#Roy when they move in together: We are not hanging a poster of me up in my house

[jamietwat]

On Jamie’s birthday, Roy gives Jamie two things

The first is a more recent Roy Kent poster because he thinks it’s funny and to be a dick. When Jamie opens it, Roy sounds heavily amused as he tells him he even signed it for him

It was supposed to be a joke (and Jamie does find it funny too) but Roy did not count on having to stare at his own face every time he’s over at Jamie’s now but Jamie loves it and gets it framed and displays it prominently in his house

The second thing is his jersey from playing for Team England except he had Tartt changed to Twatt and Jamie loves it just as much as Roy loves his Kunt one

[mithranqueersmusings]

The Night Before XV

Chapter: 15/15

Rating: U

Summary: Ringo hangs around after the club closes and meets a stranger.

Tags: Smut, Slow Burn

Pairing: George Harrison/Ringo Starr (Background McLennon)

AO3 link here / Fic masterlist here

Ringo was quickly getting accustomed to the routine of waking up beside George, it was definitely a pleasant sight to open his eyes to first thing in the morning. Although it was rather strange being in someone else's bed, he couldn't deny that George's flat had a real warmth and cosiness to it. He thought back on the previous night fondly, scolding himself for ever being so concerned that it would've been anything less than perfect. Unfortunately it wasn't long before George was waking up too, meaning it was only a matter of time before they would have to break out of this peaceful serenity, the thought of returning to his flat alone again was already upsetting Ringo.

"Morning." George grumbled, evidently feeling very groggy.

"Morning." Ringo repeated, an instinctive smile forming on his lips.

George let out a groan as he stretched his body out, it didn't take Ringo long to learn that every morning was a struggle for George to get out of bed at a decent time. As George twisted and turned, Ringo noticed the marks on his wrists that had been left from the restraints, without much thought he caught one of George's arms and rubbed his thumb against the aggravated skin.

"It doesn't hurt does it?" Ringo asked, concerned.

George didn't realise what he was referencing at first, once he caught on he let out a casual laugh "Not at all. Even if it did, it'd be worth it."

Ringo held onto George for longer than necessary, eventually giving into his instincts completely and pulling him closer for a gentle kiss. The longer Ringo could drag out their time in bed together, the better. George was more than happy to oblige, lifting his leg to overlap with Ringo's hip so that they were pressed together even closer. Ringo slipped his hand under George's shirt, just to feel the warmth of his skin against his fingertips. George pulled away first, though didn't move too far as their noses were almost touching.

"I didn't take it too far did I? I was worried I'd be kinda throwing you in at the deep end." George rested his hand against his face.

"Not at all." Ringo chuckled softly "Don't get me wrong, I wasn't expecting it at all, so I was definitely shocked. But I was surprised how into the whole thing I was."

George hummed satisfied "You surprised me too. At least I know I can maybe turn it up a notch or two next time."

"There's more?" Ringo scoffed "Jesus, George... I'm really starting to think someone's paying you to torture me."

George paused, a knowing look on his face "I'm not gonna make the obvious joke here, as much as I want to."

"You don't have any plans today, do you?" Ringo asked cautiously, unable to look George in the eye so instead focused on his collarbones, trailing his finger along them.

"None at all, why?" George responded in kind.

"Well, not to run the risk of overstaying my welcome, it'd be nice to just chill together." Ringo spoke quietly "If you want to, of course."

"Of course I want to." George smiled, washing away any fear Ringo had "No sex, though... I need at least a day to recover from all that."

"You and me both." Ringo chuckled.

George reluctantly rolled out of bed, making his way over to the wardrobe to find something decent to wear. Ringo enjoyed the view, George peeling off his shirt so that he was stood there only in his boxers. Colours and patterns popped out from inside the wardrobe, Ringo couldn't help feeling rather bland in comparison as he watched George pull out a variety of options, each item of clothing more impressive than the last. Looking around George's room, it was clear that his unique perspective extended far beyond merely what he wore: the furniture was covered in imagery, whether it was from a multitude of stickers, crude drawings or more artful painting. Everything just screamed George, no corner of the room seemed to have been neglected. Ringo supposed he could get used to being in an environment like this.

"Planning on getting out of bed today?" George asked with an eyebrow raised, having thrown on some patterned trousers.

"If you give me a reason to, sure." Ringo responded playfully.

"Well I'm not about to serve you breakfast in bed, I'm not your maid." George took a few steps closer to the bed, hands on his slim hips.

"Shame, you'd make such a pretty one." Ringo pouted.

Despite his jokes, Ringo did manage to pull himself out of the comfort and warmth. He fished for his clothes in the living room, finding them dotted around the floor, before returning to dress himself. George already looked ready for the day, his hair brushed out and a black crop top thrown on to cover his chest but leave his stomach exposed.

"Have you always dressed like that?" Ringo asked, slipping back into his trousers.

"Like what?" George knitted his eyebrows together quizzically, clearly wanting to hear Ringo's description of his dress sense.

"Just very- Expressive." Ringo treaded carefully, George laughed at his caution.

"Not always." George finally answered "I just think fashion should be fun, you know? Everyone's so serious about everything..."

"Couldn't agree more." Ringo smiled.

George led the way into the kitchen, which was filled with even more houseplants than the living room. There were a few music posters taped to the wall: Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Roy Orbison to name a few, it reminded Ringo of his teenage bedroom.

"Your place is incredible." Ringo said, a little taken aback, as he slid to sit at the small table.

"Thanks." George replied with his head in the fridge "I want to move soon, though."

"Really? I can't image why." Ringo continued noticing small details in the room: the novelty salt and pepper shakers, the aged recipe books piled on the counter.

George began starting work on breakfast "Well, I do love it here but I really want a place with a garden. I'm starting to run out of space for these guys." He gestured broadly to the plants.

"Yeah... I've never met anyone with so many before." Ringo chuckled.

"Safe to say I'm a little obsessed." George focused on the food, but the warmth never left his voice "I work at the garden centre, actually. If you were curious."

"Oh, that must be nice." Ringo admired George from where he was sat "I don't think I've ever been, actually."

"What?" George almost shouted "We have to go!"

Ringo laughed, a little caught off guard "Is it really that good? I thought it was just a bunch of old people."

"Well, that's not untrue." George began cracking eggs into a pan "It's not really that special, I just like it there. I get a discount too so if you wanna get any plants, which you should want to, I can sort it for you."

"Why do I feel like you're threatening me?" Ringo chuckled.

"Maybe I am, just a little." George snickered.

They continued talking and joking over their breakfast, luckily for Ringo no under-the-table action occurred this time. Not soon after they were relaxing on the sofa, flicking through the variety of terrible daytime television on offer. They settled on a show about home renovation, always commenting on whether the end result was even an improvement at all, as though they were both experts in the field.

After George got up to put the kettle on, he decided to invade Ringo's space on the sofa by cuddling up into his front. Ringo couldn't deny that there wasn't really enough space for this kind of intimacy, but he allowed it all the same, running his hand over to George's stomach to keep him in place.

The hours soon passed by, neither of them wanting to acknowledge how late it was becoming. Ringo wished he could've stayed here forever, but he knew that was taking things a little too far. As the daylight began to fade, he had to face the fact that he had work in the morning and couldn't really afford to spend another night with George. He decided he should at least have a shower, just to prolong the amount of time he could spend here. When he re-emerged, George was spread out on the bed with a book in his hand.

"So... I should probably get going." Ringo announced, drying off his hair roughly with a towel.

George set his book down and frowned "Suppose you can't stay here forever."

"No, unfortunately not." Ringo sighed, both of them looking at one another but saying nothing further.

The moment dragged on for a little while longer, neither saying anything but it was fairly clear what they were both thinking.

"Before I go, though, I wanted to ask you..." Ringo began, doubting the words as soon as they left his mouth.

"What?" George asked expectantly, sitting upright on the bed.

"I don't want to rush into anything, but- I just wondered what you thought about maybe, only if you want to, maybe making things a little more... exclusive?" Ringo cursed his ineloquence.

George laughed and for a second Ringo worried he'd misread everything entirely, until George spoke "Ringo, if you're gonna ask me out you're gonna have to do it properly."

Ringo paused then tried once more "George, do you wanna be my-"

"Yes." George cut him off with a grin.

"Great." Ringo exhaled with a nervous laugh.

George slid off the bed, approaching Ringo with a familiar look in his eyes "You're not about to leave your boyfriend without a kiss goodbye, are you?"

"Of course not." Ringo whispered as George moved in closer, locking their lips together.

Ringo had to use every ounce of restraint in his body to pull away from George, or else they'd no doubt be repeating the scenes of last night before long. It nearly broke his heart to leave George like this, knowing that both of them would do just about anything to spend more time together, but he could leave satisfied with the knowledge that this was only the beginning of what was hopefully a long relationship.

Things had already been fairly eventful, and it hadn't even been a month that the two of them had known each other. Whatever else was in store, Ringo unabashedly looked forward to it, for the knowledge that George was now his own, made him feel like everything was going to be perfect from here on out.

[dyke-remy]

Live And Let Die, part 1

Part 2    Part 3    Part 4   Part 5   Part 6 

Description: Agent 008 and Agent 009, professional spies for the MI6 with liscense to kill. Partners in both work and love. After an agent goes missing the partners have to once more go out into the field. (It’s a James Bond AU)

You don’t need to know anything about James Bond to be able to read this fic, trust me

Words: 3516

It was 7 am when the alarm clock went off. It's loud blaring filled the room that had been peaceful a few seconds ago. Remus let out a grunt. Without opening his eyes he took out a knife from under his pillow and threw it at the clock. The noise disappeared.

"You can't keep doing that" Remy muttered, half yawning it out "Q is like running out of clocks"

"If he could make that morning star that also worked as a disco ball for my birthday he can make some new clocks" He replied.

The room (and the entire apartement) was of average size with just enough space for everything necessary. Which made sense, they didn't spend much time in there anyway. Soft morning light was shimmering in through the window.

The blanket had been wrinkled since Remy was laying over it with their head on the pillow. Remus had his arms wrapped around their waist. They were so close their hair twined together on the pillows. He leaned closer and gave his spouse a good morning kiss.

Their slow awakening was interrupted by someone knocking on the door. They glanced at one another as their expressions turned serious. Remus quietly got up and grabbed the gun laying on the nearest drawer. Butt naked as he was he sneaked over to the door and slowly opened it and at the same time held the gun out.

"Good morn- AAAHHHH!" Patton Moneypenny screamed when he saw the gun peeking out at him. He had on a dark blue knitted suit jacket with stylish bows instead of buttons. With it he had on wide blue matching suit pants.

Remus' posture relaxed when he saw who it was. He fully opened the door "Hiya Moneypenny. You should yell it's you next time or else your brain might paint the walls.....That would look kinda nice tho"

"You should take something on" Patton suggested with a cheerful smile while his cheeks went bright red.

"He should" Remy who had come up behind their husband agreed "One day someone will shoot your dick off"

"Naaaahhhh. They will be too surprised by seeing my massive cock to think about attacking me and then it'll be too late. Boom bang dead! It's a genius tactic!!"

Remy rolled their eyes. They sent Patton a warm smile before pulling him into a hug "Hiya PatPat! Wanna come in?"

"Yeah" As he looked around the room which he'd been in many times he continued with "M wants to meet you in 15 min"

M was the leader of the MI6, the organisation they all worked for. Patton had been his secretary for as long as anyone could remember. It would be weird to imagine M's office without Pat working tiredlesly on his desk right outside.

"15? Girl a lady needs time to get ready, what the fuck" Remy opened a drawer and pulled out the black suit pants, white shirt, black tie and black blazer that acted as their dress code.

"15? Oh! Too little time to spend with my Favorite person in the whole MI6!" Remus exclaimed. He still didn't have anything on.

He took Patton's hand and moved the other to lay on his waist. He spun him around in some sort of dance which made the shorter man giggle and blush harder. He tried not to look down at Remus'....

"Oh Mr. Moneypenny! Rotten apple of my eye! Every mission is spent missing you!" he continued to dramatically lament. He dipped Patton and playfully moved in for a kiss.

Patton let out a chuckle while leaning his head away. "I'm married"

"Ah yes! The greatest tragedy of my life!" Remus held his hand over his heart and all.

"Tragedy indeed" Remy commented before flicking their finger to the back of their husband's head. They dumped his clothes onto his head too "C'mon gal the sooner you get done the sooner you can go out and play fisticuffs with someone"

"Fantastic point dear!"

After gettin dressed Remus jumped up on the bed and pressed a specific spot on the painting on the wall. It turned around to reveal a collection of guns, knives and various other weapons hidden behind it. He patted his morning star and throwing stars goodmorning, fully knowing that M nor Q would allow him to bring them on a mission. Instead he took a gun and carefully cleaned it as if he was cleaning a marble vase.

"I hate these fucking suits. They're so boring. No style. No style at all!!" Remy groaned out while tying their husband's tie because he'd been a spy for 7 years now and he still couldn't tie a tie.

Patton nodded along in sympathy "Very gay of you to think that" The duke chuckled.

They fixed his shirt which had been buttoned wrong "I don't think about fashion because I am gay as fuck! I think about it 'cause I've tots been the most fantastic disguiser here for years and fashion is like integral to a good disguise!! Besides my mothers are fashion legends and I gotta represent y'know"

"I know"

He handed over a gun (Handler ppk) and a few different knives to his spouse who swiftly hid it in different places on their suit. He himself preffered a bit more heavy handed attilery even when it came to handguns.

The couple followed Moneypenny out of their apartement. They lived in a normal looking apartement complex, a little bit fancier than a normal one. They went into a cleaning scrub.

Patton grabbed a mop standing in the corner. He pulled off the top of the handle revealing a scanner underneath. He pressed his thumb against it. A panel of numbers appeared on the wall. He quickly pressed in a code which finally made the inner wall open up, revealing an elevator.

They stepped inside and chit chatted about the weather and what they'd done on the weekend as the elevator went down.

The elevator opened with a satisfying ding. They were many many levels underground now. Long grey hallways stretched forward. It could be a maze for someone new to the place. Patton walked in front of the other two, he knew it like his backpocket.

After 5 or so minutes of walking he stopped by his secretary desk and sat down. There were stacks of paper work on his desk and cute animal posters hanging on the wall beside him.

Remus leaned over the desk and moved a piece of Patton's hair behind his ear "One day I'll get you on a date my dear Moneypenny"

"Sure you will mr. Octopussy. For now I think you will have to stay satisfied with taking whatever mission M gives you"

Remy took Remus' hand and dragged him with them into M's office. He was able to blow a kiss to Patton on his way in. Pat simple chuckled and rolled his eyes. They both knew neither of them were serious.

The office was an old fashioned one with walls and furniture of dark wood. Purple satin clad the windows. Plants and terrariums littered the room and all kinds of snakes slittered about.

Though the biggest snake of them all sat in the chair behind the desk. M. Most people called him Deceit. He had a menacing smile, ebony skin and dark hair pulled back into a braid that reached his shoulder. On his shoulder laid one of his most dearest and most deadliest pets.

"Look who finally decided to join us" M greeted as they came in.

"Aww you missed us so much didn't you??" Remus replied while sitting down on one of the chairs in a way no normal person should "It's okay Deecy. We can invite you to our next movie night"

"Yeah" Remy sat down on the desk and leaned close to Deceit "We're gonna watch Saw 4 and legally blond"

"I can think of much better ways to waste my time thank you. So onto ghe case. It's about-"

M stopped talking because the agents were obviously too busy flirting with each other to listen. It was nothing compared to how they used to spend entire briefings making out right when they'd started dating.

"Please if I wanted to get ignored I would go home to my children which honestly I wish I could" M muttered.

He gave one of his snakes a pat on the head before sending it to twist around Remus' neck which made them both shut up very quickly.

"So about the case. Agent 0012-"

"Like Emile Picani 0012?" Remy interrupted.

"No agent 0012 the giant whale. Yes Picani"

"Oh he's a great kisser! Babe y'know how I like worked in the Q department a bit before becoming a full fletched agent. Yeah I was Pic's quartermaster. We would stay together during missions sometimes. We made out lots and he showed me a bunch of like cartoons"

Deceit put on a more serious expression "He's gone off the radar. He was sent on a mission to Latvia together with 005. Agent 005 has been confirmed dead. Right now we're suspecting that Picani is the killer"

"He wouldn't!" Remy objected.

"We can never be sure. He could have gone rough or been paid to turn sides. Or he's being tortured right at this moment. Anything could have happened"

"I wish I was being tortured right at this moment" Remus who had completely zoned out until now added.

"Well you can gladly take his place if you found him then. He and 005 were supposed to attend a poker night. I suggest you two attend it in case he is there. Disguised of course. If he's gone rough we can't have him be hostile towards you if he recognises you.

"Non suspicious straight couple?" Remus asked while looking over at Remy.

"Non suspicious straight couple!" They replied while high fiveing him.

--

A bit over a day later later Remus was driving a silver aston martin. They were on their way to the casino which was placed away from any nearby town. Among the snowy hills the ice casino stood tall.

"Girl these shoes hurt worse than the time I got shot" Remy groaned while fixing their high heels.

"You can just change shoes y'know" Remus replied.

They looked at him as if he'd just spit in their food "No??? It's part of the character girl!! Like you can't do a great disguise if you don't dress like the character would"

"Which characters are we tonight?"

Remy shone up into a smile "Glad you asked! You are Louis Roy. French guy who inheritated his dad's company. Total asshole. Straight cis you know the type. You're 36-"

"Is that why you put all that make up on me? To make me look old?"

"Yep. And your mustache tots helped. I'm Chelsea Roy. 24. Model. Married you for the money. Housewife. I'm cheating on you with your dad"

Remus let out a fake audible gasp "In return I only married you because I liked your feet model work"

"Touche"

The car stopped in the parking lot of the casino. Remus leaned back in his seat and checked his gun. He glanced over at his spouse who was strapping a blade to their thigh.

"What?" They asked when they caught him looking.

"Nothing" There was a soft smile on his lips "I just love you. Like a giant elephants heart ripped out and bleeding on the ground love y'know"

"I know"

Remy unbuttoned the top button on Remus' tuxedo shirt. They pressed a kiss right below his shoulder, leaving a red lipstick mark, before buttoning it again so it was hidden.

"Just as a reminder" They explained with a cheeky smile.

Remy leanded against Remus' shoulder to fully look like arm candy as they entered the casino. A worker took their coats by the door. Uphead was a luxurious bar made of ice and a large area with tables here and there to mingle. To the left was the casino area. It was the only place where nothing was made out of ice. Instead glistening lights shone on red slot machines and people in expensive clothing were gathered around large poker tables. To the right was the entrance to the casino's hotel and the desk to get keys.

The couple casully went around the mingle area while looking for Picani in the crowd of hundreds of people.

"People are looking at you" Remus mumbled to them after at least 2 guys has been too busy looking at his spouse to not walk into walls.

"Who can blame them" Remy shrugged.

They had on a dark blue satin dress with an open back and a slit on the front so they could move easier. Their wavy light brown hair was pressed down under a blond wig and they had a fake sapphire necklace around their neck. Their dark eyeliner stood out against their pale skin. Remus had on a black tuxedo with a matching bowtie. His dark brown, nearly black hair had been slicked back. His olive toned bordering on brown skin honestly looked amazing in the lighting of the casino.

"Q said Picani was supposed to stay in room 235 so I'll like go and get the key while you like mingle or something I dunno. Kay?" Remy more commanded then asked.

"Yes dear! " He did a mini salute while sticking his tounge out before walking away.

All the keys to the rooms were hanging on the wall behind the desk. Remy took off their necklace while walking up to it. They fixed their posture and took a deep breathe to get ready to make their voice as high as possible.

"Exscuse me sir!" They put on a panicked tone as they walked behind the desk.

The man who presumebly worked at the hotel glanced at them before doing a double take and full on looking at them with heart eyes. "Something wrong?"

They put on a bright smile and twirled the end of their hair between their fingers "Yeah I uh just kinda dropped my necklace and it's like suuuper hard to put on by my own so could you like put it on for me? Pleease?"

"Of course!"

Remy handee him the necklace and turned towards the wall. While he was busy putting it on they took the keys to room 235 without making a single sound. In one smooth motion they stuck it to where the blade was already strapped to their thigh.

"Done!" He said.

They sent him another smile "Do I look good?"

"You look amazing!!"

"Aww thanks sweetie"

They sauntered of without another word. They took a glass of champange from a server they passed to look more casual. They inspected the key while looking for Remus. When they stuck their nails down into it a mark was left if only for a moment. It was a fake.

Remus was sitting by the poker table, loudly boosting about a made up story while betting way more money than he should. He shone up into a grin when he saw Remy. They leaned on his chair and moved one hand to comb through his hair. He moved an arm around their waist to pull them closer knowing fully well that his spouse was distracting everyone else in the poker game.

"Got the key?" He whispered.

"Got the key. It's a replica. I can see it"

"Okay so Picani has the other one. Makes sense. Now we know he's alright"

"Nah girl" Remy glanced around at the other players "Trick them into shoving their keys. Trust me"

"I always do" Remus put on a cocky smirk and leaned his elbows onto the table "Isn't this game becoming a bit boring? How about this: we all bet the amount of money our hotel rooms cost. Including the ones just for the ladies if you get me hurr hurr" He took out the key to his room he'd gotten from Q and laid it on the table "Just as a showing"

Most of the people had been drinking so they all threw up their keys without much thought. Remy subtly moved around the table and glanced at the keys while Remus continued with the game.

Remy stopped midstepped and quickly walked back to him. They made it look like they were kissing his cheek when they were actually whispering

"The mistah on the other side of the table was the one who threw the second 235 key. You know his name or do I have to like pretend flirt the ugly bastard?"

"Ron Stewart. Was real quick to introduce himself just to brag about his money"

"Good. Q can deal with like finding info about him. We gotta find Picani"

They grabbed him by his arm and dragged him up from the table. Remus made some comment about women always hurrying to the other people around the table while quickly throwing his cards away.

He took their hand in his and intertwined their fingers as they entered the hotel part. Ice chandelierd hung in the hallways and deep crimson mattresses where laid over the icy floor. He held his other hand close to where his gun holster was hidden under his jacket.

The door up to the second floor was locked. The two of them glanced at each other. Now they relly knew something was off. Remy took out 2 hairpins from their wig and unlocked the door in under 3 minutes.

The hallways were eerie and quiet. The lights were low and the sounds from the casino were now only dull faraway whispers.

Sudden footsteps were heard. Remy pressed their back against the wall and pulled Remus by his collar into a deep kiss. Out of the corner of their eye they saw a guard walk into the hallway. It was clear there was a gun hidden in a holster connected to his belt. The enby hoped he would just leave them alone if they made out hard enough. It usually worked.

When he saw them his already grumpy expression turned into a grimace. He grabbed onto Remus' shoulder and forced him out of the kiss.

"Visitors aren't allowed on the second floof" He said in a gruff voice.

"Oh come on. Whats a guy gotta do to get some privacy" Remus replied while keeping his arm around Remy's shoulder. They nodded along while blinking innocently and swaying back and forth.

The guard seemed to think for a moment. He took a step back before in a split second pulling out his gun and pointing it at them.

Remus went on instinct as he moved forward and forced the gun out of his hand. He stood like a shield in front of Remy in case it shot. The guard stumbled back as the gun was dragged out of his hands.

Remy shot forward. They dug their nails down into the guard's wrist and kicked his knee to get him off his balance. With a huff they turned around and with the motion swung him over their shoulder and down on the ground. Before he even had time to regain his breathe they kicked their foot onto his neck, knocking him out instantly.

"Should keep him out for long enough" They commented while leaning down to feel his pulse.

"I love it when you do that sudden kissy thing. I wish murderous people would walk in on us more so you'd do it more often" Remus replied.

"Babe you can literally ask me to kiss you whenever"

"It's not the same if the threat of death isn't looming over us!!" Remus did an overexagarated pout.

Remy stood up and moved the blade on their thigh to their hand "Leave that to when we've found Picani" They said while continuing into the next hallway.

Remus quickly followed them, even walking a bit before them so if another guard showed up they would shoot at him first. "So eager to see him huh?"

"Duh. He was like the closest thing I had to a boyfriend before I met you. Like sure we were never official but we kissed and did all that sorta couplesy stuff. I haven't seen him like years! I wanna catch up y'know"

"Do I have to be afraid of being replaced" Remus joked.

They bumped against his shoulder "Babe neva!"

He was about to reply with something lovey dovey but the conversation immediatly stopped as they both saw it. Room 235. The door stood slightly open.

They moved silently, weapons in hand. Remy was the first in. They looked around with urgency in their eyes. They searched through the entrance before going into the bedroom. Remus checked the bathroom but there wasn't a trace of him. No traces of other people either.

A sudden choked back sob came from the bedroom. Remus ran to it while holding back the urge to yell out his lover's name.

Remy stood with shaking shoulders by the door. On the floor with his back leaned against the bed sat Emile Picani. Dead.

[justformyself2]

You. Us.

Hello. I wanted to write something that would make me feel warm inside and I love Jim Halpert, so here I go. I hope it doesn't totally suck and if it does I'm sorry lol (and that includes apologies for grammar mistakes as well)

When the letters are like this it means some flashback coming your way.

When like this it means a little bit of emphasis, all right?.

.......

“I just can’t understand why you won’t tell me, nothing is going to be more embarrassing than your ‘new kids on the block’ posters.”

His laugh wasn’t enough to create comfort with where the conversation was heading. This was what? The fifth time you asked him about it, adding with the second beer and a half going down his throat and it was getting harder to make him loosen up.

“Is it Meredith?” 

You asked, playing a fool, but just like you knew the back of your hand you knew James Halpert and the way he behaved next to Pam, a huge flag he didn’t hide very well. You just wanted him to tell you. You wanted the confirmations pouring out of his lips, desperately.

“No, it is not Meredith. How is Luke by the way?” He quickly adds before you shot another question at him.

“Touché.” Your eyes roll slightly when Luke’s image burns into your brain, to play specifics, the moment when he told exactly why he was breaking up with you.

“What?” Jim asked, looking alarmed for a second and that’s because you haven’t told him yet, just like it took weeks before you could tell him you were seeing someone.

“It lasted longer than you and Katie, cheers.” You clinked your beer onto his and rested your back against the chair, waiting for the reaction with an open chest and he only licks his lips and raises an eyebrow, that’s it. The beer becomes more bitter on your tongue.

“Well you guys were dating way before I met Katie and it wasn't serious, also, I didn’t know there was an endurance competition going on here.”

“It was serious for her.” You implemented, and he sighed without anything else to respond. “I shouldn’t have come back with him on that Cruise, that was when the endurance competition really began and you lost immediately when you broke up with Miss Purse right away.”

“It was never going to work.”

Your eyes locked for a moment before he took another sip of the drink, that’s when you build up the courage.

“Because you are in love with Pam, right?”

Jim puts the drink down slowly while intensely looking at you. A fine needle pinned the center of your chest like his expression was a sort of voodoo work on you. 

“What?” The confusion mixed on his face was louder than his question. It sounded like a whisper to himself more than for you.

Confusion mixed with amusement and amusement made the left corner of his mouth start to reveal a smile that progressively turned into laughing to the point of Jim incline his torso towards the table that separated both of you.

“Are you laughing because you admire the fact that I’m a genius or because you totally lost it for being in love with an engaged woman?” 

Putting into a long sentence made you feel drunker than drinking alcohol. 

He recovers his breath, covering both of his eyes with his hands before staring at you once more.

“I’m laughing because you think you are so smart but I will give you a chance to prove what you just said because I can’t miss this, please, please tell me, (Y/N). What makes you think I’m in love with Pam?” 

He asked, still smiling, making all the confidence you had flinch.

“You laugh with her a lot. You talk to her a lot. You two keep whispering in the cafeteria together and you broke up with Katie right after Roy wanted to set up a date for their wedding, it adds up, Halpert, it adds up.”

You take a sip of the beer, needing it more than ever. His hazel eyes scanned your face going down to the table, a couple of seconds of silence was enough to make you regret everything that was said, but before you could make a joke or anything, anything else you could think of, he got up with a whole new body language.

“Well, sorry to disappoint, but it is not her.” 

He takes his wallet out leaving money on the table as you tried to get back to a minute in the past.

“Jim, please, I’m sorry I shouldn’t have... It is not my business to ask, please don’t go.”

“No, don’t worry, I see you tomorrow okay?” 

Taking the dark brown coat Jim makes his way out and disappears in the crowded bar of a Saturday night, but you didn’t think twice before grabbing your purse and also leave enough money on the table, rushing your way with ‘excuse me’ and ‘pardon me’ in the sea of bodies and strangers faces till you made it to the parking lot.

As always he was not too far from you and at the same time he was, but you always tried to catch up to him, you always do.

“Jim, wait.” You shout.

He looks behind to only give you a glance and keep walking towards the red Corolla. The guilt and slight anger started to mix at every step you got closer to him.

“JAMES.” You shouted again and this time he stops on his tracks.

“Why are you acting like this? I know that I messed up, but walking out like this was really necessary?”

Touching his left arms makes him turn to face you.

----------

“Just drop the act, (y/n). You like that I’m doing this to you, in fact, you are thanking me right now, deep down you are.”

Luke’s right leg starts to shake slightly and you hated to notice.

“And why would I thank you for exactly?” 

He moves closer to you on the couch, the brown eyes scanning your face, his cocky smile didn’t reach them this time.

“I’m not your rebound, (Y/NN). You seriously thought I wouldn’t notice?”

“What?”

----------

“Please (Y/NN), it’s okay, we talk tomorrow.”

“I want to talk right now.” 

“Please stop.”

“If it is not her than what's the problem? I know we got a little separated when I started going out with Luke. Our relationship, friendship got stranded. I just want to be able to talk about everything with you again. I don’t want to lose this...You. Us.”

“Get in the car.”

With no expression to read from him, you decided to obey instead of giving one more shot in the dark. There were no maybes, everything you thought you knew about James Halpert for the past 10 years was slipping out of your fingers like pressuring sand on your palms, you thought he couldn’t hide anything from you and you from him, that’s why you needed a Luke.

Closing the door and placing your bag on the lap you decided to only listen as you watched him taking his phone out of the glove compartment.

“I can believe you are going to make me do this in the parking lot of a bar.”

“I-.”

“Don’t.” He shut up quickly and continued. Suddenly you started to notice the little shakes on the hand he held the phone with. “If I drive i know I will make another excuse. Any stupid excuse I can think of.”

You kept quiet as he took a long breath.

“You are not completely wrong, there is something going on, but before I get into that. I just can’t understand, can’t wrap my head around the fact that you know me for 10 years and the best you could come up with was Pamela.”

“Sorr-.”

“Don’t.” He interrupts again. “(Y/N), I can’t begin to count how many times, for the past 3 years, I've been wide awake at 3 AM, trying to think why the hell I couldn’t just call her and get over with this, it doesn’t matter if her boyfriend picks up first, but actually, it did, it pretty much did, because she seemed happy without me, what kind of a fool would I be?.”

Your air gets stuck on your lungs for a bit before it starts burning and you had to let it go. Your brain trying to comprehend what was he said, trying to connect the dots while your stomach took turns in all directions. 

“She feels like home to me. God, I love her and i think this is the right moment to do this.”

“Do what?” You asked feeling a sharp discomfort on your throat. 

If your memories were a room where the proofs were well-hidden everything would be all over the place, was there someone you were forgetting about? Maybe, someone, he didn’t tell you.

“I’m calling her.” 

Without thinking twice you slapped the phone out his hand making it fly to this feet into the darkness of the car’s floor. 

“(Y/N), what the hell was that?”

“I... I have, I need to tell you something before you make that call. I- FUCK. Jim, want to know why Luke left me?”

Your insides shake like you had a cold fever, your cheeks getting hotter by the second. James rolled with eyes and rested his back on the seat without looking at you.

“Yeah, let’s talk about Luke, why not? What, do you still love him? Of course, you do, you only dated the guy for 3 years? It’s got to be a very strong bond there-.”

“He found out I was in love with you.”

The world seemed to get silent, you knew it was impossible, but why did it felt like it? Was it because he wouldn’t move or respond? Or was it you that would be silent forever? Since the only thing you wanted to say all these years was finally out of your brain, of your soul, leaving a void were once it occupied, a massive silent void. You left the car before something else took the space, something you knew it was inevitable.

Why did it felt like he was lying? All the times he spent with Pamela eating up your soul with every step further away from him, it was undeniable, they were like the same person, each day growing something while you tried to feed Luke into your brain, harder and harder. 

When you reach the sidewalk your phone starts ringing insistently.

“Fuck.” 

You curse, fighting with all of the other mess inside your purse in order to find the phone and once you do you answer it impulsively. 

“Don’t hang up.”   

You recognize his voice as your heart shrinks and you thought it was true, he could shrink till it becomes nothing inside.

“Don’t hang up because I have been wanting to do this for the past 3 years (Y/NN) and spent too many times wide awake thinking about this call. Why the hell did you get with Luke? Did you seriously not noticed? Not even once?”

“Seriously James? You got with Katie, you spent a hell lot of time with Pam, you are going to tell me you had feelings for me.”

You hear his heavy sigh.

“Well, you got with Luke and why is that obsession with Pam? She is engaged for God's sake.”

“You guys are like the same person. Also, she is engaged, not married.”

“You are right, we are very alike and she is smart, artsy, likes to pull pranks and have some amazing ideas-.”

“I’m going to hang up.” 

“No, no, I’m just messing with you. See, Pam would’ve got that.”

“Are you done?”

“Just one more thing. She can be all of those things, but she is not you (Y/NN). I’m in love with you.”

[carrotsofavonlea]

Drive Me Crazy

Chapter Five: Roy(al) Pain

[AO3]

"How was your "date" with Gilbert?" Diana linked arms with Anne as they walked down the hall.

"It was fine. And it wasn't a real date remember? We're just doing this until the Centennial."

"I'm still not sure about this. You used to have a crush on him."

Anne scrunched her face in disgust. "No I didn't! Well...maybe a tiny one when we were like 10. But I'm totally over that now. In fact we decided to be friends again."

Diana stopped walking, unlinking her arm from Anne to make the girl turn around. "I just don't want you to get hurt again."

"I know. That's why I love you." Anne hugged her best friend. "But I'm not going to fall in love with Gilbert Blythe." She whispered that last part, not wanting to blow her cover.

They carried on walking to class, the hall buzzing with students. The walls were covered with posters for the dance, and Anne caught sight of the other girls hanging up the banner. Ruby and Tillie were balanced precariously on ladders, holding up the glittery banner, while Josie yelled instructions at them. Jane was busy handing out smaller flyers to passing students.

"No to the left! Ruby are you deaf? You're other left!"

"I'm trying!" Ruby was close to tears. Anne and Diana exchanged glances before going to see what's happening.

"Is everything ok?" Anne looked up at Ruby holding the banner.

"My arms ache from holding this up and nothing is good enough for Josie." Ruby sniffed.

"I'll do it." Anne offered, holding the ladder so Ruby could climb safely down. They switched places, Anne holding up the banner. "Isn't this ok?"

"It would be if it was a little bit higher." Josie waved her hands in an up motion.

"It looks fine." Diana shrugged.

"I suppose." Josie sighed. "It'll have to do."

Tillie and Anne climbed down the ladders just as Jane returned to the group having handed out all the flyers. They stood in a line looking up at the banner, only three more weeks until the dance but still so much to do.

"Hey." Anne suddenly felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist and lift her up. She screamed, before realising who those arms belonged to.

"Gilbert." She sighed, catching her breath. "You made me jump."

"The banner looks awesome." He said, smiling at the other girls stood their with their mouths open. "Oh, we haven't really had the chance to talk properly, I'm Gilbert by the way."

"We know." Ruby burst out, before covering her mouth.

He awkwardly nodded, scratching the back of his neck. "Uh, I guess I'm Anne's... we're...uh…"

"Dating?" Tillie giggled.

Gilbert looked at Anne. They hadn't said when they were going to pretend to properly date but this was probably a good time. "Yeah, I suppose we are."

"Hello Diana." Moody had been silent, but took the opportunity to nudge Diana lightly in the arm while Gilbert was distracted by Anne.

"Moody." She smiled but avoided eye contact.

"So…"

"Yes?" Diana raised an eyebrow. "You wanted something?"

"Oh well, uh...I was thinking uh…" he awkwardly shuffled on his feet, playing with the strap on his backpack. "Maybe if you wanted to...we could...I don't know... dance."

"Dance?"

He shook his head, "I meant, do you want to go to the dance. With me?"

Diana opened her mouth, not sure what to say. She barely knew the boy, but she didn't want to be mean. "Can I think about it?"

"Take all the time you need." He smiled. Moody wasn't a bad kid, but she didn't see herself being with him anytime soon.

"Well, I better get to class." Diana politely squeezed past him, escaping down the halls with the other girls.

"She wants me." Moody leaned against Gilbert, wrapping an arm around his shoulder.

"Keep dreaming." Gilbert patted his friend's chest, going in the opposite direction, but he found himself looking over his shoulder watching Anne go. It was all for show right? People would believe they were dating if they saw him watch her leave. At least that's what he kept telling himself.

///////

Anne had been avoiding Roy since their break up. They were in a few classes together, but he would barely look at her. Which was perfectly fine by Anne, he was the one who dumped her so why should she care if he looked at her or not.

But she couldn't avoid him forever. In biology class, he sat a few seats away from her. A few months ago they used to share glances across the room, and Anne's heart sunk a little remembering those times.

"Since none of you seem to take this work seriously, I will be deciding where you sit." Her teacher had announced one day, and Anne felt her stomach drop.

She sat next to Diana in biology and they were a perfect team, but she supposed some of the other students (*cough* Billy Andrews *cough*) were causing disruptions when working with their friends. It was ridiculous, they were seniors, surely they didn't need assigned seating. It would be just her luck if-

"Roy Gardner and Anne Shirley Cuthbert."

Anne slumped into the seat next to Roy, not even glancing in his direction. The frog they were supposed to dissect lay in the middle of the table on the tray. Looking down at the poor thing, Anne knew how it felt.

Roy started poking it with the scalpel, but Anne pretended to make notes silently.

"I see you're reacquainted with Gilbert Blythe." He said, and Anne's grip on her pencil tightened.

"I suppose."

"I didn't imagine you'd move on so quickly."

"Well one thing led to another." She shrugged. "He's actually really nice now."

His jaw clenched, "I just hope you know what you're doing."

She dropped her pencil and turned to him. "And what's that supposed to mean?"

"I'm just saying, he seems like the type to just use someone. Don't be surprised when he dumps you because Winifred finally takes him back."

"And why do you care?"

"I don't."

"You don't know Gilbert. He's been through a lot these past few years. I wasn't a very good friend to him when he needed it, but now we're in a better place."

"I'm not jealous if that's what you're trying." He said, although Anne wasn't convinced by his tone.

"Don't flatter yourself." She sneered, and Roy stabbed the frog a little harder than necessary.

It was getting to him, and Anne liked it.

/////////

Tag List: @rohaintahquil @hakunamademons @thxnderclouds @awaeforlife@m1rkw00dpr1ncess @mrs-shirley-cuthbert-blythe @nerdybrunette @i-ammischiefmanaged @sarahisatotalgeek @neomikaha @etsatymton @parkeroffline

[artificialqueens]

Naptime (Bitney) - Veronica

A/N: Some canon Bitney based on their social media shenanigans last Saturday. My lovely friend @artificialvixen requested some canon Bitney and while I’m working on her original prompt, I whipped up this little oneshot. Thank you to @theofficialcunt for her awesome notes. <3

Shane pushes open the door to his apartment, laughing. “Oh come on, pussyface, you have to admit it was good!”

“It was weird,” Roy pouts. “Weird, and that spongy bread shit? I just wanted a fork.”

“It’s called injera. And it’s a utensil as well as part of your meal. I think that’s ingenious, and environmentally friendly.”

“I LIKE EATING WITH A FORK!” Roy hollers, hands on his hips.

Shane giggles. “Yeah, well, they gave you a fork, didn’t they, Grandpa?”

Roy rolls his eyes, following Shane down the hall to his bedroom. “Yeah, yeah yeah. But it was fuckin’ weird and I didn’t like it.”

“Next time you can choose the restaurant.”

“Next time? Like I’m ever gonna hang out with you again, you wretched little cumbiscuit…”

Shane laughs again, pulling out his computer and climbing onto the bed.

Roy flops down beside him, kicking off his shoes. “So. Show me these pictures.”

“Alright, I’ve narrowed it down to like 5, but I just need some feedback before I choose the final image.” Shane turns the screen towards Roy, showing him the selects from the shoot for Courtney’s holiday show poster.

Roy looks at the photos. “Um, I don’t love the third one. Your eyes are a little buggy. The others…yeah. Good choices.”

“But which one is cutest?”

Roy rolls his eyes, laying back down again. “They’re all cute.”

“Awww…”

“I mean, given what Magnus had to work with. Your hideous brick of a mug.”

Shane laughs and closes the computer. He glances down at Roy, eyes half closed, hat falling off. He touches his cheek. “Tired?”

“That’s the understatement of the fuckin’ century…” Roy sighs.

Shane lays down beside him, removing his hat and pulling the covers over him. “I’m not surprised. When’s the last time you had a full night’s sleep?”

“What’s sleep?” Roy mumbles.

Shane curls against his body, head on his shoulder. “I’m serious. You need to take better care of yourself, pussyface.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah…”

“You work way too much. You need to plan breaks in your schedule. Combined with the drinking, the-”

“You drink too, Miss Perfect.”

Shane nods in agreement. “Yeah, I do, absolutely, and even to excess…occasionally. Occasionally being the operative word there. And then I sleep until I’ve recovered, and hydrate, and eat healthy food. I don’t just drink 17 cups of coffee, or whatever else you do to stay awake-”

“Watch it.”

Shane sighs. “I’m not judging you, but…you’re not going to be able to keep up with this pace forever. And some of us kind of enjoy your company, and want you around past your next birthday.”

Shane had spoken with an airy, lighthearted tone, but there was an edge to it. A forcefulness that causes Roy to turn his head, to look at his friend, the intensity in his green eyes. “Sappy bitch,” Roy says, unable to resist breaking the tension rising between them.

“Yeah, well…” Shane’s hand finds his under the covers, brushing against his warm skin, lacing their fingers together, not letting Roy off the hook that easily.

Roy clears his throat. This has happened between them before, a few times, over the years. But it was always fueled by alcohol, adrenaline, the loneliness of life on the road. Quick and dirty, barely making eye contact. Barely frequent enough to be called “friends with benefits.” More like best friends who’d gotten each other off a couple of times. Three or four times, tops, if Roy’s counting.

This is different. For one thing, they are both stone cold sober. If you don’t count Roy’s exhaustion. For another, there’s that glowy afternoon light slanting into the room through the curtains. And there’s the fact that Roy knows, maybe more than anyone, what Shane went through this summer. How shattered he was after his breakup and how difficult it was for him to then slap on that sunny smile and go through the painfully awkward dating show nonsense. How all the stress of fighting with Willam was just icing on the cake. And so, as much of an asshole as Roy can be, there’s not a chance in fucking hell that he’s going to hurt him right now with “no, we shouldn’t” - even though they absolutely shouldn’t. Not here, not like this. But anyway, Roy has to admit to himself, he wants it too. He brings Shane’s fingers up to his mouth and bites gently on his knuckles, watching the blonde through hooded eyes.

Shane grins, fluttering his lashes in that coy, Courtney way of his. He flings a leg over Roy’s body, running his free hand through his dark hair, pads of his fingers against his scalp making Roy shiver. The soft, babylike sigh that escapes Roy’s lips causes Shane’s pupils to dilate. He leans down to whisper in Roy’s ear. “Let me take care of you…” He feels fingers digging into the small of his back as Roy nods eagerly, still sleepy-eyed, but skin now hot to the touch.

Roy can feel his pulse speeding up as Shane’s hands slide under his shirt. As whispery soft kisses are pressed to his jaw, his neck, down to his collarbone. He clutches the fabric of Shane’s shirt, tugging. Suddenly the desire to feel his skin is a need, an ache beyond reason. Shane slips out of the shirt and smiles at him. “Kiss me,” Roy says, and it’s a breathless demand, an urgent plea.

As Shane bends down to comply with his request, he grinds his hips against Roy’s, desperate to relieve the burning pressure in his belly, pressing Roy deeper into the mattress. He brushes his lips against Roy’s, letting the plush softness melt against him as the kiss deepens. Roy’s hands are on his ass now, gripping him tightly, arching up to rut against him, whimpering into Shane’s mouth. Shane breaks the kiss, licking Roy’s bottom lip softly. His head is getting fuzzy. This is hotter than he expected. Roy is so needy, panting into his neck now. He rubs circles against Roy’s head again, hears another breathy whimper that causes him bite down so hard he tastes blood.

Clutching Shane’s ass, Roy nearly whines his next request. “I want to taste you…”

Shane wastes no time losing his shorts, shimmying out of his briefs. He scratches a light trail down Roy’s chest as he crawls forward, hovering over him. He runs his thumb across Roy’s swollen lips as he arches forward. “Let’s put those ridiculous DSLs to work, eh?”

Roy cackles, and it’s so very him, and it gives them both a charge, a jolt of energy electric as lightning. “Come here, you fucking whore.”

A naughty smile passes across Shane’s face as he kneels, straddling Roy’s shoulders, taking hold of the headboard. Roy’s plush lips fall open, and he starts to slowly, agonizingly, slide his dick into the wet heat of his mouth. Shane feels a wicked little thrill down his spine, watching Roy from this angle, vulnerable and obedient. Shane grabs a fistful of his hair, eyes gleaming with lust.

With one hand gripping Shane’s hip and the other wrapped around his dick, Roy begins to swirl his tongue in circles, sucking and licking, relishing the way he begins to subtly rock against his lips, but soon loses control, fucking his face with reckless, aggressive force.  Shane moans brokenly, and Roy knows he’s close; he can taste it, feel it in the back of his throat. “Come on, baby,” he growls around Shane’s pulsing cock.

Shane’s thrusting slows, becomes harder and deeper, and Roy squeezes his hand around the base of his shaft, sucking harder, flicking his tongue. He hums softly, low and deep and Shane moans, exploding into his mouth. Roy leans back, exhausted but victorious. Still in charge.

Shane collapses, chest heaving. “You tricked me…” he pants, a good-natured smile playing across his lips.

“Oh yeah?” Roy murmurs, chuckling. He can barely keep his eyes open.

“I was supposed to be taking care of you, but you…”

“Well, I don’t know what to tell you. I’m very giving.”

“Generous to a fault, that’s you,” Shane scoffs.

“Exactly.”

“Wrong. You’re a control freak. You just have to top from the bottom.”

Roy laughs, pulling Shane against him. “Was it unsatisfactory, baby?”

Shane snuggles into his arms, a hand moving in lazy circles against his chest. “That’s not what I said.”

“Okay, well then, there you go.” Roy inhales the scent of his hair. “You’re welcome.”

“Cocky bastard.”

A low, sleepy chuckle is the only response.

“And what about you? I care about fairness and justice, you know,” Shane murmurs.

Roy chuckles again. “You’ll owe me one. Now let me sleep.”

Shane makes another noise, halfway between a protest and a contented sigh, as he relaxes completely, letting his body melt into Roy’s, drifting off to sleep.

***

Roy murmurs happily, shifting. He’s warm…hot, actually, but in a good way, wrapped in Shane’s down comforter and pressed up against his bare chest. And something feels so…very…

His eyes flutter open. It’s nearly dark outside and his body feels heavy and calm. And Shane’s breath is softly tickling his neck, his fingers up under his shirt, trailing slow, lazy figure eights on his torso. His fly is open, and Shane’s leg, flung across his groin, is rubbing against his hard dick in a way that makes him feel weak. He wraps a hand around the base of Shane’s neck and whispers, “I guess naptime is over, huh?”

Shane smiles into the crook of his neck, sucking a light kiss into the tender flesh. “Are you still sleepy?” he asks, working up to his jaw, nuzzling against the scruff of his five o’clock shadow.

Roy shifts against Shane’s thigh, tightness curling in his belly. “I’m exhausted. But…my dick is hard.”

“Is it? I hadn’t noticed…” Shane licks his pulse point, rocks his hips a fraction of an inch, enough to cause Roy physical pain. Off his whimper, Shane lifts his head. “What was that, love?”

“I hate you…” Roy whispers.

Shane giggles, saying, “There’s no need to be rude.” He runs his hand gently through Roy’s hair, then grips it tight in his fist, breath hot as he whispers, “You gonna be good this time?”

Roy nods, not trusting his own voice, goosebumps prickling his skin.

Shane continues to suck gentle, teasing kisses into his skin, hands drifting up and down his chest, getting closer to the waistband of his briefs with every stroke.

As his heart begins to pound, Roy pushes his shorts halfway down his thighs. Shane is slowly moving down his chest, mouth on his stomach now. Roy grabs his hair, can’t help pushing down on his head. The involuntary move causes Shane to look up with a naughty glint in his eye, lashes fluttering. Roy whimpers. “Please…”

Grinning, Shane gets back to business. “So polite. Much better.” He lowers Roy’s underwear, paying no attention to the way the older man is squirming and panting.

And then Shane is straddling him, hovering over him while he tears open a condom and slides it on, and Roy is disoriented for a second. This isn’t what he thought was happening, at this moment, and as Shane starts to lower down slowly, Roy has a flash of concern. “Wait! You’re not-”

“I am,” Shane winks. “I told you I was taking care of things, didn’t I?”

Roy nods, relief flooding through his body, arms around Shane’s waist as he fights the urge to thrust, to take charge. He lays back, letting Shane ride him until he can barely breathe.

Shane leans forward, stroking Roy’s feverish cheeks, brushing their lips together. “You okay, baby?”

The desperate moan into his open mouth is Roy’s only response.

Shane rocks harder, deeper, slower. He pushes two fingers into Roy’s mouth, which he sucks on with glassy-eyed fervor. Shane leans back, muscles contracting, watching Roy fall apart completely. “Come for me…”

Roy claws at his thighs, arching up with a groan as he comes, gasping for air.

Shane strips the condom off and tosses it into the trash, moving back to curl against his flushed skin. Roy practically purrs in satisfaction as Shane begins licking him clean, fists buried in his silky hair.

“Fuck, Shane,” he sighs happily, aware of nothing but the warmth enveloping him, Shane’s soft tongue. He loosens his grip on Shane’s hair, body sinking into the mattress, enjoying every second of his gentle affection as his eyes fall closed again.

Wrapping himself around Roy’s body, Shane nuzzles into his neck, blowing into his ear.

“I love you.” The words slip easily from Roy’s lips. Of course, they are words he’s said to Shane a million times, but not like this, in this context. He realizes what just happened and freezes in dread.

Shane smiles easily, letting him clear off the hook. “Don’t worry. I know what you meant.”

“I just-”

“Stop panicking,” Shane tells him, “It’s okay; I love you too. Cunt.”

Roy relaxes. He should have known. That of course Shane would get it. He always has. That’s why this fucked up dynamic works for them in the first place. “Well, thanks.”

“And hey, if we’re not married by the time we’re 40…” Shane begins, teasingly.

“I’m 42, you nimwit,” Roy reminds him.

“Oh, right. Well. By the time I’m 40…”

“If I make it that long…”

Shane gives him a cross look. “Not funny.”

“Sorry.” Roy shakes his head, a contented smile spreading across his face. “I dunno, Shane. That’s only 5 years away. You sure you wanna make that kind of commitment?”

Shane giggles, leaning on his shoulder. He pokes at one of his dimples. “You’re pretty cute.”

“One of us has to be.”

Shane laughs again, cupping his face, pressing a soft kiss to his jaw. Watches his eyes flutter shut again.

***

Roy sits up, rubbing his eyes, yawning. “What time is it?”

“Uhh…almost eleven?”

He sighs. “I should probably head home.”

“Alright.” Shane moves slightly, giving Roy the space to get up, trying to think about what a good time they had, rather than how cold the bed will feel without him.

Roy stands up and fastens his fly, straightening his clothes. Shane’s gazing up at him from the bed with this pensive little smirk, and as he puts his hat back on, he says, “Let’s take a selfie.”

Shane laughs. “Sure. But I should probably put my shirt back on.”

“Good call,” Roy snickers, picking his shirt up off the floor and tossing it to him.

Shane gestures to a huge light tucked into the corner. “Turn on the ring light. It takes years off. And the overhead so that it’s not obvious.”

Roy laughs some more, complying with his requests. “Yes, ma’am. Anything else?”

“Come here.” Shane scoots over to the foot of the bed, and Roy sits, holding up his phone.

They pose, and Roy takes a few shots, then opens Instagram. He selects his favorite picture, throws on a moon filter and begins to type out a caption. He’s adding hashtags when he hears the strangled noise from Shane’s throat and looks up to see his dumbfounded expression. “What?”

“You can’t post that picture!” Shane exclaims incredulously, throwing his hands up.

“Why not?”

“Why not?! Because look at us! You look dazed, there’s an unmade bed in the background, and my hair is-”

“I think we look cute.”

“I think that if you post that picture, people will speculate wildly.” Shane raises his eyebrows.

“They already do,” Roy laughs. “So what?”

Shane opens his mouth. “I…”

“Well? I mean honestly, who cares? People have very sad lives. Let them fucking speculate.”

Shane looks at him with a slightly smug expression. “Man, you really can’t resist putting your trade on social media, can you?”

Roy cackles. “I guess not. You got a problem with that?”

“I guess not,” Shane winks.

“Alright then.” Roy adds one last hashtag (#goodtimes) and hits post.

“Nice hashtags. Very original.”

“Fuck off.”

Shane giggles. “You should have said hashtag fork me.”

Roy cackles, rising from the bed. “That’s funny.”

“I’m not just just a pretty face, you know,” Shane sings, smirking up at him.

Roy touches his cheek, eyes soft. “No…”

Shane swallows. “Well, don’t do that.”

“Sorry. I meant to say…go fuck yourself, asshole. You’re a slut, and I hate you.”

Shane nods, cracking a smile. “See? That feels much better, doesn’t it?”

“It does, thanks.” Roy flashes his dimples one last time and then turns to leave. “Goodnight, Shane.”

“Goodnight.”

[bisexualpirateheart]

Can you tell us a little about what Tom Petty's music meant to you?

I am so sorry, Anon. You asked for a little, and uh, I seem to have a written a lengthy thing. So  here you go, some assorted lyrics, feelings and whatnot. 

I’m fifteen and I’m getting ready to go to my first REAL rockconcert (I’d gone to Christian music concerts a few times and they’re notthe same, they’re just not).  I’m so happy, standing in front of the kitchen sink brushing my teeth. The sun is shining, I’m goingwith my sister and her boyfriend, and the concert is amazing. I danced all night. I stillhave my ticket stub. 

That concert was the first time I saw him live, but notthe last. The last time was just this year in May. My sister and I drove tothis little college town where he was playing and it was pouring rain and the night was dark and the storm was heavy. Wethought were going to miss the beginning of the show, only to get there inplenty of time and it was so good seeing him again. It was like coming home.

Petty’s lyrics are really simple at first, but they’redeceptively so and they catch at your heart and hold you so tightly, you can���tget free. He has these lines that seems so damn obvious but they’re beautifuland they fit right inside your brain, making you learn them by heart and you remember them forever.

I’m so tired of being tiredSure as night will follow dayMost things I worry aboutNever happen anyway

 - Crawling Back to You

That line alone helps so muchwhen I’m anxious about stuff/life/everything. It doesn’t stop me from worrying,but it’s useful to remember. Most of the things I have worried about, haven’thappened.

I listened to Tom Petty through my teens and into mytwenties when I desperately wanted to be far away from my home town and didn’tknow how to get out and move away. It took years, and music was one of the mainthings that got me through that. Hewrote a lot of songs about leaving town, getting the hell out of Dodge, hittingthe road, being stuck and not being able to leave. He got it and it helped.

Oh, I’m lost in a onestory townWhere everything’s close to the groundYeah the same shit goes downNothing turns aroundIt’s one story town

-One StoryTown

Well I started out down a dirty roadStarted out all aloneAnd the sun went down as I crossed the hillAnd the town lit up, the world got still

 -Learningto Fly

It was a beautiful day, the sun beat downI had the radio on, I was drivin’Trees flew by, me and Del were singin’ little RunawayI was flyin’

 - Running Down a Dream

(THIS IS WHAT ROADTRIPS AREABOUT. THIS IS DRIVING IN THE BROAD SUNLIGHT, WITH A BIG BEAUTFUL SKY, GETTINGOUT ON THE OPEN ROAD AND NOT LOOKING BACK IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR)

Just some random favorite lyrics

Sometime later, getting the words wrongWasting the meaning and losing the rhymeNauseous adrenalineLike breakin’ up a dogfightLike a deer in the headlightsFrozen in real timeI’m losing my mind

-       Time To Move On

Sometimes you’re happySometimes you cryHalf of me is oceanHalf of me is sky,

-       Walls

Yeah and I’m wrestlingwith my overcoatYeah I’m fighting with my thoughtsI’m gonna trust my intuitionI’m gonna hope I don’t get lostFor some time I’ve been lonelyI’ve been too weak to fightI’ve been waiting for tonightI’ve been waiting for tonight

-       Waitingfor Tonight

Tom Petty has that kinda ‘aw shucks who me?’ routine going, buthe knew how good he is. In the late 80’s early 90’s he got to be in theTraveling Wilburys with Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne.This was a big fucking deal, and he always said he felt like the kid brother,which he totally is there. The Traveling Wilburys had two albums and filmed alot of ridiculous music videos, (but my favorite one is Handle With Care) andhad a lot of fun just hanging out. It was the sort of collaboration that couldonly have happened at that particular moment in time when they were all friendsand just wanting to hang out and play some music together.

Random things

I’ve seen him five times now altogether (I think. I’m prettysure…At least five. Maybe six?)

I’ve had this Tom Petty poster on my wall since somewhere inmy teens. When I finally moved away from home, it came with me and now hangs inmy living room. The post-it note has been there for YEARS, which says somethingabout the impressive longevity of post-its, and it says ‘meh, whatcha gonna do?’which seemed like a thing he was saying at the time.

Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks have been friends for EONS andthey are so cute when they perform together, I love them so much.

I have a whole YA novel about a pair of twin bi/lesbian sisterswho have a Tom Petty cover band that I’m slowly working on, and a wholeplaylist to go with that. Tom Petty songs are great for realizing you likegirls, btw. It took me a while, but when it finally clicked, it all made sense.

I’m currently working on a Black Sails playlist of Pettysongs because that was a thought I had during the summer and I never got aroundto doing it before,  and now…now, itfeels like the right time.

…now I’m thirty and his music still hits me right in theheart, still makes me want to drive all night, watching the sun go down over adistant road, following the horizon.

I can’t changeYou from yourselfYou gotta want itAll that’s leftIs you and meAnd the road aheadWherever that wind might blowWherever that river rollsYou know I will go with you

 - You And Me 

[lizartgurl]

Things Will Change [Kaldur’ahm]

Word Count: 3500+ Characters: Kaldur’ahm/Aqualad, The Team, Batman, Sha’lain’a Durham, Calvin Durham. Trigger/Warning: serious character injury (heavily implied) A fic of Aqualad to try and wrap up a lot of storylines left hanging at the end of Season two (even though now we’re getting a season three...I wrote this a while back :3)

-------

"Kaldur, do you want to help bake some cookies?"

To Aqualad, traitor-turned-leader of the Justice League's covert operations team, the question seems awfully mundane after all that's just happened.

But Superboy doesn't ask him if he's tired, he doesn't ask if he's okay, he doesn't tell Kaldur that he's done a good job, like everyone else does. He just asks him to join his team. Kaldur wants to say no, the list of stunts the team has pulled with the invasion has merited piles of paperwork that Nightwing so graciously dumped on him, along with letters from his mother and stepfather he cannot bring himself to read, threat letters from purist Atlanteans who are not as forgiving as his team that warn him against returning home. All Kaldur wants to do is rest, but the Watchtower's lounge is not as comfortable as the cave he destroyed, and he has nowhere else to go.

Connor won't take no for an answer anyway. It's been almost a month since the Reach was sent to trial, and Kaldur needs to come out of the room for other occasions than just mission assignments. With his strength cloned from the man of steel, Connor drags Kaldur to the kitchen, with Sphere and Wolf sticking to Kaldur stubbornly.

Miss Martian smiles at her big brother, levitating a tray of finished cookies over to him.

"Kal!" Beast Boy pushes the tray over and holds out a few choice cookies, decorated with Aquaman's symbol in frosting just for him.

M'gann pours milk for herself, Connor, and Garfield and some tea for Kaldur without even asking, and Kaldur notices just how much she's smiling.

"You look well." He tells her.

"Thanks Aqualad, I feel a lot better."

Superboy and Miss Martian's cheeks are pink, sneaking looks at each other every so often that make them turn even more red. Garfield's cheeks are puffed up as he watches in frustration.

Kaldur shakes his head at the two of them, and maybe he does nudge M'gann a little closer to Connor as he reaches for the vanilla extract.

-------

Wonder Girl is training all alone in the Watchtower's gym, but she's hesitant about using the League's stuff because it's all really nice and new and unlike the stuff that used to be at the cave because the team was so attached to their things and wouldn't let Batman replace it even after Superboy got mad at Nightwing and Kid Flash and threw an elliptical at them. She doesn't have a sparring partner because Superboy's on a date with M'gann, or always with M'gann, and she's too afraid to hurt any of her teammates because she knows she gets a little overexcited.

"You?" she asks when Kaldur volunteers. She says okay because she's dying to let out some energy.

Kaldur senses her surprise when he matches her strength, and Cassie finds herself talking as they spar, asking him questions while trying to find a subject that isn't insensitive. Because he misses it so much, Aqualad tells her all about Atlantis. His training in the military, which is similar to what Cassie's undergone with the Amazons; the religion, Cassie proudly names a few water nymphs she's met on Themyscira; and about his family. Kaldur and most of the team know her mother already, so Cassie suggests that the team have a get-together where they bring their families to meet their friends because the team needs to meet Jaime's little sister.

That night, Kaldur asks La'gaan to give a message to Sha'lain'a and Calvin.

-------

Honorary-League-And-Team-Member Red Arrow walks into the Watchtower one day to find Aqualad surrounded by half-finished physics books, all that Kaldur protests he's in the middle of reading. Artemis left them at the tower around the start of July for anyone who wanted them. Bart took one, and Tim skimmed one, but the rest have been collecting dust in the Lounge that the team has easily claimed as "theirs" and several members, such as Beast Boy and Bart, have tried to ban all League members from entering, without much success.

When Roy asks how Kaldur's doing, he can't pull much than standard, one-word answers out of the guy who used to be his best friend. He's been trying, trying so hard to move on, to grow up, to find a purpose in his life. Everyone else has gone home, and Roy notices that Kaldur's just about to fall asleep in his seat, so he announces to Kaldur that he's sleeping over at the Harper-Ngyuen-Crock house tonight.

"Lian, come meet your uncle fishy!" Kaldur is hardly ever utterly surprised, but watching Cheshire parade out from behind the kitchen counter with a red-headed one-year-old on her hip makes his eyes go wide. Lian, definitely named after her aunt, squeals and reaches for her father, who covers her with kisses, and Jade hugs Aqualad tightly and thanks him again for watching after Artemis while they were undercover. Paula Crock, an older woman with a kind smile despite her frown lines rolls in from the back room in her wheelchair.

"You must be Kaldur, Artemis has told me so much about you," she beams at the dark-skinned, six-foot tall Atlantean who towers over her with gils, webbed fingers, and eel tattoos up and down his arms. No mention is made of the incident in March...or May, or any of the past six months, for that matter.

Artemis comes home later with a backpack full of Vietnamese Lit homework, not surprised to see Kaldur seated between Roy and her mother at the dinner table. Jade has tried her hand at making cheesecake, so the others politely pretend to eat it until Jade goes to put Lian to sleep. Roy and Artemis immediately throw theirs in the trash, but Kaldur and Paula each finish their slice and tell Jade that it was absolutely delicious when she returns.

Paula wheels herself into the room that she shares with her granddaughter to turn in, leaving the younger heroes to reminisce their old adventures.

"Do you remember when you messed up so badly at New Orleans?" Jade elbows Artemis, who groans and slaps her sister in the face, but Jade doesn't stop smiling.

Kaldur takes his own turn at embarrassment, remembering older missions where the team could hardly get along.

He nearly threw them back into that again.

But Roy puts a hand on his shoulder, and Kaldur's old friend smiles at him.

They've all made mistakes, but now is the time to make up for them,

-------

"Aqualad!" Kaldur sturdies himself, preparing for the not-so-surprise-attack of Beast Boy, who descends upon him as a screeching monkey.

The young members who should respect him are frightened of him, don't trust him, but Gar is not as suspicious.

Kaldur is well aware of the tear on the poster of himself that hangs in Gar's bedroom, sloppily hid with packaging tape.

"What's up, AL?"

Kaldur smiles, adjusting the tablet to show Gar a few websites he was going through, looking for training activities to do with the team.

Gar taps a finger to his chin, deep in thought with his bottom lip sticking out.

"Y'know, why don't we drop the training and just do some bonding?"

His voice is beyond hopeful, like a child asking for extra dessert.

"Beast Boy-"

"Come on! We saved the world!" He's quick to point out, leaping to the ground and scampering around Kaldur's feet.

"You of all people deserve a break," Garfield jabs his finger in Kaldur's face with the stern, no-nonsense voice he picked up from watching Batman, Manhunter, even Kaldur himself.

Kaldur looks back at his tablet, then at Gar, who continues to stare at him with a pathetic imitation of Batman's intimidating glare.

Kaldur shuts off the tablet and ruffles Garfield's dark green hair, and the young boy's laughter is one of the few things in a long time to make him smile.

-------

When Robin discovers something, Aqualad is the person he goes to.

He's hesitant about it of course, all the freshman are a little wary of Aqualad when most of them have never known the Kaldur on their side, but Kaldur is gentle and patient. Of course he sees Robin waiting around the corner whenever Kaldur is alone at the computer, and pacing back and forth, thinking it's better to keep it to himself then changing his mind and being determined to to tell him then changing his mind again until Kaldur walks up to the nervous boy.

Robin is shocked when Kaldur asks him what's on his mind and the words stumble out of his mouth at first, but he "Can't go to Batgirl, because she'd tell Nightwing and he'd go crazy, and I can't tell Blue because he'd tell Imp- Bart, who'd try it out all on his own and probably get killed and, yeah, you're the only other person I could think of."

Kaldur is happy to sit down and listen.

-------

Sphere beeps happily, nudging Kaldur as he does paperwork again, going through all the files Batgirl has sent him. The computer is so much more convenient for him, as he can enlarge the words to read them better. English is such a confusing language.

He pats her dome as she rests beside the couch, submitting the paperwork to Batman for the league's files, subconsciously pulling up a photo, the first one taken with the underwater camera Roy gave him for his first surface-world birthday.

"Hey, Kal!" Mal waves him down, a bowl of popcorn tucked under his arm.

Kaldur turns off the computer so that he can give Mal his full attention.

"Connor and I were gonna watch a game on the TV, and maybe I'd ask La'gaan too, but do you wanna join us?"

Kaldur is touched. He never really got to know Mal before he went undercover, but Guardian seems to make more effort to open up to Kaldur than most of the team.

Kaldur doesn't remember what teams played. He doesn't remember the final score, he just remembers Garfield shifting into the mascot of Connor's team as Superboy shoots trash talk back and forth with Mal and La'gaan. Then come Jaime and Bart, who nearly end their friendship over which team will win, Virgil snaps his fingers over by the outlet, and suddenly the power is out in the TV.

Kaldur smiles as Mal, La'gaan, and Connor moan at the thought of never knowing who wins. Suddenly there's laughter in the doorway and Karen and Barbra are standing there, faces lit by their phones. They've recorded the whole thing.

Everyone is embarrassed.

Then Cassie comes in with Superman's old football and asks if everyone wants to play. Oddly enough, Kaldur is the first to agree with her.

-------

The moment he hears what's happened, Kaldur rushes to the Gotham hospital. He wonders if he needn't have bothered. Artemis is there already, comforting Cassie, who can't stop crying because Barbra's her best friend,Tim's just staring at the floor, and Kaldur knows Nightwing's there too, watching just outside the hospital window.

Because they're not family, the nurse insists that they go in one at a time. Kaldur doesn't say anything, but despite what's happened that night, Barbra makes the effort to smile for him.

"I guess I'm kicked off the team then, huh?" She coughs horribly, and Kaldur helps her sip from the cup while insisting that her value to the team goes beyond her fighting skills.

"Alright, alright," Barbra admits that she's being too hard on herself. As Batman's only female protege, it's a habit.

"Can you convince my dad to bring my laptop in here? Maybe I can do some research for the team if I can't be out there beating up the bad guys myself."

Kaldur promises to try, but by the look on Jim Gordon's face when he sees his daughter, now crippled for life, it doesn't look like it'll take much convincing. He looks ready to do anything for her, even take her place as The Joker's victim.

Kaldur tells Artemis to inform the team of Batgirl's situation for him. There is something that he must do.

Almost as an afterthought, he tells Tim to inform Barbra of what he's discovered. Perhaps she, and even Nightwing, can help him.

-------

Sha'lain'a sits on the coral seat in her small home, looking through old mosaics and paintings used to record memories. Calvin isn't home at the moment, he's working with Garth, Lori, La'gaan, Topo, even Sha'ark and Ronal, all of Kaldur's friends from the conservatory, petitioning Annax and the rest of the Atlantean government to let her son return home a hero. She wants to be there. She wants them to look her in the eyes, to taste the fury in her voice. She wants the judge, each member of the jury, and King Orin himself to look her in the eyes and say it to her face that her son cannot come home.

Calvin told her to stay behind, as did Garth and La'gaan. Lori tried to tell her they did not want her to be hurt by the purists, but Sha'lain'a shot back that it was the purists that needed to watch out if they kept her son from her ever again.

She last saw him a year ago. He stood in the doorway and uttered two words.

"I know."

Calvin tried to hold him, comfort him, but Kaldur pushed past and swam to his room, a place nearly unused since he was twelve. Sha'lain'a broke down crying.

She'd cried all her tears by the time she saw the letter in his empty room.

She cried again two months later when King Orin and Garth came personally to tell Sha'lain'a and Calvin that Kaldur had lead Black Manta's latest attack.

She didn't cry when purists vandalized her home, when passerbys she might have considered friends spat at her feet and threw rocks at Calvin for raising a demon.

She knows her son. She saw him a few times when he was undercover, wearing his new, black suit, side-by-side with David, his biological father. She saw the look in Kaldur's eyes, even from so far away, and knew that could not be true.

From then on, she trusted her son.

She cries now, because Kaldur, Aqualad, her son, is a hero, and he deserves to come home and there's nothing they'll let her do about it.

Sha'lain'a hides the pictures away again. Calvin tells her that she shouldn't dwell on the past so much if it makes her so sad, that soon Kaldur will be home and they can be happy again. She heads for the kitchen again, cooking has been an escape for her, especially after these rallies, where she can see the satisfied looks on the children's faces from full bellies, even after a failed protest.

The door slams open. Another failed rally.

"I'm in the kitchen, Calvin," she calls knowingly, "You don't need to tell me how it went."

It's only one set of kicking this time, perhaps the others were still determined to stay.

"Matim."

Sha'lain'a's grip on the knife slacks, letting it float in the air in front of her face.

She turns around, and there he is.

Kaldur'ahm.

Aqualad.

Her son.

She wants to scold him. To yell at him for letting her and everyone else believe that he was a traitor, but now that he is here, she can only stare.

"Kaldur-" Her voice cracks.

And suddenly he's hugging her, holding her and blubbering apologies while they both cry.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

"Hush, hush, little one." She takes his face in her hands and kisses his forehead.

"Sha'lain'a-" Calvin bursts through the door, a smile on his face, and the others trailing behind him.

Topo pushes in front of him, punching the water with his fists. "We did it! We did it!" Bubbles stream upwards from his mouth underneath his tentacles.

"Kaldur's coming-!" He cuts himself off.

"Kaldur!" Lori swims past them all and hugs Kaldur.

"I take it you know, then," Calvin hugs Sha'lain'a, watching Kaldur's reunion with his friends, who are all talking excitedly at him.

Lori recovers first. "You betrayed us."

Her hand shoots out and she slaps his face. "How could you not tell us!" She demands, her lips curling in anger.

Everyone gets a turn to slap him but La'gaan, who's already had a chance to do so, and laughs while he watches.

Kaldur takes it all humbly, and After Sha'ark takes pity on him and only punches Kaldur's shoulder, he bows his head.

"I am sorry for not telling you."

"Enough with that, Kaldur!" Garth claps him on the back, "What's in the past is in the past, you are a free man, now." He tells Kaldur sternly.

Kaldur nods. "It is good to be back, my friends." Topo won't stop hugging him.

"Now that I am back, however, I would like to invite you all to something."

They're all a part of his family, and after what he's done to them, it's only fair that he invites them too.

-------

Mount Justice is naught more than rubble, and Kaldur is grateful that the team has rebuilt themselves into something much, much more.

"Hot dog, ese?" Jaime holds out a plate with the weiner in a bun, done up with all the fixings.

"No, we're not going to poison Aqualad!" The nervous boy yells over his shoulder. Kaldur chuckles, and thanks Jaime for the food. Blue's eyes go wide at the notion, but he smiles nervously, and returns to guard the food and make sure Bart doesn't eat everything. Mr. and Mrs. Reyes are a happy couple, and Milagro and Lian get along fabulously.

Artemis pushes her mom around on the smooth path Garth and Lori created specially for the wheelchairs with their magics. In the mid-afternoon sun, Artemis is smiling, her hair blowing in the wind coming off the waves as she talks with Mal and Karen.

Lian splashes in the water with her parents. She screams as a wave crashes over the trio, but Jade and Roy hold onto their daughter tightly.

"Are you a mermaid?" She asks Lori, who stays in the water with Blubber and Topo.

Lori smiles, and lets Lian examine her tail. Within a matter of minutes Lian declares that she's going back to Atlantis with the others to become a mermaid like Lori. Roy isn't so happy with that.

Beast Boy wins the splashing competition when he turns into a blue whale and douses everyone in the water with his spray. By the time the spray dies down, it turns out Connor was using it as cover to kiss M'gann.

Bart runs around, making sure everyone gets introduced to his Grandma Iris and the twins, which have long since started to show. Cassie introduces Helena to her boyfriend and all the newer team members. Helena doesn't miss a chance to thank everyone for rescuing her. Rocket and Zatanna arrive late with Raquel's young son Amistad, who is ecstatic to see Kaldur again, and head out to the waves with the Harpers and Atlanteans. Static's parents and sister are a little overwhelmed with all the unmasked superheroes, but after Kaldur hands each of them one of M'gann's cookies and introduces himself, they seem a bit more at ease.

Sha'lain'a and Calvin are talking with Batman, who managed to stop by for the occasion. Richard has come back, if only for a visit, and takes the responsibility of racing Barbra around in her new wheelchair, fresh from the hospital. Babs already has a list of meta-powered teens the team can train and recruit, starting with a new Gotham vigilante calling herself "Spoiler".

"Kaldur, come over here."

It doesn't matter how old he is. When Kaldur's mother calls him, he comes running.

Sha'lain'a points to Nightwing, who has started talking with Batman. "Is this the young man who assisted you with your undercover mission?"

"Yes, matim, this is Richard Grayson, a former Robin."

Sha'lain'a nods, and fixes her gaze on Batman. "May I?"

"Be my guest," The dark knight offers.

Nightwing doesn't know what's happening until Sha'lain'a has slapped him across the face.

Barbra is laughing. "I like your mom, Kal." She smirks. It can't be helped that most of the team is still at least slightly mad at the them for the undercover thing, even if they have been forgiven.

When Aquaman and Queen Mera arrive with the baby prince, Kaldur finds a chance to escape. There used to be almost a balcony at the cave's back entrance, but for now, the highest peak of rock will have to do.

Of course, Artemis finds him almost five minutes later, Richard, Connor, and M'gann hot on her tail.

None of them say anything. They don't have to. M'gann floats, so that there's room for the others to sit next to Kaldur.

There's no mind link, but they don't have to read each other's minds to know what the others are thinking.

Kaldur watches his teammates, his friends, and his family frolicking in the light of the setting son. It's not just like old times, he thinks, but it may be just as good. There's still so much work to be done, but he supposes it won't ever be finished.

For now, he has his team. And he knows now that they will always be there.

No matter what changes.

[mrdonaldclark86]

How Tim Heyl Dominated the Real Estate Market in Texas

Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Tim Heyl started his career in real estate at a very young age and the bottom of the market. As the saying goes, when you start at the bottom, there’s nowhere to go but up, and his rise has indeed been meteoric. The poster child for persistence and consistency, he shares how he created a system that worked, and built a booming business.

Cultivate a Proven Path for Success

5 qualified leads a day. That was Heyl’s lead generation goal. Whether it’s internet leads, cold calling, open houses, or your sphere, it’s critical to hold yourself accountable to a specific goal “nurture” goal to build your pipeline.

Define your Process for Lead Generation and Qualification

“Rather than focusing on the number of hours I lead generated or something like that, I focused on the number of qualified leads. It doesn’t matter if they’re buyer or a seller. The point is a qualified prospect that you’ve already spoken to and put in your pipeline for future follow-up, adding to that count every single day.”

What’s his idea of a “nurture” lead? Merely a qualified lead that he’s made contact with. In the beginning he threw every new lead in his pipeline for follow-up and ended up with  a database full of folks that were completely unmotivated to buy or sell. Ouch.

“There is nothing more demotivating than opening up your lead follow-up and talking to a bunch of random people that aren’t motivated to buy or sell. So I put together five criteria points to qualify each new lead and once I had that information, I deemed it a nurture.”

Heyl used five criteria points to qualify his leads, similar to the LPMAMA sales call concept:

Location: where is the lead looking to buy or sell?

Price: what is the price range?

Motivation: How motivated is the lead to buy/sell?

Approval: Is the lead pre-approved?

Mortgage: Have they begun the mortgage process, and what is the amount?

Agent: Are they currently working with another agent?

A Formula for Success

  Heyl created a process early in his career that instilled accountability into his day, and strategy into his goals. Heyl and his team now all work “the proven path” that he developed, based on his formula for growing a business. 

The formula is simple: the number of nurtures that an agent generates on a monthly basis almost always equals the number of closed deals they have on a monthly basis.  

We’re totally dedicated to this concept. From it, we build a three-month plan, the four-month plan, the five-month plan. We train to it, and build our systems around it.

Leverage the Compound Effect to Build your Pipeline

Heyl knew the quality and the quantity of his pipeline was the gut check for the health of his business. Every day he asked himself  “what did I do to move my business forward?” The answer had to be actions that really moved the needle for his business as a whole. The answer couldn’t include something like “putting a client under contract” because he considered that something he already had in the bag. The work for that client had already been completed weeks back.  

“When I was still in production, I sold 31 listings in 1 month, but that didn’t excite me because that was business I had already generated. What excited me everyday was knowing that I increased my pipeline by X. And being consistent to that over a long period of time, actually, was what caused the explosive growth in my business.”

It’s the compound effect. If you’re familiar with compound interest, or Darren Hardy and the Chinese bamboo tree, the same concept applies to your pipeline.

Most people starting out are too wrapped up chasing a hot lead that they just let the rest of their database fall through the cracks. They don’t realize that their database of leads who are further out in the process are their future hot leads and they let them fall out of their leaking marketing funnel. You have to play the long game to drive future growth.

“I’ve got a good friend in town who I used to compete with like crazy. He came up to me recently and said, ‘You know, the difference between you and me is that we had a different definition of a lead. we used to compete against each other all the time, and I would win a lot of those appointments, but I’m still out there on the appointments, and I don’t ever see you anymore.’ He wasn’t playing the long game.” 

His competitor was coached by a company that said “if they’re not willing to list their home in the next 2-3 weeks, then hang up and move on.” He was dominating the quick wins, and the 30-day business, but Heyl was busy building a pipeline. He was meeting with leads 6 months later, or a year later, and focusing on the long term.

Hire Out of Necessity

Heyl eventually created a pipeline database that was so valuable, he could use it to recruit other people into the business.  Now he could hire other people to handle his appointments.

“My first year, I generated five nurtures a day. So for 250 work days, it was somewhere around 1,200 nurtures by the end of the year. And I only sold 9 homes from those 1,200 nurtures. The next year, it was 55, then it was over 100, and then it was over 200, so it compounded. In year 2, I had 2,400, and in year 3, I had 3,600. Not only did I have 3,600, but I also had enough deal flow that I could afford somebody.”

Hiring for the Right Reasons

Heyl knew it was time to hire because he needed support in adding the five qualified prospect to his database everyday he needed support following up with his database too. He knew he could afford this financially, and that he could recruit top agent talent at a large enough split, where it made sense to bring them in and have them work those leads.

“A lot of people try to force growth, but Gary Keller really hammered this home for me as a mentor of mine by saying ‘Don’t try and force growth for success. Let your success force your growth.’ Put pressure on the things that matter most. And when you nail those, your growth will just be organic.”

The point isn’t to hire an “instant team” or what you think you might need because other teams are employing a certain model. Hire the right people, and if they truly end up being the right person, they will help you hire the next layer of people. This creates an organic hiring process with a stellar ROI.

  Get the Right Systems and Technology in Place

Technology has been an incredible catalyst for Heyl and his team. In the beginning it was just Heyl, cold calling and prospecting manually. As soon as he could though, he began using BoomTown to fuel his lead generation and help manage his follow-up.

“Technology has opened up the funnel so that you can basically say, ‘If I need five nurtures a day now, I can use BoomTown to help me generate the right number of prospect for my pipeline,’ and all of a sudden, my efficiency is just through the roof.”

Conversion is key with technology too. Managing follow-up, staying in front of prospects, tracking website activity and knowing when to act have all helped Heyl stay at the top of his game.

“When you’re generating a lot of leads, you’ll have thousands of leads in your system and you can’t just mine through that system manually on a regular basis. You’re just going to wait until that follow-up call comes up. BoomTown tells you who you should be talking to now, even if you don’t have a call scheduled up. Those things not only save you time, but actually, make you more effective.”

It comes as no surprise that Heyl is consistent in his technology integration too. He has woven the system into his every day, ingrained it in his process. He knows that’s the way to take full advantage of technology and wrap your business around one central hub.

Stay the Course

Heyl knows firsthand how much hard work goes into starting a business and building a solid foundation. He warns that a model is not a menu. You can’t pick and choose the tasks you want to work on or the aspects you want to focus on. Persistence and perseverance are wrapped into the core of his person and his processes.

“I want to give that word of encouragement that, if you feel like it’s hard, you’re probably on the right track because it is hard. But continue to follow the models. Get the right support and tools. Hang in there and keep pushing, keep driving.”

The post How Tim Heyl Dominated the Real Estate Market in Texas appeared first on BoomTown!.

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Week One Reflection

RThe workshop began with an overview of the ‘Ground Work’ module and the overall outcome of completing the assessment. There are four exercises: to create a collage photo release, a vector illustration, a duotone design and then finally to hang up in an the final exhibition at the end. However the primary sources of these exercises were to come from rubbish that we collected throughout the campus... So that was our first task: to collect, select and record.

We were given approximately 45min-1hr to walk around and collect. I found a variety of items including:

cigarette butts

socialism protest poster

kit kat packet

600mL coke bottle

nuts and bolts

plastic straw

glad wrap

strawberry Zappo lolly wrapper

broken plastic cup

4 coloured pen

broken yellow rope

earphones

hubba bubba wrapping 

After we were told to sort through our rubbish to finalise the items we would use. However since you continue to refine your items throughout your creating process, I just decided to record and experiment with all of my items. When it came to recording, there were three ways we have to do so; photocopy, scan and photograph. the scans and photographs would be used later on for our vector illustrations and duotones. 

We used both black and white backgrounds to get more outcomes. We also experimented with the light intensity in the photocopies. For my results, I experimented with the composition of my raw data. I crushed my coke bottle, squished and stretched my glad wrap, positioned my coke bottle top so that is only partially copied and tangled and straightened my earphones and rope.

After we completed our second task, we sat down for a quick talk about composition. Composition is the construction of an image. It’s communicated through visual literacy - the language of art and design. I really liked the quote by Rob Roy Kelly,

“Visual Literacy is an ability to view an image as an abstraction, to understand what is happening in purely visual terms, as well as knowing and understanding visual terminology. It involves training the eyes to see minute detail and being sensitive to colour, shape, form and line. It has little or nothing to do with content or style.”

I had taken notes however I misplaced them and unfortunately I was unable to have them with me throughout the task and future tasks. This did somewhat impact my ability to create a collage to my potential however it was still successful nonetheless. These were things I did not know.

There are many components to Visual Literacy:

1. Positive and Negative space: + space is the area in which a form or object can be identified. - space is the surrounding area. This relationship is shown through contrasting, or complementary, colours. + & - space are also known as, and used in techniques such as figure and ground (which is also a technique that can create illusions. This is seen in a famous artwork called Rubin’s vase, which was developed by Edgar Rubin around 1915 ()), form and counter-form (where a form has ‘empty space’ within it’s structure e.g. an outline of a circle and silhouette (where the contrasting colours alternate and the darkest hue creates the form).

- White Space: White space can also be used as a negative space. If there is little or no negative space it can feel as though the composition is confronting, or disconnected and oppressive. However, sometimes that can be used to an advantage if that is your intended meaning.

Rubin Vase

Empty Circle

Silhouette

2. Form: Form are the components of an object such as lines, shape, direction, scale, tone, colour and texture. This is what communicates the intended structure before it is even recognisable. This also relates to form relationship, which constructs relationships through the organisation and placements of forms in a composition.

Form relationships include:

Clustering: Forms are composed into a group. This creates a sense of connection within a group.

Aligning: (To me, this one felt like a geometrical type of relationship and it reminded me of design areas such as architecture and interior design) The relationship occurs between edges of forms. They can be aligned from top to bottom, left to right and this makes them parallel.

Overlapping: Overlapping constructs a foreground and background. This is also a good technique to use when you compose a three dimensional piece and also want perspective.

Layering: Layering is similar to overlapping with the addition of transparency. Transparency is what enhances the illusion of three dimensional space, especially in clustering.

Bleeding and Cropping: Bleeding and cropping go together quite well. Bleeding is a technique that creates the illusion of the forms leaving the composition. It further creates the illusion of a three dimensional space. This is caused from the objects beings cropped. Cropping is to manipulate an image to remove unwanted areas. It’s a simple method to construct abstract forms and create new compositions. 

Kinetic Sequencing and Repetition: When an element is ‘rotated away from a grid orientation’ is creates the illusion that the sequence is kinetic or moving. Similar to kinetic sequencing is repetition, where a form is repeated. This can create a sense of movement, time and change.

Implied space: this reminds me of kinetic sequencing in the way that since it insinuates that more is going on outside the compositional space, it also is moving. 

Perspective: Perspective reminds me of bleeding, layering and kinetic sequencing in the sense that creates a live, three dimensional space. However, perspective creates an illusion of ‘depth’ and space. This is depicted through variating volumes and scaling on a flat surface.

3. Arrangement and Visual Hierarchy: I find these similar in the way that give the composition a starting point, or point of focus in which the story of the image begins. 

We than began our collages. We were recommended to experiment with different compositions on both black and white backgrounds. At first, I didn’t quite understand what I was doing, so i evaluated my resources and chucked some lousy design together. It was dreadful.

For starters, it read absolutely nothing. There was no visual hierarchy and I had extremely poor form arrangement. While I was happy with the balance between the positive and negative space, there was too much black on black. This meant there wasn't a lot of tone and contrast, which didn’t make it appealing. I was happy with the use of scaling, but it wasn't portrayed well. It would have looked better if I hadn't abused my clustering technique and didn’t have as much spread out. I think I could have removed some things, but I ended changing my idea. This was provoked from the cling wrap in the middle. It reminded me of a cloud. 

This was my second attempt. I thought it was a bigger improvement. However this time my cloud was too literal, and my visual hierarchy was still poor. It was too spread out, and my use of clustering was unsuccessful. I was stuck, so I asked Jo for help. This was her suggestion:

She said this way, there cloud was more abstract, and a lot more techniques were visible including bleeding, clustering, visual hierarchy and there the negative space was lot more visible and clear. It was also suggested that I use a white background since my photocopies were so dark. One thing Jo did note was that the trimming of my objects needed to be a lot neater, but she id like the variety of forms I had. So I fixed those problems and altered the collage to my final presentation:

I was quite happy with my result as it was my first time doing this area of design. I cropped some objects such as the coke bottle top on the right and the cup bottom on the left to portray some implied space that the rain is falling outside the composition as well. The use of scaling with the cigarettes as well as the different tone and contrasts of light throughout were really helpful as it added some perspective. I added the miniature cloud as another attempt at scaling and perspective, however I don't think I added enough overlapping to do so. 

We did two prints. I chose to print one in the top left corner and then one in the centre.