#I’m just saying it would fix some things if they were both women okay. Okay. they were MEANT to be toxic yuri.

[bioshzrd]

cl/eon would be good if it didn’t mean the death of claire’s character . Like every time I see content for them I feel like people are pushing them into this super heteronormative dynamic that isn’t accurate to claire at All or completely misinterpreting her in other ways or just erasing everything about her to service Leon. This is why they need to be in a lesbian relationship in this essay I will

[teenidlegirl]

⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 𝓑eauty 𝓞f 𝓣his 𝓜ess ♡ 𝓒hapter 𝓢even

꒰⠀⠀⟡⠀.⠀military!miguel⠀𝓍⠀fem!neighbor!reader⠀.⠀⟡⠀⠀꒱

‧ ִ ۫⠀♱ 𝓢𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘. your friends decide to go to the fair and you invite miguel, spending time with him. while indulging in fun, someone from miguel’s past comes in to ruin it.

‧ ִ ۫⠀♱ 𝓒𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓. fluff, angst, tension, swearing, derogative terms, shaming, sexual remarks, mild physical violence

❛⠀ previous chapter⠀⋅⠀masterlist⠀⋅⠀next chapter ⠀❜

“he did what now?!”

lyla and mj said in unison.

you tell them about the whole joel shitshow. they knew about him and your relationship. oh they hate him as much as you do. thankfully, they never met him or else you believe they would kick his ass and honestly you would allow them to.

when you mention miguel stepping in, both women have mischievous smirks on their faces.

“oh so your prince charming came to your rescue, how adorable.” lyla teases.

your expression falls flat. “cállete. he was just concerned, nothing else.”

“but it’s kinda like that though, your charming prince rescuing you from a monster.”

you roll your eyes.

joel is no doubt a monster, though.

“i always knew there is something going on between you two.” mary jane adds in.

your brows furrowed. “what do you mean?”

both of them give you a deadpan look.

“honey, i’ve seen the way he looks at you. that night at the bar, he couldn’t stop looking at you as if you were the most prettiest being in the world. also not to mention how many times he offered to help you. giving you a ride home, fixing your sink and bookshelf, now helping you telling your ex to fuck off. the man is head over heals for you.”

you stare at her, speechless. her words sinking in, each of those moments flashing through your mind. you did feel his eyes on your the entire time at the bar, making you nervous and bashful. his sweet offers for fixing things with no payment. it makes your heart flutter. the man is truly a sweetheart. every time you walk by your bookshelf, you get flashbacks of miguel fixing it. it always leaves a smile on your face, heart fluttering at the memory.

him standing by your side while confronting joel, providing safety, protection, and support. never felt so much relief when he showed up. not to mention how attractive it was seeing miguel so firm and authoritative. those military tactics were kicking in.

everything this man has done for you leaves you speechless yet swoon over the moon.

is mary jane right?

is miguel truly interested in you like that?

“well… okay yes, he is a sweetheart but i’m not sure he is head over heals for me. he’s probably just being a good neighbor.” your words betray your thoughts.

lyla groans frustratingly and mj facepalms herself.

“girl, the MAN IS INTO YOU!” lyla exclaims, hands raised in the air. “these are obvious signs! the man’s love language is acts of service, pun intended.”

“okay, listen…” mj starts. “peter and i were thinking of going to coney island with the group. how about you invite miguel to come with us? yes, he’s friends with peter and peter probably already or will ask him but if you ask him, he’ll 100% say yes.”

“it’s a perfect opportunity for you two to hangout someplace else besides your apartment. go on rides together and play games. he might even win you something.” lyla wiggles her eyebrows teasingly.

you roll your eyes again at her last comment, lightly nudging her arm which causes her to giggle. trying to hide your smile at the thought of miguel winning some type of prize for you at the park. although, you can’t ignore the heat slowly rising in your cheeks.

“you guys are really trying to set up a date for me?” you across your arms, leaning back in the chair.

“yep!” they say in unison with proud smiles.

another eye roll, finally smiling. “i hate you guys.”

the three of you laugh.

⠀⠀⠀⠀𓂃 ୨ ₊ 𓂃 ౨ৎ   𓂃 ₊ ୧   𓂃

returning from your girls day out, you catch miguel exiting his apartment. the same black duffel bag over his bulky shoulder. a black tank top with a navy blue hoodie over it and a pair of gray sweatpants.

jesus, he looks fine as hell.

you approach him with a smile. heart fluttering up when he notices you and returns the same smile. but you miss the way his eyes widen a bit as he glances downward towards your outfit. a pretty lavender sundress with a matching bow in your hair.

miguel is mesmerized, enchanted.

you always bewitched him with your beauty and lovely sense of style. it’s not often he sees you in a dress, a sundress more or less, because you’re usually dressed in business attire like blouses with pencil skirts or pants. casual clothing when it’s your day off. but a sundress? it takes his breath away.

it makes him wonder what got you dolled up for. did you hang out with family or friends? was it a special occasion? did you went on a date?

for some reason, the thought of you going on a date creates an unsettling sensation in his chest. miguel shouldn’t feel this way. you’re his neighbor, nothing more than that… right? there’s definitely nothing with you going on a date. you’re an amazing, beautiful person. anyone is luckly to go on a date with you.

but the thought of someone seeing you so dolled up stills makes his chest ache in a strange way.

why is he feeling like this?

he shouldn’t.

he shouldn’t feel his heart beating faster whenever he sees you returning home from work or walking luna outside. or when you standing so close to him, making his palms sweaty and face warming up.

totally nothing… right?

“hey. going to the boxing gym?” you ask, smiling.

“yeah. you look… nice. a special occasion?”

really, nice?

miguel wants to facepalm himself. nice isn’t enough or justifiable for describing how beautiful you look in that sundress. gotta get his shit together.

although, he can’t deny the desperation to know the reason for looking so pretty today. not saying that you don’t look pretty all the time, you do.

“girls day out with my friends.”

that unsettling feeling vanishes, a big wave of relief coursing through him. it wasn’t a date after all.

“lavender looks pretty on you.”

both your cheeks warm up from the compliment. miguel flushed as hell for speaking his thought out loud. you feeling flustered by his sweet words.

there he goes again making your heart flutter.

“thanks.” you smile bashfully.

now suddenly your feel nervous. it’s time to ask him, invite him to come with you to coney island. why are you nervous? it’s just a simple question. you’re simply asking your neighbor, and friend, if he’s willing to go to the park with you and your friends. simple question and easy to ask, right?

so why is your heart suddenly beating rapidly in your chest? why are your palms now slightly sweaty? why is your body literally on fire right now?

it’s a simple question, just do it!

“so uh - i don’t know if peter asked you this already but um…” you awkwardly clear your throat. “do you… do you wanna come with us to coney island?”

god you sound awkward as hell. you can’t believe how stupid you probably sound.

but the smile on miguel’s face says otherwise.

“i would love to.”

a feeling of relief washes over you. “cool.”

⠀⠀⠀⠀𓂃 ୨ ₊ 𓂃 ౨ৎ   𓂃 ₊ ୧   𓂃

the park is full like usual. a never ending sea of people roaming around the park. the colorful attractions and vibrant lights illuminating each inch of the park. laughter and screams filling the atmosphere, sounds of enjoyment.

the weather seems to be nice, between high 60s and low 70s. you settle on a white turtleneck crop top and a brown pleaded mini skirt with black tights and comfortable shoes since you’d be walking around a lot. since it’s autumn and halloween around the corner, you want to match theme and spirit. when miguel first saw you while waiting outside your door, his pupils dilate drastically. miguel swore an angel was approaching him. you look breathtaking in that cute outfit. the colors makes your appearance so cozy. how the tights perfectly captures the curves of your legs. his eyes lingering on them a bit too much. warmth rose up to his cheeks.

still manage to snatch his breath.

“you look beautiful.”

your cheeks warmed from his sweet compliment, heart fluttering in your chest.

“thanks.” you bashfully smile.

with your friend group, you venture through the park. it was peter, mary jane, eddie and shockingly anne. you recall eddie telling you about their reconnection lately. it’s nice to see them together, even as friends. harry couldn’t come because he had a business trip to attend, the rich bastard he is but you love him.

miguel remains by your side as you walk around. your hands would accidentally brush against each other, sending jolts through both your bodies. you apologize the first few times but eventually stop since you continue doing it. neither of you minded. he still remains glued to your side while waiting in line for rides. more so you both glued together.

miguel was hesitant at first about rides due to his tall and bulky structure. you and the group reassure him it’s totally fine but ultimately understand his concern. although, he was able to go on most rides. most times you two would ride together but sometimes you would sit with mj or anne to mix things up. he wasn’t fond of sitting next to peter, considering how of much the man screams and takes a million selfies before and during the ride. eddie isn’t that bad but miguel prefers riding with you.

he adores seeing you smiling, laughing on rides. how happy you look. the joyful screams that sound like music to his ears. never he would thought a sound would make his heart swoon. he recalls you saying you’re a roller coaster person, you were definitely not lying. miguel adored watching you having fun. it’s a sight he loves to see, it brings a smile to his face.

after a good amount of rides, it’s time to grab some food. there is a corn dog stand nearby. you’re about to get in line when miguel steps in front of you, making you smile confusingly at him.

“i can order for the both of us.” he sweetly offers.

“no, it’s okay. i got it.” you softly decline.

“i don’t want you waiting in line for a while. it’s a pretty long line.” he gestures at the line, consisting more than 15 people. “i can take care of it.”

god, this man is too sweet.

“you drove here, the least i can do is pay for food.”

you want to be fair and miguel knows that. you’re so sweet and considerate. but he feels guilty for making you stand in a long line for simple corn dogs.

“at least let me wait here with you.”

your heart flutters at the suggestion.

“alright, but if i see that wallet of yours, i’m sending you back to the table.” you tease.

miguel chuckles. “alright, lo prometo.”

after a long wait, chitchatting to kill time, you finally get your corn dogs. miguel was thinking of slipping his card over the counter but decided to respect your wishes. just this once, he thought to himself.

you return to the group at the table with all your individual choices of food. afterwards, you all collectively agree to get pizza as dinner.

after devouring the delicious pizza, you decide to play a couple of games and try to win some prizes. peter wins mary jane a stuffed bunny with a pink bow. eddie fails to make any rings in water bottles. surprisingly, anne manages to get them all, leaving eddie impressed standing there like a fool. you win yourself a tiny plushie of gary from spongebob. you wanted it since you first laid your eyes on it.

wondering around the various games and prizes, a pink butterfly plushie captures your attention. making you stop in your tracks. it’s so adorable, you never wanted something so badly in your life. well, besides luna. that plushie is absolutely adorable. too bad the game to win it is shooting basketballs. you failed at it in PE back in middle school and high school. there is no way you’d win for sure.

miguel notices your cute expression and an idea pops into his head. making his way over to the game stand, he hands the booth guy a ticket and starts playing the game. grabbing the ball, he makes the first shot. then the second, third, and fourth.

the group cheers and applaud for him while you stand there visibly impressed. not paying attention to eddie playfully nudging your shoulder.

after thanking the booth guy for handing over the plushie, miguel slowly approaches you with a grin, holding the plushie in his hands. they are just so big, the plushie looks so small in them. he holds out to you, heart beating like a drum.

you stare in awe, fixating between the plushie and miguel. “this is the sweetest thing ever… thank you.” you say with a pout, gently taking the plushie from his grasp. the soft, fuzzy material brushing against your fingers. “you didn’t have to…”

“i wanted to, hermosa. i saw how much you loved it so i had to get it for you.” he sheepishly admits, rubbing the back of his neck with a hand.

is it possible for your heart to flutter more?

this sweet man.

you smile bashfully, hugging the plushie to your chest. “thank you.”

what you both fail to see is your friends staring in awe of the adorable interaction between you and miguel. they even snapped a few pictures because it’s too cute. you two are too cute.

⠀⠀⠀⠀𓂃 ୨ ₊ 𓂃 ౨ৎ   𓂃 ₊ ୧   𓂃

after drinking tons of water, you head to the bathroom. miguel offers to wait for you, standing outside as people walk by, arms crossed over his chest. as he waits patiently, he notices someone approaching him. a man with platinum blonde hair, very familiar hair that miguel only knows one other person with the same hair color. his blood suddenly turns cold. thick brows now furrowed.

it’s kron, that asshole of a half-brother.

the devil himself, or actually his offspring damien since tyler isn’t the greatest man ever.

it’s a curse to be related to that son of a bitch. miguel doesn’t even consider kron a brother or family in general. the only connection they have is half their blood coming from the same, real devil himself.

fuck, what is he doing here?

“well, well, well… nice to see solider boy out here having fun instead of killing people.” kron taunts, a smug smile on his face.

miguel’s jaw clenched. “que quieres, kron?”

“oh nothing, nothing.” he lazily raises his hands. “i just was walking around until i saw your bulky ass here. y’know, you suck at trying to blend in. pretending you’re a normal guy but really commits the most brutal things just for stupid badges.”

his blood began to boil in frustration. he does not want to deal with this shit, especially not in public. “look, i know the shit i’ve done and i live with it every damn day.” he learns closer, whispering. “drop it.”

“yeah, the shit you know it’s fucked up, just like it’s fucked up that you got gabriel killed—”

miguel was about to punch kron in the face when you finally return from the bathroom.

“hey, i’m all set.” blissfully unaware of the tension between the two men in front of you.

kron, like the smuggest asshole he is, eyes you up and down. a smug smile on his face, licking his lips. “well… who’s the hottie here?”

you immediately are disgusted by him, especially with that smug attitude. “and you are?”

“kron.” he hands out his hand but you refuse to shake it. he seems unfazed by it, only smiling more. “so this your girl, huh? finally getting some, huh?”

you scoff in disgust and miguel is fuming, growing more infuriated with kron’s stupid behavior.

“leave, kron.” miguel said sternly, stepping in front of you to protect you from this smug bastard.

“whaaat?” he slurs out. “i just wanna know who’s actually willing to let you get your dick wet.”

your mouth drops open in offense.

miguel yanks him by his shirt collar with aggressiveness, eliciting a few gasps from bystanders. “say one more fucking thing and you won’t have that tongue anymore.” his hot, angry breath hitting against his face.

“oh yeah, it’s what you’re good at, huh soldier boy?” kron taunts. “do it, in front of miss hottie right there. she sure has you by the balls.”

just as he’s about to do something ugly, you push the two men apart, stepping in the middle.

“unlike you who won’t have any.”

before he could say something back, you kick kron right in the balls with harsh force. making the idiot groan in pain and crumble to his knees. hands cupping his now fucked up balls.

miguel, on the other hand, is impressed. no, more mesmerized by you. witnessing you kick the shit of his stupid half-brother was fucking incredible. but also impressed you stood up for him.

after informing security of the incident and kron being escorted by them, a big wave of relief washes over you and miguel. the asshole is finally gone.

“i’m so sorry you had to deal with that asshole.” miguel looks at you with a remorseful look. “all the disrespectful comments he said, it was wrong.”

those derogative and disrespectful words towards you made his skin crawl. miguel was about to let go of all his morals and show kron what disrespect looks like but luckily you arrived in time. supposed kron was lucky but next time probably not.

“it’s okay, someone had to shut him up.”

“nice kick.” miguel compliments.

“thanks, i don’t think that asshole would have kids after that. i may sucked at basketball but soccer wasn’t that bad.” both of you laugh as the rest of the friend group rushes over with concern faces.

“hey, you guys okay?” peter asks.

“what happened?” eddie follows up.

“yeah, we’re fine. just some asshole who was bothering us.” miguel explains.

looking past miguel, peter sees security escorting the troubled individual and recognizes him.

“oh shit, is that kron?” he sounds in disbelief. “wow, honestly not surprised it’s him.”

“who’s kron?” mj asks, confused.

“no one—”

“miguel’s stupid half-brother.”

your eyes widen in surprise.

half-brother? that asshole is miguel’s half-brother? now you understand the tension between them. you actually feel bad for miguel being related to him.

you look up at him to see miguel already looking at you, knowing what you’re thinking.

“through my father.” he reveals.

now it makes even more sense.

“like father, like son: major assholes.” peter jokes.

although you’ve never met miguel’s father, nor will ever meet him, by what miguel told you about him and meeting kron, you don’t doubt it.

“well, lets end the night with some fun and not let that asshole ruin it, yeah?” anne suggests.

all of you agree and enjoy the rest of the night playing a few more games and rides.

while waiting in line for one last ride, it starts to feel a bit chilly, causing you to shiver a little. goosebumps forming on your skin. shit, you should’ve brought a cardigan or a flannel, a dumb mistake you made. the fabric material of your turtleneck is thin so the cold breeze flows through very easily. you wrap your arms around yourself, an attempt to warm yourself up but obviously not enough. although, it doesn’t go unnoticed by a certain pair of brown eyes. taking off his leather jacket, miguel offers it to you.

your eyes land on the jacket then up at him. “oh no, it’s okay! i’m fine.” you kindly declined.

“i saw you shivering, please take it.” he pleads.

unable to say no to those eyes, you accept his offer and he helps you put it on. the inside is very warm, the leftover of his body heat. it feels like a jacket heater, very smoothing. you also smell his cologne, musky and rich. smells really damn good. the jacket is very big on you, reaching down passed your knees and the sleeves covering your hands that they barely peak out. the sight puts a smile on miguel’s face. how adorable you look in his jacket, how big it looks draped over your smaller figure.

⠀⠀⠀⠀𓂃 ୨ ₊ 𓂃 ౨ৎ   𓂃 ₊ ୧   𓂃

you and miguel return home from the amusement park. you recall tonight’s adventure as you make your way to your apartments. trying to not talk or laugh too loud and disturb other neighbors.

as you reach for the door handle of your apartment, you suddenly realize you’re still wearing his jacket.

“wait, i gotta give you this back.” as you go to take off the jacket, his response stops you.

“keep it.”

you look back at him in surprise. “what?”

“keep it, chica.” he chuckles at your expression.

“but it’s yours and i’m not cold anymore. i can’t keep something that isn’t mine.”

“i have other jackets, losing one won’t be the end of the world. don’t feel bad about it.”

“are you sure?…” you ask hesitantly, making sure he is actually allowing you to keep the leather jacket.

“i’m sure, hermosa.” miguel said sincerely, smiling.

but the real reason is that miguel loves seeing you in his jacket - his own clothes.

part of you still feels a little guilty but you believe him. “okay… i promise to take good care of it.”

that elicits another chuckle from him. “alright.”

neither of you realize how close you’re standing towards each other, closer than ever. now you understand why you feel a small burning sensation in the back of your neck because you have to crane your neck all the way up just to meet his eyes. miguel really is a giant. yet, you don’t mind the sight pain.

standing so close to you, miguel can’t help but briefly drop his gaze to your lips. painted with lip gloss, giving it a shiny look. those very same lips that taunt him. as if they were a magnetic force, drawing him in.

should he be looking at your lips?

he should stop but doesn’t. why?

you do the same with his, guilty as charged. plump lips that seem a bit too plump, too kissable.

should you…?

as the both of you slowly, very slowly lean closer towards one another, you back away. you act nonchalant about it and say goodnight to each other before heading into your respective homes.

you hugged your butterfly plushie throughout the entire night, smiling in your sleep as you dream about the memory over and over.

little did you know miguel is having the same dream.

𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓. ♡ @reverieblondie @nina-from-317 @kavimoo @aly29a2001 @marshhbs @lazyjellyfish300 @tojishugetiddies @aphinthestars @novelaaaaaaaa @imamexican @obessgurlll @deputy-videogamer @watertribeissuperior @lovehadlovelost @auiciqa @agoddoesnotplead @saintdiior @whoopwhoppghost @tomalymme @skadiloki @miguelsfavwife @asterrrrose @glossygreene @aefin @youcantseem3 @resident-clown @kutsipie @zuevcs @totorotales-08 @meowgirl1 @sukunash0e @jadeloverxd @sirendyes @leahnicole1219 @lisa-takeshi @yehet-moi-ohorat @slowlyshycomputer

© teenidlegirl. don’t steal, plagiarize, or translate my work. ♡

[doberbutts]

Was talking to someone about how it’s not okay to consider transmisogyny the root of all oppression and they agreed, but when I said it’s also not okay to consider misogynoir the root of all oppression either they seemed to consider me racist for that (we are both nonblack poc). I’m sorry if I’m wrong there, it just doesn’t seem fair to believe any one type of oppression is the worst one that causes all the rest. All oppression is interrelated but not in that way to me?

So normally I wouldn't answer this because it reads like bait HOWEVER I know who's asking bc I saw your conversation about it in the discord channel so I'm willing to take in good faith only bc of that.

In the context you were speaking of, I both agree and disagree with the statement "fixing misogynoir would fix all oppression".

Misogynoir is so intertwined with so many things, and while they're all pointed at black women, fixing each hook of the web will inevitably help both non-black and non-women people. I think I referred to oppressive society as a jenga tower a couple weeks ago. Wiggle one block free and the tower shakes but doesn't fall. Remove enough blocks and eventually the whole thing collapses. You can think of misogynoir as a collective of probably a third to a full half of the total number of blocks in the tower. It's not the whole tower, but it's a significant enough portion that removing them all probably does break the whole thing. Even if the tower IS still standing by the end, it's more likely to begin to fail as you remove what few blocks are left keeping the structure upright.

I have never met someone devoted to misogynoir who is not also intensely ableist, homophobic, transphobic, classist, xenophobic, as well as sexist and racist in other ways. This is especially, and unfortunately, true of the black men who refuse to support their sisters and instead push them down while seeking their own freedom. This is a known problem and fairly intensely discussed in black feminism.

HOWEVER I understand that your interpretation is that would then mean that black women are The Most Oppressed. I do not think that is what that statement is intended to imply, but I also get how it could be read in that manner. I think it is dangerous to try to measure oppression on this sort of scaling, because A: personally I think it is too contextual to say any one demographic or combination of identities is "the most" anything, and B: even if there truly is a "The Most Oppressed", people who are crying out for help should be helped, regardless of where they sit on that ladder. If you don't have food you don't have food, let's solve the problem of people not having food first and we can quibble about the details later.

Rather, it is more that specifically misogynoir as said is so interwoven with so much more than simply "racism and sexism towards black women" that fixing all the pieces of misogynoir would make such a vast improvement on the whole of society that many, many, many oppressive structures would vanish.

I also think you can say that about pretty much any intersectional view of oppression, which is why I'm always saying that we need to be joining hands and lifting each other out of the pit rather than fighting over crumbs and our 5 seconds in the spotlight. If I'm fighting misogynoir, and a friend is fighting antisemitism, and a third friend is fighting transmisogyny, and a fourth is fighting for disability rights... all of these things hook together. The other three's fights directly influence mine, and visa versa. So rather than reading it as "abandon your cause and join mine instead", it should be "therefore we are allies because our goals run parallel to each other".

I'm also aware that plenty of people interpret it the first way, and refuse to listen to the second. This is also fairly widely discussed in black feminism, with some having the first interpretation and others the second.

[gothamite-rambler]

"I’m the best coming-out friend! Even with ex's." Stephanie said, with a playful smile. - Tim tells Stephanie he's bisexual

A/N: For my fanfic series, inspired by youtubers such as Panda Redd.

Two months had gone by since Tim came out to his family, and it had been quite an adjustment. Bruce, in his well-meaning but misguided way, had been trying (and failing) to set him up with young heroes and sidekicks from the Justice League, not to mention people his own age he encountered on the street. For Tim, it had become a source of frustration, he knew it was the thought that mattered, but it didn’t ease the irritation.

All he wanted today was to spend some time with a close friend—Stephanie Brown, who also happened to be his ex-girlfriend. Right now, she was the only person who wasn’t giving him a headache. As they prepared for their patrols that night, their conversation flowed easily, bringing a sense of comfort to Tim.

Stephanie: Why did you want to patrol with me tonight? You usually like to work alone or with—

Tim: Please don’t say B's name. I need space from all of them.

Stephanie (interested): Why?

Tim (averting eye contact): Not in the mood to talk about it.

As Stephanie tied her shoelaces, she couldn't help but notice the tension radiating from Tim.

Stephanie: Hmm, you seem tense. I can fix that.

She cracked her knuckles, preparing to tell a joke while Tim searched for his car keys.

Stephanie (with a mischievous grin): Hey, Tim, Spanish or English?

Tim (sighing with a smile): Tagalog.

Stephanie clapped enthusiastically.

Stephanie: Awesome, I can practice! Kung ilipat mo ang iyong bakla. (If you move, you're gay.)

Tim rolled his eyes, feeling a familiar mix of amusement and exasperation.

Tim: Makakakuha ba ako ng pass kung ako ay bisexual? (Do I get a pass if I'm bisexual?)

At that moment, Tim discovered his car keys tucked away in his pocket.

Tim (deadpan): Of course, I forget they were there.

As Tim slid the key back into his pocket, he caught sight of Stephanie's eyes widened at the confession she was told.

Stephanie (surprised): Wait, you're bi?!

Tim shot her a surprised glance, equally bewildered that she wasn’t aware.

Tim: Yes. I came out to my family a few months ago. Apparently, they figured it out before I told them. You knew already; you don't have to pretend.

Stephanie covered her mouth, shock and embarrassment flooding her cheeks.

Stephanie: Why didn’t you tell me?!

Tim (incredulous): Wait a minute, you didn’t find out?

Stephanie (genuine reaction): OMG, no. I would've told you... you’re bisexual… like into men and women? And I just told that stupid joke? It wasn’t even funny! I’m sorry; I thought it would make you laugh since you seemed so tense. That English or Spanish joke was something I saw online—and it worked on Kite-Man—

She hid her face moritifed. Tim chuckled and patted her shoulder.

Tim: You’re fine. I know you didn’t mean any harm with the joke. I’m not mad, I promise.

Stephanie (sighing with relief): Okay, whew but you should’ve come out to me! I’m the best coming-out friend!

Tim shook his head.

Tim: That’s not a thing. Also, we dated, so it felt incredibly awkward to do so.

Stephanie (waving her hand dismissively): Oh, please, we’ve dealt with weirder stuff and it's not like we had a bad break up. Spill though, when did you figure out you liked both?

Tim: A while ago. When I couldn’t figure out who I was, if that makes sense.

Tim shrugged, sitting on the floor, Stephanie sat next to him with a reassuring smile.

Tim: I didn’t realize it when I broke up with you. It wasn’t... you weren’t... I swear, when I said, 'It’s me, not you,' that was one of the few times in history it was used truthfully.

Stephanie chuckled quietly, noticing how flustered Tim had become.

Stephanie: Cool, but I don’t care about that. I’m happy for you. Come here!

She surprised him by bringing him into a tight hug, wrapping her arms around him with a suddenness that caught him off guard. Tim felt the warmth radiate from her, a comforting reminder of their close bond.

Stephanie: It takes some people decades to realize they like the same gender, both genders, or even something in between. You pinpointed it at your age.

Tim smiled as he patted her on the back, feeling a wave of relief as he discussed this with her. Stephanie pulled back, her expression earnest.

Stephanie (laughing): I honestly had no clue. Maybe it’s because we dated, but I can't believe I didn't see it.

Tim snapped his fingers with a victorious grin.

Tim: I knew it wasn’t so clear-cut. Everyone else seems to think it was obvious—maybe I just let it slip in front of them. I spend the most time with them; that might be it.

Stephanie let out a soft laugh.

Stephanie: Sure, Tim. I like that you told me, even if it was by accident.

Tim (relieved): I’m glad you’re not mad at me.

Stephanie tilted her head, confused.

Stephanie: Why would I be mad? I don't hate the LGBTQ+ community; heck, my mom taught me to treat those who are kind with the same kindness, no matter how they identify. One of the few good lessons I remember from her.

Stephanie leaned back and then rested her hand on Tim's shoulder.

Stephanie: And we haven’t dated in a few years. Plus, it’s not like you stole my car to drive to Florida to steal an alligator to keep as a pet, crashed said car into a McDonald's after failing to steal it, and then left it there—leading me to get a call at 9 in the morning that it had been found heavily damaged! Then when I called you, you said I was the problem! Never date guys who say they unironically voted for Kanye in an election.

Tim laughed remembering how insane his friend's last boyfriend was.

Tim: Yeah, Phil was insane. But I dumped you and never even explained why.

Stephanie shrugged.

Stephanie: And I got over it. To be fair, you weren’t sure why at the time. We had fun times together, but not all relationships are meant to last. I’ve seen that firsthand.

As she playfully nudged Tim on the arm, Stephanie's mind drifted to thoughts of her villain father, Cluemaster and her mother's failed marriage.

Stephanie: We’re friends—practically family. Why do you think I say we’re brother and sister?

Tim (with a knowing look): To confuse people after saying we hooked up for years?

Stephanie: Well, yes, but it's also because I mean it.

Stephanie wrapped her arms around him again in a warm hug. He smiled, enjoying the supportive embrace.

Stephanie: That picture of you and Kon kissing should’ve given it away, but we weren’t together at that point, and you've done weird stuff for a bet in the past.

Stephanie's joke sent Tim into fits of laughter. She raised her fist in triumph, delighted that her humor had hit the mark.

Stephanie (curiosity piqued): So, have you found a partner yet?

Tim nodded, chuckling as he placed a hand on his head. Stephanie smiled, seeming to expect what he was about to say.

Stephanie: Bruce has been playing matchmaker?

Tim: Yeah, but I went on a few dates outside of his stellar help—not all went well. Some fizzled out when they got turned off after I told them I’m bi. Apparently, some people can’t accept that men can be bisexual.

Stephanie: Because they’re ignorant. Frick them! Sexuality is a spectrum, honestly.

Tim: Yeah… God, this feels good to talk about.

Stephanie (proudly): Told you I'm a great ‘coming-out’ friend.

Tim: Still not a thing, but you’re not wrong. There’s actually one guy I really like. We’ve been on the most dates, and… I mean, he’s bi too, but I don’t know if I should bother.

Stephanie (tapping her chin): Hmm, does he make you smile?

Tim: Yeah.

Stephanie: Does he make you laugh?

Tim nodded with a smile.

Stephanie: Does he make your heart flutter like a butterfly, and do you hear the thump-thump when you’re around him?

Tim chuckled in response.

Stephanie (mischievous smile): Last one, does he make your boy parts feel good?

Tim (playfully shoves Stephanie): You’re silly, and I’m not answering that.

Stephanie: That just means yes! If you want to be with him more, shoot your shot.

Tim: He hasn’t been around much lately, but I’ll give him a call later.

Stephanie: Smart man! And that’s my good deed done for the day. You can thank me later when it works out.

Tim: That’s it?

Stephanie: Dude, duh. I’m not your wingman. You have to take the risk. I’ve seen you step out of your comfort zone before; you got this!

Tim: Thanks.

Tim sighed in relief and laid on the ground, exhausted.

Stephanie (excitement bubbling in her voice): We’ve got some free time, Tim. Let’s get boba!

Tim: I hate boba. I’ve told you this.

Stephanie: And I will keep having you try different types until you realize you love it.

Stephanie stood up and took Tim's hand, helping him up.

Tim (teasingly): You’re not going to make me your gay best friend, are you?

Stephanie (smirking): Of course not! We’re already friends; you're bi, and trust me, your fashion sense can’t help me.

Tim chuckled.

Tim: I’ll take that as a compliment.

With a newfound bond between them, Stephanie took Tim’s arm, and they headed to her car, ready to tackle whatever comes next together.

[sxddekarios]

three gales and a sorcerer walk into a bar (NSFW)

Pt 3 of Casual

Summary:

“Fuck, Tav,” Gale groaned out. Apparently getting his cock licked was all it took to condense his vocabulary.

A literal take after Gale's line in Sharess's Caress - “If I’m not enough for you, I could always conjure us up some sort of non-sentient companion.” Gale conjures 2 mirror images (one is the regular simulacrum from the game, the other is a female version) for a night of pleasure with Tav.

6.4k words

read on ao3

��If I’m not enough for you, I could always conjure us up some sort of non-sentient companion.”

The offer from Gale makes Tav’s heart sink, as she realizes how personally he took her interest in Nym. Tav had always liked women — Gale was the only man she’d ever been interested in — and she was curious about a sexual encounter. But that was just that, wanting to indulge a curiosity.

It had nothing to do with Gale, whom she loved more than anything. She felt like a complete idiot for making him think that. Although … it did its job in bringing up the alternative, if it’s something Gale would actually like to do.

Tav looks at her partner, wondering how to address this with their present company. She finally settles on distraction.

“Actually,” Tav looked at Astarion and Shadowheart, “Could you guys keep talking to the other patrons and see if you find anything? I think the bandages on my leg came undone, and I need Gale to fix them.” She doubted the pair would buy her excuse, but at least she’d be afforded some alone time with Gale to apologize.

Astarion smirked at the drow twins’ confusion, then said, “Sure thing, darling. Make sure Gale wraps it tight this time.” Shadowheart raised her eyebrow but joined him on the way back to the bar.

Tav gave Gale a questioning look, holding her hand out to him so they could go to the restroom together. His warm palm found hers, and she led him up the stairs and down the hall until they happened upon an empty room.

She closed the door and turned around to face Gale, holding both of his hands in hers. “Hey,” she started, “I’m really sorry about that. You’re more than enough for me, you’re everything to me, and I love you so damn much.”

“I shouldn’t have said that. I should’ve talked to you about this first so you’d know it’s just a fantasy I’ve always had — but not something I need to do, especially now that I’m with you,” Tav continued. “I just … wanted the experience of pleasing a woman. Truly for curiosity’s sake, since I love you and only you. That’s another part of it where … I wanted you with me because I want you to be pleasured. I know I can’t offer you ‘regular’ sex, and I know you say it’s okay, but the option would be there if we were both with Nym. I know it was stupid though, and I’m so, so sorry, Gale.”

Gale couldn’t stay mad looking into his lover’s teary, earnest eyes. “Come here,” he murmured, pulling her into his arms. “I love you. I don’t want to be with anyone else, and I’m not comfortable with you being with anyone else. I didn’t realize that it was more about your sexuality than me, though, and I’m sorry for that. Still…” he hesitated.

He didn’t want to get in the way of her exploring this part of her identity. He knew it’d always be something she wondered about. But he also knew how jealous he’d be seeing her wrapped up with someone else, and he most certainly didn’t want to be sexually involved with another.

Tav rubbed her hand in circles on Gale’s back, sensing his internal conflict. “Do you…” she started, voice muffled by the fact that her face was still squarely pressed into Gale’s chest. “Were you serious about conjuring a magical being?”

Gale chuckled at her shy question. “Yes, if that’s something you’re interested in. It’s certainly possible, and I wouldn’t mind it.” He took a second to think about it. “Well, I’d probably still be a little jealous, but not as jealous as I would be with another person.”

“I don’t want to make you jealous!” Tav exclaimed. “Would you be jealous of me getting pleasure or giving it?” She asked, thinking she had a solution to both.

“Well, both, I guess. I’d be jealous of my mirror image pleasing you, to be honest. I’m sure it’s something I can get over, though, if I’m also there pleasing you. And doing more of the pleasing.”

Tav giggled at Gale’s genuine answer. Gods, he really was a giver.

She decided her idea should work for them both. “I definitely don’t want to receive anything without you doing most of the work.” Tav was grateful that her face was still hidden in Gale’s chest, because she knew how red it was about to get. “Like if you ate me out and your mirror image held my hands down and played with my hair. That’d be … nice.”

Tav felt Gale’s heart thump a little harder, a little faster. She continued with her idea of giving pleasure, “and I’d only want another being, a female one, for me to … experiment with. She could even be the female version of you, or a prettier version of me, so it’s not like seeing me with some stranger.”

Gale gave her hair a little tug so she’d look up at him. “There is no prettier version of you,” he spoke the words slowly. “You’re absolutely perfect the way you are, okay?” He knew Tav wouldn’t actually agree with him, but she needed to know his stance on the matter. Even if he’d said it a few times before.

“Okay,” Tav acquiesced. “So, I guess it’s a female Gale then?” She smirked.

“Yes,” Gale chuckled, “we can do that.” He leaned in to kiss her forehead. “I love you,” he said softly against her temple.

“I love you too.”

Tav’s hands caressed Gale’s hair as he pressed kisses down her body. The group was staying at the Elfsong Tavern so they could have some more space … Gale’s tent would be a bit cramped with four people.

Or entities. Tav wasn’t really sure how to think of them.

She was lying down on the bed, her head propped up in the lap of Gale’s mirror image. He gently brushed through her hair, occasionally murmuring praises.

Another spectral being lay next to her. She had long, wavy brown hair, large doe eyes, an adorable Grecian nose, full rosy lips, and a light dusting of freckles across the middle of her face.

She was currently still clothed in a sweater and trousers. Gale wanted to make sure to thoroughly warm Tav up before they brought in more variables. He wanted her to be relaxed.

The woman beside Tav — she decided to call her Raven — traced her delicate fingers along Tav’s bare arm. She shivered at the sensations and attention given to her whole body.

Gale left his spot between her thighs to kiss Tav’s lips. The kiss was colored by his need as gently pressed against her while he danced his tongue across the outside of her lips. He moaned when she pulled on his bottom lip, giving him a little bite.

Gale moved his lips against Tav’s for another moment. The couples’ hips moved together as well; Tav could feel Gale’s arousal through his trousers.

She bent one knee so she had more free space to rut up against him. It felt so glorious being able to explore pleasure in a safe space. With a safe partner.

“How are you doing?” Gale asked breathlessly as he paused to look at her.

Tav raised a hand to brush a lock of hair behind his ear. “Good,” she replied with a soft smile. She hesitated before continuing. “I think I’m ready for … more.”

The corner of Gale’s mouth lifted as he looked down at his love. So flushed, so nervous yet excited to explore something new with him.

He propped himself up on an elbow. “How do you want to do this?” Gale asked. He amended his question once her raised eyebrows reminded him how indecisive she is. “Would you like to see more of Raven?”

Tav’s eyes widened with the lustfully excited ‘really?’ Gale had grown used to in their time together.

“Yes,” Tav answered. “Please.”

Her lover smirked and sat up onto his knees — wincing at the achy pop that emitted — so he could cup Tav’s cheek in his hand. “You’re such a good girl.”

Gale chuckled as he felt Tav’s hips thrust up against his leg in response. She pouted up at him before raising onto her forearms and bringing herself up to sit.

Right in spectral Gale’s lap, which made both men groan. Tav smirked with pride.

“You’re so pretty.”

Tav’s head turned to Raven. She had been aptly aware of her, but the lack of familiarity made her unsure of what to say or do. She settled for a bashful “thank you.”

Luckily, Gale had accounted for that when conjuring these beings. They’d take charge without pushing her into anything. They were an extension of his consciousness, and thus a product of his desires and knowledge regarding Tav.

If it was her desires that drove them … Well, Gale thought he’d be the one on his back with his mirror image above him.

Raven regarded Tav with a reassuring smile. She sat up to join everyone else.

As Raven brought her hands to the hem of her sweater, she asked her question. “Would you like to see me undressed?”

Tav swore she felt her heart stop. Both Gales sat close to her, stroking her arm and back gently to remind her that this was real, and she was in control. She nodded desperately, unable to form words.

The real Gale leaned in and kissed her forehead. Tav’s gaze returned to him and she felt her heart melt.

He spoke low and soft. “You’re in control, sweetheart. This is your time and space to explore what you like, okay? There’s no expectations or embarrassment.”

Tav leaned into his chest and clutched his hand. “Thank you,” she whispered. She felt so lucky that he would take care of her like this.

Raven began to lift her sweater up as mirror Gale’s hands traced circles on Tav’s back.

Tav paid all of her attention to the pale skin being unveiled before her. Raven pulled her top over her head and tossed it behind her, exposing her chest.

The air immediately hardened Raven’s nipples even more. The rosy buds stood in stark contrast to the soft, pale flesh of her breasts.

So beautiful, Tav thought. She reminded herself to say it aloud, so at least Gale would know what she was thinking. Tav brought her gaze up from Raven’s breasts to tell her. “You’re so beautiful.”

Raven grinned and responded with her thanks.

Tav felt embarrassed at how big this was for her — she had never seen a woman naked, yet Gale had. Dozens of times. Maybe even hundreds. It wasn’t anything new to him, but it was to her.

And she’s not even fully naked yet, Tav reminded herself.

Tav turned her head to face Gale, anxious to see his reaction. He was just staring at her.

He asked her again how she felt, and she told him again she felt good, just embarrassed.

Gale smiled and pressed a kiss to her brow. “Trust me, everyone’s stunned when they see breasts for the first time.” He meant to comfort her, but realized his words had the opposite affect as she frowned. She was imagining him — his first time with someone else.

“What I mean is,” he jumped in while reaching an arm around her waist and pulling her in, “is that there’s no reason for you to be embarrassed. You deserve to enjoy this, and that’s all I want. I’m here to watch you.”

That finally got a small smile out of Tav. Gale sighed in relief.

She couldn’t believe that this beautiful, half-naked woman was in bed with them, and Gale was looking at her. And he knew she wasn’t going to take all her clothes off.

“Would you like to touch me?” Raven asked Tav seductively.

Tav whimpered and nodded in response. She reached out a shaky hand and tentatively placed it under Raven’s collarbone.

Her skin felt smooth and strangely, but pleasantly, cool to the touch. Tav scooted a bit closer for better access as she drew her left hand down to cup one of Raven’s breasts.

Raven’s moans encouraged her. Tav traced her fingers lightly around the soft flesh before venturing to her nipple.

As Gale continued to rub soft circles on her back and coo in her ear, Tav decided to go for it. She leaned in closer, moving her left hand over to Raven’s other breast, her right hand down to her waist, and her mouth to her nipple.

She flicked her tongue out and reveled at the moan that escaped Raven. Tav drew circles with her tongue, sometimes lightly sucking on the pink bud. A tingling sensation grew between her thighs.

Gale ran his fingers through Tav’s hair while his mirror image stroked her thigh. Tav moaned against Raven’s breast as she felt Gale’s nails gently rake over her scalp.

Raven cupped the back of Tav’s head, and Tav took the cue to move to Raven’s right breast. She renewed her ministrations, caressing the other hardened peak with her tongue.

A rush of adrenaline filled Tav as she looked up at Raven. Her eyes were half-lidded, head tilted back, lips parted, and cheeks flushed. She was just as pretty as her Gale.

Tav moved one hand from the sensitive skin under Raven’s breasts down her stomach. She pulled back to ask, “May I?” as her hand stopped where Raven’s trousers began.

Gale’s hand stilled for a moment in Tav’s hair. It was a delicious, comforting pressure. He leaned in to kiss the shell of Tav’s ear, causing her to giggle.

Raven smiled at the couple before returning her gaze to Tav. “Of course,” she said. Then she spread her legs apart.

“You’re doing so good,” Gale said into Tav’s ear. Goosebumps covered her skin at his low voice so close to her.

He continued, “Remember this is all about what you want. Are you feeling alright?”

Tav smiled softly at the care in his voice. “Yeah,” she replied, “I feel good.”

She felt her nerves sparking, but she felt comforted by the lovely man behind her.

So she brought her hands down to Raven’s trousers and slid them down her pale legs. Returning to remove her lace black underwear, Tav gave Raven a questioning glance. She was answered with a nod and Raven lifting her hips off the bed, so Tav gently pulled the fabric down and cast it aside.

This was it. Raven proudly parted her legs again, exposing her slit.

Tav felt her breath catch in her throat. Her mind was singularly focused on Raven’s center.

It took her a minute to remember that she was truly here, she was capable of doing things. She placed a hand on either one of Raven’s thighs and gently massaged the soft skin. Raven let out a throaty moan and spread her legs wider apart.

Now Tav had a much clearer view. As her slit parted, Tav noticed her swollen clit standing out, along with a steady trail of wetness leaking out of her.

What Tav didn’t noticed was the whimper she herself let out.

Gale leaned in closer to wrap his arms around his love and rest his chin on her shoulder. He pressed a kiss to the warm skin.

Tav’s hands inched closer to their destination. “Can I,” she trailed off, unsure of herself. Gale pressed a kiss to the side of her neck, giving her the courage to go on. “Touch you?” She finished, blushing.

Raven smiled again, patient as ever. “Yes please.” She leaned back on the bed.

Her whole body seemed to glow as Tav moved her left thumb to gather some of the wetness at her entrance. She felt so warm. And so slick, Tav thought with envy.

Tav slowly moved her thumb up to her clit. She wasn’t going for all the other teasing that Gale often did. She didn’t really know how, and she didn’t really care to find out in this moment. Especially given how wet Raven already was.

Tav turned around to face Gale. She pressed a hard kiss to his lips, taking him by surprise. Still, he returned it in earnest, tightening his grip on her.

She licked at his lips before pulling away, leaving him moaning and breathless. She smirked at his reaction to a quick kiss.

“Does she look different?” Tav asked. Gale furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

She amended, “Is her vagina more… open than mine? Like something you can see, rather than just feel?” It’s something she’d always been curious about, but she’d never had a chance for comparison.

Gale chuckled and shook his head. He pressed a kiss to her forehead before answering. “Yes. It’s not a huge difference visually, but you can see a clear opening and more of her inner walls. That’s not visible with you, it’s more smooth muscle until I use some pressure to dip my finger down and into your pretty pussy.”

How he kept a straight face while saying that, Tav had no idea. Her mouth dropped open while her clit pulsed. She yearned to press herself against Gale’s knee, but her body was still facing Raven. All the while, the two spectral beings were chuckling at her reaction.

Tav pouted and scowled playfully at Gale before turning back around. She’d get her time with him in a minute.

Spectral Gale was rubbing Raven’s clit as they watched the couple with amusement. “Sorry,” he said sheepishly, but not very sincerely. “I got bored and thought I could keep her warm for you while you two eye-fucked each other.”

Gale let out an indignant scoff while Tav rolled her eyes and swatted his hand away. “Much appreciated,” she said with a laugh. “Now it’s my turn.”

She gathered more slick and moved her thumb up between Raven’s pink folds. Back where she left off. “Mhm,” Raven groaned as she threw her head back.

Tav smiled, excited, and began rubbing small circles around her clit. She marveled at the way Raven moved and moaned differently depending on how she touched her. All of it seemed pleasurable.

She switched to the vertical motion that she herself loved. Raven gasped and bucked her hips against Tav’s hand.

Tav giggled, causing her to finally notice Gale’s hard cock pressing against her back.

Gale moaned and gripped her hips as she pressed back into him.

As beautiful as Raven’s body was, Tav didn’t want to just look and touch anymore. She wanted to taste.

She leaned forward onto her forearms, lifting her ass and pressing it against Gale’s stomach in a puppy-esque pose. He groaned with desire at feeling her against him, seeing her in this position she so rarely got into with him behind her.

His hands found her hips again. He kept a reassuring pressure on her.

Gale’s mirror image brushed Tav’s hair out of her face as she lowered herself down to be level with Raven’s center. Tav looked up at the girl again.

“Please,” Raven whined.

Tav placed soft butterfly kisses to her inner thighs. She could smell Raven’s sweet scent, like strawberries in the rain. Is this what she smelled like to Gale?

She finally understood the aphrodisiac quality. She formed her mouth into a small O and blew a warm breath onto Raven’s clit.

Raven let out her sweetest moan yet, delightfully similar to Gale’s. Her hips shifted closer to Tav’s mouth, clearly craving more. Tav obliged.

She licked a strip from the bottom of Raven’s entrance, tasting her sweet nectar, to her clit.

“Fuck,” Raven moaned. Her hands clutched the blankets as she held herself up to watch Tav eat her out. Gale’s simulacrum moved one arm around Raven’s back to help support her, using his other hand to trace lines on Tav’s shoulder.

Tav softly licked at Raven’s clit. She moved her tongue up and down, side to side, and pressed harder on each upwards stroke.

“Good girl,” Gale said to her.

How could his words excite her even more than what she was currently doing?

“That she is,” spectral Gale agreed with his hand in Tav’s hair. Gale glared at him, still a bit jealous of the other self he created.

Tav moaned against Raven’s pussy as she drew the nub into her mouth and sucked. Raven’s moans grew louder and more desperate as Tav pulsed her tongue against her clit.

She only pulled away to address her own needs.

“Gale,” she whined. “Can you touch me?”

Gale’s face flushed. “It’d be my pleasure, my love.”

He dragged his thumb across her clit through her shorts. Tav shivered as she brought her mouth back down to pleasure Raven. Gale continued his strokes in tandem with the strokes of Tav’s tongue.

After a few more minutes of languidly licking, sucking, and kissing her pussy, Tav pulled back again to ask if she wanted a finger inside of her.

“Fuck,” Raven answered breathlessly, “yes.”

Tav brought her index finger to her mouth, swirled her tongue around it to wet it, and brought it back to Raven’s opening. She began gently pushing it in as she placed kisses around Raven’s clit.

It glided in with ease. Bitter jealousy coursed through Tav again, but she tried to push it aside. Just because her body worked differently didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy being on this end of things.

Especially with Gale touching her.

She crooked her finger inside of Raven. She was so wet, so warm, but so open. Now Tav finally knew how different she felt from ‘normal’ women. Still, Gale loved her.

Tav didn’t exactly know where Raven’s special spot was, but she figured she could find it. If she didn’t get there on her own, Gale could give her a demonstration. Spectral Gale, she corrected herself. She’d be incredibly jealous if she saw her Gale’s finger inside of someone else.

Raven screamed when Tav found her g-spot while licking at her clit. Tav smiled around the nub and applied more pressure with her finger.

She realized that Raven would probably want two fingers, but that freaked her out too much. If she could scream from one finger, Tav reasoned*, it should be fine*.

Tav glanced up to see spectral Gale teasing Raven’s nipples between his fingers. She felt another rush of heat between her own thighs.

He grinned cheekily as he noticed Tav looking at them.

Tav’s own arousal must have translated to the pace of her tongue against Raven and her finger inside of her, because Raven screamed again as she came. Her muscles spasmed around Tav’s finger, wet juices flowing out of her pussy.

A few minutes later, Gale’s turn to please Tav had finally come. He refused to leave her lips for a single moment, instead pressing kisses against her throughout every shift of her body. Eventually, she pulled away.

Gale took a second to marvel at how beautiful she looked. Her lips were swollen, cheeks flushed, strands of hair stuck to her face. Nothing else mattered to him at moments like this.

Tav looked up at him as she bit her lip anxiously. “I have an idea.”

The wizard quirked up an eyebrow. His mirror images looked over in interest from their entanglement next to them. “Do go on,” Gale encouraged her.

“Would you maybe…” Tav started. She steeled herself to get the words out as fast as she could. “I thought maybe we could sit together, with you behind me, playing with me, while your mirror image masturbates.”

Gale could only gape at the suggestion. Clearly, this was something she had thought about before. Though she was looking down in embarrassment, she asked him. She told him what she wanted. That’s all he could wish for.

Jealously continued to plague him when it came to the simulacrums. He’d luckily be giving her the physical pleasure in this case, and he understood that it would be difficult for him to both please her and masturbate for her at the same time. Without a mage hand or two, that is. It stoked a fire low in his belly knowing that’s what got her off — watching him get off. Yes, it was his conjuration, but the idea was the same.

He gently tugged Tav’s chin up so she’d look at him. Their hearts beat in tandem as he pressed a firm kiss to her lips. “I’m game,” he said to her with a smile. “But, I do have a proposition of my own, if you’d indulge me.” He kissed her forehead. “It’s completely okay if you’d rather not.”

Tav hummed, wondering what his proposition was. “Care to elaborate?” She asked as she leaned into his warm chest. Still rudely covered by a shirt.

Gale chuckled softly as he smoothed his hands over her back, allowing one to tangle in her hair. “I was thinking that if you’re watching my simulacrum, then maybe we could position a mirror a bit behind him, and off to the side, so I could watch you?” He tried to make the suggestion as lightly as he could. Heat rushed through him at the thought, but he never wanted to pressure her.

“You don’t have to be fully undressed,” he assured her. “I just want to watch your beautiful face.” His hand reached up to stroke her cheek.

She pressed her face into his palm, briefly closing her eyes to enjoy the sweet contact. She shifted to press a kiss to the palm of his hand, causing Gale to let out a surprised whimper. Of course, she giggled at that. He rolled his eyes at her in turn.

“Sounds good,” Tav said with a bright smile. “Could you conjure me something a little more sexy to wear then?”

Tav sat with her back pressed against Gale’s now bare chest. And his hard cock. She wore a lacy peacock blue nightie that complimented her breasts while flowing out past them, so it comfortably covered her stomach. Gale’s fingers were dancing at her core under its hem.

He pressed kisses to her head, her neck, her shoulders — anything he could reach — while he watched her reactions in the mirror. Meanwhile, she watched his simulacrum sitting across from them slowly stroke himself.

Raven rested between Tav and the simulacrum. She watched them both while running her fingers along Tav’s legs and feet in ways that made her shiver.

Tav moaned and bucked with her hands tied behind her back. Each shift of Gale’s deft fingers — the one vibrating on her clit, and the one stroking the inside of her pussy — caused her to gasp. Heat flooded between her thighs as she shifted her gaze from Raven to a masturbating image of Gale to the mirror where Gale watched her face as he played with her.

Every time he caught her eye, he smiled at her. This only made her clench around his finger as more wetness pooled between her legs.

“You’re so beautiful,” Gale spoke lowly in her ear while he watched them in the mirror. “I love feeling how wet and needy you get from looking at how hard my cock is for you. I can’t count the number of times I’ve laid in my tent, stroking my cock while thinking about your sweet laugh, your adorable smile, and your precious, delicious pussy.”

He knew his voice was what sent her over the edge, especially when he was absolutely fucking obscene. Tav came undone with a cry of his name.

Raven held her legs down so Gale could continue to touch her through her orgasm. Tav’s hips bucked, she pressed her knees together, and finally pressed her hips back against Gale as she was overcome with pleasure. Gale whispered one more sweet nothing into her ear while the finger fucking her slowed down. “I love feeling your wetness squirt against my palm when you cum for me, Tav.”

She whimpered and sagged against him with her eyes closed.

Gale was a good boy, cuddling with her while she recovered. But as they began shifting against each other in the bed, the simulacrums still reverently touching Tav in every place she wanted, he somehow ended up with his head between her thighs.

One of Tav’s hands was fisted in his hair as he lapped at her pussy. It’d been a week since he last tasted her, and he wanted to savor every drop. Gods, how he’d missed this.

His mirror image held Tav’s other hand up over her head. Gale kept their connection strong, so he could speak the words to Tav that he wanted. He told her how good she was, how delectable she tasted, and how much he loved that she allowed him to make her come again.

Two more hands caressed every inch of Tav’s body that wasn’t covered by her lingerie or currently being devoured by her wizard. Raven focused on the parts Gale couldn’t reach while his finger was buried inside of Tav and his tongue was most certainly not going to leave her clit until she had come on his mouth at least twice.

Tav’s gaze slowly went up to where their mirror now floated. She’d be against his lavish expenditure of magic for her pleasure if she didn’t know that pleasing her gave him more of a boost.

Once she saw the full image of them — Gale lying on his stomach between her legs and grinding his cock into the mattress, her fingers twined through his gorgeous hair, his simulacrum smiling down at her while he pinned her arm pack, and Raven caressing her while still unclothed — she couldn’t hold her second orgasm back.

Gale moaned as her wetness splashed against his mouth, soaking his beard, while her legs shook around his head. He was incredibly grateful for her hand being pinned down, because he didn’t want to stop. He gave her a small reprise as his movement slowed down to sweet, loving kisses while her walls slowed in their pulsating around his finger. His simulacrum gently took her hand from Gale’s hair and held it firmly with the other one. “We can stop at any time,” he told her. “Your safe word is apple.” Tav nodded, unsure of what the plan was.

Once her muscles relaxed as much as they would, Gale cast another lubrication spell and rubbed his finger against her g-spot in quick, small movements. Tav’s shocked moans caused beads of precum to leak out of his cock as he flickered his tongue against her clit.

Tav opened her eyes again, barely believing that Gale was still going. But there he was, absolutely devouring her while practically humping the blanket under him. Her thoughts were consumed with this image of Gale pleasing himself — being so turned on that he resorted to humping the bed — and she felt all the muscles in her lower body tighten as a third orgasm hit her. She cried out in pleasure once again, unaware of her heels digging into Gale’s back or the wet pool she was making under them.

“Please,” she gasped out as the pleasure faded into overstimulation, “Gale, I’m finished.”

Gale pulled back to shower her center with kisses before he propped himself up and at smiled at her. “Did you enjoy that?” He asked cheekily, clearly pleased with himself and his effect on her.

Tav playfully glared at him. “Obviously,” she responded, gesturing to his very wet mouth. “Now clean that up and come here. Please,” she added saccharinely.

He obliged and went through the normal routine of cleaning his mouth off (for her benefit) and placing a warm, wet cloth between her legs to help with the pain and mess. Once he was done, Tav reached towards him with her cute little grabby hands. Gale smiled down at her as he eased himself back onto the bed and in her arms.

They embraced for a few moments before Tav lightly pushed him back. “How are your knees?”

“Fine,” Gale replied with a raised eyebrow. He wasn’t really on his knees during this entire evening, so he wasn’t sure why she was concerned now.

“Good,” Tav grinned with a blend of innocence and seductive mischief. “On your knees, please.” She motioned Gale up.

Still confused, Gale followed her command. He rose to his knees on the bed in front of her, his cock bobbing in the air. He had cleaned up most of the precum, but another bead leaked out as he got a look at Tav’s face right in front of his hardness.

The way Tav smiled up at him from this position struck him in a way he had never felt before. There was so much love, lust, and vulnerability.

She reached for both of his hands and placed them in her hair. “Gale Jr,” she directed the order at his mirror image, “support him if he needs it.” She turned her attention to Raven. “You can keep your hands on me, if you like.”

“As you wish,” the simulacrum replied with a grin.

“My pleasure,” Raven murmured as she pressed against Tav, running her hand over her thigh.

Tav took one last moment to enjoy the utter bewilderment on Gale’s face. Then she leaned in and licked the tip of his cock.

“Fuck,” Gale exclaimed in surprise. Somehow he didn’t see where this was going.

Tav grinned before pressing her tongue against his slit and licking another strip.

Gale whimpered, and his mirror image braced him to keep him upright as his knees buckled.

“Fuck, Tav,” Gale groaned out. Apparently getting his cock licked was all it took to condense his vocabulary.

“Sweetheart,” he continued as he gently pulled Tav’s head back. “You don’t have to do this. Seriously. I don’t need anything, or expect anything, like that from you, my love.” He looked at her with pure care even when he clearly wanted to come.

“I want to do this,” Tav assured him seriously. “I don’t want to like, deepthroat you, because ow, but I do want to taste you. You taste like cinnamon rolls, by the way. I just want to play around with your cock in my mouth for a bit, if that’s alright with you?”

His cock bobbed up, seemingly giving Tav the okay. Gale wanted whatever she wanted to give him. “Okay,” he said. “That’s more than alright with me. But any discomfort, physical or mental, and I want you to stop, okay? Just press a nail into my thigh and I’ll pull away.”

Tav wished she could kiss him, but there was no way she was raising up to meet his lips. So she settled for pressing a kiss to the head of his cock, eliciting another deep moan. “Yes sir!”

Warm, wet lips met Gale’s cock. He sighed and shivered at the contact. Tav brought one hand to his thigh and gently wrapped the other around his cock. She gave him a little squeeze as she moved her mouth down. The tip of his cock was in her mouth.

He had never even let himself think of this possibility. It didn’t feel right before their relationship, and it rarely crossed his waking mind afterwards since he knew her desires and limits. So this was an earth-shattering, star-crashing experience for him.

For being with Tav, his love. For being the first time he had this specific kind of pleasure in …. years, actually. It’d been years since he’d been intimate with another mortal, and this wasn’t something Mystra deigned to do.

Tav moaned softly as she swirled her tongue around Gale’s tip.

“Tav,” Gale whimpered. Her name sounded so beautiful on his lips.

More sweet precum leaked onto Tav’s tongue, which she swallowed happily. Gale almost lost it at feeling her swallow around his cock, even though only an inch was in her sweet little mouth.

His simulacrum dripped lubricant onto Gale’s cock, seeming to anticipate what Tav wanted to do. She muttered her thanks to him — which was just a hum around Gale’s cock, to his pleasure — and began moving her hand up and down Gale’s shaft.

The suction of Tav’s mouth was utterly divine. Gale ran his fingers through her soft hair while he murmured praises.

“My love,” he said nervously, “I’m not going to last much longer.” He choked on a moan. “I can finish somewhere else, you don’t have to —”

Tav started to shake her head before realizing how weird that was with his cock in her mouth. She pulled off of him with a pop. “I want you to cum in my mouth, Gale. I can always pull away or spit it out, but I want to try it,” she stated firmly.

Gale nodded at her, his body begging him for release at her words. Tav brought her mouth back to his member. She traced circles with her tongue, slowly pumped her fist along his shaft, and then moved her other hand from his thigh to lightly touch his balls.

Gale gasped at the unexpected contact, his cum immediately spurting out into his love’s mouth. He saw nothing but her, thought of nothing but her, and wanted nothing but holding her in his arms for the rest of their lives. He would’ve fell back if his simulacrum hadn’t held him up as pleasure ravished his entire body.

Tav kept her mouth around Gale’s cock for a solid minute before pulling away. She quite literally was playing with it, as if it were a sweet lollipop she wanted to savor.

She swallowed every drop of his warm cum, now sure that his underwear enchantment had to make it taste like icing. It was quite the pleasant experience. With a smile, Tav grabbed Gale’s hand and yanked him down to her. They collapsed onto the bed together, limbs entwined.

“That was amazing,” Gale said. His exertion was still clear by the breathiness of his voice, which Tav loved. She snuggled closer into him.

“I agree,” she spoke into his bare chest. The thin sheen of sweat on him was unreasonably attractive.

Gale kissed her temple. “I promise you I’ll be able to put more words to that experience at a later time, when I am not so literally spent from your affections.” Once he had more energy, there was no stopping him from waxing poetic about their entire night and the pleasure — both mental and physical — he got from being with her. “I love you, sweetheart.”

“Love you too,” Tav murmured. Gale could feel her smile against his chest. “Now magic a blanket over us so we can cuddle properly.”

[garglyswoof]

the space we'll fill with time

For Come What May May 29th: Say the Quiet Parts Out Loud A conversation you don't think they'll ever have but wish they would. | What are some offscreen moments you wish you could see? I won't be around much tomorrow, so posting early.

“What was she like?” Karen’s question is soft as it breaks the comfortable quiet. Frank winces before realizing the reaction is just instinct - he's unbothered by the question. Not when it comes from her.

He turns the wince into a smile that stretches across his face as he remembers. “She was a ballbuster, that’s for sure. Didn’t take any shit from me. Made me understand what a real man needed to be, y’know?” He glances up at Karen where she sits, patient and interested. 

“The married guys in my unit would bitch and moan about taking care of their kids when they were on leave, or doing dishes or some shit. And y’know, sometimes that stuff settles into you, right? So I came home once, before Kandahar, and I started complaining about having to do laundry or something, and she let me have it.” Frank shakes his head, grin wide. “God damn my life flashed before my eyes she took me down so hard. She was just merciless,” he laughs.

Karen smiles. “Sounds like she could keep up with you.”

“Yeah. More than.” It’s quiet for a minute as they both sit with their own thoughts. Frank’s the first to break it.

“M’ not saying everything was sunshine and roses, no way," He shakes his head firmly. "We both had our faults. She had trouble letting the kids be independent, and I wanted them to grow up and help their mom out. ‘Specially because I wasn’t around. I guess that was a selfish ask.”

“I don’t think so. I mean I get both sides. They’re just different.”

His hand scrapes the stubble on his face as he agrees, the sound loud in the relative quiet of the apartment. “You want another beer?” He gets up at her nod and grabs them both a bottle, frosted from the refrigerator’s chill. He opens her bottle with his own, an old party trick he learned back in recruit training that never fails to make Karen smile. She lifts a brow and holds her hand out when he can’t find an opener for his own beer, then proceeds to open it for him with a key of all things.

“I’ve been practicing,” she says with a proud smile that slams him in the chest. He sits down at the end of the couch and tugs her into him, her back against his front, her silken hair tickling him until he sweeps it away to gently lay a kiss on her neck.

Karen asks another question, her voice soft again. “Who gave the best gifts?” Frank’s surprised huff is loud in her ear.

“Not me, that’s for sure. I had to learn. She never wanted jewelry, shit like that.” His chin rests on her shoulder and he tilts his face to hers. “You sure you’re okay talking about this?”

“I want to know. She’s a part of your life.” The tense doesn’t go unnoticed, nor does her brief kiss to his lips, silencing his concerns. Part of him wants to get lost in it but he can feel she’s hungry for his words, for the little things that made up his life before.

Before. God, what a small word to fit too much into. 

He thinks it over and Karen lets him, he hears her bottle lift and drop, the slosh of liquid and the displacement of air. 

Before. Before grief so strong that the only recourse was rage. Before he let himself become The Punisher. He tenses up and Karen places a gentle kiss on his cheek. He slows the thoughts from spiraling, for her. It takes him a few moments to center himself as the living room clock that he swears he's going to find a way to secretly throw out one day ticks loudly, resolutely.

“Y’know that whole thing, not that Women are from Mars shit but the other self-help thing. Uhhh,” he lifts his head from her shoulder and takes a swig. “Your love language, yeah?” He sees her nod and continues. “Maria was an acts of service person, so it worked because that’s what I’m good at. Fix the washer, take the kids to the dentist, she could care less about gifts when it came down to it.”

“What about you, what’s your love language?” And god if the question isn’t so strange, because part of being with Karen is realizing that they haven’t known each other all that long, the moments stretching out like hours through the violence were just that.

“Touch, for one.” He nuzzles into her neck again, as if to illustrate the point. “I’m an old-fashioned kind of guy. After they died, that was the hardest, I think. To know I’d never be able to wrap my arms around her, around the kids.” His chest constricts; his heart knows it will never not hurt, same as his head.

She sits up and turns in his arms. “I should be the one asking if you’re okay.”

He blinks once, twice. “Yeah. Yeah, I am.” Because he knows this is part of the after.

After. He met Karen in the space between, he knows that now, just as he knows she's the one that stretched the moment out, turned time on its head, helped him have this. He smiles and Karen looks at him curiously, her eyes bright and warm. After. Yeah. That word can't hold it all either.

He pulls her into his arms, arms that cross over her back more than they did with Maria. Karen feels different and he’s glad for it. Doesn’t want to confuse the two, ever. Feels disrespectful to both of them. His voice is a little more broken than he intended when he speaks again. 

“I love you. And I love her.”

“I know.”

It’s gentle and soft and everything, to the both of them.

[this-is-moony-lovegood]

Just watched a buddie edit to Call Your Mom by Noah Kahan, and I’m sitting here thinking of a plot line where Buck goes by himself to get Chris.

Like Eddie is suffering back in LA and Buck is like fuck it I’m bringing Chris home because Eddie doesn’t deserve this shit. So he gets in his Jeep and he drives 800 miles to El Paso and he shows up at Helena and Ramon’s house to get Christopher. And Helena and Ramon try to fight him on this of course and Buck is chewing them out for trying to keep Chris even thought this was supposed to be temporary and all they’re doing is pushing the narrative that Eddie’s a shitty father and that Chris should stay in El Paso permanently. And Chris wakes up and sees Buck and rushes out to him and is so scared he’s here alone because Eddie is hurt or dead, and Buck just tells him that Eddie is physically okay but it’s time for Chris to come home. Buck tells him that even if he isn’t ready to stay at the Diaz house that he can stay at the loft with him, or Buck will move into the Diaz house to be a barrier if that’s what Chris wants but he needs to be back in LA. Obviously Buck is desperate but he’s also being parental, and Chris immediately goes to pack his shit so they can go home. Once against Helena and Ramon try to fight him on it, but Buck whips out the will card and says that even if Eddie is “unfit to be a parent right now” like they say, that responsibility actually goes to Buck not them and they have a problem with that they can contact his lawyer who will promptly tell them to “fuck off”.

Then, you get the drive back to LA where Chris and Buck have a full on heart to heart about Eddie. Buck talks to Chris about how his dad knows he messed up and has been trying to work on himself to fix it, but he can’t get any better with Chris if Chris isn’t willingly to put in the effort on his end. And a Chris talks about his grief over his mom and how that’s something he thought he could handle until little things keep pulling him back in like the dating plot in season 7, and obviously the Kim situation. So, Buck suggests they go the route of talking about Shannon and what Chris remembers so they spend some time talking about her in the car. The talk about her leaving (on her own and her death), and how no one will ever replace her in his life (and how he feels like his dad has been trying to do that when he dates, but all it doesn’t bring up more trauma when they break up and they leave). “I wish dad could see that he doesn’t need to replace mom in my life. I already have two parents: dad and you.” To which Buck has to pull the car over because he’s gonna lose it at his kid calling him a parent for the first time. “You, me, and dad are already a family. Why can’t both of you just understand that the three of us is all we need?” Which gets them on the topic of implying that Buck and Eddie would be dating/married for it to solely be the three of them (and a reminder that Buck has a boyfriend), to which Chris just tells him that he already knows they’re in love with each other, so why can’t they be honest about it and have dad stop dating women and Buck break up with Tommy. Which has Buck’s head spinning because, “your dad is straight, Chris” to which Chris says, “So were you four months ago, Buck. Look what happened?” And now Buck is spiraling once again because holy shit he’s in love with Eddie and maybe, just maybe Eddie’s in love with him too.

When they stop for a bathroom break Buck calls and breaks up with Tommy. Tommy knows exactly what’s happening the moment he answers, and tells him it was only a matter of time until Buck figured it out.

They get back to LA and pull up to the Diaz house. Eddie hasn’t heard from Buck is like four days so he’s been worrying because he called out of work and he never does that, but all of his words die on his tongue the moment he sees Chris. And Chris, who has barely spoken to him in the past four months barrels his way into Eddie’s arms. And Eddie breaks down crying at getting his son back. “What are you doing here? How are you here?” And Chris replies with, “Buck came and got me. He told me it was time to come home.” And Eddie just takes a moment to think that over, lets Chris go and throws himself into Buck’s arms for a massive hug. And Eddie is practically sobbing into his chest repeating “thank you” on a loop. And Buck who is an empathetic crier, just tells him, “you know I’d do anything for our family, Eds.”

They don’t kiss or anything, but Buck and Chris make eye contact over Eddie’s shoulder with a silent agreement that they’re going to figure this out. And when Eddie is ready, the three of them are going to officially be a family.

[anykindofbean]

Arranged part. 2 Regrets

Charlotte Cracker x Reader

Genre: Angst, Some fluff

Warnings: Cracker and Katakuri may be a bit OOC

If you wanna check out more of my works: Masterlist

Arranged: Part 1

———————————————————

It’s been about a week since the last time Cracker spoke to you. He’s noticed you haven’t cooked for him, Or tried to clean his home. At first he didn’t care, He told you to stop doing that in the first place.

But he didn’t realize how much he actually missed your presence.

You weren’t there waiting for him to get home anymore, You weren’t there sitting with him while he ate his own food. You didn’t leave his clothes for the next folded neatly on his dresser anymore.

All these little things you did for him, he took it for granted, And now he’s realizing that.

Maybe..He did care?

Maybe he wants to try….

But Cracker’s not stupid, He knows how complicated a women’s emotional state can be. Especially after he basically told her it’d never work between them..

So, He goes to the one person that actually might help him..

“….You did what now?” Katakuri raised an eyebrow at his little brother. Cracker sighed, Rolling his eyes a bit. “ I know, It was stupid of me..And I know she’s right..we were both forced into this, Might as well make it work, Right?”

“ Wow. Little brother Cracker admitting he’s wrong. Never thought I’d see the day.”

Cracker clicked his tongue, Glaring up at Katakuri. “ You’re not helping!” He took a deep breath. “ How do I fix this?”

Katakuri looked at Cracker, Thinking for a moment. “ Have you talked to her? Apologized?”

“ W..Well, Not yet.”

“ Then that’s a start. Honestly, Cracker. You should’ve thought to apologize in the first place.”

Cracker let out a frustrated groan. “ I know! I’m just..bad at this.”

“ I know. And you come to me of all people?”

Cracker let out another sigh. “ You’re the only person who would give me solid advice.”

Katakuri hummed at that. “ Well, First things first, Apologize. Second; Maybe do something nice for her? Take her on a picnic, Or something like that. You’re creative.”

Cracker shifted. “ Yeah, Okay.”

Katakuri raised an eyebrow. “ And watch what you say to and around her. It seems you scared her enough already.”

—————

Cracker let out a deep breath, As he finished up packing up a picnic basket. He started overthinking..

What if you don’t like this?

What if you reject it?

What if this marriage was destined to fail from the start?

He shook his thoughts away, Closing the basket, And headed to your room. He gently knocked on your door, waiting patiently.

You soon opened up, Looking up at Cracker with surprise. He did his best to smile without looking terrifying.

“ Do you..wanna go on a date with me?”

———————————————————

I hope you enjoyed! Part 3 will be out soon!

[illiicits]

Everything will be okay

Hi everyone!

I would like to start by saying this was very quickly read through and I wrote this while I was at work lol. So I’m sorry if it makes no sense or there are really bad mistakes. I’ll try to come back and fix them. Thank you for reading it and I hope you like it!

Warnings: Azriel x Female reader, some slight dirty talk (not that much), sexual scenes 18+, some cuteness between Az and reader, use of Y/N.

Word count: 5060

┆.➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ . ➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ . ➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ ┆

┆.➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ . ➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ . ➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ ┆

You couldn’t help but envy the beautiful Acheron sister’s. In your opinion Feyre was enough. The Acheron female had infested your beautiful home with something you couldn’t quite understand. You got along just fine with the women, Often hanging out and lending your time to entertain her when she calls. Close friends is what you’d say you are with feyre though mostly one sided at times, on your part.

When the inner circle went to hybron everything went down hill. Chaos was the only word you could describe the event with.

Utter chaos.

Nothing went the way anyone thought it would; especially when evil human queens decided to play with life all for nothing. When two more Acheron sisters showed up out of nowhere you didn’t think much of the effect either of the two newly added children would bring to the inner circle.

When Hybren pulled his stupid little cauldron stunt you were at a disbelief that two arguably already pretty girls turn into stunning gorgeous women.

Watching both the girls stand soaking wet amazed you. The whole experience was a sight to see.

You didn’t not envy the two newly fae women. While beautiful and elegant looking none of the fae could come close to comparing to your kind.

You, yourself, are of rare beauty and pure power. Something the creatures of the world wouldn’t understand if you explained in detail.

You watched sweet little Elain find her mate right away. You watched the fire, hatred filled Acheron sister find her lover too. You couldn’t help the displeased look cross your face at that time. You couldn’t help but to slightly hate the two young sisters who suddenly became so in your face, much like Feyre. You had set aside and locked away your possessive side for Feyre regarding Rhys.

You never had any romantic relationship or feelings towards the high lord. He simply became family after he saved you years ago. You were possessive of all the inner circle, Rhys, Mor, Amren, Cassian, and Azriel. They all were Your family. People you loved and people who returned the love back.

You got along with all of them. Bickering with Cassian, and Mor. Shopping with Amren at times when she could handle socializing with the group, and bringing her food supply when needed.

Azriel though, was a whole other level. We sat in silence in the library, we bickered , we fought and argued. We dance in Rita's, something the shadow singer is not fond of doing and he’d sing with me, though very rarely during the dead of night. When we both happened to meet on a balcony or rooftop of the home.

We’d sneak glances and run off to hide away from the world for a little when things got boring or too intense at times.

His shadows grew fond of you, often eloping you in them and seeking you out when you’re close enough to the shadowsinger. Sometimes, you swear you could hear them whispering the faintest of words to you. Nothing you can fully make out but by the way they were acting you could guess good things.

During Ameranthas rule Az’s demeanor changed. Always brooding, always grumpy, always looking for work; for ways to rescue Rhys. Trying to find a way to sneak in and get him out, maybe even burn the whole damn mountain too. It had killed him during the first couple years the high lord was gone. It took little piece from Azriel.

But somewhere in the last 50 years your relationship flipped. Not somewhere, you remember the night you had crossed the border of friendship into something more. When your whole life changed.

It started in the first few years Rhys was under the mountain. During Starfall.

┆.➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ . ➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ . ➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ ┆

“Azriel! Azriel!” You shouted down the hall trying to keep up the pace of one foot in front of the other. It was proving difficult to do in your lilac floral covered gown. One you had gotten just to impress the damn man, one you had gotten just for this star fall.

“Azriel, you big Illyrian baby! Stop running away.” You called to the shadowsinger, a tall frame descending down the hall. A door joining the hallway had slammed shut, you knew it was his bedroom. The only time you went in it was when he had invited you, so you both could share the silence. When he did invite you into his room you’d both more times than not just sit reading out on his balcony or watch the stars shine over the city.

Coming to a halt at the dark wooden door, you stood there hand on the handle catching your breath. You damned your shoes in your head reaching down your leg to your ankle where the straps of your heels sat. Unbuckling them you gathered the pair in your hands and swung open the door.

Az hadn’t turned the lights on yet leaving you slightly blinded by the darkness that engulfed his living quarters. You knew the layout well enough and with the faint glow of the stars leaving traces of light flowing through the arches dividing the bedroom and the balcony, you made your way towards the handsome man.

You sucked in a little breath of cold air, cooling the slight burning sensation you had endure running to catch up. Stopping for a second to take the sight in, you watched Azriel wings flutter with irritation, watched how his back rose and fell with each heavy huff of cold air he let through to his lungs. His back was facing you, top half of his body leaning over the railing his forearm most definitely crossed. He lifted his head and stared at the sky for a couple moments.

He looked transcendent under the starlight. His shadows circling around his shoulders, across his wings, his back, sneaking around his ankles and legs.

Your Eyes narrowed in on the winged Illyrian. You stomped your way over to the tall form. Halfway there you threw one shoe at his back. “What the hell was that Azriel?” You question throwing the next shoe right after. They hit him with a thump and then fall to the ground with a clack.

“I can’t believe you did that!” You yelled in disbelief. “On all the nights, you decided to get moody and be a jerk, you had to pick His favorite holiday, you had to pick the one night we celebrate regardless of him being gone” your frustration rang out into the night stars.

You stopped behind him. Expecting him to hold out longer, but his voice filled the air. “Go away.” Az’s voice felt like it fluttered out into the night air. “No, I’m not leaving, you’re acting like a brat!” You voiced. “ a- a dick! You could easily have ruined the entire night for everyone.” You argued back letting a huff of air leave your lips at the end.

“For fuck’s sake Y/N” he spat out turning around qucikly to face you. “Learn to quit, learn- learn to stop being so goddamn stubborn and pushy!” He yelled back frustrated, running his hand through his hair.

You stood there searching his anger filled eyes. Looking at a man so clearly broken, looking at someone who his whole life hid his pain and suffering from the rest of the world, the rest of the inner circle.

You watched him suck in air and blow it out quickly. His chest rising and falling each time he took a deep breath. Your eyes softened at the sight.

You reached out slowly grabbing a scared hand in yours, “Az, I know it's hard. I know you wish you could do something, anything at all to save him, to - to bring him home.” You spoke softly, barely a whisper afraid the shadowsinger would bolt if you decided to speak full volume again.

“You-” a sigh left your glossed lips. “You need to let go sometimes Az”.

“I don’t.” He replied harshly. “It’s my JOB to be aware, to- to protect everyone.” He ripped his hand from yours stalking towards a lounger.

“I have to keep searching for a way. It shouldn’t be taking me this long to find a way to save him Y/N.” Azriel plopped down on the edge of the lounger. "I'm trying and I’m failing.” He admitted placing his arms on his knees and his head between them.

Your heart ached seeing this warrior so wounded. After fighting battles and doing some of the hardest spying, seeing some of the worst things, hell experiencing the worst. He still feels that everyone else’s trauma is bigger than his.

Walking towards the warrior you reached out and grabbed his hands again. Holding both of them to your chest. “Azriel listen to me.” You spoke trying to comfort your favorite shadowsinger. “You need to let go, you need to learn to live your life sometimes.” You pleaded softly. “I know, trust me, I know that it’s killing you not being able to save him, we all feel like that Az.” You admitted squeezing his hands a little. “We just- we just, I don’t know, we still live. It’s hard and we all are still trying to figure out a way, but azriel you’re not doing anything to help yourself. You stress and stress with no way of lightening the load, or- or even to just relax for a little bit.” You claimed staring down at the beautiful man.

Azriel looked up at you staring into your eyes. He searched your beautiful face. Debating on if he should continue with his delightful thoughts that somehow snuck into his mind. Even though just moments ago he was upset and angry with himself. When you bent down to meet his eyes he caught a glimpse of your cleavage being shown off, more so tonight in the dress you wore than other outfits.

You wanted him to let go and to relax for tonight he could do that. He already knew what he wanted, and has wanted for a little while. He just never wanted to cross that boundary with you. He never wanted to keep something so safe yet completely corrupt in his life. And maybe it was the way you cared for him or maybe it was finally the realization that Rhys may never come home and he should just go for it because he no longer knows if you could disappear next, Or maybe, just maybe it was the tasty fairie wine he consumed earlier that he finally let go of his worries.

“Ok” Azirel's deep voice reached your ears.

“Okay what?” You questioned back. Running your fingers over is his hands you hold in yours. Small delicate fingers tracing rough scarred skin. Azriel even in your heels, that lay by the fence where he stood before, towered over you. The man very much was a giant which worked well for his job for the night court.

Anyone in their right mind should be scared in general of the warrior that sat before you, but you never once had experienced that terrifying feeling people claim they give him. You’ve never once felt like azriel would hurt you. You knew no matter what that him and his shadows would do everything in their power to keep you safe. You don’t know why you felt like that with him. More so than anyone else. You always passed it off as a gut feeling, or being extremely well in tune and good friends.

His voice cut through the small gap of silence that fell between you two. “Ok” he’s hands pulled out of yours.

His hands he had just removed from yours slowly moved to grab the sides of your hips. Bunching the lilac covered dress. You sucked a sharp breath in, air filling your lungs as you looked down at the godlike man with a questionable look casted in your eyes. Hazel eyes filled with lust looked over your face glancing down to your chest that looked bustier than you normally do, then they trailed back up to meet yours.

Heat quickly traveled across your body and up to your cheeks tainting them a light pink. Az hummed, a deep dark sound of approval when he looked at you.

“Will you help me relax tonight Y/N?” He questioned pulling on your hips; bringing you between his knees. His scarred hands lowered to rub the sides of your thighs. Heat began to pull between your thighs as you breathlessly responded to him. “Az? What are you- what are you doing?” Your hands moved to sit on his shoulder bracing yourself from the tug.

“You’ve taken up more of my thoughts than you should Y/N, more than any other woman has before.” His deep voice spoke. “You frustrate me to no end. I watch you smile and laugh and it makes my day so much better. You ease my worries and to help dim the pain and stress I have.” Az stated. “You make me happy and I have fought and fought and fought myself over and over again. Because I’m scared that I’ll end up ruining you with my issues. That you’ll end up being burned and scared.” He continued. “I’ll chase you away.” He choked back a noise in his throat threatening to escape.

Silence filled the air as you tried to understand what he said. Finally you said “you’d never be able to scare me off.” You confirmed. “Nothing would ever force me to stop being here for you, nothing ever.” You exclaimed. “You worry over silly things sometimes.” You remarked with a light smile on your lips.

He leaned forward and kissed your hip over the fabric of your dress. “You don’t know how many dirty thoughts have crossed my mind tonight”. “Watching your lips wrap around the rim of a glass, watching your tongue darting out to lick the frosting left over on your lips.” He looked up. “I’d love to have that pretty mouth wrapped around me.” Azriel said, a smirk starting to make an appearance on his face. His admission sent a shiver through your body and heat building between your thighs under your gown.

You’ve thought about the shadow singer on nights where it was hard to fall asleep. Other times when you’ve had too much to drink at Rita’s, you’ve always been a shamelessly flirty drinker. Often during those nights you’d be dancing with the spymaster after you begged and begged for him to dance with you, something he never usually indulged in, but he could never bring himself to refuse you especially when once he said yes you’d grab his hand with a giggle and the biggest smile would be plastered on your face for the rest of the night.

Most times, you’d end up going home leaning on the tall muscled man talking his ear off as his shadows danced around you. Azriel would drop you off at your bedroom door and bid you a goodnight. Those nights you’d always end up tossing and turning in your sleep so you’d always end up in the dead of night with your hand between your thighs whispering his name.

You breathlessly let his name fall from your lips.

“Yes Y/N?” He questioned back.

His hands slowly lifted the sides of the dress up the pads of his fingers dragging across your smooth skin. Goosebumps raised across your arms and legs. Something so delicious about his scarred hands against the silk of your leg made a small sound escape from your throat. Azriel cupped the back of your knees dragging you forward guiding each leg to sit on the sides of his pure muscle thighs.

You sat on Azirels lap. Breathing heavy and clenching your thighs. Not believing that this situation was in fact real. You begged yourself to wake up from this dream.

Scarred hands stayed under your dress slowly moving them from behind your knees to the sides of your thighs. You felt like you were burning from his touch. That if you looked down under your pretty lilac dress you wore just for this man, the one you're sitting on top of thighs on either side of, that you’d find your flesh melted away, right there where his hands gripped your thighs so tightly it stung.

His hands traveled up higher to your hips. Placing both hands in a tight grip and slowly moving you; once, twice, three times. He slowly guided you to roll your hips with his hands.

Your eyes slowly fluttered shut at the euphoric sensation that started thrumming in your body. Radiating from his hands to your hips then through your body, down your legs, up the sides of your torso to your heart.

“Did you wear this just for me Y/N?” He questioned.

“Did you wear this lilac flower dress that fits you so well to show off those perfect round tits and your silky legs just for me?” He questioned with a deep growl while he fingered the slit open exposing my skin to the cool air.

“Hm, Y/N? Did you dress up just for the terrifying shadowsinger? To get his attention, to please him?” He spoke again.

Not liking that you weren’t looking at him,or replying to him when he questioned you he roughly grabbed your throat, fingers splayed around your neck and on top of your jaw. You not responding irked the spy. He would never let his questions go unanswered in such a serious situation, this was a very very serious situation, so he’d get the answer out of you.

His eyes narrowed on your face watching the pure bliss and lust fall over your pretty features as you rolled your hips on your own. He jerked your jaw down using the fingers that stayed slightly over your jaw.

“Open your eyes Y/N. Open those pretty sparkly eyes for me and you are to not close them again.” He commanded. “You hear me Y/N?” Azriel’s firm voice shook slightly, something you definitely didn’t notice yourself but he felt it. Your eyes fluttered open slowly, you stared down at Az with sparkling lust filled eyes. A small sound emitted from your throat when he squeezed it slightly, trying to get you to answer his questions, to follow his commands.

“Yes, I did.” You gasp out while you slowly roll your hips every so often, begging and commanding for something more. “I wore it just for you, I wanted you to look at me; see that I dressed up for you, I got dolled up for you.” You confirmed. You gasped out when you rolled your hood just right hitting a sweet spot ober and over again. “Hoping, no- no praying you’d notice how I wore one of your favorite colors. Just for you, Az.” You continued staring into his eyes watching them deepen with want and some sort of dark twisted need.

You swing your arms over his shoulders, one hand going into his hair at the nape of his neck, tugging softly at the silky back hair. Az let go of your throat moving his hand to cup one of your breasts over the sweetheart neckline of the dress.

He moved closer to your body. Scarred hands squeezing your hip in one and your breast in the other. He leans forward his lips making contact with the top of your smooth mound. You sucked in a sharp breath, your body is in overdrive. You felt his mouth kissing over your mounds giving each one the same amount of attention. Licking, and kissing, sucking the top each sending heat waves everytime he did. He finally let up his assault on your chest with a quick pop and a slight jiggle of your breast.

Azriel moved to fully sit back in the lounge. His movement fixed the location of how high you sat on top of him. You felt his warmth beneath you; right under your own. You bucked your hips once, twice enjoying the feeling of him pressed into you. Azriel watched as you slowly built your arousal, his rough skin rested on the silky thighs rubbing them- squeezing them. He reached behind you tugging on the lace of the corset that held your dress up.

“Az” you moaned out so softly; barely audible his eyes snapped back up to yours as the top of the dress fell down exposing two very nicely rounded breast. Your Nipples harded from the cold chilly air hitting the warm sensitive beads. Azriel’s eyes darkened watching your chest rise and fall, he swallowed, enchanted at your beautiful body. He always knew you were wonderful. He knew something delicious always sat under your clothes.

He breathed out a breath just anticipating see you all fully under him one day. Cause after he’s had you once there’s no way in hell he’d let another touch you how he will tonight. No one else will ever again get to hear your soft moans and gasp.

Grabbing the sides of his face making him look up into your eyes. You spoke softly “kiss me Azriel. I need- I need you to kiss me.” Az didn’t bother responding to the request verbally as he felt the uncontrollable urge to just have you and need to consume your breath. He wrapped his arms around your waist and kissed you. Lips wrapping together, tugging and nipping each other. His tongue graced your bottom lip and you instantly opened slightly to allow his tongue to dart into your mouth to dance with your own. Kissing for minutes only taking breaks to catch your breath then you got right back into it.

Az’s hands went down to your ass gripping it to guide you to rock back and forth on his clothed cock. Tired of not having enough to feel, you reached down between your thighs to the buckles that kept Azriel tucked away. Pulling at them you finally got them free. Azriel helped you out by pulling his hardened cock out the confinement of his pants.

You looked down between the two of you. Watching as Azriel’s hand that’s wrapped around his length moves up and down. Watching as his head slightly starts glistening with pre cum.

“Such a dirty girl.” Az’s voice cut through the air. Azriel was watching you as you stared at what his hand was doing. “You like watching me touch myself princess?” Az questioned you. You hummed in response, briefly looking up to meet his eyes before they returned back to the show.

Azriel was a big man who was very cocky in his fitness and abilities. You’ve heard the rumors and giggles of the girls talking about the three winged men and their size correspondence of wings. You couldn’t help but giggle slightly at the thought that all the girls were in fact telling the truth when they’d whisper to each other about what possibly hid underneath these warriors' leathers.

“Be a good girl and touch yourself for me” Az stated. You didn’t listen as you moved your hips instead. Back and forth trying to get some sort of friction to help soothe the growing heat and need that was building even faster now.

Azriel let out a lightly growl of frustration when he suddenly took hold of your wrist. “Be a good girl y/n and touch yourself, like I asked.” He angrily said, taking the wrist he was holding with a firm grip as he moved it to the spot between your legs.

Your delicate fingers met with the heat and wetness that had been building that had soaked into your lacy fabric. You slowly took your fingers and ran them over your heat quickly before settling your middle finger over your clit. Light and airy moans escaped you as rubbed clockwise circle movements on the small sensitive bud.

“Just like that baby, you’re doing so good for me” his gruff voice praised. Your eyes fluttered shut as you worked yourself up to a blissful state. You completely disregarded his earlier command of keep your eyes open and he didn’t seem to mind either. “Az!” You moaned out breathlessly going faster.

“Fuck Azriel, oh Az” you cried out throwing your head back.

Azriel aggressively removed your hand from yourself taking quick actions to quickly remove your lace thong. As soon as it was off he quickly continued your earlier actions with his own. Scarred rough fingers met smooth delicate skin as he used his thumb to continue the torture on your sensitive clit. “So fucking pretty, you’re so pretty gods.” Azriel praised. Causing you to grab his wrist between your thighs as your hips started following the movement. Trying to build the sensation of flutters and bliss more.

“ I need mo- more” you whined out in the night air. Bringing your eyes to look at the shadowsinger below you. “You need more, what babygirl?” He questioned eyes darting between his hand touching your wetness then back to your eyes. “Come on love, use those words otherwise I won’t know what you want.” He teased.

“I need you.” You whispered out.

“What’s the magic word princess?” He taunted. “You know I’m not giving you it until you say it, so what do we say love”

“Please Az, I need more” you spoke looking into his eyes. “I need you, please, I want you, oh gods please Az please. You begged breathlessly pushing his hand down and away from you as you lifted your hips up.

“Fuck baby girl, you sound so fucking desperate for me.” He moaned.

Azriel moved to wrap his arm around your middle pulling your bodies closer. He used his other hand to pump himself a few times before running the tip of his cock through your wetness back and forth. Holding you tightly to him, azirel turned his head to kiss from your shoulder to the dip in your neck, up to your jaw and to your plump lips. He claimed your mouth with his as your arms came to rest on his muscled shoulders.

Azriel pulled away, breaking your intense kiss. He rested his forehead against yours as he softly spoke “ if it hurts, or if you want to stop at any time tell me.” He kissed the side of your cheek. “Okay? y/n” he questioned.

You smiled at the man before you “okay Az”. You gave him the green light. He gave you one last kiss before pulling back resting on a hand on your hip while the other held him at your entrance. He slowly helped you sink down onto him.

“Fuck!” He cussed. “You’re so fucking wet for me” he hummed. Moving his other hand that had helped guided him into you, to your sides. He gripped the flesh tightly causing you to cry out.

You felt yourself stretching around his cock as you slowly guided yourself further down until you had his whole length filling you up. You looked down between your bodies catching a glance at his cock disappearing into you as you slowly started bouncing up and down. Your walls gripping him tightly.

“Oh gods Az. Fuck, baby” you moaned to him.

The sound of the two of you filled the air around you. Deep grunts and breathless Moans circled into the night. The cool crisp air helped cool the both of you as sweat started building across your skins.

You kissed Az as you picked up the pace. Bring the both of you closer to your ecstasy. He wrapped both of his arms around your torso giving him leverage to relentlessly meet each one of your downwards movements with a forceful thrust of his own causing him to hit that little sweet spot inside of you.

“Cum for me.” He commanded between his moans and cussing.

And you did.

You cried out in pleasure as he finally pushed you over the edge. A blissful and content feeling finally settling over you as you road out your high waiting for the shadowsinger to find his release too.

When he did he pulled your body closer to him wrapping his muscled arms around your body. Hugging you close, with his head in your neck. He kissed your neck a few times as his pace started to slow. You listened to his ragged breathing that was fanning over your skin causing goosebumps to raise across the entirety of your body.

Azriel kissed up your neck and finally claimed your soft lips with his. Kissing you sweetly and passionately, he slowly brought both of his rough scarred hands to rest on your sides. His thumbs rubbing soothing circles on your soft skin. You both didn’t say anything, too high from the release you both very much needed.

Suddenly the sky lit up bright and you looked up. Azriel stayed staring at his beautiful lover. Watching as the bright spirits reflected a soft glow off her eyes. A smile graced his lips as he watched her own grin start taking over her face. He felt something tug deep within him. Some undeniable force connecting the two of you together.

Suddenly something smacked the side of her cheek. There sat upon her rose tinted skin sat the spirit’s glow. when her eyes met hazel ones she giggled. A wondrous sound Azriel deemed to hear for the rest of his life. More spirits passed them, some flying past without a care for the two, while others when they passed by showered the two with their glowing light.

Soon the two lovers were covered with a star-like glow. Staring into eachother eyes they laughed, with bright big smiles.

You leaned forward lining your face to meet Az’s. “Everything will be okay.” You whispered softly to him.

“Everything will be just fine” Az replied as you wrapped your arms around his neck and kissed him sweetly.

┆.➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ . ➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ . ➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ ┆ ┆.➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ . ➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ . ➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ ┆ ┆.➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ . ➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ . ➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ ┆

[spacesapphi]

There's Always Time

WAOW uploading my first Stardew fic, surrounding mostly Marnie this time!

Synopsis: Today's the day Marnie decides she'll get Lewis to go public with their relationship. She's determined to let nothing get her down, but the day seems to have other plans for her. Perhaps a certain adventure can remind her of the good in life

Word count: 8,412

CW for mentions of a previous death and drinking

Story below the cut!

Important note! A few parts of this fic have Pennsylvania Dutch words written in it, so I have a small translation section up here. Keep in mind that I am fairly a beginner at the language and doing my best grammatically given the few resources that exist 🙏

Distelfink- a folk art symbol of a bird that represents happiness and fortune

Aendi - Auntie

“Ach, schlecht exempel” - Ugh, bad example

Schatz- treasure/dear, used often by parents towards their kids

“lieb dehr beed” - love you both

Gottverdam - damn it!

zwieschpalt- troublemaker

onto the fic!

Mondays were supposed to be a calm day off for Marnie, a day where she had time to herself, things to look forward to besides her normal chores. Jas would be at school, Shane at work, and she would be able to bask in the peace and quiet. Usually she’d take time to work on her quilting, or go chat with the women in town at Pierre’s, pretending to shop as they gossipped. This Monday was special, however. She had a date with Lewis tonight, and she had a very important question for him.

It seemed every person and creature in this household had other ideas for this particular morning, however. She had been woken up at 7 am to the sound of a disagreement brewing in the kitchen, a sour start to her morning.

“Jas you need to put your shoes on, now.”

“But I wanna go say hi to the cows before we go! Pleaaaaaase!”

“We’re already about to be late for school and work, kiddo, we don’t have time.”

“I always say hi, they're going to be sad if I don't!”

“And I'm going to be sad if I get fired, let's go.”

“PLEASE.”

“No.”

Her nephew’s exasperated voice permeated through the door. This scene wasn’t too uncommon for their household. Jas liked an exact routine for each morning; get dressed, eat, say hi to the animals, then leave for school. She wanted it to be exact and punctual each day, but there were many days that threw a wrench in the schedule. Now that it was thrown off, the young girl immediately was put in a mood, and that was putting Shane in a mood as well.

“Yoba I’m too hungover for this” he thought to himself, pinching the bridge of his nose as he took a deep sigh, “Look, Jas, if I bring home a treat for you today, will you get your shoes on?”

The young girl thought for a moment before nodding, running off to her room to grab her little mary jane shoes. Shane gave a small sigh of relief, not having the energy or willpower to battle with her any longer.

“Ach, schlecht exempel… You shouldn’t give in like that.” Marnie scolded, walking to stand next to him, “It’ll spoil her.”

“You win some, you lose some, and I’m already losing the battle with my patience.” her nephew groaned, “I’m willing to get her a snack if it means she gets to school on time, and I get to work on time.”

Marnie opened her mouth to speak, a lecture already brewing up in her head, but she stopped herself. He was in no mood to receive advice from her, especially parenting advice, and she didn’t need more bickering this early.

“Okay, okay…” she pursed her lips for just a moment, “You remembered to fix the cabinet by the way, right? I wanted to get it decorated today.”

“Yeah, yeah I think I did,” he shrugged.

"You think you did, or you did do it?" Marnie raised a brow.

Shane thought long and hard. The last few days were a blur, but he believed he had a memory of doing it. After a few seconds he nodded, "Yeah... I did, don't worry," he gave her a brief smile, keeping a hand on his throbbing forehead. He was beginning to regret the previous night.

“Are you hungover again?” Marnie asked exasperatedly, “You can’t keep doing this to yourself, schatz.”

“I don’t want to talk about this again, please?” he grumbled defensively.

“This is the third day in a row, I’m wor-”

“Please stop.” Shane looked at her with an expression halfway between embarrassment and annoyance. He knew he had a problem and Marnie was only looking out for him, but it didn’t make him feel any less shitty about it, “Sorry.. I’m sorry.”

His aunt nodded slowly in acknowledgement, looking fairly frustrated herself, “Listen, I’m going to be heading out as soon as you get home, so you need to be here with Jas,” she changed the subject.

Shane raised a brow, “Where are you going?”

“If you must know, I’m meeting a special someone for a date,” a tint of blush appeared on her cheeks.

“Aendi I know it’s Lewis.”

Marnie’s face went white, “Is it that obvious?”

Shane winced uncomfortably, giving her a slow nod. Marnie and Lewis' relationship had to be the worst kept secret in town. The pair pretended like no one knew, but nearly everyone was acutely aware of the couple. It was almost a game amongst some of the townsfolk betting on when they would finally crack and admit it.

“I'm ready to go now...”, Jas stepped back into the room, fully ready for the day. A pout sat on her face, the girl still obviously very upset about the change in routine. Shane looked at his watch, huffing in annoyance, “Ohhhh Morris is gonna fuckin’ kill me.”

“Language.” Marnie warned, lightly hitting his arm.

Shane huffed and motioned to the door exaggeratedly, “Alright kiddo, we gotta run let’s go.”

“Remember, come straight home after work!,” Marnie called out, “No saloon.”

“Yeah, I get it.” Shane mumbled, feeling just a bit offended, “I can go a night without being there, you know,”

“Just a reminder,” she said, “I’ll see you two soon, lieb dehr beed!”

The pair gave her a wave as they ran off, racing against the clock to get where they needed to be. Finally, Marnie had the house all to herself. No disagreements, no problems, just her and the ranch. There were chores to do of course, such was life, but she didn’t mind them all that much. Nothing was going to keep her down, because tonight would be the night her life was going to change, and for the better this time. Tonight, she was going to tell Lewis they were going public about their relationship.

She smiled at herself in the vanity mirror in the foyer, fixing her hair into her signature braid. She felt confident, she felt good! After tonight she wouldn’t be Lewis’ little secret. She was going to be able to hold his hand in the town square, waltz with him at the Flower Dance, openly go on dates at the saloon. Just the thought of it made her heart soar. Nothing could ruin her mood.

That was, until she stepped into the kitchen. It was a complete disaster. Remnants of Shane’s 2 am freezer raid and mess from the breakfast he made for Jas littered just about every counter and surface. Cans next to the recycling bin, a frozen pizza box haphazardly teetering on top of the microwave, dishes stacked on the stove, table and counters. From being in such a rush he had neglected cleaning the scene, leaving it to Marnie instead.

“He’s doing his best… he’s trying… I have to give him that.” she thought to herself, holding her head in her hands. She waited for the tight feeling in her chest to dissipate before taking a deep breath to ground herself. It was just a little bump in the road, an obstacle she could easily tackle.

“Nothing is going to get you down. You got this, Marnie,” she reminded herself. She just thought of Lewis, of their rendezvous tonight, and she felt just a bit lighter.

It didn’t take too long to clean up, she thanked Yoba for that. Didn’t make it any less frustrating, but she pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind for now. There was no time for her to feel bad, she couldn't allow herself. As long as she had been running the ranch, she had been seen as a beacon of positivity in town. It was a hefty title to carry, a draining one even, but if she just kept smiling, life would go by just fine.

She didn’t want to ruin the kitchen she had just so perfectly cleaned, so she just threw a frozen breakfast sandwich in the microwave, leaning against the counter as she waited for the timer to go down. Looking to the old clock on the wall, she tsked seeing the time. It was already half past 8, the morning flying by in the blink of an eye. She had so much she wanted to do before meeting with Lewis tonight, and she wasn’t sure she’d have the time for it all. Cleaning the coop, working on her quilt, and decorating that curio cabinet in the foyer. Only three tasks, but time consuming ones. She removed the sandwich from the microwave, blowing on it before tearing into it as she arranged the schedule in her mind. The coop would likely take the longest, and it was a priority. Best to get it done early before it got too warm.

The coop was loud and lively, the hens strutting around impatiently as they waited for Marnie to open the little hatch that led them out to their field. Donning her work gloves and boots, the woman waded her way carefully through the flock and unlatched the hatch, watching amusedly as the chickens ran on out to bask in the yard. It never got old, seeing them get so excited like that. She grabbed the pitchfork from its hook on the wall and gripped it tight. Time to get this done with.

As she scraped up the old straw from the ground, Marnie let her mind wander, imagining the evening ahead of her in great detail. She could practically feel it, sitting with Lewis at his table alone in the candlelight as they talked about their future. Marnie would suggest they finally tell the whole world about their love for each other, abandoning all worries. They could get married, have a beautiful ceremony in the middle of town for everyone to see. She had her mothers wedding dress somewhere stuffed in a hope chest, a beautiful gown any woman would feel like a princess in on her special day. She could feel her heart swell with childlike glee as she thought on it more. Today was the day, and she couldn’t be more excited.

A shrill squawking from the yard broke her from her frilly daydream, one that she knew meant trouble. Throwing down her pitchfork she shuffled her way through the hatch door, catching a view of one of the hens squeezing through a gap in the chicken wire, running off into the forest with reckless abandon.

“Mathilde! Come back here!” she called out, “Gottverdam!” she vaulted herself over the fence, immediately regretting the decision as she felt her body ache. She wasn’t young enough to be able to pull stunts like that anymore.

The little brown hen was much faster than her, darting in and out of trees as Marnie chased after her. The tricky thing was an escape artist, and she had no idea what danger waited out there for her. Wolves, coyotes, bears, all creatures who wouldn’t think twice about eating her up. Marnie didn’t want to run into them either, knowing full well she couldn't fend them off. Why did everything have to be so difficult today? Was it some bad luck day where “the spirits were displeased” as the farmer always put it? Whatever, that wasn’t important. What was important was finding Mathilde before something else did.

She could hear the hens soft clucks, but had no idea where they were coming from. The forest tended to have an echo to it that made noises carry. She tsked and called out for her once again, hoping Mathilde would run to the sound of her voice. Suddenly, the clucks turned into panicked squawks, sending a shiver down Marnie’s spine. She could finally tell where the noise was coming from, just a few feet away over in the clearing beyond the brush. She picked up a hefty stick, prepared to fight whatever creature had gotten to her poor little hen. Running towards the source of the sound, she held the stick over her head, preparing to lunge.

From behind the brush, a man stepped out, holding the hen in his arms. His face contorted in terror as he saw Marnie lunge towards him, dodging out of the way before he got lobbed in the head with the stick. The rancher yelped, stumbling back as soon she registered that he wasn't a wild animal.

“I’m so sorry! I thought you were an animal.” she apologized profusely. She dropped the stick, taking a good look at him. Shaggy gray hair hung in front of his wrinkled face, a patch over his left eye. A bulky cape hung from his shoulders, shrouding his frame in mystery, the silvery glint of a sword sitting at his waist. Her eyes widened as she recognized him.

“Marlon! Oh I’m so sorry!”

The man chuckled, “It’s quite alright, ma’am.” he held out his arms, Mathilde resting in his hands, “I take it this one is yours?”

“Yes! Thank you so much, really,” she took the chicken in her arms, scolding her like a child, “You zwieschpalt, don’t do that to me! What if this nice man hadn’t found you?”

The chicken just stared at her with blank eyes, obviously not understanding the danger of her escapade. All she knew was she wanted to run around and play, and there was a whole forest in front of her! Marnie held her close to her chest and smiled, looking up at the mysterious man, “What brings you down to the forest today? I don’t see you near town unless we’re having a festival.”

“The new farmer reported seeing some creatures around here, monsters from the damned mines who got bold and decided to take a chance out of the caverns.” Marlon sighed, “No matter how many times we slay them they just keep coming back.”

Marnie raised a brow, “I haven’t seen any monsters,”

Marlon put a hand on his sword's hilt, a small smile on his face, “Then I’ve done my job well… I must be going now lass, but it was good to see you again.”

“Oh…” Marnie frowned in disappointment, “I’ll see you at the fair next week though, right? I can’t wait to show you what I’ve been working on!”

“Aye, you will. Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Marlon gave her a short salute, “Take care, Ms.Yoder.”

The man walked off, his mysterious aura still captivating the rancher. She held Mathilde closer and whispered, “He’s handsome, don't you think?.... Don’t tell Lewis,” the hen bawked in response, getting a small smile from her owner, “Let’s get you home.”

Walking briskly back to the ranch, she was thankful that seemingly none of the other hens had squeezed their way through that little gap. Hauling herself over the fence, Marnie placed the hen back down in the pen, watching her run off to her little flock of friends, squawking away as if she was telling them all about her escapade. The rancher reached into her pocket, pulling out a fabric scrap and looping it through the chicken wire, tightening the part that split. It was a temporary hold for sure, but hopefully would ward off the hens from getting bold again until she had the material to properly fix it. If Marlon was right about monsters coming down to the forest, she didn’t want to have to go run after one of them again.

Going back to finish cleaning the coop took quite a bit of time, but Marnie was proud of her work. The enclosure smelled fresh and clean, fresh soft straw laid down on the ground for the hens to roost in. She herself wasn’t exactly the cleanest after finishing though. Sweat from the heat clung to her skin, stray pieces of straw sticking to her hair and clothes. She checked the little watch on her wrist, 1:00pm. She had just enough time to get ready and work on the curio cabinet before her date with Lewis. She hated pushing off the quilt work again, just itching to pick up sewing again, but it would just have to wait for now. Such was life.

But oh, how fun it was getting ready. Marnie felt just like those princesses in those movies Jas loved to watch, dancing around as she donned her favorite dress, mind full of thoughts of her “one true love”. She decided on a nice, purple gown for tonight, sewn in a similar cut to her everyday wear, but much more lavish. The fabric was soft and high-end, detailed embroidery along the bodice and skirt's hem. A silk shawl was wrapped around her shoulders, pinned in place with a brooch she’d gotten from her mother. A little distelfink was painted on the front of its opaline surface, a prized possession she hoped would bring her luck and new beginnings this evening. In the spirit of doing something new, she decided to keep her hair down, finding she loved how it framed her round face. Hopefully Lewis loved it too.

She felt beautiful, like a new woman. The stressors of today were the last thing on her mind, and oh how glad she was for that. A life that was simple meant that many days she had nothing more to do than stew on what had happened. Maybe that all would change too. With being in the public eye, maybe she could have more say in town, have more to do, places to go. She loved her family and her ranch, but she wanted, needed, more. And Lewis would provide that for her, she knew he would.

It was 5:30 now. Marnie had time for just one more thing before she had to get going. She looked to the little hope chest that sat at the foot of her bed and grabbed a heavy box from the bottom, full of old trinkets and heirlooms. Little porcelain statuettes, vases, and even some jewelry. But the most important piece of all was the music box that lay at the bottom. Marnie gently grasped it, removing the cloth the protected its fragile form and taking a good look at it for the first time in years. Upon a pedestal with a turnkey stood a glass statue of a dancer dressed as if she were at a ball, arms held out wide in a pose of triumph. The name “Mona'' was inscribed in gold lettering at her feet, a name that made Marnie’s heart ache.

It had been 27 years since she had passed now. She still missed her sister dearly, and cherished every last bit of her memory that remained; family photos, Shane, and this music box. Putting it out on display had been an idea for some time now, but only recently did she have the heart to pull it from storage. It was difficult seeing reminders of her even after so long, but it was time to confront this feeling again. The birthday they shared was coming up, and it would be nice to have something of hers in the main room. It would be the center of attention, the centerpiece on the middle shelf that caught everyone's eye. Ever so carefully, she placed it on the shelf, hearing the soft clink of porcelain against the wood. Removing her hands, she stood back to take a look at it, a small smile on her face. The cabinet was beautiful, fitting in perfectly with the decor of the foyer. It made the counter area look homier too. This is exactly what she needed to finish off the day.

But then, the shelf slipped. The support hadn't been placed as promised, causing the wood to crack under the weight of the heirloom. Without time to react, the antique slipped and crashed onto the floor, shattering on impact. It took her a moment to process, a sick feeling in her stomach when she saw the dancer in pieces, an echo of the music box components ringing out discordantly. All she could do was stare, hands shaking as a silent rage built up inside of her. The frustration that was pent up in the back of her mind burst from its confines, making her dizzy with anger. Why couldn’t one thing go right today? Why couldn’t she just have a simple, peaceful morning, why couldn’t she trust her nephew to fix something so simple? She knew it wasn’t out of malice, rather forgetfulness, but somehow that made her feel worse.

The rage was quickly joined by a heavy weight of sadness, pulling Marnie to her knees as she looked at the scene in front of her. Shaking hands picked up the shattered porcelain pieces in front of her, careful to not cut herself on the sharp edges. She wanted to cry, to scream, but she couldn't. Something in her mind stopped her, as much as her heart begged her to. Scooping the broken pieces into her arms, holding it close to her heart, she stood and placed them on her shop counter. She felt sick to her stomach.

The front door swung open, the sounds of laughter flooding through the front doorway. Shane walked in, looking much better than this morning, with Jas sitting on his shoulders. She held the previously promised treat in her hand, a little pastry that her godfather had “borrowed” from the backroom at work. She was chattering away about some new book Penny had her reading at lessons, and Shane contentedly listening to her rambles. He lifted her off his shoulders, placing her gingerly on the ground, “Alright chickadee, why don’t you go say hi to the cows now? I’m sure they missed you today.”

Jas nodded excitedly, running off towards the kitchen door that led to the animal housing. Her giggles echoed out as she closed the door, her ever-so-loud voice still audible through the walls as she greeted the animals. Shane smirked and shook his head, turning to his aunt. He held up a little takeout bag with the saloon logo, “Hey Marn, I got dinner handled for me n’ Jas tonight. If you need to go now we’re fine.”

“I thought you said you fixed this.”

Marnie didn’t so much as turn to face him, her voice uncharacteristically ice cold. It sent a shiver down her nephew's spine, his smile dropping into a concerned expression, knowing he screwed up, just not how. He looked over to where Marnie was facing, seeing the collapsed shelf of the curio cabinet and tiny glass shards on the floor. Oh shit. He thought he had fixed that already, he truly did.

“Aunt Marnie I’m so-”

Marnie held up a hand, cutting him off, “I don’t want to hear it.” she turned to face the doorway, still refusing to look him in the eye, “I’ll be home late tonight. Leave the door unlocked for me.”

She stepped out without another word, refusing to look him in the eye. Shane was left alone in the foyer with a heavy guilt sitting in his stomach. With Marnie gone he could see the mess on the counter, approaching it to see what had broken. The first thing he saw was his mother's name. The guilt sat heavier, a sick feeling accompanying it. He didn’t know her for all that long, Mona had died when he was barely old enough to remember her, but he knew how much she meant to his aunt. And now, another act of his forgetfulness had destroyed something of hers. He felt like shit, and he knew Marnie deserved to be angry with him. Hell, he was angry with himself. What a mess he was making of things. He thought back on the entire day, cringing as he realized just how badly he had messed up. His attitude this morning, the mess in the kitchen, and now this. He had to make it up to her, he just had to.

Jas stepped back inside, not initially noticing the mess, “I’m back! I told Bertie aaaaall about today, she’s such a good listener!”

“Watch out for the glass!” he warned, pulling her away from the cabinet. Damn, he needed to sweep that up.

“What happened?” she asked, confused at the sight before her.

Shane peeked into the kitchen, grabbing the broom and dustpan off the hook on the wall, “I made a mistake, but I’m gonna make it up to Aunt Marnie. Wanna help?”

“Yeah!”

—------

“You’re going to have a good night… Don’t let this steal your joy.” Marnie whispered a little affirmation to herself as she approached the steps to Lewis’ home. It did little to ease her heart, but she needed to stay positive, at least appear positive. That’s what Lewis loved so much about her anyways, her ability to always be such a sunbeam even in the hardest of times.

The front door swung open with a creak, the mayor she loved standing in the doorway. Lewis was dressed in his favorite attire, brown suspenders and a deep green dress shirt, but Marnie thought it looked lovely. The mayor looked to the left and right, as if to check that no-one was watching. Once he saw that the coast was clear, he pulled her inside, wrapping her in a tight embrace.

“How are you doing, dear?” he whispered, kissing her cheek softly. Marnie smiled, letting out a small laugh as she leaned into the crook of his neck, “Better now that I’m with you.”

Lewis grinned, eyes crinkling up in the corners, “That’s good to hear…” he motioned to his dining room table, now decorated with candles and a lace tablecloth, “Why don’t you sit, I made your favorite tonight.”

All the anger and frustration was quickly returned to the back of Marnie’s mind. None of it mattered now that she was in Lewis’ arms. For now, there were no troubles here. Lewis indeed made her favorite, a hearty farmers lunch. It was a simple dish, but one that had many good memories attached to it. Just the smell transported her back to a simpler time, a time when everything was right in the world.

The couple made small talk, speaking about the town, all the hot gossip that had been spreading around. Pelican Town looked like a sleepy little village from the outside, but one would never guess how much drama was unfolding behind closed doors. Everyone had something going on, and with such a tight knit community that meant everyone knew about everything. The conversation switched to Lewis’ day. Not much interesting going on with him, he was afraid. He gardened, took a walk around town, and spoke with the new farmer in the town square about a secret little quest he had asked help with, but that was about it.

“ Nothing wrong with a simple day!” Marnie mused, taking a sip of her drink, “Sounds peaceful.”

“I guess it was,” Lewis chuckled, “How about you? What has my angel been doing today?”

“Oh you know, the usual. Cleaning, tending to the animals, decorating. Wasn’t much more exciting than your day, unfortunately.” the voice in the back of her head gnawed at her, begging her to be open about what had truly been going on. Against her better judgment, she listened, “Actually, maybe that’s not entirely true.”

“Hmm?”

“I… had a hard day actually.” she mumbled, “There was a spat this morning, one of the chickens got out, and-”

Lewis put up a hand, cutting her off, “Don’t you worry about all of that dear, just focus on the positives.”

“But-”

“Marnie, dear,” Lewis put a hand on hers, “It doesn’t help to dwell on the negative. We’re here now, we’re having a good time. Let’s look to the future.”

Marnie pursed her lips, pulling her hand away slightly. Lewis was never someone who enjoyed talking about serious things, and she understood, but it didn’t make it hurt any less. Maybe he was right though, maybe she needed to focus towards the future.

“Well….” she began, folding her hands neatly, “I’ve been thinking recently.”

Lewis raised a brow, “About what?”

“About us.”

“What about us?”

Marnie sighed, taking a deep breath. Here goes nothing, “I want to make our relationship public!”

She looked to her lover with a hopeful smile, scanning his face to see what he was thinking. Lewis didn’t look impressed with the idea, quite the opposite really. He sighed and put a hand to his head, “Marnie…. No.”

“What do you mean no?” Marnie felt her voice grow defensive, a tightness in her chest, “Lewis we’ve been dating for 3 years now and you refuse to tell anyone!”

“You know I can’t!” Lewis scoffed, “I have a reputation to uphold in this town, an image to maintain. What would people say if they knew about us?”

The sentence stuck a dagger in Marnie’s chest, the heartbreak obvious on her face. Lewis stammered, holding up a hand, “Wh-what I mean is-”

“Are you embarrassed of me?” Marnie warbled, feeling tears form in her eyes.

“Marnie, please-”

“NO, Lewis.” the woman stood up, lunging across the table to get closer to his face, “Why would telling people about us hurt your reputation? Why would I ruin your image?!”

The mayor tripped over his words, trying to find a way to say what he wanted without getting her angrier, “I just meant that people may look at me differently if I tell them about us! You understand, don’t you? The mayor of Pelican Town with a rancher? What would people say?”

“I don’t know, maybe they’ll say they’re happy for us? Maybe our friends will celebrate?” Marnie snapped, “Are you embarrassed about my job? I make a good and honest living, Lewis. I’ve carried my family’s farm on my back alone for decades!”

“And I’ve carried this entire town on mine!” he snapped back.

“Please, I know all about what you actually do: Nothing!” Marnie hissed, “Ever since you became mayor this town has gotten worse! The community center is gone, Joja is ruining the small businesses, the bus is still broken! The only reason anything gets done around here is because the new farmer is pitching in! That’s your job Lewis, not hers!”

Lewis stood from his seat, slamming the chair angrily into place, “How dare you. After all I’ve done for you and your family... If it weren’t for me inviting Joja to this town, your layabout of a nephew would be jobless and still in debt!”

“You don’t get to talk about him like that!” Marnie barked. As much as she got frustrated with Shane, she never tolerated anyone speaking ill of him, even Lewis, “I don’t want to ever hear you talk about my family that way again.”

Lewis threw his arms up in exasperation, “Where is this coming from?! You’ve never acted like this, this isn’t you.”

“Well maybe it is! You never let me talk about these things! I’m so tired of acting happy all the time, Lewis…” she paused to catch her breath, holding her head in her hands, “I’m tired of all of this. You get so upset with me when I try to talk about my problems. “Just focus on the positives!” , well maybe I don’t want to! Maybe I’m sad, an-and I need help, because I don’t know what to do anymore!”

She finally broke out into sobs, letting the sadness take over for the first time, “I’m the only one keeping my family together, Lew. If I were gone tomorrow, everything would fall apart. I can’t keep being the only person who has it together and I’m so tired of doing it by myself.”

“You aren’t doing it by yourself, you have me.”

“Do I?” Marnie snapped.

There was a tense silence for a moment, Lewis just staring at her with such shock. Marnie had never cried in front of him before, never spoken against him. He didn’t even know what to say. All Marnie wanted was for him to comfort her, for him to take her in his arms, to tell her he was there for her. She needed someone to finally let her be free.

“I’m sorry you feel like I’m such a terrible person.” Lewis’ voice dripped with contempt, “I’m trying Marnie, but you can’t just throw all of this onto me with no warning. That's not fair.”

Marnie looked up, staring at him with puffy, tear filled eyes. Did she just hear him correctly? Her face contorted to one of anger, arms falling to her side, hands balling into fists. How could he say that to her, like she was the one who was the problem. Lewis approached her, holding his arms out like he was ready for an embrace.

“But it will be okay, Marnie. I love you, I want to be with you.” he hugged her, but Marnie wouldn’t return it. She stood still as a statue in his arms, rage undeniable.

“I forgive you too, Marnie. Why don't we just try to talk about something nice, hmm?”

The rancher pushed Lewis away, staring at him in disbelief. She didn’t have the words to describe how betrayed she felt right now. Lewis had the audacity to look confused, as if he had no clue why she’d be so upset with him.

“I… I need to go.” she choked out, shaking her head slowly. Lewis groaned, “Marnie stop, we can still have a good night.”

“No.” she hissed, putting a hand on the front door handle, “I’m leaving.”

“Marnie!”

“What?!”

“Go through the kitchen window. I don’t want someone to see you and get ideas.”

Marnie opened the door, giving him one last look, one full of anger and exhaustion, “Goodbye, Lewis.”

She couldn’t be at the mayor's manor, she couldn’t be home, and she wouldn’t be able to handle the saloon. Marnie felt like she didn’t belong anywhere right now, and maybe she didn’t. She felt free, finally letting her feelings be known, but that freedom had a price, and that price was finding out how alone she really was. Lewis’ words and reaction stuck with her, infecting her mind and making it spin. She didn’t know who to trust anymore, the person she thought she could trust with her life completely broke her heart. Was she really that shameful? What was so wrong with her that she’d ruin his reputation? She stormed off into the mountains, the brisk autumn evening breeze frigid against her cheeks. She was thankful that she dressed warm.

The mountain lake was always beautiful at night. The valley didn’t have the light pollution of the city, meaning stars were visible as far as the eye could see, reflecting onto the water’s surface. Sitting under the oak by the lake’s edge on her own, she curled her knees close to her chest, letting herself cry once more. It was a quiet, mournful sob, a heart-wrenching symphony of every horrible thing that had piled up since Yoba knew how long. Marnie had tricked herself into believing she was happy for so long, using every distraction she could to block herself from seeing how terrible things were. They didn’t work anymore though.

“Fancy seeing you again.”

Marnie snapped her head up to see the source of the voice, finding herself once again staring face to face with the leader of the elusive Adventurers Guild. She wiped her tears, and sniffled, “Marlon? I’m sorry, I hope I’m not causing any trouble.”

The man sat next to her, shaking his head, “On the contrary. I don’t mind your company.” he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, holding it towards her, “Though, if you’re not in the mood for it, I can leave.”

Marnie scoffed, a bitter smile on her face, “Thanks. Not many people seem to care what I want around here.” she took the handkerchief, dabbing at the corners of her eyes, “It’s been… a terrible day.”

“Would… you like to talk about it?” Marlon asked awkwardly, “I know we’re not awfully close, but I’ve never been one to turn down a story.”

“Well..,” Marnie started, “My family is a mess, one of the chickens escaped, I broke an heirloom… and….” she buried her head in her knees, “And the man I thought I loved doesn’t love me...”

She began to cry again, not even caring that Marlon was watching. The adventurer sat quietly, nervously putting a hand on her shoulder as a quiet signal to let her know he was listening. The rancher sniffled and looked to him, “You must think I’m a baby for being this upset over it. There’s people dying in combat right now and here I am crying about this.”

“You’re not a baby.” Marlon affirmed, his voice gentle and genuine, “You wouldn’t say that about anyone else in your shoes, would you not?”

“Well… no.”

“Then why are you so hard on yourself?”

“Because I’m supposed to be the one who has everything together!” Marnie growled out, “Everyone always looks to me as someone to lean on. Lewis, Shane, Jas, everyone, they need me. I can’t sit here crying like this over one bad day. I have to be there for them.”

“But then who’s there for you?” Marlon questioned. It seemed to throw Marnie off, her expression just a bit surprised.

“No one, I suppose.” she mumbled, “I guess that’s a sacrifice I’ve accepted. It’s life, you know?”

“No, I don’t. You can’t just be out there on your own, lass. You need someone who cares for what you need and want.”

“I don’t even think I know what I want anymore... I don't want this but what can I do? My life’s already set out for me; not like I can change it.” Marnie mumbled.

“It’s never too late to make a change, to be happy.” Marlon stated, “There’s always time,”

The rancher laughed softly, “You think so?” Marlon nodded in response.

Looking up to the sky, Marines eyes softened, “Well... I always wanted to be an artist. I went to school for it actually, textile arts.”

“Is that so?” Marlon smiled, leaning back against the tree behind them, “You’re such a natural with animals, I didn’t take you for that type.”

“Ranching is nice, but it was never my dream. Trust me, I love the animals, but that was more my sister’s passion.” Marnie’s face grew solemn, “When… our parents passed, she took over the ranch so I could pursue my dream. I was doing so well, I had a good job in the city already lined up for once I was out.” she took a deep breath, “Mona died the year I graduated, left the business and Shane behind. We don’t really have anyone else, so I had to turn down the job and come home.”

She turned to face Marlon, surprised to see his normally solemn face full of pity. Shaking her head, she turned away, feeling almost embarrassed, “I don’t know why I’m telling you this, I’m sorry. Mona’s just been on my mind recently and Lewis doesn’t like when I talk about it.”

“Lewis? Is that the man you were talking about earlier?” Marlon felt an odd twinge of jealousy in him, “I never thought you two were… on those terms.”

“Well not anymore!.... Maybe… I don’t know,” Marnie scoffed angrily, “Apparently dating a rancher would look bad on someone so important as our mayor. He tried making me climb out of his window because he was too embarrassed to have me seen leaving.”

“Why do you put up with this?”

“Well why do you ask so many questions?”

“I… don’t know.”

“I guess I don’t know either.”

The two sat in silence for a moment, neither certain how to continue the conversation. Marlon had gone from knowing little about Marnie to knowing what she had barely discussed with her own lover within a night. He never knew there was so much to her, their conversations at festivals never piercing past the surface of small talk. But now, all he wanted was to be closer to her.

“I think you should try pursuing your dream. again” he finally said, staring off towards the lake, “You’ll regret it if you don’t.”

Marnie shook her head, “Oh, I couldn’t leave the animals behind, or the business. It’s been in my family so long… And my nephew, bless his soul, he’s not ready for that responsibility. He won't admit it, but I see how his eyes light up when he does work around the ranch... Still, I know he’d have a hard time on his own. I’d be selfish to leave.”

“Then teach him how to do it and follow your own dream. Don’t you think you deserve to be a little selfish? Even once?”

Marnie chuckled, shaking her head, “It’s a bit too late for that, don’t you think?”

“No… Better to follow your dreams late than to let them die.” he let out a laugh, “Hell, Gil and I didn’t even start adventuring until we started going gray ourselves. As long as you’re still in this world, you have time.”

“Why are you being so nice to me?” Marnie questioned. It was almost suspicious how kind he was being. She wasn’t used to this, “What do you get out of this?”

“Nothing. I just want to be nice to you.”

A strange feeling came over her, almost a feeling of... love? It was true, she didn’t know Marlon that well. Besides the short conversations they had every once in a while, he was a mystery to her. But he was kind to her without any expectations in return, and he spoke to her like she was a person. He didn’t shy away when she showed emotion or encourage her to ‘just be happy’. It was nice. He was a good man, a kind man. With him, she felt seen in a way she never did with Lewis.

Slowly, she leaned her head against his shoulder, the poor man feeling his heart beat out of his chest. He had always loved Marnie from afar, but never spoke more than a few words to her before tonight. And now, she was confiding in him as if they had been close friends all their lives, sitting with him while they looked at the stars. He felt like the luckiest man in Pelican Town. They basked in the comfortable silence between them, Marlon slowly sliding his hand along the ground to reach Marnie’s. Feeling his touch, she moved to meet him as well, interlocking their fingers. It was just them, the lake, and the stars. No one else existed to them in the moment, and for once today, Marnie was truly at peace.

“You look beautiful tonight, you know,” Marlon finally admitted. Marnie lifted her head from his shoulder, looking at him with surprise. A tint of blush crept up the guildmaster’s face,” You always do...”

“Marlon…”

“Please, let me finish.” Marlon clasped her hand between his, squeezing gently as he looked at her with longing, “Marnie… I don’t care for many of the festivals in this town, but I always go for a chance just to see you. I make up reasons to go into town, since there’s a chance I may be able to say hello. You are the most beautiful woman in this town, this world, and anyone would be so lucky to have you in their life.”

He paused, waiting for a moment to see her reaction. He half expected her to run off, finding his confession offputting. But she didn’t. She just stared at him, the same longing in her eyes, silently begging him to continue.

“You deserve to have someone that looks out for you. I want to be that someone and I’ve wanted it for so long... I need you to know that. I apologize if it’s made you uncomfortable.”

“...Quite the opposite, really,” Marnie whispered, leaning in closer, “I think I’d like to know you better, Marlon.”

“As do I,”

Closing their eyes, they moved forward, lips gently pressing against each other. Marnie felt something now she had never felt with Lewis, a feeling she couldn’t exactly place. There was always the thrill of secrecy with the mayor, the feeling of the forbidden that made the adrenaline flow when they kissed. But Marlon made her feel safe. Being with him in this moment was soothing, warm. Her heart was racing, but for entirely different reasons now, good reasons.

The pair pulled back, unable to look each other in the eye from how flustered they had gotten. Marnie toyed with her hair, rubbing strands between her fingers nervously, “Can I see you again tomorrow?”

Marlon cupped a hand to her face, brushing his thumb against her cheek, “You are always welcome at the guild… Stop by at 7 tomorrow night.”

“It’s a date,” Marnie smiled. She stood up, brushing stray grass and leaves from her skirt, “I have a long walk home, I should get going.”

“I can come with you,” Marlon offered, “The mountains get dangerous at night, all sorts of creatures crawling out of the mines looking for a poor soul to follow.”

Marnie gave him a playful jab in the side, “Oh stop it, you’re not scaring me… a walk home does sound nice, though.”

Marlon smiled, holding out a bent arm for her to hold onto, leading her down the mountain. The feeling of the unknown that had been around them for so long was gone. They knew each other for such little time, but Marnie felt like she could tell him anything, as did Marlon. He told her all about his escapades in the mines, the monsters he faced and wild tall tales of his brushes with death down in those depths. She wasn’t sure how much of it was true or a legend, but she was entirely enthralled. The cadence of his storytelling voice, the excitement with which he spoke, it made her feel alive in a way that she never felt alive before. She’d grown so used to the same old stories; weeding the garden, standing in town square, visiting the local businesses. There was nothing wrong with a simple life, but this is what she wanted, no, needed more than anything. She needed someone who could excite and surprise her, and someone who listened.

It was near midnight by the time they reached the ranch. The moon was at its peak over the mountaintops, soft sounds of crickets chirping in the bushes. The lamp next to the door was lit, the soft yellow glow encircling the pair in angelic light as they said their goodbyes.

“I’m glad you found me again.” Marnie mused, taking his hands in hers, “Thank you, for everything.”

“Anything for you,” he responded, giving her hand a gentle kiss, “Have a goodnight, Marnie.”

The two parted ways, Marnie stepping softly through the door of her home, shutting it softly as to not wake Jas. The overhead lights in the foyer were on, buzzing softly. It initially frustrated her. Shane always forgot to turn them off before going to sleep, making for an expensive electric bill, and she wasn’t exactly made of money. But something caught her eye. The curio cabinet was polished and cleaned to near perfection, as was the once dusty floor. The glass shards that she had left behind were nowhere to be seen, only her own shiny reflection.

But most importantly was what was inside the cabinet. The middle shelf had been properly fixed, a support anchor screwed in beneath it. On top was Mona’s music box, glued together the best it could be. There were little gaps here and there, chips on the paint, but it was whole again. She gently picked it up, rubbing her thumb over the name on the pedestal. A little piece of paper, a note, sat next to it. Scrawly letters in Shane’s handwriting were scribbled on the front in pencil. She picked it up, squinting to read :

“I’m sorry about the mess I caused. It’s not fair to you. You’ve done a lot for me and Jas and I wanted to show I actually appreciate it. It’s not perfect, but we tried to get it fixed up.

I know I screwed up today. I’ve screwed up a lot recently. But I want to be better for you and Jas, and I hope you can forgive me for everything.

-Shane”

Marnie looked to the direction of her nephew's room, smiling softly. It was gestures like these that reminded her of just how sweet he was. Shane wasn’t all that different from her really, and she understood just how easy it was to fall into the habits and behaviors he had picked up. She tried to be patient, give him the time and support he needed, the same that she needed when she was in his place 27 years ago. It was taking time to get back to normal, or something close to it, but these moments made her feel like things could be okay again.

Marnie gently placed the note on her shop counter, making her way into her bedroom with a small smile on her face. She turned on her nightstand lamp, sitting down on the old bed that sat flush against the wall. She pulled Marlon’s handkerchief from her pocket, rubbing a thumb over the fabric. It was a simple little square with basic stitching around the edges, the fabric a faded robins-egg blue. It meant everything to her. The initially unassuming rag was a symbol of a great change in her life, a change she never saw coming.

The adventurer had given her a new lease on life, hope that despite her situation, she could still continue to do more. Marnie could be more than just the little rancher in Cindersap forest, more than what was expected of her in this life. Lewis never made her feel this way, and she was beginning to wonder what she ever saw in that man to begin with. Perhaps it was out of desperation, out of a desire for anyone to even look her way and consider her desirable, no matter how they treated her. The bar was pitifully low, but Marlon had raised it to the stars in just one night. She could actually imagine the future she wanted with him, Lewis’ face fading from those visions. Holding hands as they strolled in town, waltzing together at the Flower Dance, and maybe even getting married. Today was a good day, she decided, just not in the way she ever expected.

She turned to look at the dial-up phone on her dresser. She had made an important decision, and it was time to let it be known. Picking up the receiver, she dialed in Lewis’ number, waiting anxiously for a response. She half hoped he’d pick up so she could hear his reaction in real time, but mostly prayed that he was asleep. Ring after ring droned out, until a prompt to leave a message started. Taking a deep breath, she spoke softly, yet firmly into the receiver.

“We’re done.”

[rewatching-sam-and-dean]

My Commentary on Rob and Rich Reviewing (4x14) Sex and Violence

I was listening to the latest Supernatural Then and Now Podcast (The Siren Episode) and I had to stop it after the Rob and Rich review to write down my thoughts because it annoyed me so much.

The guys both thought the episode was okay, but a bunch of things “bumped” for them. This is fine, and everyone is entitled to their own opinion about an episode, but some of the things that “bumped” for them “bump” for me.

My thoughts under the cut …

Bump # 1 - The Siren turning out to be a man

So, both Rs had an issue with the siren being a man since the lore showed them as women, and I think, because in real mythology they are women. Though they conceded that the a male siren could be a thing too, it seemed to really bother them that the siren ended up not being about a sexual connection with the brothers (though Rich saw the flask sharing scene as flirtatious … because no guys have ever shared a flask, including, Dean and Bobby).

I’m sorry, but the siren targeting the brothers, and using a version of an ideal brother to get to Dean isn’t a plot hole or a “stretch” or something, it’s an interesting choice and it’s exactly the point of the episode. While many men are vulnerable to a pretty woman who is into them, Dean just wants Sam. He wants his relationship with Sam to be better. In particular, he’s so worried about Sam and insecure in their bond that he wants a Sam who likes what he likes but, more importantly, one who listens to him and doesn’t hide things from him. And I know I’ve written about this before on a previous post, but Dean doesn’t NEED the siren to be a hot girl; he can find one of those easily. He needs a Sam he can trust. That’s the whole point. The show is drawing the comparison between sexual intimacy/romantic companionship (usually one of the most desired things in literature/media) to the brothers relationship to show how much brotherhood matters to Dean in particular (in this case).

The way the male siren actor portrays its interest in the brothers, to me, is very much like it’s intrigued and excited that it found a high even better than the sexual desire that it usually feeds off of. When the siren feels how desperate Dean is for the bond with Sam to be fixed, it finds him more interesting than it’s usual target. Dean’s longing for Sam (not sexual) is even stronger than the sexual desire or romantic companionship that the siren usually feeds off of, so much so that the siren changes its entire MO to go after the brothers.

Bump # 2 - The Doctor sleeping with Sam (when she isn’t the siren) is weird

So, the Rs disagreed on the “bumpiness” of this one. Rob thought it was weird that the doctor would just decide to sleep with Sam (at work), while it didn’t bother Rich because … Jared Padalecki. Sound argument (in this case), Rich.

Still, the doctor is a little unusual, and her behaviour is clearly intended to be a misdirect, but the show does a good enough job of suggesting she had a bad breakup (or worse) and is now just sort of living in the moment, so her behaviour doesn’t bother me. Also, Sam is hot.

What is stranger than the doctor’s behaviour, for the audience who knows him, is Sam having sex with her I that moment. Not only that, but Sam is very chill when she’s hitting on him, where in the past, Sam has often been a little shy or awkward with women that he’s been attracted to or interested in. So no, this is not Sam’s usual MO to sleep with the doctor, especially when we know he and Ruby are or were also sleeping together. Sam is not acting entirely like his usual self. And he hasn’t been acting entirely like himself for a while now.

Bump # 3 - The Siren telling the boys to fight each other and saying the winner can “be with” him

I don’t know why they had an issue with this. The siren literally explains that it loves the rush of having people willing to do anything for it, even kill people they love. What the siren tells the brothers doesn’t matter because it’s not like it’s really planning to have a relationship with the brother who wins the fight. And the boys are already infected at this point, so it’s just giving them incentive to fight. It’s not sticky about the sexual-ness of people’s need for the siren, it’s about the desperation they have to be with it (in whatever way).

Bump #4 - Sam dismissing the Doctor after sleeping with her.

The guys were both bothered by Sam not bothering to say goodbye to the doctor, and they mentioned that it seemed sort of old-school (womanizing?). Rob said that Sam dismissing her was more like something Dean would do than Sam. I know that I already said this, but this is the whole point. Sam hasn’t been acting like his old self. This isn’t an accidental writing mistake, where the writer accidentally wrote Sam more like Dean. Sam is different now.

It also isn’t like Sam to call Dean weak, or ridicule him for being messed up from his experience in hell. Season 2 Sam would never, and Season 3 Sam wouldn’t either. Season 4 Sam has changed from the trauma of losing Dean, drinking demon blood, and having Ruby in his ear.

Also, to play devils advocate on myself, Sam has actually left towns before without saying goodbye to the girl he had a connection with, maybe not after sleeping with her, but it’s not wholly out of character for him to leave without saying goodbye (I’m not criticizing him for this). Also, I really don’t think that doctor was looking for anything more from Sam beyond hooking up in her office, so this doesn’t bother me much.

Final thoughts

Anyway, I’m not arguing that everyone has to love every episode, or even like all the ones that I do. I’m not even arguing that people need to like Sex and Violence because it really can be a little uncomfortable, and there is a bit of a sexual undercurrent to it all, even though that’s not the sirens intention with the brother. That’s also not exactly new on Supernatural. However, it’s weird to me that so many of the things that “bumped” for Rob and Rich seem to me like very deliberate choices by the writers, not careless mistakes or pointlessly out of character. This episode reveals a lot about where Sam and Dean are at this point in the season, both individually and in their relationship.

Granted, I have the benefit of watching the episode and knowing where it’s all leading, but this is what sort of bothers me about hearing people discuss the show who are doing it for a purpose and are probably only half-invested in the story. They miss things that seem like they should be really clear. Also, it’s funny when they find things uncomfortably sexual in relation to Sam and Dean (they didn’t outright say that, but I think it was implied in what they said) and act like it’s a surprise or out of place. Again, this isn’t new. They obviously listened to too many hellers if they didn’t realize that Sam and Dean are weirdly close at times or that the show makes some pretty blatant parallels between them and couples or makes quasi-incestuous connections between Sam and Dean.

I have nothing else to add here. This was mostly just a rant, but feel free to add your two cents if you made it this far.

[k-marzolf]

Make me your Maria

Okay, I’m not sure how this will be received. I just wanted to try this idea out. That being said, I really had fun with this.

@e-dubbc11 @terry2227 @kayhi808 @firequeensposts @milea @thejanecampaign @aoi-targaryen @zz-kennedy @fireeyes-on-teller-dixon-grimes @danzer8705 @idaofinfinity @bookloverfilmoholic @cant-help-simping @firexfate @tortilla-chips-and-allioli @rosaleenablack @fictional-hooman @disneyloverjaime @oops89 @ittybxttykxttytxtty @littleblackcatinwonderland @vaguekayla

763 words.

&&&

It’s 1920.

The streets of New York are filled with new things, motor cars in particular had your interest, and it had you sticking your head out of your apartment window on the third floor, ignoring the scolding from your mother as you hung out.

“Don’t lose your pearls!” She shouted, and then you saw him standing there, smoking with Frank Castle, and wiggled your hips, sliding free and down the ivy under the window.

Your mother looked out the window, face blotchy from drinking too much sherry. “Honestly, girl, there’s a door!”

You waved your mother off, sprinting over to Billy, and grabbing his cigarette, like you knew how, taking a long drag and inhaling, coughing wildly a second later, nearly dropping the cigarette on your dress.

A smile played on his lips. “That’s not for women, don’t you know, canary?” He teased playfully, and took the cigarette back, admiring the lipstick stains.

“You should take me for a drive in your new car, mister.” You said, fixing your pinned hair.

Frank was laughing and shaking his head at your audacity. “Did you know one blew up recently?” He asked, putting his own cigarette out on the sidewalk.

You rolled your eyes, “Then I guess Billy and I will go to purgatory. He won’t be able to leave until he crochets a granny square.” You rambled, “And maybe drink a gallon of water. He doesn’t drink enough, too much whiskey. His urine must be strong.”

Billy choked as he inhaled smoke, “Jesus, canary—“ he rasped.

You wagged your finger at him. “Takin’ the Lord’s name in vain. That’s two granny squares.”

“Yeah? And what do you gotta do?”

You smiled playfully, “Babysit you.”

He scoffed, “More like stringing pearls the way you lose those things. Alright, I’ll take you for a ride, canary. I expect a kiss at the end.” He teased, leaning into your face.

You leaned closer, “If you don’t crash into cars, causing the one in front of you to crash, creating a block wide collision because you saw a bee in the car and swatted at it.”

He flicked your forehead, “Sweet girl, I wouldn’t swing at the bee. I’d let it nest in your hair.”

Frank looked back and forth between you both as you made a mountain out of a molehill. He hit Billy, “Take her in the goddamn car, Bill.” He said, voice husky from all the smoking he did. He was in a simple shirt and trousers, working the mines.

Billy came from poverty, but struck it rich, though he would not say how, and so now he lived a comfortable life. Especially after the war, and he had the scars to show for it.

But you never missed the haunted look in his eyes he sometimes got, a thing you’d never understand, living a life of comfort, never being drafted, never working with your hands. But god, he was fond of you. A reminder that the world wasn’t completely evil, that there was some good in it. That you were the thing he was fighting for.

“You make it home, Bill. You kiss her, or Maria’s boxing your ears.” Frank grunted in a trench.

Billy laughed, holding his gun. “What? She gonna resurrect me just to tell me off?”

Frank pulled Billy by his ears. “I’ll drag you home if I have to Russo. You’re my brother. My family.”

Billy had lowered his eyes. “You’re mine too, Frankie.”

“Then pick your ass up, and get ready. We got company.”

You were his soft landing after the war, an embrace against the screaming.

You grabbed Billy’s arm, dragging him to the street, and ooh’ed and ahhh’ed at it. “It’s so pretty, like onyx. Like your eyes. You have to teach me how to drive.”

He brushed hair from your neck, tenderly. “Society won’t like a woman drivin’, too free.” He said pressing his face into your hair, breath tickling your neck.

This you knew, but well behaved women didn’t make history. “Is it loud?”

He knew the argument was far from over.

He leaned over hitting the horn, making you laugh in delight. “Do it again, mister.” You demanded, the summer heat making you sweat, but you couldn’t be bothered by it, fixated on something you never dreamed could exist. But some hated the cars, and so there were still horses in the street, but as far as you knew they’d never been shmucked.

And Billy was sure he could be happy at your command for the rest of his life, and into purgatory.

[whatsk-poppinhomies]

GRAPHIC STORY TIME UNDER THE CUT

TW : boils ; swelling ; infections ; major TMIs ;

So to start off, I have this hormonal problem where my body for some reason gets boils everywhere and anywhere from the neck down. Now, for those of you who have the same issue or have gone through the same thing, I’m praying for you. For those who don’t know, it hurts… so bad.

The past week I’ve been suffering with a boil right at the edge of my ribcage and underneath my boob(my boobs are rather large, which doesn’t make things any better). The first half of the week, it was bearable, it was sore, but not too bad.

Fast forward to today, and it has swollen on the top to the size of a dollar coin, and underneath the skin, it’s swollen to the size of a ping pong ball, and the bruising has expanded the size of a tennis ball. It HURTS. My boobs are constantly rubbing against it, and at this point, the top layer if skin has literally been chaffed off from the constant friction of both my boobs and my bra when I have to wear one.

If I was at my old job, I would have called out, but alas, I just started a new job, I’m on 90 day probation, so I’m scared to call out. So I go in. I am in TEARS as I leave my house, but I don’t want to lose my job, so I pull aside my crew leader (love her so much, she’s amazing) at the start of the night and ask her if I can be on light work. She agreed.

Fast forward an hour into the shift, my back hurts from trying to stand a certain way to relieve some pressure, but I am in so much pain that once I go out on break, I full on cry like a baby in my car. Like, hyperventilating, sobbing, blubbering, I’m a mess. I call my mom, I’m crying to her, don’t know how she understands a thing I’m saying, but she tells me to do what I think I have to do to not be in pain.

SO

I go in, not even finishing my break, I find my crew leader, still crying btw, and I ask if I can talk to her in the office. She agrees, and I get to the office, and I tell her that it’s really bad, I can’t take it.

Now, the cool thing about my job is that we have a medical office and first responders literally ON SITE, they just be working there as normal people until there’s a medical emergency.

So she calls the first responders and the two sweetest, loveliest ladies come up to the office, and they’re trying to calm me down first. It doesn’t work but A+ for maximum effort.

They’re contemplating whether to send me home or not because it is my 90 days (and in their defense, a lot of people bullshit being hurt to try to go home early). So they ask to see it, and lemme tell you, the audible gasps that left all 3 women’s mouths, that shit had me feeling like I was about to die on the spot. (Turns out they were just genuinely shocked and concerned that I came into work, and this was when I still had a bandaid on over it.)

So they take me down to the medical office, and they carefully take the bandaid off, and again, the GASP when they saw the big picture. They were so apologetic even though it wasn’t even their fault, and they were trying to figure out what to do because they didn’t want to touch it or hurt me more. They ended up just putting ointment on it and then gauzing me up like I’ve been shot, but I love them all for how kind they were.

They were offering to drive me home and everything and they told me not to worry about the 90 day thing right now and to just focus on fixing my problem and going to the doctor as soon as possible to get checked because my boil is definitely infected and they don’t want me to go into septic shock.

They even walked me out to my car and made sure I was okay with driving before going back inside.

Like, this job is amazing! Not the work, all work sucks a majority of the time; but the people that I work with genuinely care. I’ve only been there a week and everyone greets me with a smile and they just all care about one another.

I might be in severe pain and on the brink of sepsis, but the people at my job care and that makes my heart feel good. I have to go to the doctors tomorrow though, so not excited for that at all. :(

[donotpush]

Bumpin' in Europe, 2

second part is here. it's been quite a while, so you might want to check part 1 here :) ALSO, some anons have sent asks with suggestions and stuff about the story, just know that i write them all down and i'll keep them in mind for the future ;)

“Yeah. Just tired. And hot. I mean, it's hot in here…”

So hot in here. You finally spoke, able to spit out a few cohesive words before cleaning your throat as your eyes wandered around the room, avoiding the woman in front of you. A safe one, talk about the weather.

“I haven't seen you in years! You’re all grown up now…” Monica said. “Your mom doesn’t really tells me much about you, but she’s right when she says you’re good looking”

Okay, you know what? There was nothing out of the ordinary in saying the truth, telling her she looked good, right? Everyone loved a compliment from time to time, and being kind was always cool.

“I look different, yeah. But you…” your words lingered in the air, and you waved your hand once again, this time pointing at her middle, tilting your head to emphasize the point. “You look different. I mean, you look amazing… congratulations on the baby.”

She got the point, and the ghost of a smile lingered on her lips for a moment before she looked down at her middle, her hand rubbing her stomach mindlessly. At least the elephant in the room was gone.

“Uh? You mean this?” Looking up at you, she frowned. “Oh. No, I'm not pregnant.”

You lifted your gaze from where it was fixed on the floor, and you swear you could almost feel the color draining from your face as your eyebrows raised and you stammered. Then, she laughed, throwing her head back.

“Just kidding, don't worry” she breathed, “Oh, look at you, poor thing. Of course I'm pregnant…”

Walking next to you with a promptitude that surprised you, all smooth and almost graceful movements, she leaned to grab a mug from the shelf on top of you. Standing on her tiptoes to reach Monica let out a small gasp as she did a visible effort to reach. Her shirt lifted, revealing a bit of her belly that was now right next to your face, and you found yourself with your eyes locked on the sink in front of you as if it were the most interesting thing in the room.

As she moved back, her hand rested on your shoulder for support before she briefly caressed your cheek with a reassuring laugh before she walked back towards the sink.

“Terribly pregnant…” she glanced at you over her shoulder before turning sideways and patting her stomach gently. “Twins, actually. Want some coffee?”

She dropped the fact as if it was nothing, an everyday thing. But you already knew that that was twins, you were just waiting for the official confirmation, and you couldn't help but bite your lip slightly at the thought.

“You and the father must be excited,” you said, trying to sound casual and failing miserably. It came out more like a question than anything else. “You both are, right? I mean… kid's always a blessing or whatever."

“Out of the picture,” she clicked her tongue, raising her eyebrows, but the tone was nonchalant. “In fact, I’m not even sure who the father is. Not that I care either way”. She paused for half a second before continuing, her fingers caressing distractedly her stomach, "We're fine as we are. They say three's a crowd".

Oh. For you, that only meant two things. First, Monica wasn’t taken. Not understandable. Who wouldn’t want to marry a woman like that?

And second, the way her tone was light and her face remained straight, free from all shame or from trying to keep a fake modesty as she spoke about who the baby’s daddy was, made you think that she was as sexually liberated as she looked.

Not like she would lack any chances of having a satisfactory sexual life. Even right now, with that heavily pregnant frame that seemed to be the only thing you could notice about her, you doubted she lacked admirers.

Men, women, you were sure she didn’t lack people that would want to share a bed with this woman.

With the last phrase, she turned to look over her shoulder to wink at you. A smirk played upon her lips before she looked away, bending over to pick up a bunch of bed sheets, and you stared at the back of her legs for a moment, your eyes wandering over to her ass.

"Oh, Monica, don't bother," you snapped out of your dumbfounded state as you rushed up to her, ready to help. “Let me take this." You grabbed two bundles of bedsheets from her arms, and after a moment of hesitation, she nodded silently in approval.

“Ah, darling, that's alright, I do love working on my own… but thank you,” She smiled back as she started walking towards the guest bedroom, with you following behind. "As much as I try to deny it, it's been getting harder and harder with this always on the way," she motioned towards the gravid bulge of her stomach. "Good thing you're here. Could use some help with a few things…" she finished, biting her lip and getting lost in thought for a moment.

You nodded slowly, letting out a small chuckle and scratching the side of your neck. The sound made you cringe internally. Well, at least you were having fun this far.

You helped her to tidy the bedroom a bit and soon you had a far better place to sleep than a room shared with a bunch of strangers.

You found yourself admiring the view outside as the sun started to set behind the mountains in the distance. The heat was starting to die down, but there was still that smell of summertime in the air, and you didn't remember the last time you sat outside like this.

"You will like it here" Monica interrupted your thoughts, startling you. "I know it seems a bit boring. But you have the beach, the food is great… you can go clubbing. There's a lot of people your age around."

You took the glass of lemonade in your hand and pressed it against your neck, leaning back into the chair before turning to stare at the woman.

She took a sip of her own drink, and you watched as she placed the glass on top of her protuberant stomach. Your breath caught in your throat as she leaned back distractedly, and lifted her shirt, placing the glass against the bare skin of her belly.

Monica sighed contently, her eyes closing, and you followed the trajectory of a drop of sweat from the glass that slid down her abdomen, running over her belly button before it disappeared on her waistline.

"So" she exhaled, turning to look at you. "What plans do you have for tonight?"

[antiyourwokehomophobia2]

i read your post you tagged “if you take nothing else from this blog let it be this”

and i’m glad i did because it paints a really great picture of your ideology

“i have nothing in common with trans women,” you say, and then you proceed to describe in vivid detail some obviously painful memories from your childhood that stayed with you: begging god to “fix” you, being viewed as dangerous by your peers for your identity.

you’re so right, when trans women were children everyone always clapped them on the back and said “great job today buddy we accept you!”

they never felt alienated, they were never treated as predators whilst being mere children, and they certainly never hoped a higher power would make them normal.

nothing human is alien to yourself and i’m sorry you think you have not an inch of common ground with 50% of the earth. i hope you’re very young, that would explain this really defensive, combative and self-isolating stance you’ve taken.

i’m a cis woman who was also bullied in middle school for being gay so unfortunately you cannot write this off as another “angry man” or whatever, but i expect you’ll find some other way to dismiss this criticism, or maybe you’ll pretend you didn’t read it despite me reading your much longer vitriolic post.

i’m not saying you have to love and welcome trans women into Our Spaces—although i wish you did feel that way—but specifically i’m baffled that you think you have NOTHING in common with them solely because they were born with a penis. are genitals really that defining of a human being? i personally don’t find it super feminist to reduce my entire identity and human experience down to my having a vagina.

No, anon, I’m not going to pretend that I didn’t read this ask. I do acknowledge and appreciate two things:

You took the time to read my post. If I can be honest, I thought it’d be a bigger hit, and the fact it wasn’t is at least partially contributed to its length, I’m sure.

Even though you clearly disagree with me, this ask is respectful. I really do appreciate that.

With that out of the way, I would like to give you a response.

““I have nothing in common with trans women,” you say, and then you proceed to describe in vivid detail some obviously painful memories from your childhood that stayed with you: begging god to “fix” you, being viewed as dangerous by your peers for your identity.

you’re so right, when trans women were children everyone always clapped them on the back and said “great job today buddy we accept you!”

they never felt alienated, they were never treated as predators whilst being mere children, and they certainly never hoped a higher power would make them normal.”

I would like to point out that the post I made was specifically talking about “lesbian” trans women. In the beginning, I speak a bit generally about trans women as a whole, but my post was mainly about straight males who claim to be lesbians. I'm willing to accept that I have plenty in common with homosexual trans women (trans women into males) because we are both gay. Not only that, but I can relate to being so gnc that I’d rather just be the opposite sex. However, this part of your ask does not make nearly as much sense if we are talking about heterosexual trans women. Yes. Straight males very much so are considered normal. I think where people like you and people like me get into the most arguments is that we can't decide who is and who is not a trans woman. You seem to view them as tortured minorities who struggled since childhood. And some of them are—mostly the homosexual ones, but the thing is that men with sissy fetishes or autogynephilia also call themselves trans women. “But they’re not!” is what you’re probably saying, right? Those men are perverts, right? Okay, but they call themselves trans women. How do you know who's telling the truth or not? How do we prevent the liars from hurting women? What is stopping a man with a fucked up fetish from identifying as trans, entering a woman’s bathroom, and assaulting someone? You might be thinking that if a man wants to assault somebody, a woman's bathroom sign isn't going to stop him from doing so, but the thing is, if you make it a law that anybody can go into whatever bathroom they want to go into, it then becomes asinine to call the police on him. The police can't do anything because how do they know he doesn't belong there? Do you understand why this whole thing causes women such great pause?

You and I can trade pathos all day. I can tell you sad stories from my childhood growing up gay. You can talk to me about a sad boy crying in his room wishing he was a girl. It always comes back to “who do you care about more?” If a teenage girl talks about feeling genuine discomfort over males being allowed in the school locker rooms and a teenage boy talks about how much he wishes he had access to the girl locker rooms because he “feels” like a girl, whose side do you take? Who do you care about more? I will always choose women and gay people.

I left something out of my post, anon. It wasn't relevant but now I think it is. I've talked about this before but when I was a kid I struggled greatly with the fact that I was black. I can say with full confidence that I had racial dysphoria. I wanted to be white so badly. Both of my parents are black people, but I used to ask people if I could pass as half white. It was pretty bad. Would you have told me that I was meant to be born white? No? Then why do you think it’s okay to tell someone they’re meant to be born the opposite sex? Why is sex the only thing people are allowed to say is “wrong” about them? How ingrained are biases about sex that people look at a little boy playing with dolls, say “he’s supposed to be a girl”, and a disturbing amount of people say “true!”? That’s insane! Imagine if someone looked at a white person eating watermelon and said they were meant to be born black? That’s how people with your ideology sound. You don’t think you sound that way because you’ve had so many people backing you up, but if you can tell me why racial dysphoria isn’t valid but gender dysphoria is, I’ll reconsider everything. It is my “bad” luck I was born black, anon. There is nothing I can do to change that. Some boy wishing he was a girl is a sad thing, sure, but it’s simply a matter of tough luck lmao. He shouldn’t suddenly get everything he wants just because of that.

“nothing human is alien to yourself and i’m sorry you think you have not an inch of common ground with 50% of the earth.  i hope you’re very young, that would explain this really defensive, combative and self-isolating stance you’ve taken.

i’m a cis woman who was also bullied in middle school for being gay so unfortunately you cannot write this off as another “angry man” or whatever, but i expect you’ll find some other way to dismiss this criticism, or maybe you’ll pretend you didn’t read it despite me reading your much longer vitriolic post.

i’m not saying you have to love and welcome trans women into Our Spaces—although i wish you did feel that way—but specifically i’m baffled that you think you have NOTHING in common with them solely because they were born with a penis. are genitals really that defining of a human being?  i personally don’t find it super feminist to reduce my entire identity and human experience down to my having a vagina.”

50% of the population? You and I have been talking about trans women this whole time. Are they 50% of the population? Are you talking about men when you say this? Why? This is a bit of a freudian slip, anon. Seems like I’m not the only one here who knows trans women and men are the same thing.

I do think that “nothing human is alien to yourself” is a beautiful phrase, and I do agree! There are men and straight people I can relate to just fine. But I don’t agree with calling males lesbians and I don’t agree that people can be born in the wrong body. I am defensive and combative. Women and lesbians are actively being threatened. Self-isolating though? No, I don’t think so. I don't feel isolated at all. In fact, I think being open about my views has led to me being close to people I never would’ve thought. And even if my views did lead to my isolation, I would much rather be alone than with people who are actively hurting women and gay people.

“i’m baffled that you think you have NOTHING in common with them solely because they were born with a penis.” I can concede that saying “nothing” was more emotion based than logic based, but I think that the straight male experience is pretty damn different from the lesbian one. The male experience, in general, is pretty different from what I’ve had. That’s what I was speaking about. 

“are genitals really that defining of a human being?” I don’t know about how much they define a human being, anon, but they definitely do contribute a lot to how the world treats you. If you have a penis, the world treats you a shit ton better than they do if you have a vagina. That’s just facts. Nobody can help being born with a penis, but the world is not a fair place. Also, for a trait that is apparently so neutral, people with penises manage to commit 90% of all violent crime. What do you make of that? If genitals are really neutral, why isn’t the crime rate between people with vaginas and people with penises a 50-50 split? You said yourself that nothing human is an alien concept to other humans, so if women go through the same experiences men do, why is there such a large disparity in crime? Why can women go through the things men do (and worse, let’s be real) and generally not end up as criminals? What is it about having a penis that contributes to this?

“I personally don’t find it super feminist to reduce my entire identity and human experience down to my having a vagina.” I never said women are only their vaginas. If I tried to talk about racism, I would not be “reducing black people down to their skin color”. There is no reason why talking about the female experience should be met with claims I’m reducing women down to their vaginas.

[undercoverdonderwolk]

to add onto the weird behavior around WAGs i’d say that fans have the weirdest behavior with kelly piquet. i do think their reasons for hating her are valid, even without the age gap with max of it all, she just doesn’t seem to be a good person lmfao. but also a lot of the hate for her seems kind of… exaggerated to me? like they hate her in general and nitpick everything she does when that really isn’t the issue here. and when asked why they act like that they hide behind the excuses of the terrible stuff she’s done + her age gap with max.

to me it’s like yeah go ahead and hate her for being terrible but also… have you not considered the fact that this is a person max chooses to associate with? like i’m not saying having a terrible partner = you being a terrible person as well but. you get me.

and it IS weird that she said she had a magical night/connection with max from the first meeting when he was 18/19 that time (even weirder if the rumors she used to babysit him are true — where do people get that???). but if you’re going to hate on her can we please stick to these points that prove she is weird instead of fixating on literally everything she does??? lmfao some of it is veering too close into misogynistic territory to me

like just yesterday people were hating on her for saying that max is “aging” and trying to get him into a skincare routine (or moisturizer, at least). they were calling out the age gap, saying she’s the one that’s old and aging when 1.) it’s normal for women to want their partners to take care of themselves 2.) nowhere did she imply that max is aging BADLY and it NEEDS to be fixed with a 10 step korean skincare routine ASAP!!! 3.) them switching up and saying “erm actually YOU are the old one here” is giving classic ageism women face

just lots of weird behavior around imo. another one that struck me as weird in particular was that edited image going around a few weeks ago where someone removed her from a picture of her max and penelope like THAT IS HER DAUGHTER??? SHE IS THE MOTHER????? and it had thousands of likes too like. guys it’s getting weird what is happening here

this is so long sorry lol with all the WAG discussions here i just figured it’s time to spew my kelly piquet thinkpiece

i agree with you to a certain extent. but i think hating is kind of a useless term to use to be honest. if some rando chick makes you feel enough of a feeling to call it hate like, that's when people need to look inwards lmaooo. there's a difference between being critical of the institution that is a wag/athlete relationships and kinda being weirdly personal about it so as soon as someone's talking about 'hate' i'm like okay that's an opinion that's irrelevant to me because idc about her to the extent that it's that personal to her and me. but yeah you're totally right that like, most of the hate and the love for her seems to exist out of the same need to pookify max. either she's the evil evil woman who corrupted max and max needs to be saved from her or it's hashtag true love and it makes max a perfect boyfriend etc. both are p weird to me because it's like you all realize this is isn't about her right....you're using her to prop up max so it's still not hashtag feminism even if you claim it is lol though i will say the aging comment was weird to me lmaoooo. though it probably wasn't meant for public consumption so even weirder for someone to share that she said it. but if you turn the tables and it was a ten year older man talking about how his younger gf should be using skincare so she would keep looking young people would be freaking ouuttttttt. like if there was some dude in his mid thirties telling his mid twenties gf she wasn't allowed to gain weight and writing her insta comments etc there'd be outrage and for good reason idk why it should be any different the other way around tbh. i guess you could argue that's their thing and we shouldn't have an opinion but max can't stop making documentaries about his personal life and kelly v actively uses her relaysh with max for the clout and the money, which is fair but if you're gonna put it all out there, down to like sharing when your kid's first day of school is lol, people are going to have opinions. the editing her out thing was weird af. though i will say i think the 'GIRL DAD THAT'S A DADDDD THAT'S HIS KIDDDD' is just as weird tbh. he's gone out of his way to be like yo i'm not trying to be a step parent so for people to use her kid so they can uwufy hastag girldad (evil term) max falls in the same category as going to lengths to photoshop her out. it all comes down to the same thing: trying to make max look better and using a bunch of women/girls to do so