#and now I feel cozy and cute and less cluttered

[themoonunderstoodmydadjokes]

✨ It’s amazing what a clean apartment and a shower can do for your mental health ✨

[drpeppertummy]

extra leon & shel lore/tidbits copy pasted from the group chat that i dont think ive shared (non-kink-related)

[warning for mentions/descriptions of alcoholism, abuse, death including child death & pet death, transphobia, self harm]

angela really did not like shel before they became friends she thought he was just the most pissy old bitch. shel liked her fine bc she 1. never did anything to piss him off herself and 2. Called him a pissy old bitch which he thought was funny. i think she only changed her mind about him when she realized he was one of the only people to immediately start calling her the right name when she came out & when she realized he was friends with leon, who she already was cool with. now she'll defend him she'll be like No Hes Cool If Youre Friends With Him Honest I Swear. he always just liked her bc he thought she was Spunky. never really made a move to be pals with her just considered her one of his more tolerable coworkers. they both think its hilarious now that she hated him & she still Jokingly calls him a pissy old bitch. she was cool with leon Before coming out but only really became close with him After coming out bc he was like [in private] omg wait me too [<-paraphrased] & trans coworkers gotta stick together

shels cats prefer laying on leon when hes over bc hes softer & warmer & shel gets jealous so naturally the solution is for shel to use leon as a pillow so the cats have to lay on her instead

i think leon likes showering at shels house bc she has a shower chair & its nice. he probably winds up getting one himself anyway so shel can feel safer showering at his house too

shels house is pretty well cat-proofed. hes invested in soft carpeting so shits less likely to break if it falls, hazards are generally well-secured, hes got magnets on his cabinet doors so they cant break in, shit like that etc. the cats are more or less allowed anywhere in the house But he has a Strict no cats in the laundry room rule bc hes absolutely terrified of one sneaking into the dryer when hes not looking

leons place is like. very Lived In. kinda messy but not Gross (i imagine shel probably helps him keep on top of cleaning sometimes). a little dingy but not so much so that you dont wanna sit down & hang around. kinda dated. not overly well-maintained. needs some repairs that he just hasnt gotten around to (for years). hasnt been renovated or anything in decades. ugly old couch. he tries to keep trash off the floor but he is guilty of having old bottles & shit sitting around. making it look nice isnt a huge priority for him but he tries to at least keep it sanitary

shels house as we know is full of cat-themed crap & knickknacks & i think its kinda granny-esque & a lot of brown & pink & off-white & warm neutral colors. clean but cluttered & cozy. small but comfortable. nothing is like harsh & bright the color is all soft & subdued & the lighting is warm & gentle. lot of decorative things & photos on shelves & on the walls & on end tables etc. maybe some doilies. shel could be a doily guy. lot of cute fridge magnets

leon will refer to his pre-transition self as a girl/woman almost as if she was a different person he used to know. angela only refers to herself as a girl/woman including when talking about the past bc thats what shes always been even before she knew. & shel well hes just shel

projecting onto leon he'll be buying pants & be like "omg these fit Perfectly" & theyll be like a foot too long. length, as we know, does not matter when youre built like grimace

i think shel (playfully) gives leon grief for bein older than him. bc shel Looks older. if u asked their coworkers to guess theyd place leon at no older than 43 and shel at like 55

they bring out the best in each other. when shels around leon tries not to drink & he tries to take better care of himself bc he doesnt wanna disappoint him. when leons around shels less bitchy & less grumpy & in much better humor. theyre both happier around each other

i think leon was a little nervous about becoming an Official Couple & i think hed be a little nervous about getting married moving in together etc, not bc he thinks shel would ever hurt him but bc he still worries that all the abuse he took from bill was his own fault & hes afraid shels gonna start to see him the way bill saw him & get sick of him. & he feels guilty for feeling that way

shels had A Lot of cats in his life & he carries the grief of every single one hes ever said goodbye to. the majority of his Family Photos he has framed or in albums are pets & sometimes he'll be looking through them & gets a little misty. & i think leon realizing that all these cats have always pretty much been shels only family & hearing the way he reminisces about them the way somebody would fondly recall happy memories with their family or friends is a point where he realizes just how lonely shels life has been. hes always been very sentimental about his cats. if he finds a loose whisker on the floor he sticks it in a jar bc its too cool to just sweep up. & if one of them cuts him deeply enough to leave a scar he looks at it with fondness. & the paw prints they do at the vet when the times up. he def has those all hung up amongst whatever photos & other shit he has on the walls

i think shel has some kind of goofy little tattoo he got when he was really young & dysfunctional like. on her hip or some weird spot where nobody ever sees it & its some weird random stupid little thing & the first time leon sees it hes like ??????????? idk what it would even be but its definitely shittily done & probably doesnt have any meaning behind it

leon was originally supposed to be bitter & grumpy & bitchy like shel (who has been around longer & whose bitterness & grumpiness & bitchiness was well established by the time leon came around) but he wound up being more sad & sweet & nervous. i think his coworkers still generally dont like him unless they know him well & its mostly bc they make Assumptions about him based on the things they know. hes an alcoholic, hes a hot mess, he hangs out with that bitchy weirdo shel, he doesnt socialize much, etc

Thinking About Shels Cat Pics u knowww they look like shit. if hes texting them . with his flip phone. but also i think she takes a lot of Camera Pictures & puts em in a photo album. all the time leons receiving grainy shitty flip phone cat pic texts & he Adores it he feels so in love

Thinking About Angela & Leon i think they have like an extra special little friendship which they really come to think of as a father/daughter relationship after a while. it just kinda Becomes Like That. since she was relatively recently disowned by her parents & he lost his daughter & they both have a major void that theyre subconsciously trying to fill. he might take her shopping since she came out pretty recently & doesnt have much of a wardrobe & hes pretty experienced in the field of Womens Clothes. they make a whole little day of it. i think ive already mentioned leons necklace that his mom gave him that her mom probably gave her that he was gonna give to his daughter which he wound up giving to angela & it was gonna be a casual gesture but it wound up being a whole teary huggy thing for both of em

i think. if he found out bill died or something he would be all freaked out like Omg I Shouldve Been There For Him bc even after everything theres still a big part of him that thinks maybe if he tried harder if he did a better job if he was a better spouse etc they couldve been happy. even tho he Knows bill was awful to him & he Knows bill was a nasty evil abusive person & he would never wish what he went through on anybody else theres still a big part of him that feels like it was his fault & he deserved all of it & he cant possibly deserve better

Thinking About Baby Shel. sometimes as someone who works in school/childcare youll have a kid who nobody can figure out how to help--beyond troubled, disillusioned, home life is a mess, etc--& you just know in your heart that if Somebody cant figure it out theyre not gonna make it. shel was one of those kids from a very early age. any teachers he had who are still alive remember him well bc he was such a fucked up little terror & theyd be astonished to see that hes alive. not only alive but Relatively Happy. functioning. sober. nothing like the disturbed child they knew back then

the destroyed parent in leon wishes so badly he couldve been there for shel when he was little. even tho had they known each other at the time hes only like 4 years older. he hears about tidbits of shels childhood & just wishes he could go there & hold him. but he can comfort him now & shel appreciates that. i usually depict shel being more Okay bc he does have his shit way more together but sometimes he is just all fucked up & leons there for him. sometimes he has Bad Brain Days & sometimes its just that kind of day & sometimes its brought on by his pain or lack of sleep or somethin & sometimes something triggers it & fucks him up. & he might be agitated & moody or he might be sad & fragile or he might just be numb & barely responsive but leon will treat him gentle & make sure hes not isolating himself or neglecting himself or hurting himself & make sure hes taken care of until he feels ok again. leon often feels like he doesnt do nearly enough for shel considering how much shel supports him sometimes but when those days happen he usually (probably unknowingly) prevents shel from spiraling into a weeks-long & potentially life-threatening funk

Thinking About Leon bc ive established how angela & shel came to be without a family but ive never gone into detail on leon. i think his family was never very supportive to start with & they didnt like the man he married & blamed leon for getting himself into the relationship when it started going south & bill kinda drove a wedge between him & his family and then when he started to really become a hot mess with Apparent Mental Health Issues Including Alcoholism they shunned him even more & wanted no part of him or his problems & then by the time he divorced bill & started his transition he was so estranged from them & he knew how unsupportive they were in general that he just never came out to them & essentially disappeared. he was their black sheep & they were fine with him getting away. i think if he had the chance to forgive them & go back to them he would do it in a heartbeat in spite of everything. if he found them again & they were willing to take him back he would forget how much pain they let him go through all alone Immediately. hes too forgiving bc he doesnt think he deserves better. he woulda let bill back into his life too if shel hadnta beat him to it. hes afraid of being alone he thinks hes unlovable😔 shels trying to get him past that

shels mother was a terrible parent but sometimes he wonders if they wouldve had a happy life without his dad. & sometimes he wonders if he couldve saved her. leon will be like “you were just a little kid theres nothing you couldve done” but he cant help thinking about it. & honestly if it werent for his dad his mom probably wouldve been a fine parent but their relationship was so vicious & abusive & horrible that the household was just a constant screaming fighting mess

when leon got his top surgery he was freshly divorced & had no friends bc his shity husband had him all isolated & he was like the most alone hed ever been in his life he didnt have Nobody & he had to go through the whole process & recovery all alone & it was miserable so when shel gets his knees done leon makes dam sure hes there for him every step of the way

thinking about leon & angela finding out about stuff shel never got to do as a kid & being like Oh My God We Are Taking His Old Ass To The Zoo. take his old ass to the boardwalk for minigolf & rides & ice cream. cant take his old ass to action park. sad

[princecameronlovedacommoner]

Rafebarry Ficlet: The Shattered too Can Be Healed

( Fluff. Just Lots of Fluff & Rafe Snuggles)

Summary: Barry takes care of Rafe after he comes to him straight from having a fight with his old man.

A quarter till midnight and the bastard comes through the front door like the place is his very own, not one knock, no “What’s up, man” from the other side of the screen while he waited for Barry to let him inside. Not even a simple “Hey, mind if I stay around awhile?” before Rafe Cameron barges right into Barry’s trailer, lips bloody and swollen like he’d just got into it with somebody on the drive over.

Barry turned off the local news network on his little tv in the corner of the room. The weather forecast was done with anyway and he really didn’t give a shit about much else at the moment.

Aside from the clearly distressed Kook who had entered his domain and that was behaving in an even odder way than usual. For Rafe that was definitely saying a lot.

“Well, shit. Look at you, Country Club. Look like somebody done took off with that shiny new ride Daddy got you cruising’ in now. They pull your ass out of it first?” He motioned to Rafe’s split lip and expected him to snap at the jest. To snarl at least. Just a little.

But Rafe didn’t say a word. He dumped his things on Barry’s couch, facing away from him to hide the injury, of which he was obviously ashamed.

“Ain’t talkin’ tonight, huh?” Barry’s tone was less teasing and more…well…gentle was really the only word that could properly describe it.

“No.” Rafe muttered, and that was good. At least Barry was getting something out of him, even if it was mostly just sniffles and swallowed down sobs.

Barry sighed, leaning back in his recliner and crossing his arms behind his head, showing off a pair of bare and decently worked muscles. “Alright then, pretty thing.” He agreed to Rafe’s current terms of silence, mostly just to keep the tension boiling within the blonde headed rich boy from rising into a raging fit.

Barry knew Rafe well enough by now. He just needed to relax for a little while to calm down. “Go take a shower, why don’t ya?” He suggested. “Hot water’s back on.”

Rafe went, without another word, down the hall and locked the flimsy bathroom door behind him.

Alright. So this was going to be a rough night. He only ever trapped himself in there when he was feeling pretty worse for wear.

Whatever. Barry was still confident that he could talk him down enough to avoid an outburst. So he reluctantly got up from his cozy chair and went into the kitchen to make them both something to snack on.

The water in the shower quit after about a half hour and once Barry had thrown a couple of grilled cheeses together, Rafe was already sitting on the couch, wrapped up in his warm grey robe that he kept in Barry’s closet, his golden hair still wet from his shower and his arms crossed over his chest.

“Eat somethin’.” Barry insisted, handing him a plate and then setting down a chipped mug of sweet smelling tea upon the cluttered coffee table in front of Rafe. They didn’t need to talk about that and Rafe didn’t need any convincing to drink it. Whatever Barry used to make the stuff usually really helped him to calm down after a tough run in with the old man. The same was true now, his trembling muscles beginning to slow as he sipped at the hot drink.

“You gonna let me clean that lip up for ya?” Barry eventually dared to ask once he felt that Rafe had been gentled enough to not bite the hand that fed him.

Cameron didn’t reply right away but once he’d finished half of his sandwich and the mug was drained, he touched the tips of his own fingers gently to the angry cut that actually ran through both of his lips. “Not much you can do for it.” He muttered.

“Yeah, well, we’ll see about that.” Barry got up again from his chair and came closer, Rafe’s lack of action to repel him being a clear invitation to approach.

“Who did this shit, huh?” He asked softly as he sat down next to Rafe. Rafe, who didn’t cower from him but pulled his robe tighter against his body, as if Barry might try to take advantage of his currently wrecked emotional state. Even if he knew that he never would.

“Don’t,” He hissed. “Just don’t fucking ask, alright? Just-Just get me some Vaseline and some ibuprofen, alright? Stop asking questions…”

“Sure thing, Country Club. I got you.” Of course Barry knew already that Daddy Cameron was probably the assailant who did the damage but he wasn’t going to say that to Rafe. It’d only get him worked up and angry.

After searching through the medicine cabinet in the bathroom for awhile, Barry came back to patch his shaky little Kook up, going a step further than Rafe had told him to and first cleaning both slashes in the soft flesh with some cold antiseptic before the Vaseline went anywhere near them. Rafe downed a couple of Tylenol after and after a little while of resting on Barry’s couch, arms still crossed defensively over his chest, Rafe got up and went to the bedroom, leaving Barry to finish some dumb 80’s movie they’d started up together.

The bed was nice and soft against the tenseness of Rafe’s body and he slowly let himself sink into the mattress beneath the sheets. Sheets that smelt like them, only slightly less than the pillows Rafe swapped so he could breath in Barry’s scent without asking for the real deal.

The old rickety floors creaked when Barry came back to slide into bed as well, long calloused fingers shoving dark locks back over his head and out of his eyes. “You been theivin’ my pilla again, huh?” He couldn’t help but grin rather proudly when he saw that Rafe had his face buried in the pillow he’d claimed as his: the one that was stuffed into the Carolina Panthers case he’d found at the thrift shop. “Fork it over, baby boy. You can hang onto me instead.”

Rafe didn’t protest, switching the pillows back. He liked his own better anyway. It was firmer. Not as squishy as Barry’s that was going to give him a life long crick in the neck someday.

“Take the fucking thing if it matters so much…” He muttered under his breath at Barry, who willingly pretended that it was his idea alone to roll Rafe over and hold him close against his warm naked chest.

“Come here, pretty thang. That’s a good boy,” Barry dropped little bits of praise for Rafe to lap up like the love starved pup that he was. “Let me hold ya, baby. Been missin your cute ass around here all day, honey pie. You might as well come on in here and shack up with me full time, ya know? Don’t ever wanna let go of you in the mornins, baby. You just got those wicked little claws in my heart now, huh? My pretty thang. Know how fuckin’ perfect you look right now?”

Rafe relaxes deeply enough at Barry’s words that sometimes, including tonight apparently, he doesn’t really even notice that he’s crying against his lover’s skin.

Barry doesn’t mention it either. Just keeps praising him, rubbing on his back, and kissing at every bit of exposed skin he can find to smooch.

Rafe never feels calmer than when he’s here, wrapped in Barry’s arms, being taken care of and loved so thoroughly.

If heaven truly was a real place, he thought to himself before drifting off to sleep, this must be what it feels like to be there.

There’s never been another place on earth that Rafe could flee to, where the dark thoughts in his head wouldn’t follow. Just here. Just here with Barry in these moments where peace of mind wasn’t just a myth.

[fundy-simp]

Technoblade/GN!Reader - Messy Confessions [2700 words]

Fluff! Sick fic, kinda! After fleeing the DreamSMP mainland due to stress you find yourself in the snow biome that an old friend of yours lives in. You’re not sure how you know where he lives or how he’ll respond to you just appearing at his house in clothes definitely not suited for the tundra, but you suck it up and ask him for help anyways.

This is a c!Techno fic where he’s a piglin shapeshifter. You and Techno had known each other back in the Pogtopia days but there was a large break in communication while he moved bases and you got swept up in other things, but of course you had to meet again. Might make a part two of this honestly but I’m not super sure, so if you want one let me know! As always if anything about this makes you uncomfortable feel free to scroll past :)

You barely knew where you were going when you jumped into nether, following down the rickety one meter wooden path before it tapers into a 3 meter cobblestone and obsidian path. You needed out of the mainland, it was all too much. It felt like there was a rift- and a weird demonic egg- in between everyone, you felt alone, lost, so fuckin’ tired. Without thinking you jumped through the portal at the end, your body tensed to a complete halt as you bore the brunt of going from the nether to the tundra.

Gritting your teeth you pushed through it, stomping through the snow as the freezing wind felt like it was seeping into your bones. You seriously need to not impulsively decide to run off into the middle of nowhere in just your everyday wear. It wouldn’t have been as much as a problem if the snow didn’t get deeper as you walked, going over the edge of your netherite boots and into them. Quickly, you’re approaching the point where the coldness that felt like you’ll know till you're in the ground was vastly out weighing you panic from earlier.

In a haze you look around you, passing over an iced lake you can vaguely see footprints in the snow. Carefully you follow them as you huddle in on yourself, your fingers and nose were going numb as you made your way over a particularly steep hill. A curse left your lips as you tripped down the other side, as soon as you had your bearings you shot up, looking around to see where you were. Squinting, you could barely make out a house through the snow, a hope you hadn’t even noticed you’d lost flares in your chest as you marched towards it.

By the time you had made it to the cozy cabin you couldn’t feel your hands at all, you hesitated for a bit on the porch, you don’t even know who lives here, what if they’re not home? After meandering way, way longer than someone who was under the immediate threat of hypothermia, you finally knocked on the door, pain shocked through your arm, who knows if that’s a good or bad thing.

You hunch in on yourself as you hear shuffling on the other side of the door and after a few seconds it swung open to reveal a very distraught, or at least distraught for him, Techno, a sword drawn in your direction as he looked at you with dull eyes. Well that answers your question from earlier. Involuntarily you shivered, whether it was because the heat of the house made you realize just how cold it was or if it was the harsh gaze of the definitely over seven foot tall piglin, you couldn’t tell.

He looked at you for a second before sighing, “C’mon, y/n.” he said quietly as he put his sword up by the door and stepped aside. Carefully you stepped in, your eyes scanning over the cluttered living room as your body tried to get used to the warmth. You rubbed your hands together as you looked over to the fire place, almost jumping out of your skin when you realize that there’s a fucking polar bear laying there. Techno let out a quiet chuckle, it slipped into his words as he spoke, “Oh, don’t mind Steve, he’s a big cuddle bug.”

You nervously chuckled along, why was this the first place you thought to go? You haven’t talked to Techno in months and that little crush you had on him back in the Pogtopia days did not let up like you thought. “What brings you here?” he asked, he talked like the two of you didn’t just mutually ghost each other for half a year.

Swallowing thickly you shrug, fidgeting with your fingers for a second before being reminded of how it hurts to move them, “Oh. I- I just. I just missed you, ya know?” You replied quietly, nothing in your voice was convincing as you avoided eye contact.

You could feel him raise a brow at you, “So you planned to come see me and made the choice to wear nothin’ for the cold weather?” He asked, you could hear shuffling as you focused your eyes squarely on the wooden floor.

“O-Oh well, you know how dumb I can be!” You said through a forced chuckle, shivering as you rubbed your hands up and down your arms. “Yup, just poor planning! Noth- Nothin- '' You stopped for a second, making a face as you brought the crook of your elbow to your face and sneezed, then again, then one more time before pulling your arm away. “Christ- One moment.” You wiped at your slightly teary eyes as you sneezed two more times.

A heavy cloak was placed on your shoulders, when did Techno get behind you? “This is what you get y/n, go chill out with Steve for a moment.” He said, his voice was soft, you’d almost argue there was a twinge of worry in it as he ran his large hands up and down your biceps for a few seconds, trying to warm you up just a little more before he shooed you towards Steve. “You’re really bad at lyin’, you know that right?” he mostly mumbled as he disappeared up the ladder.

Sighing, you pulled Techno’s cloak closer to your body as you sat down next to Steve, he was down right massive next to you, it made you slightly nervous as you tried not to disturb him. After a few seconds the polar bear lazily lifted his head from the ground, looking at you before sniffing your, or well, Techno’s cloak. You never thought you would ever be able say you’ve seen a polar bear ponder something, but this one definitely did for a few seconds. When he came to whatever conclusion he did, he shuffled over to you and nuzzled into you as he placed his head in your lap.

You tensed for a second, this polar bear is acting like a giant puppy dog, literally nothing in your life could ever prepare you for anything like this. After a few very scared moments you sighed, you’re far too tired to really bother questioning anything so you leaned down, resting your head on the bear’s soft fur as your eyes flutter shut.  

You woke up only god knows how long later, head pounding as you felt someone pick you up, “Hello?” you asked quietly, opening your eyes only to squint at how even the low light in the room made your head spin.

You could feel who was holding you physically stutter for a second before replying, “Ah, sorry y/n, I didn’t mean to wake you.” Oh yeah, you’re at Techno’s. Forgot about that... His voice was a whisper as he spoke, as if he could tell you weren’t feeling well, “Don’t worry everythin’ is okay, just didn’t want you sleepin’ on the floor.” He said as he held you with one arm, using the other to pull you both up the ladder and into what you could assume was his room. It was dark, lit by one lantern by the ladder that was slowly dying, books were splayed out across the floor and desk. If your head was throbbing any less you would have teased him for it, how it reminded you of the days back in Pogtopia.

Carefully he stepped over the books and general clutter as he carried you over to the bed and laid you down, you made a face at him as he pulled the blanket over you, “This isn’t normal for you.” You whisper at him, wincing slightly at how your seemingly growing migraine reacted to you talking.

Techno let out a slight chuckle as he crouched down next to the bed, “And it ain’t normal for you to just appear at my home freezin’, most likely sick, and definitely panickin’ about somethin’, so I think we’re even.” he said softly, you opened your mouth to argue but he quickly shushed you, bringing his hand up to your hair to mess with it, “You are far too tired to argue with me right now, after you sleep and are feelin’ better, we’ll talk.”

Grumbling you listen, pulling the blanket around you as you force yourself to relax. His touch was soft but still it managed to make your migraine flare up, as much as it hurt you couldn’t bring yourself to tell him to stop. You scrunch your eyes shut, trying to magically wish the pain away so you didn’t have to tell him to stop, instead though it just alerted him of your pain. Slowly he detangled his fingers from your hair and softly placed a kiss on your forehead, or the best he could in his piglin form, which was more of a boop from his snout. You opened your eyes just in time to barely see his flustered face in the dark, how he avoided eye contact even in the darkness was cute. That look on his face was seemingly burned into your mind as you curled into his sheets, drifting off into a only slightly fitful slumber.

When you woke up you were pleasantly surprised by the fact that the migraine had gotten better, now just a dull pain behind your eyes instead of a stabbing pain everywhere. You try to sit up but the moment you lift your head vertigo hits you like a brick, making you plop back down in defeat. You vaguely debate calling Techno’s name to get his attention, but before the thought could even really form you wave it off. You quietly groaned as you tried to sink further into the sheets, they still smelled like Techno which made you blush a little. “Phil- Phil! You don’t understand! I- I. I wasn’t built to feel like this!” you were immediately pulled out of your thoughts by Techno’s voice, he sounded worried.

You hear someone else laugh, it’s Phil, “Mate, stop stressing. It’s not that big of a deal.” There's shuffling downstairs followed by the sound of opening and closing of multiple chests.

Techno sputters, it wasn’t common for him to verbally stutter when he didn’t know what to say, normally he’d just stay quiet so whatever they were talking about must have had him thoroughly wracked. “No, listen. Phil. I kissed their forehead last night!” Your heart suddenly jumped into your throat, ‘they’re talking about you.’ is the only thought in your mind. “Like some sappy nerd! And I told them I’d talk about feelin’s when they got up!” he stopped for a second, you couldn’t help but giggle at him as you heard him groan, “What is wrong with me, Phil?” he asked, it was much quieter, his voice filled with genuine worry. You felt an odd pang of guilt in the bottom of your gut, your brain trying to twist everything into something that could be your fault.

There were some light jingles in the silence before a myriad of more filled it, it was probably Phil stretching his wings, “You’re not gonna like this Techno, but.” there was another tense silence, it made your throat dry as you realize how hot it is under all these blankets, “... You’ve got a crush, mate.” he said plainly.

“HEH??” Techno basically yelled, you almost fell out of the bed with how hard you jumped, swinging your arm out onto the bedside table to stop yourself, knocking a book down in the process. The entire house went silent, not even the multiple animals in the house made a noise as you buried yourself under the blanket. There were step foots before the telltale creak of a ladder being used filled your ears, you’re going to pass out in the worst way possible. Your head filled with worst case scenarios within seconds, Techno knows you were listening to their conversation, he’s going to hate you, he’s going to kick you out to die.

Your thoughts spiral as you grip tighter to the blanket, the migraine came back as you fought off nausea. Two large hands carefully grab the blanket, pulling it away from you despite you fighting against it, when you reluctantly look over at Techno you see him crouched down next to you like last night, this time though it's his human form. You don’t think you’ve ever seen it, at least never this close, his bright emerald green eyes contrasted against the soft pink of his long, braided hair. He cleared his throat as you quickly looked away, “How much of that did you- uh. Did you hear, exactly?” he asked, not an ounce of anger or accusation in his voice, if anything he seemed scared.

Fiddling with the blanket, you struggled to come up with a reply. You could lie, saving his dignity and leave yourself to pine for him till he figures it out better, or you could just tell the truth, saving your heart and poor lying skills. You swallowed thickly as you looked down at your hands, “Well, you see. I. Hhhn. How do I say this?” You mostly asked yourself, you could see him already come to what you're going to say, his face going a dark red, but he doesn’t interrupt you. “I, uh, I heard all of it, I’m so sorry for eavesdropping. I woke up right before you guys got home and by the time I realized how personal the conversation was it would have been too awkward to do something.” you accidentally rambled, your face going a similar shade of red as his.

Techno sighed as he pulled one of his hands away from the blanket to scratch the back of his neck, “Ah… Shit.” he says quietly, you looked at him with wide eyes, the fear of him being mad at you boiling backup before he talks again, “Not- Not in a negative way!” He corrected himself quickly, smiling a little when he sees you visibly relax, “It’s just a little… Unfortunate for your crush to learn that you like them at the same time you realized it, that's all.” he said, or more mumbled, his hand on the blanket slowly gravitated towards one of your’s, whether that was purposeful or not it was really cute.

You nodded slightly, giggling a little at just everything that’s happened, “Well. If it makes it any easier,” you looked over at him as you set a shaking hand on his, “I’ve had a crush on you for a long while now.” you whispered, watching his face soften as he processed it.

“You’re gonna kill me. I’m not built for this, good god.” He said, a slight whine to his voice as he dropped his face down onto the bed. You let out a loud, genuine laugh at his actions before wincing, you’d almost forgotten about that damn migraine, “Oh yeah, you’re still sick.” he said quickly as he sat up, “Do you want some soup? Phil’s here, he makes really good mushroom stew, it was my favorite when I was younger.”

You giggle a little at his panic before nodding, “Yeah, that’d be nice.” you said, moving your hand on his before pulling it up to your lips and kissing it. “Thank you, Techno.” you let go of his hand as you watched him short circuit for a second.

Once he recovered he leaned over and placed a soft kiss on your forehead, much more of a proper kiss than last night. “Of course, y/n.” he replied as he stood up and walked to the ladder. Once he’s down you buried your head back under the blanket, both out of embarrassment and to get away from the harsh sun falling into the room.

You couldn’t help but smile when you hear Phil from downstairs laugh, “See! I told you everything would be fine! You really worry way too much, Techno.” you had to agree. You have no idea what Techno and you even are right now, but you were ready to stumble through it with him till you’re both ready to talk about it.

[writing-in-lesbian]

You wanted to sleep with a goddess but instead had to settle for a priestess

Pairing: Yelena / F!Reader

Tags: angst, fluff, happy ending, mentions of alcohol

Rating: PG-15 (I guess?)

Word count: 2.5k

Translation: Pridurok = jerk

Disclaimer: all the Marvel characters mentioned don’t belong to me (if they did, Nat would be alive and Wanda would be hugged and in therapy!)

Synopsis: Inspired on an episode of F.R.I.E.N.D.S “You and Yelena have been dating for almost 3 years and you plan on proposing on your anniversary, but the universe has other plans and after a game of true or dare game you have to confess who you were actually looking to hook up the night you and Yelena did it.”

AN2: English is not my first language so I apologize in advance for any mistake. I’m also on AO3 as: writinginlesbian

~~~~~~~

The light coming through the windows is the first thing you notice, the warm sensation on your skin rousing you from your deep slumber. Groaning a little, you refuse to open your eyes, instead cuddling further into the cozy feel next to you. Now that sleeps is evasive, the second thing you notice is your bladder demanding you take a trip to the washroom.

Opening your eyes reluctantly, the third thing you notice is the mass of sand blond hair in front of you, tightening your hold on her you smile and hum contentedly, earning a little grunt from the body in front of you.

Chuckling, your lips place a kiss on her bare shoulder before you finally release her. Stretching your body, your neck and back crack a little making you moan softly at the relaxation.

“You better keep quiet y/l/n or I won’t be hold responsible if I keep you hostage in bed all day” a groggily raspy little voice informs you, her Russian accent thicker in the mornings.

Smiling and shaking your head, you get up from the bed and march to the in-suite bathroom, hearing Yelena mumble something similar to spoilsport before closing the door as quiet as possibly.

Yelena Belova. Your girlfriend.

A little angry ball on the outside but a total dorky cinnamon roll on the inside (although she would never admit this to anyone), came into your life like a hurricane. Her sarcastic side and dark humor was one of the things you noticed right away, followed by those musky green eyes, capable of grounding and keeping you in your toes with just one look. How you got her to agree to date you after hooking up one night, is still something you have troubles believing it but here you are, sharing an apartment with her, a dog named Fanny (which she got to name) and just a week away of your three year anniversary… the one where you plan on proposing.

You got the ring ready, specially custom made to your request, paid by Tony (as annoying he can be, he’s been more family to you than your blood family). He squealed (actually squealed) when you told him about your plan for proposing and insisted on being your “best man of honor”. 

Finishing your business, you wash your hands and clean your face with cold water, staring at your reflection in the mirror and smiling at the sight of Yelena’s creams and her messy side compared to the organized one of yours. You can’t wait for Saturday to get here soon enough.

The sound of the alarm from your cellphone can be heard through the door, followed by a thud and then silence. You forgot to change it last night, so of course it ringed at 7am disturbing the dreams of the beauty in your bed.

“You better not have broken my phone again Yelena” you try to be serious while walking back to the bed.

“So it’s more important a phone than my sleep time? Okey, I see how it is, pridurok” she says covered in blankets, but you know she’s pouting.

You get back to bed, picking up your phone quickly inspecting it placing it on the nightstand, kneeling in front of her and slowly you take the covers off her face. She’s looking at you with and unreadable expression and you can’t think how it’s so similar to the one her sister often gives you during training sessions.

“No, you’re more important to me love… but this would be the third phone screen you break and I doubt Tony would be happy about it” you said while bopping her nose with your finger.

Yelena looks at you and cracks a tiny smile. You kiss her forehead, standing up you try to leave but her hand at your wrist stops you. You turn to her… only to find her middle finger directed at you.

“Still that damned thing woke me up and you weren’t here, so it deserves the fall” You chuckle as you see Yelena rolls off and pretends going back to sleep.

You go downstairs and start preparing breakfast after turning on the coffee machine. You know Yelena needs a little bit of a kick to fully wake up. While you wait, you open the “just add water pancake mixture” opting to add half milk and half water with a little bit of melted butter for extra fluffiness. After getting the pancakes ready, you go to the fridge to pick some fruit before placing it at the counter to be chopped.

Hearing soft padded steps nearing the kitchen, you grab a plate and put some pancakes on it, grabbing some strawberries and quickly cutting them in four, adding it to the plate along with some blueberries. The coffee pot indicates it’s ready so you grab a blue mug and fill it with the exquisite elixir, snatching some clutter, you place everything except the cup on the table just as Yelena enters the room.

Without a word she grabs the cup form your hands inhaling it before taking a sip. A hum and nod of approval is all you receive before a peck on your lips. Smiling you gather a plate for yourself and proceed to seat with her at the table. You both make small talk while eating before she asks your plans for the day.

“I’m supposed to meet with your sister in about an hour and then lunch with Wands and Bucky. Might get to see Tony in the afternoon though, depending on how my cellphone is” you try to be serious but the smirk on your face gives you away.

“Your phone is fine pridurok, I checked it before coming downstairs”

“Okey, then I shall be back around 6ish. Wanna do something babes? Get advantage of the weekend and that?”

“Maybe”

Before you can propose a plan, Yelena’s phone sounds. She looks at the display before answering.

“Hey mama”

You wave at her and she catches your intention, passing your regards to Melina before leaving the room. You decided to send a quick text to Natasha before texting Tony telling him you’ll meet him quick before heading to your lunch date to pick up the ring.

Cleaning up the table and putting the rest of the pancakes and fruit back on the fridge, you leave the kitchen and find Yelena still talking on the living room. You finish getting ready as you don’t wanna be late with Nat. This might be the most important coffee date you have with her, you know, since you’ll be asking for her little sister hand in marriage, so you don’t want to risk it by making her angry by being late.

Of all of Yelena’s family, Nat is the one you worry must about. She’s so fierce and protective when it comes to her baby sister. Despite being reluctant at first, (she’s your BFF so she knows all your dating history) she approved of you once she saw how happy you made Yelena, not before giving you the scariest shovel talk anyone can give. Melina and Alexei both agreed immediately, both of them giving you a slightly (emphasis on slightly) less frightening talk of “you hurt my baby daughter I won’t hesitate to kill you” talk than Natasha’s. You tried to joke by saying that if you ever hurt Yelena, she would be the first one to chop your head off before them. It didn’t make them laugh.

Grabbing the keys, you check your cellphone to see Tony’s reply consisting of only a thumbs up emoji. Making your way to the living room, you wave in front of Yelena, giving her a quick peck on her lips before whispering a “see ya later babes. Love you” before leaving.

// // //

You can’t help being nervous. In all your life you never imagined thinking of getting married. You liked your space and time alone, you weren’t afraid of intimacy or commitment, but you never quite connected with your past partners in the level you connected with Yelena. Strange thing honestly, considering how you started dating: hooking up after Steve and Peggy’s wedding. You both tried to keep it casual and secret, not wanting to make a huge deal about it. And you were fine with it until one day when you were having lunch with all your friends at Natasha’s place, you saw Yelena and your breath caught in your throat and you knew, you just knew you were in love with her.

“What has you smiling like an idiot?” A raspy voice brings you back to the present.

Noticing just now, Natasha is seated in front of you cup of coffee in her hands. You must have spaced out more than you thought since there is a refilled cup where your last empty one was.

“Yelena” you said it without a doubt, a smile on your lips.

Natasha smiled amused by it. In all of the years she has known you, she never saw you this smitten and happy with someone. And honestly she was happy it was with her baby sister. You both were a cute couple, with their ups and downs, but were still going strong and you both took care of each other.

“So where did you left her? It’s weird to see you without her attached to your side”

“She’s at home. I know she wouldn’t like to be up and out this early being Saturday”

“You asked me for coffee this early on purpose”

It’s meant to be said as a joke but giving the current topic you want to talk with her you don’t laugh.

“I did actually. I wanted to talk with you about something”

Natasha sees the seriousness on your face. She stares you for a little bit before her curiosity gets the best of her.

“Okey”

Your leg stars bouncing and Nat takes notice of it. Your hands grab the cup in front of you to avoid drumming the table with your fingers, a habit you do when your nervous.

“It’s about Yelena”

Nat’s brow furrowed slightly in confusion. You were smiling a few minutes ago so it shouldn’t be nothing bad, right?

“What about her?” You can’t help to flinch a little bit with the hardness of her tone.

Your fingers drum a little on the cup, you open your mouth but no words came out. You sigh.

Nat is silently observing you, giving the benefit of the doubt and actually waiting for you to speak, but since is her little sister you wanted to talk about, she can’t help but get impatient.

You heard her huff in annoyance after what seems seconds but it has been a few minutes, you got lost in your mind again.

“Iwanttoaskforyourpermissiontomarryher” you say in one breath, taking half of your coffee in one gulp and not looking at her.

Natasha blinks in surprise, trying to decipher what you just said. Her mouth opens slightly once she process what you just dropped on her.

“You… you want to marry her. My little sister, Yelena… you want to marry her?”

Finally looking up you see Natasha is a little bit speechless. Something you haven’t seen in like never. You try to gauge her reaction but she’s a master in hiding her emotions, so you opt to answer her honestly any question she might have.

“Yeah, I do”

“Have you proposed to her though?” a fair question.

“No. I wanted to talk with you first”

“Why?”

“You’re her big sister, your blessing is important to me Tasha. I know that we both think that this tradition of asking for someone’s hand in marriage is an archaic thing and that and Yelena would probably get angry if she knew I did this, but you mean a lot to her, she adores you and respects you a lot. I know I could work around your parents but if you were to oppose, I don’t think Yelena would be as happy. Plus you’re my best friend Nat, I care about you”

Natasha stays silent thinking in what you just said. Basically, you gave her a lot of power here, if she were to say no, would you really not propose? She has seen you grow by Yelena’s side and has seen the same with her sister. She knows you never would hurt her.

“So if I would to say no?”

Your stomach hurts at hearing that. You drop your eyes to the table before answering.

“I might postpone proposing but I would still do it”

“You really love her”

“More than anything, I’m in love with her Tasha” the smile on your face and the brightness of your eyes give her all the answers to the questions she might have.

When she found out you were hooking up with Yelena she was so mad and furious with you, more so when you denied it when she confronted you about it. She was on her way to forbid you to see her sister when she caught you both asleep on the couch. Yelena had her head on your chest while you hold her securely in your arms. Both your faces were peaceful and happy.

“When are you planning on doing it?”

You looked up surprised.

“Saturday at-”

“Your dinner anniversary”

“Yeah… how-”

“It’s all I’ve been hearing Lena talk about for the last week, this big dinner plan you have for it and how you won’t tell her what it is, so she doesn’t know what to wear and is a ball of nerves, is kinda annoying actually”

You can’t help but blush at hearing that. You know the Romanoff-Belova sisters are reserved so the fact that Yelena has been gushing about your relationship to her sister has your stomach doing flops and your heart beating harder.

Natasha studies your face and can’t help but smile with you.

“Alright y/l/n, you have my blessing to marry my sister. Don’t fuck it up okey? It’s my baby sister I’m trusting you with”

You are speechless for a moment. You know deep down that she would say yes, but hearing it saying it it’s another thing. You stand up and grab her in a bone crushing hug.

“O…key… need… to breath…”

“Sorry, sorry… thank you Nat, really, you don’t know what it means to me, truly”

“So you have a ring picked yet?”

“Yes. Actually, I’m meeting Tony before lunch to pick it up, wanna come?”

“Of course, I need to make sure my baby sister gets the best of the best”

You laugh and throw the napkin at her, she catches easily but laughs with you. You’re not nervous anymore, at least for the moment.

Now, you only need to ask Yelena… easy right?

[sylvain-writes]

Thanksgiving (Raphael x Casey)

Rated: T M/M, friends to lovers, love confessions, thanksgiving, Casey can cook, light angst and fluff, mutual pining

The couch groaned in protest as Raphael flopped himself upon it. "Ugh," he sighed, laying a hand over his stomach, "I don't think I can move."

"Seriously?" Casey followed him in from the kitchen, still holding a tea towel and raising his eyebrows in disbelief. "I spent all day in there cooking my ass off, but you- You, you don't think you can move? Unbelievable."

"Come sit down, will ya?"

"There's a mess in there. I cook, you clean, remember.? We had a deal, man."

"Yes, dear."

"Don't ‘yes dear’, ‘schmess dear’ me." Casey tossed the towel over his shoulder and sat down hard on Rapahel's extended legs. "You look like you're about to pass out."

"Leave the dishes, man. I'll get to them later. Right now I need a nap, seriously."

"That's fucked up, Raph."

"It ain't." 

Casey squirmed on Raph's knees and Raphael scooted down to adjust their fit on the couch. It put Casey in his lap and Raph tried not to enjoy the pressure of him on his thighs. He and Casey were friends, nothing more. The way Casey stayed close these days. The way his eyes lingered on Raphael when they worked out. Those were just things Raph was imagining. 

Raph had been acting strange around Casey and he knew it. Casey knew it. Hell, his brothers knew it, and he hadn't even brought Casey around them in weeks. 

Maybe that was the problem. He’d stopped bringing Casey around the Lair. They'd been spending time at the apartment, they'd gone out to patrol together, they'd trained a bit together, but Raph stopped bringing Casey down to the sewers. 

Part of the reason was because of his brothers' watchful eyes. They'd be able to see Raphael was being different with Casey now. But part of it was because Raph worried Casey didn't like it down there. 

Casey was always one to speak his mind, and he poked fun of Raph's cluttered bedroom. He asked why, in a sewer full of empty spaces, Raph still shared a room with Mikey. He asked why they kept furniture made of old pizza boxes instead of upgrading to hand-me-down dumpster dives or stuff from second-hand shops.

And Raphael didn't want to answer. He didn't want to tell Casey that the room was cluttered because Raph had a problem letting things go. He was afraid to admit that out loud, because things weren't the only thing Raph was afraid to lose. He was afraid to lose people, too. Especially after losing his father. And Casey was high up on the list of people he didn't want to lose. But if Casey knew that, Raphael worried it would somehow scare him off. 

Casey didn't like to be held down. Raphael could see that. Casey didn't keep much around. His apartment was sparse. His contact list was short. He was going to spend Thanksgiving alone because he didn't speak with his family anymore. How he could give up relationships with family, Raphael didn't understand. Casey didn't explain. And Raphael didn't ask. 

Raph didn't want to say the reason he held Mikey close was because his little brother somehow kept him safe from nightmares. It was strange, the first night they slept apart. Well, sleep isn't the right word for it. 

The first night they tried separate rooms, after puberty dictated they definitely needed some privacy, neither of the brothers got much sleep. Raphael tossed and turned, waking in cold sweats. When he started screaming in his dreams, it was Mikey who rushed to his bedside, and eased him awake with soft pets to his arm. They didn't bother trying to sleep apart after that. Mikey said he had trouble sleeping away from Raph as well, but Raphael always wondered if that was because Raphael had kept him awake or if Mikey really had been restless on his own.

And the reason their family kept old furniture they made themselves was because none of them could risk a trip to a second-hand store. Sure, it seemed like they made good for themselves. There was a pizza parlor that was friendly. They didn't ask questions about the big guys in strange trench coats and hats that ordered take out a few days a week. And there was the Chinese place that slipped them extra orange chicken whenever Mikey went to pick up their order. And the herbalist who definitely knew they were mutants, but kept their suspicions quiet, passed them satchels of tea along with the things they ordered. 

If Casey knew these things, he wouldn't want to spend time with them. He wouldn't want to waste his time with some hoarder who still needed his baby brother to help him through nightmares like he was some little kid afraid of the dark. Monsters under the bed and all that. No matter that Casey and the guys knew first hand that monsters were real. 

"What are you thinking about? Looks like it hurts."

Raphael didn't want to admit that it really did. His chest ached as he looked down at Casey in his lap. Casey who just wouldn't understand. Casey, the one person Raphael desperately wanted to be understood by. Instead of answering, Raphael turned and dumped Casey onto the floor. 

The man landed on his feet but made a grunt of indignance at the affront. "You really gonna leave the mess for me?"

"Nah, I told ya. I'll get to it later."

Casey looked over his shoulder toward the kitchen and made a deep sigh. The sour look on his face did things to Raphael's stomach. Casey looked disappointed and hurt. Two things Raphael never wanted to be the cause of.

Raphael swung his legs over the couch and pushed himself to stand. "Alright alright, I'm up. I'm up." There wasn't that much to clean, Raph thought. But when he reached the small table in the kitchen, Raphael let out a long whistle. But he didn't complain. 

Casey looked like he was gearing up for a fight, like he was waiting for Raphael to protest. 

But Raphael didn't dare, and a part of him twisted sharp at the thought that Casey thought so little of him, that he'd really leave the mess after Casey put together such an impressive spread. 

When it looked like Casey was going to help, when he reached for the ramekins of bread pudding, caked and crusty with the remnants of dessert, Raphael quickly grabbed them from the table.

"Said I'd do it," Raphael reminded him. But Casey didn't look convinced and that hurt. "Dude, come on."

Raphael carefully placed the ramekins in the sink, still impressed and surprised Casey had that kind of dishware in the apartment he could afford alone on a detective's salary. Raphael wondered if he should say something about the place. It was nice, if sparse. A modern ‘less is more’ kind of feel. 

Raphael wasn’t sure he had ever mentioned he was happy for Casey getting the promotion. That he was proud of him. But that was stupid right? You couldn’t be proud of someone for something you had no part of, right? 

Sensei was proud when the turtles succeeded because he trained them. Leo expressed pride when his brothers did well because he was the oldest and led them. 

But Casey's older. He's independent. He's his own man and fully capable of surviving and thriving without some guy hanging on his every word and telling him how great he is all the time. So Raph kept the words to himself.

Instead, he took Casey by the shoulders, sat him on a stool at the short breakfast bar, and turned to grab the can of coffee from the counter. 

Casey looked up at Raphael with a quirked eyebrow and a curled lip, and Raphael tried not to think of his confusion as something sweet. As something cute. He tried not to think about how much he’d like to kiss those lips and make them smile. 

Raphael turned away from Casey wondering if he had any right to think he could make Casey smile with a kiss. 

Maybe a sad one. A smile of pity and apology. A smile that said, Sorry, man. I like you and all. You’re a real pal. Just not like that.

Raphael peeled the lid off of the coffee tin and set a filter into the machine.

“Little early for a coffee break when ya haven’t even gotten started.”

Raphael could have made a joke, he could have scoffed, but he said, “It’s for you,” and his voice was so much softer than he had intended. 

The energy in the room shifted just a bit and Raphael’s heart rate quickened. There were butterflies in his chest - and weren’t they supposed to be in his stomach? But, no, there was definitely discomfort in his chest and he wondered if he was going to have a fucking heart attack having let three words slip with that voice. 

“Oh.” Casey said, and Raphael thought, no, it was Casey’s tone that was set to kill him. “Thanks.”

It was that little word that reminded Raphael it was the holiday for being grateful and he hadn’t told Casey how good everything was, how tasty and cozy and how thankful he was that he got some time away from his brothers. Thankful he had a hot meal with his best friend instead of cold pizza while his brothers argued over which remote they could play with - despite them having assigned controllers since they were kids. 

Raphael struggled to find words that didn’t sound too… too… he wasn’t sure. Too desperate maybe. Too flowery or stupid. 

He didn’t want Casey to think he was poking fun. Because today was impressive and clearly took hours to prepare. Forethought and recipes and care. Planning and trips to the grocery store with intent. Raph wanted to acknowledge that work, but if he did that, he worried Casey was gonna think he’s getting soft. 

They didn't do ‘soft’. They argued and threw punches when things got too much. They joked and called each other out on bullshit. They poked fun at each other. But they never touched an insecurity once it was revealed. And they never pushed when the other wanted to be left alone. 

And apparently they cooked now. Casey cooked. And Raph cleaned. Well, Raph was supposed to be cleaning.

Raph filled the reservoir with water and set the coffee to drip. He put out two mugs on the counter even though he couldn’t stand the taste of the dark roast Casey bought. And he finally turned to the table to grab dishes for scrubbing.

When he added the leftover sweet potato casserole to the half-empty dish of green beans, Raph let slip a small phrase of praise. “This stuff was real sweet.”

“Yeah, it uh, got marshmallow on top.”

“Oh.” Raphael said and too late realized that he shouldn’t have messed up the dish by nesting it inside the dirty dish of green beans. “You got those plastic box things?”

“Tupperware?”

“I guess.”

Casey slid off his stool and grabbed a set from the cabinet. It was neatly organized by shape and size. And Raphael knew that he and Casey would never fit like that. Raph was too messy. He had his own method of organization, but it had never been orderly like that. Even if he wanted to straighten up his room, he wouldn’t know where to start. 

Raph took the container with a hum and spooned the slop into it. Popped on the top and set it aside. “Bet Leo would like it.”

“It wasn’t too sweet?”

“Nah. He, uh, likes that stuff. Always puts extra honey in tea and syrup on pancakes.” 

“What about you? Did you like it?”

“It was alright.” Raph figured that probably wasn’t the best answer, but he didn’t want to lie. The sweet potatoes with marshmallow were too sweet for his taste. But the corn muffins were nice and fluffy, and they tasted enough like butter that he ate them all on their own. And the butternut squash soup Casey made for the first course left him wanting to lick the bowl. 

But how could he tell him that without sounding like he didn’t appreciate everything else. “Everything was good, Case. You, uh, really outdone yourself, y’know?”

Raphael didn’t look at him. Didn’t see the flush upon Casey’s cheeks as he turned to rest his elbows on the counter. He didn’t notice the way Casey twiddled his thumbs and picked at his cuticles. 

“Yeah?”

The dishes clattered in the sink and Raphael drizzled soap over the lot of them. The casseroles had to be hand washed in batches. The sink was too shallow and small to hold everything. And no dishwasher in the apartment. “Sure. Never had anything like that before.”

“The turkey was dry.”

Raphael shrugged his shoulders. He liked the turkey well enough. “It was fine.”

“The beans burned.”

The tops were a little crispy, but Raphael had actually enjoyed the combination of textures. “You watch a lot of cooking shows or something?”

“Huh?” Casey looked up from his hands and over his shoulder to where Raphael washed the dishes. Raph glanced at him with a question in his eyes. 

“You cook real good. Do you watch that cooking channel?”

“Oh. No. The, um, the… there was classes.”

“Ya took cooking classes?” Raphael bit his tongue after he asked, knowing the question came out all wrong. He was impressed, surprised, but the way he said it sounded judgmental and he didn’t mean it that way at all.

“Wasn’t gonna live off take out,” Casey countered. 

And Raph shrugged. That was fair. Casey knew that even Raphael couldn’t stand night after night of fast food. 

Ever since he started getting invited to Casey’s for dinner, Raph looked forward to their meals. Raph just didn’t realize how much work went into things like this. Casey always had everything cleaned up and ready to reheat by the time Raph showed up. Granted, Raph usually showed up around 3 AM with a ravenous appetite and ate all of Casey’s leftovers, but Casey didn’t seem to mind. Today was the first time Raph saw Casey ‘in action’. Slaving away over the burners and checking on the oven. Timing everything just right so nothing went cold while the rest cooked. It was amazing, now that Raph was really thinking about it.

“You think you could teach me sometime?” 

It wasn’t even about cooking down at the Lair. While that would be nice, Raph would probably be roped into making the same thing his brothers always ate. And that didn’t appeal to him. Not really. Not now that Raphael knew there were so many other flavors out there to be enjoyed. 

Truthfully, Raph would have liked to repay Casey with a meal himself. Maybe trade off nights one day. If he ever got good enough to make something edible.

“Teach you to cook? I dunno if you could handle it man. Takes patience and attention to detail.”

“You don’t think I got patience?” Raphael had to laugh, but it was a sad thing. 

He’d been waiting for Casey to notice him for months now. And as far as Raphael could see, Casey was just as clueless to Raphael’s feelings for him as he had ever been. So, Raph waited.

Maybe one day Casey would see him as more than a friend. Maybe not. But friendship was good. Friendship kept them close. Allowed Raph to keep Casey safe when he went out on some harebrained scheme or got it in his head to take on criminals by himself. Raphael could keep an eye on him. As long as they remained friends, Casey would never truly be alone. 

Casey didn’t answer the question, so Raphael didn’t say anything more. 

Raph cleaned the kitchen in quiet until the coffee maker gave one long annoying beep to announce it was done. Raphael rinsed his hands under the water and dried them on the towel tucked into the waistband of his slacks, before going over to pour Casey a cup.

When Raphael brought over the mug, filled to the top, no need to leave room for milk since Casey drinks it black, Raphael sees Casey watching him curiously. 

“I could teach ya a few things, I guess.”

Raphael shrugged and the coffee sloshed dangerously toward the lip of the mug. He carefully set it down on the counter before looking up to meet Casey’s gaze. “The soup. That was my favorite.”

“There’s more in the pot,” Casey offered, standing up, “I could heat some up.”

“Dude, I meant what I said about being full. Everything was good. But, if I had to choose one thing. The soup. And maybe the muffins. So, a’right, two things, I guess.”

“...you’re a muffin man,” Casey teased, easing himself back onto the stool.

Raphael sneered. “Shut the fuck up, Jones.”

With that, the tension in the room broke and Casey went on to poke fun at Raphael as he washed the dishes. “Put your back into it, sweetheart. I wanna see my reflection in that glass.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll make it shine. Maybe then you’ll see you’ve had creamed spinach dryin’ on ya forehead for the past hour.”

“You asshole. Why didn’t you tell me?” Casey rubbed at his forehead, missing the smear, and Raphael bit back his chuckle.

“Green looks good on you.”

Casey’s eyes narrowed at that, and Raphael swallowed hard wondering if he said something wrong. 

The intensity of Casey’s gaze made Raphael want to take a step back and a step forward, and he didn’t know upon which impulse to act. So instead he stood stock still.

When Casey took a step toward him, Raphael was grateful he didn't have to be the one to choose. 

Raph lifted his hand to wipe the smear from Casey’s face, but Casey told him, “Leave it.” Told him, “I like a little green on me.”

Raphael couldn’t hold his gaze at that. “Shit, Jones. Ya can’t say shit like that when ya-” Raphael’s train of thought disappeared into fog when Casey grabbed him by the neck, pulled him forward for a kiss. 

It was hard and fast, and over too soon. Casey pulled back, and Raphael held his eyes shut a little longer, wondering what he’d see when he opened them. Raph held his breath and Casey’s hand tightened around the back of his neck as they each waited for the other to make the next move. 

Raphael’s green eyes opened slowly. “That all ya got?”  And he took Casey’s face with both hands, dragging him into a searing kiss that knocked Casey off-balance in more ways than one. 

[attina-the-responsible]

The Triton House

This is part of a series that one day may be complete but also may never be complete. As most of you know I’m like a huge #spatial person in my writing, so all my character’s houses/apartments/living spaces are really well mapped out in my brain? And I thought it’d be fun for people to see. (And a good reference for those who may RP in those spaces at some point.) Also, shout out to the mersisters for letting me force my ideas on them, lmao.

@andrina-the-amazingsupergenius, @adella-the-idyllic, @arista-the-musical, @aquata-the-champ, @alana-the-brilliant

Overview:

The Triton House is a 7 bedroom, 4 bath house in the richest neighborhood in Swynlake. It was built originally in 1909. This chateau sits on a half acre property with an original brick façade and lattice along the front that is covered in sweet-scented wisteria. Even the outside boasts a cheery, warm environment which is only expounded upon by the interior.

*note: click to enlarge floorplans!

**note: pictures in the aesthetic are to give an overall #feel of the house, but don’t necessarily indicate the exact furniture/decorations/floorplan. the floorplan, on the otherhand is not quite to scale but i did the best i could.

1. Living Room

The front part of the Triton household is a spacious, open floor plan, with the kitchen to the immediate left and the seating area on the immediate right. Guests arrive on a dias and descend two steps in either direction, or forwards towards the back of the house and stairs. The living room is decorated in a clean, but homey way, with plenty of seating area, both for the comfort of the large family and the benefit of any guests they may have. There is a chest of blankets that get passed around on colder nights. A large telly can swivel on an axis if someone prefers one seat to another but is large enough and set in a place so as to be viewable from most living room seats. The colours are cream and blues, with other accent colours and many mismatched throw pillows, some with quirky sayings and others that were crocheted by some of the girls. 

2. Kitchen

The Triton kitchen is a large, boisterous room of the house. With a large amount of counter space and a six-top stove set into the island counter, it is ideal for cooking for a significant group of people. The oven sits next to the refrigerator and is state of the art. The cabinets are arranged in a neat, organized way, with each girl having a shelf for her own snacks and goodies. Everything is labeled and diligently upkept. The refrigerator is covered in photos of family/friends as well as cards, certificates of merits, medals, and other familial memorabilia. Once again, the kitchen is decorated in a homey fashion, with plenty of cliche sayings hanging on the walls (think: Live. Laugh. Love. style.) (see: the middle, top image.)

3. Dining Room

The dining room in the Triton household is rather cramped, but a much frequented place for the Tritons to gather. Dinners are frequent and even if missing one or two members, still crowded affairs, usually involving guests as well. There are extra chairs that can be squeezed in to make room if necessary and everyone is used to bumping elbows. Still, it is a lovely little room and has served the Tritons well in the almost thirty years they’ve lived there. 

4. Sun Room/Music Room

Down the hallway, making your way towards the back of the house, one comes across a door to the left. One of the most peaceful rooms in the house, the rambunctious, fast-paced nature of the Triton abode is usually left behind when entering this room. Originally a sunroom, it still boasts large floor-to-ceiling windows on two walls, facing northwest, in order to catch the afternoon sunlight. Here is where the Tritons store and practice their various instruments, of which only a few are listed here: a grand piano, a keyboard, a classical harp, a saxaphone, a drumset, and several guitars. The Tritons are an actively musical family, though the music room is not as busy as it was several years ago. Now, it is a peaceful place, still used often for practices, but also for contemplative journal-writing, reading, or other such pastimes, when one needs a moment alone.

5. Guest Bedroom/Office Space

Once the permanent home of the Triton’s nanny, Benjamin, the room was vacated several years ago. Located down the hall at the back of the house on the right, across from the music room, it is now a guest room/office that is used on occasion. Even though it is a guest room, it is still stocked with cozy decorations and family photos.

6. Washing Room

If you venture past the music room and guest room, you will turn right and see a door on the right hand side. Always overflowing with laundry, but somehow usually tidy, the washroom sees a lot of action from the Tritons’ various activities. This room also is decorated with typically cliche saying placards and other cozy, homey touches.

7. Guest Bathroom

“It is down the hall, to the right, to the right, and through the washroom!” is a common phrase during Triton parties, or when someone visits for the first time. Though it is tucked into the back of the house, the guest restroom sees frequent use, both from inhabitants whilst downstairs, as well as the copious guests that flow in and out of the Tritons’ doors. Decorated in an ocean/beach theme, because Athena thought she was very funny and now it is a bit of an inside joke that they won’t change.

8. Underwater Grotto

Instead of entering the washroom, if one looks straight on after turning right down the main hall, they will spot a door with a state-of-the-art lock on it. If asked, a Triton will reply with a laugh and--depending on who it is--you will get any number of responses as to what the room is used for, from a superhero lair to their father being paranoid about storage. The mysteries of what is in the Triton basement are revealed to only a select few. Behind the door is an indoor saltwater pool. Damp and dark, the pool is magically enhanced to be quite large and deep, perfect for mermaids. The floors and walls are made of stone, so the whole place looks more like a cave than a room. It has an inclining entrance to the pool and spreads the length and width, with a few places for sitting around the edges and dotted in the center in large rock croppings. The Tritons can often be found here with each other or the other mermaids/selkies in Swynlake. It is known as a haven for mercreatures of all kinds.

9. Upstairs Hallway

Back at the front of the house, if one does not enter the hallway, they have the option to ascend the plain staircase. (If one looks behind the staircase to the wall, one will see dozens of notches in the wall, labeled with dates, heights, and names of the Triton girls.) Along the wall leading upwards is a collage of family photos that cover the wall in the most typical fashion one can imagine. On the second floor, the stairs float in the middle of a large hallway. Directly in front of the top of the stairs is the master bedroom. Up slightly and to the left is the Adella and Arista’s room, up slightly and to the right is Aquata and Alana’s room. If one turns around, they will see Ariel’s room to their left and Attina and Andrina’s room to the right, as well as another set of stairs that leads upwards once more. 

10. Attina and Andrina’s Room

The two eldest Triton girls’ room has been vacant for several years, though is often still used by either or both girls when they are home for holidays or other such events. In their youth, the room was haphazardly decorated on one side--with mostly pink decor; on the other side was a more tidy version--mostly decorated in orange. It has two desks, one for each girl, as well as a spacious closet that was shared (and the site of many battles.) Now, it is mostly barebones but vestiges of Andrina and Attina’s childhood and adolescence remain. Often, Alana commandeers the room as her own, or second room, nowadays. 

11. Attina, Andrina, Adella, and Arista’s Restroom

The bathroom is shared between four sisters: Attina, Andrina, Adella, and Arista and was also a site of much contention. The counter was full of products and it was always a battle for getting ready in the morning, especially in the unfortunate years when all four girls were in secondary at the same time. Arista would always somehow manage to use someone else’s hairbrush and it was extremely obvious by the blonde hair left behind. The little racks and shelves are decorated with shells on the outside of them from when they used to go hunting the beach in Bournemouth for the prettiest shell. There’s jars full of them still somewhere in the house. It’s a lot less cluttered now that Arista and Adella mostly use it.

12. Adella and Arista’s Room

Adella’s side of the room is closest to the window. The head of her bed is pushed against the wall, and her nightstand table’s top drawer is where her hearing aids live while she sleeps. Her desk was never used for school work - she’d go elsewhere in the house for that - and instead houses her sewing machine. Her guitar is mounted on the wall when she isn’t using it, the guitar is decorated with political, ideological, and cute stickers. On the nightstand is a cute little touch to turn on lamp with seahorses on it. There are battery-pack powered strings of lights all over the room as decoration, hung neatly around any posters and other wall decor. The main light in the room is barely flicked on -its usually illuminated by the battery pack lights and the nightstand lamps, or natural light from the sun.

Arista’s side of the room is closest to the door because she doesn’t like thunderstorms and the changing weather always used to distract her when she was younger so her desk is next to her bed and turned to face away from the window. She has a rolling spinny chair that she’s frequently seen curled up in and writing on a notebook in her lap. Her desk is filled with sheet music and notebooks and binders full of all sorts of things that Tina helped her make so she could keep track of what music and manuals went with what instrument. She has cases of instruments and spare parts and shoe boxes under her bed from all the Christmases when she didn’t know what to tell people she wanted aside from shoes and cool instrument accessories. Typically Arista tries to keep all of the instruments in the music room because if she starts bringing them into their room, things get very cluttered very fast and it would stress Tina out and distract her from other things growing up so she just learned to keep most instruments in their designated room. (A keyboard or extra guitar still sometimes manages to find its way into their room every now and then though). Arista’s nightstands have several sets of earphones, headphones, earbuds, and a bowl of guitar picks on top of them so she can just grab one and go. On the nightstand is a pull chain lamp covered in shells. Much of Ris’ closet organization was Tina’s doing, it’s the only way the two girls managed to have closet space with her ever growing shoe collection and sentimental keepsakes stash (she doesn’t like throwing a lot of things away because they hold happy memories) in addition to their clothes. Her wall has both a dry erase board of “things she absolutely cannot forget about” for the week and a large cork board filled with all the showcases she’d played in, playbills from the productions she’d worked on, postcards of cities from tour, and photos of her sisters with her making the biggest smile imaginable.

13. Aquata and Alana’s Room

Alana and Aquata's room has light blue walls, a color chosen by Aquata before Ariel was born and neither knew that they'd share a room one day. Alana's side is closer to the window, since Aquata historically got up earlier and had to leave earlier. On Alana's end, there are boho tapestries,fairy lights, and strings of photos and scrapbook style bulletin boards. The bed has purple and turquoise sheets and is full of throw pillows. The desk opposite the bed used to have a pretty fancy video and computer setup (it's now with her in her flat) There's tons of candles and also just a lot of...stuff in general. Even though she doesn't live there anymore, it's not near clean. Clothes, makeup, half completed experiments litter the available surfaces. Aquata’s side is somewhat neater and sparser. She has a shelf full of swimming memorabilia (photos, trophies, medals, etc) above her bed and the rest of her sport memorabilia is on a smaller bookshelf at the foot of her bed. She also has a signed team photo framed at the head of her bed from her last meet at Pride U. Her bedspread is a steely blue color and over it she has a T-shirt quilt made out of old swim camp shirts that date back to primary school. Aquata doesn’t spend much time in her room, so it doesn’t look overly lived-in.

14. Aquata, Alana, and Ariel’s Restroom

It used to be a lot messier when Alana lived here, absolutely chaotic on her side with products and hair curlers and stuff that Aquata always had to yell at her to clean up. Sometimes the sink would be colored with whatever experiment Lana was working on. Ariel’s space is small considering the few beauty products she actually has. Shockingly, it's the most cleaned space she has designated to herself, but only because of her current lack of interest in makeup. Though a couple small pallets for events are stowed away in a drawer, they’ve hardly been put to good use. Really, it’s mostly just the essentials for her. Aquata’s space is mostly clean as well, with one trusty makeup set that she almost always uses (occasionally she’ll borrow something from Alana if it’s a special occasion). She does have an absolute mess of scrunchies, headbands, and hair ties in one of the drawers, and she usually leaves her Tiger Balm out on the counter. 

15. Ariel’s Room

With Ariel being the only Triton sister with her own room, she takes full advantage of the space. She’s able to spread her things about (or leave clothes lying around when she’s in a rush), and not argue or worry about someone else’s space or an imaginary divider in the room. The room is decorated in an array of posters from bands she adores to the newest anime she’s binging with Finn and just had to have the poster for. She’s also a big fan of hanging Christmas lights haphazardly around her room and using that as a source of light instead of the actual ceiling lights in her room. When home, she spends most of her time here, so the bed is rarely ever made. Instead, the blankets are in the shape she left them, normally nest like, where she spends hours on her computer from watching drumming videos to just browsing odd forums late into the night. Of course, her trusty shark plush since childhood, Billy, is present on her bed at all times, holding down the fort when she’s gone.

16. Master Bedroom and Bathroom

The master bedroom is the largest bedroom in the Triton household. It is decorated in warm, muted colors. Much has not changed in the years after Athena’s death. Even some of her clothes are still in the closet, which Triton never had the heart to remove. It is only a few items: her favorite sunhat, a dress he had bought her for her birthday she wore all the time, her favorite pair of trainers, well-worn, stuff such as that, that was not removed to the attic. 

17. Triton’s Study

A place of mostly mystery to the girls when young, Triton’s study is tucked away on the third floor, and is most often frequented by Triton on restless nights when he cannot sleep. Though, it is also used while he runs his business from home on occasion. The room is one of the more decadent of the house. The rest has a warm, inviting atmosphere, but the study is much more reserved. Decorated in deep blues and greens, it boasts lovely oak bookshelves, of which Triton is very fond. There is a large desk and even a deep brown leather couch, which Triton can often be found napping on before dinner.

18. Athena’s Studio

A room that has been untouched since the death of Athena, the studio was once a bright, lovely space where Athena spent much of her time that was not occupied by caring for her seven daughters or when she was not out volunteering in various charity positions. Athena was not as talented an artist as a musician, but she still enjoyed creating things. Athena’s studio was a charming crafting space, full of yarn, scrapbooking, canvases on easels, and other such projects. Some are still unfinished.

19. Guest Bedroom/Old Playroom

This room used to be where the girls had their playroom so that their parents could keep an eye on them while they were upstairs also. It has only been packed up and converted in the last ten years or so, after ARiel finally grew out of it mostly. Now, it’s just a nice guest space for when people are over.

20. Attic

The attic in the Triton household is less of a storage space and more of a tomb for Athena. After her death, all of her possessions were moved to this space, except for the jewelry, clothing, and knick-knacks which were distributed amongst her family and friends. There is also a large storage of photos from the girls’ childhood. While many litter the house, the extras and all of Athena’s scrapbooks were put away in the attic. The attic is seldom visited, except for when someone is searching for Christmas decorations, or the like. 

[alias-levi]

flash fic friday #7

for @liz-pooh . in celebration of the exams you passed. i got you and i love you 💙

i also want to say that I'm not 100% happy with what I'm written but I'm quite happy with how my initial draft of this turned out in the end.

i appreciate very much every interaction with this post! 💙

fandom: twilight word count: abt. 1,500 words pairing: Felix/fem!oc topics (and warnings): teasing, fluff, domestic!Felix, i gotta admit Demetri is only mentioned like twice, dancing salsa

summary: Liza, Felix and Demetri have been sent to Galicia, Spain to find out more about an old vampire. But it’s late summer and the days are sheer endless - and so is the time that has to pass before they can leave the house. Time to learn some salsa.

[ID: They learned how to salsa on a Friday night in the dim light of the kitchen.]

source: this prompt is from @poison-prompts (it's also #66 if anyone wanted to know) and the only thing that is different, is that it's not dim haha

thank you and the text is below the cut :) enjoy!

Spain is a beautiful country - especially in late summer. The mostly dry air makes it rather easy to breathe in the heat. The seemingly endless masses of tourists are finally travelling home and there are a few quieter weeks before the first winter tourists arrive, looking for a place to stay warm and cozy while their home countries drown in rain and snow. They come to Spain to escape the depressing grey sky, the short days and long nights. In late summer, the nights are still warm enough to even go swimming in the ocean - not that the temperature would have been a big concern for three vampires anyways.

Liza, Felix and Demitri have been sent to Galicia by Aro. Their order is to find out more about a male vampire that’s supposed to be in the area. He is rumored to be several hundred years old and to have explicit information on the Spanish royals. Aro has also heard that this vampire is not too friendly towards strangers and - that’s where Liza’s power comes into picture - is said to be one of the last dozen people who still speak an old Galician dialect.

Aro is not taking any chances.

So, he sent Liza.

Because that’s what she does: Whenever Liza talks, the recipient will, without a doubt, hear her words in their mother tongue. No matter how ancient, how rare, how complicated or hard to pronounce the language is. While Liza always speaks her own first language, German, the received sound will differ. This has caused quite some surprised reactions so far and Liza loves seeing people get excited and emotional about hearing the language their mother once spoke. Especially older vampires.

Aro had provided the trio with a nice small finca near Oia, on Spain’s north-west coast. It’s not exactly a tourist hotspot like other Spanish cities, so their area is rather quiet. Just like the long days in the finca.

With a sigh Liza turns yet another page in the book she is reading. Demetri had retreated to his room just after noon, leaving Liza and Felix alone in the living area. The dining table somewhere behind Liza is cluttered with files and documents that Felix needs to examine to make sure they did not overlook anything.

Another dramatic sigh leaves the female vampire’s lips. Liza throws her book next to her onto the cushions and dramatically turns her head to look out of the window front. From the terrace, through the garden and beyond the fence a narrow path winds down just to the coast. Their own private beach.

Still, there’s hours to pass for the sun to set eventually.

Liza listens to Felix drop his file onto the table. His chair gets pushed back. Only a bit, though. She can hear it scratching over the wooden floor. He doesn’t stand up.

“Querida, have you ever danced salsa before?”

Liza snorts. “No, I can’t dance anyways.”

“You could learn it. You've got a lot of time now.”

“And who’s going to show me? You?”

There’s a challenge in her voice and Liza turns just enough to be able to look over the back of the sofa. Felix is staring at her, his elbows resting on his knees, hands together, head slightly tilted. He looks intimidating. Like a predator preparing to attack his prey.

“Querida you forget where I’m from. I’ve been dancing salsa before I could even walk.”

“How come I’ve never seen you dance before then?”

“Well, I’ve been lacking the right... partner for that. Come here, let me show you.”

“No, thank you. As I said, I can’t dance.” Liza laughs and turns back around.

“Oh come on! This is going to be fun!”

“Make me!”

Liza’s book gets ripped out of her hands and hits the wall with a thud before falling to the floor. Still sitting on the sofa, Felix is towering above her. He leans down, one hand on either side of her. Felix’ face is so close, Liza can see her reflection in his dark red eyes and ever so often she can’t help but look down onto his lips. But she doesn’t get to do anything about it.

Felix winks at Liza.

Taking her hands he pulls her up and away from the sofa. Felix doesn’t let go of her hands when he takes another step back and turns serious again.

“Basic steps, querida. It’s not as hard as it looks.”

Liza rolls her eyes. “Fine.”

“Good. Now mirror me. Left, right, left. Right, left, right. Do it again.”

“Easy. That’s it?”

Felix smiles at her, “oh no. These are the basic steps that will stay the same all the time. Oh and you need to move your hips more.”

Liza’s eyes shoot up to look at Felix. A smug grin on his face.

“If you wanna see me shake my booty, you just had to ask, boy.”

Felix moves to stand behind his girlfriend and his sudden closure makes it surprisingly hard to concentrate. His lips are at her ear, softly touching it as he speaks quietly.

“Again, querida. Left, right, left. Right, left, right. Left-”

The vampire’s hands have been sitting loosely on Liza’s hips. Guiding them, his body as close as possible but still leaving her enough space. When she missteps, Liza rests her head on her boyfriend, groaning. Felix chuckles softly into her ear.

“Am I making you nervous, querida?”

“Nervous is not what I would call it,” she turns around in his arms. There’s an expression flickering through her eyes that causes Felix to swallow hard. “Let’s just say you distract me... Anyways, what’s next?”

Felix watches Liza bat her eyelashes innocently at him and it takes clearing his throat for him to find his words again.

“Right, right. So next we do this together. Come here.”

Felix doesn’t wait for Liza. He pulls her back in, probably a bit too far, but that is not the point. Liza laughs briefly and takes Felix’ hand. After making sure she’s good with the basic steps, Felix starts rotating them. Slowly but surely they make one round, and it is really coming together.

It’s cute how concentrated Liza stares at their feet, Felix finds, so he decides to spice things up by telling her to do a double step. Though neither vampire stops in their movements, Liza looks at Felix in disbelief.

“A double step?”

“Yes,” he smiles at her encouragingly, “I’ll count you in twice then we actually do it, okay?”

“Okay.”

Her answer is breathless but her eyes never leave Felix’. After a couple more minutes Liza gets the hang of it and feels safe enough to look at Felix again. He looks utterly happy and relaxed. She smiles.

Felix looks at his girlfriend with a proud face. “Close your eyes,” he tells her. “Keep the steps the same, that’s the only thing you need to concentrate on. I’ll do the rest. Trust me.”

And Liza does. Closing her eyes, she rolls her shoulders one last time and relaxes her hands. She can feel Felix move them around again, slow circles but not on the spot anymore. Felix leads them in bigger circles through the area. Once he feels sure enough that Liza will keep the steps, he starts moving faster. He watches her frown.

“You’re getting faster.”

“Correcto, querida. You’re doing great so far.”

Liza smiles and suddenly Felix’ hand leaves her hip. His other keeps holding hers and her free hand just hovers in the air. For three steps they stay like this, then Liza feels Felix’ chest under her fingertips again. She opens her eyes and takes the look in.

Smiling brightly Felix’ eyes never leave her face. His dark, usually very neat hair, looks a bit disheveled and his black silky dress shirt is halfway unbuttoned.

Quite a look, Liza thinks to herself.

But the female vampire doesn’t look less alluring. Tight black control leggings are hugging her curves and her white sheer cotton blouse has been unbuttoned a while ago. Underneath, a white crop top holds everything in place and covers about as much as it reveals.

Felix can’t take his eyes off her as they dance. Dancing salsa again after all this time brings back some memories he usually keeps locked away. But the woman in his hands keeps his brain routed in the present. By now, she is taking some initiative. Liza is putting more power into her steps and swings her hips just a bit more. When Felix’ eyes return to Liza’s face he watches her tip her head back and laugh. Freely. Happily.

In a swift motion, he brings their bodies together. He doesn’t need to tell her that they are no longer doing double steps. By now hours must have passed and their bodies are synced oh so well.

Reflexively Liza gasps for air. She raises her arms to lock her hands in his neck. Her eyes wide open as Felix’ hands cup her side firmly. She knows what’s about to come.

Then Felix kisses her.

[yeetmetotahiti]

May I please request the Sawyer Boys with a housewife S/O?

Bubba:

He thinks it’s so cute! It reminds him of his grandmother and he gets a warm, cozy, and nostalgic feeling every time he sees you doing anything around the house.

He thinks that this means you like to wear dresses, his grandmother always wore dresses and she was a housewife! He thinks the two are connected ok! So if any dinner guests have cute dresses, he’s gonna give them to you. Just maybe clean them first ok?

He likes that he gets to come home to/work in a cleaner house now. His brothers certainly weren’t going to keep it clean or upkeep it in any way! However, he now hates when any of them get it dirty and if they treat you like a maid.

He’ll actually lose it at that! He’s not one to lash out at his family, but if they start to treat you like their personal maid, he’s gonna rough em up.

His favorite thing to do is watch you hum and sway to music as you work. He loves to admire the cute things you do absentmindedly.

Chop Top:

He’s gonna take advantage of this! Please don’t let him make messes of things you just cleaned!

He’s not gonna do it in a spiteful way, more in an asshole who likes to get a rise out of you way.

He does enjoy that at least somebody in the house cleans up after themselves! Or just in general at this point, because have you seen that house/amusement park???? It’s seen better days!

Like, Bubba, this also brings back memories of his grandmother and he’s gonna see little bits of her in you. It’s gonna make him feel warm and fuzzy inside. 

He does love the whole aesthetic behind it, it’s calming, peaceful, and has a routine. The exact opposite of his personality. 

But like I said, he can love you to the moon and back, but he’s still gonna take advantage of this. If he knows somebody will clean up after him or take care of him, he’s gonna ride that train as long as he can.

It’s not that he’s ungrateful, the exact opposite is true! He’s just a little shit.

Nubbins:

Like his twin, he’s gonna take advantage of this. Not necessarily as much as Chop does though. If you make him mad one day though, 100% expect him to just mess up stuff that you just did because he’s salty.

He does really like the housewife aspect you have. It’s nice, and even soothing to him, in a way. 

Just the fact that after long days or weeks of hitchhiking, he gets to come home to a nice house and a caring partner. 

He doesn’t like when you rearrange or clean the house though. He may not be there a lot, but he likes things how they are and doesn’t want that to change anytime soon.

He likes when he walks into the house after a rough day, or even after a rough dinner guest, and he hears you humming to yourself as you work; it soothes him in a way. Bonus points if you’re bent over because he’s gonna smack dat booty!

Drayton:

As long as you don’t mess with his cooking or kitchen he absolutely adores this!! You honestly have no idea!

Finally!! Somebody else who actually cares what this damn place looks like!! He enjoys that it won’t be so cluttered now.

But leave the kitchen to him, he gets very protective and possessive over it. 

As he’s cooking he’s gonna put the radio on and find a nice slow station so you two can dance along to the music. He loves to slow dance with you, and you can’t change my mind!!

He does appreciate that since you started cleaning the house it’s less cluttered and all together less gross. He likes being able to walk in a straight line and not run into or trip over something.

He also enjoys that he doesn’t have to do all the god damn work around here anymore! His brothers are a hand full so it’s nice to have extra help. Especially when that help has the perks of being his s/o!

Grandpa:

He’s from an old as hell generation, so this is literally what he expects. He expects you to do this and he expects you to clean up after him. So like.....that giant tub lmao.

Other than that he’s just gonna chill in his damn chair and do fuck all like usual.

[atths--twice]

And now for the final of the Family Life Series.. for now anyway. I wrote this one in August, but did not post it here, being in the middle of posting the stories from the beginning. I didn’t want to confuse anyone and so I saved it until now. 

During quarantine, I was home for two months. I thought I would get so much writing done, as I had literally nothing else to do.

Well... plans don’t always go the way we want and soon I was simply watching videos on Facebook every day. I happened to see one and then saw it again recently and I loved it.

It was of a little girl jumping in puddles and then asking her dad to join her. He jumped in happily, bouncing around her, and as cute as it is on its own, as a fic writer, all I could see was Mulder doing the same.

Jumping in puddles, building forts, telling tall tales... yeah, he would be into all of it.

Hope you enjoy this fun little story.

Mud Monsters      5/5

During the same summer break from school, we find a precocious little girl patiently waiting for it to rain so she can use her new rain boots and jump in as many mud puddles as possible. ❤️

July 2022

“Doctor Scully? Did we lose you?”

“I’m sorry. No, I’m here,” Scully said, mentally shaking herself from her thoughts and looking at the computer. “Actually, I think it did cut out on my end. Could you repeat the last thing that was said?” She smiled kindly, knowing full well it was a lie, but knowing that the others on the teleconference call did not.

Paying better attention this time as Doctor Snyder began to speak again, she still found her mind drifting away, as she wondered how Mulder and Faith were getting along. If they had found enough mud puddles for Faith, who had been so excited to jump in them.

She had new rain boots she had been dying to try out. Her old ones were “too pinchy on my toes, Mama,” something Scully had learned only when they had seen the current pair in a shop window and Faith had said how much she loved them.

Scully was sure she was not being completely honest and simply wanted the boots because they were cute and had planets, spaceships, and rockets on them, and also had sky blue rubber soles.

“Just like my raincoat, Mama! It’s my favoritest color. Look how pretty they are,” Faith had said excitedly, looking up at Scully with her blue eyes shining.

With a smile, they had walked into the shop, inquiring if they had a pair in her size. Seeing the true happiness the rain boots brought her, as she had walked around the store, Scully had smiled and nodded. What was twenty five dollars, really, in the grand scheme of things? She had remembered the feeling of wanting something as a child and knowing the probability of getting it was slim, so the boots had been purchased and carried home in a big rainbow colored bag.

Faith had been so pleased with them, she wore them inside incessantly, even going so far as to sleep with them on the floor beside her bed. Every morning she had woken up, hoping it had rained overnight, but it had been dry recently, with no puddles to jump in, something she dearly loved to do.

She had taken to sitting on the porch, Bella beside her as she stared at the sky, waiting for clouds to appear, and sighing as she shook her head when they did not.

“Is it going to rain soon?” she had asked at night when they tucked her in and kissed her goodnight, looking longingly at her boots. “Can you check your phone and see if it says it will?”

“I can, but you know it’s not always correct,” Mulder had told her.

“I know, Daddy,” she said as she sighed deeply and nodded.

“God,” Mulder had said quietly when they left her room. “I feel like letting the hose run to create some puddles for her, the poor kid.”

“Mulder,” Scully had said, shaking her head with a smile. “She needs to just wait. It will rain soon. It’s only been a few days now.”

“But those sighs, Scully,” he had said with a sigh of his own as he shook his head. “It’s like they come from the depths of her soul.”

“Mulder,” she had said with a soft chuckle, putting her hands on his chest, holding onto his shirt, and pulling gently to bring his lips down to hers. “She’ll be okay.” Kissing him again, he sighed against her lips and she smiled.

Another day had gone by with no rain and Mulder looked at Scully, shaking his head as they left Faith’s bedroom. She had seemed near tears tonight and Scully knew how much it hurt Mulder to see her upset.

“I know you want to give her everything she wants, and you want her to have a belief in the fantastic and love of nature,” Scully had said, touching his arms and smiling. “But, think about it, wouldn’t you rather it be real? ”

“Like Santa?” he had asked sarcastically, raising his eyebrows at her.

“And whose idea was it to tell her about him?” she had asked pointedly, raising her eyebrows back at him. He stared at her before sighing and nodding. “Mulder, it will rain. You both just have to be patient.” She smiled and gripped his upper arms, her thumbs rubbing gently.

“It’s just so hard,” he had groaned with a frown and she chuckled softly. He had smiled and she shook her head, letting go of his arms and turning to go downstairs.

“Maybe if you wish really hard, it will come true,” she had said and he hummed, following her down the stairs.

“You want to watch a movie? Rain Man maybe?” he had teased and she laughed.

“I have that call tomorrow, I need to go over my notes again, but maybe in a bit we could watch something, but not Rain Man.” She had smiled at him and he nodded with a smile of his own, as she disappeared into what was now her office.

In the last year, it had been converted into a workspace for her, allowing her to work from home some days, when a simple conference call was more than sufficient. They had tackled it one week, standing and staring at the room with heavy sighs, knowing what a large task it would be.

Papers, books, photos, videotapes… things that no longer meant everything to Mulder, had either been placed in plastic bins or thrown out. They had laughed over some of it and kept quiet over others, his hand grazing hers as he walked by, the past alive, but not needing to be spoken of again.

When it had been cleaned, everything was moved out and the walls were repainted a sage green, except for one that was painted with black chalkboard paint. That wall was left empty of any furniture so Faith could draw on it to her heart's content.

She drew rainbows, butterflies, clouds, animals, the letters and numbers she knew, and stick figures of them as a family; including Bella, Grey, and the fish. Mulder had drawn pictures as well, telling her stories as she had sat riveted in the old overstuffed chair, as Scully smiled as she had typed away at the computer, researching information for a patient.

The room still held books and photos, but now the… less mainstream ones… were on the bottom shelves, out of view of the webcam's vision. Medical journals, and children’s books were on the higher shelves along with photos and knickknacks they had collected over the years.

Her desk was clear of any clutter, and while the bottom drawer still held Mulder’s most important papers, it had all been organized and placed into folders. Different lights and a cozy throw on the chair, gave the room a warm, inviting, and open feel. It was now a happy space, much different than it had been in the past.

As Scully had sat working at the computer, preparing for her call, with Grey lying curled up in the chair, she heard a low rumble and looked up, holding her breath. She could hear the television playing softly in the living room when the first raindrop hit the window. Then another. And then another.

Hearing a gasp from Mulder, she had smiled, knowing he would soon be coming into the room. Turning around and facing the door, she waited with her hands clasped in her lap. She heard him get up and then he had been there in the doorway, grinning from ear to ear.

“It’s raining,” he had said and she nodded, with her eyebrows raised.

“I heard,” she had answered and he walked past her to open the door and look outside. She had watched him with a smile, until he came back to her and took her hand, pulling her to her feet.

They had stood on the porch, watching as the rain began to build, lightning flashing and thunder rumbling in the distance. Shaking his head, he had grinned when it poured even harder.

“She’s going to be so excited,” he had said and squeezed Scully’s hand as she had nodded with a smile.

Faith’s eyes had been huge when she had come downstairs the next morning, her beloved boots in hand, and looked outside. The grass was wet, there were puddles in the driveway, and thick gray clouds remained hanging overhead.

She would have run straight outside if Mulder had not insisted she eat her breakfast first. She had pouted, but this time it did not work on him as he had raised his eyebrows and pointed to the kitchen table.

“That was so tough,” he had whispered to Scully, shaking his head as they had watched her sit at the table with a frown, her arms crossed.

“She’ll get over it,” Scully had said with a scoff, shaking her own head. “You can’t always be the fun parent.” Patting his arm, she had smiled and walked to the cupboard to get Faith her breakfast.

Forty five minutes later, bellies full, they were dressed and ready to go. The coveted boots were on, along with her sky blue raincoat, even though it was warm and muggy out, despite the dark gray of the day. Her hair was in two braids to keep it from covering her face as the wind blew.

“Will there be lots of puddles?” she had asked as Mulder clipped on Bella’s leash.

“Gobs of them. Heaps. A plethora,” he had said with a grin.

“What’s a plefora?”

“A plethora,” he had corrected her with a laugh. “It means a lot. Like a lot a lot. I’m sure your new boots will see plenty of mud and fun today.”

“Yay!” she had cheered and he tweaked her nose with a laugh.

“You adventurers have fun,” Scully had said, pulling Faith in for a hug. “Jump in as many puddles as you can, but please don’t get dirty.” Faith had pulled back and stared at her, her brow furrowed.

“Mama, we're gonna jump in mud puddles. We can’t stay clean and jump in puddles,” she had stated, touching Scully’s arm and shaking her head. “It would be inpossible.”

“Impossible, my love. And you think so? Hmm…” Scully had pretended to think about it and then nodded her head. “You know what, I think you may be right.”

“I am,” Faith had said seriously, nodding her head. “I really am, Mama.”

“Okay,” Scully had said with a smile and a kiss to her forehead. “Have a wonderful time, my love, and I’ll see you when you get back, okay?”

“Okay.”

She had kissed Mulder and given Bella a pat, as they walked onto the porch and she watched them walk down the driveway. At the end of it, Faith had turned around and waved, yelling goodbye and that she loved her. Waving goodbye with a smile, Scully had gone inside, cleaning the kitchen quickly as she awaited her phone call.

Now, the call was almost over, well, in about twenty minutes anyway. She sighed as she focused her attention on the call, inquiring after patients and taking notes to look up more information later.

Grey came into the room just as the call was due to end, rubbing around her ankles under the desk, and purring loudly. Glancing down, Scully smiled at her as she looked up and meowed softly. Scully cleared her throat to cover the sound and tried to ignore her, but Grey would have none of it. She jumped up into her lap and laid down, rubbing her head against Scully’s hand, her purrs growing even louder.

“You’re a stinker,” Scully said under breath, scratching at Grey’s ear, and shaking her head. Glancing back up at the computer screen, she smiled, her fingers running slowly through Grey’s soft fur.

“So, I think that does it for today. I appreciate you all being here and sharing your expertise. We will be in touch in the next couple of days and if there are any questions, please feel free to get in touch with me or Doctor Reid,” Doctor Snyder said with a smile. “I thank you all for taking the time to share information.”

Everyone said goodbye and logged off, and Scully sighed as she closed the laptop and leaned back. Grey purred and stood up, stretching her legs up onto Scully’s shoulder, rubbing her head against her chin. Scully chuckled, petting her back and scratching at her head.

“You feeling lonely without Faith here to play with you? Needing some extra love?” she asked, closing her eyes and kissing Grey’s head. “Should we go see if they are heading back?”

Standing up, she carried Grey out onto the porch, looking to see if her mud monsters were making their way back yet. Finding nothing but dark clouds, the smell of rain heavy in the air, she set Grey down on the porch railing. She pet her as Grey pressed into her hand and Scully looked further to the left and right, keeping her eyes out for them.

“I guess they aren’t ready to come home yet, sweet Grey. Hopefully it will be soon because it’s definitely going to rain. Hard.” Looking up at the sky again, she shook her head. “I think I’ll get some lunch ready. You wanna stay out here or come inside?”

She looked at Grey who stared back with her head tilted, but obviously did not answer. Scully smiled, petting her once more and stepping inside. As the door closed, she heard her meow and she turned around.

“Well, say something next time, Miss Grey. I did ask you, if you remember correctly,” she stated with a smile, opening the door to let her inside and she bounded in, heading to her scratching post

Walking to the kitchen, Scully took out items for lunch. She made sandwiches, cut vegetables and fruit, and set some yogurt aside. Everything was placed in the fridge, ready for their return, no doubt covered in mud and in need of a shower.

Deciding on another cup of coffee, she made one and took it out onto the porch. Sitting down in the porch swing, she took a deep breath, breathing in the aroma of coffee as she closed her eyes.

She heard a bark and opened her eyes. Looking to the left, she saw them at the end of the driveway and she smiled. She could hear Faith talking, but could not understand what she was saying. Mulder’s laughter floated on the wind and she smiled as she stood up, setting her cup on the railing.

They opened the gate and walked inside, closing it behind them and at that moment, two things happened: she saw how truly muddy they all were and the rain once again began to fall.

Faith shrieked happily and started running toward the house. Bella barked, pulling on the leash and Mulder let it go, allowing her to chase after Faith, her tail wagging. He laughed again and Scully shook her head with a smile.

“Mama! Mama! It’s raining again!” Faith shouted, pushing her hair out of her face, which had somehow had come free of her braids. “Look, it’s raining!” She put her arms out and spun around, her face up to the sky.

Mulder caught up to them and took Bella’s leash off, tossing it up onto the porch. He shook his head at Scully and smiled, his clothes and face covered in mud. She shook her head again and laughed as she stared at them.

“Did you fall in a puddle?” she asked, seeing Bella’s black fur covered in mud and Faith’s clothes nearly devoid of color.

“I’d say… that’s a rather fair assessment,” he laughed, the rain beginning to fall harder. He looked up at her and tilted his head, silently asking her to join them.

Watching Faith spin around, knowing she had missed out on their fun adventure, she nodded and walked down the stairs, the rain cool as it hit her skin, despite the warmth of the day.

“Mama!” Faith yelled and flung herself at Scully. “Isn’t the rain so beautiful?” Scully lifted her and laughed, smelling the mud she could not see; she was truly a mess.

“Yes, my love, the rain is beautiful,” she answered, kissing behind her ear, possibly the only clean spot showing on her body.

“We had so much fun! My boots are… out of this world!” Scully laughed and hugged her muddy girl even tighter. No doubt Mulder had said that to her and she was now parroting it back.

Thunder rumbled as Mulder grabbed them both in a big hug and Faith squealed. Bella barked, jumping up in excitement, to see what was happening. They all laughed and played in the rain, until the lightning flashed close to them, and they went inside.

Scully stripped Faith, leaving her filthy wet clothes on the porch. Taking off her own wet things, down to her undergarments, they made their way upstairs and into the shower, while Mulder stayed behind to straighten up and clean off Bella.

Faith needed two washings before she was completely clean. After drying her off and putting on her robe, Scully stepped into the shower, washing quickly as Faith told her about their day. When she was finished, she put on her own robe, and ushered Faith into her room to get dressed.

Coming back into their bedroom, Scully got dressed, and then brought Faith back into the bathroom to blow dry their hair. Mulder came into the bathroom, a towel around his waist and his hair damp, having showered downstairs. Scully looked over Faith’s head, her eyes traveling up and down his body, her thoughts definitely not child friendly.

“Later, Miss Scully,” he all but growled, kissing her neck quickly, as he grabbed his hair gel. Her stomach fluttered and she knew that when Faith went down for a nap, they would be having some “adult time.”

Once they were all dressed, brushed, and ready, they went downstairs. Bella was sound asleep on her bed, Grey sniffing at her curiously, before she ran to the top of her scratching post and began to clean herself, as though even the close proximity to Bella had been enough to soil her fur.

Over lunch, she heard again how their day had gone. About the HUGE puddles and how the mud had been “so squidgy.” How Faith had lost a boot momentarily and then cried as she thought it was gone forever.

“But Daddy got it for me, Mama. He saved the day, just like a superhero.” She looked at Mulder and he struck a superhero pose, causing both of them to giggle.

“So, was it worth waiting for it to rain? Was it enough puddles for you, Miss Faith?” Scully asked with a smile. “Did your boots get dirty enough?” Mulder scoffed and nodded.

“They were very dirty, full of mud all the way through. How did you even wear those home, Faithy my love? Did you have pruney toes when you took a shower?” He reached for her foot, tickling her toes, and she laughed.

“It was muddy, but not as bad as Daddy’s. His shoes made squeaky sounds when we walked, Mama!” She giggled again and Scully looked at Mulder for confirmation and he nodded.

“Squidgy, squishy shoes. I definitely had pruney toes.” He winked at them and Faith laughed, getting up from her seat, and climbing into his lap.

“I had so much fun with you, Daddy, and I’m happy I got to wear my new boots.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and he hugged her tightly, patting her bottom as he smiled happily at Scully.

“I had fun with you too, Squatchy. I’m glad Mama bought you those new boots because they are…” He pulled back and looked at her expectantly. She smiled and held his face in her hands.

“Out of this world!” They said together and Scully laughed, as he hugged Faith again, laughing as he stroked her hair. He whispered something into her ear and she nodded.

Climbing down from his lap, she came over to Scully and got into hers, wrapping her arms around her neck. Scully held her close and closed her eyes.

“Thank you for my boots, Mama. I love them,” Faith whispered and Scully hummed.

“You’re welcome, sweetheart. I’m glad you had fun with Daddy. Maybe if it keeps raining, we can all go out tomorrow.”

“You don’t have to help anybody tomorrow?” Faith asked as she pulled back to look at Scully.

“Nope,” Scully answered, shaking her head with a smile. “Not tomorrow. I’m free as a bird.”

“Yay!” she said, throwing her arms around her neck again. Scully hugged her close, smiling as she looked at Mulder and he winked at her.

As she held her, she thanked God once more for the second chance they had been given, and the little things they got to celebrate and experience.

Like the excitement over new rain boots, and coming home covered in mud from the puddles that had been jumped in, after waiting so patiently for it to finally rain.

[d-dixonimagines]

I could really do hope an angsty pregnant reader one! Maybe she's pregnant with Daryl a baby, and of course being pregnant wouldn't be fun in the apocalypse, maybe the reader gets hurt, or taken, and Daryl has to rescue her and his unborn child, and afterwards he looks after her, makes sure she's safe, had enough food and water?

princessxpunk I hope it’s okay to include you in this since you also asked for pregnant reader?! 

It was common to have mixed emotions about being pregnant during an apocalypse.  While it was an amazing experience, to be able to make this gift that you and your loved one created, it added a lot more complications than it might possibly in a regular world.  Not only were you battling the stresses of everything around you, but you were also battling the stresses of a regular pregnancy.  Most cases now, you had less knowledge of how things were coming along, on top of trying to keep your stress at a minimum.  

Going on runs was probably not the smartest idea.  But you, and mostly Daryl, made sure that they were easy ones where you’d only spend a couple hours out trying to find stuff. And it was always nice to get out and walk a little bit.  Soon you’d have to be closer and closer to camp until you weren’t going to be able to go out at all (Daryl’s call), so you took advantage of it as much as possible.  You were two and a half months along now, a cute little bump starting to show.  Though under clothes it didn’t make any difference.

You and Daryl had been wandering for nearly an hour, trying to find medicine and things for the infirmary.  Searching through the last one before you headed back, you thought you had hit the jackpot.  “There’s so much stuff back here!” You called excitedly to Daryl, who was rummaging through things in the front.  “Can you bring back the bag?”  Opening a door to, what you assumed was a storage closet, you let out a yelp as a walker popped out, startling you and causing you to jump back into the shelves and knocking them over, which caused you to fall to the ground  You struggled to keep its mouth away from any part of you, its elbow digging into your stomach as you hollered for Daryl. 

It wasn’t long before a knife struck its head and was pulled off of you.  “Are you okay?”  Daryl quickly dropped to your side and looked you over.  “Are you bit?”  He looked at your bleeding arm.  “I don’t think so, I just cut myself.”   “Can you get up?”  You placed your hand on your stomach, not wanting to freak Daryl out more, you didn’t say anything about it.  Also trying to convince yourself that everything was fine.  Nodding your head, you grabbed ahold of his arms as he helped you up.  Taking a moment, you tried to see if anything felt different.  Maybe you could just tell if something was wrong.  “Come on, we’re going back.”  He bent down to get his knife and stuck it back in the holder before quickly searching for the bag again.  “I’m fine, really.  Let’s get this stuff first.”  You tried to bend over to pick up the things you dropped but winced in pain. Touching your belly again, you took in a few deep breathes, praying the baby was just in an awkward position.

Daryl watched you, unsure what he was supposed to do.  “Someone else can come back for it later, we’re leavin’ now.”  He gently pulled you around the cluttered mess before you could say anything else.  When you got back to Alexandria you went straight to the infirmary to get checked out.  Daryl paced around the room outside, doctors orders to keep things as calm as possible, but he was becoming too impatient to wait for answers.  Rick was there trying to calm him down, telling him everything would be ok.  “What’s goin’ on in there, why’s it takin’ so long?”  And just a few minutes later the door finally opened, Daryl being the first one to rush in to check up on you.  “Everything is fine,” you smiled at him in an attempt to reassure him.  “The Doc here says the baby is fine, and I’m fine.  Just some minor cuts and bruises.”  He stood close to you and checked you over again, making sure nothing was missed. 

 “We’re just going to keep her here for a couple more hours to keep an eye on her and then she’ll be able to leave.”  The doctor informed before leaving the two of you alone.  It wasn’t much of a space, considering it was just a regular room, but it was cozy.  Daryl grabbed your hand and gave it a squeeze.  “You sure you’re OK? You’re not hurting anywhere?”  “I’m fine.  My arms are a little sore, but that’s it. Everything is OK.  Why don’t you sit down and take a breath.”  You scooted over a tiny bit to make room, trying to lure him down, but he refused. 

He left your side briefly to grab a cup with some water in it.  “Here, drink this.  You don’t want to be dehydrated.”  You wanted to grab him and shake him and tell him he was overreacting, but his feelings were valid.  You were happy that he cared a lot to want to make sure you were comfortable and in no pain.  Taking the cup, you drank it all quickly, surprised at how thirsty you actually were.  

When you were finally able to be released, you both headed back to where you were staying and ended up right back into bed. “I’m gonna go see if we have anything to eat, I’ll be right back.”  He turned to walk out of the room.  “Don’t move.” He called out over his shoulder, knowing you too well.  You just rolled your eyes and chuckled a bit, getting yourself more comfortable in bed.

  It felt nice being able to rest your head and eyes after such a long and tiring day.  You woke up a little while later to a darker room, the sun just about set.  Daryl was sitting by the window carving on some piece of wood.  “Why don’t you come to bed?”  You spoke softly, causing him to look up at you.  You knew he must have been exhausted too, all of the worry he went through today, you weren’t sure if he ever allowed himself a chance to rest.  He got up from his spot and made his way over, crawling into bed with you.  You both adjusted yourselves comfortably, your head resting on his chest as you reached your arm over his stomach to nestle into him.  His hand rested on your arm, his silence worrying you a bit.  

“I hope you let yourself sleep tonight.”  You commented, your eyes closed again as you listened to his heartbeat.  “I was really worried about you today.”  He finally spoke.  “I know.” You whispered, opening your eyes and stared at the wall.  “But please don’t let yourself think too hard about it, ok?”  You looked up at him.  “Accidents happen, and it was my fault for not being more cautious.”  “I think it’s best if you stay here from now on. Until the baby comes.  We can’t risk accidents anymore, there’s more at stake now.” 

You sat up and looked at him, a look of protest written all over your face.  “What am I supposed to do here, then?  I need to be able to move around out there, I’ll end up feeling trapped if I have to stay behind these walls. No matter where I am it’s going to be a risk.”  “Please, y/n.  Just think about it, alright? Days like today can’t happen anymore, it’s more risky out there than it is in here, you have more eyes on you in case something happened, you’re closer to a doctor.  It’s be safer.”   Before you could protest again, you felt a strange sensation in your stomach, causing you to gasp a little.  It wasn’t painful or anything, it just surprised you.  “What is it?”  Daryl asked, more alert.  “I don’t know, I think I just felt the baby move… there it is again!”  You placed your hand on your belly and let out a chuckle. 

You wanted to explain it to Daryl but it was hard to find the words.  “It’s just like a….like a flutter sensation, like when you get butterflies.”  You looked at him and smiled, reaching for his hand to place on your stomach.  It was then that you really caved, knowing he was right.  Being inside Alexandria’s walls was far more safer than being out in the open.  You couldn’t risk surprises like today, and it was best not to add more stress.   After a couple minutes you finally nodded, laying back down after the both of you relaxed.  “Alright, you win. I won’t leave Alexandria until after our little bean is born.”  You nestled into him again, your eyes closing once more.  “Thank you.”  His voice was soft.  Maybe now he’d be able to drift off and get some sleep.  Adjusting himself a bit, his grip around you tightened just a little, both of you falling into a peaceful night sleep. 

[amaikana]

{Chapter 6}

Tag(s): NorEmma, past!NorRay, Coffee shop conversation, Bisexual characters Summary: Norman is having a bad day. An intermezzo conversation with a coffee shop worker is maybe all he needs.

“Welcome to Neverland Coffee Shop! What can I get you today?”

The cashier girl’s cherry voice greets him the moment he steps inside that small coffee shop. Norman looks around. The atmosphere there is still cozy, unlike the cluttered and raucous shops of the more popular ones—perhaps because this place is kind of a hole-in-a-wall too.

“Sir…?”

The cashier girl tilts her head and frowns at him.

“A-ah… Um…”

Norman blinks at the menu, trying to fix his composure in front of this stranger. Even though it’s a just a small coffee shop, where none of his business school acquaintances likely to visit here, it is still a public place all the same. He has a bothersome image of charismatic persona to keep up, after all.

“If you’re not sure,” the cashier girl speaks up again, “I recommend you our shop’s favorite: The Mocha Frappe. Well, though if you ask me, my personal favorite is the Brown Sugar Latte.”

He smiles a bit. “Brown Sugar Latte it is, then.”

“One Brown Sugar Latte’s coming~”

The girl puts his order in the cashier machines before she walks up and begins turning on the coffee machines. Norman only realizes it now that the girl is doubling as a barista too.

“Long day?” the girl tries to make some small talk.

Norman only hums in response, not really in the mood to talk much. Today is a bad day for him. Not an overly bad day—not failing a class bad day or getting stuck in a storm bad day—but still a bad day regardless.

Watching mindlessly how the girl moves swiftly between the buzzing machines behind the counter, his mind trails off to a certain conversation again earlier that day.

“Listen. I love you. You know I do,” Ray had said, just a few seconds after he blinked his eyes open to the intrusive daylight meddling in his sleep from the holed-up curtain of his friend’s messy apartment.

“But listen,” Ray continued again airily, “this guy is way cuter than you. So you have to take the backseat now and get an actual life outside me.”

“I have an actual life outside of you. Too plenty of it, that I’m even running tightly on time in order to manage everything,” Norman grumbled back grumpily. It was still too early for any sort of serious talk like these.

Ray snorted. “You get my point, though. Sorry, Norman. We need to break this off. I’m serious with this person, I don’t want to mess it up this time.”

“Why we can’t just become a real couple?” he muttered idly, staring up from Ray’s bed to the dim neon lamp that kept flickering every other minute. “It’d be pretty convenient that way. We’ve known each other for years. We can even practically read each other’s mind by now. And according to those romance novels formula, we should be idiotically pining on each other by this step.”

Ray rolled his eyes at him. “That again? Sadly, our life isn’t fiction. We can’t fall for each other. That’s the cursed part. You know that. We’ve tried it a few times in high school, remember? It never worked.”

Ray was right. They never work. Norman is a little upset about it, but again: They don’t work that way. Their life isn’t a romantic comedy—otherwise this whole thing should be evolving from a friends-with-benefits into a friends-with-crushes already since years ago.

He is a successful business student on his way to inherit their family cooperation. But he’s also single, barely got any friends beyond mutually beneficial acquaintances, and more than too busy to properly hook up with anyone. Just great. Zero romantic life, and now zero sexual life too. Life’s sometimes sucks.

“You know, I mostly hate customers who come at this hour,” the coffee shop girl suddenly says.

Norman blinks. “Um, what?”

“Your order’s ready, Sir,” the girl says instead, placing his cup of light brown drink in front of him. He picks it up and puts in the straw before slurping gingerly—the taste is surprisingly good—with his eyes never leaving the girl.

Perhaps sensing his gaze, the girl sighs. “Well, the thing is, my shift would be over in a bit. Actually, any few minutes from now, my friend who’ll handle the next shift should be arriving here. And…you know, everyone would like very much to spend the last bit of their shift just mindlessly scrolling through their group chats and Instagram, right?”

Norman chuckles. “I don’t know about that…” He trails off, glancing at the girl’s name tag briefly. “…Emma. I wouldn’t know about that, I guess, since I’ve never work in a coffee shop or such.”

“Of course.” The girl rolls her eyes. “Rich boys.”

“Do you hate the rich boy types?” He can’t help but tease the girl a bit.

“Flirting just at our first meeting?” The girl narrows her eyes at him playfully. “You don’t even know whether I’m into boys or not. Who knows? Maybe the cute girl you’re meeting now isn’t as straight as you think.”

He can’t help but grin at her bluntness. “Well, I know I am not, though.”

The girl’s eyebrows rise. “What…?”

“Straight, not being straight.” He smirks. “I’m bi.”

“Seriously? I totally thought you’re straight! Well, uhh…okay. Categorizing stereotypes is never a good idea, anyway. Actually, it might be just me suck at guessing.” The girl—Emma, he reminds himself—bursts out laughing there. Her laughing is rather cute, he notes secretly.

“Well, it’s not a bad thing.” He pauses to chuckle himself. “Really, life often sucks. Sometimes even just being able to laugh is a luxury.”

“Aaaah! I feel you!” Emma groans. “You’d think that working in a coffee shop is as romantic as fiction makes it out to be. But I’m dealing with annoying customers more than getting any girls or guys flirting at me.”

“You’re bi too?” He’s the one who’s surprised now.

“Yep.” Emma nods, grinning again. “I thought you’d realize from the first glance. You know, my friends all say I’m practically the classic stereotype: Short hair, ear piercings and such.”

“I guess I was too busy with my own thoughts to pay attention to any of it.” He shrugs. “Sorry, a gorgeous girl like you definitely deserve much attention.” He grins teasingly.

“Such a flirt, aren’t you?” Emma rolls her eyes. “Anyway, you look like life has it tough for you today. I’m not about to pry, but… If you, you know, need someone to listen, I’m all ears here. I mean, as you can see, the shop’s empty now, anyway.”

Norman weights his options. Talking about personal things with stranger isn’t really in his hobby list, but something about Emma makes their conversation flowing out easily. It’s just nice, talking to this girl.

“Ah, unfortunately I have some place to be in less than half an hour from now,” he settles.

“Got it. You’re really a busy man,” Emma teases.

“Maybe next time?” Norman smiles a bit at the girl as he starts getting up. “Well…if that offer would still stand, that is.”

The girl chuckles. “Anytime, honestly. As long as it’s not busy hours, of course. But feel free! I really need more excitement in this boring little coffee shop.”

“Okay, see you next time, then.”

He opens the door with Emma sending out a loud ‘Bye!’ and ‘Good luck!’ behind him. As the door closes again, Norman can still hear the coffee machine buzzing inside.

[marril96]

Single White Witch

Chapter 3: Found

Characters: Rowena, reader, Sam, OC

Pairing: Rowena x reader

Summary: When Rowena gets kidnapped by an unhinged witch, you enlist Sam’s help to rescue her.

Editor: @oswinthestrange

Martha's house couldn't have come into view soon enough. Hidden deep in the thick forest that stretched out for miles in all directions, it was a rather cozy little place, if the exterior was anything to go by. A perfect hiding spot for a solitary witch.

Especially if said witch was an unhinged kidnapper.

Sam parked the car about five hundred feet away, behind a clutter of particularly thick bushes and blossoming trees. If the two of you wanted to sneak up on Martha, you had to be inconspicuous, which would have been a tad difficult to do if you'd parked in her driveway. You might as well have rung the bell and politely, with tight smiles door-to-door salesmen and Jehovah's Witnesses would envy, asked for Rowena's return.

Yeah, that would end well.

Martha would never see you coming from the forest. Trees made for perfect camouflage.

"Ready?" Sam asked.

You mentally went over a few spells, readying them in case of emergency, and nodded. "Ready."

Sam grabbed the witch-killing-bullets-filled gun, and the two of you were on your way. He'd offered you the same gun, but you'd declined, deciding to stick with magic. You'd never fired a gun in your life. Getting a hold of one, even with the safety on, would most likely end in disaster. Knowing your luck, you would end up shooting yourself while aiming at Martha's head. You had mad auto-injury skills. Rowena was proud.

Rowena… How was she doing? Had Martha hurt her?

Stop it, Y/N! you chastised yourself, shaking the unpleasant thoughts away. Rowena was a big girl. She could hold her own against a forty-five-year old witch. Even if she was restrained, you had no doubt she could defend herself. Your girl had a big mouth and an even bigger, very Scottish vocabulary.

Unless said mouth and vocabulary got her in even more trouble, in which case you were ready to skin a bitch alive. But you couldn't think about that now. You had to focus on the good, on the positive, on the hopeful.

Maybe Martha hadn't taken her to harm her in the first place. She was obsessed with her; she wanted her in ways that would have been cute if they weren't disturbing. She loved her. Maybe that was why she'd kidnapped her — to be close to her, to have her for her own. It beat other, much less pleasant scenarios.

Sam and you sneaked out to the back of the house, behind a small, dilapidated shed. You let him take the lead and followed after him like a puppy. He was a hunter; he must have done this hundreds of times. You were just a witch, scared and worried out of your mind. It was why you'd called him for help. He knew what to do, and how to do it right.

"There's a back door," he said in a hushed voice. You glanced in the direction he was gesturing to, took in the teal-colored door, and nodded. "You take it, and I'll take the front door."

Panic bloomed up in your chest like flowers in spring, fresh and overwhelming. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I'll go in first, distract her if possible. Then you go in through the back and look for Rowena."

Sounded like a plan.

You gave a sharp nod, still unsure. You didn't know this house, didn't know the layout. What if there were more rooms than it looked like from the outside? What if all the doors were squeaky? What if there were traps? Martha was a good witch. You wouldn't put it past her to magic the house against intruders.

"You ready?" Sam asked, noticing your uncertainty.

"Not really."

He laid a hand on his shoulder, a kind, friendly gesture. His lips widened into a smile. "It's gonna be okay. We can do this."

"I know," you said after a moment's hesitation. You pulled on a grin, a fake one you hoped was convincing enough. "Let's go. Rowena gets fussy when she has to wait long."

Sam laughed, then, face growing serious, stalked towards the front of the house. You watched him like a hawk, intently, thoroughly, taking in his actions. Hoping you could be just as good, just as sneaky as him. Rowena counted on you. You had to do it. You could do it. If she were here, she would tell you so. She would believe in you. As difficult as it was for her, after centuries of betrayal and protective walls she'd hidden behind, she trusted you with her life. You wouldn't let her down.

If you were the one who was kidnapped, Rowena would tear the world apart to find you. She'd leave no stone, no teeny-tiny rock unturned. You owed it to her to do the same for her.

You waited a few moments after Sam entered the house (a fear-laden cringe spread over your face at the loud squeak of the front door. You hoped your entrance would be a lot quieter) before heading for the back door. Gently, tentatively, as if you were tending to someone's grave injury, you twisted the knob. A sigh of relief escaped you at the silence; you were lucky. As quietly as you could, you sneaked inside.

The hallway was dark. There were a few tiny tables and closets by the wall, each supporting a potted plant or two. Pictures in elegant frames lined the wall. Looking closer, you realized with a shudder that they were of Rowena. Martha was watching her. Not only that, but she'd taken pictures of her. A part of you was glad she'd cut you out of them, but the feeling of unease remained. This woman — this witch — was a stalker.

The only thing worse than a crazy person was a crazy person with stalking tendencies.

Had she watched the two of you together? Had she watched you hugging, kissing, messing around? Had she followed you home?

A knot, tight, aching, formed in your stomach at the thought, icy chills spilling down your spine. What if she did know where you lived? What if she was there? Following Rowena's brutal murder at Lucifer's hands, the two of you had warded the house heavily. Nobody and nothing uninvited could step foot inside. But Martha was a witch. What if she was looking for a way to get in?

What if she'd already found a way?

You decided, right then and there, that Martha Morgan would die. You'd fully intended to kill her for taking Rowena — this only helped cement your decision. She had to die. She was too dangerous to be allowed to live.

A large staircase came into view. Looking around to make sure you were in the clear, you rose up on your tiptoes and started walking up it. Another dark hallway greeted you. There were a few doors the same teal color as the back door. Preparing a spell in your mind, you reached for the one on your left when you heard a muffled sound. It was quiet, faint, but you could hear it clearly.

You stalked to the end of the hallway, following the strange sound. It seemed to be coming from the room furthest away. Please, be okay, you prayed to whoever was listening. Please, be okay. Please, be okay. Going over a few attack spells, just in case, you carefully opened the door.

Your heart stopped dead in its tracks.

Rowena was on the bed, wrists and ankles tied with belts. Her shoes and jacket were gone; looking around, you found them beside the bed, neatly resting on the floor. A black piece of fabric was wrapped around her mouth, a makeshift gag. She appeared to be unharmed. There were no bruises in sight, no cuts, no blood marring her skin or clothes.

You breathed out in relief. She was okay. And, now that you were here, she was safe.

Rowena's eyes lit up at the sight of you. She released a sigh, relief washing over her. You gave her your brightest smile.

"There you are," you said happily. "Been looking all over for you. You're a hard girl to find."

She rolled her eyes, prompting you to chuckle, and mumbled something that, from the tone and the look on her face, didn't seem very polite.

You shot her a mock glare. "Be nice. I'm here to rescue you."

Another mumble, identical tone. You had to laugh. Rowena was difficult, an acquired taste, but she was yours. You loved her more than anything and anyone in the world, and you knew she felt the same. Behind the sassy exterior there was a sweetheart, a softie that enjoyed kisses and cuddles, that called you "dearest" and made you tea and held your hand tight when you were sick.

"Yup, sweetie. I'm your knight in shining armor," you teased, earning you another eyeroll. Your little drama queen. She was a delight to mess with. You were one of the few people who dared do so; most knew her power and did their best to stay out of her way. Pissing off one of the deadliest witches in the world was far from a good idea.

You begged to disagree. You liked a good challenge. What was she going to do? Pout at you to death? Scrunch her face until you keeled over from adorableness?

But then, she was in love with you. Others weren't so lucky.

You undid the belts on Rowena's ankles, then hurried to do the same for her wrists. As soon as she was free, she ripped the gag off, threw it aside with a disgusted look on her face, and shot you a look that was so intense your knees felt weak underneath it.

"About bloody time," she said. Her tone was curt and to the point, but there was no malice in it, no hostility. She wasn't mad at you; she was simply doing what she always did when she was scared — put on a facade to hide behind, a steel-forged mask to fool the world into thinking she was fine, into thinking she was this cold, heartless bitch when she was anything but.

She should've known by now that you weren't the world. You knew her better than anyone.

Before you could utter an equally snippy response, Rowena pulled you down to the bed. Her arms fell around you, followed quickly by her legs. She clung to you like a koala, her grip tight, strong, almost suffocating. You wasted no time returning the hug, holding back with equal force. It felt so good to hold her, to feel the warmth of her skin on yours, to feel the soft vibrations of her heart. She was so small in your arms, so fragile. You never wanted to let her go again.

"I was so scared," you said. A few tears slipped down your cheeks as you flashed back to the sheer terror that had struck you when your eyes first fell upon the blue hex bag. So many scenarios had gone through your head, so many images horror movies would envy. You were glad, so very, very glad none of them came true.

"I know," Rowena said. "Me, too." It took a lot out of her to admit it, especially out loud. She rarely bared her soul. If something was bothering her, you usually had to fish the words out of her mouth.

Instinctively, your grip tightened. "Did she hurt you?"

"No. She wanted to shove a love potion down my throat, but—"

You pulled back and looked her in the eyes. "She what?"

Rowena sighed, tired. "She thinks you cast a spell on me to make me fall in love with you."

You blinked. Once. Twice. Three times. Then, like a flash flood, a bark of laughter tore from your mouth.

Even back when Rowena saw you as more of an accessory than a friend, long before you'd started dating, it had never crossed your mind, not for even a second, to spell her to change her mind about you. You could live with her paying you no mind, could live with her hating you and leaving you without a shred of remorse as long as she chose to do so. You never wanted to take her choice away from her.

After all, you weren't a psychotic witch who kidnapped people and wanted to force-feed them love potions.

"That was my reaction as well," Rowena said, amused. "Before she could do anything, she heard a noise and went to investigate."

A noise? Shit! "That's probably Sam."

Shock spread over Rowena's face like paint. "Samuel is here?"

"Yeah. I called him."

You turned away from her, suddenly ashamed. You couldn't even rescue your girlfriend on your own. Some witch you were. If roles were reversed, Rowena would've wiped the floor with Martha, untied you, and painted her nails at the same time.

She most certainly would never beg a hunter for help.

Rowena brought a hand to your cheek, cupping it with utmost tenderness. She tilted your head back to look you in the eyes. "I'm glad you did." Her voice was as soft and gentle as her touch, a silky melody that soothed your nerves.

"I didn't wanna take any chances," you said honestly. Two people were better than one. You would never risk her safety to protect your ego.

"You did good," she told you, every word screaming honesty. She was proud of you, you realized. Proud and happy to see you. She never would have wanted you to endanger yourself for her. She wasn't that selfish — not anymore.

"I love you so much, Rowena. So, so much."

"I love you all the same, darling."

You knew. You knew very well, yet every time she said it your heart jumped wildly as if it was the very first time. There was a time when those words were nothing but your imagination, daydreams you never thought would come true. Never, in your wildest dreams, could you have imagined you would be hearing them almost every single day.

Rowena looked around. "Did you happen to see my shoes? That utter fanny took them. Those are Louboutins!" Her face was the picture of outrage. She looked as if she wanted to skin Martha alive solely for that.

Swallowing a laugh, you said, "They're right there." You pointed to behind the bed. "So is your jacket."

She breathed out in relief. "She'd better not have damaged them."

Mess with her shoes, and you were dead. You'd learned the hard way to stay far, far away from her footwear. If there was even a single scratch on them, Martha was dead meat.

"They look fine."

Rowena's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "We'll see."

"Your shoes are undamaged," a heavy-Southern-accented voice you never thought you'd hear again said, startling you. "I respect other people's possessions."

Martha stood in the doorway looking strangely imposing, almost threatening. One of her hands held onto Sam's forearm, her other one clutching a gun, holding it pressed straight against his temple. His gun, you realized as a pang of shock rushed through you, the one meant to kill her. It would have been ironic if it wasn't tragic.

You gulped, arms instinctively tightening around Rowena. Sam's eyes met yours, puppy-like, apologetic. You responded with a small shake of your head. It wasn't his fault. It was you who'd gotten him into this mess, you who'd called him begging for help. If anything, you were the one to blame.

"Do you?" you said in a tone that was a tad snarkier than intended. Pissing off the enemy wasn't the best idea, but you couldn't help it.

"Unlike you, I do," Martha replied in the same tone.

You snorted. "That's rich, coming from a kidnapper."

"All I did was rescue Rowena from your clutches." There was a strange conviction in her tone, utmost, absolute honesty. She believed what she was saying. She truly, genuinely believed her actions were justified.

A shudder ran through you at the realization. Villains who were evil for the sake of being evil were one thing. Those who were evil because they thought they were in the right were something completely different. Something, dare you say, terrifying. No amount of reasoning with them would work.

Martha suddenly seemed much more dangerous than you'd initially believed. In her delusion, she was saving Rowena, setting her free from your spell. There was nothing she wouldn't do to keep her safe.

Just like there was nothing you wouldn't do. You'd killed for her. Threatened. Destroyed. You'd done things you never would have done before, all in the name of love. Martha would do the same. Just because the threat wasn't real didn't mean she didn't perceive it as such. And, as such, it — you — and everything and everyone else that stood in her way had to be eliminated.

"I would never hurt her," you said, though you knew it was futile. The woman was far too gone for reason. Your hand slid up to the back of Rowena's head, cupping it, pressing it against you. A protective gesture, one you displayed every time she awoke from nightmares to let her know she was safe, that you were here and you wouldn't let anyone hurt her. "Never."

Martha was watching you like a hawk. For a moment it seemed as if she would snap, but then she sucked in a breath to regain her composure and said in a voice that was too calm to be friendly, "You're a liar. And Rowena will see it soon enough."

"You're not getting that potion anywhere near her!" you snarled.

"I'll do whatever's necessary to set her free."

"Y/N's already done that," Rowena said with a sardonic smile, shooting a brief glance to the discarded belts.

"She's brainwashed you, dear," Martha said as if she were speaking to a child, voice soft, motherly. It made your stomach turn. "She's making you think—"

"You're fucking crazy!" you snapped, having had enough of her nonsense.

"And you're a rapist!" she retorted. "Spelling her, making her do god-knows-what… She doesn't want you!"

"No, she doesn't want you!" you spat. You were a rapist? You? The mere thought made you want to burst into uncontrollable laughter. Rich accusation, coming from a woman who wanted to force-feed Rowena a love potion.

"We'll see about that," Martha said. "Let her go, and I'll release the hunter."

You looked to her, then to Sam, and then to Rowena. You wanted nothing more than to hold Rowena tighter, if it was possible at this point. Wanted nothing more than to keep her safe, to protect her from this lunatic.

But you also wanted to help Sam. He was in trouble because of you. If you hadn't called him…

Rowena unwrapped her legs and pulled away from you. You grabbed her hand. "Rowena…"

"It's fine," she assured you. Glancing at Martha, she said, "Let him go. He's got nothing to do with this."

Damn her and her newfound conscience!

"Come here," Martha told her.

She tried to get up, but you put a hand on her shoulder, holding her in place. "Wait."

"I have to do this, Y/N."

"No, you don't." Your eyes found Sam's. I'm sorry, they said. Guilt tore at your heart, ripped it to pieces with every beat. As much as you wanted to help him, you wanted to help Rowena more. Wanted to protect her, as you always did. Wanted to keep her safe. If you had to choose between the two of them, you chose her. You would choose her every time.

"Y/N, please," Rowena said. The look in her eyes echoed her words, pleading, desperate. Guilty around the edges for reasons you couldn't comprehend. She laid a hand over yours, fingers wrapping around yours, squeezing tightly. A wordless promise that it would be okay, that she would be okay.

Sighing, you nodded and released her. You threw a glare at Martha, a sharp, pointed one. This wasn't over, it said. Not by a longshot. You came here to rescue Rowena, and that was exactly what you would do.

The other witch's face was the picture of triumph. Lips wide in a smile, features lit up, almost on fire, eyes gleaming like fireworks… All that was left was an evil cackle, which you were certain she was capable of. She looked it.

"Good girl," she said.

Rowena scowled at her. Getting to her feet, she slowly, tentatively stepped forward. Martha watched her, happy, joyous. It made your stomach turn. That woman had no right to look at your girlfriend like that, like she was a piece of meat, a trophy to be claimed. That was all Rowena was to her; a possession, an object. She may have thought she loved her, or cared about her, or whatever else she'd deluded herself into. The truth was, she wanted to own her. She wanted to have her just so you wouldn't anymore.

You couldn't let that happen, couldn't let this woman, this psycho, get her hands on your girl again. You hadn't worked so hard to earn Rowena's trust, and eventually her love, for some middle-aged, tantrum-throwing toddler to steal her from you.

Martha's eyes were on Rowena. Her hold on Sam wavered, gun looser against his temple. You looked at him, then at the witch, and back at him. As if he'd read your mind, he gave a small, barely noticeable nod. A silent go ahead.

Sucking in a deep breath for courage, you raised up a forefinger and, focused solely on Martha, shouted at the top of your lungs, "ABI!"

As if carried by an unseen force, Martha flew backwards. She slammed into the wall, her massive body leaving a dent in the concrete, and, with a loud yelp of pain, fell to the floor. Sam collapsed along with her, her hand only letting go of him once they were both down.

Rowena gasped, startled, but quickly composed herself and ran to the hunter's side. You followed after her when Martha, red faced and panting and pissed to high heavens, jumped to her feet and lunged at you like a wild animal. Before you could even think to defend yourself, she was straddling you, holding you in place. A rain of punches and scratches fell on your face, incessant, never-ending, a downpour of pain. You screamed as you raised your hands in attempts to shove her off, but she slapped them away and continued her assault.

"She's mine!" she shrieked. "You can't have her! She's mine!"

"Stop it!" you exclaimed.

"I won't let you take her from me!"

"Crazy cunt!" you spat.

Letting out an offended gasp, Martha punched you straight in the mouth. "You don't deserve her!"

Before you could utter another insult, Rowena shouted, "Impetus bestiarum!"

Martha stilled as if frozen. Her fists fell to her sides, limp, useless. Red veins framed her eyes; she looked up, head twitching like a junkie craving a fix.

Swallowing a lump that had formed in your throat, you turned to Rowena. Her hands were up, fingers clenched, glare fixed on Martha. Fury lined her face, made her teeth clench and the corners of her mouth twitch.

"End it," she said calmly.

Martha looked at you, then at her, before getting on her feet.

Then she lunged for the window and jumped in a rain of glass and blood.

A thud sounded as her body hit the floor. Rowena exhaled in relief before kneeling by you, hand clutching yours as if she hadn't held it in days.

"Are you okay?" she asked, voice soft, almost motherly.

"Yeah," you replied. "Thank you." Your fingers traced your face; there were a few cuts, and a couple of places stung, soon to blossom into bruises.

"That hag had no right to lay her hands on my wee girl."

"Exactly why I Abi'd her."

Raising up into a sitting position, you pulled her into a hug. She returned it, holding with equal ferocity.

"Don't you ever get kidnapped again," you said.

"I solemnly swear I will try not to," Rowena said with a chuckle.

"Good. I hate getting beaten up to save your ass," you teased.

"At least your shoes weren't stolen."

"Your shoes are fine, unlike my face."

"Um, guys?"

Frowning, the two of you separated and glanced back. Sam was looking at you with a mixture of impatience and relief.

You were so caught up in Rowena that you'd forgotten he was here.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Aye," Rowena said. "And you?"

He gave a small nod.

"Sorry for… y'know, blasting you," you said, apologetic.

He smiled. "Don't worry about it. You all set to go?"

"Yeah," you said.

"Let's go home," Rowena agreed and made a disgusted face. "I need a bath."

"Of course you do," you deadpanned.

She cocked up an eyebrow. "Lass, I just saved your arse."

"And I saved yours," you reminded her. "So we're even."

She sighed. "Why do I put up with you?"

"Because you love me."

"Maybe you did spell me," she joked.

"Sure."

The banter persisted the entire way home, much to Sam's chagrin. But, despite the surface annoyance, the smile never left his mouth. His friend was okay, and was reunited with her girlfriend. She was happy.

Mission accomplished.

Tags: @werewolfbarbie @oswinthestrange @songofthecagedmoose @apurdyfulmind @getthesalt-sam @metallihca @salembitchtrials @jay-eris @hellsmother @elizabeth-effie @victoriasagittariablack @rowenaswife @dropsofpetrichor @xfireandsin @liddell-alien @hotdiggitydammit @thai-inette @darkhumorsblog @wayward-kaia @angel7376 @rowenaisfabulous @ruthieconnells @evil-regal-vampiress @collectorofsecretsandsouls @angel-e-v-a

[ask--rhys]

Distraction

Atlas!Rhys x Reader

A/N: I had posted this yesterday but Tumblr cucked me and it all got deleted. So-- I had to retype it all. I am sorry for the delay.  I am not used to doing x reader stuff so this is more of a warmup thing? If you want a part 2, let me know.  This was requested by Anonymous, I hope you enjoy!

Summary: After building Atlas from its former shambles, the newly found CEO Rhys finds himself to be overwhelmed with work until a familiar face reappears in his life. A new assistant. 

A long, harsh day weighed heavily on the back of the CEO’s neck. Paperwork, staff complaints, remodeling mishaps, bandit attacks, the list seems to never end. Rhys began to think he’s in way over his head- even though he has his friends to help, there is only so much they can do. The young man sat stiffly at his work cluttered desk with his elbows propped on the hard surface. His stressed face occupied by the familiar warmth and the cool metallic sting of his hands. A man lost in thought brought back to reality by a knock at the large metal door. The simple tone of the knock is one he grown accustom to. The pattern is none other than Fiona’s three prong bunny-hop knock. An oddly childish tune from such a serious person. Before Rhys could respond, the automated door had slid open while FIona entered and a familiar face followed closely behind. “So, Rhys, got a minute? I may have solved your little problem.” The stylish ex-con basted with a slight cocky tone. With immediate interest, his head rose from his hands with his miscolored gaze trailed to his friend who stood with her hand on her hip. However, his attention went to the slender figure behind her. His eyes traced over the details of your face and ended at your eyes. Those beautiful e/c eyes. He could recognize them anywhere. The two used to work together at the late Hyperion Station. It’s to Rhys’s relief that you’re still alive and in one piece. “Y/n” The CEO stammered out. “Oh, so you two already know one another?” Fiona asked. “Well, that makes this a lot easier. Sasha said that they’re pretty handy with organization and..stuff.” She paused slightly as if she were trying to remember what her sister had said. “I.uh..” Rhys seemed distracted for a moment before he shook himself out of his thoughts. “Yeah, we used to be old co-workers. “ The tired tone struck harder than he had expected, in hopes to ease the fatigue he allowed a friendly smile to occupy his lips. “It’s good to see you again. How have you been?” You seemed rather surprised that Rhys would remember you. Yes you two worked together but you two didn’t talk much. It wasn’t that you didn’t want to, you just didn’t know how to approach him. Every time you tried to hold a conversation with the cyborg, you would fumble over your own words or his friend Vaughn would claim his attention. Though, the awkward play continued for years, you two always managed to help one another and make the cluttered environment of Hyperion seem less as such. You both had a silent appreciation and trust of that. Rhys, however, wasn’t any better at holding conversation. He himself found it difficult to talk to you. Not for any harsh reason, only because he found you very attractive which caused him to be a loss for words. Perhaps he was taken back by the fact that someone like yourself would be wanting to talk to him? Either way, he knew his luck when it came to talking to people of interest, so he kept his mouth shut most of the time. “It’s good to see you too, sir.” You replied in a polite yet formal tone. A soft smile formed on your lips  in return of the friendly gesture. “I’m-- alive.” You responded with a quiet chuckle to follow. Your gaze met his for a moment --as if his heart had skipped a beat, Rhys seemed to be at a loss for words. Those feelings from before had struck back in the harshest way possible. That smile, he never realized how much he missed it. After a moment of awkward silence and staring from the dreaming CEO, he finally stammered a question. “Not that I’m complaining but, why are you both here? Please tell me you brought food--”

“Well, as I said before you treader off to...where ever you go in that weird brain of yours, I may have found a solution to your problems.” Fiona nodded in your direction before continuing. “Y/n here seems sane enough to help you out. Kinda like an assistant.” “I don’t need an assi-” “Shut up, yes you do.” She interrupted the CEO. “Have you seen yourself? You have more bags under your eyes than Vallory does her entire body.” She walked to the desk and leaned her hands against the edge.  “C’mon Rhys. This is one time I’m practically handing you help. What do you have to lose?” Rhys glanced from you to Fiona then back to you who stood behind, patiently waiting for them to finish. You felt uneasy knowing the two of you were talking about you as if you were not there. You felt his gaze on you once more which in return was met by yours. Little did you notice the heat rising in your cheeks, causing you to blush. Was it perhaps that someone was staring at you? Or, that you were scanning over the details of Rhys’ slender face. From his two-toned eyes to those soft lips trailing to the tattoo that peeked ever so carelessly from the neck of his outfit. You found him cute before but now.. he has changed so much. Even in this tired, stressed state you found him to be very handsome. “Alright .” His soothing voice pulled you back to reality. “You win, Fi.” “When have I ever lost to you?” A chuckle of victory cooed from her voice before turning on her heels to walk towards the exit. “Have fun you two. You know where to find me if you need me. So....try to not need me.” With that, Fiona left the office as the door closed behind her. Now it’s just the two of you, aware of such, you began to awkwardly fiddle with the edge of your jacket while you waited to be given orders. Admittedly, Rhys has never had an assistant before so he was unsure on where to have you begin. Also, knowing there wasn’t a spare desk in the room made him feel a bit uneasy. “Please, have a seat.” He managed to speak with a motion of his hand to one of the cushioned seats in front of his desk.”Make yourself comfortable.” You did as told and sat on the oddly comfortable chair. It seemed to envelop you in nothing but soft warmth which you found extremely cozy. It became obvious when a soft sigh of relief escaped your lip without intention. A soft, genuine smile formed on Rhys’ lips once more, happy to know that you found comfort even in the clutter. “Well, if you don’t mind, I’ll have you work at my desk until we can figure something out for you, desk wise.” “Oh, I don’t mind at all, sir.” You replied in a happy tone. “As long as I’m helping in some way, I’ll work anywhere you need me.” Your soft voice sent chills throughout the aching body of the CEO. “I..w-well..Thank you.” He replied.

Distracting himself from you, he looked over the piles of paper in front of him in hopes to find something to get you started on. He found just the thing. Taking a couple of piles, he placed them in front of you. “Do you mind sorting through these and separating the urgent from the others? If you find doubles, just toss’em. If you’re unsure of what’s what, feel free to ask. And please, just call me Rhys.” With a quick wink, his focus turned to the monitor in front of him. That familiar heat rose back into your cheeks from the charm of this man. Taking the stack, you began to quickly skim through reading key words to see what was absolutely important and what could be trashed. This went on for several minutes with nothing but the clacking of his keyboard and the sounds of papers being turned to fill the silence. The sounds began to irritate you a bit so you spoke up to fill the dead silence. “It’s been a while since we’ve talked. What happened? I heard you were being hunted down by Vasquez for a while.” The clacking stopped for a brief moment before a sigh followed. “That...is a long story.” “I have time if you’re willing to tell.” Rhys looked at you with a spark that seemed to shine in his eyes. His heart bubbled with a feeling he hasn’t felt in a long time. He truly has missed you. “Well, it all started with a...job change.” Rhys began. You both continued to work while Rhys told of his adventure of how he ended up as the newly found CEO of Atlas. Of course, there were many times he had gotten way into the story and acted out a few things and of course did silly voices when impersonating other people. The next few hours seemed to pass quickly as the two talked, you asking follow-up questions of his story which allowed him to know you were listening.   The end of the day crept quickly upon you both, catching both by surprise. As the alarm chimes, the sound used to be pleasing to the CEO’s ears. This time, he felt disappointment in his gut. The both of you look at each other for a brief moment, silence filling the room. You stand from your chair and straighten your top before turning your attention back to Rhys. As soon as you were about to speak, he beat you to the punch.  “Y/n. Would you..like to..maybe.. uh..” The man began to rub the back of his neck while his eyes shifted to the side. “Would you like to get a drink? It’ll be on me.” You gave your boss an odd look, as if you thought he was kidding but noticing how nervous he acted, you gave him a solid answer. “I would love to, Rhys.” 

[consulting-celiac-in-the-tardis]

21 Easy (and Cozy) Self Care Ideas to Practice this Winter

New blog post! Now that winter is making days shorter, colder and darker, it's more important than ever to make self care part of your regular routine. And I'm not talking about the Instagram #selfcare that requires fancy bath bombs or expensive lotions. I'm talking about 21 easy ways that you can get cozy and relaxed this winter, whether you're a college student like me, a busy mother of two or a full-time worker with a demanding job schedule.

Some of these self care ideas may seem obvious, but others may surprise you - and many of them are scientifically-backed ways to tackle stress. So regardless of how busy you may be this holiday season, check out these 21 ways you can add more self care into your holly, jolly life.

1. Make yourself a warm, welcoming drink.

On cold winter days, it probably feels natural to reach for something cozy to warm you up. If you're really looking for help relaxing, though, fill your mug with tea. Research has found that drinking tea can help lower people's stress levels. Plus, it can be pretty dang delicious! (If you have celiac disease, just make sure it's gluten free).

2. Watch a sappy holiday-inspired show or movie.

Sometimes, we don't need an award-winning movie or TV show to enjoy ourselves. At least a few times this winter, embrace your silly or sentimental side by watching a bad Hallmark movie or bingeing your favorite holiday baking show. (And if you eat chocolate while doing it, that's obviously worth bonus points).

3. Go thrifting for cute and comfy winter clothes.

Updating your wardrobe for winter doesn't have to hurt your wallet. Instead, make looking for comfy hats, mittens or scarfs a fun adventure by hitting up your local second-hand store.

4. Be your own masseuse.

Massage has been shown to reduce people's physical tension and mental stress - and if you have a chronic illness or chronic pain like me, a good massage is always a good idea! You don't need to hire a high-end masseuse to reap some of these benefits, either. Give yourself a massage instead by rubbing your own muscles while lotioning up after your shower or using a tennis ball or foam roller to break up any knots and tension. Pair this massage with a relaxing bubble bath and you have the makings of a perfect self-date night.

5. Set aside extra time to read a book, just for fun.

I know that winter can be a busy time with friends and family, but don't forget to set aside some alone time in your schedule. Add a good book into the equation, and your quiet night in will be extra enjoyable.

6. Bake yourself something festive!

Besides getting to eat a delicious pumpkin or apple inspired treat, you'll feel nice and cozy when your kitchen is warm from the oven and smelling like the holidays. (And if you need some ideas for gluten free pumpkin desserts or baked goods, try out this recent round up of mine!).

7. Walk it out (outdoors or at a local gym).

Depending on the weather where you live, going for a walk outside might not be an option. Even if you have to go for a walk inside, though, your brain will still thank you. Research has found that exercise can drastically improve people's mental health, and even just walking will lower how often people have "bad days."

8. Take up a new, indoor hobby.

And if being outdoors is realllly not an option, starting a new hobby that takes place indoors is ideal. Start putting together puzzles, learning how to cross-stitch...or even practicing rock-climbing, like I did last year! Who knows - you may end up finding a hobby that you love doing year-round.

9. Try out hot yoga.

Because there's no better escape for winter weather than a relaxing, mantra-and-stretch filled session of hot yoga.

10. Light one of your favorite candles.

More research still needs to be done on the benefits of aromatherapy, but science seems to suggest that certain scents can help us chilllll out. Find a scent that you enjoy, like lavender or peppermint, and experiment with burning different candles and seeing which smells work best for you!

11. Purge your social media feeds.

You've heard of spring cleaning, but winter is another great time to set yourself up for a fresh start in the New Year. If you find yourself spending more time than ever on social media since it's too cold or dreary to go outside, pay attention to how each account makes you feel and ditch the ones that aren't doing you any favors.

12. Get crafty and let out your inner child.

Create a wreath to hang on your door, use colorful pens and papers to create homemade cards or just doodle in a notebook. These kinds of creative activities have been linked to improved mood and creativity the next day...plus, you might end up with some very cute gifts to give this Christmas. Win-win!

13. Pamper yourself with a face mask.

I've only started using face masks this last year, and the hype is worth it. My favorite is a simple mix of honey with cinnamon that I apply on "problem areas" for around 10-15 minutes before washing it off, but there are tons of safe (and even delicious!) face mask recipes you can find online. No fancy or expensive ingredients or products required. Plus, dry winter skin will definitely thank you for the extra TLC.

14. Dust off your crockpot and experiment with a new yummy recipe.

I know I've certainly been lax in using my crockpot lately, and it can be hard to feel motivated to start cooking dinner first thing in the morning. But your future self will definitely thank you for the little bit of prep you do earlier, and winter is the perfect time to whip up something warm and gooey. May I suggest my crockpot stacked enchiladas or vegan mac and cheese?

15. Throw a pajama party.

Whether you have a solo party or invite friends, spend a whole, blissful day hanging out in your PJs.

16. Do something nice for someone else. 

Acts of kindness have actually been scientifically shown to improve people's physical and mental health, so passing it forward this winter is actually a win-win. Donate to a local toy-drive, send a care package to a solider or pay for the next person's coffee in Starbucks. Little acts can have a big impact.

17. Start a gratitude practice.

If you're the journaling type, you can start writing what you're grateful for every day in a notebook. Otherwise, sticky notes or just thinking about two things you're grateful for each morning or night will still give you a positivity boost!

18. Set aside time to play your favorite "pointless" game.

Whether it's Sudoku, Words With Friends or a video game that you used to play for hours every day in high school, give yourself permission to just sit back and play for a little while. I know that during most of the year, I'm a major multi-tasker and anytime I do get to play a game, it's because I'm traveling or waiting to start another chore. So chillin' (pun intended) with my gamer self during winter is one of my favorite ways to relax.

19. Declutter at least one part of your house.

Along with purging your social media feeds, on days when cold weather keeps you in the house, you might try purging cluttered corners as well. Decluttering can not only improve concentration, but it can also improve your mood, lower your stress levels and give you a better night's sleep. And if you play your latest Netflix binge, favorite podcast or an epic holiday playlist in the background, you can make decluttering feel a lot more fun too.

20. Stretch yo' body.

At least for me, finding the motivation for a hard workout feels a lot harder when it's cold, dark and dreary outside. So on days when you feel like you're in a funk but don't feel up for a full workout, do some gentle stretches (even in the comfort of your own bed!) instead. It will loosen up your muscles, slash your stress and might even help you be more productive at work.

21. Choose a mantra for the upcoming year.

Obviously, you shouldn't spend all winter pining for spring...but it can't hurt to spend a little time reflecting on what you want from the upcoming months. In 2018, my word or mantra of the year was "discomfort." In 2019, it was "open." And while I haven't decided exactly what word I want to keep in mind during the start of a new decade, I think something similar to "change" will end up winning. What do you want to get out of this Spring? You still have some cold weeks to help you figure out your answer!

The Bottom Line of Self Care During Winter

As the days get colder and our social schedules get busier, it's easy to let self care fall to the bottom of our to-do list. I know from personal experience, though, that you can't run on empty...and when you better yourself through self care, you're also empowering yourself to be a better friend, family member, and personal overall! So this winter, give yourself the gift of self care rituals...and if you need even more ideas, feel free to check out my previous roundups: How to Create Your Own Self Care Retreat in 5 Easy Steps; 15 Self Care Activities You Can Do Without Leaving Bed; and 21 Self Care Activities You Can Do in 15 Minutes or Less! How are you taking care of yourself this winter? Give me more of your own self care ideas in the comments below! via Blogger https://ift.tt/2OKlqR3

[studyfiller]

i’m about to start my 3rd year of dorm living, so i’d like to think i’m extremely qualified to tell incoming freshmen/future dorm residents how to live their lives! this is the first half of a two part series on advice for living in a dorm: PACKING.

hands down the most important thing to consider when you’re packing is DORMS ARE SMALL. the actual size/layout/quality of freshman dorms varies a ton from school to school (depending on the amount of $port$ ca$h your school gets tbh) but in general, they’re just really darn small. you don’t need that much stuff, because you just won’t be able to fit that much stuff.

i’m not going to give a full packing list because there are already a bajillion of those and you all know what towels are for, but here is a list of some dorm packing do’s and don’ts from experience.

helpful! bring it!

board games/cards - the best way to have a fun night in and make friends. you might be able to borrow games from somewhere, but they will be missing all their pieces, so bring your own to be safe. my personal faves are ticket to ride and hearts. play monopoly if you really wanna get deep in people’s psyches.

an electric kettle - lots of classic dorm convenience foods like tea, oatmeal, and ramen can be made in about 40 seconds with a kettle. i never had one before college and now i will never live without one again.

extra lighting of all kinds - i have 150 feet of string lights, a desk lamp, and a floor lamp that i use instead of literally ever turning on the disgusting fluorescent overheads. it’s so much cozier and less headache inducing.

command hooks - get a million in all sizes and put them everywhere. you probably won’t be allowed to use nails or pins, so use command hooks and strips instead. just be aware that depending on how shoddily constructed your room is, they can take chunks of paint or drywall with them when you take them off.

a fan - you will probably not have any control over your room’s temp. your room will never, ever be the temperature you want it to be. dorms can be surprisingly hot year round, especially in older buildings with weird insulation.

stuff to make your bed comfy - if you splurge on anything for your dorm, it should be your mattress topper. dorm mattresses feel like plywood. also blankets, pillows, etc. you will spend most of your time in/on your bed, so make it cozy!

a corkscrew - wikihow is lying to you, it is unbelievably difficult to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew. the shoe thing does not work.

not helpful! don’t bother!

extra furniture - you will not have room. you will not use it. the furniture that comes with the room is fine. if you have guests they will not sit on your very cute ottoman, they will just sit on your nice comfy school-provided bed.

expensive bedding - when i say you will spend most of your time in bed i mean it. that means eating, drinking, studying, probably brushing your teeth at some point. your bedding will inevitably get all kinds of shit on it, which is fine when it was $30 at target and less fine when it was $300 from anthropologie or wherever.

any decor that can’t be hung up - i mean any. mayyybe bring one or two sentimental trinkets from home, but you will want to reserve the majority of your space for storage. random shit you bought because it’s cute will just turn into unwanted clutter. shelf space is an important commodity and you shouldn’t fill it up with fake succulents or whatever. the one exception i will give you is posters/photos/tapestries/wall stuff that doesn’t eat up space.

stuff with only one purpose - random gadgets like fabric steamers or keurigs just won’t get used as much as you think they will, and they take up space. also a key part of college life is figuring out how to diy stupid and slightly dangerous solutions to everyday problems (you don’t need a keurig for k cups, all you need is a sharp knife and a willingness to pour boiling water on your fingers!)

above all, don’t overthink it! remember that there are stores at school too. it’s better to underpack a little and pick stuff up as you need it than to bring everything you think you might ever need and then have nowhere to put it all.  i live 2000 miles from my school, and i brought two suitcases from home and did not buy anything except sheets until the day before orientation, and i was fine. every dorm (and every student) is different, and you won’t necessarily know what you really need and can fit until you see the space.

stay tuned for the next installment, COMMUNAL LIVING!