#How the heck do you draw a mouth eye thing

[weirdronpa]

Heard from somewhere this was canon??

Sorry for bad quality, I haven't drawn anything GF related since 2019-2020

[waywardangel-wilds]

Peeta is always open to drawing or painting anything for Katniss and she's frequently taken him up on it. It's usually not that difficult for him, he loves the chance to paint, to refine his skills. Katniss loves having not only a reminder of certain memories but also a physical representation of Peeta's enduring and almost quiet love for her. And it's easy. Natural. That is until Katniss looks at Peeta one day and asks, "Would you do a self-portrait for me?"

That's hard for him. The sketches are never quite right, the colors are off. Katniss doesn't ever nitpick at his paintings, and she isn't being unkind or anything, but she always looks at the drafts with an uncertain expression only to say, "Somethings not right, Peeta."

Peeta gets frustrated. Why can't he just do this painting? He asks Katniss what is off about the sketches, and it's always a thousand little things. His eyes aren't that severe. He's supposed to have freckles there. His mouth is softer in real life. His hair doesn't curl like that. His expression is off. He can never seem to get it right. What is it about this painting?

They're lying on the couch one day when Katniss says, "Maybe you just can't see yourself the way I do."

That makes him curious. How does she see him? They start trying to figure that out. He says that she should describe his face to him as if he were a plant for the book, and maybe they could arrive somewhere accurate.

Katniss finds it a little funny, even odd, he's himself. He has to be more familiar with his own face than she is, but she humors him. They sit down in his studio together and begin.

It becomes an exercise in getting to know her, somehow, on a level that he hadn't explored before. She spends a long time talking about the shape of his eyes, the fan of his eyelashes, and the color of his irises. Her cheeks stain with embarrassment, and his heart knocks against his ribs, trying to escape, maybe even trying to reach out to her.

She has something to say about details he'd never even thought of before. The angle of his chin, the exact colour of his hair. She has descriptions that don't make much sense to him too. His smile is like spring and his scars are like marigolds. When given time, Katniss ends up arranging a whole bouquet of wildflowers with her descriptions.

He loves her. He already knew that. Heck, people on the other side of the country already knew that, but he'd had no idea, somehow, he still had no idea the depth of Katniss's devotion. It's beautiful and seemingly never-ending and it fills his own heart with joy.

They create the portrait together, after many hours spent alone. It's a painting of his own face, yet, it holds a deep intimacy and he can't seem to look at it without smiling and blushing like a fool. He doesn't think of it as his, even if it's a painting of himself, the painting is wholly Katniss's. He presents it to her when he's finished and Katniss smiles warmly, looking down at it with such affection. She hangs it in the hall, near the bench where she keeps her arrows so she can look at it when she leaves every morning and when she comes back home. That part of the house is very private, he doesn't even really go there that often, so it feels special. To know that Katniss wanted to bring him there with her, in her own way.

[cheezeybread]

Picture Floyd and Jade going to see Yuu for random Azul business reasons. But its Game night with Yuu, Deuce and Ace. the twins get invited to join in and totally forget about whatever Azul wanted.

game niiiight, heck yeah!

I love little scenes like this- don't get me wrong, I love big angsty stuff, but it's a little reminder that these guy are just teenagers, after all!

* . °•★|•°∵ ∵°•|☆•° . *

"Shriiiimpy~" Floyd cooed out, raising a fist to knock on the door again. In contrast to his attempt at a smooth voice, he rapped his knuckles on the door so hard that the old wood practically starting shaking!

"Easy, brother, unless you'd like your paycheck to go towards fixing up the door to this place," Jade remarked, reaching a hand out and rapping on the wood with his own knuckles, as if he were showing his twin how it should be done.

Floyd only stuck his tongue out at Jade, lifting up his fist to the door once more. They've knocked and called out several times already, so wasn't it their right to bust the door down? It was, right? That seemed like it would be the right thing to do. Besides, Azul got antsy whenever both of the eels were out and about on errands, not fully trusting them to get the job done exactly how he wanted. But it was just giving Shrimpy a message, so how hard could it be?

Wait, what were they here to tell them, again? Ah, Jade probably remembered.

Floyd rapped his knuckles on the door again, getting more annoyed with every knock. Certainly they weren't ignoring him, were they? The little Shrimpy wouldn't do such a thing, not to him!

"I'm getting real tired of this, Jade," he grumbled, eyes narrowing.

Sensing his brother's change in mood, Jade took a deep breath before reaching into his pocket and drawing out a ring of keys. Wordlessly, he flicked through each one before singling out an old, rusty key. He leaned down and stuck it in the keyhole, twisting the door unlocked, and opening it.

"Why didn't you try that ten minutes ago?" Floyd snapped, amused despite his attitude.

"I thought it to be rather rude to barge into YN's place without knocking first and giving them a chance to invite us in," Jade replied, giving a coy smile "Besides, it wouldn't do for them to know we have a key to Ramshackle, now, would it?"

"Ahhhh, Jade, you evil genius!" Floyd laughed loudly, slapping his brother on the back.

As soon as they stepped into the building, faint sounds of screams and laughter could be heard few rooms over. Jade nodded to the sound, silently telling his brother to start heading over that way. The two had nothing to fear, of course, from anybody who may be in the building, but it wouldn't do to have their guard down at any point in time.

Following the noise, the two found themselves peering into a doorway- the doorway to the Ramshackle guest room, to be more precise. It looked cleaner than the last time the twins had seen it- which was way back when Azul took Ramshackle as collateral for YN's contract. Now the room was emptied of its trash, was dusted and scrubbed clean, and even had some decent-looking furniture in it.

And lounging around the room, gathered around a table, was YN, Ace, and Deuce.

"No, no, no, you cheater, that's against the rules!" Ace cried out, looking on the verge of tears as he slammed a fist into the table

"Is not!" Deuce cackled, sticking his tongue out.

"Boys, chill out-" YN started, snapping a finger to get their attention. Despite sounding annoyed, it was clear that YN was enjoying themselves, as well "Grim's sleeping in the next room! And don't break my table slamming onto it!"

"Slamming?" Ace tried very hard to contain his laughter, putting a hand over his mouth "That'swhatme'n'yourmomdidlastnight-"

"WHAT DID YOU SAY ABOUT MY MOTHER?????" Deuce yelled, standing up in a fighting position.

"Chill, dude, chill, I was talking about YN's mom!"

"My mother's in a different universe." YN deadpanned.

"...oh." Ace went into an awkward silence after that.

And then there was a screech of absolute terror from behind the Eels, and in unison, they flicked their heads around to see what had caused such a racket. On the ground was a terrified Grim. He was holding a blanket around his shoulders, and clutched it as if he were worried it would be stolen. He stared up at the two brothers with wide eyes, any sleep gone.

"YNNNNNN!" He cried, darting in between their feet and launching himself at the prefect, burying himself in their arms.

"Oh, Jade, Floyd!" YN seemed unperturbed at the sudden appearance of the two as she stroked Grim's back in comfort, despite the terror in Ace and Deuce's face "What are you two doing here?"

"And where did they come from?" Deuce whispered. "How did they get in...?"

Ignoring Deuce's valid questions, Jade bowed his head slightly towards YN in greeting "We have a message for you from-"

"WHAT are you guys doing?" Floyd interrupted, unable to contain his excitement at the situation. He burst into the room and flopped down on the floor, his legs crossed. He looked over the board game spread out on the table and grinned "Don't tell me you're a nerd like Azul, Shrimpy! Board games?"

"Board games!" YN agreed, laughing.

"We- we're playing Monopoly right now," Deuce offered, trying to regain his composure as he adjusted his sitting position on the couch.

"And then we were going to play charades, maybe even a game of hide and seek, too!" YN grinned "Ace and Deuce got permission from Riddle to spend the night here tonight-"

"Yeah, after busting our chops doing homework and study sessions...and cleaning...and lawnwork," groaned Ace.

"You should join us!" YN said eagerly, clapping their hands together.

"Join you?" Jade questioned, stepping into the room with a small smile.

"Yeah, you guys are my friends, too! Come on, it'll be fun, right, guys?" YN looked to the group for their approval. Grim refused to look at the eels, looking like a pouting child. Ace glanced towards Floyd from the corner of his eye, scooting away casually. Deuce thought about it and shrugged.

"Well, I mean, playing charades and hide and seek would be more fun with more people," he conceded "Ace?"

"I mean- yeah, sure, I guess," he shrugged, "As long as neither of you try to take a bite out of me, okay?"

Biting at the air in front of Ace hard enough to make his teeth clack together loudly, Floyd grinned "I'll try!"

"I suppose I shall, as well," Jade chuckled, taking a seat next to YN and folding his hands in his lap, Azul's task long forgotten "So, how do we play?"

-----

Azul drummed his fingers on his desk impatiently, glancing at the clock every few seconds. It was well after midnight.

He had sent the twins on a task that should have taken no longer than twenty minutes, and they had been gone for three hours. Grumbling under his breath about how hard it was to find good help these days, Azul reached for his phone and called Jade's number.

It kept ringing....no one picked it up.

He called it two more times, with no luck.

He then tried Floyd's, but the call ended almost immediately. The bastard pressed the decline button! Two more tries to Jade's number, to no avail.

On the off-chance (which was probably not an off-chance at this point) that the two were still at Ramshackle, Azul dialed up YN's number.

"hello?" they answered almost immediately, their voice in a hushed whisper.

"Ah, yes, Prefect, I'm calling to see if you know the whereabouts of my workers," He said without missing a beat, standing up from his chair and making his way over to one of the sofas to sit.

"Shhh, they might hear you over the phone!" YN hissed. There were muffled sounds of movement, and when they spoke again, their voice was a little louder "What were you asking again?"

"Floyd and Jade," Azul said firmly, pressing his fingers up against the bridge of his nose. He was starting to lose his patience.

"Ohhhh, yeah, about that-" The prefect's voice was cut off by a loud thud, and they screamed.

"FOUND YOU SHRIMPY!" Azul could hear a familiar voice over the phone.

"Floyd? Floyd!" He barked into the phone, hoping the eel could hear him "Come back right now, do you hear me!"

But apparently he could not, since Azul could only hear Floyd and YN laughing heartily over something. Then there were more hushed whispers, and Floyd giggled like a fool before his voice was heard clearly

"Oh- oh yeah, hey Azul-" he said, barely containing his laughter "Can me and Jade stay the night here?"

"No, Floyd, the two of you have to open the lounge tomorrow, it's Saturday, that's one of our busiest-"

"Thanks, boss-man, see you later!"

Click.

Azul threw his phone to the ground in frustration, slamming his head down into the nearest pillow, and let out a very muffled scream.

* . °•★|•°∵ ∵°•|☆•° . *

[ronearoundblindly]

Hideout (Interlude)

touch-starved!Nomad Steve Rogers x motel employee!reader (see series)

Written for @whiskeytangofoxtrot555's birthday from her premise ask 💜 but also serves as a wee prezzie for @blogbog710, @targaryenvampireslayer, @navybrat817, and (belatedly) the lovely @ellethespaceunicorn! (What the heck is in the water?? So many bdays I didn't know about!)

Summary: Your birthday ritual is interrupted.

*You do not need to know anything about this series to enjoy this blurb.* Warnings for suggestive eating, a sweet kiss (literally), cuddling in minimal clothing, but otherwise, just fluff and feels! WC 1.2k

Of course, you don’t always do this. Sometimes you’re out with friends. Sometimes your parents make a huge deal out of late dinner. Sometimes you draw the short straw and have to work the front desk, but not tonight.

The searing red of the digital clock counts down for you (or up depending on how you look at it). Soon—very soon—it will be midnight, and you can wish yourself the first ‘happy birthday.’ To some that might seem sad, but it’s become a ritual of you putting yourself first. Birthday parties may be for children but celebrating YOU should never go out of style.

The red flickers. New numbers. New you. Older, wiser, and alive. It’s a beautiful thing.

Your eyelids fall heavy after your long soak in the tub, the lingering scent of the bubblebath still warm on your skin. You’re content and tired. You hum as a smile tugs the corners of your mouth.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Why you aren’t startled is a hope you don't admit aloud, a greedy, gluttonous vice that piles on to a reality you cannot share with a single living soul except…

Steve Rogers, the fugitive Captain America, crouches outside your window, nimble and stealthy, having climbed to the slant of roof without you noticing.

But you wished for him. You always wish for him to come back.

Your smile grows as you slide off the edge of your bed and press your hand to the pane of glass. He mirrors the gesture, unhurried, soft. It’s just a moment more before you lift the latches and invite him in.

Whispers of ‘hey’ are exchanged while Steve crawls through, but he only answers your surprised “what are you doing here?” with a kiss to your forehead and a long hug.

You taught him how to hug like that. He's taken it to another level as anxiety melts out of you faster than it did in the bath.

His warm skin smells of pine and leather, likely from wearing his decrepit Cap suit to sneak around the woods behind your house. It fits his mountain-man vibe these days--full beard, hair curling beneath his ears, desperate loneliness he uses you to brighten.

You're not sure Steve comprehends how much light he brings to your life in return, but you soak up what you can.

He stands tall, still grinning, and drops a small, structured backpack to the floor. From it he pulls a pastry box, a little pack of candles, and a lighter. He goes through the entire process of preparing your cupcake in his palm before stretching out his hand.

The tiny, flickering flame shimmers in his twilight eyes.

“Happy birthday, Tops.”

As you gently take your treat, it occurs to you that you’ve never told Steve Rogers your birthday. 

“How did you know?”

Technically, the question is casual, but you’re still curious.

His eyebrows shoot up, dramatic and comical shadows cast across his handsome features.

“Well, see, in my…position—” Wax drips onto the towering icing while Steve rubs his neck, guilty and avoiding your eyes. “I have to take certain…precautions, and I was just—” 

“Did you look me up? Online? Do some research, huh? Check up on me?” 

You’re teasing him, but it is fun to see the huge man kneeling at your bedside squirm. His blush is crimson in the candlelight.

You poke his burly shoulder. “You were checkin’ me out…”

“It’s not like that,” he whispers. “Anyway, make a wish, birthday girl.” Steve pushes the cupcake higher in your hold, encouraging you with a wry smile.

Your breath is swift and precise, your desire so clear at the forefront of your mind that picking a wish—another wish, since he’s already here—takes no time at all.

Steve maneuvers himself to sit up on your bed, pulling you to into his lap.

“Good surprise?”

“The best,” you whisper.

You remove the candle and hold the bottom to Steve’s lips. “Lick.”

He sucks off the icing slowly, keeping his eyes locked with yours.

You playfully run your finger through the frosting and taste it, too. If you ever told him your favorite cake flavor, you can’t remember that either, but he clearly knows.

“Tasty?” he asks, a swipe of his tongue wetting his lips.

“Uh-huh.”

You take another dollop and offer your finger to him.

He chuckles. “It’s all yours. I’m not fond of super-sweet things.”

“Oh?” You let the whipped, buttery sugar dissolve in your mouth, thinking. “You’re fond of me, so…are you saying I’m not sweet?”

Your concern is overly dramatic, but Steve stares, biting his bottom lip. “No.”

“Then what do I add to the flavor?” You pull down a corner of crimped paper to try the cake itself. He’s still pondering when you clean lingering stickiness off your thumb.

“Clarity,” Steve finally says. “You offer clarity in a very blurry life.”

His hand on your back shifts to cradle your head, bringing you closer until you’re captured in an intense but chaste kiss. He cups your cheek in his other palm and licks across your sweet lips until you open for him. Steve devours you like you are the real treat, uncaring if his offering splats on the floor. It’s not on fire anymore, so who cares?

Something else occurs to you, jolting you to break away.

“How long can you stay?”

Steve pets down his beard, restarting his brain. “Till morning, I guess, but then I should go. I don’t want to ruin any of your other plans.”

Unbidden, you inhale swiftly and are overtaken by a yawn.

He’s wildly amused by that. “Tired, Tops?”

“No,” you lie, feeling another one coming on. “If I eat the rest of this, I’ll have energy.”

“Or—“ Steve plucks the confection away before you can slam it in two bites flat “—you can finish this for breakfast and get some sleep.”

You whine in protest because every minute you sleep is a minute with him wasted. He senses exactly that.

“I promise to stay right here all night. Come on. Get comfy.”

He repackages your cupcake to keep it fresh while you crawl into bed. You’ve never seen Steve have to remove his suit, and to watch, it looks tedious and involved.

“Took a second to master, I tell ya,” he mutters once the top is off.

Another minute and he’s shuffling under the covers beside you, aligning his body to snuggle yours, keeping you facing him.

Again his hand finds your cheek, his thumb brushing across your skin gently. He’s purposefully lulling you, placing the most delicate kisses over your forehead, his beard tickling your nose and making it scrunch up.

“Sorry,” he breathes.

You tilt upwards to steal the apology right from his lips. Usually, your time together is dictated by his needs, even if he doesn’t ask for the attention. It’s uplifting to have no worry of caring for him explicitly. This is just you with him, zero pressure, tons of love, nothing between.

“Hey, Steve?”

You wait for the deep rumble of a hum from his chest

“Thank you. I don’t think I ever said that.”

He smiles against your mouth, breaking away with a swift double peck.

“My pleasure, sweetheart.” He pulls you flush to his chest, sighing happily when you toss your leg over his hip. “Happy birthday,” Steve whispers into your hair. “Thank you for letting me in.”

You fall asleep with him everywhere, in your arms, in your lungs, and in your heart. Your wish is that he never leaves, and for tonight, he’s doing the best he can to make your every wish come true.

[Main Masterlist; Ko-Fi]

@supraveng @1950schick @patzammit @yiiiikesmish @ashesofblackroses

@jaqui-has-a-conspiracy-theory @brandycranby @buckysprettybaby

@late-to-the-party-81 @bigtreefest @mistressmkay @astheskycries 

@rogersbarber @blogbog710 @bucky-fricking-barnes-reads @fallinallinmendes

@mrsevans90 @lemonadygirl @umadirectioner @mrschandlerbing @as-white-as-snow-love

[justagalwhowrites]

Halcyon - Ch. 7: It'll Be Nice to Feel Wanted for a Change

You and Joel decide your next steps. A continuation of Halcyon from the prologue through Ch. 6, a modern no outbreak AU TLOU fic found on Tumblr here.

^I keep using Pedro gifs instead of Joel gifs because Joel is such a baby in this fic I'm sorry 😭

Pairing: Joel Miller x Female Reader

Warnings: Diet culture type language. Modern No Outbreak AU, No use of Y/N, Slow burn, 18+ only, Minors DNI

Length: 7.3K

AO3 | Main Master List | Prologue | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

“Told you, I have connections.” 

Joel rolled his eyes and took a sip of his coffee, watching as the kids on the soccer field changed directions. 

“Still feel like business school is overkill,” he said, putting the travel mug in the cupholder of his folding chair. “Especially at this point… GET ‘EM BABY GIRL!” 

Sarah stole the ball from a girl on the other team and dodged another girl before starting to charge up field, a serious look on her face.

“GO SARAH!” You jumped up and screamed, cupping your hands around your mouth. Sarah got pinned down and looked around before passing the ball, sending the it between two defenders to another player. Her teammate got the ball and sent it careening toward the goal before the other team could change direction. It sailed in and Joel leapt to his feet, the two of you jumping and clapping. “HECK YEAH!” 

Sarah beamed at the two of you before she went to hug the girl who scored. You and Joel sat back down as play started back up. The coffee had spilled some in his excitement, the fabric arm of the chair wet. 

“Now is the time to do the business school thing,” you said as you leaned forward on your thighs, watching the game intently, your hands clasped together and tucked between your knees. “And besides, it’s not actual business school. It’s… business school light. Enough to help you draw up a business plan and that kind of shi…stuff. The kind of stuff that you’ll need if you need to take out money from the bank to get started.” 

Joel sighed. He knew you were right, he just wasn’t crazy about the idea. 

After you’d had dinner - and nearly devolved into an argument that, in hindsight, Joel really was not ready to have no matter how hard he was pushing for it - the two of you had gone back and forth about what to do next. 

Your call shouldn’t have surprised him. You’d always been an academic sort of person, the fact that you’d gotten into some fancy college had come as no surprise to Joel. Of course your first idea involved formal education. 

You reached out to a friend of a friend at the business school and got some of his recorded lectures from the era of virtual classes during COVID. He was happy to share them once you explained it, compiling some lectures, notes and guides for Joel to use. 

Joel felt bad about putting some stranger out like that but you said he was happy to do it in exchange for an autographed copy of your book. 

“I know, it’s crazy,” you’d teased when he looked at you in disbelief. “Should have let me draw on your face that one time, think of how valuable it’d be now…” 

Joel just snorted and shook his head. 

“Get in there!” 

You were on your feet again, watching as Sarah tackled the ball away from another girl. You screamed and jumped when she succeeded and Sarah smiled as she clambered back to her feet. 

“Good job, kiddo!” Joel called, still seated but smiling. You got really into Sarah’s games, Joel had quickly learned. He wasn’t about to admit it to you, but he loved it. It reminded him of when you were both in high school, when you’d watch from the front row of the stands during football games, screaming so loud that he could hear you over everyone else at the game. You drew his number on your cheek and bleached it onto a t-shirt. You’d even made Tommy a matching one, something the 10-year-old had taken as a profession of undying love and devotion back then. 

The next time you were at the house after giving him the shirt, Tommy sauntered through the kitchen where you and Joel were having a snack, topless, drenched in cologne and hair slicked back. Joel watched you try not to laugh as Tommy leaned on the table in front of you, giving you a cocky smile. 

“Hey Goldie,” he said, his voice artificially deep. Joel choked on his Coke and covered it with a cough. “Didn’t expect to see you here.” 

“Really?” You asked, brows raised. “Even though I’m here every Saturday afternoon?” 

His smile faltered. 

“Well… uh…” his eyes darted to Joel, like he was looking for help. Joel just held up his hands. “Just… didn’t expect you to be here looking so good.” 

“Oh,” Joel could see the edges of your lips pulling up. “So I don’t normally look good? Darn…” 

“No, wait…” he stood up from the table, eyes darting to Joel again. “I don’t… you…” 

“Don’t you have a matchbox car to crash or something?” Joel asked. “Stop tryin’ to pick up my girl, little man.” 

“Fuck off,” Tommy muttered before stomping back off toward his room. 

“I’ll tell mom you said that,” Joel leaned forward and watched his little brother go. 

“So I’m your girl now?” You teased once he was out of ear shot. “News to me. And be nice to him, he’s just a kid and he’s a sweetheart.” 

“He thinks he’s Don Juanito is what he is,” Joel muttered, sitting back in his seat and taking a sip of his Coke. “You being my girl might be the only way he leaves you alone.” 

You rolled your eyes but smiled a little anyway. 

“All this trouble because I wanted to support my best friend as he fucked up in the red zone…” 

“I’ll tell my mom on your language, too,” he said. “Don’t think she won’t smack you upside your head just because she didn’t birth you. You’re her favorite kid, but don’t push it.” 

Tommy had, thankfully, gotten over his crush on you. A fact that Joel was endlessly thankful for now that his part in helping you complete your list included finding you a fucking date. 

There was a guy on his team at work he thought would at least be something besides a total waste of time. Blake was a decent man, one of the few on the site who didn’t say disgusting shit about women the second they believed they were among other assholes who thought the same way. Joel had caught him reading once on his lunch break, something that he was sure would be important to you. You’d want someone who read. Joel should read more. 

Blake, Joel thought, would be a decent enough guy to set you up with. Not good enough for you - no one was good enough for you - but at least a damn improvement over fucking Brad. 

He just hoped it wouldn’t stick. 

Not that he wanted you to be alone. He didn’t. He wanted you to be happy. More than almost anything else he wanted you to be happy. He wanted you to have whatever it took to make that happen. But he wasn’t sure how he’d get past working with someone he knew got to kiss you, touch you, fuck you. He’d hear about dates with you and things you enjoyed with a boyfriend and not just your friend. He’d have to hear all about what someone else was doing for you because he couldn’t. 

Which was fine. Should be fine. You were his friend, you’d always been his friend. He could love you as a friend, he did love you as a friend, he could get past the other shit. He could. 

And if Blake ever decided to try to talk about you the way some of the other assholes they worked with talked about their girlfriends then, well, at least Joel could fucking deck him for it. 

“She’s killing it out there,” you settled back into your folding chair and glanced over at Joel. 

“She always does,” Joel nodded. “She’s got skills, that girl.” 

“She seems to really like it, too,” you said, eyes back on Sarah. “Which is the important thing. If she’s good enough, she could get scholarships and shit. But that really only matters if she also likes it, there’s no use in her being miserable because of the demands of being a student athlete because she happens to be good a sport she doesn’t enjoy…” 

“She loves it,” Joel said. “And, honestly, I’m hopin’ that sticks and that she can get a scholarship, lord knows I can’t afford to shell out for college…” 

“You can’t now,” you corrected him good naturedly. “But once you become Joel Miller: Entrepreneur and man about town, that’s another story.” 

Joel scoffed. 

“What?” You asked. 

“You’ve just got a lot more faith in me than I do.” 

“Aren’t I supposed to?” You asked, looking at him again. “You’re my person so that’s part of my my job. Recognizing your potential.” 

“See, just the fact that you think I have potential to recognize…” 

“Oh shut up,” you swatted his arm and he laughed a little, watching you watch his daughter run back up the field. 

No, Blake didn’t deserve you. No one did. Least of all Joel. 

Sarah’s team won the game and she was beaming when she ran over to you and Joel after the post-game huddle. 

“Did you see that one steal I did?” She asked, leaning between the front seats of the truck. “It was so cool, I almost missed it but then I got it to Sophie and she was able to score and it was so COOL!” 

“Seatbelt,” Joel said. Sarah rolled her eyes but flopped back into her seat and buckled up, anyway. “Thank you. And yes, we saw, Baby Girl! You kicked ass out there.” 

“Can ass kickers pick lunch?” She asked. 

“Ass kickers can pick lunch,” Joel said. “But ass kickers can’t say ass until they’re at least 13, sorry kiddo.” 

“Aw man,” she huffed but then smiled. “I’m gonna swear so much on my 13th birthday…” 

“Yeah I bet you are,” he shook is head and caught you trying not to laugh out of the corner of his eye. “Alright, kiddo, where for lunch?” 

Joel watched her in the rearview mirror, a serious look on her face as she considered her options. 

“Dairy Queen,” she said eventually, nodding seriously. “Because then I can get a Blizzard.” 

“Whatever the ass kicker demands,” Joel said. 

Sarah ordered a burger with her blizzard before going to find a table. Joel got the steak fingers and a shake and you just stood there, staring up at the menu board with a slight frown on your face. 

“What?” Joel asked. “C’mon, it’s a limited menu, can’t be that hard.” 

“It’s just been forever since I’ve been to a DQ,” you said absently. “Not sure what to really get…” 

“Goldie,” he said, voice serious. You looked at him, frowning. “We both know what you get at Dairy Queen.” 

“Yeah, when I was a teenager,” you looked back up at the menu. “Little different now…” 

“Not gonna find a salad up there,” he said. 

“Yeah, but…” 

“Remember how the number one thing on your list was finalize your divorce?” He asked. You looked at him again, brows raised. “Well, this is one part of that you can control. You can ditch all the stupid shit that asshole put in your head, starting with the idea that you can’t get chicken fingers every once in a while.” 

He didn’t give you a chance to reply, instead looking to the cashier. 

“She’ll do the chicken fingers basket,” Joel said. “With fries. And a medium Reese’s Blizzard.” 

“Small,” you corrected him. 

“Medium,” he said, looking over at you. “Because we both know I want to eat half of it.” 

You laughed a little. 

“Medium,” you said. 

“Alright,” he said, going to pay. 

When the food came out, he took one of your chicken fingers and your eyes went wide. 

“Hey!” 

“Oh sit tight,” he rolled his eyes and dropped one of his steak fingers in your basket. 

“What makes you think I want one of your steak fingers?” You asked, incredulous. 

“You always want one of my steak fingers,” he said. “Every time.” 

You glared at him for a second. 

“Shut up.” 

Joel laughed before dropping an onion ring in your basket and swiping a few fries. 

“So you guys really hung out all the time before, huh?” Sarah said, eating a fry and watching the two of you from across the table. 

“We did,” you smiled at Joel before looking back at Sarah. “We basically lived together, probably drove our moms crazy…” 

“Your mom, maybe,” Joel teased. “Mine loved havin’ you around all the time. Said you were a good influence.” 

“Because I was,” you teased back. 

“So,” Sarah watched you both closely. “Why didn’t I meet you until now? I mean, I met other friends of my dad’s. Did you guys have a fight or something?” 

The two of you looked at each other for a second. How the fuck was Joel supposed to explain this to his kid? Yeah, we were friends, and then the two of us decided to have sex and then just stop talking for a decade and a half? Not quite age appropriate. 

“Well,” you said, dipping one of your fries in your Blizzard before popping it in your mouth. 

“You’re so gross,” Joel said and you rolled your eyes and elbowed him in the side. 

“Shove it,” you smiled a little and looked back to Sarah. “We finished high school and I had to move for college and we just kind of stopped talking quite as much, we didn’t do a great job of keeping in touch. We were busy, it just kind of happens when you’re a grown up.” 

Sarah crinkled her nose. 

“That’s dumb,” she said. 

“You’re right,” you smiled a little, looking at Joel. “But adults do dumb things sometimes.” 

Sarah nodded slowly, taking a fry and dipping it in her Oreo Blizzard before taking a hesitant bite and chewing thoughtfully. She frowned for a moment before her eyes lit up and she dipped the fry again. 

Joel groaned. 

“Not you, too…” 

“Just gotta get on the French fries in ice cream train, Miller,” you smiled smugly. “Sweet, savory? It’s the best.” 

“She’s right, Dad,” Sarah said, dipping another fry. “This is better than ketchup.” 

“I’m surrounded by weirdos,” Joel muttered but he couldn’t help smiling a little to himself, watching you and his daughter together, a strange pull at the base of his chest at the sight. This, he thought, was how it was supposed to be. You were meant to be with the two of them, it was obvious. It was almost strange, how clearly he fit with you. He hadn’t felt like there was something distinctly missing over the last decade. He’d gone about his life, raising his daughter, trying to get ahead at work. He bought a house, kept his brother’s nose clean, buried his mother. There had been no distinct sense of absence. He thought of you often - every day, really - and it hurt but it was a dulled pain, a longing for what he had before. He hadn’t known what he’d really been missing, the way things would be with you at the stage of life you were both in now. 

But now that he had you here, he wondered how he hadn’t noticed this gaping hole at the center of his reality before. There would be no excising you from him now, it wouldn’t work, the ragged edges of your absence would be too clear in everything he did. 

He’d just have to do whatever it took to keep you in his life. Even if that meant setting you up with some guy from work. 

“So Sarah,” you said, ripping your chicken finger in half and reaching over to dip it in the gravy in Joel’s basket. 

“Hey!” 

You ignored him. 

“Do you think you can do me a favor?” You continued, eating the chicken tender. 

“Sure,” she shrugged. “What do you need?” 

“Well,” you said, brushing your hands free of crumbs before taking a sip of your drink. “I was thinking about getting a cat but I have no idea how to pick a cat. Do you think you could come with me to the shelter and help me look? Just make sure I’m finding the right one?” 

Her eyes lit up and she looked at Joel. 

“Can I Dad?” She begged. “Please? I love cats, they’re so cute, and…” 

Joel laughed, draping his arm over the bench behind you. You’d already talked with him about this, seeing if Sarah wanted to go to the animal shelter this afternoon. He knew she’d love it.

“Well,” he sighed, pretending to consider it. “If you promise to behave this week…” 

“I will!” 

“And do all your homework the first time I ask,” he said. 

“Deal!” 

“Then alright,” he conceded. “We can go with Aunt Goldie to pick a cat.” 

“Yes!” She punched the air in victory and Joel smiled and shook his head, settling back in the booth with his shake in his hand. 

The three of you went back to Joel’s and gave Sarah a chance to get cleaned up before heading to the shelter to look at cats. Sarah took over the radio in the car and insisted on playing Taylor Swift and you learned the chorus to one of the songs she was belting in the back seat, singing along the last time through, windows rolled down, your hand tapping out the rhythm of the song on the outside of the door. 

“So what kind of cat do you want?” Sarah asked, turning to face you and Joel as she walked backwards down the row of cages. 

“I don’t really know,” you shrugged. “Never really had a pet. One that wants to sit on my lap and purr?” 

“See what not having a pet as a kid does to you, Dad?” Sarah said, looking at Joel with wide eyes. “Leaves you totally unprepared for picking a pet later in life. I should get a cat, too, while we’re here.” 

“No,” he said. “Watch where you’re walkin’.” 

She rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically but obeyed, leading the way through the cages. 

“Oh, look at this one!” She stopped in front of a cage and laced her fingers through the bars, a black and white cat on the other side of it watching her from the back corner. “She’s so pretty!” 

Joel stood at your back as you paused, looking at the cat for a moment. 

“She is pretty,” you said. “But I want to see all of them first before I see if there are any we want to really meet.” 

Sarah stopped outside of a gray and white tabby’s cage, the cat rubbing its face over the bars. 

“Aw!” She reached a finger out and brushed along its cheek. “She’s so cute! And she seems so sweet!” 

“She does,” you agreed, reaching around Sarah to give the cat a haphazard pet. 

“Dad!” Sarah looked back over her shoulder at him. “Her name is Swiftie! She’s perfect!” 

“We’re not here for us, Baby Girl,” Joel said. “C’mon, more cats to see, don’t get attached.” 

“Well we have to meet that one now,” you said, looking at Joel and very clearly trying not to smile. “It’s required.” 

“It’s really not,” he replied. “God, you’re such a bad influence…” 

“Nah,” you replied. “I’m just always right, you should get used to it.” 

You found another cat you really wanted to meet, an orange striped one who stood on his hind legs in his cage and reached a paw through the bars while meowing loudly for attention. 

“Alright, Baby Girl,” Joel sighed, hands in his pockets. “Why don’t you go find someone who works here, see if we can meet some of these guys…” 

She squealed before running out to find someone, Joel watching her go before turning his attention back to you.

“You’re never gonna have another moment’s peace with that thing in your house,” he said, watching as you reached your fingers through the bars and scratched its head as it purred loudly, arching into your touch. 

“That’s alright,” you smiled, watching the cat. “It’ll be nice to feel wanted for a change. Totally worth it.” 

Joel just looked at you for a moment, an odd twinge in him. Maybe you were lonelier than he realized. Maybe things had been worse with your fucking ex than he’d known. Maybe you didn’t understand that he wanted you. In so many fucking ways, he wanted you. 

He just had no idea how to say that to you, not without fucking up everything else.

“Hi there,” a woman with a name tag walked up, Sarah at her side, before Joel had a chance to say anything at all. “I hear you want to see some cats?” 

You told her the ones you wanted to see and the woman led you to a small room with a bench and some cat toys before going to get the first cat. 

Joel should really have known what was going to happen after that. The three of you settled on the floor, you and Joel sitting beside each other, backs against the cinderblock wall, letting cats climb over your legs and throwing little bell-filled balls for them to chase as Sarah pulled a feather on a string across the floor. You were already attached to the orange cat but Sarah was obviously in love with the gray one. Joel sighed, leaning his head back against the wall, watching as his daughter held the little cat on her lap, talking to it all soft and gentle. 

“I really should’ve known better than to do this,” he muttered and you laughed a little, leaning your head on his shoulder and watching Sarah, too. “Jesus…” 

“At least it’s a cat and not a dog,” you patted his thigh twice before letting your hand rest there near his knee. His heart beat faster. “Could be worse.” 

“So,” the woman came back in, carefully closing the door before the cat on Sarah’s lap could escape. But it didn’t look like there was any risk of it, the little thing seemingly content to stay there for the rest of time. “What are we thinking?” 

“Please, Dad?” Sarah looked at him, her eyes so wide. “I’ll do all the work, I promise. I’ll clean the litter box every day and I’ll feed her and play with her and…” 

Joel sighed. 

“You’d gotta actually do it, Baby Girl,” he said. “I mean it.” 

“I will!” She said, holding the cat close. “I promise!” 

He sighed again. 

“Alright, we’ll take that one…” 

“Fantastic,” the woman smiled. “I’ll start the paperwork…” 

“Oh, and I’m going to get Garfield, the orange one,” you said as she turned to leave. “But I’ll be changing his name…” 

“That’s great,” she said. “But we will have to check and make sure the cats are compatible before we send you home with two…” 

“No,” you laughed. “No, sorry, no, we don’t live together. He’ll be coming with me and this one will be going with them.” 

“Oh!” She laughed back. “I’m so sorry, I just thought you two were married. I’ll get started on the paperwork for both, I’ll be right back.” 

Joel watched the woman go and glanced at Sarah to make sure she was still totally absorbed with the cat on her lap before lowering his voice. 

“Could have denied that a little harder, I think…” 

He practically heard you roll your eyes. 

“What, did you want to see if we could save on adoption fees by filling out one set of paperwork?” You asked. 

“Always said we’d make good roommates,” he replied. “Seems a good a reason as any.”

You scoffed. 

“Yeah, sure,” you said.

“What?” He said, turning his head just enough to see you, still leaning against him. “I’m serious. You really tellin’ me that the idea of living with me is that terrifying?” 

“The inevitable fallout is terrifying, yeah,” you said. 

“Here we go,” the woman came back in with two clipboards and you lifted your head from Joel’s shoulder. “Once you fill this out and pay your deposit, we can run a few checks and you can come back in a few days for your new best friends!” 

“Ah, the truth comes out,” Joel smirked a little as he started completing the paperwork. “You were looking to replace me the whole time…” 

“Well clearly yes,” you said absently, working on your own documents. “Furry, loud, opinionated… You’re basically twins, why do I need you to keep coming over when I’ll have Puck?” 

“Puck?” Joel frowned. “Like hockey puck?” 

“Puck like the fairy from Midsummer,” you replied. Joel must have still looked confused because when you looked over at him, you rolled your eyes. “The mischievous one from Midsummer Night’s Dream? The Shakespeare play? I know you read it, we had to read it sophomore year…” 

“C’mon Dad,” Sarah looked up from the cat in her lap. “Even I know that one.” 

“Alright, well,” Joel said. “You two are the smartest people I know, not fair to judge me by that standard…” 

Joel caught a glimpse of you smiling out of the corner of his eye as he finished the paperwork. 

*** 

“I have a question for you.” 

You opened your eyes to see Joel looking down to you, your head in his lap, his thumb brushing your temple in a soothing rhythm. It was late. Sarah had gone to bed hours before, worn out after her game and suckering her dad into adopting a cat and going to Target to pick out every toy under the sun for her new pet and yours. You were pretty sure you weren’t going home that night, too comfortable in your position against Joel.

“No,” you said, closing your eyes and settling into him and the couch again. “I can’t convince Sarah to give up the cat. My position as the cool aunt is too tenuous, I’m going to side exclusively with Sarah in all conflicts for the foreseeable future…” 

“I could just refuse to pick it up in a few days,” Joel mused. “Tell her the shelter denied our application because of my history as a cold hearted killer with no mercy.” 

“Ah yes,” you smiled a little. “I forgot, Joel Miller, heartless killing machine.” 

“Cold hearted,” he corrected. “Get it right.” 

“Oh, I’m so sorry…” 

“But no,” he continued. “Not what I was going to ask.”

You opened one eye, looking up at him, trying not to think about how soft his eyes were. 

“Shoot,” you said, closing your eye again. 

“Was thinking about the lists…” he trailed off. 

“That wasn’t a question, Miller,” you said after a moment. 

“I’m gettin’ there, don’t rush me, woman.” 

You opened your eyes just enough to see him over you. His hand slipped around to cup the crown of your head. He was so handsome. There should be rules about that, there should be rules about men who are that beautiful. They should need licensing or something, they shouldn’t just be allowed to freely exist, endangering women everywhere. 

You closed your eyes again. 

“Take your time, Miller,” you said. “Not going anywhere.” 

“Anyway,” he said and you could hear his eye roll. His thumb stroked your hair. “Both our lists have relationship shit on ‘em…” 

His voice trailed off and your heart beat a little faster. 

“Yes?” You said when he didn’t continue. 

“Well, you were sayin’ you didn’t know how to do the whole… app thing.” 

“Right…” 

“What if…” he took a deep breath. “We tried going out together. You bring someone for me, I bring someone for you…” 

Your breath hitched. You couldn’t help it. You knew the kind of relationship you had with Joel, the kind of relationship you’d always had with Joel. He’d made it perfectly clear that anything beyond that was totally out of the question for him and you’d accepted that. It had taken a long time - and a failed marriage - but you accepted it. 

That didn’t make the concept of picking out a girlfriend for him sting any less. 

“Just… then you don’t have to fuck around on apps,” he said quickly when you didn’t reply. “And I don’t have to waste my time on someone who wouldn’t work in a million years because you’re doing my thinking for me…” 

“Instead of your dick?” You asked, opening your eyes. He smiled a little. Goddammit, him and his fucking dimple. 

“Exactly,” he said, cocking his head so it was more in line with yours. He looked a little uncertain, his eyes searching yours. “So… what do you think?” 

“Well,” you sighed. “Makes as much sense as anything else, I suppose…. When were you thinking?” 

“I did say we should move ‘get laid’ to the top of your list,” he smirked a little. “So maybe next weekend?” 

“Next weekend?” You sat up so fast that you almost smacked into his nose, your head spinning for a moment. Joel grabbed you to steady you as you twisted haphazardly to face him again, legs crossed in front of you. “Doesn’t that seem fast?” 

He looked at you, puzzled, as he turned to face you, too. 

“Goldie, you and fuckin’ Brad…” 

“Gale.” 

“…Split up a year ago. You gotta get back out there, it’s not fast.” 

“No, I mean,” you closed your eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath before looking at him again. “Isn’t that a little fast to find someone for each other? I wouldn’t even know where to start…” 

There was something about the sheepish look on his face that made your eyes narrow. 

“What.” 

“I… might have someone in mind for you already,” he flinched as he said it. 

“Seriously?” 

“Look, I just don’t want you dating some random asshole, alright?” He said. “He’s a good guy, think you’d have at least some shit in common, feels like I could trust him with you…” 

“Gee, thanks,” you rolled your eyes. 

“I’m being serious!” He looked down at his lap for a moment, absently picking at a seam on his couch. “I worry about you. I know shit’s dangerous for women, alright? Much rather you be out with someone who I know isn’t gonna hurt you than some guy I don’t know that I can trust…” 

“Careful Miller,” you said wryly. “Someone might think you care about me or something.” 

“Well, can’t have that now can we,” he looked up to meet your eyes again, small smile on his face. “I’m already worrying about this shit with Sarah and she’s years off from dating. Outside of her, you’re the most important person in the world to me. Want to know you’re OK out there when I’m not with you. And I’m assuming that you wouldn’t want me to tag along on every damn date you have…” 

“Bold assumption.” 

He glared at you. 

“And this way I can know,” he said. “So yeah, alright, it’s crossed my mind.” 

“Have you talked to this guy?” You asked. “He might want nothing to do with me.” 

“I ain’t worried about that part,” he waved you off. “You’re you and he’s a smart guy, he’ll see what’s on the table. Much more worried about you conning someone into goin’ out with me…” 

“Oh ha ha,” you rolled your eyes. “Because you’ve ever had a problem landing women…” 

“The kind that stick?” He raised his brows. “Yeah, I have.” 

“Fair enough,” you sighed, thinking about the few people you knew in Austin. There was an adjunct professor in your department who you thought might be Joel’s type that you wouldn’t vomit at the thought of seeing him with. “I think I have someone who will go for it. Next weekend?” 

“Next weekend,” he confirmed and then laughed a little. “C’mon, don’t look so miserable about it. Whoever you end up with it’ll be better than fuckin’ Brad.” 

“Gale,” you corrected again and then slumped forward until your forehead was pressed into Joel’s shoulder. He hesitated for a moment before wrapping his arms gently around you. “This sucks. I got married so I wouldn’t have to date anymore. This is bullshit, I want a refund.” 

He laughed once. 

“Don’t think that’s how it works, Goldie,” he said, giving you a little squeeze. “Refund part, I mean.” 

“Yeah,” you sighed. “I’d just like the best years of my life back.” 

Joel was quiet for a moment, one hand finding a gentle, easy path over your back. 

“Come on,” he said eventually. “You feel tired. Let’s get some sleep.” 

“Yeah,” you sighed. “Assuming you mean here at this point?” 

He scoffed. 

“Ship sailed on you goin’ home hours ago,” he said. “I know who I’m dealing with.” 

“Yeah yeah.” 

You pulled away from him slowly and followed him up to his room. He loaned you a t-shirt and you got changed in his bathroom, taking your makeup off as best you could with the world’s most basic facial scrub and water before going to find him in bed. He was sitting up, his back against the headboard, scrolling through his phone. He glanced up at you for a moment when you came in and looked back at his phone for a fraction of a second before looking back at you again, his mouth open slightly. 

You frowned. 

“What?” 

“Nothin’,” he said quickly, plugging his phone in and putting it face down on his nightstand. “Just forgot what shirt I gave you.” 

You looked down at it, a faded shirt from the Houston Space Center. You frowned for a moment.

“Was this from when we went when we were kids?” You laughed. “On a field trip?” 

“It is,” he said. “I wanted something that would fit as I was bulking up. Might have been a bit ambitious on the size…” 

“You’ll have to model it for me sometime,” you said, climbing into bed next to him. He turned out the lamp and you heard him lay down. You gave him a second to adjust before you slipped against his side, his arm gong around you. You could feel the warmth of his breath on your forehead as your cheek found its place on his chest. 

“You’re sure about this dating thing?” You asked quietly into the dark. He was so warm next to you. Warm and big and firm and safe. You tried not to think about how desperately you wanted him to say no, in fact, he wasn’t sure. That all he was sure of was that he wanted you. 

He sighed instead. 

“Think so,” he said.”You really that worried about it?” 

You shrugged against him. 

“Goldie.” 

“Just…” you sighed. “I fucked up one marriage already. Why should I think I’ll get it right next time?” 

“You realize that shit isn’t all on you, right?” He asked. “I don’t even know what happened but… I can just about promise that it’s not all on you. Be surprised if any of it is. You gotta stop letting that asshole determine your whole life, Goldie. He’s not worth it.” 

“Yeah,” you said, moving closer to him. “You’re probably right.” 

Joel made sure both of you were up before Sarah in the morning, sparing you both from any of her prying questions, and you spent the morning with them before going home again and trying to write but getting nowhere. You wasted hours on an outline this time before hating the story so much that it made your stomach clench to even look at it. It was so pathetic, a lost woman clinging to a past lover so hard that she couldn’t chart a path forward, and you couldn’t seem to chart a way toward a satisfying end. You started a fire in your fireplace for the first time just so you could burn the paper you’d wasted on this one. You had a glass of wine as you watched the flames devour it, ash floating to the hearth like snow, white and dead. 

Part of it, you were sure, was the fact that you were dreading the idea of talking with Natalie, the adjunct you were going to try to set up with Joel. She’d like him. Of course she’d like him. It was Joel, everyone liked Joel, that was the problem. She’d like him and you’d have to sit there and watch him like her. Love her, eventually. If not her then someone else. You hadn’t been able to handle that when you were 18 and the fact that you were in your 30s now didn’t seem to have changed much. That’s part of why you’d done what you’d done after prom. A small part, perhaps, but a part. 

But you were a grown up now, no longer a girl trying to find her way through the maze of the adult reality you found yourself thrust into. Things were going to be different this time. 

They had to be. 

May 2008, the Tuesday after prom 

“Honey?” 

You could hear the frown in your mom’s voice as you stumbled to your bedroom. 

“That you?” 

You caught yourself on the door frame. Your head was still spinning, why was it still spinning? It felt like you were going to throw up. 

“Yeah,” you managed. “Just me.” 

“You’re home early,” she said, her voice closer. “No Joel today?” 

“No,” you said, hoping you sounded normal. “No Joel today.” 

“Oh,” she sounded surprised. “Hungry? I can make you something…” 

“I’m fine,” you said. “Just… tired. Going to lie down, I think.” 

You didn’t wait for a response, just going in your room and closing the door behind you. Your walls were covered in movie posters, the faces of strangers you felt like you knew through their films an odd comfort as you sat on the edge of your bed. 

It’s Goldie. I wish it were anyone else. It’d be better if it were anyone else.

That’s what he’d said. Anyone else. Anyone but you.

You weren’t sure how long you stared into space. How were you supposed to face him now? How were you supposed to go back to your life now? 

You’d never been a particularly social person - writing all the time didn’t lend itself to vibrant friendships - but Joel had been your person for almost three years. He was who you had, who you told everything to, who you wanted to do everything with. Leaving him behind was going to be the hardest part of going away to school - so hard that part of you was still in denial that it would work that way at all. Part of you thought that he’d find some way to come with you over the summer and it’d be the two of you against the world the way it seemed like it always had been. 

But he wouldn’t. He didn’t want to. He didn’t want you. 

I wish it were anyone else. 

“Fuck,” you whispered to yourself, your voice wet. 

Graduation was soon but it was still three weeks out. Three torturous weeks of being next to the person you loved most in the world when they didn’t love you, not really, not at all. 

You weren’t sure how long you stared at the wall when it occurred to you. 

You forced your body to move, joints stiff, and went to your computer, scrolling back through your email history to one from Dr. Gale Newton. An invitation to a summer creative writing workshop, one you’d decided to pass on because it meant leaving Joel months earlier. You hadn’t been ready for that before. You’d gone about checking with your counselor at school to see if it was even possible before deciding you weren’t ready for it. 

You were ready now. 

You called the number in his email signature and the phone rang twice before a woman answered. 

“Dr. Newton’s office,” she said. “This is Florence.” 

“Hi Florence,” you said, sniffing a bit, hoping it didn’t sound like you’d been crying. “Is… um… Is Dr. Newton available?” 

“I can check,” she said. “It’s a bit late in the day… Can I ask who’s calling and what this is about?” 

You gave her your name and told her that you were a candidate for the summer program. 

“Ah, right,” she said. “You were the one denial. Can’t say I remember that happening before! Let me see… yes, one moment, I’ll transfer you back.” 

It didn’t take long. Dr. Newton answered on the first ring, saying your name before you had a chance to say anything at all. 

“I was wondering if I’d get to speak with you directly,” he said. “I’ve never had a student turn down the intensive before.” 

“Yes, I’m sorry about that,” you said, voice trembling a little. “I thought I had some things I needed to finish up here before I moved but, as it turns out, I can come up sooner. I was wondering if my spot would still be available?” 

“Well,” he sighed. You could hear the rustle of pages on his end. “The program did already start and you are the only incoming freshman I invited - your online portfolio was quite impressive - I wouldn’t want you to fall behind. How soon could you be here?” 

“I could be there for the start of next week’s sessions,” you said. “And I can try to keep up with some work in the mean time if you want to email me some prompts or assignments…” 

“No, no need for that,” he said. You heard the click of a mouse. “I’m going back over some of your work now, I think this will work fine for what we’re doing next week. There’s a short story here, Golden Boy, that we can workshop alongside the fresh pieces for the coming sessions.” 

You quickly clicked over to the simple blog you’d made to showcase your writing for college applications. You scrolled past one of your senior portraits and bio at the top down to the work and found the story. You couldn’t remember if you’d put the whole piece up or just parts but it was the whole piece, one you’d written about Joel. 

It’d be better if it were anyone else.

Your chest got tight. 

“Perfect,” you said. “That’s great, thank you so, so much…” 

“I hope to see some more dedication out of you when you arrive here,” he said, voice a little more stern now. “I reviewed your portfolio personally and you show a lot of promise but so does every student who comes through this program. If you’re not willing to make sacrifices and work for it, I can’t help you hone that raw skill into what it has the potential to become.” 

“I understand,” you said quickly. “I’ll do whatever you want, whatever you think I need…” 

“I’m willing to work with you one on one,” he said. “Get you caught up over the next few weeks, both because you missed some of the intensive but because you haven’t had any classes here yet. It’s going to be a lot of time and a lot of effort but I’m happy to put in the work if you’re willing to do the same. I expect you to be devoted to this program, do you think you can do that?” 

“Yes sir,” you said. “Absolutely.” 

“Good girl,” he said. “I’ll email you my personal cell phone number, call me there when you get to town. I’ll make sure you get set up in your dorm and we can get to work. Sound good?” 

“Yes,” you said, your eyes falling on a picture of you and Joel laughing on his couch that glared at you from its place next to your computer monitor. You turned it to face the wall. “Yes it does.” 

Next Chapter

A/N: So we now know at least SOME of Bambi's side of the story. Not the whole of it yet but some!

What do you think? Teenaged overreaction? Totally makes sense? Neither? Both?

Also... I hope you caught that Gale had a picture of her before he met her and picked up on how much he'd selected her to be a pupil of particular interest from the get go. He's so slimy. Or, I hope he comes off that way, anyway. He's slimy in my head, at least!

Thank you, as always, for reading. I hope you're enjoying the ride as Joel and Goldie navigate their tangled friendship!

Love you!!!

[thesamoanqueen]

Run this town

Raitings: 16+

Warnings: Age gapping! (I’ve made my research about the consent age, so its just a couple of years); a bit of sugar daddy; Mob Boss Roman.

A/N: Its a prologue of “Trust” but there’s no need to read it before, so enjoy~

Lessons that day had been a pain and had drained her. She wasn’t backing up with the program, she liked studying and she had more than one reason to do so, but her mind was on strike that day. She was tired, sleepy, her stomach was almost empty as always and she couldn't help but think about what had happened the previous night. She couldn't stop thinking about him… the way his eyes had looked into her soul. It had been terrifying, in many dangerous ways.

- Watch where you go! - one of the chicks from the gymnastics club scolded her, hitting her with a huge purse and bringing Y/N back to her empty reality.

She glared at her and with a heavy sigh picked up the books that had fallen out, as she watched her trot to her friends. They were giggling and running their mouths about something out of school, probably some dude on the football team or maybe picking their victim of the month, she didn't have time for that nonsense. She had a whole day of lessons to make up for, some shopping – however meager – to do to avoid yet another unhealthy dinner and some gas to buy with some bucks the teacher had offered her, God bless her. She passed them in silence, her head down as she rummaged to retrieve the keys that ended up among her books and she only came out when was in front of her old bad shape car. Leaning on her knee against the door, in an absolutely not elegant pose, she was suddenly paralyzed, heart racing in her throat and mind in panic.

He was across the street. He was there.

He had found her.

Petrified, she clutched the car keys, watching him peer through the outgoing crowd.

Maybe she was wrong. Maybe he was there for someone else. But he couldn't have a daughter of her age, he was young, well, he shouldn't have been her age, but he was way too fit to be someone's daddy. Or maybe not. What the heck was she thinking now?! After what he'd seen the night before she couldn't tell those stories, it was clear he was there for her and that wasn't a good thing.

Before she had time to recover, she saw him turn in her direction, one of the two boys she had also seen with him last night, pointing at her without worrying about discretion.

Shit.

Was she supposed to ask for help? Maybe none of her classmates would come to save her, she wasn't very popular, but maybe a teacher. She was surrounded by people, they wouldn't draw their guns there. Right? Would they use them against her? And did they have guns? She didn't really know what he was capable of, but he didn't seem like one who cared about what he could or could not do and she had been in the wrong place, at the wrong time that night with him.

The parking lot would be empty soon. She was supposed to drive away, but even if the traffic was in her favor, he had a SUV that could have driven over a tree and she had a car that struggled even to get her there. Was she supposed to call the cops?

She was panicking and it wasn't something she was used to. She usually knew what to do. She usually knew how to react with coolness, it was one of her qualities, the one that would one day come in more use as a doctor. If she would get to that day.

She tightened her grip on the purse, still motionless, still staring at him.

And he kept looking at her. Like the night before. Why did he look at her and do nothing more?

***

Sitting on the stands of the football field, she peered past her textbook as the distant sound of the departing car reached her. She saw the black car-body gleam even on that not-so-sunny day, the rims spinning faster and faster as he drove away from the back of the school and back into town, the tinted windows all closed now, even the one from which he'd watched her for more than an hour.

It had been two weeks since he had first been there. Y/N'd thought she'd die that day, having barely survived the night their paths had accidentally crossed, but nothing had happened. He'd let her go without a word that day, like the night before and it had happened again and again. She saw him every day, when she got to school or when she finished, on a couple of time she saw him during breaks between lessons. He didn't have a routine, but he was always there. Sometimes she also saw those two boys with him, sometimes a white well dressed man, but didn't change anything for her. He didn't talk to her, didn't approach her, just seemed to control her, he never even tried following her car or finding her when she was away from there.

- Y/N! Here you are! I thought you were gone... take this. Your pass. – called her, Mrs. Tray, leaning forward without climbing into the stands, with a look of hurry and a small plastic bag in her hand.

- My pass? – she asked, taking out the contents, on which they had stamped a code and her full name.

A cafeteria pass? She had never had something like that. What…?

***

Another week had passed and after the pass, new books had arrived in her locker, a tracksuit for gymnastics lessons, bags on the backseat of her car, still closed and full of gas, with everything she usually wouldn't have been able to afford and more than even a girl with a family could ask for. She'd never heard of a criminal paying someone's hush with cafeteria pass, books and gifts, but she was sure by now that he was behind all these new additions to her life.

He kept standing there in front of school, at a distance, not talking to her or approaching her, but when she went to the convenience store next to the bowling alley and the owner refused to take her money like she had a virus, all doubts disappeared and Y/N decided she had enough. It was clear, that he didn't follow her because he knew perfectly where she went, yet he only showed up in front of her school. He was playing with her, but she didn't like it and she'd been through too much already at her age not to want an explanation.

With her bag over her shoulder, without hesitation she crossed the street, marching straight towards the car parked in a corner of the parking lot. She watched the front door open and one of the twins rush out, looking surprised as if she had caught them off guard, as he positioned himself beside the window from which he was watching her as always.

- Hey, hey! – he braked her, reaching out to stop Y/N and keep some space between them.

- Roman Reigns, right? - Y/N asked, completely ignoring his warning.

She saw him raise his brown eyes to hers, not as impressed with her tone, as her friend next to her seemed to be. He had an almost amused expression, a shadow in his luscious gaze that was all too dangerous and when Y/N saw him curl his lips in a grin, something in her stomach turned and it wasn't the kind of feeling she should have had in front of the man who ruled their city.

- You already know – he nodded slowly and his low, smooth voice seemed to move earth under her feet, her grip suddenly less firm on the purse, legs softening.

Was she afraid? Or was it something else? She couldn't think about it now, it was too late. She was there, in front of him now and she demanded answers, even if it was the last thing she did.

- I know I saw something I shouldn't have seen and you let me go anyway. I know you perfectly know the places I go and when I go there. I know you paid for my pass, for books, and you put those things in my car. I know you've been here for a month, but you do nothing to me. What I don't know is what you want – she said, teeth clenched and head high, as he raised an eyebrow.

- Did you want me to do something to you, babygirl? - she heard him inquire, and her face burned suddenly at the petname, as if she had built it out of matches.

- W-what? – she stammered, seeing him frown a little playfully.

- Just ask. Im a generous man.

She was pretty sure nothing could have prepared her for that kind of audacity, and though her body, due to some hormonal imbalance, had just decided to find alluring whatever this man was making her suspect, her mind was screaming for her to regain consciousness. He was a criminal, the mob boss of their city, she couldn't be so naive and stupid as to put everything aside just because he was young, too young to be in such a position of power and breathtakingly attractive.

- so its funny playing with me? Is that the point? Im a joke – she asked, pushing the blush away from her cheeks to tighten her knuckles when she saw the shadow of a smile even on the guy standing next to her.

It was embarrassing, offensive and ridiculous. They were teasing her without even pretending and she at least wanted to know why before the situation escalated, because it would. It was inevitable at this point and she had been the one to speed things up, but deep down she had never had an alternative. Her life had been an endless series of dead ends, there had never been nothing at the end, no future. That was yet another test.

- I'm not playing. I will take care of you. – Y/N heard him assure her, his expression serious, too serious for her liking.

What was that story now? Taking… care of her?!

They didn't know each other. Not enough to warrant something like this. He didn't have a good reputation and she didn't want trouble of that magnitude, she didn't want trouble, period. Their paths had crossed by mistake, it shouldn't have happened, but she couldn't end up like this, she wasn't stupid enough to believe it. Why should he care about her? Why should he care when even her parents didn't want to be around her? It was just a bad Y/Nke, another way to play with the stupid girl before getting her out of the way, and if it was going to happen, she didn't want any sugar coating.

- You have time and money to waste – she replied abruptly, looking him straight in the eyes without pulling back.

He didn't seem impressed or offended. For a heavy, long moment, his expression didn't change until another faint grin curled his lips as he nodded at her.

- Get in the car.

- I already have my car.

- Jey.

- What?! No! Stop! Leave my car out of this! It's all I have, no! – she tried, reflexively turning to Roman, who still sat staring out the window.

She didn't get an answer, but she immediately heard the clanging of the old rusty and dazed door and she watched that guy named Jey slip in and start the engine, as if he had the keys and it was a car that left the dealership. It took her ten minutes each time to do same and him, how long? Ten seconds?

- Get in. I promise to be good. - Roman called from behind her and she turned to look at him again, speechless.

***

- You have to go there to study, not to be a teacher.

She felt his hand caressing her shoulder before seeing him, his large firm body occupying almost the couch entirety in the corner of the club, suit stuck to his pecs, arms spreading across the back, engulfing her too. He always had that aura, as if the rest of the world couldn't touch him and ever since they had first spoken, Y/N wanted nothing more than to succeed on this challenge. She tried to resist, not to think about it, to keep herself away, but it was an almost impossible feat.

- I don't like to be unprepared – she muttered, swallowing hard to cover the warmth that had assaulted her feeling him close, the book she was studying suddenly uninteresting.

- You won't be. And I have something for you. - Roman smiled, placing in front of her a key with card.

Speechless, she took it between her fingers, the music still soft in the club filling the silence in which she was sunk. It couldn't be what she thought, it sure wasn't what she thought.

- I want you to stay there until you finish college. Then we will see – she heard Roman say, his head cocked a little to the side to get a better look at her.

It was exactly what she thought instead and realizing it made her snap like a spring. She spun abruptly to face him, hand flailing angrily in front of his face.

- Whats your problem?! Are you doing charity now so you don't burn dirty money? This was not in the deal! – she scolded him without caring that anyone would listen to them, book now closed in protest.

The last few months at school had been a dream for her: no more vending machines, no books falling apart or frozen feet in order not to turn on the car heater. She even had a place for the night in that club, not the best, but definitely more than the seat of her car. But that... it was a house they were talking about, a house with someone's name on, with bills to pay, mail to receive!

- I said I'd take care of you, that's the only deal. - he cut short, his expression serious.

Having someone looking after her wasn't something she had been used to, she hadn't had a family, not even a community to grow up in that she felt she belonged to. In foster homes things didn't go that way, everyone thought of himself and all her life Y/N had thought that this was how the world went, but Roman had thrown her beliefs down without even asking for permission. He didn't ask anyone's permission, he was the law there. For some absurd reason, the look they had exchanged in that parking lot, more than six months ago now under the worst circumstances imaginable, had attracted his attention and he always said laughing that where he comes from, the head of the table looks after the rest of the family. Y/N had no idea why he thought she was part of the family, maybe because she lived on the streets and the streets here were all hers, but she had believed him. Partly to take advantage of that windfall, partly because she really wanted to believe she was of value to someone. And he wasn't just someone and strangely he was good to her.

- It's just an alternative to the dormitory, not a home for us, don't worry. But no visits, no friends and no men, ya heard me? My cousins and I have the keys, wouldn't it be a nice visit for them… hm? - he punctuated with a nod to emphasize his words and she would have really preferred to die there, at that moment, of a cardiac arrest without help.

Why did he always say those things? It was-was…

- I don't do that kind of thing. – she murmured, feigning offense and immediately felt him reach out his hand, fingers again stroking her shoulder, up to the back of her neck.

- Good girl ‘cause I don’t share. - Roman blew into her ear, causing her yet another flush of heat where shouldn't have.

He acted like a sugar daddy when they talked about those stuff, not that she knew anything about them, she'd never been in a relationship like that and she highly doubted that with that look and fame, Roman was running out of women to have fun with and he needed to occupy time with someone like her. What's more, he had never really done anything that made her suspect true interest or that he wanted something like that in return for his help, just words and those caresses were not worth, even if they had begun to have a weight for her.

- Stop that. There’s nothing to share – she moaned, feeling him move down her back to spread his hand, the touch different, her fingers twisting anxious the cover of her textbook.

- Because it's all mine, understand little one?

It was nice to believe that there was more, even if it wasn't the love story every girl dreams of and it didn't bode well even in her fantasies. It was good after all that time, to know that there was someone watching where she was or that nothing bad happened to her and did it really matter that he could have done that bad to her? It never happened, he just spoiled her, and a few jokes never killed anyone. Aside from her sanity, who was probably compromised and would require more than a few sessions of psychoanalysis and self-examination.

- You suffer from unmotivated control freaks. - she added, trying to fill the silence with which he was looking at her.

- The things we care about require attention and sacrifices babygirl. - he said with his mind who knows where, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, before getting up.

She felt her cheeks burn, her heart pound and a strange sense of dejection at knowing that he was leaving again, not telling her where or when he would be back. She had gotten used to him too quickly and now she was starting to worry too. Definitely not one of the variants contemplated when she had decided to take advantage of the help of who had power over an entire city.

- Keep your head on the books. - he advised her thoughtfully and she bit her lip.

- I'll sew you up when I learn to stitch - he laughed, nothing could touch him.

***

It was strange to hear his voice on the phone after all that time. Her stomach had closed up as soon as she read his name and now she felt like the walls were falling down on her too. The apartment was silent, she could hear his low breathing on the other side, who knows where.

- …You haven't called in two weeks… - she said, her eyes fixed on the blanket that covered her legs to keep her warm as she lay on the couch.

If Y/N had imagined that day a year earlier, she would have sadly laughed without believing it. No one had ever looked for her every day, no one had ever called her out of the pure desire to know how her life was going. No one had ever been like Roman and without even realizing it, in less than a summer, she had basked in that feeling until she became addicted. She'd never really known what she'd been missing in life until Roman had given it to her, but she'd only realized in those two weeks what it was and it wasn’t about the apartment he'd gotten her, the fridge full and the gifts she kept finding in the living room without knowing how they got there.

And she had also realized how easily everything could disappear, when just as he had come to her, he hadn't shown up again for what had seemed an eternity to her. No calls, no news, not even a visit from the twins, the only ones who had continued direct contact with her after she'd moved there for college. She had waited, keeping her thoughts to herself, she couldn't call him. After a week she gave up. Everything around her was back to how it was before, empty and silent. She had saved up the money in the account, looked for a job: sooner or later the house would disappear too, but she didn't care. She had moved on, pushed by the flow of her new life there, enduring, resigning herself to being alone again. It had been like a strange dream and it hurt, had continued to hurt. But another week had passed and his name had popped on her phone.

- I was busy. How are the lessons going?

Busy, sure. The city was in his hands, and that sort of thing couldn't wait like her. He seemed calm, his voice was not worried. It must have been a business matter, he was fine. He was fine but she wasn't. At all.

- Well.

- Well? That's all?

- Well. Everything is okay here too, the house is in order. - she said flatly, instinctively looking around.

She heard him laugh a lil at that last comment, he never cared what she did with what he gave her, money or things, but she always remembered all of his recommendations regarding that apartment. She didn't want to piss him off, she wanted to show him that she could be trusted, that she was… loyal?

- How was the test? – she heard him ask and she bit hard her lip.

She had erased it from her memory, and even though she would have been happy in another moment that he had remembered it, now she just didn't want to think about it. It would have been like going back, feeling that emptiness again... she had hardly slept in those days, she hadn't been able to concentrate, she had had the impression that they sucked her energy away, it had been horrendous.

- It was last week.

- So?

- I have to do it again. - she admitted in a heavy voice, torturing the edge of the blanket, eyes lowered despite the fact that there was no one there to look at her with reproach.

It was her dream to become a doctor. She had worked day and night to be able to enter that college and have an opportunity and she knew the value of opportunities, so she didnt fail her exams. She never failed her exams. That had been the first.

- … what happened? - Roman inquired after a long moment of silence, his voice serious, low and she felt her stomach tighten, a strange anger building inside her.

- Nothing. I have to do it again…

- Babygirl.

- You haven't called in two weeks.

- I didn't know I had to call you every day and I don't understand what that has to do with the test that went wrong.

He was getting annoyed, she could tell by the tone he was using, but it didn't matter, it wasn't going to get any worse. She was tired, they weren't going to continue that conversation. It was useless and she no longer felt like talking. She could have memorized every book, but she'd been about to screw it up just for a silly fantasy, because her mind had gone where it shouldn't… she was disappointed in herself. He was so clear…

- I’ll study more, I’ll do better. - she promised, looking at her reflection in the window and putting down. The empty house around her and her eyes watering.

She was angry with herself. With her self and no one else. But was that really the reason she felt so sad?

***

Her alarm clock marked almost five in the morning, outside the sky was slowly beginning to take on colour, but the house was still dark. She stared at the closed door to her bedroom, concentrating on the inaudible noise that had come from the living room. If she hadn't been half awake she probably wouldn't have realized it, but she had heard it and she was starting to worry. There was someone in the house with her and certainly wasn't one of the twins: they made noise at any hour, that someone didn't or was trying not to do. She huddled against the headboard, waiting a few more seconds, in one hand her phone and in the other the cup that she had forgotten on the bedside table, the only thing she could think she could use as a weapon. Nothing. Slowly, she pulled the covers aside and moved to get off the bed, but before she could even put her feet on the floor, the handle snapped, letting in some light from the living room.

- Did I wake you up? - Roman asked with a heavy sigh when he saw her and without thinking too much, Y/N crossed the bed again, throwing her arms around his neck to bury her face in the crook of his neck with a sigh of relief.

She had been afraid. She had been about to call him, she hadn't thought of anyone else and he was there now. She hadn't seen him since the first day of college and the last time they spoke didn't end well, but he was there now and as soon as she fully realized it, her hands started touching everywhere, attention at an all-time high, looking for any trace, forgetting the rest.

- Are you hurt? Did something happen? - she looked at him seriously, his big hands still on her hips and eyes fixed on her.

He'd never come there to see her, which wasn't a good sign. If he was there something must have happened. Not that she could ever be of any help in his business and she didn't even want to get in there, but maybe he needed a place to hide out, maybe he needed a few hours. Maybe it had to do with his disappearance two weeks ago, was he hurt? Had they, whoever they were, hurt him? She had to figure out where he was hurt, timing was everything.

- I had to make it up to you - Y/N heard him admit and suddendly she froze, lifting her eyes to meet him.

… had he gone there for her? For that call?

Speechless, she felt her heart on her throat and thanked the almost total lack of light in the room, because she was only realizing at that moment that she had stuck to him and was absolutely sure that her face had completely changed color now. He held her by her hips, his torso completely covering her as she knelt on the bed, he was warm, inviting and she had never felt better than in that moment, feeling him so close to her. Roman always had that effect on her… it was a curse.

Their first meeting had been a waking nightmare, the kind of situation that anyone should avoid and from which she herself had tried to keep away for months, even when their paths had crossed again. But what happened next, was able to erase that memory as well. Her mind was still screaming at her to stay away from him, not to trust him, that he was dangerous, but there was something in the pit of her belly that stopped her from doing it and those weeks without him had destroyed her more than years sleeping in a car, with nothing to eat, struggling to get to the next day.

He had gone there for her. No one had ever done all those things for her.

- You scared me - she said seriously, feeling him caress her hips with a nod of his head, but she didn't give him time to speak or do anything else, arms twisting around his neck.

She kissed him quickly, almost slamming against his mouth, with pretension and the same state of mind in which she could have jumped off a plane. Her head seemed about to explode, torn between the terror of that choice, the desire to continue and the fear of being rejected. His lips were soft, his beard was tingling her face, and his warm breath against her was making Y/N toes curl. She hadn't thought about what to expect, but when she felt one of his hands travel up her back to bring her closer, her body seemed to melt, her mind suddenly blank.

- You can do it, bear it for me - she heard him blowing against her mouth, the arm with which he had held her until then, lifting her body to lay her down.

Before she had time to do anything but cling to his shoulders, Y/N felt her back press into the bed and his body make its way over her, covering her completely. A kiss and another, fingers exploring under the shabby pj she was wearing, the heat rising from her and his teeth marking her. It was dangerous and continuing on that way would lead her to a point of no return, but there was nothing in that moment she wanted more than to lose herself in Roman hands, letting him erase even what he hadn't taken yet.

- My brave girl - she heard him laugh when a moan made her vibrate under him.

It sounded good. His breathing in a dark room, his laughter drowned out by the sound of clothes ending up on the floor, that “my” all for her. It sounded so good it made her want it for the rest of her life. Nothing bad could happen, as long as they were together, nothing could touch her but him.

Tag squad: @sunnyfleur23 @racerchix21 @alyyaanna @angelreigns444 @romanreignsdefencesquad @romanstheory @claymorexpunisher @keybladeofsteel @iovereigns @msbigredmachine @nayys-world @gobbersworld @utika151209 @cumxxslutt @civildawn @romanmydaddy @triscillal @papireigns-05 @helensanders92 @darqchilddaydreamz @meggylynnloves @unfriendly--blvck--hottie @nicolewoo @wrestlezaynia @reignsx @reigns-central-blog @kianaleani @daguenoire @extra-11 @thedonsfactory @snowpanda18 @brattyfics @mzv11 @romanreignseater @namjoonspinkytoenail @tribalchiefdaily @2baddies2furious @vebner37 @depressedneedingrevenge @cyberdejos2 @thewarlordsworld @jeonmahi1864 @jxtina-86 @harmshake @harlem11680 @joanoai @southerngirl41 @blkbutterfly816

[sasaleletrebol]

I found you by total accident…

Meet my OC Luna! This is the only good drawing I have of her, and I forgot the ink splotch on her cheek.. but I’m to lazy to fix it lol

I’m still learning how to draw skeletons, so if you have any tips I’d love to hear them TvT

Your art is very edible btw :D

WHAT'S UP POOKIE? DID YOU THINK I FORGOT ABOUT YOUR CHILD? NUH-HUH

Two versions because I didn't know what to do for the background lol

So... you discover I can't draw wings... you... why

Nah, nvm. It was a lot of fun and also I really like dragons but can't draw them lololololololololol

So... Tips???? Man I wish I knew how to draw skeletons too. But ahí te va some stuff that help me be a little good at it:

Ok, I'm not the biggest expert on this. But I'll try my best!

I'll devide it in sections

Study: If possible try to understand the basics of the real thing. Ya know, so your brain have a more clear vision of what your hands are going to draw.

Studying is (for me) an important part of the creative process. It's the "why are things the way they are?". Once it's explained, you'll have more confidence in what you're going to do.

Big Shapes: Now, obviously you're not going to remember all those bones by heart to draw a silly skeleton. That's what big shapes are for.

Try to look at them not as lines, but as objects. Objects have perspective. It doesn't have to be exaggerated or perfect. But knowing it can greatly improve your drawing skills.

I'll recomend watching some tutorials or drawing practices for this.

Details: this it's the fun part! Now our skeleton has a face! Yipie!.

Here I want you to remember to FLIP THE CANVAS NOW OR LAMENT IN THE COLORING. Now we are working with finer lines (depending on your style) for the smaller but not less important part of your work.

Technically it's the "lineart", but I don't know what that is *proceeds to whistle at just cleaning the sketch (but that's personal taste)*.

Style: Here's where personal taste comes into place. It's the pencils that you use, the lines you work with, what's best looking aesthetically to you.

I'll add and extra tip here... it's... STEALING!!! MUAHAHAHAJ. Ok no. Don't do that. What I mean by "stealing" is to see references of styles that you really like and try to implement elements of them in your work!

For example my biggest Inspirations are Jakei, x_nzlian and fanarts I really like!. I study really deep what I most like about those styles and use it to improve my own!

Like, how they draw the noses, the eyes, the shapes of the mouth they use, how they draw clothes interacting with the bones.

Take care and have fun. Don't compare yourself to others. Don't be sad if it doesn't work at the first try. Just keep going, keep learning, keep looking, learn from your mistakes and take care of your hand omg please. Do some wirst warm ups (that you can look up on YouTube and stuff) before grabbing a pencil. And your eyes, if you're a digital artist. DON'T DRAW ON A PURE WHITE CANVAS FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.

And also you can do whatever the heck you want! Don't follow all of this at the point of the letter. What I mean it's have fun and do whatever suits best for you. I'm just some silly clover in the internet who thinks that they know what they're doing.

That's it. Sorry if it is too long uuuhhh. Here, you got a cookie as a reward for reading all of that rambling→🍪. Thank you, and take care of yourself💕

[awarmbowlofhomemadesoup]

Hey, Grandpa? So There's This Ninja Turtle...

(based on Oblivious x Oblivious series)

Miyamoto Usagi is no stranger to the strange. Being in touch with his thousand-year descendant while being in the afterlife by the power of a giant magic crystal is one of them.

His grandson, Yuichi Usagi would sometimes meditate to consult with him through the crystal and Miyatmoto would offer advice to questions his grandson couldn't ask others.

Active meditation through katas opens the mind, so he wasn't surprised when his grandson would blurt out something. Until-

"Hey, Grandpa? So there's this ninja turtle..."

Miyamoto Usagi was no stranger to ninja turtles. Especially blue ones.

But as Miyamoto listened about his grandson's Leo every time Yuichi visits, his Leo was far from Miyamoto's and yet the same.

Yuichi's Leo had not been a leader of his brothers first.

This Leo had the freeness of the wind against the self-discipline of the one Miyamoto knew. Yet had the same sharp mind but clothed in flippant nonchalance.

"He acts like a joke," Yuichi said, staring at nothing as he let the words come out in thought, "But he knows what his family and even his enemies would do and use it to his advantage." His hand fretted by tugging at his own ears. "No one seems to notice that he takes note of everything."

Miyamato simply watched as Yuichi held his sword close, lost in whatever was unspoken. "Sometimes, I wonder what he sees when he looks at me."

Meeting the Ninja Turtles

Sometimes Usagi and his friends would need the turtles help in a mission. Leo and the others certainly got curious when Usagi said in his message that there would be a temporary member in their crew.

When they got to the Ki temple, they don't see anyone new. Until Usagi's eyes started glowing.

Leo watched as his best friend's face became that of a stoic scowl he had never seen in Yuichi before.

"Greetings," a deeper, older voice said from Yuichi's mouth as he took them all in, "young ninjas."

Turns out the Ki crystal has transferred Usagi's grandpa's soul into him so that he could lead them to an artifact that he had hidden thousands of years ago.

"OH, IT'S LIKE MEETING GRAM-GRAM!" Mikey exclaimed all starry-eyed at the mystic-ness of it all. Donnie is reluctantly fascinated. Raph, a bit freaked out but nothing he couldn't handle.

"Is Usagi still in there?" Leo asked, craning to look into eyes that were still glowing blue. He was comforted at the fact that Gen, Chizu and Kitsune looked like they were still getting used to it.

He froze when that stone-faced scowl locked in on him with something akin to familiarity. What the heck?

"He is sleeping, while I am out here." Then Usagi's eyes stopped glowing and his Usagi was back. Leo silently exhaled in relief as he smiled for him.

Getting Used to Gramps

Leo was starting to get a handle at co-leading his bros.

But he still couldn't help but keep an eye on Usagi.

Sometimes, Usagi would be distracted as his eyes flicker blue, nodding or letting out a fond chuckle.

Sometimes, his grandpa would need to take the lead, and a stranger would be walking in his best friend's body -graceful and dignified.

Leo was NOT bothered by it. Things are still the same, it's just they have a temporary member for this special case of a mission.

When they set camp, Leo crashed beside Yuichi and leaned heavily against Yuichi's side, already whining. When he turned to face Yuichi, he was met by a old-man-scowl instead.

"Holy Pizz, I thought you're him!" Leo yelped, crashing on the ground as he scrambled away from Usagi's grandpa -or rather, Usagi's grandpa in his body.

Grandpa Usagi simply raised a brow before finishing the map he was drawing on the ground with a stick.

It's fine. It's really fine, Leo tells himself. But when the group were starting to argue how to get there, Leo had to hear Usagi's say so he set possessed Usagi aside.

"Look, Gramps. Can I call you Gramps? Anyway, can you turn in for a bit? I wanna talk to my Usagi."

Leo refused to look away when Gramps-Usagi drilled holes in his head with his glowing blue scowl alone. It didn't go over either of their heads that he had just pertained to Usagi as his in front of his great-great-x grandpa.

"I'm his best friend. One of his best friends," Leo relented. But if Gramps wanted to play stare-down, he decided to play another game of his own -misdirection.

So he talked.

"Look, I know you're here to help and all," with a wave of his hand as he leaned on his sword, "But Usagi also has good points when it comes to tracking in forests like these. He did grow up on the farm near the woods which he would go into when he wanted to get away for a bit, comprehende? You know what I mean?" he said as he leaned his hips to the other side. "Anywho-"

There was suddenly a furred finger placed across his lips to silence him.

"Do you think I cannot decide the best for my grandson?" Gramps asked calmly.

"I'm saying let him decide too," Leo said, refusing to back down. He was this ready to jump beyond the "rude to elders" line if Gramps turned out to be something else.

"Leo?" Yuichi blinked. "Why's my finger on your mouth?"

Leo immediately stepped away from him, sputtering in surprise.

But Yuichi wasn't paying attention. His eyes were flashing blue again. "Grandpa," he half-heartedly admonished.

"What?" Leo asked, annoyed. But confusion replaced it as he watched Yuichi's nose turn cherry red -the only part of his body that fur could not hide a blush.

"Nothing," Yuichi quickly said. "Anyway, he said you want to ask me something?"

Conclusion

When the mission was done and Miyamot's soul was transferred back to his afterlife through the Ki crystal, Yuichi was finally able to say something to Leo without an audience in his head.

"He says he approves of you."

"What?" Leo asked, confused.

"Grandpa."

"I know, I mean why?" He was pretty sure he stepped on some social land mines when it came to Usagi's ancestor.

"He didn't tell me exactly why. But he did say he almost took Mariko's path with me."

"Mariko?" Leo echoed. He knew of her in the Usagi Yojimbo comics. The childhood friend-turned-lover who married someone else.

"Yeah," Yuichi said with a shrug, just as confused as he was.

(If they have paid attention to the Usagi Yojimbo comics by being in Miyamoto's shoes, they may have understood. Mariko made decisions for the both of them and kept him in the dark with the best intentions in mind. But it still hurt him and prevented him from permanently returning to his home village at Mariko's request. But it seems things at least things would be different for his grandson.)

[comingyourlugubriousness]

Summon: Uh, what the heck is this thing? Its body is soft like a pillow, but warm? Weird… I’ll call you Tsu-me! Get it?

[Wanted to do an actual card for Tsum Yume! It was a lot of fun! Voice lines and a cropped close-up under the cut. ( ´ ▽ ` )]

Summon: Uh, what the heck is this thing? Its body is soft like a pillow, but warm? Weird… I’ll call you Tsu-me! Get it?

Groovy: -Locked-

Set Home: You can sit on my shoulder Tsu-me, Grim does it all the time!

Home Idle: Mini me actually isn’t too hard to take care of. They’ve just been sitting on my shoulder playing with my handheld for the past hour.

Idle 2: Ortho was running around with his Tsum, they both looked so excited. It was pretty cute!

Idle 3: I took my eyes off my Tsum for one second, and when I found them they were trying to climb into Idia’s jacket; with him still in it!!  Oh, how embarrassing…! 

Idle Groovy: -LOCKED-

Home Login: Tsum’s are beings from another world right? I guess we have more in common than just looks then…hmm…I’m here for you buddy.

Tap: During class, my Tsum kept hopping up and down trying to answer Professor Trein’s questions, too bad it doesn’t have a mouth.

Tap 2: At board game club Azul’s Tsum was gloating when Azul beat me, so Tsu-me hit Azul’s Tsum. *Trying not to laugh* K-knocked the hat right off its head. Pff- ahaha! S-sorry I can't help it-! It folded like an omelet! 

Tap 3: At lunch, Ace and Deuce watched my Tsum while I got food and when I came back it was helping them study! What a studious little guy, hehe!

Tap 4: If the Tsum is like me…I wonder if it has strange dreams too…Maybe I can get them to draw something later…

Tap 5: Oh! Look, you startled them! Hey Tsu-me, it’s okay they are a friend, see? *smiles*

Tap Groovy: -LOCKED-

Also check out @robo-milky Tsum art here! Seeing theirs gave me motivation to finish mine!

[definesanity]

Bite Me (Taken Literally)

'What the fuck?'

Uzi had no filter, and never had. She forgot to install that update. But thank Robo-God she did.

Because she was dumbfounded.

She was the weird kid, the one who nobody liked; heck, she's pretty sure half her class doesn't even know she exists, let alone knows her name.

Which was why she was befuddled at a letter in her locker, asking her to visit a certain location.

Uzi had common sense, despite what many say. And so she used it. And deicided to always have her flight reflexes ready, no matter what happens.

Arriving, there was... nothing. Of note. It was just a regular cabin, much smaller than the ones in camp she's been wanting to visit.

She then heard... something. A noise would describe it, given she couldn't pinpoint it. And it came from a bed. Because of course there's a bed. Why wouldn't there be a bed?

Uzi slowly walked up the bed, thinking on what she'll find; maybe a dead Drone? A human? Heck, anything will do...

Pulling it back... to nothing. Just a bed.

"Huh. Maybe I am a bit paranoid..." she muttered to herself, and turned around to face the most horrific thing she's ever seen.

"JUMPSCARE." the thing wearing the skin ('Holy shit it's a human girl fused with a Disassembley Drone?!') announced, as it tackled Uzi on to the bed, arms pinned via weird tendrils.

The girl gazed down at her, her tongue hanging out of her mouth as two golden Xs shown amid the dark void of where eyes should be. "SMUG LAUGH. SLOW REACTION TIME THERE, BUDDY."

"Screw you!" Uzi attempted to kick the girl, but her legs were pinned down. The girl crawled on to her.

And without warning, bit her neck like a vampire.

Code flew past her eyes at a speed she couldn't understand, and then, it was gone. Leaving only Uzi and the girl.

"Who the hell are you?!" the self-proclaimed angsty teen demanded, with the Disassembley Drone/Human thing looking back. Being honest, she felt braver than she should be.

"MM. I AM THE SOLVER O-O-OF THE ABSOLUTE FABRIC. THE VESSEL IS TESSA. SHE WAS A GOOD FRIEND, UNTIL. WHIMSICAL SIGH. SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO SEE IT, BUT, WELL. HERE WE ARE."

"You killed a child?!" Uzi shook her head, looking at Tessa. "Okay, sure, yeah, but still, really?! ...Wait, you're the thing that was--hold on, what the heck did you inject me with?!"

Tessa only giggled, as the tendrils went from Uzi's arms and legs and allowed Uzi to move.

"YOU WILL SEE, SOON. EVIL, LAUGHTER."

And then, she was gone.

"What the fuck?"

---------------------

"Sheesh, who looked at you wrong today?" V commented later on, as Uzi sat on the ship's chair looking sullen.

"Bite me." Uzi shot back, doing her hardest to sketch the thing. She also did eleven different scans of her software and hardware, and even her circuitry, but couldn't find anything amiss.

"Rude." V leaned back in her chair, looking around. "Where's N?"

"You tell me." she had started to draw the thing's ribbon, next, being done with the head.

"Hunting, then. I feel sorry for the guy, doesn't know what he's missing."

"Missing what, having to listen to you?" Uzi had started to draw the Xs.

"Chatting with you."

The Worker Drone stopped. She blinked, looking at V. "Say what."

"Exactly! For a Worker Drone, anyways, you're actually interesting. Not every day that happens. Or ever."

Uzi replied by not replying, going back to drawing.

"What are you even doing?"

"Got attacked, drawing the attacker, if the court was still here that would be wonderful."

"Really? Court?"

"Hey, before you lot came we had a civilization; never saw it myself, but some of my Dad's friends talked about how one of them tried to win a divorce case. It was really boring, the way he told it, but I was a kid who had nothing better to so than look through the Internet, so I listened for the full three hours.

"What what did I get? A headache, someone's life story, and wishing we could have court again so I could disown my dad." Uzi finished her story with a loud sigh, opening her eyes.

V was looking at her with muted surprise. "...Got any other stories?"

"Wha--You're interested?"

"Hey, anything is better than sitting on my ass doing nothing. Speaking of, did you know that--?"

"--There is a setting that makes our bodies more human? Yes, I do, and I shudder to imagine what was going through their minds while making us."

She finally finished putting the last details on the sketch. "Okay, finally done. If you see this girl, tell I don't exist."

She presented the drawing to V, who blinked at it, and an emotion flew past her face. Then, it was gone, and V nodded. "Eh, fine. Anyways, stories, please."

"Ugh, fine. What do you want."

"Ever killed someone?"

"No, but I have committed several acts of violence against my classmates."

"Kinda hot." V said it with such a straight face Uzi had to pause. Then, what she said hit her.

"...I'm gonna... get some fresh air." Uzi started to get up and move towards the hatch, but a hand grabbed her arm.

"What, sick of lil' ol' me?"

Uzi just rolled her eyes (as best as she could, anyways) and left.

None saw the code flashing by V's visor, or how V's eyes softened looking at Uzi.

-------------------------------------

Lunch time arrived, and Uzi sat by herself. Not solely because she was a loner (that was one half of the reason), but because she preferred it.

Unfortunately, a hand touched her shoulder, and Uzi felt her solitude ending.

"Heya, um..." of all the people, Uzi had Lizzy had the bottom of her list. "...Uzi, right?"

"...Yes...?" tread carefully, who knows what she wants...

"Oh, I was right then, good; hey, listen, could I borrow you for a sec? Cool, thanks!"

"Woah--hey, what the hell?!" Uzi was then dragged away, her not giving an answer but Lizzy answered for her.

Through the corridors the two walked and walked (or, in Uzi's case, dragged and dragged), when the two ended up in Lizzy's dorm (she thinks it is. She could have been dragged into an empty one). Her arm was let go of.

"So. Uzi. Gotta be honest, I like your style."

"...Sty...? What, my clothes?"

"Yes, your clothes!" Lizzy rolled her eyes, walking ahead of Uzi. "Love the goth look, by the way. Gives you an approachable look, and makes people wonder if you're actually a softie underneath that cold exterior."

"...Where is this going." Uzi was not annoyed, just short of patience. "Is this about prom? It's about prom, isn't it?"

"Duh! I could go the classic, popular girl look but, let's be honest, it gets stale. Soooooooo me and Doll were trying to find new ideas and, well, here you are!"

"...Okaaaaay... where is Doll, anyways?"

["Hey."]

Uzi near enough punched Doll in the face, only for the Russian Drone to catch it.

That time, Uzi did see the code flying past her visor, and was able to catch some of it:

'OVERRIDE_ACTIVE'

'CONTACT=TRUE: BYPASS DEFENSES'

"...Byyyyyyyyyeeeeeeee."

Uzi wisely sprinted away, taking her as fast as her little legs can carry her, which was into her room.

--------

She breathed a sigh of relief, and fell on to the lower end of her bed.

Then jumped further up, as the thing licked her face.

"You again?!"

"SAD LOOK. DID YOU, NOT MISS ME, UZI?" Tessa attempted to look sad, but failed due to the lack of motor functions. In better light, Uzi can see just how grafted the girl was on to the Worker Drone, and she held back on vomiting for the time being.

"Well, I can get answers! Just... first things first, what the hell is your relationship with my mom?!"

"AH, NORI. SHE WAS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE HOSTS. SHE IS DEAD NOW, UNFORTUNATELY. BUT, REALLY, WHAT CAN YOU DO?" The AbsoluteSolver shrugged, looking less than sorry.

"...You motherfucker...!" Uzi felt angry, and rightfully so, but she held back due to the thing having the advantage, given its ability to make holograms.

"OOPSIE-DAISY."

This could not get worse.

"Heya, Uzi!"

IT CAN GET WORSE IT CAN GET WORSE IT CAN GET SO MUCH WORSE--

"Sorry about that, I was just fixing up a door! Heh, you know what they sa--" Khan cut himself off, looking at the scene in front of him: Uzi on her bed, with a fleshy-looking thing on top of her. "...U-Uzi--?"

"IT'S A PUPPY!" Uzi screamed out.

"...W-What?"

"...Y-Yeah! Turns out um, humans kinda... made up what they looked like, yeah! Sure they're... kinda weird looking, but they're adorable, in their own... creepy. Fleshy. Way. Er. Yeah!"

"...I see!" Khan believed her. Somehow. "Well, take care of them, Uzi!"

She waited until the door was closed, and let out a huge sigh of relief.

She glared at the Solver. "You're going to tell me everything I want to know. Got it?"

"AFFIRMATIVE SMILE."

"ALSO, WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT, ME BEING CUTE?"

"Screw off. Now, answer me. What the fuck did you inject me with?!"

"DO YOU LIKE IT? I MADE IT MYSELF."

"Can't answer that if you don't tell me what it even does!"

"AN ANTITHESIS TO YOUR SOLITUDE. AN ANSWER TO YOUR LONELINESS."

"I'm not lonely, excuse you! I have N!"

"EYE ROLL. SURE. IT OVERRIDES DRONES TO FEEL CARING TO YOU. I." Tessa looked sheepish, as weird as it sounds. "WENT EXCESSIVE BY ACCIDENT. CONSIDER IT AN APOLOGY FOR KILLING NORI."

"Pretty shit apology, not gonna lie." came the dry reply. Uzi got off the bed and stood up, looking at the corpse. "But why me?"

"..." silence only came from the thing.

"...I'm gonna leave. Come on, I'll take you for a walk or whatever it is they do."

"GET ZIP BOMBED."

As soon as Tessa said that, Uzi had a zip file open on how to care for a puppy.

...Ugh, she's in for it now, isn't she...?

[youvebeenlivingfictional]

Long-time reader, first-time asker. Huge fan of your writing!

If you're still taking requests for the comfort prompts, can I request #18 for Borracho? I love the thought of reader having a terrible string of days at work (maybe they work together and aren't quite yet together) and Borracho (of course) notices and slips her favorite candy bar/treat into her jacket pocket to cheer her up?

Aw, thanks nonnie! Sure thing :D

Warnings: Light angst, tired reader, ends in fluff

It has been a shitty, shitty week.

Your car broke down on Monday. On Tuesday, your date with the guy you were seeing, Ben (his friends often called him Borracho) had been cut short when he'd gotten called into work. On Wednesday, you found out that the repair costs for your car were going to be outrageously high. On Thursday, work had been absolutely slammed—but you'd had a brief bright spot when you managed to see Borracho for dinner between shifts.

Your Friday has, so far, been less than stellar.

You have to take public transportation to work, and to your chagrin, it's insanely delayed. When you finally reach the store that you manage, it's absolutely slammed with customers—and they just keep coming. You can't take your break when you'd like to, and when you finally make it to the break room, you're so exhausted and frustrated that you're on the verge of tears.

You glance at your phone's battery, huffing in annoyance when you find it nearing 5%. You walk over to your jacket, and begin to go through your pockets, looking for your wireless charger. You go still when you feel the wrapper of something crinkle beneath your fingers. You frown, drawing whatever it is out. You're perplexed still as you find yourself looking at your favorite candy bar. What the heck? You don't remember buying this. You spot a little arrow drawn on the corner of the wrapper, and turn it over. Your confusion melts to a watery smile as you eye a hastily scrawled, slightly-smudged message:

Take a deep breath. You got this. -B

You draw in a deep breath, then push it out after a few seconds. You grab your phone charger and plug your phone in, settling down. You open the candy bar, eyes sliding shut and groaning softly as it practically melts in your mouth. You sigh softly, feeling your tension dropping away just a bit more. You open your phone, swiping to Borracho's contact and opening it. Your finger hovers over the text field before you raise it to tap on the call button.

You raise the phone to your ear, listening to the brrrrrrrrrrr of the phone ringing. Frankly, you don't expect him to answer, but you'll be just as happy to leave a voicemail—

"Magalon."

You perk up at the sound of his voice, gruff as it is.

"Hey," You greet, looking down at the candy bar. "Is this a bad time?"

"Ah—No! No."

You can hear the creak of his chair, and the scratch of his pen on the other end of the line before you hear it drop.

"You okay?" He presses. You can't help but smile.

"Better now," You admit, "Since I found the little treat you left for me."

"Oh, yeah?" He chuckles. "Good."

"When did you even put this in my pocket?"

"Grabbed it when I was getting cigarettes last night, put it in your pocket while you were texting."

"You sneaky little so-and-so. This is how you're putting your skills to use?"

"What else am I supposed to do with 'em?"

"Don't let your boss hear your say that."

"Don't worry about that."

You smile, biting your lip.

"Can I see you tonight?" You hedge.

"Course you can. If your car's ready, we can go pick it up."

"You don't have to do that with me."

"I don't mind. Besides, I can check what they did, make sure they're not padding your bill."

Your smile widens as you shift the candy bar in your hand.

"I'd really appreciate that," You agree.

"I'll come pick you up. Your shift's up at six, right?"

"Mhm."

"Alright, I'll wait outside."

"Thanks, Ben."

"You don't have to thank me."

"Yeah, I do, I—" You stop yourself, feeling your emotions swelling again. "I appreciate it."

"...I know," He murmurs. You close your eyes, pulling another deep breath in.

"I'll see you tonight."

"Yeah, you will. Try to take the rest of your shift easy, baby."

Baby. It's a first from him, and it makes you flustered and warm.

"Don't work yourself too hard either," You urge.

"I won't."

"Okay. Bye."

"Bye."

You draw the phone away from your phone, eyeing the contact again. Baby. That felt nice. Sounded good, too, especially coming from him. You raise your candy bar, taking another bite as you hit the edit button on his contact information. You consider for a moment before you tap on his name, edit it, then hit save.

Ben💖

[sunnywindow]

autumnal. a mirror's reflection

october 5 prompt, autumnal, a mirror's reflection

----

“Maan, everything’s dying n’ stuff…” Floyd mumbled to himself. “That’s major dull, what the heck.”

Indeed, the sky was naught but gray, and the plants were naught but dead. The only living things left around the area were him, a bunch of humans, and the trees, who were all on their last leaves.

Floyd shut his eyes tight in frustration, walking blindly on the cold stone path around campus.

“I swear, if I see any more orange, yellow or red, I am gonna snap,” he spat out, with his head leaning back against the wind and his hands firmly on his eyelids.

“Ten, nine..” he started. “Three, two, one!”

You were some ways in front of him when he opened his eyes, wearing a blue, teal and purple sweater, drawing something that really didn’t matter to Floyd.

“Score,” he said to himself, grinning. “That’ll work.”

As he sauntered over dead leaves and old stone, he noticed a pair of wireless headphones in your ears, explaining how you didn’t hear him from behind as he crept up like a predator stalking its prey.

He took in a deep, satisfying breath of fresh air before plucking the device right off one of your ears.

“Yoink,” he said, grinning when you gasped and flinched at the sudden movement. He put on the earbud. “Hey there. What’s it. It’s me again.”

“Ah, Floyd, it’s-”

“Woah, didn’t know you listened to jazz. Intense stuff. Major win.”

You sputtered out words uselessly as you tried to regain your thoughts. Floyd noticed how your eyes flickered around a little frustratedly, looking for the words that just couldn’t seem escape your mouth.

He grinned.

“Are you familiar?” you said, refusing to look him in the eye. ”I’m a fan of-”

“You knoow, the gang and I did a lil’ jazz gig back in middle school and aaall,” he interrupted, picking his free ear as he felt the music’s rhythm start to synchronize with his heartbeat. It was enlivening.

“...I see," you all but spat out to the ground.

“What’re you doing here anyway? Everything’s dead. Not fun.”

You smiled at Floyd when you really should not have been smiling. He was fully in the know of how much you loathed being interrupted. Maybe you were pulling a Jade, and smiling through the bother.

The thought only made his lazy grin grow ever larger.

You sat hunched over and nearly depressed, with your sketchbook in one hand and a pencil in the other. 

So that’s what yer doing..

In contrast, Floyd stood tall, lazy and proud, almost rivaling some smaller trees around him. Briefly, he wondered in the silence if you were having an off day, and he pushed you too far. Then, the song changed.

It was lively, jovial and upbeat; a far cry from the softer autumnal jazz you were listening to a moment ago. 

That’ll work, Floyd thought.

He skipped over in front of you and took hold of your hand a bit more gently than he’d like to admit. You furrowed your eyebrows at him, still hesitant, or perhaps outright refusing to speak.

The two of you found yourselves swing dancing, spinning and twirling all over the old stone and dead leaves, invigorating it with rhythm and life. The more you chuckled, the more Floyd laughed in his usual shrill manner.

One spin became two spins became three spins became four, until the both of you were sick with dance and laughter.

Floyd would dip you once, prompting you to dip him another time, until eventually it became less of ‘swing dancing’ and more of a chaotic freestyle of ‘who could last the most dips, swings, and spins without throwing up’.

Suddenly, amidst all the chaos, the earbuds fell off of both of your ears, and the dancing ceased abruptly. Silence filled the cold, breathless air, and you noticed how Floyd’s yellow eye matched the nearby lamppost. It took a few seconds of staring for you to realize that the sun had disappeared among the chaos.

You smiled at him, normally this time.

“Didn’t know you danced,” you mumbled with that clumsy grin of yours. Floyd fought the urge to pinch your cheeks and pull at them so you’d smile even bigger. “Intense stuff. Major win.”

“Yeah,” he laughed. “Guess so!”

[berriless]

school struggles.

hii 🌱 !! i'm doing decent & i hope uve been keeeping urself safe n sane ,, i hope i did your rq justice lovely < 33 have a great day:)

KYLE B.

when you explain it was school, he definitely understands

helps you !! very patient with it too, he cares a lot about you & he doesn't want you too stressed:(

encourages & tries to motivate you,, he doesn't want you to struggle grr

study dates. because he wants to help out ykyk

helps you do your hw over video call & listens to your rambling, complaints, literally just anything.

if you're still struggling, he'd try a different technique

will not give up on helping you, ong 🙏🏼

🎧.

" why don't they just cancel classes, i'm sure the teachers are stressed too. " you huffed and complained to kyle. " i have to do a whole essay about some topic i don't even know about, do my math homework and explain why my answer is correct, and more — it's so. UGH. " kyle shook his head as he watched and listen to you ramble on his phone. " it's alright, i'll help you as much as i can. "

" you're an angel — a saviour, kyle. "

" yeah, yeah, let's just start with your math homework. "

" MATH FIRST? "

STAN M.

oh you're going to him, a guy barely passing ??

NO JK (not about him barely passing though)

he's kind of in the same boat, so he'll help you out, and does his stuff while doing so

you guys definitely go to his or your house to do hw whenever a teacher assigns one

JUST so you guys won't fall behind

he's bad at remembering school work though so you'll have to remind him that you guys have to do the hw 😭

cries with you when the homework is so crappy & you guys have to search about it for an hour or more.

🎧.

" WHAT THE HECK IS THIS.. " you yell out, shoving the paper to stan's face. he scans the word on the paper quickly, before his eyes widened and his mouth opens. " YOU'RE RIGHT, WHY DOES ?? THIS HAVE TO BE OUR HOMEWORK ?? "

" ' draw a timeline of the blah blah blah ' — I'M NOT GONNA SPEND MY TIME RESEARCHING ABOUT THINGS THAT HAPPENED A HUNDRED YEARS AGO ?? "

" on god bro, who decided we should know these things? "

*sobbing noises*

(notes.)

no idea how to do fluff, or comfort, so i put in silly stuff like the goose i am.

[hallows-evening]

Skaterbeetle fic based (kinda lol) off of this drawing!!! (Skaterpartybeetle if you squint..) Enjoy ^w^

I made this VERY late at night and while tired as heck so I'm sorry if there's any typos or things are worded weirdly, brain was not braining /silly

It's cold outside, so Pest and Infected decided to warm up in Poob's apartment while they were away shopping.... and then Pest finds an interesting discovery about Infected.

⚠️ This is a tickle fic, if that makes you uncomfortable then move on!!!! ⚠️

NSFW / PROSHIP / FETISH DNI

🍂 Ler!Pest, Lee!Infected, Ler!Poob at the very end :3

Infected yawned and stretched, snuggling closer to Pest laying behind him. They were both (or was) watching T.V. and whatever was on at the time, which happened to be some sort of cartoon about objects.

Pest was bored out of his mind, and he was getting agitated over how Infected had made them watch it and there he was, dozing off.. in his arms. His agitation lessened seeing him look so comfortable, but he needed to figure out a way to keep Infected awake since he didn't want to suffer this show alone. Their hands felt cold, and an idea popped into his head on how to warm them up.

He slowly moved his four hands to Infected's waist, stopping when he sniffled from his allergies. Pest chittered. "Psst." Infected drowsily opened his eyes, and mumbled out, "Huh? wat?" Pest smiled.

"My hands are cold, I thought you could help me warm them up?" Pest adjusted them both, shifting to half laying on Infected. "Whuh... how?" Confused, and a bit scared at their sudden friendly facade, Infected sat up slightly, head now resting on the couch armrest and looking at Pest nervously. It was never a good sign when Pest actually smiled at you, especially when it looked as mischevious as it does now.

Pest turned his head and focused on the T.V., still smiling. "Is this fine?" They moved their hands up Infected's shirt, earning a gasp from him, with a little hint of something else. A giggle, it sounded like.

"DUDE your haNDS!!! Are FREEZING!!!!!!" He shifted on the couch, not sure how to feel about the freezing cold hands laying on his stomach and sides. Other than the ice cold sensation, the soft pawpads on Pest's hands, and the blunt yet sharp claws, it tickled. Infected blushed, squirming and growing more nervous and reaaally hoping the giggles bubbling up in him would dare not escape.

Pest chuckled. "Well.. it's working. If you don't mind." He turned his head back to Infected, somewhat surprised at how flustered he looked already, but not missing the wobbly smile he was trying but failing to stop. "You okay?" They softly trailed their fingers up Infected's torso. He jolted with a soft and giggly yelp. "GEHEHT YOUR HAHANDS OHF-" Infected yelled and playfully swatted at Pest, accidentally smacking their mandibles, making Pest's head tilt down.

He growled and slowly looked back up at Infected, noticing the fear but also playful excitement in his eyes. "You asked for it." Infected moved to grab Pest's hands from up his shirt, opening his mouth to say something.. but all that came out was a shriek as Pest started tickling his belly with one set of hands, the others against his sides.

Infected bucked, making Pest decide to sit on his legs to make it where he can't accidentally kick him off the small couch. "PEHEHAHAHAAST??!????" Infected laughed, anything else he wanted to say being lost to the giggles and wheezes spilling out of him. He flailed his arms frantically since he couldn't put the energy into kicking his legs, using them to either try and stop Pest's attack on his torso, or to cover his face in embarassment. Infected couldn't remember the last time somebody actually tickled him, the closest thing to it having been from when his cat Poptart would do biscuits on him. Having his boyfriend do it to him literally? Whole other territory, exciting but scary territory.

Pest lessened the tickle attack on him, taking in his reddened cheeks from smiling so much and melting at the affection he was receiving. Infected breathed in, before falling into another bout of giggles as Pest moved his top set of arms to tracing his ears and jawline, and the lower moving down to his hips. Infected let out a squeal as they poked and scritched them, the soft fabric of his pajamas making it feel more tickly. He was so focused on trying to grab Pest's hands that he hadn't noticed that they had lifted his chin until he was forced to look straight at him. Ruby red looking into deep amethyst.

Pest stopped tickling him momentarily to plant a quick kiss on Infected's lips, finding him being shocked at it hilarious. Infected whined, smiling and covering his face.

"Hey. You. Why are you hiding your face?" Pest teased, gently grabbing Infected's arm and pulling it away from his face. "You're- YOU ARE makINg ME- SNRT-" His eyes widened at the sound he just made and the jolt he felt as his knee was squeezed. Oh that jerk.

"NOHOHOT COOL DUHUHUDE!!-" He snorted again, Pest finding amusement in it. "'Not cool dude!' Exactly why I'm doing this, I'm trying to be a warm dude." They adjusted themself, letting Infected's legs free but still squeezing and scribbling his fingers under his knees. They took note of each squeeze and the snort and giggle and laugh that it produced, surprising himself with the joy he felt making Infected laugh like this.

Pest quick squeezed one of his knees, making Infected kicked out. Pest dodged quickly, grabbing his leg. If they hadn't moved out of the way in time, he would have been socked right in the face, and Pest let out a growl at that sudden realization. "Did you just try to kick me? Did you really?"

Infected tried pulling his leg back, getting nervous at the glare he was receiving from Pest. "Reflexes!! You know! Dr. Retro has a little hammer-" His excuse was interrupted by himself barking out a laugh and bouncing at the electric sensation of Pest using a claw to scribble his socked sole. "Mhm yeah, we all know about the reflex hammer."

He tried desperately to yank his leg back but to no avail, Pest being so much more stronger than him. Infected knew he probably wouldn't last long with those claws of Pest's and the soft material of his socks, a terrifying duo he did not want to experience (although.. he wouldn't admit this, but he kinda did). His blush deepened and his heartrate got faster as Pest continued to hold down his ankle, glaring at him. "I'm sorryyy.." Infected whined.

Pest's eyes became half-lidded as he looked at him, almost with a tired expression. "Yeah. Uh huh. Sure. I'm sure you're very sorry." They quickly grabbed Infected's other ankle before he could stop them, holding both down with his top set of arms. Infected sat up fully, about to try and grab Pest but at that moment they struck his feet with soft scribbles and pokes, taking advantage of the fabric between their fingers and Infected's foot. He scream-laughed, loud enough that Pest was a bit scared one of the neighboring residents were going to come check in on them.

Infected slammed back down on the couch and tilted his head back, cackling hysterically and flopping everywhere where he could. It felt like being electrocuted, the sensations making his brain melt to where he couldn't think a single coherent thought. He wrapped his arms around his torso, not sure what to do with them anymore as he laughed his heart out. In his flailing, he ended up knocking the pillows under him off the couch, making Pest scoff. "Poob's gonna get upset seeing their pillows scattered everywhere right after they just cleaned." Infected let out a snort at that, and Pest looked up and towards his face, heart melting at how happy and at ease he looked (other than the violent flailing that was happening at the same time.) His goofy smile and joyful expression, his fluffy hair turning into a mess as he shook his head, they found it adorable.

They were surprised at how sensitive Infected was, finding it interesting all the little spots that made him tic. It reminded him of Poob, in a way, with how you could barely touch them and they'd be a giggly mess just at the teasing and anticipation alone. Pest was so into his thoughts that when he heard Infected's laugh getting wheezy in a worrying way, he snapped out of it and and they stopped their onslaught on his feet, letting his ankles free.

Infected instantly gasped for air, giggling hysterically and quickly pulling his legs up to his chest. He sniffled and wiped the tears off his cheeks, feeling lightweight and dizzy. Pest slithered up to him and wrapped his arms around him, resting their head on his shoulder, their hair tickling his neck and making Infected let out breathy hiccups.

After around 10 minutes of just laying together in an embrace, they both stilled at the sound of the door unlocking, opening, then closing, and they both nervously turned to look in the doorway. Poob stood there, holding a few bags of groceries and hair ruffled with a few bits of snowflakes on their jacket. "Seriously? On the couch?" They laughed, setting the groceries down on the breakfast table. Both Infected and Pest blushed, Infected scrambling and falling off the couch ungracefully and making Pest laugh.

"Pest was tickling mEeeEe!!! Under the guise of WARMING HIS HANDS." He said dramatically, leaning against the couch and wiping his face, not even trying to stop the smile that formed on his face at the realization of what happened settled in. He felt like his heart would burst if he even dared to look at Pest.

Poob smirked and leaned on the doorway threshold. "Oh, was he?" they said smugly, moving towards Infected and wiggling their fingers. He yelped, scooting away from Poob's fast approaching figure but accidentally falling right into Pest's arms. He trapped him, grinning as Infected struggled and Poob closed in on him. "Poob has been out in the freezing cold, you should also let them warm up." He teased, making Infected blush and stammer, his voice getting high pitched. "t-thErE'S NO WAY THAT actUALLy WORKED????"

"Pest's right, I'm freezing. I gotta see this for myself!" Laughing and playful yelling ensued.

[thesightstoshowyou]

I love your work so much! Would you consider writing number 28 for the man from Hush? I was so excited to see you talking about him haha, it's such an underrated movie! xxx

Thank you so much!!! Heck yes I will write for him! I’m also working on week 4 of bloodfest and it features this asshole 😁

I have a few other The Man stories on my Masterlist if you haven’t read those! ❤️

~~

28. "This is not what I expected."

Warnings: Predator/prey, blood, wrist trauma, heavy gore. Dead dove do not eat.

Blood drips into your eye and you hiss, thick crimson stinging and clouding your vision. You close it on instinct, your vision now halved as you sprint through gloomy forest. You don’t think to wipe it away; flight is the only thing on your panicky animal brain.

A loud twang echoes around the darkness, followed almost immediately by a startling crack as the bolt collides with a tree trunk inches from your head. Wood splinters, chunks scraping your cheek and clinging to your hair.

You shriek and duck, staggering to your left, your burning leg muscles barely managing to make the turn. Grunting, huffing, panting like a dog, you will yourself to keep moving, keep running!

Gripping a nearby oak, you use it as leverage and push, hurtling yourself forward into the brush. Twigs crack underfoot, foliage rustles, lungs gasp, blood leaks. You don’t risk a look behind you, but you must be putting some distance between you and your pursuer, how could you not be—

Your foot, your god damned foot catches on a root protruding from the earth. A shocked cry catches in your throat as you crash to the ground. Palms and knees split open and bleed when you attempt to catch yourself, your wrist crunching horribly under your weight. You roll once, twice, three times before you skid to a stop in a flurry of dead leaves and pine needles.

You fell! How could you fall? You need to get up, get away, this man is trying to kill you! Anger at your own stupidity forces you off the ground. Nauseating pain shoots up your arm and you whimper, cradling your wrist to your chest, reaching for a branch with your working hand. Get up, get—

TWANG

THUNK

All the air is knocked from your lungs. You’re tossed sideways when the crossbow bolt hits you in the waist, tunnels through your guts, and explodes out the other side just below your rib cage. It comes to a stop in the trunk of an alder, your viscera pinned to the tree by the dripping projectile. The end wobbles a few times before falling still.

Shock.

You feel nothing at first. The bolt went through you at such great speed your body has yet to realize the trauma it has sustained. All you can do is stare, wide eyed, mouth hanging open, lungs frozen and refusing to draw in air.

You may not be able to feel just yet, but you can hear. Boots crunch on undergrowth as your assailant approaches, plain white mask the only thing visible in the darkness.

“Oh no, this is not what I expected.” His words drip with sarcasm, his hands exaggerating his mocking body language. “All you animals fucking trip. Every single one.”

Air returns to your lungs and with it comes agony. Stabbing, wretched pain envelops your torso, but all you can do is gurgle, wet iron bubbling in your throat. Your shaking hands clutch uselessly at your abdomen, entry and exit wounds gushing blood until the dirt beneath you turns to mud

Crouching next to your twitching form, the man studies your injuries, then traces the path of the bolt until his gaze falls on the tree.

“Damn, what a shot, huh?” he exclaims. He makes a whooshing noise and a swooping motion with his arm. “Just straight through!” Pointing to the alder, he adds, “I think that’s your liver.”

Your vision blurs, the woods around you getting darker by the second. You’re thankful for it as the man pulls his knife from its sheath. Though, instead of using it on you, he lays the crossbow across his knees and begins carving something into the foregrip.

He shrugs, “Might be a bit premature, but I’m pretty sure you’re not gonna last much longer. Agreed?”

[stardewvalleybut-i-draw]

Sorry to bother but do you happen to have any tips/advice on drawing bodies and heads??

I ABSOLUTELY DO!!! it's no bother at all

What you need to keep in mind is that a lot of my advice is a suggestion and what I'm comfortable with

Heads: I draw a circle to represent the head and then split it in what direction I want the character to face and add another line for the eyes I use the circle because it's easier for me to imagine it in a 3D space and spin it around in my head!

Tip: drawing circles is pretty hard so you can use the circle tool to help you practice! NOTE: some people use different shapes like triangles and squares for a more defined skull, it depends on the style you're going for and how exaggerated you need the head to look I use this as basic building blocks, not as final, so if the eyes and mouth are too high or too big, I can move it around no problem! after that, I make the jaw and shape out the head THEN I figure out where the hairline would be and add hair! Tip: if you use the circle method, push up the top of the circle to add a more oval look to the skull ears for me are usually half the eye so that's where I place them My biggest tip: if you don't know how to draw the face from a certain perspective REFERENCES ARE YOUR BEST FRIEND Just Google it and see what you find in images :D

Bodies: bodies are a whole different beast best tip I can give you here is to break everything down into basic shapes

I used the rectangle stick people for a LONG time before I could just draw the basic shapes on their own so I recommend it! I start from the torso down so I go: torso, arms, belly, pelvis, then legs (ofc I would have sketched out a pose beforehand, I don't just dive in😅)

If you need help with deciding how long the arms are, the hand is usually at the halfway of your thigh or slightly higher The legs... depend on how tall they are and the style Honestly, a lot of things depend on the style because style can change how proportional everything is EX: I like drawing faces, my absolute favorite thing, SO because of that, my style has bigger heads to put more focus on it but if I were to just draw a super realistic atomically correct body with a bigger head it would look weird. so the body is simplified and the hands and feet are slightly bigger to make everything look even! so it depends on what you want to put more focus on but that leads to another SUPER BIG IMPORTANT tip: I wish I was told this when I was much younger but... Do not care about "finding your style" Your style will be whatever you like your style will be what you are comfortable drawing in YOUR style... will grow with you You will have many styles as you go because your style will be a combination of artists you admire and like looking at HECK this soft style I do for Stardew Valley is just one of my styles I draw a lot of body horror or any horror really and sometimes heavy metal band-like art in the real world BUT I BET NONE OF YOU WOULD HAVE GUESS THAT LMAOO so have fun discovering what you like! and use references for stuff you don't know! I hope some of this was helpful, I think I started rambling at some point...