#The Palms Supper Club

[wausaupilot]

Cocktail of the Week: Caramel Apple Butterscotch Cocktail

Sip on autumn in a glass with a caramel apple butterscotch cocktail—rich, creamy butterscotch mingles with crisp apple and velvety caramel for a sweet, warming blend that captures the cozy essence of fall.

Wausau Pilot & Review Sip on autumn in a glass with a caramel apple butterscotch cocktail—rich, creamy butterscotch mingles with crisp apple and velvety caramel for a sweet, warming blend that captures the cozy essence of fall. This is an original recipe from The Palms Supper Club, and was created by Penny Borchardt. Cocktail of the Week: Caramel Apple Butterscotch Cocktail 1 1/2 oz.…

[nerd-fandom-drabbles]

Entanglements

Description: When Rook invites Lucanis for a nightcap, things do not go according to plan.

(Inspired by this wild VG247 article - contains some light spoilers)

1892 words

Characters: A very oblivious Lucanis, femme elven Rook

Pairings: Lucanis x Rook

Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance

Content warnings: sexual themes, some cursing

WARNING: This contains some light spoilers for Veilguard pre-release gameplay footage and maybe The Wigmaker Job if you squint really hard.

Note: This is probably a very OOC version of Lucanis. But Mary Kirby said he was awkward and this is _very_ awkward. I thought it was funny, so here you go!

It was a quiet, ordinary evening at the Lighthouse, when Rook found Lucanis in the kitchen preparing supper for the team. She'd asked him to come find her for a nightcap after dinner; she had gotten a gift she thought he'd enjoy sharing. In response, he'd nodded his agreement and continued chopping vegetables.

After, they had chatted a bit longer, and she did that thing she often did where she stole his favorite coffee mug and took a few sips out of it. She said everything tasted better out of it, and even in his exasperation with her theft, he couldn't exactly deny it. It was a nice mug, and he had fantastic taste in coffee.

And so, that evening after the team had gobbled down two entire lasagna trays, one meat and one veggie, Lucanis went into the larder and spent around an hour pointedly ignoring Spite, who, as expected, eventually got bored and left him alone with his thoughts. In that time, he'd managed to read a few short chapters of the book assigned at this week's book club and prepared to meet with Rook. When he was satisfied, he made his way up the stairs, ignoring the restless feeling in his stomach.

He knocked on the door and within a moment or two Rook opened it. He was hit with a thick waft of sweet fragrance and warmth as she did, the smell of her soap mingling with the scented candles she had burning by her bedside. He looked down at her, and it seemed she had already dressed for bed. Odd. She wore a satin night-robe tied loosely over a satin chemise. It looked soft and comfortable, but perhaps a little chilly, given the way her nipples poked through the fabric.

“Luca?” she said, repeating the nickname she'd given him, “Luca! I'm glad you came! Do you like brandy? I received a really nice gift-bottle and thought you might share it with me?”

Lucanis suddenly saw himself and her as if from the outside looking in. Her big smile and tousled, curly hair let out of its usual braid. The tasteful bit of cleavage peeking from behind the lace trim of her chemise. The fire in the hearth behind her. The two crystal glasses and decanter set out on the coffee table. Her huge bed stacked with velvety pillows and blankets.

He looked at her, then back into the room, then back at her increasingly confused expression. A realization dawned on him.

“Wait...” Lucanis propped himself against the doorframe with squinted, suspicious eyes, “Are you trying to have sex with me?”

She stared at him dumbfounded for a moment, then straightened up a bit and shrugged.

“Uh, yeah,” She blinked, "Kinda."

“Why?”

What do you mean why? She fought to keep her palm from colliding with her face in exasperation, in the hopes the situation was still salvageable. She calmly explained, “Why do you think? Because I like you and find you attractive.”

To that, he merely stared at her a moment, frowned, and then wagged his finger at her, in blame, confusion and disbelief. He then stormed off, disappearing down the hall.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the door, Rook let out a deep breathy growl of frustration and fell face-first onto her bed. How, of all of the men she could have found herself having feelings for, did she manage to pick the most skittish one possible? Getting him to open up had been like pulling teeth, and now that she finally was getting more than half-smiles and three word answers out of him, this happens. After a moment, she heard heavy footsteps returning, and her large, pointed ears perked up in response.

His voice rang out from her room's threshold once more, “And you did not think to tell me this?” She rolled onto her back. “I'm really not sure how much more obvious I could have been.”

“Bah.”

She lifted her head just in time to see him throw his hands up and wander off again. She sighed and sat up to a sitting position facing the door.

“Lucanis, just come back. Can we talk this out? Like adults?”

Suddenly he was back in the doorway, scowling and tapping his foot impatiently, “I don't know. Can you tell me when you hatched this plan of yours?”

“What? There is no plan. Nothing hatched.” She scooted closer to the edge of the mattress, a subtle movement in his direction, “I just want to be closer to you. And tonight seemed... opportune.”

The field team had decided to take a day off tomorrow, which was why she had picked this evening. They wouldn't have to worry about an early rise the next day, and if things went well could have plenty of time together.

“Ah, right,” Then a lengthy pause. On the other side of the doorway, Lucanis' mind was moving a mile a minute, reliving the moments they had shared together leading up until this point and picking them apart for the cues that he had obviously missed. “So, when you suggested we read that book on wyverns for book club?”

“Illario told me you like them.”

“Do you like them?”

“Does it matter?” she pivoted. The fact was, she couldn't care less about wyverns, “I knew you'd find it interesting, so I made the suggestion. I wanted to make you happy.”

“So you could have sex with me!”

“Oh, for fuck's sake, Luca,” she groaned again, “Can you please explain to me what the problem is?”

“The problem is that I thought we were operating as a professional partnership.”

“We are a professional partnership!” She wanted to scream but didn't, “You're in the Veilguard.”

“And now I learn there has been this insidious secret thread woven through the whole thing,” he argued pointedly, not quite raising his voice, but his face already flushed with anger or maybe embarrassment, “If I had noticed earlier I would have- I could have-”

“What?” Now was her turn to throw her hands up in frustration.

“I could have left! I could have put another Crow in my place.”

“Why would you have done that?”

“Because of this!” He gestured wildly between them, more frenzied and emotionally charged than she'd ever seen him. “Entanglement!”

“Contrary to what the chantry preaches, being 'entangled' is not some horrible sin, Lucanis.”

“Oh but it is. Entanglements get you killed. Or they are used to manipulate you. Or they die. Or they are used to manipulate you and then you both die!” He stared at her with pleading eyes, “We can't... do... this! There's too much at stake!” He laughed bitterly, “And you should be the one saying this, by the way, not me.”

That's what this is about?

“You're afraid that something is going to happen to us because you care about me and I care about you,” She followed the thought to its natural conclusion, “Right? You also have feelings? For me?”

“Of course I do. What do you think I am, a moron?”

At that, she couldn't help but laugh, “I wasn't sure I was your type.”

“I'm a mess. Everyone is my type. But even if that were false, you'd be my type.” He was surprisingly self-aware for someone so utterly oblivious. “I just didn't think I actually had a chance what with the demon and the bloody hands and the disastrous social graces.”

“Well, you do, so I guess we're all doomed,” she joked wryly.

“I guess so!” He gave the doorframe a sad little kick and then slid to the floor, arms collapsing over his knees.

She watched him silently, gently kicking her feet back and forth against the bedskirt. Her heart ached to see him so distressed. But so much about this utterly uncharacteristic outburst made sense now; she'd clearly hit on something very raw and sensitive without meaning to. And she'd hit it so hard that the scared little boy from his childhood came out and took over.

She had known about the physically brutal nature of his training by Caterina's hand, but hadn't considered that it might have affected him emotionally. It seemed like everything he thought about romantic feelings, about love, was horribly tainted and warped by fear and anxiety. She wondered if he'd ever been able to accept love from another person. If he'd ever truly been offered it.

“We'll be vulnerable. We could be used against each other. Like my parents-”

Her heart dropped. She'd never heard the full story of what had happened to them, but had assumed it was terribly tragic. He didn't finish the thought, and she wouldn't dare ask him to when he was in this state, but it was obvious now that she had been correct.

He rubbed his face with his hands in a desperate attempt to self-soothe and leaned back against the doorframe. He counted their shared enemies on his fingertips, “The Venatori, the Qunari invasion, the Evanuris. How are we supposed to defeat them like this?”

“I don't know,” she slid to the floor and crawled over to him. He watched her approach for a moment, then shook his head, and sighed. When she got to him she slid in close and rested her chin on his shoulder. “But maybe we do it together?”

He glanced at her again, the worry and resistance clear in his face, and she kissed him on the cheek. She then looped her arm in his and nuzzled in.

He took a deep breath, and then grumbled, matter of factly, “That might have been the first thing Caterina ever taught me: when you're working a job, always keep emotions out of it. Always.” He punctuated his words by chopping his left hand with his right.

“Maybe she was wrong.”

“It wouldn't be fair if she was. It would be like being rewarded for greed.”

“And so instead you should be punished? For wanting connection?” For needing love?

“Everyone can't have everything.”

“Maybe,” she stroked his hand with her own, intertwining their fingers, “Maybe not.”

He was still upset, but the warm sensations of her hand on his and her hair tickling his neck were disarming him in a way he wasn't sure he was ready for. They sat like that for a while; her breath fluttering against his collarbone and her chest pressed against him. He felt like if he concentrated, they were close enough for him to feel her heartbeat. It was... nice.

“I'm sorry for blaming you. I know you are-”

“Not an evil temptress out to steal your soul?”

“Mierda. Is that how I sounded?” He thought for a moment, “Yeah. That's how I sounded.”

“Well, for the record, I still like you. And all is forgiven. As long as you stay,” she brought his hand to her mouth and set a gentle kiss on it, “And work through this with me.”

“I can do that.”

“Good.” He could feel her smiling into his shoulder, “We will find a way to keep each other safe. And we'll be happy. And it'll be fine.”

“Okay.” He sounded a tad unconvinced. He turned her hand over, and as she had done to his, kissed it. Then, with more resolve, he repeated himself, “Okay.”

“Now, can we please get up off the floor?”

“Yeah, I could use a sip of that brandy.”

“Me too.”

[triplesilverstar]

Drinks and a spit roast, sounds fun

Rating: 18+ Minors DNI 

Pairing: Vash X Wolfwood, Vash X F!Reader, Wolfwood X F!Reader,  Vash X F!Reader X Wolfwood

CW: Drinking, anxiety, PDA, dirty dancing, grinding, P in V sex, blow jobs, spit roasts, Bathroom sex, slight voyeurism, deep throating, cum swallowing

Word count: Roughly 8K

A/N: Chapter 9, where the three of you are celebrating the fact you have a new job and Nicholas is switching to days instead of nights. I wonder if the three of you will have a good time or not.

As much as you might have felt uncomfortable waiting outside of a club for the other two to get out of the car, a throwback to what your Friday and Saturday nights had always entailed, being there with Vash and Nicholas had least helped settle your nerves. 

Your last few days at your previous job had been similar to your first day after you gave your notice, with everyone except upper management giving you the cold shoulder. The cat calls outside the building however were gone, though that might have had more to do with the fact either Nicholas or Vash dropped you off or picked you up.

So now it was Friday, and the moment you had stepped inside the apartment while Nicholas parked his bike you saw Vash sitting on the couch with his tablet out and felt your nerves flood your system. 

You must have made a noise as his face lifted from the screen in front of him, looking up in time to see your apprehensive face as you strode into the living room. “You know if you don’t want to go out tonight we don’t have to.” Closing the cover and quickly padding towards you and reaching out to cup your face in his palms. “I don’t want anyone uncomfortable just because I want us to go out.”

Your hands reach up to wrap around his wrists and smile at him in what you hope is reassuring. “It's not that I don't want to go Vash, it's just some hang-ups because of before. I really do want to go out tonight, you and Nico are so different from what I had before when didn’t have a real choice when I went out.” You don’t have to say anything more for Vash to understand what you mean, while you haven’t gone into a lot of detail the boys are pretty smart and don’t need you to spell it out for them.

Vash ducks his head down so his forehead is pressed against yours but he doesn’t do anything to either shake off your hands or remove them from his face. “You do now, and I don’t want you feeling like you have to come out with us. We can always celebrate your new job and Nico going to days here in the apartment.” 

His eyes are searching as if he’ll make the decision to stay in and the slightest drop or sense of you not wanting to go out. “No Vash. It’s fine really!” You’re pleading into his face hoping your breath doesn’t smell like your lunch as you talk to him with so little distance between your faces. “If anything maybe I’m a little nervous about what to wear because it used to be picked out for me.” Giving a little chuckle as you turn your face away, aware of the heat rising on your cheeks. 

“Well if you like I can help you pick something?” His voice is soft and you nod quickly, laughing a little as your head doesn’t move much with it still in Vash’s hands. “Let’s go see what’s in that wardrobe of yours sweetheart I know we can find something.”

A few hours later with supper in your stomach and the sun setting the three of you are climbing out of a cab, planned so that at the end of the night you don’t have to worry about Vash’s car. You don’t plan on getting drunk and neither do Vash or Nicholas but Nicholas was quick to point out this was the safest bet. Vash had tacked on he was just worried if they walked someone might hit on you with how sexy you looked which made you blush furiously.

Even if you thought the duo you were with were far better looking, Nicholas had pulled on a pair of black slacks with a white button-down shirt. One more button than was required was left undone as if to show off his chest which drew the eyes upwards to land on the leather choker he was wearing. You almost swooned in the apartment and you were hoping he’d leave it on for later because you were having dirty fucking thoughts about the tan man and using that choker like a collar. 

Vash on the other hand had on a pair of jeans that you might have thought were made around his legs for how tight they were leaving nothing to the imagination with a red t-shirt and a black leather jacket. His hair pushed back from his face for once and styled in spikes that seemed to defy gravity. Honestly, if you thought Nicholas was going to be the death of you Vash in his outfit might be an image from the afterlife with a promise of all your desires filled.

So with a skirt from your closet that Vash had pulled out right away as a suggestion and a lacy top, you felt underdressed compared to your company. It might be you chasing others away from the duo instead of them chasing others since you doubt you’ll be the one being flirted with tonight. 

Outside the cab and looking at the club that you’ve never been to with two ridiculously hot men has you feeling the nerves settle into your stomach again. It’s almost like Vash can sense your apprehension though, sliding his hand down your arm until his fingers are weaving between the smaller digits of your hand. “Come on Sweetheart, or our handsome Nico will leave us behind.” 

Nicholas lets out an annoyed grunt, waiting for the two of you to join him before approaching the doors. “Funny Vash, real funny.” Waving his hand as if to say for Vash to lead your little party and you find one of your eyebrows quirking upwards. This club has a bouncer and a wait line to get in but Vash is heading right for the burly man, and your nerves come back in the form of your hand gripping Vash’s just a little tighter. 

Stopping to look towards you and Nicholas who is close enough that you can feel the heat from his body against your back. “Something wrong? If you changed your mind we don’t have to go.” That reassurance of his is back and you let out a small airy laugh. 

“No. Just nervous about the bouncer, pretty sure we should be heading for the back of the line.” At that Nicholas snorts, squeezing your bare shoulder. 

“Trust me Little Bear, we’re getting in with no waiting. When you travel with us you get in no problem.” A wink and you want to roll your eyes, not feeling any better about what is going to happen but you trust the two of them. You’re going to enjoy telling them you told them so as Vash heads towards the door again. 

And you feel even more awkward when the bouncer reaches down to undo the snap of the rope that serves as a barricade with nothing more than a nod to Vash. Well and a poorly veiled sneer at Nicholas behind you. 

In all your life even with the so-called prestige that came with Henry you’ve never just walked into a club before. “What was that about?” 

“Rai-Dei and I used to work security jobs like this one together, so he might not like me but he’s not gonna make us wait in line.” Nicholas shrugged moving closer to you so you’d be able to hear him over the music that seeps from the walls just past the entrance that makes up the coat check.

“Oh, did you know he’d be working tonight?” Vash pats your arm as he slips away to turn in his jacket and you understand why, it’s already getting warm and you aren’t even in the main throng of bodies yet. 

“Happy coincidence.” Nicholas winks at you and you know you’re shaking your head because that wink says it all. It’s a nice feeling though knowing they planned this at least a little more than just a random outing.  

With Vash rejoining your little party of three made its way deeper into the club. Missing the way Nicholas dipped his head towards Vash as you walked just slightly ahead of them. “I have no idea how you get her in that skirt but fuck Vash.” Licking his lips as the fabric clung to your ass in a way that wasn’t helping his boner and he wished he had worn looser pants already. “It’s making it real hard to be a gentleman.” 

With a smirk on his face, Vash tilted his head and licked the edge of Nicholas’s ear playfully well aware anyone could see them. “I thought by now you’d know I have a way of making things happen.” Ever since Nicholas had made the comment about the skirt in the apartment Vash was bound and determined to get you in it for them. “And I know the feeling. I want to find a dark corner and just have her.”

“So what are we doing?” The sound of your voice pulls their attention back to you and away from the thoughts swirling in both of their heads about your lovely curves. 

“Drinks first?” Vash is quick to answer with a dazzling smile that charms you, never once thinking the blond might be up to something. With the throng of people at the bar Vash leans down to kiss the side of your mouth as Nicholas agrees. “You and Nico go grab a table, doesn’t make sense for the three of us to wait at the bar.” Plus Vash doesn’t need you seeing him or Nico getting preferential treatment at the bar because there's no way they won’t recognize their boss's twin. 

“Come on Little Bear.” Nicholas has his hand resting on your hip tapping a pattern to the beat and aiming for calming you. You might not have talked about it but he knows why you’re skittish, the fear of seeing someone from your old friend group coming and making trouble for you. When Vash had made the suggestion he had done a little bit of online stalking to see where the asshole of a boy that was your ex liked to go. “I see a table that should put a skip in Vash’s step.”

You chuckle as your hand lands on his and the coarse feeling of his fingers under yours. “Is there anything that doesn’t put a skip in his step?” It’s a valid question as the blond always seems to be a in good mood. Like he’s just high on life.

“Not that I’ve seen!” Letting Nicholas guide you to the table and you do your best to keep smiling and not letting your eyes dart around the room like a wild animal. You don’t have any reason to be this nervous, placing your hand on the table and hoping it hides the twitch of your fingers. The table isn’t far from the dance floor and you wonder if the duo likes to dance, Vash seems to be the type with his outgoing personality but Nicholas strikes you as the type that if he can it’s not something he does often. If at all. 

“This place is nice.” You’re trying to make small talk and Nicholas must sense you’re not feeling like yourself as he moves closer to you and keeps an arm around the small of your back. Nicholas does this for the dual purpose of physical comfort and he could already see a few wandering eyes running up and down your body, you might not have agreed to date them yet but he sure as hell isn’t letting anyone else touch you in that damn skirt that makes your butt look like a present.

“Yea, it’s not too big and it’s got a good layout for having a drink or two and maybe a little dancing.” 

“Oh?” You smile feeling part of his words rumble from his chest. “Does that mean you and Vash are gonna go be the center of attention?”

“Not me, but I get the feeling Vash will want to dance and it’s probably gonna be with you.” Dipping his head down for a chaste kiss to the edge of your cheek. “No way we’re leaving you all by your lonesome for someone to sweep you off your feet.” Winking at the end as he teases you. 

“Drinks!” You almost jump at how quickly Vash was at the bar, with a small tray in hand and three drinks on it. You could laugh at the neon drink that has to be for Vash as Nicholas reaches for his whiskey and you reach for your own preferred drink. Taking a sip and enjoying the slight burn on your tongue.  

It isn’t long before the three of you fall into much easier conversations about the week as your first round goes down, Nicholas slipping away and returning just in time with the second round for the three of you as you finish the last few drops from your first. 

You don’t want to say it’s cozy but it is nice to be out with the two of them away from the apartment now that you don’t feel as tense. It’s the same conversations you’d be having if you were home in your lounge clothes on the couch, well minus the raised voices over the music. Or how warm your body feels and you aren’t sure if it’s from the heat in the club with Vash and Nicholas each on one side of you or from the booze in your system. 

Lifting your glass Vash leans down as you take another mouthful of your drink and with the noise his lips are right against your ear. “Come dance with me?” Well, he didn’t need to get that close but you understand why with the way he whispered it against the skin, his upper lip brushing the shell of your ear and it sends a shudder through you. 

Taking a bigger swallow for that hit of liquid courage that you might not need after the first drink you look to Nicholas to see him leaning on the small bar table with a nod. Sometimes you think those two can talk without ever opening their mouths. Damn, that tanned man for being right about Vash wanting to dance with you though. “I’m not very good.” Your voice is a little louder to be heard over the music and it might be lost but you’re certain of the waiver in your words compared to moments before. 

“I don’t care, I just wanna dance with you and make a scene.” That doesn’t give you the warm and fuzzies but you slip your hand into his and let him lead you both to the floor while Nicholas watches with his whiskey in hand. 

Vash doesn’t tug you far before his steps slow and he's turning towards you and starts to move, far smoother than anyone else you’ve ever seen. It’s obvious immediately that the blond likes to dance as he moves, and you’re certain if anyone is watching they can pick up how awkward you feel. At least until Vash places his hand on your hip and moves in closer. “Just follow my lead if you feel comfortable.” 

Well, it’s not really following as he moves your body so subtly that it looks as if you are moving in time to the music with Vash. Either way, you find the anxiety that was bubbling inside of you slipping away as the music beats around your body. The bass drum in the music makes your chest thrum with the sound as it seems to vibrate through your muscles right down to your bones. It’s a feeling you don’t mind once in a while compared to having it every weekend. You do have to give it to the blond, he really is good at this switching his movements as the songs change. His hands wander along your body it isn’t long until your doing the same in smaller movements.

Eventually, you let yourself go and just move in time to the music, which isn’t hard to do with Vash in front of you. Those bright blue eyes watch your every movement and like this, you don’t miss every micro expression on his face. The widening of eyes when your hands get a little daring on his body, the flare of his nostrils when the scent of your perfume wafts towards him from someone walking close by. The quick bite of his lower lip when your thigh brushes his crotch and you feel the boner he’s sporting, that really makes you smile and boosts your confidence. 

Back at the table, Wolfwood is enjoying the show. Of course, Vash would move the two of you so that one of the overhead lights would illuminate you both as you moved, painted in the changing neon colors. Taking smaller and smaller sips of his drinks as Vash’s long fingers trailed along your body Wolfwood found it easy for the world to wash away, like your twisting bodies was a show that was being put on just for him in the comfort of the apartment. The reminder of the night that you and Vash first gave him a double blow job wasn’t helping the tightness he was feeling around his waist. Vash knew how to play him well and with you added in it just got him riled up faster. He was already looking forward to when the three of you would head back to the apartment as he wanted to leave both of you panting messes in his bed too exhausted to move in the morning. It made his head swim thinking of the little noises both of you would make and his cock throbbed wanting more than the fabric of his underwear and the cool feeling from his zipper pressed against it. 

Wolfwood was glad that the music was pounding when he lets out a groan at the sight of Vash squeezing one of your ass cheeks in his hand. Fuck. At this rate when you came back from the dance floor he was going to need to slip off to get some relief at this point or he wasn’t even going to make it home. 

Tossing the rest of his drink back his dark eyes settled back on the two of you just as Vash turned his head just enough for their eyes to lock.

Shit. 

If Vash knew he had a captive audience he was going to run with it. Licking his lips as he started being a little more free with his hands on your body and moving his limbs in a way that left Wolfwood finding it hard to swallow. You’re obvious to the little show with your back to him and facing Vash, practically riding his thigh under his direction and from the way Vash is grinning Wolfwood has a feeling you’re as turned on as he is right now. So when you suddenly turn with your fingers in your hair and Vash pulls you against his chest Wolfwood lets out another groan as the light makes him think of all the sinful things he wants to do to you. Your skirt having ridden and he could see the briefest flash of the top of your stockings. 

As you and Vash keep moving you feel like Vash is up to something as his touches seem more deliberate now, and your body is humming with your growing arousal. Like this, you can smell his skin and your bodies are close enough that there is always some part of you touching each other. 

“Do you trust me, sweetheart?” Nipping your ear as he whispers the question in time to giving your ass a squeeze so your crotch rubs harder on his leg. At this point, your panties are beyond damp and you regret letting Vash pick out a skirt for you. He hasn’t made any kind of move to slip below the fabric but you’re starting to feel like you’re at a dangerous point where you want him to. The idea of him fingering you while on the dance floor has another wave of wetness pooling between your legs.

“Of course.” You’re honest in your answer as you do trust Vash, he’s been a beyond caring friend and you’re ready to commit to a relationship with the two. Planning to tell them so be it tonight if you aren’t too drunk or in the morning, after this week of all the consideration they’ve given you and your workplace drop-offs and pick-ups.  

He grins, turning your body so your back is flush to his chest and his crotch so he can grind against you. “Our handsome Nico can see us. I think~” Letting his voice drag out the word as if he’s singing it. “He’s as hot and bothered as we are.” Using his head against the side of yours he guides you until you see the table you left him behind, and you make a noise at the sight of him. It could be the heat from the club or the way the lights are, but you’re certain there’s a sheen of sweat at his hairline and his chest is heaving.

You let out a hum hoping Vash can hear it as you feel a little mischievous, rubbing your hands down your chest in what you hope is a sultry fashion. Seeing the visible swallow from Nicholas at this distance makes you feel braver than normal. “How long have we been out on the dancefloor?”

“Almost an hour.” You can’t hide the sudden jerk of your body as you hadn’t expected that answer. No wonder you feel as aroused as you do if you and Vash have been touching each other like you have been for that long. The alcohol in your system has nothing to do with the warmth you’re feeling then. 

“Well, I think I’d like to head home or find somewhere to fuck my boyfriends.” Giving your hips a shake as you speak and you don’t miss the moan he barely bites back, waiting for your words to sink in. 

“I mean I can think of somewhere.” Turning you so you’re chest to chest again you don’t miss the gleam in his eyes that tells you he heard exactly what you said. “As much as I like the idea of fucking my girlfriend with my boyfriend in a bed, I don’t think we’ll make it. Feel like you wanna try something a little riskier?” 

Hearing him call you his girlfriend should not make you feel as giddy as it does with a fluttering in your stomach as your hands move up to land on his shoulders. “As long as we don’t end up in jail, yes.” Lowering his head to nip at your lips before giving you a quick kiss no doubt pleased with your answer. 

“Then let's go grab our handsome man.” You laugh at how quickly Vash slips his fingers into yours and starts pulling you behind him and it's a lot faster than when you headed for the dance floor. 

“For the record, you're just as handsome.” That gets you a wink once you're out of the mass of bodies and moving a little faster to keep up with Vash. Not that you can blame him because now you're feeling a high from the declaration and part of you is curious about what Vash has in mind by something riskier . 

“My my, I see the two of you look like you had fun.” This close there is no doubt that Nicholas is flustered from having watched both of you. His drink is gone and even with the lighting in the club, you can see how jagged his pupils are. The flick of his tongue across his lips and you find yourself hyper-focused on the wet muscle, and decide to do something a little rash. 

For you anyway. 

With Nicholas leaning on the table you don't have as much of a height difference to worry about, slotting your mouth over his for a kiss taking the time to nibble on his lower lip before pulling back. “Not as much as we would have had if you were with us, Nico.” 

Of course, Nicholas doesn't miss a beat and like Vash doesn't give a shit if anyone is watching you. His hand reaches for the back of your head to pull you back to him for a lingering kiss with a hard pressure against your lips that leaves you weak in the knees and you might have crumbled if it wasn't for Vash at your back. A small mewl leaves you when Nicholas pulls back with a shit-eating grin. 

“Wanna tell me what that was about?” You feel giddy as you watch him, not missing the way his eyes dart down to your lips as if he wants to kiss you again. 

“I think she just wanted to kiss one of her boyfriends.” Vash seems to have no qualms with stealing your thunder, and it's worth it to be this close to watch as understanding dawns on his stubble-encrusted chin. 

“What he said.” You giggle feeling your cheeks grow even warmer, if this is how it feels to just agree to date them you can get used to the feeling. You've never felt your stomach and heart flutter like this before. 

“I'd say you could have picked a better place to tell us Little Bear, but I guess that means we're heading home?” Vash leans past you to whisper something in his ear and you watch Nicholas gulp unsure if you actually heard it or it was in your head. “Are you sure?” 

Something about the way he said it makes you raise an eyebrow until you feel Vash press more into you and the hard on he's been sporting since the two of you were on the dancefloor is firmly pressed against your butt. 

“It's fine Nico~” Trailing a hand down your arm and you're quickly becoming distracted by the blond. “You worry too much, now come on. I can't wait much longer.” Grabbing the remains of his probably warm drink and finishing it in one go. Given your frugal nature you do the same since you know these drinks weren't cheap from the bar, wincing at the warm booze that hits your tongue making the flavor just a bit harsher. 

“I shouldn't have done that.” You groan as you make a face, only for Vash to cup your cheeks between both of his palms. 

“You're so adorable when you make that face!” Squealing a little before he has your hand in his again. “Now let's go my lovely partners because I want to fuck you. Right. Now.” All teasing in his voice is gone and while you're used to hearing that rasp from Nicholas, hearing it from Vash is making something inside of you quiver. Happy to let him lead you once more, and probably not for the last time that night. 

Except as he leads you towards the bathrooms you feel yourself growing warmer for a whole different reason. “I’ll go check it out.” The music isn't as loud here so you aren't raising your voices, watching as Nicholas shuffles past you and heading into the men's room. 

“Vash” you call, staring at the very obvious well-known sign for gendered washrooms making sure you don't look at him. “Did you mean what I think you meant on the dancefloor?” 

“If you mean getting lucky in the bathroom? Yes.” Giggling and pressing the tip of his nose into the side of your face. “If you don't want to we can just go home, I feel risky but I don't want you to be uncomfortable.” His voice is soothing and you haven't felt like you would be forced to follow through anyway but him voicing it still makes your heart warm regardless.

“I.” You bite your lip before continuing because the truth is this is something you would have never thought of doing. Well. Before Nico and Vash you wouldn't have thought about being in a poly relationship or a threesome on a regular basis either yet here you are. “I really want to do this, it just seems so risky and that is making me giddy.” You admit laughing a little as you look at him at last seeing the warmth in his eyes. 

“I know it seems silly, but that is what makes it fun.” Kissing the tip of your nose just as Nicholas reappears. 

“If we're doing this, now is the time.” At least Nicholas is showing the same level of nerves as you which helps ease the little voice in your head. You don't question anything since it being proverbial clear might not last if you do. Sticking close to Nicholas as he heads in and heads for the last stall that's against the wall. 

You expected it to be a little bigger being on the end but it's not and for the three of you it's some tight spacing. A single thought finally fires in your brain. “Ugh. Guys. Do we have condoms?” You might be down for this but if you don't have any condoms this was all a waste even if you don't know what kind of positions Vash had in mind but with the space you assume at least one of them was going inside of you. 

Reaching into his pants pocket Vash pulls out two of them with a flick of his wrist. “I thought of that Sweetheart.” Giving you a wink. 

“You were hoping for this weren't you?” Nicholas deadpans and you have to agree watching Vash turn a little sheepish. 

“Can't say I didn't.” Laughing before growing serious. “I just like the idea of the added edge to the possibility of being caught. It makes it hotter.” You can't argue, and with Nicholas running his hand under the edge of your shirt and his crotch pressed into your backside it does add to it. Knowing someone could come along at any moment while the three of you are being intimate. 

“What are you thinking Vash?” His voice has that growl to it that makes your spine tingle and you clench with a small noise that has Vash looking at you like he's a wolf and you're little red riding hood. 

“Well, since she's dating both of us I was thinking both of us inside of our little girlfriend if we're all up for that? If not, the usual?” 

You don't wait, piping up right away. “Usual. No offense but I'm not ready for anal.” Blushing furiously because thus far the three of you haven't had anything involving you and your other opening. “I've never done anything with it.” 

“That's fine Little Bear.” Nicholas bends his knees so he can brush his lips over the side of your face. “This isn't the place for new stuff, but if you want we can start with baby steps regarding that.” 

“So, you in me and me in our lovely lady?” Vash is wiggling his eyebrows handing one of the condoms to Nicholas. 

“Yea sounds good.” You can hear the grin in his voice and he takes the wrapper. Vash wastes no time undoing his pants and pushing the fabric down with his boxers so his cock can spring free. Sliding the condom on and reaching to pull you towards him. You’re happy to meet his lips as you wrap your fingers around him, pumping him as he starts to lick at your mouth wanting more. 

Only for a growl of annoyance to ring out from behind you. “Fuck. I ripped it.” 

Both you and Vash stop, with you turning your head to see Nicholas holding the ripped package. “You used your teeth again didn’t you?” This time it’s Vash who makes the deadpan statement and you roll your eyes. Sometimes Nicholas just tries too hard to be sexy with things. “Guess we are heading ho-”

“I could always suck you off while Vash pounds me in this skirt?” Cutting Vash off while you keep pumping him letting your eyes trail down Nicholas’s chest to where his pants are open and his hand is at the base of his dick. It doesn’t matter how many times you see it, his length still makes you shake knowing that something that size could be attached to a person. Reaching out to replace his hand and slowly pumping him, rubbing your thighs together to try and find some relief. 

“Fuck that.” Licking his lips while his hips stutter to thrust up into your hand you get the feeling he’s way more turned on than you thought. “That sounds hot.” One of his palms on the side of your face and tilting you more towards him and kissing you, the smaller space ensuring it’s a short distance to either man. “I don’t think you’re going to enjoy it too much though. That’s a lot of bending.” 

“Don’t care, I wanna fuck my boyfriends and we’re already this far into it.” Nipping at his top lip before letting out a moan. Not wanting to be outdone Vash has lifted your skirt higher along your thighs and two of his fingers are sliding along the folds of your pussy. Your underwear pushed to the side with his thumb.  

“Nico, she’s soaked. You should feel her.” Vash has his body pressing more into your side, his other hand over yours and slowing the movement of your fingers along the length of his cock. Squeezing your hand in his so you feel every vein and bump under the condom. Gasping as one of Nicholas’s fingers joins Vash’s tracing along your folds. 

“Damn, you’re so wet.” Kissing you again like he’s a dying man and you shudder, the pumping of your hands halting as the three fingers slip into your core. Twisting and turning as they stretch you out and Vash is whispering in your ear his voice low. 

“Such a naughty little thing, your pussy is trying to suck our fingers in.” Lowering his head to kiss and suck at the side of your neck while Nicholas is sliding his tongue along your bottom lip. Wanting a far deeper kiss you’re quick to grant, plunging his tongue along yours in time to his finger. “Like it wants something so much bigger in you. Pounding away until you can’t stand anymore.” Groaning as he drags his teeth upwards towards your ear and curls his fingers while Nicholas keeps pumping away. “Come for me Sweetheart and I’ll give you something bigger to clamp on, you needy little thing.” 

Both of your wrists jerk when Nicholas adds a second finger and you feel your cunt clamp down on their fingers inside of you. Spasming as another flood of liquid pours from your core onto their joined fingers, Nicholas pulls away to grin while Vash laps at the red marks along your neck from his teeth. “Such a good girl. Do you want your reward my pretty little girlfriend?” 

“Uh-huh.” You’re whispering as you try to catch your breath, your hands no longer wrapped around their cocks, not wanting to squeeze either of them too hard. Whimpering as their fingers are pulled from your body, and Nicholas holds both of his out in front of your mouth. You get the idea opening your mouth to clean them of your release but Vash is a bit faster shoving both fingers to the first knuckle into his mouth and sucking like it’s the most divine thing he’s ever tasted. 

“That wasn’t for you.” The smallest hint of annoyance in his voice as Vash slides off his fingers with a pop before making a show of licking his fingers off. 

“I just have a better way to let her have a taste.” Slotting his mouth over yours for a sloppy open-mouth kiss, tongues teasing one another as you taste yourself before sucking on the tip of his tongue. All the while Nicholas is groaning with the few in front of him, darting in at one point to add to the mess the three of you are making. 

Breathless you pull away licking your lips and smacking them together. “Please.” Softly whining as your fingers trail along their chests. “I need both of you. Now.” 

“Well Nico, you heard the lady and I do believe it’s rude to leave such a lovely one waiting.” Placing his hands on your hips and turning you to face Nicholas while he hikes your skirt a little higher. “Damn, you look lovely like this Sweetheart.” Slapping one of your ass cheeks before spreading your legs so he can better position both of you. 

Licking your lips you reach for Nicholas, placing your hands on his thighs and leaning down feeling the pressure in your back already as you start to lean forward onto your toes inside your shoes. It’s a little awkward as you use one hard to start to stroke him while the other is trying to support your weight, but seeing that first bead of pre cum on his tip has you groaning. Licking it up and letting out a small hum.

“Try to keep it down Little Bear.” Nicholas groans as his cock throbs wanting to push into your mouth already. To be able to see both you and Vash while Vash fucks you and your lips are wrapped around him knowing every thrust Vash makes into your body will have you taking more of his cock down your throat. 

“You can give me something to keep me quiet.” Teasing Nicholas as you start to lick up and down his shaft while Vash makes a few more adjustments to the way your legs are spread, lining himself up before giving your butt another slap. 

“Ready Sweetheart?” A quick question and you respond by rolling your hips back trying to get the tip of his cock inside your folds. “Well, Nico you better get ready to keep her quiet.” Slowly pressing himself inside your pussy until his tip was firmly past the lips of your cunt, Vash snapped his hips forward plunging into your core. Letting out a whine at the sudden fullness only to have one of Nicholas's hands quickly cover your mouth. 

“Damnit Vash.” A groan from Nicholas at the blond antics and you can't help but run your tongue along his palm against your lips and give his cock a squeeze hoping he'd get the hint. Vash for the first few moments just enjoys the way your walls press against his length, the position and the cramped space doesn't allow for him to go as deeply as he would have liked. Yet the view more than made up for it, licking his lips as Nicholas moved his hand and you started placing kitten licks along the other man's dick. Seeing the way Nicholas would freeze for a moment before relaxing as you worked, sliding the hand that had been over your mouth back and up into your hair. The strands loosely held in his grip as the sound of wet skin on skin reached his ears had Vash grinning. This was what he wanted, both Nicholas and you being with him something he hadn’t realized he had wanted until you waltzed into the apartment. Now you were dating both of them and he felt content, humming as his hands swept along your hip and lower back waiting for you to adjust to him. 

As the grip on his cock lessened Vash set a leisurely pace plunging in and out of your core, waiting for you to start to suck Nicholas off before really getting into it.

Feeling as Vash slowly fucked your core a warmth started to spread more through you a line of sweat forming along your back as you started to slide your hand along Nicholas’s length in time to the pace that was Vash was pumping inside of you. Licking and sucking at the skin of his dick as your hand passed sections of him, using the tip of your tongue to trace a prominent vein up to the head of his cock and letting out a small hum. At the briefest tug to your hair you look up to see Nicholas biting his lip and his eyes hooded as he watches you. Still looking at him you start to lick his tip as if you’re licking an ice cream cone and trying to keep the liquid from dripping down to your fingers. Swirling your tongue around him and letting out small breathy moans as Vash adds in the occasional sharper pump to keep you from getting too comfortable. 

As Nicholas lets out a louder groan that if anyone else is in the bathroom there is little doubt about what’s happening in the last stall you wrap your lips around him and start to suck. “Fuck!” The result is almost immediate as about a third of his length is shoved into your mouth and his other hand settles in your hair. You’re glad you’ve had a lot more practice sucking him off since the first time because you might not have been able to handle the way he stretches your lips. Hollowing your cheeks as you start to bob up and down, and breathing through your nose while sliding your hand around the rest of him and twisting your wrist near his base before sliding back up. It’s hard to focus on keeping your hand and mouth working in tandem as Vash starts to pick up speed, that hand that had been on your hip sliding along your thigh and two of his fingers starting to fondle at your clit. 

The buzzing at the base of your skull grows stronger as you work to take more of Nicholas’s cock into your mouth, almost at the halfway point. Feeling the snap of Vash’s hips against your own is helping as you relax your throat and breathe through your nose moaning from the onslaught of Vash in your slick channel and smelling the sweat in the dark hairs around Nicholoas’s base.

Squeezing your walls tighter as Vash starts to jackhammer into you chasing his release before you hear him let out a whine. “Nico, kiss me~” Damn that whine gets you, clenching like a vice around him as his fingers dance across your clit. A chuckle from above you and you don’t care to stop trying to take more of dick hitting the back of your throat as one of those rough hands leaves the side of your head. Feeling both of them throbbing and twitching as they fuck you, and in this moment you couldn’t be happier, the sound of moans as Nicholas probably tongue fucks Vash’s mouth above you. 

The noise you make as Vash pinches your clit and your orgasm slams through you like a freight train, locking your jaw to try and not bite down on the cock in your mouth. Humming as your body relaxes and a feeling of euphoria floods through your system.

Vash is still jackhammering away, pulling away from Nicholas with a thin string of saliva connecting them above you. “Fuck, I’m gonna blow Nico~” A crimson blush to put a rose to shame breaks out across his face as his hips slam into you and have you choking on Nicholas and moaning like you’re having the time of your life. “She’s so tight like she wants to drain my balls in that pretty little pussy of hers.” Hissing as he slams hard into you once more and throws his head back biting his lip with enough force to draw blood as he cums violently inside the condom wrapped in your tight heat. 

That final slam of Vash’s hips has your nose brushing against the hairs around Nicholas’s base and the smell of him has you squeezing Vash hard enough that you might actually be trying to milk his cock. Knowing from the grunts in front of you that Nicholas is just as close you start to hum, vibrating along his cock and feeling drool slip past the corner of your lips.

To hear the door to the bathroom open. The three of you are surprised and you find yourself lifted upwards so your feet wouldn’t be visible under the door and your lips wrapped around Nicholas’s base as the rest of his cock has nowhere to go but down your throat.  

Nicholas can’t help himself, feeling your lips and mouth convulsing around his entire length and he groans long and loud as his balls unload. Like this, the only thing you can do is try to swallow as best as you can in between breathing as the sound of footsteps seems to echo like a death march towards the three of you in the smaller space. 

“Damn, whoever you have in there must be a hell of a fuck.” Called from the other side and you feel your face start to burn trying to ignore the sound of running away. 

“I sure am~” Vash calls trying to keep his tone light and you swear you feel him throb again in your core. “Not every day you make your man moan like a whore.” You’re mortified while Vash is having a casual conversation with someone in a bathroom. While you’ve got Nicholas balls deep in your throat and just swallowed the largest load you’ve felt from the big guy while your feet are dangling off the ground held up by your thighs. 

A whistle and you don’t miss what the guy says over the pounding in your head over your embarrassment but when the steps recede and the door opens and closes again you find your feet placed back on the ground and Vash slipping out of your core. 

Slowly standing you reach up to wipe at your lips while Nicholas is working to clean around his balls from the amount of slobber you left on him before tucking himself back inside his pants. Turning to Vash you feel a little dizzy seeing him grin. 

“Sweetheart.” He’s gentle as he grabs some toilet paper to dab under your nose. “That was the best bathroom sex I’ve ever had.” Giving a soft giggle before leaning in to kiss your forehead. “You had Nico’s cum dripping from your nose.” 

Feeling yourself flush at that you look to the floor before chuckling. “Can we go home and fuck everywhere in the apartment. I don’t think I could handle someone else walking in on that.” 

“Of course Little Bear. Just tell us you had as much fun as we did.” You just grin and Nicholas takes one of your hands to kiss the back of while Vash goes about trying to fix your skirt and underwear before the three of you take off. 

“I’ve had the most fun tonight, and I can’t wait to keep having fun.” Slipping out of the bathroom is almost as easy as it was slipping in, and you can’t help but feel giddy as the adrenaline of what you just did courses through you. You can’t wait to get home and have the night continue, for now, you just need to survive the cab ride back. 

At least you don’t have to worry about hiding a chub like your boyfriends. Damn, you feel bad for whatever cab driver stops for the three of you tonight. 

Chapter 8

Master list for Roommates

[campgender]

“Lullabye for a butch” by Melinda Goodman, published in The Persistent Desire: A Femme-Butch Reader ed. Joan Nestle (1992)

Saturday night November 1980

I am 23 driving a '68 Delta east on 4

to the George Washington Bridge

jockeying with other drivers

coming off routes 80 and 47

for a clear veer to the lane my lover

works, the 3-to-11 post-Thanksgiving shift

She grabs my hand as I fly

money green flags

in her direction

laughing over the moan of diesel brakes

her wool-gloved fingers pry then tangle

in my naked palm

Ignoring the blaring horns outside the booth,

our mutual radios pump the club

version of Grace's "Warm Leatherette"

as she steps out on exhausted concrete

to place an orange cone

between my bumper and the

bumper behind mine

I like her uniform:

fresh polyester dark blue

and bright white collar

topped with overcoat,

scarf and ski cap for the blizzard on the way.

If it snows the Port Authority

puts her up at a motel otherwise

she stays at my place but has to be back

by dawn or be counted AWOL

So she's up before five

folding her flowered pajamas

into the bottom drawer

of my colonial chest

with handles like rings

through a bull's snout

“You got my nose”

moaned the only teenaged woman

who ever loved me

and my tollbooth honey

reminds me of her

as I chain the door behind her

hearing steps down five flights

to the street, the bridge,

and the gunmetal morning

I always loved

gentlemanly attentive butches

even those who won't fuck

for the first five dates

'cause they “want to get to know you”

till you beg

and by that time

you're married

They want to make sure

all those free concerts

fish dinners

and stories about home

won't get thrown back

in their teeth

After all...

butches are vulnerable

It's the femmes that are fierce

with their long legs

and tight jeans

making you watch them

Butches are the sweet ones

with their clean shined shoes

and socks

and underwear

smelling of baby powder

and Camay

I loved

the way she wrote her name

in purple script

all over the top sheet

of my coloring pad

when supper was done and the dishes stacked

I wish I could kiss her now

slide my tongue through her teeth

erase the years I fell

for women as distant as Queens

is from the Bronx

Just hold this butch in my arms

make her know

It's not the 2 condominiums

she bought with rare pennies

collected on her job

but her

her strong back

and big hips

and corny sparkling eyes

when she walks around

to open the door

on my side of the car

in front of the skinny eyes

of the fat boy dealers

strutting in and out

of their customized vans

and the heads rolling in

from Jersey

She doesn't even see

the tooth-sucking teens

as she walks back around

in her ten-gallon brim

to slide behind the wheel

Doesn't tell me where we're

going till we're parked and walking

out of the lot

up the block

arms linked

to see Patti Labelle

live at the Savoy

and I'm on my heels

all night screaming

through till the last song

running my fingers up the back of her neck

till the walls come down, tables break in half,

everybody's glass explodes

ice cubes hailing the city for miles

as Patti rains on

somewhere

over the rainbow

way up high

there's a

land that I dreamed of

once in a lulla-

bye.

[werechicken]

I’d love to hear a little character-establishing scene with Posset! ~vamps

Here’s my practice swing!

-*****-

Beneath the club, in doorways hidden by shifting shelves, thick walls muted the sounds of heavy jazz from above. The walls were graciously thick enough to cover up the screaming the Jazz band would most certainly obliterate.

A shelf slid, a door opened, and light poured through the doorframe, blinding the silhouettes of first one entering, then the other. The door shuts, cutting out the light. The room became dark again. Then, harsh lights flicked on.

The boss moved to an ornate chair, setting a tray of drinks down, relaxing. Her associate winced at the sudden light changes. “I wish you’d warn me.” He fessed, adjusting his glasses. “Some of us don’t have eyes that can adjust to total darkness like yours.” The boss shrugged, non commitally, popping the cork to some fairly good champagne for herself to taste and for her associate to drink when he needed. “Sorry…I don’t want to get in the way of your work…” she purred around the mouthful of word the work ‘work’ brought to her lips. The Dentist tsked, already setting up a tray closer to the prisoner chained to the wall.

The prisoner was lanky, feminine, but an odd bony musculature underneath. Their brown hair long and obscured their face while they lay in the corner. The chain had been secured to a clamp around their neck, arms crossed about her breasts. “Sss. Stay. Stay away.” This ritual has been done nightly now. The pain each time was unbearable. She was bowed, but not broken. The Dentist was burly, strong. In spite of the fantastic strength of the fiend chained, he hurled the bag of bones to her feet, supporting the chain on a hook embedded in the wall. The woman’s face was masculine, lean. Thick, rubber gloves hands brought fingers to the corners of her mouth. She could offer no resistance, starved as she was. The Dentist revealed the fangs of his pet project, and pulled a pair of pliers closer. The poor thing thrashed and squirmed under his grasp, rattling the chain and swaying her body. “No! No! Not again! Not-ahhh!” The Dentist had secured her head steadily with one hand, the other viciously tore at lips with pliers that sought a fang. It took work, a good deal of fighting until their captor was too feeble to resist, but one fang then the other joined the bloodied, ivory mass in a metal pail, halfway full.

The vampire they had caught cupped their mouth, sobbing as she was let to the floor. The Boss has been watching eagerly, and with rapt attention every time. “Someday, I will become bored of this. When I do…my good friend here will continue the work until I feel you’ve worked off your penance.” A knock at the door, causing the Boss to stir, eagerly. “Here we go…supper is served, if you can keep enough of it down this time.” The Dentist removed bloodstained rubber gloves to answer the door, taking the tray from the secret gratefully and all but forcing a tip into her hand before sending her off. He set the lone drink on a tray before the Boss on the little wooden table.

The Boss has rolled up the sleeve to her outfit by this point, and with sharpened talon, opened the palm of her other hand, and squeezed enough blood to stain the Possett, the creamy drink, a brilliant pink. “I can tell enough of my potent blood gets in you to keep you alive. It amazes me how much it helps. But this is how I want you to feel, as I did when you murdered my number one.” She said, getting on her knees and clambering over, like a monster herself. The vampire chained had clambered away, sobbing, mouth a ruined mess, but was already healing. “No..no..” “I may even give you a new name when this is over….like the drink. You look like something I could drink. Soft and creamy, but with hard edges. A Possett. Now..let’s get you to drink up.” The Boss was strong, and gripped the vampire by her hair, pulling her head up just enough to sip on the blood tainted drink.

She couldn’t keep it down, and had to be rinsed off with a hose, again. Even when broken, something sparked inside of her with the words of the Boss. She was going to live through this. But not until they felt enough of this blasted torture of starvation and mutilation had run its course…or they both got bored.

This was the 48th night of this ritual, this entertainment, this torture, and the drink still was disgusting. The blood nourished, as it should. But the human food elements were indigestible.

[ecodynetableware01]

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[tulievephotographys]

Top 4 Palm Cove Wedding Venues Where You Can Say “I Do”

Everyone wants their wedding ceremony to be amazing. Taking your vows with your better half and beginning your lifelong journey together feels exotic and surreal. These below listed wedding venues in Palm Cove are incredibly elegant and attractive, and they have everything you need to have a royal celebration!

Pullman Palm Cove Sea Temple Resort & Spa:

At Pullman Palm Cove Sea Temple Resort & Spa, you can enjoy your beachfront wedding and make the best possible wedding memories. With the expansive coral sea in the background, the wedding décor is rustic and lovely. This location excels in hosting any event, whether it's a lavish wedding or a small, private gathering. The resort's reception hall, the Melaleuca Room, is the perfect place to entertain your guests for a magnificent supper buffet and beverage after the ceremonies and rituals have been completed in style.

Peppers Beach Club & Spa:

Peppers Beach Club & Spa is undoubtedly a popular and highly-regarded wedding venue in Palm Cove, offering stunning views of the Coral Sea, a tranquil and romantic ambiance, and a range of indoor and outdoor event spaces to accommodate weddings of different sizes and styles. Whether you're looking for an intimate ceremony on the beach or a grand reception in a ballroom, Peppers Beach Club & Spa can provide a range of options to suit your needs and preferences.

Alamanda Wedding Chapel:

Located on Palm Cove beach, the Alamanda Resort Wedding Chapel is a stunningly designed non-denominational wedding chapel. You have the option of relishing an open-air wedding with pleasant sea breezes and 180-degree views of the spectacular Coral Sea and Palm Cove Beach at this all-white wedding chapel.

Nu Nu Restaurant

Looking for a truly unforgettable beachfront wedding venue in Palm Cove? Look no further than Nu Nu Restaurant. Located right on the beachfront of Tropical North Queensland's most iconic beach, our restaurant provides the perfect setting for your special day. This venue is known for its beauty, intimacy, and outstanding service, making it a top choice for couples from all over Australia and the world.

Nu Nu is known for creating mouth-watering menus that showcase the unique local produce of the area. They are committed to providing your guests with an unforgettable dining experience, and they work hard to ensure that the food is always fresh, delicious, and beautifully presented. Their team of dedicated staff is always on hand to provide attentive service and ensure that every detail of your wedding day is taken care of.

The spectacular views of the beach and ocean are truly breathtaking, providing the perfect backdrop for your ceremony, reception, and wedding photographs. And with the experienced event staff on hand to help you plan every aspect of your wedding, you can relax and enjoy your special day without worrying about a thing.

Whether you're planning an intimate gathering or a grand celebration, Nu Nu Restaurant has everything you need to make your wedding day truly unforgettable.

Now that you have so many wedding venue options to choose from, its time to choose a reliable Wedding Photographer in Palm Cove. Your wedding day is a special day and you need a special person to detain the memories. Contact Tulieve Photography today to book a professional Wedding Photographer in Palm Cove.

Know more about our affordable and quality services stay social with us on: Facebook , Instagram & Pinterest

[awesomeforever]

Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter Reservations in Beverly Hills are up 13 percent over 2019, as industry insiders say the power lunch scene is revitalized: "I think people are trying to make up for lost time." By Elycia Rubin With close to 365 days of flawless weather, outdoor dining is a year-round occurrence in Los Angeles, and even more so during a pandemic. And now that summer is officially here, there’s nothing like a lively patio, especially in the power-lunch centers of Beverly Hills and Century City, where the majority of talent agencies and entertainment law firms are perched. Industry regulars say that patios throughout Century City and Beverly Hills are bustling these days. “As Beyoncé declares in her new single, ‘Break My Soul,’ we are ‘back outside’,” says Patrik-Ian Polk, co-executive producer of Starz’s P-Valley. “As convenient as Zoom meetings are, nothing beats the in-person L.A. business lunch circuit. It’s a vital part of the entertainment industry social scene that was sorely missed.” UTA partner Darnell Strom tells THR that he feels it’s harder to get a reservation “last second” right now in the area. “People are really wanting to spend more time dining at restaurants,” he adds. “I think people are trying to make up for lost time.” blogherads.adq.push(function () blogherads .defineSlot( 'medrec', 'gpt-article-mid-article-uid0' ) .setTargeting( 'pos', ["mid-article1","mid-articleX","mid","mid-article"] ) .setSubAdUnitPath("ros/mid-article") .addSize([[300,250],[2,2],[300,251],[620,350],[2,4],[4,2]]) ; ); Related Stories Lifestyle Ryan Phillippe and Evan Ross Invest in New Beverly Hills Restaurant The Hideaway Lifestyle Fanny's Restaurant Debuts Supper Club Series Named After 'Funny Girl' "Hello, Gorgeous" Line Statistics from booking app OpenTable bear this out. From January to May, reservations at participating Beverly Hills restaurants that have an average check of $50 a person were up 30 percent over 2021 and 13 percent from 2019. There’s been a vibe shift in recent months, according to writer and documentary producer Irena Medavoy, compared with 2021, which saw a rash of high-profile crimes in the area. “Beverly Hills took a big hit with the smash-and-grabs and when that person got shot at Il Pastaio,” says Medavoy, referring to an attack on a jewelry dealer on the restaurant’s patio in March 2021. “I think it made everybody pause, but everyone is back now.” But film campaign consultant Terry Press, a regular at The Palm on Canon Drive, says she feels power-lunching hasn’t fully returned to pre-pandemic levels. “You know what took over the business lunch? All the delivery services,” she says. Even so, the area’s restaurant landscape is set to be more crowded this year when a new Jon & Vinny’s (on North Bedford) and Daniel Boulud’s first L.A. outing (at the Mandarin Oriental Residences on Wilshire Boulevard) are both slated to open. In the meantime, these five al fresco dining options (all opened since the pandemic began) can help seal a deal while enjoying atmospheric settings. blogherads.adq.push(function () blogherads .defineSlot( 'medrec', 'gpt-dsk-tab-mid-article2-uid1' ) .setTargeting( 'pos', ["mid","mid-article2","mid-articleX"] ) .setSubAdUnitPath("ros/mid-article2") .addSize([[300,250],[300,251],[620,350],[2,4],[4,2]])

; ); With its prime perch across from CAA, the iconic Fairmont Century Plaza reopened late last year after a five-year, $2.5 billion renovation. Boasting a rich history as a mecca for celebrities including The Beatles and Sonny & Cher and as President Ronald Reagan’s hotel of choice, the 400-room luxury property and residences hosted the Critics Choice Awards in March and is home to French restaurant Lumière. Furnished with antiques, the spot has a bistro-style menu with dishes such as a knockout chicken liver mousse with olive oil jam. The patio feels like a slice of Provence with an herb garden, fountain and lush lavender plantings. 2025 Avenue of the Stars, L.A. With views of Century City’s neighboring high-rises, Nerano’s swanky patio — opened in 2020 in a onetime parking lot — offers an oasis in the middle of the city. The cuisine, inspired by the Amalfi Coast, includes spaghetti with squash blossoms and the same Tuscan-style thin-crust pizzas served at sister restaurant Toscana in Brentwood. “It’s fantastic food with a great outdoor area, chef, maitre d’ and staff,” says CAA agent Ted Miller. 9960 S. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills Located inside The Crescent Hotel (near the offices of Live Nation and UTA), 1-year-old Nua feels like a Tel Aviv-style cafe that landed in Beverly Hills. Regulars, who include Columbia Records president Ron Perry, come for chef Yoav Schverd’s modern Mediterranean cuisine, including charred eggplant with tomato salsa and date syrup, and shakshuka featuring slow-cooked tomatoes and poached eggs on a perfectly chewy Jerusalem bagel. The small, intimate patio, hidden from the street, woos diners looking for a serene lunchtime escape. “Nua is a cozy, tucked-away spot with delicious food,” says Gersh partner Roy Ashton, “and the staff makes you feel like you’re at a friend’s house.” 403 N. Crescent Drive, Beverly Hills blogherads.adq.push(function () blogherads .defineSlot( 'medrec', 'gpt-thr-article-mid-articleX-uid2' ) .setTargeting( 'pos', ["btf","mid-articleX","mid"] ) .setSubAdUnitPath("ros/mid-articleX") .addSize([[300,250],[300,251],[620,350]]) .setLazyLoadMultiplier(2) ; ); Flanked by lemon trees, potted plants and white parasols adjacent to the Beverly Canon Gardens, the sun-drenched scene at The Terrace oozes Mediterranean elegance. Located at The Maybourne Beverly Hills hotel — sister property to Claridge’s in London — the restaurant features items such as decadent homemade corn agnolotti with black truffle and steak tartare with lemon crème fraîche. The hotel also recently enchanted guests with a quintessentially British afternoon tea courtesy of Claridge’s world-renowned midday ritual. While the crumpet-laden experience was a pop-up, the splendor will become a permanent fixture after the ongoing lobby renovation is complete. Until then, tea is offered at The Terrace every weekend from 2 to 5 p.m. “The food is great,” says Medavoy, who along with husband Mike recently lunched there with producer-director George Stevens Jr. and his wife, Elizabeth. Adds Strom: “The Terrace Restaurant at the Maybourne Hotel is my favorite place for a business lunch. The outdoor patio is spacious, the food is delicious, and if you squint for a second, you feel like you are dining outdoors in Europe.” 225 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills The well-connected manager at industry-beloved Craig’s for many years, Tommy Salvatore is the man behind Tommy’s. Located just across from The Terrace in the former location of Thomas Keller’s Bouchon, the restaurant serves up chef Vartan Abgaryan’s Italian fare, including antipasti platters, spicy meatballs and cacio e pepe pasta alongside such options as a burger and a mixed wild rice bowl.

Lunch and happy hour happen at the vine-covered patio at The Café on the ground floor, while the main restaurant upstairs serves dinner. Says Polk: “Tommy’s is the perfect power-lunch spot. The vibe is cozy, and the food is to die for. And Tommy himself walks around greeting tables, the nicest guy and an L.A. legend.” 235 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills This story first appeared in the July 15 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe. blogherads.adq.push(function () blogherads .defineSlot( 'medrec', 'gpt-thr-article-mid-articleX-uid3' ) .setTargeting( 'pos', ["btf","mid-articleX","mid"] ) .setSubAdUnitPath("ros/mid-articleX") .addSize([[300,250],[300,251],[620,350]]) .setLazyLoadMultiplier(2) ; ); Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter Send us a tip using our anonymous form. source

[betweenandbeloved]

Garden of Gethsemane

At the bottom of the Palm Sunday Path and the Mount of Olives sits the Garden of Gethsemane. This is the place Jesus came after the Last Supper to sleep for the night with his disciples.

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” - Matthew 26: 36-38

Pictured: olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane

The garden is home to olive trees that are over 900 years old. The roots of these trees date to over 2,000 years old which means these olive trees are descended from trees that were around during Jesus’ time. This small grove of trees sits right outside the Church of All Nations but there is a larger grove across the street.

Pictured above: an olive tree with rocks spelling out the word “Peace”

Pictured below: the sanctuary in the Church of All Nations

The Church of All Nations, also known as the Church of Agony, is home to the place where it is believed Jesus went to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane. The church has purple stained glass windows that make it feel like night time in the sanctuary. It was a little crazy walking out of the church and remembering it was daytime because it really did feel like the middle of the night.

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you keep watch with me for one hour?” He asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes by betrayer!” - Matthew 26: 39-46

Pictured above: the spot where Jesus went to pray in the Garden housed now in the Church of All Nations

Pictured below: a plaque in the garden near the Olive Trees with Matthew 26:39 written out and a prayer reading “O Jesus, in deepest night and agony, you spoke these words of trust and surrender to God the Father in Gethsemane. In love and gratitude I want to say in times of fear and distress, ‘My father, I do not understand you, but I trust you’”

While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?” When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, “Lord should we strike with the sword?” Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, an the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as though I were a rebel? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour and the power of darkness!” Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priests’ house. - Luke 22:47-54

Through the trees in the garden you can see the Temple Mount with the golden Dome of the Rock. I can only imagine what it was like for Jesus to sleep and pray in this garden looking at the Temple Mount looming over him, knowing what was to come on his journey.

[equestrianempire]

Rodrigo Pessoa Received an International Award at the Induction Gala for the Show Jumping Hall of Fame

Lexington, Kentucky, USA – March 8, 2024&nbsp, – Francisco” Pancho” Lopez, &nbsp, lifelong house director for Katie Monahan Prudent and then Elise Haas, and&nbsp, Cedric, Laura Kraut’s gold medal Olympic support, were inducted into the&nbsp, Show Jumping Hall of Fame&nbsp, during the Hall of Fame’s Induction Gala in Wellington, Florida, on March 3. The Hall of Fame also honored Olympic, World and World Cup champion&nbsp, Rodrigo Pessoa&nbsp, ( BRA ) as recipient of the Hall ‘s&nbsp, International Award.

It was our biggest and best yet, according to Show Jumping Hall of Fame president Peter Doubleday, who also chairs the organization’s annual induction ceremony as part of a sit-down supper in Wellington. ” We sold out in advance and, unfortunately, had to turn away many people who wanted to be there. Our club’s history was on display with 15 Hall oƒ Famers and many more of our sport’s mythology in attendance. Once more, it was a fantastic day that we will remember fondly each year.

The Hall of Fame presented its International Award for just the second time prior to the formal induction of Lopez and&nbsp, Cedric, with Rodrigo Pessoa ( FRA ), one of the most successful riders in show jumping history, receiving the award. At the World Equestrian Games in 1998 and the Olympic Games in 2004, Pessoa ωon the personal Gold Medal. He also won the championship in 1998, 1999, and 2000, making him the only horse to ever triumph in the FEI World Cup Fiȵals three times in α row. &nbsp,

While ƫhe Hall of Fame is intended for Americans who have had a major influence on thȩ game, we are aware of some outstanding international users who have made a significant influence on display jumping įn tⱨis nation,” said Doubleday. ” With that in mind, we launched our International Award last year and presented the annual award to Canada’s Ian Millar. Rodrigo was an obvious çhoice when we considered applicants ƒor the prizȩ this year, and listening to his moving talk at the supper made it clear that we made the right choice.

The induction dinner, held at the Wanderers Club in Wellington, also recognized 15 others in attendance who have previously been inducted into the Hall of Fame including Olympic veterans Mary Chapot, Margie Engle, Leslie Howard, Anne Kursinski, Beezie Madden, Michael Matz, Melanie Smith Taylor and Katie Prudent ( 1980 Alternate Olympics ), as well as Linda Allen, Jane Forbes Clark, Anthony D’Ambrosio, David Distler, Peter Doubleday, Danny Marks and former Olympic rider and current U. Ș. chef d’equipe Robert Ridland. People in enrollment included Olympic soldiers McLain Ward, Lauren Hough, Will Simpson, Nick Skelton, Shane Sweetnam, and Mac Cone and Grand Prix users Georgina Bloomberg, Carly Anthony, Heather Caristo- Williams, Jimmy Torano, Kelli Cruciotti- Vanderveen, Schuyler Riley, and Coco Fath.

Robin Parsky, Beth Johnson, Charlie Jacobs, who sponsored the gathering’s presence oƒ all Hall of Famers, and the Wheeler Family, who sponsored the cocktaiI reception and empty table. Also sponsoring were the Hall of Fame’s corporate sponsors – Blenheim EquiSports, Charles Ancona, CMJ Sporthorse, Hampton Classic Horse Show, Kentucky Horse Park, LAURACEA, LEG Colorado Horse Shows, Markel Insurance, Palm Beach International Academy, Rood &amp, Riddle Equine Hospital, United States Hunter Jumper Association ( USHJA ), Washington International Horse Show, and Wellington International. Stand dσnors included John Madden Sales, Leslie Howard, Oliynyk Show Stables, Margaret Duprey and Laura Kraut.

Source: Press Release (edited ) from Show Jumping Hall of Fame

Photo: © SHOF / KindMedia

Related

Categories: Awards, English, Jumper News Brasil

Identified as: Honors, Equestrian, Horses, Jumper News, Jumper News USA, Rodrigo Pessoa, Show Jumping Hall of Fame, Show Jumping Hall of Fame Gala, Showjumping, The Wanderers Club, United States Equestrian Federation, US Equestrian, USEF, Wanderers Club

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Looking for a Place to Happen

Warnings: non-consent sex and rape (series), age gap, general stupidity.

This is dark!biker!Sam Wilson x reader and explicit. 18+ only.  Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Series Synopsis: There’s lots happening in Birch and you find it all too amusing.

Sister series to Smalltown Bringdown, When the Weight Comes Down, Little Bones, and Fully Completely

Note: We’re starting Sam’s installment but this weekend I’ll probably only be catching up on my headcanons and drabbles because I’ve been a lazy bitch and I’m sorry to those who have been waiting.

Thanks to everyone for their patience and feedback. :)

I really hope you enjoy. 💋

<3 Let me know what you think with a like or reblog or reply or an ask! Love ya!

Chapter 1: I've got a job, I explore

💀💀💀

The sleepy town of Birch was awake. 

In those last weeks, the arrival of outsiders had roused the attention of many once passive residents of the timeless territory. Those brick buildings unchanged by the tick of the clock inlaid into the old tower above the library that chimed every hour on the hour. They still stood with only chips in the mortar but the air tasted different. The frost was more bitter and the sky more grim. An omen of something no one could predict.

It was the perfect setting for a screenplay. The isolated town with its unsavoury secrets and the visitors who threatened to bring them to the surface. It was inspiring to you, to imagine what was hidden behind the stern wrinkled faces of the town elders and under the jackets of those men who wore the cut of the local club. The bikers ruled the town covertly but everyone knew that Bucky Barnes’ palm was lined with the map of Birch.

As a bystander, an unnoticed observer, just another ant in the hill, you watched from the side and amused yourself with the drama of others. It was like a soap opera or another HBO hype machine. Those things you aspired to when you could be free of this ho-hum town.

The snows added to the natural gloom of the place. The deep heaps smothered the noise and harkened back to those days of colonial settlement. Forgotten, desolate, fearful. 

You ventured down in your heavy boots that stretched to your knees and pushed your chin down into your scarf. As a child, you ran and jumped in those piles, now you were out of breath just trying to walk past them.

You stopped in the bakery that doubled as the only café, a place where the owner, Babs, tried to to intimidate the last caffeinated trends. She was always a few seasons behind but you didn’t mind so much. 

You ordered the salted caramel mocha and waited patiently as the quiet woman fought with the steaming machines. She was older than you but you’d work with her for one summer during high school, only five years ago. She had the eyes of a child still, but there was something worn in her. As if she’d been exposed to far too much in her three or so decades in that place. She was a harbinger of what you didn’t want to become.

You thanked her for your drink and set out once more into the billowing winds. Birch winters were never kind but this one was crueler than most. Your teeth chattered as you blew the steam away from the lid and hugged it with your mittened hands.

You stopped short as you heard the familiar ding of the diner door across the street. You recognised the mechanic who kept to herself and once growled at you in the grocery store. She stormed across the street, followed closely and quickly by a black-haired man you’d only seen once before. He was one of those outsiders who came to deal with the club men.

You sped up as you sensed chaos brewing and pulled out your phone as you balanced your paper cup in your other hand. You flicked your camera on just as you got to the front of the shop and the man grabbed the mechanic. You let out an ‘oop’ as she turned on him and you aimed the lens at the couple as they fell into the snow, the man’s shoes giving little traction to his steps. 

You moved closer, stunned by the scene, and kept your cell phone rolling as you found a better angle around the snowy walks. As she choked him on the ground he elbowed her and she coughed as she rolled away. She snarled as he clamoured to his feet, slipping and sliding as he marched away.

You killed the recording and watched the man cross the street again, nearly wiping out as he did and when you looked back to the mechanic, she was gone behind the clattering door. You chuckled to yourself and tucked away your cell. It was prime footage for TikTok; with a bit of editing, it would be comedy gold.

💀

You stomped up the steps of your grandmother’s house, this time through the front door as you heard her chair rocking in the front room. You usually took the stairs in the back as you paid her to live on the upper floor of the duplex. You checked in with her daily, she didn’t get out much more than the occasional trip to the grocery store when you couldn’t or you dragged her out to join you for a tea at Babs’.

“You’re late,” she grumbled as you set your cup down and unzipped your coat.

“For what?” you scoffed.

“It’s after noon and you don’t even come down to say hello? A ‘good morning, nan’,” she harrumphed.

You chuckled and hung your coat before shoving your boots over on the mat. You grabbed your mocha and leaned on the doorway as you watched her crocheting in her chair, reruns of some court show playing from the boxy television.

“I was working,” you said, “sent in some stuff for review. Hopefully not much work to be done.”

“I don’t know how you make money on that interweb,” she bemoaned, “I don’t trust it.”

“Maybe you’d trust it more if you used the Netflix subscription I got you,” you crossed your arms, “then you wouldn’t have to watch trash daytime TV.”

She shrugged and muttered under her breath. She could be crotchety but you liked her sense of humour. Your aunts and uncles never came around because they just took it as spite. You were the only one who knew how to handle the jaded old lady.

“Maybe you coulda looked out the window,” you snickered, “quite a show going on in town.”

“Hmm, what’s that?” she stilled her needles and reached for her tea stained cup.

“Just a fight. You wouldn’t believe it, that lady mechanic beat the shit--”

“Language,” she huffed.

“Anyway, she had this guy in a chokehold. It was awesome.”

“What guy?” she squinted at you over her glasses.

“I dunno. Some out of towner. Remember I told you about that burly dude hanging around the library?”

“There’s more?” she sucked on her teeth, “those bikers have never been good news and now they’re bringing in more.”

“Yeah, well, what’re you gonna do?” you sniffed as you took out your phone and rewatched the scuffle with the volume down. You shook your head and opened up your TikTok. 

“I don’t understand why you’re always on your dang phone,” your grandmother pestered.

“I’m not always on my phone,” you smiled at her smugly, “there are those time when I’m listening to you prattle on or you know, making you tea, oh, and cooking you dinner. What was it I did last week? Oh that’s right, I got Pippin out of the crawlspace.”

“I’m too old to be chasin’ that cat all around,” she huffed, “where is he anyway?”

“He’s your cat, I don’t know? Last time I saw him, I sent him back out the window for shredding my charger.”

“He knows you need to give it a rest,” she laughed to herself, “got your nose to that screen too much.”

“And what do you do, old lady? Crocheting doilies to put where exactly?”

She gave you that dry smile, the one that said watch it but carried a hint of humour still. You hit post and put your phone away as you waved off her irritation.

“Well, you know what, I sit all day at my computer, doing who knows what and you know what it got me?” you taunted, “a large mocha!” you sipped as you sat on the sofa and grabbed the remote, “and it’s paying my rent and putting bullet points on my resume.”

“Mhmm,” she scowled, “just remember, real life ain’t online. Those videos you’re always laughing at like hyena, that’s not reality. You forget it and it’ll come back and bit you. ‘Specially with those bikers.”

“Oh, nan, you know too well, don’t you? Didn’t you have a fling with one back in your hippie phase?”

“Two, actually,” she raised her brows, “I was young and stupid. Not like you, but still.”

“I love you too,” you chirped and sipped from your cup, flicking the station to Jerry Springer, “that’s more like it.”

💀

Your usual TikToks were sarcastic and dull complaints about your small town life. The response was less than pleasing but it gave you an outlet to vent. You liked to goof around and document the very specific type of weirdos that resided in Birch. But the video of the fight in the snow blew up your phone and made it difficult to ignore the buzzing as you went back up to your room to eke out the last of your captions for the ad agency.

When at last you could call your day hard-earned, you logged off and sent in your hours to the agency. Social media promotion was easy enough but the working gigs for a thousand different companies was tedious. You hoped you could build your portfolio enough to manage a single corporate page as you continued to chip away at your creative outlets.

You picked up your phone as you waited for Netflix to load on your tiny smart tv and flopped onto your bed, not two feet from your desk. You hit the icon in the upper panel of your phone and scrolled through the notifications, pausing to turn on another episode of the cable sitcom from ten years before. You snorted as you read each comment but the number under the video made your eyes round. The thing was bound to go viral.

As usual, you went down to help with supper. Pippin, the orange tabby, returned to cry at his dish and you fed him too. Your nan peered through her glasses at a crossword as she tasted the tangy pasta sauce. 

“More basil,” she snipped.

“Well, I asked if you wanted to help,” you muttered, “I think it’s good.”

“Hmmp, I need milk,” she jutted her chin out, “for my after-dinner tea.”

“You couldn’t say something like three hours ago?” you blinked.

“I could have but I didn’t,” she snickered. You rolled your eyes and she took another forkful of penne and filled in another line on her puzzle, “ah, no hurry, girlie, you know I’m patient.”

“Patient? You?” you chuckled as you took your plate and shoved it in the microwave to keep it warm. The ancient thing had a dial and the door stuck, “I’ll just go get it over with.”

“Don’t forget your mitts,” she called after you as you tramped into the front room, “it’s cold.”

You pulled on your knitted cap and matching mitts. You zipped up your parka and shoved your feet into the deep boots. You grabbed your wallet and buried it in the spacious pocket. You bounced out the front door and down the steps as the sky sent down another coat of powder for the night.

You went up White Forge Street and through the short path behind the diner that led to the main road. You glanced over at The Asp, the beacon of the dull town, and turned towards the grocer. Like anywhere in Birch, the store was outdated and stuffy. It felt like stepping into another time with the paper bags and chunky tills.

You went down the center aisle and stopped at the fridge to search through the frosted glass. Your nan only drank whole milk and the last time you carelessly grabbed skim, she whined that even Pippin wouldn’t drink it. She was particular but that was just her nature. You couldn’t say you were any less fussy in some instances.

You grabbed a jug and the door slapped closed against the worn rubber seal. You headed up the candy aisle and brushed your woolly thumb over your chin as you considered gummy bears or Reeses’ Pieces.

“Hard choice?” The deep voice jolted you.

You snatched the box of chocolate and looked over at the man in leather, his chin tucked down behind the collar as snow dusted his shoulders.

“Sure,” you said as you brushed past him.

The cut of the leather told you he was better not entertained. While you thought the men amusing, you weren’t stupid enough to engage with them. You rarely listened to your grandmother but she was wise in her own way. 

You knew a girl in highschool, she was fucking around with one of the club men in her junior year, she ended up with a baby and no support. You didn’t think he was into you that way but he could hardly have innocent intentions.

“How’s the old lady?” Clayton asked as he rung in your order at the end of the belt, you moved along with the groceries and pulled out your wallet.

“The usual, you know? She’s tryna quit again. Don’t know how long it’ll last.”

“Oh yeah? I’ll keep a carton aside for her,” he kidded as you felt your phone vibing in your back pocket.

“Don’t encourage her,” you swiped your card and punched in your pin, “although I don’t know what’s worse; the smoke or her sucking on those mints all the time.”

“Oh, it’s not the bitchin’?” he laughed.

“That, too,” you scooped up the paper bag and put your wallet away, “have a good one.”

As you came to the end of the first counter, you were nearly cut off by the club member as he swept around from till two. His own purchase of a car magazine and jerky was tucked under his arm.

“Ah, sorry,” he smiled, a sparkling smile, almost charming.

“No worries,” you continued on and he followed close behind.

“Those mitts look real warm. ‘Specially in this weather,” he said as you pushed open the door.

“Uh huh,” you kept on as your boots crunched out into the snow.

“You know where I can get a pair. Leather isn’t exactly thermal, you know?”

“These? My nan made ‘em. I’m sure Clayton got some hung up back there,” you looked across the street as you stepped up onto the ledge of snow between the sidewalk and the road.

“Am I bothering you?” he asked.

You looked at him dumbly and almost laughed in his face. You glanced back across the street then down towards The Asp.

“Sorta,” you answered.

“Make you a deal. Leave ya alone for your name.”

You eyed him. He was older than you like many of the Commandos. At least a decade, likely more than that. You chewed on your hesitation and cradled the bag more firmly against your side. His eyes strayed as he tried to see through the thick layer of your coat.

“Nah, I’m not s’posed to talk to strangers,” you said and hopped off onto the road.

You heard him behind you as he struggled to follow and as you came up to the other side, he came parallel with you and kept stride with you easily.

“I know you’re young but you’re not a kid,” he intoned, “what’s the harm in a name?”

“It’s a small town,” you stopped short of the end of White Forge, “I think I know enough about you to avoid you.”

“Oh ho, is that it? Well, I’m Sam, I’m not a stranger now, am I?”

“Not interested, Sam. Sure there’s women your own age over at the bar,” you nodded behind him.

“You wanna come see? Maybe have a drink?” he gave a crooked grin.

“You don’t give up, do you?” you shook your head, put off by his forwardness.

“Well?”

“Not tonight, Sam,” you turned around and headed down White Forge.

“Then what night?” he asked but you didn’t answer and he didn’t follow.

You turned down onto your street and refused to look back in case. It would be best not to mention the run-in to your nan, she was paranoid enough as it was. Besides, you’d forget about it by the end of next week.

[wausaupilot]

Cocktail of the Week: Monsters, Inc.

Happy Halloween! This week's featured drink is a treat for adults - an original recipe from Penny at The Palms!

Wausau Pilot & Review Halloween isn’t just for kids, and this cocktail offers a delicious way to celebrate with friends. This is an original recipe from The Palms Supper Club, and was created by Penny Borchardt. Cocktail of the Week: Monsters, Inc. 1 1/2 oz. Vodka 1 oz. Midori 1/2 oz. Lime juice 1/2 oz. Simple syrup Gummy ghost or skeleton for garnish Fill a highball glass with ice,…

[all-might-can-smash-me]

Hogwarts AU Headcanons

Aizawa Shouta/Eraserhead, Toshinori Yagi/All Might, Taishiro Toyomitsu/Fatgum, Mirai Sasaki/Sir Nighteye, Keigo Takami/Hawks

Masterlist

Slytherin 🐍

He was the odd ball though when it came to his own house since he hung out with a Hufflepuff and a Gryffindor

Would every now and then find himself in some trouble alongside his friends with the professors

Especially for being late to class, his two friends goofing off around the grounds, and trying to sneak around late at night.

Was in possession of the Maurader’s map with his friends....but Filch took it...

Also was friends with you as well, ever since the first train ride to Hogwarts, but the two of you start to date in your 6th year.

He excelled with all his subjects and O.W.L.S. and graduated almost at the top of his class

The two of you married not too long upon graduating Hogwarts.

Became an Auror and was pretty great at his job, but with the offer of a position at Hogwarts recommended to him, he decided to give it a go

The two of you move to Hogsmeade to be closer to his work.

I picture him teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts

He’s a strict teacher, but only because he needs the students to know the ways to defend themselves and be knowledgeable of the dangers in the wizarding world.

He is also runs Wizarding Duel Club, which is actually quite popular despite him being so strict with his teaching methods

Enjoys roaming around Hogsmeade with you on the weekends he and over the holidays

Frequents the Three Broomsticks and Honeydukes with you (especially honeydukes when you fall pregnant during his 2nd year of teaching)

Students were SHOOK to see their professor at Madame Puddyfoot’s Tea Shop with a heavily pregnant you on Valentine’s Day

Students since then have introduced themselves to you and enjoy talking to you....despite Shouta wanting a student free weekend in Hogsmeade.

But he can’t help but like it when students request to feel your baby bump and you happily let them....the happy look on your face makes his heart flutter

Will invite you to eat at Hogwarts with the students and professors that stay for Christmas because he feels bad for the students who don’t go back to their families

Gryffindor 🦁

Was extremely popular in his Hogwarts years

Won the triwizard tournament his 7th year

His academics though? They weren’t out of this world, but they were pretty normal, he was better when it came to his extracurricular activities such as Wizarding Duel and Quidditch

He would secretly go to geek out about the muggle world with the Muggle Studies professor every now and then

Upon graduation he was a pretty popular quidditch player for the United Kingdom, but suffered a life changing injury

Decided live in the muggle world and study their way of life for a bit after the injury, he ended up composing a text book with all the basics he scrounged up together

It’s even used for the curriculum at Hogwarts

Though Hogwarts offered him a position as well as the Muggle Studies professor

Hell to the yes he went! He become head of Gryffindor house and helped give pointers to the quidditch team

Started a weekend club where students would meet in the great hall to observe Muggle Artifacts, it wasn’t really that popular, but it didn’t matter, the few students that joined was enough for him.

Met you shortly after beginning to teach at Hogwarts

You taught herbology and would sometimes listen in during his Muggle club in the great hall and would sometimes ask questions about the object he was talking about.

After that he would invite you out to Hogsmeade to get a butter beer and talk about muggle things since you showed an interest in wanting to know

The conversations soon turned into what would go on between two friends and it flowed so nicely, so after that he would ask you to meet up a few more times before going on a date.

The fact that two of you dated was no secret as your dates were of course held at Hogsmeade and the students could very well see the two of you chatting away.

So it wasn’t a surprise when the two of you got married and you fell pregnant during one year of teaching.

He totally invited the members of his muggles club to the wedding and totally didn’t get emotional when they gifted him a rubber duck (his absolute favorite muggle artifact)

Hufflepuff 🦡

Known as the gentle giant while in school

Supper nice and was friendly with absolutely everyone, so he was highly respected and adored by his peers

His academic life was pretty normal, excelling in the subjects he needed to become an Auror, he was also the announcer for the school’s quidditch matches.

Also liked to spend his time in the library to study....also snuck snacks in as well and would share with the other students that were studying

Met you on the train ride to Hogwarts his 7th year, he was trying to enter your train car since the others were full but he only managed to bang his head upon entering

You two were joined at the hip ever since then and started dating

The two of you married after graduation

You came into the ownership of honeydukes at Hogsmeade while Taishiro spent most of his time away for his job as an Auror

Quite his job though once the two of you had your 5th child to move to Hogsmeade to be with you and to help you run the candy shop.

The students love interacting with you and Taishiro, talking about their classes and their stuggles and asking for advice as they would purchase their chocolate frogs and other confectionary

Your older children, who all happen to be girls, love to go visit you and Tiashiro ok the weekends and sometimes hang out with their friends there.

Your younger girls would give advice to the students who are purchasing candy on which one is the best and will also look longingly to them because they wanted to be at Hogwarts already.

They would also brag that they had like five of the cards that a student would get from their chocolate frogs, but Taishiro would soon put them on blast and say they didn’t

Became instant BFFs with the Weasley family thanks to being able to relate on having big families, so holidays together are chaotic but fun

Is a huge advocate for house elves rights along with his daughters and you

Ravenclaw

Was a little quiet during school, a little mysterious

People either liked him or just really didn’t know him, mostly people from his own house liked him.

Excelled in academics and was at the top of his class and was viewed as the brightest wizard in his year, but sucked when it came to quidditch.

Really, really, really, really loved quidditch though and really wished he was good at it, but you can’t help some things.

Upon graduation he took up a position at the Ministry of Magic as the head of the Department of Mysteries

Worked extremely close with the Hall of Prophecy thanks to his gift of Divination (divination was his favorite course in Hogwarts)

Met you through work after becoming head of the Department of Mysteries

Your were the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement

You two had a meeting for damage control because a worker on the Hall of Prophecy managed to drop on of them and the even needed to be documented

You had a framed signature from a famous quidditch player on the wall that caught his attention after the meeting, which he pointed out and the two of you had a conversation about your shared love of quidditch

After that, he was hooked and asked you out on a date, which went well and the two of you were married a year or two later.

He would read your tea leaves or your palms about your future to impress you

It always impressed you and it will always impress you no matter how many times he would do it.

The two of you live in an apartment in London and will often go to the Leaky Couldron and Diagon Alley

The two of you would deck yourself out in your favorite teams for the quidditch World Cup, which includes painting your face

Gryffindor 🦁

EXTREMELY popular in his Hogwarts years

Literally all the girls loved and pined after him, all the boys wanted to be him, and all the teachers were always impressed with his work.

Was the best seeker for the Gryffindor quidditch team

All around perfect student and he always seemed to do everything with so much ease and stress free

Always managed to dodge the love potions girls would try to slip him.

He met you one day while messing around with his friends at the lake skipping rocks, you were under the shade of a tree studying.

His friends went to start messing with you, which he soon told them too all ‘fuck off’ when he could tell that you were visibly annoyed with them.

Always hung out with you since then, becoming almost like your gaurdian angel

Upon graduation he struck a job being an Auror, you the potions master at hogwarts.

He was pretty dang awesome in his job and honestly everyone knew the amazing work he did as Auror, so he was pretty popular amongst the Aurors as well

He quit his job though to begin teaching the flying lessons to the first years at Hogwarts because he really did enjoy quidditch and flying

Also was in charge of quidditch as a whole

And he also just really missed you

He finally asked you out on a date towards the end of his first year of teaching at Hogwarts and you said yes, then towards the beginning of the next year, the two of you got married

The students love Keigo, he treats them as equals, mostly because he’s honestly not that much older than them and was in their position not to long ago.

Girls swoon over him and are low key jealous that you are married to him.

He likes to pop his head in to bother you during, or before and after your classes

Plays quick games of quidditch on the quidditch field with the house team that are practicing for fun

Will tug you into the potion’s closet for a quick kiss, despite how unprofessional you think it is

[whatdoesshedotothem]

Monday 16 September 1833

7 ¾

11 ¾

fine morning F63° at 9 at which hour breakfast - no! had my valet de place up for 20 minutes and then breakfast in 25 minutes - out at 10 20 - to the cathedral founded by Henry the Lion with the collar and cross-between the horns that he took when he shot the beautiful deer that Charles the great (Charlemagne?) adorned with such costly decorations on account of its great beauty and then turned loose ordering no one to shoot it – two finely carved dormitories (the little side chapels turned into private mausolea) by Quellinus who did the altar at St. Mary  - handsome carving about the chaire and a grille of very curious iron-work looking exactly like tar-band tied up in boughs, and given in 155, by some iron-company – In the chancel beautiful brass recumbent whole length figure of Henry Bockholt evêque de Lübeck, ob. 1530 – Napoleon wished to take this to Paris but not solid and would not bear moving – bullet-hole in it that the French made to try its solidity – the precious stone in each eye, and the large one in the left hand gone long since – the clock I noticed the other day, but did not observe that the female figures strikes the quarters, and Death with a club in his right hand (2 time-glasses in the left) the hours – the globe at the top shews the phases and ages of the moon – In the chapel de Greverode so called because given by him, is the famous picture finished in 1471 of the passion and death of J. Xst, by Jean Hemling, a disciple of Albert Durer – the tears on the virgins face very good – the worst part of the picture is the body of notre saviour when taken from the X – is too flexible – too little like death – then to St. Marys’ church (one of the handsomest I ever saw) to see the famous Danse macare or Danse des morts par Holbein, in the sacristy – singular picture – very good – each Death in a different attitude and one between each pair of people – In one of the side chapels, a descent from the cross and on the inside of the door that shuts before it? a St. Olaff [Olaf] (the 1st Xtian king of the north) between 2 other figures both by Perugino – (not by Holbein or Lucas de Leide as Reichard says in the book I bought at Hamburg) – very good – the altar very fine by Quellinus of Antwerp and given by Friedhagen the burgomaster in 1709 whose bust in white marble is on the right of the altar a little back – the last supper in white marble (taken from Leonard da Vinci) is beautifully sculptured – and the 4 large – as life figures Religion Hope etc, are good – on the right, too, of the altar stands a tall Gothic crocketed fonte (brass) of 1472, very beautiful – weighing 6000 lbs. – the French wished to have taken it to Paris – In the chapel behind the altar and and opposite the astronomical clock is a very good picture (the entrance of our saviour into Jerusalem) in the Rafael style given lately by Overbeck an artist of Lubeck and now living in Rome – the sycamore tree into which -------- climbed is represented as a palm – the head and neck of the ass admirable; but the feet (white!) are those of a horse – the clock struck at 12 and 7 apostles instead of 12 came out at one door and went in at another having turned and bowed ridiculously to the virgin and child in passing – the other 5 apostles lost or out of order -  then went up to the great bell (cloche) of St. Marys’ (265 steps) for the view – amply repaid – nothing gives one such a good idea of a place – It is the Wackenitz [Wakenitz] whence runs to Ratzeburg and the Steckenitz, a canal, which falls into the Elbe at Lanenburg [Laufenburg] and into the Trave 2 lieues from the Baltic a little south of Lübeck – good town – 3?main streets and the streets striking down from them and thro’ them to the river – the old brick porte de Holstein very handsome reminds me much of the porte noire à Trêves – the front towards the town in quite in that style and has 2 towers, too, but with pointed flêches springing from them – the porte de Travemünd[e] is an old brick square tower with 5 or 6 tiers of Gothic windows such as in the porte de Holstein – Looking down on the roof of the church saw it partly green – it is Swedish copper at 22 schellings a lb. – the plates about seem about 2ft. English by 1ft. and cost 3 ½ marks each, but are less heavy and costly and last better than lead – the green is verdigrease – caused by the moisture of the air – the guide (Ritter) assured me the cathedral was

vid. p. 214 line 18.

also roofed with copper – no wood outside – my eyes deceived me much (vid. Saturday 214 line 18) – then to Friedhagens’ house near St. Marys’ church (vid. last p. line 21) – a wine merchant now lives there – went thro’ the great entrance room to the room so beautifully carved in oak – Napoleon ordered an artist to take a model of it – or too difficult to move it – impossible – moving would destroy it – 10 good pictures round the top – for these and all the ciselure en bois an Englishman said my valet de place offered £10,000! a small poor box fixed to the door, for strangers to put something into – Off from there at 12 55 for Israeldorf [Israelsdorf] village and forest of, the Bois de Boulogne of the good people of Lübeck – pass thro’ the porte de Travemünde turn left to the rampart, now grassy pleasure ground where are buried the 20,000 French and Prussians that fell before the town in 1806 – Blucher commanded 40,000 Prussians so broken down by their retreat from Jena could hardly stand – the cavalry not able to make a charge – the people of Lubeck hate Blucher for entering their free town, and thus causing all the carnage and ruin – no rich person here ever since – the battle lasted 3 or 4 days – Blicher was sitting at table in the very house in the Breitenstrasse where I bought the Danse of death this morning when the French entered by the Travemünde gate – just went down to the ferry across the Trave, and then returned to the Travemund [Travemünde] road a fine avenue of good limes all the way and gardens or forest almost all the way to Israeldorf [Israelsdorf]a little distance to the left of the T- road – the Russian consul has a country house and garden there, for which gave 10,000 marks – from this house to porte de T- in Lübeck walked sharply in 42 minutes .:. think the distance about 2 ½ English miles – a farm house near the forest where people get their coffee warmed and then take it in the wood – seats and tables there – a round peristyle white painted wood temple just looking over the river and in another a straw-thatched shed for shelter – long allies (no carriages roads) and nice walks in the wood and all the people come out here in fine weather – my guide had the cholera last June or July – twice – 1st time 3 days – 3nd 6 – was seized at midnight with violent cramps in his legs (calves) and arms and in ½ hour could not stand straight – oppression at the chest – could scarce breathe – perpetual thirst – just about the tops of his nails blue but nowhere else – got out of bed – took hot thé de Tilleul directly – and, after the 3rd drink, a little rhum and sugar in it – at last this [?] him into a perspiration and did him good – the smell of the perspiration intolerable – like the worst putridity – in the morning put on dry linen, and got out of bed – thinks this saved him, this and not being afraid – but for 4 months after the pains returned every night at midnight when he was in bed – afraid to lie down – not so bad when up – but the pains were gradually less and less – when once recovered, felt lighter and better than he was before – did not eat anything for some time – and when he did begin to eat felt unwell after it at first – [?] with something soft (flannel) is the best thing – does not believe it infectious – it is the air – yet it was a stranger that was the 1st victim here – died in an hour – he seems to believe there are some cases of it in the town now – 1600 died of it here – all buried in the cemetery we passed a little way out of the town – cholera patients to be buried in 24 hours but to have a hand cut off 1st to see if dead – some of the dead blue, some not – knows nothing of the marble coldness of the tongue – but the corpse instead of being stiff as in common cases is quite mou (soft) – the eyes sunk (lost) in the head in the course of an hour – the smell of the clothes

SH:7/ML/E/16/0114

during the perspiration quite horrible – ditto the smell of the excrements but the moment after death the perspiration being stopt, the perspiration ceases – fright is generally fatal – went to a very good bookseller shop (near the top of the Breitenstrasse) – a poste map (large) of Europe published at Berlin, 23 marks, mounted on calico had not Reichard’s Itineraries complete - had nothing knew of nothing on Denmark or Norway - bought Willmans’ livre de poste de l’Europe - went about the steam packet chez M.D.G. Witte - very civil - gave me the 2 quittances for myself and Miss F- and to pay him and  send the passports this evening or in the morning - a Russian from Reval not far from St Petersburg - said I might go quite well by Stockholm and Lapland to St Petersburg, on traineau, in 9br. 10br. January or February - to go to St P- myself and maid and valet de Place for £20 - said I should like to go merely to Lapland - might do it in 6 weeks - should take a person who knew well the language and country the Laplanders sauvages but bons sauvages - said I had better arrange my plans at Stockholm where everybody would know what was best to be done - the Leipzig Paques fair would be in April I might come over for it - could not go to Norway till June – he could send anything for me to England - or do anything for me here – home at 6 – dinner at 6 ¼ in 35 minutes then till 10 10 wrote the whole of today – very fine day – F66° now at 1 10 pm on my writing desk close to the candle – but it was warm this afternoon

Before Napoleon came, Lubeck divided into 2 governments noble and bourgeois. the cathedral belonged to the former St. Marys’ was cathedral to the latter – there was sanctuary in the noble part for offenders in the bourgeois part of the town – Napoleon put an end to this – would not have 2 governments

[anders-hawke]

une nouvelle vie, chapter 2

AO3 | @frogsmulder

Heedless of the rumors, the pair have Lily’s belongings transferred to Selden’s flat within the week; they reminisce over the dress she wore during the Brys’ tableaux and meld what little she owns with his. When all is said and done, he disappears for a day on “urgent business” with a chaste kiss accompanying his farewell. He returns at the end of the day with a small jeweler’s box in tow and presents its contents with an uncontainable grin. Selden slides the ring onto the appropriate finger, explaining how he has spent the last week searching for the perfect one and finally chose this particular engagement ring because the gem set within it is the same color as her eyes—a soft blue.

“We’ll invite Gerty and Carry Fisher, of course,” Lily says, her beauty incomparable due to her happiness as she gazes down at the ring. “We shall need their help to plan it.”

Selden laughs softly. “And here I was prepared to take you to the courthouse tomorrow,” he divulges. “We have more than enough for a dress, if you care to go looking with Mrs. Fisher.”

She presses a kiss to his lips and squeezes his hand. “I’ll write Carry now to see when she is available, but I believe Gerty should be the first to know. We should do her the honor of visiting her flat tomorrow to give her the news.”

He nods and lets her hand go, but seems to recall something and begins to dig inside his pockets, eventually procuring a key. “Here. This is your copy.” Selden takes one of her hands and sets the key on her palm, folding her fingers over it. “This is your home as much as mine, now.”

Lily softens her smile and nods before looping their arms together. “Have you eaten supper today in your rush to procure an engagement ring?”

Selden purses his lips in slight embarrassment. “I must confess, the thought slipped my mind.”

She shakes her head with a wry smile and leads him to the kitchen. “You’re in luck: your neighbor across the hall was kind enough to welcome me with a gift of food not three hours ago. I’ll warm it up for you.”

He smiles as he sheds his overclothes, leaving an acceptable layer on should anyone come by, despite the chances being slim. “You’re too perfect, my dearest.”

“I could say the same of you.”

—

Lily’s letter to Carry is vague enough so that her friend has no idea what the occasion for their meet-up is, but is sprinkled with clues and tidbits to whet Mrs. Fisher’s appetite. You must come to my townhouse at once! she writes back. I will arrive there within the week and there you shall spill all of your secrets to me. You do know how I love knowledge of people’s life developments.

Thus, a week later finds Lily at her friend’s sprawling house on the outskirts of the city. “Miss Bart!” Carry Fisher exclaims, looking as radiant as ever. She embraces Lily before leading her into her sitting room. “You simply must give me the news! I heard that you are no longer at the boarding house and that you were seen last with Mr. Selden!”

Lily cannot keep the grin from her face as she responds: “It is news of the greatest import and joy, my friend: I’m to be married!”

“Oh, Lily, that is wonderful! To whom? Mr. Rosedale? I would not have thought it in his repertoire of actions considering that h—”

Lily cuts her friend off by placing her own hands over Carry’s. “Not Rosedale, Carry. Selden.” And after a brief pause: “For love.”

Mrs. Fisher’s eyes grow wide preceding her leaning towards Miss Bart conspiratorially. “Lawrence Selden? For love? Goodness! Lily, if I had known of your reciprocated affections between you and Mr. Selden I would have proposed a match between the two of you as one to pick up on when all others soured. And from where I now sit, I see that had that occurred, much of your suffering could have been prevented. Do tell me how it could have taken you so long to act on your emotions! You have been close with Mr. Selden for so long now!”

Lily shakes her head, a small and demure smile playing across her lips. “My dearest Lawrence has helped me to see the life before me for what it is, and I have realized that I never would have been satisfied with a marriage without love. It would have been dismal, Carry! I may have had in my possession the finest of silks and the most ostentatious of jewelries but I would never have known what it is like to return home to the arms of the man one loves. There is nothing like it. I hope that you may find a happiness such as this one day, my friend.”

Carry smiles softly. “Today is centered around you! You very well could have written to me of the news; there must be something more you have to say to me.”

“There is: I cannot very well plan a wedding all on my own. I should like to enlist your help. I have already brought my dearest friend from my childhood, Gerty Farish, into this knowledge for the purpose of planning the event.”

As she had proposed to her fiancé, Lily visited her friend the next day and supplied her with the excellent news, at once bombarding Gerty with questions as to whether the women of her club might be interested in attending and if she would be so kind as to take care of the guest list, seeing as she has hardly anyone left who can be safely referred to as a friend. And Gerty had agreed, offering congratulations.

“I am happy that you have found peace, Lily,” she had said.

“And I am happy to be sharing it with you,” Lily had said back.

“Oh, Lily!” Carry exclaims at present, eyes alight with excitement at the prospect of planning her friend’s wedding. “Your marriage to Selden will be the most wondrous affair, and it will be the talk of the city! I will make sure of it so that the likes of the Trenors and the Gryces and the Van Osburghs shall all be jealous of yours and Selden’s happiness.”

“I do not want you to think that the affair need be ostentatious—we are inviting only a select few, after all.”

Mrs. Fisher tempers herself with concerted effort. “Of course, Lily! Ostentatious is nothing you need worry yourself with. I shall plan the perfect wedding. May I assume that you had guests in mind before you arrived?”

“You may.”

“Then I know what my role is to be!”

“Our first order of business is my dress, I should think,” Miss Bart suggests. “Lawrence conveyed that our finances can be dipped into for one.” Lily blushes and continues: “I should like to think that his jaw will drop when he sees me, Carry. I should like to feel beautiful for another day.”

“You have been beautiful every day of your existence, Lily, and continue that pattern. Do not be silly.”

The two women then plunge into their calendars and decide upon a date on which they will travel to Carry’s modiste to have Lily measured and discern which—if any—dresses are to her liking. Mrs. Fisher assures her friend that financing the wedding in part is the least she can do upon Lily worrying over the possible prices.

“I cannot thank you enough, Carry,” she says when the planning is done.

“Seeing you happy is thanks enough.”

—

In the whirlwind of the next two months, Lily and Selden’s wedding is planned. The venue is chosen, the dress is tailored, and the wedding party is formed; when the June date makes itself apparent on the week’s calendar, the bride and groom separate.

“I’ll miss you every moment you are gone,” Selden swears, holding Lily’s hand in his own.

“‘Tis only for a night, Lawrence,” she tells him, yet her lips are quirked in an affectionate smile.

“The invariable facts of time seem not to apply when faced against the incomparable magnitude of my love for you.” He brings her hand to his lips and lets her leave for Gerty’s flat.

Tomorrow will solidify Lily’s decision from several months ago to finally give in and marry Selden. And, not to her surprise, she feels no trepidation towards the act of becoming legally tied to Lawrence Selden. In fact, she looks forward to the prospect of being his wife and he her husband—quite possibly elated, even.

[yamithediaperdork]

My little Brothers revenge- Final

The next day at school time dragged by for Justin. while his teacher was tickled pink that he'd done so well on his extra credit work, Grizz's hadn't been met with the same gushing, and more of a "well at least you tried and I appreciate the effort you put in."

Needless to say this didn't help mend any fences between Grizz and Justin and come noon hour Rayne was even angrier. It had only been the fact that Rayne was one more suspension for fighting at school and he'd be expelled that saved Justin from a ass kicking.

With all the grades going to the same school and the lunch hours the same, Justin found himself hanging out with Alex's group ironically, and even then they only allowed it because Alex had let them in on what he had planned for Justin.

As it got closer and closer to 3 Justin toyed with trying to get himself detention so he'd have to stay after school and put off his upcoming humiliation but then pictured trying to explain it to his parents and that wasn't a fun mental picture either.

As the final bell rang and the loser's club met up to walk Justin home, claiming to be his honor guard to protect him, Justin mentally wondered what he had done to deserve all this.

Their dad worked 9 to five five days a week so he wasn't home as the boys arrived, and Mom had recently taken up a part time job working 12 to 5 herself.

She had waited till Justin was old enough to be trusted to look after Alex, though if she had known what was about to happen she might not of been as eager to start a job.

"Alright BABY brother..ready for your first of many, many diapers?" Alex asked as they got inside, practically bouncing he was so excited.

"Would it make a difference if I said no?" Justin groaned, though he had accepted this was happening.

"heh, not in the least bit! Max, would you be a pal and go and get ohhh.. i dunno, what do you guys think would be a good number of diapers for widdle Justin to wear?" Alex chuckled, looking at Max, Kyle and Lyle.

"Well we want him padded for awhile so I say one." Max said, nodding thoughtfully.

"Bull dooky on that!" Kyle giggled. "10!"

Justin paled at that and whined loudly.

"Uhhh I like the idea of that.. but I think we're gonna have to be more realistic." Lyle said, rubbing the back of his head. "3?"

"Heh, all good suggestions. Max, I know we want this to last awhile but i also want a waddle in his set. Kyle, I like how you think but maybe save that for when mom and dad aren't gonna be around. we don't want him busted in diapers right off the bat. I think we'll just go double diapers for now and see how that works." Alex said and nodded to Max.

With Max heading down into the basement to get the diapers from where they'd been stashed, Alex had the twins go and make sure doors were locked and curtains were pulled, then go down into the basement and pick out some baby toys for widdle Justin.

"ah come on, playing with baby toy's in the living room?" Justin whined.

"I can always have you play in the front yard." Alex said with a smug grin.

"..Oh boy! playing in the living room! weeee!" Justin said quickly, sweat dropping.

"That's what I thought. Lose the pants and undies."

getting the diapers on Justin's big butt turned out to be a bit harder then Alex had figured, and he wasn't sure if he was gonna trust them for a stinky accident though he was positive they'd hold up to wet ones.

'eh, so i just make him a pants pisser. win some, lose some.' Alex thought with a grin.

He was currently using a role of light green masking tape and after using it to make sure the sides of the diapers were fixed on tight, he was running it around Justin's waist so they're would be no quick and easy getting out of the diapers and Alex would know if he had taken them off without permission.

Just to make sure he had each of the loser club sign they're named in pen on the waist band as Justin turned red as a cherry and had his hands to his face looking ready to cry.

"Now Little Justin.. I want you to TRY and be a big boy and use the potty for uh-oh's." Alex said as he finished signing his name.

"What!? After he made-" Lyle started up.

"-Us poop ourselves!?" Kyle finished, both twins filed with righteous anger.

"Justin would be too toxic to hide it, plus I'm not sure the diapers will take a load of back door fudge without leaking. anyone wanna clear that up?" Alex asked.

"heh, yeah guys, Alex has a point. sides, you two DID turn Judas on us so consider crapping yourself karma." max added.

"For the record, I am perfectly fine with crapping in the potty." Justin chimed in.

"That's good to know baby bro. though there's just onnnnne thing about that.." Alex said and flashed a impish grin.

"Why do I get the feeling this is gonna suck." Justin muttered, shifting and crinkling in his white and pink diapers.

"Because despite what your test scores say, your not stupid." Alex giggled. "Anyways, You have to get permission from one of us to go and use the potty for boom boom and one of us will be waiting by the door to make sure your in your diapies when you come out. or if you need help with your pampers after."

"Of freaking course.." Justin whined as the loser club laughed.

Sat on the soft blanket on the floor and in a t-shirt and diapers, Justin was made to put on a show for the younger boys using the stuffies that the twins had fished out of the basement for him.

they had been washed and dried before being stored in a plastic bag so no one was worried about Justin getting sick as he had a interesting epic war between 4 teddy bears and then a lion, tiger and bear stuffie. (And yes a 'oh my' comment had been dropped.)

The only reason Justin didn't have a paci in his mouth at the the moment was the fact that the loser's club wanted to heard EVERY single bit of the 'plot' of Justin's little show he was putting on for them, even though it was clear that he sucked at improv.

"S-So then uh.. the Lion decided that the four bears had disgraced the bear on his team too many times at.. gathering..honey! yeah honey and so-"

the losers just chuckled and encouraged Justin on, though he never once go into the being a big baby dork to their disappointment.

the story came to a sudden end however when Justin turned beet red and dropped the stuffies and his hands went to his crotch. he'd been on his knees at the point and hunched over.

"Alex..alex please..I gotta take a whiz so bad my back teeth are floating.." Justin whimpered.

"And? your WEARING your bathroom for piddles remember little guy?" Alex asked smugly.

"..O-Oh and I have to take a crap! so you better le-" Justin tried but Max snorted.

"Nice try dip shit. you must think we're as stupid as Rayne if we're gonna fall for that." Max said.

"But..But..I can't just wet myself like a baby!" Justin whimpered.

"Oh! I know what the problem is!" Lyle said, locking eyes with Kyle, who shared his brothers grin.

"Yeah, me too! don't worry Justin! we'll help you!" Kyle said.

Before Alex or Max or even Justin could ask what they meant, the twins had sprung up from their seats and tackled Justin to the floor though a combination of surprise and leverage, then they were on top of him and tickling his sides.

"ah! No Stopppp!" Justin cried out, actually being fairly ticklish though normally it wasn't a weakness Alex could take advantage of as Justin would just easily over power him.

the tickling made what little bit of self control Justin had left vanish in mere seconds and with a wail that made all of the losers club wince, and some dogs around the block howl, Justin flooded his pretty pink and white diapers.

If Justin had thought the low point of his day had been being made to wet himself, he soon found out just how much worse it would get as the heavy soaked padding sagged around his hips, and he was told how he'd have to earn a diapie change before their parents got home.

"Unless of course you wanna risk leaking during supper." Alex chuckled.

"...I hate you. SO much right now." Justin huffed, rubbing at his tear stained checks.

"Awww don't be like that, you'll hurt big brothers feelings" Alex scolded but couldn't stop grinning.

"You should be thankful we're giving you a way to earn a diaper change nice and quick anyways." Max added. "We could just wait half a hour and let you squish around in your soaked diapies."

"Yeah, I think you should tell Alex how much-" Kyle started

"-You love him and how he's the bestest big brother in the world." Lyle finished.

"..Your joking right? It's bad enough I gotta do the stupid diapie change song, now you want me t-" Justin started to rant, but was cut off.

"Say it or you can sing till your blue in the face, I won't change you till 3 minutes before mom and dad are due home." Alex interrupted.

"...I Love you Alex and you the best big brother in the world." Justin said, huffing and saying it in a flat tone.

"no no no, say it with some gusto!" Max snickered, bringing out his cell phone to record.

"Fuck my life.." Justin groaned and face palmed, then taking a deep breath and forcing a cheerful tone into his voice. "Gee golly big brother! I wove you sooo much! your the bestest big brother ever!"

between the goofy look on his face and the statement, the loser's club was roaring with laughter.

"Awww, I love you too. now let's get on with your little song~" Alex wheezed between laughs.

Set to the tune of tinkle tinkle little star, Justin started singing.

"Tinkle tinkle in my pants,

I just blew my last chance to wear big boy pants.

wetting my my diapers till their super soggy

It makes me sleepy and kinda groggy

Alex please change my diaper butt

then pat me on the head like I'm a mutt."

Needless to say Justin wished a hole would open up in the earth and swallow him whole, but the performance was deemed acceptable by the losers club who noted it wasn't like Justin wouldn't have time to perfect his act.

One soggy diaper change later, and after letting Justin sit on the potty for five minutes and try and go 'uh-oh', and Justin was in two of the blue and white diapers this time and was allowed to wear a baggy pair of shorts over them as Alex set him to work doing any chores that needed to be done while the loser's club did their homework.

with the chores done Justin mentioned that he was kinda thirsty and so much to his humiliation (and the losers club delight) he was given a sippy cup full of Kool-aid to drink, never having noticed that some pills had been slipped in and dissolved, just chalking the weird taste up to the sippy cup being old.

He was sipping away on pills that would make sure he was peeing like a race horse and having to stick around Alex all night long, as well as a mild sedative that would have him going night night much earlier then normal. (one of Alex's new goals was to have a later bedtime then his big brother naturally.)

After finishing his sippy cup Justin was supervised as he did his homework and the rest of the losers club took off since technically they weren't suppose to be over.

Ironically compared to all the other times Alex had attempted to tutor his big brother, somehow having him in double diapers had him paying more attention and picking up on what was going on faster then normal.

'huh, Maybe I SHOULD send him to school in diapers..at least on test days.' Alex wondered and giggled a little.

Justin looked up, wondering what the the giggling was about but Alex just put him back to work.

The rest of the night was mostly incident free except for a cute moment at the supper table when Justin had been in the middle of telling his parents how happy his teacher had been with the extra work he'd done AND was giving props to Alex for helping him when he just stopped, their parents giving him a weird look but Alex knew full well what was happened, baby Justin was making piddles.

"It's Ok Justin, you don't have to hide I helped you." Alex said, jumping in and playing it as if Justin was worried they'd be mad. "I didn't just give him the answers but helped him to find them on his own. we're gonna start doing stuff like that more often so Justin can keep his grades up for when he wants to join the football team next year."

"Heh. Well ok." Dad said super proud. "Justin, I don't mind if Alex is helping you, just as long as he's not giving you the quick and easy way out."

"Oh trust me, I don't make this easy on Justin. right bro?" Alex said and smirked, winking at Justin.

Only their mother seemed to pick up on the fact there was two different conversations going on, but being tired from work she left well enough alone.

And so after supper Alex changed Justin's diaper and let him sit on the potty for 10 minutes to see if he could made boom boom (and to Justin's humiliation, he was praised and told what a good boy he was when he DID manage it)

Re-diapered and lead to the bedroom, Justin found himself super wiped and ready for bed even though it wasn't even 8 pm yet, but just chalked it up to his stressful day.

"Hey squ- Big brother.." Justin mumbled, rubbing a eye as he headed for his bed.

"Yessss?" Alex asked, already knowing where this was going.

"Can you tell mom and dad I'm too sleepy and going to bed early?" He asked.

"of course I can' you don't mind if I stay up do you?" Alex asked, but Justin was laying in bed, eyes closed.

"What..whatever." he yawns and was snoring softly before Alex even left the room.

Day's turned into weeks, and before long Justin's once 11 pm on weekday's bedtime had been adjusted to a 8 pm one, with Alex's jumping from 9 pm to 11.

Ironically, 4 days into the diaper punishment from Alex, and Justin's padding had been found by they're mom, Forcing Alex to come up with a off the top of his head story about how Justin had started bed wetting too and begging mom not to tell dad because Justin didn't want dad thinking he was a wuss.

that was ALSO why Justin hadn't said anything and only asked Alex for his help.

their mom had bought the line hook line and sinker, but had also gone and tossed out the other diapers and still told their dad about it, before taking Justin out to pick out his own diapers.

Naturally Alex was giggling his butt off the whole time they were gone and telling his friends about it.

Grizz and Rayne never really forgave Justin and isolated him more and more and so it became more and more natural for Justin to hang out with Alex's friends and just be treated like everyone's kid brother, even as his accidents got worse and he started needed day time diapers as well.

Ironically the daytime wetting, at least during school hours WEREN'T something Alex was behind, but it only reinforced the perception of Justin being their little guy.

at the same time as Justin's accidents got worse Alex finally stopped wetting the bed and just kept his avengers diapers around for when he or the other loser's wear to make Justin who had turned into a cry baby feel better.

And so, a tale that began with one brother being a bully and a dick ends with the bed wetter now the big brother despite being smaller and younger, and a ex-bully now a 24/7 diaper dork. Don't you just love a happy ending?