#I should walk into ongoing traffic

[peachtalia]

the actual dumbest shit I’ve made this year

alt text for my handwriting is too fucked to read

[bekolxeram]

I was reading a lot of fics about Tommy discovering Buck's new found stress baking habit post reunion, then this cringy idea popped into my mind. Now you get to suffer with me.

NSFW-ish

Lukewarm water, 360 grams. Honey, 10 grams. Dry yeast, 7 grams. Mix. Flour, 5… wait, no, wrong flour. Where’s my god damn bread flour? When was the last time I made bread? Oh yes, last month, right before Tommy and I got back together, it should be around… Ah, there, found it! No...

No!

Don’t get sentimental now, there’s no place for melancholy tonight.

“Sexy thoughts. Sexy thoughts.” Buck mutters to himself, desperately trying to stop his wandering mind from ruining his mood.

Think of Tommy. Hot, sexy, pilot.

The cyclic looks so small in his big yet surgically precise hand. It almost seems like he’s telepathically flying the chopper with his mind, not with his strong, steady arm. His fingers are long enough to engulf the control stick completely and more, sometimes he has to twist his wrist around just to flick the top… uh… the button on top.

He can feel the fabric of his sweatpants straining against his hip. The tight cotton shirt he picked out especially for the night feels extra tight around his rapidly warming skin. Good, it seems like his tactic is working.

And his pecs… that time when he wore nothing but his flight suit, umm... They’re so fun to play with, squeeze them, bite them, lick them, sleep on them, make them bounce. I don’t need to “explore” to be sure how much I love them. It’s not even about gender, I know a good pair when I see one.

Stop. No. He’s apologized. I’ve apologized. We’re all good.

It feels like all we do these days is to apologize, then have make up sex. Not saying it’s not good sex, but I want that light, fun sex we used to have, before we…

Don’t, don’t go there.

Anyway, oh, his beautiful face. The one stubborn strand of hair on his forehead that always refuses to comply with any hair product. The constellation of freckles scattered across his perfectly shaped nose. The sensual curve of his lips. The creases around his eyes and his cheeks when his whole face is lit up by that classic scrunchy smile. I swear they look even more prominent now… Oh! How could I forget, that delicious cleft on his chin. If there’s one saving grace coming out of the breakup, it’s his decision to double, no, triple his effort at the gym. His facial features look that much more striking on his now leaner body. Who gets over a heartbreak by becoming a Greek statue anyway? Pick up baking like a normal person, please.

Wait, I’m thinking about the breakup, aren’t I? Don’t. Don’t! Ugh… too late.

Buck lightly bangs his head against the counter in frustration. Deciding to focus on the task at hand instead, he promptly weighs out his flour, sprinkles in a pinch of salt, then pours the bubbly yeast mixture into the dry ingredients.

Just as he’s about to put his hands to work, he’s interrupted by a familiar rhythm at the door. Quickly wiping his hands on his apron, then pushing the waistband of his pants down by half an inch for Tommy’s viewing pleasure, he goes on to greet the man he’s been waiting for.

“Sorry, I’m late,” Tommy apologizes as he’s entering the loft. “I believe the infamous LA traffic still hasn’t recovered from the emergency freeway landing last year.”

“No, no, it’s alright,” Buck shoots him a reassuring smile, clearly delighted by having his beloved in his space again. “Make yourself at home, I’ll be right with you. I need to finish this dough first.”

“But I thought you said you wanted to relax tonight? Aren’t we just gonna order takeout?” Tommy’s visibly confused by Buck’s ongoing culinary endeavor.

“Oh, this? This is not for tonight. It has to proof until at least tomorrow morning,” Buck replies absentmindedly, his hands continue kneading the dough without pause.

“You don’t have to, Evan. I’m okay with no breakfast at all,” Tommy walks around the kitchen counter to give the hardworking baker a kiss on the temple. “As long as I’m with you.”

“Um… no, I’m making these because my parents are coming to town.”

“Tomorrow morning?!”

“In a month. They’re coming to see Maddie in a month. I’m just stress baking because they…” Buck lets out a sarcastic laugh, “they stress me out.”

“Ahhh… is that so? Well, I’m happy to have learned this about you. I never knew you could bake.”

“I couldn’t. I picked it up recently, after you…” Those dreaded words have already slipped out of his mouth before Buck realizes. He’s been trying his damnedest to steer the night away from this particular direction, but as it turns out, he’s utterly powerless against the freight train of emotions he’s been keeping deep inside. He briefly considers changing the subject, but Tommy’s heard him already. He perks up his eyebrows, signaling Buck to finish his sentence.

It’s better to rip off the band aid now, than to let it snowball into something unstoppable.

“...after you dumped me,” Buck comes clean reluctantly.

Tommy drops his eyes and sighs in understanding, before gently wrapping his arms around Buck from behind. “I’m sorry, baby,” he presses his lips onto the golden curls in front of him.

“Chimney told me, you have a tendency to run away if you’re being pushed too hard. I should wait for you to reach out instead of… the other way around.” Buck keeps working on his dough, intentionally averting his gaze from the man behind him.

“Mmhmm.”

“It was… agonizing. I saw you everywhere. I saw you at home, I saw you at the fire house. I saw you at the coffee shop. I saw you when a helicopter passed by in the sky. You were like… a ghost, haunting me, every waking moment of my life. You know what? Not even just waking, you were haunting my dreams, too. The only thing that managed to stop me from texting you was baking. I had all the supplies at home because I was planning to surprise you with a cake for your birthday but…”

Tommy abruptly lets go and backs off. While Buck fully expects the night to be ruined after his long winded ramble, he mourns the sudden loss of contact nonetheless.

Still not looking up from the increasingly elastic mass on the counter, Buck continues, “I just have to knead it for… um… 5 more minutes, then I’m all yours. Let’s start over, yeah? I’m over it, I’m okay now. Let’s forget about it and just… chill. There’s this movie I…” He’s cut off by Tommy’s return, arms secured around his waist once again, chest pressed firmly against his back, the only difference being that Buck can feel Tommy’s body heat radiating this time.

“Ghost, you said?” Tommy whispers, lips barely grazing the hair standing on Buck’s nape.

“Yeah…” Buck shivers. He turns his head slightly to take a peek at the man behind him.

Yes, Tommy’s shirtless.

“Mmm, keep going,” Tommy demands, hands sliding under the hem of Buck’s shirt to roam around his midsection, lips softly connected to the side of his neck.

So Buck keeps going. Press. Rotate. Press. Rotate. Press. Rotate. Press. Rotate.

He feels two big hands caressing his shoulders, along his arms, then all the way down to his own busy hands.

“What are you making?”

“Ba — Bagels.”

“Umm… I love bagels,” Tommy lazily drags his mouth from Buck’s neck to his shoulder, leaving a trail of delicate kisses behind, “do you know how I like to take it?”

“How…?”

Tommy props his head back up, chin resting on the younger man’s shoulder. “Plain, with cream cheese,” he breathes straight into Buck’s ear. “So much cream cheese that it… oozes out everywhere. Leaking from the side, through the middle…” his tongue darts out to give that spot right underneath the earlobe an inquisitive lick. “I love it when it gets all over my face, painting my mouth white.”

Buck’s previously regular cadence starts faltering. He doesn’t know when to press or when to rotate the dough anymore.

“Hey, let me help you with that,” Tommy grabs a hand full of the dough, and squeezes, hard. Yet, the dough barely budges. “Oh, am I doing it wrong?”

Buck can’t help but giggle. “You have to knead with your palms, not your fingers. Here, let me show you,” he covers Tommy’s right hand with his own, and pushes the heel of his palm into Tommy’s wrist. “You want to fold the dough onto itself, then roll your palm out while pressing down. A bagel dough is supposed to be pretty stiff, so feel free to put your whole body weight into it.”

“Like this?” Tommy mimics exactly what Buck just showed him.

“I’ll give you an A,” Buck turns his head around, meeting Tommy’s gaze. Their faces are so close together, they can feel each other breathing. “You’re a fast learner.”

“I have the best teacher,” Tommy murmurs.

They naturally gravitate towards each other, like two stars on a collision course, until their lips clash together into a sloppy, filthy open-mouthed kiss.

Pulling back slightly to gasp for air, Buck’s pupils are completely blown out, leaving merely a thin icy ring around his dark pool of arousal. “You can use both hands if you want…”

“Let me try that,” Tommy surrounds Buck in his arms, pinning him against the kitchen surface. Then, he starts working on the dough, using his entire body, making sure to time every pressing motion with a thrust from the hip, rocking the younger man into the edge of the counter.

“Mmm — Ah…” the friction generated by Tommy’s movement alone is enough to make Buck moan. He never thought baking could be this erotic. “That — That works…”

He allows himself to enjoy Tommy’s sweet show of strength for a few moments before firmly gripping Tommy’s wrists, stilling him. “It’s — It’s done. Now we put it back into the mixing bowl,” he hastily drops the dough into the metal container, causing a loud thud, “and leave it in the fridge overnight.”

Tommy gives him one more kiss on the cheek, and a pat on his lower back, “go,” then steps aside.

Buck nearly trips over his own feet walking towards the fridge. He hears water running in the background, probably over Tommy’s talented hands. Wrapping up the stainless steel bowl with more than enough plastic wrap, then shoving the whole thing into an empty corner of his fridge, Buck is all too eager to return to Tommy’s touch.

Slamming the fridge door close, Buck whips his head around in a millisecond to catch an eye full of Tommy in his shirtless glory for the first time in the night. He’s drying his hands with a kitchen towel, finger by finger, his biceps flex every time he rubs a digit clean.

Buck walks straight up to the object of his desire, waiting no time to close their distance. Hooking an elbow around Tommy’s neck, he pulls him into a deep, urgent kiss, while his free hand travels down from Tommy’s clavicle towards his nipple.

“Wait,” Tommy stops the exploring hand on its track, “wash your hands first.”

Buck groans in frustration. He unties the knot in his back, takes off his apron, then swiftly treks towards the kitchen sink to prepare himself for the ensuing nighttime activities.

Tommy follows him, settling snugly behind Buck while he’s cleaning his hands. Tommy slowly dips his mischievous fingers into Buck’s waistband, pleasantly surprised to find bare skin underneath.

“Oh, no underwear? Someone’s eager tonight,” Tommy says in a seductive tone.

Roughly drying his hands on his own shirt, Buck spins around to face Tommy, “I’ve been waiting for you to notice…” Feeling Tommy’s fingers tapping the hem of his top, Buck peels it off right away, letting those enormous hands roam free across his body.

“Bed?” Tommy asks in between kisses.

“Couch.” Buck pants.

Just when Buck’s calculating in his head the logistics of moving to the couch without breaking contact with his man, Tommy withdraws his hand from Buck’s bare skin.

“Hold on tight,” Tommy suddenly grabs onto the back of Buck’s thighs and lifts him clear off the ground, carrying him towards the underside of the loft.

[cmdrfupa]

Bone Appetit

I couldn't leave this little ditty alone, so enjoy a little babble of a drabble over our favorite sleepy defense attorney.

MDNI suggestive content ahead

"And here I thought you didn't love me." Your husband took a deep breath as you walked into his office. A pleasant surprise in the form of you, Hiromi's loving spouse, closing the door before sashaying around his desk. You kissed the top of his dark head as the shuffling of papers across his desk started. "Romance could never be dead when Mrs. Higuruma lives and breathes."

You unveiled the glass food carrier, revealing the still-warm sauteed garlic and parmesan mushrooms on a bed of rice and a side of grilled chicken. "Traffic coming off the ramp was nuts. Had to take a few of the backroads to get into the city's center." The room was filled with the delightful anticipation of the meal, a moment of shared joy between you and Hiromi.

  A faux-pitiful look came across Hiromi's face, rubbing the slight pudge of a belly he adorned. "I had one of those BBQ tacos not long ago. I don't know if I can eat another thing."

"Thank you, my darling wife. Your culinary skills never cease to amaze me, princess. Perhaps we could venture into the city this weekend to find new furniture for the den because you are literally the ?" The exaggerated mocking tone you used to tease Hiromi brought an amused smile to his face as he watched you prepare his meal.

The first late night of the week as another case muddled with his mind. Choosing to extend the grace he permanently extended to you during grad school, you packed dinner to bring it to him.

You placed the napkin in his lap, and Hiromi's hand gently caught your chin. "Thank you, honey. I truly appreciate this dinner." His words carried a genuine sense of gratitude as he placed a delicate kiss on the corner of your mouth.

You're very welcome, my love. Now, eat your food, old man."

  Hiromi devoured every bit of food as you shared the details of your day with him - from the ongoing drama in Pilates class to the neighborhood association's new discussions on how long Christmas lights should be allowed to stay up to his impressive towel-folding skills before heading to work.

  "Hm? Oh," he said as he wiped his mouth, "I just did it while my shirt was drying this morning. It's not a big deal, really."

  Clearing his desk of your containers, you snapped the lids on before placing them back into your tote. "Romi, you folded them perfectly. Every hem aligned, every edge folded over to hide the tag. I've trained you well."

  "Trained? So, I get a treat for flawlessly following your directions?" You sat gracefully in front of Hiromi at his desk, crossing your legs at the ankle while he lazily traced his spidery fingers up and down your calves with a playful smirk. "I think your favorite man deserves a nice treat, no?"

  "Mmm, not my favorite." You leaned forward, running your fingers through his soft hair. "My good boy is the one who gets a special treat for his more than-perfect work. Are you a good boy, Hiromi?'

  While he wasn't a medical professional, he was more than confident what he was experiencing was a cardiac event. A surge of energy shot through him, going straight to his lap. What the fuck was happening? "Am I?" the hint of curiosity drizzled in his tone.

  "You are." Hiromi stood between your legs, squeezing the fleshiest parts of your thigh as you watched his usual pale skin take on a ruddy complexion. "You're my good boy. My very good boy."

[joelsmochi]

Good Surprise

Read part one here. SUMMARY: Joel finally gets to have you. WARNINGS: smut minors dni, a little slow at some points but it leads up to a very very very pervy!joel, needy!sub!joel, dom!reader (??? she's a little mean hehe), awkwardness, brief cig smoking (don't judge girly is stressed). 18+ WARNINGS: panty kink, cum eating, masturbation (m), oral (m receiving), good boy bomb (just once), dirty talk, overstimulation, multiple orgasms (m + f), public...stuff WC: 7.6k

A/N: Here is part two of UATW. There is at least one more part coming soon, so stay tuned! Thank you for reading, I love you all sm. Enjoy :)

series masterlist | main masterlist

If one more fucking customer complains about the wait time—

“Excuse me, ma’am, how much longer do we have to wait to be seated?” A rude man you’ve already dealt with asked even though you were in the middle of taking someone’s order.

Your eyes were wide out of sheer annoyance when you turned to look at him and asked, “How long was the wait when you got here?”

“Fifteen minutes,” he replied.

“Okay, and how long ago was that?”

“Five minutes ago.”

“Fifteen minus five is..." You pretended to think about it to be satirical. "Oh! Ten! Your wait time is ten minutes.”

You heard one of your managers shout your name, and you turned to look at him.

“Hey, maybe you should go take ten, alright?” He suggested. “You need a cigarette?”

He held his pack of Newport’s in his hand. You rolled your eyes, snatched the pack from him, and walked away without saying another word. “Only ten!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

You stepped out of the rear door and stood next to the side of the building, watching the ongoing traffic as you lit and puffed on the disgusting cigarette.

“Your daddy know you smoking?” You heard from across the parking lot. Your eyes adjusted and saw Joel standing there with Tommy, who seemingly got off of work not too long ago.

“Hey, pretty girl!” Tommy shouted before walking over to you. You held the cigarette away from him and gave him half a hug while he placed a kiss on your head. “Why you smokin’, huh?”

“Oh my God, it’s one fucking cigarette,” you exclaimed.

“Rough day?” Joel asked.

You rolled your eyes, looking away from the two men. “Yeah, shit. Sorry. I’ll seat you guys when I get back in there. You can go ahead of this dickhead in there interrupting me every five minutes.”

“We were just gonna get it to go—“

Joel interrupted Tommy, “He givin’ you a hard time?”

“I’m probably just over-exaggerating. I’m just hungry. And tired. You guys go in and get your food. I don’t want to keep ya.”

Joel hated seeing you like this: your eyes puffy and purple from stress, smoking a goddamned cigarette. Your focus both everywhere and nowhere.

He thought maybe it was his fault for not seeing you these past few weeks. It wasn’t because he was afraid. Work was just busy, and he wanted to spend as much time with Sarah before she spent the rest of the summer at her friends’ houses.

“No, we’ll stay,” Tommy offered, feeling almost as bad as Joel. “Haven’t seen ya in forever anyways. We’ll catch up when the rush is over.”

You offered Tommy a weak smile while Joel was grinning from ear to ear in his head. He was happy to at least see you. Joel took the cigarette from your hand and tossed it in a puddle. You turned your annoyed self around and walked inside through the back door.

“Hey, uh, Tommy, why don’t you go ‘head and order for us. I gotta take a leak,” Joel said.

Tommy agreed, walking off, and the second that he was out of view Joel pushed you back into the men’s restroom, manipulating your body until your back was against the door. You couldn't even catch your breath with how fast everything was happening.

He loosely wrapped his hand around your throat, then licked a firm strip along the curve of your neck to your earlobe before giving it a mean bite. You gasped as your nipples hardened.

“I’m sorry I haven't seen you, baby,” he whispered in your ear, moving his hand to your skirt. Flashbacks of the kitchen playing in your head.

“That’s okay, I know you’ve been busy,” you whispered as he lifted the fabric up. Your lips crashed against his ferociously. You moaned when the bitter taste of coffee fell from his tongue onto yours after you slipped it into his mouth.

“I think about you all the time, you know?” You nodded at his question and kissed him again, this time much more sloppy.

“I have to get back to work, J—“ You stopped speaking when he lifted your leg and began to grind his hard cock against your needy cunt. You inhaled too hard, having to suppress your moans. “Joel, I have to go back,” you breathed out.

“Just one more minute, baby, please,” he whimpered, grinding into you roughly, “just one more—“

This was more relief than he had gotten any time he fucked his fist at the thought of you. Being close to you, making you feel how hard his cock got for you — finally rewarding himself with you even if it was only like this.

He didn’t envision dry humping you in the bathroom where you work, but he waited weeks to have you against him and felt like he deserved a little gratuity for his patience.

His arms looped around your back, head laying on your chest. You snaked a hand through his hair and held him close, wanting to feel him writhe and tremble beneath you.

When he said one minute, he meant it. Your pelvis was already growing sore from how hard and fast he was grinding you, but it was worth it.

He moaned a little too loud and moved his mouth over your neck to quiet himself as his thrusts became less frequent and longer. His breathing was heavy and hard, back rising and falling from trying to hold himself up as his orgasm toppled his entire being.

You felt him push your panties down your leg and tried to stop him. You thought he was trying to have sex. “Joel, come on, we don’t have time—“

“This ain’t f’you,” he chuckled tiredly. He successfully got them off of you and fixed your skirt before he held your panties up by your face. “This is f’me.” He folded your soaked underwear and shoved them in his pocket, then smacked a kiss on your lips before walking into a stall.

You realized neither of you checked them before your quick hookup. You prayed that nobody else was in the bathroom. Your trembling legs miraculously carried you out to the dining room. You continued to work like nothing even happened.

“Back on time for once?” You boss teased.

“Only because your cigarettes are shit.”

“Thanks for the ride, Tommy,” you said from the backseat of the truck.

“Yeah, kid, anytime. Thanks for covering our dinner,” he replied.

You grimaced when you remembered you deleted their order from the system. “Yeahhh, do me a favor and don’t mention that to Mikey.”

The men chuckled, and Tommy promised he wouldn’t say anything.

“Night, Tom,” you said before climbing out of the truck with Joel following.

“Night!”

Tommy practically sped off, leaving you and Joel to stand at the end of your driveway. You looked up at Joel with a smile, untying your apron and bunching it up in your hand.

“You really are a perv,” you joked. Joel just pursed his lips, checking you out. “What ya gonna do with my panties anyways, huh?”

“I’m gonna use them,” he spoke.

You cocked up an eyebrow and laughed when the image of him using the garment to stroke himself popped into your head. “You have fun with that,” you said after walking past him.

“Oh, I will.”

He waited until you got inside safely before he entered his own home; he grabbed a bottle of water and checked in on Sarah, seeing that she was already asleep with her notebook open and a pen in her hand. He closed her notebook and took the pen, setting them on her nightstand. She shuffled a bit after Joel put the blanket over her but settled after getting comfortable.

Joel closed her door and then went into the bathroom, turning the shower on; he undressed and reached for the pocket in his jeans that held your panties. They were blue with a pink rose sewn into the center of the hem. He stared at them, wondering what the fuck possessed him to do something like that.

He couldn’t resist bringing them to his face, as dirty as it felt. He saw that they were laden with your discharge. He took in the scent of you while palming his limpness. He could smell many things: your tangy juices, your vanilla perfume. He even smelled a little bit of your sweat, and it fucking incapacitated him.

His eyes rolled to the back of his head while he tried to suppress the moan that left his hoarse throat. His dick quickly hardened after he gave your panties a few more sniffs, and it made him crave the taste of you in his mouth again.

He brought the panties down to his cock and lazily wrapped them around it; he leaned over the sink, trying to hold himself up as he imagined your pretty lips wrapped around his length.

He thought about different ways you’d suck him — would you smile? Would you use your hands or just your mouth? Would you gag and choke around him so much that it brought tears to your eyes?

Every scenario he imagined only made him stroke himself harder and faster. He was gripping the corner of the sink so hard his hand was beginning to cramp up.

His cock twitched, straining against the fabric of your panties, and he felt that familiar stretch in the pit of his stomach to indicate he was close. He can’t think of a time when he finished so fast just from fucking his fist and doing it without a magazine or a movie to help? He was drunk off of you and never wanted to recover.

What is this girl doing to me?

His mind switched over to chaste thoughts of you, and that stretch inside him only tugged deeper. You were such a sweet person: always wanting to help people out and trying to get people to smile. Your smile would light up the entire room, and your confidence was intimidating in the best way possible.

Even during the moment, you had been asking for help with your ‘boyfriend’ while trailing your foot up Joel's leg, you still managed to sound so sweet. Your eyes would tend to ask him if something was okay. The thing was that when he was with you, everything was.

This was no longer just you two sneaking around like a pair of high schoolers. This had become a kink for him. The feeling of shame he often felt only turned him on even more.

He bit his lip a little too hard when his cock began to throb, immersing him in strain and ecstasy. It was almost painful. His hips jerked as he fucked his fist, pumping the last of his cum into your panties.

Joel’s head hung low while he caught his breath so he could muster up the strength to step into the steamy shower after he tossed your panties on the floor next to his jeans.

Thoughts of you floated around in his head as he stood beneath the water; he looked out of the small awning in the shower, and his eyes immediately locked with yours.

The devious smirk on your face told him you knew just what he just did, and he was too embarrassed to smile back before you left his view.

It was Independence Day, and while you didn’t exactly care to celebrate it, it was a good enough excuse for you and your dad to have some family and friends over.

You were in the middle of forming burger patties when you saw Tommy, Sarah, and another girl her age enter the kitchen from the back door.

“Hi!” You chirped, letting Tommy hug you and kiss your temple. “How are you guys?” Sarah hugged your side as well, with you returning the gesture.

“Good,” they said in unison.

“Where’s your dad at? I need to see what kinda beer he wants,” Tommy said while stealing a bottle of water from the fridge.

“What about what kind of beer I want?” You lightheartedly complained.

“What kinda beer you want?” Tommy said after a reluctant roll of his eyes.

“I don’t care, but ooh! Can you get me some wine coolers?”

Tommy pretended to be annoyed and walked upstairs after sassily saying, “Fiiine.”

“Who’s your friend?” You asked Sarah.

“This is Crystal. She’s my camp buddy,” Sarah introduced. You said hi and introduced yourself before Sarah asked, “Hey, do you still have that Cameron Diaz movie?”

You side-eyed her and tried not to smile. “The one that’s rated R?” Sarah gave you a hopeful smile, one that you couldn’t refuse. “It’s in my room, you can watch it in there. And hey! Keep the volume down, please.”

“Thank you!” She shouted before she and her friend ran upstairs, giggling adorably.

“What’re they giggling about?” Joel’s voice boomed as he walked into the room.

“Nothin’, just girl stuff.”

You were wearing a maroon-colored tube top and a black maxi skirt with wedge sandals. His eyes glossed over every curve and line of your body with how beautifully the clothes hugged your body.

You finished preparing the patties and turned around to wash your hands. Meanwhile, Joel’s hands snaked over your hips to cradle the base of your belly. Sheepishly giggling, you swayed your body in his arms and said, “Joel, someone could come down and see us.”

“That’s what makes it so fun,” he whispered, his voice vibrating against your ear, sending chills throughout your spine. “You look so beautiful today.”

You hummed with a goofy smile on your face. “Thank you, you don’t look too bad yourself.” You turned around in his grasp and held his face as if he were fragile. He was clad in a brown shirt that complimented his pretty brown orbs and his typical Levi jeans that hung perfectly around his hips. “I’ve missed my favorite pair of panties.”

“Those blue ones with the rose on ‘em?”

“Uh-huh, you know the ones you came in last week?”

He pretended to think about it for a few seconds. “Ohh, yeah. Yeah, right. I actually brought them here with me today.” He pulled said panties out of his pocket and held them out of reach when you tried to snatch them. “Gi’me a kiss,” he bargained, and you happily obliged.

Your lips landed on his with a tenderness warm enough to melt him inside. His lips swirled around with yours in an entanglement so delicious it made your cunt leak all of Joel’s favorite flavors.

He slipped his tongue out and slid it across your lips, asking for permission to taste you; you parted your mouth slightly enough for him to lick across your teeth. You giggled and slid your tongue out to mesh with his while both of you tried to keep quiet.

You felt how thick and dominating his tongue was, telepathically begging him to lick your pussy. His kisses were so docile for how your body was responding to them.

Tommy and your father could be heard coming down the stairs when you were about to deepen the kiss. Joel tucked your underwear back into his pocket as you gasped for air and he immediately retreated to the other side of the island while faking a conversation.

“So, d’you get to meet any fashion designers when you were in school?” He asked just when they walked in.

“No,” you pouted as you thought about it, “but we did get to go to Ready to Wear. We saw lots of big brands being modeled.”

Just then, your dad chimed in. “My baby girl’s gonna be the best fashion designer the world will ever know.”

You blushed when he pinched your cheekbones and thanked him. “Your burgers are done. I finished the potato salad and the lemonade. All I have to do is finish the pudding and go to the store for the peach cobbler and ice cream, and I would love to take your truck to go and do that.” You held your hand out with a persuasive smile, waiting for him to drop the keys in your hand.

You saw your dad purse his lips and glance back and forth between the two brothers. He hated being put on the spot so naturally you made it a habit to do that.

“Last time you took my truck anywhere, you came home with a court hearing and a forty-dollar ticket,” he grunted. You didn’t budge other than to further emphasize your smile; his sigh was full of resentment, but he ultimately pulled his keys out and placed them in your hand. “No speeding.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“No smoking.”

“Course not.”

“No drinking until you get home.”

“I’m not a fucking idiot.”

“No picking up friends.”

“Of course.”

“No picking up drugs.”

“Dad.”

“And Joel’s going with you.”

“Oh, great. A babysitter."

“Anything goes wrong, you call me.”

“Got it, Rambo. Can I have thirty bucks?”

He reached into his wallet and asked, “What do you need thirty bucks for?”

You happily took the money from him and said, “I just wanted to see if you’d give it to me.” He rolled his eyes and waved you off as he walked away. Tommy followed him.

“Okay, babysitter Miller, let’s go. And Tommy, don’t forget my Seagrams!”

The drive to the store was probably the most normal interaction you had with Joel since your arrival a month ago. Your experience attending fashion school sparked his curiosity, and you were eager to discuss it with him. As you were growing up, he rarely got to see you excited about anything, so he enjoyed seeing you passionate about something.

But as soon as you parked the car and looked at Joel, the normalcy melted away from the heat of the sun. He trimmed his patchy facial hair and got a haircut that (to him) was long overdue.

“You clean up nice,” you spoke barely above a whisper. He nodded as thank you, not moving any muscles on his leathering face. You got a whiff of his aftershave — or maybe it was cologne — not quite sure what the scent was, but it smelled rich and musky. “Smell good too.”

That got his smile to crack.

“I know I said it already, but you look very pretty today,” he replied. He began to stroke your chin while using his thumb to trace the outline of your jaw.

“Thank you.” You kissed the curve of his hand, making the hairs on his arm stand up. You felt a rush of embarrassment though you weren't too sure why. You closed your eyes and kissed his hand again. “Fuck, Joel. What are you doin’ t’me?”

He frowned. “What, baby?”

You shrugged, unsure of what to say or what you even felt.

“Do we need to stop—“

“No. No.” You looked to him again, hoping to find an answer or, at the very least, an explanation. “I think I’m just overwhelmed.”

He pulled his hand away, anticipating your next move. It never came. You just sat there boring your eyes into his, then the mood shifted; his smile was contagious, filling your lungs with lost air and pushing the anxiety away.

You leaned over the center console to kiss him; his hand cupped the base of your neck beneath your hair, swirling his thumb around the nap of your neck.

The kisses you shared were savory and slow, an occasional mewl leaving your throat. You placed a hand on his chest, feeling his muscles and heart beating rapidly. Your panties were coated in a chilling layer of slick from his tongue slipping against yours, and he pulled away before it got too out of hand.

“Come on, ‘fore your old man sends the army after me.”

“He was in the Navy,” you corrected.

Joel managed to be on his best behavior in the store with you. For a moment, it actually felt like he was in a relationship with you. It didn’t help when an older lady stopped you two to say you were a lovely couple. While Joel was taken aback by the compliment, you just said thank you and continued shopping like it was nothing.

You figured you two looked like a couple with the close proximity and lingering gazes, so it didn’t surprise you as it did him.

He enjoyed seeing you pick up makeup that interested you and look in the little mirrors to see if you liked it against your skin tone. He let you guide him through the store. He didn’t mind. Not when he got more time alone with you.

“You’ve changed a lot. You know that?” He said abruptly when you were looking at the ice cream. You asked how he arrived at that conclusion as you gave him a look of disbelief. “You seem to be a lot more yourself. More sure of who you are.”

You gave him a sad smile as you came to that realization. “You really think so?”

“I do."

You looked back at the ice cream and grabbed a french vanilla carton, telling him, “You changed quite a bit yourself too… You were a very disorganized person from what I can remember. You just seem to have a clearer head now than you were before.”

“I guess I just didn’t know how to deal with being a single father.”

“Well, I think you’re doing a good job raising Sarah. She… She seems sure of herself too. Like me I guess.”

“Don’t know where she got it from.”

“Well, it wasn’t your grumpy ass. That’s for sure.”

The rest of the day went without a hitch. More people from around the neighborhood showed up, and for most of the day, you were mingling with Sarah and Crystal, who raved about some lewd scene from the movie you’d let them watch.

While everyone was watching the fireworks, you started picking up in the kitchen, knowing your dad was too drunk off his ass to do it. You loaded the dishwasher and began putting leftovers away when the girls came inside.

“My dad is letting me stay at Crystal’s tonight for the weekend,” Sarah said, her tone giving away the sense that she wanted another favor.

“Yeees?” You taunted.

“Well. I was wondering if we could borrow a couple movies and maybe some makeup?”

You looked at Sarah, seeing that glint of eagerness that you remember having at her age. Curious about the world and boys and girls and relationships. You couldn’t say no.

“Which movies?”

“Thirteen and What a Girl Wants?”

“No and yes,” you answered.

Sarah was clearly not happy you said no to Thirteen. “What?! Why? But I’m fourteen.”

“You can watch Thirteen when you turn thirty,” you mothered.

“Ugh, okay fine. How about Hot Chicks? Crystal’s never seen it.”

You debated it in your head but figured it was better than what you let them watch earlier. “Okay, deal. And only take makeup from the top of the vanity!” You shouted after they were already making their way upstairs. Your dad appeared not long after. He hugged you after wobbling a little bit, and a wet kiss was placed on your forehead. “Ew, Dad!”

“Some of us are going to a bar downtown for a couple hours.”

“You’re not driving are you?”

“No, no. It’s just a mile up the road. I’ll get a taxi on the way back. I promise you.”

“Okay. Well, call me if you need a ride or get arrested.”

A few others came inside, and you saw how your Dad looked at one of the women; physically, she was the antithesis of your mom. He gave her a smile once she noticed him staring.

“Go talk to her, dumbass,” you whispered, giving him a nudge with your elbow.

“Oh, we’ll be doin' more than ta—“

“Don’t!” You interrupted. “Do not finish that sentence.”

He chuckled and hugged you goodnight. “Joel said he’ll help clean up.”

“Oh, he doesn’t have to do that,” you responded.

“I think he has a crush on you.”

You froze at his words slowly turning your head to him. “Uh…”

You could see it in his eyes that he didn’t really know why he said that. He was definitely drunk. “Anyways. Love you, kid. I gotta get me some tail.”

You grimaced and pushed him away. “Real classy, Dad. Really fucking classy.” You shook your head as he followed his friends laughing.

Joel had dropped the girls off at Crystal’s house before he made his way back to you. The second he left, you ran upstairs to clean yourself quickly, hoping that tonight would be the night you finally get to have him.

Joel’s footsteps were heard from the entryway trailing into the living room where you were watching TV. Your head turned, a smile already curling around your lips.

“Hi, Joel,” you said before clicking the television off. He could just hear it in your tone how horny you were. He stared at you like a deer in headlights, making you laugh, so you walked over to him, bare feet padding against the wood. You took his hand in yours and guided him upstairs. “Sit on the bed,” you told him.

He was a nervous fucking wreck and you acting so calm about the situation only made him more nervous.

You shut the door even though no one was home and turned off your big light, the only glow coming from some string lights and an old ambient light in the corner. As corny as it felt “setting the tone” you wanted to make this moment special because every other time was rushed and sloppy (not that you minded).

You stood in front of him, feeling exposed despite being fully dressed. You rubbed your clammy hands over your thighs.

“Is this okay?” You asked.

“Yeah,” Joel said a little loudly. He cleared his throat and tried to calm down. “Yeah.”

“We don’t—we don’t have to.”

“No, no, I want to. If—if you want to. Shit, uh…” He chuckled, bashful at his poor attempt at easing the tension.

“Okay,” you tittered.

You reached for the rim of your shirt, lifting it slowly to expose your stomach. He watched your fingers slither over your skin, and you asked again, “Is this okay?”

How did I get so lucky?

He nodded.

You moved your shirt up more, exposing the underside of your breasts and part of your areola. “This okay?”

This is the first time, he realized, that I’ll see her tits.

He nodded again. You peeled the shirt from your body and let it drop to the floor.

Fuck. They’re perfect.

Your nipples were already stiff with anticipation, goosebumps scattered over your flesh. “How about…” Your thumbs broke the waistband of your skirt. “This?” You pushed the fabric down just enough to reveal that you weren’t wearing any panties.

She’s doing all this for me. To make me feel special.

The lump in his throat ran dry, and you didn’t bother waiting for another response. You let your skirt cascade down your legs to hit the floor. You teetered over to stand between his legs and pressed his face into your belly.

He pressed a kiss into your flesh and ran his hands over your thighs before firming a squeeze on your ass. His nails left indents while he sunk his teeth into your skin, wanting his body to mesh in yours.

Your knees slowly drifted to the floor; he let you fiddle with the opening of his jeans so that he could focus on tasting your sweet lips, getting lost in the feeling of being here with you.

You sucked his bottom lip roughly and palmed his growing erection over his boxers. He hovered over the bed for a moment to push his pants down enough to let his cock spring free.

Your eyes widened at his girth while his cockhead tapped his lower stomach. Your mouth watered as you watched it twitch a couple times.

He leaned back on his elbows and took in the sight of your intimidation from the size of his dick, smiling arrogantly when you licked your lip with the purpose to ready your mouth. You hummed after gaining a bit of confidence to praise how big he was.

“All for you,” he said.

You slowly blinked, then wrapped your hand around his velvety shaft. His cock was littered with veins. You licked your lips and drooled your salivation over his warm tip, letting it glide down a bit. You kept your eyes locked with his as you wrapped your swollen lips around him.

His cock felt hot and it pulsed with need once it came in contact with your perfect mouth. He fought the urge to moan, letting out his cries in a symphony of whimpers instead.

Your eyes rolled back at the sound of his wordless little pleads. You circled your tongue around his head relentlessly before surprising him by forcing his cock to hit the back of your throat.

His entire body flinched and he shouted out a few curse words. You gagged and pulled back; you allowed your spit to drip down his skin. You slurped around his tip and moaned when he flinched again. Then, you took more of him in your mouth, bobbing your head up and down. You fell in love with how he tasted in your mouth as his salty precum oozed over your tongue. The gagging and slurping noises echoed in the room and he couldn’t keep his moans to himself anymore.

“Oh, f-fuck,” he whimpered, thrusting into your mouth gently. “Fuck. That—that feels so fucking good, baby. Yes baby, yes baby, yes.”

You moaned around the shaft, eliciting more obscenities from him. Your mouth was so full even though you hadn’t taken all of him. Your cheeks hollowed around him, creating a tighter vessel for him to fuck while you stroked whatever you couldn’t fit.

His face contorted with the anguish of not wanting to finish yet, but he couldn’t stop now, could he?

Maybe if I just get a little closer—just a little.

So lost in the pleasure, he felt the start of his climax rise causing him to gently pull you off of him.

A single streak of his cum shot onto your cheek. You flinched but laughed endearingly, helping his ego feel better about it.

“Fuck. Sorry.” His chest heaved with his mouth dry from his heavy breathing as you assured him it was okay.

He took a moment to gather himself before sitting up and wiping his cum from your face. You grabbed his wrist before he got the chance to wipe it clean; you impulsively sucked the milky release before swallowing it shamelessly.

Joel’s eyes were glossy and low. He could watch you lick up his cum for hours if you wanted to. You looked so sweet on the outside but inside you were dark, full of a lust that was forever unfulfilled by previous boyfriends.

Sometimes you wondered if you even knew what you want sexually, yet Joel was able to just read you and provide.

“You’re such a good girl for me," he asked with a devious smile, "aren't you?"

“Anything for you, Joel.”

Chuckling, he picked you up effortlessly and sat you on his stomach while he laid on his back.

“Use me,” he begged.

You blushed. “What do you mean?”

“You said your last boyfriend didn’t do the things you needed him to,” he explained, “so use me. Fuck me however you want. And I’ll fuck you however you need me to. Be as rough as you want. As mean as you want. Ride me, ride my face—I don—I don’t care. I just need you. Need you s’fucking bad.”

You saw in his eyes desperation, and it made your head spin. A man so brute and strong like Joel begging to be your fuck toy was a sight for your sore eyes.

You adjusted your body and carefully lined his cock up with your sopping entrance; he felt rewarded when your puffy walls clung to him. The stretching of your pussy burned deliciously inside of you.

You sat there for a moment. Not to get adjusted to his fat cock, but to just feel him. Feel him twitch and jerk, aching to pump you full of his seed.

You circled your hips slowly feeling his head bump against your g-spot. Your fingers pressed into his chest and you started to ride the slight curve of his shaft.

“Oh, my God. Joel,” you cried out, feeling how his cock stuffed you perfectly each time you rode down.

“That feel good, baby?”

As your eyelashes fluttered shut, you were pathetically nodding and reaching up to play with one of your breasts. “Yes,” you moaned.

With thick hands wrapped loosely around your waist and eyes fixated on you, Joel was under your spell. He loved being used by you. Submitting.

You appreciated the control he gave you over his body. He was of free use just for you, and you grew tired of being afraid of that. You fucked him however you wanted, just like he had asked, finding the inconsistencies of your movements titillating.

His long fingers drew random patterns around your back, adding intimacy to the connection. He looked so breathtaking beneath your tantalized body. His eyebrows furrowed into a pout that made your heart melt for him, and his pursed lips cooed out little praises.

"Yes," he whimpered, softly thrusting into you as you went down to create the perfect rhythm. "Yes, yes, yes," he continued. "Darlin', you're doing so good for me, yes."

"You feel so good," you moaned. "Your cock is so fucking big."

"You take it so well, baby girl. Ahh—fu… You're doin' so good f'me."

You leaned down to kiss his wet lips, moans pouring from you. "S'it feel good?"

"Yes, baby. Fuck yes, you feel so fucking good. Don't s-stop."

You gasped and twisted your nipple between your fingertips, feeling an ungodly amount of your precum seep between your bodies. A bundle of pleasure twinged in the pit of your stomach, making your hips stutter and mess up the rhythm.

“I’m gonna cum, Joel—oh, fuuck. I’m gonna cum,” you said in a hushed voice.

You felt his hands smooth over your ass, and he began thrusting into you a bit more forcefully, encouraging you to finish.

A calamity overtook you; your climax was full of distress and violence. You had never screamed so loud before. Your orgasm worked against you, releasing itself into the darkest corners of your body.

You felt it everywhere. Your toes curled. Your elbows locked. Your fingers went numb. Your neck warmed. Every inch of your body felt haunted by the orgasm you felt yourself fighting. Joel fucking lived for it.

You were a fucking mess above him and he couldn’t stop himself from overstimulating you. He held you still in his strong arms and pounded into you ruthlessly, with no care in the world for how loud you were.

You loved how it overpowered you, intensifying as Joel determined to make it last longer. It felt like an eternity. Your chest shook from your blubbers, your body full of amnesia of reality.

He intently watched you, waiting for it to become too much. Your eyes welled up with tears and your face hurt from how contorted it had become. It wasn’t until you took a big breath in that he slowed down causing you to collapse atop his chest.

Joel held you close, grazing his fingers over your back and arms to soothe you as you came down from your high. All he wanted to do was to feel good with you and make sure you were satisfied.

You lifted your flushed face from the crook of his neck to give him a passionate kiss; he hummed against your warm lips, bringing a hand up to hold your face so he could deepen the connection.

He slowly rolled your body over until he was on top of you. Your hands slid along his broad shoulders whilst he erratically pushed his pants down, kicking them to the floor afterward. You pulled at the hem of his shirt and helped him remove it.

He slipped back inside of you as he stayed on his knees, getting the perfect view of your alluring frame. Your makeup had begun to fade away, and mascara scattered around your eyes. Your hair was messily laid around your head and your eyes were heavy with fatigue.

“Your so beautiful,” he said before reaching to pinch your cheeks in his big hand to slightly embarrass you, “you’re such a fucking mess already.”

You grabbed his hand, snatching it from your cheeks and pushing it away; you sat up enough to grab a hold of his neck, bringing his face closer to yours as a dangerous looked filled your eyes. You dug your legs into his thighs to push his length deeper inside of you, it caught him by surprise.

“Thought you said I was in control, huh,” you whispered. Joel instantly pouted, the pathetic look on his face fueled your desire to domesticate him.

“Y-you—yes, yes,” he weakly responded. “Yes. You a—you are in control.”

You gave him a soft kiss despite your tough demeanor to help calm him. “Good boy,” you praised, tightening your grip. He thanked you and started to move his halted hips again, this time with purpose and force.

Your hardened expression cracked, faltering into a look of bliss and thankfulness. His skin clapped against yours as you felt his balls swinging against your ass with every thrust.

The moans spilling between your lips was music to Joel’s ears; he felt the swollen head of his cock breech even deeper inside of you after you hung your legs around his hips. Your walls fluttered around his pulsating cock making your cunt feel tighter.

Combining that with your tight grip around his neck? Fuck. He wanted to cum so badly—

“Shit!” He shouted as he pulled out, not wanting this to end so soon.

You laughed at him more teasingly this time and let his neck go, using your legs to push him back inside with no effort.

He tried thrusting more slowly this time, but his body was just begging for release. He pulled out again and attempted to take a breather. You weren’t having it.

You pushed him into saint position and held his face firmly to make him look you in the eyes as you started to bounce on him.

“Baby,” he said, feeling the rise of his climax slowly build again, “I don’t wanna stop yet.”

“Your cock belongs to me,” you told him; he promptly agreed. “That means I do whatever I fucking want to. You’re gonna cum for me and let me keep fucking you.”

His eyes rolled back and his let out a moan of both desperation and relief. “Yes,” he whimpered, eagerly nodding his dazed head, “yes. My cock belongs to you. Only you—fuck—no one’s ever made me feel as good as you.”

You moaned in response, knowing you no longer needed to scold him.

He was so fucking thick. Not even all of your slick could help get used to his size. Your skin clung to his from the faint sweat coating both of your bodies. Your tits bounced against his toned chest stimulating your nipples, adding to the earth-shattering pleasure.

His breathing was shallow while he tried to hold off as long as possible. He then figured if he rubbed your clit you might be able to finish again with him.

You jolted when his thumb rubbed erratic loops around your clit, soon enough feeling your climax build again. And though it was not as powerful it hit you so much more quickly.

“Can you cum for me?” You asked nicely. “Fuck, I’m gonna cu—“ Your own gasps cut you off as you heard Joel say he was going to finish with you.

His forehead fell onto yours as the pressure finally exploded inside of you. Your body insisted on continuing to fuck him, your cunt pushing and pulling at his shaft as if you were trying to squeeze his cum out yourself. He painted your walls with his hot white load, filling you up even more as if you weren't full enough.

He held you tight and leaned his head onto your shoulders so that your shivering legs wouldn’t completely give out.

All of a sudden Joel grew an urge to eat you out before his cum spilled out.

He tossed you onto your back and got down on his stomach, barely letting you breathe before his tongue covered your throbbing hole.

You cried out his name shamelessly, feeling his tongue curl up inside of you. He watched you arch your back and grab at the sheets with your head thrown back and mouth opened.

At first, he only tasted your tangy cum as it lay thick and heavy on his tongue. But after a short while, he tasted was he could only presume to be himself. The taste was mostly brine, but a little sweet, and permeated along his tastebuds. He couldn’t get enough of how good the two of you tasted together.

He devoured every last drop he could manage before pulling away from you, feeling how hard his he still was. He wanted to make up for finishing so soon.

You wanted to come down—you were so fucking wore out. But you felt Joel twist you around onto your stomach and lift your hips up before shoving his cock back inside of you.

You groaned at the stretch feeling stronger than before, clawing at the bedsheets as he wasted no time to fuck you again. His hips clapped against your ass when his hands pushed into your waist, deepening your arch.

He would slowly pull back to where his beaming cockhead was only inside of you, then he'd thrust strong enough to make your body bounce a little on the springy mattress. He fucked you slow but hard, wanting you to feel every inch of him.

“Fuck! Yes, Joel!” You shouted.

“Like that, baby? Hmm?” He spanked you when you didn’t answer.

“Fuck, yes, you’re so good to me!”

Your moans turned into whines from the brute force of his body. Tears danced along your eyes as your pussy ached with overstimulation and rapture.

“My cock belongs to you? Hmm?” He said indignantly. He was already yours. He belonged to you. He just wanted to hear you say it again.

You moaned lustfully when he started going fast enough to make his balls hit your clit. He reached to grab your neck and beckoned you to get on your hands as well, keeping the grip loose enough for you to breathe.

“Yes, Joel, your fucking cock belongs to me," your voice was lame as you tried to regulate your breathing. Your sore pussy yearned again, asking for relief just once more. “Give it to me, please, give it to me.”

He looked at his dick thrust in and out of you, groaning at the smooth ring of your cum wrapped around the base of his shaft.

“You wanna cum again?” He asked. You begged and pleaded and cried for him to keep going.

He didn’t even try to comprehend when another orgasm was building for him. He ignored the anguish the second climax was bringing him, even if it was becoming too painful to bear. He didn’t care enough. He just wanted to keep listening to those pretty sounds you were making.

He never had an experience come close to this one. To being with you. Never imagined doing something as dirty as tasting his own cum, let alone after releasing it inside of his partner. And then to cum twice in the span of a few minutes? He knew then and there that no one would be able to satisfy him like you.

“I’m cumming, I’m cumming!” You moaned in a high pitch that Joel thought was cute; your back arched and tensed, your whole body shaking with a third orgasm that felt instinctual. Your eyes filled with stars and you were lightheaded.

He let himself feel every aspect of his orgasm once the pain left his body. It was warm and made him a little hazy; he was so overwhelmed with euphoria that he could hardly react to it. He was persistent in finishing you both off with sloppy thrusts as he whispered sweet praises to you about how good you felt.

Your body collapsed making Joel’s dick slip out of you; he rested next to you once you laid on your side and put his arm around your head. You lay there in a bittersweet silence for a few minutes, savoring the sound of each other’s breathing and sleepy hums.

“I’m so tired now,” you lazily said.

Joel chuckled and pulled the blanket up to cover you. “Go to sleep, baby.”

“I don’t wanna,” you said tiredly; he chuckled again and kissed your head, wishing that this wasn’t casual. “Was it good for you?” You asked after looking up at him, the craving for sleep evident in your pretty eyes.

He couldn’t put into words how at peace he felt right now. He was tired too. “Yes, sweetheart.”

“I wasn’t too mean, was I?” You worried.

“No, baby,” he cooed, stroking your head. “You were perfect.” The way he said it ensured you it was the truth.

“I was perfect?” You giggled.

“Mm-hmm,” he hummed. “We should go out some night. Have a little fun."

"Joel Miller, r'you asking me on a date?"

"It ain't gotta be," he answered.

You giggled again and curled into his body some more. "Sure, Joel. Take me out to a bar so I can dance on sleazy men in cowboy hats to make you jealous."

He laughed, "You love makin' stories up, don't you?"

"It won't be a story for long."

-

Read part 3 here.

🏷️ @paleidiot @sarap-77 @mmeerraa @ssweetart42

[urf1lterr]

lovesick | pedro pascal [1]

"and on this night and in this light i think im falling, im falling for you."

next chapter: [2] series masterlist

summary: in which a 1975-obsessed film student accidentally falls in love with an older man she can't have.

pairing: actor!pedro x intern!reader

genre: acting world!au, big age-gap!, strangers to friends- maybe lovers?? au | angst, mature, awkward, love- eventually

word count: 7.4k

status: in progress

author's note: this was supposed to only be an introduction but i ended up with a chapter lol. im sorry if its lame, i wrote this half asleep and for fun. not edited btw

"So like...are we gonna keep staring at the door or do you mind if I open it and walk inside?"

Swiftly turning your neck, you glared at your friend who was patiently waiting for your reply- probably begging on the inside to go in by how badly cold it was outside on this tuesday, new york morning.

"Just go inside by yourself!" you rolled your eyes as she shook her head.

"Uh no, for one- I can't let you be out here alone, some man could just push you in a van and sell you to the black market," Jules declared. "then I would lose one birthday gift from you-"

"I will push you in the van myself if you keep talking," you groaned, her constant rambling within the hours making your nerves worsen.

Today was the day Jules, your best friend, and you began your internship on a film set. Actually, it was yesterday, but nobody really counts the short orientation and hours of reading rules and responsibilities a real productive work day, right?

If having the worst anxiety wasn't enough, you were blessed to have been given an amazing coping mechanism of meditation- in which would've been fine with if you didn't look like a complete idiot standing up with your eyes wide open breathing slowly.

But to be fair, this really was your first day on the job. You didn't know what to expect and your friend wasn't exactly a helping hand in these situations. As she was more confident and outgoing, there you were being an introverted, awkward female with amazing music taste- that is you ever felt comfortable to let people hear your music outside of your headphones.

"I don't get just why you have to pray while staring at the door as if you wanna stare into its soul, you look weird," Jules whined, placing her hand over her eyes. "We have to be at Finn's office in 10 minutes or else we're dead."

"Fine," you huff, grabbing your bag you had placed on the floor beforehand onto your shoulder. "Let's go."

Excitedly clapping her hands together, she swung the door open before dragging you down the hall of the room towards the elevators. The two of you had to meet at a studio on the other side of the city for this internship in which wouldn't be a problem if you enjoyed traffic and the crowds of people on the street- but you didn't.

Not only did you have to take the subway and a cab one hour before your schedule 8am start, you had to deal with the troubles of waking up your night owl roommate, Jules again, without slapping her silly by how strong her eyes stay shut.

After getting off the elevators and walking closer to his office, you recognized a couple of the other interns standing around his door looking either extremely nervous, tired- or both.

Suddenly, the door opened and Finn, the man who hired you, jumped out with a bright smile.

It's way too early to be this energetic.

"How is everyone doing on this lovely, working morning?" Finn smiled, making sure to make eye-contact with every single person in the hall before continuing on with his dialogue. "I'll take this silence as a way you all express your gratitude to be able to work on a live set."

With the ongoing silence still occurring, Finn continued with, "please follow me to the room next door, that's where we'll discuss minor details before heading towards the stages."

The minor details were simple, don't screw up.

There was also little insights on what we should be prepared for- taking care of the cast and errands as the day went on.

I suppose experience is what is needed for your future so it shouldn't be a surprise that you wouldn't be around a camera for too long. But it was mentioned that overtime you would accelerate your learning to harder tasks such as on-hands work, which you were terrified over but within time you would get over it.

You had to, this was a part of your dream job after all.

The group was informed more about the project we had to assist, some new show coming out called 'The Last of Us.' To be honest, you weren't familiar with it. Some of the guys in the group threw in their input that they played the game, but you didn't know it was also a combined franchise.

You weren't exactly a gamer or horror film person.

It hadn't even come to your mind that you would be interacting with real-life celebrities until you made near a stage and felt Jules grip your wrist hard and start tugging on it to get your attention as she tried to quiet her fan girl squeals.

Looking up, you saw a group of people walking through a set with papers in their hand, laughing and chatting with one another. Truth be told, you didn't recognize any of them. Maybe you should have done more research regarding this show you know nothing about- but you heard some successful directors had openings for extra help and immediately called your friend to join with.

"Is it bad that I don't recognize any of these people?" you whisper to Jules as she screeches in low volume, shocked that you would dare say that.

"You're joking right?!" she whispers with a high-pitched voice. "Everybody knows them! They are-"

"Is that him?" you heard a girl whisper from your group, Jules stopping her almost-started rant from it. "He really is daddy."

"What the fuck?" you heard one of the guy interns whisper in confusion, looking at her as if she was delusional as she waved her hand to him to not distract her from her view.

You weren't sure who she was talking about and you really didn't want to know. She probably had some silly crush on one of the actors which would just distract her from her job, it isn't worth it.

"Yo man, why is there a line of people looking like they are held at gunpoint?" one person laughed, pointing at your group as you tried to hold back your laughter.

You were assuming the people around you guys were majority of the cast as nobody else but the camera and makeup crew were present in the room. Surprisingly enough, even after seeing them closer you still couldn't figure out who any of these actors were.

Were you really that outdated in the films you watched?

"Way to introduce yourself, Gabriel," Finn replied, giving a pat on his back before turning back to the group. "These are the new interns because you know, you guys made the last ones quit."

"Uh no I didn't, that was all Nick!" you heard a small child gasp, pointing at an older looking man. He looked a little familiar but you couldn't wrap your head around it. "He made them pick up his food orders all the way across town everyday!"

The familiar-looking man had longer hair than most of the men around. "I would've done delivery if that was an option!" The man complained, making the girl scoff in return.

Hold on, you knew that voice. You grew up with that voice.

"Wait, I do know somebody, that's Ron Swanson" you gasped, completely forgetting how loud and clear you were in your surroundings by how fazed out you were to be a few feet away from a comedic legend.

You didn't know all eyes were on you until you felt Jules heavy weight of her shoulders hit yours as she hid her face in embarrassment from your last statement causing you to look up. Everybody tried holding back their giggles as Nick just smiled proudly.

Great, you just exposed how you didn't know them in front of them. Not mortifying at all.

"Funny and smart for knowing me, I like her already," you heard Nick proudly declare, turning to Finn with a firm nod. "You better not fire her."

Feeling your face getting hotter by the second, you wished you could just hide under a blanket and stay in there forever if it meant you never had to embarrass yourself like that again. This probably looked so disreputable on your part.

"And what might this oblivious, tomato be named?" you heard a man curiously question, getting your attention by his big framed glasses on his face.

Did he just call you a fruit?

"Be nice, you're intimidating them. It's like a new fish in a big pond," an older woman responded after, trying to bring some extra comfort into the room but it was too late- you were traumatized.

"Okay, okay," the man held up his hand in defense before turning to look at you straight in the eye. "What might this unaware, cherry tomato be named? That sounds cuter."

"Uh, y/n," you awkwardly stated, holding your hands together while terribly trying to defend yourself. "And it's totally not like I didn't recognize the rest of you!" you lie, pointing at a random person next to him before speaking up again, "you're in that one brilliant movie that was so good!"

The man sheepishly smiled at you before saying, "I am just one of the cameramen, but thank you. I do get told quite a bit that I look like Brad Pitt." And that was the moment you wanted to die inside.

That's it, you're never coming back here again. You've made a fool out of yourself.

"Stop talking," you heard your friend hiss before taking a step forward to help lessen the attention on you. "I am Jules. Not fashionable like the one from Euphoria, but still very friendly and fun."

The cast all waved at her from her radiating charm that could make anyone adore her. "Thank you, Jules who isn't from Euphoria, why don't everyone else introduce themselves."

After everyone had their time to shine, you were excused for a small break as rehearsal had yet to start. You weren't complaining, you would rather be out getting coffee on the other side of town if that meant you could avoid the actors and directors at all times.

Sitting on one of the break room's couches, you felt Jules jump next to you before hitting your shoulder rapidly. "I think that one girl intern hates you!"

Trying hard to remove her fast hands off you, you gave her a confused look. "Uh why? Was it because I embarrassed us?"

There couldn't be any other reason why she might dislike you, it's not like you knew her personally or had ever met her before the last few days.

"I mean Pedro did call you cute minutes after she called him 'daddy', what do you expect?" She giggled as you gave her a disgusted glance at the last term she used. Why would she call him that and feel comfortable saying it so freely? "She's in loveeee with him."

Pedro? So that was his name.

"First of all, he doesn't think I'm cute. The name 'cherry tomato' was cute rather than a hillbilly tomato," you defended, making her scrunch her face in confusion by your nonsense. "Second, there's no way a normal woman would be that upset over one small indirect comment not made in that way."

Jules rolled her eyes by how understanding you weren't being, it annoyed her even more how oblivious- like the man had said, you were being. "He called you a cherry tomato because it has an adorable ring to it for a cute person! Therefore, he finds you pretty- end of story."

"I am beginning to think you really are delusional."

"All I am saying is be careful," she whispers seriously. "She's young and I know a lot of people who obsess over him for his looks."

"Why? He's like in his 40s-"

"Daddy issues? Gray facial hair? I have no clue what people enjoy on their free time," Jules cut you off, shrugging while you snickered. Like you never heard that excuse before.

"Can we check out the set though? I'm feeling better and want to be out there to prove how unaffected I am from earlier- but I will be hiding behind your back."

"As always," she sang, following you out the door back to the main room.

Walking out, you were determined to stay focused and think before you said something silly- which was hard. Your whole life you've always been a little dumb when reading the environment, that's not gonna change within a few minutes.

Looking through the racks of costumes, tables filled with devices you had never seen before, and cameras that were bigger than yourself, one of the interns, Joon, came up to Jules and you to inform that it was time to actually 'work.'

"Damn, I kinda liked just walking around and doing nothing but stare at the lights. Now we have to get our hands dirty for minimum wage," Jules sighed as the two of you walked in front of one of the stages.

The stage was practically empty, only a few white walls installed and chairs scattered around.

After a few minutes of hearing one of the lead director's assistant discuss the plan of going over a few scenes, it came to your realization that this was only a rehearsal.

It made sense, this building wasn't necessarily a 'survival mode" vibe. Maybe a few indoor scenes would do the job, but it wouldn't be enough for the series.

"I want you to run along with Kendall to grab some snacks, go around the room and see what we're missing and restock!" Finn brightly smiled to Jules before turning to you. "Now, what should I do with you?"

Man, you wished you could replace Kendall right now because now you were alone

"She can help me with the makeup," a lady spoke up from a few feet away. She was a very tall, black-haired woman with a few facial piercings who looked like she was in her middle 20s. "We still need to practice to see how it'll look on the screen this week"

Finn looked at you and back at her before shrugging and nodding. "Works for me." He was already walking away before he turned back around, "but don't let her apply too much, I don't want them looking caked up in front of the camera." Lightly scoffing, you made your way to the girl as he walked away.

Standing there in discomfort, you waited for her to lead you in any type of direction to make this task go by quicker. Makeup was not your thing, or at least when it came to doing someone else's.

"I'm Violet, by the way," the girl smiled kindly at you as she handed you a black apron. "You must be y/n."

Taking the apron, you opened it to find in white writing 'TLOU Crew.' "How'd you know? Did me not knowing the cast spread that fast "

Giggling, she shook her head. "Yes and no," she grabbed one of her many make up bags and began looking through it. "Your name tag."

Looking down, you forgot they had written your name on the sticker during the short-lived meeting with Finn. Redness filled your face as you averted your eyes somewhere else, too embarrassed to make eye-contact.

"Anywho," Violet chuckled while putting one hand on her hip. "I thought maybe I could do my normal routine while you can just do the small stuff like brush their eyebrows or hair."

Squinting your eyes, you just gave her a confused look. "Brush their eyebrows? Work with their hair? Isn't the eyebrows fairly too easy for you to need the help and don't you guys have certified hairstylists?"

"Would you rather do more complicated things like taking their never-ending customized coffee orders?" She replied, making you immediately reject the idea. "I volunteered you to help me because I feel like working on harder tasks your first day would only be stressful."

How thoughtful of her.

"Plus, today's not a complicated schedule-," she added as she began lining her brushes around her small table. "-think of it as a practice run over a few lines, but for multiple scenes. We probably have like max 5 people I need to work on so no need for many artists."

There was another older lady in the other side of the table on her phone, probably another experienced makeup artist who knew the drill.

"Got it, today is a light day," you responded back, causing her to smile and hand you a hairbrush.

"See, you have the right mindset," she declared, nudging her head to the side. "And you better keep it because you have your first clients coming in."

Eyes widening, you swiftly twisted your body to see two young girls and Nick come in. Three people, that shouldn't be hard.

"You better make me look adorable," Nick pointed a finger at you as he sat down on a chair near you, causing you to let out a shy laugh as Violet motioned you to come closer.

"I'm going to prep his skin, go to Bella and Nico and ask them to do the same," she advised. "They usually do it themselves on these days to make the process faster."

Nodding you walked to the two young girls, not knowing which was who. The girls were chatting with each other before one with big curls noticed your presence before smiling brightly. "Skin routine, huh? Don't worry, we were about to begin."

Immediately, you noticed her beautiful accent that caused you to stare at her in shock.

"Looks like you frightened her," the other girl laughed, making you glance at her right after. They both had the strong accent.

"Sorry!" you blush, trying to avert your eyes away from them. "I just never heard a British accent- or at least one in person before."

The first girl giggled, waving her hand as a way to prove she didn't mind. "We get that all the time when we visit, it's okay- I never really hear your accent unless I am working on a new project."

"I don't have an accent- you have one," you declare, causing them to laugh harder.

"You seem really amazed by it, is it because you fantasize over Harry Potter or something?" the second girl jokingly questioned, making you chuckle.

"I wish, but I only watched one of his movies and never read the books," you sigh before continuing. "But one of my favorite bands are British so I just get a little loss for words whenever I hear one. It's such a beautiful tone- not to be weird or anything!"

"I agree, New Yorker's just sound so...angry," the first girl shivered. "Which band are you into? Maybe we know them"

"The 1975-"

"Aww, did you do your research on me to make up for earlier," you heard a voice boost through the area. Turning around, you noticed it was the man who called you a tomato, Pedro.

He gave you a cheeky smirk with a look in his eyes as if he knew torturing you will never get old- unless of course you started crying.

"No, you idiot-," the second girl rolled her eyes as he sent her a playful glare for the insult. "-she's talking about the band."

"Wait, you were born in 1975?" you lightly asked, your mind all scrambled in your heard trying to figure out how old he would be now. "that m-

"Yes, I am old!" Pedro fake cried, holding his heart with his hand. "You don't need to remind me that these wrinkles will never go away."

"Well if you had a prepped your skin throughout the years your skin would have been as smooth as a baby's butt like mine," you heard Nick comment from his chair, eyes closed as Violet just laughed in agreement while applying sunscreen on his face.

Pedro just rolled his eyes as the first girl began talking again. "By the way, I love the 1975! Never seen them live though, but they are definitely on my playlists."

You smiled, already feeling comfortable within the environment. Maybe being alone wasn't going to be that terrible.

"I heard he makes out with fans during his concerts," the second girl scrunched her nose in disgust. "Isn't he worried he would end up catching something."

"He probably gets check ups all the time, Bella," the first girl commented, or you suppose Nico since you now know which one was Bella.

"I would catch any disease if it meant I got to kiss Matty Healy for five seconds," you replied, causing the girls to stare at you in astonishment that you just said that so freely.

Maybe talking about your favorite band is slowly making you more confident?

You heard Violet let out a loud laugh as Nick disagreed, saying something about how young girls are too adventurous nowadays but it was true. Matt Healy was a very attractive man whose kiss could probably heal heartaches.

"Isn't he like in his 30s? Aren't you a little too young to be kissing an older man like him?" Violet questioned, making you shrug.

"Maybe I have a thing for older men."

"Wouldn't call a guy who constantly makes out with fans a man," Pedro snorted. "That's a boy."

Nick hummed in agreement as you suppressed a laugh. "How old are you anyway?"

Standing up straight you stared at him and he did the same back. "Guess."

"That never ends up good," Violet chuckled before examining you up and down. "But 18."

Shaking your head, you were young but not that young. At least your skin still made you look like a teenager, god bless.

"25," Bella answered in which you denied that as well.

"29" Nico tried but was wrong.

Nick sat up from his seat to really figure out your age before easily answering "32" and becoming shocked when you denied it. "Woah, are we at least going in the right direction?"

"Violet was headed there."

Pedro sat up in shock at your response. "You're a teenager?!"

"Would it be so wrong if I was?" you questioned. "I would love to live longer."

"She's 21," the other makeup artist who was long forgotten during this conversation casually spoke up, eyes lifting from her phone. The rest of us just stared at her as she did the same back, confused. "What? She fantasizes over an older man but is doing an internship- sounds like what every 21 year-old does."

Gasping, you held a hand over your mouth as everyone laughed at how accurate she was. She was indeed right, but you wouldn't necessarily call your crush on Matty Healy a fantasy- just a strong imagination of being his lifelong lover that would probably never happen because he doesn't know you exist.

"She's right, huh" Nico spoke up as she noticed you didn't fight back.

"Sadly."

After that whole fiasco trying to find out your real age, Violet began working on Pedro after she finished with Nick. Nico and Bella were almost done with their makeup with the other artist when Violet called you over.

Walking towards the chair, you noticed that she had already finished his base with an extremely natural look, not wanting to add too much or it wouldn't look realistic.

"Can you brush his brows and apply some powder on places that need it? I need to finish Bella off with a few final touches," Violet asked, in which you nodded as she pointed to the products needed to do so. "Don't worry if you mess up, it doesn't need to be perfect."

That didn't make you feel any better.

Standing awkwardly as she walks off, you searched around her overload of makeup table to grab the items she just pointed at.

You decided to do his eyebrows first which would be extremely weird because you've never done this before- or at least to a man.

Surprisingly, Pedro hadn't teased you at all since you arrived by his side to help. He actually just laid there silent and watched Violet direct you through her moves before she left.

Maybe he was cutting you a break for once.

You were proven wrong when you leaned forward and aimed your hand towards his face before he quickly tried biting your hand, causing you to squeal and drop the brush on his face, jumping back.

"Very unprofessional," he declared, picking up the brush that had fallen down from his face to his neck up before looking up at you. "Do you hit all of your clients?'

"You did that on purpose!" you glared, smacking his arm as he sent you a playful wink.

"And what are you gonna do about it? Tell on me?" he teased until you grabbed the brush from his hands and swiped it across his brows hard, causing him to hiss in pain. "God damn, woman!"

Laughing as he gripped his forehead area, he gave you a dirty look as you begin the process of patting his face, even hitting his face a little harder than usual in some spots to make sure you got your revenge.

Once done, you examined his face to make sure you were pleased with the results- in which you were.

"All done?' Violet asked, walking up beside you, checking out your work. "Nicely done, but why does he look grumpy?" she added, as he huffed. "and why is he holding his face?"

"Who knows?" you shrug as Pedro scoffs, watching you walk away as Violet calls out afterwards that you were free to go.

As you were walking back to find where the rest of the interns were, you turned your head to find Pedro's eyes still on yours. You gave him an evil smirk as he pointed his finger at you before swiping his thumb across his neck.

You giggled, about to respond back but you were interrupted when a hand tapped your shoulder. Turning around, you find that it was two of the interns, Joon and the girl who was supposedly in love with Pedro, her name tag claiming she was Kendall.

Was this the girl that Jules went did her errands with? Most likely.

"Are you done with the makeup? We need help arranging the equipment for what's gonna be used today," Joon softly smiled as Kendall just stared at you with no emotion.

Nodding, you followed after them as they walked towards the other side of the set. Soon, you had forgotten about the actor and your little battle as endless wires and heavy weights distracted you.

It wasn't till you physically couldn't bare holding the strong stands that the three of you were told you could take a lunch break. Pulling out your phone, you hadn't realized half the day had went by with all the work you were too engaged in.

"You wanna grab lunch with us? We were thinking about going to this small cafe down the street, the reviews look great," Joon asked as Kendall just sent you a small nod in agreement.

The three of you got along pretty well during the hours you spent together. You feel closer to Joon as he did talk the most, but Kendall did try to start little talks so it wouldn't be weird.

I mean we all kind had to get along in order for this job to work.

"I would but I should look for my friend-"

"I think she had her lunch already, I saw her walking by earlier eating a burrito," Kendall replied. Of course she ate already.

Going over the idea in your head a few times, you nodded. You were starving and you suppose its better to not be a loner right now. "Why not?"

As the three of you walked through the set, you didn't miss some of the glances you guys received as your footsteps were pretty loud. It looked like they were wrapping up on one of the scenes as the director was in deep focus on whatever he was lecturing to them on.

"I hope you guys like walking because I took a cab here," Joon chuckled, causing you to laugh.

"Don't worry, I did the same."

Putting on your big coat, you waited until Kendall was done tying the scarf around her neck before walking towards the exit. Close to the door, you halted when you heard someone call your name.

"Y/n!" you saw Bella jogging towards you making Joon and Kendall freeze their movements.

Shifting slowly, you gave her a curious look. "Yes?"

"We wanted to know if you wanted to have lunch with us?" she smiled before looking behind you to find the two others. "You guys can come too!"

Swinging your arms in front of you, you reject her offer as fast as she asked you. "Oh no, no- I'm all good," you decline, not wanting to feel like a bother. "You guys enjoy your own thing-"

"C'mon, how else are we gonna tease Pedro if you aren't there to get him riled up first?" she chuckled as you felt your face on fire.

"Maybe next time?" you kindly suggest, watching as she pouts but nods.

Lifting her right hand up, she sways it around. "Alright, but don't be surprised if Pedro haunts you because of this."

"Why would he?" you heard Kendall quickly question, making Bella tilt her head at her fast counter.

"Because he's the one who asked me to invite her-." Bella casually states before turning to you. "-which you declined so I hope he teases you all week for leaving Nico and I hanging."

Ignoring the first part of her last statement, you playfully nudge her before waving your goodbyes as she skips back to the rest of the cast. Beginning your walk to the cafe, the three of you had little talk about where you grew up, which schools you attended, and why you wanted to work for the film industry.

If it weren't for the freezing temperatures you would say you really enjoyed the walk, too bad you couldn't.

It wasn't until you were seated that Kendall decided to speak her mind on what she was really curious about:

You.

"So, I wonder why Pedro specifically asked you to join him for lunch and not the rest of us?" she randomly revealed as you were taking a sip of your coffee, almost choking on it once you heard her clearly. "Do I sense favoritism?"

Joon stifled a laugh, shaking his head at her last comment. "Doubt it, but I did wonder the same thing until I realized she did help with their makeup. That's intimate enough to make her at some level close to them."

You don't really know Kendall but she's been decent enough to be around until the cast comes to mind. Maybe she wants to be close to them? You're not sure, maybe Jules was right about her all along- who knows.

What you did know though was she was very quick to question and jump to conclusions.

"What did you even talk to them about?" Kendall eyed you, making you tense up a bit. She is very intimidating when she's curious.

"Nothing much-,' you shrug, messing with the napkin in front of you. "Mainly about the 1975 since the girls are British."

"You like the 1975?" Joon asked and you nodded. "I love them!"

Ears perking up after hearing this, you smiled hard. This new information just made Joon 10x better.

"I don't know who they are," Kendall intervened, trying to find some voice in the topic.

The rest of the hour was filled with Joon and you playing the 1975's albums to Kendall as she tried her best to hide her annoyance by shoving her food in her face.

She was definitely not a fan of talent.

Going back to work was a bit easier than before after finding comfort with a lot of the people around you. The three of you were still stuck doing the same job as you heard some of the other interns were either picking up props needed for a scene or being a personal assistant to Finn.

In fact, you hadn't seen many people as rehearsal was moved to another building on the lot. Another hour or two went by before Finn went up to Joon and you to cut you for the day.

"At least we don't have to stay late," Joon beamed, taking off the gloves he was wearing before folding them back into his little backpack. "I heard he's making some people stay till 6 for some heavy-lifting duties- thank god I wasn't chosen."

"Why? Because you aren't strong enough?" you laughed as he let out a small gasp in offense.

"To think we were becoming best friends," he pouted. "But I had a back injury over a year ago so they can't really make me lift anything more than 30 pounds."

Feeling bad for teasing him, you immediately tried taking back your horrible joke. "I didn't mean t-"

"It's cool, no need to beg for forgiveness," he smiled. "Just a little something I don't tell many people, it isn't a big deal majority of the time."

Throwing a weak- but sincere smile, you nod along. Sure it wasn't a big deal right now, but later it could get worse. You didn't want him to know you felt bad but you assumed he knew by the pity upon your face.

Waving your goodbyes, you texted Jules to figure out where she was. It was a strange feeling not seeing each other all day despite working in the same building, but you did live together so it wasn't like you were missing much.

Finding her fake laughing at some guy's joke, her eyes met yours once you appeared by the door of the break room. Immediately, she patted the young boy who didn't look a day over 18 on the back before skipping happily towards you.

"I take it you had a fun day?"

"The best," she grinned, flipping a piece of hair behind her back. "I finally know what an affogato is- it really isn't that amazing as it sounds though. Just a shot of espresso poured on top of a drink."

Laughing, both of you continued down the hall in hopes of quickly finding a cab to take you to the subway. With the timing of your release, you were sure there was going to be so much traffic out these doors that you weren't ready to deal with.

Swinging the exit door open, you didn't expect to find Joon waiting outside with his hands in his pockets, looking down the street praying for an available cab to drive by.

"That hard to catch a ride, huh" Jules sighed, pulling out her phone as Joon slumped, bummed out. "Uber it is."

Seconds later you felt the doors behind you open again but didn't bother to turn, Joon and you too focused on peeking at Jules' phone as she complained about why an app that was supposed to be used when in need always took forever to arrive.

Two people walked a few feet to the side of you three and that's when you could see from the corner of your eye their figures stopping. Moving your head, you caught a view of a man scanning his phone and another glancing at you. It was Pedro.

"And what are you doing out here in the cold, you look like a chihuahua shivering to death," he chuckled, taking steps towards you.

"Is that a compliment?" you questioned, tilting your head as he gave you a smug look, making you guess for yourself.

"Pretty sure he's means you look like a rodent," Jules dryly commented, swiping through her phone before groaning loudly. "Goddammit! The nearest driver is 25 minutes away, I don't want to be waiting that long for a ride that's probably gonna be my whole day's pay."

Realizing the situation you and your friends were in, Pedro lifts a hand trying to get attention. "You guys need a ride? I drove here and-"

"No thank-," you intervene.

"-yes, please," Jules cuts you off, sending you a small glare as you gave one back.

You were not going to ask someone you met just this morning for a ride home. It's too much.

Pedro laughed at the sight of you two yelling at each other through your minds. Telepathy really works when it comes to your friends. Joon just stood there, not really caring what decision we came to terms with. He figured since Jules and you stayed with him long enough he could join along with whatever you two did, so it was up to you guys to make the final move.

"Okay, don't kill each other," Pedro joked, making you move your eyes away from Jules back to him. "How about I drive you three home and you can help me with my makeup this week- so you won't feel like you're taking too much from me."

Squinting, you made a face. "But I already have to do that- it's part of my job."

"She agreed! Let's go," Pedro exclaimed, waving his right arm to you guys to follow him, ignoring you as you tried to debate as to why doing your job wasn't helpful enough.

As Jules kept trying to shut your mouth by placing her palms on it during the walk inside the parking garage, Joon kept looking back confused. "Wait, what about the man? Was he leaving with you?"

Taking a quick glance towards the direction Joon was looking at, Pedro shrugged before pulling out his car keys. "His wife is picking him up."

Joon slowly nodded, not completely convinced that was the case but he'd let it go this time.

Hearing a car beep, you saw a very nice black car's light flash quickly. Walking up closer, Pedro went to the passenger side and opened it while staring at you. "Get in, loser."

Awkwardly standing there, you shook your head and look towards the backseat. "Uh, no- I'm fine with sitting in the back. Maybe Joon can have it since he is the tallest one here."

Joon shook his head. "I'm happy with sitting in the back, ladies first."

Pedro agreed with his last comment, lifting his head to get in the car as you continued to reject his kindness. He already offered you a ride home, you weren't able to take the front seat.

You both continued to fight about the seat before Jules flapped her arms and jumped inside instead. "We are not going to argue for hours over a seat, I'll take it."

Lowering your shoulders, you smiled as Pedro sent you a displeased look. Heading towards the door, Joon opened the door for you, kindly sending you a warm smile. You returned one back and moved to the seat behind the drivers.

Joon followed after you and sat behind Jules as you could see Pedro speed walk around the car, quickly jumping in. He turned towards the back, glancing at the two of you. "Where to?"

"Jules," you called out. She pulled out her phone and showed it to him before saying, "this is it."

"City girls," he blurted out. "The rats on the streets must be a sight to see."

"Let me see?" Joon asked before her phone was shoved to his face. "Hey, I live three streets away from here. Nice."

"We're basically neighbors," you nudged him, making him do the same as Pedro and Jules just stared at the both of you.

"Anyway," Pedro let out a small laugh, "let's go before I change my mind."

Putting the car in reverse, drive, and zooming off, we were on our way. The ride was filled with Jules playing with the radio, Pedro nicely trying to get her fingers off his screen, and Joon calling out the different trees he'd seen out the window the entire time.

At one point Joon even handed you his phone and asked for your number in case either of you needed help with the internship or the cheesy joke of one of you needing sugar in the middle of night.

Once he was dropped off, it took less than ten minutes to arrive to your apartment building.

"You can just pull in right there," Jules declared, pointing at an open spot in front of our lobby doors.

Taking a quit scan, you objected. "No, that's for emergencies only. Just go around the block, we can walk."

Jules protested, pleading Pedro to not give in to your nonsense. "This is an emergency- I want to go home already!"

"It's a red line; therefore, no parking."

Pedro laughed as you raised your voice, determined to not let him get away with this. You were not about to pay for a ticket just because she couldn't walk a few feet...and then a few more to get home.

"Is she always this stubborn?" Pedro jested, earning a hard raise of the eyebrows from Jules.

"You should see her when we study. If you aren't there on time you're kicked out of the discord." Smacking her arm, she huffs and smacks you back.

"I need to be apart of this discord," Pedro stated, making you roll your eyes.

"It's for students only, grandpa," you replied, causing him to gasp.

"That's not how you should treat someone who gave you a ride across town, intern," he retorted and pulled up along the red crub, making Jules laugh as you sent him a dirty look.

So he's pulling that card.

Jules opened her side of the door, stepping out before grabbing her bag and leaning down against the window. "Welp, I am going inside before he personally fires me for befriending you. See you inside and thanks Mr. man who can still get me fired even though he's not my boss!"

Next thing you knew, she was opening the entrance doors and sliding right inside them. It was time for you to go as well.

You could see him grab his phone, unlocking it, and then placing it right in front of your face. "Give me your number."

Scoffing, you pushed his hand away. "Not even going to ask?"

"We both know you're too difficult to easily agree to a question like that," he countered, pushing it back towards you, not leaving until you accepted it.

Was it unprofessional to be giving the main lead of a new television series your personal number? Maybe a lot of people do it, you mean there are plenty of workers who end up friends with cast members all the time on sets.

You're sure these workers have given their numbers away on multiple occasions.

Handing him back his phone, he grinned. "Great, now I can directly reach you whenever I need coffee."

"Only during work hours," you replied, shaking your pointer finger at him. "I don't get paid overtime unless I am on the clock."

He chuckled, twisting his body to get a better view of you. "Yeah, yeah. We'll see about that."

With that, he jumped out of the car and opened your car door, allowing you to step outside and be met with the freezing temperatures once again.

How much you hate the cold when its windy.

"See you tomorrow, kid," he scanned over, waiting for you to comeback with some snarky remark for his pet name.

Stepping away from his car and meeting the sidewalk, you turned around towards him to find him leaning against his door now, watching you to make sure you make it inside safely.

"Same with you- thanks for the ride, grandpa," you smirked, making him suppress a laugh as you turned your back to him again, making your way to the entrance doors.

Two feet away, you stopped when you heard him chant out your name. Seeing him inside his car with his passenger window rolled down, he tried his hardest to move his head against it to see you. "By the way," he started, "you don't look like a rodent."

Feeling flustered by the random yet sweet compliment, you tried hiding your big smile by waving him off, trying to hide your face with your hands and sped walked inside.

You hoped he didn't see the tint on your cheeks.

Unfortunately, your hopes never come true.

[kkeidawrites]

The Return

Previous Chapter<<>>Next Chapter

Chp. 8

¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥

The cars sitting around her honked and inched forward in their lanes impatiently, while Y/n took this time to wipe the condensation off the inside of her windshield. It was getting worse throughout the ride and Y/n was getting frustrated.

She knew traffic was garbage in Gotham but this was way worse than normal. Y/n sits back in her seat and sighs, why did everyone have to evacuate the same time that she was evacuating?

“I won’t get to my parent’s for hours.” She mutters and crosses her arms.

She looks to her left to see a man get out in the pouring rain and shout at the cars ahead of him to keep it moving. Y/n shakes her head in disbelief as she watches more people fight back and forth from their cars.

Slightly entertained by the ongoing arguments around her, Y/n uses this time to inch her car closer to the car in front of her. A huge black truck that was slow to move their car forward and Y/n blew a raspberry in annoyance.

“If the other cars are moving, you should be too, buddy!” She yells.

As soon as she was done scolding, the sound of glass breaking from beside her makes her bring her hands up to cover her face.

Y/n yelps in surprise and hears multiple voices from outside her car. Moving away her hands, Y/n sees a masked man decked out in militia gear, reaches inside of her car to unlock her door. Y/n elbows him in the throat and punches him, making him fall back. Another appears on the passenger’s side, breaking that window and Y/n takes out her pistol from the console box on her door.

Turning off the safety, she shoots at their chest area, making sure that she was aiming at their shoulder and chest. Screams from other drivers are heard and people are scattering towards the bridge on foot.

Y/n uses the butt of her gun to knock out another goon that was reaching inside her car to grab her.

“Crazy woman!” Her arm is grabbed and Y/n shoots at the one holding her.

“Get your hands off me!” She yells pulling away.

A smoke bomb is thrown into her car and Y/n uses her shirt to cover her mouth and nose. She has no choice but to bail out of her car and Y/n removes her seatbelt. She pushes open her door with a force that the next goon that tried to get her was pushed back and knocked out by another opened door.

Y/n rolls out of her car and holds up her pistol to anyone else that could try and catch her.

Using the smoke screen to her advantage, she runs off towards the bridge, cloaking herself with the crowd.

“Find her!” She hears one of the militiamen yell and Y/n curses, putting on her hood. She sees out of the corner of her eye that the men scatter around the parked cars and running people to track her down.

Dipping into a nearby alley, Y/n presses herself against the building to avoid any of the street lights that were visible on the trash cans in front of her. Booted footsteps run past her as Y/n presses herself further into the building.

Once she felt they were all gone, Y/n runs down the alleyway, being careful to avoid stepping in big puddles.

The rain had soaked her entire body and it was becoming more difficult to see through the droplets on falling down her face.

Making a left, Y/n keeps her gun ready against her chest as she sees the road ahead of her would lead her back to the bridge.

Hastening her stride, Y/n knew that in just a couple of feet she would be home free. If she had to walk on the bridge to get to her parents then so be it. She could get another car.

But before she could arrive at the end of the street leading to her freedom, she’s stopped when something drops down in front of her.

Taking a few steps back, Y/n points her gun at the crouched figure before her.

Slowly, they rose up to their feet and blue computerized eyes look at her. Y/n’s brow frowned in annoyance, why in the world did she have to run into this person again?

“What are you doing here?” She demands.

Y/n watched as they balled their fists by their sides and stare at her, unusually quiet.

“Were those your goons that were after me? Did you send them?” She continued.

“Yes.”

“The hell for? What do you want from me?” She is bold enough to take a step closer to them, ready to fire if necessary.

“They were ordered not to hurt you. Just to bring you to me.”

“The fuck for?”

“To show you something.” They say. Y/n furrows her brow in confusion.

“Your men broke my damn windows out of my car and threw a smoke bomb, and you think that would have made me come willingly?” She asks.

“They weren’t supposed to go that far.”

“Whatever! I am giving you till the count of one to let me pass or I’ll shoot your ass.” She aims her gun to their chest.

Holding up their hands in defense, they come closer to her, their chest pressed against the gun’s barrel.

“I want to show you something, and if you still want to shoot me, then feel free to do so. I won’t even attempt to fight back.” They tell her and Y/n’s brow furrow deeper in confusion.

Y/n watched closely as they raised their hands to press a button on the side of their helmet, a hiss leaving the sides as depressurization allowed the mechanism to move.

Before Y/n had a chance to see their face, a thudding sound resounded behind her and Y/n turns around to see the one and only Batman.

His cloak engulfing his entire body as he watched the two of them.

“Batman? Why are you here?” Y/n asks.

“I got a tip from a friend. Get away from him, he’s dangerous.” Batman says as he takes a step forward.

“Look at the pot calling the kettle black. I haven’t brought any harm to this woman and yet here you appear.” They say and Y/n takes a step back still holding up her gun to the person in front of her.

“You’re the Arkham Knight, what does Scarecrow have planned?” Batman demands.

“Like I’d tell you. He wants what we all been waiting for: the identity of the Batman.” They say raising their hands in jubilation.

“Quite frankly, Scarecrow is doing Gotham a favor, all those who stay will be finally dealt with. Something you failed to do all these years. It’s what everyone’s been wanting.” The knight explains.

“Then what do you want?” Y/n speaks up. The knight glances over at her then back to the Batman.

“To kill you. You are disease that has yet to be cured and I’m ready to be the one to pull the trigger.” The knight takes out their gun and points it at the man dressed as a bat.

“I just have to wait a little bit longer. Unfortunate.” The knight shoots Batman in the shoulder, and the cloaked hero yells out in pain, falling to his knees. Y/n gasped in shock and shoots at the knight who took the bullets with no problem as they bounced off their armor.

“I’ll be in touch doll.” They say and use their grapple gun to fly off onto a building.

Changing out the clip, Y/n walks over to Batman and looks down at his trembling form.

“You alright?” Y/n asks uninterested.

“I’ll be fine.” He slowly pulls himself to his feet and grunts. Y/n could see the bullet lodged into his armor and frowns.

“That must of hurt like a bitch.”

“It does.”

“Good, now I need some answers. How the hell did you know where I was?” She asks.

“I had Dick put a tracker on your car, it signaled to me that you were in danger and I followed you to the bridge. I also had some radio signals regarding the Arkham Knight in this area as well.” Batman tells her.

“I can take care of myself.”

“That’s an understatement. You should have went with Dick when he was there-“

“Last I checked Bruce, I don’t have to do anything you tell me. I don’t need the Batman’s assistance 24/7 and quite frankly you’re under attorney orders that you have no right to speak or interact with me. If I wanted to I would have your ass sent to jail for breaking that contract.” She holsters her gun in her hoodie pocket.

“But I can’t because this city needs the Batman. Stay away from me Wayne, or else.” Y/n’s eyes glowed at him in the downpour of rain and Y/n turns away from him to continue her evacuation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Enjoy the read and be sure to read the previous chapters!

Be sure to like, reblog, and comment!

[corner-stories]

matching pajamas jeankasa?? 🫶🫶🫶

Winter Vibes ❄

Grad School AU. 1113 words. (ao3.)

For a few merciful moments, Jean stands beneath a stream of water and washes the day off of him. He listens to nothing but the sound of the droplets hitting the floor. He scrubs himself with lavender soap, the warmth of the wash soothing the ache in his muscles and alleviating all the stresses and downfalls that come with spending hours behind a drafting table.

When everything is rinsed and sent down the drain, he turns off the tap and steps out, immediately grabbing a towel off the hook to dry off.

After securing said towel around his waist, he wipes the fog from the mirror, gauges the length of his beard, then deems shaving a task that ‘Future Jean’ should handle. He’s sure his advisor could handle him looking scruffy for another day or two. 

After taking a few minutes to rub shea-scented cream into his skin, he exits the bathroom as he fights back a yawn.

The walk between the bathroom and bedroom is short, as the space in their Villeray apartment often feels more constricting than liberating.

When he enters, he’s greeted by the hum of the city outside their window and Mikasa perched on the bed, exactly where he last saw her. She sits with her laptop on the mattress and her eyes affixed to the screen. She barely notices him when he walks by, focusing more on her typing speed as she adjusts the way her eyeglasses sit on the bridge of her nose.

“Okay, slight change in plans,” Mikasa says just as he gets to the dresser. 

“Oh?”

“I might have to meet with my advisor on the night that Armin gets here…” she begins, looking up for a brief second. “...so do you think you could drive to the airport and—”

“Consider it done,” Jean promises as he opens a dresser drawer. He glances aside to a mounted mirror on the wall, something placed at just the right angle to allow him to see her in the reflection. 

And in the mirror he sees her smile slightly, relieved. 

“You’re the best,” she thanks. “And please clean out your car.” 

Jean rolls his eyes, but nods along. As he rummages around the drawer, he wonders what task will be more difficult — organizing the clutter in his aging Toyota or dealing with traffic around the airport. He finds the bottoms of a flannel pyjama set his mother gifted him two birthdays ago, but not the top. He only rifles through the drawer for a few more seconds before glancing to the mirror again, where the other half of the sleepwear currently hangs off of Mikasa’s shoulders. Evidently, she’s already claimed the garment for the night no matter how awkwardly it fits her. 

A smirk creeps onto Jean’s face as he closes the drawer. 

“So… when do you think you’ll get off work?” he asks.

Without missing a beat, Jean drops his towel and pulls on the bottoms. He looks to the mirror again and witnesses his significant other now suddenly intrigued by the ongoings near the dresser. 

Once he’s more clothed, Mikasa refocuses on her laptop and adjusts her eyeglasses, flustered but refusing to let it show. “Why do you ask?”

Jean smirks as he grabs his towel off the floor and tosses it to a nearby hamper. “I just wanna know how many hours I’ll have to entertain your friend.”

He goes to sit on the edge of the bed and grabs his phone off the nightstand, mindlessly thumbing through notifications before sparing a glance at Mikasa’s laptop screen. As to be expected, he sees her very cluttered inbox and an alarming amount of open browser tabs, a telltale sign that her TA duties are beginning to intensify. 

“I should be here around seven. Seven-thirty if Dietrich’s feeling chatty that day,” she answers, then eyes him. “And if anything, Armin might nap. He’d still be on England time.”

Jean nods, adjusting his position until his back is against the headboard. “Makes sense.”

When Jean runs out of notifications to swipe through, he catches his breath and tries to visualize the week ahead of him. His usual fate of hiding in the depths of McGill’s School of Architecture comes to mind. With deadlines drawing close, he already knows he’ll spend hours hunched over his drafting table as he reaches for his third, maybe fourth cup of coffee. He can already imagine himself slouching in his chair as he files through food delivery apps in search of some kind of discount. At least on Friday he’ll have an excuse to stay off campus, even if it involves a drive to an airport and preoccupying his significant other’s childhood friend for a few hours. 

At least Mikasa has explained a thing or two about Armin. He had grown up alongside her back in Vancouver, similarly moved across the country for university reasons, then moved again when given the opportunity to earn his Master’s in the UK. Apparently, his dream of studying Marine Sciences was strong enough to bring him all the way across the pond, having settled in Newcastle for the last few years. 

His planned trip to Montreal will only last a night. Then after his reunion dinner with his childhood best friend, he’ll be on another plane to Vancouver to visit his grandfather. Their hours together are limited, but to Mikasa it’s more than enough after all the time they’ve spent apart. 

Mikasa types for a few more seconds before glancing back at her boyfriend by the headboard. “Are you nervous?”

“A little,” Jean shrugs. “I’ve never met any of your old friends before.” 

“Armin doesn’t bite.”

“I’m not implying that he does. I just… I’ve never met the guy.” 

Mikasa hums. “I feel like you two would get along.” 

Jean is still unconvinced, but manages a smile anyways. “And what makes you think that?”

She takes a moment to think, adjusting her glasses once more as her face remains neutral. “I just do,” she says as she turns back towards her laptop. 

Jean rolls his eyes as he adjusts his position once more. He eventually lays back and stares at the ceiling above the bed. As he relaxes, he wonders if his girlfriend’s answer is partially due to the current hour or to something else. Perhaps it’s instinct — an inkling, a feeling — something she just knows for sure without knowing why. 

Either way, the plans for next week are still set in stone. With that in mind, Jean finds it in himself to breathe. He closes his eyes, nestles one of his hands underneath his head, and doesn’t know how much time passes before he nods off. 

[lxcalmenace]

I Was Wrong, If Only I Knew.

When the usually so cold and reserved Rin Itoshi agreed to go out for dinner with you, you couldn't help getting excited but also a part in you was awfully suspicious of his sudden change in his behavior. You finally learnt the despondent truth when it was time to meet for the dinner.

A Rin Itoshi series (ongoing)

Highschool AU

Chapter 1 Masterlist Chapter 3

Chapter 2: Reo's Party

Gn! Y/n

Tw: Little swearing, mention of alcohol, angst (?)

Taglist (open):

@hellothere9597

-----------------------------------------☆

It was finally 7 PM, Rin could arrive any second now. You took a quick look at yourself in your phone camera and stood up, stretching yourself. You brushed off any wrinkles from your outfit and smiled at yourself. "I can't believe that this is actually happening.." you thought as you waited patiently for the dark haired male to arrive. Maybe he was stuck in traffic? Or maybe he was running late? You decided to take a walk around the park to pass the time. 7:30, 8:00, 8:20, time kept on passing but he never arrived... You tried calling him multiple times but he never picked it up, texts were left on delivered. Finally you lost it. Rin Itoshi had stood you up. With teary eyes and a heavy heart, you called Shidou and told him to pick you up.

"Hey umm Ryu- can you pick me up... please?"

"I'm on my way, tell me what happened?"

"I can't talk on the phone" you sniffed, "Please make it quick"

"Get yourself together y/n . I'll be there in 5"

.

.

.

"He stood me up. Honestly, I should've seen it coming."

"No shit he did. I told you that he was a bad news but you never lis-"

"Please are you gonna scold me now? You know what, take me somewhere where I can forget this pain. I remember Reo inviting me to his party tonight. Take me there.

"Y'know that you don't have to go out there again if you don't want to- Rest and a blanket is what chu' need right now"

You simply glared at him and Shidou accepted his defeat. He motioned you to get on his bike and handed you a spare helmet. After you both were done with wearing the protective gear, Shidou took off at a high speed. You were usually scared of high speed and often scolded Shidou for driving at such, but not today. You had enough adrenaline pumping through your veins right now to care about anything.

.

.

.

Upon arrival, you were left speechless as you scanned the surroundings in awe. Reo's party was no doubt lavish. The loud music booming and the sound of people having fun nearly drowned out your own voices. "You're not going to drink alcohol right?" Shidou mouthed while doing some hand gestures. You simply nooded your head 'no' and made way to the bar. "Two virgin mojitos please" The bartender acknowledged your order and started working on it while Shidou made way towards you from the crowd and sat beside you.

"Well now that we're here, we should pay Reo a visit. Do you mind Ryusei?"

"No absolutely not." He looked around.

"Two virgin mojitos"

"Ah yes" you thanked the bartender and handed one glass to Shidou. "Cheers!" You clinked your drinks and talked about nothing in particular. After finishing your drinks, you and Shidou set off to find the host of the party. The mansion was huge, so it was definitely exhausting to move around and plus the crowd added to the discomfort. After walking for 15 minutes, you finally saw the purple tied up hair. It seemed that Reo was busy playing 'Spin the bottle' that he didn't even notice you calling out to him. He was sitting in a big circle of about 10-13 guys and girls. You started observing the group as they were too engrossed in the game, it made you want to play with them too. Parties were not your thing so you never really went to them but when you did, you were always seen playing these kind of games. The whole crowd suddenly cheered when the two players shared a kiss. It was amusing, until you saw a rather familiar face and your blood ran cold. Shidou tried covering up your eyes but it was too late. You already saw it. It was Rin. Rin with a girl which you quite recognized from your classes, sitting on top of him, hands cupping Rin's cheeks and passionately kissing him. So many emotions were rushing through you: Anger, sadness, frustration. You were confused. You needed answers, no you DESERVED answers. Rin was sitting here, kissing some random girl instead of meeting up with you. Blood now boiling, you made your way towards the group when suddenly, your vision was blacked out.

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

A/n: Hello ^^ Sorry I couldn't post this earlier, I'm still sorting out my schedule. But I'll definelaty make one post per week. Sorry if this chapter is weird, I wrote it at 2AM, half asleep yesterday.

[abeat]

6 - Ring

In her association with the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, at least when they had been officially formed, Lavender had seen many a worthy adventurer come and go through the Waking Sands. She herself had visited the base a few times on her errands for the Scions, which mostly involved food. The fact that the place had been incredibly remote in Vesper Bay in Western Thanalan had made many a Scion member grumble, herself among them, yet today it would serve as a safe haven. Since the Scions had long ago moved to the much more accessible Mor Dhona, Vesper Bay did not see half the foot traffic it had seen in previous years.

Making it the ideal hiding spot. With barely any life left in the area, it seemed an easy and natural thing to hide out around the Waking Sands. Surely not even a cursed corsage could inspire romantic intentions, real or bewitched, in anyone. The building had been the location of a raid that had resulted in mass murder after all. There could be no way that anyone in their right mind would come out here to see the place and thus the viera would never be found. Except by Joey of course. He could not stay by her side for the whole thirty days of course, but he had promised to check on her while the curse was ongoing.

'I wonder why it doesn't work on Sous Chef?' Lavender thought to herself as she walked through Vesper Bay, thinking of her good friend. 'I guess because he's married and already in love? Or because he's magically inclined he can resist other magic? Sounds like the sort of thing I need to ask Hol sometime. Or ask Sous Chef. Or ask him again. Did I ask him already? I probably did..'

As had happened many times already this month, Lavender soon had her reverie rudely interrupted by yet another cursed individual. A tall and imposing roegadyn appeared before her, and before she could either flee through teleportation or try to diffuse the situation, he went down on bended knee before her. Lavender took a step back to put some distance between them as the roegadyn reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box.

'Oh no way, this can't be what I think it is-' the viera started to panic

Rather than use words, the roegadyn man simply opened up the box to reveal a ring inside, proffering it to her with a wide smile on his face, as though she was supposed to understand what he was getting at through the gesture alone. Lavender had no idea how to start unpacking this incident. The fact that someone had found her in the remote Vesper Bay and been cursed by the corsage; the fact that the victim had presented her with a ring; the fact that the victim had been carrying a ring at all; or perhaps the most troubling fact of all, the fact that the roegadyn had been carrying a ring suggested he meant it for someone else, and his love for that person did not stand up against a curse to bewitch him to fall in love with someone else.

Lavender had no intention of hanging around for the unfolding drama. She teleported away once again, paying the invisible toll collector the toll to get as far away from the roegadyn man as possible.

'How many days left? Twenty-four?' she thought miserably as she disappeared into the aether. 'I really should go live in a cave somewhere!!'

-

As always, thank you to @adeat for providing a roegadyn for the screenshot and the idea!

[voxiiferous]

Appeal to the Audience

@thenextchapterbegins

The night of Gier Guld’s broadcast sees Vox pacing back and forth in his penthouse, Hellaina sitting at the bar counter between his living room and the kitchen, Dia making dinner for the two of them. He is, almost literally, vibrating, but instead the nervous electricity radiates, Dia’s hair frizzing.

He’s muttering obscenities, and Hellaina is following his path across the room with a half-turned up expression, even as her eyes belie worry. “What are you going to do?”

“I have to speak out.”

His suit is pressed, smile absolutely radiant as he stands in front of the cameras, the man behind it giving a silent countdown until they go live, and then every screen in Hell flickers on. “Hello Pentagram City, I’m sure at least most of you saw Gier Guld’s yesterday. His promises of reform, his condemnation of the current system— and I will not pretend that he doesn’t have merit. There are many deep set issues here, ones that emerged before I was here, and that I should have done more to try and fix. He calls me your leader,”

He holds out his hands, as if in a welcoming motion. “But that’s not true. The royal family has abandoned us here, washed their hands of the sinners. When the food shortages began, I was the one who bartered with the other rings for more imports to stop breadlines forming, or starvation that caused more conflict. When gang wars break out and break the power grids, it’s my engineers that repair it in a timely manner so you have power. I am not your leader, but I have done by best to provide for you, for us. Vogitek is working to implement the metro lines we've been planning for months now, because I, like you, cannot stand the traffic."

It’s probably a bit gauche to directly address Gier’s points, but then again, needs must. “He outright says that life under him would be cruel— and yes, this is Hell, but if we have been given free reign, should be not strive to make our after lives something better than wondering if we’ll walk out to the Exterminators each year, when the alternative is what he presents?”

“Pentagram City is overpopulated, and as the Blue Light District climbs higher and higher in order to provide houses to the ever increasing population, he promises parks and green spaces. Where are the arts? The things that make life worth living? Where in his process is there music or performances? Singers, painters, actors, writers, where will you be left under this new system?"

He looks at the camera, letting his eyes burn for a second or two, not long enough for the silence to reign, just long enough that everyone is waiting. "Overlords who are hearing me speak, I know some of you don't like me, I think it's impossible to live here and not see the results of mine and Alastor's ongoing feud, but I am asking you to consider what this means for you-- Gier Guld promises a life outside my tyranny, but do you think that will be kind to you? That you will be able to hold onto, or take more power if I am out of the way? I ask that we put aside our differences, none of it matters when we stand to lose everything."

"He promises growth, he promises the ability to rise above your station, but when has that ever been true? You'll work, and you'll bleed, and you'll give it all up for what? To be a slightly bigger cog in his machine? Do you take the promises of what seem too good to be true, or will you work to reform the devil you know into something better? The choice is yours Pentagram City."

[brandingdask]

SEO Services for Fitness: Boost Your Business Online! 💪📈

In today’s digital world, having a strong online presence is a game-changer for any fitness business. Whether you run a gym, offer personal training, or provide wellness services, SEO is your ticket to standing out in a competitive market. With over 90% of consumers using search engines to find local businesses, SEO is no longer optional—it’s essential! 🚀

At Branding Dask, we offer SEO services tailored specifically for fitness businesses. Our strategies are designed to help you rank higher on search engines, attract more clients, and grow your business organically. 🌍

Why Does SEO Matter for Fitness Businesses?

1️⃣ Increased Visibility: Appear at the top of search results when potential clients search for fitness services near them.

2️⃣ More Website Traffic: SEO drives organic traffic to your website, turning visitors into loyal clients.

3️⃣ Local Foot Traffic: With local SEO, we help you attract clients from your area, increasing walk-ins and inquiries.

4️⃣ Build Credibility: High rankings on search engines create trust and authority in your field.

5️⃣ Cost-Effective: Unlike paid ads, SEO offers long-term results without ongoing costs.

How Can SEO Help Your Fitness Business Thrive?

Local SEO: Optimize your Google My Business profile, target local keywords like “gyms near me,” and build citations to improve local rankings.

On-Page SEO: Optimize your website’s content, images, and structure to help search engines understand what you offer and rank you higher.

Technical SEO: Improve your website’s architecture, fix broken links, and implement HTTPS for better security and usability.

Content Marketing: Create engaging blogs, workout tips, and wellness guides that attract both readers and search engines.

Link Building: Build backlinks from trusted sources like fitness blogs and directories to boost your site’s authority.

SEO Strategies We Use to Drive Growth

🔍 Keyword Research: We find the right keywords that potential clients are searching for, from “affordable gyms near me” to “best personal trainers in [city].”

🌍 Local SEO: Claim and optimize your Google My Business profile, use geo-targeted keywords, and encourage reviews to boost your local search ranking.

📝 Content Creation: We help you create valuable content like blog posts on fitness trends, workout guides, and more. This keeps your website fresh and engaging.

🔗 Backlinking: We build quality backlinks from fitness influencers, blogs, and directories to help your site gain authority and rank higher on Google.

Success Story:

A local gym worked with Branding Dask to improve its SEO, and the results speak for themselves:

150% increase in website traffic

Improved local visibility on Google Maps

40% growth in memberships

These results are the power of a tailored SEO strategy in action!

FAQs

How long does it take to see results? You can expect to see noticeable results within 3-6 months of consistent SEO efforts.

Can small fitness businesses benefit from SEO? Definitely! Local SEO is perfect for small gyms and studios looking to stand out in their community.

Should I hire a professional for SEO? SEO can be complex, and working with experts like Branding Dask ensures quicker, more effective results.

Let’s Take Your Fitness Business to the Next Level!

Are you ready to see the benefits of SEO for your fitness business? Whether you’re looking to attract more clients, increase visibility, or grow your business, Branding Dask has the tools and expertise to help you succeed.

📲 Contact us today to get started with a customized SEO plan!

[earnlikelee]

When you're filled with doubt & fear, take action...Experiencing Direct Solutions Online is for anyone who wants to step into the badass version of themselves and actually go after their dreams by taking action, and believing their worthy of greatness. This Blueprint is designed to help you uncover the badass within and step into a more confidence version of yourself.  When you're asking where should I start...  Learn How To Launch a Daily Pay Business..We show you exactly where and how to start posting ads on high-traffic websites (FOR FREE) and how to create content for social media to drive tons of traffic to your automated system. We introduce you to the skills you need to launch an online business the right way. When you're ready for MORE education, support, & community... You’ll realize the 6-Figure Business Blueprint is the most comprehensive education for affiliate marketing on the market. It also includes ongoing live support calls, live webinars, and updated education so all our students remain in the forefront of the digital marketing world. When you're ready to connect, learn, & network with the ultimate experience...Whether your brand new or an experienced marketer, all our attendees walk away from our Webinar events ready to tackle their business, their mindset, and level up.. INC 5000 does not personally endorse the education products of daily pay. This is not a get rich quick program nor do we believe in overnight success. We believe in hard work, integrity and developing your skills if you want to earn more financially. As stipulated by law, we can not and do not make any guarantees about your ability to get results or earn any money with any of our products or services. The average person who buys any "how-to" information gets little to no results. Any references or examples used within this website are real and documented but are used strictly for example purposes only. Your results will vary and depend on many factors, including but not limited to your background, experience, and work ethic. All business entails risk as well as massive and consistent effort and action.

Start Here get the blueprint Now! If you’re not willing to accept that, please DO NOT PURCHASE ANY PRODUCTS FROM US. Learn How To Launch a Daily Pay Business We show you exactly where and how to start posting ads on high-traffic websites (FOR FREE) and how to create content for social media to drive tons of traffic to your automated system.

[kelly-n-160799]

Employee Experiences that address every touchpoint in their journeys - The Human Experience Hub

Forget boring jargon, let's ditch the "customer-centric" buzzwords and get real. CX isn't just about smiling at people and saying "thank you." It's about understanding your customers deep down and building experiences that truly wow them.

Think about it: you know that feeling when you have a truly amazing customer experience? It's like magic. You walk away feeling valued, understood, and maybe even a little bit special. That's the sort of magic we're discussing.

But here's the thing: creating that kind of magic isn't easy. It takes more than just a friendly voice on the phone. It requires a deep understanding of your customers, a laser focus on their needs, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

So, how do you actually do CX right?

Well, let's break it down.

1. Know Your Why (and I mean really know it):

Brand Strategy is Your North Star: Before you even think about customer interactions, you need to understand your brand's soul. What are your values? What's your mission? Why do you even exist?

Vision & Purpose: Where are you headed as a company? A strong vision and purpose will guide your CX efforts and ensure they align with your overall goals.

Organizational Culture: The intersection of organizational culture is when things become complicated. How individuals interact within your firm is determined by your corporate culture.

2. Walk in Your Customers' Shoes (Literally):

Journey Mapping: Forget fancy charts and graphs. Get out there and experience your product or service firsthand. What are the pain points? Where are the opportunities to delight?

Data Analytics: The data doesn't lie. Analyze customer feedback, website traffic, and social media mentions to understand customer behavior and identify areas for improvement.

3. Invest in Your People (They're Your Secret Weapon):

Employee Experience: Happy employees = happy customers. Period. Create a positive and supportive work environment where your team feels valued and empowered.

Professional Development: Equip your team with the knowledge and skills they need to deliver exceptional service. Invest in training courses that emphasize problem-solving, empathy, and communication.

Leadership Culture: Leaders set the tone. Encourage open communication, empower your team to make decisions, and celebrate successes (big and small).

4. Make Every Interaction Count:

CX Strategy: Develop a comprehensive CX strategy that aligns with your business goals and prioritizes customer satisfaction.

Human Experience: Remember, you're dealing with humans, not just customers. Treat them with respect, empathy, and genuine care.

Consistency is Key: Deliver a consistent experience across all channels – online, offline, and everywhere in between.

5. The Never-Ending Quest for Improvement:

Continuous Feedback Loops: Regularly gather customer feedback and use it to identify areas for improvement.

Embrace Change: The world is constantly evolving, and so should your CX efforts. Be flexible, nimble, and constantly seeking out new ideas.

In Conclusion

Creating a truly exceptional customer experience is an ongoing journey, not a destination. It requires a deep understanding of your customers, a commitment to continuous improvement, and a team that's passionate about delivering the best possible experience.

So, ditch the jargon, embrace the human element, and get ready to create some CX magic. Your clients will appreciate it.

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice.

[thewul]

Amazing looks, Bombardier Case Study is still ongoing for its 9th year

I don't know, I thought that a world trip with this RV would be an excellent idea and testing grounds for it, I also thought of dragging nuclear activists from under the wheels, I have a general feeling that hydrogen fuel cells saved the trip, and it looks plenty capable this RV, of accomplishing a world trip without a single gallon of fossil fuel, its solar roof allows it to spare its liquid hydrogen

Now all of this is more complex than concept engineering, for exemple do we need to cool that liquid hydrogen, or not, maybe the tanks have a component for that or its centralized in midsection

How much energy does it actually use vs what it produces, the feeling is good however, hydrogen fuel cells is proven technology so are electric motors, everything about it spells doable

And I guess that should be pretty much the passing grade in concept engineering, is it doable or not, very doable or just a little, where the challenge is edging towards engineering grade

Also no those are not walls, they're steel beams for each deck, and where we have interiors they become those expensive plastics that you find in high end vehicles to provide edges, or zombies are a concern

I am with you if you want to go all in zombies apocalypse truck, fully armored, outer and inner steel walls, walk out of there with an axe, and sunscreen because that stuff is daily, they're like grasshoppers they won't go away, they're like... I don't know traffic poles, but we should be fine inside that RV

Tune in to the satellites that some Believer left with all of Netflix inside it, until it dies out someday, and look for The Island, because they can't swim so people are saying there's an island where they aren't any, nobody knows where

Thank you for your continued interest in BCS

[bhavanasshyam]

Mobile-First Indexing: A Step-by-Step Guide to Optimizing Your Site

Hey there, fellow website owners! As a digital marketing expert in Alappuzha, I've seen countless businesses struggle with mobile optimization. But don't worry if this sounds overwhelming – I'm here to walk you through everything you need to know.

What's Mobile-First Indexing, Anyway?

Think of Google as a librarian who needs to catalog your website. Previously, they'd look at your desktop version first. Now? They're checking out your mobile version to decide how to rank your site. It's that simple!

Why Should You Care?

Here's the deal: if your mobile site isn't up to snuff, you might be losing valuable traffic. Consider these stats:

Over 60% of Google searches come from mobile devices

Users spend an average of 3 hours per day on their phones

Mobile commerce is growing faster than ever

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Mobile Optimization

1. Test Your Mobile-Friendliness

First things first – let's see where you stand:

Use Google's Mobile-Friendly Test tool

Check your site on different devices

Ask friends to browse your site on their phones and provide feedback

2. Speed Up Your Mobile Site

Nobody likes waiting! Here's how to pick up the pace:

Compress your images (but keep them crisp!)

Minimize code (CSS, JavaScript, HTML)

Enable browser caching

Consider using AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages)

3. Nail Your Content Strategy

Your content needs to work perfectly on smaller screens:

Use shorter paragraphs (2-3 sentences max)

Break up text with subheadings

Make sure fonts are readable (16px minimum)

Keep important information above the fold

4. Perfect Your Design

Mobile design isn't just about shrinking everything down:

Ensure buttons are large enough to tap (minimum 44x44 pixels)

Space out links to prevent accidental clicks

Make your menu easy to navigate

Use responsive images that adapt to screen size

Keep forms short and sweet

5. Technical Must-Dos

Let's get a bit technical (but I'll keep it simple):

Use the same meta robot tags on mobile and desktop

Keep your structured data consistent across versions

Make sure your mobile site can handle Googlebot

Verify both versions in Google Search Console

Common Mobile-First Mistakes to Avoid

Blocking Resources: Don't hide your CSS, JavaScript, or images from Google

Different Content: Your mobile site should have the same important content as desktop

Slow Loading: If it takes more than 3 seconds to load, you're losing visitors

Tiny Text: No one wants to squint at their phone

Unplayable Content: Make sure videos work on mobile devices

Tools to Help You Succeed

Make your life easier with these tools:

Google Search Console (free and essential!)

PageSpeed Insights

Mobile-Friendly Test

Chrome DevTools

GTmetrix

Moving Forward

Remember, mobile optimization isn't a one-and-done deal. It's an ongoing process that requires regular checking and updating. Set a reminder to review your mobile performance monthly and stay ahead of the curve.

Quick Action Items:

Run a mobile-friendly test today

Check your site's loading speed

Review your content on various devices

Update any outdated design elements

Monitor your mobile performance regularly

Final Thoughts

Mobile-first indexing isn't just another tech buzzword – it's the reality of how people use the internet today. By following these steps and regularly maintaining your mobile site, you're not just making Google happy; you're creating a better experience for your actual users.

Remember: A mobile-optimized site isn't a luxury anymore; it's a necessity. As your digital marketing expert in Alappuzha, I encourage you to start implementing these changes today, and watch your site's performance improve!

Need help getting started? Drop me a comment below, and let's talk about your mobile optimization journey!

[angel0news]

"Real Luxury": Woman's Post On Quality Of Life In India Vs US Sparks Online Debate

A woman recently took to social media to share her experience living in India and the United States. Niharikaa Kaur Sodhi took to X (formerly Twitter) and sparked a debate on the quality of life in both countries. Initially, she assumed that amenities such as home delivery of groceries and affordable domestic help contributed to a lavish lifestyle in India. However, after visiting the United States, she realised that factors including clean air and well-maintained roads determine the quality of life.

She wrote on the social media platform, "Day 11 today in the US and here's a thought I had yesterday evening. It might trigger some of you. But if online text with somebody's opinion triggers you that's a space you should totally work on and protect for your own energy."

"So the thought is - I've always felt how luxurious life in India can be with: quick food deliveries, 10min grocery delivery, affordable household help. I literally survive on grocery deliveries lol. But REAL quality of life is actually stuff that's super basic. It's clean air, ongoing electricity, availability of water, plenty of greenery, good roads," Ms Sodhi continued.

The user said that a person does not need quick delivery services if they have clean air to go to the store without any fear. She said, "And the real luxury is central air conditioning instead of dying in 45C without any electricity on some days, freedom to wear what you want to be comfortable instead of men ogling at you. Because things that have made me happy in the past few days apart from family time, are morning walks, good air, green pastures, seeing sunrise and sunset, sound of birds instead of honking."

Ms Sodhi stated that "perhaps it's my definition of quality of life and luxury that has changed." "I don't know if I'll ever attain any of the above. But it's definitely a thought in my head," the X user concluded.

Since being shared, her post has amassed five lakh views and three thousand likes on the microblogging platform.

"100 percent agree. It takes courage to voice this opinion. Civic sense is a highly under rated attribute," said a user.

A second person commented, "Living in Melbourne for 15 years and temporarily moved to Mumbai and ai could see the difference clearly. You are 100% correct. We hardly had food deliveries in Melbourne but everyday in Mumbai because of pollution, traffic etc."

Another added, "Villages of India also offer you such a peaceful and healthy environment… Farmers of India are no less than living in US or Melbourne the only drawback- u can't get food delivered online & obviously not a high package microsoft job."

"You can get such life if you move 50 kms away from any city in India," wrote a user.

Another said, "Both places have their plus and minus. You usually cannot have everything in one place"

A person remarked, "Really depends from person to person and how you define the quality of life. Having lived in Bangalore and also getting a taste of life abroad, and talking to people who live abroad, things are not as rosy as it seems on the paper."