#I do not have the courage to tell my boss I messed up the grinder AGAIN. right after he left too.

[rambling-robot]

dawg that’s it. idc if I’m the manager now, I’m not going to try adjusting the coffee grinders ever again. I completely mess them up every time. how did I turn the entire adjuster and get the same level of coarseness at every number? I found an online manual and it’s telling me that it should be working. I’m cooked. Roasted, even.

[girl-next-door-writes]

A Dangerous Game - Part 8

Characters: Tony, Reader, Bucky.

Summary: East meets West in a tournament to end all tournaments but with so much on the line for everyone involved is anyone truly going to come out of this a winner?

Word Count: 2309 words

Inspiration: The musical Chess.

A/N: A massive thank you to the wonderful and amazing @iwillbeinmynest and @littlemisssyreid for letting me bounce this idea around and reading each and every word I have written for this and making it better.

Masterlist - Start from the beginning.

Karpov was not happy.  Bringing the redhead here was supposed to knock Barnes right off his game but so far there hadn’t been any fireworks or even a hint of discomfort from his former charge.  There had to be a weak link, had to be a chink in that man’s armor.  Maybe his wife hadn’t been the way in but as Karpovs eyes roamed the hotel bar he saw you swiftly walking through the foyer and it was as if the lights had suddenly got brighter.  He’d been focusing on the wrong woman.  An unpleasant smile spread across his face as he realised that you were his way in.

Stark had a spring in his step as he walked into the hotel bar.  His controversial commentary was proving popular and he wondered why he hadn’t made the move sooner.  “Whiskey please, my good man.” He grinned at the man behind the bar brightly as he took a seat.

“Allow me to pay for that.” A thick Russian accent caught his attention and immediately soured his mood.

“I can get my own drinks.” Stark snarled as his eyes met Karpov’s.  He had some sort of respect for Barnes, at least he could play even if he was a red.  The asshat in front of him, however, was one of those ‘political’ types.  A puppet master.  Tony had come across men like him before and he’d hated them just as much.

“Simply trying to offer the hand of friendship.  I have no animosity towards you Mr Stark.”  Karpov’s voice was as smooth as silk, almost hypnotic and although Tony’s hand gripped his freshly poured drink his eyes hadn’t moved from the man now standing to his left.

“You mean I am no longer in your way.” Tony eyed him suspiciously and brought his glass to his lips.

“That may be a very astute way of looking at things,” Karpov chuckled, nodding his head.  The man reminded Tony of a snake.  Something about the way he moved andhis seemingly unblinking eyes.  It was unsettling to say the least.  “That being the case I do believe we have an adversary in common.” Karpov turned to the barman and ordered himself a drink.

“Adversary?  I have no clue what you are talking about.” Tony turned to leave, already feeling the need to go take a shower after talking to Karpov for more than a minute.

“That’s a shame Mr Stark.  I’d have thought you would still want the best for your former second but if her welfare is no longer your concern…” The words hung in the air and Tony felt an icy chill slide down his spine.  Turning slowly, he glared at the Russian.

“Whatever you are thinking, don’t fucking dare.” He growled.  “You want to take down Barnes?  Your player not up to the task?  Find another way to do it andleave her out of it.” Downing his whiskey he slammed his glass down on the bar and shot Karpov a look made of pure venom before storming out.

Standing outside the door to the practice room, Tony repeated his mantra in his head. ‘She needs to know, she needs to know, she needs to know’, before knocking a little more forcefully than he had intended.  Upon hearing Barnes call out for him to enter, he took a deep breath and pushed open the door with a broad smile on his face.  This was gonna hurt like hell but he’d be damned if he let Barnes see that.

Looking up from the board on the desk, James’ eyebrows raised in surprise as Tony entered.  “I wasn’t expecting to see you.” He said, honestly.

“Yeah, well… I wasn’t expecting you to take my title and my second but shit happens.” He pulled a chair up to the desk and sat opposite Barnes, wondering just where to begin.

“Careful Stark, your bitterness is showing.” Barnes smirked as his eyes returned to the board.

“So… I spoke to your former boss earlier.”  

 James’ eyes immediately filled with panic and shot up to meet Stark’s.  His body tensed and all the old emotions came flooding back.  Stark was offering up this information but did that mean he was now working with Karpov and attempting to earn his trust by saying that?  The familiar feelings of paranoia swept over him, putting him on edge.

“I’m sure that was a riveting conversation.” He offered.  The sudden tension did not go unnoticed by Tony who now wondered just how deep Karpov had sunk his hooks into Barnes.

“Highlight of my year.” Stark shot back, heavy on the sarcasm.  “Look, he mentioned… just… is she okay?”

Barnes got to his feet, his eyes narrowed.  “The way you treated her and you have the balls to come in here and ask that?  We are not friends Tony.  We are not rivals or even colleagues.  We are nothing to each other, never will be.  You really think you can use her to throw me off my game?  Go back to Karpov and tell him to go fuck himself.”

“Hey, I don’t work for that cock weasel-”

“Don’t give me that shit Stark.  You’ve obviously bent so far over for him he’s got his hand up your ass.  Shove your fake concern and go back to the organ grinder.  I don’t deal with monkeys.” With that insult Tony got to his feet and slammed his hands down on the desk.  Both men were practically nose to nose, snarling at each other.

“How can you only think of your own selfish ambition and not of her position?  Or would you rather watch her world collapse just so you can win a stupid competition?”

“I think you have me confused with yourself.”  Barnes spat, balling his fists so tight his knuckles were turning white.  “Get.  Out.”

“Oh, don’t worry.  I’m gone.”  Stark glowered as he pushed himself back and strode out of the room.  If Barnes wasn’t going to listen to him then maybe you would.

He wasn’t sure he could do it, talk to you.  Seeing you hurt his heart in a way he hadn’t previously known existed, and to speak to you… he wasn’t sure he could do that and keep everything together.  He had been deep in thought, working on the courage to go find you, when a familiar scent wafted past him.  You were wearing that perfume he always used to complain about, it had been so distracting, and he closed his eyes tobreathe deeply for a moment.  A peacefulness descended upon him and he heard his voice calling out your name before the nerves kicked back in.  His rich chocolate eyes met yours and he almost froze.  “I was an idiot.” His voice was small and you took a few steps towards him, curiosity written on your face.  It was a very rare thing to hear the great Tony Stark admit he was an idiot.  “I was stupid to ever let you walk away.” Tony frowned, this wasn’t what he had been planning on saying to you but he just couldn’t stop himself.  “Please come home.  I… There’s nothing that we can’t talk out, this is me and you.” He reached out and took your hand, a gesture that used to be so familiar now felt strangely new.

“Tony..?” You whispered, this had completely blindsided you.  All day you had been dealing with the fall out of Natasha’s arrival.  That and avoiding James.  The man stood in front of you now was a shadow of his former self, stripped back and raw somehow.

“We were great together.  Me and you and the game, that was all we needed right?  That, and Rhodey, and maybe a bottle or two?  Leave him.  Come back with me and we will pretend like none of this ever happened.”

“Are you sick Tony?” You wondered if this change in him was because there was some medical problem, that he needed someone to look after him and after exhausting all other avenues he had become desperate enough to ask you.

“No, I’m… I want you back.” He looked at you in confusion.

“Oh.  I see.  You want me back.  Well, let me just go pack my things right now.” The sarcastic edge to your tone cut him deeper than he would care to admit.  “Are you crazy?  You talk about us being good together?  When, Tony?  When were we good because most of my memories are of clearing up after your mess and standing there while you had a go at me.  You could have asked me last year and perhaps I would have considered it but now… I loved you, Tony Stark.  I loved you with everything I had and that wasn’t enough.  My thing with James may not be perfect - I might not even have a position with him after this tournament - but you don’t get to come here and ‘reclaim’ me as if I am something you own.  You say you want me back?  Did you even consider what I might want? What I might need?  This is all about you, as usual.  Goodbye Tony.” You turned on your heel and strode towards the elevator leaving him to watch slack-jawed.  He knew you were right.  It was completely selfish of him to pour all that out to you but it was the truth.  He missed you.  He missed all the little things like the way you would roll your eyes at him and the way you wouldn’t let him get away with shit.  You quick comments and the way you would quickly change from frustrated with him to gentle as you read his mood.  He had well and truly fucked up and now you were in Karpov’s sights he couldn’t even protect you.

Rhodey had been looking for his friend all evening.  On his fourth sweep of the bar he felt his shoulders relax as a familiar figure was propped up at the far end, staring into a glass of whiskey as if it might hold the solution to all of his problems.  Taking the seat next to Tony, Rhodey looked up at the bar tender and ordered another round. “Penny for your thoughts, although yours look pretty heavy so I may have to offer you a dollar for them.” He joked as two glasses were placed in front of them.

“I fucked up” Tony muttered, still staring at his drink.

“You’re gonna have to be more specific man because I have a whole list of things you might be referring to here.” Rhodey swirled his own drink before raising his glass only to pause at Tony’s next words.

“I saw her.” Starks voice was emotionless, a fact which worried his friend immensely.

“And?” Rhodey said slowly, drawing out the word.  It obviously hadn’t gone well or they wouldn’t be sitting here.

“I told her I was an idiot.” There was a pause before Rhodey nodded, rolling the words around his head.

“Well, that is definitely true.” He agreed.

“I told her I miss her.” Again, Rhodey nodded thoughtfully.

“Again, true.” He brought his glass up to his lips and was about to take a sip when Tony next spoke.

“I asked her to leave him.” Rhodey carefully put his drink down and turned to look at Tony with a raised eyebrow.

“You are a fucking idiot.” He sighed.

“I thought we already covered that.” Tony chuckled although there was little humor in it.

“You seriously asked her to leave him?  I can just imagine what she said to that.”

“I fucked up.  I am just so used to people overlooking me or laughing at me or just… not being good enough.  Having to prove myself every fucking day is just exhausting.  My dad, I was just a perpetual fucking disappointment there.  The arguments between him and my mother about how much of a screw up I am… I used to just lock myself away in my room, turn up my music, pretend I couldn’t hear.  That’s how I found chess.  That’s where I started.  Nine years old and the only person whose company I could just be myself in was my own.  I taught myself how to play.  It wasn’t like I could ask anyone else was it Not like I had anyone else.”  Rhodey watched the swirling amber liquid in his glass.  The story of Tony’s childhood was one he didn’t tell often but it didn’t get easier no matter how many times he heard it.  “I realised I was good, I had ambition, knew what I wanted to do, I wanted to be the best.  I joined the chess club at school and was told that I played ‘wrong’.  That I didn’t fit the system.  Can you imagine that?  All I had ever wanted to do was play and I was told at the age of 11 that I didn’t fit into that world either.  You know, my father never came to a single match.  He’s dead and I am still trying to prove myself to him and… and in doing that I’ve fucked up possibly the only healthy relationship I ever formed.  I love her, Rhodey.  I love her, and I only realised after I’d lost her, how fucked up is that?  She was right there in front of me and now… Now Karpov’s gunning for her, sees that she’s the way to Barnes.he’s gonna get hurt and I can’t do a damned thing about it.”  He ran a hand over his face and sighed heavily.  The feeling of helplessness he had felt as a child settled deep into his stomach.  Rhodey reached over and placed his hand on Tony’s shoulder.  He knew there were no words he could offer that would make this any better for his friend; he simply had to be there for him.

Tag: @themcuhasruinedme  @palaiasaurus64@deanxfuckingadorablexwinchester @littleblue5mcdork@sunskittlex @delicatecapnerd @callamint @ohmyjack@rashinyx2002 @thinkwritexpress-official @delicatecapnerd

[gotbangvixx]

When BTS falls in love with a new employee. You.

This is the first request we received for this blog! Woot Woot!! Thank you so much for this request it was so much fun to write! So much that I even got a drabble idea out of it so you have that to look forward to as well!

Seokjin

When you started working at the 5 star restaurant, the last thing you expected was to catch the eye of the head chef. This was just a simple table waiting gig that was supposed to make enough money to amuse yourself during the summer. But hey who would say to no to a gorgeous man who cooks like a god? You that’s who. If anyone is going to date you they are going to work for it. So work for it he did. He brought you flowers, he brought you chocolates, he would give you cooking lessons. He once showed up during your lunch break with some freshly made food that he “claims” was an order for someone who walked out before eating it. It was an awfully freshly made dish to be made an hour ago… but it was also to delicious to not eat. He worked hard for two months before you finally caved an accepted his invitation to dinner.

“I know you’re not going to say yes but don’t worry I will not give up! I am to head over he- Wait. Did you just say yes?  Lets go before you change your mind.”

Yoongi

This music store clerk job is a god send to someone like you. Not only because it involved your favorite past time, listening to music, but it was also ran by a hippie like woman didn’t care that even though you were only hired on two days ago you are late or how yesterday your cat literally ate your calculus homework so you had to call in while you were at the vet getting your cat looked at while you are frantically trying to redo your homework that is due that day. Belladonna is not only the best boss but you also have the best coworker. Yoongi tends to scowl a lot but that is mostly to scare away idiots who don’t know how to put back something where they got it from. When there were no customers, however Yoongi is pretty laid back and tries to sneak naps when no one is looking. The best thing about him is that after just a week and half of working together he not only nailed your music tastes down he also gives you new CD’s filled with songs he thinks you would like. It was your almost one month anniversary with the store when you get a text from Yoongi asking to come help him stock a last minute shipment. He promised you food and beer when you get there so you agree. Only when you arrive it is not to boxes upon boxes of merchandise that Yoongi had been complaining about. Instead you walked into the backroom that was clear except for a small table set up with your favorite food and a candles all around the room. Your favorite song is playing softly on the radio. Yoongi is standing off to the side looking nervous.

“I fell for you the moment I heard you voice and I realized that your voice has been haunting my dreams before I even met you. It has to be fate.”

Hoseok

If anyone asks, you certainly did not apply at cafe because you spotted the handsome waiter through the window. Totally. It was because you had the sudden desire to pick up a second… despite the fact you already had a first job that provided enough for you get by. *sigh* Okay so you might have applied and was subsequently hired for a job all because there was cute waiter. Luckily the job was only part time, all you had to do was smile and work the cash register. Problem was that the register was the devil in disguise and absolutely hated you. Luckily Hoseok knew all of the tricks to make it work and was more than willing to teach you. He was patient and you didn’t particularly mind when would stand close behind you pointing what to do. You don’t know why the damn thing kept messing up, you have never dealt with such a difficult piece of machinery in your life. It wasn’t until you got a call from your boss begging you to come in because someone called out sick that you caught Hoseok red handed. You walked in only to see Hoseok pressing a combination of buttons and then pulling a wire causing that stupid error screen that always caused you so many problems to show. He then loosely set the wire back on place but did tighten it and then gave a smirk when he saw the error disappear. You gasp in shock! He was rigging that devil machine to give you problems! Hearing your gasp he whirls around in shock. He instantly turns red in embarrassment and suddenly all of it made sense. Hoseok fell for you. It was your turn to smirk and cross your arms over your chest. He looks down at the floor still blushing and mutters out an apology he looks up back up at you.

“I know I didn’t exactly make things easy for you… but at least my dedication in coming early just to break this thing should show you how serious I am about you?”

Namjoon

The library was not your first choice in a job. But it was the a job and you were grateful for it. What you were even more grateful for was the other library clerk who showed you the ropes. Namjoon was endearingly kind and waaay to smart to be working as a simple clerk. Although you did understand why he works in a library and not somewhere else. Damn could he read. You found out that Namjoon would read at least two books a day. Speed reading he called it. Insanity is what you called it. While yes you do enjoy reading and every single moment you can spare goes towards it but there is now way you could read two books a day. Namjoon loved reading philosophy and each time he finishes a book he never fails to tell you about it and you two would spend hours discussing it. You don’t consider yourself particularly philosophical but Namjoon seems to disagree because always brings up a topic that is talked about in the book. Yet for some reason he hasn’t brought up any topics in the last couple of days. Granted you had only worked there for a couple of weeks but you knew that he couldn’t have ran out of things to talk about… Another thing that is odd is that he won’t let you see what he is reading. You push the thought aside and continue working. At the end of your shift you see him walking to his car and you call out good bye to him. In true Namjoon fashion when he turns he somehow manages to rip his ever present book bag in half spilling its contents to the ground. You give a laugh and rush forward to help him pick up his, surprise surprise, books you notice they are not the normal books he has. Instead they are brightly colored… romance books? You pick a random one up and quirk an eyebrow at the cover. Namjoon has NEVER mentioned liking romance before otherwise you would of been able to contribute a lot more to the conversation because you have quite the stock of romance books yourself. Hell you have even read the book you are holding. You hand it to him with a smile. It’s a good read and the plot twist at the end was amazing. You say cheerfully. Namjoon blushes and takes the book. He looks at you cocking his head to the side. 

“I was reading them because I wanted to find a way to confess to you… but then I started enjoying them and I realized I still didn’t know how to confess. Until now that is.”

Jimin

You have no idea how you managed to get through the first week of your new job at the coffee shop but you are 100% sure that it was because of Jimin. This innocent smol piece of fluff was always happy to help you. When you were struggling with the coffee grinder? It only took one whine from you and suddenly he was right there coaxing it into working, looking at you with a smile. When the espresso machine bit you he was right there holding a towel over the cut on your hand and leading you to the first aid kit carefully tending to it. When you slipped on a wet spot on the floor he caught you with a devilish smile on his face. He was your knight in shining armor. You adored him and he evidently adored you. You found out by accident that he requested the same shift as you so he could help train you. You had been speaking with your manager who was praising you and your work. You wave a hand dismissing the praise and give all the credit to Jimin. Your manager gives you a curious look. Evidently they were baffled as to way Jimin who had the same shift for the past two years suddenly upped and decided to change it to yours. Nor did Jimin EVER volunteer to train someone. But he did… for you. You think about it all day and aren’t able to get the thought out of your head. Why would Jimin do that for you? You didn’t even meet him until your first official day. At closing time he was sweeping and you were loading the dishwasher. You gather your courage as you shut the door on the dishwasher and ask Jimin why he changed shifts just to train you. Jimin doesn’t answer you at first instead opting to walk to the back room and grabbing his bag. He walks back to you and pulls out… a cookie?! You look between him and the cookie the back at him in confusion. He gives a small laugh that makes your heart flutter. It would be lie to deny that you found him attractive… okay so you found him more than attractive. Beautiful, strong, handsome, caring, sweet, and bit of the sexy demon that comes out when no one else is looking. He hands you the cookie and you look at it closer. Carefully iced in orange icing was “Date Me”. You laugh, of course he would know that Alice in Wonderland was your favorite cartoon and he would use it to ask you out.

“I have been wanting to ask you since the fist time I saw outside of the managers office when you accepted the job. But I was to shy so I figured I would make the cookie do it for me.”

Taehyung

Your best friend was most likely insane. Why they suggested you apply at the amusement park was beyond you. You hated loud noises. You hated the smell of cotton candy. And you absolutely no doubt about it hated that this is where you met the most amazing man on earth.  You were placed in the baby area with Taehyung. Your actual job entailed making sure the babies don’t escape their parents. It was oddly more difficult than on would expect because damn those babies are FAST. It was normally a toddler per hour that manages to find something shiny across the little walk way the divided the kids area from the baby area. The designer of the amusement park must of been a genius because the kiddie designated part was well away from the adult rides and separated the baby part from the kiddie part. The baby part was intended for ages one to five and was basically just a giant sandbox with a small “pool” which was really just a large puddle size area that shot up water every few minutes. It was great way for tired parents to let the older kids ride the rides they want and the parents can just sit with the babies and let them try and eat sand. The bad part of that idea is that there is always a tired parent who has more than one over active toddler who is distracted by one kid while the other sneaks away. Rugrats come to mind as you once again stop an errant toddler wearing an adorable little pink jumper and squeaky shoes. You catch Taehyung’s eye and he gives you a wide happy grin from where he is sitting in the middle of sandbox making a sand castle with what looks like a 4 year old in yellow overalls. So yea you hated the loud noises and the smell of cotton candy, but the kids weren’t so bad. Taehyung was pretty amazing. You had seen him once calm down a sobbing baby with just two peek-a-boos. He is a genius. He was also a incorrigible flirt. Every opportunity he would compliment your appearance. He would praise your once again foiling of escape plans of a crawling baby. And he would never ever fail to make sure you were okay. He brought you bottles of cold water and when he was eaten something he would always offer you some. He also always knew when you needed a pain reliever for the headache the loud noises invariably caused. He was the sweetest person you ever met. It took a particularly observant father who was playing in the sandpit with his two year old while his husband was in the “pool” with the two year old’s twin. You and the father were chatting while you kept an eye on a three year old that looked two seconds from bolting. You were right because as soon as their mother looked away the toddler was off and running. With a sigh you start to get up from the ground excusing yourself from your the father in the sand pit when a hand settled on your should and Taehyung’s deep voice told you to Sit back down I had this one. The father gives you a smirk and comments on how nice it is to be working with your boyfriend. You look at him startled. I’m not… Taehyung and I are not together. We are coworkers. Just coworkers. The gives you a look and calmly replies that sure he is. He is just a coworker who watches you with heart eyes.The boy is clearly head over heels for you. The father evidently said this pretty loudly because Taehyung squats down beside you and brushes they hair from your eyes with a bright smile. 

“Well he is not wrong..”

Jungkook

You would not have thought that in this day and age a bowling alley would be a success but you would be wrong.Because not only was this place a success but it was the work place of an angel. You needed a seasonal job because this particular summer you made it goal to save up for that new laptop you were needing before the school year. The opening of the bowling alley seemed like fate and when you met the owner’s son who was also working there it pretty much cinched the idea of it being fate. The only thing was this smol bean was so so shy. He mostly worked in the kitchen making kick ass pizzas and onion wings. But occasionally he helped out by fixing the arcade games or working the shoe rental. He had a bright smile and always willing to help the customers but when it came to interacting with his coworkers and making conversation he clammed up making an awkward excuse before sneaking away. You decided to push aside your enamoring with his looks and try to befriend the shy bean. You start by just sitting with him quietly during breaks and not forcing him to say anything. Your next step is to ask him simple questions but not making him answer. Before to long he would answer your questions but it was an awesome day when he would ask one or two of his own. You became friends with him despite his shyness. He turns into your best friend teaching you how to bowl and they tricks to winning the different arcade games. He eventually confided in you that his father built the bowling alley so Jungkook could take the opportunity to try and make friends. When he admits this he also says that he never thought it would of worked yet here he is with a  best friend that has became something more. You stare at him in hopeful confusion. He gave a shy smile and carefully removed the red rose he had hidden underneath a few papers and handed it to you.

“Would you… maybe go on a date with me sometime?”

O.M.G. Would you look at that?! I actually wrote a post that wasn’t like a million characters long! 

0.0

It’s a miracle! But hey I hope you enjoyed this react and if you do please don’t hesitate to ask for another one!

-Starfish