#Soccer Mike x Artist Will

[humblebumble069]

If any of you know me from my tiktok and my Soccer Mike x Artist Will (AWSM) thingie

I have compeltly given up on tiktok the lagorythim is shit and it's impossible to find audios thta match

And I've started to think, why Dont I just recreate all of it but in comic style and post it here (or on insta)??

I mena its gonna be a long journey cuz there's a lot more to write

But i think little be easier on tumblr +the help with others, and I might tweak the story a bit to make it more character accurate

What do yall think :3?

The only art I have of them💀

[soupsbowl]

come and get your love || steve harrington x reader || part 3: monday at moretti's

part 3/?

word count: 2.8k

tw: swearing, mentions of death

--

You tended to rank things in your mind to pass time: your current favorite musical artists, best ice cream shops in or adjacent to Hawkins, the teachers at Hawkins High, favorite books, et cetera. 

Currently, you were ranking the various stains on your work uniform according to how difficult it would be for you to get them out in the wash. 

Number three, pizza sauce: washes out surprisingly easy if you soak it in cold water first. Number two, grape juice: not a common stain for your work attire, but you had an unfortunate incident with a toddler and his unclosed sippy cup as you were placing his parent’s pizza at their table. And finally, number one, pepperoni grease: oilier than one might think, and the orange-colored liquid is a bitch to get out of your pale pink work shirt. 

“L/N would you mind picking up the pace a bit? We just got an order for five large pies, and you haven’t even finished saucing the previous orders yet. Gesù Cristo!” Mr. Moretti, the owner of Moretti’s Pizzas and your perpetually grumpy boss, snapped at you as he headed out back for what you assumed was his fourth smoke break that shift. 

There wasn’t much to do on a Monday night in Hawkins, as most places closed before the sun even got close to the horizon. Moretti’s was one of the few places open past nightfall, and thus you often received an influx of orders from tired parents looking for something easy to feed their kids after soccer practice or potheads with a bad case of the munchies around 7 o’clock each weeknight. 

You spooned sauce onto the circle of dough in front of you, thinking about the events of gym class earlier that day. Hearing the sadness in Steve’s voice as he spoke to Nancy caused a pang in your gut and a twist of your heart - guilt and something else…empathy maybe? You weren’t sure, and didn’t have time to rank the plethora of feelings you had at the moment because the bell that hung over the door rang, indicating the arrival of a customer. 

You exited the kitchen to greet them and see a group of kids, about thirteen or so, chattering about something as they approached the counter. You recognized two of them as Dustin Henderson and Lucas Sinclair. They were friends of Johnathan’s little brother, Will, and Nancy’s little brother, Mike. There was a redheaded girl with them. You didn’t recognize her. She glanced around the pizza shop suspiciously, like she was worried someone might see her there.

You smiled at her, but she averted your gaze. Your smile faltered slightly, but you grabbed a pen and an order sheet and then looked to Dustin and Lucas.

“How are you guys doing tonight? What can I get for you?”

“A large pepperoni please,” said Dustin, grinning at you. “And don’t be afraid to load it up with extra cheese and sauce.”

Mr. Moretti turned the corner in that moment, returning from his umpteenth smoke break. “Extra cheese and sauce cost extra, kid. Don’t forget to charge him for that, L/N.”

“Sure, Mr. Moretti,” you sighed. After he had disappeared back in the kitchen, you smiled down at Dustin. “I think he can spare a few pepperonis and an extra scoop of cheese.”

Dusin and Lucas grinned at each other, and you thought even the redheaded girl cracked a little bit of a smile.

“Is that for here or to go?”

“For here, please. Thanks,” Lucas said, throwing a crumpled ten-dollar bill on the counter and telling you to keep the change before following Dustin and the redhead over to a booth in the corner.

You went back into the kitchen to prep their pizza. You felt a lot of empathy for those kids. You couldn’t imagine what it must’ve felt like for them last year. Will’s disappearance, his supposed death, and his return from the dead must’ve been traumatizing for them to go through. You didn’t have many close friends, just a few acquaintances from school, and Chrissy, of course, and the thought of losing them, even hypothetically, put a twang in your chest.

You then thought of your parents. You lost them both tragically about five years ago. Your mother, Rose,  had worked an unassuming job at Melvad’s General Store. She grew up in Hawkins and knew just about everyone in town. She always greeted everyone with a smile, and no one had even the slightest negative thoughts about her. Losing her devastated not only you, but the entire town. Your father, Alexander, was a medical researcher, and had moved to Hawkins to work at the lab. You never quite knew what it was he did there, and you could pinpoint your detective tendencies arising around the time you began old enough to ask questions about his work…

--

EIGHT YEARS AGO

Your mother placed a steaming platter of mashed potatoes on the dinner table, and sat down next to your father. He was wearing his glasses, and frowning at a series of notes and diagrams that he had been leafing through for the past several minutes. You were eight, and playing with a friendship bracelet that Chrissy had made you. It was originally a bright F/C, but had since faded from sunshine and wear, and was now a paler version of its once bright hue. You heard your father sigh. You looked up from your bracelet and watched as he stacked the papers neatly, before placing them into his briefcase on the floor, and locking it.

“What’s wrong, Daddy?” you asked. You could see by the expression on his face that he was frustrated.

“Nothing, sweetheart, it’s just been very stressful at work lately.”

Your mother scooped a heaping serving of mashed potatoes onto your plate, along with a piece of chicken and some spinach, before placing it down in front of you. You pushed the spinach to the side of your plate with your fork before shoveling mashed potatoes into your mouth

“What is your work?” you asked, mouth still full of potatoes.

Your parents both stopped, mid chew, and exchanged glances with one another. Your father picked up his glass of water, and took a swig before facing you.

“You don’t want to know about that, Y/N. It’s boring stuff, you’d fall asleep into your mashed potatoes if I told you.”

You giggled a little bit, but your mother seemed uneasy.

“Were you reading something for work at the table, Alexander?” she asked him, her eyes drifting to his locked briefcase that laid beneath his chair.

“I was. You know how busy I am, Rose. As much as we both don’t like it, sometimes I have to bring work home.”

There was a pause.

“I really don’t feel comfortable with you bringing research home,” your mother said, dabbing her napkin at the corner of her mouth.

“What research?” you asked, looking between your parents curiously. “What is it you’re bringing home?”

They ignored you.

“We’ve talked about this, Alex. The stuff that you’re working on is too dangerous take out of that lab, in any capacity.”

“The research is dangerous? Why is it dangerous?” your eyes widened.

Your father didn’t say anything and kept staring down at his plate. Your mother continued.

“See? And now Y/N is asking questions. I knew this project was going to infiltrate our family, I told you that from the beginning and that’s why I didn’t want you involved. And now that you want out of it it’s going to endanger our-”

Your father slammed his fist on the table before your mother could finish her sentence. He looked up at you. “Y/N, go to your room,” he said sternly.

“Why? I didn’t do anything!” you protested. “Why can’t I stay?”

“Y/N,” your mother’s voice was shaking. Whether it was from anger or fear, you couldn’t tell. “Just listen to your father. Go to your room.”

You got up from your seat and stomped up the stairs, slamming the door to your room for good measure. You closed the door to your room and threw yourself onto the bed, your heart pounding from the argument you had just witnessed. Your father's rare outburst had scared you, but even more unsettling were the hints about his mysterious and dangerous work. You could still hear their voices, muffled but intense, drifting up from the dining room. Curiosity flowed through you, and you crept slowly and silently to the door, opening it just enough to add clarity to your parents’ hushed voices. You knelt by the door, hardly breathing as you listened to their conversation.

"Alex, you promised me this project wouldn't come home with you. If the lab finds out you have data here, they could... who knows what they could do,” your mother’s voice was fierce.

"I know," your father replied. "But I'm close to a breakthrough. If I could just understand the energy signatures, it would change everything. We could enhance human capabilities beyond our wildest dreams."

"And what about the risks? The dangers? You know what happened to the last test subjects."

Your father sighed deeply. "I know. That's exactly why I'm working so hard. I want to make it safe. I don’t agree with their methods, but the energy and power we’re working with…it's... it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It’s unpredictable. And I can't make sense of it all and figure out a way for the project to be executed safely without bringing some of the data home."

You could hear tears in your mother’s voice. “I can't lose you, Alex. And I can't let this destroy our family."

"I know," he said, his voice trembling along with hers. " I'm scared, too. I want out. I want to expose the dangers of what they’re doing, but I'm in too deep. If they find out... I don't know what they'll do. The most I can do now is try to keep what we’re doing as safe as possible."

“I just don’t want you endangering us to keep others safe.” Your mother replied.

There was a pause. A long one.

"I'll be careful," your father finally added. You could tell he was trying to reassure her, but he didn’t seem so sure himself. "I promise.”

You quietly closed the door and laid back on your bed. Lying on your bed, you stared at the glowing plastic stars on your ceiling, trying to process what you'd overheard. Energy signatures. Dangerous research. Human capabilities. It was all so bewildering. You didn’t entirely understand, but you knew that whatever it was your father was involved in, it was like something out of sci-fi movie, something beyond your wildest dreams. Something that could potentially endanger your entire family.

You reached for the faded friendship bracelet on your wrist, twirling it thoughtfully. Chrissy told you it was good luck. You desperately hoped she was right.

--

“L/N! Why are you standing around! Get those orders out to the customers, rapido!”

You hadn’t realized how deep into your memories you had gone. You were clutching your wrist, as if you had been searching for the friendship bracelet from Chrissy.

That memory was the last time you could recall discussing your father’s work. The next three years, you remember having to bite your tongue to avoid bringing up what you had heard. The lab, the energy signatures, human enhancement. Your father never brought home the briefcase again, at least not that you witnessed. His home office was always locked.

On December 9th, 1979,  your parents’ car had supposedly spun out when your father was driving your mother to work. The car was found, mangled around a tree and on fire.

The weeks following their death had been a blur. People you knew and people you didn’t all offering their condolences and bringing various baked goods. The funeral was at the church your parents got married at. White roses adorned their caskets, which remained closed. The Byers helped your grandmother move into your house. Your father’s home office stayed locked all the while. You only ate mashed potatoes.

You said something to your grandmother once, a few months after your parents’ death. You voiced a thought that had been circulating your mind since that fateful day when your father had brought home his briefcase.

“Did someone from the lab kill my Mom and Dad?”

Your grandmother sent you to a shrink after that. Her office smelled like cat pee and moth balls and she spoke to you in a tone so condescending that it made you want to throw something. You never said anything regarding your parents’ death to your grandmother again, and you never returned to the shrink. There was always a place in the back of your mind where you wondered if your parents death hadn’t entirely been an accident.

“TODAY L/N!” Mr. Moretti bellowed so loudly you jumped. He shoved a pizza pan in front of you and thrust his thumb towards the door. “Bring this out to those kids, now.”

You grabbed a towel to grab the hot pizza pan, and used your hip to open the door to the front. Dustin, Lucas, and the redhead were scrambling to get ready, collecting books and shoving them into their backpack. The redhead picked up a skateboard and was about to head for the door when she caught your eye.

“Oh, guys, pizza’s here.”

“Shit! Do you think we could get this in a box? To-go?” Dustin asked you. He seemed a little frantic.

“Yeah, of course just give me a second,” you answered, placing the pizza on the table.

“Dustin, Max, we don’t have time! We need to go, right now!” Lucas said, emphasizing the last two words. They were out the door in a flash, the bell on the door jingling as they went.

“But it’s already paid for!’ you called after them from the doorway.

You watched them leave, Dustin and Lucas hopping on their bikes and pedaling furiously. The redheaded girl, who you concluded must’ve been Max, skated behind them.

 You went back inside, trying to brush the incident from your mind and chalk it up to just kids being kids. As you returned to the now-vacant booth, you noticed a tattered notebook laying on the seat. It was adorned with a sticker that read "Hawkins Middle AV Club" prominently displayed on its cover. You picked it up, along with the pizza, and carried them both back to the kitchen where Mr. Moretti was grumbling about the state of his inventory. He glanced up as you entered, eyebrows raised in a questioning manner.

"They left in a hurry," you explained, setting the items down on the counter. "Should I box up their pizza?"

Mr. Moretti scoffed “Those little shits better have paid.”

“They did, don’t worry.”

"Alright, then. Box it up. I’ll bring it home for my kids for dinner." Mr. Moretti then left the kitchen, not giving the notebook that laid on the counter a second glance.

You sighed, and boxed up the pizza to set aside. You glanced at the notebook again. No one else was in the kitchen, yet snatched it quickly and stowed it safely in your bag.

As you returned to your routine tasks in the kitchen, your mind began to drift. Detective tendencies at it again. What were those kids up to? Was something happening with Will again? Maybe it was related to Barabara Holland? At the root of these questions was the memory of your parents and your father’s work at Hawkins Lab, echoing like a haunting refrain.

The rest of the night was rather uneventful. You ignored the expletives Mr. Moretti shouted at you for being distracted and finished mopping the kitchen as quickly as you could. You walked to your car, slammed the door, and immediately dug the notebook out of your bag. The “Hawkins Middle AV Club”  sticker stared at you from the cover. You opened it and began reading.

Will

October 28, 1984: Will had a vision at the arcade today. I’m worried about him. It definitely has to do with the Upside Down.

D'Artagnan – “Dart”

October 31, 1984: Found what looks to be a baby pollywog in my trashcan. Kinda cute. Currently researching what he might be, terrestrial pollywogs only exist in South America and India. Could be a new species, Dustinis pollywogus.

You flipped through the pages, but there weren’t many in there. It seemed as though the majority of the pages had been ripped out. Other than the first page, the rest were blank. You closed the notebook and started your car. You drove home in silence, no radio, only your racing mind to keep you company. You knew that whatever those kids were involved in, it was intertwined with the mysteries of Hawkins—a place where secrets seemed to lurk around every corner, secrets your parents were involved in, secrets you were itching to figure out.

[nightingale2004]

Twilight next gen: Jessica x Mike vers.

Justin Pax Stanley Newton

Faceclaim: Alex Lange

Justin is the son of Jessica Stanley and Mike Newton. He is also the big brother to two kid sisters Mckayla and Leslie

He works at Newton's Olympic Outfitters like his dad

He plays on the Forks High School football team. He is also on the swim team

He is a bit of a jock but is insanely smart and is a straight A student similar to his mom

Jessica is what she considers "A service to the community"

Jessica is literally involved in everything from neighborhood watch to event planner which keeps her busy and out of the house

Like both of Justin's parents, he is the most popular kid in school and also helpful to his small town community as well

He is also the coach of the football team's assistant

Justin's sisters both also play sports. Mckayla plays soccer, and Leslie does volleyball

Justin hikes and rock climbs like a pro and has been doing it with his dad and a few of his buddies since he was a kid

He is a softie for his sister's and often showers them with endless teasing and tickles (which they love)

Best friends with Angela and Eric's kid and considers her the only real friend he has while others like him because he's popular

Is also considered the class clown

Wants to be a pro football player or rock climbing instructor

☆■☆■☆■☆■☆■☆■☆■☆■☆■☆■☆■☆■☆■

+ Angela x Eric vers.

Fallon Amara Yorkie Weber

Faceclaim: Lola Tung

Fallon is the daughter of Eric Yorkie and Angela Weber. She is also the older sister of her kid brother Julian.

Fallon and Justin have been friends since they were babies due to their parents knowing each other and Justin became like an older brother to her

Fallon's dad is a writer and works for the newspaper in Forks while her mom works as a photographer, and she is also her own boss

Fallon works at the Forks diner, where Justin and his friends come in a lot

Like Fallon's dad, she has a creative writing flame, and like her mom, she has a fantastic artistic eye

Fallon and Justin are complete opposites.

Justin is incredibly popular, social, and active, while Fallon considers herself a shy, introverted, artistic soul

Despite Justin and Fallon's differences, they both are close and thick as theives

Fallon is good friends with Jacob's kids and is invited to the rez a lot to see them.

Fallon loves reading about fiction, old legends, and the supernatural

Despite Fallon not loving sports or anything that has her doing anything physical, she oddly enough loves hiking with Justin, Kimberly, and Ephraim along with going to the beach and watching the packs play against each other with Justin in soccer

She also does yoga in the privacy her room, sometimes with Kimberly

She also shares her mother's lobe for photography

Fallon introduced Justin to Kimberly and her brother, which started out as tense but slowly started becoming a beautiful friendship

Justin and Fallon thought it was gonna be a normal new school year. That was until the new cullen kids came in and started bringing in supernatural drama that involved both Fallon and Justin

[giveamadeuschohisownmovie]

Just for fun, imagine this as the cast/contestants of an American adaptation of “Physical 100”:

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, actor/former pro wrestler

Martin Sensmeier, actor/model

Jason Momoa, actor

Adam Driver, actor/former U.S. Marine

Brie Larson, actress

Brandon Curry, bodybuilder

Christian Guzman, bodybuilder/YouTuber

Bradley Martin, bodybuilder/YouTuber

Kali Muscle, bodybuilder/actor/YouTuber

Nonito Donaire, boxer

Deontay Wilder, boxer

Mary McGee, boxer

Andre Ward, boxer (retired)

Lauren Taylor, CrossFit

Jocko Willink, former Navy SEAL

Cydney Gillon, IFBB professional figure and fitness competitor

Renee Enos, influencer/bodybuilder

Massy Arias, influencer/health and fitness coach

Jen Selter, influencer/fitness model

Lauren Drain, influencer/fitness model

Logan Paul, influencer/WWE wrestler

Jake Paul, influencer/boxer

Mike Trout, MLB

Bryce Harper, MLB

Mark Kolozsvary, MLB

Jesus Ferreira, MLS

Zach LaVine, NBA

Steph Curry, NBA

Seth Curry, NBA

Jimmy Butler, NBA

Jordan Clarkson, NBA

Jeremy Lin, NBA/PLG

Shaquille O’Neal, NBA (retired)

Brock Purdy, NFL

Patrick Mahomes, NFL

Jimmy Garoppolo (“Jimmy G”), NFL

Jalen Hurts, NFL

Joe Burrow, NFL

Josh Allen, NFL

Tyreek Hill, NFL

Phil Kessel, NHL

Becky Sauerbrunn, NWSL

Ariel Torres, Olympic bronze medalist in karate

Nevin Harrison, Olympic gold medalist in canoeing

Jennifer Valente, Olympic gold medalist in cycling

Andrew Capobianco, Olympic gold medalist in diving

Nathan Chen, Olympic gold medalist in figure skating

Alex Hall, Olympic gold medalist in freestyle skiing

Simone Biles, Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics

Aly Raisman, Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics

Gabby Douglas, Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics

Sunisa “Suni” Lee, Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics

Lindsey Vonn, Olympic gold medalist in skiing

Chloe Kim, Olympic gold medalist in snowboarding

Nick Baumgartner, Olympic gold medalist in snowboarding

Katie Ledecky, Olympic gold medalist in swimming

Nathan Adrian, Olympic gold medalist in swimming

Michael Cherry, Olympic gold medalist in track and field

Rai Benjamin, Olympic gold medalist in track and field

Athing Mu, Olympic gold medalist in track and field

Katie Moon, Olympic gold medalist in track and field (pole vault)

David Taylor, Olympic gold medalist in wrestling

Nyjah Huston, professional skateboarder

Matt Ladley, professional snowboarder

Mia Fishel, professional soccer player (Tigres UANL Femenil)

Brian Shaw, professional strongman

Jerry Pritchett, professional strongman

Dom Gabriel (“Dom Cruise”), reality TV star (The Mole/Perfect Match)

Joey Sasso, reality TV star (The Circle/Perfect Match)

Kolohe Andino, surfer

Gemma Nguyen, stunt performer/martial artist (see: Gamology)

Noah Fleder, stunt performer (see: Gamology)

Vincent Bouillon, stunt performer (see: John Wick Chapter 4)

Chris Brewster, stunt performer (see: Daredevil)

Lateef Crowder dos Santos, stunt performer (see: The Mandalorian)

Danica Goodheart, U.S. Army veterinarian and NPC Figure competitor

Colby Covington, UFC

Julianna Peña, UFC

Stipe Miocic, UFC

Dustin Jacoby, UFC

Kelvin Gastelum, UFC

Beneil Dariush, UFC

Max Holloway, UFC

Cub Swanson, UFC

Matt Schnell, UFC

Tatiana Suarez, UFC

Rose Namajunas, UFC

Holly Holm, UFC

Breanna Stewart, WNBA

Candace Parker, WNBA

Roman Reigns, WWE

Dolph Ziggler, WWE

Alexa Bliss, WWE

Cody Rhodes, WWE

Ronda Rousey, WWE/former MMA fighter

Brock Lesnar, WWE/former MMA fighter

Mikhail Varshavski (“Dr. Mike”), YouTuber and amateur boxer

Cassey Ho (“Blogilates”), YouTuber

Adrienne Mishler (“Yoga with Adrienne”), YouTuber

Jeff Cavaliere (“ATHLEAN-X”), YouTuber/bodybuilder

[kushblazer666]

this is the kind of thing i would post if there were something extremely wrong with me

Here is my list for the Top 75 albums of 2020. Despite what some people say, it was not a bad year for music.

75. Rory Ferreira – Purple Moonlight Pages

74. Lady Gaga – Chromatica

73. HMLTD – West of Eden

72. 070 Shake – Modus Vivendi

71. Amaarae – The Angel You Don’t Know

70. Nubya Garcia – Source

69. Bartees Strange – Live Forever

68. Beatrice Dillon – Workaround

67. Dan Deacon – Mystic Familiar

66. Taylor Swift – Evermore

65. Big Sean – Detroit 2

64. Jyoti – Mama, You Can Bet!

63. Beabadobee – Fake It Flowers

62. Coriky – Self–titled

61. William Basinski – Lamentations

60. LEYA – Flood Dream

59. Little Dragon – New Me, Same Us

58. Natalia Lafourcade – Un canto por México

57. The Smith Street Band – Don't Waste Your Anger

56. B.C. Camplight – Shortly After Takeoff

55. Napalm Death – Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism

54. Stephen Malkmus – Traditional Techniques

53. Medhane – Cold Water (He’s Cancelled btw)

52. Neil Young – Homegrown

51. Clipping – Visions of Bodies Being Burned

50. Black Dresses – Peaceful as Hell

49. The Strokes – The New Abnormal

48. Norah Jones – Pick Me Up Off the Floor

47. Angel Olsen – Whole New Mess

46. Deerhoof – Future Teenage Cave Artists

45. Tame Impala – The Slow Rush

44. Headie One – Edna

43. Childish Gambino – 3.15.20

42. Code Orange – Underneath

41. Bruce Springsteen – Letter to You

40. Jay Electronica – A Written Testimony

39. The Flaming Lips – American Head

38. Touché Amoré – Lament

37. Grimes – Miss Anthropocene

36. Lomelda – Hannah

35. Lil Uzi Vert – Eternal Atake

34. Jeff Rosenstock – No Dream

33. Caribou – Suddenly

32. Chris Stapleton – Starting Over

31. Mac Miller – Circles

30. Megan Thee Stallion – Good News

29. Soccer Mommy – Color Theory

28. Run The Jewels – RTJ4

27. Gorillaz – Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez

26. Deftones – Ohms

25. Chloe X Halle – Ungodly Hour

24. The Weeknd – After Hours

23. Jessie Ware – What's Your Pleasure?

22. Mystery Jets – A Billion Heartbeats

21. Yves Tumor – Heaven to a Tortured Mind

20. Open Mike Eagle – Anime, Trauma, & Divorce

19. Freddie Gibbs – Alfredo

18. Lianne La Havas – Self–titled

17. Dogleg – Melee

16. HAIM – Women in Music, Pt. III

15. Bob Dylan – Rough and Rowdy Ways

14. Thundercat – It is what it is

13. Taylor Swift – Folklore

12. Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia

11. Fleet Foxes – Shore

10. Charli XCX – How I’m Feeling Now

9. Rina Sawayama – Sawayama

8. Adrianne Lenker – songs/instrumentals

7. The Avalanches – We Will Always Love You

6. Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher

5. Moses Sumney – GRÆ

4. Creeper – Sex, Death & the Infinite Void

3. Waxahatchee – Saint Cloud

2. Fiona Apple – Fetch the Bolt Cutters

1. Perfume Genius – Set My Heart On Fire Immediately

Other Great Albums

U.S. Girls – Heavy Light

Bombay Bicycle Club – Everything Else Has Gone Wrong

Moodymann – Taken Away

The Soft Pink Truth – Shall We Go on Sinning So That Grace May Increase?

The Microphones – Microphones in 2020

Róisín Murphy – Róisín Murphy

Bill Callahan – Gold Record

Mr. Gnome – The Day you Flew Away

Giveon – Take Time

Tennis – Swimmer

Kid Cudi – Man on the Moon III: The Chosen

Playboi Carti – Whole Lotta Red

Denai Moore – Modern Dread

Polo G – The Goat

Yo la Tengo – Sleepless Night

Illuminati Hotties - FREE I.H: This Is Not The One You've Been Waiting For

Dance Gavin Dance - Afterburner

[writingfortoomanyfandoms]

CALM Release Day Prompts

Friday 27th March marks the release of the 4th album by 5sos - CALM and I’ve been waiting and anticipating this album for so long that it wouldn’t be right to not celebrate its release on here

Some of y’all who follow me might remember a couple of weeks ago when I did a similar thing for the release of Heartbreak Weather during which I dedicated an entire day on my blog towards Niall and producing Niall content

This Friday I will be doing the same but with 5sos - I’ll reblog posts, I’ll put out blurbs, headcannons, etc, and it’ll all be 5sos

With all the shit that’s going on in the world at the moment I know for a fact that I, for one, need a distraction such as this so I hope you guys will join in and not just in the requesting writing sector of this day - please just come talk to me about the album, give me your initial thoughts, your favourite songs, your theories on the days leading up to Friday, just please come and talk to me about it!

I’m posting this today because below are speech and AU prompts which you can use to request blurbs with - these requests will be open from now (Friday 20th, 11PM, GMT) until midnight on Sunday 22nd (again, GMT) so that I have a chance to write the requests you send in with the prompts as well as schedule some of the 5sos stuff I’ve already got in my drafts

I think this could be a really fun thing to do so I hope you’re as excited about it as me! 

And if you’re just discovering my blog for the first time through this post, please come and join in as well! I write for all the guys (though I currently have yet to write for Mike and only very limited fics for Luke but I love writing for them so please request!) and I also do poly!5sos stuff (i.e. poly!Cashton x reader is my fave tbh but I also love poly!Kayshton etc), if you have any queries about who I write for/what ships I’ll write for then don’t be scared to send them in!

Speech

“I love everything you hate about yourself”

“In the end we migrate towards comfort. I am my most comfortable around you.”

“I didn’t get soaked wet through walking to your house for you to say no to pizza. I have beer too. I know you’re sad, so let me in.”

“Please let me help you”

“I love you, of course I worry about you”

“When were you going to tell me?”

“How much did you drink?”

“Did you have another nightmare?”

“I do love you - I’m just not as good at it as you are”

“It was pouring and you ran off with our SHARED umbrella, leaving me to get soaked!”

“I just wanted to check that you’re okay? I mean… I know you stress bake and I appreciate you giving me food but… this is a lot of food.”

“What time is it there?” “We’re in the same time zone”

“It was only a matter of time before you got together, really”

“I know you’re the president of the Anti-Social Club, but why don’t you join me?”

“What the hell is that and why are you wearing it?”

“You obviously can’t be trusted to take care of yourself, so let me do it for you”

“I wanted to tell you in person”

“I think I’m in love with you”

“I’ve been in love with you for years”

“Do you trust me?”

“I can’t handle another heartbreak”

“It’s my fault, really, for loving you and thinking you were capable of loving me back”

“I got the message - loud and clear”

“I didn’t think I’d settle down - especially not so young”

“I know I have a reputation but... remember what they say about people changing”

“You’re different - you’ve always been different to me”

“It’s just all such a cliche”

“Full disclosure - I’m strangely proud of my arse”

“You look stunning”

“I can’t believe you’re actually mine.”

AUs

Frat Boy!AU

Werewolf!AU

Greaser!AU

Bakery!AU

High Society!AU

University!AU

Tattoo Artist!AU

King of Hell!AU

Neighbour!AU

Angel/Demon!AU

Bartender!AU

Soulmate!AU

Mob!AU

Football/Soccer Player!AU (or just a sportsman!AU, specify the sport if you fancy it)

Life on Richmond Street Blurbs (Calum Exclusively obvs)

Spin Off Blurbs

[zankivich]

The Arrangement: CEO’s Son/Dom!Shawn x Black Sub Reader Chapter 6

a/n: Hi. I know no one reads this so not really gonna bother. Like if you liked. Reblog if you care at all. Maybe buy my broke as a ko-fi so I can survive this semester? K bye. 

WARNINGS: Soft smut? 

*Shawn’s point of view*

A night out on the town is exactly what he needed. When his best friend Brian flew to town, it meant to clear his schedule and probably have 911 on speed dial for any ambulance like purposes. With the state of his relationship with his dad at the time, he was in desperate need for things to make sense again. And they weren’t. They just fucking weren’t. Enter Brian.

“Shawn motherfucking mendes! Did you miss me? Tell me you missed me!” His best friend snorted practically hopping into his arms in the middle of JFK

“Not enough to carry your dumb ass,  get the fuck of me!” He chuckled.

“I am so fucking excited to be back in this city man. The pussy is just something different out here, ya know? Now if only my best friend flew me out more than once a year.”

He threw Brian’s bags into the trunk of his car and ignored his best, but idioctic, friend.

“Yea, I invite your ass out here more than once a year and my dad will have both of our asses. That’s assuming you don’t kill us first.”

“You wake up in Tijuana one time, and suddenly I’m a bad influence?”

“We were in the fucking Bahamas, Brian!”

“So, not my sharpest moment! I got us home didn’t I?”

“No, jackass, my dad got us home. You got chlaymdia and a fucking sunburn. Now get in the car before I leave your ginger ass here!”

“Fair, that’s fair.”

Brian had been on his soccer team in the first grade. They’d been best friends ever since. When his dad moved the entire family out to California, Brian was with them for every holiday and every break they could find. The two were inseparable. Brian was a jackass, and he got Shawn into far more trouble than he did anything good. But he was his best friend. He’d been there for him, the first time his dad cheated on his mom. The first time he got his heart broken. When his dad had taken everything from him. So, there was a loyalty between the two of them that was unmatched. They’d do anything for each other. Anything.

So, there’s no one else he’d rather sit on his couch with in the middle of the afternoon and smoke the kind of weed that made your knees numb. That’s the kind of friendship he needed.

“What the fuck have you been up to lately?” Brian coughed around the bowl. “I haven’t heard from you in forever.”

He chuckled up at the ceiling which was maybe the most prettiest ceiling he’d ever seen. Wow.

“Man, my dad is totally up my ass about ‘ continuing his legacy’. I like ‘work’ now. Real shit. And then... I’ve been fucking honest to god the sexiest woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. Not enough hours in the day I guess.”

“Yea, what else is new?”

He shook his head. “Nah bro. You don’t understand. Like even I don’t know how I pulled her. She’s thirty years old. My dad’s fucking terrified of her. She got three of the top artists of the year under her belt, and she lets me make her cum until she passes out. It’s fucking addicting.”

Brian passed the bowl, and Shawn worked on taking three big hits, the smoke filling his lungs and taking over his whole body.

“Hold up. You’re fucking the same chick like...consistently? Since fucking when?”

“Since...Since she gave me the best orgasm of my entire life? Since...I don’t know, since my dad makes me so fucking stressed all the time I feel like I’m gonna explode. I mean it man, it’s bad. It’s worse than I ever could’ve imagined.”

Brian, for all the jackass that he definitely was, still turned to his friend and gave him a glance check of wellness. That glance to look for damage, to look for signs of mental distress, of pain. Brian knew. He always knew better than anyone.

“Then why don’t you just tell him to stick his job up his ass, man? You knew you didn’t want this from the beginning. You can get out from under him!”

They’d had this conversation since Shawn had turned twenty-one and his dad insisted he start learning the ropes. The company would be his one day, assuming he stuck it out until his old man keeled over.

“I can’t. He’s got me; we both know it. I either fall in line and get my inheritance next year, or I leave now and I’m fucked. H--He promised he’d give me my masters then. He promised.”

“Yea, but your dad is maybe the most evil bastard I’ve ever met. No offense. I just don’t want to see you waste your life away doing this shit that makes you unhappy only to find out that it wasn’t even worth it in the end.”

“I know man,” He responded glumly. “I know.”

Too somber of a topic for getting high, they each settle a little more bonelessly into the couch and lean on each other’s shoulders as the high take it’s full effect.

“So the Shawn Mendes is fucking the same girl on the daily? You two exclusive or something?”

“Nah man we just...have an understanding. We lead really stressed out lives. I kind of want to boss someone around a little bit, and she wants to not have to give any orders for a change. We just work well.” He shrugged.

“Oh, so it’s just casual sex then?”

“Yea...Casual. Sure.”

“Well, you don’t sound so sure.” Brian snorted. “You catching feelings or something?”

“No! No. I--I’m not, man. She’s just weird. She’s not like the girls I usually fuck around with. She’s a little harder to read.” He shrugged.

“No shit, man she’s fucking thirty!”

He didn’t know if he should tell Brian about Miami. About holding her during the show. How they slept together, just slept, in her hotel room. How it was the most well rested he’d felt in months. It wasn’t the conversations they usually had. Shawn hadn’t had a serious girlfriend in over three years, and there was a reason for that. Women were too much of a headache, always wanted more than you could give them. As long as he was single, he was in control. And it wasn’t like y/n even wanted to be with him. Half the time he couldn’t figure out if she hated him still, if she still viewed him as just an extension of his father. The part of him that wanted to change that, that wanted her to view him at something else, didn’t vibe well with the voice in his head that kept reminding him it wasn’t supposed to matter.

So, they get dressed up. Shawn orders them a car to stop at all the places in NYC that one only went to if they had money, power, fame, or some combo of the three. The city was his stomping ground of sorts. He felt good there, much better than he did in LA. Things can move just as fast in LA, but somehow it feels a little less artificial. Maybe it isn’t, maybe he’s an idiot, but he doesn’t really care. Just needs to not think for a while.

***

*y/n’s point of view*

Friendship dates are instrumental when you work together. It’s important to have a space that isn’t dominated by work or business. So, once a week, as long as your schedule permitted it, you and Tiana would just go for best friend time. It could be  drinks, dinner, a movie, a yoga class when you were both feeling particularly dumb. On this week’s agenda you were taking a sculpting class. You liked clay, and Tiana liked the fact that they served wine. It was easily a win-win situation.

“So… How was Florida?”

Your hands stumbled on the piece of clay you had been in the middle of scoring and you definitely ripped a whole in it. Idiot.

“Florida? Why do you ask? What happened in Florida? Nothing.”

She raised an eyebrow and stared at you like you were crazy. Maybe you were crazy.

“Bitch is you crazy?” She snorted.

Fair.

“Bitch you the one asking dumb ass questions.”

“Mhmmm . . . So I spoke to Mike the other day.”

You paused in your work and looked over to see her twirling her little wine glass in her hands like the rude little gremlin she was.

“Is that so?” You huffed. “Spit it out, wench.”

“Oh don’t mind me. My niggas barely uber to see me. Let alone fly by jet.”

“Oh for fucks sake. You and Mike gossip more than my mama and her friends.”

She cackled and took a sip from her glass. “And we love it, sis! Now if you don’t unbunch your soaked ass panties and start sharing details, I swear fo’ god. What are best friends for anyway?”

“There is nothing to tell, heffer.” you sighed going back to your precious clay. “He just needed some very specific release and came to Miami to get it.”

“Yea? Well Mike says he stayed through Orlando.”

“Mike needs to keep his mouth shut before he gets fired.”

“Why would you lie to me of all people. Who am I gone tell about you and Shawn Mendes’ rendezvous?”

You rolled your eyes and threw your tools to the table. In hindsight, Shawn had been burning a whole in your mind the past few months. And you hadn’t talked about it all, had no one you could really share it with. Tiana was your ride or die. If there was anyone in the world you could talk to? It was her.

“Okay. Okay fine.” You sighed. “I was kidding though. He was really frustrated and he didn’t want to wait for me to come back to NYC. So I jokingly told him he could come to Miami. I didn’t know his ass was going to show up! And when he did...we fucked at first. And it was fine. It was good like it always is but then…”

“Oooo. Bitch don’t clam up at the good part. What happened next?” She encouraged.

“You know when Ariana does needy and the moon rises and it’s like kind of a romantic, maybe sad, bop?”

“Yes?”

“Well...You know how I get into my feelings sometimes. I guess I maybe leaned my head on his shoulder a little bit. And then he--he wrapped his arms around me. For the rest of the show. Even Break free. Didn’t take his arms away the whole time... That’s weird right? Like why would he do that?”

“Because he has sipped from the valleys of the African diaspora  and he is hooked, bitch!”

Tiana bust out laughing getting them dirty looks once again from the white women who came there to nurse their minor alcoholism. Oh well.

“Very funny. I’m serious, Ti!” You whined. “I don’t...do this. I don’t know how to do anything but hooks up. And with a man almost six years younger than me?”

“So you want to date him?”

“No!” You hissed beneath your breath. “No...well I mean I don’t know. It doesn’t matter because he doesn’t want to date me okay. It was just a lapse in judgement.”

“Yea, okay. I’ll be the judge of that. Tell me what the hell else happened?”

“Well we spent like three or four days together. And he just kind of hung out while I worked. And we had sex...a lot. Like three or four times a day. It was so intense. And then every night for the show we would go out and watch and he kept putting his arms around me. What the fuck does that mean, Ti? ”

“It meannnns he likes you bitch.” Ti rolled her eyes. “What else could it mean?”

“You know who we’re talking about here. It’s Shawn. Shawn doesn’t do anything but get women into bed with them. We both know that.”

“Yes. We also both knew that he didn’t hook up with a woman more than once. You two have been screwing longer than most of your past relationships. So let’s stop pretending that we’ve got this white boy squared up when obviously we don’t.”

You sighed letting your face come to rest on your clay covered hands.

“I just...I can’t afford to let him catch me slipping, Ti. Whether I like him or not doesn’t matter. I can’t let his dad get in the way of my goals.”

Tiana nodded and placed her wine glass down to take your hand in hers.

“Girl, I get it. White men are trash and as much as we make fun of them, there is a fear there that we cannot let go of. But you cannot, I repeat, you cannot let that man dictate your life. He’s not worth it. He’s had not a damn thing to do with your success, and he will not lead to your downfall. Now if Shawn turns out to be more than what we thought he was, then let that be enough. Don’t ruin it for Manny’s sake. He doesn’t deserve that much of your energy.”

And that was why she was your best friend. She was the most intelligent person you knew. She was funny and wild and crazy, but she kept you centered in a way that no one else could. And she always made shit make sense. Even when you were fought it with every fiber of your being. There was no use. Tiana was always right.

“Yea, okay. Let’s just let it die for now. I don’t think even Shawn knows what he wants yet tbh. No reason for me to think too much into it now.”

“Whatever you say sis. whatever you say.”

***

*Shawn’s point of view*

It’s dark. There are bodies everywhere and the strobe lights illuminate a face every once in awhile. Brian’s talking to some blonde that’s five inches taller than him. There’s a brunette to his right that keeps whispering in his ear and playing with his hair. He’s not drunk enough for this. His whole vibe is off, and he’s not quite sure why. Why can’t he fall back into who he’s always been.

“Do you wanna take me home tonight?” She murmured wrapping one of his curls around her finger.

He snorted. “I don’t exactly take people home sweetheart.”

“Oh...Well, do you wanna come over to mine? I live close by.”

“Yea, maybe later. I’m gonna get another drink, you want one?”

“S--Sure. Thank you.”

He slides off the couch in search of more bottle service. He’s got a feeling that there might not be enough in the state.

Brian finds him searching for answers in a shot glass. He slides his hands sloppily along his shoulders and he already knows what he’s about to say.

“Bro! This chick’s all over me. Can I use your spare room?”

He shrugs. “Sure, whatever man.”

“What about your girl? You ready to go back?”

“I don’t know man. I’m just not feeling it.”

Brian’s eyes widened in confusion. “The fuck is there not to feel? Just pull your dick out and find friction.”

“Just go grab your girl and let’s get the fuck out of here, aye?”

He tried to focus his eyes on his, which just resulted in his head wobbling a little bit. Shawn sure hoped he didn’t have whiskey dick, cause he’d never heard the end of it.

“You seriously not getting any tonight?”

Oh he was getting some. Just not the likes of what NYC’s latest size negative two of the month had to offer.

Apparently Blondy and Brunette are friends. When Brunette finds out Blondy is getting in the car, and she isn’t there’s a little bit of a hick up. Somehow Brian still convinces Blondy to get into the car. His best friend might have at least mediocre game. The ride back is full of obscene kissing noises, and Brian trying to convince this poor woman he’s going to be able to make her cum tonight. Home couldn’t come fast enough.

Shawn: come over.

y/n: oooo I feel like Cinderella being cuarted at the ball.

y/n: Negro it is one am. No.

Shawn: I’ll send you a car. Come in those horrid little fluffy pjs I saw in your suitcase in Orlando. Idc. I’d get you a pumpkin carriage but I think the dealership might be fresh out of those.

y/n: YOU WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO SEE THOSE. YOU WERE NOT INVITED TO THE TOUR.

Shawn: Please? I’m too drunk to argue with you. My best friend is about to seriously dissapoint this poor woman tonight in my guest bedroom, and it’s gonna fuck up the whole vibe of my space. Some good sex must be had tonight.

y/n: the amount of bullshit that comes out of your mouth on a daily basis. Truly remarkable.

Shawn: I’m sending you a car. You don’t even have to take your bonnet off.

y/n: You are not fucking me with my bonnet on. My black grandmama anscestors would haunt my ass with negro spirituals for the rest of eternity.

Shawn: Noted. I’ll see you in forty five?

y/n: Ugh. Whatever.

Fucking finally.

***

He’s still in his jeans from the club and reclining on his bed as the alcohol races through his system when the app alerts him that she’s on her way up from the lobby. Thank god for fancy passcodes that mean he doesn’t have to let her in. He lurches up out of bed to meet her at the door. His guest bedroom is on the other side of the apartment, and he’s hopeful that the sounds won’t make it over to them. He just wants to focus on her tonight. Nothing else.

Since their weird little bubble in Florida, they hadn’t talked about any of it. Y/n arrived back in town and immediately asked to be tied up, gagged, and whatever else meant that they were focused on nothing but the bedroom. It didn’t hurt his feelings at all. This is what they were good at. This was the whole point of everything that they were right? Not to make things complicated but just to fuck and to let themselves release everything out into the bedroom. And that’s exactly what they were going to do tonight. He would make sure of it.

On the other side of the door, she’s standing there in tennis shoes and all silk pajamas. It’s a short and camisole nighty combo that he has every intention of ripping with his bare hands. But it’s cute. She’s cute.

“You went out tonight.” She notes, her eyes raking over him until he’s twitchy and needy.

He nodded. “Yea.”

“Did you hook up with someone?”

Something about the fact that he’s had something to drink just tells him to be honest. He can see her, maybe even more clearly than he was used to, and he had not a single ability in the world to bullshit her anymore. Not tonight.

“No. No I didn’t. There was a girl there who tried, who wanted to come back with me, and I--I thought about it. I did.” He hummed. “But I texted you instead.”

He can tell she wasn’t ready for the honesty. He can see the way her jaw untightens just slightly, the way she relaxed just barely. Who the fuck is either of them kidding?

“Explain to me why I’m here again?” She asked cocking her hip against his door.

She had braids in again. He didn’t know how to tell her that he’d been thanking God for protective styles since she flipped them over her shoulder that one time while she rode him into her desk chair. He was dangerously drunk.

“Stop talking. Come here.”

He cups his palm around the back of his neck and pulls her lips against his. She releases a little half whimper half sigh when he bites her bottom lip and moves his tongue to where she needs him to go. They’re still halfway in his apartment and halfway in the hallway when he pulls her legs up around his waist and presses her into the wall next to his doorway. But she still gives him everything that he needs instantly. Still pushes her hips against his. Still scratches at his scalp like no one ever has. Still had a grip to her thighs that makes his mouth water and his dick hard. When her ass is filling his hands and then some, there’s not a question. That woman from the club wasn’t going to give him this. Wasn’t ever going to be able to make him feel the way that she could. So why fucking lose this?

He slammed the door shut and took her back to his room, body laid out perfectly amongst his sheets. His fingers reach for his belt, and she’s giggling as she kicks her shoes halfway across the room. She’s really beautiful when she smiles. Fuck.

She went to reach for her camisole and he was hopeless but to stop her. His hands locked around her wrists pinning her to the bed. And she peered up at him with those big ass eyes of her, wild and brown and blown with lust. But her skin is soft as a fucking feather. And her cheek bones sit high and prominent and perfect. Her lips are thick and plush and he knows there’s no filler in them because every time she kisses him it’s like heaven. And he’s drunk. He’s so fucking drunk. The problem is that way too much of it is just her, and that never used to be reason enough

He kisses her. But it’s not like it was at the doorway. It’s not like the first night they spent together, or any of the other kisses after that. It’s soft. It’s slow and methodical and searching. Her eyes flutter close and she parts her lips and this time her tongue is leading the charge. But he doesn’t stop her. Would never want to stop her from kissing him like this. His hands go lax on her wrists and she reaches to pull him closer instead. They fall flat on the bed, her body wrapping around his. He loses himself in her kiss, in her touch. She’s just there filling up every space that’s ever existed in his life And he wants her. God does he want her.

“Shawn.” She mumbled against his mouth.

“Shhh. Let me touch you.” He begged.

Her eyes softened and she nodded allowing him to rip that pretty camisole he’d been thinking about since he opened the door. That’s as rough as it gets. When he’s met with the soft skin of her breasts he can’t do anything but be tender. He roles her nipples between his thumbs, licks along the valley of her sternum, and her moans are incredible. He’s stuck on her. And the one way to work through that, the only way to not fall consumed by her, is to touch and lick and kiss. And she lets him. Lets him and lets him and lets him.

“Touch me.” She gasps.

And so he touches.

***

The sun streams through his curtains, and it’s the second thing that wakes him up that morning. The first is the warm body pressed against his chest. When she wakes up in the morning she stretches her whole body, but it all originates from her spine. It makes her look a little bit like a fish out of water, or a mermaid. But he kind of likes it. This time her stretch sends her deeper into his arms, and he’s totally okay with that. Her eyes open and they stare at each other. It’s silent. Just the two of them. After that.

“Hi.” She whispered snuggling a little deeper into his pillow.

He licked his bottom lip, voice tired from lack of use. “Hi.”

“Do we....Do we talk about what that was?”

“Really? This early and you already wanna talk?” He smirked.

“It’s in my blood. Don’t make fun of me.”

She flicks his bicep and it’s the most ridiculous thing he could ever imagine. It’s too early to deal with her ridiculousness.

“I’m hungry.” He sighed and rolled over onto his back.

“Well get to cookin. The movie where the black woman serves the white man is a straight to dvd feature, and I am only interested in box office hits.”

“Well that sounds lovely, however I meant much more of the, ‘you riding my face until you cum’ type hunger. Or is that not high enough at the box office for you?”

“Hmm...well we certainly can try!”

He can’t help but laugh as she settles her thighs over either side of his head. Her thighs are things of miracles and he’s just a bit obsessed with them, just a bit obsessed with her. His hands settled on her hips and he can’t help but look up at the way the sun hits her chest and face. She’s beautiful.

His tongue traces languidly at her heat. He’s not interested in driving her up a wall this early in the morning. Just wants to fuck her through the fog of their wake up. So, he licks deep into her. He lets his tongue dip inside and then runs the flat of it against against the entire length of her pussy. Her clit is already erect and at attention. He settles his hands onto her knees and rubs at her thighs. She plays with his hair and grinds slowly against his tongue as they work her towards her release.

“Fucking shit, Shawn,” She whined. “That’s so good.”

He tilts his chin up and follows her shaking hips, his lips attached to her clit. He just wants to devour her.

“Baby I--I’m gonna cum!”

She’s never called him baby before. Not once. And it sparks a reaction that neither of them could have seen coming. He flips her over onto her back--thank god for neck and back day--and chases her pussy like it’s the last coke in the desert. It might very well be.

“Oh--Yes! Yes!”

The knock on the door can’t come at a worse fucking time.

He pulled back and wiped at his mouth eyes still completely zoned in on what’s happening between her legs.

“NOT FUCKING NOW BRIAN!”

Her fingers dig into his hair and pull him back between her thighs. It’s hotter than he could imagine.

“Bro I just need to borrow your jeep for like thirty--an hour--two hours tops !”

He pulled away from her with a slurp. “You touch that fucking jeep and it’s the last thing you’ll ever do!”

“Melanie has to get to a study group for her philosophy class!”

“Who the entire FUCK is Melanie?!”

Her fingers are in his hair again. She leans up to nuzzle his throat with her perfect lips and take his ear lobe between her teeth.

“Can we please? You got on a private jet to visit me in Miami. I think a jeep is the least of your concerns.”

He whined and nuzzled back against her softly. “I love that car.”

“Maybe work on loving this pussy a little more?”

Well that was certainly doable.

“Yea, okay.”

*five minutes later*

“Okay! Well uh...I’m just gonna take the jeep. I’ll bring it back, bro promise!”

He pulled back one more time. “Get the hell out of here, Brian!”

“Jesus Brian! GO!” She yelled in unison.

….

“Tough crowd!”

***

“Shawn, I’ve got to go!” She giggled.

He was much more interested in kissing his way along her neck and collarbones.

“Mmmm. No.”

“I have a brunch with a very important client, and thanks to you I’m going back to my house in a dumb man shirt.”

He snorted and ran his tongue along the length of the collar.

“This is saint laurent.”

“This is me leaving!” She insisted tugging out of his grasp.

He followed her to the door, the length of her braids only bringing more attention to the way her ass swayed in those shorts. Jesus.

“Can I ask you something? Before you go?”

She paused at the door and turned to him, letting her back rest against the wall.

“Sure.”

“You felt it last night, right? I’m not crazy, am I?”

She bit her lip, and shook her head softly. “No, you’re not crazy. I felt it.”

“And it means something, right? It is something?”

It takes a little longer to get a response out of her. But slowly but surely she nods at that too.

“Yea. I think it is.”

He took a deep breath trying to discern for himself whether he was about to fuck everything up. When his fingers mold to the apple of her cheek and she peers up at him with these big, soft eyes he knows there was never any choice for him. He’d been kidding himself since the beginning. This time when they kiss neither of them are holding back.He lets himself be gentle. He holds her against his chest and he doesn’t think at all about the consequences, or what it might look like. He just wants to kiss her silly. He does. She does the same for him.

He pulled back to check for fear of hesitance in her eyes. There is none. How is there none? And so he just...goes for it.

“I like you.” He admitted softly. “Like a lot.”

She ran her thumb along his lip, tugging at it  until it smacked back into place.

“I like you too. A lot.”

Her eyes are warm and soft even now. She’s so inviting and she just seems to pull the truth out of him with ease. He just wants to be honest with her. Even when it’s scary. Even when it doesn’t make sense.

“Well uh...I’m not gonna lie I don’t really know what it is you see in me. I--I know what I am. And I know what I can offer. For some girls it’s enough, but for you...I don’t know that it could be.”

“You don’t need to talk down to yourself to get me to like you Shawn.” She murmured.

He snorted. “I know that. I’m just saying what we both know. I know I can be an asshole, and a cocky asshole at that. But I can’t even think of touching a woman who isn’t you. I’ve never had that happen before. Not in my whole life. I guess I just--fuck. Will you go out with me? Like to dinner? As human beings that don’t just make each other cum.”

“Dinner hmmm?” She hummed.

“Yea, dinner.”

“You really want to be seen with me in public? What would your dad think?”

“I don’t...I don’t care what my dad thinks. I want to take you to dinner. Do you want to go with me?”

The pause she takes is long enough to kill him. For sure it is.

“I...Yea. I do.”

It brings a smile to his face against his better judgement. He didn't usually do smiles. Really got in the way of his image. A look of smug indifference was his go to. But this woman was quickly ruining everything he ever thought that he knew.

She lets him kiss her against the door. Let’s him hold her face in his hands. It feels good. Feels right.

“Hey, if we go on a date it’s not gonna stop you from domming me is it?”

He laughed. “Of course not.”

“Okay. You can kiss me again.”

“Thank you.”

Permanent taglist 

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Arrangement Taglist: 

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@claredolphinbear24 @peterbrokenparker @shawnase @blackharry @shawnwyr @speakingofmari @moniehp 

[narwhallove]

Review of R&G—Deep dive into Gambit

Earlier reviews that Ludi & I have been batting back and forth linked here, with a most welcome guest post by Jessi:

1. Faces (by me) 2. Callbacks (by @ludi-ling​) 3. Jim Lee & Pere Pérez (by me) 4. More on faces, and ‘sex creep’ Remy LeBeau (by @ludi-ling) 5. Faces and ‘creep factors’ (by @jehilew​)

On sex creep Remy LeBeau:

If I’m not misreading, Ludi and Jessi, you’re both saying Remy’s behavior is generally sexy; that he is within the parameters of good behavior because Rogue’s implicitly given him permission to talk this way. As Ludi wisely says, “The whole conversation is a way for them to negotiate where they’re at in their relationship.”

I still find this a tad problematic. He may have intuited Rogue’s feelings correctly, he may be testing her boundaries, but at this point in time, there’s no indication that he is at all worried about her feelings. To me, he sounds like the type of guy who corners an inexperienced girl into reacting the way he wants her to—even if he isn’t actually that guy.

But I’m gonna blame it on the writing. Gambit is supposed to be charming. Jessi hits the nail on the head: “You can tell he was not written by anyone who is even remotely smooth with women here.” 

So I’m glad that Thompson sweetens Remy’s dialogue. This scene is practically a perfume commercial.  Lee and Lobdell, etc., obviously could not write sexy and sweet, and so we’ve wound up with creepy (to me).

Reader, thank you for reaching this point. If you’re a Gambit fan, you’ve probably unfollowed me. But! The post below is a deep dive into Gambit’s . . . portrayal.

Ludi: So, Ms. Narwhal, what did you think about those transitions from down-time to the proverbial ka-pow? I’m interested because some of my most favourite X-Men issues were the down-time ones. Uncanny X-Men #337 - which is almost entirely focused on the X-Men having breakfast - is one of my favourites of all time.

I’m sidestepping your gorgeous question about breakfast, sadly, because I’ve changed my mind about where the art stumbles. After turning through the gorgeous TPB, I realized that it stumbles at the flashbacks. Which is weird, because the flashbacks were some of the most heady, charming parts of the series. And the art is definitely at its most ambitious.

It’s clear the team decided that they would imitate the visual styles that these original moments were rendered in, whether the original penciller was Mike Collins or Jim Lee or Andy Kubert. What a rad challenge for Pérez and D'Armata to flex their art muscles and have fun.

Let’s applaud the team for this. Thompson was ambitious in deciding to revisit of scenes from up to 20 years ago—can you imagine another writer wanting to touch Antarctica?! And Pérez was ambitious in his mimicry of styles that haven't aged so well. He’s done it with wit and verve, as below (and in my earlier post comparing Pérez’s and Lee’s versions of Rogue).

On the left is Andy Kubert’s 1994 rendering of Remy at Scott and Jean’s wedding, done in the “edgy” style of the decade: lots of hatching, high-contrast shadows, viewed from a very dramatic angle. Remy poses in such a flamboyant way you’d think he just blew Magneto up. That’s 90s for “dashing.”

Pérez updates Remy with a look that’s as fresh as Thompson’s dialogue. Same hair and arching eyebrows, but his smirk has a smile now, and he looks playful rather than self-serious. Too bad Pérez couldn’t retcon that awful tie!

It starts getting interesting when Pérez quotes Gambit’s facial structure from still earlier. The left is a detail from Gambit's first appearance in 1990, in Uncanny X-men #266, by Mike Collins. The middle is from an X-men Team card of the same year. And on the right is Pérez, clearly taking a cue from these precedents, down to the smoke drifting out of Gambit's eyes. His nose is even sharper. It's a fun reminder of how Gambit used to be portrayed—as someone capable, dangerous, and not a matinee romantic lead. 

However, this “facial quotation” means Pérez runs into some trouble when we return to the present day. Somewhere between 1990 and 2018, Gambit got a nose job. The decision to play with different styles means that Gambit doesn't look like the same person throughout the miniseries. 

These panels precede that glorious kiss in #3, and Remy looks so earnest, so chipmunklike (with that new nose), that it’s hard to believe he could have ever been the naughty, fast-on-his-feet thief we see in #2. 

So the decision has pros—it’s clever, it’s charming—and it’s got cons. One con is that if we don't like the referent artist, then we're not going to appreciate the imitation, either. But the bigger con is that the style differences can be so jarring that it seems Rogue and Gambit are being played by a bunch of different actors.

This only gets weirder when clones are introduced.

This panel is from #4, and tbh, I don’t know who these people are. These are not clones, but Rogue looks like a soccer mom, and Remy’s a chrome robot. Though I’ve developed an argument to account for some wildly different facial features throughout the miniseries, I am unsure what’s going on here. Maybe there’s a comic in which someone used Jennifer Aniston as Rogue’s reference. (I have a theory Jim Lee used model Stephanie Seymour for Rogue and Jean.)

Like Gambit, Rogue undergoes the same treatment throughout her flashbacks, though it’s more evident in her body and body language. Hopefully this post makes it clear enough that when you glance through them, you might see what I’m talking about.

Ludi, I know you had some thoughts about the ways Rogue's and Gambit's faces were rendered too, as well as when they were engaged in some important stuff—like the kissing. Were there moments you felt the characterization of our heroes wasn't as successfully conveyed? Or any big centerpieces you thought really nailed their histories?

We would like to invite anyone who wants to chime in about R&G to write a post, which we’ll link to as part of a chain. And we will comment the hell out of your posts, too. ;-) @jehilew @cmoineau @pastellarts @90sxmen4ever @bustedflipflop @awesomeamberlady @xevg and anyone whom I might have missed! Please PM.

Bullied Gently reminded by @ludi-ling that posts may be as short as a single sentence. Essays not required!

CREDITS Marvel Universe Series I Trading Cards by Fleer (1990) X-men Team Card (detail)

Rogue & Gambit #3, #4 (2018) Pencils: Pere Pérez Colors: Frank D’Armata 

Uncanny X-men #266 (1990) Pencils: Mike Collins Colors: Brad Vancata

X-men #30 (1994) Pencils: Andy Kubert Colors: Joe Rosas

[sawyersick]

fuck you all of them

at first I was very confused but then I remembered the ask game thingey

anyways I’m sorry for assaulting you with words lets go

1. Do you ever doubt the existence of others than you?

I did a lot when I was little, when I was like 4ish I had a theory that everyone around me was actually just the same 50 actors constantly switching outfits to make me think the world was larger than it is

2. On a scale of 1-5, how afraid of the dark are you?

I'm afraid of bugs and ghosts so like... 2.25

3. The person you would never want to meet?

idk??? hitler??? Mike Pence??????

4. What is your favorite word?

phalanges, trivial, cordyceps

5. If you were a type of tree, what would you be?

eucalyptus?

6. When you looked in the mirror this morning what was the first thing you thought?

damn I actually look good without makeup tf

7. What shirt are you wearing?

a purple Hawaii t shirt with surfboards on it

8. What do you label yourself as?

gay???????????????????? punk? tired???? idk

9. Bright room or dark room?

bright

10. What were you doing at midnight last night?

trying to fall asleep

11. Favorite age you’ve been so far?

8 or 14

12. Who told you they loved you last?

my parents after I started crying after they threatened (again) to kick me out

13. Your worst enemy?

myself I guess

14. What is your current desktop picture?

a flying turtle sharting a rainbow

15. Do you like someone?

I like a lot of people!! but romantically, nobody right now

16. The last song you listened to?

Aderall, by Livewater https://livewater.bandcamp.com/track/adderall

17. You can press a button that will make any one person explode. Who would you blow up?

Mike Pence???? idk

18. Who would you really like to just punch in the face?

this chick who fucked over all my friends or my ex

19. If anyone could be your slave for a day, who would it be and what would they have to do?

nobody that's fuckin weird and also a little kinky

20. What is your best physical attribute? (showing said attribute is optional)

my hair always looks pretty good and rarely requires styling/upkeep and my natural colour is actually pretty nice

not showing a pic because I'm lazyyyy

21. If you were the opposite sex for one day, what would you look like and what would you do?

I would be a fucking HOT short king and I guess I would try to jack off even though I don't even masturbate and then like....... call men out on their misogyny and privilege

22. Do you have a secret talent? If yes, what is it?

I think I'm a good singer!! But I don't sing for anyone because I'm afraid of being judged

23. What is one unique thing you’re afraid of?

snails

24. You can only have one kind of sandwich. Every sandwich ingredient known to humankind is at your disposal.

UHHHH burger

25. You just found $100! How are you going to spend it?

save it or donate or spend on lolita

26. You just got a free plane ticket to anywhere in the world, but you have to leave immediately. Where are you going to go?

Japan because I am a WEEB

27. An angel appears out of Heaven and offers you a lifetime supply of the alcoholic beverage of your choice. “Be brand-specific” it says. Man! What are you gonna say about that? Even if you don’t drink booze there’s something you can figure out… so what’s it gonna be? 

I don't drink so I just googled "best brand of alcohol for cooking" and then "best brand of red wine for cooking" and apparently downton abbey has their own brand of wine because that was the first result so yeah that I guess

28. You discover a beautiful island upon which you may build your own society. You make the rules. What is the first rule you put into place? 

don't be a little bitch

29. What is your favorite expletive?

fuck

30. Your house is on fire, holy shit! You have just enough time to run in there and grab ONE inanimate object. Don’t worry, your loved ones and pets have already made it out safely. So what’s the one thing you’re going to save from that blazing inferno?

Squid Vicious, the giant me-sized squid plush my friend made for me

31. You can erase any horrible experience from your past. What will it be?

none of them because they made me who I am today even though that’s cheesy sounding, so maybe something embarrassing rather than abusive/traumatic

32. You got kicked out of the country for being a time-traveling heathen who sleeps with celebrities and has super-powers. But check out this cool shit… you can move to anywhere else in the world!

see #26..... Japan because I'm a WEEEEB

33. The Celestial Gates Of Beyond have opened, much to your surprise because you didn’t think such a thing existed. Death appears. As it turns out, Death is actually a pretty cool entity, and happens to be in a fantastic mood. Death offers to return the friend/family-member/person/etc. of your choice to the living world. Who will you bring back?

luckily nobody close to me has passed yet, so I guess Freddie Mercury because I don't think Kurt Cobain would want to be brought back

34. What was your last dream about?

an awful nightmare about genetically-engineered rabid penis-dogs (i am afraid of sex so it was worse than it sounds)

35. Are you a good….[insert anything you’d like here]?

artist? ehhh I guess

36. Have you ever been admitted to the hospital?

(gore tw)

yeah I tried to sew my prom dress in a day and the needle stabbed me and broke off inside my finger and they had to surgically remove it from the other side

37. Have you ever built a snowman?

NO AND I REALLY WANT TO

38. What is the color of your socks?

they're a mossy/slate green with little pixel illustrations of totoro characters!!

39. What type of music do you like?

anything rock.............. alt, punk, grunge, etc but I also like a lot of alt/indie stuff too

40. Do you prefer sunrises or sunsets?

sunsets are prettier I think!

41. What is your favorite milkshake flavor?

chocolate!!!!!

42. What football team do you support? (I will answer in terms of American football as well as soccer)

ew sportz

43. Do you have any scars?

a LOT, mostly from weird accidents/self harm

44. What do you want to be when you graduate?

i don't even know anymore..................... hopefully a healthcare professional I guess

45. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I wish I could concentrate better

46. Are you reliable?

online? no im a shitty texter. but when it comes to hanging out? yes absolutely I HATE cancelling plans

47. If you could ask your future self one question, what would it be?

will I be okay?

48. Do you hold grudges?

yeah I take a lot of shit without saying much so when I get angwy I fuckin lose it

49. If you could breed two animals together to defy the laws of nature, what new animal would you create?

cat dolphins!

50. What is the most unusual conversation you’ve ever had?

whether or not consensual cannibalism is technically vegan (I say yes and you can fucking fight me)

51. Are you a good liar?

yes.......... unfortunately

52. How long could you go without talking?

I once went without talking for a month and a half

53. What has been you worst haircut/style?

growing out my bangs while having this weird noncommittal side part

54. Have you ever baked your own cake?

I do all the time!! I also bake birthday cakes for foster children's birthdays

55. Can you do any accents other than your own?

not really? I kinda suck at accents..... I can only partially do asian, british, and southern accents

56. What do you like on your toast?

butter usually! Sometimes lemon curd or blueberry jam

57. What is the last thing you drew a picture of?

a house on a hill at night

58. What would be you dream car?

idk I'm not really into cars.... probably a sporty lil vintage sedan

59. Do you sing in the shower? Or do anything unusual in the shower? Explain.

I sing in the shower a lot!! and like do little dance moves with my hips

60. Do you believe in aliens?

yeah bro!

61. Do you often read your horoscope?

only if it shows up on social media/in a magazine, I won't seek it out

62. What is your favorite letter of the alphabet?

Q! Z! X!

63. Which is cooler: dinosaurs or dragons?

DRAGONS

64. What do you think about babies?

they're alright!! They scare me a little tho because I don't want to hurt them...... I prefer kids that are like 6+

[humblebumble069]

WIP FOR AWSM COMIC SERIES

From pt 1 - 6/7 (lost track)

Plus added some newer things to make it more sense, like Mikes friendship with the soccer team and yk Dustin, Lucas, El and Max🫶

[gleelistrp]

GRAHAM TALAN SMYTHE ● TAKEN

(+) friendly, knowledgeable, tactful. (-) shy, affected by peer pressure, easily offended.

��� b a s i c s.

f c   grant gustin. g r a d e   sophomore. a g e   16. s e x u a l i t y   pansexual. r e l a t i o n s h i p s t a t u s   single. k n o w n a s   the convoluted.

↪ s e c r e t s.

tw; drunk driving, death

He has always been unsure of his sexuality. All he knows is he prefers men to women but that doesn’t mean he would never date a girl again. The summer before his freshman year of high school he was dating this girl, someone that he didn’t really like but in order for him to get his thoughts together he figured it was necessary. They h ad fooled around in the park one night, or at least that’s what he let everyone believe. See, he’s never been a guys guy because of his mannerisms and awkwardness. When one of the jocks asked if he had hooked up with the girl who he was currently dating, he froze and said ‘yes’ he was lying but no one else knew he was. He felt bad but at the same time he felt included. Being friends with the Junior/Senior jocks at that age was not something that was good for someone who was still trying to find himself. He once made a 'best and worst’ list ranking every girl in the school because his 'friends’ thought it was funny. Little did he know that list was going to get passed around the school and he’s still hoping no one figures out that it was him that made it. Last summer when he was out for a joyride with his random jock buddies, they were drunk driving and he was stuck int eh backseat. Living in Ohio, deer are really common and that night a deer ran out in front of the car, causing the driver to run off the road and a cement tunnel/bridge head on. The guy driving died eventually and when Graham came to, he was being pulled away by the three other people in the car as they ran, never letting anyone know they were in the car that night too and could have helped the other guy.

↪ h e a d c a n o n s.

Graham hadn’t always been open about his sexuality. In fact, it was just about a year ago that he came out. It wasn’t something he did on his own, more like got caught doing but luckily he’s able to put up the facade and act like it didn’t phase him that people now know. It wasn’t on his terms and he hated it but he pretends it’s fine. 

He has been a part of the glee club ever since the beginning of his sophomore year. He likes music because it helps him escape his daily life for even two minutes. He’s not that into the club but it’s something for him to do when soccer season is over. Bonus: his favorite musical artist is Mike Posner. 

He’s very awkward, he doesn’t mean to be, he’s just himself and nice, very polite. He gets intrigued by people quickly and ends up making a fool of himself by walking into a door or saying the wrong word.

He’s very into gaming. He has a youtube channel up where he gets paid to play games and post videos of it online. It’s really the ultimate job for him. 

Wanting to standout and not be confused by his brothers, he wears a lot of hats or beanies. Has headphones wrapped around his neck or covering his ears. He keeps his hair short in the back and on the sides, the front much longer, where he’s able to spike it up one day if he wants or brush it to the side. Which also has light brown streaks in it because he thinks he’s cool. He rides a skateboard to get around just about any and everywhere he may need to go, too. His clothing consists of ripped jeans, a t-shirt and somedays a sweatshirt or hoodie.

GRAHAM SMYTHE is portrayed by ASH. THEY ships chemistry but doesn’t ship forced.

[reportafrique]

Beyond Being a Trailblazing Telecom Brand: 5 Reasons Globacom Stands Out Among Others

Yes, the history of telecommunications in Nigeria cannot be complete without mentioning the trailblazing exploits of Chief Mike Adenuga’s Globacom. Since its establishment in 2003, Globacom has achieved the “impossible”, from the introduction of the per-second billing to the demystification of the SIM card acquisition, just to mention a few. However, beyond these great achievements, what really makes Globacom stand out among other telecom brands is its unparalleled giving-back philosophy. In the last 20 years of its existence, I daresay no company has positively impacted the lives of Nigerians across several sectors like Globacom has done. Here are five ways Globacom has distinguished itself as arguably the most impactful brand in Nigeria: Globacom's Unparalleled philanthropy Globacom’s philanthropy initiatives are unparalleled as the Adenuga-owned telecom brand has continued to provide succour for less-privileged Nigerians. The lives of millions of Nigerians have been positively transformed through various promos, including Glo Festival of Joy Promo, Glo Overload, GloAllawee, Text 4 Million, Made for Life, Recharge to Stardom, 180 cars in 180 days, etc. Through these initiatives, many less-privileged Nigerians have become house and car owners. Reuben Okorie, a 48-year-old businessman who is one of the millions of beneficiaries of Globacom’s philanthropy, won a three-bedroom house in Abuja. The man who used to live in a one-bedroom apartment was overjoyed when he won a three-bedroom house in Abuja under the Glo Festival of Joy Promo. Globacom Supports Sports development Nigerian athlete Amusan, One of Glo's Ambassadors Globacom has made significant contributions to sports, particularly football, through various sponsorship agreements and initiatives. Notable instances include a ₦2 billion sponsorship deal with the Nigeria Football Federation in 2011, making it the official telecommunications partner and major sponsor of the Nigerian national teams. The company also sponsored the Nigerian league from 2003 to 2010 and resumed in 2013 with a ₦1.9 billion agreement lasting until 2016. Additionally, Globacom supported the annual Glo-CAF Awards from 2005 to 2016. To foster football development, Globacom also initiated the Glo Soccer Academy, a West African Soccer TV Reality show, aimed at discovering and training talented young footballers. The academy culminated in rewarding 16 outstanding players with significant prizes, including N5 million for the Most Valuable Player and N1 million each for the remaining finalists. These are just to mention a few. Globacom Supports Education development Globacom’s impact is also strongly felt in the education sector. The telecom giant, since its establishment, has been actively involved in developing educational infrastructure across secondary schools and tertiary institutions in the country. Additionally, Globacom has demonstrated its commitment to supporting African literature by sponsoring the esteemed Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa, a biennial award that recognizes the outstanding literary contributions of African writers, with the winning author receiving a prize of $20,000. Glo’s impacts on entertainment Go unveils Afrobeats artistes Chike, Asake and Kizz Daniels Globacom has also played a significant role in the Nigerian music industry by supporting and promoting local talent through various sponsored events such as Rock ‘n’ Rule, GloNaija Sings, Laffta Fest, X Factor, Slide and Bounce concerts, and Glo Mega Music. The company also honours African music icons through the Glo Evergreen Series and has contributed to the success of Nollywood actors by making them Glo Ambassadors with huge cash deals. Additionally, Globacom brought the world's largest dance reality show, Battle of the Year, to Nigeria, providing substantial cash prizes and opportunities for winners to represent the country globally. Support for MSMEs Globacom Supports SMEs Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are the backbone of any country’s economy. So, it’s not surprising that Globacom also prioritised helping the players in this sector. Globacom has empowered millions of SMEs in Nigeria as part of the fulfilment of a pact it signed with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in 2015. That’s not all. In December 2023, Globacom launched “Powering Ambition”, an innovative strategy deployed to bolster digital connectivity, especially for SMEs, through its submarine fibre optic infrastructure. And that’s still not all! Globacom also has special voice and data plans for SMEs tagged SME Biz Class, an innovative move to make business easier and more profitable for small entrepreneurs. While Globacom has undeniably left an indelible mark as a trailblazing telecom brand in Nigeria, its achievements extend beyond that. Its exceptional standing lies in its unparalleled commitment to giving back to society. Through extensive philanthropy initiatives, the company has positively transformed the lives of countless Nigerians, making a tangible impact on various sectors. The company's dedication to fostering positive change and uplifting the less privileged sets it apart, making it arguably the most impactful brand in Nigeria over the past two decades. Globacom's legacy goes beyond connectivity; it is a testament to the transformative power of corporate social responsibility and a beacon for others to follow in truly making a meaningful difference. Clarion call to all Nigerians for patriotic support for our own. Read the full article

[reportafrique]

Beyond Being a Trailblazing Telecom Brand: 5 Reasons Globacom Stands Out Among Others

Yes, the history of telecommunications in Nigeria cannot be complete without mentioning the trailblazing exploits of Chief Mike Adenuga’s Globacom. Since its establishment in 2003, Globacom has achieved the “impossible”, from the introduction of the per-second billing to the demystification of the SIM card acquisition, just to mention a few. However, beyond these great achievements, what really makes Globacom stand out among other telecom brands is its unparalleled giving-back philosophy. In the last 20 years of its existence, I daresay no company has positively impacted the lives of Nigerians across several sectors like Globacom has done. Here are five ways Globacom has distinguished itself as arguably the most impactful brand in Nigeria: Globacom's Unparalleled philanthropy Globacom’s philanthropy initiatives are unparalleled as the Adenuga-owned telecom brand has continued to provide succour for less-privileged Nigerians. The lives of millions of Nigerians have been positively transformed through various promos, including Glo Festival of Joy Promo, Glo Overload, GloAllawee, Text 4 Million, Made for Life, Recharge to Stardom, 180 cars in 180 days, etc. Through these initiatives, many less-privileged Nigerians have become house and car owners. Reuben Okorie, a 48-year-old businessman who is one of the millions of beneficiaries of Globacom’s philanthropy, won a three-bedroom house in Abuja. The man who used to live in a one-bedroom apartment was overjoyed when he won a three-bedroom house in Abuja under the Glo Festival of Joy Promo. Globacom Supports Sports development Nigerian athlete Amusan, One of Glo's Ambassadors Globacom has made significant contributions to sports, particularly football, through various sponsorship agreements and initiatives. Notable instances include a ₦2 billion sponsorship deal with the Nigeria Football Federation in 2011, making it the official telecommunications partner and major sponsor of the Nigerian national teams. The company also sponsored the Nigerian league from 2003 to 2010 and resumed in 2013 with a ₦1.9 billion agreement lasting until 2016. Additionally, Globacom supported the annual Glo-CAF Awards from 2005 to 2016. To foster football development, Globacom also initiated the Glo Soccer Academy, a West African Soccer TV Reality show, aimed at discovering and training talented young footballers. The academy culminated in rewarding 16 outstanding players with significant prizes, including N5 million for the Most Valuable Player and N1 million each for the remaining finalists. These are just to mention a few. Globacom Supports Education development Globacom’s impact is also strongly felt in the education sector. The telecom giant, since its establishment, has been actively involved in developing educational infrastructure across secondary schools and tertiary institutions in the country. Additionally, Globacom has demonstrated its commitment to supporting African literature by sponsoring the esteemed Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa, a biennial award that recognizes the outstanding literary contributions of African writers, with the winning author receiving a prize of $20,000. Glo’s impacts on entertainment Go unveils Afrobeats artistes Chike, Asake and Kizz Daniels Globacom has also played a significant role in the Nigerian music industry by supporting and promoting local talent through various sponsored events such as Rock ‘n’ Rule, GloNaija Sings, Laffta Fest, X Factor, Slide and Bounce concerts, and Glo Mega Music. The company also honours African music icons through the Glo Evergreen Series and has contributed to the success of Nollywood actors by making them Glo Ambassadors with huge cash deals. Additionally, Globacom brought the world's largest dance reality show, Battle of the Year, to Nigeria, providing substantial cash prizes and opportunities for winners to represent the country globally. Support for MSMEs Globacom Supports SMEs Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are the backbone of any country’s economy. So, it’s not surprising that Globacom also prioritised helping the players in this sector. Globacom has empowered millions of SMEs in Nigeria as part of the fulfilment of a pact it signed with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in 2015. That’s not all. In December 2023, Globacom launched “Powering Ambition”, an innovative strategy deployed to bolster digital connectivity, especially for SMEs, through its submarine fibre optic infrastructure. And that’s still not all! Globacom also has special voice and data plans for SMEs tagged SME Biz Class, an innovative move to make business easier and more profitable for small entrepreneurs. While Globacom has undeniably left an indelible mark as a trailblazing telecom brand in Nigeria, its achievements extend beyond that. Its exceptional standing lies in its unparalleled commitment to giving back to society. Through extensive philanthropy initiatives, the company has positively transformed the lives of countless Nigerians, making a tangible impact on various sectors. The company's dedication to fostering positive change and uplifting the less privileged sets it apart, making it arguably the most impactful brand in Nigeria over the past two decades. Globacom's legacy goes beyond connectivity; it is a testament to the transformative power of corporate social responsibility and a beacon for others to follow in truly making a meaningful difference. Clarion call to all Nigerians for patriotic support for our own. Read the full article

[zankivich]

The Arrangement: CEO’s Son/Dom!Shawn x Black Sub Reader Chapter 5

Hiya! This is the chapter when we get to figure out a little more of why Shawn is the way that he is. I’m not interested in villains for villains sake; I’m interested in complex characters in need of healing and kindness and also to maybe fight for themselves a little bit. I think this is gonna get very interesting if the thoughts in my head are anything to go off of. Also I try not to bug y’all too often but I am very very poor at the moment so if you did want to buy me a Kofi right here. That would be life changing. Ya girl got bills. K bye. 

WARNINGS: sex without a condom (gotta wrap it up folks), a mini panic attack w/o much description, and just some general softness. 

*Shawn’s point of view*

He’s in the studio. It’s his happy place. He remembered being eight years old, just barely big enough to climb into the seat, but finding something magical about the sound board. His nanny used to pick him up from school and he would beg her to take him to where his dad was working. They only started letting him go once they realized he’d stop throwing temper tantrums. He thrived there. He listened quietly and he learned about how to track vocals, how to create rhythms and what actual sound waves could look like for a vocal. And then he was thirteen, and his dad brought this guy in.

He was in baggy jeans and a green sweatshirt. His guitar had a plus sign on it, and there were scratches against the body where he’d strummed too hard. The sound guy told him his name was Ed Sheeran. He was there to sing for his dad. That day changed his life forever.

He went from playing soccer every day after school, to playing guitar and creating covers. His dad happily put him in the guitar lessons and the piano lessons and the vocal lessons. It was the outlet he never knew he needed, but couldn’t live without. Shawn was always thoroughly convinced he hadn’t been destined for much. Was never smart in school, never particularly passionate about anything either. And since the day he was born, all he knew was that his dad was powerful and his dad had money, and that meant one day he would have the same. Not because of who he was or what he accomplished, but because of who his dad was. Music changed that for him.

“Hey, pull back on the reverb?” He suggested to the producer. “It’s clouding the vocal. Trust me.”

There’s a guy in the booth. His dad’s new golden star. Niall Horan. His first album had done twice the numbers they anticipated, and so after a North American tour to test the waters he quickly pulled him in to try and do it again. That’s why Shawn was there of course. To oversee the creative vision, and “provide feedback”. What it really meant was, his dad knew he could determine what was good and what was bad, so why waste his time when he could have Shawn do it. As far as his dad was concerned, he should feel lucky that he was even allowed to be a part of the process.

“Aye, this is just isn’t feeling right. I’m coming out.” Niall said from the booth in his thick irish accent.

There’s a room of writers, but it’s actually pretty organic in comparison to some of the other artists under his dad’s belt. Two of them are friends of Horan’s from home, who had followed him along for the ride. He plops down on one of the couches and reaches for a guitar. His fingers pluck absently at the strings and Shawn can’t help but glance over there instead of filling out whatever dumbass report his dad was asking him to fill out. There’s a redheaded woman on the couch who started playing alongside him. Another guy uses his lap as drums, and they just start jamming with each other.

It’s electric. It’s that thing that made his stomach lurch like he was at the top of a rollercoaster. It’s what left him more at home in his own skin than anything else ever could. The energy in the room actually shifts. He swears he can feel the music. Like actually feel every strum in his fingertips as if its his hands on the guitar. It’s authentic and real and they’re just playing for fun.

But, somewhere in there he remembers that this is all he’ll ever get. Just watching from the sidelines while everyone else gets to play. It breaks his heart. It makes him sick to his stomach. So sick that he leaves abruptly in the middle of the session crashing outside and choking desperately for air. This is what he got. A noose that always felt too tight, with the hope every day that he just might get the chance to breathe. This was it for him.

***

*Y/n’s point of view*

Shawn: I need you.

y/n: That’s gonna be a little difficult. I’m in Miami, remember? First show of the tour for Grande.

Shawn: Well when are you coming back?

y/n: I’m staying through the first week of shows to make sure all the kinks get worked out. No pun intended.

Shawn: I don’t think I can wait that long.

You were walking past the merch booth getting set up and stopped to chat with some of the people working it. You had a lot of respect for merch booth people, depending on the show--and the pop shows were always the worst--shit could get hectic and fast. They deserved tons more respect than they got, and you were happy to show them some.

You peered down at your phone and read Shawn’s text over again. It felt a little off, even for him. You had gone stretches of time without hooking up before. There were times where he needed to be in LA while you stayed behind in New York, times where you had one show in one city, while he had one in another. It hadn’t been a problem before. You always just found time when the two of you available, and went from there. Shawn hadn’t ever pushed it further than that before.

y/n: everything alright?

Shawn: my dad is satan

y/n: well retweet sis! We been knew that.

y/n: Sorry. I wish I could be there to relieve the stress. If you wanna hop on a flight and meet me in Miami feel free lol

You head for the sound check, checking in to make sure that that stage was being set up, so that  meet and greet could go off without a hitch later. You nearly trip over one of Ariana’s dogs and die, but other than that it’s fine. There’s hours and hours of labor that have to go into a show before the doors ever open, before those kids every step inside to see their idol get up on the stage. It’s your job, along with a host of other incredibly talented and hard working people, to make sure that those hours seamingly don’t even exist. You don’t mind it. Back in the early days you used to go on whole tours to make sure your artists were taken care of. It wasn’t until you turned thirty that you realized slowing down a little bit was in everyone’s best interest.

When you’re not needed you set up in an office space to answer emails and check in with the office. The afternoon passes quickly, and before you know doors are opening up, and the kids begin to pile in. You’re backstage making sure the band and Ariana are good to go, when the tour manager comes up to you looking panicked and confused the way he always did.

“Hey, y/n! Sorry to bother you, but can I borrow you for a second?”

You clap hands with Ariana wishing her luck she won’t need before heading off with Mike.

“What’s up, Mike? Everything okay?”

He nodded. “Yea! It’s just that I got a call from the head of security at the back of the venue, and there’s a guest for you who doesn’t have a pass.”

“A guest for me? I don’t have any guests tonight. Did they catch a name?”

“It’s uh...It’s Manny Mendes’ kid? Shawn?”

“What?!”

Mike winced. “He uh, he told them you personally invited him. Guy must be charming, or they probably would’ve turned him away.”

Charming, your black ass. He was a nuisance is what he was.

“I didn’t personally invite him anywhere! Take me to this dumbass, please.” You groaned in frustration.

The whole walk there you’re just trying to figure out how the hell he managed to get here that fast! Who takes a back handed joke, and then actually follows through it? Shawn fucking Mendes. This man was going to be a thorn in your side for the foreseeable future. God, was he lucky his dick was big.

Sure enough, at the back of the venue at one of the stage doors, Shawn is sitting there with a couple of security guards. His hands rest easily in his pockets, and he’s telling them a fucking joke that has them laughing their asses off. Where was the justice?!

“Hey. Took you long enough.” He chuckled reaching for a duffle bag at his feet.

What was he moving in?

“Shawn what in the hell are you doing here?”

He stared at you incredulously. “You told me to come!”

“I was kidding! How in the hell did you get here that fast anyway?”

“Honey, we have a private jet. Surely that’s not surprising to you. What are you gonna turn me away at the door right now?”

Mike is still staring at you with nothing but confusion on his face. He probably had no idea you even knew Shawn Mendes, let alone enough to accidentally invite him to Miami. This was bad. This was bad, bad, bad.

Your gritted your teeth. “He is very unfortunately with me. Mike give him a pass.”

“Are you sure th--”

“Mike just given him the damn pass.” You sighed turning on your heel to disappear back inside.

Shawn keeps up with you easily with his obnoxiously long legs. Mike power walks behind the two of you ear piece and ipad still blaring.

“Mike you can run along before curtain call. I’ve got things here.”

It’s not an option. It’s a directive, and he quickly follows it leaving you alone with your headache of the day.

“You really call the shots around here, aye?”

“Little bit. Follow me.”

You lead him to the little office space you have in one of the green rooms, and quickly close the door before more people find out that the two of you are together. He takes a seat on one of the couches like he belongs. You want to pull your hair out.

“What in the hell Shawn?” You groaned. “We have rules. Very specific rules.”

“I know. Look, I know! But you offered, okay? And I couldn’t...I wasn’t gonna wait a week. I need this. I need you.”

That certainly was a little more honest than the two of you typically got with each other.

You paused to take a better look at him, and it isn’t the prettiest sight. The smile and witty laughter from outside was a thin facade to the bags beneath his eyes and the frown that’s evident now. He looks a little pale, like paler than usual, and if you didn’t know any better you’d say he hadn’t been sleeping well. You did know better. In fact you were starting to realize that maybe you knew him a little better than you gave yourself credit for.

You took a seat on the table in front of him, your legs knocking together in the small amount of space between you.

“What’s going on? And don’t say it’s just cause you’re stressed.”

He peered up at you, his fingers tapping anxiously against his thighs.

“Since when do you care? That’s not exactly within the parameters of our relationship now is it?”

You rolled your eyes. “Not all of us go through life only living based off of what we can take from others. I know it’s a wild concept to you, but some of us? Some of us can actually be decent human beings.”

“Great so I’m a piece of shit and you’re a saint, is that it?”

“Why are you trying to fight with me? Don’t be a child; stop deflecting. Just tell me what the hell is wrong, and maybe we can fix it.”

“You can’t fix it, y/n. I’m stuck. I’m always going to be stuck okay? There is no fixing me.”

He looked exhausted. And it wasn’t the hard day at work exhausted either. This looked bone deep in him. You couldn’t tell if this was something you’d just never noticed, or if he was letting down a wall for you to see behind for the first time. Whatever it was, you didn’t like it. There wasn’t time to work through why that was, or what it meant for you to care enough to want to fix it. You just knew that you didn’t like it. That’s all that mattered.

You reached forward, your fingers pushing at his knees to make more room for you to straddle his lap. His hands immediately came up to rest on your ass, and you slid your hand over his heart. It was beating like crazy. He just needed to slow down. He needed you to help him slow down. When you kissed, his fingers dug a little more deeply into the flesh of your ass. He groaned softly against your mouth and pulled you closer. It wasn’t necessarily that you didn’t kiss at all in the time that you spent together. Shawn had no problem dominating your mouth. It just so happened that in a relationship built on dominating your body there were a lot of other things you could be doing than kissing.

His lips were still heavenly though. He knew how to tug at your jaw, how to pull you in closer and run his tongue perfectly along the roof of your mouth. It was as intoxicating as all the other things he seemed to be able to do with his body. Only instead of quickly moving to the next phase the way that he usually would, he kept you there a while longer. His lips moved against yours and your arms wrapped tight around him. You could feel his shoulders release beneath your touch, could feel his hands relax against your ass. By the time he flips you to lay your body down against the couch, fingers already tugging to get his jeans down his thighs, your lips are buzzing, and you feel kind of lightheaded. You wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Tell me what you need.” You whispered against his lips. “Tell me how to please you.”

“Need to be in you. Right now.” He muttered reaching beneath your skirt.

His fingers found their way between the fabric of your underwear, gently nudging between your folds where you were already wet. He tugged the thing band down off of your legs and tucked them into his jean pocket.

He groaned softly plunging his middle finger inside. “You’re always wet for me. Know exactly how to be good for me.”

He curved up and to the right, rubbing quickly against your walls to get you where you needed to go. This wasn’t about foreplay. This wasn’t a scene. There was no plan here. It was frantic and a little messy. But you liked it. You liked it more than you knew what to do with.

“Are you my good girl?” He panted jerking his finger up and down to touch the thing inside of you that made you thrash.

“Yes. Yes, I am. Please, Shawn. Please?”

“The faster you cum, the faster I can get inside this pussy.”

His bicep tensed and his breath came out in harsh pants against the side of your neck. His fingers won’t stop, won’t let up, and your body gives him exactly the reaction he wants every single time. It’s like magnets. Like he knows exactly how to touch you to make you scream. And you do. Always.

His thumb rubs circles on your clit and your body practically melts. Your back arches and your moans get higher as your orgasm hits. Not one to ever be outdone unless it’s by himself, Shawn withdrew his fingers and immediately pushed his way inside of you. The stretch alone in conjunction with the weight of him pressing you down into the couch was enough to heighten your orgasm to a place it’d never been before.

“You’re so fucking tight, shit y/n.”

“I can’t fucking breathe--Shit! it’s so good!”

The arm of the couch provides a kind of leverage you couldn’t get if you prayed for it, and Shawn’s taking full advantage. There’s something different in the way that he handles you. He’s a little more desperate than you’re used to. His hips are less skilled precision and more broken lunges. But you love it just the same. Push your hips up against him chasing something similar, chasing a high that will take you both straight off that cliff together.

“I love being inside you.” He whimpered against your chest. “Nothing feels like you. Wanna give it to you so good.”

“You do. You fucking do.”

His teeth sink into the flesh of your shoulder and it drives you up a fucking wall. You dig desperately into the couch with your heels and cry out for him. It’s fast and dirty and not at all like what you’re used to. It’s just him, just him in all your senses. And you just wanted to give that back to him tenfold.

“Want you to cum for me again. Want you to come while I shoot my load in your pussy.”

“O--Okay. Okay I’ll cum, just please keep fucking me just like that. Please, just like that”

He pushes himself up onto his knees and moves your thigh up so that your knee is pressed against the arm of the couch. His dick doesn’t even make sense at this point. It’s like amnesia. Dick amnesia. But, he does this thing where he twists his hips every time he pushes his way back into you, and it makes you cum like a waterfall. And the second you’re cumming, his thrusts deteriorate into quick, rugged slaps against your sex. When he peaks, it’s euphoria for you both. Absolute Euphoria.

For a while neither of you move except for the pounding of your hearts in unison with one another. You can’t feel your toes, and it’s so sensitive to feel him inside you in this way. It’s not just good sex it’s a feeling that he gives you in wide abundance. You feel complete with him on top of you. Sated and fulfilled and taken care of.

“Wow.” He chuckled leaning down to kiss you roughly. “That was incredible.”

You giggled. “Yea. We’re good at that. Real good.”

He slides off your body and disappears into the bathroom for a few minutes. He comes back with some damp paper towels and cleans tenderly between your legs.

“It’s not my egytpian cotton, but it gets the job done.” He chuckled.

He already looks entirely different. There’s color in his cheeks and his eyes have that obnoxious sparkle shit that they do. You like him a lot better when he looks this way. And there’s a part of you that feels a sense of pride at being able to bring that out of him.

“Thank you, kind of.” You snorted softly.

You fix your skirt while he pulls his jeans back up. You can’t help but notice you managed to yank the neck of his t-shirt horribly out of place somewhere in the midst of your climax. The least you can do is grab him one of the merch shirts. It hits him in the face when you toss it, but that’s at least a few more seconds you have to calm the hell down.

“What’s this?”

“Figured we didn’t want people asking questions. Put it on, I’m sure there’s still some more of Ari’s set left.”

His eyes widened a little and he stared back at the t-shirt before looking back up at you.

“You want me to stay?”

It’s your turn for your eyes to widen and for the ground to become more interesting.

“You don’t have to obviously. You got what you came for. Ari, just puts on a really good show.” You mumbled.

“No I--I’d love to see the show. Haven’t seen her since Coachella.”

He changed quickly out of his t-shirt, sliding on a God Is A Woman shirt instead. The outfit change is a good one in your estimation.

“Great now give me my underwear back.” You murmured resituating your lanyard that got you in everywhere around your neck.

“Oh. Yea, no.”

You looked up at him and there he was leaning against the same part of the couch that he’d rammed you again not ten minutes ago. His long legs crossed in a similar fashion to his arms across his chest. That confidence was just obviously roaring in his system all over again. He was back, just like that.

“Excuse me?” You asked, eyebrow raised and pointed.

“I’m gonna keep them. Kinda want you to think about the fact that you won’t have any panties on all night, and I’ll be the only one who knows. Every time you have to yell at someone to do their job right, every time someone from the crowd bumps into you, it’ll just be you and I who know that you’re my good little girl. So I’m gonna keep them until I’m ready to give them back to you.”

And just what in the fuck does someone do with a speech like that?

“Yea….okay.”

You leave the greenroom behind in the hopes that no one will be able to tell what was done in there that night. Instinctively you reach for his hand and tug him along behind you to get the pits. It’s a sold out show, so there’s definitely a hell of a lot of people there, but you make it work nonetheless. With only the first half of the show missed anyway there’s still plenty of talent left for him to see.

At first you thought that you needed him to see what you were capable of. Ariana was all talent, all vocals, and iconicism, and magic. But, it was you that brought it all together, you who coordinated every little piece to make sure it all ran together without problem. Before you met Shawn, before ever deciding to do the little arrangement he schemed for the both of you, there had been a need to prove yourself. It came with the territory as a woman, let alone as a Black woman in a white male dominated industry.

Something happens in the middle of the show though, when the moon hangs from the ceiling, and her voice is belting out through the whole arena. You peer up at him watching the show, and there’s no ego to be had. It’s not like when other music execs come to visit shows, and they're just looking for a way to upstage you. He’s just there. Enjoying every note and letting the vibe of the crowd fill him in that way that you loved and cherished about live shows. It’s the first time outside of the bedroom that he eases the tension for you, that he gives you a sort of metaphorical pat on the back to say, “you don’t need to stand tall. Put that away for right now.”

You take a deep breath and let your head rest against his shoulder before there’s even room to think about it. Before you lose the moment, before the tension finds a way to ease back into your body, he wraps his arms around your waist from behind. Ariana keeps singing. The crowd keeps screaming. And he doesn’t let up until the lights come back on.

***

“Where are you staying tonight?” You asked, trying to pay attention to the break down of the venue happening around you.

“Wherever you’re staying I guess.”

You peered over at the way that he was leaning against one of the barricades, still dressed in his God Is A Woman shirt, with a smirk upon his lips.

“So fucking cocky, all the time.” You snorted. “I’ve got a lot of work left to do here. I’m always the last to leave from a show.”

“That’s fine. You want me to head up to the hotel, or should I wait behind for you?”

“You’re really staying huh?”

“Told my dad I’m doing research. I think he’s found a new intern to screw, so he’s not really checking in at the moment. I could use a little vacation.” He hummed. “You want me to go?”

You bit your lip and ran your fingers over your waist where his hands had touched. It was dangerous letting him in like this. You knew it. You had to know it.

“No I don’t want you to go.”

He smiled softly. “Guess I’m not going, then.”

“Guess not.”

“Besides if I left?” He murmured stepping forward to cup your hip intimately. “When would you ever get your thong back?”

Bastard.

It’s well past one in the morning before you get to leave. Your feet hurt and you really need a shower and the hotel can’t come fast enough. There’s a car around back waiting for you, and Shawn trails right along side you with his louis vuitton duffle bag that again just reeks of unnecessary indulgence, but you let him have it this time. The soft leather seats of the BMW and the gentle shake of the car is enough to lull you towards sleep. You were the queen of sleeping on cars. Touring life was perfect for you. What you weren’t used to was having someone beside you too as you made yourself comfortable.

“Are you falling asleep right now?” Shawn chuckled.

“I’m just resting my eyes.” you mumbled heading leaning back against the headrest, eyes closed. “Don’t worry, I’ll be plenty well rested for sex later.”

“Yea...Okay.”

*thirty minutes later*

“Honey, wake up.”

“Mmmm...No.”

“No?”

“No. I’m comfy, Ti. Leave me alone.” You whined snuggling deeper into her shoulder.

“As much as I have a feeling Tianna could kick my ass, I don’t think our biceps quite look alike. I am definitely not Ti.”

Your eyes popped open in shock alerting you to the fact that you wrapped your whole fucking body around this man’s arm and he had done nothing to stop you. The gal! The injustice!

“What are you doing? Why did you let me do that?” You gasped detangling yourself from his grasp.

He rolled his eyes. “I didn’t ‘let’ you do anything. Your body tends to have a mind of its own. Apparently even in slumber. We’re here though, princess.”

Sure enough the hotel is there staring back at you from the window. You had really fallen asleep. And he had let you.

“Shit. Okay. Let’s go.”

The hotel room is neat and pristine. You won’t be there nearly long enough to do any damage to it. Shawn places his duffle next to yours and starts his routine that he always does at night. His watch comes off. The bracelet. The rings. And it is insane the effect that it has on your body. Your spine straightens. And he turns to look at you over his shoulder, curls extra fluffy without any product in it, and it just runs through your body like a fucking current.

He makes his way over to you and his fingers skim your chin like it’s fine. Like he’s not shirtless in front of you with a six pack and perfect wisps of chest hair. You kind of wanna ask him if the women he sleeps with ever don’t want to get undressed in front of him, but then a yawn leaves your lips and that thought gets left far behind, along with the moment.

He smiled at you softly and tapped your cheek.

“Look you’re exhausted. Why don’t we just wait for the morning. It’s no big deal.”

You wrapped your hand around his wrist to keep him with you.

“It’s fine. I swear.”

He shook his head. “No. It’s really not. Let’s go to bed.”

“Shawn--”

“I said consent at all times didn’t I?” He interrupted. “You’re too tired to consent. We’re not doing it.”

Too tired to consent. That was certainly a new one.

But the way that he settled himself into his side of the bed told you negotiation wasn’t an option. And you were fucking exhausted. So, you crawled beneath the blankets and let your body relax for only the second time that night. How odd for it to be that both of those times were because of Shawn? And what the hell did that mean?

His scent was in your sheets. It was on your skin and in your nose. He was there. This all consuming force that just seemed to fill the space around him infinitely. To the point where you barely felt like you fit in the bed beside him. And yet he sometimes looked so small that you wondered how he could ever fill any space at all. You couldn’t ignore the look on his face in the green room. The exhaustion. The smallness. What was up with that? And why were you thinking of him so damn much anyway?

“You’ve gotta shut your mind down to actually fall asleep.” Shawn mumbled from somewhere in the dark.

You rolled your eyes. “Thank you for mansplaining sleep to me.”

“I’m not--just...Look, what’s on your mind?”

“Nothing. What makes you think there’s something on my mind?” You asked defensively.

“I just can hear you fucking thinking from all the other way over here. Why do you have to be so stubborn all the time?”

“I’m not stubborn!”

You had one of those out of body experiences where you actually hear yourself speak, and it subsequently proved his point. Rude.

“It’s genetic.” You murmured softly. “Sorry. I guess I uh I’m just not used to having someone else sleep in bed with me.”

“Well thank you. We fall asleep after fucking most times though?”

“Yes well there’s a difference between being fucked into a coma and just lying beside the person.”

He took a deep breath. “Do you want me to leave? I can just go get another room.”

“No it’s fine! It’s fine. I swear. I’m just...adjusting.”

“Fine. You...adjust, then. I’ll try not to breathe too much and disturb you.”

It was a long night.

***

*Shawn’s point of view*

The sun fills the room and it’s a complete and utter nuisance to him. Too early. Too bright. Too not cuddly. So he snuggles his face back into the warmth and ignores it for a little while longer. It’s the most well rested he’s felt in months. So well rested that he doesn’t want to leave, doesn’t want to be without this warmth that he’s never felt before. And why would he? Why would he ever want to leave this?

He opens his eyes and all that he sees in brown. Cocoa brown with deep red undertones that light up beneath the sunrays. It’s the first time he’s ever woken up before her, her mental clock seeming to always pull her out of bed before his dick is even awake let alone his mind. The fact that she’s asleep is a miracle within itself. The fact that he gets to look at her while she does it feels like maybe a little extra miracle on the side.

There’s a freckle on the divet in the small of her back that he’s never noticed before. Her bonnet to cover her hair is the same color as her nails and there’s a part of him that needs to know if it was a conscious decision or not. Knowing y/n, it could go either way. The covers had slid down her back and he’d wrapped himself around her at some point in the night. And it was somehow the best night sleep he’d had in so long. No sex. No ropes. No lube. Just sleep.

He wasn’t dumb. Something was different. Something had been different from the very beginning. His hooks up didn’t sleep over. He didn’t fly to anyone, ever. Hell, he didn’t even drive to anyone. Uber was practically part of his foreplay in life.  How the fuck did he end up in miami grabing her waist while Ariana Grande scerenaded them by fucking moonlight? He didn’t do this. He didn’t grab hips if he wasn’t fucking. He didn’t tell a woman he’d rather sleep then have sex with them. He needed to end this. And fast.

However . . . she was still asleep. And the sun was still just coming up. So what was really the harm in lying there a little longer? He pressed his arm back over her waist, thumb rubbing smoothly into the skin of her tummy. He’d get up in just a minute, would end it in just a minute. For sure.

*three days later*

“I will be back in less than a week.” She says.

“It will be over in no time.” She says.

“Stop fucking biting my thighs while I’m answering work emails!” She says.

After a break full of rushing her off to different rooms with locks on them in the venues so he could get his head between her thighs, it was finally over. His dad had finally called to ask why the hell his new Director of Talent Management was nowhere to be fucking found. It was time for him to leave, which meant days before he would see her again. Which was fine. Totally fine.

“So hear me out,” He argued as they drove to the final venue, he’d get to see her out. “I just think maybe Tianna should be taking me into account when she’s making your schedule. That’s all.”

She snorted. “I am not going to ask that woman to schedule dick appointments for you.”

“They’re not for just me! I’m thinking of you here too. Had I not taken off from my busy schedule to come to Miami, you might have actually combusted.”

“Women can go longer than twelve hours without sex Shawn. It’s yall who act like the world will explode if somebody doesn’t touch your dick for two seconds.”

He rolled his eyes at her. “I’m just saying it might be nice to know that you’re gonna be gone for weeks on end, ya know?”

She peered over at him from her phone where she’d been working away. She seemed to work harder and longer than anyone he’d ever met. Even more than his dad, which is explained why he couldn’t stand her.

“You could always...hook up with someone else while I’m away.” She said.

Her eyes are curious, watchful. There’s something behind the question that she’s asking, but he doesn’t know that on account of him being stupid. All he knew was that women didn’t just offer up the opportunity to sleep with other people. Even his past hook ups grew easily attached. It was his main reason for never repeating. Who was this woman?

“What makes you think I’m not, already?” He asked trying to match her eye contact.

She bit her lip. “The fact that you’re here right now.”

“Are you...hooking up with other people?”

“What if I was?”

He broke his gaze, not having it in him to keep staring at her. She was definitely stronger than him there.

“Whatever. Wouldn’t matter. ‘Snot like we’re together.”

She nodded. “Exactly.”

“Yea, exactly.”

The rest of the ride is silent. She was getting dropped off at her venue to continue on with Ariana through the rest of the week. He was heading back for NYC to get back to work. It would be a few more days before she flew back home. But, that was alright. He could wholeheartedly find other things to fill out his day. He didn’t need her at all.

The car pulls up to the arena and she pauses before she exits the car. She looks back at him like she’s waiting for something, like she expects him to say anything else. He doesn’t know what to say, just completely goes blank under her stare. She smiles at him.

“Goodbye, Shawn.”

“Bye, y/n.”

***

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@claredolphinbear24 @peterbrokenparker @shawnase @blackharry @shawnwyr @speakingofmari @moniehp