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cosmicpearlz · 2 months ago

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yours for the time being |5|

summary: what happens when your academic rival of years proposes an offer of fake dating? pure chaos.

pairing: gryffindor!jude bellingham x slytherin!reader

a/n: it’s taken a while for me to write this but thank you for being on this series journey with me! enjoy my loves <3

a typical saturday night. aka the day where the famous slytherin parties take place. most nights it was for winning matches and others, it was just for the hell of it. the common room decorated in various halloween decor. the group deciding last minute to have a costume party. taking the idea from the muggles and what they do to celebrate the holiday.

"you look smoking hot," pansy whistles at you, as you made your way downstairs. your costume being a vampire. a mini black dress and a black velvet cape with dark red platforms to match the fake blood that dripped from the side of your lips.

"so do you love!" you clapped for her sexy cat costume.

"i think we all look good," draco chips into the conversation.

"you're literally dressed as a wizard. talk about no originality." draco rolls his eyes at theo's statement.

"simplicity is way better than over doing it."

"you didn't put any effort into it," blaise says and stares at the slytherin boy as if he had grown two heads.

"haters are my motivators," draco said, as he walked away to finish putting more snacks and drinks out. it was amazing how much alcohol you guys managed to sneak in.

theo dressed as cupid. supporting the red wings and having the heart bow and arrow. blaise was dressed as beetlejuice. even having his hair spray green and having the exact face paint. you loved that your friends went all out. well minus draco.

"let's pregame this shit and see where the night takes us," pansy yells, not that she had to, but she wanted to get her point across. you guys cheered and each grab a shot to throw back. you missed the way theo, blaise, and pansy smirked at each other. it was going to be a long night.

jude felt stupid. why had he let his friends convince him to go to a slytherin party. the gryffindor boy hadn't spoken to her in weeks and now they both were going to be in the same vicinity. 'maybe we still would have been together if i didn't hurt her feelings'. is all he could think about. maybe he would've been by her side right now and maybe just maybe they would've had cute matching costumes. the boy was dressed as a vampire. the top hat and the stupid cape. he decided to put fake blood on the white button up shirt instead of having it on his face.

"you ready mates?" harry shouts for jude and ron. the other gryffindor boy dressed as captain america. ron dressed as spider-man.

"i'm ready to drink to my heart's desire."

"jude, you made that sound incredibly depressing," hermione says, coming down from her side of the common room. she dressed as a fairy. a matching costume that she wanted to do with luna.

"well lets get to it. don't wanna be late," jude mumbles, already walking towards the common room door. he was nervous to see her. what costume would she be wearing? is she as miserable as he is? did she even miss him? will she be wearing that sweet vanilla perfume that drives him crazy? his mind runs a million thoughts.

the party is in full swing. everyone holding a cup or two and dancing to the music. your friends had been sneaking glances at each other all night. not that you were really paying attention. too focused on the guy in front of you. a handsome ravenclaw that was about jude's height. maybe a little shorter than him. you know what they say, to get over someone, you must get under someone new. although, you were comparing the boy in front of you to the boy that secretly held your heart.

"so, i found it crazy that we were able to spot a group of doxies. in the middle of spring, right before-" every word fell upon deaf ears, as you watched harry, ron, hermione and jude walk in. suddenly, you felt sick. matching costumes with the one person who you avoided. ever since that day, nothing was normal.

"excuse me," you didn't wait for him to respond, walking away immediately to get a drink. taking a red cup, you poured yourself a drink and downed it. going for a second before pansy stops you.

"you alright love?"

"jude is here."

"why don't you wait in our dorm room? just take a breather really quick," you nodded and maneuver your way around dancing bodies. pansy's eyes follow your movement until she couldn't see you anymore. only then did she wink at harry and the plan was in motion.

"mate, can you help me find something?"

"like what?" jude raised an eyebrow at harry. a drink in his hand, while he heavily eyed his friend.

"i think i lost my ring."

"we just got here and you weren't wearing a ring."

"do have to spell it out for you?"

"what are you talking about?" harry dramatically sighs.

"i had a one-night stand with this slytherin girl and i left my ring in the room. i need to get it now while we're here," harry lied. a damn good lie if you asked him.

"you're impossible mate, lead the way," jude nods his head at harry to take the lead. harry leads the two of them upstairs. catching the eye of hermione and pansy, he slightly nods. step two was officially underway.

you sat on your bed, twirling the drink around in the cup. platforms and cape long discarded. what were you suppose to say to him? how much you truly were sorry? that you wished you could take it all back? how ironic that the minute you try to push him away and out of your mind again, he shows up. like he always did. even before the fake dating. he was a pest that wouldn't budge. a stupidly handsome pest.

"it should be in this one." you heard a muffled voice speak from outside the door. the door swings open and jude is pushed inside. you gasp quietly and sit up straighter.

"y/n?" jude stutters out in confusion.

"hi," you softly spoke. the two of you turn attention to the door that was slammed shut. a realization washes over you.

"jude open the door!" you hop off the bed and walk towards the closed door. he turns to pull at the knob, and it was no use.

"it won't open."

"and it won't open until you guys make up!" pansy yells over the loud music. "or make out! whichever comes first."

"no pressure though," ron says. 'no pressure my ass' you mumble to yourself.

hearing the footsteps grow in distance, you knew that they were long gone. you sigh and sit right back on the bed. jude stands there, unsure of what to do. only then does he realize the matching costumes. his heart swoons and breaks all at the same time.

"you're welcomed to sit," you pat the spot next to you. no use in prolonging the situation. it was now or never at this point. jude sits on the bed, making a point to sit at the end of the bed.

"matching costumes, aye?" he looks at you with a lopsided grin. it didn't reach his ears like it normally would've it, but you found it endearing anyway.

"yeah. maybe we're connected in some way," you said, while looking down at your lap. picking lint off your dress that wasn't anywhere to be found.

"like soulmates?" you lift your head meeting his gaze. oh, how you've missed those chocolate brown eyes.

"yeah maybe."

the silence takes over the room again. internally, you were panicking. what do you say? would it be worth it?

"soo."

"soo," he mimicked you. something that you both were used to. you let out a breathy chuckle.

"how are you and lavender?" turning your eyes back to the bottom of your dress. missing the way jude looks at you as if you were crazy. he felt somewhat offended.

"me and lavender? what are you on about?"

"i seen you guys," you shrugged your shoulders. the gryffindor boy scoffs.

"what are we doing here y/n? you put your friends up to this?"

"why would you think that?"

"you're trying to rub it in. well congratulations, you win," jude's voice seemly increasing by the minute. it left you dumbfounded.

"what could i possibly be rubbing in? i'm in the same boat you are!" your own voice getting louder as well.

"yeah right. i doubt you feel anything like the heartless slytherin you are." ouch.

"that's not true!"

"yes, is it. you don't care about anyone but yourself. you've proven that long before." jude was being mean that this point. his yelling and the hatful words that spewed from his mouth.

"that's not true jude! you're absolutely wrong."

"how can i be wrong? huh?"

"because i care about you, you fucking idiot," you yelled, which sends him into silence.

"you're the one that broke it off."

"yeah, because you've hurt my feelings and i don't want to continually go through that."

"i've apologized for it and i spilled my heart out to you. i told you that i would continue to apologize for it." tensions rising once more.

"right right, you're soo apologetic that you turn around and call me a heartless slytherin who only cares about herself," you crossed your arms and faced the wall. you refuse to cry in front of him. jude sighs and looks down at his lap.

"i was just upset. i didn't mean it," jude says in a quieter tone.

"so, every time you're upset with me, you'll throw how slytherins act like this in my face? how i'm a person that feels nothing?" you looked into his brown eyes with glossy eyes.

"y/n i care about you so much that it scares me. i don't know how you feel because you won't let me in. that's all i'm asking-"

"jude i like you too! is that what you want to hear? i hate that i hurt you but you have to understand that i was protecting myself. i've spent so long building walls to guard my heart and here you come. in a few months, you've managed to-"

jude doesn't let you finish, instead placing a hand on your cheek and bringing you in for a kiss. it was tentative until you start kissing him back. the boy's confidence boosts, and he slides his other hand to your waist. pulling you closer to him. you grab the collar of his cape and press into him more. lips crushing together. you missed the way his lips felt on yours.

he bites your lip, asking for permission. you allowed it, opening your mouth just enough for his tongue to squeeze through. without breaking the kiss, you straddle him. one leg sitting on either side of jude's thigh. naturally, his hands find your waist again. tongues exploring each other and fighting for dominance. the kiss comes to stop, hearing something break from the other side of the door. pulling away, you both looked at each other. it wasn't long before you guys share laughter.

"i've missed you," jude's laughter quieting down to confess to you. you wrap your arms around his waist, pulling him into a hug and placing your face in the crook of his neck.

"i've missed you too." jude's arms hug your body tightly, sending warmth to spread throughout you. his head leans into yours and places a kiss onto your head.

"so, what do we do now?" you lift your head to face him, questioning where you go from here. jude gazes into your eyes, a small smile etching its way to his lips.

"we try. think you can manage that?" rising an eyebrow in a teasing manner. you grinned back at him.

"yeah. i think i can manage that."

"to that i have one thing i want to ask you."

"which is?"

"will you officially be my girlfriend? before you answer, know that we need to have open communication and i need you to let me into that pretty little mind of yours," jude says, ending his sentence with playfully pinching your side. you laughed and pushed his hand away.

"let me think about that."

"y/n."

"i'm kidding. of course i'll be your official girlfriend." jude smiles again, pulling you in for another kiss. you knew then that you guys were gonna be just fine. as long as you had each other.

#jude bellingham x reader #jude bellingham #jude bellingham imagine #jude bellingham one shot #harry potter au #harry potter x reader #slytherin!reader

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writersblockworks · 1 month ago

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Shit I did/said as a kid/teen as the Valorant agents (I’ve never had a concussion or broken bones)

Hey guys its close to finals week when im writing this i have no idea when ill post it, but enjoy!!

Brimstone: Took charge of a group project but ended up doing the whole thing myself. (15)

Viper: Willingly grabbed a wild snake to show my mom when I was 3, but cried when they wanted me to hold a tarantula (3 then 6)

Omen: For some reason me and my friends use to play that we lost our memory, we really just used it as an excuse to be mean. (I was 9)

Cypher: Spent hours on an app that let me see city cameras in china or something (9 maybe? I'm not sure)

Sova: The first time i went fishing with my grandfather (RIP grandpa) I was so proud, then i dropped it on the ground and it flopped into the water. (i was 5)

Sage: My friends and i would hop the fence at our elementry school to go pick wildflowers, we had to stop because we got ticks (9 or 10)

Pheonix: My best friend at the time asked me what I would do if my future boyfriend gives me a knuckle sandwaich and I replied that I would eat it. I still would (my now boyfriend would never raise a hand against me) (i was 5)

Jett: A boy was showing off how fast he could run, so i tripped him (i was 8)

Raze: I spraypainted the sidewalk beside my house because i wanted to make art (I wanted to use the spray cans) then i got scolded. (I was 7)

Breech: I am autistic and someone said oh she cant shes autistic, so I bit them i dont know how old i was nor do i remember what they said.

Reyna: I would play the wack a mole game at the arcade so I could use the hammer to hit my best friend, she did the same to me (8?)

KillJoy: When i played Valorant for the first time my online friend made me play KJ because i was german (17)

Skye: While i was going my usual tree climbing, i saw a spider. I decided to fall to the ground, I got up just fine, then climbed a diffrent tree where i found a bee hive. (idk 11? maybe) Yoru: When I fIrst got glasses and I could actually see, I looked at my nana and asked her what happened to her face, then I threw up (I was 4)

Astra: I love the stars so much, I used to think we all became stars when we died because the movie princess and the frog, and I cried when the cathloic church said we didnt (I was 6)

KAY/O: In MMA class we had to do an excersize where the others would have to stop us from making it to the other side. Most of the kids dog piled on me, a 150 pound boy got on my back, yet I still made it across the room (idk I was 11 and weak, but for a treat after, I was strong) Chamber: My friend taught us pole dancing at recess and for some reason the teachers never stopped us. (we were in 5th grade about 10?)

Neon: I watched my younger brother slide into the Oven door. My parents for some reason put it in the living room. I tried to help him by saying it was the dog. However Our dog was living with my grandparents. (7?)

Fade: Spent a whole hour meowning at a random cat in France (I was 12, and where were my parents?) Harbor: I am a huge history nerd, I did three book reports on the titanic, Then when we had to be characters for a fake museum where we would have to preform for epople I decided to be the drunk man that survived (I was 10, why didnt a teacher tell me no?)

Gekko: I had one of the electronic Furbies, i still have that yellow shit. Me and my brother were playing with him and he turned evil and we got so scared. For a month we made our mom put him under a flowerpot with 2 bibles on top of it. (I actually dont know how old I was)

Deadlock: My grandma gave me a sewing kit for one of my birthdays so I just threw it at people (6)

Iso: Collected little rocks at recess then put them in the shoes of kids I didnt like (6)

Clove: Jumped off the top of the playground because I wanted to impress my crush, then I hit my head on the slide pole. Surprisingly I ended up being just fine.

Vyse: ummm I had a Wiggle (if anyone remembers those) and I would constantly bully it. I actualy dont know how old I was but I was a kid

Honorable mention: I farted in church when i was 4 and blamed it on Jesus and apparently you’re not supposed to do that. Also this is a rough memory and stir from the top of my head, I have childhood trauma

Anyways i finally got therapy. Byeeee working on a request rn

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tomorrowsgardennc · 23 days ago

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chicken update // december 17

awww yeh, operation chicken is a go. hubs and i have a plan of attack, and today i started one of many steps we gotta get through between now and late march. since i know where exactly i'll be sourcing my chicks from, i already know they will be less than a week old when they are delivered to the store, and i hope to have enough spoons to get in line early on delivery day. fr, they have lines out the store door like it was black friday in the 90s on chick delivery day.

so, knowing that, first step is to start prepping the nursery. now typically the chicken nursery is just a plastic tub with a hole cut out of the top for the heat lamp. even though this will be the only batch i'll get for a few years (HAHAHAHAHAHA) i still want a nice nursery for them - one that is easy for me to reach, clean, and check on them, and at the same time cat friendly. i will have this nursery in my craft room with the door closed when i am not there, but i will have it open for cats to come and go with supervision. i want them to get used to having chickens around ASAP - especially parsley. but i also know cats are cats and i need to be extra careful. so, with all of this in mind - here is the plan for the chicken nursery:

my dad has made several of these raised beds for me over the course of 4 years now. they are built with great craftsmanship, of course, but still with some kinks to iron out that we learned along the way. like not to line them with plastic anymore, because that just encourages the wood to rot quicker more than anything. but they are a decent height for me and my needs. i have moved some into the greenhouse to live out the rest of their lives with hopefully less wear and tear from rainfall, but the last one he built has the least amount of wood issues and mold. so that is the one i have chosen for the chicken nursery.

step 1 was to hammer out the bits i don't need - also the bits with the most rot. bottom is gone, and the front is now gone. the idea is to have the bottom, front, and top have the wire mesh. bottom will have the be the 1/4" mesh, but i have leftover 1/2" mesh i'm going to use for either the top or front. bottom will also - eventually - have a very narrow pull out drawer for the poop. the top will be on a hinge with a locking mechanism so i can open it but a cat with the normal amount of thumbs cannot open it (only 1 of 5 cats has an extra thumb, should be fine 👀)

i am leaving the sides and the back wood because this will be against a wall in the craft room, so no need for mesh there. and i am hoping with the sides closed in there will be less accidental intrustions from feline entities.

i went ahead and painted the mesh i already have black. the bottom mesh will not be painted, just in case. or will painting it be ok??? who knows. not me lol.

close ups of the details of how the raised beds was built, in case any of you are also master carpenters out there and are curious. the wood i smacked out and didn't want had been placed with the longest staples i have ever did done see so those were a pain to plyer out... albeit this was built not expecting to take apart. i also found this forbidden toothbrush?? i don't know what it's really for and i also didn't know we owned one, but hey it was perfect for cleaning any residual soil from every nook and cranny! felt like nails on chalkboard when doing it, but i endured.

by the time i ran out of spoons, the basic framework of the chicken nursery was complete! well, most of the work was done by my dad earlier this year... BUT i took apart what needed to be taken apart and did step 1 of cleaning. with parsley's help, as always.

next step is to wait for a very sunny day after i have recharged my spoons and spray bleach on it, and scrub it down real good. like, extra good. then after that will be painting. after after that, the real construction begins on the mesh bits and the drawer.

#food not lawns #gardening #home garden #gardenblr #grow food #homegrown #food #homestead #homesteading #nature #garden blog #suburbia farming #suburbian agriculture #suburban agriculture #suburban farm

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catziraphale · 6 months ago

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Dear Diary,

Crowley and I did an excellent job defending the bookshop. His modus operandi involves jumpscares, which are highly effective, because he hides so well in the shadows; menacing hissing and growling; chasing humans around the shop; and sharpening his claws on their shoes when he’s ignored for too long.

Once, he pushed a book off a shelf right on top of someone’s head, but the shopkeeper was rather displeased by “disrespecting his books.”

“What’s the point of keeping a bookshop if you’re not selling any books?” Crowley asked me, later.

“I think he’s the one shopping for books,” I said. “And this place is where he stores them? So, it’s more of a bookstore,” I joked.

The way the tip of Crowley’s tail twitched told me he was not amused.

My ideas for “scaring off” the customers were subtler, I imagine. For instance, I left my hairs on anyone who’d been wearing dark clothes. Ragdolls don’t shed much, but it was enough to annoy the humans. I’m very good at finding the ones who are allergic to cats; all I need to do is follow them and they eventually leave, just like the first one.

The shopkeeper tried to feed us cat food, but I gave him a look that hopefully conveyed my feelings.

He then sprayed something he called “catnip” in the air, hoping that it would “increase the appetite.”

Amazing. I love catnip. Crowley loves it too, maybe even more than food. (He never eats much anyway. But I’m not complaining since that means more food for me! We’re perfectly matched. As friends, of course.)

In the evening, we went out to eat, and parted for the night.

I should report back to my clowder, too.

#cat omens #cat aziraphale #cat crowley #ineffable kitties #my cat omens #cat Aziraphale's Diary

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yowyowyaoi · 1 year ago

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Scenes or Comic Panels I Would Draw If I Could Draw BC Some Of My Chatpost Ideas I See Better As Pictures Not Words, Part Three.

Deidara and Hidan noticing that Zetsu seems really down in the winter months, so they help him by stealing him a heat-lamp and helping him to prune himself by picking off his yellow or dead leaves and giving him little bags of premium fertilizer (and Zetsu eating from the bags with a spoon like ice cream).

After sex, Nagato and Konan laying in bed together. Konan resting on top of Nagato, him with his hands on her hips. Him making a comment that having her on top of him feels like a nice, warm weighted blanket. Konan only hears "weight" and says "So ... you're saying I'm fat?" and before he can think of a non-offensive answer she gets up and storms out of the room. Hidan happened to hear it and tells the others and the next day all of them make pointed jokes about things being heavy when Nagato is around. He eventually Shinra Tensei's all of them. Konan laughs so hard she kisses him and forgives him.

Deidara and Sasori at an art museum. Run into Itachi and Kisame there. Kisame comments how sweet the two of them look holding hands. Sasori tells them that there's nothing romantic about it; if he doesn't keep hold of at least one of Deidara's hands he's going to reach into his pocket and bring out his matches and light the paintings on fire to make them more "artistic".

Hidan and Deidara having a chicken wing eating contest. Hidan pretends to choke on a bone to fake Deidara out but Deidara isn't buying it. Kakuzu comes into the room and comments something like " If you can handle mine, there's no reason you should be choking on THAT tiny bone, Hidan." Deidara starts choking for real.

Kisame telling Konan how to learned to use a gentle touch with Itachi by practicing holding cats first. Cuts back and forth between showing Kisame holding cats that are clawing and scratching him when annoyed, to Itachi kicking and biting at him when he's annoyed. Kisame telling Konan that Itachi is more like a cat than she'd think. Itachi then comes into the room and circles the fridge several times and Kisame tells him that No, he already had his dinner, and Itachi puffs up and hisses at him, and Kisame takes a little spray bottle from his pocket and squirts Itachi's nose with it.

Obito and Deidara’s son at school, say kindergarten, and the teacher calls in the parents for a meeting. She tells the two that their son has been drawing “questionable” things during art class. Shows them the pictures and it’s a whole series of Obito and Deidara “playing leapfrog” with each other. Obito is hella embarrassed and keeps apologizing and saying they’ll have a talk with the kid and get a lock for their bedroom door. But Deidara has tears in his eyes and is going “Look at what TALENT my son has, hm!” and asking if he can take the pictures home to hang on the fridge and the teacher and Obito are just staring at him like 😐

Young adults Kakashi and Obito having a “date night” in Obito’s room. Awkwardly flirting all night. But every time one of them do much as leans in for a kiss, Obito’s “grandpa” Madara comes into the room. First to ask if Obito finished his chores. Then to bring in a tray of milk and cookies. THEN he sends little Sasuke in the room to ask annoying questions, and Sasuke is accompanied by his “special friend” Naruto who’s excited to see his Sensei and each boy is too oblivious to realize that they’re interrupting obkk’s date until Itachi finally comes back from a mission and drags them out. And finally, finally when the two think they’re free, they start making out, but right in the middle of it Madara calls out from down the hallway that it’s time for Obito to give him his bath. Kakashi (not for the first time) asks Obito why he doesn’t just move out of his clan’s home and get one of the Jonin apartments in the city like Kakashi himself has. Obito starts to reply that it’s not so bad when Madara calls out again bring the heavy duty toenail clippers because he’s got some “monsters” growing on his feet. And Obito looks at Kakashi and asks how much the rents are in the Jonin apartments.

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robbie-roo · 1 year ago

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somebody in a very long message asked me about skunks and mentioned a few other animals too so I'll do a quick post on skunks and see what I know about those other guys in later posts

also as a side note if you ever just want to chit chat about animals you can always message me or just tag me in your own posts I'm happy to have discussions as well as do these long lecture style posts :)

Skunks

cute little guys <3 I wanted a pet skunk and a pet raccoon as a kid (honestly I wanted a pet everything...) and the good news is you can technically have one! some states (17/50) will allow you to own a pet raccoon or a pet skunk but unless you are very knowledgeable in wildlife care or "exotic" pets I do not reccomend them they are not domesticated like dogs and cats are but can be tame (there's a difference)

anyways some skunk facts;

so their stinky spray is a pretty obvious skunk trait and like the messager mentioned many animals use scent as a way to communicate. pretty much all mammals have a scent gland located somewhere on their body- for many its the top of the head so they can rub pheromones off on trees or other critters to let animals know "hey this is mine" or "hey there handsome.... there's hot singles in your area"

they also mentioned possum and raccoons using scent- opossums are known for playing dead and will secrete stinky stuff to make their act more believable and raccoons? it's their urine and feces that make them stinky

some animals however use scent as a deterrent like skunks do

they are not the only animal that does this all mustelids do (that's the skink, ferret, stoat, etc. fam) and these critters are particularly stinky but don't have the spray adaptation that only skunks really have (as far as I've learned anyway)

both pet skunks and ferrets will often be surgically "de-scented" but usually still have a smell after (I mean... don't we all?)

skunks used to roll with this genus but recently made their own gang called Mephitis (literally means "stink") which has 12 species and includes skunks and "stink badgers" I've also seen some reports of 13 species but I'm not really sure off the top of my head which is true only 4 of them are "true skunks" though

skunks take their scent very seriously guys. some of them will directly aim for the eyes and others will do a little warning dance before spraying they can also adjust their sprays potency and angle and can also choose to spray from both or only one scent gland at a time

(spotted skunk- the dancers)

some can accurately spray 10 feet away but can reach up to 20 or more if they really wanted to soak you but then they have to reload for about 10 days before they can spray anything again

that odor can be smelled from 1.5 miles away! but don't worry 1/1000 humans can't smell it at all and their main predator owls also can't pick up the scent unfortunately for these birds they do still have eyes and a well aimed spray will still take them down

(also the chemical compound in their spray is flammable I have no idea who found that out and why but fun fact!)

if you ever get sprayed don't bother with tomato juice use hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to neutralize the compounds

anyways enough about stink

Skunks are omnivores and some will eat bees aiming for the actual bees over the honey like bears do (yes winny the pooh lied to you he wants that larva not necessarily the honey)

some skunks can be really social living in groups of around 10 and sometimes invite their neighbors to stay with them (there's a few cases of possums staying the night in their den) most of them ate relatively solitary but they aren't very territorial and will overlap sometimes

they are immune to snake venom! another trait that is somewhat similar to their cousins the badgers as they often eat snakes they can handle a lot of poison

alright that's what I know about skunks they're cute little guys but once again

DO. NOT. TOUCH. yes theyre stinky but they are also known to carry rabies if you see one out during the day do not approach it and call wildlife services if you are seriously worried

#skunk #skunk facts #animal science #animal facts #zoology #animals #biology #mammalogy

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florassexperience · 28 days ago

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Her.

Flora’s first interaction with Folly.

TW for panic attack, derealization, mild mentions of auditory hallucinations.

It’s been too long on this elevator. I’ve been hit with balls, sprayed with water, slapped, I’ve had an allergic reaction to something because someone spilled juice on me(which a cat woman had healed. She’s long gone but thank Goodness for her).

I’m being played with like a toy, like a Barbie. Do these things know I’m real?

They certainly don’t treat me, or others I’ve met, like we’re real.

Yet everyone seems used to this. Like it’s fine. How is this fine?

My skin is crawling, the voices are getting louder, and it only enhances the volume of everything around me. The jumping, the screaming, the noises of toys and balls, the sloshing of drinks and the clattering of medkits.

I’ve smelt so many damn flowers I might just lose my sense of SMELL after this.

The last person just left too, and now I’m alone!

This isn’t fine.

It’s not fine.

I’m not fine.

Oh Gods, I’m not fine.

I’m rapidly brought out of my thoughts by the elevator making an abrupt, shaking stop that almost knocks me down, and I grab the railing to steady myself. The elevator lights go out, and the only thing left is an ominous red light pouring from out the bottom of the elevator door.

In a flash, every single player is gone, and I’m left alone in the dark red lighting.

It makes me feel worse.

My breathing becomes shallow, every breath inward feels like I have holes in my lungs not letting me inhale nearly as much, my hands dig under my sleeves and scratch at my arms.

Inhale, exhale.

Not real.

Not real!

Only echoes of screams and laughing can be heard in my mind, as well as the voices enhancing. I can’t hear them, they’re too animalistic, but they’re taunting me I know it-

I crouch onto the ground, trying to catch my breath, feeling the pulse of my heart through my wrist, to remind myself I’m alive.

Minutes feel like torturous hours, and the minute the lights of the elevator flicker back on, it’s like I’m able to breathe.

And then the shadow of black mass smoke materializes into the tight space, as well as the teleportation of one lone player with a dart gun. Where’d the rest of them go? There were so many before.

Once the black smoke mass clears, I see her.

I’m finally, finally acquainted with the woman who’s only taunted me with her voice in my dreams.

She’s tall, ungodly so. She has to be at least three, no four feet taller than me, I could be wrong because she’s hunched over. Her entire body is pitch black, except for her legs, which are animalistic bipedals with red eyes, all over, deep cast in her fur. Out of her head is hair of the same inky black, sleek and spiky, with a white beret on top of the madness. Her face is something that takes me a minute to process, a white ghastly broken mask, and in the cocoon of the brokenness is one lone red eye, with yellow swirls.

It meets me the minute she arrives.

“Normally I’m the one to incite such terror upon creatures. Hmhm, almost makes me feel relieved to see the work has been done for me!” She turns to face me, and tilts her head at me, though her skin is dark, I can see the slightest stretching of her cheeks behind the mask. She’s grinning at me.

“Poor little fairy, so far from home, alone in such a big world they’ve no idea of. You would’ve been better had you just died like you were meant to.” She hisses lowly, “But now because you’ve found such a laughable sense of purpose, you’ve hoped to come on the elevator to what… demand I leave your people alone?”

“Tha…that- that’s exactly what I’m..I’m-I-I’m asking for-“ I can barely muster out the words to her, and she laughs.

“I suppose I will because I’ve already gotten what I’ve wanted.” A claw reaches up to her face and she examines the redness.

The words leave me feeling off.

“What have you done to my-“

“Oh you foolish thing! I’ve done nothing to ‘your’ people.” She scoffs, looking down at me.

“Then what did you do?” I shakily stammer out.

She steps forward once, then a second time, and a third, until she’s hovering over me. She leans her face down uncomfortably into mine.

The silence is deafening, my breath is bated and she’s left me on the seams of anticipation and the hopes she gets out of my face sooner.

But the words she says chill me to the bone.

”Gotten you out of your hiding place.”

#regretevator #writing #regretevator folly #regretevatorsona #selfinsert #the information seeker #panic attack #writeblr #writers on tumblr #creative writing #self sona #self insert

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gradientdescentthreads · 10 months ago

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Embroidery Journal: Quilting + Applique For Only-Vaguely-Nefarious Purposes

I've finally cleared out my commission backlog enough to start a new project for myself, and this is one I'm really excited to tackle: an addition to my personal embroidery collection in the form of a horror art panel by @barbatusart. I spent entirely too much time last year embroidering cutesy little souvenirs for my coworkers. I think I'm allowed a little fun for myself now.

However: The solid color blocks in the background gave me brief pause. So I decided to whip up a quick little test project to experiment with how to work them in using a combination of quilting, applique, and lots of really really painstaking work with an x-acto knife. Experiment, steps, and final results below!

Step 1: Collecting Materials

Texture and fabric weight do make a very noticeable difference in any fiber arts project. For that reason, it's important to do test projects using the same fabrics you plan to make the final piece out of. Lucky for me, I have an abundant stash to choose from.

Step 2: Design

Alternately known as the step wherein I began to suspect I was going overboard by hand-drawing original artwork just for one little test project. In other news, guess what y'all - I can free-hand sketch eyes now!

Step 3: Quilt The Background

Please excuse the cat hair. For this test I'm just going for two color blocks but I think it's clear how this concept would extend to the geometric background in the artwork we're building towards.

Step 4: Create A Stencil

The idea here is that we should create cut-outs in the quilted layer, from under which the white fabric will show through. My design is not ideal for this because it has a relatively light outline, so there's not much margin for error. However, looking back at the comic panel that is my ultimate goal, the outlines there are fairly heavy and bold. If I can make it work on my sketch, I'm confident I can make it work on the final piece.

Step 5: Cut, Bond, and Hoop

A spot of quilter's spray adhesive was adequate to fix the two fabrics together. A keen eye will note that the final stencil was just a bit larger than intended and didn't quite perfectly line up. This is where the thin lines in my design aren't doing me any favors. But - good enough for now.

Step 6: Hey Look, It Worked

Would you look at that! I think this did actually do what I wanted to.

Notes For Improvement:

Using stabilizer on the quilted layer will help reduce distortion when it comes to placing it over top of the base layer - probably very important with a bigger design

Double sided iron-on stabilizer might be the way to go to keep both layers nice and bonded and prevent wrinkles

Thick outlines on the design border are definitely a must

That maroon fabric looks ok in this picture but in poor lighting, it very quickly disappears into the black, I might need to pick a different fabric

#embroidery #handmade #tutorial #applique #quilting

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spaghettificationandpretzels · 2 years ago

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Like Real People Do

Mayans MC Masterlist

Part five of A Gentle Kind of Love

Any blank spaces are not meant to be there, I will fix them as soon as they show up so please just check again a little later if that happens to you.

Contains: Angst, blood, violence, hurt/comfort, fake dating, Angel being a little shit, nightmares, migraines, Manny being sweet. I stole some of this from Brooklyn Nine Nine.

6.3K words

Comment if you want to be tagged/removed or follow #a gentle kind of love.

Honey, just put your sweet lips on my lips. We should just kiss like real people do.

They could hear voices now and they knew with a few more steps, they would be on top of them. Angel's breath stopped as he caught the sight of you and Manny on your knees, the man behind Manny cracking the butt of his gun into Manny's back.

"Any last words shithead?"

Angel looked to his side as the other men came closer, their plan forming silently as Manny turned to you "I just want you to know, that I l......"

BANG

You dropped at the sound of the shot and felt wetness spray on your face as your brain kicked into action, shoving the man in front of you to the ground and climbing on top of him to slam the back of his head into the hard concrete.

You heard more shots but had no idea what was going on, your instinct told you were ok but as the world narrowed, your thought left the now unconscious man and turned to Manny.

You could hear the others, Bishop yelling for someone to bring the van as you looked around. The man that was standing over Manny was dead, a bullet between his eyes and you jumped as Manny appeared in front of you and looked you over.

"Is this your blood?"

You reached and wiped your face, "no, it's his. Are you alright?"

He nodded, "I'm fine, are you?"

You took a deep breath, "I'm fine, that guy is still alive, we should grab him so the Club can ask him some questions."

Manny nodded, "done, let's get you home."

You opened your mouth to protest but Manny shook his head, "had you not stalled them we would be dead, the least I can do is take you home."

You shook your head, "let's see what Bishop says first, they might need you."

Manny sighed and yelled out, "Bis are you good for me to take y/n home?"

Bishop wandered over and waved to EZ and Angel to grab the leader, now awake and groaning, "yeah, you're still staying with her until we know this is done."

You didn't complain, it would be nice to have Manny around for a little longer, "what about the cops? This area might be quiet but someone has to have done something."

Bishop shook his head, "we're dealing with it, no one's going to bother us. Head home, I'll call Manny when we know more."

You smiled, "thank you for getting here in time."

Bishop huffed, "nah, don't thank me. It was your quick thinking that let Coco know you were in trouble in the first place." He put his hand on Manny's shoulder, "good work, brother. We called Marcus before we left, he'll be here soon. Are you alright to tell him what went down?"

Manny nodded, "if it's alright with y/n he can come to her place?"

You sighed, "that's fine with me. I'd like to get home so I can get this blood off me."

Manny gave you a small smile, "alright Tesoro, I'll take you home."

You got home to the cats meowing at you, and you took in a shaky breath, "are you sure you're ok?" Manny's hand was on your shoulder, the warmth of his palm coming through your shirt

You sighed, "yeah, I was just worried I'd never see them again. If I had died they would have thought I just up and left them."

Manny swallowed the rising tears, "hey, we're both alive because of you." The image of him lunging as you dropped your last finger came to mind, between the gunshots and your own fight, you didn't realise he was paying attention. You glanced down at Manny's hand on your shoulder, it was bruised and the skin was bleeding and open.

"I better clean your hands up, they look really nasty." Before leaving, you reached out and placed your hand on Lady Midnight's head as she pressed her forehead into your palm. You felt your throat get tight and, without thinking, spun and wrapped your arms around Manny, Manny squeezing you back as the fear faded.

You buried your face in his chest, barely able to hold back the tears, "I am so sorry, this is all my fault."

You felt him stiffen, "what the fuck are you talking about? And don't you dare say it's because you wanted to go out or you got us into his mess in the first place, without you we would both be dead and the Club wouldn't have any answer. My guess is that they've got one of Galindo's guys there now working that fucker over."

He pulled out of the hug and took your bloodied face into his bruised hands, "I don't want to hear that shit from you ever again, understand?" You swallowed, "no, you're going to be in the shit if you keep this up."

You smiled softly, "I understand. I really better look at your hands, I'm worried you're going to get fight bite."

Manny made a face and nodded, "I might take you up on that."

Bishop extended his hand "glad you could get here so fast, how are things in Charming?"

Happy shrugged, "we're not too happy about being back in this shit. Jax has another baby on the way, we thought we were done." He dropped his tools and the table and wandered over to the restrained man, "why does he look like that?"

The man's eyes were unfocused, his head lolled to the side, "y/n did it, she got the jump on his when the shooting started."

Happy nodded, "good for her, brave woman. I think I'll be able to get something out of him before the brain injury kills him." He turned back to Bishop, "look man, we want this over as much as you but the Sons are not getting back into the game. Jax has already asked around, if you need more help up north you've got it but we've already dealt with the problem on our end."

Bishop nodded, "yeah, we know. Jax made it clear that he was done. Don't worry, after this we'll keep you out of it."

"You feeling better after a shower?"

You nodded and reached across the pet the cat on Manny's lap, "much, Mr Butts missed you."

Manny chuckled, "I missed him too, the little guy is becoming my best friend."

You smiled, "I am not offended."

Manny looked at you, there was something soft in his eyes that was hard to place but because you could say something, his phone buzzed. Manny took it out of his pocket and sighed, "Marcus and Bish will be here soon. The guy talked, Bishop says they'll tell us more when they get here."

You closed your eyes in a mix of frustration and exhaustion, "alright, I'll put some coffee on."

"Hello, welcome to my home."

Marcus offered you an easy smile as he kicked off his shoes, "thank you for letting me in, we have some good news that I'm sure will help with this, nevertheless I think Emmanuel should stay for a few more days."

You nodded, "that's fine." They walked in and you headed to the kitchen, getting the coffee set and taking it out into the main room while they talked.

You placed it on the table with a smile then sat down yourself, Manny stopping you when you went to pour them a drink, "we can do it, stop making a fuss."

Bishop smiled, "where are the cats?"

You pointed to the sunroom, "I think Mr Butts will lose his shit when he see Marcus, I'm keeping them locked up so no one gets a cat in their face."

Marcus chuckled, "this is their home too and we are imposing, please let them out."

You huffed, "alright then, it's your face that's getting licked."

Sure enough, when you let them out the sound of three cats trotting on the hardwood floors filled the air. With a flash, Mr Butterscotch was on Marcus' lap, "this must me the famous Mr Butts I've heard all about, aren't you a sweet thing." Mr Butts got right to rubbing his head all over Marcus while Manny sat there looking unimpressed.

You smiled and picked Sir Fluffernutter off the floor and placed him in Manny's lap, "oh you poor thing, are you jealous?"

Manny scoffed, "I thought he was my buddy."

You shook your head and turned back to the other men, "what did you learn?"

Bishop smiled, "before the guy had a massive seizure and died from the head injury you gave him? It looks like this is connected to a business we look after. Some new rich peeker wood in town wants to buy it and he can't because the owners won't sell. The same guy caused waves in Charming a few years ago. I hate to do this too you but we need to ask you another favour."

Manny's voice was harsh as he spoke, "no fucking way Bish, hasn't she been through enough?"

The glare you gave Manny reminded Marcus of how Izzy used to look at him when he tried to pull the same macho shit, "you don't get a say Emmanuel. What do you need?"

Marcus smiled, "do you have next tomorrow free?"

You nodded, "yep, plus I've decided to take this week off work to recover so my whole dance card is free."

Manny clenched his jaw, "whatever it is I'm going with her."

Marcus didn't protest, "that's fine. This guy has another restaurant and he's meeting one of his buyers. We just need you to go to the place to have dinner and let us know when he shows up. He always has dinner with his wife at the same table right by the kitchen."

You smiled, "that's easy, you just tell me the time, place and dress code."

Manny huffed, "what if he recognises her?"

Bishop clenched his jaw, "he has no idea who y/n is, she's fine with it. Stop being difficult, if you don't stop being a bitch about it I'll send Angel along to keep her safe."

Your brow furrow, "please don't talk to Manny like that, he's just worried about me."

Bishop took a deep breath, "we'll talk tomorrow but I think we should let both of you get some rest."

You smiled, "thank you gentlemen."

You saw them out, the expression on Manny's face unreadable, "what's going on in your head? And don't even think about lying to me."

Manny sighed, "I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to you."

You smiled, "you'll be there won't you, you're not going to let me get hurt. Plus, we'll get a nice dinner out of it."

Manny smiled, "nah, it won't be anywhere near as good as what you cook."

You had a small dinner later into the night, warming up a meal you had frozen with plans to have after a long day at work so you wouldn't have to cook, "I'll sleep on the pullout tonight." Manny's tone gave you no room to move.

"I can tell you won't take no for an answer so how about we take turns?"

Manny sighed, "fine, but you're taking the bed tonight."

You smiled, "thank you, you're very sweet."

Manny smiled back, his hand reaching across the table to hold yours, "nah, I'm just being a good guest and as long as I get to hang with the cats I'm alright with fucking up my back for one night."

The sound of distant shots didn't make you jump anymore, you had grown as used to it as the sound of your own breathing. It was the sound of the cars that had you worried and a quick glance at though the opening of the brown tent told you that you had every reason to be, the rebels were here. The child you were treating shared your worry, his gaze darting from you to the tent flap and back again.

You looked at your colleague, his eyes wide with worry, "we have a deal, they can't hurt us or our patients."

You swallowed, "you know why we're here right? We're here to put their leader away. That sack of files under that bed are full of testimony from his child soldiers."

You heard the cars stop and thumping as men jumped out of the opened topped cars and onto the ground, "they're here for the files, what do we do?" Your friend was right, you had heard rumours that the rebel general was making deals and there was no way he was going to let war crimes get in the way of that.

You squared your shoulders and put on a brave face, turning to the boy sitting on the bed getting his arm patched up, "I'm going to talk to these men then send you home, alright? You have nothing to worry about."

His face filled with fear but he nodded, "ok miss." You spun and faced the entrance waiting for them to walk up, their shadows filling the small place as a man reached out to open the tent.

"Hello, if you're here from treatment, you may need to wait, we have a lot of people to care for before we get to you." You tried to keep your voice even and your tone neutral.

The man smiled, it was cold, the action not reaching his eyes, "are you Dr y/n?"

You nodded, "I am, if you want to talk to me about the things you have seen, I have more than enough time for you when I'm done with my patients with physical ailments."

He stepped further into the tent, "we are here for your files, you will give them to us then we will be on our way."

You huffed, "and if I don't? We have an agreement with your boss that you will not harm anyone at this camp."

The nasty smile grew, "your agreement with our general is only in place with your complete cooperation." He raised the gun hanging over his back and you placed yourself in front of the little boy, his tiny hands gripping your shirt in fear, "that goes away if you want to be difficult."

You bit the inside of your cheek, "they're under the bed, take them and leave."

The man waved his friends in and they were gone moments later, every ounce of evidence against the monster they worked for leaving with them, "you got what you came for, now go."

He tilted his head, "thank you miss, you have been very helpful."

You had a terrible feeling as they left, a nervousness that made you reluctant to turn around and reassure the little boy that everything was going to be ok, it was the flurry of gunshots and the screaming that let you know you were right.

Manny couldn't sleep, he would nod off then wake up an hour later, look at the clock then turn around and try and again. He tossed and turned until two then he gave up, sitting up and placing his hand on Lady Midnight's soft body while her belly rose and fell as she slept.

His ears pricked at a sound, a soft whimper that had him worried. He listened and it came again, the momentary thought that the sound coming from your room was something else disappearing as your distress hit him full force.

He was up and towards your room before he could think, not stopping to think as his hand reached out to gently stroke your shoulder. Your eyes shot open and you took in a breath, composing yourself as you calmed down and turned the dial on the lamp on your bedside table, the room filling with a gentle light. "Is everything alright, are the cats ok. I didn't hear the alarm go off?"

You looked around the room, feeling a mix of fear from the leftover nightmare and shame for waking him up. Manny sat down as you sat up, his hand landing just above your knee, "I think you had a bad dream, I didn't want you to be scared."

You felt the emotions remerge, "I'm fine, I'm sorry I woke you. You can go back to bed."

Manny shook his head, "you're not fine, I couldn't sleep anyway. You wanna tell me what you were dreaming about?"

You shrugged, "the usual, I've seen a lot of horrible shit. Are you sure I didn't wake you up?"

He nodded, "nope I was wide awake, I can go back to the lounge room if you want?"

You shook your head and placed your hand over the one that was on your knee, "stay, please." You blinked, realising what you had just asked, "I don't want you to do anything you're not comfortable with, you don't have to."

He was already climbing into bed next to you, "even though that pullout is the most uncomfortable thing I've ever slept on, I slept great last night so maybe you're magic."

You giggled softly, "I don't think so."

There was another awkward moment as you thought over how you were going to lie back down, but Manny opened his arms, "come here." You caught the look on his face, his eyes soft and filled with affection as the corner of his lips tilted up ever so slightly. You reached over and turned off the lamp then settled into his arms, resting your head on his chest over his heart while Manny's hand softly gripped your upper arm while his thumb rubbed the skin.

"You were going to say something earlier, before the shooting started, what was it?"

Manny didn't know what to say so he lied, "I was going to say I wasn't upset that your face was the last face I was ever going to see."

You placed a hand on the other side of his chest, your fingering stroking his bare skin, "a little wordy, don't you think? I mean, I'm flattered and the sentiment is returned, but I feel a hearty fuck you is the best way to go out."

He chuckled, the pleasant noise reverberating through your skull, "I'll remember that for next time, Good night y/n."

You yawned and nuzzled further into his arms, "good night Emmanuel."

You woke in the same position you were in when you fell asleep, in Manny's embrace with your head over his heart. He was already awake, patting Sir Fluffernutter with the hand that had been on your upper arm "Help me, I've been stuck here for twenty minutes and every time I stop he bites me."

You giggled, sat up, and removed Sir Fluff from his chest, who responded with an unimpressed meow. "You good?"

He nodded, "I'm great, I really got to pee though."

You shook your head, "go pee, I can only hold off the others for so long." With a kiss on his fluffy forehead, you put the cat down, went behind the bamboo privacy screen and got dressed. Manny came out and you could hear him rustling around in his bag for his clothes so he could get ready for the day.

"Thank you for staying with me last night, I know it might have been a bit weird."

You could almost hear him shake his head, "not weird at all, I mean, we slept in the same bed the night before too. Plus, I slept like a log. Have you heard from anyone yet?"

You shook your head, "nope, I was going to do some googling on the restaurant, you can join me if you like?"

You heard Lady Midnight meow, "alright, I'll pick you up." Another meow and Manny's attention turned back to you, "I'm decent if you want to come out from behind that thing."

You sighed and walked to your vanity to grab the sunscreen, "thank you. Lady Midnight interrupted before you could answer my question, you wanna do some googling with me?"

He smiled, "sure, it's not like I've got anything else to do and I'd much rather spend the day with you and the cats than deal with Angel and his questions."

You sighed, "maybe we don't tell him about any of this?"

Manny nodded aggressively, "yeah, good idea. He'll never let us live it down."

"This is going to be a problem. They might let you in but there's no way I'm getting inside a place this fancy unless I wear a scarf and I'm not doing that." Manny's tone was a mix of frustration and anger.

You thought for a moment, "foundation and a good concealer, I'll have that tattoo covered right up. Unless you're fine with me going in alone?"

He shook his head and stood up, "is a drug store fine or do you need to go to some fancy makeup shop."

You chuckled, "the drug store is fine."

Manny grabbed your keys and you headed off, "I think we should stop by my place and pick up some nicer clothes, I think I have a dress shirt in the back of my closet somewhere."

You nodded, "good idea, I can iron it all nice for you. Did you look at the menu?"

Manny chuckled, "yeah, since it's not on my dime I'm thinking about getting the deluxe king's meal, steak, oysters, a chocolate mud cake."

You smiled, "sound yummy. I'm getting the wild mushroom ravioli with chicken bone broth and crispy onions."

Manny's eyebrows wrinkled, "what if it has truffles?"

You smiled, "it doesn't but the fact that you remember that I don't like them is real sweet."

He grinned, "yeah, I am sweet."

You shook your head, "don't push it, I could easily draw a penis on your face while I'm covering up that tat and you'd never know."

Manny gasped in fake offence, "you wouldn't?"

You nodded, "yep, a big old dick."

He shook his head and looked around, "is this place alright?"

It was the drug store on Mainstreet, "it's fine, you'll have to park and come in with me, I need to match everything to your skin tone."

"Are you having fun?" Manny didn't seem bored or upset.

"I want to get it perfect." You have been swatching foundations for twenty minutes before you found one that fit perfectly, "this one is good and I've already got concealer and power so we can go now. The bonus is it's all cruelty free. Your place now?"

He nodded, "yep, I'll be fast."

Manny didn't seem happy to be home, "what wrong?"

He shrugged, "I forgot how empty this place is, I'll be two seconds Tesoro, I know what I need."

You waited for him on the small couch, he was right, the place was pretty empty. He came out with his shirt in hand a few minutes later, "I'm good to go, you wanna head back to your place or stop over for something?"

You thought for a moment, then had an idea, "come on, I'm taking you for the best ice cream money can buy."

"Wow, this place is old fashioned."

You nodded, "I know but they have the nicest stuff ever, it's made in house and everything."

His eyes got wide when he saw the menu then something came over his face, "it reminds me of a place I used to take my sister."

You smiled softly, "I bet she had so much fun."

Manny nodded, "they have her favourite." He pointed to the item on the menu then cast his eyes to the ground. There was a sadness in his voice, a longing that came from loss.

You walked up to and went to order, "we'll take two of the strawberries and cream thick shakes please."

Manny looked at you, his expression soft, "can you add some extra strawberry sauce and caramel?"

The cashier nodded, "of course."

Manny turned to you with a smile, "she used to think having it with extra caramel made her grown up." There was a pause as he swallowed the lump in his throat, "thank you."

You placed a hand on his arm, "she would want you to remember that happy times, not the times when she was sick. If getting a thick shake can help you do that then that's the least I can do as your friend."

You waited until the drinks were ready than sat down, "you know what would make this whole thing even better?"

Manny smiled, "what?"

You pointed over to the hot food corner, "french fries." You popped up and ran over, buying a small cup and placing it in the middle of the table.

"Are you suggesting we dip the fries in the shake?"

You shrugged, "if you want, I'm going to enjoy them separately because I have a platelet but that's your choice."

Manny smirked at you, took two fries and swept them through the and popped them in his mouth, "it's really good."

You shook your head, "you are terrible, how are you going to go from this to gulping down oysters?"

There was a twinkle in his eyes, "I got a wide range of tastes Tesoro."

Time got away on you, and by the time you returned home, you had just enough time to shower and get dressed before heading off to the restaurant. You did your best not to look at Manny's bare chest as you covered up his tattoo, Manny giggling as you brushed the sponge over a particularly sensitive spot. You felt strange with your makeup done while wearing a shirt and pair of shorts, unwilling to put your dress on just yet in case you got it dirty.

"You alright?" His tone was light.

"I'm fine, I'm just trying to make this look good."

Manny smiled, "I'm sure you'll do fine, you just seemed flustered is all."

You rushed to find the right words, "you are very nice to look at and I didn't want to be weird, I realise I have just made it weird. Also with your tattoo covered up, you look like the TA I had a huge crush on in college."

Manny chuckled, "nah, you didn't make it weird but that's good to know."

You huffed, "don't be smug."

Manny went to respond but you heard someone key in the alarm code, then heard Coco's voice, "you guys ready to go?"

You looked over Manny's neck, then picked up the powder to set it before sending him out with his ironed shirt in hand, "I need to put my dress on, I'll be two minutes."

Manny headed out, his eyes rolling as he laid eyes on Angel, "what were you doing in y/n's bedroom?"

Manny shook his head, "she was making sure we got inside, nothing happened."

Angel shot him a look, "sure brother."

You came out a few minutes later, Manny's eyes going wide as he took you in. He stood up and looked you over, mute as he tried to come up with something to say, "you look really pretty."

You giggled, "thank you." The dress was simple, blue with small white flowers and capped sleeves. You turned to the other with a smile, "shall we head out?"

Angel smiled, "yeah, we'll head out. You do look nice."

You rolled your eyes, "you are a menace."

You went over your story while you were in the van, Manny adding his own thoughts as you went along. The plan was to wait until the business associate arrived then you would let the men in the van know they were there. You arrived and fixed your dress as you got out, Manny taking your hand as you walked to the restaurant, "you sure we didn't need a reservation?"

The worry in his voice was well founded, the line was long, "Angel said we didn't"

You got up to the host desk and she smiled before asking for a reservation, "we don't have one, I thought you guys took walk ins?"

You thought fast, taking the ring from around one finger and slipping it over your ring finger before wrapping your arm around Manny, "it's just that we had our first date here and we're celebrating our anniversary. I know it's a lot to ask but we got this really nice seat by the window near the kitchen. Not that I noticed the view with him sitting in front of me."

The host smiled, "I'll see what we can do, just a moment please."

She walked away and Manny gave you a look, "what?"

He shook his head, and leaned in close, "our friends just walked in, any bet they heard that?"

You smiled, "that's the plan."

You were seated right away, the host coming back with a smile as she led you to your table, "please take all the time you need, you cleared the table for the night." You had just enough time to the let the others know they were there before the man and his wife sat down next to you.

You picked up the menu and tried to act natural while the wife turned to you with a smile, "we overheard you guys, congratulations on getting engaged."

You smiled back at her and grabbed Manny's hand across the table, "thank you, it's been the best year of my life."

Manny placed his free hand on top of yours, his smile filled with affection, "how did you know?"

You wrinkled your eyebrows, "what do you mean?"

She pointed towards your ring, "how did you know you want to spend the rest of your life with him?"

You smiled, looking at Manny while you tried to find the words, "he makes me feel safe, like a war could be going on outside and nothing could touch me as long as he was there."

"What about you?" It was the first time you heard the man talk, he must have been paying more attention then he was letting on.

Manny leaned in closer to you and you swore you saw more than just affection in his eyes as he spoke, "she is the warmest, kindest person I've ever met. I know that no matter what's going on, she'll always help me through it. It helps that she's the most beautiful thing I've ever laid my eyes on."

You felt your face get warm and you giggled, "he's very charming too."

The man smiled at you and waved a waiter over, "your best wine for our friends and a dozen oysters and your best steaks."

You went to protest, "please let me show you a good time, there's nothing better than young love."

Manny smiled, "you're very kind, thank you sir."

You spoke to them most of the night, it was surprisingly easy to answer their questions, the lies feeling less and less like lies as the night went on. The man got a call and walked off and before long, his wife was leaving too, "it was lovely meeting you two. I think you have a long and happy marriage ahead of you."

When she was out of view, Manny's hand remained on yours, "we need to get out there and find out who he's talking to."

You nodded, "good idea, he went out onto the street, if we head out the back we can watch from the alley."

You thanked the staff, then headed out the back entrance, walking up the alleyway until you could hear the man speaking before you rested against the brick wall and pulled Manny in close, his eyes going wide, "what are you doing?"

You smiled and placed your hands on his shoulder, "I'm making this look like a private conservation between lovers."

Manny smiled and leaned in closer, listening to the man's conversations.

"I don't know where you're getting off, you told me you'd have the finance and now you don't, what kind of shady shit are you pulling?"

You pressed your cheek to Manny's, "it doesn't look like he knows what going on, maybe this guy is just in it for the cash."

You listened further and it became muggier, the one sided conversation making it seem like he had some idea what was going on but didn't really care.

He must have realised you were there because he turned his head to look towards the alleyway. Manny thought fast, whispering out a quick apology before pressing his lips to yours. You were stunned for a few moments before melting into the kiss. Time faded as he held your face in his hands as you held his waist. One hand left your cheek and moved to your ribs to pull you closer, a soft moan coming out of your mouth without your permission.

Your hand moved to the back of his head and you nipped his lower lips, Manny letting out a grunt as he deepened the kiss even further. "Sorry." Manny moved impossibly closer as the man brushed by you, his lips finally detached from yours as he walked away.

There were a few moments of silence while you shared the same air then the magic was gone, "we should get back to the van."

Manny nodded and rubbed his face, "good idea." He placed his hand on your lower back as you walked back to the others, the door opening as you got close.

Angel gave you a smile, "how was dinner?" There was something in his tone that had you worried.

"Dinner was nice, did you get what you needed?" You felt the telltale signs of a migraine coming on, the outcome of the wine you were drinking at dinner

Coco nodded, "yep, we had plenty of time to go snooping."

Angel smiled, "dinner was just good? Because what happened in that alleyway says otherwise."

You clenched your jaw, "please shut up, had Manny not kissed me he might have caught on, it was just a part of the act."

Angel raised an eyebrow, "you keep telling yourself that. We'll drive you two back to your place, if all goes well, Manny should be back in his own bed tomorrow night."

You made it halfway to your house before you couldn't hide how much pain you were in, "are you alright Tesoro?"

You shook your head, "I should not have had that wine."

Coco's turned sharply towards you, "you had wine, were you asking for a migraine?

You sighed, "I didn't really have an option, I just like to go home so I can rest."

Manny swallowed and placed his hand on your knee, "I'll feed the cats and clean their trays, the moment we get in you can go and have a hot shower, take your meds and lie down."

You smiled as best you could, "I don't have the energy to protest, I owe you."

Manny chuckled, "don't mention it."

You gave the cats a quick hello before going right into the bedroom to shower, leaving Manny and Angel in the living room.

"Can you cover for me at Templo tomorrow, I know she's going to feel shit and I don't want to leave her alone."

Angel smiled, "sure mano. When are you going to tell her the truth?"

Manny glared at him, "dude, just let it go. She's my friend, I don't want to ruin anything between us."

Angel shook his head, "maybe you should grow a set of testicles and just try, judging by that kiss, I think she returns your feelings."

The cats meowing brought the conversation to a merciful stop, "I need to feed the cats, go or you'll be picking up their shit."

Angel headed towards the door with a smile, "just remember what I said."

Manny waited a while after he heard the shower stop before going to the kitchen and grabbing some crackers and cold water before knocking on your door.

"Come in."

The cats came rushing and jumped on the bed while Manny sat on the edge and put the tray down, "thank you, you didn't need to do that."

Manny smiled, "it's alright, did you take your meds?"

You nodded, "yep, they'll take about an hour but I'll be fine in the morning."

Manny placed his hand on your knee, an action that was starting to feel deeply familiar, "can I stay with in here with you again tonight, I don't really want to spend the night on that thing and there's no way I'm letting you do it."

You smiled softly, "I would like that very much."

"Where's Manny?" Marcus was relieved that it was finally over, the information they gained last night being the final nail in the coffin.

Angel smirked, "with y/n, she wasn't feeling well last night and he didn't want to leave her all by herself today."

Marcus nodded, "that's understandable with everything that she's been through this last week but I'm getting the sense that's there more to it than that. What the hell is going on between them?"

The look on Bishop's face could have frozen hell, "not you too." He huffed, "they're in love and their both too scared to say anything, if it's not bad enough that I have to hear about it from these fucks every chanced they get, I have to get it from you now too?"

Marcus was taken aback but he recovered quickly, "how long has this being going on?"

"Since they met, and before you ask any more questions, they've both admitted it." Of course Angel would let the cat out of the bag.

Coco's eyes went wide, "y/n came clean, well shit, I never saw that coming."

Creep huffed, "some friend you are, are you blind? It's pretty obvious how she feels about him."

Marcus slammed his hand on the table and turned to Bishop, "you better deal with this Primo or I'll send Izzy to."

They all collectively shuddered, no one wanted that.

Part 6

Song inspo for this post Hozier - Like Real People Do

Hearts and blank reblogs with no tags will be worth one point each.

Comments and reblogs with comments/tags will be worth two points each.

The means a person can get five points.

Chapter six will be released after 20 points

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fixfoxnox · 2 years ago

Note

If you have any free time im requesting some camboy au headcanons about roach :0? Or letters to love headcanons about roach!!

Let's do some Letters headcanons! I haven't done one for Letters Roach and it gives me an opportunity to explain some things for the story!

Warnings: Stalker type behavior from Makarov, nsfw implied, slight non-con mentioned

Trans! Roach in the letters universe, which you guys probably knew, but he didn't come out until he was about sixteen

He is currently in his early-mid twenties in the fic and has been transitioning since he came out

Only person who knew he was trans earlier than sixteen was Eddie

Eddie is still a doctor in this AU and provided Roach with fantasy hormone blockers until he was ready to come out

So Roach essentially never hit a female puberty which has worked out for him because he doesn't have to bind his chest or anything

He was raised with a females education because he didn't come out until later

When he did come out, there was discussion of sending him through the classes for male aristocrats, but he would have been learning with small children, so they decided to just teach him the basics

For this reason Roach has no idea how to really fight (outside of a few things that we'll get to later), no idea how to hunt, and is a little less educated on things like war tactics, math, and history (he's learning though!)

Roach earned Makarov's affection when they were very young, which is part of why he doesn't remember it

Makarov was about eight while Roach was about five

Essentially Makarov was being a pouty bratty young prince

Little Roach got tired of it and came over to smack him with a book and tell him to shut the fuck up with his tantrum because he was trying to make flower crowns

Roach got in trouble for it, but Makarov was already smitten and it did not help that Roach later apologized to him with one of the flower crowns he made

Makarovs obsession was mostly innocent until he hit puberty then he started getting full on creepy and weird which is most of what Roach remembers

Roach and Jackson became bffs in this AU when they were kids. They were around the same age and their families estates are right next to each other, so it just made sense

Jonathan and Eddie fully believed that Roach and Jackson were sneaking around together when they were teens

Technically they weren't wrong, its just that rather than having sex, Roach and Jackson were going into town together and sneaking back to the estates with stray cats (the estates still have a cat problem because of them)

Makarov fucking despises Jackson, but he can't say or do shit because Jackson's family are the Kingdom's record keepers/treasurers

A list of creepy things that Makarov has done to Roach in this AU:

Stolen some of his clothes

Cut a piece of his hair to keep

"Accidentally" spilled wine, water, and mead on him several times

Had specific outfits made and sent to him (and since he's the prince, guess what Roach was wearing to any functions??)

Had copies of any portraits made of Roach made for himself (as well as hired some artists to draw Roach for him secretly)

Bought literally the exact same fragrances that Roach uses just so he can spray them in his room (and be creepy)

Followed him around secretly and made visits to Roach's families estate to sneak into his room

Literally tried to start rumors about the two of them to try and force them to be married

Straight up felt him up several times during big events where he could get away with it during like dancing and what not

There's other stuff but thats just some of the stuff off of the top of my head shdhdhdjjd

Roach is known for his penmanship in his kingdom! Its a highly valued skill in the kingdom and he's penned out letters for the royals before (including Makarov)

So when Soap is like 👁👄👁 with how fancy Roach's letters are, he was not exaggerating, like Roach is very very skilled

Soap is only Roach's third kiss in his life, not necessarily because there haven't been people interested, but rather that Roach hasn't been interested (take your guesses on who the other two kisses were lol)

Because Makarov is so solely interested and focused on Roach, Roach tends to get a lot of flak from other noble families

They want their own daughters/sons to marry the prince, so its very frustrating to them that Makarov has shown no interest in even trying with anyone other than Roach

It doesn't help that everyone can see how uninterested Roach is in the attention. They consider that to be a huge disrespect

So Roach has very few friends/support among the nobility, something that his mother has tried to fix but has often just resulted in Roach sitting in a room being made fun of all day

One last one: Roach is very much deeply attracted to the idea that Soap is a warrior king and has seen so much battle and all that, but he absolutely will not admit it

That shit is staying in his fantasies until after he is married thank you very much

#thoughts with luke #gary roach sanderson #john soap mactavish #vladimir makarov #call of duty #letters to love

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oh-a-very-toxic-octopus · 7 months ago

Text

Seeing a few people blitzing the answers like this and decided to have a go too!

1. What was the first piece of furniture you bought?

A leather sofa and armchair we bought from a charity shop for £25. We thought they were black leather, but as we walked the sofa outside and into the sunshine, it became undeniably green. For £25, though, who can complain?

2. What proportion of your meals do you cook?

Probably 90% at the moment. Jim likes cooking more than I do, but he's in his final year at uni and has been flat-out on his project. I have a decent rotation of doable meals going now, and he volunteers to chop veg/roll fajitas/make gravy, which keeps me p calm in the kitchen. (I have not always been calm in the kitchen.)

3. Foaming hand soap or normal hand soap?

Normal. Bar soap is the way.

4. Favorite chore?

In summer, laundry. There are a few factors here:

I am deeply invested in the well-being of the fancy Samsung washing machine I splurged on when we first moved here and enjoy keeping it clean and efficient.

I hate clothes shopping and waste, so I want to look after my kit and make it last forever. FOREVER.

I am very finicky about the texture of my clothes, towels and bedding and want to get them Just Right.

I am just as finicky about smells, with added backstory: when I worked retail, I only had one uniform and had to wash it too regularly to line-dry it, so for ages I relied on a tumble-dryer and smelled depressingly of rubber, while one of my colleagues was always wafting about smelling clean and lovely. For a long time, smelling good was my one goal in life. And now it has been achieved. I am a successful adult and I smell of line-dried Persil.

I enjoy the excuse to go outside and stand in the sunshine patting my line-drying clothes, eyy.

In winter I want to die, obviously, but cooking (from my limited set menu) is probably top. Prepping a good dinner sometimes breaks the SAD fog.

5. Least favorite chore?

Cleaning the fucking toilet.

6. Most precious thing one of your pets has destroyed?

I have blanked this from my memory for my own good. One time I woke up and my late cat, Spider, was humping the absolute shit out of my cello, though.

7. Any groceries you've been getting into lately?

Sweet potato fries. Also this fancy salmon en croute that cooks in half an hour and bubbles up immaculately.

8. What cleaning product do you swear by?

Ehhh. I was a vinegar stan for a while. Now it's basically antibacterial spray for general grime, washing up liquid for grease, bleach for nasties, vinegar for mould and mildew. I have an emotional support bottle of Cillit Bang that I occasionally use on the bathroom.

9. What's your emotional support craft?

I don't really craft. I doodle a fair bit and write sometimes.

10. Youtube, cable TV, or streaming?

Streaming. Netflix and Prime, plus sneaky access to Jim's parents' Sky subscription.

11. What's something you saved up for and then regretted buying?

Oh fuck me, so many things. I hate buying anything. Buying things sucks.

Off the top of my head: a wool trenchcoat, leather boots, clothes in general. I have a Gtech Multi hoover that cost way more than my little Makita stick and is infinitely less useful, too. I'm not 100% sold on my current laptop, either. Should've fixed my desktop instead.

12. How many cups can you see from where you're sitting?

None, but only because I tidied up three before sitting down.

13. Which filter are you most likely to go "eh, it's probably fine" when you find out you need to change it?

My shop vac is currently filterless. I just stuck some old t-shirts in there. Basically the same thing.

I hand-wash most foam filters for as long as I possibly can tbh.

14. How often do you take baths?

Never. I do not own a bath and I'm grossed out by the idea of using one in a hotel.

15. Do you go down each aisle when you grocery shop, or only the ones you know you need stuff from?

I do my grocery shopping online with home delivery. This means that when I have to shop in person I am perpetually lost and must wander the labyrinth for several hours.

16. Where do you go when you need to get out of the house but it's raining?

If it's raining and I don't have a pressing reason to go outside, I will not go out.

17. What's a movie you saw recently that you liked?

The Children of Men.

18. Pro or anti tchotchkes?

Had to Google this word (it is an incredible word, btw) but it was worth it to know I am anti, so anti, in every single case save for my growing army of dried bug skins. These alone may clutter my shelves. These and a few pottery dragons. And a wooden dragon. And some tiny porcelain cats. And a lot of books I will never reread. A few framed art prints. Uhh.

19. What's your go-to tape?

Electrical. I make the case: nice block colours, good stretch, snaps off the roll easily, holds together your indicator relay when you crash.

20. What's in your freezer right now?

It's rammed, honestly. I've got batches of roast potatoes, mashed potatoes and Dauphinoise potato; some stuffing balls I batch-rolled; curry sauces; bread sauce; Moroccan lamb meatballs; Swedish meatballs and gravy; minced beef; minced lamb; fish fingers; four tempura battered fish fillets; Jim's stash of Higgidy Pies; sweetcorn; peas; two pepperoni pizzas; three garlic flatbreads; sweet potato fries; hash browns; two apple strudels; onion rings; breaded mushrooms; and battered chicken nuggets. I'm sure there's more but I CBA to get up and check.

21. Last concert you attended?

Uhhhh, the Taste of Chaos tour — Disturbed, Halestorm and Papa Roach — in 2011. 💀 We almost went to Download this year, but given the mudfest it became, I'm okay with having missed it.

22. Favorite grocery store?

I'm a Tesco native but I heckin love M&S, just walking around looking at their fancy food.

23. Paper bags, plastic bags, or reusable bags?

I like Hessian reusable bags the most. In reality, I have a stash of plastic Bags for Life that's so huge they're probably more damaging than the OG one-use plastic bag.

24. Do you get your government mandated 8 hours every night?

No. We go to bed some time between 22.00 and midnight, depending on what we're up to that evening, and inevitably hang out in bed for so long we don't go to sleep until past one. It's my favourite thing, so I'm not complaining, but I am sleepy.

25. Favorite old person activity?

Does reading count? I like walking as well.

26. Would you rather sit on the porch drinking sweet tea or sit by the lake drinking beers?

Lake lake lake.

Beer beer beer.

27. Do you prefer Boardgame Night, Build-Your-Own-Pizza Night, or Movie Night with your friends?

Movie night.

28. Be honest, do you like all of the pictures of their babies that your friends send you?

My friends don't have babies, but I do not enjoy the pictures from my colleagues and acquaintances either. The human child is grim and sticky and I fundamentally don't understand the mindset that leads people to have them. Jim and I have been discussing it pretty intensely as we're 35 this year and our decision will soon be permanent, but my stance never really wavers.

29. Go-to holiday card format?

Unsure what this means. Jim's mum is hugely into sending cards, which I find quite daunting. Daunted, however, I rose to the challenge of sending cards back, and now I quite enjoy keeping an eye out for nice cards to add to my stash so I've always got a few ready to send — to her or to my own parents, who seem to appreciate my shift toward sending them.

30. How many pairs of scissors do you own?

So many scissors. We have a drawer of scissors. I want to say 15–20 pairs of scissors.

31. Do you still own your first car?

I do not. It was a 2003 Ford Ranger that was scrapped (not by me) for rust-related issues. Its engine went to Poland, I believe.

I note my first vehicle was a Yamaha YBR125 Custom, which I didn't keep very long at all. Just checked its history and apparently it's been off the road since 2021. :(

32. How do you take your morning coffee/tea?

It's tea, and I like milk and no sugar.

33. What's something you collect?

Bug skins. Specifically dragonfly sheds, but I have some cicadas from when I was a kid.

I also have my childhood spoon collection.

34. What's your commute like?

I leave the house, turn left down our alleyway, mount the bridge, and arrive at my home office in the garden.

Sometimes I *do* get called into the office, and that's a three-hour drive each way, with *people* at the end, eugh.

35. Aisle at the grocery store you never bother walking down?

The fizzy drink aisle. I like having teeth and shunning the betes.

I do however drink enough beer that I may fail on both those points anyway.

36. Do you keep a daily journal or agenda?

Sometimes. I'm insufficiently organised to keep at it. Instead I have a series of spreadsheets to log my chores and batch cooking, and I use my Google calendar to mark important events.

37. Do you still listen to the same music you listened to in high school?

Aw yeah. Favourites include Muse, Fiona Apple, System of a Down, Pink, Nine Inch Nails, Linkin Park, Alanis Morissette, Snow Patrol, Vanessa Carlton, A Perfect Circle, Pendulum and The Prodigy.

38. What's the last filter you changed?

Errr, I washed the filters on my Makita stick hoover. Replaced...? Probably the air filter for my Vauxhall Combo.

39. What little treat do you always get when you run errands?

I am not a little treat person; I want the money to stay in my bank account pls.

I do sometimes buy Jim some Marvelous Creations or a Terry's Chocolate Orange. I get the warm fuzzies from giving him stuff.

40. Grocery list or no grocery list?

List. Colour-coded by section, if I can. How does anyone survive without a list? Do you hold it all in your heads?? Like madmen???

41. What's the oldest thing you own?

My house, built in the 1800s. Whenever I get pissed at how badly built it is, I have to stop and consider that when my childhood home was being built (early enough to be damaged by shrapnel in the Coventry Blitz) my house was already over 100 years old.

42. What's an unjustifiably expensive appliance that you really want?

The ✨Bissell Spinwave✨

Look at that stunning thing. Give me those clean floors, Bissell. Please. Mopping just doesn't cut it.

43. Favorite book you've read recently?

Toss-up between The Priory of the Orange Tree, Slaughterhouse Five and Penance.

Probably Orange Tree.

44. Honest feelings on Settlers of Catan?

Never played it, not really a boardgame person.

45. What's something you wish you had more time for?

Writing, art, motorcycling, bicycling. At the moment, all my time is devoted to work, housekeeping, DIY and mechanical maintenance stuff. I'll get some time back when Jim's done with his uni degree, but I dunno that I'll ever finish writing a book again.

46. What kind of stuff do you keep on the door of your refrigerator?

A bin day calendar, a list of meals for the week with their eat-by dates and a shopping list.

47. Lamps or overhead lighting?

Overhead lighting. I get very angry very quickly if I have to put up with dimly lit rooms. We have some overhead spotlights that drive me a bit insane too, though; they cast intense shadows.

I fitted my office with my ideal lighting: 120 degree beam angle, 3200 lumens, warm temperature light bars. Everything is warmly and evenly lit.

48. If you could build your home from scratch, what outrageous feature would you want to build into it?

I'd move the house to the top of our hill, dig in a huge basement garage and lift the overall roof height by a couple metres to gain high ceilings on both above-ground floors. Skylights, exposed beams, cavity walls, underfloor heating, big windows with electric blinds, American-style HVAC ducting, central vac, some sort of built -in dehumidifier, triple glazing, water filtration and some kind of water pressure booster, giant log-drying facility, sauna.

49. Do you bring a bag with you everywhere you go?

No. On hikes and bike rides I take my Osprey Raven 14, but in urban areas I just stick my keys, wallet and phone in my pockets.

50. Pro or anti throw pillows?

None on the bed, a few on the sofa and armchair. Gotta have washable covers. Gotta get that Persil-fresh scent.

51. How many blankets do you keep in your living room?

Two: a fancy Melin Tregwynt lambswool blanket bought for us by Jim's mum that covers the cracked leather on our armchair, and a thin red washable fleece drape (also bought for us by Jim's mum) that I use as a barrier between me and the sofa if I'm at all dirty when I want to sit down.

We have a few more woollen blankets that go on the bed and on my sofa out in my office. They were all bought by my mum or by Jim's.

52. Did your relationship with your parents get better when you stopped living with them?

MIXED REVIEWS. Stopped living with my dad at eleven and that did not go well. Moved fully out of my mum's home at 25 and that helped a lot, although I think General Adulthood was doing most of the heavy lifting — we weren't at loggerheads even before I left.

I have a distant but amicable relationship with both of them now, where I have to initiate all contact but it usually goes well when I do, although my mum keeps freaking out over my potential ND status and my sibling's ongoing transition.

53. What's worse, the DMV or the Social Security Office?

Not American so I'm not sure. I guess our equivalents are the DVLA and the DWP.

I hate both but the DWP are worse. I worked for them for a little while (unpaid, in exchange only for my jobseeker benefits 🫠) and it was hell in there. My internship allowed me to be a relatively beneficial figure in the Jobcentre and offer (completely unfunded) tech training and digital support to some of our vulnerable jobseekers, but the permanent staff had to hit targets, targets that centred disqualifying people from benefits. Awful shit.

The DVLA can't type and regularly fuck up my forms, but most of my interactions with them are automated these days and they don't peddle human suffering. Go go DVLA, winning when the bar is in hell.

54. Do you decorate your house for holidays? Which ones?

We dress our trees and the chapel with fairy lights for Christmas. I'm not really a Christmas person — fairly anti-theist — but we've been slowly returning to some of these practices and finding them pleasant. I hate the gift-receiving but enjoy the lights and food.

55. Favorite high-effort meal that you make?

My Beef and Guinness Stew. This one:

56. Favorite low-effort meal that you make?

Asparapasta. Don't think I've bothered adding it to my site, so:

Chop up bacon, an onion and a pack of asparagus.

Put pasta on to boil and start frying the bacon.

When the bacon reaches your desired level of crispiness, add the onion to the pan and cook. Give the onion a slight head start, then add the asparagus too. Fry, stirring regularly, until the asparagus softens and turns a brighter green.

Reduce the heat to low and add the juice of one lemon and a huge dollop of Thai sweet chilli sauce. Stir and simmer while you drain the pasta.

Put the pasta in bowls and top with the other ingredients. Add parmesan and black pepper. Consume.

57. Do you tend to bring an appetizer, entree, dessert, or drinks to a potluck?

Too unsociable for potlucks.

58. What kind of bag do you use for your bag full of bags?

It used to be one of those waxy flat-woven structured rectangular LIDL bags, but now I have a box for them instead. The box is a locking plastic box used by the NHS for human flesh samples. It's clean now.

59. If you died and your ghost was stuck in the outfit you're wearing right now for the rest of time, would you be happy with it?

Jeans - "For the Horde" t-shirt - oversized red jumper - ill-fitting socks.

It's okay. Representative.

60. Do you have an opinion on your local weather reporter?

I do not know who they are as I do not pay my TV licence and thus have no terrestrial television.

61. Do you have a favorite brunch spot?

I do not deviate from the standard three-meal pattern. Get out of here, brunch.

62. Where are you on the minimalism-maximalism kinsey scale?

Standard bi woman. I want patterned wallpaper but bare shelves. I never achieve the bare shelves.

63. Opinion on Bath and Body Works?

I've never been. I hate Lush and The Body Shop, which I suppose are similar. Generally I feel the current self-care trend is just more consumerist bullshit.

(This totally unbiased political opinion sponsored by my scent-induced migraines.)

64. Last time you visited a farmer's market?

A month or so ago, when I discovered one in the field opposite the MOT centre where I was dropping off some motorbikes. I bought some vegetables and a pair of tomato plants.

65. Anything you're procrastinating on right now?

I should be doing some work-work (editing a blog article written by my colleague). I'm pretty on top of things otherwise. As a long-term disorganised mess, I feel weird about this degree of hard work and expect it will not last.

66. Do you get your taxes in as soon as possible, at the last minute, or late?

I'm on PAYE (pay as you earn) so it goes out automatically in real time. Rest assured I'd be a last-minute fuckwit who occasionally submits late because I put a form in a "safe place" if I had to do it myself.

67. Do you keep any stuffed animals on your bed?

Sometimes Max puts his stuffed stegosaurus in there and I discover it with my feet. Thanks, buddy.

68. Are your garbage bags scented or unscented?

Unscented. Scented is beyond grim. I feel I am consistent on this point.

69. What are you looking forward to next week?

A few things!

Get those Tories out of office.

It's Max's birthday! New dog toy time.

Hoping a new bearing arrives for my ebike engine and I can start riding again.

My project YBR is booked in for its MOT on Monday. Fingers crossed it's deemed roadworthy and I can move on to other projects.

Ask meme for people in their 30s

What was the first piece of furniture you bought?

What proportion of your meals do you cook?

Foaming hand soap or normal hand soap?

Favorite chore?

Least favorite chore?

Most precious thing one of your pets has destroyed?

Any groceries you've been getting into lately?

What cleaning product do you swear by?

What's your emotional support craft?

Youtube, cable TV, or streaming?

What's something you saved up for and then regretted buying?

How many cups can you see from where you're sitting?

Which filter are you most likely to go "eh, it's probably fine" when you find out you need to change it?

How often do you take baths?

Do you go down each aisle when you grocery shop, or only the ones you know you need stuff from?

Where do you go when you need to get out of the house but it's raining?

What's a movie you saw recently that you liked?

Pro or anti tchotchkes?

What's your go-to tape?

What's in your freezer right now?

Last concert you attended?

Favorite grocery store?

Paper bags, plastic bags, or reusable bags?

Do you get your government mandated 8 hours every night?

Favorite old person activity?

Would you rather sit on the porch drinking sweet tea or sit by the lake drinking beers?

Do you prefer Boardgame Night, Build-Your-Own-Pizza Night, or Movie Night with your friends?

Be honest, do you like all of the pictures of their babies that your friends send you?

Go-to holiday card format?

How many pairs of scissors do you own?

Do you still own your first car?

How do you take your morning coffee/tea?

What's something you collect?

What's your commute like?

Aisle at the grocery store you never bother walking down?

Do you keep a daily journal or agenda?

Do you still listen to the same music you listened to in high school?

What's the last filter you changed?

What little treat do you always get when you run errands?

Grocery list or no grocery list?

What's the oldest thing you own?

What's an unjustifiably expensive appliance that you really want?

Favorite book you've read recently?

Honest feelings on Settlers of Catan?

What's something you wish you had more time for?

What kind of stuff do you keep on the door of your refrigerator?

Lamps or overhead lighting?

If you could build your home from scratch, what outrageous feature would you want to build into it?

Do you bring a bag with you everywhere you go?

Pro or anti throw pillows?

How many blankets do you keep in your living room?

Did your relationship with your parents get better when you stopped living with them?

What's worse, the DMV or the Social Security Office?

Do you decorate your house for holidays? Which ones?

Favorite high-effort meal that you make?

Favorite low-effort meal that you make?

Do you tend to bring an appetizer, entree, dessert, or drinks to a potluck?

What kind of bag do you use for your bag full of bags?

If you died and your ghost was stuck in the outfit you're wearing right now for the rest of time, would you be happy with it?

Do you have an opinion on your local weather reporter?

Do you have a favorite brunch spot?

Where are you on the minimalism-maximalism kinsey scale?

Opinion on Bath and Body Works?

Last time you visited a farmer's market?

Anything you're procrastinating on right now?

Do you get your taxes in as soon as possible, at the last minute, or late?

Do you keep any stuffed animals on your bed?

Are your garbage bags scented or unscented?

What are you looking forward to next week?

#big long questionnaires #i know how these are meant to be done ok but I got nostalgic for livejournal behaviour

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tsaritza-mika · 2 years ago

Note

From the weirder asks post: 1, 3, 15, 25, 31, 38, 42 and 46! I hope that's not too much to ask! Thank you in advance! :)

who is/are your comfort character(s)? i think after all these years, I can comfortably say that three of my top comfort characters are Bugs Bunny, Inuyasha, and Jack Skellington. I do have many, but these 3 would be my ultimate 3. do you leave the window open at night? I don't. I love the idea of it, but the reality is always that insects will somehow get in while I'm passed out and I will become dinner. Mosquitos find me delicious 15. are you a parent? (all answers qualify) I am a pet parent to two wonderful cats ^--^ Tsuki is my eldest and the queen, and Maverick is my dumb, handsome boy 25. perfume/body spray or lotion? Hm... gonna have to go with body spray. Perfume I always felt was way too strong 31. what type of music keeps you grounded? I'm gonna assume 'grounded' means helping me to chill, and that would be a tie between the live recording of Cirque du Solier's Mystere, and the original recording of Phantom of The Opera with Sarah Brightman and Micheal Crawford 38. a soap bar that smells good? Answered this one in another post ^--^ 42. an app you frequently use besides this godforsaken site? YouTube for sure 46. favorite holiday film? Nightmare Before Christmas. No contest XDD

#answered asks #weird questions #ask mika

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moonlit-imagines · 3 years ago

Text

Headcanons for being an Avenger who can talk to animals

Avengers x reader

warnings: spiders, snakes, frogs, other crawly things. its a ton of animals.

a/n: antonio from encanto type beat

prompt:

you were actually a lot more useful than you seemed

specialties included scaring, infiltrating, and poisoning enemies without giving yourself away

because nature is usually uncontrollable

but you get teased by the avengers a ton

“hey, we’ve got our own disney princess on the team!” -clint

“clint, that was very offensive and you will have an uninvited guest in your bed tonight” -you

creatures always listen to what you ask of them, you can be very persuasive

and you treat them very kindly, too

this includes feeding them

birds, squirrels, strays, you name them, you feed them

“y/n, can you answer a question for me?” -tony

“sure..?” -you

“how did i rack up $1,000 in charges from petsmart?” -tony

“i have no idea” -you, side eyeing the window at a group of birds waiting for you “not now!”

always being excited to go out and meet new “friends”

“oh, hello! thank you, that’s so sweet!” -you, petting a dog that just complimented you

“are we completely sure that y/n isn’t just crazy?” -natasha

“i…no” -steve

missions anywhere were no problem for you

in the city? swarm your enemy with pigeons and squirrels. over water? shark infestation guaranteed. forested area? call in the big dogs.

“half of you are named after animals and, i’m not gonna lie to you, they aren’t all happy!” -you

*natasha, sam, clint, peter, scott, t’challa all peering at each other*

“are the spiders cool with me?” -peter, raising his hand

“sorry, they said you were an imposter. you don’t have eight legs. that goes for you, too, nat” -you

“what about us birds?” -sam

“the falcons are cool with you, sam. clint, the hawks think it’s lame you can’t fly” -you

“oh, yeah? well, i just have their eyes. maybe they should use their tiny brains to figure that out” -clint

“i’ll let them know you said that” -you

“and me?” -scott

“oh, yeah, don’t worry, scott. you hang out with the ants, they love you” -you

“yesss” -scott

“i suppose it is my turn?” -t’challa

“i’ve actually never met a black panther before, which really sucks, but the cats i’ve met think you’re pretty neat” -you

“i’ll take it” -t’challa

sending snakes inside top secret areas to scare off people, or bite them if you come across a dangerous friend

“you did very good, my friend! thank you for your help!” -you

“is it a bad time to mention i really don’t like snakes?” -bruce

“he says if you’re a friend of mine, you’re a friend of his. you’re safe!” -you

introducing natasha to a real black widow

“say ‘hi’ to your namesake! she’s going to be helping us today” -you

“two widows on one mission, huh? do you happen to be from the red room?” -natasha, giving in

<3 your little friend biting so many goddamn bad guys

ur like a proud parent to all these animals

“so, what is it like talking to animals?” -thor

“oh, it’s great! nothing like talking to humans, not at all. and i love meeting new species, they all have something interesting to say!” -you

“i shall have to take you to another realm one day, you’d love to meet the creatures i have, they’re much different than you would see on midgard!” -thor

tony offering to take you to the zoo

which you explained that if he ever took you to the zoo, he’d have to deal with the repercussions of a mass breakout that would coincidentally happen while you are there

“y/n! y/n, i have a question for the spiders!” -peter

“uhh, okay. do you have your own spider or do i have to find one? cuz that’s extra” -you

“shit—uh, no. i don’t have one” -peter

“okay,” -you, grabbing a spider off the floor “shoot”

“right, okay. uh. hi mister—or miss spider? i wanted to know if you think i’ll be affected by bug spray more than a normal human would? will i die?” -peter

“she says that’s a stupid question. and spider’s don’t like peppermint either, it makes them sick” -you (thru miss spider)

“that’s why i can’t eat candy canes anymore!” -peter

forbidding anyone in the avengers compound from killing any insects or animals

“oh, shit! y/n? Y/NNN?!?!” -sam seeing a spider in his bathroom

“yeah? oh, hi.” -you, picking it up “he says ‘thanks for not killing me’”

“yeah…no problem” -sam

infodumping all the facts you know about animals

to anyone who would listen

anyone

“hey, wanda! wanda, wanna hear about frogs. i have a lot to say about frogs!” -you

“uh, sorry, y/n, i have to go do something. im sure thor would love to hear about frogs” -wanda

“did someone say frogs?!” -thor

“yes!!!” -you

sneaking animals in your room

which tony is not a fan of

or so he says

“what do you got there, tony?” -nat

“y/n’s friends” -tony, holding 2 kittens, a third standing on his shoulder and licking his face

“they’re cute” -nat

“i guess” -tony

you frantically looking for them

and finding tony sleeping on the couch with all of them

“tony? can i have the kittens back” -you

“please, take them” -tony

“they say thank you for the pets. and you smell like meat” -you

freaking people out when you walk around with snakes wrapped around you or something

“don’t worry, they’re harmless…to me” -you

“y/n? can you, uh, find me a nice dog for my kids? they’ve been bugging me nonstop for one” -clint

“give me half an hour” -you

when you met rocket raccoon, you lost it

“oh, my god, you guys can hear him, too?!” -you

taglist: @alwaysananglophile // @rorybutnotgilmore // @locke-writes // @sweetheartlizzie07 // @queen-destenie // @natasha-danvers // @johnmurphyisqueer // @pappydaddy // @captainshazamerica // @freya-xo // @ravenmoore14 // @canarypoint // @zoeyserpentluck // @randomawesomeperson102 // @brutal-out-here // @wonderful-writer // @of-a-chaotic-mind // @resplendentlady // @procrastinatingsapphictrash // @lxncelot // @swanimagines // @randomfandomimagine // @petersgroupie // @dindjarinsspouse // @werewolf-himbo // @lost-fantasy // @moobrvoobl-moobmoob-oobmpoobroom // @summersimmerus // @cipheress-to-k-pop // @augustvandyne // @spoodermans // @the-did-i-ask // @glxwingrxse // @scarthefangirl // @cyanide-mustard // @druigmybelovedone // @beth-gallagher22 // @bad4amficideas // @magnificentzombiebasement // @sheridans-dynamos // @seraphinevalentine // @happypixy380 // @simsrecs // @prettysbliss // @pogueslandia // @xoxobabydolls // @ruvaakke // @wild-rose-35 //

#marvel #marvel imagine #marvel x reader #avengers #avengers x reader #avengers imagine #tony stark x reader #avenger!reader #natasha romanoff x reader #long fic #bruce banner x reader #thor odinson x reader #steve rogers x reader #sam wilson x reader #scott lang x reader #peter parker x reader #wanda maximoff x reader

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the-faceless-bride · 3 years ago

Text

Sunday was supposed to be A fun day

Lost boys x reader

The boys were just having some fun on the boardwalk, they have gotten a lot more virulent after what happened with the frog brothers and we're starting to take extra safety processions...

Even going to a witch

Marko and Paul were touching everything!! Crystals, trinkets, bottles that were sealed at the top with wax and trying to get it open

Dwayne was looking around making sure the witch doesn't try anything on them, he almost let them down once he wasn't taking any chances again.

David is talking with the witch, asking her questions and telling her what had happened that night... When he asked her what they should do she gave him an answer...

"You'll have to lay low for a little while," Ravynne said, her green eyes staring the Vampires down; she walked around them, her heels lightly clicking as she grabbed different bottles off her shelves.

"Lay...low?" David questioned as his eyes trailed after her, keeping his guard up. Ravynne pushed her dark passion twists put off the way of her face the rings and shells in her hair clinked together gaining the other's attention.

"Yes, those young boys will now be on the lookout for more Vampires, and when they go looking and they find you... It won't end well" she said slowly in her low sensual voice, causing Paul to bite his lower lip and Marko to elbow him in the ribs with a scoff.

As Ravynne whispered chants on the four gems she could barely focus from all the giggling, whispers, and grunts... She was a busy and powerful woman that didn't have all day for silly games and a group of brutish Vampires that only care for themselves... And then a vision flashed behind her eyes, she smirked and knew how to take two birds with one stone.

Protect the boys and get them to care about someone other than themselves... She knew just the spell to cast on these gems...

Marko jumped around with Paul as they laughed and joked; going back home to their cave. Paul was unable to stop playing with the Blue Gem that was now hanging from his neck. "So... What do you think they do?" Paul asked his partners.

"I... Don't know... Maybe they like... Shoot the fuck out of people how come near us?" Marko answered. David chuckled and Dwayne playfully rolled his eyes. But the calm playful mood shattered as they heard a group of people talking... And they didn't sound friendly.

They talked about terrible means to torture Vampires and they wanted to hunt them down, and then something happened.

"Did you hear that?" One of the hunters asked the others; David, Dwayne, and Marko looked to Paul who accidentally kicked a spray can. The hunters start to follow the sound and the boys started to panic, after the fog brothers they just came back... They weren't strong enough to fight yet, they are still weak.

But then they felt a strange twist in their bones and for a moment everything went black, only for a moment later being met with the hunters; only they weren't attacking them?

"It's just some stupid cats!" One of the hunters called out to the others...

Wait... What?

The boys looked down to be met with fluffy paws... When David tried to talk only a meow left his mouth... 'Well... Looks like we will be talking telepathically' David groaned.

'My feet hurt! Dwayne Carry meeeee!' Marko complained 'I can't carry you, Marko... I don't have any thumbs to lift you.' Dwayne explained

'We won't make it to the cave in time! The sun is almost up!' Paul cried out to his partners and they started to panic again... That is until they heard a voice.

"Kitties?" The boys all turned around and while David and Dwayne looked as though they were ready to scratch, hiss, and claw; Paul and Marko looked at each other getting the same idea due to sharing one single brain cell.

They both started meowing and trying to rub themselves on the stranger, 'what the hell are you two doing?!' David yelled not wanting his partners to get hurt 'think about it, the sun is coming up! We play our cards right and they might take us home!' Marko explained to his two other partners.

Before David or Dwayne could do anything they heard the sound of a zipper, the stranger opened up their bag taking off their sweater and placing it at the bottom of their bag picking the kittens up starting with Marko then Paul, the stranger looked to the other two cats wondering if they should take them too; Dwayne took the first step moving towards the stranger, then David.

The zipper closed but not all the way to allow air and they started to move; they all huddled up snuggling together burying themselves in the soft material of the sweater to hide from the small speck of sun that would be showing soon as they all slowly drifted to sleep.

They would figure out what to do later, but for now, they wanted to sleep; they were tired.

Cat-astrophe masterslist

#the lost boys x reader #the lost boys imagines #poly lost boys x reader #lost boys x reader #lost boys imagine #the lost boys as cats #the lost boys dwayne #the lost boys imagine #the lost boys marko #lost boys #slashers x reader #slasher imagine #slasher x reader #slasher imagines #slasher headcanons #analeena's slashers #the lost boys #the lost boys david #the lost boys paul

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brummiereader · 5 months ago

Text

@emotionalcadaver ...

Bloody hell 😱! Lucy is badass 😈! And absolutely terrifying! Remind me never to get on her bad side, I'd like my head to remain attached to my neck 😳😂.

Why did it not cross my mind that she might imitate Elizabeth to get into the appartement 🤦🏼‍♀️. See? I could never be an assassin 😂.

She had shifted the handbag subtly at an angle when she’d knocked, and when she pulled the trigger of her revolver, the bottom fabric of the handbag was torn away as the bullet exited, propelling forward and into the Italian’s jaw at an upward angle, blasting through his skull and coming to rest somewhere inside his brain. She wasn't wasting anytime, was she?! You have no idea how much I love the fact she used Grace's concealed, killing method 😍! I always thought that was so badass in the show, so for Lucy to do it was the cherry on top.

I have to say, throughout the entirety of this scene, I don't think I stopped to breathe 😩. You had me on the edge of my seat as Lucy sweeped through that place, taking them out one by one 👌.

“The Red Demon? Hah!” the other voice–Alessio, she was assuming–cackled. “Luca said not to worry about her.”

Her brows knitted, an idea suddenly forming. It was a gamble, but if they really were underestimating her… what idiots 🤦🏼‍♀️. I enjoyed the fact they said this because Lucy's little show, was just perfect 👌. I could only wish Tommy would have been there to see her dramatic performance, you just know he'd be rolling his eyes shaking his head 😂.

The bullet tore through one of his eyes and exited through the back of his head, leaving a spray of blood on the floor and wall behind him. She could just shoot him through the chest. But I get the impression that, just like he theatrical performance seconds before, she also likes making an arty bloody, gory mess every where 😂😈!

“Luca made such extravagant claims about how superior your organization’s level of security was…but then again, I’m guessing you weren’t exactly the smartest of the family, were you?” arghh! You just know how much I love it when she toys with her prey 😍! Her snarky remarks at him, we're everything I needed to hear before she gave that fatal cut to the throat, severing his head.

With a sniff, she stepped over Alessio’s body, and went back into the other room, first going to the door, which was still half open. This gave me goosebumps 😬. She's so detached from what she's just done, like it's your average day at the office 😳😂. And the ways she takes out his wife moments later without a thought, only proves even more how deadly she really is.

Now, if her show back at the flat wasn't enough, then her next move, when she dumped those heads on the table in front of everyone in the betting office, surely was!! Oh my god 😳!

Had to mention this little line, because I loved it so much she heaved up the heavy bag and dumped its contents out onto the table in front of him, like a cat proudly presenting its owner with the mouse it had just killed. In my own brain, I could see her purring up against Tommy if everyone wasn't there 😂!

I love how Tommy is not even shocked at the four bloody heads rolling out of a bag in front of him 🤣! I do find it really sweet how his attention went straight to her, and her wellbeing 🥰.

The following scene of tenderness and playful teasing, was just as sweet. I adore how much he loves her, and that his number one priority is her safety. “Oh, I thought about it,” she smiled at that, patting his chest affectionately. “But like I said, it was never an issue of me thinking that you couldn’t handle it…” I'm relieved he said this, because i think it's what she's been needing to hear for a while now. He knows she's capable, more capable than him. But he loves her so much, that he wants her by his side at all times ❤️.

“Think that you’ve gotten things out of your system, now?” this made me giggle so much 😂! You'd definitely think that was enough to do it, but clearly not 😅. I love these small playful moments between them. They're a lovely breather away from the heavier parts of their story. And a glimpse into the closeness, and love they share ❤️.

Incredible chapter, hun! I absolutely loved it 😍!

Part 21: The Shadow of the Abattoir

Fandom: Peaky Blinders

Pairing: Tommy Shelby x OC

Summary: Lucy sets out to prove her usefulness to the company.

Word Count: 4,122

Notes: Apologies if the action in this chapter isn't written very well. I always struggle with it and feel like it's one of my weakest points as a writer. Warnings for depictions of blood and violence.

Previous Chapter • Series • Fic • Next Chapter

Chapter 12: Red

Her hands squeezed tightly around the handbag clutched in them, the intricate beading sewn into the cloth digging into her palms. The blonde wig covering her hair itched terribly, and her front was particularly warm from the balled up handkerchiefs she had stuffed into her bra to try to better imitate Elizabeth’s significant bust. Her face felt heavy with makeup.

She came to the door of the flat, hand unsteady as she raised it to adjust the wide-brimmed hat on her head so that it more properly hid the top half of her face. From perhaps a distance she could pass as Elizabeth, but if anyone got a good look at her face, the jig would be up. Pulling open the door, she began to climb the stairs, eyes scanning the numbers on each one until she found the one she was looking for.

It had occurred to her that some of the neighbors could be in on hiding the Italians out, but Isiah had said their boys hadn’t spotted anything that indicated that.

Hesitating just before she would be within eyeline of the door, she slipped her hand into her handbag, fingers curling tightly around the gun concealed within, cocking it. She tugged Elizabeth’s coat tighter around herself, took a deep, slow breath to steady herself, and knocked twice on the door.

There was an agonizing moment of nothing. She turned herself half away, as if simply looking idly down the hall, while also tilting her head so the brim of her hat and the blonde locks of the wig hid her face almost entirely from view.

It was always possible that they had some sort of password system established with Elizabeth, but in that case, she could always just break down the door. It may have been worth it to have had a talk with her, but Lucy had been worried about spooking her and having her either skip town or run to the Italians with a warning that they knew about them. From Clara’s account, it sounded like she was in love with one of them. And people in love did stupid things.

From the other side of the door, she heard footsteps, and then the sound of a lock clicking. The door opened just a crack, a dark eye peeking out. When the man saw her blonde hair and Elizabeth’s coat, he pushed the door open wider with a smile.

“Elizabeth, darling, what’re you doing here–?”

It was an old trick that Grace had taught her; the same one she’d used to put a bullet in Campbell’s leg, all those years ago.

The arm that the Italian had braced against the door went limp, allowing it to swing open the remainder of the way. His body moved to fall backways into the entryway, but she caught him by the front of the shirt, letting the handbag fall away, revolver still clutched in one hand. She could hear shouting in Italian from deeper into the apartment.

Adjusting her grip on the first guard’s body, she hauled it up and raced forward, using it as a shield as she burst through the entryway.

The apartment opened up into a living room, decorated with a couch and two big armchairs situated around a rectangular table. To her left, there was a kitchen, and to the right, she could see three doors, one ajar and the room inside dark, although she could just make out a toilet in the corner. The other two seemed to lead to what she was assuming were bedrooms. A hallway cut between those and the bathroom, leading to another room tucked deeper into the apartment.

The second guard was in the living room, half risen out of the armchair he’d been seated in when she came bursting in. She fired at him, but he dove behind the chair, and she missed. Lucy ducked behind the couch, dropping the first guard’s body unceremoniously while her eyes scanned behind her and to the sides, checking the angles where she would be most in danger if an enemy was there.

She yanked off her hat and wig, to avoid either becoming a nuisance or hindering her ability to see, tossing them to the floor. A few bullets struck the couch and the wall behind her as the second guard fired. There was someone yelling in Italian from the room that the hallway led into.

“Who is it!?”

Lucy chanced a peek up over the edge of the couch, and almost immediately had to duck down again to avoid being struck with another barrage of bullets.

“It’s the red-haired bitch! Stay hidden!” the second guard shouted back. Lucy doubted that they realized that she spoke Italian.

“The Red Demon? Hah!” the other voice–Alessio, she was assuming–cackled. “Luca said not to worry about her.”

Her brows knitted, an idea suddenly forming. It was a gamble, but if they really were underestimating her…

“She killed Lorenzo!”

“Just take care of her!”

“What the fuck do you think I’m trying to do!?”

She grabbed the ankle of the first guard, pulling him a little closer to her, then readjusted her position, bouncing slightly on her legs in preparation.

This next time she popped up, she lingered a moment longer, dropping down with a theatrical yelp just as the second guard started firing at her again. Reaching out hastily, she dipped her hand in the first guard’s bloodied head, and then spread the hot, red liquid across her throat, chest, and the underside of her jaw.

She laid down on her back, and made another sound, this time a garling, choking noise.

“Did you get her?” Alessio called from the other room.

“I-I think so,” the second guard said, and she could hear him slowly rising to his feet, footsteps approaching the couch. Her fingers flexed around her gun, raising her free hand to clutch at her throat, as if pressing on a bullet wound. “Stay there until I say it’s safe.”

He came around the couch, gun held in both hands and pointed outwards, but his confidence that she was actually injured made him slow and unprepared. She didn’t even know if he realized that he hadn’t actually hit her before she squeezed the trigger of her revolver. The bullet tore through one of his eyes and exited through the back of his head, leaving a spray of blood on the floor and wall behind him. She had to roll hastily out of the way when his body began to drop, to avoid it landing on her when he crumpled.

With a grunt, she pulled herself to her feet, shucking off Elizabeth’s coat, holding her revolver in both hands while she began to move, slow and quiet, towards the hall where Alessio’s voice had sounded. He was calling the second guard’s name, asking if he had actually killed her or not. She slunk along the wall, listening, ready to drop anyone who stepped out of the door that was only slightly ajar. The hall ended at a dead end, the door in the left wall. That gave her an advantage of being able to hug the wall, rather than try coming at the door directly.

She came to a stop at the edge of the door frame, head cocked and listening. There was the distinct sound of a window sliding open, and then what sounded like rain.

Had it started raining since she’d come in? She hadn’t noticed.

With a quick movement, she turned the corner, gun raised. Alessio was just raising a leg to climb through it, and as she rushed towards him, she put a bullet in his kneecap. The leg buckled, and he went crashing down with a scream. She managed to grab him by the tie before he could fall out the window, tossing him onto the hard floor, slamming the window slut.

Turning back to him, she cocked her head. He was laying on the floor, clutching at his knee and whimpering. Holstering her gun, she walked towards him slowly until she was standing directly over him, then lowered herself until she was straddling his chest, her knees pinning both of his arms to the floor in case he decided to try anything.

“I thought you boys were supposed to be good at this kind of thing,” she said. Alessio bared his teeth and cursed at her in Italian. “Luca made such extravagant claims about how superior your organization’s level of security was…but then again, I’m guessing you weren’t exactly the smartest of the family, were you?”

He spat at her, but she jerked her head back calmly. Reaching into her belt, she pulled out the large hunting knife that she’d been carrying with her since the vendetta started, twirling it once between her fingers.

“Tell me where Luca is.”

He laughed, chest shaking with it. And Lucy could see that, duller than a spoon as he might’ve been, Alessio would not talk. She could do whatever she liked: rip his fingernails out, chop off little bits of him, whip him, or worse…and he wouldn’t say a word.

“You stupid cunt,” he spat at her in Italian. “You’re all going to die.”

Lucy sighed, adjusting the grip on her knife, slowly rising off of him, stepping around so that she was near his head. He kept on laughing.

“You won’t ever find him, do you hear me? Not ever. He’s going to kill you, and then he’s going to kill your lover, and he’s going to make sure that it hurts–”

She cut him off with one great arc from her knife, bringing it down hard on neck. The huge, freshly sharpened blade cut through flesh, then blood, then bone like butter, and with one quick, slight turn of her wrist, she fully removed Alessio’s head from his shoulders.

For a moment, she stood there, staring down at her handiwork, listening to the drops of blood lingering on the blade of her knife drip down onto the floorboards. With a deep breath, she cleaned it off with her handkerchief, then sheathed it back into her belt. She raised both hands to her forehead, rubbing it with the heels of her palms, head tilting up to stare at the ceiling.

Fucking hell.

Could have gone worse. But could have gone better, too. She had really been hoping that Alessio could have led her to Luca.

With a sniff, she stepped over Alessio’s body, and went back into the other room, first going to the door, which was still half open. A few neighbors were poking their heads out of their apartments to investigate all the commotion.

“Stay in your homes,” she told them. “Don’t speak of this to anyone. By order of the Peaky Blinders.”

That had them all shuffling quickly back into their houses, shutting and locking the doors. Lucy stepped back into the apartment, closing the door and locking it behind her.

Next she went to the phone, dialing the line for the betting shop, lighting a cigarette while it rang until Skudboat picked up.

“Skudboat, hi. It’s Lucy.”

“Lucy! Where are you? Tommy’s been getting worried…”

“I’m fine. Tell him I’ll be back soon. Listen, I’m gonna give you an address. I need you to send a clean-up crew.”

“Alright.”

“Got a pen?”

“Yeah.”

She sounded off the address and a few instructions, and then hung up. Rifling through the Italians’ belongings didn’t turn much up that was useful. No matter. The clean-up boys could go through it all more thoroughly later anyway.

She dragged the two guards’ bodies into the bedroom Alessio was in, and scoured the closet until she found a bag big enough for her intentions.

She moved towards the bodies, and pulled out her hunting knife again.

∗ ∗ ∗

She was just stuffing the last of the things she intended to take with her back to the betting shop into the bag when she heard a creak on the floorboards and looked up, and was met with the wide, horrified eyes of Alessio Changretta’s wife.

Shit. With everything else, she’d forgotten that the woman always came home by three in the afternoon.

The woman’s mouth had dropped open, creating a little o, eyes so huge with terror that it was a wonder they didn’t pop out of their skull. Her face was pale as paper, a bag filled with books and knitting supplies still clutched in one hand. For several seconds, she and Lucy just stared at each other. Lucy cocked her head, giving her a look of warning.

“Don’t run.”

The woman’s eyes snapped away from where they’d been focused on the bag Lucy had been filling to her face, and she started to shake like a leaf, lips trembling. Lucy gave her a small shake of her head.

The woman ran from the room.

Lucy let out a frustrated groan, picking up her knife where she’d set it down on the bed.

They could never just make it easy, could they?

Sudden, yet as inevitable as a clap of thunder chasing a bolt of lightning, she took off after the woman.

She would not make the same mistake that John did by leaving loose ends. He had let Audrey Changretta live, and look where they were now: in the middle of a war, and all that was left of John was but a memory and ashes scattered in the wind.

The woman managed to make it almost to the middle of the living room before Lucy caught up to her. And when she did, the woman let out this little sound; not a scream, but a little, terrified cry, and then all noise she could have made was promptly silenced by Lucy’s blade ripping through her throat, blood spurting out all over the expensive gray rug, her cries transformed into nothing but quiet gurgles.

Lucy held her tight, the hand not holding the hunting knife to her throat wrapping firmly around her waist, holding her until she went limp, the weight of her increasing steadily as she died. Lucy listened to the way her breaths rattled wetly in her chest, body shuttering as it tried in vain to fight against the hands of death closing in around it.

When the woman was nothing but a cold weight in her arms, Lucy dragged her backwards and into the bedroom they’d just left.

She finished up what she’d been doing before the woman interrupted her, adding a new, unexpected addition to her bag, and then went into the bathroom to clean the blood and makeup off of her. The cool water felt nice on her face, helping to soothe the shakes that were beginning to shudder through her hands.

The clean-up crew arrived just as she was drying off her face. She let them in, giving a few instructions before picking up her bag, pulling her peaky cap onto her head, and leaving the apartment.

It was still raining, big droplets of water beating down onto her and the cobblestones. It pricked at her already frayed nerves, leaving her jittery. Rain reminded her of bad memories.

Adjusting her grip on the dripping bag, she forced herself forward.

She was almost back to the shop when the rain finally started to ease off.

Of course it’s done raining after I’m almost home and soaked to the bone, she grumbled internally, shooting a glare up towards the sky.

“Lucy.”

She jumped at Charlie Strong’s voice. He was walking in the opposite direction as her, probably on his way back to the yard after being up at the shop.

“Hey, Charlie.”

“We were all wondering where you’d disappeared off to after that big blow up at the meeting.”

She suddenly felt bad for running off with no warning or explanation. “Is Tommy upset?”

“With you? No, just worried. He’s mad as all hell with Linda, though.”

She cringed. “Was it bad?”

“There was a whole lot of yelling between them after you left.”

Guilt twisted in her like a knife. She shouldn’t have left Tommy alone to deal with that all on his own.

“Is Linda still there?” she asked, quietly.

“At the shop? Yeah, she’s working with Polly. They’re all closed up for the day already, just counting the takings, I think.”

A small smile pulled at her lips. “Good,” she gave him a small nod. “I’ll see you later?”

“Sure thing, kiddo.”

With a nod goodbye, she continued on her way towards the shop, pushing wet hair out of her face and fingers flexing around the bag. It was still dripping, and not just with rain water.

She slammed open the doors that led into the shop with a crash, striding in with thunderous footfalls. Polly and Linda were seated at a table, counting out money. Finn was drinking tea by the bar. Arthur was pouring himself a glass of whiskey. They all got quiet when they saw her.

At least they’d already seen all of the patrons for the day. What she was about to do would probably have chased some of them away.

But, well…she did have a point to make.

Ada was seated at a table that was a straight shot from the door Lucy had entered through, pointing to something on the papers clutched in her hands. Tommy was standing over her, one hand on the table and the other on his hip. His head had snapped up at the sound of Lucy’s entrance, eyes widening when he saw her, soaked with rainwater and holding a large, dripping back in one hand.

Lucy strode directly to him, and before he or anyone else could say anything, she heaved up the heavy bag and dumped its contents out onto the table in front of him, like a cat proudly presenting its owner with the mouse it had just killed.

The four heads of her victims fell wetly out of the bag, landing on the table with dead, audible thumps. Blank eyes, ajar mouths, and bloodied stumps where she had severed them from their bodies at the neck stared back at them.

Linda screamed, jumping out of her chair. Ada scrambled away to retch into a nearby wastebasket. Polly stood with a hand clasped over her mouth. Finn had gone a little pale. Arthur was looking at the entire display with a numb, if mildly impressed expression on his face.

Tommy only looked at the heads for a moment, and then his eyes were back on hers, nothing but relief and mild concern in them. Lucy was able to meet his gaze for only a moment before dropping her eyes away, instead shooting a glare of contempt around the office that she fixed pointedly onto Linda for a long moment.

That’s what I do for this company.

Satisfied that she’d gotten the message across, she turned her gaze away from all of them. Still clutching the empty, blood and rainwater soaked bag in one hand, she rounded and went for the stairs, climbing them hastily and ducking into the bedroom she was sharing with Tommy.

Tossing the bag away into the wastebasket, she groaned quietly to herself, rubbing the heels of her hands into her eyes. She suddenly very badly wanted a cup of tea or a glass of whiskey, but she couldn’t exactly go back downstairs after such a marvelous display.

Her mind was beginning to catch up with the rest of her. And with that, came an intensity to the trembling in her palms and a heavy exhaustion in her bones. It made her both feel like she needed to move about to dispel the shaky energy inside of her, and lie still and rest for a few thousand years.

“Lucy?”

She jumped when the door was pushed cautiously open, just enough for Tommy to step inside and then close it behind him. He moved to her quickly, hands resting on her arms, looking her up and down, searching for anywhere that she might have been hurt.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. I didn’t…I barely even got a scratch. Just a little shaky, now.” A shudder went through her, and his grip on her tightened. “I…” she stuttered, staring at the center of his chest, then forced herself to look up into his face. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have just run off like that…”

“Hey, hey, no, it’s…it’s fine,” he touched her cheek. “I’m just glad you’re alright,” he cracked a small smile, eyes flickering with fond amusement. “I think you made your point down there.”

She let out a shaky laugh. “You think?”

“Mhm. Everyone remembers how terrifying you are.”

She sniffed, and he hugged her. Lucy’s eyes closed in relief at the familiar scent of him surrounding her, his chest warm where her cheek squished against him. Locking her arms around his middle, she hugged him back.

“Terrifying, hm?” she mused, craning her head up to look at him. “Does that include you?”

“Oh, yes,” he drew her in closer with a mischievous, cheeky grin. “You could almost say that I’m scared stiff.”

She almost choked. “That’s…that’s the worst joke you’ve ever made…”

He chuckled and kissed her temple, giving her another squeeze.

“I am sorry,” she added, more seriously after another moment. “Both for going out to deal with Alessio on my own and for leaving you to deal with Linda by yourself. I just…” she trailed off, biting her lip. Tommy raised an eyebrow.

“Wanted to prove that you could do it?” he suggested.

“Maybe? I don’t know. I keep feeling like I could be doing more to help.”

“You help plenty.”

“Sometimes I feel like I’m a little useless. She wasn’t wrong, after all,” her voice dropped. “I do just end up following you around a lot of the time.”

His brows pinched, expression changing as if the mere suggestion was the most absurd thing he had ever heard. “You’re not useless.”

She shrugged, lowering her eyes. He touched her chin, tilting it up until she was looking in stern blue eyes.

“You’re not,” he insisted. “I mean it. I don’t know what I’d do without you. And not just ‘cos I love you.” His expression was hard and unwavering. “You’re important to this company.”

She flattened her palm on his chest, rubbing up and down gratefully. “Thank you,” she whispered. He kissed her forehead, and she leaned into him again. “Skudboat and Charlie both said you were worried…”

“Yeah,” he agreed. “I figured Alessio was where you had gone after you didn’t come back right away.”

“You didn’t send Arthur or anyone to come drag me back kicking and screaming?”

“Oh, I thought about it,” she smiled at that, patting his chest affectionately. “But like I said, it was never an issue of me thinking that you couldn’t handle it…” he shrugged, and rested his forehead against hers. “I suppose I just want you with me as much as possible, these days.”

“I’m sorry…”

He rubbed her back, dropping a few kisses onto her shoulder. “It’s alright. You made it back in one piece. That’s all I care about,” he hesitated, and then, in a quieter voice, added, “just…don’t do it again, okay?”

“Okay,” she agreed. He kissed her, not an intensely deep kiss, but not exactly what she would call a chaste peck either.

“You did really well. Four Italians dead…and one of them a direct relative of Luca’s at that…he isn’t going to be happy. Even though I’m pretty sure you traumatized Linda a little with that stunt you pulled with the bag of heads.”

“Good. She deserved it.”

He chuckled. “You’re terrible.”

“You were thinking the same thing! Besides, I needed to remind everyone here that I haven’t lost my touch.”

He hid his grin against her neck, lips brushing across the sensitive skin. “Think that you’ve gotten things out of your system, now?”

She raised a disbelieving eyebrow when he pulled back to look at her, smiling roguishly. “Not even a little bit.”

He looked delighted. “You’re unhinged.”

Her hands shifted to rest at the nape of his neck, pulling his face down closer to hers. “You love it.”

“I do,” he concurred, the back of his hand stroking down her cheek before falling to rest on her hip before he dipped his head down to kiss her tenderly. “I really do.”

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