#I love boring adult stuff like conferences

[seecarrun]

‘Dude, are you in SD? I have a gig at the laugh factory tonight’

Eddie looks around, like he may see Richie sitting at one of the tables stuffed into the San Diego Hyatt Grand Hall room, chowing down in a plate of cheap, stale conference bagels along with all the other corporate stiffs in attendance, but obviously he doesn’t, so he types back a quick reply.

‘Yeah. Here for a conference.’ He pauses, then adds, ‘How tf did you know I’m here??’

After making sure no one is looking at him, he also tacks along a selfie of him looking bored out of his mind and eating a shitty mini muffin, surrounded by equally bored looking fellow middle aged white dudes in suits.

Richie immediately laughs at the picture and replies, ‘Me n Bev added Find my Friends on all your phones last Christmas lol. Wtf do you even do at a risk analysts conference?? 🤣🤣🤣’

Eddie bites back a smirk and takes another selfie, this time holding up his badge so the Speaker flair ribbon is in the frame. ‘Present a shitty fucking Google Slides presentation on how cyber insurance shapes incident response, motherfucker. 😎’

‘Omg’ Richie responds immediately. ‘When do you present? I need to be there. I’ll bring an air horn and pom poms”

‘Don’t you DARE, you dickhead!’ he texts back. But then also adds, ‘…1:30. Second level, corridor II, room H.’

It ends up being the most ridiculous but hilarious and fun presentation of Eddie’s life.

[hurtspideyparker]

Emotional Support Intern Peter Parker

Tony and Peter finally arrive in the large room, polished leather Oxfords and stained-lace Converse making their way through the crowd of professionals. Tony has a hand on Peter's back guiding him, because no matter how many meetings, conferences, and office buildings they traverse together, Peter always manages to get lost the second Tony lets go. 

Thankfully Pepper is easy to spot, shaking hands with some blah blah from wee woo Industries. Her hair is the only splash of colour in the constant white black grey of everyone's pencil skirts and collared shirts. 

"Hi Ms. Potts!" Peter greets as soon as the woman turns and spots them. 

"Hi Peter—Tony. I told you to stop bringing the kid to these things. No offense Peter."

"None taken! You look lovely, did you get your hair done?"

Pepper's hair cascades over her shoulder in perfect curls, splayed out over her white button-up. 

"Yes actually, a trim and some highlights. I think she went shorter than I asked though, because I always get half an inch, and this does not look like half an inch."

Peter steps a bit closer and squints at the piece of copper hair she's holding out. 

"I think it's just because she curled it. You usually get it blow dried after."

"Hm. I think you're right actually."

Tony rolls his eyes, "I'm so glad you guys are having such a great slumber party. C'mon kid I have to avoid that senator and he's starting to glance this way." He tries to head over to some tall plants that happen to be great blind spots. 

"Ah ah ah Tony! We are talking about this. I told you to stop dragging Peter to all of your work responsibilities. I'm sure he's bored to death with these meetings and work events."

"Pep, he's an intern, he's supposed to be bored and taken advantage of. Besides, if you take away my emotional support intern then I simply wouldn't show up! So."

"You aren't even paying him for his time!" Pepper says at the same time Peter mumbles "emotional support intern?"

"Um excuse me, that 3 million dollar suit he stuffs between his math homework and Go-Gurt begs to differ. And anyways, I pay him with experience. I brought him to that seminar in LA on Saturday, and he's following me to Tokyo for that week long conference in July. I highly doubt he's complaining," he squeezes the boy's shoulders, Peter looking up and beaming at him and Pepper. 

"I'm really fine with it Ms. Potts. Besides, the more of these things I go to the more lab time I get!" Peter pipes in.

Pepper glares at Tony. "Really, bribery?" 

"Okay well, if us grown adults don't want to be here how else am I supposed to get a 15 year old to talk about environmental reform to people who don't even believe in climate change." 

Pepper and Tony hold each other's stares.

"You mean he spoke to Mr. Ellis about the generator you designed for his carbon plant, and it didn't end with him calling us a pansy corporation and you calling him a decrepit geezer who's business is the only thing that's going to die quicker than he is?"

There's barely stiffled hope supressed under Pepper's professionalism. 

Tony smirks. "Yep, I think Mr. Ellis even smiled. The kid's got charm! Who knew."

Pepper glances at Peter in consideration. 

"Peter have you ever considered pursuing anything further in business? Engineering is great, but if you really want to be successful it's incredibly important to build interpersonal skills, leadership, and even current market and finance knowledge. I mean you might want to sell your designs one day, or start a company." 

"Oh, I haven't really-"

"You could shadow me! I mean interning with a CEO is a once in a lifetime opportunity, it would give you a glowing resume, and I know a lot more about this stuff than Tony. He didn't even perform his executive duties when he actually was the CEO."

Pepper has that gleam in her eyes, the one she gets when men call her sweetheart, or when Tony isn't even dressed for their reservation that started ten minutes ago. 

It means she's already had the argument in her head. 

Peter is still stuttering, flustered with this side of Pepper. Her business face isn't usually directed at him, and it's a far cry from the woman who sends him home with leftovers from dinner. 

"Wait wait wait, are you trying to steal my intern?" Tony asks incredulously. 

"If anyone even needs an intern Tony it would be me. I have to babysit you and the company, meanwhile you just need him to hand you wrenches. Competent help is hard to find these days and you're wasting his talents." 

"Um, excuse me, he's the only thing keeping me together. You already have your fancy day planner and Excel spreadsheets, I need him to get me out of the house. He's the only thing keeping me a responsible adult, if you take away my emotional support intern then I will not attend a single meeting for the rest of the quarter." 

"You are such a man child!"

"La la la la can't hear youuu," Tony says with his fingers in his ears.

"Um, guys, I think people are staring."

Peter tugs on the corner of Tony's sleeve to get him to unplug his ears, glancing nervously at the groups of people sending them judgemental stares. The three of them give a wave and pleasant smile, most of the crowd continuing to move along on the grey carpet at the sight of their unsettling synchronicity and false turn of the lips. 

Pepper speaks through her teeth, a grin still presented at passers-by. "Fine, you can keep him, but only because he's doing half my job for me. The only person you can emotionally regulate around and it's a teenager. I'm glad you finally found someone who can keep you entertained." 

"Love you too honey," Tony says while putting a hand on the small of her back and kissing her cheek. He sighs, looking around the room at all the government officials who think these tech companies are spying on them. 

Apparently a surveillance state is only cool when they do it to manipulate their incarceration numbers, rig elections and lobby votes, and not for data mining and targeted ads. 

"I say we hit the cheese and crackers, take an awkward amount of sips from those tiny water bottles, and then speak to some old ladies till we have to do our presentation."

"Sounds great Mr. Stark. Will you make sure they don't grab my face again? I smelled like old lady perfume at school and Flash started making fun of me for stealing people's grandmas."

Tony looks into Peter's eyes questioningly and finds nothing but sincerity and resignation in them. 

"Well. Not my fault your cheeks are so gosh darn cute. But I'll do my best," he wraps an arm around the shorter and starts heading through the room again. 

The weight is comforting. Peter used to get anxious at these events, but Tony never leaves his side and is always looking at him like he's the Michaelangelo in the center of every room. He became accustomed to being Mr. Stark's favourite part of the event. While that may not seem difficult, especially considering the droning lectures and snooty company, it always feels special making jokes about people's ridiculous work jargon, and comparing the staleness of crackers at conferences. 

"Emotional support intern huh?" he says smugly. 

Tony glances at him, but instead of scoffing or denying anything, he just speaks with honesty. "You and Pepper are the best, most important things to this company. And to me. I'm really glad you're here kid."

Peter doesn't know what to say. The words stick in his throat while Tony hands him a water bottle with the lid already cracked. 

Peter has super strength; It's completely unnecessary to open his bottle for him. He doesn't point this out. Tony will do it at the next meeting, just like he did at the last one, and Peter will never mention it.

[katuschka]

Touch Starved Pups – Three

Jake Kiszka x f!Reader x Josh Kiszka October Special (But only because there's a Halloween party in this one. Otherwise, just a continuation of the story.) 5.954 words

Anyway, it you're new to this, welcome to Part Three of the story about what happens to two well-behaved, bored and horny romantics when a new feisty, worldly and hot social media manager enters the building...

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction, intended for adult readers. Any resemblance to real persons is purely coincidental. Also, if you're under 18, go find some other entertainment elsewhere.

Warnings (are spoilers): expressive language, promiscuous behaviour, petting and fingering (f!receiving), some heavy fluff, kissing, sex toys and teasing in public, costumes, alcohol consumption, a very brief mention of marihuana, allusions to continuous online bullying, being in denial of one's feelings

Also, if you like the story and want to get notifications for future updates, you can join the Taglist or see the Masterlist.

Whoa, you like to think that you're immune to the stuff, oh yeah

It's closer to the truth to say you can't get enough

You know you're gonna have to face it, you're addicted to love

There are so many pleasurable things you can do on a rainy October day, instead of being stuck in a conference room. Sleeping comes to mind immediately. Or sleeping with someone. Sleeping after having slept with someone is definitely the best option. Best-served with champagne and strawberries and a Taurus on each side. Nudge nudge, wink wink.

Naughty, naughty thoughts. I promised myself to abstain from that…at least for a while, because two horny Tauruses dogging me all the time were exactly the reason why this couldn’t be just a lazy Saturday afternoon. Oh dog, how I hate conference rooms. 

But who doesn’t, right? Well, apart from the people who have a stick up their asses. And by that I don’t mean any funny silicone shit. I have yet to meet a sane person who doesn’t look either annoyed or miserable while sitting around the long table in a usually cold room. Doesn’t matter if it’s due to the air temperature or the sterile interior design. All those meetings, briefings and brainstorming sessions have nothing to do with creativity and real work. The only ones who enjoy it are those who love to listen to themselves talking, which is usually the only skill they possess. Everyone else is just waiting for it to be over so that they can go back to doing something that is actually productive. 

Like…fucking, preferably. Oh no, not again. Be for real, bitch! F-O-C-U-S. 

At least this was the GVF headquarters and not some fancy-schmancy glass tomb that reeks of Ivy League jizz. That’s why I prefer working with artists. Corporate marketing is boring and often borderline unethical. Here,we had beer. Both Sam and Jake already downed two cans each, which made it pretty obvious that they were just as happy to be there as I was. I took just a few tentative sips myself, as I had to keep in mind what was at stake. 

My job. 

Of all the reasons for summoning an “emergency” meeting, this one’s the worst. 

I tried to ease my mind a bit on my way there by blasting Lucille Bogan in my car, but as soon as that bitch started singing about enjoying two dicks the side of a baseball bat, I almost screamed with exasperation. During the past month, I had tried to avoid exactly that. And for what? I was still pretty much fucked, and not the way I wanted. Damn, how I missed those dicks. But I’m a professional, and even though both of them kept begging instead of just enjoying their much deserved break and time spent at home, I was adamant. 

See, it’s part of my job to make sure there’s no significant online drama. And I obviously failed. You can’t really avoid it, it often spreads like a virus and there’s something new every day, but just like with any other illness, there’s prevention and treatment. Anytime something lasts more than two weeks, I’m bound to report it to the management. And that’s exactly why I’d rather jump in the snake pit today, as it was me who caused the most recent major fuckup. It’s been more than a month. 

So, I submitted all the evidence a week prior and expected to be roasted. I’m no pounce pony though, and I knew very well that apart from the most recent mishap, I had done a really good job in the last six months. High on caffeine and adrenaline, I sat up straight, ready to defend my job. 

“... so, as you can see, that one-time drop on Instagram and Tiktok is counterbalanced by a steady increase of all numbers – not just followers, but also various interactions – on all the platforms except the X, which is fairly specific and…” I expected Melissa from management a.k.a “That Bitch” to interrupt me eventually, and yet I cringed when I finally heard her annoying voice coming out of the large screen in front of us. It matched the face perfectly.

“Well, that’s actually the only reason why we’re even having this conversation. Stella, you must understand that this is a problem. While we don’t believe in strict policies when it comes to mixing your personal and professional life…and you’re all adults…” She both looked and sounded quite unconvinced by her own words. “... this has gone a bit too far. We cannot really tolerate any further damage to the reputation of the band. That’s unacceptable. Thankfully for you, you have significant support who put in a good word for you.”

If clearing one’s throat was an olympic discipline, a few people, both in the room with me and on the big screen, would qualify. That offended me a bit. I’m a tolerant person, but my sex life is not a gob of phlegm, thank you very much. Fuckers.

Anyway, back to business.

“Yes, I understand that, Melissa, and I’ve already made amends.” By making amends I meant that there was currently no mixing going on and I was going to keep it that way in near future. And while I at least pretended to understand why it was “unacceptable”, I wasn’t sure about the other two whom it also concerned and who were sitting opposite to me. To be honest, I had absolutely no idea what was really going on behind Jake’s poker face and sunglasses combined. Josh, on the other hand, kept watching me sideways through his ridiculously long eyelashes while his tongue kept polishing his front teeth, which made him look like he was constantly pouting. I tried to ignore it. “The new strategic plan for the next few months before the scheduled releases is also ready. So, whenever the guys are too, we can start working on it. The three most successful recent posts both on Instagram and Tiktok proved that candid content really is...” Aaaand she interrupted me again.

“This is all very nice Stella, but I want to hear how you’re going to deal with the current issue first.”

I could feel my blood start to boil. I did all I could, even though I didn’t want to, but I just couldn’t fight the nightmare! The best thing to do now was to direct everyone’s attention somewhere else. “Unfortunately, certain things are beyond my control, and…” 

“I don’t think your reputation and your problematic past is entirely beyond your control, Stella.”

My past? MY problematic past? There it was again. It was just a pinkie at first, but I had to grab my right hand with the left one to stop it from shaking. 

“I think that’s enough, Melissa.” It was Jake. No longer leaning back against his chair and acting as if he was in the room entirely by mistake, he was now looking directly at the screen with his left hand placed menacingly on the table. I loved when he was glowering like that. Especially when… focus, you idiot! Meanwhile, he continued, only to be interrupted by Josh, as always. “We all know – including you, I hope – that you can’t really choose your parents. I mean…”

“Yeah, uh, and speaking about parents, I think that if my mother doesn’t see Stella as problematic, then you shouldn’t either.” 

Oh Joshy, baby, that isn’t really helping, and… your mother?! Well, that was a bit embarrassing, given the…well, all of it actually. I had met their mom twice, so I knew she was no prude, but still. Yikes! “Your mom knows about this?” I mewed. I certainly didn’t want to emit such a high-pitched, screechy sound, but as I said, certain things were beyond my control. 

“Well, of course, darling, she doesn’t live in a cave” he replied nonchalantly, before he turned back to Melissa. “But also because she was notified about it, no doubt by the same people who keep sending Stella hateful messages. THAT is unacceptable and problematic. And I think that, um, given wha…uh…given the band’s message and all, we shouldn’t really tolerate when our employees are being bullied, let alone participate in it.” 

The room fell quiet. Both rooms, to be more specific. I didn’t even realize I was gaping at Josh until Danny’s finger gently pushed my chip back up. I turned to my right to look at him and he smiled at me encouragingly. They were all unbelievable. Sometimes I felt like Alice in fucking wackoland. I didn’t even know why I kept denying to admit that they were actually pretty sweet. ‘People are cunts’, that was my favorite mantra and the armor I put on every morning. 

“Very well!” Melissa broke the silence at last. “But I hope we all agree that this must be sorted out. And all I want is Stella to…”

“Ok, let’s not delve into this any further, because it’s both inappropriate and irrelevant.” It was Jake again. While mixing business with bodily fluids wasn’t “exactly discouraged”, keeping anyone from finishing a sentence seemed like a cardinal rule here. Why didn’t anyone tell me before? I’m quite good at it too when needed.

Jake was still talking to Melissa when he turned to me. “... the main issue is with me and Josh having a row or something, that’s how it all started, correct?”

“Correct…,” both me and the Bitch answered in unison, albeit with uncertainty. 

“Cool, so let’s work on that.” And with that, he leaned back again, resuming his previous ‘fuck-this-shit’ posture. 

“Ok…please, do!” Melissa breathed out, pinching her brow.

“I got some ideas…” I added hopefully to break the tension, even though I had N-O-N-E at the moment, because I was very well aware that even if we posted a series of sickeningly sweet shutterstock-ish pictures of the two of them going fishing together, it wouldn’t change a thing. I was still THE problem. 

“Fine, you better make them work. I don’t care how, just fix it. You have one week to come up with a plan, because we need to start working on the RAH teasers well before Thanksgiving, and it would be fine if you managed to boost the numbers even more before that.” 

“Aaaactually, we already have a plan.” It was Sam this time. 

“We do?” I thought I only thought of the question, but apparently, I said it out loud, because Daniel gently stomped on my foot under the table in an obvious attempt to stop me from saying any more. “Yeah, Stella. That costume thing you told us right before the meeting. We actually quite like it. And pardon my amateur opinion, but I think it might work.”

“Oh yeah,” I chimed feebly. I honestly had no idea what was going on and I didn’t like it one bit, but I also wanted it to be over already and any straw I could catch was more than welcome. “Yeah, the costume thing… Ok, let’s try it.” 

 “So…can someone please explain to me what you meant by having a plan?”

We were no longer in that stifling room. Instead, Sam was playing some tune on the piano in the main room while the twins sat sprawled on the couch nearby and Daniel was helping himself to another beer. 

While still playing, Sam turned his head slightly towards me. “It’s top secret. I’ll just have to come to our Halloween party and see for yourself. Believe me, you’ll like it.”

“I really doubt it. I hate Halloween parties.” 

In fact, I hate Halloween parties, New Year’s Eve parties, birthday parties and all that shit. Parties with a small p are just fine, but these organized annual celebrations of infantility often turn to a shitshow, especially when family members are involved. I couldn’t see how replacing sleazy uncles with your actual bosses could be any different. And what was the plan, anyway?

“Told you…” Daniel called while still rummaging in the fridge. Meanwhile, Josh stood up and was now trying to dance with me to the music. Trying is really a very fitting word in his case, because it was like being thrown around the room by a drunk chimpanzee. 

„Dear sparrow, it won’t be just an ordinary Halloween party. I hereby invite you to our night of debauchery and incessant frolicking. Yeah, and the play, well…as Sam said, top secret.“ Josh chimed.

„Don’t you have your own acquaintances to keep you company now we’re back from tour?“ They kept informal, friendly relationships with most of the crew, and I was sure some other people from our team might be there as well, but I didn’t lie when I told That Bitch that I was trying to make amends. 

Josh finally let go of me and collapsed back on the couch. „Ah, no… sadly, there seems to be a dreadful shortage of pretty dicks that would be able to satisfy my refined taste and wild, wicked nature.“

Jake looked as if he would throw up soon. „Don’t listen to him, he’s just bluffing. He’s like a meek lamb when in a relationship.“

Yeah, Jakey, I know, but it’s cute how you both always try to convince me otherwise. 

The remark, however, didn’t throw Josh off the hinges AT ALL. hE kept the facade without even blinking. „…and while I’m still on the lookout for a daddy that would tame me, let’s have some fun in the meantime.“

„There’s no shortage of cunts, though,” I chimed in, trying not to look overly amused by his antiques. 

„Yeah, well, too bad. I’m quite picky,“ he winked at me. 

There was no point in trying to argue with him. “Ok, I’ll think about it.” I wasn’t going to. 

Until…

„You really should come.“

I thought I was the last person in the building, with all of them already gone. I was just collecting my stuff, ready to go home too, when Jake’s voice right behind my back made me jump.

„Jesus fuck! Alright. Convince me.“ I didn’t want him to.

But he did. „Ok, c’mon.“ He grabbed my hand and dragged me back to the now empty conference room, because as it turned out, we weren’t completely alone. One of the assistants just arrived to replenish the fridge. Once inside, he pinned me against the wall, grabbed my chin and skillfully proceeded to convince me with his tongue inside my mouth. And so we were mixing again! Oh well. 

„Ok, ok, I shall come,“ I said, breathless, when he finally released me. As I said, he had been hiding behind his shades most of the afternoon, so looking right into his eyes now was akin to electric shocks. Sometimes I really hate them, you know. 

„Good.“ He closed the gap between us once again and brushed his lips against mine, but much more gently this time.

No! Not good! This was exactly why I did NOT want to go! Oh well…

My initial plan was to go dressed as Mata Hari, because sometimes I enjoy being overly melodramatic AND I prefer to slut with class. I was also quite certain Josh would approve of the abundance of sparkly trinkets while Jake might appreciate the fact that they wouldn’t really cover much. 

The fuckers had other plans. Not only did Josh send a car for me, obviously to prevent me from leaving early as I had threatened to do, but the driver also handed me a box with another costume. Inside it was a rather hideous violet coverall, not much different from those Josh himself was sometimes wearing, and a pair of steampunk welding goggles. The fuck… I snatched my phone and quickly typed a message. 

S.: NO WAY!

Baggins: on comeon, its gonna be fun. and gregory is instructed to keep waiting until you get dressed. 

S: Well, in that case he’s gonna spend the night, because I’m not going anywhere wearing that.

Baggins: yes, you are. or else…

It was followed by a picture of him holding a huge hammer and standing menacingly next to a chair, to which he tied Jake’s Beloved. 

Ok, I have to admit: He made me laugh. But I wasn’t doing it. Having seen my vulnerable side made them bolder, but I’m no lily-of-the-valley. This blood red rose has thorns. While my therapist would tell you that it’s his fault, I see no fault in that. 

As if Josh was distance-reading my mind, the pic was quickly followed by another message. 

Baggins: im serious!

Yeah, he wasn’t, but I got the point. They’d do some other stupid shit eventually. To make me pay. So, 45 minutes later we arrived at the huge house which the guys were renting for the party. Previously notified by Gregory, Josh was already waiting at the door, wearing a red hawaiian shirt and a clown nose. 

“Sparrow! My dearest!” He greeted me dramatically with his arms outstretched. “You look absolutely fabulous…but where are your goggles? You totally need those!” he added after he smooched both sides of my face. The man was already high as a kite and the mixture of weed and tequila attacked my nostrils with brutal force. I wasn’t planning on drinking or smoking anything for my own sake, which only meant that they would appear even more insufferable than they usually do. It’s almost impossible to interact with inebriated Kiszkas while sober. I never understood how Danny could cope. Well, probably because he usually drank just as much. 

I took those goggles with me, just in case, but mainly to tell him that “I’m not putting those on my face, Josh!” 

“Oh no no no, these go on top of your beautiful head, darling.” He took them from me and carefully put them on. I secretly mourned the beautiful art deco headdress I left at home. Eyes or hair, I still looked like a fucking mechanic. 

“Hmmm, yes! Almost perfect. All you need is…” Without finishing the sentence, he started fumbling in his pocket until he pulled out a pink lipstick and smeared some on the top of my nose. I didn’t ask… Exasperated, I just rolled my eyes, as I was glad he finally ushered me inside because my teeth started to chatter. He didn’t even flinch, probably already too drunk to realize it was actually fucking cold outside. 

“So what’s this shit? You dressed as Sam this year? Oh-em-gee, don’t tell me I’m supposed to be you?!” I exclaimed, tugging at the hideous coverall. He just chuckled, snaked his arm around my shoulder and led me into a large living space already full of people whom I didn’t know and didn’t expect. Not your usual rock&roll party.   

“Oh no no no, nothing like that, darling. Ok, let me… where the hell is Jake…”

Yeah, speak of the devil, he just emerged from the adjoined kitchen, deep in conversation with some old geezer dressed as Charlie Chaplin. Seriously, these guys are unbelievable. You’d expect some hot bitches here. Instead, I ended up looking like Rosie the Riveter, in a room full of country crooners. However, my eyebrows shot up at the sight of Jake in an aviator jacket and a fedora hat. “Since when is your brother a fan of Indiana Jones?” Josh snickered again. I was getting really annoyed. The truth is, Indiana Jones was hardly ever completely bare chested and I don’t think his accessories ever included a red party balloon. Meanwhile, Jake spotted us and beelined towards us. He tried to appear serious, but couldn’t really fight off the cheeky smile that was creeping across his face. As he got closer, I could see that the tip of his nose was painted black. I smelled a rat. 

“You look wonderful, Bebe.” He gave me a toothy smile and tipped his head. 

“No, I don’t and you know it. I’m still waiting for an explanation, as your goofy brother refused to give me any. Why are we looking like…”. At that moment, I spotted Sam and Daniel, who looked like Belmondo in his prime except for the enormous, ginger, fake walrus mustache under his prominent nose.

However, my mouth fell open at the sight of Sam, sporting a red turtleneck, fairy wings between his shoulder blades and HUGE, yellow ski goggles, except – unlike me and mine – he really had them on. He looked like… and then it dawned on me… 

Jumping from behind Daniel, he also moved our way to greet me properly. He was literally buzzing. 

… and I ended up on the floor laughing my ass off. Not a rat. Fucking chipmunks! “Oh my god! We are! Oh god, this is fucking hilarious!” I couldn’t stop laughing, while pointing a finger at the two idiots grinning at me from above. “You’ve no idea how fucking accurate this is!” I howled while Jake took a swig of helium from the balloon he was holding. 

“Oh yes, we do!” he squeaked and held a hand for me to pull me back up. I landed right into his arms and collided with him, still wheezing, but as soon as I felt his heart beating against my boobs, the amusement was quickly replaced by another feeling – one which I wasn’t really keen on entertaining. 

I broke the embrace abruptly to say hi to the other two. 

I said I wouldn’t drink, but I really, really needed some whisky real quick. So, with Josh leading the way, we all moved our asses to the kitchen, where I could inquire a bit more about their real intentions. 

“OK baby, I admit that this is both funny and cute, but what exactly is that alleged plan of yours? Unless you enticed me here to fight against a fat tabby cat. I admit Mel looks like one, but… ” 

“We got a photobooth here, darling.” Josh explained, as if that was any explanation at all. He leaned playfully over the counter until he was mere inches away from my face and whispered: “We’re too cute. I think we need a group photo. You can even make a tiktok if you want!”

“And how is that supposed to make things better?” 

Leaning even further forward – literally splattering himself across the counter – he kissed and patted my head, making me feel like a dimwit for even asking. “Well, first, it will show that we’re not fighting. And second, it will make it pretty obvious that we do like you.” 

I let out an exasperated sigh. “Please don’t make me repeat my question.” 

The whisky was doing hardly anything for me. I needed more buzz. I raised my glass suggestively and Jake quickly got a grasp. Standing right next to me, he reached out for the bottle that stood on the counter to Josh’s right. While his pendants swung right in front of my eyes, there was that feeling again…oh dammit! Seemingly oblivious to my internal struggle, he answered while refilling my glass. 

“It’s not supposed to make things better for us, it should make things better for you.” 

Poor little chipmunks. So pretty and SO naive…More fuel to the fire. And I was sure Melissa was going to be absolutely delighted. But, against my better judgment, I let my bitchy, vengeful me take over my professional side momentarily and imagined the backlash with glee. It had a good potential to become viral and the idea filled me with malicious joy… 

Sam brought me back from my reverie… “Can you punks please hurry? I’ll need to change soon!”

“What is he changing into?” I asked Jake.

“Jesus,” he rolled his eyes. “Mary Magdalene will arrive at ten.”

The photo session turned out to be quite fun. True, it was like high school all over again, but this time with the people that I actually liked. And being too old to find the costumes cringy, we simply just enjoyed the moment. When Daniel shouted “cheese”, we all howled with laughter. Yeah, it was cool. Perhaps too cool. I was getting too drawn to them again. 

So, when it was over, I was ready to leave. When I found Josh in the kitchen to say bye, I tried to blame it on the lack of debauchery. Secretly, I was glad there was none. 

“Ok, Josh, thank you. Those photos will be perfect and it was fun and all, but you promised me some shameless shit, and all I’m getting is a kids' theme party, so unless you give me something to stay, I’m leaving.”

I expected him to be disappointed. I did not expect him to be able to do something about it. Actually, he wasn’t sad at all. There was this strange gleam in his eyes that I knew too well. 

“I was getting worried you’d never mention it. Here.” Reaching inside the same pocket in which he was hiding the lipstick, he pulled out a small, rounded remote and handed it to me. 

“What is that?”

“Just try it.” There was a sultry undertone in his voice all of the sudden, which got me intrigued. I pressed the biggest of the three buttons and watched how his lips parted just a tiny bit. Astonished, I watched his chest rise and fall as he kept looking at me intently. Oh god… Away from the music, I could hear something buzzing, although it was barely noticeable. My own eyes widened in realization. 

I pressed another button to increase the intensity and watched him squeeze his eyes shut and bite his lip to keep himself quiet, because we weren’t completely alone. What a sight. To help you imagine the whole picture, he still had the clown – I mean Dale’s – nose on. I took a step closer to whisper in his ear.

“You’re wicked, Joshua!”

Yeah…I stayed. 

“And it’s all for you…” I was sure he meant to sing it, but it came out as a strangled groan. I switched it off and took a step back, pondering over the power that I literally held in my hand.

Watching me examining the little pebble-like thing, he seemed to read my mind once again. “It’s your toy for the evening. But only if you stay, of course. It doesn’t really work long-distance.”

Can you blame me? 

I used it several times during the evening. It was fun watching him squirm during the most inconvenient moments. He even cursed me a few times, but I didn’t make the rules. It was his game and I just played it like a good girl. 

Lol, no. Not good at all. 

I must admit that despite my expectations, I was really having a good time. Sometime around midnight, Sam started absolving everyone from their sins, the Charlie Chaplin guy threw up in the ice bucket, Jake took off his aviator jacket and started jumping around the room while shouting “much better” over and over again, and unsurprisingly, Daniel really knows how to play the bongos. The rest is a blur, but nice. A few dances, a few stolen kisses from both of them, some touching…

Totally innocent, I swear. 

To tell the truth, I could feel my previous resolve crumbling with each new sip of the fiery golden liquid, and judging by how eager the two of them were to keep replenishing my glass, I think it was their mutual goal to keep me there. 

The huge main room got gradually quieter as the night grew thin, until it was just the three of us chilling on the huge couch at three-ish in the morning. Don’t ask me how that happened, because I’ve no idea. Everyone else had either gone back home or disappeared upstairs. I could feel the fatigue slowly taking over my body. I wasn’t exactly sleepy, I just felt like a rag doll. I should have been back home in my bed already, but I simply didn’t want it to end just yet. The place was now illuminated only by string lights, which only added to the tranquil atmosphere. Really festive too, almost christmasy. 

I closed my eyes for a sec, relishing in the moment of peace. My head was spinning just a bit after everything I had drunk that night (sometimes during the night, I switched to martinis), but it only added to the feeling. No one had ever done anything like that for me. 

“This is nice…”

‘This is nice’? OMG, stfu, bitch! This is not a tea party. 

But it WAS, even though neither of us could deny that there was a shitload of underlying tension in the air that made my skin prickle despite the serenity of the moment. Even that was nice. And I had missed it. 

“We were wondering…” 

“Which one of us is better?”

I slowly turned my head to the right to see Jake’s tilted profile. I expected him to continue and to kindly enlighten me what the hell they were wondering, but he kept staring at the ceiling as if he was looking out for God to materialize there.

“Uh huh, and what were you wondering, dear?”

Oh shit…

I took a deep breath first. “That’s almost impossible to tell, Jake. You’re different, each in its own specific way.”

“You sound like a kindergarten teacher.”

“Yeah, I guess, but it’s true.”

And it was. Jake seemed to have a degree in the she-comes-first studies, and by that I don’t mean just cumming. He wouldn’t be able to fall asleep without knowing that he absolutely aced it. Sometimes it turned into a game of dominance, but it almost always ended the same way. He can call you a “cock slut” or worse as part of the game, but you always know you’re being cherished. Almost as if he…no.

I think that deep down, he was a hopeless romantic. 

And Josh? He kept surprising me every day and ALWAYS made sure I was absolutely ok with everything he did, or wanted me to do. I never felt more safe in my whole life. It wasn’t always what I wanted, because I like surprises, but I knew it would make him feel bad. After a while I even realized that I needed it, which frightened me a bit.

Well, thinking about it, they actually had one thing in common. 

See, I was used to taking the things I wanted because no one ever gave me anything and I stopped expecting it a long time ago. And I just couldn’t stop thinking about all the things they had done for me recently, even though they absolutely didn’t have to. 

It made me feel things that I absolutely didn’t want to feel.

And yet it was nice…

“You know Jake, you both excel in one thing, and yet it somehow can’t be measured. Or compared.” 

“Sounds like a fucking oxymoron to me.” 

“Ok, lemme show you.”

I fumbled in my pocket for a few secs until I managed to press the right button without them knowing (ok, ok, without one of them knowing) what I was trying to do. 

The feeble buzzing sound echoed in the silence of the room – followed by a gasp on my left – and as expected, Josh automatically snuggled closer and started nuzzling my neck. 

“See?” I smiled wickedly and increased the intensity again. Josh moaned and his hand slid down to my left breast, kneading it gently. Like a good boy. Always giving back. 

“You didn’t!” Jake straightened up to get a better view of his twin.

“I absolutely did,” the said twin breathed out against my skin, giving me goosebumps.

“The whole night?”

“Focus Jake, not the point…”

“Ok, so what’s your point?”

I tilted my head a bit more to allow Josh a better access and I also cupped his growing bulge. He moaned and snuggled even closer. I turned my eyes on his brother. “What do you wanna do now, Jake?”

“Kill him, actually.” 

Josh chuckled and proceeded to attack my earlobe, nibbling at it and breathing in my ear sultrily. I kept my eyes on Jake the whole time. 

“And apart from that?” 

He moved closer without breaking eye contact and kissed me softly. I parted my lips to allow him to deepen it, but he didn’t. Just a few more teasing pecks before he whispered: “Depends on what you want?”

“Yeah, exactly,” I whispered back. “That is the point.” I had been distant since the end of the tour, and they noticed. And while they kept inquiring and teasing and flirting, they never said that they wanted anything from me. I let go of Josh completely and straightened up a bit. And I also broke the mood completely. 

“This. I want this. I really do. I missed it so much. But…the job…”

“That’s ok.”

“Are you sleepy, sparrow? We can just go to bed. I mean, there’s a separate room just for you.” Josh asked in a low voice while playing with a strand of my hair, before he stroked it in earnest. Goddamit. Seriously.

“No…I haven’t been sleeping well lately,” I answered with honesty. “I mean I am kinda tired, but not really sleepy, no.” 

Yeah, that’s right. I had the opportunity to say that we should call it a night, and I should have done that. But I didn’t want to. And they caught that. I could see them having that spooky, silent eye-to-eye dialogue again, and after a while, Josh continued. 

“You need to rest, you know. And you also told me what helps you the most. Didn’t she tell you as well, Jake?”

“Indeed, she did.”

Gulp…

“The job is fine. You’re doing a great job, actually. And Mel knows it too well. But you've been a bit stressed lately. May I?” Josh pulled at the zipper tap teasingly, just an inch, and I whimpered and nodded. Yeah… So he opened the zipper completely all the way down, with an agonizingly slow pull. 

“No bra…that’s not surprising.”

“But no panties either, Bebe? Tsk, tsk…”

I was completely sandwiched between them and once again it was making me feel dizzy. As I tilted my head back, they both attached themselves to my neck on each side. It was overwhelming in the best way possible, and a loud moan escaped my mouth and the fact that we weren’t really ‘somewhere private’ and anyone could walk in on us made it even more exhilarating. That’s what I had been dreaming of. When I actually got some sleep, that is. 

I expected them to tell me to undress, but they had other selfless plans. Jake’s hand slid down to where there were no panties while Josh set my left boob completely free and bent down to suck on my nipple. 

“Kiss me,” I whispered to Jake and he obliged with urgency and fierceness, swallowing my moans and biting my lip every time I had to catch a breath. 

But his attention was really somewhere else. Between my wet folds, to be more precise. He slid two fingers inside me and started working his magic, with his thumb running gentle circles around my clit. 

I kept my eyes closed and completely – selfishly – gave in to the feeling. 

I could feel Josh’s palm massaging my upper thigh. I could feel his mouth travel slowly up until he reached my jaw and as Jake finally broke the kiss, Josh swiftly took his place. 

I could feel Jake’s fingers curl up against my sensitive spot and I shivered. Lightheaded, as if I was high on oxygen, I felt like melting under their touch. Dripping on them. My breath hitched and I was barely aware of Jake whispering in my ear to let go. My back arched and my whole body convulsed when everything around Jake’s fingers exploded. I could feel them holding me. I could hear them praising me. I slept like a baby until lunch. But not in my room. And not alone. Oh well…

@thewritingbeforesunrise @fleet-of-fiction @writingcold @lvnterninthenight @its-interesting-van-kleep   @takenbythemadness   @edgingthedarkness @jazzyfigz @josh-iamyour-mama @sanguinebats @cheersdannyx2 @gvfstuddedmajesty @fleetingjake @lizzys-sunflower @hollyco @emojakekiszka @gvfmarge @Dayumclarizzel @lipstickitty @watchingover-hypegirl @clownstarr @peaceloveunitygvf @gretasfallingsky @gretnavannfleet @solanjjje @musicislove3389 @i-love-gvf @blankvz @psychedelectable

[chosenimagines]

I personally love headcanoning the idea that Leonard actually does have a relationship with his nephews.

I mean, I would’ve loved it if we had gotten to learn more or been introduced to Leonard siblings and maybe see that they themselves certainly dealt with their own hurdles with having Beverly as a mom. There’s no way anyone can convince me that she didn’t do damage to all 3 of her kids and I’m sure Leonard’s big sister (I hc her name is Katherine) and their little brother Michael both had their own unhealthy relationships with their “Scientist Always, Mother Never” parent.

We know from what Leonard has said that his little brother was a bit of a dick to him so maybe any reconnect between the two would take longer, but Leonard doesn’t say anything negative about his big sister so what if they actually reconnected and started to mend that bridge? Getting closure now that they’re both adults - I think I remember his big sister is supposed to be like six or seven years older than him?

So picture this: It’s pre-Penny moving into the building, Leonard has been Sheldon’s established roommate for a while, and maybe he gets a surprised call from Katherine - she’s shocked too at having made the call - cuz she’s gonna be in the LA area for a medical conference thing and she’s been battling with herself to get in touch with Leonard to catch up… Cue them meeting up, some initial awkwardness thanks to being estranged siblings, but eventually they put the cards on the table and fuss up about their fucked up childhoods - maybe Katherine having felt guilt for not protecting her brothers from their mom but she was a kid too - and things start to mend between the two of them.

Things move along with the continued mending of their relationship with emails and phone calls - Leonard gets to know his brother-in-law better and gets to spend more time with his nephews outside of just occasional family holidays. It���s a little slice of healing pie in the Hofstadter books.

Penny eventually moves in and gets to see a normally shy Leonard - imagine this happening early on in the show when they are still getting to know each other - act loud and silly with his little nephews when his sister drops them off to visit while she and her hubby have work stuff and they know the boys would be bored to tears at these events. I know that apparently Leonard sister ends up having five boys in total but maybe at the start it was just 3 under the age of 11.

Howard calling the boys - Hoflings (Hofstadter + Clings cuz they cling onto their fun uncle Leonard)

Sheldon barely tolerates these visits despite the boys being very polite and not leaving messes, but Raj and Howard have a blast monkeying around with them.

I guess I just want Leonard to have a little bit of happiness when it comes to his family and I would like to think that if he did get a chance to interact with his nephews and niece (apparently Michael has a baby girl with his wife) that he would follow his Uncle Floyd’s influence and maybe be an even better uncle. I just doubt that either one of his siblings would put their kids through the same shit they went through so they definitely wouldn’t follow Beverly’s parenting styles.



Based on our agreement I am gonna share my HC on the activities with fun uncle Leonard

>regular visits at the comic book store (obviously) =>nephews sometimes spending their pocket money there =>rarely but happily Uncle Leonard buys them a small gift

>Leonard, Raj & Howard invent a kids' version of D&D so they can play with Leonard's nephews

>Raj & Howard are being called uncle as well and Leonard's heart overflows with joy

>at least once a year a Star Wars Marathon Sleepover with snacks with Star Wars-ish names for the snacks

>if his nephews and nieces would want that Leonard would play sports with them and go to indoor playgrounds

>he would take them to work and let them do some cool physics experiments

▪️❤️▪️🧡▪️💛▪️💚▪️💙▪️💜▪️

Masterlist of Masterlists

The Big Bang Theory

[bnnywngs]

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Jiang Fengmian and Wei Changze decidedly to bring Wei Ying with them to the conference because they fear what the child would do if left alone back in Lotus Pier - they could be back to see the sect flourishing under the guide of a 8 years old or to disciples running around in panic because their second young master burned another building or just disappeared (or worst, both).

This time the conference was in Qinghe Nie's Unclean Realm and the tension was a little higher than normal due to Wen Ruohan. Fortunately, Wei Ying seemed oblivious to it, looking around with sparkling curious eyes.

Recently, the leader of the Wen sect started to amass power, more than normal, and acting, unsurprisingly, arrogant and making everyone else uncomfortable in a way. No one wanted to offend him or to get too much of his attention, the only one going against common sense was the currently Nie sect leader, and Wei Changze worried.

Maybe it wasn't the best choice to bring Wei Ying.

Sighing, Wei Changze followed his leader and brother around with a polite smile and a hand against his son's small back to guide him to walk with them (and to know when he decides to run away from what he calls "boring adult stuff"). They made small talk with other sects, greeting whoever they knew when passing by, introducing Wei Ying to other kids around in hopes he would behave like his age for today.

"Jiang zongzhu." came the greeting when they were returning to their seats as the conference was about to begin.

"Wen zongzhu." Jiang Fengmian bowed, followed by Wei Changze and Wei Ying.

"Ah, is this the famed brother?" the sect leader looked at the man with grey eyes with an empty smile.

"Wei Changze is honored to be noticed by sect leader Wen." he bowed formally.

"Wei? I thought you would adopt your father's name at first opportunity." the smile turned a bit ironic before looking down to the child behind his father's leg, pausing for a moment "And who is this?"

"I'm Wei Ying." the child said, bowing as formally as his father did.

"Ah, the little genius the Jiang clan caught." Wen Ruohan nodded a greeting back "You have your father's eyes. But your face..." with intensity, the sect leader crouched down to the child's level and analyzed his small face "Do you know your mother's family, perhaps?"

Wei Ying shook his head "Only a-die's...."

"I see..." Wen Ruohan lifted his hand and held Wei Ying's face, turning from side to side with delicacy "It's curious how much you look like that woman."

"What woman, if I may ask?" Wei Changze was starting to sweat in nervousness.

Wen Ruohan turned back with a smile "The woman I wanted to marry before my wife."

"Before your wife?" Wei Ying asked.

"Yes. I was a young man in love, you see. But then my father arranged my marriage and that woman ran away and I never saw her again. Perhaps she was with my first born in her belly?"

"Hm.... My mother? The first born?"

Wen Ruohan's eyes widened, together with Wei Changze's.

"A little genius, indeed." Wen Ruohan laughed.

A rather familiar laugh that made Wei Changze shiver.

"Father, it's time." a new voice approached them.

"A-Xu, come." Wen Ruohan said, without looking back "Meet your jiejie's son."

"Jiejie?" Wen Xu looked curious.

"Yes."

Both Wen Ruohan and Wei Ying turned to look at the young man with identical smile that shocked everyone that was looking (and eavesdropping) at the scene.

"I see." Wen Xu said after a moment "Nice to meet you. Apparently, I'm your... uncle."

"Perhaps we could arrange a visit after this conference end, what do you think?" Wen Ruohan booped Wei Ying's small nose with a smile.

"Eh~" Wei Ying lifted an eyebrow then shrugged "Ok."

Wei Changze would definitely drink until he passed out that night just to run away from his worries for a few hours at least.

He definitely should have left Wei Ying behind.

[wolverinesleftclaw]

NYX’s NIGHTFALL

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐎

‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.

“𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭“

‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.

Natalya awoke to the soft chirping of birds outside her window, a smile already tugging at her lips. Slipping out of bed, she padded across the hardwood floor to her vanity, adorned with an array of cosmetics and hair accessories. Today, like any other day, she had a routine to follow—a delicate dance of beauty rituals and wardrobe choices. She couldn't stop thinking about the dinner she and her friends had at the grill the night prior.

As if Caroline wasn't already overbearing in the school hallway, interrogating her and Elena, she went ahead and took it up another level by grilling poor Stefan on his whole family situation. Natalya was put off by Stefan; she got a weird vibe from him. Even Bonnie said she felt weird around him, but then again, she swore on her lucky stars that when she touched him the other night, she saw a vision. Natalya brushed her teeth, washed her face, and applied some light makeup. Growing up, Elena always told her how beautiful she was, and because of that, she preferred light makeup over heavy. She decided to straighten her hair down and applied two white clips on each side, pinning back her front hair. She shut the light off in her bathroom, heading for her dresser. She pulled out her favorite pair of denim jeans. She and Bonnie decided to customize their jeans one sleepover when they got bored. Hers had a Playboy bunny on one pocket. Then she grabbed a pink lace tank top and put on her pink Converse.

After quickly fixing her shirt and grabbing a sweater, Natalya grabbed her backpack and headed out of her room. But as she swung open the door, she collided with someone, causing her to stumble backward. "Ouch!" Natalya exclaimed, blinking in surprise as she regained her balance. She looked up to see her older sister Elena standing in the hallway, a bemused expression on her face. "Elena, you scared me!" Natalya laughed, adjusting her backpack. Elena chuckled, shaking her head at her sister's antics. "Sorry about that, I was rushing," Elena said, hiding her smile. "Rushing to go see Stefan?" Natalya said with her eyebrows raised and a smile in her eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about," Elena said back in a sly voice. "You look amazing as always though, Talya," Elena said, looking her up and down with a smile. One thing about Elena was that she truly adored her baby sister; she was her best friend. Elena had many friends, but none would ever top Natalya in her eyes. She loved her sister endlessly and she was happy that she was finally enjoying her life since their parents passed away. "Why thank you, sister," Natalya smiled back, spinning in a circle to show off her outfit, feeling a surge of affection for her sister. Despite their occasional clashes, she knew Elena always had her back. "GIRLS!" they heard their aunt Jenna yell; they both scrambled down the stairs where they found their aunt standing in front of a mirror with her hair in a crazy updo. "Do I look like an adult? As in respectfully parental?" she asked, turning to the girls. "Depends on where you're going," Elena said, looking over at Jenna. "I agree with Lena," Natalya joined in. Jenna sighed. "Jeremy's parent-teacher conference," she said, moving her hair down. "Hair up or down?" she asked. Natalya moved behind her, grabbing her hair and putting it back up in a clip. "Sexy stewardess," she said, moving it back down. "Boozy housewife," Natalya finished, patting Jenna on her butt with a wink. "Up it is; you two are feisty today," she said, finishing pinning her hair up. "I feel good today, which is rare, so I've decided to go with it," Elena said, moving towards the kitchen. "Fly free, walk on sunshine, and all the stuff," she said, sitting at the kitchen island. "I know why you feel good; one word, starts with an S," she said back to Elena with a smug look. "And to answer you, Aunt Jenna, I slept so good last night; of course, I feel good," she said, turning back to Jenna. "Well, I'm glad Jeremy seemed miserable; something about building a birdhouse," she said, moving her hands as she went through the fridge before she paused. "There is no workshop, is there?" Both girls stifled their laughter, shaking their heads no.

‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.

Natalya was walking down the hallway with bonnie and caroline, "i'm confused, are you psychic or clairvoyant?" caroline said putting up signs for the cheer team as she walked "Technically, grams says I'm a witch. My ancestors were these really cool Salem witch chicks or something.Grams tried to explain it all, but she was looped on the liquor so I kinda tuned out. Crazy family, yes. Witches? I don't think so." bonnie said wrapping her arm around natalya's own arm, "i mean if grams told me i was a witch i'd believe her she's got the whole witch vibe going on" natalya said as she fixed her lipgloss "want some?" she pointed her towards her lipgloss to bonnie who took it from her hand "plus imagine being a witch that would be totally cool, i would totally rock the witch persona" she said with a smile on her lips, caroline turned around and tilted her head "i think if you were going to anything it'd be a vampire, you'd be a hot vampire." she said with a wink towards natalya, "no way she'd be a witch for sure, the real life good witch, my glinda" bonnie said handing natalya her lip gloss back, "Yeah, well, feel free to conjure up the name and number of that guy from last night," Caroline said, handing Natalya and Bonnie half her stack of posters. "Here, help me hand these out," Caroline continued as she turned and walked in a different direction. "You mean the guy from last night with the blue eyes?" Natalya said, recalling the man she had run into on her way home from the grill. She had left Bonnie and Caroline early after Bonnie started complaining about how Elena got every man she wanted.

"Yeah, I can't listen to this anymore," Natalya said as she started gathering her stuff. "Nat..." Bonnie said, giving her a look that Natalya could only interpret as an apology. She shook her head, trying to tell Bonnie not to feel sorry.

"Oh, come on, Nat. The only reason you don't agree is because you've never had a boyfriend for Elena to steal," Caroline said. Natalya knew Caroline was drunk and not being herself, but she still couldn't sit through it. She grabbed her things and gave Bonnie a quick hug and kiss goodbye, then made her way towards the exit.

After she left the grill, she remembered that Bonnie had been her ride home. She had been so busy with Caroline that she must have forgotten. Natalya pulled out her phone to call Elena for a ride when she collided with a stranger. "Watch where you're going," he muttered low and gravely, sending a shiver down Natalya's spine. She looked up and was met with piercing blue eyes that seemed to bore into her soul with each gaze. His dark hair was slicked back, giving him a sinister air. The man towered over her in height, and he wore a leather jacket that creaked with every movement he made, adding to his unsettling presence. Natalya took a step back, feeling her heart pounding in her chest. "I'm sorry," she stammered out. The stranger's lips turned up into a smirk. "Apology accepted," he said, his voice dripping with malice. All of Natalya's instincts were screaming at her to run, but she stood frozen in her place, unable to tear her eyes away from the stranger's haunting eyes. "What's your name?" the stranger asked. "Natalya," she whispered, her voice barely audible. The stranger's smirk widened, his eyes dilating with each word he spoke. "Well, Natalya, it seems we have a connection," he said, taking a step closer to her. Natalya's heart raced as she backed away with each step he took closer, her mind racing with fear. She'd never seen this man before; he didn't go to school with her. Part of her wanted to scream, but she was stuck frozen, staring into his eyes.

Before she could react, the stranger reached out and grasped her arm with a grip that felt like ice. "You are not going to remember this interaction; you're going to think you ran into a handsome stranger on your way home. The next time you see me, you will remember the conversation we had tonight; you will not tell anyone when you do remember. Do you understand?" the man spoke, his voice low and commanding. With her mind fuzzy, Natalya removed her arm from the stranger's grasp. "I'm sorry, I should have been watching where I was going," she said, shaking her head. Moving out of the man's way, she dialed Elena's phone number as she made her way down the street.

"I didn't see him, you did. Why didn't you just speak to him?" Bonnie spoke back to Caroline, shaking her head at Natalya.

"I don't know; I was drunk," Caroline said.

‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.

Natalya sat next to her sister at the grill with Caroline and Bonnie. It was the town's night of the comet and apparently, to Bonnie, a night of supernatural doom and gloom. "Well, I was talking to Grams, and she said the comet is a sign of impending doom. The last time it passed over Mystic Falls, there was lots of death. So much blood and carnage, it created a bed of paranormal activity," Bonnie explained. "Yeah, and then you poured Grams another shot, and she told you about the aliens," Caroline replied back sarcastically. "So then what?" she then turned her head to Elena. "So then nothing," Elena said. "You and Stefan talked all night? There was no sloppy first kiss or touchy-feely of any kind?" Caroline replied. The conversation had shifted to them talking about how Elena had Stefan over last night. "Nope. We didn't go there," Elena replied, "Trust me, I would know; those walls are thin," Natalya said with a slight smile. "Not even a handshake? I mean, Elena, we are your friends. Ok? You are supposed to share the smut," Natalya was shaking her head to agree with Caroline. "Exactly, and I've never been with anyone, so it's up to you all to tell me these things so I can live vicariously through you," Elena pursed her lips. "We just talked for hours," Caroline scoffed. "Ok, what is with the blockage? Just jump his bones already! Ok, it's easy. Boy likes girl, girl likes boy, sex," Elena suddenly got up, Natalya's eyes widened. "Profound, Caroline," Elena responded. "Wait, where are you going?" Bonnie asked.

"Caroline's right. It is easy. If I sit here long enough, I'll end up talking myself out of it instead of doing what I started the day saying I was going to do." she then walked away. "Okay, that was so out of character for her," Natalya said, sipping her strawberry lemonade. The night of the comet had approached quickly. Natalya was once again back to handing out flyers with Elena and Bonnie.

"He didn't call, huh?" Bonnie asked Elena.

"Or text, but I realized we never even exchanged that stuff. We've never gotten to the texting part," Natalya whipped her head around." Seriously?" Bonnie nodded her head in agreement. "That's an important milestone in like any relationship," Elena moved to hand more flyers. "Isn't it? The timing is wrong anyway?" Natalya stopped handing her looking at her sister. "Yeah, but when is it ever right? Remember Jason? We dated a month after Mom and Dad passed away, and I know for a fact the time wasn't right then," giving her sister a smile she turned back to start setting up candles. "I just don't think I'm ready, ya know?" Elena responded. "Again, who is?" Bonnie replied with a small smile. "At least I'm putting myself out there," Elena retorted, "Is that what we're calling it now?" Bonnie responded, "What's that supposed to mean?" Elena snaps back.

"I'm just saying all I'm hearing is reasons why you can't," Bonnie says shrugging her shoulders and walking away. Out of the corner of her eye, Natalya swears she saw the stranger from the night prior, but when she whips her head around she's met with nothing. "You okay, Talya?" Elena asks, moving closer to her sister. "Huh..? Yea, I'm alright, Lena." Elena ditched Natalya to walk around with Stefan, Bonnie got the creeps again from him, and Caroline was nowhere to be seen. Natalya was totally ditching the comet. As she walked alone to her car, the night air felt thick with unease. Her friends and sister lost in their own world, even her brother was wrapped up in Vicki land. Now, the deserted parking lot seemed to stretch out before her like a void, the only sound the echo of her footsteps on the pavement. Suddenly, she heard a rustling sound, like someone moving in the shadows. Natalya's heart skipped a beat as she glanced around, her senses on high alert. She quickened her pace, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end. Then, out of nowhere, he appeared—the dark-haired man with piercing blue eyes, his presence sending a chill down Natalya's spine. "You again?" she gasped, her voice trembling with fear. "How did you—" But before she could finish her sentence, the man was standing before her, his eyes gleaming with an unsettling intensity. "Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you," Damon said as that smirk Natalya was all too familiar with settled on his features. Natalya took a step back, her heart racing in her chest. "What do you want?" she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper. "I need a small favor from you," he said as he moved closer to her, locking her gaze with his. "You are going to pretend to be in a relationship with me. You see, I know the fact that I'm messing with your head will bother my baby brother. So his precious girlfriend's baby sister has to be collateral," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "Wh— who are you?" she whispered back, her eyes still gazing into his. But the man didn't respond. Instead, he reached out and grasped her arm with a grip that felt like ice. Natalya gasped, her pulse quickening as she struggled to break free. Natalya arrived home; she set her keys on the table near the door — "Hey, Talya," Elena said, bounding down the stairs, "i was thinking we could slumber it tonight.. maybe watch a movie?" she said grabbing a bowl from the kitchen. Natalya felt this overbearing sensation to inform her older sister about the man she had met once again in the parking lot, but the words the came out of her mouth didn't reflect what was going on in her mind — actually it was the total opposite, it was like she was saying one thing in her mind but she couldn't say it out loud, so she just decided to say nothing. "I actually just want to go to bed, I had a really long night and i'm just not feeling it." she responded "Natalya are you alright?" Elena said walking over to her sister moving her to sit on the couch — if only she knew but it was like Natalya's mouth was sealed shut, "yea Elena i'm fine" she took her hand from Elena's grasp and stormed upstairs. when Natalya entered her bedroom she shut the door and leaned against it. "you wanted to tell her didn't you?" Damon said as he laid on Natalya's bed messing around with her teddy bear — "what are you going to do to me?"

Natalya whispered in a vice like fear — "well i have a couple things but right now i'm hungry. why don't you come sit down next to me?" Natalya hesitated — "cmon Natalya you have to do what i say.. that's how this works" he persuaded in a sing song voice. Natalya's hesitant footsteps move her towards the bed. she sat down next to him as he moved to her, "see that wasn't so hard" he said as he moved her hair out of her face cupping her cheek. Natalya sat frozen as Damon's lips pressed against hers, his kiss forceful and demanding. Panic surged through her veins as she realized she didn't want this, but Damon was stronger than her, his grip on her arms unyielding. "Stop," Natalya gasped, trying to push him away, but Damon only tightened his hold, his kiss growing more aggressive. "Natalya, don't fight it," Damon murmured against her lips, his voice low and commanding. "You know you want this." But Natalya didn't want this. She wanted to scream, to run away from Damon's suffocating embrace, but she was powerless against him. And then, she felt a sharp pain shoot through her neck as Damon's fangs pierced her skin.

She cried out in agony, her entire body wracked with pain as Damon drank from her. She felt weak, dizzy, and helpless, her vision swimming as darkness threatened to consume her. Damon pulls away kissing down her neck moving her sweater out of his way. Natalya felt sick to her stomach as she at him, her body trembling with fear and disgust. She wanted to scream, to run away and never look back, but she knew she was trapped in Damon's web of control. She didn't even want to think of was happened next. She knew she hated the man next to her, Natalya had never hated anyone before. But this man — he's taken something from her she'd never get back. She didn't know what he wanted with her, why he did what he did. She knew he wasn't human based on the way that when he was done with her he told her to never say anything about what happened, and she listened. The Gilbert girl hesitantly fell asleep.

‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞!!

𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬, 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫! 𝐌𝐲 𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐫 𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐤𝐨𝐥 𝐦𝐢𝐤𝐚𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐢𝐜!! 𝐀𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐚 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞!

𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 -

𝐌𝐢𝐚 𝐱𝐨𝐱𝐨

[queenofgraveyards]

i want jealous ivy so bad (both of them tbh but i thought of an ivy scenario first) k so imagine when they come back from their holiday break harry has an important meeting in the conference room and ofc he wants his wife to set up and stay in there to help and be pretty. and one of the women executives is staring at harry the whole meeting like even if he’s not talking and ivys bored in there so she’s just looking around at stuff and keeps noticing her stare and shes like wait……. and then when the meetings over she stays behind as harry shakes hands and sees them out and the woman obvi thinks it’s her time to shine and try to get with harry and h can just SEE his wife fuming but trying not to act out at work and she gets lots of sexy time and praise for not beating her up

ugh I know jealously is such a complex emotion and everyone who says it’s bad and yuck are WRONG jealously is a SEXY emotion and jealous bambi h is like a literal god and you know what we don’t talk about jealous ivy enough, 1 my girl is a Scorpio and 2 she’s just straight up insane so OF COURSE the bitch is the jealous type and I do love your idea bc I think that’s how women would try to approach h these days cause the man don’t have a social life and if he does go out in public ivy is literally always with him 😮‍💨 and I can see her quietly fuming and h being sooooo impressed with her and ofc very in love with her but she didn’t make a scene bc they’re at work and ivy is a grown up these days even tho she literally drew a stick figure picture of herself killing the women and coloured in a pool of blood around the dead body and h is just sooooooo🥺😮‍💨 and ofc they spend a lot of time in his office and he’s just so soft and reassuring bc I feel like as much as he finds it’s hot he knows his wife is insecure so ofc he’s never going to leave her uh hello Ivy I’m literally obsessed with u and it makes her laugh ofc and it’s just so cute BUUUUUUT my thing is… I feel like ivys jealously can go two ways, she can be the insecure quiet jealous type whose jealously turns into oh my god he’s going to leave me he deserves better OR she’s the insane I’m going to destroy the other person (and possibly my actual relationship bc she’s a self sabotager for sureeee) and she’ll straight up fucking fight someone and then make out with Harry for literally everyone to see and h would be so 😵‍💫😧 abt that one but actually now I’m talking about this I think ivy is a talks the talk and acts like nothing bothers her big strong scary Scorpio girl but deep down she’s a baby who only acts tough to hide her true insecurity so yes she’s a cry baby insecure he’s going to leave me jealous type (bc she’s the complete opposite of h who let’s all of his emotions show freely n openly bc he’s an adult who emotions openly and healthily) and idk where this was going except I need to write more jealous ivy bc I don’t feel like we see enough cry baby ivy 😌

[boytouya]

Okay first off, I love you, you fantastic amazing person💖 and two a Shinso getting his adult older brother to finally ask Aizawa out?? After seeing them pining after each other for a while? ☘️

𝙎𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧

a/n: i’m so sorry this took so long!!

Warnings: None

The first time Hitoshi noticed your feelings toward his mentor were mutual he was in a parent-teacher conference. In his case it was a guardian-teacher conference. He was going over his plans and goals for Hitoshi with you, indirectly asking for your permission.

“This is...depressing.” Hitoshi pursed his lips as he glanced between you and Aizawa. You

had a stupid look on your face (well, to him you always looked stupid), and your eyes hadn’t moved from Mr. Aizawa’s lips. He wanted to hurry up and get out of there, drag you away from your crush and complain about how out of all people you chose him. His mentor. You’re the worst big brother ever.

Either Aizawa was too busy making hidden goo-goo eyes or he didn’t care enough to humor Hitoshi’s statement, but he continued explaining the rigorous schedule he’d given Hitoshi. Underneath the bored stare Shinso could tell Aizawa-Sensei was dying to ask:

Are the dark circles genetic?

Well, that or he was infatuated with your eyes. His face wrinkled up as he cringed. All these stolen glances and yet neither of you could muster up the courage to say something. Hitoshi isn’t stupid, but his older brother might be.

The second time Hitoshi noticed your feelings toward his mentor were mutual was after he practiced training.

Mr. Aizawa had taught him new jabs and how to dodge them. Throughout their spars Shinso would take a packed punch straight to the stomach without even thinking to dodge it, or his reaction time was too slow, so Aizawa took it upon himself to teach a few timed dodges.

Hitoshi was covered in a thin layer of sweat and grime when Aizawa asked him a question that kept him perplexed for the rest of the day.

“If you feel comfortable sharing, how old is your brother?” That was definitely a new one.

Hitoshi squinted, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. “I’d say the same age as you, Sir.”

Mr. Aizawa looked incredibly satisfied with the answer. It was odd, seeing as the teacher always had something unintentionally witty to say after receiving open ended answers, but Hitoshi paid it no mind.

…

It was the day before Spring break, Hitoshi was walking out of the UA dorms with a suitcase dragging behind him when he saw you talking to his teacher. He could tell you were flustered, constantly jittering around and rubbing at your neck every time you made eye contact with him.

Mr. Aizawa sounded...cheery. His hair was swept back and he stood up straight, which was peculiar. He’s only ever cleaned himself up for the press or parents. Sure, you were his guardian but this wasn’t a special occasion, he was just making sure his students got home safely.

“Hey, ‘Tosh!” You waved enthusiastically, breaking free from the trance the teacher had you trapped in. Hitoshi walked over, the wheels of his suitcase dragging along the pavement as he greeted you with a bored stare.

“You ready to go home?” You asked, your hand finding its way into his purple locs. You had a few strands of purple in your hair as well, clearly your mother had very dominant genes.

Shinso couldn’t help but notice your nervous tics, his glance flowed upward to Aizawa’s face. He wasn’t looking directly at you anymore, instead staring at the entry doors to U.A. Hitoshi could see doubt flash across your face.

“I have to make sure every student gets home safe,” Shouta started walking toward the only unoccupied car parked by the school, which he assumed was yours. “Not my decision.”

He spoke to you as though he didn’t already start walking, but the two of you took it as your queue to pick up the pace. He purposely bumped you into his mentor, hoping to start another conversation. You were such an idiot, apologizing and pursing your lips. Just talk to him. After witnessing the two of you ‘flirt’ like middle schoolers, he deemed that was enough.

“Could you just ask each other out already.” He says aloud, slamming his mouth shut when you stop walking beside him. But the damage has been done, because Aizawa is turning to face you with an unreadable expression. Hitoshi wants to take it back, go back a few seconds and fix everything he may or may not be about to destroy because you look so nervous.

You expect him to say something but he doesn’t. Shouta simply hums, an almost imaginary hint of a smile ghosting on his face as you scurry over to pop the trunk of your car. His students were always so observant, but none were quite as blunt as Shinso.

Aizawa takes the suitcase from Shinso, who’s clearing his throat and hurrying into the passenger's seat before he can say anything else. It’s times like this he wishes he could mind control himself. He can hear the two of you beneath the beeping of the car, and considers it a relief when he hears you laugh.

“I don’t have much free time but...I know a place that makes a mean cup of coffee,” Aizawa pauses, lifting the suitcase and neatly arranging it into the corner of the trunk. He stuffs his hands into the pockets of his dress pants. “Are you free this weekend?”

[fific7]

Cold Day in Hell - Part 1

Logan Delos x Reader

A/N: This does not completely follow canon, it’s mainly lemon zest 🍋 because the world needs more Logan Delos.

Warnings: 18+ NSFW due to sexual content, including oral, between consenting adults* in future chapters. Drinking and swearing.

*Irl, please don’t go wild in the country without protection.

(My GIF)

Logan Delos was bored. Mind-numbingly, screamingly, terminally bored. He was rapping out an irritated drum solo on the arm of his chair with his long fingers. He was shifting in his seat, constantly crossing and un-crossing his long legs. He was moving the papers on the conference table in front of him from side to side, then backwards and forwards.

The businessman who was talking through the main presentation had a voice that was flatter than roadkill and had only one tone... monotone.

Logan leant forward and propped his elbows on the conference table in front of him, using his fingers to physically hold open his eyelids as they kept closing of their own accord. He felt a yawn coming on and fought to stop his mouth opening to accommodate it... but failed.

He was aware of the door to the conference room opening behind him but didn’t even have the energy to turn and see who it was. This asshole is draining the fucking will to live out of me, he thought. He vaguely heard said asshole saying something about his colleague talking through the next section of the presentation.

Logan sat right up in his seat as he spotted a beautiful - no, stunning - woman making her way to the front of the room. She was dressed in ‘business smart’ but even those sensible items couldn’t hide her curves. Her hair was pinned up, and he had already started fantasising about loosening it and running his hands through it. He wished he’d paid attention when Asshole had said her name. Or had he said her name? Logan had no idea.

He heard her starting to speak, a melodic voice... he had to know her name! Logan tutted and picked up the meeting agenda, riffling back and forth through the pages to get to the correct one, but wasn’t even sure what page he should be on. Suddenly the folder tumbled from his hands and clattered onto the floor. The talking stopped and he became aware of everyone’s eyes on him, including hers. In fact, she was kind of glaring at him.

He gave an apologetic wave to the room in general as he retrieved the folder from the floor. She began speaking again, and he resumed his page-riffling. Finally he found the current one, and there was her name in black and white. A melodic name to match her voice, he thought.

He started paying attention to what she was actually saying.

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

You’d just started your part of the presentation when some asshole dropped his agenda folder, the sharp noise bringing you to a screeching halt. When you saw a hand waving around in the air, your eye followed the arm down to its owner and noted that he was in fact a very good-looking asshole. But he was still an asshole.

You cleared your throat, trying to collect your thoughts and then launched back into your presentation. The asshole was now staring at you relentlessly; every single time your eyes swept the room, his dark eyes were on you. Like... always on you. Not like the others, who were at least glancing down at the handouts occasionally.

The section you were presenting drew to a close, and you now took an empty seat at the table. It was diagonally opposite the handsome asshole. Who was still staring at you.

Now that you were much closer, you could see that his eyes were a dark chocolate brown, with a wicked gleam in them. They matched his shining dark hair, which was immaculately swept back from his forehead. You boldly met his stare for a while, before breaking eye contact to listen to your colleague Craig deliver the final part.

At the end of the presentation there were a few questions which were duly answered, and then everyone was gathering up their paperwork and milling around prior to leaving the conference room. As you tucked your folders away in your document bag, in your peripheral vision you became aware of a pair of long legs making their way to you. You knew who it was bound to be so you didn’t bother looking up. A throat cleared next to you but you continued packing away your items, and then you heard your first name being spoken in a low, husky voice. This time you did look up - it would be rude not to - and yup, it was Handsome Asshole. A hand was proffered to you and by reflex you took it, your hand being crushed in a strong grip. “Logan Delos,” said that suave voice, “...it’s an absolute pleasure to meet you, sweetheart.”

“Sweetheart?” you scoffed, “...how original!” while thinking, oh... so this is the infamous Logan Delos, whose name you’d heard all the time in connection with the projects but never actually met before. He had a reputation of being a bit of a diva. You heard him give a deep chuckle. “Yeah, that’s me - an original. Unique, in fact I’d say.” “Well, you’re super confident, that’s for sure!” You picked up your document bag and headed for the door, saying “Nice to meet you, Mr Delos,” as you started to leave. His tall frame scooted round in front of you before you could reach it, “Oh, not so fast.... I can’t let you leave before you agree to have dinner with me.” You tried to sidestep him but he blocked your way, and then a little ‘step to the right, step to the left’ dance ensued. Finally, exasperated, you stood still and put your hands on your hips. “Mister Delos! Will you please let me past!” He copied your stance, “Not until you say you’ll have dinner with me. Or lunch. Or.... breakfast, if you prefer?!” wiggling his eyebrows at you. You huffed, “I don’t date business partners!” He still stood in front of you, seemingly immovable, “We’re not business partners - technically speaking. Boring Asshole is my business partner, not you.” Your mouth dropped open but before you could stop it, laughter bubbled out.

You hastily silenced it, saying, “I admit, Craig may not be the most inspiring public speaker, but he really knows his stuff,” trying to cover your somewhat indiscreet reaction and save your colleague’s honour at the same time. “But that’s beside the point, Mr Delos, because we are business partners despite what you’re trying to say.” Logan had moved slightly aside while you were speaking and you took this opportunity to brush past him, calling out, “Goodbye, Mr Delos,” with the emphasis on the goodbye as you went.

If you’d bothered to look back, you would’ve seen Logan Delos watching you go, a very determined expression on his face.

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

Juliet looked up from her laptop as Logan breezed into her lounge, tossing his car keys onto the coffee table and throwing himself onto the sofa, long legs spreading out in front of him as he did so.

“Good meeting?” she asked, seeing that his head had gone back onto the cushions and he was staring up at the ceiling. He hummed, “Good and bad. The presentation was the single most boring thing I’ve ever heard in my life, but on the other hand one of their staffers.... wow! It was like an angel came down from heaven and found her way into that conference room.” She sighed, “Logan... by all that’s holy... do not try to screw one of our business partners for god’s sake! Dad will go ballistic if you mess up our working relationship with them.” Logan looked offended, “Who says I’d mess it up?” Jules gave a big sigh and shrugged, “Me, for one. Dear brother, I love you with all my heart but you’re fucking awful at relationships. You’d just fuck her and drop her like a hot potato. Who is it that caught your roving eye this time anyway?” Logan said her name in a dreamy tone and Jules rolled her eyes heavenwards, “Oh, no, no, no!... no way, Logan. I know her, she’s a lovely person and also does a fantastic job - she’s one of their top software engineers, specialising in middleware.”

Logan smirked, “She can engineer my middleware anytime she likes.” “Oh, shut up and get your mind out of your pants, Logan. Stay away, okay?!!” He huffed, “Hey! You can’t tell me who to pursue or otherwise, Jules!” “But that’s it, right there - you’ll chase her, catch her, bang her and drop her! I really like her as well as respecting her work, so you better just be damn careful!”

Logan sighed. He loved his sister but god, she was a king-size pain in the ass sometimes.

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

A week or so later, and you’d almost forgotten about that handsome asshole at the presentation. You couldn’t deny that he’d popped in and out of your thoughts since, but you’d googled him the day after you’d met him and had also made some discreet enquiries amongst those colleagues who’d worked with him before on projects. What you’d discovered had not endeared him to you.

He was a world-class player, that was obvious - and not fussy about which gender he played around with either. Not that that put you off, it was just the sheer volume of men and women he was pictured out on the town with. And alcohol and substance abuse had been there in the mix too, with some stays in rehab mentioned although the last one had been over a year ago. So no... you’d decided you wouldn’t be entertaining any further thoughts of the undeniably attractive Mr Delos.

You turned your thoughts back to the current middleware solution you were constructing, in fact it was for Delos Corporation, involving various scenarios for their Westworld hosts. You were immersed in code and structure when your phone rang, and you saw your boss’s extension number on the caller ID. Hmmm... what could she want? She usually gave you free reign when you working on a project, catching up with you every couple of days at team meetings. Answering it, you heard her assertive voice asking you to pop along to her office and so you set off on the short walk there. You knocked on her door and heard her say ‘come in’, so in you sailed and then came to an abrupt halt. Logan Delos was sitting opposite your boss; he was half-turned towards you with a somewhat triumphant smirk on his face. Your boss indicated the chair next to Logan and you quickly sat down, wondering what this was about and why Logan looked so smug.

Your boss launched into a mini-summary of what you were currently working on, and all you could do was nod. Eventually she finished up with, “So all your current projects are for Delos.” It was a statement not a question, so you just nodded. “Mr Delos here...” she levelled a hand towards Logan, “....has come up with a suggestion, and I happen to think it’s a good one.” She smiled at Logan, before looking back at you and continuing, “He thought it would be beneficial to have the person working on most of his projects - that’s you, just to clarify - to be based at Delos Destinations for the next three months, to facilitate progress.” You knew you were looking completely dumbfounded as she hurried on, “Obviously I’d like your input on this, but I’m sure you can see that it’d be very helpful for you to be on-site with our partners while you’re working through the projects?” Meanwhile you were desperately trying to come up with reasons to remain in your own office, but truthfully you couldn’t. It would be helpful to have instant access to their engineers when you needed an answer on something, you couldn’t deny that. Reluctantly you nodded, “Yes...I can appreciate that. But couldn’t we just have me spend maybe one or two days a week over there rather than be actually based in their offices?”

Logan spoke for the first time, his expression business-like now, “That wouldn’t really fulfill the brief though, would it? Because we’d be back to having a slight delay in receiving and giving responses for the time you weren’t at our offices. And I’d ... we’d... make you very welcome. There’s an office waiting for you... right next to mine.” He couldn’t stop that smirk reappearing as he finished speaking. You forced a smile, “Well, I can’t really refuse an offer like that, can I Mr Delos?” You looked back to your boss, “I guess that’s agreed then. When does this take effect?” Your boss beamed at you, “Excellent! I don’t see any reason for it not to commence immediately, do you? How about as of tomorrow?”

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

Logan walked onto his office the next morning, whistling a happy little tune. He’d had a small glass of wine the night before at Juliet’s place when he’d dropped in on his way home, knowing he had to break the news to her that evening about the cunning plan he’d come up with. He was happy for two reasons; firstly, visiting Jules and his niece Emily and not having to see William’s stupid damn face any longer would never get old, and secondly, his little scheme to get closer to that gorgeous woman was coming together. As Jules worked partly from home and partly at the office, he had to let her know that a new face would be around for at least the next three months. It would give him a much better chance to persuade her to go out with him - she wouldn’t really be able to escape him given that she’d be right next door to him every day. Predictably, Juliet had issued a stern warning about what would happen to certain parts of his anatomy should he overstep, but had reluctantly accepted that it was a fait accompli. (Privately, she was looking forward to working more closely with her and also warning her about the usual antics of her beloved brother, that’s if she wasn’t already well aware of them).

He’d been racking his brains for ideas on how best to pursue her ever since she’d turned him down flat at that conference. Logan wasn’t used to being turned down. He’d had a brainwave a couple of days later and had checked into who was handling the Delos projects at her company - after all, surely she wouldn’t be at the conference in the first place if she wasn’t involved somehow? He’d been overjoyed to find out that she was handling just about all of the current open projects (so why on earth had they allowed Boring Asshole to give the majority of the presentation?! he’d thought incredulously) and had then begun to put together a plan to somehow get her into his close orbit. He was really quite proud of what he’d come up with.

His secretary knocked on his doorframe and announced that his visitor had arrived. A big smile appeared on Logan’s face.

Here I go! he thought, the thrill of the chase coursing through his veins.

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

The secretary smiled at you over her shoulder as she leaned against Logan’s office doorframe, “Please, go right in,” before stepping aside so you could enter.

The man himself was lounging back in his fancy office chair, which to you looked more like the type of padded seat you’d get on a private jet, waving you into the office before getting up and striding over to you. He held out his hand which you took but instead of shaking it as you expected, he pulled you towards him and kissed your cheek very softly. A waft of delicious and no doubt expensive cologne reached your nostrils before he stepped back, “Welcome on board!” he said, “...I’m so glad you’re joining us here at Delos Destinations.” You smiled, “Thank you, Mr Delos.” “Logan!” he said immediately, waving his hand and saying your first name. “Logan,” you said dutifully, “yes, thank you for the welcome ....of course I do still work for my own company.” He smiled at you, still holding onto your hand and beginning to lead you to the door, “Well, for now you do. I’ve a mind to steal you away for myself, you know. Or, sorry... for Delos Destinations, I should of course say.”

OK... seems like he’s still interested, even if that wouldn’t last longer than a heartbeat once you’d gone out (and especially if you slept) with him. You knew this secondment was going to be trouble, you thought. Three whole months of trying to resist Mr Player of the Decade. But you were convinced that you could do it.

As he lead you from his office to what was going to be yours, you were suddenly very aware of his tall figure beside you, your hand in his (he still hadn’t let go of it) and a hint of that beautiful cologne of his again. He looked across at you, dark eyes gazing into yours and gave you a mischievous grin. Annoyingly, your stomach did a little flip.

Yeah, really convinced.

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

(Not my GIF - credit to owner)

[casspurrjoybell-20]

Blueberry Muffins - Chapter 2a

*Warning Adult Content*

Hoodies - Part 1 - Wren 

"Ugh, I'm so tired," Farah groans next to me, dramatically tilting her head back. I sigh at this, grabbing my bag and keys. The day has been long but it was finally time to finish up and head out. Looking at the whining girl, I walk past her, opening the door. 

"If you're so tired, Farah, head home, sweetie. I'm closing up now, anyway."

"You don't have to tell me twice. See you tomorrow, boss. Have a good night," she says as she leaves the cafe, waving back at me. 

I watch her get into her car and drive off, closing up once she has left. I looked up at the darkening sky, inhaling the sweet smell of the outdoors. It was a bit chilly tonight but nothing too bad. I began my walk back to the pack house. I don't live there, I have my own small cottage on the edge of the city but since my boyfriend did, I tend to stop by a lot. Soon, I arrive at the large structure that is the Riverside pack-house. It’s like a small apartment building, four stories tall, with two floors sectioned off for Alpha, Beta and Gamma family members. The floor below, holds the conference rooms and offices that the higher ranks all use. Below that are extra rooms, mainly for visitors and the bottom floor is a common area for all pack members. 

The Riverside Pack is big enough to be an entire town and we have events that bring us all together. We have dinners and barbecues and days where we all go to the nearby lake for a pack picnic. And we have a monthly wolf run. The monthly wolf run is one of the pack’s favorite events. The whole pack participated, omega’s included. It brings us all together as a pack but also lets our wolves have a little bit of freedom. Riverside is to have a pack run in a few days and I wonder if Alpha Kristen and her companions will join in. I know the guests aren’t here for just one day, so it would be fun to have new people to run with for a change. My wolf never runs with the head of the pack because of the other’s speed but he still enjoys the time to stretch his legs. I know my wolf is grateful. I walks into the pack house, looking for Erin. I see him with Aaron and Ryder, his Beta and Gamma. Ryder notices my arrival and waves to me, a beer can in his other hand. 

"Wren, come on and join us," he calls, smiling.

They all seemed to be enjoying some free time. I walk over, heading towards Erin who smiles at me, reaching out to cup my face and plant a gentle kiss on my lips. I hum, kissing Erin back but the Alpha-to-be pulls away when he hears his friends acting like idiots, whistling and making a fuss. I roll my eyes at them, heading to the fridge to grab a cold beer. The kitchen is large enough to fit at least twenty people, with sleek counters and a giant island. It has to be this size to accommodate large events. Cooking needs many hands on deck, so they required plenty of space. Having acquired a beer, I walk back over to Erin, leaning on the counter top next to him. 

"Have you guys finished?" I ask, referring to the pack meeting. Aaron nods his head, taking a sip of his beer can. 

"Yeah. Finished an hour ago."

"Thank goodness. I was so bored. I lost focus halfway through," Ryder admits with a groan, whining when Aaron hits him at the back of his head.

"It's our job to handle this stuff. We're going to be in charge soon."

I watch them bicker, my smile widens when I feel my lover's arms wrap around my waist, pulling me in close. I turn my head to look at Erin, having to tilt it up to look him in the eye. I’m not short but Erin is an Alpha and Alphas are naturally tall. 

‘I’m sure if I wasn't born so messed up, I would have been taller.’  

I push the depressing thought away, knowing I shouldn't think like that. 

"Hey. Do you mind if I stay the night?" I ask Erin, setting my can down on the counter top.

"Of course I don’t mind. You don't have to ask, Wren. I love it when you stay over," Erin tells me, leaning down to kiss my temple.

"Okay, is it just me or is Alpha Kristen super intimidating? She is scary, like a predator ready to pounce any second." 

Ryder's comment catches my attention.

"She is quite intimidating. Her son wasn't, though. He’s actually a very nice guy," Aaron says, shrugging a bit.

"Yeah, I guess so. But his Beta is so weird," Ryder hums, taking another sip of his drink. I agreed with the comment and say... 

"I noticed that too. Is something wrong?" I ask, honestly wondering if something had happened to make the Beta, obviously uncomfortable and weird.

"I have no clue. He kept on fidgeting throughout the whole meeting, like he was anxious or something. It was like he..." Ryder answers, the last word he wanted to say not needing to be spoken because we all knew what he meant.

Erin sighs, setting down his now-empty can. 

"Whatever. It doesn't matter anymore. Wren, babe, ready to head up?"

I nod my head, finishing my drink before grabbing Erin’s empty can. 

"Yeah, you go on ahead. I'll be right there."

Erin nods, letting go of my waist to head up the stairs. I take both of our empty cans to the recycle bin, then say goodnight to Aaron and Ryder.

"Night, Wren. Have fun," Ryder teases, a smirk on his face.I blush, shaking my head. 

Erin and I haven't done anything like that yet. We've messed around but we didn't want to risk mating before we were sure we wanted to be together, like that, forever. Once we did, I would start experiencing heats and we definitely didn't want to deal with that right now. I grab my bag and walk to the stairs, making my way to the top floor. At Erin’s bedroom, I don't bother to knock. I open the door and enter, only to catch my boyfriend taking his shirt off. Erin throws his shirt on a chair and then turns to look at me when he hears his bedroom door close.

"Hey," Erin greets me, walking over to pull me into his arms. I hum back, resting my head on his shoulder and wrap my arms around him as well.

"I missed you," I mumble, enjoying my boyfriend’s warmth.

"I missed you too. I kept thinking about you when I were at the meeting. You're always on my mind, if I'm being honest," Erin whispers back, letting go of my waist to look down at me.

I smile, my cheeks flushing with a warm pink glow. I pull back to set my bag down by the door and takes off my black runners.

"Movie and a cuddle?" I ask, watching Erin unbuckle his belt and remove his dress pants. Erin nods his head, ridding himself of his clothes, except his stripped cotton boxers.

He goes into his walk-in closet, coming back after a few second in grey sweat pants.I take off my clothes and folds them neatly, setting them inside my bag. I go into one of Erin’s drawers, grabbing a soft, light blue hoodie. Erin has set aside hoodie’s just for me, when I had first started to have sleep overs. Erin had told me, multiple times, that I looked cute in the oversized clothes, as cliche as it sounds. I crawl onto the bed in the center of Erin’s room and snuggle under the dark blue covers. Erin sets up a movie for us to watch, heading over to me after he is done. He gets into bed as well, pulling me to him, the moment he gets comfortable. I shift around, resting my head on Erin’s arm as he looks to the screen.

While the movie plays, my thoughts begin to wander. I feel lucky to have someone so amazing that wants to be with me like this. I feels warm and fuzzy when I’m with my boyfriend. Erin makes me happy and I know that if we did bond-mate, I would be even happier still. A small voice in the back of my mind says that maybe this won't last. That I'll end up meeting my true fated-mate. But it’s very unlikely. How could I ever hope for something better than this when I can't even feel the mate-bond? I will choose Erin and then I’ll be able to feel our bond. I won't be able to feel my true fated-mate's bond until we have mated.

‘It’s the same situation either way, so why can’t I choose Erin?’

I don't want to get my hopes up, though. Erin is perfect. He is amazing, kind, gentle and brave and I knew he would make a wonderful Alpha and I’m so happy to be by his side. Slowly, my eyelids began to grow heavy.

"Goodnight, Wren," Erin whispers to me, kissing my temple gently as he watched me go to sleep.

‘I really was lucky to be next to someone like him.’

[reidsexualwriting]

Only Fans (Reid/Reader)

Requested by reminiscing-writer via my ask box: But like imagine if the team gets a new agent on the team and Spencer takes literally seconds to recognize her lmao SuRpRiSe she’s an ex-porn star whose porns he was/is a huge fan of and even tho she’s Uber professional and even genius- he just can’t look her in the eyes without seeing her doing things to him lmao y did I think of this

Thank you so much for the request (and your patience with this prompt)! This fic is from Spencer's perspective, so it's a little different from what I usually write. I really liked this idea since it's a mix of crack and smut-ish stuff, so I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing!

Title: Only Fans Pairing: Reid x Reader Rating: M/Explicit Words: 1427 Warnings: Swearing and borderline smut-- everything in this fic is c/o Spencer Reid's imagination, so no outright sexual activity. Even as an M/Explicit work, there’s not much smut. A little sub!Reid?

I honestly thought my eyes were playing tricks on me when she walked into the bullpen, guided by Prentiss. I wasn't used to seeing her in FBI-appropriate clothing.

To be frank, I wasn't used to seeing her in any clothing appropriate for situations outside of the bedroom. I tried to be discreet while scanning her body as she shook hands with the other agents in the room.

My eyes weren't playing tricks on me, I noted as my eyes fell to her breasts. I'd recognize them anywhere. My mind wandered to a baby blue set of lingerie she'd worn in a video I'd seen. I knew I shouldn't think about her in that way, especially after seeing the badge on her left hip. I couldn't miss it with the hourglass figure.

I chastised myself in my head and tried to go back to my paperwork. I began scribbling meaningless notes in red pen on the case report in front of me while my mind continued to wander to all the times I'd seen her before-- legs spread and moaning.

After what felt like hours making pen marks and fantasizing I heard Prentiss clear her throat above me. "Reid," she said sternly, snapping me back to reality. "Reid, this is our new agent, Y/N." She gestured to the woman I had been daydreaming about. The woman held out her hand to me for a shake.

I hesitantly took her hand and shook. "It's nice to meet you Dr. Reid," she seemed to purr. "I've seen some of your lectures. I'm a really big fan." If only she knew.

I licked my lips and furrowed my brow slightly. "Thank you," I squeaked. I cleared my throat. "It's nice to hear someone appreciates my boring lectures."

"Oh they're far from boring," she mused. "They're part of what inspired me to become an FBI agent." She smiled, and I could feel myself getting hard. "And I'm definitely excited to be working with you." I felt a chill run down my spine. "And the rest of the team, of course," she added, gesturing to Emily.

I swallowed and let out a breathy laugh, looking to the floor as Emily led her to Rossi's office. How the fuck am I going to work with her when I can't even talk to her without getting hard?

Several days passed until we had a case. In that time, Y/N hadn't posted anything on any of her accounts (at least the accounts I knew about). I was almost grateful-- I thought it would make it easier to transition to seeing her as a colleague rather than an object of infatuation.

Easier said than done, I suppose. I could almost remember every frame of every video she’d ever posted, and every time I saw her in the bullpen with her lip between her teeth or the tip of her tongue barely visible, it was all I could think about-- those lips on my neck or that tongue on my cock. I dreaded seeing her in the bullpen because she wouldn’t get out of my head.

It only got worse when we got our first case. When she walked into the conference room, she was wearing a charcoal blazer with a low-cut blouse and the tightest pair of slacks I’ve ever seen. I couldn’t even bother to make my usual comments as Garcia gave us the case details, because I found myself trying to catch a glimpse of her exposed cleavage every chance I could.

I couldn’t help myself. How was I supposed to focus on a case when there was a woman-- not only sexy but smart-- that I had seen naked on multiple occasions sitting across the table from me? There was a part of me that selfishly couldn’t wait to see her in the field with a bulletproof vest and a gun. Most of her pictures, videos, and streams had her acting as a submissive, but I had a feeling she was more a dominant type and just produced what appealed to the most subscribers. I’m a sucker for strong women, I guess.

The case was relatively open and shut. It didn’t take long to catch the guy, but the arrest was something else. Mainly because it was exactly like I imagined but better. I was her support during the takedown. Watching Y/N yell at an unsub and chase him down was almost erotic. I felt a little gross, but as she clicked a pair of handcuffs on him I couldn’t help but stop in my tracks and imagine what it would be like if she handcuffed me and had her way with me.

When we stepped on the jet, most of the team crashed immediately, but Y/N sat at the table with me. I worked on the case report and she had her nose in a novel I’d already read. After an hour or so, she closed her book and sighed. “Can I check out your report?” she asked out of the blue.

“It’s-- uh-- it’s not finished yet,” I sputtered.

“I know,” she replied, setting the book down in the seat next to her. “I’m just curious.” She chuckled. “And I may need a couple of tips when I’m writing up my first report for the BAU.”

I smiled and handed her the report. She scanned through it at first, but then seemed to linger on a couple of paragraphs. I couldn’t see what she was so focused on, but I wasn’t paying much attention to it. I was watching her facial expressions as she quietly mouthed the words to herself with her brow furrowed. She finally handed it back. “Thanks,” she said. “Looks great. I just think you should add more to it about how much of a badass I was when I took that son of a bitch down.” Immediately after, she winked and picked her book back up. The rest of the flight was a long one.

When we touched down, Y/N offered to give me a ride home. It would mean leaving my car, but I couldn’t say no. I knew I had no chance of having sex with her, but it would at least be nice to get to know the woman I’d been jacking off to for months now.

We didn’t talk for the first few minutes of the car ride. She had her phone playing music through the AUX, and I recognized the music from one of her videos. “Have you heard this song?” she asked suddenly, glancing over at me before returning her attention to the road.

“Uh, yeah, I have,” I responded, trying to act as though I wasn’t replaying a video of her using a vibrator. “I really like it.”

I saw her grin, and it was silent for a couple seconds. “Zugzwang,” she announced, and I immediately felt panic set in. I shifted in my seat, and got ready to defend myself. “Spence,” she began (I noted the nickname), “I read your report on the plane because I had a sneaking suspicion I knew you from somewhere.”

“Well, you said you’ve seen some of my lectures,” I suggested.

She laughed quietly. “I meant in a more adult setting.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Do you know what I studied in college?” she asked. “Linguistics.” She looked over at me for half a second. “I recognized your language from the tips you sent me. Zugzwang is your username.”

“Y/N, I am so sorry,” I began, but she cut me off.

“Spencer, there’s no need to apologize. You helped pay my tuition that helped me get here. Just know that I’m a professional, and I know you are too.” We pulled up to my apartment as she finished. I felt my cheeks flush, and I went to grab my bag from the back seat. I opened the door, getting ready to step out, but she stopped me by gently grabbing my wrist. “I see how you look at me: in the office and in the field. I know this is probably out of line, but I’d love to give you some tips, too, if you’d let me.”

I was absolutely speechless as I stepped out of her car. She slipped a piece of paper in my hand and blew a kiss to me (the way she ended her streams). When I stepped into my apartment, I opened the paper to find her personal phone number with ‘xoxo’ written at the bottom. Suddenly I couldn’t wait to see her in the bullpen.

[creatingnikki]

Start Up

This was the first k-drama where I legit thought that the 2nd male lead was actually the first male lead until half-way through the show. While I do really like Nam Do-San’s character, I think  Han Ji-Pyeong made me feel WAY more. Especially in terms of the romantic chemistry. 

In the beginning, I was so satisfied with the show. But then I think somewhere around the 12th or 13th episode I started to get bored and disappointed. I think that’s mainly because halmeoni suddenly became a side side character and even Ji-Pyeong didn’t have as much screen time. I also feel like there were some sub-plots that were highly unnecessary because they weren’t fleshed out well and felt disconnected like the friend’s brother who died and he wanted revenge, the whole Alex California 3 year time-jump thing. Like that really slowed down the show and made me go ???  The finale however redeemed the show for me!

There were solid side characters in this k-drama, something I generally appreciate about k-dramas as a whole. The character development was also solid and sweet. I think the one that most touched me was Seo/Won In-Jae’s character development. 

I found more depth in her character than even Seo Dal Mi’s. I loved how she changed her name and then visited her grandmother because she just couldn’t do that before it. I get it. I really do. I think we all take our time to do the things we should/want to and that’s completely okay.

Which brings me to the point that Seo Dal Mi, especially towards the second half, felt like a very basic character. I think she was perhaps the only one who didn’t have much development. I honestly didn’t even find her and Nam Do San’s romance to be great or swoon-worthy. 

The most touching connection for me in this kdrama was  Han Ji-Pyeong and halmeoni’s. Like OH MY GOD. Whether it was when he was a child or even as an adult, their scenes made me cry.

 It was the most wholesome, sincere relationship in the entire show! Whether it was her taking him in and thinking he would rob her money in the shop or him thinking that she gave away his investment profits to her son - and both of them being wrong. The scene at the bus station where she gives him a new pair of shoes and tells him only to contact him when he is upset/alone/ill. 

The fact that she calls him good boy. Ahhhhhh. EVERY bit of it. Like even in the finale when she goes to his house and breaks down when she recognises he is sad + lonely I couldn’t stop my tears!!!!! It’s like he can be his true self with halmeoni.

And can I just ramble on about Ji-Pyeong? Firstly his dimples. I can’t deal. 

Secondly his acting. Thirdly his dialogue and his character arc. The way he was so smart in investing and work. The way he could give real feedback and the way he could be honest with Nam Do-San at the end. Aso the fact that he asked him to stop feeling inferior - ahhhhh. Someone really needed to tell Do-San to feel confident and enough and the fact that Ji-Pyeong did that meanth EVERYTHING. Everything about Ji-Pyeong had my heart! His conversations with Yeong-Shila and his drunk moments. And everything in between. I am really heartbroken that he ended up alone. To be honest, by the end of it I really wanted him to end up with In-Jae. I think they as a couple would surprise all of us. 

I know this may be a controversial opinion but both In-Jae and Ji-Pyeong were such strong characters and I feel like they would have easily overpowered the actual first leads (individually and together) if some more attention was paid to them. Which is probably why it wasn’t? But I feel like had the writers of the show leaned more into these two characters. They were smart, mature, emotionally more complex and that’s probably one of my major disappointments with Start-Up. 

But anyhooo, I really appreciated that the last scene was Nam Do-San and Seo Dal-Mi walking to their investor meeting and not their wedding scene. Because yaaaas power couple! I also love how her being the CEO didn’t make Do-San feel inferior or have some sexist ego complex. 

Talking about other side characters I really appreciated Seo Dal Mi’s mom’s redemption. It warmed my heart. I loved how Nam DO San’s father at the end put up the Samsan Tech sign board in the living room and said that the next time he thinks his son is doing something he doesn’t approve of he will look at it 3 times and wait it out/support him? Jung Sa-Ha and Lee Chul-San’s romance appealed to me a lot more than the leads’ romance - no kidding. 

Some of my FAVOURITE scenes were between Nam Do-San and Ji-Pyeong. Like in one of the first few episodes when they are at that conference/party where Nam Do-San shows up as a hot-shot entrepreneur for Dal-Mi and then the two guys move aside to show that they are talking and know each other and Do-San is like what do we talk about? ANd Ji-Pyeong is like let’s just recite the national anthem! I DIED. And then at the end when he invests in Cheonymyeong and they shake hands, how initially Ji-Pyeong only shakes with his two fingers. They both individually and together were beautiful. 

Also can I just say how cool I found the founder and CEO of sandbox just struck me as the COOLEST woman? She’s the kind of person I’d want as my mentor and friend if I was starting a business. And Dal Mi-s father’s backstory is just so very s ad with him finally getting an investment but also like dying the very same day. Sandbox really feels in some way his legacy? 

And I also low-key found the relation between Ji-Pyeong and park Dong-Chun endearing. Like ho Dong-Chun aways recommends all these lovely start ups that aren’t really profitable but he just cannot resist it! And how Ji-Pyeong finally personally invests in the start up for kids who leave orphanages at 18 in the end :’) I was waiting for him to finally personally invest in something like this because he’s rich and he can and I loved it. More than the investing, his meeting with the CEO of that start up was funny and how he wasn’t harsh towards him and how also said he wants a few kids that he can mentor! My heart!

Nam Do-San. I love how he had SO many insecurities because I have always associated that with the female leads whether in kdramas or just generally in the world of fiction. And the fact that he didn’t have any toxic or abusive outlets for his issues is what made me adore him. The friendship between him and his two developer friends was also very heartwarming.

I did really like the business and entrepreneurship aspect of the show like how thye tried to include concepts like the J curve and why you should be a majority shareholder in your own business and what investors look for and stuff. Ofc I would have LOVED it to be more heavy on that aspect but I get that for the general viewership that probably wouldn’t have worked. 

One of the most striking things about Start Up was the relationship between the two sisters. I can’t tell you how much I was digging the fact that neither of them, especially Won In-Jae (at the time) tried to backstab or fuck things up for the other. Even though they had been away for a decade and clearly had made opposite choices in picking their parents and hence a lot of their life, they didn’t once sabotage the other. In fact, they were always concerned about the other when it really came down to it. And them reuniting and working together was a highlight for me. 

This is one of the few kdramas that got the finale done so beautifully. But since Ji-Pyeong’s 2020 life wasn’t really shown to us this is how I’m narrating it in my head. He and In-Jae get together and are this smart power-couple who can open up with each other and be soft and adorable. He also has formed meaningful connections with two kids who left the orphanage and their connection is as wholesome as his and halmeoni's. He and In-Jae live  together in his apartment facing Han River and keep cutely arguing over start up ideas and companies to invest in. Now any time he looks at Seo Dal Mi and Do San he feels friendly affection and this sort of protective vibe. He found some super eye specialist and got halmeoni's eye sight fixed. Her corn dog shop became a huge franchise cos plot twist In Jae and Dal Mi's mother is actually v strategic in business growth.

[wolf-in-a-suit]

An exercise in plumbing

Summary: Jake messed up, what a surprise. Now he has to find refuge from the harsh winter temperatures. Along come Kevin and Holt, who really should have seen this coming.

The white isolation thingy that was “supposed“- to keep his pipes from freezing, melted under the extreme heat of Jake's hairdryer like a marshmallow at summer camp.

No, not good! Thinking about the delicious, soft, gooey snack would just make him hungry, as well as cold!

Winter had taken hold of Brooklyn fast. Almost with as much vigor as Amy had launched herself into this new 'paper- filling-super-important-system- conference - on the other side of the country, thank god!

The cheerful ringtone of his smartphone halted Jake's thoughts, now circling around s'mores.

Damn it!

One hand holding the hairdryer high above his head, the other reaching for his pocket, Jake supposed he made quite a good Statue of Liberty impression.

"Hey, Charles... not the best time, Bud." The ladder under him swayed threateningly, as to drive Amy’s point about the safety hazard of not using ladders appropriately further home.

"Hey, Jake. Just wanted to make sure if you’re okay!? I mean I would love to have you inside, with me,-" "-Charles! I wish you wouldn't say it that way!"

But as always, his complaints about “the misuse of language“ fell on deaf ears. "-but with my whole family over, there simplify isn't any more room. Although, if we squeezed reeeeally tight, we could-"

"You know what Charles, that's totally fine!" Jake interjected hastily "I'll manage. I mean, I am a grown adult, I can take care of a few pipes? That is what grown men do! Fixing pipes, and stuff...right?"

"You know, as your BFF, I have the utmost faith in your abilities, but perhaps you should call Terry, or Rosa?"

"Whaaaaat, noooo! Terry would crumble in an interrogation with Amy superfast and Rosa would snitch on me as soon as I offend her the next time. No, Amy cannot know! I mean even if I hadn't forgotten to raise the temperature- which, I didn't- it seems quite wasteful! Heating the space, when nobody is home, right!?"

 So, being the responsible adult and enviromentalist that he was, Jake snuck into the precinct. No one would be the wiser, all his coworkers were part of the day shift at the 99. And the night shift wouldn't care about another soul in their warm office anyway. Although, watching Gary make his way through the room, moving sluggishly like a Zombie stalking for brains, ‘souls‘ was probably a too good a word to use here.

Said creature of the night regarded him with eyes dulled by years of exposure to darkness and fluorescent computer screens in equal measures. He sniffed once, and continued to shuffle farther. Having lost all ability to recognize a mere mortal snack, even when standing right before him.

Jake sniffed his Jacket. It wasn't that ba - never mind!

 Like John McClane he weaved through the office of fiends and made his way to the Captain's office. As long as he didn't disturb one of the bazillion accurately arranged things, he could catch a warm nap there, without Captain Da- Holt being the wiser.

'Smort!' His brain proudly announced.

 Though, that thought froze as quickly as his pipes when the door to the office swung open and out stepped Holt, followed by an immaculate dressed Kevin.

 "Peralta?"

"Kevin!"

"Jake?"

"Captn' '" 

…

Ah, the soothing sound of silence, grating like sand in an engine.

Gary stumbled past them grunting something that was probably the Ghul equivalent of a 'Hey".

 "So, Jake. What are you doing here?" Holt's right eyebrow climbed about a millimeter higher up his brow. God-damn, that was Holt for: I am extremely startled and suspicious! Come now Jake, think of something... something normal, fitting for you…

"Ah, you know. Just starting to work early, I’d hate to be late!"

Yeah, that's just great. As expected of the current amazing genius / detective.

A deep sigh escaped Kevin. "Come now Peralta, out with the truth! The sooner you admit what you did, the sooner we can leave!"

"Whaaaaat, I didn't do anything, that's prepostous" "-preposterous" Holt corrected "that's what I said! I can talk like a grown person and am in no way searching for a warm room to spend the night because I messed up and let my pipes freeze!"

„So, you did not turn the heat up enough?!“ Both husbands helpfully supplied. „Well, no! But I wanted to get more resistant to cold temperatures, anyway! So that’s just like, part of my super, awesome, ninja training program!“

Without another word the two adults looked at each other and resumed their way to the elevator. Jake, counted that as a win. Coming out of the argument without a stern talking to, or a lecture seemed a win on all fronts! As he turned to Holt’s office Kevin voice stopped him, mid-step. „Peralta. We do not have all night! Come, please.“ Jake turned and felt his heart clench, in a probably unhealthy manner. If the tugging on his heartstrings was a result of the cholesterol of his nacho gummy bear diet, currently blocking his blood vessels, or the scenery before him, he didn't know.

Holt and Kevin both standing at the elevator entrance…, but turned towards him. Waiting! As if, it was the most natural thing, to expect Jake to come with them, without a second thought! 

„Please, do hurry. I would hate to miss the Midnight news!“ Holt added.

At the end of the day, Jake thought, suffering through the boring news broadcast, was a small price to pay for sitting on a warm couch, beside Kevin and Holt, feeling his eyes drop with each added, extremely boring word.

[yourmusicmuse]

Guess what? I wrote yet another oneshot for Dewelyn! Just a fair warning, there is blood and injuries in this, but I hope it is enjoyable despite that!

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

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

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

Gosalyn stumbled into the tower, before collapsing on the couch beside Dewey, who had been watching TV while she was on patrol. Dewey looked over to see her covered in bruises and cuts and immediately he began to panic. "Gos?! Gos, what happened?" He asked, lifting her onto his lap.

She looked up at him, a dark ring surrounding one of her green eyes which were struggling to stay open. "P-Patrol." She said, smiling weakly. She wished her dad was there, but he went to a conference in Cape Suzette with Launchpad, so it was just Gosalyn and Dewey. She was left to do crime fighting herself and while Drake had been extremely reluctant to leave her to do it alone she insisted she would be fine. She was 19 now, almost 20, surely she could handle it! Well…it looked like Drake was right to be hesitant.

Dewey looked down at Gosalyn with overwhelming concern. "Where are you hurt?" He asked, looking over her and her bloodstained garments.

"Everywhere." She replied, chuckling softly. She was really trying to keep the mood up, because she could tell her boyfriend was panicking, but it wasn't really working.

"Hey um…look. You stay here, I'll get the first aid kit, and I'll call your dad…" He said, gently moving her over as he got up.

"I don't think I'm going anywhere Dewey." Gosalyn murmured, letting her eyes close.

Dewey quickly came back with the first aid kit and his phone. "Here…let's get your dad on the phone while we get you cleaned up." He said, dialing Drake's number, putting it on speaker. As the phone rang, his anxiety spiked up higher and higher. "Pick up, pick up please…" He mumbled under his breath.

Gosalyn smiled, still not opening her eyes. "He might be off doing nerd stuff." She said.

"Gos! This is serious!" Dewey said panicking, when Drake picked up.

"Yello?"

"Mr. Mallard! It's Dewey- you already know that, but we have a situation!" Dewey said, his anxiety evident in his voice.

"What is it?" Drake asked.

"Gos- she uh-"

"I'm fine Dewey." Gosalyn said, though her appearance begged to differ.

"YOU ARE COVERED IN BLOOD, BRUISES AND CUTS, GOS! YOU ARE NOT FINE!" Dewey yelled exasperated, making Gosalyn's eyes shoot wide open. She had never seen him this distressed.

"Dewey. Give her the phone so I can talk to her." Drake said in a very serious tone, Dewey doing as he was told, setting the phone on her torso since she probably wasn't going to be able to hold it in her hands.

"H-Hey Daddio." Gosalyn said quietly.

"Gosalyn. What happened?" Drake asked, still in a very serious tone.

Gosalyn frowned. Now she kinda had to explain what happened, because she knew her dad wouldn't take any B.S. "W-Well…you see…" She paused. "O-Okay. I was coming back. A-And…someone tried to grab me. I was fighting back of course, but…then more people came. One 18 year old girl against six grown adults doesn't work. I-I don't know how I got away…maybe they just got bored because I was getting to a point where I couldn't make much of a struggle anymore." Gosalyn explained, shaking slightly as if she were reliving each and every blow.

Things were silent for a moment, until it was broken by a small sniffle. Gosalyn had begun to cry, though she was trying to keep it quiet.

"I'll be coming home early, honey. I'll let the conference admins know there was a family emergency. It will likely be a few hours though…I need you to rest. I imagine Dewey will take care of what needs to be tended to injury wise. LP and I will try and get there as fast as we can." Drake said softly, his tone lightening up. "I love you pumpkin."

"I-I love you too, Dad." Gosalyn whispered, still shaking as she managed to move her arm enough to hang up.

Dewey came next to her, gently placing his hand on hers. "Let's get you cleaned up Gos." He said warmly, pushing aside his stress for her sake. She was clearly going through much, much worse. He scooped her up very carefully, and carried her up to her bedroom. He set her on the bed before going over to her dresser to grab her new clothes to wear. "Anything you want to wear Gos?"

"Anything that isn't this." Gosalyn murmured quietly with a soft chuckle, her crying and shaking having stopped at this point in time.

Dewey nodded, smiling. "That's a wide range, but I'll go with this." He said, pulling out a simple oversized t-shirt and shorts and setting it on the bed frame. He went over to Gosalyn. "Are you able to stand up?" Dewey asked, to which she nodded.

Gosalyn stood up, and though she was a little wobbly at first, she was able to stay grounded.

"Can you lift your arms by yourself, or will you need help?"

"I think…I think I may need help." She said softly.

Dewey nodded, and very carefully lifted her arms, and though she winced a bit, Gosalyn knew he was just trying to help her.

"I need to take off your shirt so I can take care of your wounds. Is that okay Gos?" Dewey asked. He knew how Gosalyn tended to be quite self-conscious with her body, but he really needed to tend to her plentiful injuries.

Gosalyn looked reluctant, but nodded. "I-I…I guess." She whispered, her eyes shifted downwards to the ground.

Dewey kissed the tip of her bill, smiling warmly at her. "Gos, you are the most beautiful person I know, inside and out, and I love you so much. Nothing could change that." He said warmly. He gave her another kiss before lifting her shirt, revealing many more visible injuries, spots of her chestnut colored feathers matted with blood.

Gosalyn inhaled sharply from the combination of pain and the knowledge that Dewey was seeing her without a top.

Dewey lowered her arms slowly. "Okay. You can sit down again." He said as calmly as possible. He could tell she was stressed, so he didn't want to make his anxiety over her state make it worse. everything. And so Dewey took care of Gosalyn's injuries, until she had no more blood stains on her feathers and she had gauze and bandages covering everything.

Once he finished, Gosalyn laid back onto him, looking up at him as she rested her head on his chest. Dewey looked down at her smiling as he brushed a stray strand of hair out from in front of her eye. "I've told you how stunning you are, right?" He said chuckling.

"Only about a billion times since we started dating." Gosalyn said quietly, rolling her eyes as she smiled back up at him.

"Well, you'll probably hear it a trillion more times." He said, giving her a deep kiss, which she returned. "I love you."

"I love you too."

[locke-writes]

Becoming Whole

Author: locke-writes

Title: Becoming Whole

Based On: Imagine Hotch falling in love with you, the person he hired to take care of Jack when he’s away  By: Myself. Originally Requested By: @lotsoffandomimagines​

Rating: T

Word Count: 2,038

Tag List: @opalsandlacemain​

After Haley was killed Aaron made a vow to keep Jessica in Jack's life. She was his aunt and regardless of whether or not her sister was alive she was still related to Jack, she was always going to be Aunt Jessica to him. It seemed cruel to cut her out of Jack's life for the sole fact that his mother, her sister, was gone. Family was family no matter what circumstances may occur.

Aaron supposed he knew that there had to be an end to the way he had been using Jessica. She was family that was true but family should not be delegated to babysitter and that was what he had been using her for as of late. It had been only six months since Haley died - he liked to think of it as died and not killed - yet his idea of keeping Jessica in Jack's life had changed to more having Jack in Jessica's life. He knew that he couldn't keep relying on her day in and day out. Rare occasions when he was home and able to take Jack to school or home from school meant Jessica had little freedom, but little freedom was not the same as all the freedom she once had.

She had turned from Aunt to babysitter in the six weeks since. Guilt weighed heavy on Aaron's shoulders, not just due to his belief that he was taking advantage of Jessica but because he felt he was burning the only bridge that he had for Jack to remember his mother by. Whether that was foolish or truth he didn't want to know, refusing to bring up the subject around Jack. Instead he began looking online for anyone who he felt would be a suitable match to care for Jack.

He began scouring the internet looking at general caretaker sites and individual sites although none seemed to be the right match. It wasn't fair to judge someone based on a profile but that was his job at he refused to believe that he could ever be wrong. Aaron wondered if his endeavor was hopeless because it certainly felt that way. He didn't want to give up, didn't want to forgo the endeavor as he wanted to make sure that there was someone he could count on, someone whose job that it actually was, to care for Jack.

Your name seemed to come up multiple times after he brought up that he was looking for someone to take care of Jack. His schedule was cleared for the week while he dealt with the parent teacher conference for Jack and he felt taking the week off (on call for major emergency's only) would be beneficial in scheduling your interview.

Resume in hand you knocked on the door of the Hotchner household. To say that the man who opened the door was intimidating at first was an understatement even if he did insist you call him Aaron it didn't help that he worked for the FBI. You wondered if he'd already run a background check on you or pulled whatever records on you that he could potentially gain access to.

Caretaker, that was your title. You joked that it always seemed to conjure images of the elderly rather than the children you seemed to care for but it always seemed a better term to you than babysitter or nanny. Aaron had to agree and was ultimately impressed with your experience and references. While he wouldn't tell you in the interview, you were the one person he felt could be truly compatible with Jack.

He called you an hour after the interview to offer you the job which you readily accepted.

The following week was your first meeting with Jack Hotchner. Aaron had asked you to meet him and Jack at the park near his house, a space where Jack often felt calm and a space that wouldn't make him feel as though there was an intruder in his home. This latter portion was specifically important to Aaron as he wanted Jack to never have to relieve that day. You would only learn later on what had happened to Haley.

Jack was shy at first, remaining by his father's side even after the reassurance that you were someone he could trust. It wasn't a new experience for you, getting children to open up and be welcoming, but you knew that it would take time. With Jack it took only a matter of minutes as you commented on one of the characters on his backpack. That launched Jack into a ten minute conversation on the cartoon with Aaron smiling as he watched his son interact with you. It seemed then that you were a perfect match.

And you still were, a year and a half later.

Aaron had never really thought about when you would stop caring for Jack. Perhaps when Jack was old enough that Aaron felt comfortable with him being home alone after school although that wasn't any time soon. You'd never made mention of wanting or looking for another job, you were happy at the Hotchner household and the Hotchner household was happy to have you.

Jack loved you and Aaron…might have been in love with you. Somewhere in the last few months he felt something changed when he looked at you, it wasn't something he wanted to admit to himself still thinking he wasn't ready after Haley. The team knew, and had met you, which meant that Dave had seen the way Aaron looked at you. What Aaron didn't acknowledge or felt he couldn't acknowledge, Dave saw and knew.

You cared for Jack, you cared for his father. Aaron recognized this yet he refused to say anything about it. His cases were important, Jack was important, feelings were something that could be pushed aside and buried deep down until maybe they simply ceased to exist.  Aaron convinced himself he wasn't ready, he wasn't going to be able to move on from Haley.

Although with you he knew all of that to be a lie.

It was all a lie, telling himself he didn't love you, that he didn't care for you. You cared for him, took care of him I ways he could truly never understand. Not that it was difficult to understand, but just that you didn't have to and yet you chose to. You were hired to take care of his son, he wasn't part of the job and yet in some ways you made sure he was cared for as well.

You picked Jack up from school, you cooked him dinner and made sure on the late nights that he went to bed on time. But you also made sure that there were leftovers for Hotch in the fridge, you made sure Jack had Skype calls with Aaron when he was off for cases, you took care of him more than you should. And Aaron began wondering why.

Why would you choose to care for him? It wasn't your job, you weren't getting paid extra for everything that you took care of specifically for himself although there were times that Aaron had provided more financial compensation than was agreed upon in the initial payment discussion and subsequent discussions regarding raises and bonuses. He always assured you he could afford it when you balked at taking money from him.

Had these been payments or ways for him to show he cared just the same?

It didn't hit him that he loved you until he came home from a case that had taken a week to long. Each night he called Jack he'd promised to be home soon, promised to take him to the aquarium like he'd been begging. He promised all sorts of things and as soon as he walked through the door he just wanted to collapse. What he'd seen, it wasn't anything new in terms of all the cases he'd been a part of but still, this time it hit differently.

But when the door opened and he walked inside there was something that made everything change. You were at the dining room table with Jack the two of you fighting off laughter while you struggled to maintain a firm command that Jack should continue his homework. It was simple but there it was, the moment that confirmed everything for Aaron.

He loved you. There was no doubting it. He loved you and this was what he wanted.

He wanted to see you when he came home. He wanted to be able to call you and talk to you when he was feeling overwhelmed. He wanted to hold you and hold your hand when taking Jack to the park. He wanted everything and he wanted it with you. Had he always been so blind? Had he always been so stubborn in his refusal to admit the truth?

"Is no one going to say hello?" He broke into the laughter and dropped his bag to the floor.

Jack launched himself at his father being wrapped into a hug.

You smiled, "Oh, hey Aaron! Sorry…we were a little occupied."

"I heard. A good joke?"

"Yeah. Have Jack tell it to you later, he's the one that came up with it"

He watched as you went into the living room to grab your things. It was always like this, he'd come home and you'd take your things and leave but he didn't want that this time. He had something he needed to say to you this time.

Aaron turned to Jack, "Hey, you think you can finish this in your room? We've got to talk about boring adult stuff"

Jack frowned but nodded and grabbed his notebook from the table. You set your bag back down and stepped into the kitchen, whatever was going to be talked about you hoped to lessen the blow by distracting Aaron with talk of dinner. He watched as you removed containers from the fridge.

"I hope you don't mind being childish. It's chicken nuggets with mac 'n cheese. I baked some cookies too."

"That's fine…do you want to stop for a second. It's nothing bad but it is serious"

You paused, was he just saying it wasn't bad because he wanted to soften the blow or was he being truthful"

"Ok. Go on."

"I've been refusing to accept it for too long and I don't know why. I've told you about Haley. I've told you about nearly everything and you've never backed away from it all. Maybe that scared me, maybe the fact that you could put up with all that was terrifying to me. I don't know."

"Aaron…"

"I'm in love with you."

"Oh"

"I needed you to know that. I needed to tell you that because keeping it from myself was tormenting me and I don't know how I'd bare keeping it a secret from you. I don't expect you to feel the same way and if you need to stop caring for Jack then I'll understand but"

You interrupted, "Yes I probably will have to look for a new job"

Aaron nodded.

"Because I don't want to be paid for taking care of the son of someone I love. That's just helping with parenting, no one needs to be paid for that."

He stared at you and you waited for him to say something before realizing that he was still processing what you had said. You knew the look on his face, it was the same one when he was trying to analyze an interrogation transcript trying to look for a flaw in the words.

"Aaron, I'm in love with you."

Before you knew it he was around the counter and kissing you. This was right, this felt right.

"Gross!" Jack's voice came from the hallway causing Aaron to pull away and turn towards his son.

"You were supposed to be in your room"

"I'm going back, can you not do that in the kitchen? I need someone to check my math homework."

"I'll be there in a minute Jack" you replied.

"Ok. Just make sure I'm not around when you're kissing from now on"

Aaron chuckled, "I guess I don't have to worry about telling him about us."

[monstersandmaw]

Embers - Male dragon shifter x reader, Chapter Five! (sfw)

So... this was supposed to go up on Friday but no one reminded me and I’m clearly not able to set a weekly reminder like an actual adult.

Hope you’re still enjoying this weekly series... Don’t forget to show me it some love if you are.

And I seem to have thrown my 'short chapters/800 words only' thing out of the window. This one is the longest so far, at 2455 words long. *rolls eyes at self*.

One, Two, Three, Four

An entire week passed without word from Mikaeïl. You had almost given up on the whole commission for this departmental murder mystery dinner, when one lunchtime your phone buzzed and you answered with barely a glance away from what you were doing. With a searingly important deadline looming for work, your stress levels were possibly at their highest since university finals, and you had been staring at the computer screen for what felt like days without a break.

“Yeah?” you barked, still tweaking the design while holding the phone with your other hand.

“It’s Mikaeïl,” came a surprisingly shy, male voice at the other end. “Is now a bad time?”

Your heart skipped a beat or two and you grinned despite the lingering frustration that the design wasn’t looking anywhere near ‘there’ yet. “No, not at all,” you smiled, “I’m at work, but I’d much rather talk to you.”

That seemed to fluster him a little, but he cleared his throat and said, “Well… I spoke with the department and showed them your preliminary design. They loved it and are very happy to commission you to do the posters for the event.”

“Fantastic!” you grinned, genuinely thrilled to have a more exiting project to work on than this steaming pile of minotaur shit currently sitting on your computer.

“I thought we might discuss it in more detail when you bring Celia over on Friday...” he said, his softly-articulated words doing odd things to your insides and heartbeat. You could imagine him standing amongst his hoard of plants, one arm folded protectively across his slim chest as he stood, ramrod straight, surveying the gardens beyond.

A second after that image had flashed through your mind, you realised that it wasn’t your turn to being Celia to her flute lesson that week. When you said as much, he sighed and said, “Never mind.”

“I mean... Celia doesn’t have to be my only reason to come over and see you, does she?” you asked playfully, doodling with the stylus on a new layer of the design. As you listened to him speak, his eyes began to stare out at you from the screen as you drew them, all distant and guarded, but glittering and somehow soft all the same.

“No,” he said slowly, the slight smile audible in his rich voice. “No, of course not. I’m rather busy with work this week, and I’m presenting a paper at a conference on Thursday, but if you’re alright to meet up in town instead during the week we could do that?”

“Stickybeaks?” you suggested, thinking of the cafe where you’d first met him.

He clearly along the same lines because he gave that sonorous chuckle that made your stomach churn pleasurably. “Perfect. What day suits you? I’m free most days after five, except this Thursday.”

“Friday?” you suggested. “I think Stickybeaks stays open til seven. We could have an early supper? That way you can tell me all about the conference too, if you like.”

“I wouldn’t want to bore you,” he said reflexively.

“Oh, I think you’d have to work quite hard to bore me. I’m really quite a curious person...”

There was something melancholic about the tone of his clipped response. “If you say so,” was all he said. “Well, Friday works well for me. Shall I meet you there at half past five? That will give me enough time to walk over from the department.”

“Perfect. Looking forward to it.”

A beat too late, he said with a slight crack in his voice, “So am I.”

You rushed out of work that Friday and ended up getting to the cafe way too early, so you got out your A3 sketch pad and started to draw a number of variations on the same theme that you’d doodled back at Mikaeïl’s house. When he stepped through the doorway at precisely 5.29pm, Mikaeïl glanced around, the lenses of his round glasses glinting in the low light, and when he saw you, the hard line of his tense shoulders eased just a little.

Mikaeïl nodded politely at Lidaë, who was fluttering around behind the counter as usual despite the fact that there weren’t all that many customers in at that time, and then he strode over to your place in the back corner. The pathway through the sleek, modern tables gave you the opportunity to admire the slender form of his body and the effortless grace with which he moved, almost like a dancer. Today he wore a butterscotch coloured trench coat, belted tightly at his slim waist over black skinny jeans, and his autumn-red hair was tied back in a sleek ponytail again, with the shorter sections at the front falling down to mask the full intensity of his bright golden eyes.

“Hey,” you said, half standing.

“I hope you haven’t been here long,” he said by way of a greeting and staring at your drawings again with that odd expression again.

“No, not really,” you said, awkwardly sitting back down again. “I finished work a bit earlier than usual and came straight here. I roughed out a few more designs for the poster anyway.”

“You’ve been here long enough to have finished your drink,” he said pointedly. “Can I get you another?”

You eyed your empty cup and then glanced at your watch. “I just turned in a major project that’s been bugging me for weeks,” you grinned. “I think I earned a grown up drink…”

He cocked his head slightly and the corner of his pretty mouth twitched ever so slightly to show his amusement. “Congratulations. And I think I might join you in that.”

By the time he returned, you’d shunted the sketch book to one side and once he’d set your drink down, he took his coat off to hang it on the back of his chair. It was a real effort not to stare at the beauty of his figure. Perhaps it was the artist in you, but you really noticed the strong, straight lines of his waist and thighs, his body clearly tightly corded with extremely lean muscle, and the elegant movements of his fingers as he worked the buttons of his coat.

When he was finished, he sat and shyly drew his ponytail over one shoulder, twisting the end of it between his fingertips and blinked softly at you. “What?” he asked in a breathy murmur.

“I… Uh…” you blushed, and settled on a bashful, “Nothing. Have you come straight from teaching?”

He nodded.

“Oh boy,” you laughed. “Your students must love you.”

“I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic or not,” he said bluntly.

“I wasn’t,” you said, feeling a heat creeping up your neck. Did he seriously not have any idea how attractive he was? “Don’t take this the wrong way then,” you said, sipping your drink and letting the warmth of the alcohol ignite a little courage in you, “But if you were my professor, I’m not sure I’d get much learning done…”

“Then I’d be failing in my duties as a teacher…”

Damn but he was hard work.

“Never mind,” you said. “How did the conference go?”

“Very well, to my surprise,” he said, holding the stem of his wine glass as if it were a rare specimen rose. He inhaled the scent of the wine before drinking, and closed his eyes briefly as he savoured it. His throat worked and you watched his sharp Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed, and that newly-kindled heat in your cheeks flared a little hotter while blood rushed south away from your brain to somewhere a little less articulate.

“What was your paper on?” you managed to rasp.

He cleared his throat and swirled his wine absentmindedly around his glass. “It’s… hardly a dinner time conversation,” he said.

“What, because you study bodies and death?”

His golden gaze flicked up to meet yours. “Most people find it repulsive.”

“You’re searching for answers,” you said. “I’m sure you’re respectful about the way you treat the remains. What’s repulsive about that?”

Mikaeïl blinked, and then his hard, wary expression flickered to something a little gentler, bordering on relief. “Well, alright. I was presenting my preliminary findings on the use of MRI and CT scans to determine the presence of necromantic activity in long-dead remains…”

“That stuff shows up? Even centuries later?” you asked, instantly intrigued.

He made a side to side shake of his head. “That’s what I’m trying to find out. X-ray has been used in the past, but because any damage caused post-mortem usually presents exactly the same whether the person in question was truly alive or undead, it’s not always particularly accurate… I want to explore the use of other technology to explore the effects that necromantic magic in particular has on the body after the heart has ceased beating.”

“That’s awesome,” you breathed, and he smiled again. “Was it well received?” you asked tentatively.

“Yes, for the most part. Non-invasive examination is always preferable, so there was a deal of interest from others in the field. I even had a lich in the audience who was willing to undergo some testing, which was encouraging.”

“Did you study medicine at the university here?” you asked, and he nodded.

“Quite some while ago though,” he said. “I worked as a medical examiner for a long time.”

You frowned, and he read your next question in your eyes.

“I’m not as youthful as I look,” he said. “My kind is long lived. And before you ask, I’m just over two hundred and sixty.”

“Whoa…” Honestly, it wasn’t actually that much of a surprise, given how… ‘remote’ he seemed at times. A moment later you added with a wry smile, “You must have enjoyed watching the leaps and bounds that science has made then in the last hundred or so years! I’d love to witness something like that…”

“That’s…” he faltered into silence.

“What?”

Mikaeïl steepled his long, fingers and rested his lips against his index and middle fingertips, elbows resting on the table. “That’s… honestly not a reaction I’ve had before.”

“I don’t understand?”

With a dry chuckle, he said, “Most people - though the number is admittedly few - discover I’m old enough to be their ancestor, and they start to act strangely. Friendships have been hard to initiate, and even tougher to maintain, though I’m sure that’s partly due to my own…” he swallowed, apparently unsure of the word before settling on, “‘Quirks’.”

You shrugged. “It sucks, I’m sure, but anyone who doesn’t at least try to understand or get to know you is missing out, and probably isn’t worth the effort anyway, at least in my limited experience. Can I ask you another question though?”

As his lips hitched up on one side, he nodded. “Of course.” And with that, he seemed to relax a little more in your presence.

“Is it super rude of me to ask what you are? I had thought you were at least part tiefling, but that was literally just from the horns and the eyes.”

“A common misconception,” he said over the rim of his wineglass before he took another sip. “And one I usually let slide. But no, I am not any part tiefling. I am… my family is… that is to say…” He set his wine down, took off his glasses, and cleaned them with a little cloth that he drew from his top pocket while he said quietly, “We are dragon shifters. Wyvern, technically.”

You blinked in silence for a stunned moment. Dragon shifters were exceptionally rare these days, having been hunted ruthlessly for sport, mostly by orcs but also by humans, about five hundred years ago. They’d been massacred in droves almost to the point of extinction. “No way,” you finally breathed.

He acknowledged the truth with a brief pursing of his lips, and returned his glasses to his face. Tersely, he added, “Please don’t ask me to prove it here. I won’t fit into this corner of the cafe, and besides, shifting is a huge inconvenience to say the very least.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” you said hastily. “I’m just… amazed? Surprised? Honoured?”

Mikaeïl deftly and promptly steered the conversation onto your drawings and drafts after that, and you allowed him to slide the limelight onto you. Clearly an intensely private individual, Mikaeïl had just honoured you with the truth about himself, and, curious as you were about what he might look like in his wyvern form, you respected his gift by focusing on the real reason you were there. This was not a date after all, no matter how much you wished it were.

Despite that fact, however, it was five minutes before closing time when Lidaë flitted over to you, her iridescent hummingbird’s plumage shimmering, and politely asked if you’d mind wrapping up so she could close up her cafe.

Mikaeïl startled from your conversation as if he’d suffered an electric shock. “I’m so sorry, Lidaë,” he said, standing abruptly and pushing his chair back with a decidedly ungraceful scrape on the wooden floorboards. “I had no idea it was so late.”

She patted his arm fondly and shook her head. “Never you mind, my lovely. I’m glad to see you having such a good evening.”

For the first time since you’d met him, his pale cheeks flushed and he glanced briefly at you before fumbling to pick up his coat. Once he’d slid it on, he fished out his wallet and insisted that he pay for everything.

Outside, with your bag packed and a design finalised, you looked up at him and he turned his deep, golden eyes on you. In the light from the street lamps overhead, his yellow eyes reflected the soft glow in a decidedly inhuman way, and you felt something stirring inside you again.

Feeling perhaps a little uncharacteristically bold, you reached for his shoulders, took them gently in your hands, and leaned in to kiss his smooth, cool cheek. As you withdrew, you saw that he’d gone rigid, his eyes wide with surprise. Allowing yourself a small giggle at his expense, you grinned at him.

“I’ll bring the finished design with me when I bring Celia over next Friday, if that’s ok.”

“Mmhmm,” he hummed softly.

“Looking forward to it,” you said. “And thank you again for supper.”

“My pleasure,” he croaked, bowing his head. “Sincerely.”

Tossing a final grin and a wave his way, you walked off down the street, leaving him standing there, and when you glanced back, you saw that he was walking away in the opposite direction, his fingertips just brushing his cheek where your lips had kissed his skin.

To be continued next Friday! (don’t let me forget!)

—

I really hope you folks enjoyed this one! Don’t forget to let me know if you did enjoy it by leaving a like and/or reblogging it!

For all early releases, character art and bios, upcoming story info, and much, much more, join me over on Patreon!

You’ll have access to stories before anyone else, and you’ll get instant access Patreon-only content as well, including polls and an exclusive monthly story for those on the Pixies and Goblins tier or higher!

__

| Masterlist | Patreon | Ko-fi | Writing Commissions |