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[xshadowdelta]

Witch

Irene x Male Reader (3.6K Length)

"Hey rookie, it’s time to work."

You stood up and left that small service room, in whose sign was written 'Authorized Service Only'.

It was your first week in this new summer job as a bellboy at the most famous 5-star hotel, right in the middle of the city with a huge amount of guests every day. You got here thanks to a friend’s recommendation, not your dream job, but you really needed the money, and the pay was juicy. You arrived at the reception hall where your manager was standing next to a mountain of suitcases, feeling as if your soul wanted to leave your body seeing all those bags.

"Miss Bae Joohyun’s luggage, room 362, as soon as possible, she is waiting for it."

It took you a while to place every one of the suitcases in the luggage birdcage, using every skill you had in the Tetris game to not drop them. Then you took the elevator to the third floor, and once there, you drove until you reached the indicated room by your senior.

You knocked on the door and fixed the wrinkles in your jacket, since your first day, the manager had been very insistent on looking perfect in front of the clients. You heard the sound of the door opening and forced one of your best smiles,

"Good morning, Miss Bae, here is your luggage."

The woman in front of you didn’t say a single word as she scanned you up and down, just a slight head move to give you permission to get inside the room, meanwhile, she continues with the phone call in which she was involved.

Oh yeah, another rich middle-aged woman with a major superiority complex. You frowned and let out a whisper that only you could hear.

"Witch…"

But you have a job to do, so you entered the suite along with the luggage and began to unstack all the suitcases.

You looked back at the woman who was now standing, looking at the beautiful views offered by the windows of that room. She was speaking in a foreign language, maybe korean.

Yet you managed to understand the word "stylist" and it gave you the feeling that the person on the other side of the line was getting a good scold.

You could only see the profile of her face, enough to detect a serious and cold expression that you didn't like at all, but still you had to admit that she was a very beautiful woman.

The work was finished at the same time she ended the call. Your eyes met for a moment, and you felt a shiver run through your body. You gave her a small bow before saying goodbye.

"Have a good stay with us, Miss Bae, we are at your disposal." You were already close to the door when her voice stopped you.

"Wait a moment, please."

Another smile was forced in your face before turning on your feet to come face to face with her.

"Do you need anything else?"

"Here is your tip."

She got some bills out of her wallet and offered them to you. You hesitated at first, but you ended up taking them, and for the first time, your smile was a genuine one. You save them in the pocket of your uniform, ready to finally leave that room.

"By the way, just from one look, have you been able to deduce that I am a witch?" Suddenly, your breathing stopped, and your skin tone turned pale white. You were sure you had said it quietly enough for her not to hear that.

"Being a woman as important as me. I must be alert to everything that happens around me, don’t you think?”

Cool, now she can read minds, definitely a witch.

"I apologize, Miss Bae, it was never my intention to hurt your feelings." Your voice trembled, knowing you could be fired because of this.

"Feelings? I put them aside many years ago."

The confusion on your face was notorious, your eyes followed her to see how she took a seat, watching you with a scary look. Another shiver ran down your spine. Running away from there was not a good idea, first because it wouldn't solve anything and would make you look like a coward, but the truth is that you wanted to disappear from the world at that moment.

On the other hand, you could just cry like a baby begging for her forgiveness, that would certainly be ridiculous, but it would save your ass from a guaranteed dismissal.

"Miss Bae…"

"Don’t tell me. Do you want us to forget this incident, right?"

Her face was cold, and her words sounded like ice, sinking deeper and deeper into your chest. But you couldn't articulate a single word, just nodded your head.

For a small period of time, you thought that a halo of kindness would take over her, and she would give in to your request to forgive you, but kindness wasn't in the dictionary of Bae Joohyun.

"Get naked"

It took you a few seconds to understand the request she had just made. She didn't take long to repeat. "What are you waiting for? Get naked"

"WHAT?"

That scream only made her angrier, hitting the ground with her foot, impatient. Her look did not change at any time, she continued staring at you, challenging you.

"I see, you don’t care about this job, so…"

"Wait…"

Your hands started to move, and your uniform jacket fell to the floor. You continued unbuttoning your shirt, making your naked torso visible.

Next was taking off your shoes so you could get rid of your pants that would accompany the rest of the clothes on the floor, leaving you in underwear under the watchful eye of Mrs. Joohyun, who now had a slight mischievous smile while looking at you.

"I think we have a different concept about nudity."

You looked down at your nether area, and then your eyes returned to her. She was really trying to humiliate you in every way. "Everything?"

The coldness of her gaze was enough of an answer for you, making you slide your hands over your boxers, leaving you now completely naked. "Now I want you to stay there, don’t move and pay attention."

You felt like you were about to faint right there when you saw that woman spread her legs on the couch, raising her dress to reveal her panties, which she pushed aside.

She was showing you her naked pussy before she started caressing it with her hand. You couldn't believe your eyes, a minute ago you were fired, and now you had an incredibly hot woman masturbating herself right in front of you. Joohyun licked his own hand as she stroked herself fast, starting to moan with no shame. Despite finding yourself in this complicated situation, watching this show made your body react, and your penis was already completely erect. You tried to move one of your hands towards your penis, but Joohyun's voice stopped you. "Told you to, don't move!" "Remember that your job is at risk."

Then she inserted two of her fingers inside her pussy to stimulate herself more. Hear her loud moans, and the watery sound due to the humidity of her vagina was driving you crazy.

Joohyun continued like this for a few minutes that seemed like an eternity, Meanwhile, you were praying that this torture would come to an end, and miraculously she would decide to forgive you and run away out of there, straight to the employee bathroom to masturbate yourself, thinking about what you were experiencing at this moment.

"Come here" She demanded in an authoritarian tone, and you approached until you were right in front of her, which didn't stop her from continuing to pleasure herself.

"On your knees."

Now, your face was practically a few centimeters from her pussy, but you didn't expect Joohyun to let out one last pleasure scream, squirting directly on you.

You closed your eyes at time, however, now your face was covered by Joohyun fluids, who was now breathing tiredly but still looking at you, with a serious expression on her face.

“Wow”

Was the only thing you could say, you were in shock after what had just happened. You ran your hand over your face, trying to clean up the mess, licking a couple of your fingers in the process.

"Delicious"

"What have you said?" She was stunned, and her voice tone sounded even more enraged.

"You are delicious, Mrs. Bae."

That answer made her get up from the couch in a bad mood. She walked to the pile of your clothes on the floor and grabbed the tie that minutes ago had surrounded your neck, but now was being used to tie your hands at your back.

"What are you doing?" You asked, standing up.

She stood next to you and, without warning, grabbed your still erect penis with one of her hands, making you gasp.

"You keep saying vulgarities, you need a real punishment."

She whispered in your ear, starting to masturbate your penis slowly, making you moan a little bit. She was increasing the pace, stroking you with both hands at the same time.

"You were supposed to feel humiliation, and instead you had the courage to taste my fluids and the nerve to say 'delicious.'  I have never met someone like you, you are quite a challenge."

Your brain was unable to say anything as it was busy moaning in pleasure at Jonghyun's touch.

"Mrs. Bae, I'm about to…"

"Don't you even dare, now it's my turn to taste you."

She stopped touching you and crouched on her knees in front of you. She looked up, straight into your eyes, you saw that look again, that no longer seemed so cold, but immediately closed your eyes because of the immense pleasure you felt when her mouth devoured your cock.

Your body staggered, and you cursed for having your hands tied at that moment. You opened your eyes again only to see how she sucked your cock over and over again at an accelerated but constant pace, damn, you were in heaven.

She grabbed your balls, and at the same time she was sucking you, pressing on them, making you feel a mixture of pain and pleasure.

"Fuck, you have a good dick here."

She spit on your cock, going back to masturbate you, making wet your entire length, so that now when she sucked you, she also slurped some saliva.

“Mrs. Bae…”

She stopped for a second and looked into your eyes again.

"Irene…call me Irene."

The beat of your heart increased because of that, a feeling that was quickly replaced by another wave of pleasure when you noticed how she reintroduced your penis into her mouth, now even reaching his throat, causing her to choke on your cock.

You looked at the ceiling, trying to hold on as long as possible, wishing this moment would never end, then you felt a pinch of pain in your thighs, so you looked down again.

Your eyes found the view of Irene grabbing your thighs with her nails and the entirety of your cock inside her mouth, with some tears welling up in her eyes. She closed her eyes and started moving her head back and forth. You could say she was using you to fuck her own throat.

She stopped to take a breath, but immediately lifted your cock with one of his hands and began licking your balls desperately. "Keep looking at me or this will end here."

It was the first instruction that you would gladly follow.

She ran her tongue along the entire length, licking every inch before giving your tip a special treatment and taking it back into her mouth, this time masturbating you with her hands at the same time as she sucked you off. That made you about to explode.

"Irene…" You managed to say between several moans.

Then she let it off from her mouth again and masturbated you fiercely with both hands, looking at you with lust. She opened her mouth as wide as she could, sticking her tongue out. You knew what she wanted.

There was no need to say anything else. A few more seconds, and you let out a huge load of semen that fell directly into his mouth and face, squeezing until the last drop fell.

Irene's face was now a real mess. She had managed to swallow part of your cum, but other threads of semen fell near her eyes and part of her hair. She didn't mind at all, she was busy cleaning your cock now.

She got up a little later, walking until she stood behind you again, untying the knot that was imprisoning your hands. She took one of your hands and dragged you to another room in the suite, the bedroom with a huge bed. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she caught your attention again.

"Do you want to keep this job?"

Once again, you nodded your head.

"If you can make me have an orgasm, I'll pretend none of this ever happened, you understand?”

"Loud and clear."

You tried to hide your nervousness as best you could and mentally preparing yourself to give her the greatest effort of your life, your future depended on what happened in the next few minutes.

You took a few steps towards the direction where she was, she was imposing, she was scary, yes, but at the same time, you had a sensation running through your body that you had never experienced before, and you wanted to go until the end.

You bent your head straight to kiss his neck. She let out a sigh, a good sign, you deduced. You trailed kisses along his neck at the same time that your hands roamed her body.

"Not bad, but this is nothing out of this world."

You shouldn't rush, she was provoking you, you knew it. Make a mistake, and it will be over. However, you also knew how to play that game.

"Excuse my clumsiness, Mrs. Bae, my job consists of transporting suitcases, not to sexually satisfy clients, even so you seemed to have enjoyed my cock."

Your lips now kissed the part of her naked chest that was not covered by her dress.

"Even now you are still behaving like a reckless, shut the fuck up and take me off this damn dress…now."

She raised her arms, so the dress came out more comfortably, her black lace bra was still annoying, but with a deft movement it quickly disappeared as well, leaving you with the view of her naked tits.

Your mouth quickly acted as shelter for her boobs, drawing loud moans from Irene. Her hands traveled to the back of your head, pressing you closer against them.

"Just like that, fuck, work on these fucking little tits."

You sucked her boobs and licked her nipples, which at this point were really hard by the moves of your tongue. With every second that passed, Irene became more moldable under your touch.

At that moment, you took advantage of to move one of your hands to her lower zone, totally wet after the first session, you touched her pussy over her panties using circular movements.

"So fucking wet, Miss Bae." You said it with a superior tone.

"Told you to shut up." She was getting angry again.

"As you wish."

You replied and suddenly kissed her lips. Irene opened her eyes in surprise, but it didn't take long for her to respond to the kiss with even more energy, until both of you got separated to take a breath.

"It's funny, men are usually afraid of me, and I love to create that feeling in them, but it also makes them never dare to kiss me. I almost forgot how kisses felt." She said with a half-smile on her face, touching her swollen lips.

"In that case, let me help you remember."

You said, emboldened, kissing her again with passion, making her respond with the same lust and starting a battle of tongues inside your mouths. You lost your balance due to the fury of the kisses, and you fell on top of her when her back hit the bed.

When you separated from her again, you could see how her messy hair had fallen on her sweaty forehead and her cheeks were completely red, but you were surprised by her smile, this time it was a full formed and sincere smile.

"Show me what else can do that mouth of yours."

You kissed her lips again, a quick kiss this time, which was followed by another path of kisses all over her body until you reached her panties, you managed to take them off to finally see her naked pussy.

You kissed her thighs previously before sinking your face against her area, making her moan louder than ever. Your tongue moved fiercely against her pussy folds as Irene's screams filled the room.

"Don't stop, don't even dare to stop."

You were giving your best to make her feel good. Her moans, screams, and bad words only motivated you to continue doing this with more intensity. Having your tongue a rest, you quickly replaced it with your fingers, masturbating her with all your strength.

"Holy fuuuuuck, I’m cuming!" She screamed, curving her back and, once again, squirting a lot from her pussy, messing part of the edge of the bed and the bedroom floor.

She had now difficulty breathing correctly, and her chest was up and down again, trying to calm herself. Your fingers once again caressed her pussy, this time doing it so slowly. You approached to kiss her once again.

"Irene"

You called, so both of you noticed your penis fully recovered, ready for more rounds. She smiled at you, turning around, remaining face down, then you stared at her trained ass.

"Come on, what are you waiting for? Fuck me".

Your penis got excited hearing those words. You stood up immediately to stand behind her. Grabbing her hips and aligning yourself with her pussy, inserting your entire length at once into Irene's pussy.

"God, you're so tight." You moaned, starting to thrust into her.

"Yes, fuck, stretch my fucking pussy with your big cock."

"Holy shit, Mrs. Bae."

You increased your thrusts, making everything more and more primitive, to the point that your balls were colliding with her hips every time you buried your length inside her.

Irene couldn't stop moaning and screaming, grabbing the bedsheets with her hands while moving her hips to give more depth to your moves.

You didn't hesitate to grab one of her ass cheeks tightly with one of your hands and then give her a slap that echoed through the room and made the woman scream. You repeated it a few more times, having the same result.

"This is what you wanted, right? A witch like you just wanted to be fucked this hard."

One more spank to her already red ass, drove Irene crazy.

"Yes! Fuck yes, fuck me please! Don't stop now! Use my witch pussy however you want."

You kissed her neck from behind and ran your tongue down her back as your hips moved at a constant pace for a longer period of time.

"Wait." she said between moans. "I want to see you."

You took out your cock off her, allowing her to turn around, giving her another passionate kiss, you took her hips and brought her closer to the edge of the bed, sitting there, she opened her legs for you.

You entered inside her again, resuming your task of fucking her hard, Irene wrapped her arms around your head, moving a little on the bed, allowing you to fuck her deeper.

"So fucking deep." She sighs, closing her eyes.

When she opened them again, she met your eyes, making her blush a bit. You didn't ignore it and brought your lips closer to hers, touching them but not kissing her.

"Mrs. Bae, I'm about to cum." She took your face in her hands, smiling.

"Inside me, until the last drop… I need it."

That was the last thing you needed, Irene hugged you and in a last effort you fucked her harder than ever until you shot all your cum inside her pussy, making both of you reach an orgasm. Both of you really had made a mess.

Irene laid on the bed, still shaking, with one of her arms covering her face. You laid to next to her, looking directly at her.

"Don't worry, today is a safe day."

"That’s fine of course but wasn't my real concern."

Irene lowered her arm and stared at you for a few moments, her eyes widening as if she had forgotten the reason of this. He pretended to cough in an attempt to hide her mistake by sitting back on the bed.

"Yes, about that… You did your part, so I'll do mine, and I promise I won't say anything about what happened here."

Feeling a big relief at that moment, you didn't say anything more than "thank you" to get out of bed in search of your work clothes. You had a schedule to complete.

"I will stay here for a few days because of work."

You left your shirt half buttoned to watch as Irene leaned against the door frame, now wearing a bathrobe from the bathroom.

"Maybe you can offer me this special service again." Her mischievous smile made your face get one, too. "I am at your total disposal, Mrs. Bae."

[jamsandsuch]

advice for first year uni students from a uni senior

the roommate(s) will always be more important than the room

+ for roommates, SET. CLEANING. EXPECTATIONS. EARLY. don't wait until you're uncomfortable with how much mess is in the kitchen for you to start thinking if you should bring it up or not. set standards and make them clear.

put your key on a lanyard and hang it from your doorknob when you’re at home so you don’t forget it on the way out

if your dorm has a shared laundry room, set your timer for when your laundry finishes ~5 mins early to give you time to walk from your room to the laundry - especially during weekends/evenings/finals people wont have the patience to wait for you - even if your load just finished

If you have noodle arms like me, buy yourself one of those collapsible grocery carts you drag behind you like a luggage - best purchase i've ever made

Or if you're lazy, order online - but order on a free day because even if you schedule a time they're always gonna come stupid early and you dont want any frozen items to get spoiled or have your groceries stolen

DONT BUY ANY TEXTBOOKS/MATERIALS UNTIL THE FIRST WEEK/CLASSES ARE OVER. sometimes you’ll have early access to the booklist or syllabus and go ahead and start buying textbooks, but increasingly often you’ll buy the materials and show up to class just to find your prof has uploaded scanned copies of everything. *save your money*, wait!

BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS - look at your class schedule and walk around campus to find each classroom. you will probably get lost on day 1 and so will many other students so this will save you a lot of walking around bumping into other lost first years

trust me after a few weeks you won’t be waking up for that 8am class. i know you did it 5 days a week in high school, but there’s a reason uni students are allergic to morning classes. know your natural energy/attention levels and take advantage of the freedom to build your schedule around your energy fluctuations

compress/stack your class schedule as much as possible. if you absolutely do need breaks, make them at least 1.5-2 hours long or you probably wont get anything productive done and minimize these long breaks as much as you can so you can just get your day over with sooner

work smarter, not harder - when school starts note each course’s assessment type by quizzes/finals/essays. if i ever have a course thats just essays, i only do lecture notes + write my own annotations about readings rather than taking notes on them which saves time i can dedicate to textbook notetaking for courses with frequent quizzes + finals

if your school has benefits/discounts/insurance - know what it is and USE IT.

most clubs wont be like high school where there are regular meetings you attend. unless youre in the exec team the membership fee you pay/when you sign up for membership it’s just for access to their events when they happen. if you want to be involved in a club in a way thats as involved as high school, look at their social media pages for hiring.

+ as someone who has had to hire before - if you’re nervous, literally just do it. i was in an exec position for our student union services and once only had like 3 applicants to pick from

if you want to be noticed by a professor, sit in the front row. and always answer/ask questions - it doesn’t matter if you said anything of substance or not, they will remember that you contributed

that and also always make the point to say hello and goodbye! eventually (in my experience) if you come early enough and are just waiting for class to start, a conversation will happen - make these regular enough and you could have an important connection!

disclaimer: of course, not all of this might be something that resonates with you/possible for your course or school, so in the words of my cousin - take what resonates

+ anyone else is free to add on!!

[heli0s-writes]

Torch Song

a/n: the prompt is unhealthy coping mechanisms. Warnings for marijuana use & underage drinking. College!Reader & Bucky pining for Steve and trying to get their shit together. 4.2k words. moonchild masterlist

The summer after your college freshman year feels like a scene out of a Sundance Festival flick. One of those long, languid pictures with the neighborhood kids on their bikes flying down the middle of an empty street in Nowheretown, Suburbia and the shot is wide and steady with the sun slipping past the treescape, tucking itself into the other side of the world.

The block is mostly empty when you pull up in your old, blue candy-paint truck, and rattling beneath the body pops around after the engine gurgles off.

If the scene continues, the wash of light over your face would be filtered a notch too yellow, the shadow cast behind your head, too green. You’d be the protagonist coming home draped in melancholy, soul-searching, wandering her childhood memories in a pretentious daze, folky pop tunes softly crooning in the background, begging for a reason to look forward to the following semester.

College spat you back out like unwanted scraps on the dinner table, and you’re so tired from the drive that you don’t even care about taking your luggage inside. That’s tomorrow’s task—tomorrow’s problem.

You sit for a moment just to breathe.

If the scene continues, the house would be empty, but there would be leftovers in the fridge with a sticky note on top and another longer one on the dining room table. If the scene continues, you’d throw yourself face down in bed and lie awake until someone comes home, peeks in on you asleep. They’d linger in the doorway, finally slipping off with a fond smile and a quiet click of the door.

The camera would pan out through the front, up above the roof, into the sky gone dark.

Instead, sudden banging on your window makes you scream, and your vision goes out for a split second in sheer, animal panic. Your head whips over to see Bucky Barnes’ face grinning shit-eatingly a mile wide.

You slump back tiredly and close your eyes, letting out an exasperated, “Fuck.”

He does nothing to help your heart rate return to normal, only shouting, “Hey, state!” so loudly you swear the windows are vibrating. Past the glass, which you’ll kill him for if he cracks, he points to the immaculately rolled joint behind his ear because he’s a private-school motherfucker who smokes more than an industrial chimney.

“What’s this?” Bucky taunts, “Think you can just roll back into town without telling anybody? Not with this shitcan, you can’t. I heard this—” he thumps on the frame of your truck noisily, and the creak that gives way under his fist is just your baby yelling at him for being an asshole, “—heard this thing all the way from the service road.”

“Fuck off,” you reply, but roll down the window, manually cranking it with some dramatic flair to show that yes, your car is old, but it still works. “This car took you to breakfast every week of senior year.”

He barks a laugh. “This car shakes in the wind.”

“Just like you during Blair Witch Project.”

Bucky closes his mouth into a thin and deadly serious line, not even bothering to contest that accusation, but shooting back with, “Like you skinny dipping at my ma’s junior year.”

“No, I think it’s more like you getting a car door to the sack right outside of my house.”

“I never got—hell!”

Good for him, his reflexes are still excellent. Bucky leaps back about three feet, body going bow-curved to dodge your door and makes to comment on the awful squeal of metal hinges, but the filter from his brain to his mouth—especially in the wake of a near-castration—stops him.

Wisely, he stands up tall, pats down his clothes, and pulls you fully out of the worn leather seat, out of the protective hull of a faithful, old vehicle.

“Hey, sweetheart,” he grins, using the crook of his finger to flick your chin upward just a touch, “Good to see you.”

And then, because he really is set on turning your trip into some kind of cheesy summer indie flick, he wraps both of his arms around you tightly, hugs you to him in a way that feels too firm and too soft all at once, and the heartbeat that had returned to its natural routine starts to pick up again, double time.

“Mm, yeah,” you mumble, “Same to you, Buck.”

-

On the back porch, Bucky takes a sharp first drag, rolling the joint between his fingers to check it. He takes in another breath before exhaling, then hands it off.

“How long was the drive?”

You inhale carefully, letting the sensation swirl inside of your lungs before watching the jetting smoke flit into the sky.

“Like, seven hours. When did you get back?”

“Four days ago. Becs picked me up and we got Frosties with Butterfingers—missed that. Missed her loads.” You pass the joint after another hit, feel the constant dullness behind your eyes ebbing like a slow tide and hum along. “Missed you, too,” Bucky says casually, grinning wide as his eyes flick over, “It’s shitty our spring breaks didn’t line up.”

“Yeah,” you reply, remembering the string of lamenting text messages he sent you. “I’d just cockblock you at the beach. It was for the best.”

He laughs at that, “Girls like me more when they think I’m unavailable.”

“More? Isn’t… how much they like you now enough?”

“Never such a thing as too much, I say.”

Then, probably because he’s been wriggling out of his skin to say it, he goes ahead, taking a hard left from easy conversation and sharply into, “Hey, Stevie’s home.”

Your throat tightens, chin dipping toward your chest as you hang your head. Your elbows, propped up on the railing, notice the woodgrain digging into them for the first time.

Bucky’s been here for a few days now, probably toured the neighborhood, caught up with a few old faces—and whenever Steve arrived—Bucky probably avoided him for exactly 4 hours before he got his front door banged on.

And well, Bucky couldn’t ever say no to Steve.

So they probably visited all the old stomping grounds, ate the diners out of business, hopped into the lake and sunbathed on the docks and then Steve would have told him what he wanted to do—what he’s wanted to do since he was probably 7 years old. What he’s held out on, saved up for, what he’s found and cherished and practically dedicated his whole life to—thumbs fiddling with eagerness and that bright, bright hope for the future.

Bucky nudges you with his elbow, “He’s real happy.”

“Good for him.” You nudge back, trying to mean it.

Bucky rolls his eyes, the quirk at the edge of his mouth jerking up and down as he purses his lips disapprovingly, “Only one of us needs to be emo, and I’ve got the emo for the day. You can have it tomorrow.” Then, he taps the ash from the joint and the edge of his mouth stays up this time.

“Hey, lemme shotgun you better.”

You snort at him, but let your jaw relax, eyes fluttering shut, and when Bucky leans into blow smoke into your mouth, you inhale the scent of burning. His breath is soft on the hollow of your cheek, and he sings, “Let’s get fucking high.”

The hit is too big, so he sucks in what you can’t swallow, and then he kisses you, takes in the smoke escaping your nose, hand still on your chin but not in any kind of grip. His mouth moves easy, as if saying hello.

He kisses you a second time, lingering, and watches closely when he’s finished.

He’s asking with his eyes, is this okay, do you want me to stop, do you want me again?

It’s not like the two of you haven’t made out once or twice. There have been too many high school parties with cheap beer and underage drinking to cross that prospect out—and not to mention the nights where you stayed up late, wired with the kind of indescribable energy that late-teenagers have—the storm of confusion and hesitation while glaring at a horizon of endless possibilities and being told to pick just one.

One track, one major, one path.

Not like it was an exclusive experience. Most high schoolers, even the best-behaved, perhaps especially the best-behaved, would say that those nights—after school and work, dinner with or without a family, with or without another conversation about the next step, about the future—lying in bed, bone tired, listening to the noises of evening outside, that it was sometimes very difficult not to run yourself down the road and scream until only blood came out. 

And when it wasn’t really an option to scream, because screaming would disquiet the happy-go-lucky neighborhood and give an adult cause to institutionalize you, the only thing to do was text a friend.

And the friend would climb himself over your fence and grin outside your window until you opened it up, hissing at him not to be so loud and clumsy and the two of you would chain-smoke cigarettes for hours to feel more than nominally alive. Because the stagnant bitter taste of nicotine in your belly was better than a belly like a hurricane, and the slip of your friend’s tongue—who’d been spilling his same brand of guts out under the night sky—was better than an imaginary one.

Better than one encased in the prettiest pink mouth, laid so gentle and sweet against a heavy bottom lip, one that wouldn’t just kiss without wanting a guarantee. Without wanting that choice—that single, damning choice—for the rest of his life.

It feels kind of stupid again when you look at Bucky and he looks back, over your face and lips, down the line of your neck as you tilt forward instinctively. It feels kind of stupid when your body lurches a little toward him, asking him to hold it there again, keep it safe again.

Is it the nostalgia that’s making you regress back to being 16 and a half or is it just you? You and your broken… whatever it is that’s broken.

Heart, a little voice in your head pipes up, it’s your heart, and you’d very much like to curb-stomp it to death.

The sun is gone now, and he’s watching with glazy eyes from the smoke, pink around the corners, and his lids are heavier as you feel. Time is stretching and flying, and the air is flexing around the both of you as bugs begin to cry noisily.

“Somethin’ on my face?” he asks, cocky to deflect your silence, but he looks like a million things: lonely, happy, sweet. Hungry for a life he hasn’t got.

“You want to stay the night? My parents are doing that empty nester thing where they go on long vacations with retirement money.” You blurt, because the thing is, you’re feeling that same empty, hungry loneliness. That same, bittersweet pain.

“Depends. We gonna have a pillow fight in our undies?”

You punch him in the shoulder a few times until he yelps, getting to his feet and dusting off his jeans. Although he’d been laughing, his eyes have turned stormy, the evening behind him curling like beckoning fingers, the single hallway light you flicked on the way out back asking you to both come inside.

-

You make a frozen pizza and pick off the olives, snagging a few beers, and the both of you kick back on the couch for an hour, chewing and slurping and sometimes stealing each other’s crusts.

He tells you about the courses he’s taking and how he landed an art modeling gig and almost popped a woody and that wasn’t even the most uncomfortable thing he experienced.

“There’s so much repressed homosexuality in these private schools. Check it out: this kid draws me practically naked for a week, gets down every detail—gets down my damn leg hairs for fucks sake—but he avoids,” he signals to his groin, “and then when he gets to it, he overthinks the whole time, and by the time the session’s over, the outline of my junk is the most prominent part of the entire thing.”

He places his arm back behind his head, the other one, beneath you, twitching slightly. “And when he hangs it up for the critique, it looks like someone drew me in pencil and drew my guy in marker.”

“Brutal.”

“Yeah!” He’s outraged at the memory, “Looked like someone brutalized my dick. This thing is…” he gestures in weird motions, reenacting a kind of car crash shadow puppet scene and you take it to mean bad. “I got a really nice one, you know? So that kinda hurt my feelings.”

You groan loudly, leaning back on the couch.

“Man,” you take a swig of beer, washing down the second-hand embarrassment in your throat along with a swallow of pizza, “you don’t change.”

Bucky only grins and grabs at his crotch obscenely.

-

“If we’re not married by the time we’re both 40,” you suggest, sprawled atop the comforter, staring at the bedroom ceiling with its glow in the dark plastic stars.

“Hunt each other for sport? That not what you were getting at?” Bucky shifts listlessly, so that you can use his arm as a pillow. He’s thrown off the extra ones so that both of you could lie down after dinner—a six pack of beers drained along with another joint.

“You’ll probably be married before then,” he says, “Don’t sweat it.”

The ceiling is undulating sluggishly, idle green cutouts starting to look like they’re actually twinkling and you trace them with a finger, draw out his name and your name and get stuck on the next word.

“I don’t even know if I want to get married,” you reply, putting your finger down. Resentment jabs at your chest. “I mean, I think I’m starting to figure out that we’ve been spoon-fed our whole lives… about everything. Does that make sense? Just… told to do and be without real reason other than that it’s how everyone else is. I mean, what if that’s not it—you know? What if I do all of that and then 10 years later I still feel like this? I graduated, I moved out, I’m in college—and, Buck, I still feel like this.”

Your tummy hurts, because it hasn’t worked out even a little bit—you haven’t had a real boyfriend, haven’t even had very many good dates. There was a benefit and a disadvantage of growing up with the same pair of best friends your entire life because now making new ones feels like both an act of betrayal and justan act as you watch yourself talk to a stranger, trying to puppeteer your body into saying, doing, behaving correctly while ignoring the jilted awkwardness of your own limbs and words.

It only feels natural like this: back in your town, in your neighborhood, in your bed. Bucky by your side, bleary-eyed from drugs or alcohol or sleep deprivation and a few inches away from hysterical.

He traces a made-up constellation in the air, humming absentmindedly.

“Baby, I don’t think anybody knows anything. Not your folks or my folks or the fucking president. We figured all that out when we were kids.”

“The only person in the world who knows what they want to do is Steve fucking Rogers, okay, and he’s a freak of nature. No one goes from being the runtiest runt to have ever runted to hitting a growth spurt so hard it looks like their nose burst out of their face.”

That shocks a cackle out of you, “Buck!”

Bucky isn’t deterred. “Fuckin’ Toucan Sam is what he looked like. Size 12 feet in 9th grade and then growing into them over the summer. Asshole made the football team without tryouts. Bulked up like a sonuvabitch.”

You nuzzle the rest of your wheezing laughs into Bucky’s shoulder and sigh, “Yeah, he got real pretty, too. Well, he was always pretty to me and you.”

The air seems to go after that, even the humming of summer at the window retreating while Bucky lets you breathe into him, tilt your face until your lips are on the line of his jaw and grazing his stubble. It’s so melodramatic. So pulled apart and dissected and then instead of retrieving any valuable information from it, you keep scraping it into a bin.

“This okay?” You say instead, closing your eyes, inhaling the scent of him. His shampoo, his light sheen of boy sweat, the wheat beer you’ve both been drinking, all of it atop your bed. He’s warm and alive and you haven’t touched anyone since—

Since ever. Since every summer. Since Bucky, every summer.

He waggles his brows salaciously, “Mhm. Keep doing that and I’ll let you do it somewhere else, too.”

You snort, “Man, you really don’t change.”

It’s always been easy for him. There were many pages in your middle school diary about how Bucky Barnes taught the entire 6thth grade to French kiss and that the 8th grade girls were going to steal him away—and who was going to hang out with you and Steve at the peanut-free table during lunch now?

Of course, he was always too good, despite dating half the cheerleaders, so he’d tell all his girlfriends they couldn’t get mad at his girl best friend and the little blonde stick of a boy that he wouldn’t ever leave behind.

Bucky Barnes made the grades and got the girls and still ate lunch at the nut-free table despite loving cashews more than anybody.

Idiot.

“You need me to sweet talk you now?” he teases. “All I had to do in high school was tap a pack of Menthols on my chest and you’d let me stick my tongue in your mouth for hours. You’ve changed.” He clambers over on top of you, hovering and blocking out the ceiling, a maniacal grin across his face.

“Oh, shut up, I have not.” You defiantly crunch up to kiss him like proving some kind of point. “Just cause you’ve caught every disease known to man and some animals and I have—haven’t—you know.”

He wipes at his lip where you landed too hard and clumsy, eyes scrutinizing before they light up in disbelief. He lets out a huff of air that’s both impressed and alarmed.

“Shut up,” you say again, with feeling.

“You’re serious.”

“Why would I joke about that. Jerk.”

Bucky sighs, maneuvering off, because it seems like you can’t maintain any more eye contact, and puts his hands behind his head. “The first time someone touched my dick, I think I thought I died. And then I spent the next 6 months trying to do anything for someone to do it again. I can teach you,” he says.

You retort, “Dude, I’m pretty sure I know what to do; I’ve watched a lot of porn.”

“It’s kinda hot to hear you say that, but seriously. College towns are pocket dimensions of raging boners. You could have walked outside and flagged down a hard dick like a cab.”

That is a terrible scenario to imagine, and your face twists accordingly. “Gross. I’m sure I need a therapist, not an STD.”

“Maybe you need a good lay. But seriously,” he says, expression gone back to soft, “what’re you holding out for?”

You frown deeply, “I’m not holding out for anything.”

“If you’re just not interested, like, because you don’t identify—”

“Bucky,” you say patiently, “I’m interested, it just— it’s stupid. It’s the same—same thing. Same thing it’s always been."

A hurt expression crawls it way up his face because the two of you have been carrying the torch for years. For most of your lives.

In love with Steve Rogers since you were 11, probably—and Bucky was in love with him even before that. Couldn’t find a single thing to dislike about him other than that he couldn’t ever see it—couldn’t ever recognize that he was the brightest burn in the sky.

Sneaking out to commiserate was about school and parents and expectations, and on the nights you kissed and let Bucky weave his fingers through yours, it was always, always about Steve.

Steve, who wanted to be in love so badly, so truly, who fell for Peggy Carter the first day she arrived from England—the only person in this town who met him after his growth spurt—after he grew into his new body, learned how to move it like a finely tuned machine, and he never looked back.

That was, and still is, the heart of him. Running unflinchingly into daybreak with the night sky melting off his back, eating his dust. And there was you, and there was Bucky, miles behind, making wishes on falling stars—hoping he’d turn around, just once.

And you carried that hope so far, let it bleed into every corner of your life. The straight and narrow of school and work and leaving home—the track of life Steve would take—you wanted it, too. You wanted him to be proud of you, wanted his life parallel to yours because at least you’d see him in the distance going the same way.

And now he’s getting married. While you could hardly commit to a second date because you were carrying a torch that was only keeping you warm by setting you on fire. Carrying a torch that feels like a grudge some nights.

Bucky’s hands are still gentle on your hips. He looks fragile, hovering like a swinging mobile with cracks in it, and if you tugged at him the wrong way he’d collapse, so you brush your thumb at the furrow between his brows, smoothing it out encouragingly.

He closes his eyes, tucks his bottom lip between his teeth.

“Yeah,” is all he says. “Guess we went at it totally different ways, huh? I guess I wanted him to catch me by the scruff of my neck and tell me to settle down how he used to.”

“And I wanted him to tell me to get to living. Wanted him to show me how.”

“I can show you.”

This time, he’s earnest. All the edge of play gone out of his words. He showed you how to kiss, after all. Showed you how he kissed every girl on the track team and you twisted his ear afterward, called him a womanizer and he cackled all the way to fourth period.

“And I can tell you to settle down, but it’s not the same, is it?”

Bucky knocks his forehead into your collar with a definitive thwack and then he sinks with his entire weight, lying on top of you like he’s not a brick wall of boy muscle, the weight of two pizzas, and a case of beer.

You whack him repeatedly until he rolls off, flopping at your side with his hair in your mouth. You spit it out and ponder, “Why are we talking about him like he’s dead?”

“I think he’s dead a little bit. I think we have to let that kid go.”

And the image of Steve turned away for good, for the last time, cuts a crease so deep you didn’t know it was possible to still be alive after.

And yet here you are, and here Bucky is next to you.

“He’s gonna ask you to be his best man.”

Bucky shrugs, “Or he’ll ask you.”

“Shit,” you laugh, a sudden jolt of reality lancing your heart, “Oh shit, Buck. He might ask us both.”

He laughs along, “What are we gonna do, huh?”

“Cry.”

“I mean after that,” he says pointedly, like you’ve suggested the most obvious scenario.

“Get drunk. Dance poorly. You’ll hook up with a bridesmaid in the photobooth.”

“Nah, I’d never leave you. We’ll cry, we’ll get drunk, we’ll dance, and then we’ll send ‘em off, and then we’ll go home. We’ll split a cab.”

He turns, locking one leg between yours, one hand around your waist until it can draw circles in the middle of your back. He looks and he looks and when you feel like you could start crying right there as he’s smiling and touching you, Bucky kisses you long and hard and presses his entire body against yours.

“And you’ll stay the night,” he murmurs.

“Sure, Buck,” you sigh, “I’ll stay the night.”

“And we’ll kiss some more. Or we’ll just watch a movie. In the morning I’ll make you pancakes with a whipped cream smile and blueberries for eyes.”

You laugh into his mouth. His sweet, warm mouth, always so good and right and just what you needed.

“God, Becs is going to be so shitty about us.”

“Becs thinks we should have gotten together years ago.”

“Becs thinks we should have hunted each other for sport years ago.”

He cackles, pulling himself closer, until you’re crushed in his embrace. “Nah, baby. I’d never do that to you.”

You push your hands up beneath his shirt, feel his heartbeat in your palm. “We’re so dramatic.”

“Oh yeah. We’ll get over it, though. Love him too much for anything else. Love you, too.”

You nuzzle further into him. “Yeah, love you, too.”

The movie comes to an end here, everything fading into a gentle blur as Bucky pulls the blanket up over your chest. You laugh and inhale him, smelling his sweat and warmth and your own kisses on his chest.

Overhead, neon plastic stars spell out a man-made galaxy, and the two of you watch them hold onto their artificial light for a few more minutes before everything slips away.

[the-new-ribbon]

I've Been Loving You For Quite Some Time (and it's about time we do something about it)

synopsis: Gwyn Berdara and Azriel Night have been friends since their senior year of college. Years later they find themselves both working at Moonlight University. They've strictly stuck to being friends, but when they travel to Nesta and Cassian’s elopement, the last thing they ever expected was to wind up drunk and standing at the altar of a drive-thru wedding chapel.

word count: 1664

read here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/54767785

or below the cut.

Gwyn

The smell of luggage and coffee filled the Velaris airport. The chiming of the arrival and departure boards were white noise for Gwyn as she sat at Gate 30 with her nose in the latest Sellyn Drake novel. She knows she should be grading the essays for her Romantic Literature class, but she’s on vacation for the weekend and her best friend is getting married. The grades can wait.

Plus there’s Azriel sitting next to her and she knows she won’t be able to get any grading done with him there. His black button up shirt hugs his arms perfectly, the swirls of ink drawn on his arms and chest, even slightly on his neck drive her crazy. Especially when the whole ensemble is paired with those glasses. Round silver frames, rounder than glasses lots of other people in Velaris have. And they’re a thousand times sexier.

Flight 1456 with service to Adriata will be boarding in ten minutes. Again, Flight 1456 with service to Adriata will be boarding in ten minutes.

With that announcement, Gwyn tucks her bookmark (a white ribbon) into the spine of her book, luckily she just finished a chapter so it was the perfect stopping point. Though it wasn’t exactly like she was comprehending what she was reading, the thoughts of Azriel flooded her brain like a hurricane in the Summer Court side of Prythian.

“Az,” she whispers to the handsome man, one of her best friends, the best man in Nesta and Cassian’s wedding, and her crush. “You’re saving me a seat right?”

Unfortunately, Gwyn was in the middle of teaching about Pride and Prejudice and didn’t check into her flight soon enough and got stuck in the C boarding class while Az was in the A boarding class. And there’s a chance they won’t be sitting next to each other, even if Az tried to save her a seat.

Azriel looks up, “Actually, I upgraded both our tickets to first class.” he tells her, a small smile forming on his lips. “I thought it would be nice if we could sit together. Plus they have really good snacks.”

The flight was only a few hours but to see Azriel put in work to make sure she would be comfortable, it meant more to her than he would ever know. Warmth spreads across Gwyn’s face and she notices it on Azriel’s face too. Gwyn knows they’re just friends, but she also knows she has a giant crush on Az too. Could Az have a crush on her too?

No, no, why would he have a crush on her? There’s no reason or evidence that he would feel that way, at 

“You didn’t have to do that, Az. I would have been okay sitting by myself.” 

“Okay, that’s the key word, Berdara. You wouldn’t have been okay. Not only would you have gotten a middle seat, there would have been strange men on either side of you. Now, you get your own seat, fancy coffee, and a nice view.” of me, was something he chose not to say but Gwyn knew he was thinking it, she saw the glimmer in his eyes. It was always there when he said something that could be perceived as flirty. She also pretends not to notice the butterflies taking flight in her stomach. 

He takes a moment to push the glasses up his nose. The rings on his fingers glisten in the sunshine peeking through the floor to ceiling windows. She notices his throat bob as he swallows and he clears his throat when he turns to face her.

Did he catch her staring? But there’s no time to think about it because another chime rings through the gate drawing everyone’s attention.

Any first class passengers flying to Adriata, please line up at the desk, you’ll be boarding in just a moment.

“Alright, ready Berdara?” 

Azriel’s scarred hand slides across Gwyn’s back, goosebumps and sparks shoot across her body.  “Yeah, yeah.”

The weight of her teal bag weighs her shoulder down, a slight pain shooting down her arm. Azriel must have been able to tell because his ring covered fingers attached to those tattooed hands Gwyn stares at too much (though she’d never admit it outloud) reach out and grab the bag off her shoulder.

“Az, I can carry my bag.” Gwyn says, reaching to grab her bag away from him. “You already have yours, you don’t need to carry mine.”

“Gwyneth, let me be a gentleman and carry your bag. I know you have at least five books in there, plus all your clothes and toiletries.” there really wasn’t a reason to pack a huge suitcase for a two day trip, Gwyn thought, but now there’s a small tinge of regret bubbling in her chest.

Sparks fly in her chest at him saying her full name. She often hates when people call her Gwyneth, but there’s something about Azriel saying her name that makes butterflies take flight in her stomach and turns her knees wobbly. He also knows her way too well. She did in fact have five books in her bag. Though there was no way she would be able to read them all over the weekend, she liked that there was a variety in case she didn’t know what mood she’d be in – therefore affecting the genre or tropes she’ll want to read. 

“Azriel,” she says, mimicking the tone Az used just moments ago. “If I give you this, can I buy you a drink when we get to Adriata?”

There’s a spark in Azriel’s eye as he looks down at her, she crosses her arms over her chest, not backing down. She may not know it yet, but Azriel Singer would do anything for Gwyneth Berdara.

“Deal.” He holds out his right hand, waiting for her hand to grab his. A challenging look spreads across his face.

Gwyn’s hand slides into Az’s, and they try to ignore the glowing string they both feel, unaware the other feels it too.

She slides the bag off her shoulder, handing it over to him. The swirls of black ink poke out from the cuffs of his shirt. 

“Thank you,” she tells him. 

“Next!” the gate director says through the overhead speaker. Gwyn jumps and Az softly laughs as he places a hand on her lower back, and she leans in closer to him.

It’s romantic. Two friends in such close proximity, bodies brushing against one another and the warmth of Azriel’s hand on Gwyneth’s back. She wonders what the people around them are thinking. 

There’s a higher chance they’re minding their own business, the stress of a flight taking over their thoughts, and not the actions of two strangers in an airport on a Friday afternoon. But as Gwyn looks around as Azriel scans their tickets, she sees a few people looking at them.

Could it really be possible that they look like a couple to the outside world? Not just the imaginary life that constantly plays in Gwyn’s head.

The first class cabin has light blue, almost teal, lights illuminating the floor from under the seats which are separated by a small wall. Not like she would say it out loud or make any expression, but a small bit of disappointment hit her. What if she wanted to hold Az’s hand? There isn’t that option anymore. 

At least the flight was only a few hours.

*~~~*

Azriel

Azriel tapped a small beat on the table in front of him. He could have been grading assignments for his computer science and security courses but like Gwyn, he’s now on vacation and could torture his students a little while longer by making them wait for their grades. He was not nearly as fun as Professor Gwyneth Berdara. Or as beautiful, or as smart.

Looking over the barrier, Azriel caught a glimpse of Gwyn with her nose stuck in the bodice ripper of a novel, the latest of award-winning Sellyn Drake.

The smile on her face is small enough that others around her might not notice but he does. He notices the way her cheek bones are slightly raised and notices the light pink on her cheeks.

What are you reading, Gwyneth?

He thought about taking the book from her and reading it. He knows plenty of things about Gwyn but taking this book would give him insight on what she likes, ways to help him show her he has feelings for her. This could be what is needed to get her to fall in love with me, Az thinks.

“Hey Gwyn,” he whispers once.

No response.

“Gwyn,” he says again.

Once again, no response.

“Gwyneth.”

“Azriel, if you don’t stop saying my name, I’m going to hit you with this book.” Gwyn’s eyes don’t leave the pages of her book. 

“Can I have one of your books to read, please?” 

That gets Gwyn’s attention. The book closes, nothing marking the page or spot where she stopped reading. “You want to read one of my books? I didn’t think a broody, mysterious man like yourself would be interested in romance books.’’

“Today I am looking to broaden my horizons when it comes to reading. And you are one of my very best friends so I know I can trust you.”

Azriel trusts her with more than just books. He trusts her with everything, and one day he hopes that she’ll accept his heart because she’s the only one he trusts enough to give it to.

“Sure.” She reaches down to her bag and grabs one of her books. Their fingers brush as he grabs the book and he feels his stomach drop. “I’ve read this one before so there’s some annotations and post-its in it in case I ever want to go back and reread some of my favorite scenes. Feel free to ignore them.”

Her favorite scenes are highlighted. This is perfect. 

Operation: It’s Time We Do Something About Our Love begins now.

[quxxn0fhxarts]

Sonic Senior Year - 18+ - 1. Back to Acorn Academy

Cover and Photo Made with Bing AI

Aged Up

Links to Wattpad and AO3 at end of the post

------- Headmistress Longclaw: Rosemary Laigle: 38, 5 foot Soar Laigle: 40, 7 ft 7 ------- September 2nd, 2014 7:43 AM

Acorn Academy, Mobius City, Mystic Highlands

   Tails barely exited the SUV before his step-father drove off, "Bye, Momma..." Tails sighed, thinking he was the only one in the parking lot. Usually, he was never this late. He would normally be at the Boarding School a week early, but things had gotten tricky. He looked to his right to see Shadow looking at him while walking to the main building. Tails gulped and jogged onto campus.

   The Prowers were an established family in Mobius. His father was an Army Hero, and they were supposed to have the perfect family, but that was different behind closed doors. Amadeus had just been buried at the beginning of the summer, and his mother had already remarried. Of all Mobians she could marry, it was an Eagle. Eagles were the mortal enemy of the Foxes, but his Mom was way too happy to be a widow of three months.

   Tails wasn't too upset to ignore his traditions with Sonic, so he laid his ears back and crouched until he could pounce on his friend, using his tails to propel further. Though, like always, Sonic had heard him and quickly stepped back to catch and pull him into a hug. "Tails! I was so worried about you. I thought you decided to go on to university since I had only heard from you so little this summer.

   "I told you I was going on Vacation, and I might not have service, silly," He hugged his arms around Sonic's neck.

   "Have you heard the news? it's terrible!" Sonic whined, and Tails raised an eyebrow. He has yet to have time to check his emails or texts because they have just returned to West Valley. "Everyone has been assigned a new room and roommate since there were so many pregnancies last year.

   "What?" Tails gasped. He had been roommates with Sonic since Pre-K. Acorn Academy has never been split up into genders. Pregnancy had never been an issue before since they would let students pick their roommates, and they would usually pick their best friend. It made Tails feel like less of a freak. 

   He didn't only have two tails, but he also had genitalia of all genders. He identified as a Male. However, it's harder for him to get respect because many people still look down on Omegas, and they don't even know he is an intersex Omega at that. The general public didn't even know as he loaded anti-heat spray on his body and took some pretty intense anti-heat pills.

   "You should probably swing by the office to see where you are staying now," Amy suggested, and Tails nodded. He was worried that the luggage he sent to the school a couple of weeks ago didn't make it to his new room.

   "No need. He is in my dorm. Building 14 Dorm X," Shadow said as he was walking by. He watched Tail's eyes grow wide and Sonic's face growing angry. "Not thrilled about it either. I'm being forced to sleep here and not at my mansion," Shadow muttered as he rolled his eyes and went to Rouge to see what she had been up to all summer.

------- 2:53 PM    "Professor Robotnik? You said that we had partners for this project?" Silver asked, reminding the eclectic teacher to inform everyone of their partners as the dismissal bell rang.

   AP Robotics was Tail's favorite class. He loved making artificial intelligence and trinkets. He does it every day. He would much rather work alone, but he was a rule stickler, and would make a fuss about it. He tried his best not to look in Shadow's direction as if it would tempt his tough luck.

   "Your dorm mates, if you don't have a dorm mate in AP Robotics, then you can see me after class," Dr. Robotnik waved them all away. Tails avoided Shadow as he walked out of the classroom, while Shadow didn't even think about approaching him. He wanted to go to his room and nap.

   "Nope... Nuh-uh... I forbid it," Sonic crossed his arms as Tails told him what happened, "I will talk to Principle Longclaw. She loves me,"

   "She is your mother... and she never listens to your demands. She doubles down so you learn your lessons," Tails pouted.

   "I don't care,"

   "Is Shadow all that bad? You haven't even asked Tails if he wanted to change roommates... aren't you happy with Knuckles?" Amy shrugged. She couldn't hide the tiniest bit of jealousy. Tails was so cute, just Sonic's type. 

   She didn't fully believe that they had been friends for this long and hadn't developed feelings for each other. An Alpha and an Omega can't just be friends for this long, and it is strictly platonic. "Seriously... they will only be Robotic partners for a week so that you can chill,"

   "Amy, he is pure evil. Do you not remember him cutting off your pigtails when you fell asleep back in third grade? What about you, Tails? He gave you so many wedgies I am surprised that you didn't have crap in your brain,"

   "Thank you for the image..." Tails and Amy pinched their noses.

   "And worst of all... He put laxatives in my precious chili dogs... I didn't eat them for at least 5 hours after that..." Sonic was seething. No one messed with his chili dogs and got away with it with their lives.

   "Sonic, it's not like I want to be his partner... and it isn't for a week. It's for the entire school year," Tails sighed.

   "What?" Sonic and the gang gulped.

   "We have to build a life-size robot that is functional as a human, which can have conversations, thoughts, wants, and skill building," Tails ran his hand through his ginger hair.

   "Tails, I will fix this, okay..." Sonic said, and before Tails could say anything, Sonic had jetted away.

   "Are you coming to the party tonight?" Amy asked. " It's a back-to-school party thrown by Jet. He has it every year in the forest."

   "Oh, um... I am pretty tired, raincheck?"

   "Of course, hon, I am going to try to find Sonic," Amy said, patting Tails on the back and walking off with Cream and Blaze. Knuckles waved to his little buddy before walking off for soccer practice.

   Tails has been trying his best to avoid Silver all day, but it was hard since he had most classes with him. He tried walking away, but much like his brother, Silver was fast, "Tails," He didn't want to overpower Tails. Tails tried to act oblivious to him and put earbuds in his ears, but Silver was persistent. He was followed from the main building to the opposite side of campus. "Miles," Silver sighed, placing a hand on Tail's as the fox was reaching to unlock his door.

   "Silver, please... I don't feel like talking right now,"

   "I don't want to talk. I want to see how you are doing," Silver told him. He didn't need an answer from Tails to know he wasn't okay. "I... um, I am not mad- I... understand-" Silver said, pinching his nose. He needed to learn how to approach this. He didn't want to seem like he was permitting Tails to do anything. Soon after, Tails hugged him, and Silver hugged him back.

   "I am not mad at you... I need some time," Tails sighed.

   "Faggots," Vector said, passing by the two. Only a few people knew about Tails being intersex except for his immediate family and the doctors at Mobius City Medical... and after this summer, Silver.

   "Don't listen to him..." Silver told Tails, rubbing circles on his back, "I am in Building 23 Dorm A..."

   "Thank you, Silver," He managed to say goodbye and get into his dorm before he began to tear up. Tails and Shadow immediately made eye contact before both immediately looked away.

   Shadow transitioned from a bully to a recluse/loner two years ago. No one knew what happened. When he was old enough to emancipate himself, he moved out of the orphanage and into his parents' mansion. The Blackbournes were well-known politicians who passed away before Shadow's first birthday. 

   Shadow hated the orphanage, having to dorm at Acorn Academy, and, most importantly, having roommates. He would be at his home right now, but the academy had a rule against going off campus for the first week of School. The manor was 30 minutes away by motorcycle on Ghost Hill. He missed it so much.

   Tails looked through his luggage for his school sweats. He pulled out the project he had been working on all summer. A balcony and a little nook were in the room, so he would try to have some alone time.

   "I am sorry that you are upset," Shadow sighed. He could smell how devastated and upset Tails was... and he wouldn't be able to fall asleep. He hated the scent of sorrow. It smelled like rain. "If you want, I can go with you to file a roommate swap in the morning,"

   "Huh?" Tails asked, and then he let what Shadow said sink in, "No, I am not upset about that... Yes, I am nervous, but something else is happening," Tails sighed. He looked over to Shadow, and the gloomy guy nodded before closing his eyes and putting his headphones on.

   Tails had never heard Shadow apologize before. It had been a long time since he had been a bully. Tails knew it could be too soon to tell if he was a good guy now. Meanwhile, Shadow knew he could manipulate Tails because of his looks and aura as an Alpha, but he wasn't sure if he wanted to. It wasn't Tails' fault that he was forced to stay more on campus. 

   The two didn't press anything, going to their respective worlds away from the campus. Tails found his micro-robot and tolls before leaving the balcony to destress from the day.

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Sonic: Senior Year - Chapter 1 - quxxnofhxarts - Sonic the Hedgehog - All Media Types [Archive of Our Own]

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Sonic Senior Year - 18+ - 1. Back to Acorn Academy - Wattpad

[wellpresseddaisy]

The Poshest Bedstead in Islington part 15

Dominic Agnew stood shoulder to shoulder with Adelaide Kershaw in the entry hall and basked in their shared moment of triumph. The sun barely glimmered over the horizon, lightening the early morning gloom just enough. The summer morning dawned chilly and damp, with rain promised later, but inside fires crackled in each grate. The entry tiles positively gleamed from everyone’s hard work yesterday and a soft strain of beeswax furniture polish floated under the scent of flowers from the garden. Not that anything hadn’t been clean before, but Gordon had a way with scrubbing tiles that even Kreacher approved.

Welcoming Molly Weasley into the house was enough to give any Housekeeper the yips. They’d done a thorough cleaning last night, from the sub-basement up to the attics, in part to tamp down on their own nerves and in part to introduce themselves to Black House. Coming in as new staff when she’d got used to only having Kreacher tending her needed a delicate touch. She needed to know their magic and their intentions, and so they set to work.

He thought, perhaps, that the grand old girl liked having them about. Old houses, magical ones especially, had their quirks and personalities that one simply worked with or around. Dominic didn’t think she’d give them trouble so long as they respected her. All of them were so up in alt over being chosen that he wasn’t sure they’d particularly notice.

He’d positively longed to try his hand at being Housekeeper, and now he could. Adelaide, he knew, would excel as Butler. He’d never yet met anyone who could match her breadth and depth of knowledge regarding wine and the care of silver services.

He surveyed the footmen and housemaids lined up before the pair of them and took a deep breath as Adelaide began.

“In one hour, we will begin welcoming our house guests. They will be staying for as long as is needed, given the distressing threats laid against them. We are asked to give no indication that they are here for the present moment. Not one word of gossip will pass out of this house. Am I understood?” Adelaide spoke severely.

The group of them gave a general murmur of assent.

“In the beginning, as a reminder, His Grace will neither entertain nor be at home to visitors. We know that his innocence should be announced in the next few weeks. Kreacher will let us know when this is announced and if His Grace will be at home. His Lordship will, with any luck, be able to join the household at that time.” Adelaide continued. “Jefferson, Danvers, and Bailey—has the heavy luggage been brought up?”

“Yes, ma’am. We saw to it earlier this morning. We’re set to go with Kreacher to bring the guests here in an hour.” Jefferson, the first footman, stepped forward and answered smartly.

“Good work.” Adeliade nodded at them.

“And the bedrooms are all made up?” Dominic asked, even though he’d checked not fifteen minutes before.

“We’re ready for everyone, Mr. Kershaw.” Maud answered, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “Miss Daley wished me to tell you that she’s ready to receive the young ladies. Mr. Douglas will wait upon the young gentlemen and Miss Cooper is ready for Mrs. Weasley.”

“Thank you, Maud.” Not even a week ago they’d both been senior housemaids. He hoped she didn’t take his promotion amiss.

“Cook will send an early tea up to the Morning room once our guests are settled,” he continued. “I know we’ll all do excellent work here. His Grace noticed your efforts last night and sends along his sincere thanks. If you have any trouble, you may come to me. Many of our younger guests aren’t used to being waited upon and have spent the last few years mostly at school. Any trouble from that quarter should be brought to Kreacher.”

One of the footmen—Katherine Bailey, Dominic’s brain supplied—raised her hand.

“Yes, Bailey?” Adelaide prompted.

“It’s probably not my place, Mrs. Kershaw, but I grew up not far from the Weasleys. Does anyone else think this is a thinly veiled attempt to keep His Grace distracted and entertained until His Lordship can come home?”

Dominic saw Adelaide twitch out of the corner of his eye and bit the inside of his cheek. Good old Bailey, always noticing things.

“You always do make connections quickly, Bailey.” Adelaide sounded a bit strained.

“Sorry, Mrs. Kershaw. It’s just that they’re a guardian family and the Burrow is protected as anything.” Bailey shifted under Adelaide’s steady gaze.

“Whatever the reasons, we’ll be on our guard, won’t we?”

That got a firm yes from all gathered.

“Right. Well, off we trot to face the day and make Mrs. Harris proud.” Dominic winced at how that sounded but shooed everyone off to their work.

He’d have to work on not sounding like a giant tit.

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

The gray, mizzley day couldn’t put a damper on Sirius’ high spirits. Nor could the heavy over robe Kreacher and Halloway insisted on, or the Bath chair Kreacher unearthed from somewhere ‘So His Grace can be comfortable while guests arrive’. Despite his continued convalescence, he would (privately) not mind sitting while waiting. His balance hadn’t quite recovered yet, and he had misgivings about all the stairs down into the garden.

Guests. The very word sent a thrill through him. He hadn’t realized just how much he missed other people about the place until Albus suggested the Weasleys come to stay a while. As much as he hated thinking of the threats leveled against them (against Ginny and Ronald especially), he rather hoped they’d stay a good long while. If anyone deserved some rest it was Molly and Arthur. They worked hell’s own hours, no matter what Molly made it look like to the children.

Having young people around would be fun, too. He’d liked Hermione and Ronald when he met them, and he expected that Ginny would be interesting at the very least. One did not mix Weasley and Prewett blood and expect a mealy-mouthed miss. They weren’t Harry, but taking them through the attics to select furniture and clothes would still be great fun.

He felt a bit silly sitting on the terrace under a pavilion, but it was the only way he could get Kreacher and Halloway to agree to him waiting outside. Honestly, if he’d realized what complete autocrats servants trained under Mrs. Harris were, he’d have risked arrest and gone to an agency instead.

“Halloway, if you try to tuck another rug over my knees or about my shoulders, I will turn into a dog and bite you,” Sirius snapped, waving off his anxious valet.

“As you wish, your Grace,” Halloway sniffed. “It would be a shame if Kreacher found you’d caught cold, of course.”

“You have been in my employ for…how long were you at Buckingham House?” Sirius interrupted himself.

“Five years this August, your grace.” Halloway took advantage of his momentary distraction to drop the disputed rug over his knees.

“In any case you’ve been in my particular employ for less than twenty-four hours and you’re invoking Kreacher? For shame, man.”

“Kreacher was exceedingly specific, your grace, as to his expectations of me. I shan’t fail him.”

“Do my own expectations get a look in?”

“Er, no, your grace. Kreacher doesn’t believe they should. He began muttering about trousers and music hall abominations when I asked.”

“We are going to have a chat about that as soon as I feel up to it,” Sirius declared. “We’re all in thrall to Kreacher, aren’t we?”

“I believe we all know that listening to Nanny is in our best interest.”

The first pop of apparition distracted them both. Bailey appeared with Hermione on one arm and Ginny on the other.

“Miss Hermione Granger and Miss Ginevra Weasley, your grace,” Bailey announced and popped out again.

The girls walked up the terrace steps together, stopping just under the pavilion.

“Welcome, both of you,” Sirius began. “Miss Granger, do you accept the protection and sponsorship of my House?”

He held a hand out to her and she did as they practiced with her parents, clasping his hand for a moment and then sliding her hand up to clasp his wrist.

“With the consent of my parents, I do accept,” Hermione answered in a clear, ringing voice.

Their magic surged in response to the oath, hers a sparking lavender and his Family Magic a slinking silver. Tendrils twined together, reminding him of little more than two cats meeting for the first time. Acceptance thrilled through him, the Black magic well pleased to offer shelter to such a magical. Slowly, their magic receded, Hermione’s now bearing the gossamer sheen of the Black Family. She loosed his wrist and stepped back.

“That was…my magic?” She breathed, eyes wide. “I’ve never seen…it’s beautiful.”

“It is, Miss Granger. Welcome to the protection of my House. We shall be well pleased to sponsor you.”

“Thank you, your grace. It is an honor to be given the protection and sponsorship of such a House as this. I only hope I shall bring honor to it.”

“For now, Miss Granger, Mr. Black will do. We’ll work out a compromise acceptable to all parties in the very near future. You’re all so dear to Harry that…well, we won’t say anything more about that for the moment. Sit and be comfortable. Halloway has quite a knack for warming charms.” Sirius unholstered his wand and conjured two chairs.

“Thank you, Mr. Black. I think it was Ron next, and then Fred and George. Mum’s still insisting she can apparate herself,” Ginny explained as she made herself comfortable. “Bailey, I think, is going to win in the end.”

Hermione shook herself out of a reverie and sat as well. “How…are you well?”

Sirius took in the worry in her eyes and the way she bit at her lip and sighed internally. Another one taking on too much responsibility, too many adult worries. Hermione should have thoughts only for her coming OWL year and whatever else the Hermiones of the world enjoyed, not his health and how it would affect Harry and all of it.

“I will be perfectly well soon,” he reassured her. “We’re being extremely cautious at the moment, but in a few more weeks I may not need even a walking stick. The chair is so I don’t have to try all the steps to get back here.”

Hermione nodded and relaxed fractionally. “I’m sure it’s a lovely garden.”

Ginny snorted and Sirius honestly agreed with her.

“We haven’t done much out here. We wanted to wait for your mother, Miss Weasley. She seems to think taming a pleasure garden is great fun.”

“So that’s why she’s had all the gardening catalogs and books out. It is fun for her, though. Mum mostly plans working gardens and things like that at home. Mucking about with flowers and decorative borders and all that will be fun for her.”

Just then, Jefferson and Ron apparated in, Ron looking a bit green.

“Mr. Ronald Weasley,” Jefferson announced before he apparated out.

“Er, thanks,” Ron told thin air.

“Be welcome, Mr. Weasley,” Sirius called to him. “Come up and get out of that drizzle.”

“Nasty sort of a day,” Ron remarked once he made the top of the stairs. “We got caught in a filthy downpour in Brighton. Jefferson’s first rate with drying charms.”

“There are fires and near endless hot water inside,” Sirius assured him, enlarging Hermione’s chair to fit two. “I don’t know what they did to the boiler, but I don’t think it’s ever worked better.”

“Do you think they’d mind if I asked? Only Dad’s been muttering about ours since Fred and George discovered that they really liked scalding showers.”

“Could I listen in? I don’t know anything about magical home repair or appliances,” Hermione added hopefully.

“We’ll have to ask Kreacher. Which…Kreacher, they’re here.” Usually he would say ‘the children are here’, but with three above the age of thirteen, one didn’t wish to insult them.

Kreacher entered with a pop, looking delighted.

“Excellent, your grace. Kreacher will take you up to the…schoolroom floor so you may rest and tidy before an early tea. Mr. Ronald, Kreacher heard about the dousing in Brighton. A bath is waiting.”

The three young people found themselves chivvied toward the terrace entrance to the house, not one of them quite knowing how they got there. Ron and Ginny, at least, had some idea of exactly who Kreacher was in the grand scheme of this sort of family.

“Don’t you want company, Mr. Black?” Hermione asked, turning back.

“Miss Hermione will come with Kreacher.”

Sirius pressed his lips together a moment before he answered.

“Best go in with Kreacher, Miss Granger. Mr. Weasley will clue you in. It’s best, though, if we all listen to Nanny.”

[idv-news-boi]

-> Laurence's Journal Entry at the Manor {Part 1}

Note// How is everyday at the manor like with Laurence.

Day 1 {First Day in the Outcast Club-}

Hey James! I'm going to call you James rather than journal- you're my pal! You keep secrets for me afterall~

Today,,, I have the vision that coming to the manor will be worth it. There wasn't regret in leaving the Dyanthus Republic into a mysterious world of button eyes and black voids watching you through the windows,,, and heard you through the walls.

I admit, i do miss home... So I sang my heart's out with a crazy song to cheer me up! Akihiko was looking at me silly the entire carriage ride lol-

Met the Mr. Embalmer himself! Despite being quiet, he is very polite and welcoming. He even helps a little with Akihiko's luggages- it seems my partner made a new friend~ ;)

Someone just called me hot- Well, from an anonymous letter at my room when I was trying to set things up- probably saw me from afar while I was walking around the halls-

Day 2 {Suddenly I was called a Bill Cypher 2.0}

I was just giving with my radio cast microphone until suddenly, 3 figures(a dirty blonde man with glasses, some guy holding a telephone, and the illuminati???) Appeared in my studio and told me to join them to take over a universe while calling me a loser??? What the???

Also, some German gentleman with a classy suit appeared after-heard he's married which is unfortunate since he's hot/ih

But at the end, turns out it's just a dream,,, And that's why I couldn't sleep at that night after-

Ended up drinking a coffee mug as I check on some inbox questions about my and Akihiko's arrival and other things we're going to do at the manor- We both officially have the declaration to name our News Program "The Oletus Times"~!

Day 3 {This Room isn't Yassified Enough!}

Morning James! Setting up everything before taking tours around the manor was a bit complicated- I didn't expect any luxury while in my stay- but gosh,,,- The room is even more dusty! How do these people allow this 'hospitality'? Killing them with disease intentionally? Oh naw!

I don't care whatever the baron says- I'm remodeling and cleaning my room with my style! Secrets on how i got the materials? Oh, a master doesn't tell their secrets~

Akihiko must have thought the same when he first saw his room- So he moved to my room to share it, used his room as our studio - and took a whole 6 hours to finish the extensive replacing and decorating much modern stuff,,,

Aki and I almost got into a short argument whether Modern Jazz style or Westernized Japanese should be the theme of the room- we ended up making the room go half-and-half,,,- I mean, it actually worked at the end surprising. I like how there's different aesthetics in a same room! X'D

As we were remodeling of course, we also got some room service to send us some food meals while we work- it wasn't that bad,,, but not as great as the hamburgers and the coleslaw salad chef Palacios usually makes at my favorite diner!

Day 4 {A Productive Tour With Angeline!} @askthepianist

Oh gosh, Jim,,, I met a tall woman,,, A pretty nice one!!! (Pinned profile picture of Angeline from the manor's survivor files)

I started my first routine interviews that i will do everyday- going around and talk with survivors and hunters to get to know them while still getting lost in this maze-

Nonetheless, I was saved by the pianist from at least being able to know where the kitchen is(Akihiko keeps asking if there's a kitchen around to make mochis-) and now i know where the garden Ms. Woods usually works on! Heard a little bird that the senior Gardener is bringing a new stash of flower beds today~!

What a savior,,, What else can I do if i couldn't receive such help? I learned so many things today!

Day 5 {Nice Artists, Very Familiar Ones...} @idv-artists-trio

Good Evening, James! Just met a group of fellow teammates - i notice that they often stay together, it turns out they're artists! Artist squad hehe~ Rosie may be quiet, but she's very kind and cute! (^-^

Meeting Angel is another advantage to know that i won't be wearing rags for long- I'll be sure to pay him back somehow for his generosity~!

Not going to lie, Kitty resembles so much of the Head Officer Police at home- even she speaks without not having the word "meow" in every sentence!

Only 3 if them seem familiar, the only one that i don't seem to seeing somewhere is Eiji- but he does remind me of Head Shrine Maiden Ivory!

Day 6 {A Sweet Welcome Gift} @ask-idv-baker

My my, Jim! Guess what? I met one of Angel's other artist friends, Beth Anastazja,,,!!! Isn't she adorable???(Pinned profile pic of Beth from the manor's survivor files)

She appeared at our door and gave us a lot of baked goods~! Akihiko couldn't get used to receiving such generous gifts! But he seems to be more happier today after that (^-^

Hope that the cute Baker gets to have everything she needs to fulfill,,,-

Day 7 {Thrilling Game? I'm here to work hard- but i also play hard~!} @ask-idv-thrillseeker

Hey Jim! GUESS WHAT??? The manor's host allowed me to take part in the game at least once in a while! Of course, he still wants me alive- but is not like i get killed that easily~!

I also met a cool, but also hot huntress by the name of Cleo in my first match- (pinned profile pic of Cleo from the manor's hunter files)

It was a bit amusing to see her shocked reaction when i didn't hesitate in oblige her offer to stop decoding in return of her not hunting me- I mean, I'll rather receive a bonk from my teammates rather than get terrorshocked-

I'll keep a reminder to myself in inviting her to dinner,,, If she considers my offer to,,, send me into the basement ~ ❤️/ih

Day 8 {Is that King Kong but Spider,,,????}

Jim! You have no idea what just happened- I just saw a huge spider looking creature creeping on the huge window from the matching room??? Where did that come from...? Impressive,,, 🤔

I might probably start some ghost hunting research around the manor too- is it just me or I just saw a ghost appeared right next to me on the broken chair of the table... It disappears in one blink of an eye!

Day 9 {Met a guitarist- Also a Young Lady that i May or May not Adopt-} @janetheguitarist

I was doing my usual routine, but is this time talking to a young guitarist with a student uniform(?) (Pinned profile pic of Jane from the manor's survivor files)

Also a lil girl that looks like a princess,,,- how precious,,, (Pinned profile pic of Elise,,, the manor's survivor files are also missing some blanks)

Day 10 { What a Lovely Surprise,,, How Enticing ~} @idv-ask-snakecharmer

James? I met a handsome Snakecharmer- I call him Prince now,,, (Pinned post of Amar in the manor's survivor files)

I like his sweet advances while he was using his mother tongue- I didn't even expected him to kiss my hand I-????

Not sure why, but I still played along and got him flustered as well- uno reverse card, hehe~❤️

Sad that he couldn't stay long enough- but he did left me with a nice kiss~ ;)

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Kira looked out of the station windows, waiting for the shuttle to arrive, thinking. After all they had been through recently, now that everything had calmed down, Sisko had ordered all the senior staff to take a couple of days off. She and Jadzia decided to spend their vacation of Bajor; what better time to visit the planet than during Ha’mara, the anniversary of the arrival of the Emissary? This time, the Captain was taking part in the celebrations too, having finally started to accept his role as a religious figure. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps around the corner; soon after, Dax and Sisko appeared.

- “Good morning, Captain” – she said, then turned around to give Jadzia a quick peck on the lips.

Even after all the time they had been together, it still sometimes felt unreal to her. Part of it probably was due to the fact it took her so long to realize she was a lesbian; with all her previous boyfriends she never experienced anything as powerful and intense as what she felt when she was with Jadzia. Even now, a gesture as simple as a quick kiss evoked a lot of emotions in her; everything in the world just felt right for a second.

As she was thinking this, the shuttle appeared in front of them, quickly approaching the airlock. The three of them quickly stepped on board, leaving the station for what felt like the first time in ages.

- “Nerys” – Jadzia said, while tapping on her shoulder – “wake up, we’re almost there”

Kira looked around, confused. – “What? Already? Did – did I sleep through the whole three-hour journey?”

- “Yeah. You pretty much dozed off as soon as we left the station”

- “Really? It’s never happened to me before”

- “You looked real cute the whole time, if it’s any consolation” - Dax quipped.

Kira chuckled as she stood up to grab their luggage and get off the shuttle.

As they set foot in the capital city, they were hit with the light and the warmth of the sun. It was a welcome change from the cold, artificial light of the station, always on, always the same every hour of the day and every day of the year. Kira inhaled deeply, taking in the cool morning breeze. She sure missed her planet. Jadzia, on the other hand, got distracted looking at her girlfriend’s red hair glowing bright in the warm sunlight. It was still early morning, so the city was starting just starting to wake up, the streets almost empty, aside from a few people working on the last preparations for the celebrations.

- “So, Nerys, how does this work? I mean, I know it’s the celebration of the anniversary of the Emissary’s arrival, but…”

- “Well, there’s gonna be a special service at the temple, with everybody gathering to pray all afternoon to thank the Prophets for our Emissary” – Kira replied – “then, in the evening there will be the big Festival of Lights” - she added

- “So, Benjamin” – Dax asked, seeing that Sisko was still looking at the same PADD he had been reading on the shuttle –“are you still working on your speech?”

- “Yes. My Bajoran has become better over the years but still, I want to be sure everything is perfect; after all, there’s people that have come from the other side of the planet to see me”

He still wasn’t completely comfortable with his role; most of all, the idea of people seeing him as more than a man and in some way “superior” to them clashed with his values as an human and has an officer.

- “Not easy being a religious icon, huh, Benjamin?”

- “I’m sure everything will go well, Captain. After all, most Bajorans will be more than happy to just meet the Emissary”

It was still early morning, so, after dropping their luggage off, and while Sisko met with the Kai, Kira and Dax decided to take a walk around the capital.

The city, after some years of work, had recovered quite well from the destruction of the occupation; only some of the old historical buildings had survived years of conflict between Bajoran and Cardassians, and a lot of the valuable pieces of art were stolen by the Cardassians when leaving, but still, the provisional government had pushed very hard to bring the city back to it former glory and the results were showing. As they strolled around the narrow streets, hand in hand, Jadzia realized Kira had become really quiet.

- “Nerys, is everything alright? You haven’t said a word since this morning” she asked, concerned

- “It’s – it’s just memories coming back. I’m alright”

- “Good memories or bad memories?” she insisted anyway, knowing well how much Kira struggled with her past.

- “Bad”

- “Anything you want to talk about?”

- “It’s really not in particular. Just memories of all this places semi-destroyed, phaser fire every hour of the day. And the screams. And Cardassians everywhere and…” she stopped, trying to block all the terrible thoughts coming up in her mind, one after another, taking her back to her resistance days; she could almost smell the smoke from the bombs they used to plant and the dust in the air after a blast.

The next thing Kira felt were Jadzia’s arms around her; Dax’s skin pressing against hers, soft. Her calm, rhythmical breath.

- “It’s okay Nerys, it’s over” she whispered softly – “I’m here now”

They stood there for what felt like an eternity, until Kira snapped out of her thoughts. Again, for a bit all felt right in the world. Kira wished they could stay there forever, never leaving Jadzia’s arms.

- “Thank you, Jadzia” was all she could say “I – I don’t deserve you”

- “You do. And don’t let anything make you think otherwise”

She tried replying to that, but Jadzia just hugged her again, making everything disappear.

They got back on to the main road, near the city center, where all the historical buildings still remaining were.

- “I had no idea the Temple was this magnificent” - Jadzia remarked, pointing to the imposing building – “the pictures we have in the Federation computers really don’t do it justice”

- “You know, I’ve been here before, but it still amazes me. Especially when you think how they built it”

Dax was never into architecture, but the Bajoran culture still fascinated her, especially after having spent so much time with Kira and other Bajorans, experiencing part of it firsthand.

- “I’m afraid I don’t know a lot about it.” – she had done some research about it before their trip, so she did know quite a bit, but she still wanted to hear it from Kira. Also, she thought that maybe talking about ancient history would help her girlfriend not to think about her terrible past.

- “It was built about 2000 years ago, on the site where the first Orb fell down from the sky. They extracted the rock from the nearby mountains, then painstakingly brought it down block by block. It is said it took 30 years to build”

Jadzia nodded.

- “It was expanded multiple times through the years, and it had 10 spires, one for each Orb they found. Unfortunately some parts of it were damaged, so it probably looked even more impressive when it was complete”

As she said this, people started amassing near the entrance. It was almost time for the service.

- “I better go now if I want any chance to get inside”

- “Do you want me to go with you? I can enter the temple even if I’m an atheist, right?”

- “You can enter, but really, it’s gonna be hours and hours of prayers. You don’t have to come with me”

- “Are you sure? I’d be happy to if you want me to”

- “Really, it’s okay. I already made you walk all morning. Just go have lunch and relax a bit. I’ll see you tonight at the festival, okay?”

When Nerys got out of the Temple that night, the sun had already set. The street leading to the temple was now lit by thousands of lanterns, burning with bright flames of every color possible. Traditional music filled the air. Thousands of Bajorans were rushing out of the temple, gathering in the streets. Everybody was dancing, filled with happiness. Even Kira, who usually disliked dancing (and usually thought she looked pretty ridiculous when doing it) found herself tapping her foot. In the distance, in the dim light of the lanterns, Jadzia was waiting, her tall figure standing out in the crowd. She was wearing a sleek blue dress, the same color of her eyes. She had her hair down, and the light evening breeze was blowing them all around, uncovering the dark spots running down her neck. Kira had seen her a million times, but she still stood there in awe for a bit.

- “You’re stunning” that all she was able to mutter.

- “So are you” Jadzia replied, with her usual mischievous smile.

Kira was glad there wasn’t much light on the street, as she could just feel her cheeks turning red.

As they made their way through the crowd, they walked past a long line of Bajorans standing in a queue behind what looked like a small shrine. Kira knew exactly what it was. She tried walking faster, almost running, but it was too late.

- “What’s that about, Nerys?”

- “Couples waiting to proclaim their love before the Prophets. It’s another ancient tradition”

- “Like what you and Shakaar did at the Ken… Kenda Shrine, right?”

- “Yes. They want to know if they’re walking the same path”

- “Should we do it to?” – Jadzia asked – “or is there some sort of… preparation needed?” – she added quickly

Kira sighed. That’s what she wanted to avoid. It was too early for this, after all they only had been together a couple of months, there was no need to rush things along… Or at least that was what she tried telling herself. Deep down, she was afraid of losing Jadzia. It already happened last time with Shakaar, and from that time on a lot of things had happened that completely changed the way she looked at relationships. Nothing felt certain anymore, nothing was going the way she had always imagined things would be.

- “But you don’t believe in the Prophets. So the answer wouldn’t matter to you”

- “But you do. And if it’s important to you, it’s important to me too”

- “Look, Jadzia, I have been fasting all day. I’m really tired. Why don’t we just do it another time?”

- “Sure, we can. But on one condition”

- “What is it?”

- “When you’re ready, you’re gonna tell me the real reason behind this”

Damn it. Jadzia was reading her like a book. She always did, somehow.

- “Is… is it that obvious?” she stuttered

- “8 lifetimes of experience help” – Jadzia joked – “plus, you were practically running away from the shrine”

Kira felt relieved that she let it go that easy. At least at first.

As time passed, though, she just couldn’t shake the thought from her mind. She just felt guilty. She had to talk about it

- “Jadzia, I – first of all, I love you. Like I’ve never loved anybody before”

- “But?”

- “But I just couldn’t bring myself to ask the Prophets about us. Not after what happened last time”

- “So… you were afraid they would say we had to break up? I respect your culture, but would you really think I would have let you go that easily?”

- “I was just afraid to lose you, Jadzia. All my life I thought I knew what love was. Then I met you and everything, everything I believed in just disappeared. I’m feeling emotions I never even knew I had in me. And – and I don’t know what to do with them. I just know I can’t think of a life without you now.”

Kira rested her head on Jadzia’s chest, fighting back tears.

- “Oh, Nerys, you will never lose me. Even if I have to get on a runabout and talk to the Prophets myself, I’m not letting you go” – Jadzia replied, kissing Nerys on the top of her head.

Kira felt the tension melting away, all at once. Everything felt right again. She couldn’t tell why, but she just knew they were meant to be together. She didn’t need to ask anybody, now. She didn’t even need to talk. She just turned around and kissed Jadzia. Her girlfriend Jadzia. The first person she really fell in love with.

[visitdubaidesertsafari]

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What Does Canada Visitors Insurance Cover?

Visitors Insurance is essential for anyone planning a short-term visit to Canada, providing coverage for unexpected medical emergencies and other travel-related risks. Whether you're visiting for leisure, family gatherings, or business purposes, having visitors insurance can offer peace of mind. Here's a comprehensive guide on what Canada Visitors Insurance typically covers and how it works.

Is Visitor Insurance the Same as Travel Insurance?

Though visitors insurance and travel insurance share similarities, they are not exactly the same. Both types of insurance provide financial protection for unexpected events during travel. However, visitors insurance is specifically designed to cover medical emergencies for individuals visiting a foreign country, such as Canada. In contrast, travel insurance is a broader term that may include trip cancellations, delays, lost luggage, and more.

Visitors insurance focuses on safeguarding against health-related risks and ensuring that you have access to medical care in Canada, where healthcare costs can be high for non-residents. It may also include coverage for accidental death or dismemberment, but its primary focus is medical-related issues.

Does a Visitor Visa Cover Health and Medical Expenses?

No, a visitor visa does not include any health or medical coverage. If you or your loved ones are traveling to Canada on a visitor visa, purchasing separate visitors insurance is highly recommended. Without adequate insurance, visitors will need to pay out-of-pocket for medical services, which can be expensive, especially in emergency situations. Canadian healthcare is not free for non-residents, and unexpected illnesses, accidents, or injuries could result in significant financial burden.

With visitors insurance, you can ensure coverage for:

Emergency medical care for sickness or injury

Hospitalization costs for accidents

Diagnostic tests like X-rays or lab tests

Emergency dental care

Prescription medication related to covered medical conditions

Medical evacuation in case a transfer back to your home country is necessary

How Much Does Canada Visitors Insurance Cost?

The cost of Canada visitors insurance varies based on several factors:

Age of the visitor: Older visitors typically pay higher premiums due to increased health risks.

Duration of the visit: Longer stays will have higher premiums.

Coverage amount: The level of coverage you choose can impact costs; for example, policies with higher medical coverage limits will cost more.

Pre-existing conditions: If the visitor has pre-existing medical conditions, the insurance might either exclude them or charge higher premiums.

On average, visitors insurance can range between CAD 2 to CAD 6 per day for younger travelers. However, for elderly visitors, the price can increase significantly. For example, for a 70-year-old visitor staying for a month, the insurance could range from CAD 150 to CAD 300, depending on the type of coverage selected.

What if My Parent is Over 70? Is There Visitors Insurance for Parents Over 70?

Yes, there are specific policies designed for elderly visitors, including those over the age of 70. Visitors insurance for seniors over 70 usually comes with higher premiums due to the greater risk of medical emergencies, but it can still offer crucial coverage. These policies typically include:

Comprehensive emergency medical coverage for injuries and illnesses

Hospitalization and doctor visits

Emergency dental care

Repatriation of remains in case of death during the visit

Coverage for pre-existing conditions (with certain limitations and restrictions)

It's essential to review the policy details carefully, as some insurers may have age caps or exclusions for specific pre-existing conditions.

Conclusion

When visiting Canada, having visitors insurance is not only a wise decision but can also protect you from significant out-of-pocket medical expenses. Whether you’re visiting for a few weeks or several months, this type of insurance is designed to cover medical emergencies, giving both you and your loved ones peace of mind. For parents or elderly visitors over 70, specialized policies are available to ensure adequate protection during their stay. Always review the coverage limits, exclusions, and terms before purchasing a policy to ensure it meets your specific needs.

[sharma-porters]

Transport services like porter in Bangalore

Transport Services in Bangalore: An In-Depth Look at Porter Services

Bangalore, also known as Bengaluru, is a bustling metropolis in India known for its thriving tech industry, cultural diversity, and vibrant lifestyle. As the city continues to grow, the demand for efficient goods transport services has increased significantly. One of the essential services that have gained prominence is porter services. This article explores the role of porter services in Bangalore, their significance, types, and how they cater to the diverse needs of residents and visitors alike when looking for goods vehicle for transportation need for house shifting or commercial goods transport service. Sharma porters is one such company that provides Porter Like Transport Solution in Bangalore.

Understanding Porter Services

Porter services refer to the assistance provided by individuals or companies in transporting goods, luggage, and personal belongings. In urban settings like Bangalore, porters are crucial for moving items from one location to another, especially in areas with high foot traffic, such as railway stations, airports, hotels, and residential complexes.

The Importance of Porter Services in Bangalore

Ease of Goods Movement: Bangalore’s infrastructure can be challenging, with heavy traffic and limited parking spaces. Porter services help ease the burden of carrying heavy luggage or goods, making travel more convenient for individuals and families and are among the best in Small transport vehicle to beat the narrow lanes during home or office relocation.

Time Efficiency: In a fast-paced city, time is of the essence. Porters can save significant time by handling the logistics of transporting items, allowing clients to focus on their travel plans or other important tasks.

Professional Assistance: Porter services often employ trained professionals who are familiar with the city’s layout, transport systems, and local regulations. This expertise ensures that items are handled safely and efficiently so you worry on growing business and we support all your transport logistics challenges.

Support for the Elderly and Disabled: For individuals with mobility issues, porter services provide essential support. They enable seniors and those with disabilities to navigate the city without the added stress of carrying their belongings. Our Senior Citizen Moving services is unparallel as we understand support is key to house transport shifting requirement.

Facilitating Business Operations: For businesses, especially those involved in logistics and e-commerce, porter services can streamline operations. They help in transporting goods from warehouses to delivery points, ensuring timely service.

Types of Porter Services in Bangalore

Home Relocation Services: Porter services extend to residential moves, helping families and individuals transport their belongings during relocation. These services can include packing, loading, unloading, and unpacking items.

Corporate and Event Services: For corporate events, exhibitions, and conferences, porter services can manage the transportation of equipment and materials. This ensures that everything is in place for a successful event.

How Porter Services Work

Using porter services in Bangalore typically involves a straightforward process:

Booking: Customers can book porter services through various means, including phone calls, websites, many companies offer real-time availability and pricing.

Confirmation: Once a booking is made, the service provider confirms the details, including the pick-up location, destination, and estimated time of arrival.

Arrival of the Porter: A trained porter arrives at the designated location, ready to assist with the transportation of goods or luggage and for home shifting will provide packing, loading, Unloading and more services.

Transportation: The porter ensures that items are handled with care, using appropriate techniques to lift and carry heavy loads. They may also provide additional services, such as packing or assembling items if required.

Payment: After the service is completed, payment can be made through various modes, including cash, credit cards, or digital wallets.

Stop looking for companies like porter instead Sharma porters for all your transportation need.