#Plastic Takeaway Containers

[packagingbypolymer]

Innovative Food Packaging Ideas Every Brand Should Be Aware of

Since food packaging plays an appropriate role in the food industry, trends in food packaging are always changing. Food packaging has undergone a massive transformation in recent years. This is due to the fact that more people are purchasing large amounts of groceries in the flesh or through online delivery services. 

There are now many different types of food packaging and takeaway containers available, such as plastic takeaway containers, biodegradable food containers in bulk, and many more. Modern technology has made a number of environmentally friendly packaging and takeaway options available to the working class.

To stay competitive in the food industry, however, certain packaging trends must be addressed. These are the most important food packaging trends that will be thoroughly examined in this post.

Transparency is Key in Food Packaging:

Nowadays, most consumers will only buy a recently released product if and when it has clear product information. because they wish to be conscious of their diet. Being aware of what is happening in your stomach is perfectly acceptable. Even though the majority of food packaging includes ingredient information, it can be difficult to read the fine print.

On the other hand, consumers will be better equipped to make informed decisions if food packaging uses clean labelling. Clear labelling of the product's ingredients and transparent packaging are essential. Clean labelling can help customers make thoughtful purchases and improve your brand identity.

The Rise of Personalized Food Packaging:

Food packaging now heavily incorporates customisation, which is also one of the biggest trends. Leading brands are now personalising their wholesale plastic takeaway containers with printed names. In fact, it is currently becoming an industry leader.

To increase brand recall and appeal, manual variation could involve using customised bags, boxes, stickers, and even gift tags.

The future of food packaging design and development promises customised packaging that closes the gap between consumer needs and product reality. Consumers expect their food and snacks to meet their individual and ever-changing needs, and innovative packaging design with a personal touch can help brands meet this challenge.

The Shift Towards Eco-Friendly Packaging:

Eco-friendly packaging is one of the most significant packaging trends that will impact the industry in 2025.

From banning the use of plastic bags at supermarkets to replacing plastic straws with paper straws in restaurants,. Many eco-friendly packaging alternatives are making their mark on the market.

Most food packaging companies now use biodegradable food containers instead of plastic. Single-use plastics have also gained popularity as an alternative. Not only has it been shown to be a safer packaging material for use during the pandemic, but it is also a transit-safe plastic takeaway container.

The Demand for Frozen Food Packaging:

Applications for frozen food packaging have been partially integrated into the food packaging sector in particular.

This suggests that there is a significant market for frozen food packaging materials such as skin film, IQF polyethylene, glass, aluminium, flexible bags, lidding films, wax-coated cardboard, shrink film, and high barrier thermoforming film. Cardboard, paperboard, shrink film, skin packs, and other materials are frequently used to package frozen foods.

The Power of Simple and Clean Packaging Designs:

One of the major developments in food packaging design is minimalist design. A small portion of the food packaging sector has shifted from eye-catching and chaotic designs to straightforward labelling and packaging.

In addition to highlighting the product's worth, this packaging trend avoids overpowering consumers with lavish images and artwork. A minimalist and simple design gives the product a new appearance. The food packaging bags appear tidy, clean, uncomplicated, and revitalising. But it also lowers the cost of your production process.

Boost Your Brand with Innovative Packaging:

You can experiment with plastic takeaway containers and food packaging bags as different food packaging trends come and go. You can appeal to potential customers and the target market by doing this with your product packaging. No matter what category of packaging you choose, make sure your food packaging connects to your offline customers online and makes your overall product marketing. Choosing more modern and eco-friendly food packaging services as soon as possible is imperative for food preparation services. In addition to improving customer satisfaction, this would help your business increase sales because modern food packaging services are essential.

Ready to elevate your brand? Discover how our innovative and eco-friendly packaging solutions can transform your products and attract more customers.

[kraftboo]

The Role of Innovative Packaging for Food Products in Ensuring Quality and Sustainability

Effective packaging for food products plays a critical role in maintaining food safety, enhancing shelf life, and appealing to consumers. From protecting contents to improving sustainability, the choice of packaging impacts food businesses profoundly. This article delves into the importance of food packaging, types of materials, and modern trends shaping the industry.

1. Importance of Packaging for Food Products

1.1 Preserving Freshness and Preventing Contamination

Proper packaging for food products ensures that food stays fresh for longer, protecting it from exposure to air, moisture, and harmful microorganisms. This is particularly important for perishable items such as dairy, baked goods, and fresh produce.

1.2 Enhancing Safety and Hygiene

Food packaging acts as a barrier against physical damage, contamination, and spoilage. It is essential to ensure that packaging complies with Australian food safety standards to guarantee hygiene.

1.3 Influencing Consumer Decisions

The visual appeal and functionality of packaging for food products significantly influence purchasing behaviour. Modern consumers are drawn to packaging that combines aesthetics with usability.

2. Types of Packaging for Food Products

2.1 Plastic Packaging

Plastic is one of the most common materials due to its versatility and affordability. It offers options like vacuum-sealed pouches, resealable bags, and food-grade containers. However, the environmental impact of traditional plastic has spurred the need for biodegradable alternatives.

2.2 Glass and Metal Containers

Glass jars and metal tins are excellent choices for preserving food quality, particularly for premium and long-lasting products. They are recyclable and offer an upscale presentation for products such as jams, sauces, and coffee.

2.3 Paper and Cardboard

Paper-based packaging is lightweight, cost-effective, and customisable. It is widely used for dry foods like cereals and snacks. Businesses focused on eco-friendliness often prefer compostable or recycled cardboard packaging.

3. Trends in Packaging for Food Products

3.1 Emphasis on Sustainability

Eco-friendly packaging for food products is gaining traction as consumers demand reduced environmental impact. Innovations include biodegradable materials, plant-based plastics, and reusable containers.

3.2 Smart Packaging

Technology is now integrated into food packaging. QR codes, temperature indicators, and freshness sensors enhance convenience and transparency for consumers.

3.3 Minimalist Design

Simplicity and elegance in packaging design appeal to modern consumers, who favour clutter-free and easy-to-read labels.

4. Choosing the Right Packaging for Food Products

4.1 Consider the Nature of the Food

Understand the specific needs of your product. Perishable items require airtight packaging, while snack foods benefit from resealable options.

4.2 Balance Functionality and Sustainability

While aesthetics are important, ensure your packaging provides practical benefits such as ease of use and eco-friendliness.

4.3 Meet Regulatory Standards

Australian food safety regulations require clear labelling, proper seals, and food-grade materials for packaging for food products. Adherence is crucial to maintain consumer trust.

Conclusion

Innovative and sustainable packaging for food products is vital for maintaining quality, enhancing customer experience, and meeting modern consumer expectations. By choosing the right packaging solutions, businesses can protect their products, build brand loyalty, and support environmental goals.

[weorex]

Disposable Food Container Box

Weorex is a leading manufacturer of Disposable Food Container Boxes made from high-quality polypropylene (PP) plastic, which is known for its durability, strength and ability to maintain the freshness of food for a long time.

Our container boxes are available in a variety of sizes and shapes to cater to different food storage needs, and they come with tight-fitting lids to keep the food secure and prevent spillage. Additionally, our containers are microwave safe, allowing you to heat up your food without having to transfer it to another container.

At Weorex, we believe in providing our customers with products that are not only functional, but also eco-friendly. Our Disposable Food Container Box is made from 100% recyclable materials, and we encourage our customers to recycle them after use. By choosing our containers, you can reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to a cleaner and greener environment.

Contact Us

Weorex

Address: Railway Colony ,Madurai - 16,Tamilnadu, India.

Phone: +91 99445 50574

Mail: weorexteam@gmail.com

Website: www.weorexteam.com

[yi2huo]

YOU'RE MY IDENTICAL SOUL 𓈒 mentioning another gf

𐙚 𓈒 𓈒 SYNOPSIS ) ; pranking your boyfriend about another girlfriend

PAIRING ) — hyung line!enha x fem!reader

WC ) — 1.8k+

GENRE ) — established relationship / fluff / hyung line x f!reader / non!idol au contains skinship & kissing !

INCOMING MSG ) — ding ! thanks for checking out my first post (ෆ˙ᵕ˙ෆ)♡ if you enjoyed, pls consider following and if you have any requests, send them my way ><

L. HEESEUNG ) —

you lounge on the sofa as your boyfriend greets the person at the door, faintly hearing the ends of their conversation before heeseung returns. he meets your eye as he rounds the corner, smiling as he lifts up the takeaway bag and gives it a little shake. 

“hungry?” 

you sit up, beaming. “you ordered takeout? why didn’t you tell me?” 

“there’s no point, i already know what you like.” 

“oh?” following him into the kitchen, you reach out to help lay out the food but he brushes your hands away, placing his hands on your shoulders to lightly push you into a chair. “you’re confident.” 

heeseung shrugs, smiling. “you’re predictable.” 

you huff at that, watching as he moves about, unpacking the plastic bags and taking the utensils from the drawer. he places them in front of you, then unpacks the dishes he ordered when you were napping on the couch. true to his words, he did know your favourites though you weren’t ready to admit. 

you point to a random container. “who is this for? your other girlfriend?”

heeseung glances over briefly. “of course not. she doesn’t like rice.” he says and though he’s turned away to arrange the rest of the meal, you can hear the smirk in his voice. 

“why can’t i hear any remorse in your voice?” 

“probably because i don’t feel any.” 

“hee…” you trail off disapprovingly, and he finally looks over at you. he’s wearing the smile you expected him too, eyes curved into crescents, making him all the more like a mischievous cat. your heart flutters slightly at the sight, cursing him internally for being so pretty. you stifle your own smile. “what’s so funny about cheating?”

“nothing. i’m laughing at you and your scrunched up face. like a persian cat.” 

“this cat’s about to fight, heeseung. so you better watch out.”

heeseung places a delicate hand over his mouth in faux surprise before his grin appears again. he reaches over to ruffle your hair before moving on to bring out drinks from the fridge. “you’re going to eat me up?” he says from behind the fridge door. 

despite yourself, you blush at his tone. “i’m not that hungry.” 

“that wasn’t the hunger i was implying and you know it.” he closes the door, juggling drinks in his hands which you stand up and take from him. as you stand closer, he places a kiss on your forehead. “you’re going to have to satiate your hunger with the takeout. for the other kind of hunger though, let’s see if there’s still room for dessert after.” 

P. JAY ) — 

morning rouses you bright and early, sunlight causing your eyes to squint. you flail your arm to the other side of the bed and when it fails to make contact with your boyfriend, you finally look over. the sheets on his side are cold, and when the scent of breakfast hits your nose, you realise he’s probably started his day earlier. 

its this smell that leads you down the stairs to the kitchen where jay is softly humming along to a song playing on his phone. spatula in one hand, phone in other and his attention anywhere but you, you secretly enjoy this moment.

until you slip your arms around his waist, snuggling into his back. “jay.” you say, muffled by his shirt. 

“hm?”

“what’re you making? come back to bed.” 

he dodges your attempts to pull him back opting instead to step closer to the stove. “hold on, i was told to watch these pancakes and flip them at two minutes… i can’t mess this up.”

you huff, feeling his warmth leave. your face scrunches up and perhaps if he would turn around and apologise with a smile or a kiss on your lips, you might have forgiven him. but jay continues to pour his attention into the steaming pan and you can’t help but feel childish. “who told you? your other girlfriend?” 

“what?” jay’s head turns to you in a flash, eyes darting to pick up your body language at your sudden accusation. he’s finally facing you but it’s all so quick, too quick for you to school your facial features. you turn your head to the side and rub your arms, hoping to cover up your clumsy acting. 

“another girlfriend? where did that come from, y/n?” he dips his head to try and meet your eyes when you don’t respond. “hey, look at me.”

“you’re not denying it.” its a losing battle, you know he has you in the palm of his hand but still you resist as much as you can at his wave of concern. “so there is another? is she the homewrecker or am i?” 

“baby there’s no homewrecker!”

“ah, so you’re playing us both for fun.”

“there’s not another girl!” he places a gentle finger under your chin, tilting your head so that you can finally make out the surprise and caution in his eyes. 

looking in his eyes, you manage a, “there’s more than two then?”

“there’s not one or two girls! there’s just you!” 

you can’t take it anymore. the slight wiggle at the corner of lips spreads and you let out the laughter building up inside, cackling at the panic on his face. the tension eases from his shoulders as he watches you, laughter contagious enough for him to crack his own small smile. “that wasn’t funny at all.”

“your other girlfriend would have found it hilarious.” 

“okay enough.” 

S. JAKE ) — 

jake has been acting strange all week. you’ve noticed his eyes would flicker to his phone constantly, during conversations or on dates, and one hand would never fail to be touching it, never straying far. when the two of you sit down for meals, he would place his phone face down, picking it up to check the screen every couple of seconds. and when he wasn’t obsessing over his phone, his fingers would tap a fast rhythm on whatever surface he could get his hands on. 

you look up during dinner just as jake sighs, putting his phone back down on the table when the notification fails to satisfy him. 

“everything okay?” you watch as your question sends an unnerving shiver down his spine. 

he chokes, hand coming up to cover his mouth. “sorry, what?” 

you reach over to hand him a napkin. “you’ve been jumpy all week. is everything okay?” 

“of course.” he flashes you a smile at your concern. on any other day, this might have won you over if not for the fact that even as he replies, his hands slide over to cover his phone. 

you frown, letting the topic drop to watch his movements. right next to his phone was the fried chicken the both of you had ordered and he releases his phone to pick up the second last piece, happily munching down. 

you had complete trust in jake and your loving relationship but curiosity didn’t allow you to ignore his suspicious actions. and there was really only one way to check if there was anything sinisterhappening. 

you stand up from the table and lean forward, hand out in his general direction. 

jake blinks out of his daze, his own hands coming up to shield the chicken. 

your hand safely lands on his phone.  

“ah.” jake blinks at your hand, motionless on the table before he jumps into action. “wait!”

"what's got you so engrossed in your phone? your other girlfriend?"

"no!" he doesn't make any attempt to snatch his phone back, but his eyes keep fluttering nervously from your face to your hand. "i'm just... waiting on an email. babe, i promise it isn't what you think. there is no other girl. i can show you my screentime!"

when he does, you stare unimpressed at his accumulated hours on gmail. "you're chatting up a girl on gmail?"

"no!"

you giggle at his nervous outburst, sitting back down to regard him fondly. "i'm just joking. you wouldn't be this sloppy at covering up an affair."

he groans, pocketing his phone. "that isn't a compliment, y/n." the nervousness remains, but the weight on his shoulder lifts slightly. 

at the end of the week, you find out what it was he was hiding in the form of a small jewelry box, presented to you in the palm of his hand. 

P. SUNGHOON ) — 

the cold seeps through the wall and through the polyester of your sweater as you lean against your kitchen wall, picking at the stray threads. your friend continues to drone on about her latest crush, some guy from her korean class, and because she’s already told you the night before, you let out simple absentminded hums at her words. your eyes track to your boyfriend on the couch who was waiting for your return. 

the shrill of your phone’s ringtone had prompted a scream from the both of you as you cuddled on the couch watching the latest horror film, giggling to each other at the ridiculous reaction. what began as a promise of a short phone call slowly dragged on, minute after minute until sunghoon couldn’t wait any longer and whipped out his phone to scroll through tiktok. 

“i’m losing you, aren’t i?” your friend asks suddenly, and you jump to reassure her. 

“no! no, it’s fine i’m listening i promise.” 

“are you with your boyfriend?”

a smile escapes you. “yeah, just watching a movie, nothing crazy.” 

“did you forgive him then? after what he did yesterday?” 

her words make you frown as you recall the small prank he had played on you. you had come home to a frantic text stating the “toilet was smoking!!” and rushed in, even forgetting to take your work shoes off, only to find your toilet dressed up, two big googly eyes at its front and a slightly squashed toilet roll wedged between the seat and the closed lid. in response, you had sat hoon in timeout. 

you groan again, replaying the annoyance in your head. “i swear this guy teases me more than he loves me.” 

“i think that’s just his love language.”

“well, it’s pissing me off.” you grumble, unimpressed.

“have you ever done anything to get back at him?” your friend’s words make you pause. simply put, you had never even considered being on the offensive. “girl, get him back! confront him as if he’s cheating, that’ll get his heart rate up.” 

the image of a flustered sunghoon causes you to grin and you warm to the idea immediately. “you are incredible, one second.” 

you sneak back to the sofa, placing your hand on his shoulder to alert him of your presence. before you can get anything out, just as your mouth opens and without even turning to face you, sunghoon says, “done talking with your other boyfriend yet?” 

your mind blanks. “huh?” you ask intelligently. 

“your other boyfriend, obviously. i saw you smiling and giggling to him on the phone. forgot all about me, huh?” 

you open and close your mouth speechlessly. “no i—!”

a smile suddenly breaks across his face. “got you.” 

realization dawns on you like a bad smell. “not funny.” 

he reaches over and slings an arm over your shoulder and you settle in subconsciously, unaware as he hangs up on your call. “forget about your side piece, pay attention to me.”

[paulmescalsbiceps]

heeey can ask for a roommate James in which the air conditioning ends up going out and it's unbearable hot and the reader ends up going to sleep in James' room (which in the end doesn't solve her problem because James is a human heater that gets stuck with him) - 🍓

𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐞 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 ☆.｡.:* roommate!jamespotter x reader wc: 1k

The heat is unbearable. The late July warmth is flooding your small apartment, only managing to be endurable with the work of a shitty floor fan, stolen from James room, now placed in front of your couch. Your luck ran out this morning when the air-con decided to terminate itself on the hottest day of the year. Of course.

You nurse a cold bottle of water head laid back against the pile of pillows resting on the couch. You hear the familiar click of a lock but don’t bother to look up, the movement alone could make you sweat in this weather. “Hey” James said, voice cheery as he took in your exhausted figure laid sprawled out on the couch. 

“Air-con’s still broken, won’t be fixed till Monday” You groaned, still not moving. The thought of even just a weekend stuck without it is too much to bare. “Well I brought you dumplings if that makes it any better?” James confesses placing the plastic bag of takeaway containers on the bench before pulling off his gym bag and throwing it towards the door. 

At that you pull your sweaty body off the sticky leather and make your way to the kitchen. You take in James' figure standing tall before you. Beads of sweat fall from his curls, either from the heat or the gym. Both probably. Heat was kind to James, unlike others. Summer made his skin turn tan and glowy adding to his already god-like presence. Sweat never made him smell bad, instead it made his enticing scent even more notable making it hard to be around him. Just like now.

James serves himself a hefty portion from each container, still leaving enough for you. You take your serve and move to sit on the couch next to him. God, just sitting next to him has your skin rising in temperature even more than before. Your cheeks feel flushed as you try to distract yourself with the meal in front of you. 

You can feel his hazel eyes examining you closely. “You okay lovey?”. Ugh, that stupid nickname that always has you melting at the knees. “Yeah, sorry James. It’s just the heat is making my brain all fuzzy” You sputter out. “I guess I’ll just have to go to bed early.” You joke with a nervous laugh. 

“Wanna take the fan tonight?” He offers, spooning the last mouthful from his plate into his mouth. “No no it’s fine” brushing off his words as you take his plate along with yours and flee to the kitchen to busy yourself with washing up.

-

The evening winds bring the heat down from unbearable to unfavourable. Even in your thinnest pyjamas with the sheets brushed off and away from yourself, it still feels like you're sleeping in an oven. You should have just taken that fan. You make a mental note to go out and buy one tomorrow, there's no way you can survive another night like this. 

James walks past your door, a maroon towel wrapped securely around his trained waist. “You going to bed?” he asks, holding another, smaller,  towel in his hand to scrunch at his damp curls. “Trying too, might end up in a puddle by the morning” You croak. Warm eyes take in your frame, tracing your hips before making their way back to your flushed face. “If you get hot you're always welcome to come to my room, there's plenty of space in my bed.” James says almost nervously, like he was anxious for your reaction to such a bold offer.

The thought of James beautifully bronzing skin against your back is enticing. But the thought of not being able to control your thoughts with him asleep beside you is less ideal. “Thank James” You reply, offering him a polite smile. “Goodnight”. 

"Goodnight, love” He speaks with a wink, usual demeanour back, before turning away and leaving you with flushed cheeks and weak knees.

-

Lifting your head you peer at the alarm clock resting on your side table. 3 am. Your brain is bone-tired and exhausted. You’ve been internally battling yourself on forfeiting to James' offer and just slipping under his sheets. Instead, you wander to the kitchen to grab a cool glass of water to occupy your thoughts.

Setting your cup down by the dishwasher you decide to just bite the bullet. Feet softly padding on the floor, you are met with the front of James door. Knocking softly on the hardwood, you twist the knob open and peek inside. There lay James fast asleep, hair spread across his pillow and chest very much bare.

He’s clad in nothing but his boxers, arms clinging to the pillow in front of him. You step towards his bed, taking the pillow carefully from between his arms and slip in the space left behind. His sheets are significantly cooler than yours, thanks to the fan facing directly where you now lay. Resting your head on the pillow, your body finally feels as if it can sleep.

Seconds later, muscular arms wrap around your torso pulling you flush to a warm chest. James' warm chest. His hand reaches down to hold onto your lower stomach, digging into the fat, not letting go. His body was like a human furnace, one you can’t pull away from either due to his iron grip on your waist. 

But maybe it’s a sacrifice worth taking. His heat pulls you to sleep as you breathe in his delicious scent, eyes falling shut and breath falling soft as you sink deeper and deeper…

[laswells-ashtray]

"And I told her- 'just because I'm a lesbian that doesn't mean I can fix a car.' but did that help? No. She's a lesbian and she can't fix a car either."

"Tell her to take a mechanic course or something, get her in the overalls with the bandana."

"If she walked into the house in overalls and a bandana, the car wouldn't be the only thing that's fucked."

The topic of conversation alerts Nikolai to the fact that this isn't the first glass of wine for either of them. As does John's bark of laughter and Kate's snort.

As he lugs in the plastic bag with their Infian takeaway, he surveys the scene. The two empty bottles of wine on the coffee table, the faint flush to John's cheeks, and the way Kate's shirt sleeves are rolled up to their forearms. He supposes he has some catching up to do drinks wise after dinner.

He carefully drops the bag on the coffee table and slumps down on the couch, kicking off his boots.

"You realise Sarah just wants to see you bent over the hood?"

Kate nods, leaning forward to grab a plate and a plastic container out of the bag.

"I do, but not in my silk shirt. She has to pick her moments accordingly."

Nikolai grins and prepares himself for the oncoming story from one tipsy and loose lipped Laswell as they eat dinner.

[miclipse]

⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ a spoiled brat.

pairing: rafayel x fem! reader

synopsis: a little fish that got kidnapped by a princess whom he initially thought was nothing but a spoiled brat.

word count: 2.1k

cw: afab! reader, rafayel is a fish (literally), reader is a princess, fluff

notes: i have sooo many ideas about fishy rafayel that i might turn it into a series. comments appreciated !!

a spoiled brat.

that was what rafayel's initial impression of you was— nothing but those typical entitled and sadistic princesses that took home whatever she temporarily saw as beauty, only to dispose of it a few days later when the early excitement died down.

rafayel could spot you from miles away, your silhouette happily skipping across the sandy ground without a care in the world. he could see your hair dance along in the direction of the wind, the hem of your dress lifting up a little whenever you did a twirl.

it was a wonder how the crown that proudly sat atop of your head never fell off. the lustre from the sun shining down onto each of the tiny, fine diamonds embedded into your silver diadem nearly blinded rafayel with how bright and glittering it was.

despite living in the ocean his whole life, rafayel could tell from first glance that you were no ordinary girl he had stumbled across.

besides, which ordinary lady would think it was a great idea scooping up a fish she found in the ocean, a good few feet away from the shore? rafayel was almost certain he wouldn't be spotted by humans in such a secluded spot in the ocean, but you just had to prove him wrong, didn't you?

but he guessed he could take part of the blame. he should have stuck with the rest of the other fish instead of separating from them to explore all on his own. maybe then you would've picked another unfortunate fish instead of him to be your new plaything for the next two days.

you, who rafayel had nicknamed the 'lunatic', boldly stepped into the ocean with no fear about your expensive custom-made dress getting ruined and soaked in the process.

rafayel wanted to swim away before you caught sight of him, but you looked really big as compared to him, and he was a little afraid you might step on him by accident if he attempted to make his escape at that moment.

and so, to his dismay, you had decided that he, the lone fish in this ocean, would be your new plaything for the next few days.

when you scooped him into a small, flimsy and transparent plastic container, the fish was convinced that this was going to be his last few days on earth.

he was going to spend the last few moments of his life trapped in a spoiled princess's room. he imagined himself staring at the over-the-top pink walls that would burn his eyes and make him inwardly cringe, as well as counting the number of beads threaded into your branded bracelets and necklaces to pass time as he got imprisoned in a fishtank for the rest of his life.

however, rafayel was left in shock when you first stepped into your room with him in your hands. as you cautiously poured him from the initial takeaway container you scooped him into to an actual fishtank (with barely any room for one), he looked around your room from his new home.

there were no blaring pink walls that would sting his eyes, and no jewellery messily displayed on your vanity table for him to count the beads of to pass time.

for a princess, your room looked comparable to a commoner's.

but rafayel was certain that you had royal blood. he had seen how the red carpet stretched out down the endless tunnel of hallways, and how a few maids had curtsied and addressed you as 'your highness' the moment you walked past them with a smile on your lips.

the fish silently observed your room from his rather small home that was situated on top of your study table.

the walls were painted in a cool tone, not too blaring for the eyes and not too dull either. your vanity table, though was clear from any jewellery, had a few drawers below— which was where rafayel would assume you store your cosmetics and riches. your majestic looking queen-sized bed was covered with a simplistic and plain bedsheet, accompanied by a plethora of stuffed animals that he couldn't even see where the pillows were, if you even had any to begin with.

maybe you weren't what he initially thought you were.

though he wasn't sure what to make out of his new life out of the ocean, one thing was for sure.

you had more to you than met the eye, and rafayel wanted to learn more about you during the time he would be living on your study table.

saying rafayel's life as your new pet fish was ‘interesting’ would be a horrible understatement.

rafayel figured you would've thrown him back into the ocean within a day or two after you started getting bored of him. yet two months later, and here you were sitting by the table and peering into his tank as you rambled away about some upcoming charity event you had to attend tomorrow morning.

you had been keeping poor rafayel up in the middle of the night all the time ever since you got him.

going on and on about your life story that you tell in the most disorganised way possible, complaints about the issues and frustrations you met during the day, and the complicated political issues that he never seemed to understand nor care about (not that he needed to, he was nothing but a mere domestic pet now).

seriously, did you not have any humans to turn to that you had to resort to ranting to a fish you had kidnapped from its natural habitat and shoved into your tank without consent?

oh, but the biggest problem of them all—

you also seemed to have the misconception that fishes ate similar amounts of foods as humans.

whenever you were having tea break or late night supper, rafayel was having them too. a little unwillingly. you'd dump generous amounts of fish food in his tank before you continued stuffing up your cheeks with cake or whatever you were having.

the poor fish swore he gained a few pounds whilst he was held prisoner in your tank. but whenever he wouldn't eat the food you dumped in, you'd panic and ask the maids whether you should call a veterinarian over to give rafayel a checkup, thinking he was sick.

so all rafayel could do was to obediently eat the food you dumped into his tank, to save you and him some embarrassment of having to deal with the veterinarian breaking to you the news that you were overfeeding your poor pet fish.

you should consider yourself lucky that rafayel was the only fish you had kidnapped and dumped into your fishtank, since he was positive that any other fish would have died by now from the way you overfeed them.

there were days rafayel was seriously contemplating on jumping out of this stupid tank and just dying right then and there on your expensive carpet.

but he could never bring himself to. even though he was struggling to get used to life as a domestic pet fish, he wasn't that mean to add on to your already growing pile of stresses.

and besides, as much as he refused to admit it, he was starting to like this life.

as someone— or some fish, who had spent the entirety of his life in the ocean with almost zero human interaction, he had grown curious about them over the years.

of course it wasn't ideal that the price he had to pay to understand more about the human species was his freedom, but rafayel was a grateful fish.

he had heard plenty of horror stories about how many of his kind had been mistreated as domestic pets, especially when some random rich and spoilt kid comes scooping them out from their homes without permission (you included) nor basic knowledge on how to even take care of a fish.

they tended to keep the fish around for at most three days, dutily feeding the fish and often sitting in front of the fish tank and observing the fish in amazement. however, after a while, the humans began to get tired. or rather, bored by their new pet. they stopped feeding the fish and maintaining the tank's hygiene. more often than not, the fish end up passing on within a week or so.

rafayel saw himself as a very lucky fish because you were a responsible pet owner for the past two months.

albeit you didn't seem to grasp the concept that fish did not need to be fed as often as humans do, you still treated him relatively well.

as compared to the tank you poured him in two months ago when you first captured him, his tank was much more spacious now. and it was decorated with pebbles, aquatic plants, and also some pretty corals that he occasionally liked falling asleep in.

he hadn't even realised that you were finished rambling about how packed and overwhelming your schedule for tomorrow would be—

until your sigh broke rafayel out of his deep train of thoughts. he blinked at you curiously from in his fishtank, not having caught a single word from your half an hour long monologue.

“it's getting late, i should go to bed now.” you mumbled to him, gently dipping your index finger into the fishtank to caress rafayel's fins lovingly.

you looked… awfully sad today, rafayel noted.

rafayel may be a fish, but a fish had the ability to possess empathy too.

so instead of swimming away from your finger as how he normally would to reject your affection, rafayel instead nuzzled the top of his fishy head against the pad of your finger.

it was the least he could do to comfort you, right?

seeing how he was more open to receiving your affections today, you took it as a sign to gently stroke his scaly body, making sure to caress him delicately, as if you were handling a feather.

“goodnight, fifi.” you murmured to him lovingly, staring into rafayel's fishtank with a warm smile as you lifted your hand out of his tank, drying the water off by wiping your hand on your nightgown.

oh, rafayel forgot to mention that you named him fifi, of all names. he could still remember how you sat in front of his tank one night and started listing down random names to see which one suited him better, but that would be a story to reminisce about another time.

rafayel wordlessly watched as you stood up from the chair and made your way to your cozy queen-sized bed, and he slowly realised how very wrong he had been in the start.

during the two months rafayel had been living in your room, he started to see many more sides of you that he doubted anyone else got to see.

how you were an imperfect girl that was forced to be flawless in the eyes of the public. how lonely and exhausted you were living a life of royalty. how you more often than not fall asleep slumped over the study table with a pile of paperwork by your side, your sleeping face not too far away from rafayel's fishtank that he always feared you might accidentally slap his fishtank off the table in midst your deep slumber.

you were nothing near a spoiled brat. despite being lucky enough to be born into a royal family, you were always humble and kind. and you treated him with equally as much kindness as you would if he were a human.

rafayel's eyes lingered on your silhouette even after you turned off the room's lights. the only light source was from the lamp by your bedside table, illuminating just enough glow for him to see how you tucked yourself beneath the warm covers and laid your head on the soft pillow.

it didn't take long before your eyes closed, momentarily pulling you away from the harsh life of royalty and bringing you into the world of fantasy, where anything and everything was possible; the only limit being your imagination.

rafayel glanced at the clock on the wall. he figured it was finally time he got some rest. he inferred your rambles and complains tomorrow would last much longer than tonight, seeing as your schedule was packed to the brim.

it had become a daily routine for rafayel to take your jumbled up storytelling as his nightly bedtime story. he anticipated what kinds of interesting stories you might have in store for him tomorrow.

flapping his fins, rafayel swiftly swam into one of the corals in his fishtank, bubbles trailing behind his fins and floating up to the surface of the water before popping.

once the fish found a comfortable spot to snooze in for the night, he parked himself cozily in between the walls of the coral.

it didn't take long before his eyelids grew heavy and his vision turned blurry…

maybe being a princess’s pet fish was not too bad of a life as rafayel had initially thought it would be afterall.

all rights reserved © miclipse 2024. do not repost, plagiarize, copy, modify or translate my works on any platforms.

[soleauclub]

How to Build a Life That Matches Your Pinterest Board

by Soleau Club

We’ve all got that Pinterest board. You know the one: sun-drenched mornings in linen sheets, açaí bowls on marble countertops, matcha in hand, soft-glam makeup, glowing skin, matching workout sets, walking through life with that effortless rich girl aura.

But the question is... how do you actually live that life?

The answer: you don’t just manifest it—you build it. One soft step, one beautiful detail, one aligned decision at a time. Here's how I turned my "dream girl board" into my real life—and how you can too.

Step 1: Audit Your Life Like a Pinterest Algorithm

First things first: take a step back and ask yourself—does my current reality even remotely reflect the vision I’m saving to boards at 2am?

This is your aesthetic audit. Pull up your fave board (you know the one), and ask:

What vibes are consistent? (Light, luxury, wellness, minimal, bold, cozy?)

What’s the version of me who lives this life like?

What’s one thing I could add, shift, or release to get closer to that?

This isn’t about pressure—it’s about alignment. You’re simply noticing the gap between dream and real life so you can start closing it like a boss.

Step 2: Romanticize Your Reality, Daily

Pinterest girls don’t just drink coffee—they have a moment with it. They don’t go for a walk—they take a sun-soaked stroll in a matching set while listening to an empowering podcast.

So ask yourself: How can I turn the most ordinary moment into something sacred and cinematic?

Try:

Lighting a candle while doing your skincare routine (bonus: play Lana or SZA in the background)

Drinking your lemon water from a wine glass, because why not?

Wearing that silk robe—even if you’re just working from home

You don’t have to wait for the perfect life to show up. You create it, by turning the mundane into magic.

Step 3: Create Routines That Feel Like Your Board

Morning routines. Evening rituals. Soft girl Sundays. These are the glue of the Pinterest lifestyle—because it’s not just the aesthetics, it’s the energy.

Think:

A slow, phone-free morning with journaling, hot tea, and face mist

An evening wind-down with stretching, magnesium, and your favorite body oil

A “that girl” workout you actually enjoy—like hot girl Pilates or dance cardio in your living room

Design these rituals around how you want to feel. That’s the key to making it sustainable.

Step 4: Make Micro Upgrades

You don’t need to drop $10k on a full-life makeover. (Unless you can... then slay.) But most of the time? It’s about those tiny, luxe-feeling switches.

Try these low-effort upgrades:

Swap plastic containers for glass (your fridge will look straight-up chic)

Get matching hangers—trust me, it changes the vibe of your closet

Use linen spray on your pillow before bed (Pinterest girl core)

Add flowers—even grocery store ones—to your table, desk, or bathroom

It’s not about being rich, it’s about feeling rich in your space.

Step 5: Detox Your Digital Life

Let’s not forget the emotional clutter on your feed. You can’t build a dreamy life if your mind is flooded with chaos. It’s time to:

Unfollow people who drain your energy or make you spiral

Mute drama accounts, clickbait, or “that one friend” who only posts complaints

Curate your feed to match your vision—follow accounts that inspire, elevate, and align with your vibe

Your Pinterest life isn’t just IRL—it’s digital too.

Step 6: Ask Yourself This Every Morning:

“What would Pinterest Me do today?” Would she skip breakfast and doom scroll? Or would she make a green smoothie, put on SPF, and go for a soft walk?

Would she settle for chaos, or would she protect her peace like it’s vintage Chanel?

Let that question guide your choices until it becomes second nature. Eventually, you become her. Effortlessly.

Our Takeaway

Building a life that looks like your Pinterest board isn’t about perfection. It’s about alignment, intention, and beauty in the everyday. It’s about showing up for the version of you that already exists in your dreams—and giving her a real place to live.

So go ahead. Romanticize your life. Buy the flowers. Make the smoothie. Say no to chaos. Say yes to joy. That Pinterest girl is already you. You’re just waking her up. 🌷✨

Follow @soleauclub for more real wellness tips, self-care rituals, and lifestyle tips for when you just need to vibe—and thrive.

[theemporium]

What if Nico and hughes reader move in together and share food on the floor, nothing much done yet but a mattress already placed? Just both of them enjoying each other's presence before the brothers come to help and to keep an eye on Nico. Maybe the radio plays in the background while both enjoy the calmness.

thank you for requesting!🫶🏽

.

“You know, the movies make this look a lot more comfortable than it actually is.”

Nico lifted his head to look at you from across the kitchen floor, his back pressed against the cupboards and his ass firmly planted on the tiled floor. It wasn’t comfortable in the slightest. In fact, considering the fact it was starting to bleed into the autumn months, it was actually quite chilly but it was the one room in the apartment that wasn’t full of boxes.

You were sat across from him, your legs stretched out so you could knock your foot against his leg to gain his attention. Both of you were dressed in the same pair of sweatpants and hoodies you had been in for the last two days due to the unhelpful fact you couldn’t find the box where you packed your clothes up. But you still looked breath-takingly beautiful to him.

“They make it almost look…romantic,” you continued, despite the fact he hadn’t answered back. “Like, this cute moment in a montage where you share some greasy takeaway and bask in the domesticity of it all.”

Nico raised his brows. “Maybe you’re not basking enough.”

You lifted your head as you stabbed your plastic fork into the container of noodles you had ordered from a local Chinese restaurant. “You’re telling me your ass isn’t numb?”

“Oh, I lost feeling in my ass twenty minutes ago,” he said, a grin growing on his face when you let out a laugh. He placed his container down, reaching over to grab your legs before pulling you across the floor. He manoeuvred you until you were sitting between his legs, his arms locked around your waist and his chin resting on your shoulder. “But nothing could ruin this for me.”

You tried to bite back your smile as you leaned back into his embrace. “Not even the fact we are currently sleeping on a mattress on the floor?”

Nico ducked his head, pressing a kiss to the base of your neck. “No, because it means I get to sleep next to you every night.”

Your face warmed. “You sap.”

“The biggest sap,” he confirmed with a nod as he pressed another kiss against your skin. “C’mon, get up.” 

“But I just got comfy,” you whined, but you didn’t resist as he took the container out of your hand and placed it beside his own. You let out a huff as you scrambled up from the floor, turning to him with an unamused smile as he just grinned back.

You watched with interest as he reached for his phone, tapping away before music began to sound from the speakers. You raised your brows but Nico just shrugged, a little bashful as he did.

“You wanted a movie montage moment,” he stated simply as he offered his hand out to you, wrapping his fingers around your wrist before tugging you towards him. His grin widened a little when you let out a small squeal of surprise. “Pretty sure dancing around in a painfully empty apartment makes the cut.” 

You shook your head but you didn’t disagree as he took one hand in yours and rested the other on your waist, beginning to playfully twirl around the kitchen as your laughs bounced off the walls. He kept speeding up until your hands were digging into his biceps, your feet no longer touching the ground as he practically paraded you around the room until the song came to an end and the next one started.

“The boys are gonna come back wondering why we haven’t unpacked any more boxes,” you murmured as you rested your head on his chest, your eyes falling shut as you slowed down to a gentle sway again.

“Your brothers shouldn’t judge how fast we work in our apartment,” Nico retorted.

“Hm,” you lifted your head, grinning at him. “I like that.”

His brows furrowed together. “What?”

“Our apartment,” you said with a softness in your voice.

“Ours,” he repeated before dipping down to kiss you. 

“GROSS!”

Nico smiled against your lips, not even bothering to lift his head as he flipped your brother off. 

“Shut up, Jack, and work on the living room.”

.

[stars-that-do-not-give-a-damn]

what really shits me about this whole faux-girlboss space flight whatever is that i have been vegetarian for years, i buy local produce and secondhand clothing, i walk to work and take public transport when i can, i recycle and try to reduce my rubbish, i don’t buy plastic wrap, i have electric appliances and i don’t use my heater/aircon except when i absolutely have to, i always bring a keep cup for when i buy takeaway coffee and i even use fucking shampoo bars to reduce plastic waste!!! my old containers of moisturiser get washed and turned into lunch containers, i clean old candle jars and use them as storage. one day when i can afford it i will buy an electric car, and if i ever own my own place i will use solar panels etc.

i do my absolute best to reduce my impact on the planet by avoiding over consumption and unnecessary waste. i’m by no means perfect, but i am trying.

and this fucking 11 minute space flight bullshit has cancelled all that good out, probably 100 times cancelled it. space flight is meant to be for science, for learning, for the good of humanity. and instead it was a group of billionaires (one of whom has made money suing the elderly and stealing their homes) pouting and posing in front of a camera while the entire earth was behind them.

and i’m meant to cheer them on??? i’m meant to be happy for these hashtag girl bosses who showed that you can be hot in space!!! (yes they DID get oscar de larenta to design “sexy” spacesuits bc standard ones weren’t good enough apparently) bc somehow that is a win for feminism???????? give me a fucking break.

[sxfterhearts]

neighbourly visits

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ idol!jiung x non-idol!reader ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅

♡ genre/warnings: fluff inspired by recent events, childhood-neighbours!au

♡ word count: 2,422 words

♡ author’s note: ah choi jiung i wish you only good things. >_< i hope you get better soon and no longer feel any pain... i'm sure it was hard for you to stop activities, but i hope you take the time to rest and relax!!! i have not known you for long, but i want to know you for a long time ♡ also pics cred to the lovely tumblr owners!!!

♡ sequel: backstage visits

//

“Hey stranger,” You called out from behind the sliding door that was left ajar, your head peeking through the gap to peer inside the hospital room.

“Hey yourself.” Jiung replied with a light chuckle.

You walked in. Walls covered in flowery 90’s wallpaper greeted you warmly, along with a mounted television playing news silently in the background, a small sofa and coffee table set in the corner and a large window with views of skyscrapers dotted along the side of the Han River. And of course, a single hospital bed with your ex-neighbour-turned-idol lying right on top of it.

“It’s a nice room.” You commented, curious eyes scanning your surroundings.

He scoffed. “Yeah, except now there’s a stain at the bottom of the walls from yesterday.” Jiung admitted sheepishly, hands coming up to rub the back of his neck in slight embarrassment.

“Ah…” You trailed off, setting down the two plastic bags you brought with you on his overbed table. “From when you flooded the bathroom?” You questioned, gentle and careful, nose scrunching up adorably.

“Don’t remind me…” He looked away. “I was so embarrassed! Oh my goodness… The head nurse laughed right in my face! I mean, it sounds like she thought it was funny, but I felt so bad.”

“I’m sure it’s fine, plus, who doesn’t like Krispy Kreme donuts?” “I hope so…”

“Anyways, I brought the goods, like you asked.” Your eyebrows cocked towards the bags, while you dragged a fold-up chair closer to his bedside.

Jiung’s eyes lit up at the mention of this. “You did?”

“Of course, who do you think I am?” You laughed, fingers moving to unpack the food. “Half and half wings, gold king and bburinkle flavoured, one pack of bburinkle cheese balls, and a large tteokbokki.” As you announced the order, you brought out the takeaway boxes one by one – soy sauce, sweet honey and garlic flavoured, then cheese powder flavoured wings; the mozzarella cheese balls that you both enjoyed and the large container filled with spicy rice cakes. “Oh, and Cass beer!”

“Y/N…” Jiung uttered, his mouth quickly salivating at the mention of his favourite meal: chicken and beer. “Are you an angel?”

You laughed out loud, cheeks turning a light shade of pink. You turned around, heading to the adjoined bathroom, hoping to hide your flustered expression. Too late, though, Jiung thought that shade of pink looked the cutest on you. “I think you’re just hallucinating from all the drugs they’ve put you under.” You replied. 

“I have been dreaming about this meal since I got admitted last week. You’re really saving my life, neighbour.” Jiung breathed out, still amazed at the generous spread of food. 

As you walked out, you saw Jiung swinging his legs to the edge of the bed. “Woah, hold on soldier, where do you think you’re going?”

He stopped, eyes wide like a deer caught in headlights. “To wash my hands.”

“No need for that. Sit down and rest – doctor’s orders, remember?” You reached into your handbag and pulled out a hand sanitiser, passing it over to him. “Use this instead. Plus, it’s BHC. They’re professionals. There’s gloves.”

At that, Jiung rolled his eyes at you. “I’m fine,” He drawled out, yet accepting your offer and sanitising his hands. “It’s not like I’m severely injured or anything.”

You gave him a pointed look, fully sceptical. “Right.” 

“I’m serious!”

“A ruptured thigh muscle, Jiung. You ruptured your thigh muscle.” You deadpanned, your motherly instincts firing up. “That’s a big deal! Just sit down and eat your chicken, okay?”

“Fine…” He grumbled, pouting as he pulled on his gloves. 

“So, how are you feeling about it?”

“About the leg? It’s fine. Honestly, it doesn’t even hurt that much.” Jiung paused to take a bite of the cheese ball, eyes closing in pure bliss as he did so. “So good. This always hits.”

“Okay, but that’s not what I meant.”

“What do you mean?”

You sighed, reaching for a can of beer and opening it for him. “You know what I mean…”

He accepted it, taking a big gulp as he thought through his response. “It’s… fine.” Jiung looked down, suddenly taking a lot of interest in the box of fried chicken in front of him.

“Are you really okay? You were preparing for such a long time. Your mum even told me that you were practising non-stop, even on Seollal, and most of Christmas through to New Years. She said she could only send you banchan this year and was really sad about not seeing you back home.”

“Hey,” He looked up. “Are you here to visit your sick neighbour or to guilt trip him for not visiting his family?” Jiung said before biting into a bburinkle flavoured wing.

“Firstly, ex-neighbour. You moved out years and years ago. Secondly, I’m not trying to guilt trip you. I’m just trying to make sure you’re okay.”

“Well, why do you care if you’re just my ex-neighbour?” Jiung countered in a quiet voice.

“That’s not what I - ” You stopped, sighing. “Okay, we both know you’re not just my ex-neighbour.”

“What am I then?” He looked you straight  in the eye.

The two of you engaged in a tense staring contest before the eye contact and the intensity behind his lids freaked you out. “My… My friend, okay? Geez, that’s not the point. Stop deflecting, Choi Jiung. I’ve known you for over a decade and you’re still the same. Always trying to avoid talking about your feelings.” You huffed, passing a pair of chopsticks to him and sliding over the container of tteokbokki. 

Jiung nodded his thanks, accepting the cutlery and digging in.

Silence ensued as the words hung over the pair of you. You ate quietly while Jiung slurped up his rice cakes like a starved man. He set down his chopsticks once he took a big bite, sighing. “Okay, fine. You got me. I’m not okay.”

“See! Jiung, you have to talk about your feelings.” You stopped, hands coming up to make vague gestures in the air to emphasise your point. “It’s important! You can’t just keep everything inside. Like,” You picked up a can of unopened beer. “Like this. If you keep it bottled inside and shake it too much, it’ll explode completely and make a mess. Please, just talk to me about it. How are you feeling, Choi Jiung?”

He grimaced internally at the use of his full name, the name his mother would use whenever she got mad at him. “Yeah, I’m not okay. I’m so not okay, Y/N.” He sighed again. At this point, you grew slightly concerned that he would then hurt his nostrils from heavy sighing. You shook the silly thought away to focus. “I’m not okay, because, you know what, yeah. You’re right. We have been practising for so long, and so hard. And I was so excited, and had so many sleepless nights trying to figure out how to do my solo, and what lyrics would go well for the song, and how to set up the stages, and what outfits would go together, and, and…” He took a deep breath to calm himself. Jiung could feel his eyes heat up and the corner of his lids prickling, tears beginning to gather slowly but surely. “And for all that to be taken away from me, it just feels so, so unfair.” His voice sounded so small and vulnerable, your heart cracked a little bit for him. A stray tear escaped, rolling down his cheeks.

Immediately, you use the ends of your sleeves to dab away at his tears. Nodding, you encouraged him to go on.

“And… And I really wanted to visit Japan. Shota was gonna bring us to all these places, we were gonna have dinner with his family, and I was really looking forward to being back in America. I really wanted to walk around LA again, and see the huge trees, and…” Jiung paused again, trying to compose himself. “And I��m just really sad I can’t see the fans. I feel so bad, like I let them down, and I know that for some of them this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing to see us and I let them down and - ”

You didn’t allow him to continue - you simply stood up from your seat and sat next to him on the bed, enveloping him in a hug. “And that’s enough, I’m not gonna let you continue talking down to yourself like that.” You said in a hushed voice. You weren’t too sure why you were whispering, but it felt like the right thing to do.

Jiung shut up promptly, closing his wet eyes, and burying his face in your sweater. He breathed in your scent, a mixture of your fabric softener and jasmine, and felt at ease. He was transported back to simpler times - growing up in a high-rise apartment in the outskirts of Seoul, catching cicadas by the stream next to your house, and running around the parks until the sun went down.

You stayed like this for awhile, and it was like time stopped for you. You could barely breathe from how close you were to Jiung, someone you had admired for a long time now - initially from up close, close enough to count the eyelashes on his pretty face. And now from afar, through a screen. Initially, you wrapped him in a hug to stop him from talking about how he let his fans down, but now, you were just enjoying his warmth. Jiung hugged you back tighter, and you could feel the ends of his orange hair tickling your neck.

It was Jiung who broke the silence. “You feel the same - smell the same, even.” He mumbled, lips too close to your skin for you to maintain a healthy heartbeat.

“Yeah, well…” You hated yourself for pulling away, but you had to do it to check up on him; make sure he was okay.  “Moving out to the big city made me crave familiarity. So I had to ask Mum to send me a picture of the softener she used for our clothes when we were growing up.”

Jiung smiled at that. “That’s nice.”  He liked the idea of you calling your mum about something as simple as laundry. Often, he felt like his calls back home were the opposite of mundane - his mother would ask him where he was flying to that weekend; he would reply with the destination and tell her that he was working on a few new songs. She would tell him to eat well and not sleep too late; he would reply in the affirmative, hiding the fact that most of the time they were recording in the wee hours of the morning. It seemed like you were worlds apart. Yet, he couldn’t help but feel more than grateful to have a friend like you in his life to keep him grounded. Someone from his previous life, as a child, before he was P1Harmony’s Jiung - when he was just himself, just plain old Choi Jiung. A boy from Anyang. A boy with big dreams. Just a regular boy.

“Also, I’m sure your fans understand. And they’d want you to rest! Trust me,” You paused, “Everyone on SNS has been commenting to wish you a speedy recovery but also saying that this is a great opportunity for you to get some well-deserved rest. You guys never seem to rest these days. A comeback and a tour? You must’ve been so busy..”

Jiung laughed, amused. “You read the fan comments?”

“What? Of course! Why are you surprised?”

“Wow…” Jiung replied. “You know, we kinda lost contact when we were in high school but when you reached out again a few years ago I really did think it was because you suddenly missed me. Now I know why…”

“What do you mean?”

“Did you reach out because you were a fan? I always believed your story - I thought it really was because you bumped into my mum back in Anyang and she passed you my new number.”

“I mean…” You fumbled. Now it was your turn to be embarrassed. “That happened! I swear!”

“But…?”

“No buts! That is definitely what happened.”

“Right… So who’s your P1Harmony bias? Tell me.” Jiung teased, lips curling into a cheeky grin. He passed you the beer, urging you to drink. “Drink up and tell me. Don’t worry, I can set you up with them. Just tell me.”

You took a huge gulp as you whacked him on the arm.

“Hey! That hurt!”

“You deserved it.” You mumbled.

“So, who is it?” Jiung still wouldn’t let it go. 

“You don’t need to know.” The tips of your ears were warming up now. You distracted yourself by munching on some wings, hoping he would just drop the topic already.

“C’mon, I deserve to know, at least.”

Just then, your phone, which was on top of the table, lit up with a Kakao notification. Your eyes widened in alarm, suddenly remembering that you had just recently changed your wallpaper to a (very cute) photo of Jiung from their most recent music video. With your clean hand, you reached over to grab it before Jiung could see it.

But alas, you were too slow. “Oh…” Jiung mused, getting all cocky. “I get it now.”

“What do you get? There’s nothing to get.” You forced out a laugh, flipping your phone the other way and burying it under your seat.

“Y/N…” Jiung drawled out the syllabus of your name in a teasing yet slightly dangerous way, as if he had an evil master plan. “Tell me something, and be honest.”

“Nope, I refuse.” You said, shaking your head vigorously.

“Do you like me?”

You continued shaking your head no and chewing in silence.

“Be honest, I’m not gonna judge you. Am I your bias?”

“Shut up, I refuse to answer.”

“Ah, so I am right.”

“That’s not what I said!”

“You didn’t have to say it, Y/N. I can tell… Just admit it. You like me.”

“No! This is so embarrassing…”

//

{ epilogue }

The nurses filling out their charts at the station giggled and gossiped over their dinners. 

“So, what do you think is gonna happen?”

“Gosh, watching them is so frustrating. Like, just confess already!”

“I know right! I almost want to do something about it. Like slip them a note or push them into each other or something.”

“Ah, the beauty of young love…”

[villain-crown]

neutral | @jegulus-microfic | words: 1,309

critical care, part 9 (part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8)

* a small amount of explicit content!!

a Jegulus nurse!AU

Regulus Black was an absolute nightmare. 

James knew this because he was watching the evidence of it in real time, in awe of the sweet-looking Slytherin who he knew to be anything but. 

After the heart attack-inducing moment when Sirius has unknowingly advised James to have dirty, unprotected sex with his precious little brother, James knew he was going to need something a lot stronger than coffee to get through the rest of this shitshow of a day. Since injecting vodka directly into his fucking bloodstream wasn’t in the cards, he’d begged, bribed, and bullied most of Gryffindor to order takeaway drinks with him from the nearest boba shop. He was just relaxing into the peace of his first sip when who else but the menace occupying his thoughts came sauntering up to the Surgical ICU nurses’ station.

James choked. 

“Hey, Reggie!” Sirius sang from near his elbow, rifling around the cardboard cup holders containing twenty plastic containers. “I have your order here.”

Taking advantage of his best friend’s momentary distraction, James couldn’t stop himself from checking Regulus out. He looked as fit as ever in his cute forest-green Slytherin scrubs, tilting his head with a devastating smirk when he caught James’s eye. 

The Gryffindor could feel his face redden as the other man’s eyes drew a long, heated line from his face, to his chest, to his waistband, and then finally, to his—

The suggestive look vanished like it was never there, replaced by something much more neutral when Sirius straightened up, holding a purple drink. 

“Here you go, kid.”

“I don’t want that one,” Regulus said with the most adorable pout James had ever witnessed in his life. He suddenly couldn’t figure out where to look or what to do with his hands when Regulus turned that look on him. “What did you order, Potter?”

Sirius raised a finger immediately as James tried to remember how words worked. “No. Don’t tell him, Prongs! No, you’re not getting your way this time, you little brat. You wanted the taro, I bought you the taro, you’re having the taro!”

Meanwhile, James thought he might pass out from the sheer intensity of Regulus’s undivided attention. 

Fuck, he’s pretty. 

“James,” the petite Slytherin cooed, and damn he was so screwed as Regulus bit his lip just so, his dove-gray eyes wide. He stepped closer so that his smaller build seemed even more obviously so compared to James’s height and muscle. Regulus’s powdery, amber scent was almost too much to resist as he tilted his neck, as though to show off the soft, unmarked skin there. “Please?”

“I… I already put my mouth on it,” James said stupidly, his lips oddly dry. 

“Oh, I don’t mind.”

That only prompted James’s imagination, which supplied a fantastic picture of Regulus not minding where else he put his mouth. For instance, Regulus with two of James’s fingers stuffed past his lips, coating them in saliva and teasing him with the warm, wet twist of his tongue. 

“Ugh, here, just take mine, Reggie.”

James was jolted back into awareness by a takeaway cup labeled Sirius being thrust into Regulus's line of sight. 

Panicking, James nearly tripped over himself for the opportunity to offer his sugary milk tea to him instead. 

“No, wait! Here, Regulus, try mine! It’s okay, really!” 

Sirius rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest. “Don’t encourage him, Prongs. It’s bad enough he’s got me wrapped around his stupid little finger. There’s still time to save you.”

No there bloody isn’t, mate.

“I’m supposed to be reinforcing boundaries with you,” Sirius added to his little brother accusingly. “And I didn’t have to buy your drink order, you know. You’re not even floating here.”

“Thank you,” Regulus offered with the loveliest combination of wicked eyes and innocent smile that James had ever seen on anyone.

Sirius sighed, folding immediately as he shook the drink labeled Reggie vigorously before stabbing the plastic top with a thick straw. “You’re bloody lucky I’d do anything for you, you little monster.”

That pulled a real smile to Regulus’s lips that made James want to melt.

“I’m going to bring Remus his. He’s about to admit a liver bomb and you know how busy that will be.”

Sirius wandered off, nursing his new drink, leaving just James and Regulus standing there, staring at each other. 

“What did he mean by that?”

Regulus blinked. “What?”

“That he’s supposed to be reinforcing boundaries with you.”

The Slytherin sucked at James’s straw, unconcerned. The Gryffindor watched him do so closely, imagining Regulus’s pretty curls framing his cheeks as they hallowed to suck the fluid from James’s cock. 

“Our therapist told him that.”

“Your…?”

Regulus looked at him like he was an idiot. “Therapist. You don’t survive our family without needing one. You’re his best friend. I figured he’d told you we were in family therapy.” 

James couldn’t help but feel a little guilty. While Sirius had not in fact told him so, it wasn’t that much of a surprise. From what he’d gathered about Sirius and Regulus’s parents’ underhanded and emotionally manipulative tactics, it sounded like Sirius had a hard time letting people see any sort of vulnerability, despite their years of friendship. 

But James had seen it. 

He’d seen it in the way Sirius bought his little brother boba and in the way he’d called him “kid.” It seemed like a poor repayment of their friendship, James turning around and railing Regulus in his bed for as long as the other man wanted it and his stamina allowed.

But Regulus… fuck, he was stunning and mean with an unexpectedly wicked sense of humor that was definitely going to get James killed.

Maybe if I just fuck him once, I’ll get it out of my system, James thought desperately. Sirius doesn’t have to know. 

“What’s this?” Regulus asked as he examined the white board next to them, oblivious to how his mere presence was twisting James’s thoughts and feelings into pretzels. 

It was a busy board, boasting the day’s nursing assignments as well as the names of the interns, residents, fellows, and attendings staffing the unit for July. At the top of the board in Doctor McGonagall’s severe cursive was the riddle of the day: her way of connecting with the Gryffindor staff, who James secretly thought she viewed as her own children.

“It’s the unit riddle. You text McGonagall the answer if you think you know it, and she gives you a prize if you’re right.”

“Wouldn’t people just Google the answer?”

James gaped at him, offended. “That’s cheating!”

Regulus laughed, a real, genuine laugh that made his heart stutter in his chest. A faint blush of pink dusted across the Slytherin’s fair cheeks, giving him a truly beautiful glow that was even more appealing than crowding him up against the wall of an elevator or watching him verbally overpower Tom Riddle (though it was a damn close call).

“Let’s see. ‘I have cities but no houses, mountains but no trees. I have water but no fishes, and islands but no breeze. What am I?’ Did you guess it yet?”

James was so wrapped up in the sheer pleasure of listening to Regulus speak that he didn’t answer immediately. “Oh. Yeah, but I wasn’t right about the answer.”

Speaking of riddles, if Sirius did hypothetically find out, he should only be too grateful that it was James Regulus was seducing instead of someone like Tom Riddle, who was honestly the most arrogant doctor James had ever had the displeasure of knowing. He still couldn’t believe Regulus had tolerated the man long enough for them to couple. 

Sirius hates Riddle, James told himself as Regulus contemplated the puzzle, smirked to himself, and pulled out his phone—presumably to text McGonagall his answer.

So I’m basically doing him a favor, sleeping with his brother.

((Click “keep reading” for the answer to Dr. McGonagall’s riddle! 🫶))

Answer: a map 🗺️

[gofishygo]

WEEK THREE [PRIDE MONTH SERIES], SLIP THROUGH YOUR TEETH VALERIA GARZA X FEMALE! READER- UNFINISHED

(i will finish this when i am like. feeling bonita idfk when i wrote this i wanted to make it like fluff and nice but it ended up being straight fuckin TOXIC YURI IM SO SO SORRY i promise i dont antagonise lesbians shes just yk.... lowkey a cartel leader... so....)

notes: valeria lowkey toxic as fuck, violence, obsessiveness, kidnapping, manipulation, yeah shes not very nice.....

Alejandro, especially, tells you not to remember anymore- lose track of the dates that weathered in the coast of time, slip the face and crime of the las almas cartel in between the cracks of walls, let it slip through wooden panels. Because forgetting was easier for you now; it was his job, as Mexican special forces, to face those slivers of crime in it’s snake-like and behemoth form, growing mold and cobweb in forgotten corners and crevices, forming sharp sea glass from sandstone and tide, filthy and sneaky and

wiry.

Valeria thinks you are wiry. It frustrates her, boils blood in the heart she’d scraped out on those mountains when she put on the mask of el sin nombre. How you look at her with no form of recognition, eyes blank, a deer in headlights. What had happened to the shine of your eyes when you’d see her? How you’d hug her in a heartbeat with clammy hands and thin layer of sweat over your skin? She misses the feelings of her childhood, tucked away in whatever nook or cranny she could spare in her mind; one where she’d sit with your hand in hers, try catch fireflies with plastic nets and takeaway containers, where you’d sit in the orchads with her, orange juice running down your chins and juicy flesh stuck between your teeth. A time where you we both were younger, fatter, happier- living- a commodity scarce in what remained of the city she’d known.

But after a while, prey tends to be found in barbed fences, writhing, ensnared by metal teeth, flailing in it’s mental bounds. And that is how you appear now- eyes glazed over in some rabid state, wrists tangled in the ropes, red and tender, nearly bleeding at the friction. Your teeth are bared. (it’s a lovely glimpse into the rest of your skull, the shine of those spit-covered ivory bones. More majestic than those tusks of long-extinct animals, woolly mammoths, sabretooth tigers.) but she slips those thoughts into the back of her mind, buries them with nerve bundles and tangles of neurons. She cannot have those thoughts, not with you. Instead, she forces pity to boil in her chest for her beloved corazon behind that window, scared, alone. It doesn’t slip out- she’d learned how to trap her emotions, meld and twist them over years of military service, but between viper-glint of her eye, some bastard-child of pity smoulders silently, cries for you underneath those glassy layers. You are almost dog-like now, vicious threats coming out as barks at the back of your throat. And she wants to calm you, tame you, put a muzzle on those jaws and scritch the scruff of your neck like she’d used to.

It had taken a while to wrangle you down though

But now, you are finally here, and you are crying, her thumb on your lip, sour stone of spit solid and stinging the back of your throat. “awh, mi corazon..” she tuts, using disappointment to feign something more sinister. “Always been such a good girl, hm? listening to every beck and call. Ran away from the woman you loved with a tail between your legs just because Alejandro commanded you to.” And you have to bite back a whine when she grips your cheek, nails faintly digging into delicate skin. “So, what’s the problem with another order, estimada? You know I would do just as much as that puta did for you, more maybe.” Valeria’s breath sends chills down the veins of your neck, ghosts the shell of your ear. her touch- you don’t want to think it’s love, you swear it isn’t love, but feels like home. You see it, for a moment, cinder walls and timber flooring. “And all I need is just a name.”

And despite how you’d told yourself you hated her, tried to erase her name from your head, way she grips your face feels warmer than any embrace you’d had. “So give me a name, sweetheart.”

[rainydayandmondays]

Secret Santa is Coming....

Summary: Time for the Secret Santa gift exchange and Andy knows you deserve only the best gift. And who says it can’t be a gift for both of you.

Pairing: Andy Barber X Reader, Jake Jensen

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: 18+ only. Explicit language, explicit sexual content, male masturbation, female masturbation, voyeurism, Daddy kink, slight non-con

Author’s Note: A follow up to the Thanksgiving Potluck. I don’t think Andy is okay with just a one-shot with his sweet girl.

“Mr. Barber.”

Andy looked up to see you standing just inside his doorway. Your hands dropping to be held in front of you, he watched as you momentarily shifted from foot to foot. You were uneasy and that should never be how you feel around him. He dropped the affidavit he had been reading back to his desk, before rolling his shoulders, and sitting back in his chair. Something had you skittish and he wouldn’t have that.

“Yes, sweetheart.”

You bow your head at the nickname, your bashful reaction to it would never get old with him. However, he did try to use it sparingly. Waiting until you two were mostly alone, he would softly say it and watch you smile before catching yourself.

“Can I talk to you about something?” You looked at him, your brow furrowing as you waited for his response. Something was wrong. He could feel his own unease build up the longer he watched you, your fingers now fidgeting in front of you.

“Is that even a question? Of course, you can,” He gestured to the seat in front of him.

You seemed to loosen up at his response, your hands dropping the gripped hold you had them in. Turning to close the door behind you, you gave him a small hopeful smile before taking the offered seat.

He continued to sit back, despite wanting to inch closer to you. You were calmer now and he didn’t want to break you from that peace that you had regained, “What’s going on?”

You took a quick inhale before asking your question, “Are you the one leaving coffee on my desk every morning?"

The coffee. You knew about the coffee. After Thanksgiving, he hadn’t wanted to give up the feeling he felt watching you enjoy him so much. He embraced the flashes of you licking your lips after finishing his potluck offering. They would keep him busy popping up over the long holiday weekend.

Laurie had ordered in catering for their family meal. Things were starting to pick up for her at work as they entered the holiday season. Buying everything and then cooking the turkey dinner wasn’t something she was willing to take on. Instead, they had pulled the plastic containers from the takeaway bag, quickly heating them up before sitting down to the saddest Thanksgiving meal. Thoughts of you were the only thing that pulled him out his funk to start pulling down Christmas decorations from the attic.

He decided that weekend that he would find a way to share that with you again. Your friend may have thrown out that thinly veiled threat, but he would find a way around it. Returning to the office after the holiday, he decided to keep his ritual to his nightly shower. No more parking garage camera feed for your noisy friend to make noise about. He found if he worked late enough, by the time he got home, there would be no one up to ask why he took a tumbler with him to shower.

Filling up his trusty tumbler every night, he would grab it from the refrigerator each morning as he waved goodbye to a wife and son who seemed to be more enthralled with their phones than anything he was doing. Heading to the local coffee shop after his morning swim, he would sit in his car adding his special ingredient to the small light roast brew with double espresso shots and half and half.

Making sure to get in as early as possible, he would leave the cup of coffee on your desk before hustling to his office. He had done so for the last week, a smirk lighting up his face when you brought the cup to the weekly team debrief for the latest cases. But now you knew it was him. He should have known you would figure it out.

Trying his best to not react to your question, he pulled on all his skills to keep the best poker face. He could come up with a reason for it that wouldn’t return you to that ball of nerves that had stood in his doorway.

He cleared his throat before responding, “You caught me. I know the late nights you have been putting in. That can’t be easy to do and then only to go home and help your parents. Figured you might need something to look forward to.”

You hummed at his explanation, looking down before returning your gaze to him, “That’s very kind, Mr. Barber. Sweet even. It’s just…people like to talk. I’ve worked so hard. And I don’t want anyone to think that I got anything because of…because of anything else other than work.”

Your eyes had continued to flit between him and your hands in your lap as you spoke. He could tell that you had thought through your small speech, probably even prepped yourself on your drive in. He also knew that one of the office gossips had gotten to you. He was selfish and he wanted the moments with you but not at the risk of you feeling uncomfortable.

Leaning against the desk, he looked at you straight on, expressing as much empathy as possible, “Understood. No more coffees.”

Your shoulders finally came down from around your ears and you sighed, nodding back in thanks.

“Thank you, Mr. Barber,” you replied before rising to walk towards his office door. He wanted to correct you. Remind you to call him Andy. However, he figured it was best not to push his luck. Watching you push the wrinkles from your skirt as you walked away, he called back to you, “I don’t want you worrying about this or what anyone may say, okay?”

Stopping to look over your shoulder, you reached to grab at your necklace, “I won’t.”

“Promise me?” He smirked as you continued to twiddle with the gold chain.

“I promise,” you answered as he nodded for you to leave.

With the click of his door closing, he looked down at his desk, saving your promise to his memory. He’ll use it later tonight.

Holding the slip of paper in his hands, your name neatly scrawled across it, he smiled to himself. A couple of people in the office decided to put together a Secret Santa exchange. Apparently, the Thanksgiving potluck was such a success when it came to team building, the higher ups agreed to the next holiday activity. Even had HR sign off on it.

Andy had been in court when the bag of names had been passed around. He didn’t give it much thought. Since your stop in his office a week ago, he had kept his distance. It wasn’t something that he wanted in the slightest. But he was willing to respect your genuine worry about office gossip. No more tumblers, no more early coffee runs. The research requests still happened but always through the weekly team huddle.

However, now seeing your name chosen for him, he had to smile to himself. Of course, it would be you that he would get. Of course, him trying to keep his distance would mean you finding a way back to him.

He sat down, leaning his chin in his hands, “Okay, sweet girl. I understand.”

The office had pretty much cleared out with most people starting their holiday vacations. The last few streamers from the small Christmas luncheon had been balled up and chucked in the bin, when Andy made his way out to the bull pin. You were waving off the last of the other paralegals as you collected your stuff to make your own way home.

“Hey sweetheart,” he saw you jump a little before turning to him.

You had worn a red Christmas sweater with a white bow handstitched along the collar. Your normal pencil skirt had been replaced by a pair of black slacks. And although not his favorite, the pants had done wonders for your ass. He had watched as you moved around the office putting up the last-minute decorations, only to take them down.

“Hi Andy.” You replied turning and looking up at him from your office chair. He caught the small smile that wanted to break free at your utterance of his name. That was good, you were comfortable around him again.

Clearing his throat, he brought the gift bag from behind his bag, presenting it to you, “Merry Christmas.”

“So, you were my Secret Santa,” you smirked looking at the packed gift bag he had hastily bought from the Walgreens down the street.

“It’s a three-part gift,” he answered, nodding towards it and urging you to open it.

Taking the stuffed tissue paper from the top you reached in pulling out a pink tumbler. You let out a small giggle, “For my coffee?”

He fully smiled this time, before shrugging his shoulders and pointing to the remaining items in the gift bag. Putting down the tumbler, you turned back to the bag, reaching the bottom of it, you pulled out a wooden paper weight. Carved into the center was the seal for Boston College Law School. Your brow creased as you tried to piece together the meaning of the gift. He watched as you finally looked back to him, your look pleading for an answer.

“That’s the second part. An old college buddy of mine is the registrar. I told him about a paralegal that had aced her LSATs, had helped on numerous high profile ADA cases, but hadn’t had the chance to enroll yet.” He looked on as the puzzle started to come together in your mind. Your brow creased further as tears started to line your eyelashes.

“They have grant funds set aside every year for students that display great potential. He took care of everything. You can enroll whenever you’re ready. There will be a space for you. That’s the third part.” He whispered the last of his explanation. The tears that had been threatening to fall now ran fully down your cheeks.

“Oh my God. Thank you.” You jumped from your chair, throwing your arms around his shoulders.

Initially taken by surprise, he hesitated momentarily before letting his body relax into your hold. His hands landing on your back as you sniffled into his dress shirt and whispered quiet thank you’s in his ear.  He threw up his own thanks at the office being empty. Something tells him that you may have restrained yourself more with an audience.

Starting to feel you pull away, he resisted the urge to cling to you. It had been a while since Andy had a genuine hug. He had been mostly regulated to side hugs with Laurie. Every once in a while, it would include a kiss to the cheek. And Jacob, well he was fully rooted in his teen years and any idolization that he might have had for his dad had been long gone. He would only get quick nods of recognition from over the top of the phone from his son. But now with you, he could feel the heat of your body, the small catches in your breath as you tried to regulate your outburst. This was something he couldn’t give up.

“I’m so sorry. That’s not very professional of me. It’s just…this means so much to me.”

Your tearful smile at him tempted him to bring you back into his embrace. To just hold you as all the happy tears flowed out of you.

You giggled again, shaking your head, “I have to tell my parents. I have to…”

He nodded at you, seeing all the possibilities run through your mind. He had opened doors for you. Had given you a better future. Had put that delighted smile on your face. He had done that. You quickly began to pack up your remaining things, yesterday’s brief stuffed in with your laptop. Turning to him again, you smiled again grabbing onto his forearm and squeezing.

“Merry Christmas sweetheart.”

“Merry Christmas Andy.”

“Can you believe it, Jake? I can enroll whenever I’m ready. There’s a space just waiting for me.” You talked animatedly to your best friend as you placed the carved paperweight on your bookcase. It would sit perfect with your old undergrad books and picture of Jake and you from your graduation.

“That’s amazing, Ace! So, he just called a friend and got this all sorted out?” Jake asked facetiming you from his room.

He had suspicions about your kind of boss since before meeting him Thanksgiving. You had mentioned how many late nights you had been spending at the office recently and how walking out at night gave you the heebie-jeebies. The protector within him woke up immediately at that, ready to offer to pick you up if he needed to. You would never ask him to do that yourself. That’s when you brought up Andy Barber and how he started walking you out.

It hadn’t taken Jake long to dig up information on the ADA. He had the white picket fence life, although there wasn’t too much about his past listed. That was the first red flag. Hacking into the courthouse’s camera feed had been relatively easy. These older government buildings never bothered upping their security.

Andy Barber always parked in one of the garage’s blind spots. That would be the second red flag. After you left, Andy wouldn’t be seen exiting until half an hour later. What could he possibly be doing in a parked car for thirty minutes? That was the final red flag.

“His friend is the registrar at the school. He was able to work it out. What?” Sitting down on your bed, you leaned back looking at Jake on your phone. He was making his slightly worried puppy dog face.

“It’s just that’s a lot to get coordinated so fast.”

“Why can’t you just be happy for me, Jake?” You asked only to see Jake’s face immediately deflate. The worried puppy dog look morphing to kicked puppy. His eyes widening behind his glasses.

“Of course, I’m happy for you Ace. It’s just that you’re too trusting sometimes.”

“I’m not a child,” you grumbled back, and Jake wanted to jump through the phone and ease your anger.

“You’re not. You’re a person with a good heart that wants to believe the best in people,” he saw the crease in your brow ease as he spoke, “And that’s why I gotta look out for you.”

Rolling your eyes, you tried to hide your small smile at Jake’s statement. From the first moment he had run into on his skateboard, knocking both of you over in the quad in college, he had looked out for you.

“When do you come back?”

“Why? Do you already miss me?” You watched Jake wiggle his eyebrows suggestively, causing a round of giggles to erupt from you. He pretended to be hurt by your outburst before continuing, “Probably not until the new year.”

You hummed, sitting back up, Jake and you sat in silence as he watched the disappointment take over your expression. He searched for a way to get you to smile again when he heard the knock at the door. Quickly looking back at the door, he breathed a sigh of relief seeing he had locked it.

“I gotta go, Ace.” He watched you nod a short okay, before finally getting up from your bed.

“I miss you.” “I miss you too, Jake.”

Andy sat down at the desk in his home office. Neck stretched back along the back of the chair, as he thought back on the last couple of hours since getting home. Walking in, he noticed all the lights were off, not even the Christmas tree in the den was lit. Disengaging the alarm, he made his way into the kitchen to see a sticky note stuck to the fridge. Laurie had to go back into the office to finalize the preparations for the end of the year gala, while Jacob spent the night at a friend’s. So much for family time.

Putting an order into the local Italian place, he went upstairs to change out of his work clothes. He contemplated jumping in the shower, until he heard the doorbell ring with his takeout. Turning on the tree in the den, he ate his pasta dish with only the twinkling Christmas lights on. What had his life become? What had his family become?

Dropping the to-go containers in the trash, he wandered back to his office. He thought about powering up his laptop and finishing the closing remarks for one of his cases, when he found the holiday favors that you had passed around the office this morning. Your red sweater on, you greeted everyone with such joy for the upcoming holiday. He couldn’t help but smile up at you, as you left the favor on his desk.

You were a sweetheart. His sweetheart. His sweet girl. He rubbed along his bottom lip as he remembered your reaction to his gift. The hug had surprised him. But fuck if he hadn’t loved every minute of it. He didn’t even mind the soft sniffling you made as your tears stained his tie. He had made those tears.

Opening his iPad, he logged into the recently downloaded program. Would you have already told everyone about what he had done for you? Would you have passed around the carved seal of your new school for everyone to admire? Would you have put it in a place of pride? He wasn’t sure, but it couldn’t hurt to check.

Finishing entering the credentials, he watched as his screen came to life and he saw your bedroom space. It was cheerful like you, with multiple pillows adorning your bed and bursts of color in the pictures you hung on your walls. He devoured the scene, greedily taking in everything he could see, when he heard the click of the bedroom door. The small camera was powerful and could zoom 10x but was stationary in the middle of the school seal.

He waited, hearing you hum a Christmas song along the with opening and closing of drawers off camera and the tossing of a bath towel on the bed. Finally making your way into view, he saw your silk two-piece set. The navy-blue pajama top with white piping along seams hugged your tits. Your free tits, there’s no way you were still wearing a bra with the way your nipples poked through. And the shorts that accompanied it, covered the curve of your ass, but he watched as they inched up as you started to turn down the bed.

He shifted in his seat as he set the iPad to lean against the monitor stand on his desk. Widening his legs and easing back into his chair, he adjusted himself. He hadn’t had a chance for his nightly ritual. But seeing you now, he was happy to see he would have new things to add to his memory. You always knew how to take care of him. His sweet girl.

After setting most of the pillows aside, you climbed into bed, reaching over for your earbuds and phone. He couldn’t tell what you were listening to but judging by the content smile on your face, it must be good. He watched as you closed your eyes, listening to whatever was piping through your earbuds. Reaching down, he rubbed himself through his pajama bottoms. Nothing too aggressive, just softest of touches. The kind he always imagined you would give him. Always delicate and soft at the start.

He sighed to himself as he watched you, “My sweet girl.”

Lost in the moment, he didn’t catch you shifting at first. However, looking back at the screen, he saw your hand move to your top. You let out a small sigh as your fingers started to flick at your nipple, rolling it between your fingers. He frantically sat up, engaging the zoom function to watch up close. Your nipples were amazing, and he knew given the chance he would lap at them, giving them little bites to see you squirm. Your eyes were closed, breathing harsher, as you played with your tits.

“Play with her tits, sweet girl. Show me how sensitive they are,” He whispered as he took full hold of himself. After hitting his fist on the underside of the desk, he pushed back from it to make room for his hand as he continued to slide up and down his shaft.  

He could hear the little sighs you were making as they started to get louder. He knew you would be vocal. You would tell him everything that made you feel good. Both your hands covered your tits while the buttons of your shirt lay open from where you had torn it open to get your hands in.

“Jesus, you’re going to be the death of me.” He squeezed around the tip before breaking contact with the screen to spit down onto himself. At feel of his warm saliva, that winking eye dribbled out onto self.

Hearing shifting, he looked back to find you grabbing one of the pillows you hadn’t bothered to put aside. Now, what were you doing now? He watched as you grabbed the forgotten towel still at the foot of your bed. Placing the pillow in the middle of the bed, you draped the towel over it before swinging a leg over and straddling the setup.

“Fuck me. Take what you need, sweet girl.” He grunted as you started to rock back and forth on the pillow.

Your hips started a natural rhythm, one hand still pawing at your tit while the other held you steady on your perch. As he looked on, the more he dribbled out on his hand, and he finally reached down pushing his pants and underwear off. His ass was momentarily cold on the leather of the seat, but he couldn’t be bothered to care as you kept humping your pillow.

“Daddy.”

Andy nearly swallowed his tongue when he heard your whisper. Your bottom lip now caught between your teeth as you whined.

“Daddy is here. Fuck, I’m right here.” He fisted himself, finally dropping to grab onto his balls and rolling them in his palm.

“Daddy, please.” You mewled out your whimper and he had to grab tight at his base to avoid blowing his load right then and there. You were close, but fuck him, if he missed it by losing it first.

“What do you need, sweet girl? What do you need from daddy?”

“Daddy, I can’t.”

How could you answer him? You had to know. His sweet girl was so smart, she could figure anything out. You had to know he was here. That he could see you. That he was watching you. You were doing this for him.

“Yes, you can. Daddy says you can. I’ll even count down. Five.”

You stuttered slightly before picking up your pace again.

“Four.”

He tightened his grip, corkscrewing his hand on each trip up.

“Three.”

Your breathing was getting harsher as you brought down your other hand, using both to steady you as your hips rolled.

“Two.”

He was almost there. His balls had already started to pull up as he planted his feet to thrust into his fist.

“One. Come on, my sweet girl. Come for daddy.”

He nearly lost it, as you threw your head back, mouth gaping in a silent cry, and the rest of your body spasming. Fucking his hand, he watched as a gush of liquid flew out of you, wetting the towel beneath.

“Oh fuck. Such a good girl. Such a good, fucking sweet girl.”

Standing up, he aimed for the screen as he lost it on the image of his sweet girl squirting for him. He twitched and continued to rub out every ounce he had for her. For once, he didn’t think about it going to waste. It hadn’t, not with what you had given him tonight.

Bracing against the edge of the desk, he flopped back into his chair, as you rolled off your pillow completely drained.

“Thank you, daddy.” You gave one final whisper before peeling off your pajama shorts and grabbing the covers to go to sleep.

“You’re more than welcome, sweet girl. Rest now.”

Andy watched you snuggle into bed, returning to the woman he knew from the office. No longer the horned up, little one that just needed her daddy to take care of her. Taking a tissue from the console behind him, he wiped himself down before wiping the screen and desk. Pulling his boxers and pajama pants back up, he started to log out of the camera’s app, when a dialog box popped up, asking to save or delete recording.

He hesitated only for a moment, before clicking save.

Maybe these work holiday functions weren’t the worst thing in the world.

@sarahdonald87

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Check That

eren yeager x black!femreader

summary: sometimes when family crosses boundaries, you have to remind them of their place. my excuse to write thanksgiving clapbacks

wc: ~0.5k

tags: fluff, comedy

warnings: mentions of food

notes: happy thanksgiving if you celebrate!, school is whooping me sorry i haven’t been posting often😭, beta read, inspired by those tiktoks, mostly centered around the reader, i feel like i’m just yapping in this👎🏾, feedback is welcome

Every year. You don’t even know why you come to your grandmother’s house every thanksgiving just to deal with your hypocritical family. You wish you would’ve just gone over Eren’s family’s house instead. Your leg bounces and Eren rubs your knee comfortingly.

“Y/N, why do you sneak off on us every other holiday? We are your family, you shouldn’t avoid us like that.” An aunt not-so-secretly judges you, her southern drawl making it all the more demeaning, but this year you came prepared.

“The same reason the repo man snuck off with that busted Nissan of yours.” You reply nonchalantly, causing your boyfriend to choke on his greens before covering it up by taking a sip of his water. Quiet snickers are heard across the large rectangular table as you continue to eat.

“Still ain’t got the car back yet either.” Your mother says under her breath, but loud enough for you and Eren to hear. You smirk, trying to keep yourself from laughing. You appreciate the fact that your parents have always had your back when you needed it.

That seemed to be enough to keep your aunt quiet for a good while. You bask in the warmhearted laughs and conversation now that your shady aunt has nothing more to say. The comfort of family is beginning to melt all the stress of your daily life away. That is until your aunt Jackie’s daughter Destiny decides to chime in on the topic of marriage. She’s been giving Eren bedroom eyes the entire evening.

“So cuz, this is the first time you brought Eren over for a family dinner. Are y’all a serious thing?” She twirls her fork in the spaghetti on her plate, making doe eyes at Eren that causes him to screw his face up slightly.

“Eren and I are just as serious as your fraud charges. Thank you for your concern, can you pass the yams?” You reply, rolling your eyes and feeling annoyed all over again. Your knee bounces a bit more intensely and just like always, Eren is right there to soothe you. He rubs your knee and places a kiss on your cheek for good measure. You exhale heavily, doing your best to keep yourself in check.

A few hours later with no further incidents, you and Eren say your goodbyes and leave out the door. You get in the passenger seat and let out a heavy and exhausted sigh. Eren turns your head towards him gently, just two fingers on your jaw and chin. He places a long, soft, and loving kiss on your lips.

“You did good today, I thought we were gonna have to get it poppin’ on thanksgiving.” He jokes, resulting in a chuckle coming from you. His eyes seem to glow a little when he sees you smile, a satisfied look on his face.

“There she is, there’s my lady.” He almost coos at you, his voice is just as soothing and warm as the smile on his face before he brings you in for another kiss. The two of you pull away slowly, taking some time just to stare at each other and decompress together.

The two of you make it home with plastic bags of takeaway containers in tow, setting them on the table before separating them into what the two of you would eat on your own, and what you would share. Ultimately stuffed, you and Eren lay on the couch tangled in each other’s limbs watching Charlie Brown movies.

[seshrat]

i love putting plastic takeaway containers in the dishwasher like i don't know they're just going to fly around in there like leaves on the autumn wind. door's closed. none of my business tbh.