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wannaeatramyeon · 11 months ago

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Goo Kim x Reader: One Night

G/N. Crazy Stupid Love Emma Stone/Ryan Gosling scene but make it Lookism. Masterlists

"Are you nervous?" Goo murmurs, a smile tugs at his lips when he feels you trembling.

He peers down at you and pauses. His hand, having worked its way under your top and caressing your bare skin - stops.

Tonight, you have aimed for sexy and sensual. It worked well. Fake it until you make it, and you made it when this handsome blonde at the bar invited you back to his apartment for a night of debauchery.

But your mask slips. It's hard to keep it on, y'know. When you are both half naked, about to be even more naked, there's nowhere left to hide.

Your nervousness comes out as a snort, because duh and you think some of your previous sexy and sensual points are deducted.

"Yeah," you respond with an awkward giggle. Then your mouth runs before your single brain cell can.

"- Also, something has been digging into my back all this time," Goo waggles his eyebrows at you suggestively, "No. Definitely not. I think it's a spring or something or I don't know... crumbs? Have you been eating in bed? Either way I think this is the most uncomfortable mattress I've ever laid on. Your silk bed sheets are something else though - who even has silk bed sheets? It's like something from the 80s along with waterbeds but god they feel so fucking great on my legs."

Goo is stunned into silence momentarily before he barks out a laugh.

He rolls off you and onto the left side on the bed, full body wriggling around slightly, experiencing the silk bed sheets for himself and chuckles.

"Sweetheart, you're right. And I've always hated this mattress." He sighs, adding, "I got conned by fucking influencers."

You whip your head towards him and give him a look, "Influencers?! What. Is this those fancy brands that I've been seeing them shill all over my social media-"

Goo turns towards you, a pout on his lips and eyebrows pinched together in a pitiful expression. "Yep. I've hated it since the first night."

"Then why didn't you return it!"

He shrugs and you laugh, your previous nervousness dissipating.

"I always wondered what idiot would fall for those."

"Hey!"

A brief moment of silence then-

"Did you buy these sheets from an infomercial or something?"

"Excuse me!" Goo shuffles, angles himself so he's fully facing you. Head held up by the palm of his hand and resting his elbow on the mattress.

There's mischief, life in his face that wasn't there earlier tonight. "Sue me. I have money to spend, sometimes I can't sleep, and those sales people sell things so well."

You let out another unrefined snort, amused by this guy.

Suddenly finding there's so much personality, a touch of vulnerability revealed in that statement, behind the expensive glasses, his tailored suit and his muscled body.

"Wanna see what other crap I've bought?"

You both wander around his apartment, which turned out to be a huge fucking penthouse now that he has the light on and is giving you a guided tour, in your underwear.

Goo, no shame and expanses of skin on show, and you follow closely behind with his silk sheets wrapped loosely around your body.

He gestures at what you assume to be a coffee machine sitting proudly on his kitchen countertop. All sleek and stainless steel with dials and buttons on every surface.

"I can't even use this thing. I've had it for 2 years."

"Look," Goo opens an overhead kitchen cupboard, gesticulating like he's going to perform a magic trick, and dramatically shows you rows and rows of trendy kitchen gadgets, no doubt also purchased during moments of insomnia. Pizza scissors, spiralizer, bread maker, air fryer, pressure cooker.

"Never used."

"This," he points at the far wall, and you squint, barely making out a framed art piece of the ugliest monkey face you have ever seen. But hey, art is subjective, right-

"-is an NFT. I bought that too."

That tips you over the edge.

You cackle and cackle, doubled over and holding onto him for balance.

There's a dusty segway sitting pitifully in the corner of an unused spare room.

You jump out from round a corner, LED mask on your face and flashing a menacing red - "Boo!"and Goo actually jumps.

A lonely treadmill, placed beneath one of those fancy sit-stand desk catches your eye. Goo smirks, "Babe, I don't even have a desk job."

Instead of spending all night tangled in his silk bedsheets together, Goo jogs down memory lane of sleepless nights and impulse buys with you by his side.

Your laughter starts to tinge all his memories.

Your good natured ribbing and mocking.

His hyena cackle joins yours, and he wonders when was the last time he was able to laugh with someone. Has he ever spent an entire night talking to someone like this?

"Ask me something personal." He requests, both now lying on his uncomfortable bed. You in his arms, hair tickling his chin.

"What do you want from life?"

"To make money."

"Why?"

"I want to be rich."

"Why?"

"Well, who doesn't want to be rich, sweetheart."

"Yeah but why do you?"

Goo remembers running errands, doing anything to earn some money. Anything for a price. His cousin calling in his services, and he happily beat up some middle schoolers to help him (and who was it again, Tabasco?) out.

He doesn't really know where his thirst for money making has come from. Maybe there's some deep set trauma from his life pre-juvie or some shit he should pay a therapist to decipher but alas.

He tells you this, all this and more. At some point, his head is the one lying on your chest and you absentmindedly stroke through his blonde locks, humming noises of encouragement, listening to his words.

Weird, Goo thinks, when he finally drifts off to sleep with you snoring gently beside him.

The morning sun already filters through the blinds, and the hustle and bustle of Seoul has started to pick up.

How comfortable this feels. How natural your connection with him is. How this is the spark people dream about, and somehow it has hit him when he wasn’t looking for anything more.

That someone as different to him as you are, that is only ever supposed to be company for a few hours, a night at best, could spell trouble. Raise his hackles, send his alarms blaring.

When he's usually the walking red flag.

Because you’ve got him thinking. A lot. That shrewd brain hidden behind playfulness has been whirring; wondering about what happens if you become a regular fixture.

Maybe you might doom him, in the end. Maybe this will lead to a dead end and nothing more.

But he's curious enough, the spark is shining brightly enough, to see where else you might lead him to too.

#lookism #lookism x reader #lookism webtoon #lookism manhwa #lookism fic #goo kim #goo kim x reader #kim jonggoo #kim jonggoo x reader #wannaeatramyeon

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usafphantom2 · 1 month ago

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Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Chance Vought F4U Corsair

Eighty-five years ago today, a warbird legend was born. On May 29, 1940, the prototype Chance Vought F4U Corsair roared to life over Bridgeport, Connecticut, marking the first flight of what would become one of the most iconic carrier-based fighters of World War II.

Published May 29, 2025

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VAN Today in Aviation History Banner

On this day in aviation history—85 years ago, on May 29, 1940—the prototype Chance Vought F4U Corsair took to the skies for the first time. Designated XF4U-1 (bureau number 1443), the aircraft was flown by Vought-Sikorsky Aircraft’s Chief Test Pilot, Lyman A. Bullard Jr., from Bridgeport Municipal Airport in Connecticut. This flight marked the beginning of the Corsair’s legendary journey, which would be forged in the crucible of aerial combat.

ought XF4U 1 Corsair prototype in flight in 1940

The first prototype of the Vought XF4U-1 Corsair in flight in 1940.

The F4U Corsair was a single-seat, carrier-based fighter aircraft designed and built in the United States. It quickly became iconic for its distinctive inverted gullwing design—a solution that provided ground clearance for the large propeller, accommodated the robust landing gear, and allowed space for wing-mounted oil coolers. This wing configuration also contributed to improved aerodynamic efficiency and stability.

1109px XF4U 1 NACA 1940

The Chance Vought XF4U-1 Corsair prototype (BuNo 1443) during tests at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), Langley Research Center at Hampton, Virginia (USA), in 1940-41.

During World War II, the Corsair served extensively with both the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, and it became one of the most successful carrier-based fighters of the conflict. Its rugged construction, high speed, and heavy armament made it a formidable opponent in both air-to-air combat and ground attack missions.

Screen Shot 2018 02 03 at 08.40.44

Charles A. Lindbergh in the cockpit of a Vought F4U-1 Corsair, Green Islands, Solomon Sea, May 1944. (National Air and Space Museum)

Powering the Corsair was the 2,380-horsepower Pratt & Whitney R-2800-18W radial engine, giving it a top speed of 446 mph. The aircraft had a combat range of 328 miles and a service ceiling of 41,500 feet. The F4U-4 variant featured a four-bladed propeller and was armed with six .50 caliber M2 Browning machine guns, each supplied with 375–400 rounds. It could also be equipped with eight 5-inch High-Velocity Aircraft Rockets (HVARs) and carry up to 4,000 pounds of bombs, making it a potent multi-role platform.

1945 Goodyear FG 1D Corsair BuNo 67089

The beautiful 1945 FG-1D Corsair sporting John Glenn’s Corsair paint scheme of VMF-155. Photo via Platinum Fighter Sales

In total, 12,571 Corsairs were produced for the war effort. While many were scrapped after WWII, a significant number survived. Today, 38 Corsairs remain airworthy and are regularly seen flying at airshows across North America, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and mainland Europe. Many more are under restoration to return to the skies—a fitting tribute to an aircraft that earned its place among the greats. Keeping the Corsair flying is a way to preserve its legacy and honor the generations of aviators who once flew her into battle.

Vultures Row Aviations F4U Corsair Restorations 34

Vultures Row Aviation’s F4U Corsair known as “Birdcage” with its Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engine ready to be installed. Photo- Chuck Wahl/Vultures Row Aviation

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snapthistiger · 1 month ago

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exercise 05282025

bike ride to the gym

worked lifeguard job 445a to 10a

8 x 10 incline sit ups

3 x 10 pec machine

3 x 10 lat raise

3 x 10 low row

6 x 5 seated press

bike ride to Kroger, then home

the gym workers received York mints and mini Reeses

work went well. swim team practiced from 6a to 8a and water aerobics class from 830a to 930a.

picked up sale paper at kroger and some marked down bagels

bottom = water aerobics class

helped a coworker move some full acid barrels. she isn't strong enough to move them by herself and it probably should be a 2 person task anyway

hope you have a peaceful afternoon and evening..

#fitblr #exercise #rfm

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xoln04f1xo · 1 month ago

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He’s a hot-headed street racer, you’re the new cop in town. After chasing him for months, you're forced to work together on a city charity race. Sparks (and tires) fly.

Warnings: gun threats, tension, high-stakes pressure, emotional manipulation, violence implied, suggestive language

WC: 1.3k

Divider credit: @strangergraphics

You’d always hated being the one in the chair.

No badge. No gun. Just electrodes, a pulse sensor, and IA agents who smiled like snakes in suits.

“Do you understand that any false or misleading answers will be used against you?”

You stared at the man behind the lie detector - Agent Rowe again, of course - and gave a slow nod.

“I understand.”

“Name?”

You said it.

“Badge number?”

You said that too.

“Have you ever willfully withheld intelligence from your superior officers?”

“No.”

Pause. The machine hummed.

Rowe’s lip twitched.

“Have you ever shared confidential police information with Max Verstappen?”

Your pulse spiked. You felt it. Felt the sweat prick the back of your neck.

“No,” you said.

Another pause. Longer this time.

You stared at the readout. It barely budged.

Rowe frowned, tapped the screen, then sat back.

You exhaled, voice low. “Told you.”

He took a long moment to answer. “Internal Affairs is dropping the investigation. Effective immediately.”

You stood, peeling off the sensors with careful fingers. “Glad we’re done playing games.”

“Oh,” he said, “you’re not done.”

They didn’t even let you change out of your blazer before pulling you into ops.

Max was already there, propped against a table, chewing gum, looking like he’d just rolled out of someone else’s bed and into a black tactical tee that fit him too well for your current mood.

He didn’t say anything.

Didn’t smirk.

Didn’t even look at you.

Good.

You weren’t in the mood to revisit kisses, lies, or the taste of whiskey on someone else’s tongue.

Captain Silva stood between you. “Interpol’s stepping back. Which means it’s our op now.”

“Ghost?” you asked.

“Confirmed. We’ve tracked the buyer to a safehouse in Eastgate. Word is, Ash is still with him. They’ve got the drive. Sale’s happening tonight.”

Max cracked his neck. “We’re not missing it this time.”

Silva looked between you. “You two are running point. Pick your teams. Get in quiet. Get out cleaner.”

You nodded once.

And for the first time in weeks, Max looked at you, really looked, and it wasn’t flirtation.

It was war.

Your team consisted of Moreno, two rookies with good aim, and one ex-military tactician.

Max brought along the loudest, cockiest guys from his Interpol circle.

“I see you’re going for subtle,” you muttered as one of them dropped his rifle with a clatter.

“Jealous your guys don’t have biceps?” Max replied.

You looked him dead in the eye. “I could take you down myself.”

He grinned. “Promises, promises.”

The plan was simple.

Split teams. You and Max go in first — posing as buyers, using burner IDs. Once Ghost confirms your cover and starts the exchange, you drop the code word: Cherrybomb.

Then the rest breach the perimeter.

No shooting unless fired upon. No slipping. No showing your cards.

And definitely no screwing up.

You hadn’t seen him in three days. Not since the kiss. Not since he bled on you and made jokes about dying “hot and mysterious.”

Now you were back in a car with him, pretending to be fake lovers for the sake of a sting.

He adjusted his cuffs.

You adjusted your holster.

“You gonna bring up the kiss?” he said finally, without looking at you.

“No.”

“You sure? Seemed like it changed something.”

You turned your head slowly. “It didn’t.”

He gave a hollow laugh. “Right.”

You didn’t speak again until you reached the warehouse.

Inside, the air was thick - not just with smoke, but tension. Ghost stood near the far wall, flanked by two armed men. Ash leaned against a pillar, watching you like a snake waiting to strike.

“You’re early,” Ghost said, his voice filtered through that smooth, mechanical distortion. “Buyers don’t usually rush to the slaughter.”

You smiled. “We like to beat traffic.”

Ghost laughed. “Smart.”

He gestured to the table. The drive sat between stacks of Euros and what looked like blueprints for a shipment route. Max stepped forward, cool and casual.

You reached up to adjust your earpiece - signal for audio check - and waited for Max’s cue.

But he didn’t give it.

Instead, he said something you never expected.

“Payment first.”

Ghost tilted his head. “Excuse me?”

You froze.

That wasn’t the cue.

That wasn’t the line.

The plan was to say “Let’s see the goods” — not make demands.

Max had gone off-script.

You cut him a look sharp enough to slice concrete.

He didn’t blink.

Ghost narrowed his eyes. “Funny. The other buyers weren’t so… difficult.”

He nodded to his men.

Guns raised.

Your heart rate spiked.

“Shit,” you whispered, barely moving your lips. “You fucked it.”

Max shifted, voice low and furious. “I thought he was going for the decoy drive. I was improvising.”

“Well, your improv just got us made.”

Before either of you could move, Ghost spoke.

“No code word. No raid. Looks like we’ve got ourselves two cops.”

Ash’s grin was feral. “Knew it. Told you they’d crack.”

Then,,,

A gun cocked behind your head.

Another at Max’s chest.

And just like that, the op was blown.

You were zip-tied to a pipe in the back room, blood running down your cheek from a hit you didn’t fully register.

Max sat across from you, wrists bound behind his back, lip split, breathing shallow.

Silence stretched between you like a fuse about to snap.

Then...

“You got cocky,” you whispered, hoarse with rage. “You always get cocky.”

“I made a judgment call,” Max snapped. “I thought he was reaching for a kill switch.”

“We had the upper hand. And you gave it away because you couldn’t stand to follow my lead.”

He laughed bitterly. “It’s always about control with you.”

“Because control keeps us alive!”

“Then maybe don’t partner with someone you kissed like a death wish.”

You froze.

He knew it. Saw it.

Your silence was confirmation.

Before you could retort, the door opened.

Ash stepped in, wiping his hands on a towel.

“Well, well,” he said. “The hot cop and the wheelman. I always thought there was something kinky going on here.”

You glared. “You should run while you can.”

Ash crouched beside you. “Oh, I will. But first? We’re gonna play a little game.”

He pulled a phone from his pocket.

Live feed.

Your team, trapped at the perimeter. Signals jammed. Comm dead.

“Think they’ll still raid if no one calls them in?” Ash asked, smiling.

Max leaned forward. “If you touch her, I’ll kill you.”

Ash just laughed and walked out.

It was down to seconds now. Minutes, if that.

You looked at Max.

He looked at you.

And for the first time since the case began, since Crosswell, since that alleyway chase, since the goddamn kiss, you didn’t hate him.

You were just scared you might lose him.

“You get us out,” you whispered, “I’ll let you punch IA.”

He grinned. “I want that in writing.”

“Shut up and break your zip tie.”

He flexed his wrists - too slick with blood to hold. The plastic snapped.

You freed yours with the glass shard in your boot. He helped you stand.

Then you ran.

Out the back.

Into the line of Ghost’s guards.

But this time, you improvised.

Gun. Elbow. Takedown.

Max followed, fury in every step.

You grabbed the comm jammer from a crate and stomped it flat.

Crackle. Static. Then...

“Cherrybomb,” you gasped into the mic.

“GO!” Moreno shouted back.

Shots fired outside.

The raid had begun.

Later, after Ghost was hauled off in cuffs, after Ash screamed all the way into the van, after your teams secured the drive and the perimeter was quiet again.

You and Max sat on the steps of the warehouse, bruised, bleeding, exhausted.

You looked at him.

“I still don’t trust you.”

He wiped blood from his lip. “I don’t blame you.”

You nudged his boot with yours. “But you’re useful in a fight.”

He grinned. “Is that your way of saying I can stick around?”

You leaned back, eyes on the sky.

“That was my way of saying… don’t ever screw up like that again.”

He nodded. “Copy that.”

And for now, just for tonight, enemies would have to be enough.

Other Chapters

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Taglist: @livelaughleclerc --- @cmleitora

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octo-crafts · 6 months ago

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Winter break 2024/25 crafting roundup!

As usual, I went back to my hometown over Christmas/New Years and almost immediately pulled out my nicer sewing machine that, up until now, has lived at my parents' place (I'm taking it as my carryon for my flight home, or at least I'll make the attempt. Hopefully CATSA is working on the same info as the airline rep I talked to and will agree that sewing machines can be carried on) (yes the TSA explicitly says online that they're allowed, but Canadian rules are slightly different and CATSA doesn't specify online (or offer a number I can phone and ask).

Sewing!

A totebag and 2 pairs of pj pants, made over about 2 days (the fabric store was having a sale, I had fun, and will be giving people star-wars themed sewn objects for the next decade)

Badge Blanket!

I also made a little progress on my long-neglected badge blanket. I was in Girl Guides from ages 5 to 19, and this blanket currently covers the last 5 or so years of that, but will eventually get badges from earlier, once I've caught up. On the left (blurred out for privacy) are badges I earned or got for myself in some way - trips, camps, activities, crests for districts I've been a part of, etc. In the middle is my brownie scarf from the unit I was in in Denmark. Eventually, I'll add my Canadian Rangers scarf mirroring it on the bottom. On the right are traders - badges I've gotten from people I've met through guiding. Finally, the bottom row that I've folded up to show are historical badges - most are from my mum's brownie and guide days, but the beaver one and the instructor tag below it were my great-aunt's (they're not guiding badges, but she was in guiding as a kid, so I'm counting it).

Knitting!

And finally a sweater! The pattern is Critical Knits by Tsuki Mountain Fibres. In the airport two weeks ago, I was just finishing the yoke, so this is amazingly fast for me. Got a lot done while verbally rewriting the star wars sequels with my friend 😂. I might even finish it in time to wear it this winter.

#my projects #finished project #project in progress #craftblr #knitblr #sewblr #knitting #sewing #girl guides #badge blanket #yasha the viking

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firespirited · 24 days ago

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I got a tiktok account: had a rough few migraine days and wanted to watch cosmetics repair, leather crafts and dog grooming videos with minimal sound.

I've been told that the TikTok algorithm figures you out in about an hour and then feeds you what you want: that appeared to happen briefly yesterday when I was recommended pottery, old-fashioned candy making machines and horse shedding in a row

buuut now it's gone back to suggesting stuff I really don't want. So maybe TikTok only gives you what you want if you already want what TikTok is: "funny" animals, sales and people dunking on each other.

It was fun but I found the algorithm a bit pushy (now deleted and uninstalled) : how's it gone for you, ever considered downloading tiktok?

#saf

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angeliqueiguess · 6 months ago

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Late-Night Mischief (l.dh)

005. Sales Drop

w.count: 1k

Y/n had dealt with all sorts of situations during her night shifts—quirky customers who seemed straight out of a horror movie, random power outages, and, of course, Haechan's relentless antics and unfiltered comments. But nothing could’ve prepared her for what was about to happen that evening.

Mr. Kim walked into the store looking more worn out than usual. His tie hung loose, his shirt wrinkled like it had been through one too many battles, and a folder was tucked tightly under his arm as though it could shield him from the bad news he was carrying. He leaned against the counter with a sigh that seemed to echo across the quiet store.

“The sales have been down for months,” he finally said, his tone a mix of frustration and worry. “If things don’t improve soon, we’re going to have to shut the place down.”

Y/n froze, the weight of his words hitting her like a slap. Even the familiar beep of the scanner in her hand suddenly felt deafening.

“Shut the place down?” she repeated, her voice laced with disbelief.

Mr. Kim nodded solemnly, pressing his lips together in a way that made her stomach drop further.

“Head office has been demanding cost cuts. This part of town just… isn’t pulling its weight anymore. Don't panic nothing’s official yet, but I thought you should know. It’s not looking good.”

Not panic? How was she supposed to not panic? Y/n nodded stiffly, like her body was on autopilot. Inside, her heart was racing. She could already feel the looming weight of worry pressing down on her chest. This job wasn’t just a paycheck for her—it was her anchor in an otherwise chaotic life. The predictable schedule, the calmness of late-night shifts, even the routine itself had become something she relied on. Losing it wasn’t an option.

Mr. Kim gave the counter a reassuring pat, though it didn’t do much to reassure her. Then, with another tired sigh, he left her alone in the fluorescent-lit silence of the store.

For a moment, she stood there, staring blankly at the rows of overpriced snacks on the shelves. The steady hum of the lights above her felt like a cruel reminder of the emptiness both in the store and now in her chest.

The chime of the door snapped her out of her daze.

“Back already?” she muttered, not needing to look up to recognize the carefree hum that accompanied the footsteps.

Haechan sauntered in with his usual swagger, holding a bright blue slushy that he had no doubt served himself from the ancient, sticky machine that she swore she’d get rid of someday.

“What can I say? This place is the vibe,” he said with mock seriousness. “Dim lighting, totally deserted, overpriced snacks—what more could I ask for?”

Y/n gave him a deadpan stare, too mentally exhausted to engage in his antics.

“Whoa,” Haechan said, his usual grin faltering as he noticed her expression. “What’s with the face? Did someone try to rob you again? Need me to go full superhero mode?”

She hesitated. Haechan wasn’t exactly the poster child for “reliable confidant,” but he had this bizarre ability to distract her from whatever was weighing her down. And right now? She could really use the distraction.

“They might close the store,” she finally said, her voice quieter than usual.

Haechan blinked, visibly caught off guard.

“Wait, what? Like… for real? Why?”

“Sales have been dropping,” she replied, sinking into the chair behind the counter. “Apparently, the numbers aren’t adding up. My boss said it’s not official yet, but it’s not looking good.”

Haechan frowned, taking a long, obnoxiously loud sip of his slushy. The awkward slurping noise filled the silence like a bad punchline.

“Wow,” he said at last, setting the cup down on the counter. “Okay, that’s… rough. So… what’s the plan?”

“There is no plan,” Y/n said flatly. “What am I supposed to do? Force people to buy more chips and instant ramen?”

Haechan tapped his chin thoughtfully, his expression exaggerated like he was solving a world crisis.

“You could… but I’m pretty sure that’s illegal.”

She groaned, dropping her face into her hands.

“I’m serious, Haechan. If this place shuts down, I’m screwed. I can’t afford to lose this job.”

He tilted his head, watching her for a moment. Then, slowly, that mischievous smile crept back onto his face. The one that always preceded one of his ridiculous ideas.

“What if,” he said, dragging out the words for dramatic effect, “we turned this place into the ultimate late-night hangout spot?”

Y/n lifted her head, blinking at him like he’d just suggested launching a spaceship from the parking lot.

“Come again?”

“Think about it,” he said, spreading his arms like he was pitching the next big thing. “This place is open 24/7. Snacks, drinks, ice cream, a microwave—it’s got all the essentials. The only thing it’s missing is… the vibe.”

She stared at him, unimpressed.

“The vibe?”

“Exactly!” he said, snapping his fingers. “Throw in some beanbags, add a killer playlist, maybe host a ‘fastest ramen eater’ contest—people love weird little places like this. It’s all about the aesthetic, Y/n.”

“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Is it dumb?” he countered, raising an eyebrow. “Or is it genius?”

She rolled her eyes.

“Even if I liked that ridiculous idea—which I don’t—we can’t turn this place around overnight.”

“Not with that attitude,” Haechan shot back, smirking.

Y/n opened her mouth to argue but stopped herself. As absurd as his idea was, there was a microscopic part of her—barely even there—that was intrigued. The store was dead most nights anyway. What harm could trying something different do?

“Fine,” she said finally, crossing her arms. “Hypothetically, if I said yes… how would you even make it happen?”

Haechan’s grin widened.

“Oh, don’t worry. I’ve got ideas. Big ones. Just leave it to me.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” she muttered.

He launched into a passionate explanation of themed snack nights and turning dusty shelves into Instagram-worthy backdrops. And as ridiculous as it all sounded, Y/n felt a tiny spark of hope igniting in her chest.

Maybe—just maybe—this insane plan could work. Or at the very least, it would keep her mind off the impending doom of unemployment.

If anyone could turn a convenience store into a late-night hotspot, it was Haechan.

prev/next masterlist

angie’s note: im scared of haechan's idea y'all...

taglist: @thegracerammy @yewshi @haefelt @pjsteroid @kodasity (let me know if you'd like to be tagged in the next chapter)

#nct #nct127 #nctdream #nctimagines #haechan #lee haechan #donghyuck #lee donghyuck #haechan nct #nct dream #haechan nctdream #7dream

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black-arcana · 8 months ago

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HALESTORM's LZZY HALE And JOE HOTTINGER Announce 'The Living Room Sessions' 2025 Tour

Lzzy Hale and Joe Hottinger of Grammy-winning hard rock band HALESTORM have announced an intimate tour featuring the two of them performing acoustic, stripped down versions of HALESTORM favorites and the music that has inspired the band. Dubbed "Halestorm's Lzzy And Joe: The Living Room Sessions", the tour consists of 12 dates in January 2025. A full list of dates is below.

A special BLABBERMOUTH.NET presale will begin on Thursday, October 24 at 10:00 a.m. local time and end on Thursday, October 24 at 10:00 p.m. local time. When prompted, type in the presale code "2025FREAKS" to access tickets before the general public. Check back here on Thursday for ticketing links to individual shows. General on-sale will be Friday, October 25 at 10 a.m. local time.

To give fans a taste of what’s to come at the shows, today Lzzy and Joe posted a sneak preview of a performance of "The Silence".

Lzzy states: "With this tour, we're inviting our fans to experience what it would be like hanging with Joe and me in our living room: picking up instruments, telling stories, chatting about songs that helped shaped us as a band and brought us to where we are today."

Joe adds: "Back when we decided to quit our day jobs and make music our full-time endeavor, Lzzy and I would play music wherever we could, and sometimes that meant playing acoustic covers in any bar or restaurant that would have us. That time really allowed us to develop our playing skills and dig into songwriting, and it really set the groundwork for what HALESTORM is today."

"Halestorm's Lzzy And Joe: The Living Room Sessions" 2025 tour dates:

Jan. 08 - Flint, MI - The Machine Shop Jan. 10 - Bloomington, IL - Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts Jan. 11 - Des Moines, IA - Hoyt Sherman Theatre Jan. 13 - Springfield, MO - Gillioz Theatre Jan. 14 - Little Rock, AR - The Hall Jan. 16 - Chattanooga, TN - The Signal Jan. 17 - Biloxi, MS - Hard Rock Live Jan. 19 - Pensacola, FL - Vinyl Music Hall Jan. 21 - Savannah, GA - District Live at Plant Riverside District Jan. 22 - Charleston, SC - Charleston Music Hall Jan. 24 - Springfield, MA - Aria Ballroom/MGM Springfield Jan. 25 - South Burlington, VT - Higher Ground

In a September 2024 interview with PK of Louisville, Kentucky's ALT 105.1 radio station, Lzzy spoke about the progress of the recording sessions for HALESTORM's follow-up to 2022's "Back From The Dead" album. Lzzy said: "We've had three separate sessions in the studio with — we're making a record with [producer] Dave Cobb. And he's actually a huge closet metal fan, and so he's really excited. And so we're making this great music, but we're constantly touring. So we've had, like, three different sessions in the studio. We're probably — what? — 70, 80, maybe, percent there. We have a studio in our house and so I'm doing a lot of the finishing touches on vocals and sewing everything up, doing solos and all that. And then we get back in in December to just say, 'Okay, this is good.' And then, yeah. And then there we are. So we're excited about it. We really are."

Cobb has shared in nine Grammy wins, including four for "Best Americana Album" and three for "Best Country Album". He's also been named "Producer Of The Year" by the Country Music Awards, the Americana Music Association (twice) and the Music Row Awards, and has been a Grammy nominee in the category.

HALESTORM and I PREVAIL recently embarked on summer 2024 co-headlining tour. Produced by Live Nation, the trek kicked off on July 9 in Raleigh and ran through August 17 in Las Vegas. HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD and FIT FOR A KING served as support. The tour was also the catalyst and the creative spark for HALESTORM and I PREVAIL's collaborative track "Can U See Me In The Dark?", which was released in June.

"Back From The Dead" has tallied over 100 million streams worldwide. Rolling Stone called the title track "a biting but cathartic howler about overcoming all obstacles," and that song as well as "The Steeple" marked their fifth and sixth number ones at rock radio, respectively. Associated Press said the album "will definitely be in the running for best hard rock/metal album of the year." Their previous album, "Vicious", earned the band their second Grammy nomination, for "Best Hard Rock Performance" for the song "Uncomfortable", the band's fourth #1 at rock radio, and led Loudwire to name HALESTORM "Rock Artist Of The Decade" in 2019.

Fronted by Lzzy with Arejay, Hottinger and bass player Josh Smith, HALESTORM's music has earned multiple platinum and gold certifications from the RIAA, and the band has earned a reputation as a powerful live music force, headlining sold-out shows and topping festival bills around the world, and sharing the stage with icons including HEAVEN & HELL, Alice Cooper, Joan Jett and JUDAS PRIEST. Additionally, Lzzy was named the first female brand ambassador for Gibson and served as host of AXS TV's "A Year In Music".

youtube

#lzzy hale #joe hottinger #halestorm #Youtube

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weirdowithaquill · 2 years ago

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Traintober 2023: Day 18 - Blueprints

Crovan's Gate Works is Home to many Blueprints:

Crovan’s Gate Works is one of, if not the, largest steamworks in the United Kingdom �� and the single best equipped. It services steam locomotives from all four of Sodor’s railways, as well as engines from across the country and further. Many of the engines who appeared in the infamous ‘The Great Race’ movie – especially those from Europe – were actually engines being overhauled at Crovan’s Gate when Mattel sent people to do research for the film. The works has machines that can make any part needed for an engine on the Fat Controller’s railway, and beyond – but that’s not all they have.

In a dark, slightly dusty room underneath the main offices, there are filing cabinets. Row upon row of the things which stretch out through the basement. And in these filing cabinets are the blueprints. There are thousands of these blueprints carefully sorted and filed away in this room. Everything from the designs of the A1X Terrier through to the Streamlined Coronation class. It’s all in this one room.

And it was originally the folly of Sir Topham Hatt I, back in 1897.

When he was the CME of the Tidmouth, Knapford & Elsbridge Light Railway (TK&ELR), Topham Hatt began collecting old blueprints. Some people collect stamps, others collect coins – but Topham collected blueprints. He had already copied many of the Great Western’s blueprints during his time as an apprentice at Swindon Works, and these he kept with new plans sent to him by his friend William Stanier in his office.

When building the TK&ELR Coffee Pot engines, he consulted a huge number of blueprints, trying to find something he could build considering the extremely low amount of resources he was allocated. And he did utilise some ideas from the various blueprints he had acquired – specifically a redrawing of the ‘blueprints’ used for the Novelty from the Rainhill trials… only the blueprints Hatt had were extremely well-drawn fakes, which did a bit of messing with the exhaust system. Topham Hatt mixed these blueprints with several others, but the exhaust system became infamous for spewing out dirty brown water.

This led to Topham Hatt deciding that the best way to avoid such an embarrassment in the future was to get more blueprints. He managed to bargain the blueprints of almost every engine he ever bought into the deal, with one notable exception: Henry.

Henry was built using stolen blueprints which were muddled and half-right. Hatt never managed to nab the stolen blueprints for himself, which made diagnosing Henry all the more difficult. It was actually Richard Hatt – Topham’s great grandson – who found the formerly stolen blueprints. He managed to find them in a garage sale!

Percy was another engine whose blueprints did not fully arrive with the engine. The warehouse Hatt bought him from had a grand total of around 59% of his original blueprints, with the other 41% being scattered across the West Country, the Midlands and Wales. If you can believe it, Topham Hatt went on the hunt for these blueprints all throughout the 1930s, and was able to snag the last one from the wreck of a bombed house in Cardiff in 1941.

When British Railways was formed in 1948, the now Sir Topham Hatt utilised his new position on the board of the company to gain access to every blueprint British Railways had under its control. Carriages, trucks, engines – even railway adjacent lorries, ships and buses all had blueprints that Sir Topham was able to have copied and sent to Crovan’s Gate. These were all placed in a special room and have been updated since.

Sir Charles Topham Hatt also added to this collection – but for a very different reason. In the 1960s, as Sodor gained more independence – and more diesels – it became increasingly clear that the island had to repair its engines on its own. To this end, Sir Charles began having copies of engines he bought sent to Sodor so that in the event of repairs, the works at Crovan’s Gate would be able to use the original blueprints before beginning the overhaul, saving time and allowing the workers to know what parts the engine might need. Sir Charles also had updated blueprints of all of his engines drafted, as many of his older engines had been heavily modified since arriving (such as Edward, Henry and Gordon), meaning that new, accurate blueprints were required. The first of these would be Edward’s when he went in for an overhaul after his ‘Exploit’ in 1965.

Today, there are thousands of blueprints kept at Crovan’s Gate Works, with new ones added each year. These are often copies of blueprints for locomotives built outside of the UK, as it is believed that Crovan’s Gate Works has a copy of the designs for every British locomotive, carriage, and wagon to have ever run – bar those which never had blueprints.

Back to Master Post

#fanfiction writer #weirdowithaquill #railway series #thomas the tank engine #railways #traintober 2023 #traintober #crovan's gate works #thomas the tank engine analysis #ttte henry #ttte coffee pots #ttte sir topham hatt #Sir Topham Hatt I

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mehriigss · 1 year ago

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Which rottmnt turtle are you?

Raph:

- Forgot to turn off the oven

- Everyday is chest gym day

- Afraid of their own shadow

- Angle with a shotgun

- Dies if a single proton of peanut touches them

- Good boy(™)

- Uses the same underwear two days in a row to save water

- Didn't know how to use the #blacklivesmatter but used it anyway because black lives matter

- Can and will be convinced the earth is flat

- Sleeps with 173913 plushies

- Somehow father figure

Donnie:

- Sales baked goods

- Banned from Texas

- Chaotic awful

- Nows your IP and will use it against you

- Can and will convince someone that the earth is flat

- Disappeared three days but no one noticed

- Emotionally constipated

- Invests mony in cryptocurrency

- A U T I S M

- Is secretly coquette

- 1# Most wanted criminal 2023

Mikey:

- Makes naked furry drawings and places them in the fridge

- "Don't know don't care"

- Has used the #blacklivesmatter for the good

- A minor

- Noticed they were gone

- Menance to society

- Licks the frosting of the cupcakes and puts them back in the fridge

- Eats ice cream with their bare hands

- Bts stand

- Likes eco

Leo:

- Makes deez nuts jokes

- Depressed

- Would wear a "blue label" T-shirt

- "Prison's just an expensive escape room"

- Moonwalks their way in and out of trouble

- Makes yo mama jokes

- Sleep is optional

- Would put cheese sauce in the washing machine instead of soap

- Walking meme

- Feminist

- Could and did dropkick a child

- Spanish or vanish

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rayshippouuchiha · 1 year ago

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Alrighty! Please excuse the poor lighting.

Behold!

There was a sale of Bernat Baby Blanket yarn in the Dappled ombres so I bought 3 skeins of 4 colors and the last skein of the blue. The aqua blanket is a diagonal granny stitch, the pink is the classic granny stitch, the yellow is a C2C (corner-to-corner) stitch, and the purple is a simple V stitch. They all have a single crochet stitch in however many rows needed to get the blankets to a similar size. The void photo-bombing is my youngest boy, Wilson. The blue blanket is in the Alpine stitch, which I love love love! Especially in the fluffy blanket, chenille, and velvet yarns. The duck I made with leftover purple yarn to test out a newly bought pattern for a commission from my husband's coworker. I'm planning to make more coordinating ducks for the other 3 blankets.

I finished this blanket during a weekend trip up to NY with a side trip to CT with my mother to visit family. We drove, so I had a lot of time on my hands to work on this. I included a close up of the yarn so you can see the colors better. My mom so loved the yarn too, I gave her the reminder of the last skein. She's got plans now. The yarn, which is acrylic medium weight, has been in my hoard since A.C. Moore closed. I'm trying to use up some yarn before buying any more.

I have another one almost done in blue, aqua, and lime green also Bernat Baby Blanket yarn. It's not done yet since I need to sew another liner in the shape of a ball and stuff it with polyfil to make it machine washer friendly. The pattern is from Moogly's squish line and can be found on her blog and YouTube channel.

Give me a sec and I'll share photos of the two projects on my hook currently. I just learned there's a 10 image limit per post.😆

holy fucking hell babe. All of these are so goddamn gorgeous and the octopus?? to die for. seriously never let anyone tell you that you're not making art cause goddamn

#RayRambles

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annerly-san · 6 months ago

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Love and Deep Deadlines | A LaDS Corporate AU - Chapter 2

Summary:

Amidst the cut throat culture of Onyxion Enterprises where cutting-edge innovation is overshadowed by corporate chaos, no one talks about how hard it is to be an intern.

Alongside Caleb, the sales department smooth-talker; Zayne, the cold and unflappable CTO; Xavier, a director who might as well be an intern himself; and Rafayel, the overly dramatic Creative Director who brings his own flair to every meltdown, our intern is just trying to survive the workday. Oh, and don’t forget Onyxion’s very own CEO, Sylus, a walking HR violation who gets off on terrorizing his employees.

In this company, will love bloom before the deadlines run deep, or will the company go under first?

Chapter Navigation: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ?

Alternative AO3 link:

I settled into my desk, making the rounds to introduce myself to my peers.

The warm welcomes helped to calm my nerves as I was just asked to settle down for now and watch some training videos on the overarching strategy within our marketing department.

It was truly corporate when there were hundreds of acronyms thrown at you left and right with the expectations that you already knew them.

I let out a sigh of relief, seeing that there was a pdf of the list buried in the Sharepoint file manager under “New Employee Resources”. We love a self-aware corporation.

The twenty page long document was intense, and my monitor and docking station had not yet arrived. The task of watching the training videos whilst taking notes and trying to find the acronyms required the usage of multiple screens. My small laptop screen wouldn’t cut it.

At least the documentation for most things was there for a new employee. The printer had step-by-step instructions on how to set up the network printer and get your print from the queue with your protocore identification band. It should work with any printer in the building.

I sent the acronym list to the printer; a printer should be around here somewhere.

I stood up and wandered through the rows of cubicles, searching for the nearest one.

The rows of cubicles stretched out like a field, divided on occasion by a floor-to-ceiling divider to separate specialized teams, and I wandered through the rows peering occasionally around to see if there was a hidden printer somewhere.

After wandering for a good while, it all looked the same to me.

I was lost.

Were all office buildings like this? Everything looked the exact same, how would you know where to go?

I’m sure that Caleb had the same problem and probably painted his cubicle with extravagant stripes of orange and blue and filled his space with model planes and apples to find his spot better, but I wasn’t employed in any permanent position to be decorating my own cubicle like that.

I turned the corner, finding a printer was no longer the priority as there was a rising panic that I’ve lost my way back to my team’s room.

My dread was interrupted by a loud banging in one of the corridors. Curious, I traced the source. Tucked against a partition, was my original objective for leaving my desk - a printer!

But along with finding my goal, I stumbled on the interesting sight of a man with short blonde hair fiddling with the control panel, occasionally hitting it with his hand in frustration and giving it a kick for good measure. His aggravated assaults on the poor machine were the source of the banging sounds that I heard earlier.

“Why are you not working?” he groaned into his hand.

Did he not know how to use the printer? Maybe he is an intern like me? I’m sure that if I didn’t find the printer guide earlier, I would have been doing this exact same thing. The thought of finding another co-worker in a similar position gave me the confidence to interrupt his frustrations. “Is the printer not working?” I asked, approaching him with a friendly smile.

He turned to face me, blue eyes locking with mine as I saw the annoyance behind them, but he was professional enough to not let it be directed at me. “I don’t know how to work this stupid thing,” he muttered, hitting the printer again. “Ah, sorry.” He rubbed his head abashedly.

I jumped at the sound, but quickly got over it. “That’s ok!” I said with some optimism in my voice. “Can I try?”

Interns should help one another out. I gave him my name as an introduction, extending my hand to shake his. “I’m new here! I’ve just started as an intern!” He locked eyes with me and gave me a friendly smile, nodding at my words and grabbing my hand with a firm shake. I beamed at the prospect of a new friendship. “I read the printer guide, do you think I can try and see if I can help you out?”

“Please do. Go ahead. My name’s Xavier, by the way.”

A sense of happiness coursed through me as I thought that I could make friends with a fellow intern this way. We could help each other out. If we’re on the same floor, he would be in marketing as well.

I tapped my wrist on the flat panel scanner, the printer humming and blinking green as it authenticated me. My documents populated in the queue and I made sure that the right one was selected before entering in final specifications and hitting print.

My acronyms worksheet came out on warm paper, double-sided and stapled neatly in the corner.

“Hey! I got it to work!”

Xavier looked stunned as he went back and forth staring between the stack of papers in my hand and the printer. “...That’s amazing…!” He looked at me dead in the eyes. “You’re telling me you did that without black magic? Or several tickets with the IT desk? Hours on the line with them into the dead of night? Are you sure you’re just an intern?”

I laughed and gestured to his hand for his protocore id band. “What are you printing? Want me to help you?”

Xavier let a small smile crawl up onto his lips as he nodded. “Yes, please!”

He watched eagerly as I showed him how to use his protocore band to authenticate with the server and pull his documents off of the cloud.

I couldn’t suppress the laughter bubbling in me as he was so thrilled that the printer could also staple and hole punch the sheets.

He finally held up his stack of documents in awe. He called my name. “You’re amazing! Thank you!”

“It’s no big deal! I’m happy to help a fellow intern out!”

“Hm? Intern?” He looked confused at my words, but I was too excited to focus on that part and the words came out of my mouth before I could stop it.

“Let’s be friends! I’m new, so I haven’t met anyone yet, but I was happy to run into you here, Xavier!” There was a slight flush on his face, and I felt that perhaps this wasn’t how you made friends in the corporate world. “O-oh, unless you don’t want to, or you work somewhere else-. I didn’t mean-”

“N-no, we could be friends!” Xavier placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “I…I would like that.”

I couldn’t resist the smile on my face from the excitement of my first work friend.

But I was probably gone from my desk for long enough, and now that I had my prints, I should really head back. The issue was that I just didn’t know where to go. Perhaps Xavier did. “By chance do you know where the product marketing group sits? I got lost trying to find the printer,” I admitted, rubbing my head in embarrassment. “It kinda looks all the same here, huh?”

“Oh, product marketing? Yea, they sit over in group D3, do you want me to walk you there?”

“That would be great! Only if you don’t mind!”

Xavier smiled at me. “Not at all. Let’s go.”

I trailed happily behind him with a skip in my step.

“We’re here. Is this your desk?” He pointed at the desk right by the door.

“Yep! I sit here! Hey, if you ever need me or just want to hang out just let me-”

“Huh? Director Xavier?” My words were cut off by Tara’s surprise. “What brings you here?”

My brain short-circuited. Director Xavier?

“Oh I was just showing her the way back to her desk,” Xavier pointed at me. The smile dropped from my face and cold chills ran down my spine. He wasn’t an intern? He was a higher up? I was just prancing around the cubicles with him a minute ago. We high fived each other and made a work bestie vow. But he was one of the bosses?

The world was collapsing before my very eyes. My 20-page printout of the acronyms nearly fell out of my hands.

“Oh so you’ve met our new intern already!” Tara clasped her hands together happily. “We were going to introduce you later during the all-hands, but this works better!” Tara turned to me, pulling me by the shoulder to turn and look at Xavier. “As you know, we all report to Jenna, and Jenna reports to Director Xavier. He oversees product marketing, so we’re one of the few groups that he manages. You could say that he’s one of the bosses that we do a lot of work for.”

It took all my willpower to not let my jaw drop to the floor.

He was a director and I called him a fucking intern. I asked if we could be buddies. What kind of intern has the audacity to ask the director to be besties with her?

This might be my first and last day on the job.

“I-It was really nice to meet you, D-director Xavier-” my voice trailed off and I struggled to maintain eye contact with him after the embarrassment of calling him an intern earlier.

Xavier was much more composed than I was. It was no wonder he was a director. He gave me a kind smile, reaching out his hand to me. I took it and watched it flop awkwardly as he shook it. Tara looked at me with concern.

At this point, it doesn’t matter anymore.

“It was really great meeting you too. If I have printer problems again or if you also want to hang out, I’ll be sure to drop by now that I know where you sit,” he stated before clutching the bundle of papers he printed close to his chest. “Thanks for your help again. I’ll see you around.”

My cheeks flushed red as I watched him leave - my eyes were burning holes into the cubicle walls.

Tara patted me on the back. “Well look at you! We were going to set up intros next week, but you’re such a go-getter! Nice work!”

I felt my soul leave my body.

I wanted to go home.

I wallowed in my despair in the corner of my desk. My monitor and docking station were set up in a daze as I stared blankly at my screen, training content passing in one ear and right out the other.

What kind of employee calls their director an intern, asks to be friends, and hang out with each other? And on their first day?

I buried my head in my hands as the memory of our interaction resurfaced in my head.

A loud ping from my laptop woke me from my trance.

[Caleb]: hows ur first day so far? u hungry?

[Caleb]: wanna get lunch w me?

The messages from Caleb reminded me of the time. At least I could catch a break after all of this. I messaged Caleb back.

[Me]: bruh im gonna die ;(

[Me]: leggo to lunch pls.. where food at

I waited a few seconds, seeing Caleb’s chat icon pop up to indicate that he was typing.

[Caleb]: hold tight pipsqueak

[Caleb]: im on my way to get u ;)

[Me]: pls rescue soon ;(

I rolled back in my seat. The tapping of my fingers against the desk didn’t do much to calm my nerves. My mind was still spinning from the morning’s catastrophe with Xavier. I slumped further into my chair, practically melting into my seat. Lunch couldn’t come fast enough.

A series of soft taps outside the team room caught my attention, and then I heard Caleb’s voice. “Hey hey! How’s my second favorite team in Onyxion?”

Heads turned immediately—Caleb had that effect on people. He exudes effortless cool, his suit jacket slung over his shoulder and his collared shirt had a few buttons open with his tie hanging loose, a casual, almost lazy smile on his face. He definitely wasn’t the type of person to mistakenly call their director an intern on his first day of work.

“Caleb!” “Oh, hey, Caleb!” “What’s up, dude?”

The chorus of greetings followed, with a few of them getting up from their desks to greet him like some kind of office VIP.

“Came to drop by?” someone asked, clearly curious why he was here.

Caleb grinned, glancing around the room. “Actually, I’m here to grab lunch with a special someone~!” A few people paused mid-greeting, confused. “My sister~!”

“Sister?” one of them asked, eyes darting around the room. “Who?”

Caleb looked around the cubicle openings before landing on mine with a wide grin. He nodded in my direction, grin never leaving his face. “Right there! That’s my Pipsqueak!”

All eyes snapped to me. I froze, feeling the weight of everyone’s gaze. Had I not had the most mortifying experience of my life with Xavier, I would have been embarrassed by Caleb’s declaration of his nickname for me in front of all my peers.

“You guys didn’t know? She’s my baby sister,” Caleb clarified with a wink, clearly enjoying the reveal a little too much.

Tara blinked, processing the information before offering a warm laugh. “Well, that explains the VIP treatment! It’s super hard to get Caleb out to lunch! Why didn’t you say anything?”

I tried to smile and shrug, despite my burning cheeks. Caleb chuckled and nudged me playfully. “Ready to go?”

I nodded quickly, eager to escape.

Once we hit the elevator, I let out a breath. “You couldn’t resist, could you?” I punched him in the arm for ousting me as his sibling in front of all my coworkers.

Caleb grinned, completely unapologetic. “What? It’s more fun that way. Besides, now they know who’s watching out for you.”

I punched his arm, though there was no real force behind it. “You’re such a show-off.”

“Always,” he said, laughing as the elevator doors closed behind us.

We exited the elevator and made our way to the cafeteria. It was bustling with employees, the sound of chatter and clinking dishes filling the air. Caleb, of course, navigated through the crowd effortlessly, giving nods and smiles to people as we passed. It was like watching a politician on a campaign trail—everyone knew him, and more importantly, everyone liked him.

“Why do I feel like I’m walking next to a celebrity?” I muttered as we got in line for food.

Caleb smirked. “Because I am one. Consider yourself lucky, pipsqueak. You get to dine in the presence of an office celeb!”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help smiling. “Of course you are.”

We grabbed our trays, and Caleb, true to form, picked up more food than anyone could possibly eat in one sitting. “You’re going to regret not grabbing a second sandwich,” he teased, nudging me with his elbow as we made our way to a table.

Just as we sat down, I spotted Xavier entering the cafeteria. I sank lower into my seat, hoping he wouldn’t see me. The embarrassment of earlier was still fresh in my mind.

“You okay?” Caleb asked, noticing my sudden change in posture.

I waved him off. “Yeah, just... avoiding someone.”

Caleb raised an eyebrow, leaning in with a grin. “Who? Someone I need to beat up for you?”

I snorted. “No, it’s just... Xavier. Director Xavier…”

“The director?” Caleb’s eyes widened with mock surprise. “What did you do, pipsqueak? Spill it.”

I sighed. “I may or may not have called him an intern… and then asked him to be my friend… and to hang out with me…”

Caleb burst out laughing, causing a few heads to turn. “You... you called Xavier an intern?” he wheezed, wiping a tear from his eye. “Oh, that’s priceless! OH MY GOD, AHAHAHAHA!!!”

“Caleb, shhh!” I hissed, glancing around to make sure Xavier wasn’t within earshot. “I didn’t know he was the director! My boss reports to him! He’s like my big boss!!”

Caleb was still chuckling, clearly enjoying my misfortune far too much. “Well, at least you made an impression.”

I groaned, burying my face in my hands. “He’s going to think I’m a complete idiot.”

“Eh, don’t worry about it,” Caleb said, taking a big bite of his sandwich. “He’s a good guy. He won’t hold it against you. And besides, if he does, just let me know. I think I can take him in a fight.”

I shot him a look. “Don’t you dare.” Memories of Caleb getting into full-blown brawls all throughout school popped into my mind. He had a knack for turning a mild disagreement into a fistfight, and no one was ever quite sure what triggered him. A lot of people learned to steer clear of him after that, especially when they saw how quickly he could go from bright and happy to throwing punches in unbridled rage.

“Caleb...” I warned, but he just shrugged with that lazy grin.

“What? I’ve mellowed out. Mostly.” He winked. “I wouldn’t punch a fellow co-worker unless they really deserved it ok? And I’ll happily skip a paycheck to punch someone that made you mad at work.”

As Caleb and I sat there, still bantering back and forth, I saw Xavier heading our way with a tray of food. I froze for a second, but Caleb didn’t miss a beat.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Director Xavier!” Caleb called out, loud enough for nearby tables to turn and look. “You got a dining buddy yet? We got a seat open!”

Xavier raised an eyebrow but smiled as he approached. “I know that you get to know people fast, Caleb, but how do you know the new intern already? I just met her today.”

Caleb chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “What can I say? You gotta network when you’re in sales.” He winked in my direction.

Xavier smiled at me as he sat down, setting his tray on the table. “Well, you’re a lucky intern. Caleb is a hard guy to get lunch with. He told me the other day that I had to book a few weeks in advance.”

I had a feeling that it was sarcasm on Caleb’s end, but Xavier took it seriously. I bit my lip to maintain a straight face.

Caleb grinned, not missing a beat. “What can I say? I’m in high demand.” He took a sip of his drink, then leaned forward with a smirk. “But I can always make an exception for my sister.”

Xavier raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “Sister? I didn’t know you had family.”

“Not by blood,” Caleb clarified, casting a glance at me. “But close enough. Grew up together, so she’s practically my pipsqueak now.”

I smiled awkwardly, feeling a bit exposed. I let out an awkward chuckle.

Xavier gave me a kind smile and glanced at us. “You know, I’ve worked with Caleb on a few projects before, and I can tell you—if he’s got your back, you’re in good hands.” His tone had sincerity behind it.

“See?” Caleb chimed in, pointing a thumb at Xavier. “Even he gets it.”

My initial discomfort with Xavier’s presence at the table quickly dissipated as the conversation flowed between the three of us smoothly. He had a very laid-back personality that was very approachable once you got to know him. Had I not been in a line of direct reports to him, I’m sure we would have been good work friends already.

The lighthearted banter continued for a moment until Xavier’s smile faded, and he turned to Caleb. His voice dropped in volume as he didn’t want others to overhear. “Have you heard about what happened in the finance department? Sylus wasn’t happy.”

Caleb’s expression darkened slightly. “Yeah, I heard. He’s pissed. Which isn’t good.”

Xavier nodded, his usual easygoing demeanor slipping as he glanced around the cafeteria, lowering his voice. “I wouldn’t be surprised if this means restructuring. With what happened in that department, I’m not sure if there’s going to be something worse.”

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, the playful mood from earlier now replaced with a sense of unease.

“You really think it’ll be that bad?” Caleb whispered to him, voice barely audible as he tried to keep the conversation discreet.

Xavier sighed. “The repercussions are company-wide. You know how Sylus is. He’ll trim the fat and parts of the actual cut. He’s find with those losses as long as he can made a point.”

“I-Is something happening in the company?” Xavier and Caleb looked over at me in surprise, not realizing that I was able to sense that something was awry and was a cause for concern. Caleb’s gaze softened, noticing the worry growing on my face, and he gave me a reassuring smile. “We’ll be fine, Pipsqueak. Don’t worry, this is more of the director and above level stuff. You got nothing to worry about.”

Xavier nodded, though his expression remained serious. “Caleb’s right. This kind of thing doesn’t affect you or your role.”

The lunch wrapped up shortly after, but the unspoken tension of what Caleb and Xavier spoke of hung heavy in the air.

As we wrapped up lunch, Caleb nudged me playfully. “Back to work, Pipsqueak. Don’t want to keep your fancy new team waiting.” He shot a glance at Xavier. “And don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on her.”

Xavier chuckled, standing up with his tray. “I have no doubt about that. Good luck with the rest of your day, and don’t be afraid to swing by if you need anything.” He gave me a reassuring nod before heading off, leaving Caleb and me alone at the table.

As we walked back toward the elevators, I couldn’t shake the weight of the conversation between Caleb and Xavier.

Once we reached the elevator, Caleb pressed the button and leaned against the wall, studying my expression. “You okay?”

I took a deep breath, “Sylus…is the CEO, right? Why’s he upset? What happened with the finance department?”

Caleb ruffled my hair like he used to when we were kids. “Hey, hey, I told you that it’s just the big boss stuff. You know CEOs and the boss people, finance guys always make them mad. The usual stuff. It’s really nothing that an intern needs to worry about.” He locked eyes with me, and I knew he was hiding something. But the smile on his face betrayed the slightest bit of tension that I was able to tell from years of growing up with him. Yet I knew not to press him further on it. He was more stubborn than me when it came to these things.

I swatted his hand away with a laugh. “Ok, ok. Anyways, thanks, Caleb.”

The elevator doors opened, and I stepped inside, glancing back at him. “See you later?”

“Of course. Don’t get too comfortable. I’m picking you up at the end of the day,” Caleb replied with a wink.

The doors slid shut, leaving me alone in the quiet elevator. As the floor numbers ticked by, I recalled my first day so far. How eventful.

As I settled back into my desk, a soft ping from my laptop caught my attention. An email notification from the company’s internal communications system appeared in the corner of my screen: Onyxion Announces New Acquisition of EverTech Biomedical Solutions .

Curiosity piqued, I clicked on the link, which led to a sleek press release page with an embedded video at the top. There he was—Sylus. He stood tall and confident, answering questions from a group of reporters with ease, every word meticulously measured yet effortlessly charismatic.

I leaned in, watching as Sylus spoke about the strategic acquisition, how EverTech would integrate seamlessly into Onyxion’s existing infrastructure, boosting their innovation pipeline and expanding their product portfolio. His tone was smooth and authoritative, but it was more than that. He had a way of speaking that made everything seem possible, like every challenge was just another stepping stone.. The way he fielded tough questions with calm precision was impressive, and I couldn’t help but feel a surge of admiration. This was the kind of CEO that made waves in the industry—someone who commanded respect and attention without even trying.

Whatever the finance department did to make him upset, must have messed up majorly. The conversation that worried me before disappeared from my mind completely as I continued to watch Sylus on my screen.

Watching him, it was hard not to feel a mix of awe and... maybe a little envy. He seemed to have everything figured out—the vision, the confidence, the power to turn ideas into reality. Everything I wasn’t sure I had. The kind of person who could get things done, while I still felt stuck, unsure of how to make my own ideas matter.

He’s the kind of person I’ve always wanted to be.

I shifted in my chair, a flicker of self-doubt creeping in. Sure, I had ideas. Sometimes I’d think about what I could do if I had the chance, if I had the kind of authority someone like Sylus did. But that was just it—I didn’t have any of those things. I was just an intern, watching from the sidelines, wondering if I’d ever be capable of contributing on that level.

Still, as the video played on, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something about Onyxion—about Sylus—that resonated with me. He wasn’t just another CEO. He was shaping the future, and part of me, deep down, wanted to be part of that. Even if I wasn’t sure how, or if I was good enough.

The video ended, and I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. There was something undeniably magnetic about Sylus, and I couldn’t help but feel a spark of admiration. Not that I’d ever have the chance to interact with him directly. People like him existed in a different world, one I wasn’t sure I could ever step into.

Another chime from my laptop reminded me to get back to work. I sighed, turning back to my training videos, but my mind was still lingering on the thought of what it would be like to be part of something bigger. He has the kind of vision I want to support... if I could even figure out how.

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