#I like imagining him going to some salon with pictures and getting double takes

[yunyin]

Do you ever think about how Felix probably had to get his hair layered just like Adrien to pull off the switch in the Felix ep? Did he ask Amelie to do it or did he take in like, a magazine to a stylist?

[xofanfics]

String - Part VI

Prologue | Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII

Genre: angst, fluff

Pairing: Baekhyun x Female Reader FT. SEHUN

Word Count: 2.8k

Summary: You find yourself in a friends-with-benefits situation with your best friend. You have no business falling for him, but your heart begs to differ.

Baekhyun hadn’t heard from you since that night. You hadn’t responded to his text and he had no idea whether you’d listened to his voicemail. And Evie and Sadie were no help either. They said that you’d approach him when you were ready but he was impatient. 

Guilt pulled at Baekhyun as if someone was tugging the bottom of his shirt. Even though he had started seeing Kira like he wanted, he still felt pretty guilty about it all. He hadn’t exactly done anything wrong but he knew that he fucked up, morally. It was fucked up to treat you like that, pulling you on a string until he decided what he wanted. You deserved better than that. And he was a hypocrite. He knew that much. 

He felt uncomfortable knowing how he left things with you and he wanted to talk to you. He didn’t know the things he needed to say and he wasn’t sure where to begin. All he knew is that he wanted to talk to you. Things probably wouldn’t go back to normal, even if he tried his absolute best. 

“Baekhyun?”

Baekhyun looked up from his plate. “Huh?”

“I said what are you thinking about?”

“Just about an old friend.”

Kira frowned. “Did something happen?”

He sighed. “I don’t really wanna talk about it.”

Kira didn’t press him about it and he was grateful. Guilt ate at him further as he realized that he wasn’t able to pay his own girlfriend the attention she deserved. His thoughts, somehow, would always shift toward you even in the presence of others.

She didn’t know what was bothering Baekhyun but it was bothering her. Lately, he seemed a little down. Things hadn’t changed too much but he always looked so...troubled. Kira wanted to make him feel better but she didn’t know where to begin. Did he even trust her enough to tell her what was going on in his life? Did he feel like he couldn’t be open with her? Was she not doing enough, as his girlfriend?

She reached across the table and grabbed his hand. She gave it a light squeeze because it was the only comfort she could give him.

*

You woke up and found yourself staring at the white ceiling as your phone’s alarm went off on the nightstand. You rolled over and shut off the blaring noise. As you sat up in bed, you let out a yawn. You got dressed and started getting ready for your 9AM shift at the waxing salon. The best part about being a receptionist was getting a discount on waxes and not having to do much. This job was a way to put extra money in your pocket and to study and do homework in between the small tasks you had to do to maintain a suitable environment for customers.

You got lost in your skincare routine as you found yourself thinking about Baekhyun again. You hadn’t seen him since that night and you avoided all contact with him within the friend group. Being that they were with Baekhyun a lot, you hadn’t seen the guys much lately. You couldn’t help but feel like the friend group was divided and that some of it was partially your fault. 

You thought to yourself, If I see Baekhyun again, I think I could at least say hi…

Sehun occupied your thoughts most of the time but there were times when you gave in to temptation and your thoughts shifted to things like Baekhyun’s award-winning smile. Sehun was a gentleman. To be honest, he was everything you wanted in a guy. He let you know from the beginning that he had intentions of being in a relationship. It was rare to get that much information from a man these days. 

He was considerate and he cared about you. And it showed. And when you hung out again last week, things were just as relaxed as last time. You felt like you could be yourself. The two of you went to get gelato in Little Italy, walked to the park, and talked for hours. And when you left each other, he didn’t try to come back to your apartment with you and he didn’t try to kiss you either. You were so used to guys rushing into things that this seemed a bit strange. It was great to meet a man with pure intentions.

Sehun would ask you if you wanted to Facetime a couple times. He’d ask you about your day, about what you ate, about what you were learning in class. He was asking these things because he genuinely wanted to know you. He wanted to know your thoughts, your ideas, and opinions. He wanted to dig deep into you, pulling out as much information as he could. He wanted to be able to paint the perfect picture of you, with his eyes closed shut. 

You smiled to yourself as you got off of the train. You had twenty minutes to get to work from the train station. It only took five minutes from the train but you liked to come a bit early to get coffee. Your phone buzzed in your hands. Sehun left you a voice message.

“Hey, Y/N. Good morning! Hope you slept well last night and that you have a good day at work...I’m working from home today, thank God. I’m sick of my boss hovering over me while I’m trying to get work done..” He let out a chuckle. “Anyway, I can’t wait to see you later tonight.”

The two of you planned to go to a jazz lounge tonight. Neither of you had ever been and it seemed like a fun date. That was one thing you enjoyed about Sehun. He was always down to try new things with you. Everything you were experiencing with Sehun felt so new, so exciting. You never felt quite like this before.

You smiled at the sound of Sehun’s voice and, as you were about to send a voice note back, you happened to look up and find Baekhyun walking toward you. You were sure he hadn’t noticed you yet and you hoped to keep it that way. You kept walking, trying your best to remain unnoticed. As you walked past, you were sure he caught a glimpse of you because you could feel someone’s eyes glued onto you. It took everything in you not to turn around and look back at him. 

You’d said that maybe you were at a point in your life where you could gather the courage and greet him if you were in the same room. Here you were, practically running away from him instead. You weren’t ready to cross paths with him; not right now. And to make matters worse, you looked a mess in your barely brushed bun and a not-so-special outfit. You’d imagined that when you eventually did cross paths, that you’d look good that day. 

You walked past him and didn’t look back once.

*

Baekhyun got off the train feeling more tired than usual. He’d had a bit of trouble sleeping last night. He inched up the staircase slowly and when he looked up to see what the holdup was, he saw that it was a mother struggling to carry a stroller. Eventually, once someone realized that maybe they should help, another woman helped her up. Once the staircase congestion was cleared, Baekhyun was able to start moving. 

As he headed toward the exit, he happened to look up from his phone and to his left. He had to do a double take to make sure it was you. It was. He knew your height and body size like the back of his hand. Even though he hadn’t been friends with you for a full year, he got to know you well for the past few months...until all of this drama came crashing into his life. He was at fault, he knew. This was a mess that he’d unintentionally created by not being straightforward and not being honest with himself or the people around him.

He didn’t know what an ideal world would look like. He wanted to be with Kira, no matter what. But, sometimes, his heart tugged toward you. He cared about you and he honestly missed you. He missed hanging out with you. He missed the simple things about his relationship with you like waiting for you to get out of class so you could eat lunch with him or helping you study for your exam, with flashcards. He missed simple things like FaceTime calls in the middle of the night when you had trouble sleeping and the fact that he could tell you anything. Part of him wished that he’d never crossed that line with you. He hated the fact that you weren’t in his life at all. Would you have been better off as just friends from the very beginning?

Baekhyun did see you, even if you didn’t know it. He saw you in all your glory. He saw you and your bun that you wore with the pale pink scrunchie that you loved. He saw you walking toward the University Place exit which could only mean that you were going to work. He remembered going there to pick you up from work last semester and watching you fidget at the desk, eagerly waiting for your coworker to come in and take over the desk duties.

He did notice you and a piece of his heart chipped away as he realized that a) you saw him and didn’t care to speak or b) you genuinely didn’t see him. A million possibilities and harsh realities flew through his head. He knew that you wouldn’t go out of your way to talk to him but had you just straight-up ignored him, like he didn’t exist?

Did the voicemail he left mean nothing to you? Did you listen to it at all? Did you delete it without even bothering to listen to it? He had so many questions and no answers. Were you done with him? Had he ruined the friendship the two of you once had forever? He felt a lot of things but his heart felt bruised, more than anything.

Was it really over?

Baekhyun wasn’t sure what kind of relationship he could have with you at this point but he knew that he didn’t want to live in a world without you in it. But on the other hand, he knew that he couldn’t have his cake and eat it, too. 

*

You met Evie and Sadie in their dorm room after your shift. You still had a couple hours before you had planned on meeting Sehun. You put your bags down and sat down on the fluffy rug that lay between the two beds. 

Your friends had started filling you in on a campus event tonight, where some of the school’s cultural organizations were going to have a dance off. You hadn’t planned on going since you made plans with Sehun but your friends didn’t seem to want to let it go. 

“So you’re really not going to come to the Battle of the Orgs thing tonight?” asked Sadie, sitting down on the floor next to you.

You shook your head. “Well, I wasn’t really planning on it...”

Evie chimed in, turning away from her laptop and toward you. “Drew said it’d be really cool if you’d come. He’s hardly seen you since everything that happened with Baek. He’s performing...and the best part is that Baekhyun won’t be in the crowd cause he’s performing too.”

You raised your eyebrow, a curious expression taking over. “Since when?”

“Since like three weeks ago when one of the other guys dropped out and Drew begged him to join the lineup,” answered Evie. “Drew bugged the hell out of him and eventually Baekhyun agreed to it. You know how annoying he can be...”

“I saw Baekhyun in the train station this morning,” you said. “I was telling myself this morning that, if I saw him in the street, maybe I’d say hi...but I walked by and pretended I didn’t see him.”

“Would you really have said something?” asked Sadie.

You shrugged. “Probably not. But what would I even say to him?”

“Go fuck yourself is a good start,” Evie suggested. The three of you laughed for a moment before her expression became serious. “He really does seem to be dating that girl though.”

“Did you meet her?” you asked.

“For a minute,” Sadie said. 

Evie added, “Baekhyun stopped by in the library and she was with him. So he introduced her...as his girlfriend.”

“What does she look like?”

“She looks mixed. She’s black and Japanese, I heard.”

“What’s she like?”

“Y/N, what does it matter? We met her for two seconds, in passing. Even if I had an answer for you, I wouldn’t tell you. You’re seeing Sehun, right? Why are you making Baekhyun more relevant than he is?” 

You rolled your eyes, annoyed that your friend wasn’t going to give you more information. But, deeper down, you knew that she was right. It wasn’t healthy to ask those kinds of questions or to do things like look at Baekhyun’s snapchat stories hoping to find out more about this girl. It hurt that he had moved on. You wished that you were in her shoes. It felt unfair that this girl came into the picture and threw Baekhyun off course. You thought about what he said about having intentions of asking you out. If it was true, then the appearance of this Kira girl had ruined it. In a way, she had ruined the relationship that could’ve been yours. 

But it wasn’t fair to put the blame on this girl. You didn’t know her and she didn’t know you. Sometimes you felt jealous but then you had to remind yourself that you deserved better and that if Baekhyun truly wanted to be with you in the first place, he would’ve been.

In all honesty, you should’ve listened to Evie’s advice in the first place. You should’ve known something was up when she asked if you were sure that Baekhyun really liked you. Maybe you should’ve questioned things sooner. Maybe if you’d brought it up sooner, the story wouldn’t have played out quite like this. Maybe you would’ve had the answers you needed much sooner. Maybe it would’ve hurt less.

You bit your lip. “Of course he’s not relevant. I’m seeing someone new and I’m moving on...just like he is!”

Part of you wanted to go to the Battle of the Orgs. You wanted to go because you genuinely wanted to see Drew perform and, if you were being completely honest with yourself, you wanted to see Baekhyun perform too. You never really saw him dance like this before. According to your friends, the Korean Student Association was going to perform a couple k-pop songs. 

You didn’t know if you were ready to see Baekhyun in person, even if it was from a distance. Hell, you couldn’t even face him in the train station this morning. You just kept walking like a coward. You had imagined seeing Baekhyun again for the first time a million different ways. All of the scenarios you imagined in your head were nonchalant, petty, or neutral. You’d imagined scenarios where you hit him, scenarios where you threw shade at him, and scenarios like this morning—you walking past him, but without a care in the world. And you’d also imagined delusional scenarios where he explained that he didn’t want that girl anymore, and that you were the one he wanted. But you knew, at this point in time, that it wouldn’t happen.

You knew deep down that the only way to truly get over Baekhyun was to finally face him. That didn’t mean that you had to be friends or that things were going to go back to how they were. Shit, how could they after all that you’d been through? Seeing Baekhyun in person didn’t mean that you were committing to anything specific. It just meant that you’d be in the same room, breathing the same air. No harm in that, right? 

You had to face Baekhyun sooner or later. You weren’t obligated to accept his apology or to be friends. The only way to get over him was to acknowledge his existence. Maybe you could get to a point where you could have a conversation. Maybe, just maybe, you could be acquaintances or something. But for now, you decided to just let things play out. You’d just be yourself. Maybe you wouldn’t even have to interact with Baekhyun in the first place.

You decided that you were going to go to the event tonight. You’d go to the event, support Drew, and then leave to go to the jazz bar with Sehun afterward. This solution was perfect, for everyone.

***

A/N: This is kind of a filler chapter but the next chapter will be longer and have the drama everyone’s craving, I promise! It’s worth the wait. And thank you to everyone who has supported me. And shoutout to my bestie for helping me through these ideas and giving me some much needed motivation!

Tag List: @shesdreaminginoverdose​ @multistania​ @jeonchan26​ @myonlyaurora​ @keloiu​ @xxluckydreamsxx​ @multifandomeras​ @blanknearvana​ @jddcfc-blog​ @jummyjammy​ @mintaemark​ @kokobyunee​ @fortheloveofinfinite​ @littleflowercrown13​ @wayvexo​ @to-all-the-stories-i-love​ @ggaayyyong​ @hyuniebaby​ @giriboyshogu​ @xyukheix​ @jekylluv​ @forbyun​ @endzii23​ @puppyeoliepop​ @aa-ronpa​ @serendipitydreamsss​ @princemicorazon​ @sjkings​ @marimsun @baekhypnotized

Please DM me if you want to be added to the tag list! Hope you enjoyed this chapter :)

[thehouseoflamentation]

Everyday we stray further from god’s light...jk jk

I said I was ok with most nsfw and now I’m gonna live up to that claim so here we go!!!

Btw I checked Bad Dragon’s website and they actually have a model called “Demon Dick” so uhh….yeah….

For some reason “keep reading” was messing with the format so I had to repost this. I didn’t include any pictures but I did include links to what I think the boys might look like down there based on the models they had so proceed at your own risk!!

(Side note: I only had shape in mind while I was choosing these bc some of those colors really be wild. Also I’d like to imagine they’re all “extra large” sized)

Lucifer - (https://bad-dragon.com/products/axel)

That night, Lucifer called you into his room for a little “chat.” What was supposed to be a discussion of the student exchange program quickly escalated into something else as you found yourself unable to pull away from his lips as he trapped you in his embrace. It wasn’t long before he moved to the bed, sat down, and shifted his legs apart making it very clear what he wanted next. Now you were on your knees frantically trying to undo Lucifer’s belt while he looked down at you, smirking at how needy you’ve become. After pulling his trousers down to his ankles you made quick work of his boxers moving them down just as eagerly until....you saw it. You thought that since Lucifer looked mostly human the rest of him would look human as well but you were wrong. Not only was he longer and thicker than anything you’ve seen before but his shape was also…well...unique. After staring at it for a good few seconds he moved your face closer by gently nudging your head forward. The action only made you jolt and scoot a good three feet back.

“Lucifer, I love you but I’m not putting that anywhere near my mouth” you say as you slowly take a step back.

“And why is that? Too big for a human?” his eyebrows furrowed as you took another step.

“Too big f- YOUR DICK IS THICKER THAN A SODA CAN DO YOU WANT ME TO CHOKE???”

“......”

He stayed silent as he watched you slip out of his room, too shocked and embarrassed by your response to go after you. He didn’t think being “too big” was ever going to be a problem for him until now.

Mammon - (https://bad-dragon.com/products/crackers)

Even though he had his own room Mammon insisted on staying in your room again, going on about how it was an “honor” to have him sleep over. You were starting to get tired of his little act so you decided to shut him up with a kiss. To your credit it did work for a good two seconds before he retaliated by pulling you into a kiss on his own. Soon your hands started to wander up his shirt and while he shivered at your touch he followed your lead and did the same. The kiss was messy but full of passion. Once you pulled apart Mammon carried you over to your bed, plopping you down onto the sheets as he fell on top of you. You knew exactly where this was going so you started to strip once you landed on the sheets. After you threw your clothes to the side you started helping Mammon with his belt. He kicked his pants off then his boxers and as you looked down you almost couldn’t believe what you were seeing. He was definitely bigger than a human and the bumps and ridges along his shaft didn’t seem like they were going to make it any easier for you to take him in. Mammon started to get embarrassed from your staring his skin turning a dark shade of red.

“Quit starin at me like that! W-What are you tryna say I’m small or something cus I’m no-”

“Oh you are anything but small Mammon. Quite the opposite actually. I just...I can’t. I can’t do this. I’m out...”

“What do you mean you’re out? This is your room where are you going??”

That night you stayed in Mammon’s room while he was left to contemplate his life in your room. Well at least you thought he was big so that’s….partially a win right?

Leviathan - (https://bad-dragon.com/products/lenneth)

That night, Leviathan invited you over to read some new manga he got from Akuzon. It received a lot of hype before its release so he was looking forward to reading it with you. When you stepped into his room he handed you a copy of the latest volume in the series and let you sit on his bed while he plopped himself into a bean bag. You laid on your stomach turning page after page but after a while you noticed a pair of eyes spying on you as you rested on the sheets. Levi kept peeking up from his book to take glances at you so you shot him a glance and a smile back making him look away in embarrassment. Deciding the manga could wait, you made your way over to Levi, gently moving the book out of his hands to lean in for a kiss. He was shy but he didn’t seem to resist as he let his hands comb through your hair and wander down your back. Wanting to speed things up you crouched down between his legs and undid his belt and pants zipper before palming him through his boxers. Levi shuddered at the contact but froze completely when you pulled down his boxers altogether. Aside from his impressive size the shape of his cock was definitely different from a human’s.

“Levi...you uhhh-”

“I know”

“It’s umm...”

“Yeah”

“It looks-”

“I GET IT!!!! IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING YOU’D SEE FROM A HENTAI NOW STOP STARING!!!!!”

Both of you sat there for a moment trying to diffuse the awkward situation until you decided to break the silence. “Well it’s still not as bad as tentacles right?”

You were forcibly removed from Levi’s room.

Satan - (https://bad-dragon.com/products/fenrir)

You had a test coming up soon and luckily Satan was generous enough to help you study for it. The both of you were seated in the farthest corner of the library to avoid any noise or disturbances from the other visitors. You were able to make great progress with his help but after three hours of cramming you needed a break. Since the two of you were alone with pretty much no one else around to see or hear your shenanigans, you decided to see just how far you could push the demon sitting beside you. Your eyes were trained on your textbook but your hand slipped under the table stroking Satan’s thigh slowly before moving up between his legs. Normally he would have protested by now but it seems that Satan was just as in need of a break as you were. He shifted closer to you making it easier to undo his belt and zipper. You stroked him through his boxers for a bit before pulling them down to his thighs to get a good look at what was underneath. You almost did a double take once you noticed not only the ungodly size of his dick but also the curves and ridges around his head and shaft. Without a word you slid his boxers back up, zipped his pants, and buckled his belt before turning back to the book you left on the table and pretending you saw nothing, unwilling to even look Satan in the eyes after what you just saw.

“Uhhh why did you jus-”

“Wow! This question is pretty hard what did you get for number six again?”

“MC you didn’t answer my-”

“Were we supposed to read pages 134 to 145 or was it 150 to 166?”

“MC!!!!!”

“Shhhh! Satan we’re in a library it's rude to yell”

This went on for a while until the two of you eventually went back to studying, forgetting the events that previously unfolded.

Asmodeus - (https://bad-dragon.com/products/spritz)

You and Asmo had the day off so you spent it at the mall. After getting your hair and nails done at a salon the two of you went to Majolish to find some new outfits. You searched through racks of clothing until your cart was full but before you could buy anything you had to make sure they fit first. As you brought your clothes into the dressing room you pulled on the door but before it could shut you felt a hand stop it mid-swing, preventing it from closing. It was Asmo. He held his pointer finger against his lips to quiet you before slipping into the cramped stall with you. “Today’s been great and all MC but how about we make it even better?” his warm breath tickled your ear as he whispered but that didn’t stop you from nodding in agreement with his desires. There was a chance someone could spot you so you both tried to speed things up before someone noticed. You removed your shirt and guided Asmo’s hands back to your chest letting him play with your nipples while you palmed him through his pants. Neither of you could wait any longer so you got on your knees and started removing his pants and boxers. You were prepared to fuck but you weren’t prepared to see....that. For the Avatar of Lust his cock was certainly intimidating in both size and shape. It wasn’t quite human in appearance either which was pretty evident at first glance.

“Alright MC now just- hey wait! Where are you going?? MC?!?!!”

Before you could even think about how to fit his cock inside of you, you grabbed your shirt, slipped it back on, and sprint-walked out of the dressing room as quickly and quietly as you could, leaving Asmo behind.

Beelzebub - (https://bad-dragon.com/products/clayton)

There was no doubt about it. Beelzebub was one of the biggest and strongest among the brothers but you wanted to see for yourself just how “big” he could really get. After dinner that night, you slipped into Beel’s room with a bowl of ice cream you snuck from the kitchen. You offered to give him some with the condition that you got to feed him. Needless to say he agreed and was honestly enjoying himself until you “accidentally” shifted causing the bowl to slip out of your hands and the ice cream to spill onto your chest and shirt. Beel looked sad for a second because of his ice cream but after seeing the smirk that was slowly spreading across your face he soon understood everything. “You were planning this weren’t you?” Your smirk only grew larger once you heard those words. “Well since my shirt is dirty I might as well take it off~” you lifted your shirt over your head and threw it into the corner of the room leaving your chest exposed, some melted ice cream still dripping down your skin. Beel licked his lips before leaning in to taste you, letting his tongue roam over every curve. Before he moved down between your legs you decided you wanted to get a taste of him too so you pushed him onto his back and started undoing his belt and zipper before eagerly sliding down his pants and boxers. Your jaw almost hit the floor. You knew he was big but this? This was insane!! You couldn’t even wrap your hand around his shaft completely!!! And as if his size wasn’t intimidating enough he also had bumps and ridges along the sides of his cock too!! Your body was ready to nope the fuck out of there so without thinking you slipped your stained shirt back on and found yourself ready to exit Beel’s room, hand already on the door knob.

“Uhh MC? Where are you going? I’m right here!” Beel was still on his back confused as all heck.

“I’m just….gonna get you a replacement ice cream I’ll be back...”

Once you shut the door Beel could have sworn he heard the sound of sprinting. He didn’t see you for the rest of the night but he did find a bowl of ice cream at his doorstep.

Belphegor - (https://bad-dragon.com/products/sleipnir)

You knew Belphegor hated being woken up more than anything but you hoped that he would make an exception just this once. He didn’t seem opposed to sharing the bed either out of fondness for you or from being too tired to care. You curled yourself around him, nuzzling his back while your hands slowly traveled up his shirt. Your fingers eventually worked their way up to play with his chest and nipples. Belphegor couldn’t ignore your presence anymore so instead he was going to make sure you made it worth his time. He rolled over onto his back and positioned you so you would be on top of him. Belphegor wasn’t usually the type to rush sex but he was exhausted after going through classes that day and the fact that you woke him up wasn’t exactly a good thing either. Not wanting to waste much time he grabbed your waist and started grinding against you only stopping for a moment to remove his pants and boxers. You were about to lower yourself onto him until you noticed just how big he was. His length and girth were above that of a human, not to mention he had a number of bumps and ridges along his shaft. There was no way you were about to impale yourself on that so instead you rolled off of him and wrapped yourself in a blanket burrito with your face turned away from him.

“Y’know Belphie it's late, your tired, I’m tired, maybe we should just go sleep RIGHT NOW ”

“Wha- after you spent all that time trying to-mMPH!!” you threw a pillow at his face denying him the chance to finish his sentence.

“CAN’T HEAR YOU I’M SLEEPING!!!!”

Belphie was confused and irritated that you riled him up for nothing but at least he could sleep now.

[mrskurono]

Hi Three ♡ Wah! I hope your pms rage and mom rage aren’t too bad. My hump day was good, thanks for asking. I hope your Thursday is going well!

I saw your reply to my second ask and I agree that Izuku would be so affectionate. I’m mainly affectionate with my friends and family but when it comes to dating, I tend to be more reserved in public aha

Jobs are soul sucking! Sometimes I feel weird that I’m not working because it’s been a lil over a month since I left that hell hole but I know my mind and body are still in recovery mode. Oof, I totally know what you mean. I hate drama especially in the workplace! Sometimes all we can do is take care of ourself so we can be happy!

Bokuto does have that himbo charm that’s for sure! I love him so much 😭 He would end up taking pics of me and the kids everyday just so he can “update” his pictures. Watch that man show his photos even to the opposing team 😂

It’s okay! I never really had a set ship for him but Oikawa was one of the first ones I liked (Sorry Iwa) Aha ha, sometimes there’s that one character who you can’t stop liking!

I see Obi sexually but I also respect him a lot because of the way he treats his company is so wholesome! Three, it’s so funny you said that about Vulcan because when I saw him SHIRTLESS and in a mask, I enjoyed looking at his body way too much 😂 I feel like if I had to work with Vulcan, I couldn’t handle it. I’m also attracted to people with tattoos so just knowing he has a nice body and tattoos and is super smart is too much 😩 It’s funny because I also never cared for the bara body type until 2020. I swear it’s like the last 2 years my tastes changed so drastically aha. But yes the writing is great!

I totally agree that Obi’s daddy energy is so pure! I think when I started reading stuff for Fire Force some people just made him seem like a super sexy daddy but he just oozes pure wholesome daddy vibes! I can totally imagine you chilling in a hot tub as I scream in the background because I can’t handle seeing him shirtless lmao

Now I can’t wait to meet Kurono! I gotta see why you like him so much hehe! Ooh that’s so interesting that you said Waka reminds you of Rae! But tell me how when I first knew nothing about Fire Force I thought that Waka was over 6’0 and when I learned that he wasn’t, it made him cuter to me xD

Oh gosh, I basically wrote a love letter on these 2D men! Please don’t feel like you have to reply to all of these especially my thirsting over Vulcan (I can’t let go of Obi) aha ha. I hope that you have a great day and take care Three ♡

-😊 anon

It's not but here we are 🙃 Haven't committed murder though so that's the only positive to the day 😬

Drama was prevelant in the salon and as much as I miss playing with hair, I don't miss the freaking shit that came with it. Sometimes I feel guilty for not working but then the double edge sword is I feel guilty for leaving my son. So there's no winning 😂 I'm glad you're recentering yourself though and feeling better ♥

If Bokuto didn't have those eyebrows...god I love Bokuto but the eyebrows...but also Bokuto only have social media apps so you can send him pictures/videos of you and the kids is 100% him and adds a little bit of charm to the goofy owl hehe

You traded Oikawa for his bff! le gasp!! jkjk, though to be fair I feel like it's illegal to not like Iwa so Oikawa would understand. I feel that way about Hinata. He was the only reason I actually watched the series and read it. Never a selfship and it would never work. But I have a soft spot for one (1) ginger.

ASDFGHJKL I KNEW YOU'D ENJOY VULCAN (yours and Rae's tastes are very similar I chuckle about it regularly) I love Vulcan in the most, non sexual way possible. I don't get the "kin" thing but if I've ever had an anime doppelgänger it is 300% Vulcan. We even share the same birthday and almost act identical. It's actually a little creepy and I need to talk to Okubo about it 😅

But Obi is a treasure I won't deny. We should all aspire to be more like Obi. And if you ever decide to touch the manga, manga Obi is somehow even more pure and terrific. A muscle made man with nothing but heart. He has my seal of approval for your selfship! But asdfghkl my type is noodle ass looking freaks asdfghjkl

God no. Don't meet Kurono. Don't look at him it'll just bring on more questions of "Why?" like why would I pick that one with an entire cast of perfect husbands and wives 😅 Just know that Kurono is an...acquired taste. And he's enjoyable if you pick at his character and look closer at it. Plus manga Kurono has huge growth vs anime Kurono. Just...don't look at him too much, it only raises more questions 😂

I'm soooo glad I watched Fire Force before reading anything bc fanon Waka would have PISSED me off to no end. But actual Waka? Short little Waka who can't say no to demon twins? Absolutely perfect. Utter perfection. I adore Waka. He's not my self ship thingy really anymore but I still love that man. But then again he reminds me of Rae too so that doesn't help 😂 Even the way they draw him in the manga vs the anime is too funny. Anime Waka is a bara beefy ass. And manga Waka is a petite slender man. My preference is a little but more manga Waka but purely bc I don't need guys having tits bigger than my own 😂

Make sure to stretch and take a drink of water <3 The week is almost over <3

[altarflame]

On Aging While Female

I’ve always felt pretty strongly that it’s ok to get old, that old women are beautiful in a really valid and striking way, blah blah blah. I still feel this way, but I am also 39 now, and I have some, uh, insights that I did not have yet when I was spouting this shit in my 20s.

For the record I don’t feel old. At all. I don’t feel like I look old, either. I have a lot of enthusiasm and energy and my sex drive takes up a massive lot of my consciousness for having so much else going on. I still get mistaken for my daughters’ sister pretty regularly, still have my patients assume I’m 10 years younger than I am fairly often. I’ve got a wide sense of possibility and of having a lot of life ahead of me, and I’ve got some perspective on 39 not even BEING old anyway, even if I 100% looked and felt it. I know too many hot, dynamic, interesting women in their 40s. They make it look good. They’re inspiring. I hope to do the same. 

But ALSO. I didn’t use to get it, that like, YEAH OK being 80 and looking 80? Fine. Wondrous even. I am all the way here for the Iris Apfel, the Baddie Winkle, the Burning Lotus. Screw plastic surgery etc etc.  ....but what about the transition? What about the starting to shift? This is the weird part, the struggle I didn’t really contemplate, the in between phase of like, appearing middle aged??? It involves things like, just looking tired to people. Someone assuming you’ve been sick when you haven’t. People thinking you look grumpy in a picture because of new lines that don’t go away. Realizing particular things that used to go away after being awake for awhile (like eye puffiness), are all-the-time things now.  For instance, I’ve always thought long white/gray hair was gorgeous. Fuck, it’s a trend now for younger people to dye their hair that way. What I didn’t grasp was that one of my favorite things about how I look, historically, is the contrast between my very dark hair and my much lighter skin, and that with all the white clustering right at the very front, I lose a lot of that contrast. It kinda washes me out, at least comparatively. And the white hair is like, wiry wild, and goes all over the place of it’s own accord, which sounds great except that I’m trying to be a professional at least some of the time, now - one who doesn’t wear makeup or go to a salon and who still bites my nails and will only wear flats. So the fuzzy white hairs framing my forehead are not helping anything.

And so I started thinking, man, it would give me some polished cred, and it would bring that deep contrast back, to do something about this. Which is how I ended up slathering dark purple overtone on the front of my hair every few weeks - which works great by the way, all my white hairs turn dark purple and my still-dark hairs (which is the vast majority of my hairs) aren’t effected. It blends together invisibly indoors, but then the dyed hairs shine purple in sunlight. This has been going on for about a year now. It’s a good bridge between my personal aesthetics and my “part of a company” role, as a solution. The indian grandmother down the street from my last house? STUNNING with her brown skin and white hair. Truly. She had a Noxzema commercial kinda glamour that always struck me as she worked in her yard. It’s a different kind of contrast and one I can imagine rocking decades from now. Again, though, that is like.... finished? It’s not the in between place, of having 1/6 (or whatever) of dark hair be white, having them loose and randomized throughout and each bending away from the rest at odd angles. My (younger, did I mention) boyfriend is super into salt and pepper hair, he acted a little disappointed (in an encouraging, “it’s your hair” way) when I started the purple thing, and that’s something I appreciate but also I ACTUALLY RECOILED against the term “salt and pepper” and had never applied it to myself before it came out of his supportive mouth? God love him? That’s a Nana and Pa term, way back in my memory. Did I mention that my 33 year old boyfriend (not THAT much younger) works with a bunch of 19-22 year old women (....)? I’m secure enough that I’m objective, I talk about who’s hot with him, I feel like they seem young - to both of us - much more often than I feel like I seem old. 

But it still makes me think about all of this more often than I would otherwise, which even in a neutral way, can turn sigh-worthy. Like his coworkers don’t have anything to do with me, but if he worked with people our ages (or older coworkers, like I mostly do) I wouldn’t be pondering all this so often because it just wouldn’t come up. Most of my friends are either exactly my age or 5-10 years older than me. And then there’s the one who’s in her 70s   ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Like the other day one of his coworkers told him about a local 35 and under kink group, and luckily he automatically feels like he’d feel predatory being part of some fetish scene where he’s 33 and a bunch of the women are 18-25. But I was still double-taking inside myself for a moment, like excuse me, there are local kink groups I am too old to be a part of? Excuse the fuck out of me? 

Note: I do not want to participate in local kink groups anyway. 

It’s weirdly difficult to be comfortable with The Middle Part. Personally. That I can still look just like I did 7-10 years ago, IF I’ve been eating all the right things, getting plenty of sleep, it’s late in the day, and I’ve had sex recently; BUT that nobody at my job has ever seen that version of my face, because what I look like when I have to get up early and show up to print something is real goddamned different. And not what I want to be like, stuck with all the time, soon? But it is what it is. And it isn’t TERRIBLE, it’s just, thought provoking enough that I’m making this post. While glops of purple overtone sit on my head. FYI this stuff is great, it smells like mint and is deep conditioning, I really recommend it. It’s expensive if you have to wash your hair often, but I only wash my curls every few days anyway - and I’m really only using the overtone on the front - so it works out fine for me. 

It’s strange to try to OWN a transitional time, to try to identify as a stage that signifies certain losses, and tends to make most people feel like they’re trying to “hold on” to various things. I’m pretty good about taking one day at a time. Being where and how I am. But I’m also gonna be, like, real sad when my titties drop. It’s almost a source of stress that they’re still amazing, because, you know, one of these times that my weight fluctuates they’re not gonna bounce back the same way. I assume. I have known a lot of moms who accepted and even promoted the normality of saggy post-nursing boobs, and that’s cool, but mine never sagged, and I’m real spoiled about it.  It’s been a tepid surprise, that I think I look waaaaaay older in my business casual clothing, than I do in my personal clothing. It makes me not ever want to be seen out in work clothes unless I’m working. And that’s partially about struggling with “professional identity,” in general, but still.

Anyway - thus concludes my pondering, for today. Feel free to weigh in with messages or submissions if you feel so moved. 

[btsslowburnfic]

BTBY Chapter 6

Series Summary: For Namjoon, the moment he set his sights on being the #1 rapper, he pushed the symbol to the side and hated it. Love should be chosen, not forced on you. He didn’t believe in fate and this mark on his wrist was a big “fuck you” to all that.

Chapter Summary: Award Show Day!

Previous chapter here

The rest of rehearsal was blissfully boring, as well as dinner. The BTS production unit was filming their behind-the-scenes content so the guys were occupied the rest of the evening, sparing you from anymore awkward conversation.

The next morning you throw on leggings and a t-shirt and go get your hair and make up done for the award show. It’s not like anyone was going to take your picture or anything, but with everyone else looking so nice you would feel out of place if you didn’t also look fancy. You sucked at hair and make-up so you happily paid the salon pricing. You double checked your garment bag and work bag before heading to the venue.

Security is tight as usual and you happily flash your ID and credentials to the staff. You are the first one to arrive from your team. You find the green rooms for BTS and a shared space for several bands' back up dancers. You sit your belongings in a corner out of the way and begin to review the catering order and ensure the requested food and beverages are present. You are super nervous about today. This is your fifth year doing this award show but your first year mostly solo, and the first year your group hasn’t practiced at the actual venue the day before. You sigh, sitting down the request sheet and counting the hair dryers and flat-irons.

Gina, Xavier, and Joe arrive fifteen minutes later. "Hey there good looking," You walk over and hug Joe, careful to keep your face off his suit. Gina is already in her gown and Xavier is like you, dressed in sweatpants and a shirt, ready to practice. “Ok Gina, what would you like me to do today?” you ask your boss even though you can already guess based on the fact one of you is dressed fancy and one of you is dressed for the gym.

“I’m going to stay here and get the stylists and back up dancers checked in. I want you and Xavier to go wait by the back door for BTS and immediately take them to the stage for rehearsal. As soon as the back-ups get checked in I’m sending them your way. When you’re done, bring them here for hair and make-up and then they’ll walk the carpet.”

“Okie dokie.” you say, “See you later Joe!” you smile and pat his arm as you exit the room. Xavier stops and gives him a kiss before he follows you. The hallway is a clusterfuck of PD teams and garment racks, back-up dancers, and caterers, but you love it. So much chaos but also organization. You love awards show days. You were just so nervous you had forgotten how invigorating it was.

“I’m so excited to watch the performances later!” Xavier squeals as the two of you line up alongside other teams by the back door. You hold up your little “BTS” sign so the group can find you easier. The signs were dumb but necessary. The guys had actually hung out with you way more than your previous artists since you were all working together in a small studio space. And, other than the whole soulmate thing, they were the nicest group you had worked with so far. They were patient with your team and their production unit and chose to stay and eat with everyone at the studio, when they could have had catering delivered to the hotel. Yes, at this moment you were feeling very excited and proud.

A few minutes passed where you made small talk with some other producers who were waiting. You saw several other singers and bands arrive. Finally a large group came in and you knew it had to be yours. You immediately found RM.

"Good morning! Are you guys all ready to go straight to the stage?" you ask as you walk alongside him now that all of the guys and the production team were in the building.

"Yeah we gave our stuff to our manager to take to the green room so let's get there as soon as possible." he responds.

"Alright," follow me.” You lead the group through the winding hallways to the stage, trying to keep them focused even though they and other celebrities keep stopping to wave and say "hi" to each other.

"Sorry, they don't get out often," RM jokes as he apologizes to you. "it's fine. We're good on time.” you assure him while checking your watch” The backup dancers are still going through security clearance.” You had sent Xavier ahead to the stage to meet any who arrived early.

“Hey! Is that [Y/N]?” you hear a voice call out in the narrow hallway.

You recognize the well-dressed man as Mr. Salontes, the manager of Imagine Dragons.

“Mr. Salontes!” you lean in for a polite hug, “It’s great to see you again! How are you? You guys are up for best alternative album right?”

“You have such a great memory [y/n], yes we are, and we’re getting ready to promote it on tour this summer. Speaking of which, we’re looking for a Director. I’ve heard great things about you. Are you looking for a tour this summer?” he looks at you hopefully.

Your eyes widen as you stand there shocked for a second, you were not expecting a group this popular to make you offer and you certainly weren’t expecting it in a busy hallway while you were leading your group to rehearsal. “Oh wow, that sounds amazing. Thank you. I am looking to tour this summer. Ummm… Do you also have a position for a choreographer?"

“No, sorry, just a Directing position. We’ve already hired our choreographer.” You think for a few seconds and take a deep breath, “Oh, that’s too bad. I already promised my choreographer Xavier that I would tour with him this summer.”

Mr. Salontes gives you a kind but incredulous look. “Are you sure? This is a really big opportunity you’re turning down. I’m sure your friend would understand.”

He was so nice about it, you felt even worse. But, a promise is a promise. Xavier and Joe had been there for you through some really shitty times, you were’t going to go back on your word.

“I know, and I really appreciate it I just can’t go back on my word. I do really appreciate the opportunity though. Good luck tonight,” you say with a tone of finality as you begin moving again to get your group to the stage.

“You are crazy,” you hear RM comment behind you.

You roll your eyes, “Oh yeah? Why is that?”

“You just turned down working with one of the biggest groups in your country right now. You don’t think that Manager is going to run off and tell a bunch of other people that you’re difficult to work with. I thought you took your job seriously.”

You sigh as you continue to meander through the hallways. Yeah you felt bad about declining the offer, but what were you supposed to do? “I love my job but it’s just a job. If he wants to go and tell people that I won’t leave my friend behind then let him. Other opportunities will come along, My friendship with Xavier is more important. Alright, here we are,” you stop and wait in the wings, scanning the backstage for Xavier and your dancers.

“[Y/N] over here!” Xavier waves at you. You walk over. “Ok all of the dancers are here so we are good to go.”

“Perfect let me go check with AV and I will be right back.” you run down to the sound booth to make sure they knew which group was getting ready to go. “Ok, back up dancers you will be over here stage Left.” You look at your sheet. “V, Jhope, and Jungkook you are also stage left. RM and Jin head to Stage left and Jimin, go to the center of the stage.”

They run the songs with choreography and lights only two times. You and another assistant begin to apply lav mics to them for the full rehearsal. “Ok so no throwing mic pacs today ok? These ones are expensive,” you tease RM as you apply the mic around his torso, feeling the electricity buzzing again. “Dammit,” you accidentally say out loud.

“What? Is the mic shorting out?” he asks, looking alarmed. He does have a tendency to break things.

“No the mic is fine,” you mutter.

“Then what’s causing the electricity,” he asks perplexed.

You smirk and feel your cheeks flush, “It’s a soulmate thing,” you say under your breath. You feel him tense up.

“Oh...sorry about that.”

“It’s fine, I’m almost finished.” you respond as you hand him the in-ears. “Ok, looks good.” you assess him for a minute and then move on to Jin. His placement is much faster even though he is blushing like a schoolgirl. Cute. All of these guys were adorable. And hot. How was this possible?

You signal to the sound booth that you are ready and they run the full practice through twice. Ahh it looks so good. You have water available for them once they finish. “That looked so good!” you say to Xavier.

“I know I know! Let’s get them to hair and make-up.” you say as you gather the men and lead them to their green room. The walk back to the room is much faster fortunately. The stylists are all waiting at different chairs and their outfits have been hung up for them. “Alright, we’ll see you guys in about 2 hours. You have hair and make-up and then you’ll walk the carpet. After that come back here and we’ll wait to be seated,” you tell the group, allowing RM to translate. You and Xavier grab your garment bags and head over to the dancer’s green room to change and kill time.

“You look amazing!” Xavier compliments you as you exit the changing room in your dress. It’s a long sleeve number with a straight neckline, scoop back, and is mid-thigh length.

“You don’t look so bad yourself,” you say as you walk over and straighten up his pocket square and tie.

“Soooo anything new? You knowwwwwwww???” he asks.

“Yeah, we had sex in the green room just now. It took 30 seconds while everyone else wasn’t looking. It was great,” you say dryly.

Xavier rolls his eyes at you. “You’re no fun. So he’ s leaving tomorrow and then that’s it?”

“Yep. Just like that. The way things were before.”

“And you’re fine with that?”

You sit down on a bench and cross your legs. Xavier joins you. “Yeah. I mean he’s super cool and all, it’s just not what either of us want.”

“Well we’ve come a long way from yesterday at least.”

You sulk on the bench for a second and then pull up your phone to watch the Red Carpet interviews. It was always so cool to think that you had a small part in making this award show come together. You guys watch the network interview several bands and your back up dancers come over when it’s BTS’s turn. You hear exclamations of “so cool” “Hotness” “I bet they win” and you smile as you hold your phone.

You look at your watch. “Ok, I’m going to head to the green room. Ill see you at our seats?” you ask Xavier.

“You got it doll,” he plants a small kiss on your cheek. “Good luck. I’m sure tonight will go great.”

You smile and head over to their green room. A few stylists are still around to do touch up work and some caterers are refilling waters and snacks. Everything is going according to plan. You sit down for a minute and enjoy the quiet before the storm. A few minutes later, the band and their filming crew arrive. You stand up automatically but you are finishing up reading an article on your phone so you don’t immediately look up.

When you do you see that RM is staring at you with his mouth slightly open. You look at him questioningly. “What’s wrong?”

“Uh,” sorry. He puts his hands in his suit pockets. “You just uh look really pretty.”

You stand there in shock for a second. “Oh. Thanks. I guess I forgot that I changed clothes,” you laugh while gesturing at your dress.

“Oooo lovely sexy lady,” Jimin says to you as he walks over to his seat.

Namjoon barks out in Korean, “Be professional, she’s our director.”

“I’m just saying the truth,” Jim responds in turn. He winks as he walks past you.

“Thank you,’ you blush and say to Jimin. “You guys look great as well.”

RM rolls his eyes and storms over to his chair, taking out his phone and doesn’t say another word to you. You feel your body slowly get hot with Anger. His Anger. Wtf dude? NEXT CHAPTER

[sumisuchan]

First Name Basis Ch.1

Hey y’all just thought I should post this to Tumblr as well, but here’s the link to the ao3 for people who are more interested in that: https://archiveofourown.org/works/25889923/chapters/62913253 

I don’t know what to say for myself other than I love Kaiba and Jounouchi, and I hope you enjoy this fic <3 Also feel free to leave me a comment. I cherish all of them forever.  

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

It was a quiet winter morning, the second Monday of January, when Mokuba pushed open the double doors to Seto’s room. However silent he tried to be, they still scraped across the hardwood floor. He had cast a light that shot from the hallway to envelop Seto’s figure in bed, buried beneath a plush comforter.

“Seto — ” Mokuba tried to keep his voice low, leaning culpably against one of the doors. “I'm going to head out.”

Without throwing off the comforter, Seto rose as if accused. The pale morning light made him squint. “I thought I was taking you.”

“I know, but I was going to meet a friend a little bit early. I'll meet you there, I promise.”

“But it's snowing,” Seto laid his head back down. Even with centralized heating, the air was cold. His alarm clock read 6:46 a.m., which made the comforter seem warmer and the mattress more generous.

The door clicked softly shut again. Seto had lost. He closed his eyes and let Mokuba go, the bed’s hold too strong to break. Maybe he would wake at 8:00, or 8:05, or 8:10...

***

It was 8:15 when Seto had hit snooze for the third time, and had finally managed to sit up. He opened the curtains behind him to a chalky sky and a Domino City winterscape, draped in snow. It even obscured the faraway mountains whose dark grey bodies wore pure white caps. Seto sighed visibly into the glass. Another harsh one.

Seto ate, washed, and dressed, finding himself in a partially cloudy bathroom mirror. He had put a sharp white suit over a blue shirt speckled with gold, and fixated upon the second gray hair he had found that month. He leaned in, making the mirror fog up more. Though his hair was still a little damp, there it was — front and center, mocking him.

Seto straightened himself out, turned the bathroom light off, and went downstairs. He could see from the top of the staircase that Mokuba had taken the kimono from its resting place upon the front room sofa—garment bag and all, his geta disappearing from the entrance evidence that it hadn't been just a dream.

***

The traffic to the ceremony was hell. Every damn car in Domino City had congested the roads leading to town hall, each of them progressing only about a meter before stopping again. Snow fell as a light powder, dusting the shoulders of young men and women dressed in expensive suits and long-sleeve kimono. Seto estimated that at least 3/4 of them were rentals. Their parents walked alongside them, shielding them from the snow with clear convenience-store umbrellas, and Seto realized that he had forgotten one himself.

Finally, his driver reached town hall and held open the car door. Parents, brothers, sisters, cousins, who had come to support their own twenty-year-olds, all seemed to turn around at once, then double take. “Isn't that Kaiba Seto?” They whispered too loudly as he passed them. Seto was certain he could feel someone's phone camera pointed at his back as he entered. His watch read 10:37. The ceremony would start soon.

***

The mayor, a slightly overweight man in a gray, cheap-looking suit took the stage, adjusting the microphone and clearing his throat. Several rows of newly-minted adults straightened their backs and lifted their heads. The entire auditorium stopped talking, and the mayor preemptively set his short-fingered hands on the podium. For the final time, he adjusted his legs, shoulder-width apart. Seto noticed a bald spot at the very back of his head, bordered by thinning white hair.

“Everyone, thank you for attending today's ceremony — ” He spoke in a coarse voice.

Seto began searching the first three rows for Mokuba. The young men and women had formed clusters, some still chatting quietly to one another. They made a patchwork quilt of solid black suits and explosions of flowers in red, white, and gold.

Mokuba would be in white. He had insisted. “I'm going to wear a suit for the rest of my life, but I'll probably have far fewer opportunities to wear a kimono.” So Seto took him shopping at one of the most expensive boutiques in Domino City, their winter line of handmade kimono on display. Most of them were furisode — sleeves to the floor and soaked in snow flowers, chrysanthemums, tsubaki .

Mokuba looked uncomfortable. He tensed at the extremely attentive sales assistant, who asked them in exquisite keigo what they needed. He tensed even more when Seto replied bluntly, “he needs an outfit for coming of age day.” He tensed while they brought out the entire cavalry of men's kimono — admittedly plainer than the women's, but just as elegant. Almost all of them bore complex patterns that fit seamlessly into their solid black or white fabrics, allegedly handmade. The shopkeeper ran her hand over each of them as if playing an instrument. It was genuinely surprising when they didn't respond with a musical phrase.

“You’re more than welcome to try on any one that you like, and one of our male employees can help you dress if you require assistance.” She had nearly reached the end of her, “please take your time,” when Mokuba pointed to the one on the very end.

“Uh — that white one looks nice.”

“Oh,” the shopkeeper had to walk to the far end of the table to reach it. “Do you mean this one, sir? Would you like to try it on?”

“Sure. Yes, I can try it on.”

Without prompting, yet another attentive male employee rushed over to lead him to the dressing room. “Please follow me this way, sir.” Seto got a glimpse of the kimono. No discernible pattern. Nothing extra. Just white silk adorned with the shop’s brand insignia embroidered in gold at the end of the sleeves.

Mokuba left the dressing room without the kimono on, yet claimed that he wanted that one. When Seto asked him if he was certain, he only nodded and tensed even more once Seto paid one million yen in cash straight from his wallet.

From his place in the third row of guest seating, Seto searched for that kimono, the stark white against both plain black and noisy flower patches, and found him sitting amongst a group of young women. One of them whispered something to him and Mokuba turned around, missing his shoulder-length hair. Sometime that morning he had gotten it cut. The woman at his side adjusted his bangs, giggling. She said something. “You look like your brother,” Seto imagined. Mokuba pulled away, brushed it off. That must have been it.

***

The ceremony ended and its attendants came gasping into the freezing winter air. The families occupied the bottom of the staircase as their children emerged at the top, posing in formation for pictures.

Mokuba had found a place in the second row, his hands at his side for the first serious photo and then with his tongue out and fingers forming a heart for the silly one. The same girl from earlier in a red kimono and thick-rimmed glasses made bunny ears above his head — something he would find later when they received the photos. They posed for one more before the crowd dispersed and Mokuba turned to her before coming downstairs. He must have promised to rejoin her, but then met eyes with Seto and began his descent.

Finally, Seto witnessed the full body of his kimono, its white sleeves and gray pants making him resemble the snow-covered mountains in the distance. He treaded so carefully down the steps, responsible with his new-seeming long legs, but he had been chipping away toward Seto’s height for a while. That fact hit especially hard when Mokuba ran to embrace him. His long strides had brought him so smoothly.

Someone snapped a picture.

“How did you manage to get a haircut?” Seto asked, maintaining his balance. “Every salon in the city must have been booked.”

“They were.” Mokuba set his hands on top of  Seto’s shoulders, negotiating himself against the icy sidewalk, “but I had reserved my appointment months ago. I wanted to surprise you. I guess…” He paused, touching the back of his head. “I didn't realize how much I would resemble you.”

“It suits you,” Seto said. “You look grown up.”

Mokuba smiled but furrowed his brows. Someone shouted, “Kaiba- san ! May I please take a picture of you and Mokuba?” and someone else added, “to commemorate the occasion!”

Seto, who would normally have walked away, turned toward the crowd. He put his hand upon Mokuba’s back and found it to be rigid. Yet, Mokuba smiled for them. There would be articles written whether he did or didn't, so he chose to be pleasant. He grinned into the flashing lights, into a future of magazines that would compare their heights, their faces, weigh their fortune, pondering if Mokuba had found a girlfriend yet and commenting on the fact that Seto never had. It would be a thing for months until it wasn't at all, until something else happened, and the cycle would start over.

Seto felt Mokuba inflate with a sigh that no one would notice. He had become so good at letting it deflate slowly from his nose that only someone standing as close as Seto would hear it.

He called off the pictures and they loaded into the car, leaving barely enough time for Mokuba to wave to the young woman he had left up on the staircase.

[halfgclden]

The Ol’ Chop

Summary: Haircut, Blonde, Neapolitan ice cream

Date: Mid-December

Abel, lying upside down on their couch, flipped over completely to land on their feet on the floor, then stayed squatting. They rested their elbows on their knees and their chin on their fists and looked at Rory for a long moment before speaking. “I have a strange inch-long ring of black hair now that my roots have grown out.” It seemed as though this was not the end of their thought, but they paused. “Have you ever thought about dyeing your hair?”

Rory jumped slightly when Abel suddenly moved, having been distracted by her text conversation with Macey. They had trapped her legs underneath them some time ago so she wiggled them to get the blood flowing again, then twisted her body, now crossing them instead. At their words, her hand reached out to pick up a strand of hair, inspecting the inch of black hair they were talking about. “Yeah, I’ve noticed that. Did you have a new master plan to cover it up or did you just wanna touch them up?” She tilted her head, both waiting for their response as well as the question she had been asked. “Yeah? I mean, not a super crazy color or anything, but I’ve always thought about doing it at some point.” Her eyes now narrowed, though the smile slowly growing showed she was joking. “Why?”

Abel closed one eye as Rory touched their hair. “I don’t know.” They hummed. “I could go totally dark, but Jacob might think I’m copying him.” They opened their eye again to focus both on her. “Well,” they said as they tilted their head to one side, cracking their neck. “Speaking of Jacob, he decided to go back to black, which has left me with an excess of bleach, which, if you don’t know, I don’t need.” They shrugged. “So if you wanted to try anything while I figure out what to do with this mess,” they pointed to their head. “We very easily could.”

“I mean, yeah I’m down. I don’t even the last time I got a haircut, definitely before everything happened.” Dropping the piece of hair in her hands, Rory’s attention then shifted to lift one of her braids, investigating the dark brown hair in her hands. She tried to picture what the strands would look like in a different color, but it was hard to imagine for some reason. She looked back down at Abel, a small frown on her face. “What do you think would look good?”

“Oh my gods.” Abel climbed back onto the couch, and dug their knees into the cushions as they picked up Rory’s other braid to inspect. “You must have a lot of dead ends.” They raised their eyebrows at her. “You down for a makeshift salon in my bathroom? I can give you the ol’ cut and colour. Blondes have more fun, you know.”

Rory swatted their hand away at the dead ends comment, then grabbed the braid for herself and held onto it, looking almost offended. “No, I’m a leo, my hairs perfect.” She paused, blinked then let go of her braid and sighed. “I need to stop listening to Macey with this astrology shit. I have no idea what I just said.” She admitted, but turned to face them on the couch, allowing Abel to pick up her braid again. She looked at her hair again, trying to picture it blonde and felt nervous excitement at the idea of a whole new look. After all, it was hair, it’ll grow back eventually. Looking back at her cousin, she grinned. “I’m down.”

Abel grinned. They hadn’t said the comment to make her upset, but seeing Rory pout was always amusing. “Ah, you’re right that you have good hair, and I suppose it’s a leo trait, but that doesn’t stop you from also having dead ends.” They picked up her braid again before dropping it and climbing off the couch. “Okay.” They were still grinning, clearly excited for the endeavor. “Awesome, cool. I’ll set everything up in the bathroom. Might bleach bath myself to try to turn this,” they pointed to their black streak. “At least brown without making it gross.” With that, they turned to grab tinfoil from the kitchen, then disappeared into the bathroom, obviously waiting for her to follow.

In a totally adult fashion, Rory stuck her tongue out at their back once again in protest of the dead ends. Watching Abel walk off as they spoke, she stayed in her spot on the couch for a minute before letting out another sigh and pushing herself up onto her feet. Entering the bathroom behind them, she looked at everything that had already started happening and was suddenly grateful for the decision to wear one of her older, more comfy shirts. “Need me to do anything? Or do you just want me to sit down?”

Abel was pretty much a pro at getting a bathroom set up to dye hair. They normally did it at Jacob's, just so that their friend wouldn't have to wash his hair out in an unfamiliar bathtub, but since Rory could see, it posed less of a problem. They tapped their lip in thought as they handed her a towel to put around her shoulders, and moved to their room to pull a stool out from it for her to sit on. "Do you need to borrow a shirt?" they asked as they scooped up Soup to get him out of the way, though he just reappeared in the doorway once he was put down. "But just sitting is fine." They filled a spray bottle with water and pulled a few more things from under their sink to prepare for the spontaneous mock-salon. "I'll start with the cut. I'm not gonna buzz it or anything, but how short are you willing to go?"

Shaking her head, Rory moved to sit down on the stool they brought in. She laughed when Soup rebelled and immediately came back into the room, and she reached out to give the cat some rubs before sitting back up. “No I’m good, I don’t really care if this one gets ruined or anything.” As Abel continued getting things ready, she busied herself with undoing her braids, running her hands through her now loose hair to try and get some of the knots out, which doubled  as a way for her to try and get the nerves out over cutting it. “I...don’t know.” She moved her hand away from the strands to try and gauge it out, not really going above her shoulder. “Around here probably? Fuck, I don’t know, Abes. I trust you, just don’t make me ugly.”

Abel nodded as they listened to Rory, glancing up at the mirror to wonder what they were going to do with their own hair in the meantime. Once everything was set up; the bleach ready but not yet mixed, they ushered Soup out once more to keep him from eating the hair dye. They laughed as they sprayed her hair to get it damp and shook their head. "Impossible. You could pull off a mullet. Not that I'm going to give you one, don't worry," they said with a laugh, realizing that the fact that they were bringing up less than appealing hairstyles to her with scissors in their hands. "I'll go simple. But really, I think you could use a change, you know? Mix it up for once."

Rory gave her best dead pan stare through the mirror when mullets were brought into the picture. Her eyes quickly flashed to the scissors though once they got closer to her with them, and let out a breath to get and get rid of some of the nerves.  Rory was a creature of comfort at heart, and once she finds something she likes, she rarely deviates from it. That included hair length, so she couldn’t remember the last time her hair had been any other length, and while she was extremely nervous to be breaking that comfort, she couldn’t help but feel excited about the change. “Okay, yeah. Let’s do it, go ahead.” When the scissors got close again, she shut her eyes to prevent herself from freaking out more.

Abel just smiled at the look, knowing that she would (hopefully) end up loving anything they did. Once they were satisfied with how wet her hair was, they combed through it, then clipped pieces of it up. They kept in mind how long she said she was comfortable with, then made the first cut a bit longer than that. “I tell you I’m getting a dog?”

At the mention of dog, her eyes flew open and she gasped. Barely able to keep herself from turning around - remembering there were scissors almost at her neck helped a lot, her eyes instead moved to meet Abel through the mirror. Luckily she couldn’t see the cuts they were making so her full attention could be on the dog. “Are you really?! When? What breed?”

Abel laughed, pulling the scissors back as a precaution. They should have known that the casual mention would warrant this reaction from her, and they shook their head, pointing at where their phone rested on the sink. “Last few pictures on my camera roll. Cute little thing. I think some sort of border collie-aussie mix?” They waited for her to take their phone before they started at her hair again. “I’m getting it a special magic harness thing to make it so that Alec doesn’t die living with it, and I’ve read through like four training manuals.” They unclipped a bit of her hair to start on the next layer. “We’re stuck on a name. I’m thinking Ramen, or Noodle, to match Soup, but Salt n Peppa, Bones, and Yorick are all contenders too, since I asked the roomies for help.”

Quickly grabbing the phone, Rory unlocked their phone, having known the code for some time now.  A few taps later, and she was gasping over how cute the dog on screen was.  "Oh my gods, I love them. Him? Her? I don't care, I'm in love." She flipped between the few photos multiple times, pouting at both how cute the animal was, and over the fact that it made her miss Sheep.  Hopefully soon her and Keaton would actually talk at some point so it wouldn't be weird for her to randomly show up and see her baby.  "Noodle! Fuck, that's so cute, Abes.  Bones is cute too." She said casually, unsure if Abel knew of her obsession with the show of the same name.

"He, not that it really matters for a dog." Abel was pleased with how well their new pet was serving as a distraction for Rory. She wasn’t flinching with each snip, and they were making good progress with the haircut. They combed through another layer and cut to make sure that it was even, then unclipped another piece of her hair. “Koda’s a big fan of ‘bonesy’, but it might all come down to a coin flip or seeing what he takes more of a liking to." The show didn't cross their mind as they sprayed her hair again; it wasn't as though they were thinking of naming the dog 'Charmed'.

Rory thought that she'd be able to feel her hair getting lighter with each snip she heard in between gushing over the new dog, but when Abel dropped more of her hair out of the clip, decided that it was probably because she has a number of layers to still go through.  "Poor boy is gonna get so confused having so many people calling him different nicknames.  Sheep would get confused if we used to many different pet names in a row." Closing the photos, she busied herself with searching for their Spotify app, scrolling through playlists before putting on one that had more indie vibes to it.

Abel let out a small laugh. “Yeah, I’m gonna try not to confuse him too much. Can’t let the fact that our household is overwhelmingly air signs hinder his training.” They changed scissors so that they could feather her hair out properly, then paused and shook it out a bit so they could make sure it was all even enough. “How’s Piper doing? In general, I know she’s probably pretty indifferent to her name, in normal cat fashion.” They picked up a hair dryer to plug in and dry her hair out a bit, brushing it as they did. “Sorry to drown out half your song,” they said with a laugh once they were finished. “That wasn’t me being passive aggressive. I like the choice, I swear.” They brushed a few strands of her hair from her shoulder. “But, uh, the cut’s pretty much done. Ready for some colour?”

Rory grinned. "That's okay, that's what I'm for.  I'll bring some fire into that dog's life.  I'm gonna be his favorite aunt and spoil him silly." As Abel continued to work, she gently hummed along to the song on the radio, stopping as they spoke up again.  "It's okay, this is on my running playlist so I hear it too much anyway. But, she's doing good, all her nicknames are variations of her actual name, loves the cabin, she cuddles up with me at night and Bailey gives her all the rubs she wants during the day.  As far as she's concerned her life is made." She raised her fingers to count every point as she made them, then moved them to run through her hair when the cut was deemed finished.  It was short, and it was weird beyond words, but glancing in the mirror and catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror made her smile.  "I love it." Her eyes flashed to Abel's through the mirror again at the question.  "As I'll ever be, make me blonde, Abes."

"Oh come on, Ror," Abel started seriously before their lips twitched upward in a smirk. "You missed the chance to say you were going to bring electricity to the dog's life. But, I do approve of you spoiling him, just make sure he doesn't like you more than me, or I'll get jealous." They nodded as she spoke about her cat, not mentioning anything as she brought up Bailey. "Wow, is it bad that I wish I was a cat?" They began mixing the bleach as she inspected her hair, excited by her reaction. The smile was more than they were expecting, and they were glad that she was as pleased as they were by the chop. "And I'll show you how to braid it. If I can manage to get my hair into braids, we can totally do yours. You won't have a total loss of self." Once the bleach was mixed, they separated and clipped up different parts of her hair again.

Rory rolled her eyes at the joke, noting that she had to slap them later for how lame it was. “I’ll make sure to let you be the one to give the treats, there’s no way he’ll love me more if you’re the one with the food.  But yeah seriously, sometimes I just wanna be Piper for a day, it would be way less stressful.”  She grew quiet again as the bleach started going into her hair, sending a quick mental prayer that she wouldn’t regret doing this before pushing the thought aside. Her shoulders relaxed a bit at Abel’s promise of braiding lessons, relieved that she would still be able to keep her braids in. “Thank you, that would be awesome.”

“True. And if he only loves me because I give him food, that will be good enough for me.” They began applying the bleach, jamming quietly to the music as they wrapped her hair in tinfoil. “I doubt my life would be too different if I was a cat. I’d eat more fish, dye less hair, but probably blink about as much,” they joked, their lips twitching upward as they did. “Braids are only slightly harder on shorter hair. Not even harder, you just need the dexterity.”

"Same, honestly." She said in reply to living the life of her cat.  "I'd be able to sleep more, which would be kinda cool."  As time went on and more foils were added to her hair, Rory realized that one: this was going to take a while to finish, and two: the foils covering her head is gonna get really old, really fast. Letting out a small huff at the realization, she fought the urge to lean back and rest against their legs as they spoke about braids.  "That's fine, it's better than nothing.  I think i'd go insane if i had to keep my hair just loose every damn day."

Once Abel had most of her hair dyed and wrapped, they grinned at Rory and poked her cheek lightly. "You're not gonna zap me because of this, right, sparky?" They knew that they were going to get jabbed as soon as they weren't messing with her hair, so they went back to it, hoping she might let them off if they put it off for long enough. "Yeah, your ponytails might half half of them falling out, but that's cute, as long as you can stand the hair on the back of your neck."

At the poke, followed by the words, Rory turned her head to narrow her eyes at Abel. Raising a finger, she made of show of letting the sparks dance across her skin before quickly jabbing them. The zap was no more than a static shock. “I was just going to slap you, but thanks for the idea.” She teased, now turning fully around to face them. “Yeah, that’s fine. I’ll look stuff up on Pinterest too and find some things.”

Abel jolted slightly at the prod, laughing. “I meant because of the foil. I was wondering if it was like sticking a fork in a socket.” They grinned. “But thanks for the opportunity to call you Frankenstein. Can you believe we didn’t do anything like that for Halloween?” They shook their head. They put the dye down, clicked their phone on, and set a timer. “Oh Pinterest. That’s a good idea for finding stuff.” They leaned against the sink. “I just forget it exists because I’m not a stay at home parent or getting married.”

Rory looked up at them, a confused look on her face.  "Neither am I? So what kind of excuse is that?" What she wasn't saying is she had Macey to remind her that Pinterest did in fact exist, as a nice chunk of their texts where links back and forth of various things.  Pulling a leg under, she curled up on the stool a bit more.  "Just because you're dumb and forgot it exists isn't my - or any bride-to-be's problem, Abes." She teased.  "But yeah, I do believe it cause you didn't even try to have a matching costume with me.  You knew I was doing the scooby doo gang with Macey and them, yet nothing."

Abel gave a exaggerated eye roll. “Okay, but your best friend is planning a wedding, so I think that counts.” They raised one eyebrow at her. “Okay, I don’t see what you wanted me to do about that. Be Scrappy?” They held up a hand and shook their head. “Don’t tell me that’s exactly what you wanted me to do, because I wasn’t going to be a sidekick to Macey’s dog.” Their amusement was clear on their face. “I didn’t see you offering to dress up as Sakura either.”

Rory waved her hand dismissively at the Macey comment and had immediately opened her mouth in rebuttal, but was halted by Abel's hand lifting up.  After a second, she pouted slightly then closed her mouth, slumping in mock defeat because that was in fact, what she was going to say.  "Okay, but those are two totally different vibes, Abel.  It wouldn't have gone with Velma and Kim Possible." Her words had a hint of a sarcastic tone to it, especially since they both knew she would've happily dressed up with them if asked.

“Liar,” Abel muttered, mostly to get a rise out of their cousin. “Next year we’ll do all matching costumes, how ‘bout that?” They stretched their arms out over their head. “But, if I’m honest, doing a group costume is a great way to guarantee that you won’t stick together during the night. I had a friend who matched costumes with her boyfriend twice and didn’t stay with him either night.”

"Every single one?" Rory let out a long, dramatic sigh.  "I don't know, Abes.  Piper might wanna do a costume with me and I don't wanna just double book myself like that, you know?"  As they stretched, she quickly jabbed her finger at their stomach, letting another small static charge hit them, not even attempting to hide her amused grin.  "Cool with me, who said I wanted to spend the whole night with you anyway?"

Abel somewhat maintained their composure during the shock, but shuddered. “You’re being awful to someone who can literally fry your hair right now, Ror,” they warned, though it was clear that they were joking. They poked her forehead and shook their head. “But fine. Dress up like one of the main characters from Cats and ignore me all night. Sounds like a great Halloween. I’ll be sure to take pictures for you.”

While Rory made a small attempt to look offended at the mock threat and return poke, it was clear she didn’t take it seriously. “You wouldn’t dare, I would just give you a really shitty Yelp review.  But nope, pick literally anything else - Cats is fucking nightmare fuel and I refuse to be a part of it.”  She shuddered as if to prove her point, then reached out for his phone again to peak at the timer.

Abel barked a laugh at the Yelp comment and pushed themself away from the sink so that they could start cleaning the hair from the floor. “Nope, too bad. I’m imagining you as... Taylor Swift? Jason Derulo? James Corden? Take your pick.” They checked on her hair as she checked the timer. “We might be able to wash it out a bit early thanks to your virgin hair, but I’ll leave it for a few more minutes, just to be safe.” They dumped the hair they swept up into the garbage and looked up at her. “You know, Renee has a bunch of pink hair dye. I might see how that works on me.”

Rory's eyes just rolled in response to their list of celebrities, barely stopping herself from zapping them for a third time.  She stayed silent as they started checking the foils in her hair, only speaking up after they commented.  A sigh fell out of her mouth. "You know, my hair was the only virgin part of me left.  At least it was good for something though." She blinked, trying her best not to burst out laughing at her own stupidity, instead focusing on the pink hair dye situation.  "Well, she is the queen of pink, so I'm not surprised that there's just bottles of pink dye here." Her eyes flickered up to their patch of natural color, then nodded.  "Might as well try it, I think it'll be kinda cool."

Abel looked up at Rory, an incredulous look on their face as they laughed. “Um, gross Ror. Are we there? Are we going to be like the Tyche kids? Explaining our various exploits in great detail?” They sounded more amused than appalled, and grabbed a bottle of pink hair dye from the cabinet. “Please call her that to her face, she’d love it. Also, I think I’ll do it. I can zip it into my roots and let it set as we wash yours out?”

Rory couldn't help but laugh along with Abel.  "Oh, I totally thought we were, did you not agree?" She teased, watching them as they pulled out the bottle of dye.  "Maybe not the great detail part, of course. I mean, I'm not thirteen anymore, Abes." She held up two thumbs up in agreement.  "Sounds like a plan, and I definitely will.  I'll be declared Renee's favorite in no time."

"Sorry, my virgin ears couldn't take it," Abel replied, their lips twitching upward. "Oh yeah, be careful if Koda hears that. Don't let the bright hair and smiles fool you, she's a real killer if she's jealous." They were quicker with their own hair than they had been with Rory's, but still careful. Still, since it was just their roots, it took almost no time to apply, and they were just about finished when the timer went off. They jabbed at their phone to shut it off and pointed to the edge of the bathtub. "I can wash it out for you if you sit there, or you can do it yourself s'up to you."

"Oh, don't worry, I'm very aware of how dangerous she is.  Or did you forget that her and I use to train together when we were younger?" It had been a while since she had trained with the other girl, especially since after Koda left, Rory moved away from fighting with knives as often.  "I have no desire to bring that rage anywhere near me, thanks."  Following their directions, she got up off the stool and made her way over to the bathtub, sitting down on the edge of it instead.  "I mean, you are the professional here, so I'll let you do it."

“Just thought I’d give you some fair warning.” Abel turned and ran the water, making sure it was a good temperature before they began taking the foil from Rory’s hair. “Oh yeah, the bleach definitely worked.” They waited until she tipped her hair back to start washing the bleach out, and once they were done, they immediately put toner in so she wouldn’t yell at them for giving her yellow hair. As they waited for the toner to set in her hair, they rinsed their own roots out, and grinned at Rory as they scrubbed their hair dry with a towel. “You’re gonna look so cool.”

Rory didn't retort, opting to keep her mouth shut and eyes closed to try and prevent herself from accidentally eating any bleach, shampoo, or toner as Abel washed her hair out.  Once the water was shut off, she lifted her head up enough to give them room to wash out their own roots, grinning as they spoke again, her eyes focused on the pink they saw poking through as they dried their hair.  "I already feel cool.  The pink looks really good though."

Abel just kept grinning at Rory. "Oh yeah. I make anything work though." Once they felt their own hair was dry enough, they poked her forehead to get her to tip back again, and rinsed the toner from her hair. "Alright. Blow dry and then the big reveal?" They raised their eyebrows as they moved to pull a hair dryer from below their sink. "Are your friends going to freak out on me for this?"

At the poke, Rory pouted, but obeyed and tipped her head back once again to let them wash out the toner, closing her eyes once again until the water was turned off.  Stealing the towel they had just used for their own now pink hair, she quickly ran it through her new hair, before dropping it onto her lap as Abel pulled out the blow dryer.  "No way, Macey's going to practically send you flowers or something.  She's been trying to get me to change up my hair for years now.  No one else will really freak out though, so you'll be fine."

“Perfect, I love flowers,” Abel before blasting her with the hair dryer. Before long, her hair was finished, and they couldn’t hide how pleased they were with their handiwork. “Okay, no denying we’re the hot cousins now.”

When the blow dryer shut off, Rory immediately opened her eyes to look up at Abel, wanting to see and gauge their reaction first before seeing it for herself.  Seeing the wide grin and overall very pleased look on their face, a smile was already growing on hers as she moved to look into the mirror.  "Holy shit." Her hands ran through her now very short, very blonde locks, turning her head this way and that way to get every angle she could of the new style.  When Abel ducked into the mirror to be side by side with her, she laughed.  "Oh for sure, we're the hottest cousins this place has ever seen."  Meeting their eyes through the mirror, her grin widened.  "I fucking love it, Abel.  Thank you."

“Of course,” they said, giving her hair a small ruffle, careful not to actually mess it up. They snapped a few pictures of the two in the mirror for their story. “Tell Macey I like wisteria.”

[wckdwinchesters]

Sweet One | (part one)?

Michael Langdon x fem reader.

Summary: you’ve survived the nuclear apocalypse and now you’re stuck in a bunker. you stumble across a book and you find out you have powers. You buried them but someone comes along and knows all about you and your secrets.

Warning: none.

Word count: 3716

A/N: This is my first time writing fanfic or however you want to call it and I know it extremely long. I really don’t know how it works that much but so please enjoy this mess and send me criticism so I could get better and tell me if I should continue it!

When I imagined the end of the world often I thought of the apocalypse or the sun swallowing the earth but mankind self-destructed itself and well I guess that says more about us.

 The end of the world was unexpected to say the least, one minute you’re working at your shitty job next you’re on a private jet plane with a bunch of rich assholes flying to an unknown location while watching bombs drop on the city. Honestly, when I looked out the window I felt nothing for those poor souls down there. We were killing our planet and someone just decided to pull the plug early.

 18 months

18 freaking months of eating plain food, following absurd rules, playing dress up in Victorian wear and being with the most spoiled self-entitled people left in the world. I think I probably would’ve been better off having my skin bubble off with the rest of humanity and I realize just now how entitled I was being, complaining about this when most of the world is dead or dying. I think the reason I’m so miserable is because of the company I’ve been in. I mean, a bunch of rich narcissistic people complaining every single day and I can’t connect with any of them because no one is like me.

 When the alerts went out I was at my job being an assistant to Coco St. Pierre Vanderbilt. I was sitting in the waiting area of the hair salon waiting for her to be finished. I went up to her and said “It’s time for your daily health post.” she blurted out “So rude, can’t you see I’m getting my hair styled? Her stylist and also her only friend named Mr. Gallant whispered to her not subtly “fire her.” I rolled my eyes and sat next to her in the empty styling chair and said “Do you want me to post an old photo of you? I really like this one you took yesterday.”

I said turning the phone for her to see when an alert almost made me drop it. I turned the phone back to me when everyone phone started going off at the same time. I looked at the screen and back to Coco and Mr. Gallant then back to screen trying to see if it was a joke then Coco’s phone rang and her father’s voice came through very rough and laced with fear. She asked her dad what was happening and midway through her sentence he interrupted her and said “Coco listen to me carefully; the alert is true and there’s a private jet waiting to take you someplace safe! Go now and take what you need. I’d meet you but unfortunately, it’s too late for us, we love you, honey.” he said and pointed his camera at their family. They had gone to Hong Kong for vacation and apparently it was too late because the nuke was already there and the camera went dark. After that she did what she was told and went to the airport and convinced me to go with her and the only reason I said yes was because I felt for some reason, I couldn’t refuse. While we were boarding Coco’s best friend/hair dresser convinced her to let him and his grandma Evie go also since she still has tickets to spare and she agreed given that her husband couldn’t make it in time and by then it was too late and we were up in the air watching nukes hit the city.

  Coco surprisingly convinced Ms. Venable the person who ran the Outpost, the safe haven Coco’s dad was talking about to make me a Purple instead of a Gray. Which were the Elite and the Grays being basically the servants and I really didn’t care either way cause ever since the world ended I felt numb and it been that way for 18 months and I mostly kept to myself and distracted myself with reading or trying to learn new things like languages and I was picking them up rather fast in such a short time and it was weird cause I’ve never spoken or even seen most of these languages.

I found old books on the shelf and it seemed like dictionaries for dead languages like Aramaic, Latin or Ancient Greek and the other books were oddly weird because they had symbols and different languages in them but seemed oddly familiar, which was strange given I’ve never read or learned these languages but when I finally did learn some words I re-read the books and they said such weird things like incantations and spells. So, I’m guessing the boys school that occupied this bunker before had a dark secret and I just stumbled across one. The strange thing wasn’t the spell book in my hands, but it was the feeling of holding it that felt natural to me that was strange. I felt some part of me struggle to let loose and say the incantation but I felt another part of me trying to drown the other feeling. Turns out the part that wanted to let loose won this time and I tried saying the spell half-heartedly and nothing happened but then I tried again with more feeling into it and the room went dark and the fireplace started burning as bright as ever and I felt such a flush of pure power that I pushed a bit further and the fireplace blew out and I was knocked back by my own strength and just like that everything returned back to how it was and I was in a state of shock but also, amazement.

I felt pure energy rushing through my veins and it was the best I felt in a long time but something was still missing. I decided to not cast spells in my room anymore unless I wanted to burn down the whole Outpost and I guess that’d be the way to go but I didn’t want to be caught in my own destruction. My magic started developing on its own and growing fast that I had to hold back and restrain myself from doing something in front any of the others. It started out small like telekinesis and starting small fires anytime someone pissed me off, I had to excuse myself from the dining room and headed to my room to calm down then the strangest thing happened, I seemed to be in one place and suddenly appear in the other. I was walking down the hall and I just pictured me in bed and there I was. That’s when I started to really restrain myself to the point of pain because if someone finds out, they’d probably burn me at the stake and I survived a nuclear war and I wasn’t about to be burned alive by senseless pampered idiots. I only used my powers in my locked room but outside it felt like hell cause having to restrain myself to the point of pain everyday was torture.

 It was a normal night when Mr. Gallant just snapped and said “What are you going to do? Shoot us all?!” then started to talk about the incident that happened a week ago. There had a breach in the bunker and one of the residents got contaminated with radiation or that’s what they said and well let’s just say, I wouldn’t want to get on Ms. Venable bad side. That’s when the bunker alarm started going off just as Ms. Venable and Ms. Mead went up to Mr. Gallant. Ms. Mead was like her personal security guard and both her and Ms. Venable’s face were pure confusion and a bit of fear because we’d heard rumors of the other Outposts being overrun and she probably thought somebody came to finally blow out our candle but I didn’t feel that was the case cause when she went to check on the problem she dismissed us to our rooms and it wasn’t till the next day we would find out what the breach was.

 His name is Michael Langdon and is an Agent of the Cooperative. He gave off such a vibe but I couldn’t distinguish it. The others gave off vibes also and it ranged from blistering anger to utter despair and loneliness. But his was, I don’t know how to explain it but it was like he locked a cage around his emotions and didn’t let anyone see inside it. As Ms. Venable introduced him, his eyes slide around the room as if looking for something or someone then came to rest upon mine. I had to look away because I felt like he was trying to look inside me which sounds weird and was absurd to think he could do that but he felt different. As I made my way to the back of the room of the main room, he had started to talk in front of the fire pit in the middle of the room. His voice sounded rich and soothing like honey and was pleasing to listen to but I wasn’t really paying attention to what he was saying but I did catch the words sanctuary and choosing who’s going. He was graceful and bewitching to look at and made my heart danced in my chest. I was perplexed on why I felt like this about a stranger and to be honest, I really didn’t care if I went or not. It was like trading a box of rotten red apples for a box of rotten green. Most of the people who were in Outpost weren’t good, honest people who could contribute something to humanity but the ones that were rich and spoiled enough to afford it and I felt like that was a waste.

 I had asked Coco what it was that he had said and apparently there’s a sanctuary with enough food for decades and the Cooperative sent Michael to choose which one of us come back with him to the safe haven now that Outpost is vulnerable to attacks and I just knew, I wouldn’t be chosen cause well I don’t have money or family name to open doors for me.

 Michael had been interviewing for half a week now, interviewing both Greys and Purples alike and I was the last to be interviewed.

 I had hesitated before I knocked. When I did the doors swung opened and he was dressed in black and he looked as handsome as the first day I saw him. I took him in, every detail from his long honey colored hair to the rings he wore on his hand. He hovered for a moment before motioning me to sit anywhere. I walked into the library and sat on a bench near the fireplace while Michael went to close the double doors that separated this room from the rest of the hallway. I sat there staring at him as he made his way over to sit across from me. The fire made his face and jawline appear sharper than it already was. I saw now that his eyes were like the sky after a storm beautiful and an angelic pure blue. They were alluring but dark like there was something hidden in them. I looked away because it felt the way when he first laid eyes on me. Like he was looking inside me and I didn’t know how to feel about that.

I stared at my hands on my lap for a while and I finally asked “Well, are you going to ask me something or are we going to keep being angsty and staring at each other before one of us dies of old age?” that made him grin a bit before he said “I know everything I need to know but I just want you to confirm it for me.” “And how would you know that if we’ve never spoken before? Did you look up my myspace page or something?” He laughed and said “The Cooperative does its research on its residents and I did my own digging.” I stared at him for a moment and replied with a teasing smile “You know how creepy that sounds right? I have nothing to hide anyways so ask away.”

I shifted in my long Lacey lavender dress and proceeded to stretch my legs out and waited for him to begin his questions. They started out simple. He asked my name and age and I replied “My name is (Y/N) and I’m 24.

He was talking again asking how I escaped the blast and what my old job was. His voice was soothing but firm, then he asked me something that had me taken aback and then he repeated the question like I didn’t hear it the first time. He had asked me, if I think any of these people deserved to live. I was confused not because of the question that wasn’t the thing that threw me off guard but the way he had asked it like it was the most normal question and I did nothing but stare at him not with confusion but with intrigue. He waited for my answer when I finally said “Well, it’s not up to me to decide that.” He said “Obviously, but I’d like to know your answer.” I shrugged and said “Are you trying to see if I’m loyal to these people? Cause if you are then your SOL. I’m only loyal to myself and I’m pretty sure if you ask anyone if they’d take a bullet for one another they’d probably tell you some bullshit about us being family to get you to take them to the sanctuary. This may look like a sweet place to live but you bet your ass these people would slit your throat to get something they wanted.” “And you wouldn’t do the same?”

I replied with a grin “I’d probably slit their throats just to get away from them, if I could get away with it.” I said with a chuckle to imply I was lying but I was actually being truthful. He had a smile on his face that made me think that I didn’t fool him. I wondered why he would ask a question like that and if I was the only person he asked it to. I got up to walk around the library and started tracing my finger on the bookcases and I still felt his gaze on me as I walked around the room. “I’m guessing this is where you spend most of your time.” “Better than being with those insufferable imbeciles talking about how much they miss shopping and the internet, I mean, it’s the end of the world what else could I do beside distract myself.”

I turned to look at him and he still had his eyes on me with pure curiosity but I was just wondering what he was thinking about because he looked deep in thought and he gave me a small smile. It made my heart fluttered so I gave him a small smile back and I almost didn’t notice that the fire behind him was burning brighter and I snapped out of that daze and restrained myself to the point of physical pain. He must have sensed something was wrong because I gripped one of the couches tight and he stood up to stand in front of me and I stood up straight and said I was fine and he questioned what was wrong and I replied with the same answer and he said “I can tell when people lie to me.” I gave him a small smile and said to him “It’s not a lie, it’s my truth.” I walked toward the fireplace again and I felt his gaze tracing me like a cold hand and I shivered a bit which was a bit odd being that I was standing in front of the fireplace. When I looked back over my shoulder up at him, his eyes were darkened with thought and just like that it was gone. I wondered to myself then said “Why? Why are you working for the Cooperative? Is it for survival? Why don’t you just take the sanctuary for yourself?”

He grinned at me and said “Are you suggesting I kill everyone left in the Cooperative? If you are then you are darker than I thought.” I scoffed at that and said “Dark? I’m not dark, I just rather keep to myself and not be associated with assholes.” I turned around the whole way and he was closer than before. He stood a few feet taller than me that I had to look up to see his face and he smelled like sweet roses and a light cologne.

  For months before the bombs dropped I felt out of place and different like something was missing but standing this close to Michael made me felt whole but I was as confused as in why since we’ve never met but it felt amazing to be in his presence but made me vulnerable because I couldn’t read him but I felt safe with him despite that. He was all cold and collected, some may have thought he was a robot or something and there were rumors and gossip which I took with a grain of salt but I could see now that he did have emotions but he kept them closely guarded. He whispered “Do you even care if you go to sanctuary or not?” I simply replied that I didn’t know because I didn’t and I rather someone choose for me because to be honest if I went there, I wouldn’t know what to do because what would happen to me if I slip up there?

I rather stay behind and kill whoever is left and be free to do what I want. I couldn’t believe I actually thought that but it was truly how I felt. and if Michael never came I’d probably would’ve snapped and killed everyone anyways. Michael presence made that dark part of me I tried to keep buried flourish and I liked how it felt. He made every part of me tingle. He lifted his hand and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and his hand lingered near my cheek and I closed my eyes and leaned into his touch and then that’s when the fireplace and candles burned hotter and brighter and the swell of power felt strong as he touched me.

I broke the connection between me and Michael. It felt stronger than anything I’ve ever felt and I didn’t really want to let him go. I was breathing hard and rushed to the door as I opened it Michael put a hand on it to stop it from opening any further and closed it and said “It’s okay, (Y/N). there’s no need to hide anymore, not from me.” I looked up at him in surprise and said “What are you talking about? I’m not hiding anything.” “Don’t lie to me. I saw and felt your power when I first laid eyes on you, darling.”

I stumbled back almost tripping on my own feet and dress. I leaned on the couch in front of the doors and whispered “I- don’t know what’s wrong with me, I can’t control it at times. Are you like me? how do you know?” he smirked at me and answered “I know many things and I know all about you, my sweet one.” The way he said it sounded eerily familiar and then I got such a bad headache that my vision blurred then I dropped to my knees and clutched my head and he rushed towards me and yelled my name and held me as darkness gripped the edges of my vision. I felt my lips say his name in a cry and then it was pure black.

When I woke up I was in different room, not the library but not my room either. My senses were slow to come back to me, the first one was smell and it smelled like roses. Before I came to, I had flashes of Michael with short hair and him smiling and the smell of roses. Michael was sitting at his desk staring at me in worry, I started to try to sit up when he came to help. “What happened to me? It felt like someone took a drill to my head.” Michael looked unnerved and fuming at the same time but he stiffened and said “What happened when you started getting a headache? What was going through your mind at that moment?” I sat up and said “those words you said made me think back but I felt like I hit a wall and my mind went through a shredder. Why did they sound so familiar like I heard them before?”

 Michael got up and started pacing the room and only looking once or twice towards me and I felt confused because he rarely displayed any emotions so I was a bit frayed. I was getting frustrated and was about to say something when he interrupts “I know what you’re going to say, ‘tell me what’s going on or else’ am I wrong?” “How did...” He finally stopped pacing and sat at the edge of the bed and said “Okay, what I’m going to tell you is going to sound insane but you have to believe me.” After a minute of silence after he told me, I was so shocked and felt so betrayed but it was like a missing piece came back and that some things finally made sense now. I don’t remember what I was doing before being employed by Coco. Not really. But what Michael just told me made me so livid that a nearby glass shattered. I put my head in my hands because I had such a flood of emotions then finally I looked up at Michael and moved close and placed my hands on his cheeks said gently “When I saw you, you made my heart throb so hard. I was scared cause I had no idea why I felt like that. Felt like there was a missing piece of me till I saw you.”

[sohaveyoubeento-blog]

V is for Vietnamese & Vintage

Us three ladies had always played it pretty safe by way of our lunch dates. Not to say the local deli isn't absolutely kick ass - it's very tasty and very enjoyable every time we go, but in much the same way as I struggle to go to the same country more than once on my holidays (excluding India, you can never have enough India) I couldn't help but think that life's a bit too short to sit in the same eatery every time we meet for lunch, given that the whole day is ours, and within reason, travel is no issue.

The three of us decided that we would try different cuisines every week, and with the girls (Laura and Dani) living in the quieter, leafier suburbs of Otley and Burley in Wharfedale, with me (Alex) living in what I frequently describe as the bronx, 5 minutes from central Leeds but gloriously populated by some of the best food joints in the country (confirmed) they usually end up meeting at mine and then we go into town to try somewhere a bit off the beaten track. Invariably, being three mums of young children, we eat at the speed of rabid dogs and end up having a bit of time to go explore some local weird shop or two, never anything mainstream like a department store. Oh no. We like vintage shops. You know the type, they smell like damp and the inside of your nan's wardrobe, and we prance around pretending to overlook the fact that we are just in a well laid out, slightly more selective charity shop without the undertone of giving. Usually there's some blue haired student with a headscarf and a faint stench of Bobby Orange pawing through piles of shirts and jumpers that are deemed as retro, when they've actually some of them originated in C&A - we remember that place the first time round,depressingly. The whole vintage scene is a bit ironic and try hard and a bit sad at times, but the one thing that it does offer is the piece you are often looking at, generally is one of one only in the store. The same goes for charity shops, generally. We like stuff that can't be bought in bulk.

Dani owns Deluxe Blooms, and is a luxury faux florist, and very good at it too. Laura is a nail technician and spray tanning afficionado, and the owner of Maibella Nails and Tanning. I own a salon called Lexa Hair, and the three of us work together frequently. The ridiculous thing is though, that work is going really well for us, and while in the past we may have dug around in charity shops for a bargain simply to be economical, now it has begun more of a habit. And you know what they say, old habits die hard. We don't have to eat streetfood on picnic tables anymore, and we can shop anywhere we want, but at least just for me, I don't like extravagance and I'm not impressed by labels or price tags. I like pieces that are unique,with a story behind them. My two accomplices sort of get dragged in to it I think, but they seem on board with most of it. I hope.

And street food is the best food on earth, everyone knows that.

We kicked things off with a visit to a fairly new (maybe a year old I think) Vietnamese place on North Lane in Headingley named VietBaker. Inside it's very wooden looking, quite industrial and urban, stained wood everywhere and dark red leather chairs. It smells like the rice cooker that's chugging away in the corner, mixed with plenty of garlic and of course, the fresh baguettes that are stacked up in a glass cabinet above the front desk.

We opted for a sharing platter for £9, and from the menu us Yorkshire ruffians requested spring rolls (the deep fried ones, not the fresh, healthy ones obviously), prawn toast, and 'rustic chips'.

This was skin on chips with salt and pepper (well cooked and so tasty) and the prawn toast was understandably made of baguette slices. It made for a much heavier slab of prawn toast and therefore an even more unhealthy treat but man alive, was it good. The spring rolls were pork, prawn and the usual crispy vegetables inside. Not floppy or soggy, totally crispy and served with a really light and watery sweet chilli dip that's more sweet than chilli. It was all very lovely.

I've personally eaten from here a number of times and I think the Vietnamese have got it absolutely nailed when they make sandwich. Or a Ban Mih. Laura and I opted for one each, chicken for her and pork for me. Dani went for something off the new part of the menu, the fusion section, which even featured a take on beef bourgignon, Vietnamese style. She tried the Shanghai pork belly, served with rice. Her whole bowl was piled high, and we're not talking a polite, peanuts size bowl. More like a ‘free ceramic crunchy nut cereal box’ bowl, with the with tokens on the back of the pack, that you’d send off as a kid. It was huge. The second bowl was just plain rice, which worked really well as the pork alone was…. alot. It was sticky and tangy and rich and all those other wanky words that just mean amazing. I'm trying so hard to limit the wankiness. I like writing and eating, combining the two is hard work though. Bear with me. The slow cooked pork made me feel a bit gutted I went for a sandwich until I got stuck in.

Vietnam was a former French colony, and much like their neighbour Cambodia, found their local best offerings being bastardised to accomodate the 'local palate'. The nice version is that the baguette was the French's gift to the Vietnamese, although I imagine it was more a case of 'put your lovely meal in my baguette for me or you're in deep shit.'

I've never been to Vietnam but having visited Cambodge a few summers back, I remember being astounded at the gorgeous, light, dairy free Asian cuisine that had been shoved in a crusty, warm baguette. Whoever's story was true, it's the absolute bollocks.

They cut this freshly baked baguette open and spread it with patè on one side and on the other mayonnaise (already weird but hang in there) - add a ton of crispy green leaves, cucumber, pickles, coriander and fresh chilies, and add some meat into what little room is left. Enough meat to give you meat sweats. It. Is. Superb.

The pork was very finely sliced, dark and sticky again (here she goes) and you can bang on a fried egg, too, if you're an absolute wrong un. No thanks.

Laura had the chicken which was a milder flavour but none the less tasty and flavoursome. I noticed Laura pulling bits off her sandwich and delicately chewing away at them, while I picked it up and ate it like I'd been sleeping in the dark arches for the last month. I even had to be asked to wipe my face. Sorry, not sorry. No messing with a Ban Mih. Especially not this one.

The bill was a very respectable £11 a head, and they threw in a free set of spring rolls for us, which was a nice unexpected surprise. The place had a steady flow of traffic, and although wasn't packed, I've been on an evening and I think it's safe to assume that's the bulk of their trade. It was fantastic food, very reasonable and highly recommended. Great staff and great location. We'll be back!

Afterwards we drove for about 3 days to find a parking spot anywhere near Hyde Park, so we could check out the newly (ish) renovated (OK sign replaced and possibly ownership changed) Vintage something or other in Hyde Park.

I forget the name, and if I'm brutally honest I can see why. It's alright, but it used to be alot better. The last time I went in there was alot of very old apothecary style wooden drawer units, some weird taxidermy, and unusual pictures in frames that would look incredible in the lounge. This time there was quite a bit of formica, and some hideously orange stained TV units that I guess in some context would be deemed as cool again.

The music collection seemed to be where the most effort had been made. The clothing was actually quite 'quirky' in the sense that you wouldn't actually wear alot of it, there was a whole department that seemed to have been handed over by the owner of the late knob head Jimmy Saville, shell suit after shell suit in every colour of the rainbow, in that non breathable fabric you'd get a two man tent in. Hideous. Still, there are some absolute finds in there. I would encourage people to bear in mind that these shops have a high stock turnaround and in their uniqueness, and ability to replace items based on sales, any vintage shop can be a complete bag of shite one week and a total gold mine the next. Its the luck of the drawer, I love that about them. That and the fact that we call them vintage shops. The three of us refer to them as shit shops, but potato patato.

I find it depressing that as I mentioned before, alot of the 'retro' stuff is just normal stuff we, in our 30s, encountered in our youth. There was a 'vintage phone' that was £15 and I'm pretty sure my gran has it now. It's literally a BT £10 phone still in argos, but clearly it had lived with a heavy smoker, adding to the aged facade.

Some of it was very authentic, some of it was broken crap, but the general feel of the place is a good one. There is more 70s stuff than anything else which is quite cool, but like I say, stock changes very frequently. Dani bought an oversized T shirt with a University football team logo emblazoned across it, and to be honest I would have too. There was a vast array of university related large varsity based sweaters, some unnecessarily cut in half width ways (why?!!!! Serves no purpose now, you fools) and that's the kind of thing I would have liked to look at. But as I was in charge of a one year old who was bombing around the floor, doubling as a human sweeping brush and coming back with more dust on him than the inside of the V6 after the attic stairs have been tackled, I gave it up as a bad job and put my bank card back away. No spending for mum today. Gutted.

The shop is pretty fabulous, on the whole. They do know how to charge when it comes to furniture, but the clothing is far more reasonable. It's not all one off pieces, a couple of items make an appearance a few times and that kind of ruins it for me, I start picturing some huge factory in China making hideously outdated clothing and leaving them in a damp garage for a few years, chucking a bit of tea down them and wearing the cuffs and collars down, before exporting the newly knackered pieces to us dumbasses in our 'quirky vintage shops'. Who knows. It's well laid out, and pretty cool, and although not my favourite, I imagine the next time I go it'll be a whole different experience. Swings and roundabouts with these places. It was an interesting look, and if Parker hadn't been doing his best ferret impression I would have definitely bought a jumper. Well worth a look.

Until next week!

Laura, Dani and Alex X

VietBaker, Headingley

https://www.thevietbaker.co.uk

Vintage Boutique, Hyde Park

https://vintageboutique.com

[eerythingisshaka]

Wakanda Got Y’all Pt. 4

[Black Panther x Insecure Crossover]

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Word Count: 2.8K

A/N:  I know I said this would be the last chapter buuuuut....stay tuned for more!

Molly grips the edge of the counter her sink rests in as she takes a deep breath.  She tries to concentrate on the patterns in her bathroom walls as Erik does his work between her legs.

“How you feelin?”  He asks, looking up at her with a slight smirk.

Molly bites her lip, thinking about how she couldn’t believe she happening.  “It’s good, so far.”

Erik nods.  “Bet.  Lift that other leg up a bit.  I ain’t tryna miss nothin, you know?”

He taps her inner thigh with the back of his hand until she got the message, spreading herself further.

“You ever do this before?”  Molly asked nervously.

Erik bobs his head here and there.  “Ehhh, only one time I remember a female being really down for it, but everyone else is like, offended and shit.”

Molly exhales in disbelief, “Aww, for real?  Tsk, this saves me some wrist strain.  It’s nice to be offered, cuz I definitely wasn’t askin, who would?  Just don’t do too much, being an Edward Scissorhands and shit.”

Erik flexed his dimples as he licked his lips in concentration of her center.  He had already put in most of the work already, he just wanted to get to her outer lips a little.

Taking the razor in one hand, he places one finger against her outer labia for a flatter surface area, dragging the blade along her skin with the grain.  The scratchy sound of the razor taking down the stubble is the soundtrack to the room as Molly holds her breath awaiting him to finish.  She wanted to stroke his locs, but figured that would mess up his flow.  He wipes the razor off, repeating the process until she was clean.  

Erik nods, surveying his work with pride.  “There’s more than one way to skin a cat, but I think this is my favorite.”

Molly looks down for herself, feeling her freshly shaved exterior.  “Yeahhh, look at that?  You ever thought about doing this professionally?”

Erik stands in front of Molly, doing his shrug with a silly face.  “I don’t think I have.  But when I look into it, you can write my recommendation, in detail.”

Their shared laughter slowly faded into blank expressions as Molly felt herself heat with anxiety.  She studied Erik’s eyes dilating, plush lips just inches from hers, she wasn’t quite sure how to proceed.

Erik licks his lips. “You wanna do somethin else, now?” his voice saturated with testosterone fueled bass.

Molly stares at him, eyes wide, swallowing to keep her voice steady.  “Uh, I think you wanted to watch somethin on the TV….right?”

Erik looks down Molly’s body before returning to her face.  “If that’s it, you may wanna bring that leg down again.”

Molly curses under her breath as she pulls her dress back down, crossing her ankles.  

Erik chuckles, “You actin shy NOW is too damn funny.  That’s cool though, I’m bout to head out.”

Molly looks after him heading out her bathroom door.  “Wha-what about a nightcap?  My Netflix list is really thick, if you still wanna chill!”  She gets up to go after him.

Erik picks his jacket off her couch walking for her front door.  “Nah, I ain’t really been into what’s available anyway.”

As Erik turns back to her once more, Molly rubs her arm, wondering how to leave their conversation.  “Um, well, thanks for the shape up?”

Erik flashed his golds, lookin at the floor, “Yeah, thanks for trusting me with a razor after a drink.”

Molly stands there until she squints at him suspiciously.  “And that’s really gonna be it?  My pussy was on full display, and you ain’t tryin shit?”

Erik cocks his head to the side. “You tryna see my dick to call it even?”

Molly wheezes with embarrassment.  “Whaaaaa? Who said that? Don’t try me, ol boy!”

Erik steps to Molly, lookin straight down in her face, “You don’t act like you ready to try a damn thing, witcha shy actin ass,”  Erik says, practically growling.

Molly, gulps again.  Soon as Erik closes in on her, she is a puddle.  “I just don’t know you for real, or what to expect, you know?  It’s-”

Erik shakes his head, “See, you already thinkin too much bout it.  I’m here, you here.  I’m cool, you fine as hell...and I know you think the same.”

Molly kisses her teeth, “Nigga, don’t flatter yourself.”

ERik raises an eyebrow, “I could see it for myself.  The towel was necessary back there-”

Molly pops him in his arm, hurting herself more than him.  “Whatever, boy!  Go on then, I’m good.”

“You good?”

Molly nods.

Erik leans his head down hovering over her mouth.  They look in each other’s eyes for what seemed like an eternity, before Molly closes the gap.  Slowly they sucked on each other’s lips, like ripened fruit.  Molly caught herself leaning into a little further than she consciously meant to, before Erik pulls back.

“Maybe you ain’t so shy.  We’ll see though.  Call me when you need another appointment, Moll.”

Molly closes the door after him, leaning on the doorframe, completely hot and bothered.  

----

“And that’s all that happened?”  Issa asks her incredulously over a stack of chicken and waffles.

Molly shrugs, pickin at her food, “Girl, that was it.  My snatch was all there for him to do what he wanted, but all he did was help a sistah out.”

“Well I wish a nigga would offer me some salon care if I needed to clear some brush.  That oughta be a requirement.”

Molly laughs, “Could you imagine niggas going to a trade school to learn that because that’s what needs to be done to get pussy?”

“Shit, they do that for cars, clothes, and shit.  Get some skills that are useful for once, save a bitch a dollar.”

“Right?  So….. I don’t know.  He told me to call him if I need a touch up.”  Molly says.

Issa looks at Molly suspiciously, “Now, did he really say that, cuz he startin to sound kinda….” her voice trails off as she wiggles her hand side to side.

Molly screws her face up, “No, dang!  It’s a euphemism, no doubt.  But, I don’t know….”

Issa shrugs, “I know you not gettin cold feet after he has literally played with ya pussy already.  Somethin backwards about that.”

Molly waves her hands, “I know!! It just seemed too intimate to do that and NOT have sex.  I ain’t ready to be wifin niggas up or nuthin.”

“Girl, I’m sure he playin you as hard as you playin him, so don’t think too much.  Just call him up cuz I know you hate clingy dudes, so make your plans.”

Molly pulls out her phone side eyeing Issa.  “Pssh, whatever, miss know-it-all.  Swear you know somebody life.”  Molly grumbles under her breath.  As she texts Erik, she asks Issa, “What about T’Challa though?  When’s your movie date?”

“Umm, supposed to be tomorrow.  And it’s not a date, it’s just...an outing between colleagues to blow off steam.”

Molly scoffs putting down her phone.  “Is that what we callin it these days?  Is that why you asked me about the vaginal rejuvenation buy one get one free promo on Groupon?”

Issa rolls her eyes.  “Female hygiene/reproductive health is important.”

“Bullshit, you gettin ya walls waxed for a slip and slide.”  Molly quips.

“Ok!  I don’t even know what he is down for.  He from the motherland and everything, he might be saving himself.”

Molly pauses, pressing her fist to her mouth.  “It is the biggest misconception that these foreign fools out here all high and mighty, chaste.  Sure there’s some, but TRUST men are men, across all borders.  Food and women:  serve it up, they eatin.”

Issa talks out the side of her mouth.  “Everyone ‘cept you apparently….”

“Aight you can pay your own meal if you wanna talk.”

“Nooo!  I love you!  You’re so great!  Pussy is bomb, sure he gon nom!”  Issa sings beggingly.

---

The evening of the associate outing with T’Challa was less than an hour away, and Issa took her place at the mirror.  Looking at her fiercest rival, herself, she catches a rhythm in her head and start bobbing, feelin herself.

Yo, I been peeped that you really feelin me.

So the next step oughta come quite  naturally.

You can make ya move, but remember I’m the driver.

Don’t want a minute man, don’t even think of gettin tired.

Movie popcorn too high priced, it’s really wack

So how about you try making this nani ya snack?

New name alert, you can her goldfish

Make this pussy smile back, dip in my well and make a wish--

Issa sighs heavily, “Why you so damn horny?”  she touches up her eyebrows as her phone goes off.  T’Challa texts her saying he is on the way to the theatre.  Issa confirms, saying she is too.  She spends another fifteen minutes touching up her face and taking pictures for the ‘gram before heading out in her car.  

Issa bops to her Frank Ocean, getting good vibes and feeling completely full and ready for this night.  It was really starting to feel like a stress reliever.

Suddenly a bump hits her tire.  Issa stills herself as her car rolls violently and rickety down the street.  The rhythmic plop of her tire with every rotation signaled she just made herself a flat tire.

“Shit, shit, nooo!”  Issa curses out loud as she pulled over to the first lear space she could find on the side of the road.  Getting out she begrudgingly surveyed the damage: completely flat.

“Fuck!  Why me!”  Issa yelled to the sky as she clopped over to lean on her car in frustration.  Alone in a cute outfit with brokedown transportation at night wasn’t the best situation for her to be in so she pulls her phone out to call T’Challa and cancel first.

He picks up on the first ring.  “Hello, Ms. Issa.  Are you close?”

Issa picks at the hem of her shorts.  “No, I gotta give you a raincheck, I’m sorry.”

T’Challa sighs disappointed.  “Ahh, did you have other plans then?”

Issa double checks her surroundings.  “I wish I did right now, but no I’m not trying to skip out, my car just gave up on me.”

“Oh, do you need a ride?”  T’Challa asks with a little more perkiness.

Issa pauses.  “Uh, I guess, if you don’t mind?  I don’t want to put you out since you’re already there.”

“Oh no!  It is ok.  Please, just let me know where you are.”  T’Challa says.

She can hear his keys jingling as she tells him her address, going back in her car to wait.

T’Challa’s car pulls up behind hers.  He gets out leaning on her driver’s side.  “That’s a nasty flat.”

Issa sighs, “I needed new tires anyway.  I was waiting for a bonus at work, but why not now, right?”

T’Challa looks at her empathetically, stroking his chin.  “Life has a funny way of doing things like that.”

Issa nods, looking at the time on her phone, groaning with disappointment.  “The movie already started.  We won’t get another showing for another two hours.  I knew I should’ve let you go on home instead of getting me, now that we can’t make the show.”

T’Challa wears a long face.  “I was really looking forward to that show about….the dog?”

Issa chuckles, “Yeeaah, that meets the robot and they save Wall Street?”

T’Challa smiles, the apples of his cheeks invading his facial structure.  “Ahh, an Oscar worthy film, indeed.   Shame to miss…..well at least let me take you home then.”  T’Challa opens her car door as he guides her to his.

“Thank you again, I really appreciate it.”  The ride to her house was quiet.  Issa wasn’t sure what to say since the night was presumably over, but it could also not be over.  She was a grown woman, without a curfew or a parent at home, who could tell her what not to do.  But she certainly didn’t feel comfortable enough to have him burn his gas to turn around and go somewhere else now.  Issa sneaks a look over a T’Challa concentrated on the road.  His arm outstretched, toned and shapely with not so humble muscles.  His long, knuckly hands grip the wheel, subtly massaging the rim.  Issa checks her phone to pass the time, coming up with a game plan as he pulls up to her spot.

He drops his hands to his lap, looking over at Issa.  “Well here we are, Ms. Issa.  If you want to go get your car in the morning, let me know.  I don’t mind at all helping out.  Do you have a spare?”

Issa shakes her head, “No...responsibility isn’t my strongest characteristic.”

T’Challa smirks, “I don’t see you that way at all.  You have many talents as I have seen, and you are a great help to me and the team.”

Issa cheeses, “Well, if you say so, I’ll take it!”

T’Challa leans his head on the headrest.  “It’s true, you are a smart woman.   That’s how I know we can be a success.  It’s not lost on me the cultural differences between me and the community here, but with you as a liason, I can make sure no one is offended or lost in my accent.”

Issa chuckles, “It’s all good.  That lady and her kids were really just looking for a fight.  People aren’t always at their best when accepting help so expect some struggle, but I hear you, no problem at all to bridge that gap.  As for the accent, keep that.  It’s a great ice breaker.”

“You think so?”

“Oh yeah.  People perk up to it automatically to listen closer, so if you have meaningful shit to say, it’ll land quicker.  Plus it’s sexy as…..”  Issa’s voice fades as she catches herself saying too much.

T’Challa tucks his lips and nods, looking ahead as they sit for a while in silence.  Issa cursed herself for getting too forward but also, it had to be said; or at least she convinced herself of that.  How else could she try to lay claim to him without a little flirting?  Issa wasn’t ready to call it a night, so she worked up some inner hood nerve.

“So, you wanna come up or nah?!”  Issa asked with a little too much bass in her voice.

T’Challa looked at her half like she was crazy but slowly smiled.  “You would like some company?”

Issa clears her throat nodding, “I mean, sure.  I’m reclaiming my time!  Just cuz we can’t see a new movie doesn’t mean we can’t hang out.  If you want to, you got the green light….”  Issa’s voice trails off as she studies T’Challa’s reaction.

He takes his keys out of the ignition.  “That sounds like a wonderful idea.”

Issa and T’Challa make their way up to her place, going in she turns on the light.  “Sorry for the mess.  I stay unprepared for company.”

T’Challa stands surveying the surroundings.  “Oh, it’s alright.  I’m just content to be invited.”

Issa picks some clothes off of the couch and cups from the table.  “Please, sit.  Do you drink?”

T’Challa sits, picking up a pillow, studying its design.  “Occasionally; I wouldn’t mind a glass.  Who is this?”

Issa pulls out a bottle looking back at him staring at the pillow.  “Oh that’s Frank Ocean.  Have you heard him?”

T’Challa shakes his head.  “No, but you must think highly of him.”

Issa screws her face up as she pours some cheap moscato.  “I mean, he cool.  I just really liked the pillow.”

T’Challa reads her reaction.  “You don’t have to be embarrassed, it’s cute.”

Issa nods and whispers a cheer to herself at being called cute as she walks the glasses over to him.  “Yeah, I’m a big music head.  Nicki Minaj is around here somewhere but she may be on time out anyway.  Gettin all loud and outta pocket.”  

T’Challa laughs into his glass as he sips.  “I see.  Well, it’s nice to see someone laying down the law in their home.”

Issa gulps her drink as his vice dropped to a sexy octave.  “Mhm!  That’s me!  All business round here.”

T’Challa leans forward putting his drink down.  “Well we aren’t on the clock now, thank goodness.  This week was very crazy.”

“The craziest!  But that should be a sign that it’s on the way for the better now.”

T’Challa turns to Issa, looking at her a little too long.  “Wise words from an attractive woman.”

Issa was internally screaming at this blunt response, but laughs it off to keep the mood light.  “Well the lighting in here is deceptive sometime, and I had a pimple this morning, so...”  

“No joke, don’t sell yourself short.”  T’Challa says as he leans towards Issa, who was not ready, but became completely ready to try him on.  They embrace slowly.  His lips plush against hers, his hands remain at a gentlemanly section of her leg as her heart beats out of her chest.  The associate outing just got a little personal.

Part 5

RagTag

@hbicprettyprincess

@kimianostalgia

@afraiddreamingandloving

@chaneajoyyy

@myfavemarvelfanfics

@nys30

@blkintrovert

@allhailnjadaka

@cutewylie 

Other Works

King Kil’mawalls  

T’akia

Some Weeks Are Better Than Others

Commencement Day

Song of Stevens

The Coffee Prince

N’Jadaka’s Helpful Hands

If I Could Do It All Again

#SundaySweat

Signs of Rain

World’s Best Baba

[sasuhinasno1fan]

Nail Art Confession

Hi @saltedsaltine, I’m your gifter for the @vldshipexchange. I’ve been watching this k-drama about a nail shop and I like the headcannon about Lance being really good at all the stuff like that. I also noticed that you like FFXV, Prompto especially so I thought, why not throw them in there? I hope you enjoy.

Keith knew he should be working on his homework, but his fingers were itching to get messy from charcoal in his sketch book. Of course, his usual suspect kept turning up on the pages.

Lance.

He and Lance were in the same friend group, friends themselves though not as close as Lance was with Hunk and Pidge and how he was with Shiro. Somehow they would usually find themselves hanging out more. Lance was loud and attention grabbing and Keith was sure that it’d be hard to really bond with him but Lance was extremely respecting of his boundaries. Whenever Keith would blow him off because of personal issues, Lance always made sure he was ok before telling him it was ok and to let him know when he was feeling better. Sometimes Keith would find himself going to find him even if he was sure he wanted to be alone but there was something about Lance’s presence that he found calming when it was just the two of them. He panicked when he realised how he felt about Lance, avoiding him at first until Shiro tracked him down, asking him what was wrong.

“Keith, having a crush is normal. It’s terrifying, don’t get me wrong but you know Lance. He understands and respects you so it’s not like it’d be a horrible idea to date him.”

“But what if I mess it up?”

“I somehow doubt that but I think Lance respects you too much to make your life hard if that does happen. But only do it if you feel comfortable ok? Don’t do it because you feel like you have to. I’m sure Lance is willing to wait.”

“Wait, does he know?” Keith asked panicked even more

“No, no, no. Just…tell him when you’re ready ok?”

Keith avoided Lance for just a bit longer before he decided Shiro was right. Lance respected and understood him, there was no way he’d embarrass Keith if it didn’t go well. Didn’t mean he’d tell him just yet though. Lance had been worried though, which made Keith feel bad but a hanging out session with some of Lance’s favourite foods forgave him.

It was hard trying to have to hide how he felt but Keith was fine just hanging out with Lance. He didn’t want to lose him so he just kept his feeling under lockdown and drew them out on the ever filling pages of his sketch book. No one ever looked in it without his permission, so he didn’t feel so scared about filling pages upon pages of Lance’s profile or different expressions. They were mostly of Lance smiling. He had a really amazing smile that lit the whole room up.

‘God, I’m gay.’

Keith looked over at the sound of a phone buzzing to his roommate waking up from his nap and fumbling around for his phone. Noctis could sleep just about anywhere, yet somehow he was still passing all his classes. Honestly he only ever saw Noctis studying if he was being bugged by Ignis, one of his friends and apparently nephew to his dad’s secretary. When Prompto, Lance’s roommate and Noctis’ best friend, was over they played video games, watched movies on laptops or leave the room for hours on end doing whatever.

“Mmm,” Noctis mumbled sleepily, no doubt trying to get his brain to work, “Prom’s coming over.” He announced

“That’s fine.” Honestly Prompto hadn’t been to their room in a while. Something about a photography internship

Somehow Noctis fell asleep in the span of when he spoke to when Prompto came slamming the door open. Actually, he was still asleep.

“Sorry. Noct, Noct, wake up dude!” Noctis groaned and turned away from his best friend. Keith could sympathize. Trying to wake Noctis up was a struggle yet his phone going off got him up in a second. Prompto pulled the pillow from under Noctis’ head and wacked him with it. “Get up!”

“What?” he whined sleepily, finally turning to his best friend

“Look at what Lance did.” At the sound of his crush’s name, he paid more attention and watched Prompto shove his fingers in Noctis’ face. “They’re chocobos! Aren’t they cute?”

“He painted your nails?”

“Yeah, he said he usually does it with his sisters and he’s been feeling a bit homesick so he’s been looking up a lot of different designs and I offered to be a model and he did this.”

“It looks good. Can I go back to sleep?”

“No! Come on, I wanna show Iggy and Gladio and you’ve been in bed all day since classes ended. Come on! Sorry again.” Prompto apologized as he pulled a protesting Noctis out of bed and out the door, leaving Keith in silence.

Nail art? Keith knew Lance liked things most people would consider feminine, but he knew that his relationship with his sisters made him not care what people thought. He knew Lance could do hairstyles and was usually begged by the girls in his dorm to do their makeup but he didn’t know that he was also good at doing nails. He went with his mom once to a nail saloon once for her birthday and he had been impressed with the almost effortless skills the manicurist did his mom’s nails. Imagining Lance in that spot was almost as effortless. The desire to see the concentrated look on Lance’s face while doing it prompted him to pick his phone up.

Prompt came bursting into my room to show off his nails.

Oh yeah, here let me show you the pic I got

A picture came in of the art on Prompto’s nails. It was the top of the feathered head, the cartoon blue eyes just peeking over the cuticle. It was cute, and it was pretty amazing.

I had no clue you were so good at art

Not like you. Nails are more my canvas. Now that I think about it, I’ve done everyone else’s nails except yours. Would you be interested? There’s a design I want to try but I did mine last night and I don’t want to take it off.

Well, Keith had a habit of chewing his nails sometimes so it would stop him. It would also mean having Lance hold his hand for a certain amount of time.

Sure. Should I come over?

Yeah! Door’s open and I have mom’s cookies.

Like he needed anymore incentive. Lance’s mother’s cookies were to die for.

“I heard cookies.” Keith said after Lance called for him to come in.

“Hi, Lance. How are you? Oh fine Keith, do you want a cookie? Oh I couldn’t. I swear, I don’t know who’s worse. You, Pidge or Hunk and Hunk tries getting the recipe out of my mom while he does it.” Lance said, sitting at his desk and opening the window, no doubt to try and get rid of the smell of nail polish and nail polish remover.

“Your mom’s cookies are good. You can’t blame a cooking god like Hunk to want to learn the recipe.”

“What am I then? Just the delivery boy?” Lance asked annoyed, though Keith could see he wasn’t really.

“And my manicurist apparently. I would have come to see you anyway; the cookies just moved me faster.” Keith admitted, slightly embarrassed but not really. He liked spending his time with Lance.

“Aww, Keith. You’re the only one who cares.” Lance joked, holding up a Ziplock bag half-filled with assorted cookies. Keith was able to quickly find the double white chocolate chip and take a large bite out of it. “Consider that half your payment. You can get the rest after I do your nails.” Lance said, moving the bag out of the way and gestured to the other chair on the other side of the desk.

Keith sat down after shoving the rest of the cookie into his mouth and took his seat. He watched Lance as he filled a small bowl with soap and a few drops of essential oil before pouring water from Prompto’s electric kettle, judging from the chocobo stickers on the handle. Lance brought it over with a towel to rest it on and guided Keith’s hands into the water, which was pleasantly warm.

“So I’m basing this design off something my sister told me. I think you might like it.”

“Are you going to tell me what it is?” Keith pried but Lance shook his head. “Fine, I’ll wait. When did you learn to do this anyway?”

Taking one of Keith’s hands out of the water and wiping it off before picking up a cuticle pusher and gently pushed Keith’s cuticles back, Lance launched into his tale of how when his aunts would come over, all the older girls would join them in the kitchen to gossip and talk, everyone doing their nails. Lance had one older brother close to his age but at that time he was more interested in trying to hang out with the older boys leaving Lance by himself. Like the mommy’s boy he was, he decided to latch onto his mother who sat in the kitchen with all the other woman. His sister Veronica told him if he was joining them, he had to do his nails as well and he agreed. Even as he got older, he’d join his aunts, sisters, cousins and mother in the kitchen learning the trade, mastering everything until he could do it just as good as getting it done at a salon. Keith had been intently listening, letting Lance move his hands however he wanted to, only really looking at his hands when Lance painted a red similar to Keith’s favourite jacket onto his left fingernails. But for the most part he’d been focused on Lance’s own focused face, committing it to memory to draw in his sketchbook later.

“Alright. I still have to do the design, but how does it look so far?”

Keith looked at his right hand, his nails rounded and red. There wasn’t a spot missing or any polish on his skin, Lance quick to remove it when it did happen.

“Better than I can ever do.” Keith said

“The highest of praise, thank you.” Lance turned on a small fan that sat on the desk. “Put that hand in front of the fan.”

“What about the design?”

“It’ll just be on the left hand.” Lance said, focused on the nails in his hand, strangely having Keith’s fingers curled so he couldn’t see them.

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing.” Keith didn’t believe him.

“Lance.”

Lance suddenly looked a bit embarrassed. “So my sister told me about this guy who paid for a girl to get her nails done, he just asked the manicurist to do a certain design. Thing is, he was just friends with this girl but he wanted to become more. So the girl got her nails done and was given the design of his name spelt out on her nails.” Lance put the top coat on and finally let go of Keith’s hand. When he looked at his nails, starting from his pinkie finger and going across, it spelt, L-A-N-C-E. “He told her that he wanted people to know that she was his and he was hers.” Lance put his own hand on the table and even though it was upside-down and backwards, Keith could still see his name spelt out on Lance’s hand.

1-How the hell did he miss that?

2-Oh. Oh!

‘So this is what Shiro meant.’

Keith didn’t notice his silence of his revelation was worrying Lance into thinking he made the wrong decision.

“You know what, never mind, I obviously made a mistake so I’ll just take it off and we can just-”

“I draw you a lot.” Keith burst out. “In my sketchbook. It’s half the reason I don’t like letting people look at it. Also, I really like being around you because you understand me and never push me and I really like you but I was scared I’d mess things up so I didn’t say anything.”

“I thought I’d mess things up with this.” Lance said, looking much calmer now. “I’ve been ranting about you for a while and it’s been annoying the others on why I don’t just say something and Prompto suggested that maybe I do it this way since its subtle and if it didn’t go well, I could play it off as a joke. Which it isn’t, because, you know, I do like you.”

“Me too.” this was new and strange and he was sure he’d need an hour or so to digest everything but Lance liked him, like, liked liked him. He felt strangely giddy. “So is this how you’re going to show me off to everyone else?”

Seeming to be back to his normal self now that he had confirmation Keith felt the same, Lance said as he pulled out a canister of quick dry spray, “absolutely. Just you wait; Pidge is going to never want to be around us with all our domestic love and everything. Ooh, you should let me braid your hair! I mean it’s long enough to put it into a ponytail. I think I can even braid your bangs. Plus I can finally take care of that dry skin of your.”

“Hey!”

“No point in denying it babe,” babe. The name already felt so right to Keith. God, he was gay.

[asmadison]

Surprise Wedding ~ @EddieCole_ @WyattLDonovan @MandiCole_

Fi: Everything was going smoothly so far. Eddie and I dropped off the dresses and suits at the venue yesterday. He was also able to drop off the cake and some of the food since there was a full kitchen available. Such a time saver. Mandi loved the idea of a spa day, especially since she wasn’t pregnant this time around. She was still getting her makeup done so I was able to sneak out to the ladies’ room and text Eddie about pretend car trouble. He was with Wyatt and Willow. A few minutes later I got a text from him about meeting them for a late lunch. Just like we planned. I returned to the salon to wait for Mandi. If I could just stop from smiling so much this might work. ——————- Eddie: When my phone beeped, I made sure to keep the smile from crossing my face. I told Wyatt that the girls were okay, but that the car wouldn’t start. He asked if Mandi was freaking out and I chuckled, “No, but her phone went dead so Fi sent me a message letting me know. They want to know if we can get the car running or pick them up.” He nodded and went to gather up Willow’s diaper bag and everything. I quickly sent a message back to Fi about lunch and scooped Willow up, waiting for Wyatt to get ready. ____________ Wyatt: I was a little worried that Mandi might be upset, but at least Fi was with her. I just hoped the car trouble was nothing too serious. Once I had Willow’s things in the diaper bag, I returned to Eddie. He was making funny faces at Willow making her laugh. I watched them for a few minutes, thinking about how far we’d come since we first met. “Hey, I’ve got everything. Just let me get Willow’s animal crackers.” He nodded and reached for the diaper bag with his free hand. “I’ll take Willow to the car, ok?” I smiled at my little girl. “Great. Thanks.” ———————- Mandi: I walked back over to join Fi, smiling. “I’m so glad that I agreed to this.” I laughed as I sat down, “I feel like a princess getting my hair, makeup, and nails done. It’s awesome.” I took my phone out to take a few pictures to send to Wyatt later, “Think Wyatt will like it as much as I do?” I normally didn’t feel like taking selfies, but I felt beautiful today, and I wanted to have a picture to remember the feeling.

____________ Fi: “I think you look stunning. He’d be crazy not to love it,” I smiled. She really did look beautiful. I had given the salon a heads up when I made the appointment. They knew to give Mandi the bridal treatment without calling it that. “Oh,  got a text from Eddie. The guys thought we could meet for a late lunch. They wanted to show us off since we had our hair and makeup done. See?” I laughed and showed her the text. “I think it sounds like fun. Shall we?” ———————— Eddie: I had already installed the spare car seat we kept for Willow in my truck before coming over. I clicked her into her seat and played peek-a-boo until Wyatt walked out. “We’re taking your truck?” I nodded, “Hope that’s okay. I figured since I had all my tools loaded up in the truck, it would be easier.” He shrugged and climbed in. Whew, that was close. I climbed behind the wheel and buckled, “Are we ready to go?” Wyatt nodded, and Willow added her opinion. I chuckled and took off. ———————- Wyatt: I wasn’t expecting to go in Eddie’s truck, but he already had Willow in her car seat. I got in and looked back at Willow. She definitely loved her uncle. That made Mandi happy. Me too if I was honest. We had been driving for a few minutes, but it didn’t seem like we were heading towards the area I thought the salon was in. “Eddie, are you sure we’re going the right way?” ______________ Mandi: I grinned and nodded, “I think we shall. Did they say where they wanted to meet?” I wasn’t sure I was hungry, but the chance to extend this fun day and have Wyatt, Willow, and Eddie join Fi and me, I didn’t want to pass it up. I looked over at Fi and grinned, “At least this time we didn’t have to worry about me going into labor.” ______________ Fi: We headed to the car and got in. “I’m not sure. Eddie mentioned it was someplace new he wanted to try. I think he’s looking for new ideas for Skye Bleu Deux.” I took a deep breath as I pulled out of the parking lot and hoped I sounded convincing. “Must be someplace good if he wants you, Wyatt and Willow, to come along, right?” I laughed and gestured to the radio. “Feel free to find some music.” ———————— Eddie: I turned the music lower and smiled over at Wyatt. “Yeah, we should be there in just a few moments.” I glanced in the mirror at Willow and grinned, “She’s growing so fast. Hard to believe she is going to be two soon.” I was hoping talking about Willow would distract Wyatt, not that I minded talking about my niece. She was a pretty cool girl, not that I was biased or anything. -------------------- Wyatt: “Tell me about it,” I grinned. Willow might have been a surprise, but she was the best thing that ever happened to me. Except for Mandi of course. “I swear she’s a mini-teenager some days. Mandi swears she was never like that, but I have a feeling she was.” I laughed and waggled my fingers at my little girl in the back. I was still curious about where we were going, but I figured Eddie knew better than I did. Maybe the girls went to a different salon? --------------------- Mandi: I laughed a little, “I guess so. How does Eddie like working at Skye Bleu Deux? I bet he misses being at Skye Bleu with you and everyone else.” I settled into my seat and smiled, “I know that he really liked working there with everyone.” I was thankful for Skye Bleu, not only did it bring Fi and Eddie together, it also gave me a great friend, and hopefully, if Eddie played his cards right, a sister. ---------------------- Fi: “Eddie enjoys having more responsibilities, and he’s adjusting to supervising other people. Luckily he has a good team. I miss him, but I think it makes our time alone together more….important? Or maybe meaningful? Does that make sense?” I laughed a little. We were pulling up to the venue. “Hmmm...this is the address. Kind of a cool building. I don't see any signs though. Let’s go inside and check to see if they're here.” We got out and walked over to the building. I knew Eddie wasn't there yet. We couldn't have the groom seeing the bride. ________________ Eddie: I couldn’t help but chuckle, “Mandi was...well really she wasn’t that bad. Not with our parents. Me on the other hand? She loved playing tricks on me, though to be fair I did start it. But that was by accident. I was trying to prank a friend of mine that was supposed to be coming to hang out, but he couldn’t make it. He had called to say so and Mandi came upstairs to tell me he had to cancel. I didn’t know. She walked into my room and got a face full of silly string.” I laughed as I remembered her face. “She didn’t tattle, just simply glared at me and told me that the war was on. It went from there.” _______________ Wyatt: I couldn’t help but laugh as I imagined Mandi’s face when she was showered with silly string. “Duly noted. Keep silly string away from Mandi and you. And always knock first,” I said with a grin. Very important in a house full of women. Right?” Eddie nodded as he drove. “I wish I had gotten to know your parents, Eddie. And that they could have met Willow.” Eddie nodded as he parked. I looked around but didn’t see any salon. “Eddie, where are we?” -------------------------- Mandi: I smiled as we walked up to the building, “Eddie has always been one to take on a lot of responsibilities. I think that was the main issue between me and him when we were growing up. He was always trying to take care of everyone, Mom, Dad, me.” I sighed, “I haven’t always been easy on him, but in my defense, I always felt like he was trying to smother me. Even though I know he did mean well. In his own way.” I smiled as we stopped in front of the building, “But I’m glad that we got past that. I know a lot of that was because of you. Thank you.” I looked up at the building, “Are you sure this is the right place? It doesn’t look like they’re open?”

------------------------- Fi: When Mandi said it didn’t look like the venue was open, I couldn’t help but smile to myself and think “Just you wait!” Instead of saying that, however, I pretended to double check my phone. “It’s the right address. I’ll go inside and check.” I opened the door and walked in since Mandi seemed unsure. I called over my shoulder, “This is the right place, Mandi.” I blocked part of the view while I waited for Mandi to come in. I didn't want her to see everything set up in the courtyard quite yet. It was bad enough that I was going to have to explain why it looked like we were in a house or hotel and not a restaurant like she was expecting. --------------------------- Eddie: I did my best not to grin at the look on Wyatt’s face. Instead, I shrugged, “I don’t know. This is where Fi said they were.” I made a big deal of checking my phone once I had the truck in park, “Yeah, this is where she said they were, but I don’t see them.” Fi and I agreed to park on opposite sides of the building, that way Mandi wouldn’t see us, and Wyatt wouldn’t see them until we were ready. “Maybe they’re pulled up on the other side?” --------------------- Wyatt: I was a little worried when Eddie said we were in the right place, but the girls were nowhere to be found. We got out of the truck, and I looked around while Eddie got Willow out. Mandi’s phone was dead according to Eddie, so I decided not to argue or try to call her myself. I reached for Willow, but she shook her head and hugged her uncle’s neck tighter. Today was not my day. “Please let my wife be on the other side of this building,” I thought to myself as we approached the building. ——————— Mandi: I looked around once more outside before heading inside. If this was the place, I hoped their food was better than the looks of this place. I headed inside, “Fi, I’m not sure this is the right place maybe Eddie got the address….” I trailed off as I looked around. “Um, Fi?” ---------------------- Fi: I watched Mandi’s face as she looked around. I loved the weathered walls, the quirky decor and the flowers that were placed all around. It did not take long to figure out that a wedding was going to happen here. “I might have told you a little bit of a lie. The guys are meeting us here, but it isn’t just for a late lunch. Right now please just trust me and come this way.” I lead her up to the bridal room where her gown was hung by the window and everything else was laid out as if it was a magazine photoshoot. “Today’s your wedding day!”

———————— Eddie: I felt bad for making Wyatt worry, but I hoped he would forgive me in the end. We walked around the side of the building and towards the front, I smiled and pointed to Fi’s car, “Look there’s her car, but I don’t see them.” We walked over to the car and looked around. I turned to Wyatt and shrugged, “Maybe they went inside?” I looked at Willow and grinned, “Shall we go see if Mommy and Fi are inside?” She grinned and hugged me tighter, “Off we go.” ———————— Wyatt: I was skeptical, but I followed Eddie since he was carrying my daughter. This was definitely not a salon or anywhere else that Fi and Mandi would be at. The closer we got to it, the more it felt...wrong. Eddie was starting to go inside with Willow, but I hesitated. “Eddie, are you sure about this?” ------------------------ Mandi: I looked from the wedding gown to Fi and back again, “It’s my what?” I was really confused. My wedding day? How was that possible? Wyatt and I still didn’t have a day picked out and had tons of decisions left. Okay, one, where were we going to elope to. “Fi, I’m confused. How is today my wedding day?” --------------------- Fi: I set my bag down and gestured for Mandi to sit down. “Eddie and I felt like you and Wyatt were….overwhelmed with all the decisions involved in a wedding. So we worked on figuring out what was most important to both of you and…” I gestured to the gown. “We pulled it all together. Once we get you dressed, Eddie should have Wyatt and Willow dressed. Staff from the restaurant will be downstairs getting the food ready and the cake out. Eddie made It especially for you. Then Dani, Max, Rex, Beka and a few other of your friends will be waiting in the courtyard for you to make your entrance.” I fought the urge to bite my lip as Mandi stared at her gown but didn’t say a word. —————————- Eddie: I turned to face him, my hands on the knob and nodded, “This is exactly where we are supposed to be.” I smiled, “Come on, you’ll see. The girls are gonna be just fine. They’re probably already in here waiting for us.” I had Willow, I knew if I went in, he’d follow if for no other reason then he wouldn’t want anything to happen to her. I walked in and held the door open, “Are you coming?” ——————— Wyatt: I took a last look around the area. “Yeah, I’m coming.” I grabbed the door and stepped inside. This was no salon. It looked...like a house or a hotel. There were flowers and decorations everywhere. We had walked into some fancy event, but I wasn’t sure what. “Eddie, it looks like we’re intruding. A party or something?” I know Fi’s car was outside, but where was everyone?

---------------------- Mandi: I turned from the dress and looked back at Fi, “You and Eddie did all of this, for us?” When Fi nodded, the tears that threatened to spill when I saw the gorgeous dress, fell freely. I had no words. I walked over and gently touched the dress, “This...this is the one I showed you that day that was my favorite.” I turned and looked at her, tilting my head, “That’s what all that was about that day? Getting the details of my wedding so that you and he could do this?” I was in awe. The dress was perfect, down to the smallest detail. I couldn’t stop looking at it. ------------------------- Fi: I quickly grabbed a tissue. “Don’t you dare cry and ruin that makeup,” I laughed as I dabbed at her eyes. “Willow is a year and a half. It’s about time you two got married. Don’t you think? We really wanted to do this for you.” I reached up and took her gown off the hanger and laid it carefully on the sofa. “Ready to play dress up?” I grinned and gestured to the gown. ————————- Eddie: I grinned as the hostess walked towards us and told us we were right on time. I turned to Wyatt and chuckled at his confused look. “Or something is more accurate, but if we want to be technical, we walked in on your wedding.” I handed him Willow and motioned for him to follow me. “Fi and I wanted to do something special for you and Mandi. We know with taking care of Willow and working that planning a wedding might be overwhelming. So we investigated and pulled everything together. Down to the smallest detail.” I opened the door to the room where his suit and Willow’s dress were waiting. “We took care of all the planning based on what you and Mandi told us you wanted. Fi is with Mandi now helping her get ready. Your suit and Willow’s dress are right here.” ----------------------- Wyatt: I stood there holding my daughter looking at a sweet party dress and an expensive suit not knowing what to say. “Eddie….I….,” I trailed off as Willow squirmed to get down once she saw her dress. As soon as I set her down she ran over to it and hugged it to her chest. “I don't know what to say, Eddie. This is….,” I just nodded and patted his back before crouching down to help Willow put on the dress she clearly fell in love with. Once she was twirling in her new dress and shoes, I stood up, looked at Eddie and grinned. “So, Best Man. You gonna wear that to the wedding or do you have a hidden suit, too?”

----------------------- Mandi: “I don’t know what to say. Thank you both so much. You have no idea what this means to me. To us.” I walked over and took the dress from Fi, gently laying it on the bed. I turned back to her, “Fi, you have no idea the special place you have in my heart, not just because of this. You’re a great friend, and I hope one day you’ll be my sister, too. If that’s what you and Eddie want, but right now, right now I think….” I had to trail off ‘cause I was tearing up again. I wasn’t sure if it was okay or not, but I had to hug her. I threw my arms around her and thanked her again. “But I can only do this under one condition.” I stepped back and smiled at her confused look, “You and Eddie went through all this trouble to make this so special, but it wouldn’t be complete if my whole family wasn’t standing with us. Would you be my Maid of Honor?” --------------------- Fi: Mandi’s hug was unexpected but heartfelt. I returned it with a smile. I certainly never expected her to ask me to be her Maid of Honor. “I...of course,” I laughed. “I’d be happy to do that. I guess Eddie was right and I should have bought a new dress, huh?” I opened the armoire door and took out the simple cocktail dress I had waiting for me. “Let’s get you dressed so we don’t mess up your hair or makeup. Deal?” --------------------- Eddie: I chuckled as I opened the closet and shrugged, “This is all I have. Nothing special just a nice jacket and pants. I couldn’t exactly hang out with you wearing this. You would have known something was up. I wasn’t expecting you to ask me to be a best man.”  It meant a lot to me that Wyatt asked me to be his best man. Considering how things started off between us, I wouldn’t have been surprised if he only tolerated me because of Mandi. “I wasn’t even sure you two would be okay with this. I was worried it might offend you that we stepped in. But I wanted to do something special for both of you. I only wish our parents were here, too. I know it would've meant the world to Mandi.” ---------------- Wyatt: I nodded as we started to get changed. Willow was thankfully sitting on the chair playing with my keys. I think she made herself a little dizzy from all twirling she did. “Mandi always wears or carries that locket we gave her. Your mom is with us. Don’t know if she told you, but we found a picture of you and your dad when you were little. She put it on the other half, but covered it with a picture of Willow so you wouldn't be embarrassed or anything. So as long as she has her locket, your folks are always nearby.” I slipped my jacket on and turned to face Eddie. “Will this work for the groom?”

__________ Mandi: I smiled, “I think you’ll look great. And let’s not tell Eddie he was right. It’ll go to his head.” We both laughed as I walked back over to the dress, “This dress is so perfect. How on earth did you find it? Every place I called when I saw it didn’t have it. It’s one of the reasons I wasn’t sure I could handle wedding planning. It seemed like it was a constant let down as to what I wanted. But you and Eddie, you two pulled it off. It’s so much better than what I had in my head.” I was nervous as I undressed and stepped into my wedding dress. It was amazing. It fit perfectly. I had my back to the mirror after Fi helped me with the back of the dress. “What do you think?”

----------------- Fi: Mandi’s dress fit like a dream. I couldn't answer her at first. “You are absolutely gorgeous, Mandi. As beautiful as any model in a wedding magazine. But I think we're missing something. I’ll be right back.” With a grin, I ducked out to grab her bouquet and let the staff know we were almost ready. I saw the justice of the peace with the guests down below and gave him a quick wave before returning to Mandi. “Every bride needs a bouquet, right?” ________________ Eddie: I nodded. “I think it’ll work perfectly for a groom. Nervous?”  I couldn’t help but smile when Wyatt told me about the locket. “Thank you. I appreciate you telling me. And she’s right. I might be a little embarrassed. Though just knowing that it’s there means a lot considering our history.” It really did mean a lot that Mandi even had the picture in the locket. I took it as a sign that we really were okay and going to stay that way. There was a knock at the door when I opened it, the hostess said they were ready for us. I turned to Wyatt and smiled, “Ready?” ----------------------- Wyatt: Was I ready? I didn’t think Eddie could have asked me a sillier question. “I’ve been ready for a very long time,” I said with a smile. I took my keys back from Willow and picked her up. “Let’s go see your Mommy, Willow. It’s time to get married!” Eddie and I laughed as she clapped. I kissed her cheek and set her down. Taking one of Willow’s hands, I gestured for Eddie to take the other. “Here we go!” ———————- Mandi: I had the biggest grin when Fi brought the bouquet back to me, “Fi, they’re gorgeous!” I started blinking really fast and had to laugh, “You tell me not to cry, but I can’t help it. This all means so much to me. It’s overwhelming, but in the best way possible.” I walked over and took the bouquet that she held out for me. Everything was perfect. Today was perfect. “Is it weird that I’m not nervous? Well, not really?”

--------------------------- Fi: I smiled and bent down to fix her skirt. “I’d like to think that when it’s right….there’s no need to be nervous or scared. Just...content. Crazy, huh?”  I stood back and brushed some dust from my skirt. “Let’s go have a wedding.” I winked at Mandi and opened the door, checking the hallway and looking down on the courtyard below. Flowers, friends, soft music. Everything was ready. I turned back to Mandi and started humming “Here Comes The Bride” as I lead her downstairs and over to her waiting groom.

[doubledrivel-blog]

11. Chinese Big Baller Bail - Awful NBA Officiating - Not Much Hornets Buzz - Eric Bledsoe Gets out of Phoenix

Greg:  Hello and welcome to another episode of Double Drivel. We are a weekly podcast offering a fan's perspective on the news and issues surrounding the NBA. Thank you for joining us. My name is Greg and I am joined as always by my co-host JT. You can find us on Twitter @doubledrivelers or email us at doubledrivelpodcast@gmail.com. JT what up my friend?

JT: Hey Greg, not too much at all. Hanging in there, watching basketball, living life, playing a little at the old local Y

Greg: Getting down?

JT: I played today. A lot of elbows being thrown there Greg. They're dirty elbows. We had a good time. That's how they do it down there.

Greg: We got some great stories this week. Harden goes for 56 on the Jazz, I know you like that story. Eric Bledsoe is going to the Bucks. We’ll start with some piss-poor officiating. What is going on in Oklahoma City?

JT: Can I be so bold as to say they're being targeted?

Greg: I don't know if you can say they're being targeted. They have some aggressive offensive players. They are high profile players. They draw more eyes on them to begin with, but both Carmelo and Westbrook got the shit end of lousy calls in the past few days.

JT:As bad as the Westbrook one was I think Carmelo's ejection was worse.

Greg: Will you please go through the tale of why Carmelo got ejected on an offensive play?

JT:  They were playing the Blazers. It was confusing to watch because Melo comes with a double clutch layup kind of like leaping, in and it goes in. It looked like he drew contact. He’s getting ready to take his free-throw shot, and they chose to give the play a review real quick. They were like yeah, we're gonna eject you instead. Here's a quote from the dumb zebra, “We deemed that the contact was excessive and not a natural basketball move whereas he is seeking out near catch that hitting him in the face with an elbow and then goes back to the basket and scores.” This seems like a lot of thinking in the air from this take, if you ask me. Jump off the ground, look around, bop this guy in the face with an elbow, then turn around and go back to playing basketball, all while your feet are off the ground.

Greg: It's possible, it just seems pretty calculated. He went from making a great basketball move to getting called.

JT: Loving it my man. Hit a great shot. A very Carmelo shot. That is a very characteristic shot for him to take. That's how he drives and takes laps. That's how a lot of players in the NBA go to the hole and make some off-balance shots with limbs flying.

Greg: The funny thing is when you raise your arms they're about the height of heads, and it's the damnedest thing, things the same height might occasionally hit into each other. He goes, makes a great move, gets the call with the n1, and 'm not gonna say mysteriously, they reviewed the play. They did go over and review it and they came back with a crazy explanation. Who wrote that? Who even said that and can take themselves seriously? He drove to the basket and took a shot, there was nothing more than that. I didn't see any bad intentions on those elbows. I didn't see any anything to that effect.

JT: That's just the wrong call. After the game they asked Melo if he wanted to say anything about it, and he said I don't have anything to say about that play. I think the league will do what's right. He’s taking the high road. Is that what Carmelo Anthony is known for?

Greg: Poor officiating there, and nobody likes that. The next night Russell Westbrook goes to one of his well known spots on the court. Russell Westbrook plays. He won

MVP last year, he's Russell Westbrook. For him to get called on this kind of offensive shot, where he stopped and was looking for contact? This was not a malicious intent of any sort. He went from getting what should have been a one and done,  to a flagrant one.

JT: That's absolutely insane. Come on guys. I thought on this play. They were playing the Kings. We're talking about bottom boy on offense Greg. Another Eastern European guy. Westbrook took a jump shot, and I thought they were gonna call him for kicking his feet out. It looked like he did maybe a little bit. Still not enough to be called in my opinion. They got him for a follow through. An unnatural follow-through. He smacked Boyd, son a bitch, in the face top to bottom style. Three Stooges style. He sold it. He flopped. This fucker, he played his part to get the reaction.

Greg: In the previous, story oddly enough, it was also a fellow Eastern European with  Bogdanovich.

JT: Here's the thing about Eastern Europeans, they're very tough. Arguably the  greatest heavyweight cage fighter of all time, Fedor Emelianenko, is Eastern European. He's

a legend. Another championship boxer, Yvonne Drago from Russia. He’s very much a champion. These guys are tough, they don't need to be flopping. They don't need to be doing this. They don't endear themselves to any of the other fans in the league by playing that way.

Greg: Eric Bledsoe whined and successfully got his trade. He was the one who famously went on Twitter and said, “I don't want to be here.” He said was talking about a hair salon and hilarity ensued. The Twitter pictures, the jokes, the everything. It was all fun and games, but he got his way. He's going to a better team. He's going to a team that's on the rise. They’ve got some great players to play with now, and I hate this. How do you feel?

JT:  It's rewarding bad behavior. He basically decided he didn't want to be there. He tweets I don't want to be here. The league find him $10,000 for that. Two weeks later he's traded and gone. Ten thousand dollars well spent. Ten thousand dollars! What does that mean? This definitely makes the Bucs a better team Greg. I don't know anything about Monroe, but they got a draft pick to the Suns.

Greg: I hope Bledsoe doesn't ruin what seems to be a pretty cool thing going on in in Milwaukee.

JT:  If it was three or four years ago I might have wanted Greg Monroe, but I can't imagine wanting him now. He's just taking the spot and probably some money for the trade. When Kyrie Irving successfully got traded that “we don't like this, and this is not this,” I don't think a lot of people like that. It's gross.

Greg: The NBA is lucky enough to have guaranteed contracts. The NFL would kill for guaranteed contracts. If they're gonna get all the money the NBA  should at least play all

the time, that's just fair. If they want to get traded or something that's business. Refusing to play is garbage. It is just not cool.

Something that you're very passionate about, the Utah Jazz got a spanking from the beard, James Harden. The other day he scored 56 points. It didn't look like he could miss. I know you intently watched him hit every shot. What do you think of that game?

JT: Things aren't great in Utah Gregg. The defense is okay, but it hasn't been phenomenal. Harden couldn't fucking miss. He had 22 points in the first quarter. He knew it was gonna be a long night after that.

Greg: You texted me when he had 22 in the first. I knew you weren't gonna have a good night I don't even know if I replied, I just knew it was gonna beone of those nights.

JT: He tried some different things, but he ended up with 56. The Jazz lost by a lot.

Greg: That's why Harden is consistent MVP candidate. He can put up big numbers like that.

JT: I don't care for his style of play either. I don't think that Chris Paul is going to make that much of a difference either. The first game they played together, it not only didn't look like it was working that night, but a lot of people said what is the real plan? It's gonna be great to have two good players.

JT: It never hurts, but it's too similar in the position. It's not gonna work, especially because Harden’s getting used to scoring all these points. He's playing exactly how he was playing last year. He's just continuing.

Greg: Is Chris Paul gonna hinder that at all?

JT: I know you don't agree, but I think Chris Paul is gonna be in a backup kind of position. They will let Harden either start, and play the point guard, or Chris Paul's gonna come off the bench

and lead a second. He's slowed down a little bit. He's smart enough to know if Harden can put up these kind of numbers, you don't want to interfere with that. You want to like see where you can complement him. That's gonna be when he needs a break.

Greg:  It doesn't seem like they need to help scoring points. They could use his other talents with the assists or going in for the rebound.

JT: Chris Paul, he's got respect. My man goes in for a guard rebound. Not really in there, but he's definitely going for it better than some guys.

Greg:  He's scrappy. JT what is with the Celtics? I am a Celtics hater. I don't like anything about Boston. I feel dirty that I even felt any sort of pity for Tom Brady when deflate gate was going on, because that was a sham. I hate Boston and that was a sham. I don't care for Boston at all, football, basketball, hockey-

JT: None of it?

Greg:  Well baseball, let's not forget baseball. The Red Sox, hate them, but they're playing pretty well. I am NOT a Kyrie Irving fan, especially how he got there. They had to trade away three starters from last year to get Kyrie Irving, and four other moves in the offseason. They also lost a guy they only had for a couple minutes. Pretty crazy that they are still playing this well. How great would they be if they had the great Gordon Hayward as well?

JT: Do they even need him? They won nine in a row. They look fantastic. Kyrie looks incredible. Do they need Hayward? They had to have him? It's not like he's gonna go anywhere, but they look really good. It looks like Boston made the right deal. Shipping out Isaiah Thomas, J Crowder, and Avery Bradley for Frick.

Greg: Brad Stevens is a good coach, which Kyrie has never had.

JT: You're always on his nuts. You say you hate Boston, but you're always on Steven’s nuts.

Greg:  Look at the guy. Who did he have last year for them to be playing as well as they have? Even the year before that they played pretty well. When you see that guy in the huddle, he gives a shit. There's a lot of the coaches like the Hornets coach. That guy's trying, and that's all I wanted, a little bit of effort. I also liked that guy when he was a college coach. He made it to the tournament one year. They played great when he was at Butler. He was just as big of a star as the kids were. He seemed like a good coach then, and it if the guy can get some little crap school into the tournament and get them very far in college, and he does very well with the professionals, then there's a common denominator there. It's him being a good coach.

JT:  You love him, and you love your man on the Sixers, JJ Reddick. They're both very handsome players Greg.

Greg: You couldn't get me to say a bad thing about JJ Redick. I don't really care how he looks.

JT: His hair's a little shorter this season. Do you like it better this way?

Greg: It doesn't really bother me one way or the other. I'm good on that. The Celtics play the Lakers tonight. If they win it'll be ten in a row.

JT: Kyrie Irving is gonna fucking smoke Lonzo Ball Greg. He's gonna smoke him dirty all night long.

Greg: He might. He doesn't play defense well though. Neither one of them are great on D. In

unrelated news, how could we even talk about Lonzo Ball without talking about his brother

shoplifting in China? Did you see this story?

JT: He has two little brothers. This is the youngest one right?

Greg: This is the one that's on UCLA. There's another one that's still in high school.

JT:  He and a couple other players from UCLA were on a trip to China, and they decided to steal some sunglasses. They were just released on bail. It's one thing to go somewhere and act up a

little bit but, you're gonna steal in a country like China? That that seems crazy. That seems like you think you're bigger than any problems, or any consequences. That's madness. To make it even worse their father came, and they're currently a reality show.

Greg: Of course.

JT: He's there with the camera crew for this whole thing.

Greg: The show is going to be called Ball in the family.

JT: This all turned into petty theft in China Gregg. For petty theft in China you get thrown in jail. I'm terrified of international prisons. I'm scared of jail in general, but the idea of being in jail or prison abroad is-

Greg: They had that show locked up abroad, remember?

JT: No, what's that?

Greg: People would tell their stories. Guys would go in Venezuelan prison, or there would be somebody who had been there on vacation, did something stupid like this, and ended up in prison. There's all different people with stories every week. There were horrible terrible stories of international prisons. It’s not like any prisons good, but I don't want to be in some Chinese prison, I'll tell you that right now.

JT: There was that movie from the mid-90s,Claire Dane's travelling abroad, and some dude slips drugs and herb in her carry-on bag Greg. Next thing you know she's in a fucking wooden cage in some Thai prison. No one can get her out. That shit's scary. I don't want that. Do you remember when we were in middle school, and  that guy got caned?

Greg: I believe it was in Singapore.

JT: He stuck gum or something somewhere, or threw it on the sidewalk or something. My fifth grade teacher made a point to tell us they moisten the cane so it can wrap around the body when they hit you with it. He was quite a fella. The strikes Gregg, they're administered by a martial arts expert. He also taught us-

Greg:  In fifth grade you learned that huh?

JT: Yeah, maybe too young for that. Maybe a colorful fella.

Greg: We'll leave it there.

JT: Dwight Howard Gregg, fined $25,000 for an obscene gesture. Do you know the gesture he gave? The old DX crotch chop.  I was pleased because it took me a minute to find what the gesture was. I had to do a little internet sleuthing.

Greg: I assumed it was the middle finger, but no, it's the old DX suck it. I was happy to see people are still putting that one out there. There's something retro actively wonderful about that. It takes you back to a better time when the crotch shop was prevalent, and wrestling was a bigger part of our lives.

JT: Sucks to have this guy on your team though Greg huh?

Greg: It does. It sucks a lot. If I'm opening for the days of X-Pac, who God rest his soul, right?  Didn't X-Pac leave us a couple years ago? Please look that up while I'm talking here. I think X-Pac left us. I believe something stupid happened. I believe it was like a backhoe accident or something. Something ridiculous. But yes, having Dwight Howard on my team, I can go off about the Hornets while you look that up. I am very unhappy with the Hornets at this point. I watched them lose a game the other night by just a couple points. It was a game they should have won. It was a game that was in their hands. The worst part is, now these teams have a Twitter presence. Any person on Twitter who feels like they need to be commenting or making observations of what's going on, that's not their job. They should just keep quiet. They may say

everything's going great, but we're watching the game,  I can see when it goes down to the

other end of the floor. Offense has no freaking clue what they plan on doing. There's no person that's gonna take command. People are jacking up threes. People are playing hero ball. Nobody is doing anything. We all saw the great video of Cody Zeller getting blocked four or five times by Porzingis last night when they played the Knicks. It's disgusting basketball right now. There's teams all over this league playing above their capabilities and beating teams they shouldn't beat. Even the Suns beat somebody the other night. They beat the Thunder. They beat the

Wizards. The Suns are a garbage team, and they are beating people. The Hornets are trash right now, and it makes me so mad to watch. The coach after the game says everything's fine. We're gonna tighten up on defense. Old coach Cliff gonna tell me everything's gonna be fine, just gotta tighten up on D? Knock off that trash right now. You're playing like trash! Nobody cares. There's no go-to guy. You're wasting a good rookie. People are laughing about Malik right now.

JT: He wasn't that good

Greg: He is pretty good, the horn isn’t using him very well. I'm getting tired of watching these games. They're not playing well. It's driving me nuts. I'm used to them sucking, but this seems

worse. I had a little bit of hope. I haven't even said a word about Dwight Howard. Dwight Howard is a walking disappointment. That guy has been okay for us, but he should be so much better, so I won't shit on him too hard. We have so many other problems.  He's just a small part, but damn it.

JT: Well said Greg, well said. I don't know if this is gonna brighten your spirits at all, but xpac lives Greg.

Greg: Why did I think he was dead?

JT: He was arrested earlier in the year for meth.

Greg: Okay, just dead inside.

JT: I won't go as far to say that, but a little trouble with the law. He is alive. Road Dogg was the d-o-double-g. Road Dogg, I almost thought they were the same person.

Greg: Not the same person, just the same kind of person. The DX kind of person.

JT: Don't forget about Mr. Ass too.

Greg: I don't want to go too deep here with the wrestlers, but we love Mr. Ass. We're gonna move on to predictions. What is the prediction for me this week JT?

JT: We are about one month into the season. Neither one of our beloved teams are doing particularly well. Is it too soon to call this season a bust and just fucking tank it Greg? Should we tank it?

Greg: It’s too early for us to tank. Do you feel like the Jazz are playing as bad? I haven't heard you complain that much about them.

JT: I’ve been keeping it quiet Greg. Some things don't feel good to talk about.

Greg: I should have asked. I feel like it's my fault that we haven't gotten to it sooner. There was an issue that I knew was there, and I was avoiding it.

JT:  Things aren't good. I think you're in the same boat but we play on. 

Greg: I just don't know what we would be tanking for. Do you feel like your organization drafts well enough that you would get a great player and turn next season around?

JT: I don't know if it's that that I worry about. other More so having an effect on our rookie Donovan Mitchell and and pissing off Rudy. He might be less inclined to stay after his contract expires. It's pretty hard to watch sometimes. We just can't fucking buy a bucket you know? Rudy's working. Rudy looks exhausted. He looks so tired because he's working so hard. You got favors shooting threes and Rudy's shooting jump shots a little bit. You see them looking for offense wherever they can find it. It's a little disheartening. 

Greg: I feel the same way. 

JT: It's not that I'm worried about the draft for them finishing low and getting the draft pick, it's the fact that it's tough to attract free agents when you're just not good and missing a couple pieces. We need almost a whole team. I'm just wondering if it is time just to get rid of everybody  and roll the dice as they are and then see what happens and start with new players next year and see what we can do.

Greg: Too early to say, but you know come on guys give us something to get excited about . Let's get some wins. 

We're gonna be back next week with another episode, and in the meantime you can follow us on twitter @doubledrivelers or you can email us at doubledrivelpodcast@gmail.com. Subscribe to the show on iTunes, podbean, or Google Play, and until next week we'll see you on the Internet.

[3one3]

The Sequel - 851

Bibbidi Bobbidi

André Schürrle, Juan Mata, other Chelsea/BVB players, and random awesome OC’s (okay they’re less random now but they’re still pretty awesome)

original epic tale

all chapters of The Sequel

“I love this house. I can’t believe how little time you’re spending here this summer.”

“I can come back when we have a few days here and there. It stays nice here for months still.”

“I had a dream that was just like this, only more dramatic. We had to split up in the morning. It was like our last night together, but for some really serious reason. One of us was being sent away, or going to jail, or leaving to fight in a war or something crazy. It was a night just like this though, with all the doors open, and the curtains blowing around, candles inside, the moonlight outside, the smell of the ocean...”

“And the sex?”

“And the sex.”

Wednesday night in Mallora was perfect in every way. It was warm but comfortable, even in direct sun. The grilled lobster and strip steaks came off the grill rack with char marks that couldn’t have been any more idyllic if someone painted them on, and they tasted as good as they looked. The sangria had great depth and dynamism of flavor after sitting in the refrigerator for three hours, and beautiful color. Two pretty gray and yellow birds visited the big patio a few times to have their picture taken. And best of all, Juan was there. He was all smiles and Greek tan, and Christina was equal parts relieved and excited. She missed him. He missed her. They needed each other, and they knew it. They knew that no matter how long they pretended they could change their arrangement, it would never be a good choice. It would leave them wanting, fundamentally unsatisfied.

Monaco was good too, for Christina at least. Rio wasn’t a big fan of the small and oddly curved arena surrounded by mega distractions, but Nick’s good work ethic shone there. He won a class and placed well in others. André got him a beer to celebrate and became the Hanoverian’s new favorite human. André also apologized for not going to the party with his girl on the eve of the first competition day, and she apologized for being awful to him for half the day. All was fine. They were sad to say goodbye to Lilly XO Sunday, even if the rider would see her again in 4 days. More than they were sad, they were happy to be heading home together as a family. They missed their bed, and their couch, and their cars, even. Christina missed the rest of the horses. She couldn’t get Daniel and her other teammates to bring their animals over for a mini-camp, but she got Daniel to agree to bring his family to stay for two nights before they went to Cascais for another round of the Global Champions Tour, and they were going to ride the resident horses together, give each other lessons, let their kids play, have a cookout, etc. André loved the idea. He loved the idea of his wife having normal friends and doing normal friend things with them. He was a bit dejected about having to see her off to Palma on Wednesday- off to spend three nights with Juan- but he had his first day of training and the first with the new Borussia Dortmund manager coming. Thursday was fitness tests and Friday was double sessions with the full squad. He was ready to make a good impression.

“Your hair is so light. I don’t think I’ve even seen it this way,” the Spaniard remarked while his houseguest yawned in his lap. She was kind of crooked, curled up next to and on top of his waist. He couldn’t wait to take the clothes off her after giving their big dinner a chance to land, and she couldn’t wait to be loved in his unique ways. Those two things had to happen separately. Juan got his way first, and then there was a break for more sangria, and for candles, and music, and to open up doors and windows. Then Christina got what she wanted most, including the spent snuggles afterward.

“I don’t think I’ve spent this much time in real sun at once since I first moved to London,” she told him, her hand bumping his as she tried to comb some of her golden highlights back out of her face. The Chelsea man was already trying to do that for her. “It used to get like this every summer when all I did was go to horse shows every week. Even wearing a helmet and a baseball hat all summer, I still got so much bleaching. And you’re wrong.”

“About what?”

“Do you not remember when your fiancé made me spend an entire day in a salon, getting platinum blonde?”

“I didn’t, actually, but that’s different. It wasn’t like this. It was weird and unnatural. This is beautiful.”

“Awww.”

“What about me? Is my summer hair beautiful?”

“Gorgeous.” Christina turned some so she could look directly up at her friend, and reached to poke at his fuzzy chin. That was still dark brown, unlike the milk chocolate stuff atop his head. “Thanks for having me, by the way. I forgot to say that when I got here.” Her graciousness garnered much sniggering.

“Any time, cariña. Any time you want to be had, I’m willing.”

“You know what I meant.” She rolled her eyes at him and he reached over to tickle her side. He had a sheet covering his body up to where she was occupying it, but she was completely nude and uncovered. There was a lot of squirming to get away from his deliberately agitating touch. I guess it wasn’t quite so as intense as in that fantasy anyway, she decided once she’d rolled far enough away that Juan could no longer inflict tickle torture. She was about to open her mouth to complain that he ruined the mood. It would be weird if we were super serious tonight, I suppose. I don’t want it to be like we’re lovers kept apart by warring families or nations or something. That’s how big the stakes were in that dream, with the Yerevan song. We’re just normal. Just normal levels of missing and needing each other.

“Where you going?” the Spaniard asked her as she got out of his all-white, all-Italian linens.

“You promised I could have a post-sex cigarette on the terrace. Nobody can see me out here, right?” Christina leaned through the old French doors to peek out at the peaceful, breezy night. There was just enough room on that terrace for two chairs and a little tree stump-like table. He told her no one could see her unless they were watching from a boat, with night-vision binoculars or something, but warned her that she’d be pretty cold out there if she didn’t put something on. That consequently got his shirt stolen, because she didn’t want anything of her own. She didn’t want to be just Christina. She wanted to be Chris with Juanin. That was a whole different person than just Christina, or Chris with Schü. She had to be. It couldn’t work, otherwise. Compartmentalizing was necessary and satisfying. That was a conclusion she arrived at one day at home, in the saddle. The jury was still out on the significance of that revelation. But the significance of feeling like Chris and Juanin was unquestionable.

The Chelsea creator got himself another shirt and put his shorts back on, and then joined her outside with a glass of ice water for himself and what was left of the sangria in her wine glass, with fresh ice added. The kitchen in his old villa was so far away from his bedroom that he actually brought an ice bucket up with him when they retired for the evening. His ex-girlfriend teased him for it, but also kind of adored his forethought. She enjoyed the fruity and warming beverage with her cigarette. A now-and-again nicotine fix still tasted terrible to her, really, and it was nice to have a chaser to cover it up. It was also nice to enjoy it without André’s disapproving glare. Juan didn’t mind her occasional smoking. Sometimes he found it sexy. Her husband crucified her for one stolen Camel Light on the dock in Antibes.

“I can see my boat,” she smirked. “See?” She pointed out over the low wall of the balcony toward the water when the footballer circled her little waist in his arms from behind her. He leaned over her shoulder to see the light bobbing around on top of Lilly XO’s tallest mast, visible down beyond the cliff and little beach. They could both sort of hear the general rumble of the sea off in the distance, and it added to the ambiance and the peaceful mood there, but really they just imagined it, and the sound of the water circulated artificially in the swimming pool to their left aided in the illusion. Real or imagined atmosphere, Christina couldn’t find a thing wrong with it.

“I’m looking forward to watching you walk around on your boat. You know how I think your walk is everything? Your bouncy runway-girl swagger? It’s even better barefoot in the bathing suit on the boat deck. I’ve been thinking about you strutting around on there, with your music.”

“Mkay,” she giggled, blushing. “I’ve been thinking about you strutting around a football pitch. Do you miss it yet, or nah? Holiday not long enough?”

“I don’t miss it yet but I’m sure it will feel good to go back and get started,” her human cape shrugged around her. He then grabbed gently at the skin on the side of her neck with his lips. He’d been uncharacteristically possessive of her body and affectionate toward her since he picked her up at the airport and took her shopping for dinner ingredients. He sucked passively at one spot an inch below her right ear for a few seconds, and then lazily smooched a little closer to the pulse point. The rider tried to blow her cigarette smoke away so it wouldn’t come right back at his face. It felt to her like his lips were trying to chase the movement of her throat each time she pulled on the cigarette or exhaled the byproducts. She felt him moving ever closer to the front of her throat, until he found a spot he must have liked. There he stayed, sucking, and nibbling, and even lapping with his tongue on her skin held carefully between his teeth. Juan’s arms remained locked around her waist too, so there was no wriggling away if his attention got tickle-like, as any attention to her sensitive neck could.

There is going to be a really ugly hickey there when he’s done, Christina idly recognized as his “kiss” moved further and further from tickling, and she worried less and less about holding herself up. Being adored is so wonderful. Why can’t the boys have longer for vacation? They’re so much happier and more relaxed when they have time off. Yes, I am selfishly saying I wish they got more free time so that they can spend it adoring me. Adoring me is good for them too though! Boyfriend is sooooooo fit right now, and he’s not even stressed about the new manager. That’s ludicrous. And any time he gets to spend with me is good for this leach, she smiled to herself while lowering her cigarette and raising her glass. It felt kind of weird to swallow a gulp of Rioja-based sangria while someone was sucking on her throat. That someone took advantage of her tilting her head back a bit to drink, and opened up his lips to engulf some more of her skin in an even bigger kiss.

“Baaabe,” she chuckled plaintively. A squishy sound preceded the removal of wet lips from wet, warm, abused flesh.  

“You taste good,” Juan told her, as if his hunger for her couldn’t be helped.

“If you want to taste me, can you taste somewhere else?” the rider smirked back without turning from the shadowy view. The end of her cigarette glowed brighter for a second as she pulled on it and gave him a chance to mull over his answer, or at least mull a snappy or sarcastic quip. This window for contemplation was expanded with her thirst for the rest of her wine, which she gulped down in a few swallows.

“Where should I taste?” the fuzzy face by her cheek inquired. The hands belonging to that person also rubbed around her sides.

“My inner thigh could really use some love,” Christina told her best friend. “The one I pulled months ago hurts a lot lately. What should I do with this?” The Spaniard nodded at his water glass sitting on the wall, giving his approval for her to use it as an ashtray. Flicking ash around was fine with her. Stubbing out her cigarette on someone’s house or in his wine glass wasn’t okay without asking first.  

“Can we go in now? It’s cold out here, cariña.”

She conceded to getting back under the covers, but Juan just wanted to get back onto the bed, not in it. He told her to get comfortable on her back and bend her knees, and he lay on his stomach in between them. Her request for some love for her sore inner thigh was not going to go unheeded. He passively kissed his way up and down the inside of her legs from knee to bikini tan line while they talked about Ibiza. A couple of his Spain teammates were going to Above & Beyond too, so Christina wanted to invite them over for dinner on the boat beforehand. She quizzed her personal Furia Roja player about where he stood on the subject of their privacy. That was never resolved in Cannes. They had that sort-of-fight about his kissing her in front of everyone in hospitality and then they shipped out away from the public eye for most of the next day, so it didn’t really matter. The rider wanted to know if he was going to go touching her in any more-than-friends ways, or if he was going to hold her hand, or kiss her neck when she inevitably forced him to dance. It would be one thing to blend into a packed club and sneak some intimate affection. It would be a different thing to behave a certain way in front of his friends.

“I get a feeling that you’re asking me this because you want me to do those things, not because you just want to know if I plan on it,” the Chelsea midfielder surmised.

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “On one hand, I like it when you can’t help but act a certain way. I mean, what girl doesn’t like it when someone she loves is affectionate? Or affectionate in public so that everyone sees you’re together? But I also don’t know how to handle the fallout from that, and I don’t want it for Schü. It’s not fair to him if people talk.” She was trying not to melt into the pillows and pass out. Being blissed out on post-sex chemicals, exhausted from a long day, lulled into placidity by loving smooches on her legs, and then made to lay on pillows with the perfect balance of firmness and absorption was asking for a coma. She held the bottom of Juan’s black t-shirt down between her legs since she still lacked panties and his face was right there but not for any purposes related to that specific part of her anatomy, and because she knew his lips on her sensitive inner thigh spots got the same kind of reaction as that other purpose would have done. A face full of vulva while not actively licking or kissing vulva just seemed unpleasant and awkward to her. Her other hand played around in her hair, at her scalp, and his slightly accusatory question made her rotate her fingers from pad to tip. “Like...if you kissed my neck or squeezed my butt or something and Sergi Roberto saw it and then asked you about it, what would you say? How would you explain that?”

“I don’t think he would ask me. We’re not that close,” Juan shrugged. He was kneading the underside of her right thigh too, from his elbows.

“What about Ander? What about all of your friends? Don’t they ask you why you spend so much time with me? Or just whether or not you’re hitting that? I would ask you all the time.”

“Believe it or not, the whole world does not care about my sex life, or yours for that matter. How many of your friends ask you if we’re sleeping together?”

“Literally all of them.” Christina’s frank response earned skepticism in return, but she was being honest. Tom asked. Stef asked. Nat asks with her accusing eyes. Marcus asked. D hasn’t formally asked but I feel like that’s just because he already knows.

“Your friends are just nosy, I guess.”

“Your face is nosy.” She let go of the hem of the shirt to poke the player in the nose instead. I don’t want to have to tell him how many people I’ve actually told, she thought somewhat guiltily. Process stories- the implications and side effects and logistics of her unconventional relationship with Juan, and indeed her husband- plagued her less and less of late. They were kind of like the Olympics- just blocked out, on “ignore”.

“I got a book for you. Want to see?”

Christina slowly shook her head “no”.

“Want to hear the synopsis?”

Again, the answer was “no”.

“Water?”

Once more, a rejection. The Spanish player rose up on his hands and knees and leaned forward to get to his guest’s neck.

“This?” he asked after nuzzling his way in for a kiss. She nodded and tilted her head to smooch his cheek.

I’m tired, and I don’t want to have any more sex tonight, she narrated to herself, eyes closed, and legs closed around Juan. But I missed him so much. He feels so good. I was already happy when I got here, which is rare. I was already happy at home. Things have been good. I catch myself smiling for no reason. That feels good. But then I saw his smile at the airport and it was like my smile got unruly and uncontrollable. Like when I walk into the barn and Dirk is hanging over his door with his cute pony ears pricked and his big mischief eyes imploring me to come see him. That smile. I don’t want to stop feeling like this. I don’t want to show up at Aachen for the most beautiful week of horse stuff in Germany- the showpiece for the nation, and the federation- and lose this feeling because I know what happens by the end of that week, and I know what comes after that. I want to stay in this pre-Aachen world for longer.

“Love you,” she mumbled through the juxtaposition of warm, soft lips on her neck and scratchy Brillo on her cheek- a contrast that nearly always raised her body temperature and enlivened her spine. The bearded man stretched between her legs let his weight drop the rest of the way down on her, and rested his face on her pillow with a view of her familiar profile, which he traced with the tip of his right pointer.

“Do you remember the Gatorade advert for the 2014 World Cup?”

“No,” Christina snorted before grabbing at the finger with her teeth.

“Messi was in it, with David Luiz, Sergio Ramos...”

“That feels like a hundred years ago.”

“It was a training montage with the song from Cinderella- you know- the silly one? With no real words?”

“Ohhh! I do remember! The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo commercial!”

“Yes.”

“What about it?”

“That song has been stuck in my head all day.” Juan tapped out the rhythm of the Fairy Godmother’s theme tune on his ex’s nose, lips, and chin.  

“You couldn’t have just said the Cinderella song?” she asked, still kind of chuckling. “It wasn’t even a special version in that ad, I don’t think.”

“I remember it from the ad,” he shrugged back. “I can see Leo Messi bouncing between uprights when I hear it.”

“It’s well after midnight and neither of us have turned into a pumpkin so I think we’re safe.”

“I never know with you,” he told her, his tone serious. “Sometimes when our time is up, you turn back into a duller you, and I can’t get the party girl back until we’re together a bit again. It surprised me these last weeks that you kept your dress on and your horses stayed handsome and special instead of changing into old nags or whatever Cinderella had before her pumpkin turned into a carriage.” Christina did her best to turn on her side under his weight, so she could see into his eyes, and so she could hold onto his waist.

“You and me both.”

“I’m not complaining though.”

“Me either.”

“Tomorrow you need to help me choose a watch.”

“You decided? It’s gonna be a watch?”

“Yes. I’ve narrowed it down to two. One is very old, and the other is just old. You pick for me.”

“I dunno, man. That’s a lot of responsibility, and money.”

“I love them both, so whichever you pick will be the right one.”

“Mkay. I’m not gonna let you pick my Ferrari because I have better taste than you, but I might let you suggest the first place to which I drive it.”

“To me, obviously.”

“Obviously,” Christina grinned as Juan zeroed in closer to kiss her mouth. They’d spent a lot of time talking about the rewards for achieving their respective big goals. It was almost like a default topic, reverted to whenever there was nothing else to say. The rider appreciated that she could talk to the player about her Ferrari wishes- code for gold medal wishes- without him making any kind of big deal about it, or being overly confident, or too encouraging. She also liked that he wanted to involve her in his own reward. He’d been waiting for a trophy worthy of a special token for so long, and she knew how hard he worked for it on and off the pitch, physically, emotionally, and mentally. He didn’t hide from big mental questions the way she did, and she thought that meant he was “better” at the psychological game than she was. She was in awe of it, even. Juan could be all mentally tough and dedicated but still cede to her judgement on something as significant as his big reward. That meant something to her. In some way, she thought it might mean he believed she knew as well as he did what would make him most happy and content. Christina also really loved that the Juan Affection Switch was well and truly flicked to the “on” position. He couldn’t keep his lips off her.

“You going to let me drive it,” he questioned between delicate smooches. “Or do I have to wrestle the keys from you?”

“You know it doesn’t even have keys.” She couldn’t stop grinning. It made his kisses feel funny, like he was kissing her but she wasn’t kissing back. Neither participant was bothered.

“The key fob.”

“You’re a fob.”

“I want to fob you again.”

“That’s not even funny,” the equestrian laughed.

“You’re laughing though.”

“At you, not with you.”

“Shhhhh,” Juan urged before engaging her in the kind of liplock she couldn’t avoid actively getting involved in. He reached around her butt at the same time, sliding his palm all the way down between her legs while his tongue got between her lips. There was only one thing on her mind. So this is what it’s like to be with Juanin when we’re both happy. It’s never happened before. I think I told him once that we could never be happy together because I only want him when I’m unhappy and I thought he only wanted me when he was unhappy, and that we’d just be unhappy all the time, together. Now he’s happy, and I’m happy, and it’s...it feels perfect. I haven’t been happy together with someone in years. Not since before Lukas was born. Not since Schü and I were so happy together that we decided there should be a Lukas. I’ve hardly been happy at all since then, and never at the same time he is. He’s not there yet. He needs football to be right, and he needs us to be 100% again, and only then will he be happy like this one is, Christina concluded when it was just her tongue left in her mouth, and when beautiful, sparkly, and darkened blue eyes blinked placidly back at her as she opened hers.

“You were right.”

“About the acid in the citrus? I still taste it.”

“No. Never mi-“ She shook her head a tiny bit and reached out with her lips. Another kiss could save her from having to admit that Juan was correct when he assured her that they could do better than just being unhappy together. It was too serious a thing to get into when there was an alternative available like making out. “What book did you get for me?” was the only question she thought of during the next break.

“It’s called “The Zoo”. It’s a history of the London Zoo, told through profiles of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, as in the hotel in Singapore that you want to go to, an architect, a veterinarian, the taxidermist who inherited the mistakes of the veterinarian, Charles Darwin, a zookeeper, and a wealthy guy who was obsessed with hippos.”

“Honestly that sounds amazing,” Christina laughed, eyes alight. “Totally random, but amazing.”

“I thought so too. Right up your alley.” The Spaniard pulled her left leg up from the back of her thigh, and then went back to feeling around closer to her butt. He definitely had more in mind for the rest of the night than she did, and that made her smile to herself, again. If for no other reason, it affirmed for her that he wasn’t sleeping with anyone else. “It might be just strange enough to keep you interested on your flight to Tokyo, and in your hotel there when you can’t sleep.”

“Don’t jinx it. And nothing short of prescription drugs would help me sleep there, if I get to go.”

“I can go with you, you know. Ask, and I go.”

“No you can’t.”

“I can.”

“Can’t. I need to do it myself anyway.”

“You do and you don’t.”

“Mm?”

“You need to do it yourself for yourself, but you don’t have to.”

“I actually think I want to. I need to get back to being able to do that.”