#Rough thought it was nice to wake up to some music and so did some of the kids

[icarusredwings]

Married- working- at- the - school Poolverine is a menace to society and makes Scott want to quit his job so bad.

Today at 8 am he was woken up by "Single Ladies" being played through out the school and when He, The headmaster Mr. Summers, came out of his office there was his newest employee, in full uniform doing the entire choreography to said song.

🎶I got gloss on my lips, a man on my hips.

Got me tighter in my Dereon jeans

Acting up, drink in my cup

I can care less what you think🎶

Sometimes Mr. Wilson does a point and a move that may not be part of the dance, and Mr. Summers can't help but to feel as if he's being mocked. It becomes especially bad when he realizes that Mr. Howlett is lazily leaning on the banister, admiring the show and drinking hot coffee.

🎶He needs no permission, did I mention

Don't pay him any attention!

Cause you had your turn and now you gonna learn

What it really feels like to miss him🎶

It's this verse he notices the words are changed when said employee came to grab Mr. Howletts face and specifically turn him away from the headmaster.

🎶Cause if you liked'em then you should have put a ring on it

If you liked'em you shoulda put a ring on it

Don't be mad once you see that I want it

If you liked him then you shoulda put a ring on it🎶

By now, the Headmaster is glaring with a semi look of disgust and disrespect, blinking slowly and gave a look to Mr. Howlett.

"Are you doing to do something about this?"

Only for him to smirk softly and shrug. "Im not the headmaster, remember?"

It leaves Mr. Summers no choice but to either stand here and endure the obvious pettiness or to close his door, which infact is slammed a lot harder than he thought.

🎶Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh🎶

Logan smiles, feeling satisfied about pissing him off for the day, and proud of Wade for his dance number. Today is going to be a good day. He could feel it.

And the best part? He had a contract that said unless Wade became dangerous towards the children, He couldn't fire him because they were a package deal.

You want the Wolverine? Deal with Deadpool.

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Wicked Games 1

No tag lists. Do not send asks or DMs about updates. Review my pinned post for guidelines, masterlist, etc.

Warnings: non/dubcon, cheating, and other dark elements. My username actually says you never asked for any of this.

My warnings are not exhaustive but be aware this is a dark fic and may include potentially triggering topics. Please use your common sense when consuming content. I am not responsible for your decisions.

Character: Steve Rogers

Summary: you had a one night stand. Or did you?

As usual, I would appreciate any and all feedback. I’m happy to once more go on this adventure with all of you! Thank you in advance for your comments and for reblogging ❤️

Your phone wakes you. The room tilts as you open your eyes. A dull hammering thrums in your temples. The morning light makes your brain rough as sand paper. 

Dregs of vodka stick to your dry tongue. The hangover weighs you down like an anchor. Just the thought of moving hurts. 

You reach blindly for your jittering phone. Bubbly music tinkles from the speaker. Shit. It's Barrett. What did he forget this time? 

You answer and put your clammy palm to your forehead. You squint at the ceiling then your eyes slowly round. Where the fuck are you?  

"Hey, babe. You at Wendy's?" Your husband asks. 

You gulp and peel your tongue off the roof of your mouth. This isn't Wendy's house. 

"Yep," you croak. Your eyes ping side to side. 

"Look, I'm sorry about last night. Things got heated and I know I was an ass--" 

You cough as you sit up in the strange bed. "Yeah, you were." 

"So why don't you come home and we can talk it out." 

You peer around the room and your lips curve in a frown. Where the hell would you go besides home your loyal best friend's? You scratch you scalp and turn your legs over the edge of the bed, "let me get myself together." 

"Babe. Please. I'm sorry." 

"When I get home." You hang up.  

It was a hell of fight. The minute he started yelling, you bailed. He knows better. You're not doing a ten hour day and coming home his nagging. So you left out your coffee mug. Big deal. You didn't say anything about the garbage bag he left out to be torn apart by raccoons. 

Whatever. Fighting over dishes. Not of it matters right now. 

Your clothes are on the floor. Someone's floor. Who it is is far from the point. You stand and stagger. You catch yourself on the nightstand. Your hand moves instinctively between your legs. 

You're naked and tender. Did you have sex? 

Think! You ran out with your purse. You went to Wendy's. She was up for a night out. A night to forget and body did you. First drink, second, third, then it gets blurry.  

Fuck! You didn't. You wouldn't. You're pissed at your husband but you wouldn't cheat on him. You're not that type of person. Right? 

You don't have time for that. You have to get out of here.  

You dress as you search the room. It's tidy. Half the bed is mad and the other half messed from your drunken slumber. 

You shake out your hands trying to shoo away the flurry of guilt and denial. Just get out. You'll think better with some coffee in your system.  

You push down the door handle slowly. You listen to the silence of the hall. You tiptoe out warily, checking left and right as you advance. It's a nice place. A condo. Much nicer than your cramped one bedroom. 

Not important! 

You come out into the spacious front room. It's as empry as the rest of the place. The kitchen too. The bathroom. No one. 

Your purse is by the door. Your shoes too. You grab both and let yourself out. You'd rather not face your mistake. 

No, you didn't do anything. You wouldn't. 

You hurry down the hallway to the elevators. You don't look back, just keep going. You don't think, just go. 

It isn't until you're outside the familiar cafe marquee that your let your mind settle. You enter and join the queue. Your order a black coffee and drink it at a stool by the window.  

You lean your elbows on the high table that stands inside the pane. You take a slow, savouring swig of coffee and let it trickle down your throat. You shield your face from the New York morning and put your hands over your ears. 

You can't remember anything but Wendy. Your anger had you ordering round after round, trying to drown out the bile. The thought makes your stomach lurch and you gulp thickly. 

You shake your head and groan. Your phone chirps. It's probably Barrett. Several messages from him and missed calls. All through the night. It's bad enough you betrayed him, you had him up worrying. 

No, you didn't! 

It can't have happened if you don't remember it. A generous stranger took you home so you didn't wake up on the curb. That's it. 

That's the story. Nothing happened. And you'll let Barret believe you were with Wendy. It won't make a difference. 

Your mind is set. Nothing happened. 

Nothing. Happened. 

Because you don't remember. Because you were too drunk to do that. Because you're married and it can't happen. 

You're going to finish your coffee and go home. Everything will be just like it was before... after you tell Barrett where to put that coffee mug if it's such a big deal. 

[cherryobx]

Turn up the music okay any fletcher song for rafe but these two together undrunk and bitter

Undrunk and Bitter

a/n: love both of these songs sm!

pairing: Rafe Cameron x reader

summary: you and Rafe broke up but some feelings still linger

warnings: suggestive themes, language

wc: 1.4k

How long will it take for your feelings for someone to go away? How long does it take to stop loving someone? Even if that someone is so bad for you.

You and Rafe broke up almost a month ago and you feel like every day is worse than the last. At first it was easy. You cried, got all of your sadness and anger out of your body. But then arrived the longing and loneliness. 

You miss him. You miss waking up in the same bed, his arms around you. You miss going on dates with him. You miss him giving a ride on the back of his bike. The little things.

But the relationship between you ate you up inside. You loved him but also knew you deserved better. You deserved more. That’s why you broke up with him. It was probably the hardest decision of your life. Because where do you find the strength to let go of the person you love more than anyone else?

“I can’t watch you mope around anymore.” Your friend Grace sits at the edge of your bed where you’re currently lying, staring at the ceiling deep in thought.

“Top’s throwing a party tonight. We’re going.”

You know you don’t have the energy to go but you also don’t have the energy to argue with her. And that’s how you end up at Topper’s house a couple of hours later.

You know he’s here even though you haven’t spotted him yet. Rafe. You can feel it in your bones. 

“I’m gonna get a drink,” you tell Grace who’s engaged in a conversation with Kelce about who knows what and she dismisses you with a wave. 

You sigh and try to find your way to the kitchen. Passing the living room, you see Rafe on the couch with a pretty girl on his lap. His eyes meet yours for a second before someone addresses him and he turns his attention to them.

Yeah, you definitely need a drink now.

How is it so easy for him to move on? It makes you wonder how much you really meant for him. How much the relationship and later the break up affected him. Did you really mean so little to him?

You finally find the kitchen. The counters are filled with various types of alcohol ranging from light stuff to hard liquor. You head for the latter. You down shot after shot and soon enough you feel your head start slowly spinning and your worries floating away. It feels nice. It helps you forget about him for a second.

“Rough night?”

You turn around and some guy is leaning against the counter, a red solo cup in his hand.

“You could say that.” You give him, what must be, a sad smile.

“What’s got you drinking like that?” he asks as he scoots closer and takes a sip of his drink.

“Life.”

“Fair enough.” He laughs. “I’m Trevor.”

“To you, Trevor.” You salute him and take another shot, grimacing at the taste of vodka in your mouth. He offers his drink as a chaser and you happily take it and down that too.

You introduce yourself to him and the conversation starts flowing. The alcohol keeps flowing too. Soon enough his hands are everywhere at once and you’re making out in the secluded hallway.

It feels nice. You feel wanted again. You haven’t felt that way in a while and crave it more than anything. There’s a little voice in the back of your head that keeps nagging at you that it’s wrong to use someone to get over Rafe. But it feels so good and you can’t help but want more.

“Y/n.” You’d recognize that voice anywhere. Rafe.

You break away from Trevor and see him approaching. His fists are balled and even the way he walks indicates that he’s angry.

“Get the fuck away from her,” he snarls.

“But-”

“Step the fuck back!” 

Trevor backs up with his hands raised in defeat.

“Walk away.” Rafe instructs him and he doesn’t argue. So much for that.

“Are you okay?” he asks almost softly, his hands on your upper arms on both sides of your body.

You shove him away. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“What the fuck is wrong with me? You’re the one hooking up with strangers in the fucking hallway.”

“So? You can swap spit with girls all night but I can’t do the same?”

“No.”

“What do you mean ‘no’? We broke up, Rafe. I can do whatever the fuck I want.”

“You’re drunk. You’re not thinking clearly. Let me take you home.” He takes a step closer but you take one simultaneously back.

“Fuck you. I’m thinking more clearly than I have in a while. Why can you move on but I can’t?”

He pinches the bridge of his nose. “I’m not moving on anywhere with anyone.”

“You’re trying to tell me you didn’t fuck that pretty thing before you came here? Nice try. I need space from you, Rafe.”

“First of all, I haven’t fucked anyone since we broke up. Second, I’m taking you home.”

“Yeah right. I don’t believe you. She was all over you.”

“Like that guy was all over you?”

You shut your mouth. “That’s none of your business.”

“It is. You’re still my business whether you like it or not. Now, you can come with me willingly or I will physically drag you out of here.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you.” You cross your arms on your chest and stand your ground, which in a literal sense is difficult because you’re too drunk for your own good.

“Stop being difficult.”

“No.”

He sighs before he makes a quick move of picking you up and throwing you over his shoulder. You’re like a sack of flour. Absolutely helpless and pathetic.

“Put me down!” You hit his back with your fists but that does nothing to help. He’s unaffected.

“I’m gonna throw up all over you,” you threaten. It’s actually a real possibility due to the fact that your head is furiously spinning and you can’t make your left from your right.

“I don’t care.”

People stare at him weird as he carries you through the house, while you’re kicking and screaming, to the driveway where his car is parked.

Very surprisingly to everyone around Rafe, he’s sober tonight. He didn’t plan on staying sober but when he saw you enter Topper’s yard through the living room window his heart made the decision for him.

He drops you in the passenger seat and buckles you up before walking to the driver’s side and hopping into the seat. In the few seconds he was outside the car you managed to unbuckle your seatbelt but he pulls it across your body again and locks the doors so you can’t escape. 

“I hate you,” you snarl at him and cross your arms once again, angling your body towards the car door on your side.

“Don’t care.” He backs out of the driveway and starts driving towards your house.

You rest your head against the cool window of the car and stare at the passing scenery. 

“Why do you care so much?” you ask.

“What?” He looks at you for a second before turning his gaze back towards the road ahead of him.

“Why do you care?”

“About what?”

“About me. We broke up and here you are, taking me home after cockblocking me.”

He scoffs. “I can’t stop caring about you overnight, Y/N. That’s not how it works. And even if I wanted to I couldn’t.”

“You looked like you could. Plenty of girls throwing themselves at you. Take your pick.”

“I don’t want any of them.”

The rest of the ride passes in silence. He helps you out of the car, into your house and to your bedroom. He even tucks you under the covers. 

“Why don’t you want other girls? You can, you know.” 

He leans down and presses a kiss to your forehead which makes you instantly close your eyes for a moment of bliss. For a second, you’re thrown back in time when you were together and he used to kiss you goodnight every single night, even if it meant driving over from his place to yours to do so.

“I’m waiting.”

“For what?”

“For you to love me again.”

You open your mouth but no words come out.

“If you remember this in the morning, text me. We’ll talk.” With that he stands up, turns off the lights and leaves, softly closing the door after him.

[yukidragon]

Sunny Day Jack - Growing Old Together

I've been trying to encourage myself to write more on impulse rather than get stuck in my head so much. Soooo, when this particular thread on twitter popped up about an older Joseph aging like fine wine and snuggling up to his sunshine in the morning, I got inspired.

This is an off the cuff first-draft drabble that might be a bit rough. There's some hints of spice to it, but mostly it's just marshmallow fluff about Joseph and Mary in an AU where they were able to grow old together and have their happy ending. (Unlike the main timeline.) I hope you enjoy this peek into what might have been.

@channydraws @earthgirlaesthetic @sai-of-the-7-stars @cheriihoney @illary-kore @okamiliqueur @kurokrisps

...

The house felt so big and empty after the kids moved out, all grown up now and living their own lives. It took Mary time to get used to the quiet after so many years filled with the sound of children shouting and laughing.

The past decades passed by so quickly with days that were long, but years that ultimately were so painfully short.

The passage of time made Mary all the more thankful that Joseph had been with her throughout it all. He was still here with her, just like he promised so many years ago.

Sometimes in the quiet, Mary remembered the incident from 40 years ago, the gunman that almost took the stars from her sky. It was a miracle that the bullet merely grazed its target. What remained was a scar on weathered skin that left a notch in a hairline that now had more gray hair than brown. She traced and kissed that scar countless times while thanking God that it, and a scary memory, were all that were left behind that day. She did it again now, just the lightest touch of her lips against his marred skin so as not to rouse her beloved husband from his slumber.

The thoughts weren’t exactly sad, but they held enough of a somber edge that Mary couldn’t get back to sleep despite the early hour. Usually she and Joseph slept in late ever since they retired and the kids left for college, but not this morning. These were the sort of thoughts that she knew by now could fester if she remained idle.

It was a shame to leave the warmth of their bed and the big, strong arms that held her so close, but Mary couldn’t bring herself to wake Joseph. He looked so tranquil, the wrinkles on his face just a little smoother. His breaths came slow and steady, a gentle background noise to the otherwise quiet morning.

With some regret, Mary slipped free of her husband’s arms with practiced ease. The hardest part was stretching out the stiffness in her muscles without making a noise. It seemed like every year she found a new ache that slowed her down and made it even harder to get started in the morning.

Yet, there was an undercurrent of triumph in observing evidence of the passage of time. Every wrinkle and silver hair and ache that showed her age was a reminder that she was still living far beyond that damned expiration date she had been given so many years ago.

Take that, Dr. Wheiz! Mary thought with a vindictive smile. She would outlive that stupid pediatrician yet!

Still, Mary tried to redirect her thoughts away from the shadow of death that had so nearly taken her or her beloved husband. They were alive, and she wanted to focus on living.

What better way to do that than by making a nice, tasty breakfast?

The kitchen was far enough away from their bedroom that Mary could risk playing some music at a low volume, a nice jaunty tune to help her wake up. It was a shame that the radio stations’ definition of “oldies” was pop songs from the start of the millennium, but the tablet her eldest gifted her for her birthday had plenty of her favorite music loaded up and ready to let her relive a little nostalgia.

Mary let herself get lost in her work, idly humming along to the chorus as she swayed her hips a little from side to side. Measuring, mixing, and watching the little disks turn a beautiful golden brown in the sizzling pan recentered her thoughts to focus on the delicious meal she would soon be enjoying with the best company she could ever ask for.

A pair of large hands stilled her swaying hips, and Mary jumped, just a little, before a wry chuckle escaped her. She allowed herself to be pulled back into the broad chest she knew so well. Joseph was softer than he was in his prime, especially around the middle, but that just made him the perfect pillow to snuggle into.

“Good morning, Sunshine,” Joseph said around a yawn as he nuzzled into his wife’s shoulder. His voice was thick with sleep and deeper than usual, sending a shiver down her spine when he spoke so close to her ear.

“Good morning, Starlight,” Mary said as she turned her head to plant a kiss on her husband’s cheek. His stubble lightly scratched her skin where he brushed against her, a bit ticklish and a bit sharp, but not an unpleasant sensation.

“What’s for breakfast?” Joseph asked before he gave a kiss in return on her neck. He smiled against her skin as he felt her shiver a little, and he kissed her again to enjoy another.

“Pancakes,” Mary said. “And maybe some eggs and bacon while I’ve got the skillet out.”

Joseph nuzzled into his wife’s mostly silver hair, planting kisses among the soft strands. He wasn’t quite awake yet, still clinging to the sweet dreamy haze he woke up in. “Mmm… sounds good. Blueberry?”

“Maybe,” Mary said with a teasing note to her voice. “Or maybe we can change things up a little. How do chocolate chip pancakes sound?”

A quiet grunt escaped Joseph, and Mary could easily imagine his pouty look from the way he grumbled into her hair. “Not as good as blueberry.”

Mary giggled as she slid the pancake she had just finished onto a plate. “Now, now, you don’t need to sound so disappointed. Sometimes it’s good to switch things up a little.”

Joseph made a wordless sound of disapproval at the back of his throat as he slid his arms around her middle and rested his chin atop her head. It was a toothless protest, and Mary knew it.

“No one makes better blueberry pancakes than you do,” Joseph said, his voice a low rumble that Mary could feel run through her entire body due to their closeness. “Remember what I told you? I could eat your blueberry pancakes every day for the rest of my life.”

Mary shivered at the sound of his voice and the way his large hands idly rubbed circles along her stomach. The motion wasn’t intended to be seductive, just an idle appreciation for the softness of her body, but even after all these years Joseph had a way of sparking that special heat inside of her like no one else could.

“You’re in luck then,” Mary said with a slightly shaky breath, dropping the tease from her tone. “Because that’s what I’m making.” With that she made a show of drawing a ladle full of batter, scooping in as many big ripe blueberries as she could, and drizzling it into the pan with a satisfying sizzle.

Joseph blinked before a chuckle escaped him as his sleepy mind caught up with his wife’s little game. He tilted his head to rub his cheek along the top of her head, drawing her just that little bit closer into him. “You really know how to spoil me, Sunshine.” He sighed deeply, his warm breath stirring shiny errant strands of her hair. “Mary… I love you so much.”

“I love you too, Joseph,” Mary said as she reached up to stroke his cheek. She savored the contours of his jawline that had softened with age, the pleasant prickle of stubble that trailed all the way down his neck. Most of all, she enjoyed the pleased hum he made at her touch and the way he tried to nuzzle into both her hand and hair all at the same time. “More than anyone else in the world.”

Joseph sighed, content, as he savored the warmth that radiated from his sunshine nestled so cozy and close in his arms. The music changed from some upbeat tune to something slower, a bit jazzy. He swayed to the easy rhythm, turning their embrace into almost a slow dance.

Mary enjoyed the feeling for a moment, but let out a chuckle when she found it a challenge to flip the pancake neatly. “Starlight, love of my life, apple of my eye, my dearest wish come true… you know I love you, but it’s a bit difficult to cook like this.”

Joseph closed his eyes as he rested his cheek atop his wife’s head, his body still rocking with hers in time to the music. “Mm hmm?”

A small chuckle escaped Mary. “So as much as I love you holding me so close, maybe you should step back for a bit, hmm?”

Joseph let out a thoughtful hum as he took a moment to consider the proposition, before finally burying his face into her hair. “Nah. Let’s stay like this a bit longer.”

Mary couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh come on.”

“I’m staying where it’s nice and cozy,” Joseph said teasingly before burying his face into her neck. “So warm…”

Mary shivered at the feeling of his breath, his lips, and the scruff along his skin brushing along her neck. Though the smell of sweet pancakes filled the air, she couldn’t help but focus on her husband’s scent, a heady musk that still had a bit of smokiness to it even long after he quit smoking before the kids were born. She couldn’t help but turn a little bit more towards him to breathe him in, the scent of home. “Joseph…”

“Five more minutes,” Joseph said, his voice a low, throaty murmur that vibrated through her skin. “Just five more minutes…”

Mary shook her head a little as she let out a wry chuckle, both at her husband’s familiar clinginess and how quickly she always caved to his needy pleas. “Okay, five-”

“No, wait,” Joseph said quickly. “Ten more minutes. I want ten more minutes like this.”

“Oh come on,” Mary mock groaned as she rolled her eyes towards her husband. “You really are spoiled, aren’t you?”

“I can’t help it,” Joseph chuckled before he stole a kiss from his sunshine’s lips. “You’ve thoroughly spoiled me rotten, Sunshine, and this dog is too old to learn any new tricks now.”

“What have I done?” Mary asked with theatrical dismay as she turned her eyes towards the ceiling and made dramatic sweeping gestures in the air with her spatula. “I’ve turned my sweet puppy husband into a koala bear! Now we’re stuck like this forever.”

Joseph couldn’t help but laugh at his wife’s antics and smirked smugly as he rested his chin atop her head again. “That’s right, Sunspot. I’m afraid you’re stuck with me forever and ever and ever. Nothing’s ever going to pull us apart.”

“Not even… pancakes with chocolate chips?” Mary asked, adding an overly dramatic emphasis to her words.

Joseph let out a sufficiently horrified gasp. When Mary tried to squirm away, reaching for the refrigerator, he snatched her by the wrist and pulled her back towards him. “Oh no you don’t, Sunspot!”

The hold on her was firm, but Mary knew it was still breakable. She could wriggle free if she really wanted. No matter how tightly Joseph held her, he always allowed her to slip away whenever she needed to. No matter how many times he restrained her with his large hands, his bulky body, or even some silk ties, she never felt scared or trapped. He always had a way of making her feel safe, secure, and loved. She knew that if she really wanted him to let her go or step back to give her space, he would, even if he might pout a little doing so.

But she didn’t. In the end, Mary could never resist Joseph when he was clingy and needy like this. She could put up a token resistance, try to escape, but she could never resist the excitement of having him chase after her. The way he pawed at her body as she squirmed against him made her feel like they were in their twenties again, young, in love, and horny as hell for one another.

Mary continued to squirm against her husband, twisting her body around in his grasp as she made for the fridge, before gasping as Joseph kissed the sensitive inside of her wrist. He gazed deeply into her eyes as he took the time to mark a trail down her arm, his tongue occasionally flicking across her soft skin. He took advantage of the way his burning gaze pinned her in place to grind his hips into hers, and she could feel the hardness starting to grow against her.

“Fuck, Mary…,” Joseph groaned against her skin, his deep voice sending a shiver down her spine that settled between her legs where he rubbed himself against her, turning into a delicious heat that had her arching into him. “Keep that up, and I’ll be having you for breakfast instead of blueberry pancakes.”

Mary felt a thrill run through her as she saw the hunger in her husband’s eyes. Even after all these years together and all the unflattering ways time had changed her body, the fact that Joseph could still look at her like that always left her breathless.

Time changed Joseph as well, but she enjoyed snuggling into the softness of his once hard edges. The lines at the corners of his eyes were markers of how many times she made him laugh, the ones around his mouth a testament to his countless bright and beautiful smiles.

They made a life together. It wasn’t perfect, and sometimes there were stormy days that cast a shadow over them, but they always managed to find a way to keep each other warm. The fire of love and passion still burned between them, as brilliant and beautiful as it always had been.

Unfortunately, the smell of smoke wound up interrupting the steamy moment. Mary yelped and quickly scrambled to get the burnt pancake onto a plate before it could char further.

“Oops,” Joseph yelped as he straightened up to allow Mary greater ease of movement. “I guess I should’ve stuck with five minutes after all.” He rubbed the back of his neck, giving her a sheepish look. “Sorry.”

Mary shot Joseph with a reproachful gaze. “How about we save dessert until after breakfast, okay?”

“Right,” Joseph chuckled awkwardly. “Don’t worry, I’ll take that one. Even burnt pancakes still taste good when they’re made with love.” He threw in a wink and a cheeky smile. “That’s why you taste so good after all.”

“Joseph!” Mary squealed as though scandalized. “You’re incorrigible!”

“Sorry, sorry,” Joseph laughed as he held up his hands in mock surrender. His expression softened as he gave her a tender smile and reached out to cup her cheek. “I just can’t help it when I’m with you, Mary.”

Mary leaned into his palm and whatever annoyance she felt melted away like butter on a hot skillet. It was impossible for her to hold onto any negative thoughts or feelings for long when she was with Joseph. With him around, the bad times weren’t as hard to handle, and the good times were even more wonderful. She hardly felt the years that seeped into her bones and made them ache. With him, time didn’t matter. They weren’t lonely children or struggling twenty-somethings lost in a vast world anymore, but she didn’t feel old and withered either. All these years allowed them to grow together like two trees twining together, growing strong enough to weather any storm.

“I feel the same way,” Mary murmured. “I love you, Joseph.”

“I love you too, Mary,” Joseph said before he pulled her back into his arms and pressed his lips to hers. When he drew back, he gave her a bright smile. “How about I help you finish cooking breakfast? Two sets of hands are better than one, you know.”

“Okay,” Mary said before flashing her husband a teasing grin. “But let’s try to keep those hands cooking instead of fondling, okay?”

Joseph reached over to take the spatula from Mary. His touch lingered on her fingers, sliding along them and her palm longer than necessary before he relieved her of the utensil. He flashed her a cheeky grin that she knew all too well and loved more and more as the years went on.

“No promises~”

[dawnrider]

A brainworm of a story has taken over nearly every waking moment for over a week now. So much so that I've written... a lot. 😅

Thank you to those of you that have been cheering me on even as I fussed and fretted! You know who you are.❤️

I'm interested to see what people are going to think about this one, so have a snippet of From Beginning to End for #F#ck it Friday.

“It's dangerous, Kagome,” Sango felt the need to remind her. Again. “I can't ask you to do this,” she fretted over the phone. Kagome shook her head, just barely refraining from rolling her eyes. “You aren't asking me, I'm telling you. I'm going to go in there to look for him.” Her friend of many years sighed anxiously. It was a habit she'd had since she was young. “We can just wait for him to come out.” Kagome found herself a block down from a nightclub, the thumping music penetrating the bricks of the surrounding buildings. The payphone cord only allowed her so much leeway to peek around the corner. Sango had tried to tell her she shouldn’t try going there, and certainly not alone, but it wasn’t like she could let Sango come with her. Not in her condition.

This was not known as a nice part of town. Normally, that wouldn't be an issue for Sango. She'd grown up in an area like this herself before her parents passed away. She and Kohaku had been sent to live with a spinster aunt (her words!) and an ailing grandmother when she was just starting middle school. That was when the two of them had met and been fast friends ever since.

Kohaku, however, struggled more with the transition and losing their parents, acting out and getting himself into all kinds of trouble. Thus the need to go into a venue that was known as a gang hangout, especially on weekends like this. He was trying to prove something and he was just as likely to get himself killed as to achieve his goal.

“I’ll call you once I get out again, alright?”

“Don’t do anything stupid, Kagome. If anything feels off, you get out of there, immediately.”

“Yes, ma’am.” She grinned. “Now go put your feet up and make Miroku rub them for you.”

The bouncer at the door was huge. Huge in a way that didn't seem possible. He checked her ID, narrowed his eyes at her, then grunted and waved her in. Kagome took a fortifying breath as she made her way down the short hallway before the building opened into the wide area for dancing. There were lights flashing in the dark, the chemical smell of machine-made smoke in the air.

It was hard to really see anyone’s face with the constant movement and shifting of the crowd. The lights through the smoke bent and refracted, distorting people’s facial features upon first glance. The music was so loud, Kagome struggled to keep her thoughts in order.

Except… What is that smell? She turned slightly, a tall man with dark hair brushing past her, the tiniest glimpse of his face looking very serious. She was distracted again as the song stopped, changing somewhat abruptly to something else. DJ must not know what they're doing, she mused. Why did her brain feel so flighty all of a sudden? She blinked, hand going to her forehead. She shook it off, setting her chin and putting herself back on alert to spot any sign of Kohaku.

It was hot with all these people dancing and moving. The scent of sweat and alcohol in the air made her a little dizzy. “I should have eaten a better lunch,” she huffed. There was a bank of booths along the back wall, some with groups of young women laughing and clinking glasses. Another table was filled with a somewhat rough looking group of guys. Even at a distance she could tell a few of them were alphas. But they also looked like the type of people Kohaku would be looking to buddy up to.

Sweating, Kagome pushed through the crowd, frustrated by how weak she felt trying to get people to move out of her way. She felt the eyes of more than one person leering at her as she passed, but all she could focus on was how hot she was and how she didn't want any of these people touching her.

The suddenly uncomfortable moisture between her thighs – which could not be brushed off as sweat – made her gasp and wince. No. No no no. Why now? Why here?!

The world felt like hot syrup. Moving too slowly, coating her skin in sticky heat. Everything felt like it was clinging to her and she didn't want any of it to touch her. Not even the air around her. It all left her oversensitized, twitching at the slightest movement. She had to get away from all of these people. She needed to stay as far away as she could from the alphas she knew to be prowling this club. She whimpered as she finally got through the edge of the crowd, stumbling to a back wall. A metal door stood slightly ajar. The bathroom? It wasn’t ideal, but it was better than nothing, and maybe she could calm down enough to leave and call Miroku to come get her. He wouldn’t be affected. He would be furious at his wife’s best friend for getting herself into a dangerous situation, but at least he wouldn’t let anyone touch her.

I don’t want anyone to touch me. A serious face flashed in her mind for the briefest moment, then she was too lost in the need that hit her to focus on that anymore. She slipped beyond the door into what she realized was a service hallway. Not at all what she hoped, but maybe there was a back door out. Her legs felt increasingly weak and she lost her footing in the dark hall. A stack of boxes against one side offered some protection and she crawled across the cold concrete, huddling herself behind them. Tears trailed down her cheeks. Is this what it is supposed to feel like? part of her brain wondered. She had nothing to compare it to, no previous experience to weigh against it. 

In twenty three years, particularly in the decade since that horrible letter came, Kagome had let herself keep believing that this would never be her fate. She would never know this rising and overwhelming fear.

Her heat coming out of nowhere in a public place.

[kittyball23]

True Crime (a Trolls fanfic)

Summary: Bruce hears something unexpected on the True Crime podcast he listens to

__________________________________________

Beach days were always the best.

It gave his wife Brandy the ample time she needed for a little R n R. It gave their 13 kids the fun they craved, hitting the waves and splashing about in the warm Vacay Island waters. And it gave Bruce the opportunity to kick back, tan, and listen in on the next episode of his True Crime podcast.

His kids were well-behaved for the most part (save for Bruce Jr. and his biting problem, and perhaps Freddy with his desire to stuff his body into whatever little cramped spaces there were). But, with a quick reminder to mind their manners and beware of any rough waves, he knew that they were well off.

As he settled down on the towel, he could hear the faint sounds of his children laughing and splashing, their mother floating on a surfboard nearby and watching over them. Bruce then removed his vest, rubbed tanning oil on his body, donned sunglasses, popped on his earbuds and began to play the podcast. The narrator's mysterious voice began to speak, introducing the story.

“In tonight's episode of True Crime, discover a true story about betrayal, deception, and greed, and the defeat of two nefarious villains who were finally dethroned from their treacherously influential reign…”

Bruce was already intrigued. Ooo, this is gonna be a GOOD one. He could tell. He tucked his arms behind his head and got comfortable.

“When one is a troll, there is no better way to live your life to the fullest than with hugging, dancing, and of course, singing. But for one troll, these harmless activities become the paramount of his nightmare for the next two months.”

Bruce scrunched his nose, skeptical. Singing and dancing that led to, as the narrator described, a ‘nightmare’ situation? He had to hear the rest of this.

“You never expect this sort of thing to happen to you, you know?” a new voice said, which Bruce could presume was the victim of the unfortunate scenario. “I sure didn't. They seemed like a nice pair of siblings. I never suspected anything malicious. They saw my performance, enjoyed it, and asked for some tips to boost their own careers. We had some drinks and… and the next thing I remember is waking up in a diamond bottle.”

Yikes, Bruce thought, pitying the victim. He sounded like a nice guy, too, with the calm, serene tone his voice had. Trapped in such a cramped space for so long sounded awful.

“And you won't believe who those said siblings were,” the narrator continued. He was very right in that, too. Because as soon as the podcast began to play a sample of the hit single ‘Watch Me Work,’ Bruce’s jaw practically dropped on the floor.

No way…

“Yes way. You heard correctly. Criminals in this case are none other than superstar sensations Velvet and Veneer, from the bedazzling city of Mount Rageous. But following them now, is a not-so-bedazzling record. (And we don't mean the musical kind.)”

A new female voice began to list off charges. “Troll-napping, Troll torture, not to mention tax evasion. You won't believe how many yachts, bling, and exotic PETS they illegally bought!”

Even if Bruce could believe it, he was still having a hard time wrapping his mind around the initial news. Velvet and Veneer? The well-known household names that his kids - and himself for that matter - were fans of? Well, not anymore! Hearing such things that they did made him sick. Man… it’s gonna be hard separating the art from the artist.

“And today, just two months after the duo was turned in by their assistant, Crimp, they find that their names live on forever not in fame, but in INfamy,” the narrator said.

“Oh, I feel awful,” the distinct voice of Veneer said next. “I wanted nothing more than to be famous, and… Vel made me believe that it didn’t matter HOW we did it, as long as we DID it. Even… even if it meant KILLING a troll. It was real rough - I mean, sucking up his talent was easy enough, but we were literally sucking the LIFE out of him. His skin was turning pale - and, like, not in a stunning Victorian way, either - and that magenta hair of his was turning whiter and whiter by the minute…”

Magenta? Bruce wondered. He’d known a troll once with magenta hair. His own younger brother. Could it be…? No, it couldn’t… I mean, there’s PLENTY of Trolls that have magenta hair, don’t they?

“I didn’t say anything to Velvet though because, truly, I was too afraid to stand up to her. She’s my sister! My biggest inspiration… I didn’t wanna discourage her. But now, I see that what we did was wrong. Very, VERY wrong.”

Good, Bruce thought.

“But despite the change of heart, this Mount Rageon still has to serve at least another six months in juvenile imprisonment, alongside his sister,” the narrator said. “It comes as much relief to the now-free victim.”

“Jail can’t be fun,” the same serene voice from before admitted, “but I’m glad they’re serving their time. Everyone makes mistakes, and just like it’s important to learn from them, it’s also important to pay the repercussions for your actions.”

Well said, Bruce had to admit. He also had to admit something else.

That sounds a LOT like something Floyd would say…

And if his suspicions were not enough…

“While recovery has been successful for the troll and he has plans to return to singing, he still feels as though something is missing from his life…” the narrator continued.

“I was solo-ing around for quite a bit of time before I ran into Velvet and Veneer,” the Troll said. “But, really… I would LOVE if I could perform in the band I was in years ago… but, we kind of had a fight, and ever since that fight, we haven’t seen each other. If we could reunite - oh - that’d be a dream come true. It’s been too long.”

Bruce swallowed. Twenty years is a long time…

The next part was the real kicker, though.

“Until that day, 36-year-old Floyd still holds onto the hope that he will see his bandmembers - also known as the brothers who made up the band BroZone - someday,” the narrator said.

“John Dory, Clay, Branch, Spruce… if ANY of you are listening, I want you to know that I miss you. And I want us to be a family again…” the Troll - FLOYD - said.

Bruce’s thumb went to hit the pause button. He had to stop. This was a lot to process, all at once. He was flabbergasted. Bamboozled. Shocked. He broke down everything he had heard piece by piece, trying to make sense of it.

Velvet and Veneer were baddies.

They had taken Floyd.

His brother Floyd.

They’d used his talent.

They’d almost killed him.

He would’ve never had the option of seeing his brother again.

But now, he did.

“Daddy! Daddy!” one of his kids - Windy - was suddenly calling to him. “Bruce Jr. threw sand in my eye!”

“I said I was sorry!” Bruce Jr. protested.

“Only after Mom told you to!” LaBreezy pointed out.

“Did not!” Bruce Jr. countered.

“Did too!” Cove jumped into his sister’s defense.

“Well, Daddy, aren’t you gonna punish him??” Windy demanded to know. The way he saw it, it wouldn’t be fair to let him slide!

But the way Bruce saw it… well, he wasn’t seeing anything. His brain was still overloaded with what he’d learned.

Brandy had followed the kids, curiously noting her husband’s surprised expression. “Honey?” she questioned. “Are you all right?”

Bruce looked at her resolutely.

“I… I have to find my brother…”

[x0x0josephinex0x0]

hi I'm the one who asked for the shipping reaction, yes I meant idol!y/n and I'd like it to be romantic

I'm sorry for the confusion 😅

no problem lovey, i just wanted to make sure i got it right for you!! here it is :)

warnings: making out is mentioned. excessively. (for humor.)

seungcheol: this man has been simping for you for the longest time atp. like from the moment he saw you at some award show. he went home and immediately looked up your group and the music videos and watched through them all. he's had a thing for you since then, and then you became friends through a mutual friend (mingyu) and he was absolutely correct in his initial assumption that he'd be obsessed with you for as long as he lives. and when i say obsessed i mean this man DREAMS about you. he wakes up reaching for you even though you've never spent a single night anywhere near his bed. so he's ready for the rumors, baby. he's HOPING someone asks him about you. he's praying dispatch catches you on one of your biweekly coffee dates. he wants the world buzzing with thoughts of the two of you together. he is so damn tired of trying to beam the message into your brain but also doesn't want to wreck a perfectly good friendship if he thinks his feelings are totally coming out of left field. so when the shipping finally starts after you film a dance challenge together he's like "see? we're made for each other" and you're like ???? you liked me??? this whole time??? and he's like "HOW DID YOU NOT KNOW" and you're like "I LIKE YOU TOO OMG" because of course you do, you have eyes. and then you make out.

jeonghan: he literally created no less than sixty fake instagram profiles, with the help of his boys, to start dating rumors between the two of you and convince you that everyone sees you two together/thinks you should date. it becomes a whole thing, tho -- pretty soon the whole internet agrees with him. every time you go live fans ask about him. your company is a chill company with no dating ban but they send you an email being like "do we need to confirm this for your sake??" you have honestly never thought about him specifically like that until this all started happening, but as time goes on you realize jeonghan is everything you ever wanted. he's beautiful and kind to you and your family absolutely loves him. in short, you're whipped for him. and so finally, you ask him to come over, and you confess your growing feelings for him, which he reciprocates fully. he promptly asks you out. you have played right into his hands and he's more proud of himself than he's ever been in his whole life. and then you make out.

joshua: he is the most polite, most genuine man in the universe, so he's NEVER crossing that line of his own accord. and it gets rough. the two of you are literally perishing with desire for one another. you hang out every single day and the looks that pass between you -- desperate, yearning looks -- have the other members cringing and throwing up and BEGGING joshua to make a move. he will not do it because he doesn't want to take advantage of you or make your career/life difficult. finally wonwoo gets fed up with you two. when he gets trapped in a room with the both of you, he tells you both, "the internet is shipping you two." you both blush and look at each other. finally you ask joshua, "what do you think about that?" and joshua's like, "i think that sounds....really nice." wonwoo's like "omg FINALLY" and once he leaves the room, you both confess your longtime feelings for each other and agree to give dating a try. he holds your hand through the whole talk because he knows how nervous you get when confronting your own feelings. you've never smiled harder in your life and joshua's eyes have never been prettier than when he looks at you like he's looking at you. and then you make out.

jun: jun about to mr. darcy this mf. he has this dumb crush on u but he's so anxiety-ridden that he literally does nothing about it but is a blushing mess around you. you find him so incredibly cute all the time that naturally you become his bestie. he slowly falls more in love with you the more you spend time together but still can't find the right words to tell you just how precious you are to him. it's the shippers that push him over the edge, though. he can tell it makes you uncomfortable to be talked about like that, and that worries him EVEN MORE. and so he corners you one day and ruffles his hair all tortured-like and goes "ok so do you just want people to mind their business or do you feel uncomfortable with the idea of dating me?" and you're like "oh it's most definitely the first one because you're a fine piece of manhood" and he's like "oh? well allow me to confess that you have bewitched me, body and soul, and i love...i love...i love you". (yes this is happening at sunrise.) anyway, he tells you that he's liked you from day one, and he'll love you until day infinity. and then you make out.

soonyoung: he approaches you one day and just plops down like he usually does, but this time he takes one of your hands in his. "my fans are geniuses," he says, very seriously, which of course makes you laugh. when you ask why, he brings up his most recent live. you were watching -- you always watch his lives and he always watches yours -- but you had the comments turned off so you could focus on what he was saying. "a lot of the comments were talking about you," he tells you, referring to the recent dispatch photos of you and soonyoung out on the town together. "they said we should date." and suddenly the room is hotter, and you're looking at soonyoung like the world is in his eyes. because for you it is, and it has been. you spend the rest of the evening together, talking about your relationship and your feelings for each other, and slow dancing in the kitchen. and then you make out.

wonwoo: he's pretty much unaffected by shipping/rumors. literally does not care one bit about them. but he's still so in love with you he can hardly see straight. it's only logical that people have started to notice the way he can't keep his eyes off you at events and award shows where you're both in attendance, and are drawing attention to it. to him, this is a perfectly normal progression of events. still, he waits for you to say something because he knows how complicated relationships with other famous people can be and he doesn't want to make you do anything you're not comfortable with. so it's you who approaches him, and it's you who admits that your feelings are less-than-professional and more-than-friendly for him -- exacerbated by the shipping talk, but definitely there before any of that started happening. but then it's him who says, "it's about damn time," and pulls you into his chest for a massive hug. and then you make out.

jihoon: literally why do i feel like jihoon would become the clumsiest most awkward dude if someone hinted that he might like you?? idk i just think my guy would externally be like "hahaha wow that's crazy" when someone pointed out how he'd helped you down off the stage after a music bank performance (and had coincidentally beat minghao to the job even tho minghao was standing a lot closer and was a lot more ready than he was), but internally would be screaming bloody murder BECAUSE SOMEONE NOTICED AND WHAT IF YOU FIND OUT AND THINK HE'S A CREEP AND EVERYTHING GOES WRONG. so he literally cannot be normal around you. gets his hair caught in his headphones during a recording sesh with you and instead of trying to untangle it like a normal human he just rips his hair out. runs into the studio glass. forgets the words to his own song, that he wrote, because he's staring at your lips. finally you just say, "you're being weird. is this because people are shipping us?" and he nods. "i'm sorry...i didn't want you to feel uncomfortable," you say, but he shakes his head. "i like you SO much," he confesses. "and i don't want to screw it up." your jaw drops and you throw your arms around him. and then you make out.

seokmin: he's been joking about being your boyfriend since you met. but little do you know, he wasn't actually joking and really does want to be your boyfriend. but since he's joking all the time, it's a bit difficult to tell that he's serious. until the joke about him being your boyfriend becomes common knowledge among seventeen, who obviously think it's hilarious that you don't know he actually is in love with you. so they tease him all the time about his "girlfriend" during concerts and lives, and eventually fans learn it's you they keep jokingly calling his girlfriend, and it becomes a whole bit for awhile between seventeen and carats. you play along, until you start to sense it bothers seokmin. ever a comedian, you find this odd -- so you ask him. and he's a terrible secret keeper so he tells you that he wasn't joking the ENTIRE TIME, and he'd literally die for you if you asked. this, of course, makes you all kinds of happy, and when you start to giggle he's like "are u laughing at me :(" and you're like "no you dummy I AM ABSOLUTELY DOWN HORRENDOUS FOR YOU" and then you make out.

mingyu: mingyu would just become dumb and giggly around you. kind of like the less uncomfortable jihoon. gets extra clumsy around you and makes a complete fool of himself. breaks everything within a ten-meter radius when he knows he's gonna get to see you that day. the rumors begin because my mans cannot hide his true feelings for even a single second, and he's such a cuddler that he literally gives you a hug on live television. this is the catalyst. this is why fans spam both of your posts on instagram with requests for you two to go on a date. and since you are not an IDIOT, but he is a little bit, you bring it up to him. "so, they think we should date. i think they might be onto something." you give him a significant look, and his eyes get all wide and happy. "really?" he says with excitement. "you'd want to go on a date with me?" and you look him up and down, considering his literally god-like figure and his bright eyes and his perfect smile and go, "yeah, i really would love to go on a date with you." and then you make out.

minghao: is also not the type to give any mental space to any kind of rumor/shipping, but is also extremely whipped for you regardless. when he learns about the shippers he privately is amused because he actually does want to date you, but hasn't told you yet. and you don't bring it up either, worried it will upset him, because as far as you can tell, you're both just friends. although the way he takes care of you is so gentle and thoughtful and kind that you can't resist him. you know it might be your imagination, but you are starting to notice his hugs are a bit tighter, and his eye contact a bit more prolonged. finally it gets to a point where people are constantly asking both of you about each other, so you decide to broach the subject with him. "oh, that," he says when you bring it up. "i'm not worried about it." "i just don't want to be an inconvenience to you," you tell him. he shakes his head. "that could never happen. sometimes it feels like you're the only part of my life that's easy." and coming from hao, you know this is a confession. and then you make out.

seungkwan: bro is COMING APART AT THE SEAMS. he literally embarrasses himself every single time he sees you once the rumors start. because honestly, his feelings started before the rumors, but he refused to acknowledge them until his members started teasing him about you. you'd recently done a variety show together, and even the show hosts commented on how natural and flirty your chemistry had been. and now everything is tense and weird between you two when you hang out, and it's getting ridiculous. "do you care so much about shippers?" you ask him, a bit annoyed. "huh?" he responds, taken aback. "what are you even talking about?" "these people who say we should date? does it bother you that much?" a light of understanding hits seungkwan then, and he takes a deep breath. "okay, no. that doesn't bother me at all," he says. "it makes me nervous." "why?" you ask. "because they're right and i know it," he admits. "i really should ask you out." before you can stop yourself, you reply, "then do it!" he laughs. and asks you out. and then you make out.

vernon: in my brain, vernon has not looked at his phone notifications since 2014. if he had, he'd know about the shippers. but he hasn't, so he doesn't even know...until he gets an email from pledis about it. "did you know people want us to date?" he asks you the next time you hang out. you laugh for almost five minutes straight before answering. "vernon....my company has been having a field day with those rumors. are you trying to say you literally had no idea?" "i really didn't," he promises. "why didn't you say anything to me?" "because i figured it'd work itself out or something, i guess?" "so do you not want to date?" he asks. "huh???" you reply, sure you misheard him. "i mean....i've actually been thinking about it for awhile," he says. "and, well, the people are talking. we could give 'em something to really talk about." your stomach turns over as you look into his eyes. "for real?" you ask him. "the realest," he confirms with a soft smile. and then you make out.

chan: on the opposite end of the spectrum, chan is PAINFULLY aware of the shippers. he has no idea if you've been getting the same questions he has. but he knows you're super busy getting ready for a comeback, so he doesn't bother to say anything. he figures you probably don't have time to be on social media so you won't be able to see the way people are talking about you two. and he reminds himself to keep his facial expressions in check when he sees you onstage. the problem is, it's so hard, because look at you. and when you blow a kiss at him, it turns out to be actually impossible for him not to clutch at his heart, desperately hoping that means what he wants it to mean. backstage, he catches up to you to congratulate you. "i really haven't made this easy, have i?" you tell him. "what?" he asks. "well, i left you to fend for yourself in the middle of all of everyone saying we should date." "you knew about that?" "of course i did. which is why i blew you a kiss." "so people would keep talking?" he asks. "no...to see if you liked me in the same way i like you." you stare at each other before running to embrace. and then you make out.

[pickledpascal]

The Way The Water Flows

Chapter Three: Bittersweet Music Playing in the Dark

Warnings: blood, some action, power imbalance (?), kind of love at first sight, someone (logan) is feeling guilty, mentions of unethical experimentation

Word Count: 2.5k

The Way The Water Flows Masterlist

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

Over the next few days, Maya had slowly but surely settled in. Though, she wasn’t completely comfortable, it was much better than that first night. She could barely sleep, plagued by nightmares of the experiments she was put under and reliving the pain of how she got her scars. The plush mattress helped, easing the mental pain as much as it could.

Those first few days, she mostly familiarized herself with the grounds while the kids were in class. She discovered the greenhouse, wide-eyed as she looked around at all the different plants, they came in all different sizes, heights, and colors. Many she had never heard of before. While in there, she thought she might as well water the plants, a soft look on her face—a feeling she hadn’t felt in some time rising in her chest.

A sense of peace.

But she wasn’t sure how long that would last. And that scared her.

The day after, Charles wanted Maya to train with Scott. Simply to see the combat skills she already had. Maya couldn’t argue with that. They wanted to know what she could do.

Arguably, she was put at a disadvantage when they locked her in the room with Scott. A room with zero water to be found, no objects to use her telekinesis on, and Charles has asked her not to use her telepathy so as to not predict Scott’s movements.

It had surprised Charles that she came out on top. Although Maya was taller and had more brute strength than Scott, she was able to use her agility to her advantage. She learned fairly quickly that, unless he wanted to destroy the whole school, he had to turn a knob on his visor in order to use his powers. He wasn’t the best in hand-to-hand combat and he certainly couldn’t hit a target who moved fast enough.

Once out of the danger room, Maya rolled her shoulder, doing a windmill motion with her arm to ease some of the tension starting to build there. She glanced at Scott who was sporting a growing bruise on his jaw, a hand on his face to press against it.

“I’ll give you this time,” He grumbled as he shook his head. “Next time I won’t go so easy.” He didn’t know why but he believed Maya was as inexperienced as the kids under their care. Most times they’ve used their powers were for fun, accidentally, or to defend themselves.

To be fair, they didn’t teach all the kids how to fight. Only the ones who were old enough, fifteen and older.

Charles wheeled up to them, “I’m not sure there’s going to be a next time.” Maya cocked an eyebrow. “It’s clear you’re more experienced than I thought. It might be beneficial if you spar with Logan instead.” She could hear Scott scoff next to her.

Logan was the only teacher Maya had not met yet. She already knew Charles, Colossus, and Storm and had met Jean after she decided to introduce herself to the younger mutant. Hank, she had met after being asked to go to a few classes of his on history, asked specifically to pay attention to the news of the last decade. Apparently, same-sex marriage was now legal everywhere, which she thought was nice. And Scott, well, she had just met prior to training with him.

Maya had heard about Logan, though, from other students. How rough around the edges he could be but also that he cared deeply even if he didn’t want to admit or show it. Oh, and also the rivalry he had with Scott. Maya wasn’t sure if it was serious or not but Rogue and Yukio seemed to think so.

The next day, Maya did as she usually did in the morning—wake up earlier than everyone else and find something to eat before classes started so she wasn't left with nothing. Children could be ruthless with food. She learned that the hard way.

She was in the middle of taking a bite of cereal from her bowl when she heard another presence enter the room. She looked up at him from the cereal floating on top of the milk in her bowl, cocking her head. There was a hint of recognition in his eyes.

“Sorry, didn't realize anyone was in here…” His voice was deep, rough in all the right ways and it matched his appearance well. He was tall with thick shoulders and arms, showing them off since his torso was clad in a white tank top while his bottom half was in some jeans, a belt keeping them on his hips. He had dark eyes with a similar shade of hair. He was… attractive.

Maya had never seen him before. But she was still new. Charles did mention someone who wasn't a permanent stay at the mansion but who would occasionally leave for a few months and come back. Perhaps this was that man.

“Don't really care,” She shrugged and tried to muster up a polite smile. “Just wanted to get something to eat before the children leave me with crumbs.” Maya's gaze moved down to her spoon.

She could feel him staring. “What's your name, kid?” He had asked while she pushed her spoon around her bowl.

“Maya.” She offered, taking her last bite from her cereal.

“That short for something?” He pressed, going to the fridge to look for something to drink.

Maya let out a scoff and shook her head even though he couldn't see. “Nope. Just Maya.”

The man hummed in response, deciding to grab a soda out of all the options available. He twisted off the cap and threw it in the trash before taking a long sip. Maya stared at the way his Adam's apple bobbed and a particular vein in his neck became more prominent.

“Why're you here? You're a little too old to be at school.” Maya's eyes flickered to meet his.

Good thing to know he could tell that she wasn't an actual child. She did have a few scars on her face; her eyes appeared to be perpetually tired like she had seen things no one ever should. The man had the same look about him too.

Maya looked down at the counter, softly scratching a finger against the side of her bowl. “Haven't had a home in a while,” She didn’t want to explain everything to a man she didn't know, she didn't even like that Charles knew. “And it doesn't hurt that Storm and Colossus went looking for me specifically.”

His eyebrows raised, eyes widening with interest before realization seemed to dawn over him. He fell quiet.

Which Maya deemed as the perfect time to wash her dishes and leave. She wanted to water the plants in the greenhouse again before she had to go down to the lower levels to train.

As she did, she wondered what Logan's mutation was. It had to be, arguably, better than Scott's if Charles believed he'd be a better opponent for Maya. Something that he could use while more mobile. Or maybe he was just more experienced? She'd heard Rogue mention that he was old, in turn, making her assume the man was a little younger than the Professor.

She shook her head as she entered the locker room, grabbing one of the training suits to put on. He couldn't be that old or he wouldn't be able to keep up with her.

Charles guided her to the training room. Maya's eyes widened softly when the doors opened to reveal the man from this morning, although he was now dressed in an official X-Men uniform. This was Logan? He didn't look a day over forty—maybe thirty-five.

She stepped inside, noticing that she piqued his interest as well. She heard the doors seal shut behind her as she looked him over.

“Nice to officially meet you, bub.” Logan hummed, hands on his hips with one jutted out to the side. “Scott told me you're a tricky one,” He grinned, showing a glimpse of sharp teeth, “But he can't really talk, anyone with enough brain could take him down if they put their mind to it.”

Maya simply stared at him, narrowing her eyes as she crossed her arms over her chest. She was sizing him up. He was larger than her in every way—taller, thicker, more muscle. She needed to use that to her advantage.

Logan cocked an eyebrow. “Alright, all work, no play?” He got into a fighting stance, three metal claws unsheathing from his knuckles on both hands. “I can work with that.”

The younger girl hummed as she glanced down at the claws. That was certainly interesting. She widened her stance as she circled him, hands clenched into fists as she studied him for any weaknesses—a bad hip or knee.

His eyes followed her as she walked around him. “I showed you mine, you show yours now. As a courtesy.” Logan winked.

“There has to be water around for me to use my mutation. And there is none here.” Maya responded, her lips twitching into a barely noticeable smile.

But Logan noticed. He let out a soft chuckle but his face quickly became serious.

It was obvious she was waiting for him to make the first move, so he did. He ran toward her, slashing his claws at the less vital parts of her, intentionally giving her some time to move out of the way.

He didn't expect her to dive between his legs to dodge the attack, making him lose his footing from surprise. He dug his claws into the floor to catch himself as he whipped his head to look at Maya who was crouched on the floor, a hand behind her from the momentum.

Logan stood up, removing his claw from the floor but before he could even blink, Maya had jumped up onto his shoulders with her thighs wrapped around his neck, squeezing to suffocate him as they both fell onto the floor from her body weight. He struggled to breathe, both from her legs but the air was knocked out of his lungs because of the fall.

He writhed in her grip, this felt a little too real. He clawed at her arm when trying to get her off him. Nearly immediately, Maya rolled off him as she hissed in pain.

Logan's ears picked up the sound as he tried to regulate his breathing, claws retracting. He looked over at her and realized she was bleeding. Fuck, he didn't mean to do that. He pulled her up so she was sitting, brows furrowing with concern.

“Huh. I haven't gotten hurt in a while.” Maya hummed as if it was a scientific discovery. She seemed fine if that was anything to go by but that didn't ease the worry settling in his gut.

“We're going to go to Dr. Grey.” Logan told her, hoisting her up to her feet with ease, an arm around her waist which he kept there as they walked to the medical bay.

Jean was going through some medical files when she saw Logan and Maya enter, her eyebrows raising as she looked at Logan. There was a clear question hanging in the air.

“Training accident.” Logan answered, letting Maya go when she sat on the gurney in the middle of the room.

Jean pursed her lips as she replaced where Logan stood as he moved off to the side to watch, making sure everything went smoothly. She helped Maya slip off the top of her suit and Logan felt his chest clench at her wince of pain when the fabric rubbed against her wound. Jean then began treating her.

And Logan, well, he had to keep his mind occupied because seeing Maya in a simple black tank top was making his brain whir in a way he didn't want it to

“How did this happen?” She had asked, wrapping the wounds on her forearms in gauze after cleaning and disinfecting them. They would scar but she was more worried about something else. “Scott said he landed a hit on you but you came out of the danger room unscathed.”

Maya's jaw clenched, her shoulders tensing slightly, causing the muscle there to become more defined. “I have a healing factor,” Logan tilted his head at that. He knew she had scars, quite a couple were displayed on her back and arms. “But, um, the people who… kept me,” his eyes narrowed, his own jaw clenching as well. “They found some way around it. A weakness. Some sort of metal.”

“Adamantium,” Jean whispered, glancing up at Logan. What else could it be? Guilt settled in his gut as he looked down at his boots. “The same metal of Logan's claws.”

Not only did he hurt Maya but with something that she was specifically weak to. Something that was surely tied to a lot of bad memories she wanted to forget. And he was filled with it. He screwed his eyes shut, clenching his jaw as he ran a hand through his hair.

Maya turned her head to look at him, eyebrows furrowed slightly at the ashamed look on his face. “It was an accident. I don’t blame you.” She said firmly. “And yet you still feel responsible.” Logan's eyes opened to meet hers as she stood from the gurney. It was like she was staring into his soul and he wasn't sure if he liked it. “Y'know, guilt is something that helps people atone for what they've done. This is shame, which isn't helpful for anyone. Least of all yourself.”

Logan's heart pounded in his chest. And he wanted to respond but Maya walked away before he could. Her words hit harder than she expected them to.

Jean pursed her lips, tilting her head as she looked at Logan. “She's right, y'know. You have a habit of blaming yourself. You can't be a perfect man, Logan.” She stepped closer to him, eyebrows furrowed as she expressed her concern.

“Yeah, well I can't be a good man either.” Logan murmured, his expression was hardened but his eyes were a different story—they held such sadness that Jean didn't even know the depths of.

She smiled sadly and shook her head. “The definition of ‘good’ changes from person to person, decade to decade, place to place. I think you're a good man. I know you try your hardest to do the right thing, but people make mistakes. Even the most perfect of all.”

Logan shifted slightly, adjusting his weight to rest more on his right leg. Sometimes he hated to admit when Jean was right. But she was. One of the reasons he loved her.

But his brain kept thinking back to Maya. The scent of her distress mixed with her blood, his heart still ached at the memory. He wasn't the kind of man who apologized often, if at all, but he felt like he had to make this up to her somehow. But he knew almost nothing about her.

Guess it's time to find out.

[smallraindrops-blog]

The Eros of May

WMFTD!Y/N x Hypnos

(Day 19)

Wordcount: 260

Summary: Told in snapshots. There is a beautiful man with sleepy golden eyes, warm skin kissed by the sun and the lingering days of spring.

Warnings: no beta

notes: a writing challenge for myself, I took two different challenges and mashed them together. Credit to this post and this post and their creator for making these challenges.

One more thing, these are out-of-order, not a straight timeline. Sorry for any confusion.

To find the rest, use ‘The eros of may’ tag please.

Instrument

The musical notes were so faint you were sure you dreamt it. Then it grew louder.

Hypnos grumbled against your neck, his curls brushing against your chin as he tried to bury himself deeper into your side. 

His knee pushed dangerously into your stomach as he tossed a leg over you, one arm clinging on your shoulder as he yanked the blanket up higher.

You blinked, half wake as you tried to pinpoint where the music was coming from.

You turned your head around on the pillow, frowning at the window. Hypnos's cute little apartment was high up, away from the noisy streets. Not close to the city center or anything like that.

”Hypnos, where is that coming from?” You rasped, voice sleep rough.

”My neighbor. Some blonde guy with a lyre.” Hypnos moaned. “I thought we had an agreement not to play before nine.” 

Your eyes darted to the clock. It was six on the dot. You scowled. “A lyre?”

Did they even make those anymore? 

“Yup. A really nice one too. I bet it would make good firewood.” Hypnos smiled evilly, his eyes closed. You chuckled at that, kissing his smiling lips. 

There was some more noise, slamming doors followed by yelling, loud slapping, a wailing of ‘Artemis, no!’

Then blissful quiet. 

“Oh thanks gods.” Hypnos sighed and you slumped along with him, idly brushing a hand over his curls. He immediately went right back to sleep.

You huffed, a little jealous but not really minding that much as you laid there, holding him close as the sun rose over the horizon.

[lemoncrushh]

Too Far From Texas | Chapter Four

STORY PAGE

Word Count: 4241

“So what did you two talk about?” Lorelei asked with a wink as she took a sip of her massive margarita.

I gave her a look as I dove into my nachos. I chewed my bite slowly and deliberately before placing the remaining chip back on the plate, wiping my mouth with the cloth napkin and reaching for my water glass, taking a long sip through the straw while I surveyed the area.

“Stacey!” Lorelei whined.

“Whaat?” I mimicked.

“Tell me. At least a little bit. Please?”

“We um...we talked about music. And the book. I told him about the book tour.” I picked up my nacho again, dabbing guacamole on top.

“And?”

“And...he made me laugh. He’s really funny.”

“Funny’s good,” Lorelei nodded. “Funny’s really good.”

“Yeah, but it doesn’t mean anything,” I scowled. “Tod used to make me laugh.”

Lorelei glared at me incredulously. “Why the hell would you wanna bring up Tod? What on earth would he have to compare with Harry Styles?”

“Shh,” I sounded, pressing my finger to my lips.

Lowering her voice, she leaned over. “You’ve done this before, Stacey. You expect the worst. You need to allow yourself to be happy.”

I shrugged. “It’s just easier that way. I don’t build myself up to be let down.”

“He likes you.”

I blinked, looking down at my plate.

“He wouldn’t be calling you and sending you flowers and a catered lunch if he didn’t.”

I licked my lips and swallowed. “I like him too,” I muttered.

“Mmm hmm,” Lorelei sat back in her seat. I lifted my head to look at her.

“I like him a lot,” I confessed.

“I know you do,” she commented. “It’s written all over your face.”

I felt myself blush as I chuckled nervously, grabbing my napkin. “I feel so silly.”

“Why?”

“Because...he’s...him...and I’m...me. I’m not a kid.”

“So what?” Lorelei rolled her eyes.

“I’m nearly twice his age,” I added.

“So what?” she repeated. “He’s an adult. If he had a problem with it, he wouldn’t be contacting you.”

I nodded. I knew she was right. The truth was I had a hard time accepting the fact that someone like Harry would be interested in someone like me. Even after the lovely evening we’d shared, topped off with that amazing kiss, and the fun phone conversation last night, I still couldn’t believe this - whatever this was - could go anywhere. And that Harry was just being nice.

“Do you have a problem with it?” Lorelei inquired?

I pondered her question for a moment, my bottom lip jutting out. “No,” I finally shook my head. “I guess not.”

“Did he mention if he wants to see you again?”

I sighed. “Yes.”

“Okay. And do you wanna see him?”

I grabbed my water glass again, taking a long slow sip. I felt myself grin as I set it back down.

“Yes,” I nodded. “So much.”

Lorelei threw up her hands with a smirk. “Well, there ya go. Done deal. Now let’s celebrate.”

I laughed when she waved the waiter over and ordered another margarita for me.

I hadn’t expected to hear from Harry again so soon, and I knew he’d be traveling and most likely exhausted, so when I got home from dinner with Lorelei, I decided to just send him a quick text before heading to bed.

FYI - wine is much better than tequila. Hope St. Louis is treating you well.

I ended up sleeping til after ten Sunday morning, waking with a slight headache. I was also greeted with a few words from Harry.

Rough night?

Saw this and thought of you.

Below was a photo of the Buckingham Nicks album on vinyl, the album Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks recorded before joining Fleetwood Mac. It had yet to be released on CD and was considered a collector’s item. My own copy was given to me by my brother in my teenage years and was still one of my most prized possessions.

I smiled as I inspected the photo, clearly taken at some sort of used record store or thrift shop. I imagined Harry browsing the racks, coming up with rare gems to add to his own collection.

Quickly typing a response, I hit send.

I sincerely hope you bought that if you didn’t have it already.

Prepared to climb out of bed, I set my phone down only to hear it chime almost immediately.

I do have it. And I assumed you do too.

Of course. One of my favorites. It makes me happy that it made you think of me.

I think of you often, actually.

I felt my breath hitch in my throat. My hands shook as I typed out my response.

Same here.

Good to know.

I blushed and allowed myself to giggle before picking up my pillow to muffle the sound. I most definitely felt young, but I refused to think it was silly. He thought of me often. He liked me. I was going with it.

How are you Stacey?

I’m great now. How are you?

I’m fine. In the car, headed to the hotel. What was with that text last night?

Embarrassed, I replied hastily.

Too many margaritas. I was loopy, forgive me.

Ha. Hungover?

Just a smidgen ;)

:) You’re cute. Can I call you later?

Yes

I’m busy the rest of the day so it might be late.

That’s fine

Bye love x

Bye xx

I must have scrolled through our conversation ten times that day. No real reason, other than to just look at it. It put a smile on my face. Even Emery noticed after dinner when we were sitting on the couch watching TV.

“Mommy, what are you smiling at?” she asked, leaning over my shoulder to look at my phone.

“Nothing,” I said, pressing the phone to my chest.

“Let me see,” she insisted, trying to reach for it.

“It’s none of your business, silly girl.”

“Fine,” she rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to the television which was airing It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.

“Mommy,” she said again. “Will you take me to get a costume this week?”

“Didn’t I just buy you a new one last year?”

“It doesn’t fit me anymore.”

I gave her a look. Well, she had had a growth spurt or two in the last year.

“Alright,” I said. “What do you wanna be?”

“Lapis Lazuli,” she beamed.

“Do what?” I raised my brows in question.

“From Steven Universe. Or maybe Rose Quartz.”

“O-kay,” I replied slowly.

“Or maybe a Pokemon character,” Emery added.

“I don’t know if we’ll be able to find something at the store, Em,” I shook my head. “You know I’m leaving on Tuesday for San Antonio with Lorelei. I won’t be back till Thursday night. We can look tomorrow, but I can’t promise anything.”

“Maybe Daddy can take me to get something.”

I pursed my lips. “Maybe.”

I didn’t have the heart to tell her no. But I knew Tod’s schedule and he wasn’t about to cancel his lessons to take our child shopping. I’d just have to take her when I got back.

After I put the kids to bed and cleaned up in the kitchen, I changed into my pajamas and brushed my teeth. I was just about to crawl into bed when my phone rang. I jumped, thinking it might be Harry, but was disappointed when I saw it was my mother.

“Hello,” I answered, trying my best to sound cheery.

“I forgot to tell you The Great Pumpkin was coming on tonight,” she said.

“I know,” I chuckled. “We watched it.”

“Okay good. I know the girls always enjoy that. You do too.”

“Of course, it’s my childhood.”

“How is Jasmine doing?” my mom asked.

I was surprised. Not that she didn’t care about my children’s well-being, but usually the conversation was veered toward her.

“She’s fine. I think Tod is taking her to the doctor this week to see if she needs to her increase her dosage on her meds.”

“Why is Tod taking her?”

“Because I’ll be out of town, remember?”

“You didn’t tell me that.”

“Yes I did, mom,” I groaned. “I’m going to San Antonio for another book signing.”

“Oh. Well you said you were thinking about it, but you didn’t say you were for sure going.”

“Okay, then I’m for sure going. On Tuesday. I’ll be back Thursday.”

“Are you driving?” my mother asked.

“Yes. But Lorelei will be with me.” I felt like a teenager getting permission to take her parents’ car for a quick weekend trip with her friends.

“Okay. Be careful.”

“I will.”

When I finally got off the phone with her, I was emotionally drained. As usual. With a sigh, I placed my phone on my nightstand and crawled under the covers. Then I turned out the light and laid staring up at the darkness.

Please call.

I didn’t know why I was so anxious. If he didn’t call that night, it was no big deal. He was busy. Plus he’d said it would be late. I looked at the clock. It was barely ten.

I rolled over onto my side, tucking my hand underneath my pillow, lying in a fetal position. I listened to the sounds of my own breathing as the minutes ticked by until I must have finally drifted off to sleep.

The house was quiet as I walked up the stairs toward my bedroom. I knew Tod would be in the studio. I hadn’t bothered to stop in there because I knew what his attitude would be. It was the same every time I went shopping. I laid the bags on the bed before turning for the bathroom.

“What did you buy?” I suddenly heard behind me.

I jumped. “Oh! You scared me!”

“I told you we didn’t have any money, Stacey,” he scolded, ignoring my fear.

“I didn’t buy much,” I shook my head. “Just some clothes for the girls. Emery needed new jeans and there was a good sale at-”

“Stacey, goddammit!” Tod’s face flushed to a fire engine red as his voice boomed through the house. “You don’t listen!”

“I do listen,” I argued. “I know you said money is tight. But the girls needed clothes and I swear I didn’t spend that much this time-”

“I’m trying so hard, Stacey,” Tod interrupted again, this time with a whine in his tone. “And you just throw our money away.”

“No, I don’t!” I yelled at him. “I buy things we need. And it’s usually for the girls. I haven’t bought myself anything in months.”

“Whatever, Stacey,” Tod shook his head, turning for the stairs. “This is never gonna change.”

I stood wringing my hands, the tears about to escape from my eyes. “Fine. I’ll take everything back. Emery will just have to wear her same jeans that are too tight for the rest of the year.”

“Don’t DO THIS TO ME, STACEY!” Tod whirled around, his voice getting louder with each word until he was gritting his teeth. “DON’T MAKE ME FEEL GUILTY!”

“Well, what do you expect me to do, Tod?” I cried. “This is one of the few things I enjoy!”

“IT’S NOT MY FAULT!”

“No,” I dropped my shoulders. “Nothing ever is.”

Tod continued to glare at me, the veins in his neck nearly popping. Just then, I heard another voice, though it was so quiet, I almost thought it was in my head.

“Honey?”

Tod and I both looked down the staircase to see a petite brunette woman. I couldn’t quite make out her features but I knew who she was. I stood frozen as I watched Tod descend the stairs toward her, then kiss her right in front of me. Then he took her hand and walked around the corner to the kitchen.

“Tod!” I screamed, finally finding my voice and chasing after them. “Tod! Where are you going?”

Tod looked over his shoulder at me, a smirk on his face. His said nothing as he wrapped his arms around his ex-wife, gave her one more kiss, and walked out the back door.

My ringtone sounded ten times louder in the middle of the night. Or whatever time it was. I just about jolted out of bed as I reached for my phone, Harry’s name displayed on the bright screen. My back and chest were both drenched in sweat, and I tried my best to even out my breaths as I rubbed my eyes.

“Hello?”

“Oh, bloody hell, I woke you. ‘m so sorry.”

“No, no it’s okay,” I said groggily.

“Are you sure? You should sleep.”

“Yes, I’m sure,” I argued, sounding almost desperate, I knew. “Please don’t hang up.”

“Alright, I won’t. Are you okay?”

“Yes,” I sighed, lying back on the pillow. “Just...was having...a bad dream.”

“Oh love, I’m so sorry. Wanna talk about it?”

“No,” I swallowed, barely able to get the words out. “God, no. Don’t wanna relive that, please.”

“Jesus, Stacey, you sure you’re alright?”

“I am now,” I breathed. “Just glad to hear your voice.”

“Okay,” Harry said softly. “‘s good to hear yours too. How was your day?”

“Boring. How was yours?”

“Same.”

I chuckled. “That can’t possibly be.”

“Not everything I do is exciting, Stacey,” Harry claimed.

“I beg to differ,” I retorted.

“How are the girls?” he asked, changing the subject.

“They’re fine. I-” and just then, as though she knew I was talking about her, I heard a sound coming from the hall.

“Shit,” I muttered. “Harry, can I call you back?”

“Something wrong?”

“Yeah. Jasmine,” I replied hastily, rising from the bed. “I’ll call you back.”

I didn’t wait for his response as I dropped the phone on the mattress and threw open the bedroom door. I didn’t have to to make it to Jasmine’s room. She was sitting in her doorway on the floor, her gaze straight ahead as her body shook with jerky spasms.

“Jaz, honey,” I whispered, crouching down next to her. “It’s okay.”

I took her hand, and I felt her squeeze it. “Bad spasms!” she cried.

“I know,” I said softly. “Take a deep breath.”

Jasmine did as she was told, breathing in and out slowly. The spasms started to come less frequently, and within a few minutes, I felt like she would be okay. However, it was hard to lift her up myself, as she was at least as big as I was, so I waited a little longer until she was able to stand on her own.

“Do you have to go to the bathroom?” I asked her.

“No.”

“You sure?”

“I did!” she emphasized.

“Okay.” I knew her reply meant that she must have made it to the bathroom, but not back to the bed. Once I had her tucked in again, she turned away from me, pressing the corner of her duvet to her mouth. I gave her a quick kiss next to her ear before leaving the room and returning to mine.

I sat on the corner of the bed with my phone in my hand for at least five minutes, darkness surrounding me like a literal metaphor for my life. Finally pressing the home button and bringing up his name, I felt myself begin to relax.

“Hi,” I muttered when he answered.

“Is Jasmine okay?” Harry asked, concern dripping from his words.

I wasn’t able to respond. The tears sprang from my eyes in buckets and my heart twisted in my chest. My shoulders trembled as I sobbed.

“Stacey? Baby, talk to me. Did she have another seizure?”

“No,” I cried. “No, she’s...she’s okay.”

“What happened?”

I took a deep breath and wiped my eyes. “She was sitting on the floor in her doorway. She must have gone to the bathroom and collapsed on the way back. She was having big spasms, but...I was able to calm her down and put her back to bed.”

I heard Harry sigh loudly. “I’m so sorry.”

I swallowed hard. “It’s okay. I would say I’m used to it, but...I’m not.”

“Nobody could get used to it, love,” Harry remarked softly. “But you’re doing great. You’re a great mother, Stacey.”

“You’ve said that before,” I muttered.

“I meant it.”

I blinked away the rest of my tears and laid back on my pillow. “Thank you, Harry.”

“You’re amazing, you know that, right?”

I let out a nervous chuckle. “No. I’m far from it.”

“Don’t talk like that,” Harry argued. “Look at everything you’ve done. You’ve written a wonderful book, you’re making a good life for your kids who love you and look up to you. You’re so strong. You have people who care about you. And even though we haven’t known each other long, darling, that includes me.”

I bit my lip. “You do?”

Harry let out a deep sigh again and I imagined him running a hand through his mop of curls. “I wish I could be there...to show you.”

My breath hitched in my throat at his words. He paused and I thought perhaps he was going to continue, but he didn’t. Instead, he returned the focus to my daughter.

“Has Jasmine had a seizure recently?”

“Um…” I cleared my throat. “Her dad told me that she had a spasm this weekend, but not a full seizure. I suppose it was like tonight. So that’s good, I guess. But he’s taking her to the doctor this week while I’m gone to San Antonio.”

“Does she go regularly?” Harry inquired.

“Every couple of weeks or so for now. But she might need to increase her dosage on her medication.”

“Oh I see. When are you leaving for San Antonio?”

“Tuesday morning. After the girls leave for school, I’m picking up Lorelei.”

“Are you excited? I’m excited for you.” I could hear the smile in his voice, and it made me giggle.

“Thank you. I am excited. But mostly because I get to take a road trip. I haven’t been anywhere in years.”

“Are you going anywhere after that?”

“We’re supposed to go to Dallas the weekend after, but I’ll know for sure by Friday,” I said. “I’m hoping I won’t be gone for Halloween. Emery loves Halloween, and I wanna be here for that. It’s...kind of our thing.”

“Does she have a costume?” Harry asked.

“Not yet,” I sighed. “I’m going to take her tomorrow, but I don’t think I’ll be able to find what she wants. She wants to be some Steven Universe character. And I doubt her father is going to take her shopping.”

“Why not?”

“Because…” I hesitated. “Actually, I take that back. I could see it going both ways. Tod is one of those people who waits until the last minute. Every Christmas he’d wait till the day before to go shopping. And I was usually the only person he had to buy for. I never really got what I wanted. A couple times I just got a book. With that being said...sometimes he tries to outdo me. So, I could expect him not to buy something for the girls, but if he knew I was doing something, he’d have to one-up me.”

“So you think he might buy one just to spite you?”

“It’s possible. Now, I’m not saying he’s a bad father. He’s actually a good dad and my girls love him. But...well, it’s like with Emery’s bike. It wasn’t until after we’d divorced that he decided to take her out and teach her how to ride. Like he was trying to prove something.”

Harry was silent for a moment, though I wasn’t sure if he was waiting for me to continue or just had no comment.

“I’m sorry,” I groaned. “I didn’t mean to turn our conversation into a rant about my ex.”

“No worries. I told you that I wanna know all about you. If you’ll tell me.”

“Hmm,” I sounded.

“I’m a good listener, Stacey,” Harry added.

“I can tell,” I said with smile. “And I really appreciate it. I just…”

“You just what?” he asked, dropping the sound of the T.

“I just don’t wanna scare you off.”

“How do you reckon that would happen?”

I licked my lips, gathering my words in my head. “Don’t guys hate it when girls talk about themselves all the time?”

I heard Harry chuckle, that sexy sound he’d made several times during our last conversation. “Stacey…”

“Harry...” I mocked.

“First of all, baby, I don’t consider you a girl.”

I laughed out loud, though I tried to side-step the fact that he’d just called me baby for the second time. “Then what am I?”

“I meant I don’t think of you like that. You’re a woman. A beautiful, incredible woman that I’m trying to get to know more about. I chose to put the focus on you because I wanna know all I can. I’m...interested. In you.”

I let out a breath, and I thought I might’ve mumbled “oh my God”, though I wasn’t sure. It might’ve just been in my head.

“Does that shock you?”

“A little? I mean…” I bit my lip. “Not shock really. Just...nobody’s-”

“I still wanna take you out,” Harry interrupted.

“What?”

“I plan on seeing you again, and this time I’m gonna take you out.”

“Oh...okay,” I muttered, goosebumps rising on my skin.

“And I’m gonna kiss you again,” he added. “‘Cause Lord help me, Stacey, I can’t stop thinking about your mouth.”

That time I knew I mumbled “oh my God”, and Harry chuckled again. I remained silent for a minute or two while I tried to even out my breaths, my brain telling me crazy things and painting insane pictures.

“Stacey?” Harry finally asked.

“Yes?”

“What are you thinking?”

“Um…” I swallowed. “I’m thinking...that I shouldn’t be thinking what I’m thinking.”

“Hmm,” Harry sounded.

“Why?” I barely whispered, my throat suddenly feeling like it was filled with cotton balls. “What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking…” he paused slightly, “that this big hotel bed feels lonely.”

“Harry…”

“I wish I was holding you right now.”

The ability to find any kind of speech was completely gone. I could hear Harry breathing through the phone, but otherwise he remained silent as well. I swallowed hard as I pulled the covers over me, the darkness once again reminding me of how alone I was. Alone and lonely.

“You’re quiet,” Harry finally commented.

“Sorry.”

“Too much?”

I sighed. “No.”

“Am I frightening you?” he continued.

“No, it’s...it actually makes me feel good to hear you say that.”

“I just...I reckon with a woman like you, you gotta say what you’re thinking. Be direct. I want you to know, I’ll always be honest with you. I’m not playing games, Stacey.”

I let out a tiny chuckle as I felt my muscles relax. “Good.”

“I really like you.”

“I really like you too, Harry.”

“It’s late, love, I’ll let you sleep.”

“Okay. Are you still in St. Louis tomorrow?” I inquired.

“I fly to Chicago in the afternoon,” he replied. “Not sure if I’ll be able to call you, but I’ll try.”

“You don’t have to call me every day, you know,” I remarked.

Harry laughed and I felt my stomach flip. “Jesus, Stacey.”

“What?”

“Will you just let me woo you?”

“Woo me?” I giggled. “Is that what you’re doing?”

“I’m trying.”

“God, you’re adorable,” I groaned.

“Yes! I’m getting somewhere.”

We laughed together until Harry startled me by shouting, “Hey! I just remembered something. You were gonna sing some Stevie Nicks for me.”

“Oh shit,” I muttered.

“It’s okay,” Harry chuckled. “I won’t make you do it now.”

“Thank God,” I quipped.

“But you know you’ll have to next time. So, start practicing, Barnett.”

“Ugh, don’t use last names, Styles.”

“Oh, but I like the way you say mine,” he teased. “So cute with that accent.”

“Shut up.”

“Stiiiiiles.”

“Stop,” I demanded, though I was holding my stomach while laughing.

“Staaaaaop,” he mimicked.

Trying my best not to be too loud, I turned my head toward the pillow and covered my mouth.

“I’m warning you, Harry,” I whispered into the phone.

“Ooh, that sounded sexy,” he said, his voice lowered as well. “Warn me again, please.”

I shook my head and took a couple breaths, getting my bearings. When I didn’t continue with the teasing, I heard Harry sigh.

“Alright then, love-”

“Now here you go again, you say you want your freedom. Well who am I to keep you down.”

I started singing the well-known Fleetwood Mac tune, silence on the other end of the line.

“It’s only right that you should play it the way you feel it. But listen carefully to the sound…”

I didn’t sing as loudly as I normally would have, and I only continued through the first chorus before I stopped. But Harry’s reaction was lovely nonetheless.

“Baby…” he cooed when my singing ended. “God, you’re amazing.”

I grinned. “Thank you.”

“No, thank you. For singing to me.”

“You’re welcome. I’ll sing more for you later. And maybe you’ll sing some for me?”

“You bet.”

“Goodnight, Harry,” I said softly.

“Goodnight baby.”

Although I was completely giddy after hanging up the phone, it didn’t take me long to fall back to sleep. And this time I didn’t have any nightmares. Only good dreams.

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[munsonsreputation]

first off, congrats on such a huge milestone, kay! it’s so well deserved & i hope you feel appreciated! 🤍

as a fellow Swiftie, i absolutely had to turn in a Taylor song with hopes you’ll work your magic with it! i’ve had quite a rough year so far & would love a little comfort from our favorite metal head. so, therefore..

can i request some soft/comforting thoughts that follow alongside You Are In Love from 1989? it’s a top comfort song for me & it’s Eddie’s vibes for sure! ✨

hi j!!!!

i hope you're doing better and i really hope that this little imagine brings you a whole lot of comfort 🧸 i really feel like this is the most underrated song off 1989...i hope when she releases 1989 tv we get a music video for this song because i know taylor would have a concept so sweet for it!!!

thank you so much for your support...it means the world to me!!! happy reading!!! 📖🫀

Romantic love was hard for you to come by. You just always pegged yourself as the girl who had no game and interest whatsoever to meet someone who would take you for who you really were. Your true self, if that made any sense.

But somewhere along the lines you met a metal head of all people who swept you off your feet and made all those self-deprecating thoughts about love flow away as you fell for him. It was nice for once to not have to worry about impressing someone because with Eddie everything felt so easy.

Like when he came into your life everything just sort of fell into place magically. He was your peace, as you’d like to call him, because every time he was near, he just brought a sense of relief despite his unruly looks that you cherished.

His trailer became a place of peace as well. He had practically moved you in a month after dating, clearing out his dresser to make room for all your belongings and even getting a new bedframe and mattress that was more your style from his old one that laid flat on the floor.

His uncle Wayne welcomed you with open arms, having no problem with you moving in and even refusing any money you had given him to help cover bills and rent. And even when you tried to give the money to give to Wayne he refused and shoved it back into your purse.

“Waking up to burnt toast and freshly brewed coffee on a Sunday is enough for me.” Is what specifically his explanation was.

So yeah, maybe you weren’t quite the best cook, but you were everything that finally made the trailer a home to the Munson’s especially Eddie who longed to have a “normal” life. Wayne was just glad that his nephew was happy, that he found someone who didn’t give a crap about the place he lived in, but rather the contents of his character.

You and Eddie made each other better in a lot of ways.

You never dealt well with conflict always terrified of upsetting people, but Eddie reassured you that a tiny little disagreement would not lessen his love for you. That it was normal to bicker and argue, but at the end of the day you two would solve the issue, apologize, and respect each other’s feelings.

Eddie kept his word with everything he promised you. Growing up, he was always let down by his family, everyone except Wayne of course. The feelings of being disappointed and let down haunting him, and he made a promise that he’d never make you feel like that.

There was just so much love seeping out from the both of you. The feeling of knowing that Eddie understood you in a way that no one else did and you understood him like no one else did. It was a magical feeling that was forever a reminder of everything that you two had gone through to get here.

So as you laid next to Eddie watching him sleep with adoration swelling in your heart and eyes, you knew that everything led you here to be with the love of your life. You had to privilege of waking up and falling asleep beside him every day. To watch how his chest fell up and down as he dreamed…you wondered if he dreamt of you as much as you dreamed of him. To feel his skin so close to yours, wishing you could stay like this forever.

Even in the silence of the dark night, you could feel every ounce of love he had for you and how your heart practically beats for him like a lifeline.

You couldn’t help but dance your fingertips over the apple of his cheeks, enjoying the warmth of his skin with a sickly sweet smile on your face as you admired him. He slowly begun to stir and open his eyes to see you watching him with a loving gaze, only making him hold you tighter.

“Hmm, baby,” Eddie murmured, still half asleep. “What time is it?”

“I dunno,” you replied, voice gentle and soothing. “I couldn’t sleep, but I didn’t want to wake you…you look so peaceful.” You leaned in to press a kiss to his forehead.

Eddie sleepily smiled at the gesture, sinking a hand behind your neck where he pulled your face into his chest, “I love you,” he said, nuzzling his face into your hair.

“Oh, really?” You joked, humor lacing your voice as you felt his deep laugh echo in his chest beneath you.

“Yeah, really,” He assured, kissing the top of your head while his other hand glided delicately up and down your back, “You’re my best friend.”

Eddie could feel the smile you were concealing in his chest, but before he could tease you, you were already lifting and presenting it to him in the moonlit room. He smiled down at you, both of with sleepy eyes but vibrant smiles.

“You’re mine too,” you whispered, leaning in a little closer and he tilted his head lower to meet you halfway, “I love you too.”

The two of you grinned into the kiss, pressing deeper like your lips could just mesh together. It was tender, sweet, and soft—just like the love you two had for each other. Yet those three words weren’t merely enough to describe the love you two build—you could spend your whole life trying, yet you knew the love was just indescribable.

And so as you two parted and held each other closer with your hands intertwined, beginning to fall asleep…you both knew.

You are in love.

True love.

i had such a sappy time writing this. so sweet and just mushy love!!!

leave a comment and let me know if want to be added to my taglist!!

taglist: @translatemunson @kennedy-brooke @manda-panda-monium @tvserie-s-world @givemeth @steveharringtonswife @fckthtgetmoney @loving-and-dreaming @awkotaco24

[onndough]

Sanji x reader (gn)

Note: I wrote this a super long time ago so there might be some inconsistency. Besides all of that enjoy :)

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

Sanji x reader (gender neutral)

Another mundane week had passed, you wake up everyday preparing yourself for work, paying bills, and serving your civil duties. When all of that wasn’t on the plate, then living out the rest of your time doing whatever could keep your mind occupied from the undying boredom and dread that came with such a stagnant lifestyle was something to think about; the repetitive routine started draining your motivation and it brought sadness, as well as something new that you hadn’t felt,

loneliness.  

Time skip a couple of weeks 

The evening had just come so that meant you were finally off the clock from your shitty job; certifying docuements wasn’t even as terrible as you made it out to be but the people take 10 years off your life yet you can’t leave or demand better because this routine and lifestyle has become too comfortable for anything to change, nothing could possibly interfere and turn your world around, then again would you even want change? 

The loud music across the street had been bashing against your ears whilst you strolled along the stone roads, the scene was something you lived through everyday but tonight was particularly tiring as you had to read reports on a bunch of criminals going into islands nearby and causing chaos whenever they went, some of the locals have been spreading rumors that the criminals are pirates who steal from stores and kill government officials… whatever any of that meant. 

As you passed the stores that lined the main square you decided to distress a bit in one of the cafes you frequented, you just got paid 2 days ago so might as well drown your sunken soul in some sugar. 

Entering the store felt like visiting someone as you were hit with the familiar scent of coffee beans and cleaning supplies, it’s just like your office except it’s slightly better since you get to spend money here, well maybe it’s the same. Ordering the usual made it feel like you were complying with your routine so being a bit adventurous with a drink is something you could change, you ordered a rainbow swirl sugar cookie drink that looked like it came out of a unicorns ass. As you pulled your wallet out to pay the stranger next to you made a sly comment: 

“Thats an interesting choice for a man like you to order, although, a certain reindeer I know would enjoy that drink so maybe it’s good.” 

A reindeer? This guy is friends with animals? Than again you have a cat who you speak to like your best friend so whatever. You decide in your lonely state to strike up a conversation: 

“Oh you have a pet as well? I’ve never heard of someone with a reindeer but it sounds like your friend is a lot of fun” 

The stranger grins at you and starts laughing, you may be dull when it comes to your habits but maybe you still know how to make someone laugh, at least that’s whatthis stranger made you think. While he was laughing himself to death over the pet comment you take the time to look at his features; he had an attractive face with nice eyebrows, his hair covered one of his eyes but that didn’t cover how beautiful his other eye was when he laughed, his stature was relaxed and he dressed fairly well although it seemed like he got roughed up a bit, perhaps he’s a troublemaker or he has some enemies who knows. 

You start to drift off and dream about what this man did in his free time, who was he to the people around him, is he sweet? Good at anything? Does he have anybody that’s waiting for him? What if he’s one of those criminals that’s going around stealing and killing people and now hes at this shop ready to kill everyone before running away with all their mo- well he is kind of attractive so maybe that’s oka– wait no what. 

It takes a few moments for you to compose yourself from your thoughts about this random man, you realise that everything you’ve conjured up in your mind is probably not true, you just met him and you don’t even know his name; although you didn’t know anything about him you still couldn’t shake the feeling of attraction away, deep in thought about a random shop goer was something so typical of you, maybe you were lonelier than you thought… 

“Hey so what would you recommend here? I’m new around here and I figured you were a local so anything good you like?”

You snapped out of it and whipped your head towards the man, he was looking at the menu but also looking at you, wow he is so hot. Giving him a short “let me think about it” you wanted to impress him so it took some time looking at him and over analysing to consider your options, he seemed like someone who would have an overcomplicated order but would enjoy something as simple as mineral water… maybe something fruity:

“Maybe the blueberry lemonade, it’s pretty warm outside so that might help with the heat, it’s also pretty good but what do you think?” 

The man gave you a soft smile and seemed to like your suggestion. He ordered it and even offered to pay for your drink which made your heart do a little jump but you refused, you glanced over at your usual spot and asked if he wanted to join you which he agreed to. You both sat down before the man started asking a few questions about you and began introductions. 

“By the way my name is Sanji, I realised I never told you that but I figured you seemed pretty nice” 

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Sanji, I’m _____. So are you visiting this island for anything in particular or just vacationing?” 

“Nothing much, just traveling with a few friends… or you could say crew mates” 

Crew mates..? What is he some traveling merchant? Or maybe a pirate.. There have been some rumors that pirates were spotted around the area. He looks too civil to be a pirate but you can never trust a book by its cover. 

“Well Sanji welcome to the island, I’m sure your friends are having a nice time, this place is kind of known for its vacationing spots. Have you gone—” 

Before you could finish your question you heard a loud BOOM outside

Both you and Sanji look out one of the windows near your seat and find a crowd had gathered near the entrance of the main square, it looked like they were surrouonding someone/a group of people; they seemed to be yelling at them. 

Sanji looks over at you and smiles before saying

“I guess thats my que to start leaving, my crewmates seem to be causing some problems” 

He places some money on the table and gives you a wink before swiftly exiting the building, but not before blowing you a kiss while pushing past the door. 

You felt your heart beat faster as you look down at your drink than over at his finished one, it was definitely an unforgettable experience but you didn’t know how to react. As you start to calm down a little you look at the money he left and realised there was a little note tucked between the bills, it read:

“If we ever meet again you should tell me more about what drinks you like, maybe I could make one for you,

Until next time- Sanji <3” 

You suddenly felt your heart jump out of your chest and you swore it flew to another island. 

[notsoinnocentlittleangel]

Knowing Your Partner Can Make Writing Together Easier!

repost-y, no reblog-y

Name? Unknown

Pronouns? I'm male, guess.

Communication Preference? I have a Discord, but I've only ever seen one other person using it in at least 5 years, so IMs here.

Muses’ Names? Joanna is the only one here. I have other blogs, though. Links are on the pinned post somewhere.

Best Experience? I don't know if I can say one best experience. I did get more excited in the early days when things started taking off, and it's nice when people seem interested, though I'm not one to get overly excited and do that weird thing where people type a bunch of random letters in the tags or things like that.

Pet Peeves? I'm more easily annoyed than I should be but try to keep it to myself if it's not something very important. Very much formatting will always bug me. I'm not wasting time trying to read something because you thought it looked "cute" or whatever.

Muse Preferences? Is this meant to be ones I write? That's how I'm taking it. I have a tendency to write characters who are a little morally ambiguous, who had rough childhoods, usually have good fighting skills (Joanna is the rare exception). And for some reason, most character ideas I have are female.

Plotting or Winging It? I usually wing it, because I've had very little success plotting with others, though there have been a few times in recent memory it worked out. I'd like to do more, though a part of me likes the surprises that come from making it up as we go, too. Because of that, even in the rare plotted RP, I like there to be a bit of surprise.

Long or Short Replies? Mid-length. I usually prefer something more than a sentence but not multiple paragraphs, though it depends on the RP. Very action-heavy RPs often need shorter responses. But mostly, I just want the length to tell what's needed less than hitting any specific length. If you can write it out in three sentences, go with that, if it takes 12, write that.

Best Time To Write? I usually write at night, though I wonder sometimes if I'd do better writing in the morning. I have a lot of good ideas when I first wake up.

Are You Like Your Muse? Joanna and I have a few things in common, but overall, I wouldn't say so. She's much more emotional, reactive, wild and willing to bend rules than me. We share an interest in racing, like some of the same music and food (though she likes a wider variety than me), and have similar outlooks on some things about life and family relationships.

Tagged by: @reevezs

Tagging: All who read this must do it. I have decreed it, it is decreed.

[thewanderingbleu]

New Memory Drop! its a bit rough and kinda long

cw : bullying, emotional manipulation kinda, physical fights

A couple weeks after Neteyam was returned to Eywa, there was a feast to celebrate our family officially becoming part of the Metkayina peoples; and specifically those in Awa'atlu.

The celebration was amazing, and I had a wonderful time. There was this huge bonfire, we'd gotten an amazing hunt that same morning, and there was food everywhere. I remember hanging out with Roxto and Tsireya, dancing around the fire, and happily eating the food. I also spent a fair amount of time with Ao'nung, but he didn't dance- he mainly stayed near the food with friends, and watched.

Now, there's this group of boys that would always harass me. Told me I belonged in the trees and would drown one day since I wasn't made for the water. Ao'nung would do his best to get them to leave me alone since they listened to him- if only slightly. But his influence only lasted while he was around. I don't want to call them horrible people, because they were still relatively young and might've gotten better with age, but they were just all-around shitty. But, that night, they approached me kindly. They smiled with me, laughed with me, and showed me food combos I'd never considered before. I thought, maybe, now that I was officially part of the Metkayina, they were going to be nice to me. Tolerant, at least.

So when they told me to follow them, that they had something special to show me... I did.

Oh how wrong I was.... they took me away from the celebration, where everyone in the village was gathered. Lead me until the music was faded and beat me up. I could barely tell what was happening to me, but it hurt. It hurt so much. My face was bruised and bleeding and my body ached and screamed. They taunted me, hissed at me, called me horrible things. Told me how dare I consider myself Metkayina, how dare I smile at them as if I was equal to them.

And then they threw me into the water and walked away.

I don't remember going unconscious. I don't even remember waking up. But I remember walking through some forestry nearby. Why, I can't exactly say. I didn't know what I was doing, my body was moving on its own. Maybe I wanted to hide, to find comfort and shelter. But somehow Ao'nung found me. I've never seen him so angry before.

[pbandjesse]

Hello thank you for your patience! Are you picking up a day camper or overnight? Do you know the age or gender of your child? Also do you know where you're going?! I had to say that about 130 times in the last hour.

Pick up is so silly. I don't know how many people come and they just have no idea where they're going or anything about the person they're getting except their name. But everyone got picked up and I was able to leave only a little bit later than I had hoped. I really like doing the bears honestly I think it's fun. I just am so beat this summer. I tried my best to not burn myself out but the schedule was really rough. Today was a good day though. And that brings us to the end of another week of camp with only one week left.

I still didn't feel great this morning though. I did not take the new medication. Falling asleep was a little harder. And then I got woken up at 1:00 when James went to use the bathroom and then I knocked my tablet to the ground and they turn the light off while I was trying to find it because they didn't realize what was happening and I got very worked up. And then I was convinced my tablet was broken. And I was just not having a good time. And then when my alarm went off at 7:00 I was just sick I felt so tired. And I decided that I would sleep another hour. I always go in early anyway so it's not like it really matters. But that extra hour really was important.

When I did finally wake up I felt more like a person. I still didn't feel great but I thought that if I went and got food it would fix me. So I got dressed and I felt pretty cute. And I grabbed my backpack and I was out the door a little after 8:00.

I went to McDonald's and I got two hash browns to have for breakfast and I saved my sandwich for lunch. I would have a pretty solid drive into work. I listen to music. I tried to listen to a podcast but I just could not. I need to find something new to listen to I think. But it was still a nice ride and I got to camp right after pickup was over around 9:00. And went right up to arts and crafts after saying hello to a couple people on my drive-in.

I didn't have a lot to do. I knew I wanted to get more of my cleaning and organizing done today so after I took a brief walk and went down to the office to say good morning I would go up and get things ready. I had stopped to talk to Heather and let her know that I had so much trash and to please ask her daughter, Sophie, to come and grab the bags from me because that is her job this year. And then I talked to CJ for a bit. I told her I was feeling better but not perfect. And she seemed to be doing a little bit better today too. We had a nice big hug and then I went back up to work on my organization.

And I did get a good amount done this morning. I knew that woodlands would be late because they always are. But they were actually more on time than normal. I was cleaning when they showed up and they did a really good job all things considered. They made some really nice pieces and apparently they had a very dramatic night. They had their prank on the barber shop and accidentally shattered one of the windows. Boys are crazy.

I had pioneers next and it was a very small group. Just six little boys and they were very sweet. Everyone seemed to enjoy the art today and I enjoyed working with them. And while they were working on that I was working on sorting string. Because our yarn box has been destroyed. Everything is a big tangled mess. I had three CIT girls come up to help me and that was really fun. Two of the girls were sorting the string and one was playing with a string and trying to make her own knitting needles out of sticks. And she actually was able to cast on so that was pretty cool. She kept apologizing for something and I was like you didn't do anything and apparently it's like a thing. I know the people are like that and they just say sorry all the time even if they didn't do anything wrong It's like a tick. But I kept telling her you have nothing to apologize for you are totally fine.

during lunch I ate my sandwich and then I got right back into organizing. I was making great progress and I started labeling things. And I was super happy with that. Just finding new spots for everything. CJ and Sophie after getting the trash brought me two three drawer organizers and I was very excited to get those settled. And while I was there organizing who would show up but Lindsay! Lindsay from nature! I was so happy to see her she looked great. And we caught up for a little while and she told me about her job troubles and how alexie's giving her a reference somewhere and we just caught up and I told her about the wedding and me and James's plan to try to buy a house and have a child and all that kind of craziness. Be in a grown up! But it was just really nice to see her face because I've always really enjoyed her. And I told her that I would tell James that she says hello.

After she left I went right back in to organizing. I had an idea of how I was going to put all of the drawing utensils in the three drawer but then one of my things didn't fit and it had to change my plan but I came up with something better that I think will work better at the long run. And then I started sorting my markers into cups so that they could all be color organized. And it was just very productive. And that felt very nice.

When the group finally came I was happy to see them because their day camp one and they're very cute. Kenny put an acorn in my shirt pocket. He's so sweet and his language skills have really developed a lot this summer. He was speaking in sentences at the beginning but he talks way more now and it's just really nice to see him growing up. He's going to be five this month! That's so crazy

All the kids though today were really sweet. After my half hour break where I continue to just clean. Stockade came and they mostly wanted to do bracelets and a few of them did clay. And worked on organizing my string and putting away construction paper. I had a few different boxes. One that has fancy paper, then one for scraps, and then one for full sheets. I also moved some furniture around and opened up the space a little bit mostly in preparation for the tables to come inside. I'm very pleased that when I came to be a different space and I think that's really good.

The boys though were pretty interested in their bracelets and their place sculptures and they were too a really good. Manny told me some stuff about how things are going and I talked to Aaron about his plan to try to do homestead next year. I offered my help with lesson planning and he seemed to actually grateful which was really nice. Then we talked about movies and how I really loved Barbie because I'm really interested in the gendering of toys and that's what I would love to do a PhD program on Sunday. And then we talked about Oppenheimer and how I love rockets and Jack Parsons and I love all of that world war II storytelling. I don't really care about war but I care about the people behind it and I think I will really like the movie I just don't know what I will have time to watch a 4-hour movie. Not that I don't watch 4 hour things all the time but it's different watching it in my house while I'm doing other stuff. So we'll see if I see it in theaters or not.

then after the boys left I had my last group. And last group can sometimes be rough but they did a very good job even if they were complaining that there weren't very good things for their mosaics anymore. It wasn't even true because they ended up making very pretty pieces but there was no big stuff. Which is always an issue and I tried to space it out throughout the week but it is so hard. I was left with two small boxes of mosaic materials that I packed up and put on my shelf. And maybe next year I will be able to get more stuff we'll see.

Once they left I was really able to look over my whole building and see all the hard work and cleaning and organizing and everything that I did. All the labels make me just so incredibly happy and once I finish putting this week's project away I went through and made a poster for next week and I talked to Annabelle about getting the to make the project work the way I want to. And then Celia came up to bring me some materials that she had borrow. And she was like hey nobody's down in the field. this week was carnival. And there's a bounce house. And it's not being supervised right now. So we very quickly ran down and as we were getting there CJ Annabelle and Lindsay were also running down and so we were all in the bounce house together screaming and trying to go up and down the slide but it was too squishy and it was really difficult. But we were laughing and being very silly and it was a lot of fun. But then I was very light-headed because that was a lot of exertion that I am not used to. And it was hard to get out of bounce house. But once we were free of the bounce house I went back up to the art building and I had a snack. And was able to collect myself again. I finished up setting all my materials out for next week and chatted with Annabelle for a few minutes. I got in my car to drive down to the bears.

I stopped till Chris that he has to go look at how nice I made it look and then I texted Heather the same thing. Heather said that I did an amazing job. And then I was just waiting for parents. And everyone was really nice. I did have to hold them down there for like 10 minutes because I had been sending people up thinking that everything was ready but the kids were not ready to be picked up yet and we're not at their cabins with their medications and so with a whole thing. But I was able to make everyone feel like everything was okay and just be like a very calm presence and nobody was angry. I thanked everyone for their patients as they came through and little chats. I even had a nice moment with a parent who had the same sunglasses on his face. And around 6:15 I was curious if we were done and if I could go home. But they asked me to wait for an extra 10 minutes just in case. And as I was getting in the car ready to leave another parent pull through. And I directed them where they were supposed to go and then I was off.

I don't mind leaving this late because there is no traffic. But I am tired. And James hopefully got my text message about warming me up dumplings. If not I will take a shower first. I hope that you all have a very nice night. Tomorrow I am driving to New Jersey. To go to Jess's house for the very first time. I am so excited. I am so proud of her and I'm so excited to see the cute little house she got. And I just hope that we have the best time unpacking and making it a beautiful space for her. Or just continuing the trend organizing spaces.

Be well everyone. I hope that you are taking care of yourselves and each other. I love you all.

[pikatalia]

HEYYYYYY GUESS WHAT

More Than Just A Hero: Chapter 3

The Morning After

The scent of something cooking is what caused Volo to rise the next morning. His body felt stiff, sore, but he also felt satisfied. As he lied, warm beneath the blankets, he slowly recalled the events that led up to this moment. How you rode him, fucked him until he passed out, and then promptly carried him home by the looks of it.

Volo didn’t know what to think about you, about this attraction you appeared to have for him. He remembers admitting something. . . personal yesterday. Did he mean it? Did he love you?

You both have memories, from the day you arrived here to now. He’d sometimes follow you around on your survey missions. You’d always listen to his long lectures about the ancient ruins throughout Hisui, and he’d find himself listening to your own talks about your preferred topics too. You were always interesting and easy to talk to, so perhaps that’s why he followed you around. No one else gave his thoughts the time of day like you did.

But when did he fall in love with you?

Was it when you were banished, seeing the devastation on your face and wanting to march right up to Kamado and deck him? You could hardly muster a smile for him during that whole time, and he remembers the defeat you held. He hated it, and he hates to even think about the spark you lost after the banishment. It still hasn’t fully returned, and he fears he damaged it permanently with his betrayal.

But here you are. . .

You kissed him and held him and helped him despite all he’s done to you. What does it mean? Does it mean anything to you? Does HE mean anything to you? Volo almost doesn’t want to ask, scared to find out this is all just a fling to you, something to do because you’re too nice to kill him or leave him to die to a wild Pokémon.

A hand brushing hair behind his ear disrupts these thoughts. “Wake up, Volo. I made breakfast.” He shifts, and feels you hold his leg so he can sit up without any pain. “I made eggs. Eat some while I make your medicine.”

Togekiss settles into the bed next to Volo as you bring him a plate of eggs, some rice, and vegetables. Volo eats slowly, taking in the light flavors of the meal, as he watches you make the tea he drinks for his pain. Neither of you say anything, but you do hum as you work, swaying to the beat of the music. Volo’s eyes follow you, reminded once again of last night, and his mixed feelings.

He sets the plate aside on the counter. “Why are you doing this?”

You pause, cradling the small cup in your hands. “This?” You echo, brows furrowed with your slight confusion.

“Why are you taking care of me?” Volo reiterates calmly. Stay detached, don’t show emotion. It’ll hurt less. “And why. . . yesterday, why did you. . .” He hesitates to say it, but you’re already moving towards him.

You press the cup into his hands, warm and steaming. Volo sips on the bitter drink, cringing but swallowing it to not deal with the waves of pain his leg brings. You sit on the bed with him in the meantime, face blank as you stare at your hands in your lap. You appear to be thinking about what you want to say.

“I care about you.” Is what you decide on. Volo scoffs. “Don’t believe me? You think I fuck just any guy at the hot springs?”

“Do you?” Volo challenges, despite how the idea makes bile claw at his throat.

Your eyes darken. Without a word, you rise from the bed, stalk across the room, and snatch up the small bag in the corner. Volo recognizes it as the satchel the Galaxy Team gave you, full of your Poké Balls, supplies, and other things. You dig around the bag for a moment, grumbling about Bagin (the packer guy?), before producing a small item.

Volo recognizes it the second you turn towards him with it in your hand. The doll is wooden, carved and then painted to resemble a Pokémon. The soft pink color of the paint contrasts with the rough carving of the wood into the round head with the swirl and little ears. Volo can tell it was done by uncertain hands, but there was care and effort put into it all the same.

His ears burn as you walk the doll to him, but Togekiss trills at you, clearly delighted by the present you’ve brought. A Pokéshi doll, maybe the first you’ve ever carved. You place the doll in his lap for him to stare at.

“I don’t.” You announce, taking the empty cup and plate from Volo before turning to wash up. Hands free, Volo cradles the small doll, stares at it. Togekiss sniffs at it, then rubs her feathers into the rough woodwork. It’s not perfect. But you and him aren’t either. “I’ve never hated you, you know.”

“You didn’t?” Volo asks, shaking his head slightly. “You don’t?”

“Never have.” You reply, drying your hands. Your nonchalance unnerves him, but he can see the worry lines in your face, the sadness in your eyes, as you turn back towards him. “Not even when you commanded Giratina to kill me.”

“He wasn’t going to kill you.” Volo quickly amends, though it sounds bitter, even to his ears. “Just. . . stop you from interrupting my plans.”

“Your plans to make a perfect world.” You say, echoing him. “You wouldn’t kill me to have that.”

Volo rubs a thumb over the head of the doll. “You were. . . part of my perfect world.” He ignores your smile, trying to force down a flush crawling up his neck. You settle onto the bed with him, and stroke Togekiss. The Pokémon sighs happily, and Volo’s flush is suddenly harder to fight off. “I was planning to have you. . . rule beside me.”

“Yeah?” You’re not entirely sure what to say, so you settle on the safe route. “I don’t know what happened that led you to this point, but. . . you’re safe here. I want you to know that.” You touch the knee of his good leg, and pat it some. “I care about you. A lot. And I’m starting to think you care about me too. . .”

Volo doesn’t say anything, but Togekiss does. She coos and sings, flapping her wings to move from Volo’s side. She lands on your back, her weight forcing you down onto the bed. Volo flops back when you do, nose brushing against yours as he lands.

The Pokéshi doll he clutches lifts some for you to see. “Do you know what this means?” You’re not from Hisui after all, so maybe you don’t know-

“It means that I love you.” You admit softly. “And. . . you said you loved me yesterday. Did you mean it?”

The silence that follows is deafening. You glance away from Volo’s wide gray eyes, embarrassed by your confession. So much for taking the safe route. The words tumbled out of you without restraint, and now you have to face the consequences.

“If I did?” Is Volo’s eventual answer.

Your brows furrow. “If you did, well. . . I love you too?”

Volo huffs out a sigh he didn’t realize he was holding in. “You love me?” When you nod, he furrows his brows. “But. . . why?”

“Volo. . .” With an aching heart, you move closer, pressing a kiss to his head. Volo’s breath stalls in his throat, feeling you press another kiss to his temple. Then one to his cheek. Then his nose, and so on until you were slowly peppering his face in kisses. “Oh, my sweet Volo. . .”

No more words are said. Volo relaxes into your kisses, the warmth of your body pressed into his. You love him. The doll he holds proves it, along with the kisses you're pressing to the side of his face, up and down his jaw too. He sighs, leaning into the affection.

Arceus has forsaken him, he knows. . . Arceus also blessed you. Is this a gift from the gods to him? Or is he your punishment for an unknown crime?

Volo’s dreary thoughts are interrupted by the door slamming open. You sit up and he twists to see your two shiny spheals rolling into the cabin, a trail of items behind them.

“Mochi!🐶” You gasp to the larger, alpha spheal. The Pokémon chirps at you, proud of the haul she’s brought in, along with the snow and the cold from outside. The smaller spheal barks, and swings around a plush toy resembling himself, only blue. “Oh, Volo! What did you two bring?”

Volo, the human one, reels after you call your smaller spheal HIS name. You go to your Pokémon, shocked to see the plushie that spheal Volo has. He refuses to give it up, so you turn to the other items. Mochi nudges a handful of sparkling rocks towards you, then drags over a blanket that’s seen better days, but it’s thick.

The alpha spheal looks into your eyes, deep and calling for you to listen to her, to understand what she has to say. She then slowly turns towards the human Volo still in bed, boggling the scene before him. The items, the look, it clicks together in your head.

“Oh!” You gasp, a hand to your mouth. “They think we’re mates!”

“We aren’t?” Volo asks, coughing in shock of his own statement. You almost smile before he’s backtracking. “I mean, we aren’t! We’re not mates! We-”

“Had sex.” You recall, stroking spheal Volo.

Volo sputters. “Once!”

“You came twice and told me you loved me.” You continue, ignoring his huff. “You accepted my courting gift-”

“The Pokéshi doll-”

“And now I have all these other gifts to prove I can provide for you, how I have been doing.” You nod, rising up with a grin. “We’re mates now! Mochi said so, so it’s true!”

Volo glares at you, cheeks rosy as he growls to himself about your teasing. How to get back at you? Wait, he might just know a way. . .

“Why is your smaller spheal named after me?”

Your fumbling explanation and his laughter echo through the Iceland.

**I named a Shiny Spheal Volo because its cute smile reminded me of his. And the Pokémon in this story are all mine.🐶 ~ Pikatalia**