events of that night out of your mind. It all just felt too surreal. Whenever you passed your ex there were no hard feelings. In all honesty no matter what he’d do to flaunt in front of you affected you much. Your mind was only concerned with the events of that night. In all honesty you haven’t felt so jovial with anyone or anything for a long while. It was as if you’ve found your purpose or some long term something to look foreword to. You were determined to help the mysterious Harry Warden guy out. You just had to find a way to do it.

For days you’ve been stumped. Your mother always said the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach...what did he eat anyway? Did he have any preferences? You wouldn’t expect him to. The poor thing had been living off of dried rations and soot water for so long he would probably be grateful for anything. But still you didn’t want to mess this up. What if he had allergies? Breaking news! Woman kills serial killer with banana bread, justice served sweet by a deadly treat! In the end you went with some homemade honey bread, fresh apples, and cool water.

Before you could start your adventure into the mine you had stopped by the florist for a small bouquet of flowers. You made sure none of them were roses and even read about their meaning before purchasing them. The last thing you wanted was him getting offended by your gestures. From here your path was set. Or so you thought. Midway there the sherif stopped you.

“Morning, where you headed dressed all fany?”

“To the mines....”

“And what’s a pretty thing like you doing going to those filthy old mines with flowers for?”

You fight the urge to tell the old fart to fuck off and put on a toothless smile, lips barely curled as you fought back hellfire. “To honor the souls lost down there.” You say as innocently as one could lie. For a moment you’re sure he’s gonna tell you it’s to dangerous for a pretty little thing such as yourself to be in the mines but he shrugged.

“You be careful down there, and make sure not to go to far!” He called out as you quickly scamper past him.

Finally no distractions. A complete foreign panic ghost through your body as you stand between the weather front. It was like standing between heaven and hell. Only someone as optimistically stupid would enter the devils lair after barely escaping its clutches. You exhale before braving the stale air. The deeper into the lions den you went the stronger your agitation continued. Without liquid courage you felt like a sheep parading onto the slaughter. Every time you tried to hum or make any sounds to distract yourself you felt like you were being stalked. With it so dark would he know it was you? You continue onward before hitting a dead end. You sigh, perhaps he had went deeper than before into some hidden part of the mines you knew nothing of. Or maybe he was avoiding you on purpose. You much rather believe he was just busy doing whatever he liked to do and would leave the flowers and gifts down here for when he gets back. When you go to turn every fiber of your being seems to freeze.

Instead of a curious shadow you see the man practically charging at you at full speed! If not for the pickaxe you maybe could’ve thought he was running to give you a hug but he definitely didn’t seem like the hugging type! You were cornered. No loose rocks big enough to harm him, no abandoned mining tools to throw. You were completely fucked. As his form grew larger you ran through every possible way this could go down. Instead of picking a cool escape plan you panic and raise the basket whilst looking away. “ITS ME THE GIRL FROM VALENTINES DAY! IM SORRY I CAME BACK I-I BROUGHT YOU STUFF.” You yell. The steps slowed to a stumble but you didn’t dare open your eyes.

“Why are you back here?” Lucky for you he didn’t sound to angry! Yes a bit out of breath, annoyed, and confused but not in a homicidal rage.

You open your eyes and tear a smile from your trembling lips. “I told you I was going to repay you! See I brought some food and some yellow flowers, and uh-“ he doesn’t speak. He’s staring at you completely speechless. You wondered if this meant he was going to make you into miner beef jerky but he seems frozen...as if he’s short circuited.

In all honesty he couldn’t believe you had came down here on your own volition. And for what? Was this more of your empathy? Nonsense, what were your true intentions. Where you a reporter? You didn’t seem drunk like last time meaning you made up your mind to come to his personal hell.

You both kinda just stare at each other. Of course to you he’s glaring at you with homicidal intent so you feel like jello. “Is it the flowers? I know they’re kinda cheesy but I thought it could help...liven up the place.” Wow you were really bad at this whole not angering the six foot miner dude.

“I don’t care about the flowers or your gifts why are you back down here.” This time he sounded stern. Best not to sugar coat anything. Honesty was the best policy right?

“Well because you’re my friend! And friends look out for each other...”

“We aren’t friends. We aren’t even acquaintances.”

Your arms drop, the basket of goodies go down with it. Usually you were pretty good at handling your emotions. It came with the reputation. But something about him got to you, struck a nerve you didn’t know was there.

“Don’t you dare.”

It was coming

“C’mon stop it...”

Oh no there’s no stopping it they were coming

“Ok ok ok....thank you. This was very....thoughtful.”

And scene.

“I know. Everything’s homemade or homegrown.” You flaunt finding a flat surface to sit down on. You put the bread on a plastic plate and wait for him to join you. Instead he just stares...relentlessly. Had he never been to a picnic...like ever? You pat a spot and he slowly finds a comfortable position to sit in. You tear a piece of the bread off for yourself and get to munching. Maybe he needed a invitation to eat. He didn’t move. All he did was stare. “You know you can eat right?”

“Do you think I’m stupid?”

You flinch at his sudden hostility making things awkward. “I-I was just saying...you aren’t eating anything...” you huff.

“I’m not hungry.”

Bullshit! Full on what? Cave bugs and stale crackers? Was it about his face? “If it makes you feel any better I ca-“

“Why the hell would you care how I feel? Stop acting like you’re my fucking savior! I cried in front of you one time! That doesn’t make us friends and it sure as hell doesn’t make me not want to drive my pickaxe through your fucking throat.”

You were speechless. Everything in you was torn. The sane side of you wanted to cry and run away, but the stubborn dumbass side of you wanted to stay put. “Fine.” You stand up and dust yourself off. He doesn’t move from that spot, not even to look at you as you leave. When the warmth hit your skin you finally let some weakness show. You were shaking. Not only with fear but with frustration. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. How could you be so dull? Of course he wouldn’t like flowers and a meal. Maybe kind gestures were all in vain. You walk home with far less pep in your step as usual. At least with this chapter on your life closed you could try and focus on other things, although you’d be lying if you said he wouldn’t always be in your mind...

Harry Warden POV

Only when he was completely sure she was gone did he eat. Not hungry his ass he was fucking starving. But there was something eating at him. Something he hadn’t felt in a long time. That stupid look on her stupid little face as she walked away made his stomach turn. She didn’t even sound angry just...disappointed.

He waved it off and continued to viciously tear through everything she had provided. When he got to the bottom of the basket he was sure it was a napkin, but upon further inspection that sickening feeling returned. He unfolded the cloth and audibly groaned. She had cleaned and sewn it back to its formal glory, or at least as close as she could get to it. He could’ve possibly stomached the feeling if she had left it at that. In the middle where moths had eaten through it she had stitched a new patch. It had a little pickaxe on it. Now he recognized the stupid ass feeling.

It was guilt

[katsukikitten]

Stood Up

A/N Yall thank my friend for sending me rando tumblr screencaps from well aged posts. I just was like oo good fic idea and now here it is. I finally took time to write it. ENJOY!

Unblinking eyes gaze at you in curiosity mixed heavily with pity as you gulp down your fifth complimentary water.

Fellow diners stare, watching the scene unfold with heavy hearts although it is making good dinner conversation. Your dress now constricting when it was once body con. Hugging your curved

You'd been here long enough to watch couples come and go. Families to sit and laugh all the way through coffee and dessert.

Their gazes feel heavy.

"Are you ready to order yet?" The waitress asks kindly, trying hard to keep the pity off of her face, but you know that she knows "Or perhaps more bread?"

You stare down at the third *empty* basket, you bite the inside of your lip to keep your cool. White hot rage flows through your vein competing against burning embarrassment and the tears collecting in your eyes.

The slim waitress begins to collect the empty baskets, giving you a once over. You feel the pity radiating off of her in waves.

"Just a few more minutes please." You smile politely.

"There is heavy traffic tonight." She smiles back trying to encourage you but all it does is remind you that everyone knows what's happening in this restaurant and it is just *you* who is delusional.

And you're beginning to wonder how long you can tell yourself that traffic really is to blame.

It had been well over an hour from the time agreed upon by both yourself and your supposed date. Your phone is still dry, glass staring up with no notification in sight.

Hell not even a spam email.

Biting rouged lips you dig through your purse for any sort of cash to tip the waitress who so kindly took care of you while you sat their waiting patiently like an idiot.

Stood up.

It wasnt like this was the first time. You'd been stood up before and after giving them fifteen extra minutes of time you'd text them "Dont fucking bother my guy." Before ordering yourself a delicious meal and dessert.

Happy over the result, loving the longer life.

But shit you actually LIKED this guy. It was supposed to be your third date with him. He kissed you and left you at your door step damnit!

Or maybe that should have been hint enough.

A sharp inhale to collect yourself before you pat the 10 on the table. Making sure to keep your head held high when suddenly a strong hand clamps on your shoulder. Keeping you seated.

"Hey baby." He says a little loudly, you look into glittering rubies with a begrudged almost angry look. He flashes a wide tooth smile before kissing you on your cheek. Adding, again slightly above a normal voice.

"There was a crazy accident! I left the uber and had to walk here. And you know me I can't keep my phone charged to save my life."

The chair across from you slides across dark hardwood floors before it is settled into. A wink of shining rubies as you stare with now heated eyes.

"Play along? The names Kirishima Eijiro." He winks again.

Who the fuck was this guy?

Dressed in black with a blazing red tie, black vest and matching black shirt sleeves rolled to his forearms.

Why the fuck did he sit down across from you?

And why the fuck wasn't he scared of the death glare you were giving him?

Before you can ask the waitress comes over, giving Kirishima a slight glare.

A glance of "You better be paying" and "You better buy the gorgeous lady dessert!"

It does not go unnoticed by the red head, who happily takes the blame for the delay.

Better than the latter, which was you, this stunningly beautiful woman was being stood up.

It was unmanly. Not to mention it was hurting his heart.

"Bring a bottle of..." He glances to you, giving you a once over before a smile creep along his soft lips, "Actually make it a whiskey neat and a nice rum and coke?"

"Coming right up. Do you need a few moments?" She glances over the two of you, the waitress must know how famished you were. Well he sat across from you, enduring your harshest of glares, so a little pressure wouldn't hurt.

"Eijiro, order for me please *baby*?" You purr, folding up your menu, he takes your request with stride.

Shooting in the dark and hoping for the best.

"She'll have the parm crusted chicken, side caesar salad with the dressing on the side and fries." He winks your way, a smirk slides onto your lips, "I'll have the sirloin, rare to medium rare please and a loaded baked potato."

"Coming right up." She smiles, collecting the menus before happily waltzing to the order board.

You lean forward, a signature cat smile plastered on your lips.

"Not bad. Not bad." You take a sip of your refilled water, "It was Eijiro right?"

He laughs, its warm and kind, causing your stomach to flutter.

"Yes, I didn't catch your name?" He leans closer as you lean back, guarded.

"First, you have to answer why you decided to sit down across from me."

His everlasting smile falters for just a moment. He swallows, debating on answering truthfully or with a lie.

He thinks better of it.

"I didn't like the idea of such stunning fiercoity to be stood up. It was unmanly of your date and...." He waits for the waitress to set your drinks down before continuing, "Dickish."

It is your turn to laugh aloud as you watch a small blush creep upon his cheeks, bringing out the brightness of his eyes. You were truly in the presence of a gentleman, what with him waiting before cursing and speaking so lowly.

While you would have been brash, loud, and uncaring.

He relishes the sound of your sultry laugh, making him wonder what other parts of you were this...this intensely breathtaking.

He quiets some of his dirtier thoughts as he swallows down his desire with the whiskey.

"So you just happened to see me?" You nurse your own drink.

"Yes and no, I hear a couple talking about it on their way out. I was supposed to be with my friends tonight." His eyes roam the room, he smiles and you follow his gaze, "Well more of a work meeting."

A small group with a rowdy ash blonde, a quiet jade haired man, a petite chestnut brown haired woman and a man with a mop of mostly white hair.

For once in your life you feel a little guilty, his group of friends/co workers look fun.

You shouldn't be stealing him away just because he was saving you a bit of embarrassment.

"Oh, go back to them. I've eaten alone plenty of times." You smile his way, "I can cancel our orders."

"Oh no, like I said I'm not about to allow such a stunning fiercoity such as yourself to sit alone." He leans closer, his voice hushed and laced with concern, "Plus you looked....lonely. You must have liked him?"

Seeing him so worried about a strangers emotional state has your stomach in knots, your drink goes down easy before you shrug your shoulders.

"Key word, *liked*" You smile devilishly at him, a set of sharp teeth greet you in return.

"So what do you do for a living that you can have a meeting at a five star restaurant?" Curiosity finally getting the better of you as you pay what was supposed to be his table a final glance.

He let's out a low sigh, it sounds tired to you.

"Hero work." His smile is a fraction of its normal luster.

Or what you considered normal in the past twenty minutes or so.

"Ah, hard work I'm sure. Cheers." You clink his glass, "To you and your crew for keeping us all safe."

He gives you a pondering look before his smile returns to normal.

"Cheers." A quick swallow before your food is set before you.

Both of you sitting in comfortable silence. You watch as he cuts into his steak, the muscles in his arms contracting with each movement. Struggling to stay in his shirt at times, although the shirt did not seem too tight.

You smile as a devilish idea takes over, you stab one of his extra bites, the steak melts in your mouth. Biting back a moan as you savor the flavor.

You cut him a piece of your chicken, he goes to take your fork from your delicate, yet deadly, hand before you pull back.

He looks at you with furrowed brows before he catches on as you gently tilt the fork towards him. He takes a bite, holding eye contact before sliding off the piece of meat.

The chicken dances along his tongue melding with the crusted buttery bread crumbs and cheese.

Your heart slams into your chest, demanding to be heard.

Hell seen with how hard its ramming into your ribcage, wanting to burst free for the first time in a long time.

Another smile spreads across your slightly flushed cheeks.

All the while Kirishima cannot help but imagine what a devine creature such as yourself would taste like.

Sweet.

At least that's what he thought.

"What do you do for a living?" Knife slicing through tender beef. A pause on your end as you debate should you lie or tell the truth.

Well, the date wasn't going awfully, it wouldn't be a bad idea for one of your dates to know the truth.

"I'm a writer."

"What no way?! Like for the paper or published?" You swallow your worry.

"Published."

"Is that why you have yet to give me your name?" He peers up at you attempting to read your body language.

Only when you laughed was your guard down.

It had been partially if not mostly up for majority if this going on hour.

You paused, is that why you always used a pseudonym for fear that someone would put two and two together?

That they may have read your work?

And what if they hated it?

So fucking what if they did, you remind yourself with a sip of your liquor.

"Guess." Another famous cat smile. Kirishima ponders, fork and knife forgotten as he thinks.

"Oh! You do the crime books with that bad ass mob boss woman!" He snaps his fingers to attempt to remember, "'A Lone Red Rose,' ugh it's been on my reading list forever!"

"You're lying." You giggle but when his face becomes crestfallen you almost retreat your half tease half accusation.

A lot of firsts were happening for you tonight.

"Y/LN, you're a best freaking seller! I've been dying to know but never have time. I'm on the first chapter. I'm where the main crooks right hand man's wife gets SNATCHED in the middle of the night! I'm on the edge of my seat but I lost my book and hadn't had time to get a new one." He kinda sulks at the end.

"What happened to it?" Curiosity dances along your tone.

"Oh well Bakugou, the blonde at the table, " A point of your fork and a spy of your eye, "He had to blow up our steak out car to divert the perpetrator from hurting a civilian. He gave me the money for it three fold but I have yet to make it to the store."

"Ah." Is all you offer as you gaze over at his much different life.

Your newly banded tattoo seems to itch extra tonight, you choose to ignore it as another question comes out.

"But I've read so many reviews! Everyone speculates if you've done hero work before, or even shadowing. Some think you're writing your life. I'm guessing shadowing. Am I right?" He looks at you with expectant eyes and you smile warmly to him.

He was kind, unsuspected and reminded you so much of sunshine.

"Who's to say it's not my life?" You giggle and he laughs as well.

"Well the main love interest, again from what I heard, sounds explosive, temper wise. So unless Bakugou is a Mob Boss' son then I'm finding that highly doubtful." His laughter is contagious and you join in once more.

Let this be as it is and as he thinks.

"Ah yes, that would be a funny thought.: You glance at the table again before returning to that glittering gaze, "But you're right. I shadowed heroes in abroad. America actually before my Father sent me here."

"Oh what for?"

"To expand his business. I only just decided to go along with it." You bat long lashes his way.

He orders dessert, the two of you get along quite nicely before he insists he walks you to either the train station or a cab.

"I'll be fine. I'm not helpless or quirkless." It almost comes out a snarl, he places your coat onto your shoulders anyway.

"I would never think that of you. Any woman is capable of defending herself. But I was raised to aid anyway. Please do not take offense my love." He blushes at the end, realizing too late how real that sounded. You curl into the crook of his arm as he places his hand on your hip.

"Thank you my love." You smile up at him only to be pulled closer. He walks you to the curb in front of the restaurant to the idling dark car.

Your idling dark car, with a scarred looking driver. He blinks as the scene gives him a ghost of a feeling. He shakes it off. He goes to open your door for you, stopping just above the handle.

"Oh one more thing." A heavy blush rushes into his cheeks. Suddenly he is nervous, "May I have your time again? For a real date?"

You look deep into his eyes for deception and when you find none your smile.

Another genuine, heart melting smile before you lean up to him. Pressing your lips to his softly, swiping your tongue over his lips for a moment, hinging at what the two of you could be.

It all just depends on your mood and how much you cared to reveal.

He was a hero after all.

But he was so damn handsome.

"Eijiro, that's the realest date I've been on in a long time. Your phone?" You hold out your hand and his face fall.

"I didn't lie about it being dead." He scratches the back of your head and you pull out yours. He gives you his number that you text a winky face too before he opens your door.

Totally lapping up the presence of a true fucking gentleman. Hopefully that only went so far into the bedroom.

You looked at him through the tinted glass before rummaging around in the back seat. Your hands finding purchase on the cracking spine.

Ink slides across paper in a smooth concession before you roll the window down, peeking over it.

"For you." You smirk, "Let me know what you think when you've finished."

"I..I will!" He says as your roll your window up, the driver pulling away giving you a look.

"Madame, you realize that was Red Riot right?" He asks, concern melting into rage that he would dare touch you

"Yes, I know." Cat smile painting your lips.

"Oi! You stood us up to not even fuck?!" Bakugou have snarls, half teases when he finds him out on the curb.

"I got her number."

"Tch, come on let's go. Glad you finally got a copy of that damn book you won't shut the hell up about. You reread it so much that it was falling apart. I did you a favor that day."

"Haha yea Thanks Katsuki." Another suck at the blondes teeth.

Kirishima knew it was you the second he heard you laugh, he had read your book countless times.

He had an idea of who you were.

But he had no idea that his glittering Ruby eyes were staring down at a fortune. The very first and test print of your book, now adorned with your signature and lipstick mark on the front page.

To my hero for the night. 💋

[dashboardcat]

I Try One of Everything at Salt City Market (Part 2)

Remember like 3 weeks ago when I did a write-up of a food hall in my hometown, guaranteed to attract the attention of like, 2 people?  Well, it’s time for more of that! 

Attempt #1

While there wasn’t a line outside this time, the market itself seemed just as busy as it was the day after the grand opening.  I also tried to make a point to take in more of the decor, but I don’t think I really have anything new to add other than the fact that I watched not one but two people struggle to stuff the big paper bags their food came in into the trendy, tiny-opening trash cans.  More importantly, I forgot that like, half of the stands are closed on Mondays, meaning I would have to come back another time to finish my quest. 

ERMA’S ISLAND- Jerk Pork (half portion)- $10

I want to say right off the bat that of all the things I’ve tried from this market, this was hands down the best smelling.  And thankfully, the pork pretty much tasted as good as it smelled.  It was tender and juicy, and the sauce was complex, with a good amount of heat that didn’t overpower the other flavors.  The rice and beans that it came with, on the other hand, was a little bland, but that’s nothing that mixing the sauce into can’t fix.  

Unfortunately, I can never show my face there again, because when the cashier asked me if I wanted the half or whole portion, I said “Yeah,” and made her repeat herself like 3 times.

MAMMA HAI- “Marco Polo” Banh Mi- $10

Yes, that’s pepperoni on a banh mi.

The roll was nice and crusty, and to be honest, that’s like 90% of what makes a good sandwich for me.  Unfortunately, the pickled veggies and cilantro (and this blog is pro-cilantro, get over yourselves, haters) sort of overpowered the pepperoni and the char siu pork, which is a shame because I wanted that pepperoni to shine.  If this was a $5 banh mi, I wouldn’t have a problem with that, but at $10 I would have liked a little more meat, or at least for the already existing meat to make its presence felt.  The pate and mayo kinda also get lost, but do present a bit of richness in about every other bite (and, for another controversial sandwich opinion, I don’t necessarily think that every bite of a sandwich has to have an even distribution of everything, otherwise the flavors sort of just blur together after a while).  Overall, it’s a fairly decent sandwich, but left me longing for something more.  They also have a curry chicken banh mi, maybe that one has a better balance of flavor.

CAKE BAR- Locus Cake- $6.50

One thing about Cake Bar that isn’t made apparent by looking at their stand is that, according to their website, it’s meant to resemble a Vietnamese cafe.  In hindsight, this kinda explains the wide variety of specialty teas (specialteas, if you will) they also had available.

The chocolate cake was moist and had little crispy bits running throughout it.  At first, I thought it was eggshells, because I’m an idiot and always assume the worst.  After picking out an especially large chunk, I realized it was broken up bits of Biscoff cookies! (Further research has shown me that the parent company that makes Biscoff cookies is called Locus, thus, y��know, the name of the cake.  Probably should have put that together sooner, it literally says “Locus” on the cookie, one of which was lodged into the top of the cake.)  The buttercream was surprisingly light, and the caramel on top had the perfect consistency, gooey enough to stay put but not so gooey that it turned into a stringy mess after running your fork through it.  The only negative thing I really have to say about the all-around experience was that the box they used made it kind of difficult to get the slice out of it (as you can see, I ended up just tearing the sides up).

Attempt #2 

Since the market is relatively close to my work, I figured I would drop by after work one day to bang out the rest of the list.

BAGHDAD RESTAURANT- Beef Shawarma- $6.99

At first, I laughed to myself upon seeing it in one of those gas station sub bags.  The laughing faded pretty quickly, though, upon seeing it was, in fact served on a sub roll. I'm not a shawarma expert. maybe that can be an acceptable way to eat it? The beef was well spiced and that perfect sweet spot between tender and still having something to sink your teeth into.  Unfortunately, that’s more or less where my compliments end.  What little sauce the menu promised (just called “sauce,” don’t ask me what it is) has soaked into the bread and completely disappeared, making the whole thing somewhat dry and lackluster.  Also, they didn’t cut it, which was fine with the heartier banh mi’s baguette but with the softer sub roll didn’t have the structural integrity to be picked up whole without a struggle.  My biggest gripe with it is mostly on me, though, as the juice from the pickles tainted most of it with pickle stank, which could have been avoided entirely if I had just ordered it without.  

SOULUTIONS- Mustard and Berbere Fried Chicken ($6) and FIRE MAC ($4)

(Note- the $6 order of chicken comes with 2 of these chicken cutlets, but I carelessly ate one before taking the picture.)

I do want to clear the air here and say that yes, I did accidentally order fried chicken and mac and cheese from both of the soul food places.  I was originally going to get the burger, at my friend’s recommendation, but the menu board by the register suspiciously didn’t have the burger on it, so I panicked and ordered the fried chicken again.  

While the breading was stained yellow from mustard, the honey mustard taste was very subtle.  I also have to admit to not knowing off the top of my head what berbere (I had to google it, it’s an Ethiopian spice blend) tastes like, so i can't tell you if this tasted like that.  But, despite not being especially strong in either of the namesake seasonings, it definitely is a flavorful piece of chicken nonetheless.  Flavors work that way sometimes.

The Fire Mac may not have delivered as strongly on cheese as I may have liked, but it definitely did deliver on the fire, drizzled with a tangy buffalo-esque sauce.  And Topped with crumbled bits of fried chicken skins? Can’t go wrong with that.

JUICE AND FLOWERS- “Root | 12” Juice- $8

Misleading name, I didn’t see any flowers anywhere.  Zero stars. 

The beet and lemon were the most pronounced of the flavors, with the ginger lingering on the palate and, unsurprisingly, the apple and carrot mostly being there to round the whole thing out.  The employee that waited on me was very passionate and knowledgeable about the juice, informing me that 2 pounds of produce had gone into this little bottle, and that it’d have a shelf life of 3-5 days.  Which is good, because I put it back in the fridge after I got home to chill it back down, and then proceeded to forget about it for 3 days.  It’s also a very thick and hearty juice, so it doesn’t feel that weird to only want to drink half a bottle in one sitting and, y’know, make this $8 bottle of juice last a little longer. 

Attempt #3

Knowing fully well that I was going to have a long night shift ahead of me, I decided to check out the Coffee Bar side of the market for what would be my third trip over the course of 5 days.  I feel like I should also point out that the Coffee Bar, as its name literally breaks down as, serves coffee during the day and a full bar at night.  I also noticed during this visit that the Coffee Bar has a patio seating area under construction, cheesy string lights and all, that I am looking forward to.

Fruity Pebbles Latte- $6

Against my best judgement, I got it “for here” for the sake of the pic, even though a.) I had to break my rule of not eating in places because this fucking pandemic isn’t over yet and b.) I was nervous about being late for work the whole time (I did, in fact, get there on time).  As I waited, I could see their secret recipe fruity pebbles milk sitting on the counter.  It was, in fact, fruity pebbles and milk.  

I didn’t really think the Fruity Pebbles would work with the espresso, having had been burned before by places that just dump them onto things with no regard of the flavor profile just for the sake of the burst of color.  But, somehow… it did work.  Maybe it’s because cereal milk is never quite as strong as some might hope, but the subtle fruitiness of the milk played well with the chocolatey notes in the espresso.  The espresso itself probably also had the best crema on it that I’ve ever seen on a latte (and yes, I had to google the pretentious espresso-snob term for the foam that floats to the top).

Also shoutout to the pour over, which on their menu board is priced at "4-ish"

I’m so glad I’m living with my parents again at the moment.  Otherwise, this whole thing would’ve been like, a month’s worth of my food budget.