#acoustic signaller

[sw5w]

Don't Worry, We Have R2 with Us

STAR WARS EPISODE II: Attack of the Clones 00:31:03 - 00:31:08

[clairenatural]

spotify algorithm thinks that every gay song is the same genre and I get where they're coming from but good luck babe autoplaying after every sad gay song is jarring!!!

[factflick]

The Whispering Green: Unveiling the Hidden Conversations of Plants

Greetings, nature lovers and inquisitive souls! Ever pondered what secrets lie in the silent stance of a tree or the gentle sway of a flower? Prepare to be amazed, as we unravel the enigmatic world of plant communication, a realm where silence is not a lack of dialogue but a different language altogether. The Underground Social Network The Wood Wide Web: Imagine a bustling underground…

[bringthebiggergun]

I have become the victim of bot streaming and as such my numbers have been completely thrown off. A lot of my followers have been deleted and my songs have been taken of multiple playlists because of this.

If you could like, follow, share, reblog this post and stream my music I would be eternally grateful.

Though it is not much these streams do help me a lot.

Thank you guys for the continued support as always and I will be back at you with more tunes as soon as this is all sorted.

Thank you!

Riley

[w1w2]

Can I request for Yn surprise Sana in last day of misamo concert promotion . Tnx

Encore of Love

Minatozaki Sana x Fem!Reader

Word Count: ca. 4,5k

Synopsis: Reader surprises her girlfriend Sana during Misamo's final concert at Kyocera Dome.

Notes: My first request! *kicking my feet and giggling* I'm not completely satisfied with this, but I hope you’ll enjoy it!

English isn’t my first language so I apologize in advance for any mistakes.

♡ Enjoy! ♡

The grand Kyocera Dome hummed with electric anticipation, a living, breathing entity alive with the chatter of tens of thousands of ONCEs who had gathered for Misamo’s final concert of the HAUTE COUTURE promotions. The sprawling venue, renowned for its iconic architecture and exceptional acoustics, was transformed into a dazzling world of light and color, each corner meticulously designed to reflect the elegance and energy of Misamo.

Banners bearing images of Mina, Sana, and Momo adorned every available surface, their radiant smiles seemingly watching over the crowd. Outside, vendors sold exclusive merchandise, lightsticks, posters, and limited-edition concert wear, all of which fans clutched tightly as they shuffled into the arena. The faint sound of music seeped through the walls, further heightening the excitement.

Backstage, the mood was just as electric, albeit tinged with nervous energy. The members of Misamo were in the final stages of their preparation. Stylists fluttered around them, adding last-minute touches to their already impeccable hair and makeup. Mina reviewed her choreography with the precision of a seasoned professional, her calm demeanor a steadying force amidst the chaos. Momo bounced on the balls of her feet, her vibrant energy filling the room as she hyped herself up for the performance.

And then there was Sana, who was the heart of the group tonight. She stood near the mirror, adjusting the intricate details of her sparkling outfit, a mix of glittering silver and pastel hues. Her eyes shimmered with a mixture of excitement and focus as she practiced her warm-up routines. Yet, beneath her radiant smile, a hint of something softer lingered, a yearning.

Sana’s thoughts drifted momentarily to Y/N. It wasn’t unusual for her to miss Y/N before a big performance, but tonight felt different. The culmination of the Misamo second mini album promotions was a milestone, one she’d poured her heart into, and the absence of her partner left a subtle void. The phone call they’d shared earlier replayed in her mind.

“Baby, I wish I could be there…” Y/N’s voice had sounded warm but hurried, laced with a vague excuse that Sana couldn’t quite decipher.

“It’s okay,” Sana had replied, masking her disappointment. “I know you’re busy. Just… don’t forget to watch the stream, okay?”

“Of course,” Y/N had reassured her, her voice softening. “You’ll be amazing, I know it. I’ll call you right after.”

Back in the venue, Sana shook the thought away. There was no room for distractions now. She had to give her all for the fans who had supported them every step of the way. Yet, as she headed towards the stage, a small voice in her heart whispered, I wish you were here.

Meanwhile, in the audience, hidden among the crowd, a figure sat quietly in the shadows. Clad in a hoodie, a mask, and a baseball cap pulled low over their eyes, Y/N kept her head down, careful not to attract any attention. She gripped her lightstick tightly, heart pounding with anticipation and nerves.

Just a little bit longer, Y/N thought, stealing a glance at the stage where the preparations were in full swing. The plan she’d meticulously crafted over the past few weeks was set in motion. All she needed now was perfect timing.

In the distance, the roaring chants of the crowd swelled, echoing through the dome as the stage lights dimmed, signaling that the concert was about to begin. The countdown had started, not just for Misamo, but for the surprise that would light up Sana’s heart.

It hadn’t been easy, pulling off a gesture like this. There had been countless sleepless nights, a relentless travel schedule, and the constant fear of slipping up and giving herself away. But Y/N knew it would all be worth it when Sana finally saw what she had planned. As the lights danced across the stage, she allowed her thoughts to wander back to the whirlwind of planning that had led her to this very moment.

Few hours earlier Y/N paced back and forth in her hotel room, phone pressed to her ear. Her chest tightened with both guilt and excitement as Sana’s voice came through, soft and loving despite the distance between them.

“Baby, you sound exhausted,” Sana said, her tone tinged with concern. “Have you been eating properly? Sleeping enough?”

Y/N smiled despite herself, Sana’s caring nature always finding a way to melt her heart. She glanced at the clock, calculating the hours until she would see her girlfriend. Not long now, she thought, biting her lip to suppress the excitement bubbling inside her.

“I’m fine, love,” Y/N replied, her voice steady though her heart raced. “Work has been hectic, that’s all. I promise I’ll call you later tonight, okay? I have to go now.”

A faint pause came from the other end. “Oh… okay. Just don’t overwork yourself, alright? I’ll miss you tonight.”

Y/N’s throat tightened. She hated being vague with Sana, but the surprise was worth it. “I’ll miss you too. You’re going to be amazing tonight. I love you.”

“I love you too,” Sana said softly before the line disconnected.

With a sigh of relief, Y/N dropped onto the bed, her mind racing through the intricate plan she had spent weeks coordinating. This wasn’t just about showing up at the concert; it was about making a statement, proving to Sana just how much she meant to her.

Step One: Learning the Choreography

Y/N’s first challenge was mastering the choreography for the encore medley, a feat she had never attempted before. Dancing wasn’t her forte, but she was determined to nail every move.

Under the guidance of Misamo’s choreographer, she practiced tirelessly whenever her schedule allowed. Late nights in the dance studio became a ritual, her muscles sore and her body aching, but the thought of Sana’s smile kept her going.

“She’s going to freak out when she sees you up there,” Momo had teased during one of Y/N’s secret rehearsals.

“You think so?” Y/N asked, wiping sweat from her forehead.

“Absolutely,” Mina chimed in, offering Y/N a bottle of water. “But you’ll have to keep it a secret until then. Sana’s like a radar when it comes to you.”

Y/N grinned, her determination hardening. “I’ll make it worth it.”

Step Two: The Flowers and Letter

Next on the list was preparing Sana’s favorite bouquet, an arrangement of pastel pink and white peonies, accented with delicate sprigs of baby’s breath. Y/N had spent hours researching florists in Osaka to ensure the bouquet would be perfect. Alongside it, she penned a handwritten letter, pouring her heart into every word.

Dear Sana,

I’ve missed more than just your concerts. I’ve missed you. I’m so proud of everything you’ve accomplished, and I can’t wait to tell you just how much you mean to me tonight.

You’ve been my light, even when I’ve been far away. I hope this little surprise makes you feel as loved as you make me feel every single day.

Love, Y/N.

She folded the letter carefully, slipping it into an envelope adorned with a small heart sticker.

Step Three: Gaining Permission

Convincing the managers to allow her on stage had been a delicate process. Misamo’s schedule was packed, and every second of the concert was tightly planned. Thankfully, Mina and Momo had pulled a few strings, vouching for Y/N’s commitment and the sentimental significance of her gesture.

“We promise she won’t disrupt the flow,” Momo had assured the managers with her signature cheeky grin.

“Just think of it as an extra special encore for the fans,” Mina added diplomatically.

Reluctantly, the managers agreed, giving Y/N clearance to join the stage during the closing part.

Step Four: The Disguise

On the night of the concert, Y/N’s final task was to blend in with the crowd unnoticed. She donned a simple black hoodie, paired with jeans and sneakers. A baseball cap and mask completed her disguise. As she entered the arena, she felt a thrill of nervous energy.

Y/N pulled back from her thoughts as the fans around her were buzzing with excitement, waving lightsticks and chanting Misamo members names. Y/N sat near the back, where she could watch the first half of the show without drawing attention to herself. She clutched her lightstick tightly, her heart pounding as the lights dimmed and the concert began.

For now, she was just another fan in the crowd. But soon, she would take the stage, and Sana would know exactly how much she was loved.

The stage, an intricate masterpiece of dazzling LED panels and towering floral arrangements, pulsed with vivid colors as the opening notes of Misamo’s first song reverberated through the air.

Mina, Sana, and Momo emerged from behind the massive screens, their synchronized steps and radiant smiles igniting deafening cheers from the audience. Their outfits sparkled under the stage lights, sleek designs that exuded both elegance and charm.

From the moment they stepped onto the stage, Misamo radiated effortless grace and energy, their performances honed to perfection. Mina’s moves were fluid and precise, every gesture executed with the poise of a professional. Momo’s energy lit up the stage, her sharp, dynamic dance style captivating the crowd. And Sana—

Sana shone brightest of all.

Her soft features were illuminated by the glow of the stage lights, her eyes shimmering as she sang and danced with effortless charm. Her radiant smile, the one that could light up even the darkest corners of a room, was ever-present, and yet… something was missing.

As Sana twirled across the stage during “Marshmallow”, the fans could see nothing but joy, but there was a subtle, fleeting shadow in her expression, a quiet longing. She gave her all to the performance, yet there was a small space in her heart that felt incomplete.

Hidden in the crowd, Y/N's eyes never leaving Sana. Her heart swelled with pride and affection as she watched her girlfriend perform with such grace and confidence. But she also noticed the faint longing in Sana’s gaze, and it only made her more determined to make her surprise unforgettable.

Y/N clutched her lightstick tightly, her fingers trembling slightly from the mixture of nerves and excitement. “You’re incredible, Sana,” she murmured under her breath, the words swallowed by the thunderous applause around her.

As Misamo transitioned seamlessly into “Identity”, the energy in the room reached a fever pitch. The camera operators expertly captured every moment, occasionally panning across the audience. On one such pan, the lens lingered briefly on a hooded figure seated discreetly near the back. Y/N froze for a split second but quickly turned her face away, pretending to adjust her cap.

The fans, blissfully unaware of the figure’s true identity, simply assumed she was another ONCE enjoying the show.

Y/N, however, felt the weight of the moment. Her chest tightened with anticipation as she waited for "New Look", her cue to slip backstage and put the next phase of her plan into action. Until then, she allowed herself to enjoy the performance, a proud smile tugging at her lips as she whispered to herself, “Just wait, Sana. I’ll make tonight unforgettable.”

The thunderous applause from “New Look” had barely subsided when the stage lights dimmed, casting the arena into a hushed anticipation. The opening notes of “Behind the Curtain” began to echo through the dome, a hauntingly beautiful melody that always left the audience spellbound.

This was Y/N’s moment.

While the crowd cheered in unison, Y/N slipped away from her seat and made her way through the staff entrance, her heart pounding. The plan was in motion, and there was no turning back now. A backstage crew member ushered her into a small dressing room where a coordinated outfit awaited her.

Y/N changed quickly, adrenaline coursing through her veins as she tightened the laces on her performance shoes. One last glance in the mirror revealed a nervous but determined woman. She took a deep breath, clutching the bouquet and letter she’d prepared.

“You’ve got this,” she whispered to herself before handing the bouquet to a staff member to bring to the stage later.

As the first song of the encore was ending Y/N joined the backup dancers lining up behind the screens for the encore medley.

Sana, alongside Mina and Momo, twirled across the stage with radiant energy, their synchronization flawless as they transitioned into the last part of the encore. Her playful expressions and smooth moves captivated the audience, drawing cheers so loud they vibrated through the air.

She was too immersed in the performance to notice at first.

When Y/N stepped onto the stage among the backup dancers, blending seamlessly into the choreography, she couldn’t help but smile at how surreal the moment felt. Each step she had rehearsed so many times now felt automatic, her focus entirely on Sana.

The crowd didn’t seem to recognize Y/N right away, though a few murmurs rippled through the audience as some fans noticed a new face on stage.

It wasn’t until the "Wah Wah Wah" part, when Sana turned to interact with the dancers, her gaze landed on Y/N.

For a split second, Sana froze mid-step, her eyes widening in disbelief. Her usual polished composure faltered as her radiant smile transformed into a look of pure shock.

“Y/N?” she mouthed silently, her voice drowned out by the music.

Y/N flashed her a small, playful wink before continuing the routine. Sana quickly recovered, her movements a little lighter now, as if she’d been infused with a burst of joy.

The audience, unaware of their connection, erupted into cheers at Sana’s visibly delighted reaction. Fans began speculating among themselves, sensing there's something more special then just friendship between two girls.

As the medley ended, the lights dimmed again, and the stage was briefly quiet. The members of Misamo moved toward the front of the stage to thank their fans, their microphones already in hand. But before they could begin, the spotlight shifted to Y/N, who stepped forward from the group of dancers, clutching the bouquet of flowers.

The crowd gasped in unison as Y/N pulled off a mic, lowered her head slightly, and began to speak into the arena’s microphone.

“Hi, everyone,” Y/N began, her voice steady despite the overwhelming mix of nerves and love. She turned her gaze to Sana, who stood frozen, her hand pressed to her chest as her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

“I wanted to take this moment to say how incredibly proud I am of you girls. Especially you, Sana. I’m so proud of everything you’ve done, everything you’ve achieved. Even though I couldn’t be there for most of this journey, I’ve been cheering for you every step of the way. You light up every room you walk into, and you’ve been my light too. I just wanted you to know how much you mean to me.”

Sana’s tears finally spilled over as she stepped closer, her radiant smile trembling with emotion. The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, their phones lighting up the arena as they captured the heartfelt moment.

Y/N held out the bouquet, which Sana accepted with trembling hands. Pulling Y/N into a tight embrace, she whispered, just loud enough for Y/N to hear, “I love you so much.”

“I love you too,” Y/N murmured back, her voice cracking slightly with emotion.

As the cheers grew louder, Sana and Y/N stepped back together, still holding hands, their smiles beaming brighter than any spotlight. Rest of the Misamo joined them moments later, Mina and Momo grinning mischievously as they teased Sana for tearing up on stage.

The group waved to the crowd one last time before disappearing backstage, the echoes of the audience’s applause following them as they left the stage together.

The backstage area buzzed with post-show energy. Crew members congratulated each other, Misamo’s managers offered heartfelt praise, and staff snapped photos to commemorate the final concert. In the midst of it all, Y/N found herself pulled into hugs from both Mina and Momo, their teasing smiles already giving away their plans to poke fun at her.

“You really pulled it off,” Momo said, grinning as she leaned against the dressing room doorframe. “I was a little worried you’d trip on stage during ‘Marshmallow,’ part but you nailed it!”

Mina nodded in agreement, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. “We’ve been keeping this secret for weeks, and honestly? Watching Sana’s face when she realized it was you made it all worth it.”

“Her jaw practically hit the floor,” Momo added with a laugh, glancing at Sana, who was trying (and failing) not to blush. “The fans noticed too. You might’ve just become the most iconic backup dancer in Misamo history.”

“Stop it, you two,” Sana huffed, though the blush on her cheeks deepened. She turned to Y/N with a small pout, her tone softening. “You really had to involve these two in your grand scheme?”

Y/N shrugged, feigning innocence. “I needed backup for the backup plan. And I’d say it worked out pretty well, wouldn’t you?”

Sana rolled her eyes playfully but couldn’t hide the faint blush creeping up her cheeks. “Stop teasing me,” she whined, though her soft smile betrayed just how happy she was.

Y/N, emboldened by the lighthearted banter, chimed in, “Come on, it was worth it just to see you cry on stage.”

Sana narrowed her eyes, pretending to be offended. “I wasn’t crying. It was… emotional perspiration!”

“Right,” Y/N said with a laugh, reaching out to take Sana’s hand. The group dissolved into laughter, the camaraderie between them shining brighter than ever.

After a flurry of photos with the crew and staff, the four of them retreated to Misamo’s dressing room. Momo flopped dramatically onto the couch while Mina carefully began removing her stage accessories.

Sana and Y/N sat side by side, their fingers intertwined as if they couldn’t bear to let go. Despite the teasing, Mina and Momo exchanged knowing glances, quietly slipping out of the room to give the couple a rare moment of privacy.

As they left the venue later that night, the streets of Osaka were alive with fans lingering in the afterglow of the concert. Y/N and Sana walked hand in hand, their steps slow and unhurried as they basked in each other’s presence.

“You know,” Sana began, her voice soft, “I didn’t realize how much I needed you here tonight until I saw you on that stage. It felt like… everything was perfect.”

Y/N squeezed her hand gently. “I hated missing so much of your promotion. I felt like I wasn’t there for you, and I wanted to make up for that. You deserve to know how loved you are, not just by ONCEs, but by me.”

Sana leaned her head against Y/N’s shoulder as they continued walking. “You don’t have to make up for anything. Just being here tonight was more than enough.”

“Well, I’m glad I made you cry anyway,” Y/N teased, earning a light shove from Sana.

Later that night, the warm glow of the hotel room’s ambient lighting created an intimate cocoon around Y/N and Sana. They sat cross-legged on the plush carpet, a late-night dinner spread out between them. The faint hum of the city outside was the only sound beyond their laughter.

Sana picked at a piece of sushi, giggling as she recounted the encore’s highlights. “Did you see Momo trying to suppress her laugh when the confetti cannon misfired? She almost tripped over Mina during the turn.”

Y/N chuckled, leaning back on her hands as she watched Sana relive the moment, her face animated and glowing with happiness. “I did. But somehow you managed to keep it together and still look flawless. Seriously, how do you do that?”

Sana shrugged with mock modesty, a playful glint in her eyes. “Years of practice. You pick up a thing or two when the cameras are always on you.”

Their lighthearted conversation slowed as they finished their food, settling into a comfortable silence. Sana leaned against the edge of the bed, her head tilted slightly as she admired the skyline from the room’s window. Y/N, meanwhile, shifted nervously, her heart racing. She reached into her bag, her fingers brushing against the small velvet box she’d kept hidden all evening.

Clearing her throat, Y/N finally spoke. “Hey, um… I have something for you.”

Sana turned to her, curious. “What is it?”

Y/N hesitated, her cheeks tinged with the faintest blush. “Just… open it.” She handed Sana the box with a shy smile, her palms slightly sweaty despite the calm demeanor she tried to project.

Sana’s brows knit together in surprise as she took the box, her fingers gently traced Graff logo on the box, carefully lifting the lid. Her breath hitched when her eyes landed on the delicate diamond necklace nestled inside. The necklace sparkled even under the soft hotel lighting, its intricate floral design exuding timeless elegance.

“Y/N…” Sana’s voice wavered, her fingertips brushing lightly over the diamonds. “This is… it’s stunning. But… this is way too much. I can’t—”

“You can, and you will,” Y/N interrupted, her tone gentle yet firm. She shifted closer, taking Sana’s free hand in hers. “Because you’re worth everything to me. This necklace, it’s not just a gift. It’s a reminder that no matter how far apart we are, I’m always thinking of you. You mean more to me than I could ever put into words, and I want you to have something that shows just a fraction of that.”

Sana’s eyes brimmed with tears, her lips quivering as she tried to find the right words. She shook her head softly, a smile breaking through the emotion. “You’re so ridiculous sometimes, you know that?”

Y/N grinned, brushing her thumb across the back of Sana’s hand. “Ridiculous in the best way, I hope.”

“In every way,” Sana whispered, her voice barely audible as she leaned forward, pressing her forehead to Y/N’s.

Y/N gently took the necklace from the box and moved behind Sana, her fingers deftly clasping it around her neck. The cool weight of the diamonds settled against Sana’s collarbone, glinting softly in the light. Y/N adjusted it slightly, leaning back to admire how it looked.

“Perfect,” Y/N murmured, her voice filled with warmth.

Sana turned around slowly, her face inches from Y/N’s. “It’s beautiful,” she said, her voice hushed. “But you… you’re the one who makes me feel like the luckiest person in the world.”

Y/N’s cheeks warmed, but she couldn’t help the soft chuckle that escaped her. “I think that makes two of us.”

Without another word, Sana leaned in, capturing Y/N’s lips in a soft, lingering kiss. It was tender, unhurried, and filled with all the unspoken love between them. Y/N cupped Sana’s cheek gently, her thumb tracing the curve of her jaw as they shared the quiet moment.

When they finally pulled back, Sana rested her head on Y/N’s shoulder, her fingers tracing absent patterns on Y/N’s arm. “Thank you,” she whispered. “For tonight. For everything.”

Y/N pressed a kiss to the top of her head, her heart swelling with love. “Always.”

Later, as they lay curled up on the bed, Sana’s head resting on Y/N’s shoulder, the necklace caught the faint moonlight streaming through the window. 

The soft glow of Sana’s phone illuminated the room as she scrolled through the TWICE group chat, her head nestled comfortably against Y/N’s shoulder. The two of them were snuggled under the blankets, their legs tangled together, exhaustion from the long day settling into their bones. But neither seemed ready to fall asleep just yet.

“Look at this,” Sana murmured, tilting her phone so Y/N could see the screen. The chat was alive with messages, the names of TWICE’s members lighting up with playful banter.

Momo: The way Sana looked at Y/N… iconic. Mina: Her jaw literally dropped. I should’ve recorded it from the stage instead of waiting for fan cams. Nayeon: Sana, if you don’t marry her soon, I’m calling dibs. Jihyo: Nayeon, stop stealing people’s girlfriends! Chaeyoung: Sana, can you ask Y/N to teach us the choreography? She’s a natural. Dahyun: The fans are losing it! Y/N is officially a Twice bias now. Tzuyu: You mean Sana’s bias.

Sana giggled softly, hiding her face in Y/N’s neck. “They’re relentless.”

Y/N laughed, her hand gently running through Sana’s hair. “I think Nayeon unnie might actually be serious about that marriage comment.”

“Not a chance,” Sana said with a playful pout, shifting to look up at Y/N. “You’re mine.”

Y/N smiled down at her, their eyes meeting in the dim light. “Always.”

Sana’s phone buzzed again, but this time it wasn’t the group chat. It was a flood of notifications from social media. Curiosity piqued, she tapped into one of the trending hashtags. Sure enough, the internet was ablaze with clips and fan edits of Y/N’s surprise appearance at the concert.

Fans gushed about Y/N’s unexpected presence, praising her dedication and swooning over Sana’s emotional reaction. The hashtags #YNSanaSurprise and #BestFriendGoals trended worldwide, with tweets and videos pouring in by the second.

“Look at this one,” Sana said, pointing to a video compilation of their moment on stage, set to a romantic ballad.

The caption read: “Y/N and Sana’s friendship goals… or something more? Either way, we’re obsessed!”

Y/N chuckled. “I guess the secret’s out, huh?”

Sana locked her phone and placed it on the nightstand, turning her full attention back to Y/N. “Let them guess,” she said softly, her fingers tracing small circles on Y/N’s arm. “As long as we know the truth, that’s all that matters.”

Y/N leaned down to kiss her forehead. “And the truth is, I love you more than anything, Sana. Today, tomorrow, forever.”

Sana’s smile was radiant, even in the dark. “Forever sounds perfect.”

They lay there in comfortable silence, the steady rhythm of their breathing syncing together. Outside, the city lights sparkled, a reminder of the bustling world beyond their little sanctuary. But in that moment, there was only them.

As the first light of dawn peeked through the curtains, painting the room in soft hues of gold and pink, Y/N tightened her hold on Sana, their bodies wrapped in a cocoon of warmth and comfort. Their breaths intertwined, their hearts beating as one, creating a silent melody that spoke louder than any words ever could.

No matter what the future held, grueling schedules, endless flights, or the watchful eyes of the world, they knew their love would endure. It wasn’t just a fleeting moment of happiness, but a steady force that grounded them, a light they could always turn to even on the darkest days.

Y/N placed a gentle kiss on the top of Sana’s head, her voice a soft whisper in the stillness of the morning. “We’ll take on everything together, no matter what. You and me, always.”

Sana stirred slightly, her lips curving into a small, sleepy smile as she murmured back, “Always.”

[crheativity]

SUMMARY: Someone's picked a fight with Prefect! But he isn't going to let anyone hurt you anymore. Not on his watch. Part 1! Part 2 with Vil and Silver can be found here.

WARNINGS: Uhhh Prefect (you) gets hit in the face & your nose bleeds. also blackmail.

COMMENTS: I actually wanted to write this firstly for some of my moots! I was gonna write more of their favourites but it accidentally got too long to put in one post, so I'm planning on making a part 2 tomorrow. Anyway, @azulashengrottospiano and @i-like-forgs, enjoy!!

It must be raining.

You were just out in a storm. That’s all.

That would explain the crack of thunder that collided with your face and gave you a throbbing headache. The warm liquid blurring your vision and dripping out of your mouth and nose was just the rain, not some unholy mix of blood and tears. The chills that froze you where you stood was just humidity and the cold, not adrenaline and raw fear.

And yet, even with your desperate brain trying to come up with some reasonable explanation, the only thunderstorm you could see in front of you was a student you couldn’t recognise. Not with your head pounding like this. Not with the thunder in your ears.

There was something about the boy that scared you. That wasn’t uncommon - this school was full of terrifyingly promising mages. But the scariest thing wasn’t how he wielded his magical pen with deadly accuracy, or how strong he so evidently was.

It was just how much he seemed to be enjoying the mix of horror and pain, of blood and tears, that must have been so evidently and delicately splashed across your face.

His smile twisted as he raised his pen again, something in those cruel eyes of his setting off alarm signals in your aching head.

“This’ll teach you not to meddle where you don’t belong.”

The pen glowed, pure magic surrounding it as he prepared to shoot. His sadistic eyes were alight with entertainment. He knew what he was about to do. He didn’t care.

You squeeze your eyes shut and braced for the lightning.

A chuckle and an arm wrapping around your waist made your eyes snap back open.

“C’mon babe, gotta run!”

Pulling you by the waist, the boy broke into a run. You stumbled for a minute, but soon followed after. He released your waist but gently took your hand, tugging you along, urging you to be faster.

A stray spell flew between the two of you.

The boy looked back, an uncharacteristic flash of annoyance creasing his brow.

He caught your eye and winked.

“Split card!”

A second boy seemed to appear next to you. He was an exact copy of the first - the same stylishly ruffled orange hair, the same piercing emerald eyes, the same practiced, perfect smile.

The same red diamond under his right eye.

“Hey, keep ‘em busy for me!”

“You got it, king.” The second boy - the product of Cater Diamond’s unique magic - winked at you. He planted his feet, whirled around and started to cast spell after spell at your assailant.

The real Cater Diamond pulled you along, into the school building. Together you ran, through corridor after corridor, passing empty classroom after empty classroom.

Finally, he slowed to a stop in front of a classroom you’d never seen before. Glancing around and putting his finger in front of his mouth in a shushing motion, he grinned at you.

“In here.”

He held open the door for you, shutting it behind the both of you as you looked around. There were all different kinds of instruments and sheet music scattered around, along with an abandoned satchel. You saw at least one set of drums, along with two electric guitars and one acoustic, amps, even some microphones and music stands.

You supposed this was the Light Music Club’s room.

Cater winced, scratching his nape. “My bad, forgot it was so messy here. Whoever that was won’t find us here, though!” He grinned at you, his smile fading when he noticed the condition you were in.

He took both of your hands and, holding you as though you were made of glass, led you over to an amp. He gently pushed you onto it. It was not the most comfortable thing to sit on, but that was not what you were focusing on.

How could it be?

Cater Diamond was standing in front of you. He glowed like the sun wherever he went, commanding your attention and leaving you blinded.

If he ever called you, you would gladly follow.

The light faded a little as he let go of your hands and stepped away. He walked over to the discarded bag on the ground and started rummaging through it.

“There’s gotta be something… aha, #jackpot!” Pulling out a packet of tissues, he made his way back over to you. Pulling out a tissue, he smiled hesitantly. “Do you mind if I…?”

You blinked. You had forgotten about the pounding in your head, which started to come back with a vengeance. Putting one hand to the side of your head, you gestured for him to go ahead.

He stood just in front of you, one hand cupping your face, the other gently trying to clean as much of the blood off as possible. He didn’t say anything as he went about his work, but there was a look in his eyes as he worked. One filled with kindness and empathy, soft enough to make your heart skip a beat.

He stepped back and, crossing his arms as though to survey his handiwork, he nodded satisfactorily. “The blood on your shirt will be hard to wash off, but the bleeding from your nose has stopped.” He gave you a strained - albeit gentle - smile.

You nodded and placed your hands in your lap, studying them instead of meeting the gentle emerald eyes you could feel searching you.

“Prefect…” he started, the hesitancy in his voice evident. He cautiously sat next to you and you glanced up at him. “Is- are you okay?”

You closed your eyes and leaned into him. He startled a little at your touch, then wrapped his arm around you. “I am now.”

“My my, what have we here?”

“What… the hell?!”

That voice… wait, it couldn’t be-

Blinking rapidly to rid your eyes of the tears, you registered three things.

First, and most obvious, was that the thunderstorm was being contained.

Easily.

I mean, the new arrival held him as easily as a newborn kitten for goodness’ sake. He looked almost as twisted as your assailant, with pure glee in his yellow and olive-brown eyes, his wide grin revealing sharp, pointed teeth. He was evidently enjoying the student’s squirming.

“Got him! I wanna squeeze him ‘til he pops~”

The second thing you registered was the hand resting on your shoulder.

Looking up, you noticed another boy, practically a mirror image of the first. One hand was resting protectively on your shoulder, his other hiding his smile. He looked a lot calmer than the first, but his eyes - the exact opposite of his brother’s - betrayed him. The air around him was crackling with excited energy.

“Not yet, Floyd. I believe that Azul has something he wishes to say to him first.”

“Boo. Hurry up.” Wait.

Azul?

Looking around, you finally registered the third - and final - new arrival. Azul Ashengrotto, the head of the Mostro Lounge, was strolling towards the boy. There was something about him that was different. His curly hair caught the sun, making the silvery colour feel akin to pure, vivid white, as though it was glowing. From this angle, you couldn’t see the face you’d studied so many times - his enchanting grey eyes, or the beauty mark just below his mouth.

There was nothing physically different. So what was wrong?

Ah, that was it. He was angry.

“Do not fret, Floyd.” He stopped in front of the boy, directly in front of you. “You’ll get your chance soon enough.”

“Wh-… what the hell is wrong with you?!” The student shouted, twisting and scratching at Floyd’s arm in a desperate attempt to free himself.

“Wanna find out?” Floyd squeezed the boy tighter and he yelped.

“No! No thank you!”

“Well, at least you have some manners.” Azul drawled.

“What do you want from me?”

“This won’t take long.” Azul fished out some photos from his pocket and showed him. “Do you know who this is?”

“H-… how did you-?!”

“Unimportant.” He waved off the question as though it was simply one about the weather. “However, I believe that it would be in your best interests to leave the Prefect alone now.” “Hah… you’re trying to blackmail me?”

“Blackmail is such an ugly word. I am simply offering you a way out.”

“A way out?” The boy scoffed.

“Certainly. I believe if your mother saw these photos, you would be in a great deal of trouble, would you not? If I am correct, you promised her you’d be on your best behaviour this year. After all, one more incident could be enough for an expulsion, with a track record such as yours.”

“Hey-!”

“It’d be a shame for the school to lose such a promising mage. How about you meet with me in the VIP room tomorrow around 4 o’ clock tomorrow? We can discuss things in more… detail… then.”

The boy glowered but said nothing.

Azul sighed. “I’m a man of my word. As long as no harm will come to the prefect, no harm will come to you in the meantime.”

“Fine.” The boy spat.

“Very well, we have a deal then.” Azul took a step back. “Let him go, Floyd.”

“But he hurt Shrimpy! I don’t wanna~”

“Floyd. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future.”

Floyd complained loudly, but let the boy go. He smoothed his jacket, glaring daggers at you and Azul in turn. Then he whirled around and stormed off.

Three pairs of eyes now turned to you.

You blinked in return.

“Shrimpyyy~!” Floyd bounded over to you and squeezed you in a rib-cracking hug. “Did the bad man hurt you? Don’t worry, you’re with us now, Shrimpy!”

“Give them some air, Floyd.” Jade said and tugged Floyd’s shoulder, attempting to pull him away from you.

“Nooo-“

“Are you alright, Prefect?” Azul asked. He sounded worried.

Floyd and Jade exchanged conspiratorial smirks and Floyd let you go. There was blood on his jacket from where your head had rested against him.

The realness of what just happened began to set in. The pounding sensation in your head came back with a vengeance. “I-…” the world began to spin around you, and Azul grabbed you, panic in his eyes. You felt your legs buckle and he caught you smoothly. “Sorry- I just-“

“It’s quite alright. I will stay with you as long as you need.” Azul reassured you, although you didn’t - couldn’t - miss the quiver in his voice or the pink dusting his face. He pulled out a handkerchief and put it to your face. You took it and applied pressure to your nose, angling your head downwards in order to stop the bleeding, as Azul hesitantly rubbed patterns into your back to help you feel better. The sensation made you feel warm.

With a smile, you realised it wasn’t storming anymore. The sun had finally come out.

♥Thank you for reading!! I hope you enjoyed it!!♥

[butlervibesonly]

𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 || Austin Butler

• Summary : Austin is playing a guitar, trying to memorize some of Elvis' songs as he's preparing for the role, and he wants his Y/n to try it, too.

• Pairing : Austin Butler x female! reader

• Warnings : fluff, kissing, pet names¿

The glow of the late afternoon sun streams through the windows as you sit on the couch, listening to Austin play the guitar. He's learning some new Elvis Presley songs, due to his upcoming movie, where he plays him.

He sits on the floor of your living room, and you watch his fingers stroking each string. You can't hide your admiration to his talent - sometimes you even ask; Is there something this man can't do? And the answer is = probably not.

"Austin, baby, I want to try it too," slips out from your mouth. Austin stops playing, looking at you softly with his bright blue eyes. "You do?" he grins. You nod, and watch him pat his lap, signaling you to sit down.

The acoustic guitar rests awkwardly in your lap. He’s sitting behind you, his chest pressed on your back as he's holding the guitar with you. You, unfortunately can't see it, but his grin is all lighten up, happy to teach you.

“Alright, first thing’s first,” he says, leaning forward, watching from behind your shoulder, and gently adjusting your grip on the neck of the guitar. Austin's hands are warm as they guide your fingers into position. “You’re going to press down here for a G chord. Not too hard, you don’t want to strangle it—but firm enough to get a clean sound.”

You give it a try, strumming down the strings, but the sound that comes out is far from clean. Wincing, you turned your head to see Austin's face, but instead of laughing, he just smiles. “Hey, not bad for your first try! Lemme show you again.”

Austin shifts closer, wrapping his arms around you to place your hands properly. His chin almost rests on your shoulder, his voice low and steady as he murmurs instructions. “Relax your wrist a little,” he says, and you try again. This time, the chord rings out clearer.

“There you go, love!” he cheers softly, his joy contagious. You feel a sense of pride bubble up, but it’s hard to focus on the guitar when he’s so close, his warmth and steady encouragement making you feel more at ease.

For a while, he teaches you some more chords, almost playing the whole song. Your fingers are starting to ache, you find yourself laughing more than you thought you would. Every time you miss a string, he grins and teases you gently, “It’s not the guitar’s fault, you know,"

"I know! But my fingers ache so much already!" you try to sound offended, but in playful way of course. "Honey, how do you think Elvis could handle the whole shows, playing?" Austin laugh from behind you. "He also didn't complain that it hurt, otherwise he would have thrown the guitar away!"

You laughed at Austin's teasing, nudging him softly. "Unlike me, Elvis could play it. You can't compare me as a beginner to the king of rock n roll!"

Finally, after managing a shaky but recognizable version of the intro to Can't Help Falling In Love, you lean back into him with a laugh. “Okay, I’m not terrible,” you admit, and Austin laughs with you, setting his guitar aside, wrapping his arms around you.

“You’re better than I was on my first day,” he says, shifting you even closer, taking your hands in his. His thumbs gently rub over your fingertips, reddened from pressing down on the strings. “You’re a natural. And even if you weren’t, I’d still love this—getting to teach you something I love.”

There’s an unspoken softness in his voice as he whispers into your ear. “You make everything better, you know that? Even playing guitar feels more special when it’s with you.”

You smile, feeling your cheeks turn red. You move in his lap a little, finally looking in his eyes. This close, Austin's eyes were brightly blue like clear ocean water or almost diamonds. Your sight drops from his eyes to his cherry pink, full lips. And without hesitation you press your lips against his.

He doesn't pull away. Actually, his hand travels up on the back of your head to support you, his other hand still holding yours. Deepen the kiss, you cup his cheeks, as he held you close to him

When you eventually pull away, your head rests in the crook of his neck. “Guess I’ll just have to keep practicing with you, then.” you say, smiling frantically. “Good," Austin replies, leaning in to press a soft kiss to your forehead. “Because I’m not done teaching you yet..."

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Source: YouTube

I had so much fun writing this! This idea just randomly popped in my mind and I had to bring it "alive". I mean, I would give ANYTHING for him to teach me how to play guitar, I mean LOOK AT HIM!!! 😩PS. Hope y'all liked this!

[artifacts-and-arthropods]

The Common Whistling Moth: the males of this species produce a "whistling" sound to attract potential mates

The common whistling moth (Hecatesia fenestrata) is able to "whistle" with a set of castanet-like structures located on the leading edges of the forewings.

Above: the forewing of a male whistling moth, with the transparent "castanet" structure clearly visible

These unique structures are basically just curved, transparent patches of cuticle with a pleated/ridged texture and a knob-like protrusion; when the moth claps its wings together, the knob-like protrusion from one wing rubs up against the cuticle ridges on the opposite wing, and a distinctive "clicking-whistling" sound is produced.

Male whistling moths typically "whistle" during courtship rituals and territorial displays. In some cases, they will fly in circles around one another as they whistle competitively, in a behavior known as "buzz-bumping." As this article explains:

Only a few [noctuid moth species] have proved to use sound during courtship. Among these are males of the Australian whistling moths Hecatesia exultans, H. fenestrata and H. thyridion.

The signals function primarily in a mate-attraction mode. Females approach calling males and solicit copulations. The mating system of Hecatesia appears to be an example of lek polygyny. Males defend territories that lack resources or oviposition sites.

Above: female whistling moth

Male–male agonistic interactions are also mediated by acoustic signals. Males frequently approach males calling nearby, and territorial ‘buzz-bumping’ matches result in which vigorous calls are interspersed with attempts to butt the intruder.

H. thyridion and H. fenestrata have similar acoustically mediated mating systems. Males in these species call during special upwind zigzagging display flights over their territories. Instead of ‘buzz-bumping,’ territorial males participate in buzzing aerial ‘dogfights’ with intruding males.

The genus Hecatesia contains several different species of "whistling moth," all of which are endemic to Australia. Each species produces its own unique whistle; the exact social context/role of that behavior also differs slightly from one species to the next.

Sources & More Info:

Journal of Experimental Biology: 'Un chant d'appel amoureux': Acoustic Communication in Moths

Australian Lepidoptera: Hecatesia fenestrata

Field Guide to the Insects of Tasmania: Genus Hecatesia

Journal of Experimental Biology: Moths are not Silent, but Whisper Ultrasonic Courtship Songs

Communicative and Integrative Biology: Private Ultrasonic Whispering in Moths

[marimayscarlett]

'Reise Reise' turns 20 today 💿🎶

20 years from today, on the 27th of September 2004, Rammstein's fourth studio album 'Reise Reise' was released in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and several other countries. It was most likely named after the old saying "Reise, Reise!" as a signal for the sailors of a sailing ship to get up.

Recordings of this album took place in the El Cortijo Studio in Málaga, Spain, where the band gathered in November 2003. Producer for this record was once again Jacob Hellner, and a making of about this recording process and the band's time in Spain was released on the 'Völkerball' DVD in 2006. During interviews for this documentary, the bandmembers expressed that this recording session seemed to be more relaxed than the last ones, and thought about several alternative names for this album - Schneider liked the title "Rot", Flake rooted for "Nein", Paul thought about "Amerika" and "Amore" as titles, Olli liked "Reise Reise" and Richard, a bit clueles, refrained from making a suggestion. Till apparently wasn't asked or declined talking about his ideas. Documentary parts with english subtitles can be found here, here and here.

The album was originally planned as a double album, but this idea was ultimatly discarded. The following songs were recorded during the session for this album, but were used on 'Rosenrot' later: Rosenrot, Wo bist du, Mann gegen Mann, Zerstören, Ein Lied, Feuer und Wasser and Hilf mir. Additional demos exist for the following: Absinth, Eisenmann, Holz und Sonntag bei Omi.

The promotional photosession for this album was done by Olaf Heine and most likely was inspired by the movie "Falling down", starring Michael Douglas.

The cover for this album shows the outside of a aircraft's blackbox with the German imprint "Flugrekorder nicht öffnen" ("Do not open flight recorder") on it. Linked to this design, there is a hidden track before the first song on REISE, REISE - it can be heard on standard CD players by rewinding. It features radio messages (the black box recording) from the Boeing 747SR (Japan Airlines Flight 123), which crashed on August 12, 1985, killing 520 people. Up to now, it remains the deadliest single-aircraft crash in history. This dark aesthetic of all of this combined also suits the song "Dalai Lama" on the album. This song is based on the German ballad "Erlkönig", written in the 18th century by Goethe, and for this song the first instrumental tracks were written and finished for this album.

The limited digipack contained a picture from the above mentioned photoshoot.

The Japanese cover of the album is the same one that was later used for Rosenrot, a picture of the ice breaker USS Atka in the Antarctic from 1960.

As part of the promotion for 'Reise Reise', three additional CDs were published with interviews of the band members. CD 1 contained an interview with Till and Flake, CD2 with Olli and Paul and CD3 with Richard and Schneider. The linked videos contain the original soundtrack with the german interviews and a spoken english translation.

Regarding the success of this album: REISE, REISE reached number 1 in the album charts in seven countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Finland, Iceland, Estonia and Mexico). After the release of REISE, REISE, Billboard declared Rammstein to be the most successful German-speaking band internationally. The album achieved 1x silver, 3x gold and 6x platinum. The song 'Mein Teil' was nominated for a Grammy. All in all, Reise, Reise reached 47th place in the Top 50 album charts of 2005.

The Reise Reise tour started with one concert (September 30th 2004) at the Label showcase party "10 Jahre Motor" and marks the only acoustic concert the band has ever played. For the occasion, the band dressed up as East Berlin police women.

After that, three concerts at the Knaack club followed on the 11th, 12th and 13th of October, 2004, where the album was presented at fan club only concerts.

Two examples for tickets for the Reise Reise tour:

Sources: rammwiki, affenknecht, rammsteinworld, rammsteinblogcollection, metal-hammer, photo.sibnet

[ecstasyhighway]

You & I | E.Williams

chapter i

CW, ellie is a pervert here she watches the reader masturbate… there is smut towards the end guys (im not good at smut but i tried my best) masturbation (reader and ellie) , stalking, y/n is used

this might be straight cheese ngl…im not good at ts 😭 but enjoy ig

wc: 1.4k

read the prologue here ch 2

———————

“Hi! Hello”

A voice chimes from behind her, she turns around, and a lump forms in her throat.

it's…you.

Ellie quickly clears her throat and begins to talk, her eyes scanning your features. She is infatuated with you, you’re gorgeous, ethereal even…

“hi sorry how may I help you?”

“Yes, do you guys happen to have 21’s new album?”

you ask so sweetly, Ellie watches you speak, your oh-so-beautiful smile just making her want to fall to her knees. Ellie signals you to follow her, heading back to the rap section of the store, her eyes scan the shelves as she looks for the album, She reaches up and pulls out the ‘American Dream’ and hands it to you.

“This one?”

You smile and giggle a little, “Yes! this is exactly what I've been looking for… I couldn’t find it anywhere else I've looked all over thank you um…?” You trail off looking for a name tag, “..Ellie, thank you”

Ellie smiles, her face feeling warm, she knows she's red as fuck right now and her feeling embarrassed about it is just making her even more flustered “Y-yeah no problem, is that all? I can ring you up over here” She chuckles softly trying to cover the anxiety in her voice.

You and Ellie head towards the register, she rings you up and you hand her your card. Ellie examines your card trying to get your name, she needs to know, she knows nothing about you, just some things like you like 21 savage and Tyler. But that’s not nearly enough, she needs to know everything about you, things even you don’t know about yourself...

“y/n? That's a really pretty name” She smirks and takes a mental note of your first and last name, she will most definitely be looking you up later.

“oh thank you so much!” you say with joy in your voice, “I might come back another time, I uhh really like music and I really want to learn how to play an instrument so maybe I’ll see you again?” you ask so innocently, Ellie, on the other hand, was freaking out on the inside, she just thought you were so gorgeous and she needed to know more about you and she needed you to come back

“yeah, uhm I teach acoustic guitar, and piano so if you ever want lessons just show up, I'm here pretty much all the time, haha yeah this store is actually my life and-“ She cuts herself off realizing she's just rambling about nothing. “sorry yes you will definitely see me again” she is mentally cursing at herself for being such a nervous wreck in front of you.

“awesome, I’ll see you laters Ellie” and with that, you turn around and focus your attention on your phone, a message dings and you begin typing away. Ellie noticed this and is already feeling a certain way.. do you have a boyfriend? girlfriend? Are you single..? its okay she’ll figure all that out.

Once Ellie’s shift was over she went down to her music room. She sat there for a second and put on some jazz, she grabbed her laptop and began her long and tedious search, y/n l/n, she scrolled through the search page filled with many other y/n l/n’s. she stops. ‘bingo’ she thinks to herself, she found you ‘y/n.oncam’ on pretty much everything. Luckily all your accounts are public, unluckily she notices that you literally post your entire life on the internet, ‘do you know how many creeps are on the internet? oh once I have you to myself no one will be able to ever know anything personal about you’ she scoffs.

Here's what she knows, you’re 20, you’re single, you like to read, and you lovee music.. you live in an apartment with a big window.

Wait, she knows that complex, yeah she knows where that is, it's right across the street from the bookstore Dina works at. Shit Dina! Ellie forgot that she promised to bring Dina a limited edition 2Pac vinyl she had in storage. Ellie jumped up, grabbed her jacket, went to the storage to grab the record. She gets in her car and heads to Dina’s bookstore.

‘D are you still at work?’

‘yes’

‘I'm bringing the record rn’

*Dinabina like a message*

Ellie arrived at the bookstore, the words ‘Hidden Pages’ flickering softly as one of the letters had gone out. Ellie walks into the store and walks up to Dina, who is reading.

“D, I got the record”

“yayy thank you Ellie” Dina walks up to her smiling and gives her a hug “I’ll give it back as soon as I'm finished listening to it”

Ellie said her goodbyes and left the store.

She looks around trying to find the apartment, she found it. ‘Havenwood apartments’ She walks to the tall building and examines it and she spots the only big window, no curtains, lights on, and a woman's figure dancing around. She gets closer to the building, not too close but close enough to see into the window. Sure enough, it's you, dancing and singing, oblivious to the world around you, if you would just stop and look out of your window you would see Ellie, watching you closely, biting her lip and just enjoying the view of you.

You had gotten tired, turned off the music and began getting ready for bed. Oh, but that feeling between your legs was getting stronger, you tried to ignore it, you’ve been pent up and so busy lately, mostly because of work and shit. ‘Fuck’ you curse quietly to yourself and you head to your couch, you slip your hands down your pants and begin rubbing circles on your clit, dipping your fingers into your hole and gathering your juices to add more lubrication. Your eyes close and as you add pressure to your throbbing clit, you feel yourself bucking your hips for more friction. Fingers pumping in and out of your hole. Your other hand fondling your soft tits, adding more stimulation ‘mmph fuck’ The noises coming from your mouth are almost pornographic, your neighbors could probably hear you as the walls are thin. You feel yourself getting closer so you begin moving faster your mouth forming an ‘O’ shape “Mmpfh shit’m gonna cum fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck” You get that feeling in your stomach and let yourself go, your orgasm hitting you like a truck, you continue rubbing your clit riding out your orgasm, legs shaking from the overstimulation. Once you’re done you sit up and head to the bathroom to clean yourself up and you go to your bed to watch a show, you feel so comfortable and safe in the warmth of your bed so, you drift off into a slumber…

Oh but little did you know. You weren’t alone. Ellie saw what you were doing, she saw your most intimate moment and you didn't even notice you were being watched. Like she thought you were oblivious to the world around you, a normal person would sense another watching them, but not you…or maybe you knew she was watching and you put on a show for her and only her. Ellie’s hand reaches to unbutton her jeans, reaches her hand into her underwear, and begins rubbing her clit to the thought of you, your body, your pussy just begging to be touched by her, your soft tits and your skin needing to be marked by her…she needs you so bad.. just as she’s about to come undone. an elderly opens the door behind her, luckily Ellie had her back turned so the lady didn’t see her pleasuring herself to you. Ellie saw that the lady had many bags and offered to help her.

“Can you call a cab for me dear, they all just speed right passed me?” the woman asked kindly, and Ellie did what she asked, grabbing the cab’s attention and opening the door for her, all with a smile and her juices dripping down her thighs. The cab leaves and Ellie walks to her car.. “why were you touching yourself out in public while watching an oblivious girl masturbate..you’re so fucking weird.. fuck Ellie what the fuck, you need to be more careful, that could’ve not gone in your favor…” she whispered to herself, her cheeks red from embarrassment. She gets in her car and heads to her apartment….

——————————

idk what a tag list is but someone said “need to be in the taglist” and my gf said that means they wanna be tagged when the next part comes out so yeah

🏷️ @vqxen

[blue-hi]

shuffled playlist tag game

sometimes friends tag me in these and i definitely mean to do them but i always forget. @leliesblou tagged me in one and i promise i'm not gonna forget this time!

Rules: you can tell a lot about a person by the music they listen to. Put a playlist on shuffle, list the first 10 songs and then tag people :)

i have a bunch of playlists, so i'm choosing my "bops only" one:

Safe & Sound - from The Hunger Games Soundtrack (Taylor Swift, The Civil Wars)

World's Smallest Violin (AJR)

The Devil Went Down to Georgia (The Charlie Daniels Band)

Father Finlee (Spence Hood, Justin Ray Stringer)

Rule #27 - Drunk on Pride (Fish in a Birdcage, Philip Bowen)

Will I Find My Home - Acoustic Version (Juniper Vale, Vian Izak)

Bang! (AJR)

Fire Fire (Steam Powered Giraffe)

Red Signal (The Mechanisms)

Ruin (The Amazing Devil)

there we go! i'll tag: @seismologically-silly, @gays4vulo, @vilesssserpent, @sol1loqu1st, @honeybeeofficial, @mlerf, @terriblelizbians, @astriiformes, and anyone else who wants to do it!

[sw5w]

Hey, You! No Droids!

STAR WARS EPISODE II: Attack of the Clones 00:34:57

[reality-detective]

V2K | Voice to Skull Technology

Professor demonstrates how an audible signal can be silently beamed into the skull using an Ultrasonic Acoustic Heterodyne device. 🤔

[shardechance]

𝔥𝔢𝔩𝔩 𝔦𝔰 𝔞 𝔱𝔢𝔢𝔫𝔞𝔤𝔢 𝔤𝔦𝔯𝔩

ao3 link | playlist | detailed content warnings | masterlist

parts: 𝐈 𝐈𝐈 𝐈𝐈𝐈 𝐈𝐕 𝐕

pairing: feyre/mor

rating: explicit

wc: 7.9k (pt 1)

warnings: major character death, cannibalism

Self-proclaimed 'BFFs' and high school seniors Mor and Feyre have definitely had fights before, but none as bad as the night at the bar when Mor is forced to leave Feyre behind in the rather dubious hands of her distantly related cousin and wannabe rockstar. Mor fully expects to make it up to Feyre the next day, except her best friend doesn't show. Nearly one full week later, Mor is so overjoyed to see Feyre again that she is blind to all the strange new things about her crush--er, friend. Namely, that Feyre suddenly seems to have developed some rather peculiar tastes. That, and she's hot as hell.

[FREAK WEEK DAY 3 - PART 1]

read on ao3 or proceed below for small snippet.

“You think he’s bald?” 

The paper straw flattens between the press of Feyre’s lips, half soggy from how she keeps worrying it between her teeth. That, or the fact that it's been soaking up the same offensively flat Diet Coke for the last half hour since the band finished their set. They tried for something stronger, but the black crosses emblazoned on the backs of their hands were unfortunately doing their job of signaling to Jurian not to slip them any vodka, this time.

They’ve been watching the band pack away their instruments and file into the lounge behind the bar, a pitcher of beer and three pint glasses set out for them in a corner booth. A folded sheet of paper reading RESERVED in blocky script, sitting limply on the table.

Mor looks up from her phone, Instagram promptly forgotten in favor of whatever the hell caused Feyre to ask that question. “What?”

Rolling her eyes, Feyre nudges her chin towards the bar. The delicate twitch of one eyebrow has Mor turning, more bodily than she might like. There’s no such thing as subtlety in places like these. The guy in question looks even bigger up close—broad as he is tall, with arms thick as tree trunks and swirled with tribal tats. Mor struggles for his name, despite having just sat through their entire discography in a room with worse acoustics than their high school bathroom and blown-out speakers. 

“Under that beanie,” Feyre says, by way of explanation. The straw bypasses her lips entirely, and she irritatedly flings the limp wet thing from her glass to discard it on the sticky table. Probably not the worst thing that’s ever been placed on it. The nachos here have food poisoning written all over them. “He looks like he could be bald. Seems the type, you know? Like, did too many steroids on the high school wrestling team and now he’s paying the price?”

A reminder suddenly pings from her phone on the tabletop, interrupting a reel of someone from their year showing all the Homecoming dresses she decided not to buy. They’re all ugly, the dresses. Not that Mor’s is any better—the only one her dad had allowed her to buy. 

Ten minutes. Fuck.

“Feyre, for one second, can you be serious? My curfew is at eleven.” She doesn’t mean to snap, but Feyre knows how her dad gets. How strict he can be about grades and curfews. How little fucks he gives about everything else. 

“I don’t want to go just yet,” she whines, eyes following the unfathomably buff drummer back to his table and the two other guys sitting there. Mor watches as the big dude lines a shot in front of each of them, layered liquors starting to merge into a brown mush. They knock them back without so much as a wince. Mor is suddenly very grateful for her soda, even if it’s lost all the carbonation.

The only guy she recognises, Rhysand Sterling, catches them staring and waves. That quick flick of his wrist turns into a come over type gesture. Two fingers beckoning them forward. 

“You know him, right?” Feyre poses the question as if she doesn’t already know the answer. As if she hasn’t seen the one picture her father has of her in the living room. Taken at one of his firm’s Christmas parties, of course. Rhysand, a couple years her senior, had gone by Rhys back then. 

“Feyre, we have to go,” Mor reminds her, grabbing onto her wrist. She stares dejectedly at the side of Feyre’s face, deflating when she notes the way she seems to have perked up, eyes constantly flitting to the guy sitting at the table. Mor’s cousin. Twice removed, or something.

“It’s fine! We should just say hi!” She stands, neatly pushing in her stool but still well within Mor’s reach. She slips her hand into Mors, using it as leverage to tug Mor behind her, and crosses towards the booth. Maybe she notices how reluctant Mor is by the way she drags her feet, and Feyre offers the incentive, “Besides, it’ll drive Eris crazy.”

Oh, Mor doubts that very highly.

tag list: @shardminds @damedechance @velidewrites @melting-houses-of-gold @popjunkie42 @secret-third-thing @separatist-apologist @the-lonelybarricade @jon-snows-man-bun @iftheshoef1tz

[tylermileslockett]

Theseus #7 (the Black Sail) Theseus, still heartsick from the loss of his new love, journeys back to Athens to reunite with his father. But in his grief, Theseus forgets his father’s order; to change the black sail of his ship to white, signaling that he has survived. King Aegeus, seeing the black sail and becoming overwhelmed with despair at the death of his son, leaps from a cliff to his death into the sea. And forever after, in honor of the king, the sea there has been known as the Aegean Sea. Theseus, being the heir, is crowned King of Athens, and his reign ushers in a period of prosperity, political unification, and the creation of the Panathenaea Festival and Ismeian Games. Theseus is credited with implementing Synoecism; political unification of the surrounding twelve Poleis (city-states) of Attica (region of surrounding peninsula countryside towns) to the centrally unified city-state of Athens. This unification paved the way for the seeds of political democracy. During this time the Athens became more diverse with the acceptance of foreigners and strengthening of the maritime trading port.

         The Panathenaea was an annual festival to honor Athena; patron goddess of Athens. There was a large procession through the city, cutting through the Agora (central public square for markets and assembly) ending at the top of the Acropolis (elevated hill citadel) where animals would be sacrificed and a lavish embroidered robe offered to Athena in the Parthenon (temple for Athena). We can still see the festival figures of the procession carved upon the frieze of the Parthenon. The festival also included competition games, horse races, epic poetry, and musical contests performed in the Odeon (small, roofed theatre with acoustics.) The Ismeian Games were athletic games and musical contests held in Corinth every two years, in honor of Poseidon.

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[sweetsweetjellybean]

In a city the size of Chicago, Eddie should be easy to avoid. Or maybe the city isn't as big as you thought?

Masterlist Listen to Sour Girl Here

What to expect: Second Chance Romance set in 2012 Chicago.  Eddie and Steve are in their 30s. Fem!Reader is given a pet name from each of the guys. No other name mentioned. No use of Y/N. No physical description. Reader does have a bit of personality, as I find it nearly impossible to keep her blank for such a long fic. You may find yourself at times making choices that you wouldn't normally make, but I hope you can put that aside and enjoy the ride. Sensitive Content. 18+ Mentions of DV. Smut Guaranteed happy ending. This is my love letter to Eddie Munson.

WC:6558 beta'd by @superblysubpar

Plink.

Plink. Plink. Plink.

The old wooden frame of your window groans against the track, burdened with too many layers of paint to make the slide smooth. The swirls of creamy pinks and oranges have faded hours ago into the star-lit summer sky. The boy is below, standing in your backyard, fist full of pea gravel taken from a neighbor's garden. A smile twisting his lips lifts his cheeks, putting dimples on full display as he looks up at you from the darkness below. You raise a finger, signaling for him to wait before you turn away. Tossing a few things in your empty backpack, you take a pillow from your bed, and your comforter is wrestled free from the mattress. With careful footsteps, you creep down the stairs, stopping in the kitchen. The light from the fridge casts a triangle across the floor as you take a few Capri Suns to add to your bag. Leaving through the slider, the end of your blanket trails behind you through the grass that was trimmed that morning. You slip off your flip-flops, leaving them beside a pair of larger, well-worn sneakers with a chain wallet tucked inside the right shoe. Eddie bounces on the trampoline, his sock-covered feet launching him into the air, arms stretched for balance. You toss everything on before climbing on with him. With a final bounce, he lands on his butt beside you, grinning. 

“I got it,” you tell him, tossing the pillow behind you.

“Nah-uh.”

"My dad took me to Tower this afternoon." Rummaging in your pack, you pull out a Discman and over-the-ear headphones with the cord in a tangled mess. "I could only get two. I had to choose between Rage," you begin, ticking off album titles on your fingers, “Soundgarden, STP, and Pearl Jam.”

“And?”

Taking out the CDs, you press them against his chest, letting go as soon as his fingers go around them. His brown eyes widen as he examines what’s in his hands as you pick apart the knotted cord.

“Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop AND Down on the Upside? You haven’t even opened this one.” He holds up the Soundgarden CD before using his teeth to rip open the cellophane covering the plastic case.

“I waited for you.” You smile.

His face softens. “You’re a doll.” 

He lies back, his head nestling into your pillow, hands clasped behind his head, gazing up at the sky. After putting the CD into the player, you follow him, pulling the comforter over you both and resting your head on his bicep. The headphone speakers are flipped out, tucked between you, as Chris Cornell's melancholic voice begins to seep into your ears, velvety and dark like the night itself.

"Listen to this transition," he insists, his voice filled with the same awe that it always does when he talks about music, "The shift from acoustic to electric guitar is seamless." 

“I wish I could hear it the way you do.”

As you gaze skyward, a slender branch sways in perfect rhythm with the chords, green leaves fluttering with the bass. The stars multiply and shimmer as if they’re caught up in the flow of the song. 

“You do,” he says, his head turning toward you, “You’re the only one I know who loves it as much as I do.” He studies your face, his eyes locking with yours. The music building until it’s too intense, and he looks away. “It’s lyrics that hook you. You’ve always got so many words floating around in that big brain of yours.”  

The disc spins, and you both listen, the scent of lilacs wafting in on the breeze, and fireflies painting the sky with their gentle glow. Time passes in the slow way it only does for kids on a cool summer night.

“Eddie?”

“Hmm?” He answers, eyes closed.

“Are they fighting again?”

He doesn’t talk about it, but everyone knows—an ugly secret festering on an otherwise picture-perfect street. No one wants to get their hands dirty by getting involved. 

“Why won’t she leave him?” A simple question in a world of black and white.

“I want her to,” his adams apple bobs as he swallows, “She says she loves him.”

“Just stay here with me tonight, okay?” Rolling to your side, you wrap your hand across his chest, offering him the only protection that you can. 

“Yeah, okay.”

When you wake the following morning, the songs and memories you were reacquainted with last night have faded to a dull throb–much like the martinis. But remnants of their lyrics persist,  crawling under your skin, irritating like an itch, a tune hummed without the words to accompany it. Your phone’s screen lights up with an incoming text, the short burst of vibration sending it skittering across the surface of your nightstand. It takes a moment for your bleary eyes to focus on the notification on your lock screen.

Unknown: I admit last night could have gone better. Let me make it up to you. Coffee?

After tapping in your passcode, you open the message app to reply.

You: Wrong number

Darkening your screen, you let your phone slip from your hand onto the bed beside you. With a sigh, you lean back, staring at the ceiling, seeking answers that remain elusive. The scent of brewing dark roast and toasting bagels rises up the stairs with the sounds of Steve moving around the kitchen. A cup of coffee (or five) and a shower is what you need to wash away the past and leave it firmly where it belongs– in your rearview. 

It's the bottom of your second cup when Steve walks into your massive walk-in closet with a towel wrapped around his waist, fresh from the shower, his hair still damp, the freckled skin of his chest looking golden in the soft glow of the elegant pendant lights. 

“Is that what you're wearing to work?” He asks.

“Um, yeah.” You finish buckling the strap of your chunky mary-janes. “Something wrong with it?” you ask, catching sight of yourself in the mirror, dark distressed jeans and a band tee recut into a fitted v-neck. 

“Of course not,” he sighs, running his hand through his hair before sitting down heavily on the leather bench. His shoulders slump as he looks across to the cherry built-in shelves holding the rows of tailored suits hung by progression of color. “You always look beautiful.”

Taking your watch from the marble top of the large center island, you wander over to where he’s seated. He hooks a finger into one of the large holes in your jeans, tugging you over to stand between his legs, his big hands wrapping around the backs of your thighs.

“Guess I’m just missing the days of wearing jeans and a jersey to work,” he says, his smile not smoothing the faint crease in his brows.

“You traded that in for a car service and a big fat paycheck,” you point out, kissing the top of his head and moving back to your side of the closet to select a blazer.

“How else am I going to keep spoiling you?” He stands, dropping the towel and picking up the black Tom Ford boxer briefs he set out before his shower. 

“Steve, I don’t need all of this,” your hand sweeps in the air, gesturing to the lit shelves holding more clothes and shoes than you could ever need. “Just take me to a concert every once in a while.” Your voice trails off as notification chimes on your phone.

Unknown: Nice try, doll. Robin gave me your number.

“Can you imagine if we were still in that cramped apartment in Lincoln Park?” He scoffs, pulling on a light gray pair of suit pants. “We were tripping over all our stuff.”

Steve found the three-bedroom, three-bath brownstone on a tree-lined street in the ritzy Gold Coast neighborhood just after he got promoted from Metro, marking the beginning of his rise up the ranks in Second City Media. He spent a year and a chunk of his trust fund on a meticulous renovation before the two of you moved in. It is beautiful—large air rooms with lofty ceilings adorned with pristine white crown molding and wainscotting throughout, giving a modern but classic feel. Living with so much space is lavish in a city of this size. But you would be just as happy back on that ratty couch in Lincoln Park, drinking beer straight from the bottle and eating pizza without the fuss of plates, working on your laptop while he watched a Cubs game. Steve is driven–determined to be a success, and he is, but with the money came the stress. And it’s taking a toll.

Your finger hovers over the block button, but you press add to contacts instead. “Hey,” you change the subject, slipping your phone into your jacket pocket, “Did you ever look into that sailing charter you wanted to book out at the lake? We could do that this weekend?”

“I wish I could, Ace. I’ve got those weekend meetings about the streaming radio we're trying to launch. Pick out a tie for me?” He asks, pulling off a starched black button-up from its hanger.

“Sure.” You walk over and spin the rack holding up dozens of ties on shiny brass hooks.

“What do you have going on today?” The well-defined muscles of his sculpted shoulders, earned from never skipping a day at the gym, flex before disappearing into his shirt sleeves.

“Not a lot.” You pull the silky slip of deep maroon fabric off its hanger. “Lola is put to bed for this year. I just have an album review to finish up and a meeting with my editor today. Maybe a series on the Fall tours?” You propose, mostly to yourself, as you bring him his tie.

“Maroon, huh?” One brow raises with the question, “I would have picked black.”

“I know.” The corner of your lips turn up in a sly smile before you rise to your toes and place a kiss on his mouth, “I’m gonna go.”

“You want my driver to drop you off?” He asks, looking in the mirror and adjusting his tie.

“Nah, I’ll drive myself. Argyle and I are going to the Subterranean for drinks. Santigold is performing. Do you want to come?” You throw out, picking up your ancient army green messenger bag you can’t bear to part with, straining with the fullness of your laptop and notes.

“I’ll pass. Not really my scene.” As he fastens his gold cufflinks, they catch the gleaming light.

“You never come to shows with me,” you sigh. 

“I know, I know. I’ll try and catch the next one,” he says, sliding his feet into shiny Italian leather shoes. “I’m meeting Robin for lunch. You want to join us?” 

“No. I’ll let you have your girl time.” You blow him a kiss before heading out the door. 

 “See you tonight, okay?” 

“Love you. See you tonight,” he calls after you.

Passing through rooms decorated with rich creams and calming moss greens, you yell over your shoulder, “Tell Robin I said we don’t have any more room for paintings of flowers that look like vaginas.” 

“They’re a good investment,” his voice fades as you jog down your stairs, grabbing your keys from the stained-glass bowl on the table beside the door, ignoring the buzz coming from your pocket. 

The world is full of cliches. Many become so ingrained that we accept them as unwavering truths.  Every cloud has a silver lining. Don’t judge a book by its cover. Actions speak louder than words. A rotten apple will spoil the bunch. Don’t spit into the wind. Well, that last one is just good advice, but there is one that has stuck with you. Love what you do, and you’ll never work a day in your life. Music is your deity, and working at Stax is where you worship at its altar, spreading the Gospel of John, Paul, George, and Ringo. It’s a place where your lifelong obsession is not only validated, it’s celebrated. Your journey leading up to this point feels like destiny, like the universe conspired to harmonize your two greatest loves—the lyrical power of words and the soul-stirring magic of music. Each day within these walls is a new chord, a different tempo, and you revel in the ever-changing rhythm of your life. One spent intertwined with the music and the people that create it. The magazine's pages are your stage, your canvas, and with every keystroke, you paint the stories of the music, offering them to those who care to listen.

Without taking your eyes off your laptop screen, you reach for your coffee mug only to knock over the tittering tower of CDs that you had stacked on the corner of your cluttered desk. The plastic jewel cases meet the cement floor with a shattering crash, the noise echoing off the walls of the open industrial space that houses the offices for Stax Magazine in the heart of Fulton Market District. Clapping comes from other desks as you chase the discs rolling on their sides in all directions. Pausing, you bend into a dramatic curtsey, earning chuckles as the applause dies out. The perpetual chaos of your desk has become an ongoing punchline in the office banter. Your phone begins to ring at the same time an IM pops on your screen - both from your editor, the enigmatic J. Hopper. 

“Art Garfunkel’s house of pizza,” you say by way of greeting, trying to get the CDs back in their cases and toppling a pile of mail in the process.

“Where are you? Why aren’t you here? We had a meeting at 2,” comes the gruff voice of a man who's clearly not amused.

“It’s only one forty,” you reply.

“Get your ass in here now,” he yells, disconnecting. 

Hopper's bark has always been more bluster than bite. The towering, older man has been a fixture in this building since its days as a "hard-hitting" newspaper. While the city has evolved and transformed, Hopper and this old brick building have remained resolute, like an immovable rock in the ever-shifting stream of time. He possesses zero patience, holds a disdain for people, and dismisses any music created after 1978. You love him as much as your own father. He offered you a position fresh out of college when other magazines wouldn’t take a chance. He's pulled out your best work, often sending you back to your desk like a pouting child, making you the writer you are today. The wisdom he’s imparted is beyond the reach of any professor or workshop, and for that, you’ll always be grateful.

With a gentle rap of your knuckles against the frosted glass, you step into Hopper's office. He's seated behind a substantial oak desk, buried beneath a mountain of paperwork. A hint of cigar lingers in the air, though you've never been able to catch him smoking. He remains engrossed, squinting at his desktop screen with a furrowed brow. Settling into one of the vintage leather club chairs, you wait for his acknowledgment, your gaze drifting across the framed magazine covers and photographs lining the walls. One of a much younger Hopper clad in a tattered flak jacket catches your eyes. His face smeared with dirt and grit, standing amidst the ruins of a war-torn Kosovo street, a city reduced to chaos.

"Where’s my album write-up?" He asks without looking up. 

"I emailed it to you before lunch," you reply, confirming on your phone. 

He pushes back from his desk, propping up his feet on the edge, and offers you a soft smile from under the bushy mustache covering his lip, "How are you, kid? Everything okay? Harrington treating you, right?"

"Of course, Hop. He knows he'd have to answer to you otherwise. What about you?" You ask, leaning forward, "Is Joyce looking after you? Making sure you're watching that cholesterol?"

"Yup, she's got me eating all these organic vegetables, no booze, no smokes. Kinda takes all the fun outta life." He laces his hands behind his head, stretching out his back. 

"Oh yeah, does that include that bottle hootch you got stowed in your bottom drawer?"

He sits up with a quick move, pointing his finger in your direction. "You don't know anything about that. Are we clear?"

The only one who can scare Hopper is Hopper's wife. 

"I don't know. What are you going to do if I give Joyce a call? Seems to me that's something she'd want to know," you tease, crossing your arms over your chest. 

"You'd be out on that sidewalk before you hung up the call. Don't test me." He shakes a finger at you, "Now, what are you pitching me?"

"Well, I'm going to a club tonight, so I'll have a live performance review. And I was thinking of a piece on the bands touring this Fall. Kind of like a road map that the readership could follow and hit all the good shows."

"Those sound good, kid, but I got a feature for you to cover." He leans forward, narrowing his eyes, "You know this Eddie Munson character?"

The blood drains from your face. "No. Not-not really," you stammer, "we're from the same town, but I haven't seen him in years."

"Well, it's time to get reacquainted. I want a series chronicling the opening of CursedSound Recordings, and I want you to write it."

A featured series is something that other journalists fight over, and usually, you'd jump at the chance, but not this time. Not this series. Not Eddie Muson. 

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” you say, looking down at your lap.

“You don’t think–”

“Give it to Miles.”

“I’m giving it to you. Morales is busy with–”

“I don’t want it,” the words burst out of your mouth before you think better of it. Less than twenty-four hours after seeing Eddie, your world is spinning out of control.

Hopper's face turns to steel as he plucks the pen from behind his ear and throws it down on the desk. “I think that you’ve forgotten how this works. I give you an assignment. You write it.”

Your lips part before the protest in your brain is fully formed. 

“If you’re about to tell me no again, it better be followed by a damn good reason.”

His eyes are locked on yours while he waits for a response, one brow raised in challenge. 

“Listen, kid,” he picks up a stack of papers, shuffling through them as he talks, “I’ve looked into this Munson character. He has a good reputation in L.A. His name is in the credits for over half the multi-platinum releases in the last five years. And word is, his studio is booked out with big names for a year in advance.” He pauses for a moment to be sure his words sink in. “Establishing a good relationship with him is in the magazine's best interests. And what's good for the magazine is good for you. Are you hearing me?”

“Yes, Hop,” he answers for you when you remain quiet. 

“Yes, Hop,” you repeat.

“Good,” he says, lacing his fingers together. "The printed word isn’t worth what it used to be. Everything's gone digital, the never-ending twenty-four-hour news cycle. The competition's cut-throat out there. Trust me, our friends over at Spectrum would eat this up for Chicago Lifestyles. Frankly, I’m surprised at you. I thought you’d be all over this. Especially since it was proposed by corporate. I figured you went around me and pitched it to Harrington directly.”

The mention of Steve’s name sets your teeth on edge. He hadn't breathed a word about this assignment earlier, and now he's reaching out to Hopper, painting a picture as if you're disrespecting your editor and exploiting your personal connections to secure a story.

“I would never do that,” you shake your head. 

"Alright then. Call Byers at Metro," Hopper instructs, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms across his chest. "Bring him with you. His assignment is just wrapping up."

You nod, your blood boiling and your mind racing. Taking a deep breath to compose yourself, you finally reply with an outward calm, "Okay."

Hopper's eyes remained fixed on you, his brow furrowing slightly. "Now, why are you still here wasting my time? Get out."

You don’t need any more prompting. Swiftly, you rise from your seat and make your way out of Hopper's office, formulating plans to murder your fiancé.

With a heavy sigh, you sit back down at your desk. The Stax logo bounces off the edges of your laptop screen. Your phone lights up with a photo of Steve. You let it ring a few times before sending it to voicemail. A few colleagues linger nearby, mugs in hand, their idle chatter blending with the hum of printers and the rhythmic clacking of keyboards. Your to-do list sits on your desk with strike-throughs on only half the tasks, but the priority of the ones remaining isn’t enough to capture your attention. 

Reaching down, you tug at the handle of your tightly packed bottom desk drawer. It sticks, protesting the overload.  The bright yellow color of the Sony Sports Walkman stands out from among the other clutter. You hesitate when reaching for it, the beginnings of the ache already tightening your chest. But you can’t resist, your hand closes around it, pulling it and the headphones coiled around out from under a pile of old concert passes attached to lanyards. 

Swiveling your chair away from the desk, you face the windows and slip the headphones onto your ears. A gentle press of your thumb produces a satisfying click, and a soft crackling sound fills your ears as the capstans start to whir.

The crystal blue of the cassette is dulled behind the transparent black window, but you can still make out the handwriting on the yellowed label. 

For when you miss me.

“Did you ever listen?”

Everyday. 

A bird's eye view of the stage is perfectly spaced in your viewfinder, with Santi downstage dominating the mic, her other arm outstretched to the fervent crowd. Your finger clicks the shutter as a text pops on the screen.

Eddie: Seems this city isn’t so big after all.

With a huff, you close the screen, pocketing your phone.

“What’s going on with you?” Argyle shouts over the crowd, handing you back your drink as you both lean over the black-painted railing on the balcony at The Subterranean.

"Nothing," you reply, your gaze returning to the stage where Santigold is Chasing Shadows. 

“You’re moody,” he accuses, leaning closer to your ear to be heard over music.

“No, I’m not.”

“It’s true,” he shakes his head. “You’re moody. Moody dick.”

The corners of your lips lift as you roll your eyes.

“This wouldn't have anything to do with mister dark and handsome sound engineer guy from last night, would it?” He probes as someone bumps into you from behind, throwing you off balance.

Your eyes narrow as he steadies you with a hand on your elbow. 

“Hey, I know things,” he says, sipping his drink and looking back out over the crowd.

“Oh, yeah?” You ask, turning and leaning on the banister to face him, “What do you know?”

He turns his head toward you, his thoughtful brown eyes connecting with yours. “I know you looked freaked the fuck out when he showed up for drinks and even more so when he said he was staying. And I’ve seen you tell off enough people to know that’s what was going on at the bar when you walked away from him last night,” he says, looking back toward the stage, gesturing with his hands, “Now we're here, with my future baby mama killing it on stage, and you’re sucking all the energy out of the room.”

The song ends with the crowd erupting in applause. “I love you!” Argyle shouts toward the stage with his hands cupped around his mouth as the bass starts back up with the opening of High Priestess. Santi looks up, throwing him a wink, her voice low and fast as the reverb vibrates under your feet. 

“Future baby mama?” You laugh.

“Yeah. Do you think you could use your press pass to get us backstage?”

“No. I don’t think you need to add to the population tonight.”

"See, you're no fun,” he complains, sticking out his lower lip, “So you really used to crush on that guy?

Chewing on your lip, you throw him a sideways glance.

“Yeah, you did. You crushed hard,” he laughs, “So, tell me, what happened?”

“I don’t like talking about it,” you say, scrubbing your face.

“Keeping everything all bottled up ain’t good for you, little mama,” he pokes your arm, letting you know he’s not going to drop this, “I’m your boy. If you can’t tell me, who can you tell?”

“Circle of trust,” he says, stirring the air between you with two fingers when you don’t respond. 

You lean against the rail, considering. “Alright, but this stays between us,” you threaten him with a pointed finger. His head nods as his fingers slide across his mouth like a zipper.

“There’s not much to tell,” you say, looking down at the sticky floor. “I had a crush, and he didn’t feel the same way.”

“I get it. The fury of a woman scorned. What did you do, go full bunny boiler?”

“No,” you chuckle, “Nothing like that. That part didn’t even really bother me. He was my best friend, my only friend for a long time. I thought there was something between us, that he cared about me. Maybe not the same way I cared about him, but you know, I thought we were close. I must have built it all up in my head because one day, he just takes off.” You swallow the sharp pain pressing into your chest, “He never even said goodbye.”

“Nooo,” Argyle’s eyes widen.

“It broke me,” you admit.

“Harsh,” he agrees, “And he never called you? Or gave you an explanation?”

“Not until yesterday.  He asked me to lunch. You know, he actually had the nerve to say that Steve has me on a tight leash.” 

“Typical.” He shakes his head, swallowing the last of his drink.

“What do you mean?” You ask, swirling the last of your ice into your watered-down drink. 

His face turns serious as he explains, “It’s like surfing. We all want that wave that’s just out of reach. Especially if someone else is riding it.” 

“How did you get so wise?” You ask. 

“I don’t know. Must be all the weed,” he says with a hand on your shoulder, turning you toward the bar. “Let’s go get another drink.”

“You never told Steve any of this?” He asks as you join the crowd of people that constitutes the line.

“No,” you sigh.

“No?” He repeats in surprise, “This is bad news, man. Why wouldn’t you tell him? What are you going to do, just going to keep it a secret forever?”

“I guess. It doesn’t really have anything to do with him.”

“This is going to get messy.” He shakes his head as you move up in line.

“Well, I’m not real happy with him either right now. He went behind my back to Hopper, deciding that I’m going to cover Eddie’s recording studio's opening. He completely humiliated me in front of my boss. I look totally unprofessional.”

“Well, that's not cool,” Argyle sympathizes as he takes the plastic cup from your hand and tosses it into a trashcan tucked beside the bar.

“No, it was very not cool,” you agree, crossing your arms over your chest. 

"Wait," he looks at you with sudden revelation, “Technically, isn't Steve your boss?"

“That’s not the point–”

“And isn’t your job to write about major happenings in the city, like when fancy L.A. sound guys open up studios?”

“You're not helping, Argyle.”

His hand lands on your head, offering a comforting pat like you're a child before the line begins moving again. "Cheer up, Bernstein," he quips with a grin, "I'll buy the next round."

Your anger hasn’t abated when you walk through the front door of the brownstone. Steve is already in bed, shirtless with the taupe velvet coverlet pulled up to his waist, glasses perched on his nose, not looking up from his laptop as you enter the room.

“Hey, Ace, how was your day? Did you write me–”

“Anything you want to tell me about, Steve?” You ask, your voice already coming out more heated than you intended.

He looks up at you, brows pulling together. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” you say, dropping your bag onto the blue slipper chair in the corner of the room, “Maybe about how you went behind my back?”

"What?” He questions, slamming his laptop shut.

“The story, Steve,” you huff, leaving the room through your closet. You’ve just put your shoes away when he appears in the doorway, padding across the carpet in his bare feet, wearing just his boxers.

“Munson’s opening, that’s what you’re mad about?” He demands.

“You totally blindsided me,” you complain, pulling a hanger off the rod and hanging up your blazer with enough force to have the other clothes swinging. “Why didn’t you say anything this morning?”

“Because I hadn’t thought of it this morning.” His hands run through his hair, tugging in frustration.

“So what, it just came to you in a flash of brilliance?” Popping the button on your jeans, you tug them down your hips, kicking them into the corner instead of putting them in the basket.

“No, it didn’t, and I hate it when you’re sarcastic. Robin wanted to stop by and see his studio. We had lunch nearby,” he informs you, crossing his arms over his broad chest, the gold chain he wears glinting in the low light.

“So the two of you just decided what I was going to be writing? Maybe that’s something you should be discussing with me.” You lay a hand on your chest before pulling your shirt over your head and giving it the same treatment as your jeans. “You know, your fiancée, not some old buddy that sold you weed a few times back in Hawkins.” 

“The content Stax puts out is directly under my approval, just like Metro and the Newsdesk and every other division.” His voice, which has been steady and even until now, begins to rise, “I’m not going to call you and ask for permission every time I make a decision. Eddie and I have kept in touch. How do you think we landed that interview with Radiohead last year when they wouldn’t even sit down with Rolling Stone?”

“That’s another thing you kept from me. I had no idea Eddie was your best friend.” Your eyes narrow as your fingers yank at the delicate clasps of your jewelry and watch.

Steve's eyes roll in frustration as he shakes his head. "He's not my best friend. He’s a business contact. I know him through Robin. They were is band together, you know this."

"That feels like a lifetime ago, Steve," you remark, the clinking of your jewelry against the marble island adding a discordant scrape.

"Well, some people aren't embarrassed about where they came from," he accuses.

"I'm not embarrassed," you scoff and begin to pace as if you can outrun his words.

"Oh, please," he says, taking a seat on the bench, his knuckles turning white as he grips the edge, his gaze tracking your restless movements. "You cut off anybody we still know living there. You won't even go to visit your parents. They always come here."

“You never listen to what I’m saying. This has nothing to do with Hawkins or my parents.” You halt your steps, your hand slices through the air, punctuating your statements. “It's about you making me look like a fool in front of Hopper. Like I’m trying to go around him to corporate to get assigned the big stories. Like I’m sleeping with the boss. I’m not ruining my reputation so you can give free advertising to your friends.”

“You're being crazy right now,” he yells, wincing with regret as soon as the words leave his mouth. He stands, moving closer, making an effort to control the tone of his voice, “I gave you this assignment because you know Eddie, and it will make for a better story, not because I’m fucking you. We’ve been together since the day you started at Stax. We’ve been engaged for two years. If anyone was going to think that, they already would’ve.”

Your head shakes, rejecting his rationale. He throws up his hands in frustration. “I can't have a conversation with you when you’re like this.” He starts to walk back toward the bedroom but stops abruptly, spinning on his heel and pointing his finger in your direction. “But I'll tell you one more thing—you are going to write this story.” He waves a hand toward the bathroom. “Now, go wash your face.”

Your teeth cut into your bottom lip as you walk into the bathroom, slamming the door behind you.

A sliver of gold from the streetlights outside pierces the tiny gap in the curtains. You’ve been lying on your side staring so long that you can see its warm hue behind closed lids whenever you start to drift. You burrow your arm deeper beneath your pillows while your feet shuffle, searching for a cool spot on the sheets. Steve’s breathing hasn’t changed behind you. He’s having the same trouble falling asleep. He turns over, his weight rocking the mattress. He’s much closer now. You can feel the comforting warmth from his chest, filling the space between him and your back. 

“Baby.” His breath caresses the spot just behind your ear before the wet press of his lips traces a path along your neck, latching on to the apex when it meets your shoulder. A gentle bite follows the swirl of his tongue as he moves even closer. The rough pads of his fingers glide over your shoulder and down your arm, coaxing the thin strap of your tank with them.

“Please,” he whispers between kisses, his fingers finding their way under the bottom edge of your tank top, the light scrape of his blunt nails against your ribs sending shivers across your skin. Your breathing is picking up, the fire from your argument morphing into a new kind of heat. His hips flex against your ass, his cock hard and ready. When you turn your head, his lips are there, a wet slide over your mouth until they pull back, floating just above you, lingering with a question. And when his hand cups your shoulder, urging your body to turn towards him-–you answer. 

The sultry feminine voice drifts from the speakers in your bedroom, her smoky timber weaving through the air like dark tendrils intertwining with the high piano notes. Your hips rise with the flow, a slow, unchanging cadence, the stretch of his cock creating delicious friction against your velvet walls. You move higher until he almost leaves you before you start your descent, the angle finding all the hidden places that light you up beneath your skin. 

"M' sorry," he murmurs.

Your eyes flutter open at his words as they carry you away from the depths. 

"Hate telling you no." He gazes up at you with heavy-lidded eyes, his hair pushed back from his face, and a flush across his skin.

"I don't wanna talk about it." Your hands cover the ones wrapped around your thighs, guiding them up your body. His warm, rough fingers are eager to map out every contour. Your head falls back when they find their destination, cupping your breasts with a possessive grip.

The song shifts, the new baseline a drawn-out pulse lining up with your movements. The lyrics are raw and a little filthy, fueling the urgency of your rolling hips, your clit grazing the short hairs at his base.

"Don't like telling you what to do," he mumbles even as his hands drop to your hips, attempting to hold you still as he bucks up from underneath. "Just wanna take care of you."

"Steve," his name passes your lips in a low moan as you lean forward, taking his hand from your hips and pressing them into the pillow, "Stop talking."

Sitting up, you shift your position, leaning back, bracing your hands behind yourself on his hairy thighs. You set a new pace, bouncing harder, driving him deeper, taking what you want. 

“Jesus, fuck, baby,” he groans, eyes hitting the back of his head while his hands slide across the sheets seeking any purchase as you ride him. The music surges, its tempo rising in perfect sync with the wet intimate sounds of your bodies coming together, the rhythm repeating over and over.

"So close…please," his fingers slip between you, adding pressure to the sensitive bundle of nerves that he finds there, "Need you to cum."

"No," you rasp out breathless, pushing his hand aside, your eyes locked on his as you bring your own fingers to your mouth. With a swirl of your tongue, you coat them with wetness before sliding them down to touch yourself, controlling your own pleasure. 

The muscles in his neck strain with effort, his gaze darkening, fixated on you. “Goddam, so sexy like this,” he murmurs.

Your body tightens, taut like a bow-string, the tension building until the crescendo crashes over you. The music washes over your senses as you reach your peak, your legs trembling with the intensity. You push your body further over the edge, succumbing to the euphoria lost in the wave of sensations.

Floating back down, your eyes open to the sight of your ceiling, your body still arched, catching your breath. His fingers tighten on your ribs, reminding you he's there. Sticky wetness dripping between you is evidence that he reached his own climax. His hands gently urge your forward to collapse into his chest. 

"Wow, that was…" He strokes the sweat-slicked skin of your back. "I’ve never seen you like that before. What got into you?"

"I think you did," you say, placing a kiss over his heart as your fingers smooth through the hair covering his chest. He chuckles, holding you closer. 

The gentle croon of the music fills the quiet space between you as you lie entwined, drawing closer to sleep's embrace. With a fumbling hand, Steve reaches for the remote on his nightstand, silencing the stereo, returning the room to a restful hush. He places a final tender kiss on your temple, his eyes closing as his features turn peaceful. But for you, even in this stillness, another song lingers in your mind, its lyrics echoing like a secret.

AN: Thank you for reading and rebloging. Your comments are what keep me at my keyboard plugging away at this story. Please keep sending me your songs and asks! They have inspired so much of what's to come. xoxo- Jelly

Read Song 3 Here

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