#and they allow donations year round
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
eumenidaes · 2 years ago
Text
Stanning ao3 is so embarrassing. Why would you try to justify everything that a site that allows people to post porn about real life teenagers does
3 notes · View notes
afeelgoodblog · 1 year ago
Text
The Best News of Last Month
Sorry for being not active this month as I had some health problems. I'll start posting weekly now :) Meanwhile here's some good from last month
1. Widow donates $1 billion to medical school, giving free tuition forever
Tumblr media
Ruth Gottesman surprised by her late husband's $1 billion in Berkshire stock, decides to donate it in full to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York City's poorest borough. The donation is intended to cover students' tuition indefinitely, ensuring access to medical education for generations.
A video capturing students' emotional reactions to the news, cheering and crying, circulated after the announcement, highlighting the profound impact of the donation on the medical school community.
2. Electric school buses outperform diesel in extreme cold
Tumblr media
In Colorado's West Grand School District, electric school buses outperformed their diesel counterparts, particularly in the bitterly cold temperatures of towns like Kremmling, where morning temperatures can drop below -30 degrees Fahrenheit. Despite common concerns about reduced range in extreme weather, the electric buses maintained their battery charge even in these frigid conditions, providing reliable transportation for students.
This success has been welcomed by the school district, as diesel vehicles also face challenges in starting in Colorado's harsh winter weather.
3. Christian Bale unveils plans to build 12 foster homes in California
Tumblr media
Christian Bale has led a tour round the new village in California where he plans to build 12 foster homes, as well as two studio flats to help children transition into independent living, and a 7,000 sq ft community centre.
The actor has spearheaded the building of a unique complex of facilities with the aim of keeping siblings in the foster care system together, and ideally under the same roof.
4. Average lifespan of a person with Down syndrome has increased from 25 years in 1983 to 60 years today
Tumblr media
Today the average lifespan of a person with Down syndrome is approximately 60 years.
As recently as 1983, the average lifespan of a person with Down syndrome was 25 years. The dramatic increase to 60 years is largely due to the end of the inhumane practice of institutionalizing people with Down syndrome.
5. Greece legalises same-sex marriage
Tumblr media
Greece has become the first Christian Orthodox-majority country to legalise same-sex marriage. Same-sex couples will now also be legally allowed to adopt children after Thursday's 176-76 vote in parliament.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the new law would "boldly abolish a serious inequality".
6. Massachusetts police K9 tracks scent for over 2 miles to find missing 12-year-old in freezing cold
Tumblr media
A Massachusetts police K9 followed her nose to help find a 12-year-old who went missing in frigid temperatures last week, tracking the child’s scent for over two miles, authorities said.
K9 Biza, a female German shepherd, was called on to help after officers learned the child left their home at around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday and was last seen in the Pakachoag Hill area of Auburn, the Auburn Police Department said.
7. Good News for the Socially Anxious: People Like You a Lot More Than You Think They Do, New Research Confirms
Tumblr media
The "Lake Wobegon effect" or "illusory superiority" phenomenon highlights people's tendency to overestimate their abilities, but recent research suggests that in social interactions, individuals often underestimate their likability and charm.
Studies indicate that people consistently fail to recognize signals of others' liking toward them, leading to a "liking gap" where individuals believe they are less likable than they actually are.
Techniques such as focusing more on others during conversations and genuinely expressing interest in them can help alleviate social anxiety by shifting the focus away from self-criticism. Ultimately, understanding that others may also experience similar anxieties can lead to a more relaxed and enjoyable social experience.
---
That's it for this week :)
This newsletter will always be free. If you liked this post you can support me with a small kofi donation here:
Buy me a coffee ❤️
Also don’t forget to reblog this post with your friends.
3K notes · View notes
tittyinfinity · 12 days ago
Text
Tumblr media
Omar is a friend of mine whose father has been in the hospital struggling to afford treatment while experiencing an ongoing genocide. He has already lost many family members and his father is one of the only people he has left. It has been extremely difficult for him to raise the funds to get to safety because he has had to pay for his father's treatment. His GoFundMe for evacuation is here, but more urgently, he needs $1020 for the next round of treatment for his father. Donating directly to paypal allows him to receive the funds faster.
Please don't let Omar's father die. He is only 18 years old and doesn't have much family left.
paypal.me/xanadoodle
372 notes · View notes
lovesickonmybed · 5 months ago
Text
amateur | 18+
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
masterlist | series masterlist | info abt palestine | donate to gaza
pairing | college roommate! vi x innocent!reader
synopsis | in an attempt to break the tension your roommate suggests a little game of truth or dare that quickly turns humiliating.
warnings | 18+ mdni!! college roommate!vi, innocent!reader, humiliation, underage drinking, an excessive use of 'cupcake', temperature play, college au, dom!vi, sub!reader, possibly ooc vi?, fingering gone wrong, dubcon, foot stuff, a very minor amount of puppy play, panty play, boot worship, masturbation, toys, and hair pulling.
word count | 3.5k
a/n | ahh i'm really excited to be writing again and actually feel good about what i'm putting out!! thank you to @joeloverture for checking this over for me and being the reason i even watched arcane in the first place!! this fic is named after amateur by scene queen btw <3
Tumblr media
Nobody expects to sleep with their roommate, and nobody expects to become their roommate's little plaything. When you met Vi you weren’t sure how you’d get along, she was confident and outspoken, you were quiet and reserved. The first week you hardly spoke, that was until she pulled out a brand new bottle of Absolut. She motioned for you to join her on the floor and set out a shot glass for each of you. 
“I feel like I hardly know you, play a little game with me, Roomie,” Vi says as she leans back against her bed, her legs crossed over one another. You were both dressed in your pajamas, Vi in a black tank top and matching sweats, you in Hooters tank top and black shorts. 
“What kind of game are we talking here?” You ask, mirroring her movements from before as you try to get comfortable on the rough carpeted floor.
“A little drinking game that I like to call truth, drink, or dare,” Vi smirks, setting the bottle of Absolut on the floor between the two of you. You stare it down nervously, the closest you’ve gotten to drinking is the one glass of champagne your parents allow you on New Years. 
“Uhh…I-I don’t know. I’m not much of a drinker and is that a real game or-” Before you can finish your sentence Vi cuts you off.
“Yes, it’s a real game…I’ve played it before, alright? Why don’t you give it a few rounds and see how you feel, yeah?” Vi asks, trying her hardest to convince you to play. It’s been a long, very awkward week. You sigh and give in to your need to break the tension between the two of you.
“Okay,” You sigh, “Fuck it, I’ll play. Just don’t make me do something insane or I’m asking for a dorm switch,” You threaten half jokingly. 
“Hell yeah, I can work with that. I guess I should explain the rules, it’s pretty much just truth or dare but if you feel like pussying out you take a shot,” Vi explains excitedly. This might be the happiest you’ve seen her all week. You’re still not entirely sure what her major is but anytime she comes back from class she looks bored out of her mind or simply annoyed that she has to go. The only time you’ve really seen her happy is when she comes back from boxing practice or the gym. You do have to admit that she looks pretty good all sweaty, it makes you just want to-
“Hey! You zoning out on me? Let’s start, cupcake,” Vi says, snapping her fingers in front of your face and literally snapping you out of your almost dirty thoughts about her. Your cheeks heat up at the nickname and you pray she can’t tell you’re blushing. 
“Shit, sorry. Uh yeah, you can start,” You stumble over your words and half pray that she’ll ask you something outrageous so you have an excuse to take a shot, it might help your nerves. 
“I usually let the guest start but if you insist. So, truth or dare?”
You sigh, taking 5 seconds to make up your mind about which to pick. “Uhh, truth.”
She chuckles, “Y’know I should’ve expected you’d pick the safe option. Hmm…I’ll start decently tame. Do you smoke?” 
“Like cigarettes or-” 
Vi laughs loud, “I’ll take that as a no. And no, I’m talking about weed.”
Your cheeks heat up with embarrassment, “S-Sorry…I grew up pretty sheltered I guess.”
“You could say that again, Cupcake.”
You hate how hot your cheeks get when she calls you that. You dig your fingers into the carpet, playing with the rough material to try and get yourself to chill the fuck out. 
“I guess it’s my turn to ask, huh.” You look over at her side of the room hoping something will give you an idea. Her side of the room is covered in posters of bands you’ve never heard of. A cork board with a few pictures from back home sits above her small desk area. There's a girl with blue braids in a couple of the photos and another girl with darker blue hair in the others. You wonder who they are but until you get some alcohol in you it’s unlikely that you’ll ask. “So Vi, truth or dare?” 
Vi smirks, “Why don’t you give me a dare, and make it good.”
You rack your brain for an idea, you haven’t played truth or dare since you were a kid so it’s more difficult than you had anticipated. “Uhh…show me the last thing you looked up.”
Vi rolls her eyes and opens up her phone, “Let me see here…if it’s porn I don’t want to hear any complaints. You asked to see this, Cupcake, just remember that.” Her phone screen illuminates her face as she opens up the safari app. She chuckles and hands her phone over to you to look. Your eyes scan the screen and you sigh with relief. Her last search was ‘Magihjy’ underneath the search bar in blue reads ‘maglight.’ You can’t help but laugh.
“How the hell did Google even know what you were trying to say? And what do you even need a maglight for?” You question.
“Me and Google have a relationship you couldn’t even begin to understand,” She jokes. “And for the maglight, I’ve heard it’s good to keep on you for self defense. My punches and some metal could do some pretty good damage. You also never know when you’ll need a flashlight so…y’know,” Vi explains.
“Huh, good point.”
“My turn again roomie, truth or dare?” Vi asks.
You decide to be a little riskier this round, “Dare.”
Vi smiles, “Thought it would take a lot longer to get you to pick dare. I dare you to…put ice in your panties.” You wish you could wipe the shit eating grin off her face after she says that.
“Seriously, Vi? That’s so childish!” You exclaim, you really don’t want to do it but you also don’t want to break and take the first shot.
“You could always take a shot instead…” She teases, holding the bottle out to you. 
You weigh your options and decide it’s better to just do the dare, you don’t want to look weak over some ice, “Fine.” You get up from your seated position on the floor and walk over to your shared mini fridge where a cup of ice you had gotten only about 30 minutes ago is sitting. You sigh and pick up the cup, “At least watch if you’re gonna make me do this,” You groan.
“Nobodies making you do anything, but if you want an audience so bad I’ll indulge you.” Vi turns to face you as you scrunch up your face in annoyance. You pull your shorts and underwear away from your body and begrudgingly pour a bit of the ice into your pretty pink panties. You yelp as you feel the ice against your skin and Vi laughs at how you squirm uncomfortably. 
“How long do I have to keep this in?” You whine, hating how the ice feels against your skin. It’s starting to melt a bit against the warmth of your skin. You hate that it feels kind of…good against your clit. 
“Hm until it melts sounds pretty good to me, let’s hope you last that long,” Vi smirks.
You shoot her a glare as you sit back down, shifting uncomfortably and trying your hardest to not let a little whimper slip out. “I’m so getting you back for this.”
“And I’m looking forward to it, cupcake.”
“Vi, truth or dare?” You ask, the annoyance clear in your voice. You catch her giggling at your discomfort and you shoot her a glare. 
“Truth,” Vi says with a smirk. 
“Tell me an embarrassing story, and I don’t mean some bullshit story about how you tripped in front of a crush. Give me something good. It’s the least you could do considering there’s ice actively melting in my underwear,” Your anger makes you ramble and all it does it make Vi laugh.
“Okay! Okay! Calm down, don’t get your panties in a twist,” She laughs. She leans back on her palms and looks up at the ceiling as she tries to recall an embarrassing story. She sighs and makes eye contact with you, “There was a girl back home I was dating for a bit. She was way more experienced than I was, I mean I was a fuckin’ virgin at the time. And she asks me to finger her,” Vi’s cheeks start to turn pink, “I hadn’t even tried to finger myself yet. But, I wanted to impress this pretty girl I had already spent an hour making out with and grinding on so I said I would. So there I am with her in my lap, pretty legs spread wide just for me. I’m doing good…at first. Massaging her clit, feeling up her tits just how she likes.” It takes everything in you to not whimper, your mind wanders to how you’d look on her lap with her hands between her thighs. You snap out of it as she continues her story. You do your best to look like you’re listening and not fantasizing. 
 “But as soon as it comes time for me to actually finger her it all goes downhill. My virgin fingers end up in the wrong hole, nothing kills the mood quicker than a finger to the urethra,” She laughs. She moves forward and pours herself a shot as you take in what she just said. 
You try to choke out a question, shocked from her confession, “You really-”
Vi cuts you off. “Yep. Was that a good enough story for ya, cupcake?” She asks before she throws back the shot. Her face grimaces as it burns against her throat. 
“Y-Yeah…why’d you take a shot? You told the truth,” You ask, cocking your head in confusion.
“Would you be able to tell a story like that and not have a shot after?” Vi teases, leaning back against her bed.
“Probably not,” you chuckle.
“So, truth or dare?” Vi asks. She sounds confident and that scares you, you know whatever’s coming next will be just as humiliating as the story you made her tell.
“Truth!” You answer a little too quickly and a little too loudly which makes Vi laugh.
“You scared or somethin’?” 
“N-No, I don’t have a reason to be scared. Don’t be ridiculous.” 
“Okay then…tell me something, roomie. You seemed awfully squirmy when I was telling you that story, and don’t bullshit me and tell me it’s just the ice in your panties. I have two questions for you.” You open your mouth to speak but she cuts you off with a glare and a pointed finger, “Ah, don’t tell me I can’t ask two questions when I just told you about the time I accidentally fingered someone's urethra, I earned these two questions.” You can’t really argue with that logic so you sit back and let her proceed.
“First question for ya, are you a virgin?” There’s a smugness in her voice as if she already knows the answer, and you’re sure she does. She runs her tongue over her teeth and it sends a shiver down your spine.
“Uh…yeah, I am,” you answer softly, looking down at your lap. 
“I should’ve known, squirmy little thing like you could barely handle hearing the word clit. Anyway, follow up question. Are you into women?” 
You’re a bit shocked by her question, you didn’t expect her to come right out and ask it like that, “Yeah…I-I haven’t done anything with a woman besides kiss though. That was years ago anyway…”
“Do you know how insane it is to me that you got no action in high school? I mean…look at you, you’re hot, cupcake,” Vi rambles, motioning to your body. Your immediate reaction is to hide your face, you look down at the ground and let your hair fall over your face as you feel your cheeks heat up once again. You mumble a soft, “Thanks…” and let silence fall over the room. 
Vi scoots forward a little and smirks as she nudges you with her foot, “Go on, it’s your turn again.” 
“Truth or dare, Vi?”
She smiles, “Truth.”
After her last couple comments you decide to get a little more bold, “How many people have you slept with?” 
Vi holds out her hand and starts counting on her fingers, she gets to 19 before she laughs, “I’m just fucking with ya. I’ve only been with three people. All back in high school. They all said I was great, if you were wondering.” Vi moves a little closer, her foot is leaning against your inner thigh, still a few inches below the hem of your shorts. Your breath catches in your throat.
“Did you top or?” You trail off.
“Sometimes, it depended on what we were both feeling. I like doing whatever will make my partner feel good,” Vi starts to rub her foot against your inner thigh as she continues, “I got pretty good at giving head and other things…do you need me to teach you a thing or two?”
“I-I-” You’re flustered, you don’t even know where to start. The feeling of her rubbing your inner thigh is nice but you want it higher up. You want her to touch you where you need it, where you’re practically pulsating. You finally get the courage to use your words, “Are you a good teacher?”
“The best,” she answers quickly, she moves closer and moves her foot up higher to your clothed cunt. She looks up at you, “As badly as I’d love to put you on your back and eat you out, why don’t we start with a different lesson, something a bit more simple.”
“But what if I want to get put on my back and eaten out?” You half joke. 
“Respectfully, I think you’d come if I even breathed near your clit.” 
You choke on air and start laughing, “Fair enough.”
Vi looks around the room, her eyes landing on her signature combat boots sitting by the door, “You wanna get off tonight I’m assuming?” 
You nod, “Y-Yeah…I do.”
Vi smirks, “Stay sitting there for me.” She gets up from her spot on the floor and goes over to the door. She grabs her boots and slips them on, taking her sweet time lacing them up. She goes over to her nightstand next and grabs her mini wand. She sits on her bed and looks down at you, “Take off your shorts.” 
You’re quick to comply, leaving yourself in a pair of grey panties and your Hooters tank top. You sit on the floor awaiting your next instructions from her. Submission comes natural to you, you want her to tell you what to do, you want to be good for her. 
Vi motions for you to come over to her but as you get up to stand she shakes her head. “Crawl to me. C’mon puppy.” You whimper in response as you sink back down to your knees, you hang your head in embarrassment as you crawl over to Vi. You sit down in front of her boots and look up at her as you sit back on your knees.
“There’s my good girl,” Vi says, reaching down to caress your face. She slides her thumb against your bottom lip and uses it to pull your mouth open. She tilts your head up and leans down, “You’re gonna listen to me if you wanna get off tonight, got it?” You nod dumbly, ready to do whatever she says.
She smiles and pulls away from you, “Kiss my boots.” She leans back on the bed, resting on her palms and smirking down at you. 
“Kiss your boots? Aren’t they dirty? I haven’t seen you clean them once this week.”
“Well it’s a good thing I have a good little puppy like you to get them clean for me, huh?” She mocks.
“Yes ma’am,” you answer bashfully, scooting yourself back before dipping your head down and kissing the tip of her boot. You look up at her for approval and feel your cheeks heat up as she smiles down at you. You kiss her boot all over before moving to the next one. Vi praises you as you do, “Good girl, giving my boots the love they deserve. Maybe they’ll give it back to you if you’re good enough. Bet you’d love that, wouldn’t you? Pretty little virgin getting her second kiss in such a pathetic way. Bet you’re soaked, huh?” You nod in response, continuing to kiss her boots like you were instructed. Once you feel you’ve kissed it enough you sit back on your knees and wait for your next command. 
Vi looks down at her boots and looks back at you with an almost proud look on her face. “Would ya look at that, pretty girl got them sparkling for me…” Your cheeks heat up once again. She leans down and ruffles your hair as if she’s petting you, “Such a good girl for me. I think I owe you a reward, hm?” She teases.
“Please…I worked hard for it,” you plead. You stick out your bottom lip dramatically and give her puppy dog eyes.
“Oh how could I say no to a face like that,” she chuckles, “Go on mount my boot for me, puppy.”
She doesn’t have to tell you twice, you mount her left boot, you panty clad cunt pressed up against the leather. You wrap your arms around her leg, practically hugging it and look up at her as you start to slowly grind yourself against it. Vi reaches down and grabs your front waistband, she slowly wrenches it up, the fabric forcing itself between your lips in a humiliating yet pleasurable way. Vi holds her grip and nods for you to continue. You bite your lip and smile down at the ground as you grind your cunt against her, the worn out leather is much more pleasurable than you imagined it would be. The added friction of your panties being held taut by Vi makes it easy for you to soak right through that flimsy little pair. 
“You’re doing so well, cupcake. C’mon be a good girl and let me hear how good you feel.” Vi grabs her mini wand and stuffs it into her panties, pressed against her clit. She turns it on and bites her lip to keep herself quiet. 
You follow her orders, no longer holding back your whines and whimpers. “Shit, Vi, it feels so good,” you moan, letting your head fall back. You stop being ashamed of how you’re feeling, of what she’s doing to you. You let go and be vulnerable for her, just like she wants. 
Vi pulls a bit on the waistband of your panties, matching your rhythm. She uses her other hand to keep her wand pressed against her clit. She’s squirming and whimpering on the bed while she helps get you off. You moan her name and continue making a mess of her boot and your panties. At the beginning of this week you would’ve never imagined this is how you’d end up. You squeeze around the fabric and let out a shaky breath, “God, Vi…ngh it’s so good…so fucking good.”
Vi smirks and pulls harder, practically bouncing you on her boot, “Tell me how good it feels, cupcake. Gonna make you ruin my boot and lick it back up all nice and clean. You wanna do that for me, don’t you? Wanna be a good little puppy for me, hm?” 
“Yes, god! G-Gonna ruin your boots…gonna lick it up…gonna be s-so good for you,” you stutter. This feels so much better than when you’d hump your pillow and lazily play with your clit. 
Vi keeps muttering praise, her eyelashes fluttering as she feels herself getting closer. She wrenches your waistband up even higher until it reaches your breasts and pushes her boot harder against your cunt, trying to get you to come. “Make a mess for me, c’mon sweet girl, make a mess for me,” she moans. 
You can’t hold back anymore, falling forward against her leg and moaning her name, a string of curses leave your lips as you come against the fabric of your panties and the leather of her boots. You rest your head against her leg and take a minute to catch your breath. Vi suddenly lets out a high pitched whine and grips your hair as she rides out her orgasm, she whines your name along with some curses and praise for you. You feel her grip loosen and she lays back onto the bed. You slide yourself off her boot, smiling dumbly. “Want me to clean it up, Vi?” You ask softly.
She chuckles from the bed and gives you a thumbs up, “Have at it, cupcake.” 
You lower your head back down to her boot and start licking up your come. You lick her boot till it’s clean and shiny. When you’re done you crawl up on the bed with Vi, laying next to her. Her hair is a mess and her cheeks are flushed, “Thank you for that,” you whisper. Vi smiles and pulls you into her, “Anytime, Cupcake.”
303 notes · View notes
screamingfromuz · 2 years ago
Note
Hi there! I am reaching out because someone sent me a question about how to help Gazan civilians without accidentally helping Hamas or spreading more hate against Israelis. I honestly feel lost on this myself, but as far as I can tell you are someone who has done real activism in Israel. Do you have suggestions for diaspora Jews who want to help fight for peace?
So a small disclaimer to the Gaza problem. We have 2 main problems with getting aid into Gaza, the first is the limited amount of aid that is allowed in, sending more money cannot make it go in faster. Problem number 2 is that much of the physical aid ends in Hamas's hands or in the black market and there is nothing we can do with that. I have heard recommendations to wait and see who opens a field hospital on the Rafah border crossing, and donate to them. Despite that, here are some charities to help Palestinians both in and out of Gaza.
I will admit, most of my activism is focused on deradicalization on the Israeli side and solidarity work, so I had to ask around for some of those charities. Some of the groups I know of do not currently have an international donation link, so if I get more good ones, I'll make another post.
Gaza:
Medical aid for Palestinians-
Anera-
Doctors without borders-
Palestinians outside of Gaza and Peace movements:
Palestinian red Crescent- they also work in Gaza, but as the main source for Palestinian ambulances in the WB, I put them here.
mistaclim (Looking the occupation the the eye)- this group is helping to protect Palestinians from the illegal settlers
Keshet- this is a big one. they support Bedouin communities in normal times, and now they are working on getting bomb shelters to the unrecognized villages, and providing a mental health first aid line.
standing together- totally biased, as I am a member of this organization.
Women wage peace- a feminist based solidarity group
Haqel- they represents Palestinians in cases related to land ownership and access. there work is still ongoing even during the war
Center for Jewish non Violence - a diaspora org that also does a lot of work in the South Hebron Hills.
1K notes · View notes
illdowhatiwantthanks · 1 year ago
Text
Left Unsaid
Tumblr media
Amelia Shepherd x fem!reader Warnings: 18+ MINORS DNI, angst (happy ending!), sex, fingering, explicit language, surgery times (duh), (let me know if I missed anything!) Word count: 1.8k
Summary: You used to be Dr. Shepherd's favorite resident, but something had happened in the last month that drove you further apart than ever. Will it get resolved (hint: yes, it does)?
“You, out!”
You stood, flabbergasted, in full scrub, suctioning blood out of someone’s brain-deep head wound. The OR had gone deathly silent, and if they could’ve seen your face under your surgical mask, they would have seen you blushing bright red.
All you’d done was ask a question. All you’d wanted to know was why Dr. Shepherd had gone after the brain bleed at the angle she did, because it wasn’t the angle you’d expected. You were a surgical resident. Asking questions is what you were supposed to do.
“Dr. Shepherd, I–”
“Uh-uh. You? Out of here. You’re distracting me, Y/L/N. And if you can’t focus on saving this man’s life, you don’t need to be in here.”
Frustrated and more than a little embarrassed, you handed off the suction tube to another resident and quickly burst through the doors and into the scrub room, washing your hands furiously. You felt like crying. You didn’t know what was going on these days.
During your intern year, you’d gotten really close with Dr. Shepherd. She’d sort of take you under her wing, said you had the right mind and hands for neuro. You worked well together, almost read each other’s thoughts sometimes, it seemed. But the last month or so, she’d all but banished you from her service.
You knew part of it had to be Webber’s new initiative for “well-rounded surgeons,” a new protocol where residents were cycled between attendings at random, with no favoritism or preference allowed. But even when you were assigned to neuro, Dr. Shepherd always put you on the other neurosurgeon’s service. She hardly talked to you at all.
You wondered if you’d done something wrong, something to completely ruin the mentorship–no, the friendship–you’d felt like you were forming with Dr. Shepherd. Not only did you miss her company, miss working with her, but you missed neuro.
You spent the rest of your day on neuro doing glorified scut alongside the interns. Humiliating. And when you finally went home, you wanted nothing more than to collapse on the couch and order Chinese food. But a text from your cohort group chat reminded you that tonight was the annual Surgeons for Surgeons benefit gala. And unless you wanted to be fired, you’d have to show up, bells on, ready to mix and mingle and convince Seattle’s rich and famous to donate to the program that connected Seattle-Grace with its partner hospital in Nairobi.
You stared at yourself in the mirror before leaving. Thanks to a very artful layer of makeup, you looked a little less exhausted than you really were. And you had to admit, you looked good in a suit.
By the time you and your friends arrived at the gala, things were in full swing. Wine, music, twinkling lights, the whole shebang. You were determined to have fun with your friends, despite whatever weird stuff was going on with Dr. Shepherd. You’d had a few glasses of wine, had danced with a few other residents, and had generally avoided Dr. Shepherd, even though once or twice you’d caught her watching you. Let her feel bad, you thought. She was out of line.
But when you were on your way back from the bathroom, a hand shot out of a hallway and gently grabbed your arm.
“Jesus, Dr. Shepherd,” you complained, straightening your suit as she crossed her arms and looked at you, leaning against the hallway wall.
“Sorry,” she muttered. “You just…” She threw up her hands. “You’ve been avoiding me all night. I didn’t know how else to talk to you.”
You raised your eyebrows. “I’ve been avoiding you!?” You scoffed. “Dr. Shepherd, you haven’t talked to me in over a month. I went from being the de facto neuro resident to being bottom of the barrel in your OR. So forgive me if I’m not jumping at the opportunity to chat with you.”
Dr. Shepherd looked at the ground. “I know. I’m sorry.”
You sighed. “Look, I don’t care if we’re friends, okay? I– I would have liked it. I like you. But my career comes first. And whatever’s going on with us got in the way of that today. So whatever I did to upset you, I’m sorry. Okay? But I love neuro. And I’m good at it. You don’t have to talk to me ever, outside of work, but you cannot keep me from surgery.”
You started to walk away, but she stopped you.
“Y/N!” she called, grabbing your hand and holding it for just a moment too long. You were taken aback by her use of your first name. She always called you Dr. Y/L/N. “I don’t want that.”
“Okay…” You shrugged. “So put me back on your service.”
“No, I mean…” She exhaled sharply and stared at the ceiling. “I don’t want to be friends with you.”
You’d be lying if you said it didn’t sting. You liked Dr. Shepherd. You really liked her. You thought she’d liked you. You thought that in another life… But it didn’t matter now.
“Message received,” you said, avoiding her eyes.
“God, that’s not what I meant. I’m fucking this up.” She looked at you almost like she was in pain. As if there were words she just couldn’t get out. “What the hell,” she finally mumbled, then grabbed the sides of your face and kissed you.
To say you were surprised would be an understatement. But her lips felt so good against yours, her hands warm and soft against your skin. This was what Dr. Shepherd had wanted with you, why she’d been avoiding you. And, if you were honest with yourself, it was what you’d wanted to, you’d just been too scared to let yourself admit it.
You wrapped your arms around her waist, pressing her into the wall to deepen the kiss. She whined into your mouth, her tongue fighting for entrance, and you knew–by the arousal shooting down through your very core, the wetness pooling in your underwear–that this would not end here tonight. Amelia’s arms snaked underneath your blazer, searching for skin.
“Why do you have so many clothes on?” Amelia muttered breathlessly, painstakingly unbuttoning the collar of your dress shirt, then continuing on to the lower ones.
“Whoa!” You grabbed her wrists, pushing them away. “We’re in a public hallway, Dr. Shepherd.”
She huffed, pulling you by the arm into the closest room, which turned out to be some poor soul’s vacated office at this event venue. She slammed the door, taking her own turn to push you against a surface. It took your breath away.
“Don’t call me Dr. Shepherd when we’re about to have sex,” she said, trailing kisses down your neck.
“Fine, Amelia,” you retorted, and she smiled into a kiss. She liked a little sass in a woman.
With one hand, you rolled her nipple between your fingers. With the other, you moved slowly down her body, gently pulling up her dress to slip a hand into her underwear.
She gasped as you brushed lightly over her clit. “Fuck,” she breathed, throwing her head back. You smiled, happy to have a little power. Amelia might have all the power in the OR, but you had all the power here. You could tell by the way her hips rolled toward you, by the way she leaned heavily on the desk at her back–she wanted you bad.
She breathed heavily, squeezing your arms as she pushed her hips into you, desperate for the friction, the pressure. You grinned wickedly and removed your hand, licking her arousal off your fingers.
“Y/N!” she protested, glaring at you.
“Hmm.” You pretended to be thinking deeply, circling the rest of her vulva so that you were close, so close, to where she needed you, but not quite there. “You know what? I bet this feels a lot like being knee deep in a surgery and then being pulled for no reason at all.”
“I said I was sorry! Please, Y/N.” You had her squirming and writhing and you were getting drunk off her desperation.
You pushed two of your fingers into her warmth, already so wet, so ready for you, and she moaned. “I mean, I guess, if you insist.” You smirked at her, loving to see her lose control. She was always so in control at work. It was honestly something you admired about her. But right now? All you wanted was to see her coming apart.
There was a part of you that wanted to tell all the residents, to tell everyone that you were fucking Dr. Amelia Shepherd. But there was another part of you–deeper, softer, more you–that wanted to keep her all to yourself. Because some part of you knew that it wasn’t just sex, no matter how much easier it’d be if it was.
Amelia’s breathing grew ragged, her walls pulsing around you and you knew she was close. You circled her clit with your thumb, and she thrust her hips up into your touch, chest heaving, legs shaking. And when she finally, finally hit her peak, you scooped your arm around her back to hold her up, keeping your rhythm steady until she came down, resting her head on your shoulder, a thin sheen of sweat on her face.
“Fuck!” she breathed, lifting her head to grin at you and tuck your hair behind your hair. “Your hands.”
“That’s why I’m such a good surgeon.” You winked at her.
“That’s why you’re good at a number of things, apparently.” Amelia pulled her underwear up, straightening her dress.
“Well,” she shrugged. “Should we go back in?”
You scoffed. “I’m certainly not.”
“Why?!”
“Are you kidding me!? There’s a fucking lake in my underwear right now. I gotta go home.”
Amelia smirked, pulling you down by your collar for another kiss. You couldn’t take much more of this. You needed her. Or a vibrator. Or a dildo. Or something.
“You want help?” she asked, playing with the hair at the nape of your neck.
You blushed. The tables had turned all of a sudden, and she was the one with the power now. “Yeah,” you said quietly. “Yeah, that’d be… that’d be good.”
She laced her hand in yours, squeezing it. “Take me home, Dr. Y/L/N.”
“What if someone sees us!?” you hissed, looking both ways out the office door.
“We’ll slip out the back.”
“Sneaky.” You nodded. “I like this side of you.”
Glancing furtively around, she leaned forward and sunk her teeth into your neck, taking you by surprise. You gasped.
She pressed her lips against your ear. “I’ve got a lot of sides you haven’t seen yet.”
God, you couldn’t wait to see them.
413 notes · View notes
rebelliousstories · 6 months ago
Text
Due Back
Relationship: Bernard the Elf x Reader
Fandom: The Santa Clause
Request: No
Warnings: Fluff, Slight Angst
Word Count: 1,535
Main Masterlist: Here
The Santa Clause Masterlist: Here
Summary: For the past couple of years, Bernard gets ahead of his paperwork for the week of Thanksgiving, and takes a little vacation. No one knows where he goes, and he won’t tell anyone. No matter how convincing.
Consider Donating: Here
Tumblr media
Today was the day! Bernard had a little extra pep in his step as he made his final round around the workshop floor. Everything was running just as smoothly as it should have been. His lists had been made, checked once then twice, and passed out so that everyone knew exactly what to do while he was away.
Normally, no one could pull Bernard away from the workshop during any time of year. And yet for some reason, for the last few years, something or someone had been doing just that. How else to explain Bernard’s actions during the final week of November? All of the elves had gotten used to it over the last several years, but it was still odd for them. They had quickly learned though that he was never going to tell them what he does in the week he is gone.
His boss, on the other hand, was not so easily pacified.
As soon as November 1st comes along, he notices a stark change in his head elf. Bernard was even more focused on getting everything on track. The never ending pile of paperwork that he had suddenly vanished into completed folders. Any and all specialty items were taken care of before he disappeared. But what was the strangest behavior the Santa noticed, was the smile that seemed to be permanently etched onto his head elf’s face.
Bernard was especially happy during this time of year, whereas it used to be his most stressful time. Not to be mistaken, it still was, but there was something in Bernard’s life now that took some of that stress off. He had one last folder to deliver to Santa, who took this as the perfect opportunity to grill him.
“Santa, I have the progress reports for the last week right here for you.” A decorative red and gold binder containing the entire week’s updates were placed upon the big man’s desk.
“Brilliant, Bernard. Well done. This wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that you are about to go see whatever it is that can actually put a smile on your face is it?” Scott teased, watching the elf’s cheeks flush with a rosy glow.
“Just taking my week of vacation, sir,” he replied sheepishly. The older man, however, wanted to know exactly what was going on. Surprisingly, the whole “Santa sees you when you’re sleeping and knows when you’re awake” thing only applies to humans. Not elves.
“Come on. How long have we worked together now? What do you do when you’re away from the pole, Mr. Workaholic.”
“Sorry, Santa. That is a secret just for me to know. If there is nothing else, I’ll be on my way. Curtis is more than capable to step into my shoes for the week.” As fast as he could, so as to not allow Scott an in, Bernard left the office.
“Bernard,” called the man now stroking his beard thoughtfully, “whoever it is, keep her around.”
The elf stood there for a moment as his mouth gaped open and closed like a fish. Without a word to dignify with that comment with a response, Bernard turned on his heels and left the office for good this time. His bags were packed, and he was able to finally leave.
He took one of their newest reindeers as his transportation. No one batted an eye at Bernard saddling up Lumi for the journey ahead. The sweet girl had just finished her basic training to help pull Santa’s sleigh, but that was still weeks out. Bernard would return her in plenty of time.
Snow barely phased him anymore. Living in the North Pole his entire life, the elf was very used to the cold. So as he made his descent to the backyard of the home he was aiming for, the welcomed sight of a white covered ground greeted him. Just as he tied Lumi to one of the trees, a light flicked on inside. A smile broke free against his will, and Bernard made his way to the back door. His key slipped into the lock right as another went into the front door. The second he stepped inside, warmth spread through him.
“Bernard! You’re here,” and he was nearly knocked over by the weight oh someone tackling him in a hug.
“I’m here, my dear. I’ve missed you.” His arms wrapped around the woman, and he reveled in the feeling that spread through him.
There were few things that managed to warm him, but none like her hugs. Pulling back just a bit to see her face, Bernard found that the both of them were tracing over every feature of the other. She was another year older, with a new fine crinkle by her eyes, a new freckle that had not been there before. He knew that he looked the exact same, but he could not help it.
“Do you want to help me with dinner? I just need to make the sides and pop the rolls in.” She offered, not yet releasing herself from his hold.
“Of course. I’m starving, and I have been dreaming about your roast chicken. You actually know how to baste.”
Thus, the human and the elf settled back into a familiar routine of domesticity. She worried over the seasonings for their meal, while Bernard made sure nothing burned. He helped with plating their sides and rolls, and carried the chicken to the table, while she followed after with some more food.
They did not eat like this the entire time Bernard was here, but the first and last day was special. Tucking themselves into their chairs, the pair begun to dig into their meal. Some light conversation flowed between them, but nothing too deep. It was not until they had retired to the couch that the dialogue took a more serious turn.
Bernard stoked the flames of the fireplace before coming back to sit on the couch with his favorite person. While he sat upright against the back, she leaned over and snuggled into his side. Her head rested against his chest with his heartbeat beating underneath her ear.
“When do I have to give you back?” She turned just a little so that she was able to look up at her partner. They had never quite put a label on what they were, but both knew that they were in love with each other.
“November 30th. I don’t have to leave till late at night though.” Bernard’s fingers began to card through her hair from where she rested.
“Ah. Back in time for last minute preparations.” She mused, to which he nodded in agreement.
“Yeah…” but he did not sound excited about it. His hand stilled on top of her head. In fact, in the last few years, Bernard was increasingly less happy to go back.
“What’s up?” He sighed and stared into the flames ahead.
“What if I didn’t have to go back?”
It was out in the open now. The feeling that he had felt for some time was there for her to react to. And react she did. She sat up incredibly quick and barely missed hitting Bernard’s chin in the process. Her eyes were wide, and her mouth gaped open.
“What do you- what? Huh? What does that mean, B? You have to go back. You told me that elves can’t stay for long periods of time away from the pole.” She was utterly dumbfounded. Her flabbers were gasted.
“Well,” he tried to cut in and explain, “there is actually a way for elves to be away from the pole. It just hasn’t been done in centuries. But it requires us giving up our longevity and magic. In essence, we become human.”
She sat back on the other end of the couch, and did not speak. The longer she stayed quiet, the more nervous Bernard got. This was definitely not the reaction he was expecting. He messed with his hands and felt himself flush, and not because of the warm fire ahead.
“Is that something you’re thinking about?” Her question was spoken so softly, so quietly; it sounded almost angelic.
“Um, a bit. I was just thinking how nice it would be if I could stay here. With you.” He admitted, gazing down at his hands.
“Would you be happy?”
Bernard thought that question was ridiculous. Of course he would. Sure, he would miss the pole, but he wanted to be here. He needed to be here. Curtis was a promising protege and already adept at running the factory and all its runnings without him. Maybe it was time for him to move on. Bernard wanted to be selfish for once in long life.
“Yes.”
Her arms were thrown over him, and he returned the sentiment. Pulling her closer, he set her on his lap as he burrowed into her neck. She placed her cheek on top of his hat that covered his dark curls. They sat just like that for who knows how long. But while they did, Bernard made his choice right then and there.
This would be the last year that Bernard was going to be due back for Christmas.
193 notes · View notes
thefusioncelestial · 6 months ago
Text
Mix 12: From Bros to Man
If you live any amount of time in America, you know of its college & university system. So many dreams go, come, and are crushed there.
To facilitate the attainment & fulfillment of such, students have huddled together in groups, and those groups became fraternities & sororities. And for those who hate the light: secret societies.
In a particular university, there is a secret society, formed from the best of each fraternity & sorority.
There is a secret ritual used on the second year at this university for each cohort.
In two rounds of voting, the two chosen as two best of their cohort are merged together to create a stronger being. In the second round, the winner will assimilate the loser.
Choice one is Craig:
Tumblr media
Top grades, always active in his fraternity, and gets a long with everybody. Thinking of declaring a major in Biology.
His popularity comes from being a non-drinker, so he has saved many a drunken brother from destroying their lives, and saved many in return from being their victims. Because he is always looking out for everyone, his house is allowed to not have a house mother, facilitating more fun.
And when his brothers do get into trouble, he is there to bail them out or lessen the punishment.
And then there is Sam who is the second choice:
Tumblr media
Here he is checking himself out before doing his best prank yet. The professor for human anatomy was had poor eyesight & is known to be exhausted quite often. Overnight, Sam replaced the human body dummy with himself. It worked, the professor did an entire class without realizing that his replica of an human body was a real one. And to top it off, Sam ran out of the class at the end giving the professor a fright.
It helped that he was on the track team, and strangely fencing as well.
It was also a coincidence that this particular class had a 4 to 1 girl to guy ratio. Let's just say that the next party was a paradise for some people.
And yet for all the fun he brings to others lives, his was a little disorganized. He had yet to think about what major to choose & didn't think of his future after university. A life of riches will do that to person. He funds the parties for multiple fraternities, so no ever pushed him to start making up his mind. His grades are good, so any program would love to have him...and the donation dollars he could bring.
You would think that Craig & Sam hated each other. but they got along well. Part of that is using the society meetings to hash out & fix their issues. Plus they loved to plan the parties together.
This combo was known as the Serious Dad & Fun Uncle. You went to Craig to get out of trouble, and you went to Sam to get into it.
This strange balance & high level of maturity between the two is how they got into the society & how the society deemed they must become one.
The day of the merger arrives, and the only one who knows who will be assimilating is the upper echelons. Both men are brought into a dark room with their faces covered, and then sat each in chairs.
Both had no shirt on, Sam didn't take the ritual seriously, and was in his underwear as a joke.
Everyone else but the pair leaves. They take off their covers. It's pitch black. They are confused. Normally, whoever sits on the chair has won the right to continue and drive the life of the fused being, but then Craig realized.
There is a rare occurrence where both selectees win. They will walk together as equals, a true blending. Neither will be devouring the other.
Craig explains this to Sam. He is relieved. As a joyous reflex, he hugs Craig but when he tries to break the hug, he can't. Their skin is stuck like two pieces of duct tape stuck together.
Both understood what this meant, it was time. Goodbye Craig & Sam. Hello to whoever they are about to become.
They adjusted themselves the best they could to make the next stage more comfortable, Sam somehow fit in Craig's jeans, everything now pressing up against each other except their arms that were wrapped around each other's backs. There was a lot of grunting trying to do this.
Then hugged each other harder.
"Ugh, mmm"
Their skin gave way, their insides liquefied. Their bones broke down. They were a humanoid blob with jeans now. Without a skeletal structure, one wondered how the being stood upright.
It stood there, silently, as if wondering what to do. All one could hear was pulsating sounds.
Mentally, Craig & Sam stood in front of each other. A few moments later they smiled and then walked into each other. Their forms shimmered and became wispy & mixed into one. Then they settled into a new form, their new being.
The moment the became one mentally, so did their dna. A new double helix structure, no going back. Whoever they were before didn't exist anymore.
Almost immediately, the nervous, skeletal, & cardiovascular systems formed. Followed by the muscles, organs, and skin.
Initially the being looked like a bald but taller Craig, but Sam's features came in as well.
"Mmphf"
At the shoulders, arms, legs, and chest, there was a series of pops. Each pop heralded the arrival of new muscle.
"Ah"
Sam completely took over in the abdominal region. The beings abs reshaped themselves to have Sam's insertions. And then the skin squeezed a little tighter, making him more cut and his abs stronger and harder.
He began to breathe hard.
There was another pop. A bigger ass.
Craig won out in the family rod & jewels. Long & girthy. Big sacks to match. If anything changed, they got bigger proportional to his new height and musculature.
The new being began to move his neck back and forth as if straining against something. With each movement his neck grew longer and longer. He stopped after another pop, his neck now thicker.
Hair began to grow from his head and face. He had Sam's hair color. His eyebrows, noise, & skin tone were Sam's as well. The eyes were Craig's but a little rounder. The mouth, ears, jawline, and chin were a combination of both. Initially, the hair was Sam's, but thanks to Craig, the hair became wilder, more shaggier, but somehow more controlled than what Craid had.
He let out a deep breathe & opened his eyes. Craig & Sam were reborn as one. They, no he is Hunter.
He was led into another room, a bathroom, to go wash up and change if needed. But before taking a shower, he took a look of himself in the mirror:
Tumblr media
He liked what he saw.
Hunter was a Biology major, a track star, & on the fencing team. Rich. And he understood the need for both work and play.
From Craig & Sam was born a more balanced man.
236 notes · View notes
hauntedhowlett-writes · 9 months ago
Text
Tumblr media
DON’T YOU EVER GROW UP
CHARACTERS: Joel Miller & Sarah Miller
RATING: none | WORD COUNT: 900
SUMMARY: Joel experiences many emotions as Sarah reaches the childhood milestone of getting her “big girl” bed.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: This is me, projecting my own experience onto my favorite character because I’m a fic writer and that’s what I do. Divider by @/saradika-graphics and beta read by @murder-wife 💕
LINKS: support for palestine 🇵🇸
Tumblr media
Joel wipes the sweat beading along his hairline with the back of his hand. He stares at the new bed frame, his mind not reconciling how much bigger than her convertible crib it is. It's just a twin, white wood that matches her dresser and her bookcase stuffed with children's books of all shapes and sizes, but it seeing it take up so much space feels jarring.
"Little help?" Tommy calls from the hallway. Joel shakes his head to clear his thoughts before joining his brother, who holds one end of a mattress teetering on the stairs. Together they bring it the rest of the way into Sarah's room, settling it on the frame.
"Thanks for the help," Joel says, patting Tommy's shoulder. "I owe ya one."
"Don't sweat it. I know the little miss was dyin' for her new big girl bed."
There it is, the phrase that makes Joel's heart clench in his chest. Sarah's barreling towards five years old, shedding some of the baby roundness in her cheeks and no longer saying certain words incorrectly, the way toddlers tend to do. She gets up every morning for preschool and eats her cereal all by herself and comes home in the afternoon to tell Joel about her day, legs kicking against the chair while she shows him her art because she's not quite tall enough to reach the floor. Joel looks around the room again, remembering the rocking chair in the corner that was the first piece of her childhood to retire, followed by the changing table with its pile of diapers. He thinks about how small she'd been, how light her tiny body was on his chest and for a moment he misses it so fiercely his eyes burn with the threat of tears.
"I need a beer," Tommy says, leaving the room. Joel takes the opportunity to press his fingers to his eyes, willing the wave of emotion to subside before joining his brother in the kitchen.
They share a couple beers before Tommy checks his watch, announcing that he should leave. On the way out the door, they pass the dismantled crib and Tommy taps it with his hand.
"You want me to drop that off for donation?" he asks. Joel looks at the chipped white wood, rubs a thumb over a dent in the veneer.
"No, that's alright. I'll take care of it," he replies. Tommy shrugs and Joel walks him out to his truck parked in the drive way, waving him off. When Tommy disappears from view, he heads next door to Connie's house.
He knocks on the front door and waits, the sound of tiny feet against wood growing louder, making his smile grow wider. The door opens, Sarah's sweet face peeking through the crack allowed by the chain lock.
"Password?" she asks, tone as serious as a four year old can muster. Joel crouches down to look her in the eye.
"Pizza for dinner," he says. She squeals in excitement and jumps away from the door just as Connie unlocks it. His daughter sits on the worn carpet runner to pull on her shoes while Joel asks how she behaved.
"She was an angel as always," Connie assures him. "Wait right here, we made cookies earlier and I want to send y'all home with some."
Connie disappears down the hall and Sarah darts after her. When they return, his daughter is balancing a foil wrapped plate in both hands, tongue peeking out of her mouth in concentration.
"Thanks again, Con. I'll be 'round Sunday to help Dan with the yard," Joel promises. Connie waves a hand at him.
"Don't you worry about it, you know it ain't a big deal to watch her. You got a good egg on your hands."
Back at home, Joel calls in an order for pizza that he shares with Sarah. He lets her take sips of his Coke to wash it down, her brown eyes wide with excitement at getting to drink soda with dinner. After a bath, pajamas, and a minor argument over brushing her teeth, Sarah enters her room for the first time that evening and sees her new bed.
"Wow!" she exclaims, clambering onto the mattress. She stands, jumping excitedly and Joel wraps an arm around her middle, placing her back on the ground.
"Remember how that song goes? The monkey falls off and bumps his head?" Joel asks, knocking his knuckles against the top of her head as she giggles. "No jumpin'. Come on, let's get your sheets on."
Together, though the bulk of the effort falls on Joel, they get her bed ready. Purple sheets with a cream colored quilt decorated with purple butterflies, a set that she spotted in the store that Joel went back to purchase on his own. She crawls between the sheets and settles her head on the pillow, ready for her stories. Joel reads three books of her choosing and shuts down her argument for a fourth, seeing that she can barely keep her eyes open any longer. He plugs in her pink butterfly nightlight and kisses her forehead.
"Goodnight, baby girl," he whispers.
"'M not a baby, I'm a big girl now," Sarah replies in her sleepy voice. Her eyes have already drifted shut before he can respond and he stands there for a moment, watching her with a lump in his throat.
Sarah may be getting bigger, but she'll always be his baby. Of that, Joel is certain.
Tumblr media
Thank you for reading! For more of my writing visit:
All masterlists
Joel Miller masterlist
259 notes · View notes
knightyoomyoui · 20 days ago
Text
What We Could've Become
ft. NMIXX's Lily Morrow (x Male Reader)
Tumblr media
GENRE: Angst
WORD COUNT: 3671
DESCRIPTION: Years after a painful divorce, two former lovers find themselves continually drawn back into each other’s lives. As they spiral through moments of “what could’ve been,” the past and present blur, forcing them to confront whether love lost can truly be found again—or if some endings are final for a reason.
NOTE: This story is inspired by 2021 TV series titled “Scenes From A Marriage” starring Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain and Filipino OPM song titled “Multo” (Trans. “Ghost”) by Cup Of Joe.
DONATE OR REQUEST FOR COMMISSION HERE: https://ko-fi.com/knightyoomyoui
--- START ---
String lights shine overhead around the wedding venue. Soft jazz music is played by a live trio beneath a tent of dangling flowers. Guests mingle, laughter hovers in the air like blossoms. Lily is poised and beautiful in an emerald green dress. She stands beside the bar, drinking from a champagne flute.
Her smile is gracious. Rehearsed. She's made the rounds all day.
Then her breath hitches.
Through the grass, near the edge of the dance area, YN steps into sight—wearing a somewhat rumpled suit, his hair longer than before, his usual quiet peace to his presence. He's talking in mid-sentence with someone, his soft laughter filling the air. But his eyes search the party—and find hers.
Both paused. Their stare filled with unspoken longing brought by the aftermath of their shared unfortunate memories.
“Of course he’d show up.” Lily muttered under her breath, leaning away from her crosshairs before returning to view his stunned reaction.
Meanwhile, YN told the exact same thing as hers. It’s natural for either of them, they can agree that it’s been two and a half years since they’ve last seen each other. Thankfully, this time… they don’t look so fragile and unpleasant to endure.
They hesitate. Neither moves. YN adjusts his jacket, takes a small breath, and starts walking toward her. Lily straightens, unreadable. She doesn’t look away despite panicking inside what she should do as he approaches.
He stopped a few feet apart from her chair. Their height leveled, allowing them to deeply connect in their gaze and peek into the eyes that upheld the same experience they suffered.
“Hey.” He was the first one to initiate, snapping themselves out of their senses.
“H-Hey.” She took a beat.
“After all this time, you still look… exactly the same.” YN smiled genuinely.
“Well for me, you don’t.” She contradicted.
“That bad?” His eyebrows raised at the sudden comment.
“No. Just... different. A little softer, maybe.” She shrugged as she softly replied, a hint of smile appeared on her lips.
There was a pause. The silence is heavy between them, but not cold.
“I- I didn’t know you’d be here.” YN still manages to get the flow of their conversation going.
“It’s Bae’s wedding. Of course I’m here. She introduced us, remember?” Lily mocked him like she was surprised he didn’t caught it that easily. Thinking that he may have forgotten it like it was nothing kinda scratched her heart that was supposed to be fully healed after several years and it annoys her.
“Oh, right.” YN didn’t deny about that, and the following had Lily proved wrong. Mentioning the pronoun ‘us’ not because of something random, but referring to that one particular and unforgettable memory that opened a chapter of their life altogether, beats him.
“I- I mean, she told me you might come, but I didn’t let myself expect it.” he elaborated to avoid making her come suspicious.
“Well... surprise, I guess.” Lily answered nonchalantly. There was a long look between them again.
“Can I buy you a drink, or is this where you vanish politely?”
“I already have a drink.” She wiggled her wineglass filled with ice and martini intentionally without glancing at him.
“Then maybe just a few minutes. No pressure. Just... catch up.” He replaced the invitation for a clearer purpose.
“You really want to do that? Open that box?” Lily doesn’t need to specify it, he know what she’s pointing at.
“Honestly? I’ve been carrying the box around for years. Might as well look inside and well, if you would mind… join me through it.”
Lily decided to consider him, then gestures to a small table off to the side, beneath an olive tree wrapped in fairy lights.
They sat. The music swells in the background. Laughter echoes distantly. But here, it’s just them.
“So... music teacher still?” Now it’s Lily’s turn to start.
“Yeah. And a band on the weekends. Mostly weddings, actually.” He replied calmly.
“Then why didn’t you perform earlier for our newlywed bestie?”
“Her husband preferred his favorite band as you can see earlier.” He said. “But it’s a no biggie to me, I mean she just wants to not ruin the opportunity for her husband.
If only I could though, I hope they let me play the slow songs.”
“Still chasing sad chords, huh.”
“Someone has to.” YN tightlipped and bounced his brows. “And you? Designing cities yet?”
“Almost. Lead consultant now. Just wrapped a project in Lisbon.”
“Lisbon. Wow. That’s…”
“Far?”
“Brave.” YN corrected. A quiet pause emerges on them.
“You know, I used to think if I ran into you again, I’d either slap you or walk the other way.” Lily went straightforward in a comedic manner.
“And this is...?”
“Somewhere in between.” They both chuckled before falling again into a silent rhythm.
“I never hated you for leaving.” He admitted out of nowhere.
“And I never hated you too for staying. I just... couldn’t do both.”
“Well, we tried to make love the solution.” YN agreed. “But sometimes love isn’t a bridge. Sometimes it’s just a room you shared once. And then walked out of.” He shared his perspective afterwards.
“And yet... here we are. Sharing air again.” Lily couldn’t help it but to smile at how absurd it is.
“Yeah. Strange, isn’t it?” He chuckled.
“Not strange.” She shook her head. “Familiar. And a little sad.” Silence ensued once again.
YN sighed and distracted himself away from the sight of his ex-wife’s relapse. “Maybe we were never meant to last.”
Lily looked at him before lowering into somber. “Or maybe we were just meant to remember each other. Properly. Not through bruised memories and silence.”
They sat for a while longer as they distinct themselves from the lively crowd. In their own world, no decisions are made. No big declarations. Just their presence as they weave dreamlike “what could’ve been” glimpses into the present situation, which perhaps sparked after their unexpected reunion at the wedding, when old emotions are stirred.
Before the wedding occurred today, YN sat alone on the edge of his bed, guitar resting beside him, untouched. The room is dim, save for the soft flicker of a desk lamp. An old photo of Lily tucked into a book peeks out, half-hidden. He closes his eyes.
“In one life, I said yes. I packed up everything and followed her into the wild noise of the city.”
Lily and YN bustle through a sunlit, brick-walled loft in the heart of the city. He’s humming while making coffee; she’s barefoot, laughing, sketching designs on a pad. A child’s toy sits on the floor.
Lily crosses to him, kisses him. Their eyes meet—warm, sure.
Then later that night, they would watch the skyline glitter below, arms wrapped around each other. Music rises faintly from the streets.
On the other hand, Lily, who was alone also in her own room,  poured a glass of wine, sits by the window overlooking the sea. Her phone is dark. Her fingers hover over YN’s name in her contacts—but she doesn’t call.
She exhales slowly. Closes her eyes.
“In another version, I stayed. We built a quiet life. A beautiful one.”Lily hangs laundry under the sun while YN teaches their child guitar chords on the porch. The sky is wide, clean. Peaceful.
She might be greeting her husband whenever he comes home, a dinner she cooked with all her heart, and a sweet intimacy that he would need to regain his energy.
Back at the present, as the emotional weight of their unresolved love builds, they finally confronted the past together—the fight, the pride, the dreams that didn’t align. They spend one last night, full of old memories and aching tension.
“I used to replay that night like a movie. Over and over. Wondering what I missed. What I didn’t hear.” Lily said.
“Yeah?” He smirked a little. “Actually when I do, I edit it in my head. To give us a better ending.”
That final argument before they separated, the one similar thing they wish they could just turn back the time to prevent it from happening.
The apartment is warm, dimly lit by sunset through the windows. Lily paces slowly, a letter clutched in her hand. YN is on the couch, tuning his guitar, absentminded.
“YNN” she called his name after leaving the bedroom.
“Hmm?”
“I heard back”
“From the firm?” He glanced up to match her eyes.
She nodded, catching her breath to prepare her next words. They offered me the job. The one in the city. Lead designer on the Eastline restoration project. It’s... it’s everything I wanted.
Silence filled the room. YN sets the guitar down gently.
“Wow. That’s—Lily, that’s huge.”
“I know.” She smiled, but it’s tight. A flicker of fear behind it.
“So when do you start?”
“Three weeks. They want me settled before the project kicks off.”
YN leaned back as he tried to process what he heard.“You’re... really going to take it?” He stuttered in hesitation.
“YN, this is what I’ve been working toward for years. I’ve done everything right. Played it safe. Waited for something to open up that felt bigger than this place.” Lily replied.
“I know. It’s just—” YN breathes deeply. Lily’s enthusiasm faded slowly. “That place isn’t here.”
“I never said it would be.”
“But I thought maybe... we’d find something that was ours. Together. Here.”
Lily comes forward to him and looked at him concerningly. “We’ve been here. We’ve tried here. But I’m not growing,YN. I feel like I’ve been holding my breath for years, waiting for life to start. And this job—this city—it’s the first time I feel like the door's open.”
“And I’m not invited through it?” He scoffed.
“I want you there. Of course I do. But I can't make this decision for both of us. I won’t.” Lily shook her head in refusal.
“You’d really go without me?” YN’s face turned afraid.
“I’d rather not. But if you ask me to stay, you’re asking me to choose between you and the only dream that’s ever felt mine.” Lily softly said as she still hasn’t removed that expression on him.
There’s a beat. YN looked away from her to have some short time figuring it out.
“Please say something.” She begged.
“I want to be proud of you. I am.” He glanced at her with troubled emotions.
“But I don’t know how to follow you without losing what little of myself I’ve finally come to understand.”
YN had deep roots in the town: his sick father needed care, so YN obtained a stable job as a music teacher at the town high school in order to stay close and help.
Furthermore, the town was the resting place of his late mother, the place where he wrote his first musical compositions, and a place of solace in its familiar streets and rhythms.
At a deeper level, YN has been struggling with a hidden fear of failure. Years ago, he had attempted to "make it" on the city music scene and returned home bruised and disillusioned. Home town was not only cozy—it was safety.
The thought of starting over in a huge, frenetic city where Lily would flourish and he would be lost was terrifying to him. There, he thought it’s best to just strive at the difficult odds of the town than settle for easier opportunities in the city despite its dangerous surroundings.
He believed Lily's dream wasn't their dream, and although he loved her very much, he was beset by visions of being a shadow of a man in her limelight. He didn't verbalize this.
Instead, their discussions fell apart in frustration, and his refusal sounded obstinate and selfish when, in reality, it was born of fear, responsibility, and not feeling "enough" for the life she envisioned.“
What happened in yours?” Lily inquired.
“You stayed. We fight less. I chase music again, you design from here. We make it work.” He answered with a forced smile.
“Mine has you coming with me. We drink bad wine on the balcony of that tiny city apartment. You play guitar when I can’t sleep.” She reciprocated the pain of that dream only to be manifested into just a possibility that may never occur.
“But we both know that you’ll be always a little dimmer in it. Not unhappy, just… not you.”
The apartment is half-packed. Boxes scattered. Framed photos missing from the walls. The tension is thick but subdued—like a storm just before it breaks.
“I asked you one thing, YN. Just one thing. To take this leap with me.” Lily’s voice has gotten tired at this point.
“It wasn’t one thing, Lily. It was everything. New city, new job, new life. None of it included me as I am.” His voice raising through each words.
“What does that even mean?” Both confusion and annoyance grew on her.
“It means… I’m not built for that world. The gallery openings, the networking dinners, the constant chase. You'd be flying, and I’d be... trying not to fall behind. Again.” He stretched his side out for her understanding.
“So you'd rather stay here? Stagnant? Safe?”
“Call it what you want. My parents needs me. This school needs me. And maybe I need this place more than I thought. It’s where I know who I am.” He tried to sound convincing.
“And who are you, YN? A ghost in a town that never asked for anything more from you?!” She rebutted at how ridiculous it’s catching on her.“
Maybe. But I’ve already tried leaving once. You remember how that went. Came back broke, humiliated, empty. This—this town—it may be small, but it’s real and has been kind to me.” He choked after recalling that scary moment for him that could’ve gotten life-threatening.
“So what was I then, huh? A distraction before you ran back to safety?” Lily complained.
“No. You were among the risk I took.” He noted. “The best one I ever made. But this? Uprooting everything again? I can’t do it.”
“Then I guess we’re done talking. I’m sorry but… I already made my decision, YN.” Lily clutches her boxes filled with her belongings.
YN could only watch her as he slowly break inside.“So, that’s it? Now we’re torn apart? Just because we’re built for different maps of our goals in life?”
Lily turned around and viewed at him with a frown. “I suppose. But I hoped that our love could somehow redraw those borders and merge our routes together. Yet, it’s unlikely, and I believe it’s just gonna get even more difficult for us.”
She exits the room, leaving YN standing alone. His eyes went glassy in tears as he got defeated by his emotions unable to stop her from leaving his side.
Lily had a dream since childhood—a creative mind that envisioned beauty in movement, spatial arrangement, and architectural forms. She envisioned designing buildings that spoke volumes, aspiring to be part of projects that shaped skylines rather than furnishings.
She worked her way through college, freelanced for decades, and fought her way up in a rough, frequently male-dominated field.
And then, after decades of rejection from her applications, a globally recognized design firm hired her for a job in the city—a lifetime opportunity to oversee a restoration project in an historic district.
This was more than just a job. It was a kind of validation. It symbolized the fruition of hundreds of sleepless nights and countless compromises that ultimately paid off.
The city offered challenges, recognition, self-growth—and a chance to live up to her full potential without having to scale herself down to fit in.
But YN didn't want to go. AndLily, who'd waited for years for someone to notice her, couldn't stand the thought of living in her shadow once more—not this time. It wasn't about leaving him behind—it was about finally choosing herself.“
I was scared. Back then. Not just of the city. Of not being enough for the life you wanted. You were all light and velocity, and I... wasn’t.” YN said.
“And I was terrified of standing still. Of waking up one day and realizing I’d let my dreams rust trying to make someone stay.” Lily shared her own to make themselves mutual.
“We really tried, didn’t we?” He sighed heavily.
“We did. We just didn’t know how to lose without it breaking us.” Lily agreed. There’s a moment of silence built as they got speechless at their unhappy outcome. The wind made some few leaves fall through them as they mourn.
“Do you regret it?”
“No.” Lily denied. “But sometimes I wish love was enough to change our minds.” 
“Yeah. Me too.”
They look at each other. Not with longing, but with a shared ache. A quiet gratitude. The kind you only find after letting go.
It’s not the kind of love that hurts anymore. Not the kind that begs to be held onto, or fixed.
After some few chats about other random topics of how their life has been doing, Lily monitored the time on her watch. She glances at the crowd still minding their business to make the place lively for the newlyweds.
“Hate to break all of these but… I should go. I still have an early flight tomorrow.” She started to fix her bag on its comfortable arrangement and straightened her dress as she stood up from her seat.
“Where to this time?” He got intrigued.
“Barcelona. New project. Six months.”
“Oh. Have a safe travel there. But hey, you always did look good in motion.” He went sneak with his kidding which made Lily snicker.
“And you? Still teaching?” She threw the same style of question at him.
“Yeah. And writing again, a little. It’s... quieter now. But it fits.”
“Good. I’m glad.” She nodded and smiled, feeling impressed. “You sound more like you again.” She returned the chair to its place. “Thanks for catching up with me, YN. It’s been nice to see you again.”
There’s an unspoken weight in the air. It urged YN to stand up fast and follow the now walking away Lily out of the venue.
Few more steps to her car, he shouted his name that made her halt. “Lily, wait!”
“Yeah?”
He stopped on his tracks and took a deep breath. “I have one more thing I need to say. Before you go.”
Lily just stood there and waited, letting him be.
“I never stopped loving you. And I think I couldn’t make other woman feel the same as I did for you.” He finally lets out the burden he’s carrying for years. Lily remained silent, her eyes on him as she hummed.
“I’d tell myself it would fade. That time would do what people say it does—heal, dull, erase. But it didn’t. It just changed.
It’s quieter now. Like a song I stopped trying to finish. But I still hum it sometimes.
It’s there when I see something you would have laughed at, or when I teach a kid a chord you would’ve teased me for playing too often.” He smiled, mixed into sorrow and calm.
I love you like… like an old photograph I’ll never throw away. Because it mattered. You mattered.” Lily’s eyes glistened in tears.
“You have no idea how long I waited to hear that.” She nodded, wiping off the tears now streaming down her face. “And how many times I imagined saying the same thing.”
She steps closer, her expression open—vulnerable in a way she hasn’t allowed herself to be in years.
“I never stopped loving you either, YN. But I got really good at pretending I did.”
When I moved to the city, I told myself you were just a chapter. That someday I’d look back and see us as a lesson, a phase.
But you weren’t. You were the center. The anchor to my memories. The part of what-ifs I carried into every room, every relationship, every silence I tried to fill.”
She glances down, then back up—meeting his gaze. “I used to wake up some mornings thinking I heard your guitar. I’d walk past someone wearing your cologne and forget how to breathe.
I didn’t stop loving you. I just… folded it up and packed it away with the things I thought I couldn’t afford to feel.” He smiled painfully as he listened through every affirmation she revealed.
She took a breath before clearing her throat. “But you’re right. Love doesn’t always mean holding on. Sometimes it’s the thing that lets you walk away with your head up and your heart intact.
It’s knowing we were something remarkable. Something real. And knowing that we don’t have to keep reliving it to honor what it meant.
She places her hands on his arms—warm, steady, and gentle.
“You were my home once and I would never forget that.
That’s an entirely different kind of love that lasts, isn’t it? What we had. The kind that lets us know when to let go.” He nodded.
They stand there for a moment, suspended in that still, sacred space between closure and memory. Then they embraced—long, still, like a pause in a song that says everything.
She pulled back and kisses the ghost of his past on the cheek before he vanishes entirely to her unresolved conflict one last time. “Goodbye, YN. Thank you again, for this.”
“Goodbye, Lily.” He said softly. She smiled and started not turning around as she gets on her car. The wind picks up again. YN watches her disappear and sits back on the bench alone—at peace, but changed, without getting haunted anymore by the ghosts of what they could’ve become in their bittersweet love story.
--- END ---
95 notes · View notes
duckprintspress · 1 month ago
Text
National Library Week Shout-Outs!
I LOVE libraries – and this week, April 6 to 12, is National Library Week, so I’m here to shout-out my favorite libraries.
US-Nation-Wide Libraries: these are libraries that are available, via Libby, to anyone in the United States!
Queer Liberation Library: “Queer Liberation Library (QLL) is fighting to build a vibrant, flourishing queer future by connecting LGBTQ+ people with literature, information, and resources that celebrate the unique and empowering diversity of our community.” I love QLL, it’s so great and filling such a huge need. They’re one of the handful of organizations that Duck Prints Press donates to monthly.
The Japan Foundation Los Angeles Library: “The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles (JFLA) promotes international awareness and mutual understanding between Japan and the U.S. through cultural exchange. We administer a wide range of programs and grants aimed at introducing Japanese arts and culture, supporting Japanese Studies and language education, and promoting publications, translations related to Japan.” Fantastic if you’re studying Japanese or love Japanese culture. They have toooons of manga.
If anyone knows more nation-wide Libby libraries, please do tell, I’d love to find, join, and support more!
New York State Libraries: I live in New York, so the rest of my faves are local. I’m lucky to live in a state where many libraries allow all state residents access at no cost.
Schenectady County Public Library: My local library system! Also accessible to people throughout the Capital Region (Montgomery, Fulton, Schoharie, Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren, Washington, Albany, and Rensselaer counties). I’m there multiple times a month, getting books for myself or my kids. All those queer YA graphic novels y’all see me reading in my weekly and monthly round-ups? Borrowed from the SCPL.
New York Public Library: I grew up going to my local branch of the NYPL in New York City. Now, I’m still able to access their collections, as can anyone who lives in New York State. They have a huge, amazing collection, and it’s absolutely worth the effort of getting a card if you’re able.
Brooklyn Public Library: I have been so so so impressed by their selection of queer books and graphic novels since I got a card for their Libby. The size of their collection is comparable to NYPL, and they’re also free throughout the state. Absolutely worth it. They also have very high loan and hold limits, and as a result of that and their huge collection of queer manga, they have become my most-used Libby library.
Buffalo and Erie County Public Library: My newest library! I haven’t gotten to use them much yet, but they have an interesting and varied collection that I’m looking forward to digging into once I get through some of the copious number of BL manga volumes I borrowed from BPL.
Other…
The Lilly Library: I have to shout out the Lilly, a rare book library at Indiana University at Bloomington. I studied library science at IU, and earned my MLS, and I took multiple classes at the Lilly and interned and worked at their conservation lab during my two years there. The professor who taught those classes now runs the library, so even though I haven’t been there for a long long time, I’m absolutely positive it’s still a wonderful place totally worth a visit if you get the chance. They’ll bring out any of their huge, varied collection that you ask to see, and they do regular exhibits of rare books from the collection.
What are your favorite libraries? Please do tell!
consider yourself tagged! reblog and tell me your favorite libraries, and I'll share those too!
52 notes · View notes
justmeinadaze · 11 months ago
Text
Secret Underneath Part 7 ( Steddie X Plus Size You)
Tumblr media
Warnings: Older (Mid thirties) Sugar Daddies Steve and Eddie/ Young (Early to mid 20s) Baby Fem Plus Size Reader, SMUT, slapping (brief), reader just letting out some aggression with Daddy's help, dirty talk, etc. FLUFF, they love her and tell her so a lot.
ANGST (because I'm me), the discuss more about what happened with the fallout of Gina and how they reacted when it came to Y/N. More insight into why the guys and Gina split (she's not a good woman). Reader does a thing at the end, I'm not calling it a cliffhanger but it could be construed as one.
Word Count: 5342
Series Here/ Donate to Me
“Would either of you like more coffee?”, your mom asked as the pot in her hand hovered over their cups. 
“Oh, no ma’am. Thank you though.”, Steve politely smiled as Eddie shook his head to answer her question as well. “The breakfast was delicious, sir. Thank you for allowing us to join you and your family.”
“Ok, calm down, son. That’s not the way to suck up to me and her mother.”
Both boys glance your way as you try to stifle your giggles behind you mug as you sip your coffee.
“I think I’m starting to see where princess gets her sarcasm from.”, the rockstar grins.
“Yeah, we spoiled her too much.”, you mom teases as you stick your tongue out at her reply. 
“If I may ask, what would be the way to suck up to you because we love Y/N very much and we would do anything possible to earn all three of your trust and acceptance back.”
The room became silent as Steve’s words hung in the air. 
“To be fair, honey, when it comes to us, our first experience with you is hurting our daughter. We didn’t even know she was seeing anyone again.”, you mother relayed as her eyes flicked towards you. “Everything we know about you is either from the tv or her when she came home crying.”
Eddie’s eyes squeezed shut as her words pierced his heart; they never wanted to be the ones responsible for your pain. 
“You may not like hearing it but it’s true. You have to accept what you did to her first before you can move forward. A thousand years of marriage taught us that.”
“Oh my God.”, your father sighs. “You calm down to. Everyone at this table is so theatrical. I need back up. Where is Mya?”
“Mya is probably knocked out but I’m sure she’ll be around later.”, you smile. “There’s a lake behind the house here if you guys want to go for a walk.”
“Yeah, we’d love that.”
***
“If you’d like after this, we can run to your hotel and grab your clothes so you can change. You can stay in our house to if you want.”
Eddie’s palm balances just under your own as you hold your arms out while walking along the bank of the water. 
“We don’t have to. I mean…we don’t want to over crowd you or make you uncomfortable.”
“Said the men who were asleep at the foot of my bed this morning.”
“We were worried about you.”, Steve replied as he carefully traveled behind you to make sure you didn’t fall. 
“Well, I’m offering but if you’d be more comfortable in the hotel I’d understand. My family and Mya can be a lot.”
As you jump down, the metalhead guides your decent making sure you’re alright before you three continue moving forward. 
“They are a part of you and you aren’t a lot.”
“Not enough to be open with me.”, you grumble before you watch their heads hang. “I’m sorry.”
“No, um, no reason to be. You’re right.”
“Can I ask…what’s been happening since I left?”
“Jesus, fucking everything.”, Steve sighs as he takes a seat under a tree and you both follow him down with you in between. “I have no idea how she’s doing all these interviews at one time. We can barely get through one in general without being exhausted.”
“Gina and her lawyer have been making the rounds on daytime talk shows and sites like TMZ. Our lawyer says that tactic works in our favor because she either puts her foot in her mouth or contradicts herself so we can use that in court.”, Eddie exhales heavily. “All we’ve done so far is make that statement on Harrington’s social media which everyone has picked apart already.”
“Did that do anything for you?”, the mogul asks as his gaze shifts your way. “We were hoping that referencing you that way in our statement would help keep all that chaos away a bit.”
“I wouldn’t know since I haven’t looked at my phone. The only reason I know you said anything is because I had a weak moment and scanned your profiles on my computer.” Your head hung for a moment before you sarcastically chuckled and looked his way. “Now Gina’s interview saying that you’re only dating me because I’m the opposite of her, that was an accident. My mom was watching her morning shows and…”
“She’s not entirely wrong.” Your head swiveled towards Eddie as you waited for him to explain. “You ARE the complete opposite of her which is another reason we love you. If we wanted another Gina we could have just stayed with her.”
Your eyes closed at the words “we love you’, not quite ready to believe and accept them just yet. 
“So, yeah, did you guys have a lake like this back in Hawkins?”
“Y/N—”
“We should probably get you to your hotel so you can change and get your stuff.”, you interrupt as you hastily rise to your feet and dust off your pants. 
“Baby—”
“No.”, you growl as you put up your hand to cut him off. “No, Steve. You both don’t get to call me that right now. Don’t let this whole thing fool you. I’m still incredibly angry with you and it’s going to take more than a conversation and a meal with my parents to get me back.”
Silently the three of you walk back to your house but your mom’s loud voice cuts through the winter air as you come around the corner. 
“…and after the things she’s saying about MY daughter?! Gina Frost can go fuck herself!”
Eddie moves first, powerwalking forward and placing himself between a well-dressed man and your mother. 
“If I were you, Daniel, I would get in your car and go back to New York.”
“Are you threatening me, Mr. Munson? I’m not a woman you and your friend are dating so I imagine not.”, the man responds sarcastically. 
The rockstar angerly steps towards him but you hastily grab his arm and in return he stands up straighter to make sure you’re shielded with his body. 
“Is this Miss Y/L/N? I just need to talk with you if you’re able—”
“She’s not involved in anything between us and Gina. If you have a problem with that, you can take it up with our lawyer.”, Steve defends, placing himself beside his friend to block the man from you and your family. 
“Trying to silence another woman, gentlemen?”
“No.”, you answer for them as you push forward. “They don’t speak for me nor would they ever try. You have one minute to say what you want before my father gets involved and trust me, you thought my mom was combative?”
“Can I at least have a minute alone—”
“No. 55 seconds.”
The man reaches into his pocket and hands you a card that you pass to your mother around your protecters. 
“I’m looking for some more character witnesses to corroborate Gina’s statements—”
“Oh, honey, I’m the last person you should ask because from what I’ve heard our experiences with these men have been very different. 30 Seconds.”
“Are they? How was the charity event? They used to bring her every year.”
“She was their partner. Try again. 25 seconds.”
“It took them awhile to do it. Even longer for her to move into their apartment. How long have you three been together?”
“Who says we’re together? They’re my friends. 15 seconds; you better make them count.”
“Gina was their friend for years before they got together and before they started lavishing her in gifts and all that material bullshit. How long was it until they started doing the same with you? This case was started almost 7 months ago. When did your friendship with them begin?”
Your eyes blink as your jaw tightens and you try to hide the doubt that hits your heart at his line of questioning. 
“Time’s up. Get off my family’s property now.”
##################
You sit quietly as you stare vacantly out the window while both men quickly change and place themselves on the bed in front of you.
“What are you thinking about, Y/N?”, Steve asks with a soft tone as both men’s eyes constantly scan you over with concern. 
“I don’t want to believe him…”
“But you do?”, Eddie follows trying to hide the pain in his voice. 
“I can’t help it. You hid things from me and then you fucking left! No, you expected me to be ok with you disappearing for ‘some time’ which is way worse.”
“Fuck me her lawyer is fucking good.”, the mogul breathily laughs as he shakes his head. “Yeah, the case was started two months before we met you but do you know how long we were separated before we ever considered trying to find a partner again? Eight months. Eight months of alcohol filled days and hiding in our apartment because the idea of going out sounded exhausting. Eight months of watching her plaster her pages with pictures of her tongue down other men’s throats after deleting everything that had to do with us.”
“When we got served those papers, we spiraled even more.”, the other boy continued. “It finally got to the point where I told him we needed to try and get back out there. We started slow going out to bars or parties and we met so many women, Y/N. They would fucking beg to come home with us but we could never do it.”
“Not the right target?”, you sass but regret it immediately when their hurt and anger filled eyes meet yours. 
“We told you when we first spoke with you that we aren’t into ‘yes’ girls and that’s all they were. We went to the site and it was a bunch of the same shit.”
Steve pulled out his phone and ran his fingers along the screen until he found what he wanted and began reading. 
“Please Daddy. I’ll do anything to be yours especially if you can afford to get me something as expensive as your shoes! I’ll do whatever you want.”
“I’m not really into the threesome thing but if you show me your faces I can pick one of you and give you the best sex you’ve had in your life.”
“I’d love to meet you but we may need to go to the mall first. You can’t take me out in cheap clothes like the ones you’re wearing.”
Your eyes rolled as you listened to what the other Babies had said to them hating that women like them existed especially since you knew a lot of “Daddies” preferred that. After pushing another button on his phone, a high-pitched giggle filled the room.
“Stevie! Answer the phooooooone! Ugh, fine. Whatever. I just wanted to call to tell you guys I won’t be able to make it tonight for dinner. My friends are doing this thing and its sooooo stupid. Do, um, do you think you can send me $300 so I can have some real fun? I promise I’ll make it up to you two! Love you!”
“Steve, I’m out here fucking waiting for you. Why aren’t you here? If this is about me saying I didn’t feel like sleeping next to trailer trash tonight, Eddie knows I didn’t mean it. I was just…you know how I am when I get upset and he promised to take me with him to that interview with Kimmel so I could meet him backstage! It’s not my fault I got wasted and made him miss the stupid plane.”
“Fuck you both! I’m fucking done! I needed you this weekend and neither of you were there! The fucking press and people on the street are calling me a fucking whore and TMZ is making the rounds with my fucking mugshot! You’re going to regret throwing me away! The least you can do is send me some money for the hotel since I can’t go fucking home now.”
“Wow…well she sounds like a winner.”
“Stop it.”, Eddie rumbled in his Daddy tone that had you unintentionally sitting up straighter. “We’re trying to explain something and this is serious, Y/N. Every Baby we talked to reminded us of her…except you.”
“And it’s not because we were targeting you or needed you to show how, I don’t know, how fucking amazing we are or some shit because we aren’t. We’re flawed and sometimes we can definitely be assholes but I swear to God, Y/N, we never meant to hurt you. These past few months have seriously been the best of our entire lives. I offer to pay for things and take care of you because I love you. No, hey, look at me.”, Steve scolds when you avert your gaze at his declaration again. 
“It’s not because we need to establish a relationship quickly or whatever Gina’s lawyer is preaching. You have never tried to take advantage us and selfishly we took advantage of that by commanding you to wait in your apartment without telling you want was going on. That’s never going to happen again, baby girl, and I don’t care what I have to do to make sure it doesn’t.”
“Trust us, sweetheart, the speed of this relationship startled us to. We constantly asked ourselves if we were moving too fast even though we told you we needed to go slow. But like Steve said everything we do is because we love you… I love you.”
Your eyes took them in as they spoke, fully absorbing what they were telling you. 
“Is there anything else I should know about you and her?” After exchanging a look, they shake their heads. “Please don’t lie to me.”
“We’re not, baby, we promise.” As tears cloud your vision, you close your eyes to try and suffocate them as they betray you, falling down your cheek. Ringed hands cup your face as a forehead presses to yours. “What can we do, Y/N? Tell us how we can help, princess.”
“I want to be mad at you.”, you whisper.
Eddie’s head straightens, understanding what you need. 
“Then be mad. Let it all out, baby. You aren’t at home and we’re on the top floor. Shout, scream, hell, hit us if you need to. Just like you we know the word and we know when to use it.” Still seeing trepidation in your eyes, he clears his throat as he stands to his full height. “Come on, sweetheart. Don’t be a little baby.”, he coos with a mocking tone that has you standing to match him. 
“I’m not being a baby!”
“Oh really, little girl? Sound like a baby to me.”
Your palms reach out to shove him but the rockstar quickly bounces back as you push at him again a bit harder.
“M’NOT a baby! I have every right to be angry with you!”
“Yeah, ya do, baby! Let it out! Tell me why you’re angry with us!”
“I was ALWAYS vulnerable with you and more than accommodating but you both couldn’t do the same with me! You hurt me!”, you screamed as you began punching his chest with your fist barely moving him in place. “You made me feel like trash! You took me out and treated me like a queen but as soon as things got hard for you two you threw me away!”, you began to sob. “You gave me hope that I could finally be fucking happy after what Holden did and then with one letter you ripped it all away!”
Dropping your arms to your sides, they watched as your body shook as the tears continued to flow. Abruptly, you turned to leave but when Steve’s hand reached out to grab your wrist, your palm reeled back before smacking him hard across the face. 
The mogul didn’t say at word or let you go as his head swiveled back and his forehead fell on yours. Your eyes remained zeroed in on his chest as it heavily rose and fell with each angry pant, matching you own as the intense energy hung in the air. Again, you slapped him but it wasn’t as hard as before. Repeating your actions, the force of your palm connecting with his cheek became less and less until you were just cupping his face in your hands. 
Your lips roughly attach to his as a small whine leaves your throat at the taste you missed so much. A needy atmosphere replaces the old one and Steve’s strong palms grip your thighs as you jump up to wrap your limbs around him. 
Tumbling onto the bed behind you, the mogul desperately tugs down your jeans and panties as you fumble with his belt before reaching into to his own pants to free his cock. The two of you groan into each other’s mouths as you collect some of your slick with his tip and guide him into your entrance.
Hovering above you, Steve delivers a couple of slow but deep thrusts that have your eyes rolling shut and your fingers threading through his hair when his entire body presses against yours. 
“We’re so sorry, honey.”, he whispered breathlessly. “Mmph—ah, fuck—we didn’t think…fucking stupid.”
You shook your head and pushed his closer to your neck as your legs clung to him tightly.
“It hurt me the most be-because…Jesus Christ, Daddy, just like that.”
“Because why, baby? Tell Daddy.”
Your pussy clenched around him as his heavy pants rippled through your ear making you mewl as he pumped into you at a harder pace.
“Because I love you to, Steve.”
The moan that rumbled through him was one of the most beautiful sounds you had ever heard as he thrust into you so fast the bed shook aggressively underneath you. Keeping his arms secure around you, the man pushed up onto his knees, bringing you with him as he continued to thrust upwards as your palms held his face and his eyes locked in on yours. 
“Please…again…”
“I love you, Steve, so much.”
“Oh shit.”
As he pressed his head into your chest, you felt his release begin to paint your insides and at the sudden action your body trembled as you came.
When you glanced his way, Eddie couldn’t wait any longer, having been stroking his cock at the display before him and desperate to feel you in his arms again. Pulling you off his friend, he stepped out of his jeans and threw of his shirt, positioning you onto all fours with your ass in perfect view for him. 
The rockstars fingers dug into your thick hips as he slid himself inside you and leaned over to lay his chest against your back. 
“Fuck, sweetheart, we missed you so much. I promise we will—mmm—never make you feel like that again. You deserve the world, baby.”
With your eyes close, your mouth blindly searched for his and he obliged as your lips passionately mingled together. 
“I-I love you to, Eddie. Fuck, Daddy, please… harder.”
Pushing up onto his palms, he pulled his cock all the way back before slamming back into your cunt hitting that soft spot inside of you repeatedly that had you a moaning mess. His sweaty forehead was resting on the side of yours and as you opened your eyes, you watched as his gorgeous features contorted into pleasure as he picked up his rhythm.
“That’s it, Daddy. M-Make me cum.”
You couldn’t help but smirk when his nose scrunched in focus as he did what you requested. Falling completely on top of you, your hand quickly grabbed his as your pussy quivered around him and you whimpered as the coil snapped in your belly. The feeling was almost too much for Eddie as his pace sputtered and he grunted against your skin as his release filled you. 
After gently pulling his softening cock out of your now sore but content body, Eddie rolled you onto your back and continued to kiss any part of your neck and face he could reach until a second set of lips joined him on your opposite side. 
“I forgive you.”, you mumble causing their movements to stall before they raised both their heads to look at you. “I forgive you. I’m sorry I broke your rule about googling you. I only looked up your lawyer’s information. I swear I haven’t be looking up information since—”
Steve’s palm over your mouth cut you off.
“We understand. That rule was bullshit anyway… Another way for us to hide Gina.”
“We looked through your socials.”, Eddie revealed as his hand brushed some of your hair away from your face. “We had never done it before because, like you said, we wanted to learn about you from you but when we couldn’t get a hold of you…”
“Did you find anything interesting?”, you tease making both men smile.
“There’s a video on there one of your kids tagged you in where they were joking with you about slang or something. They seem to really love you.” Eddie’s grin grows when you lightly giggle. “Y/N, we’re sorry about not updating you more on our case. It didn’t even occur to us how this could ripple out and affect your job.”
“We’d hate ourselves if we were the reason you lost something like that.”
“I forgive you.”, you repeat before continuing. “I do have to make it clear, though, that this can’t happen again. I meant what I said, I do love you both but I’m not going through all of this again. I…refuse to.”
Their lips kiss your cheeks as they hold you tighter to them. 
“This is never happening again, sweetheart.”
“We promise, honey.”
#####################
As you step out of the shower at your house, you smile as you listen to Eddie’s cackle echo through the house at something your dad said before Steve’s lighthearted tone tried defending whatever was said. 
Glancing towards the drawer by your bed, you let out a heavy sigh before reaching in and grabbing your device to scroll through the screen. 
All of your socials had tags attached that you assumed were people claiming the “mystery woman” was you and the comments everyone was saying in response. There were a ton of emails from news outlets asking for you to say something or give them a quote to confirm it was indeed you that went to the charity event with them but thankfully nothing from your boss or the school. 
You saw a bunch of texts from Mya, your mom, and surprising your ex who assured you he wouldn’t say another to the press even though a few got his information as well. 
Going through your voicemails, you skipped passed reporters and the couple from Gina’s lawyer that you couldn’t care less about until a familiar voice followed through your phone. 
“Hey, sweetheart.”, Eddie chuckled with a slight slur in his tone that told he was probably drunk at the time. “I just wanted to call you myself because…Because I was thinking about you. I think about you a lot…like all the time, Y/N. Even before all this bullshit with our ex… I would be in the studio with the guys and be like ‘I wonder what pretty girl is up to?’ You’re so beautiful, baby, inside and out. I had a dream about you last night. I was back home in my trailer and I heard you screaming outside. I ran to find you b-b-but I couldn’t. I started panicking like ‘She’s gonna think I didn’t try…try to come save her.’”, he sobs making your heart break at the sound. 
“No matter what, princess, I’d be here for you. I love you so much. I’ve never loved anyone as much I love you… Fuck…I shouldn’t leave t-this on your machine. Pfft, Machine. Like it’s the 90s still.”, Eddie laughs at his own joke. “Anyway, um, yeah…I just wanted you to know…that we miss you an we love you, baby. We so sorry…”
The rest of the message was his heavy breathing where you assumed he fell asleep making your grin grow as you wiped one of the tears that fell. Pushing the button for the next message, Steve’s gravelly voice followed. 
“Hey, Y/N. Um, I’m so bad with these things. Eddie’s a lot better with technology than I am but I’m so desperate to hear your voice, honey. I miss the sound so much and not just your voice but your cute little laugh or even the adorable way you sneeze with your entire soul.” When he laughed you giggled along with him. “Jesus…we really fucked up, huh, baby girl? When I was a kid, I would watch women come and go from my dad’s office and I would think ‘I’m never going to be like him. If I had a good woman like my mom at home I would never hurt her like this. I would never make her feel unloved or unwanted.’… We understand if you need some space… I just…I just don’t want you to think we’re doing ok without you. We love you, Y/N.”
When you selected the next message, you have expected it to be another declaration of love or an apology from the guys but when a high pitched sigh came through grating your ears you were surprised. 
“I hope I’m calling the right number. I’m usually a texter but I felt like something like this required a call. My name is Gina Frost and I am Eddie and Steve’s ex. Listen, honey, for your own good, leave them now while your heart is still intact. I spent years trying to be what they wanted me to be and it was never enough. The first time I stood up for myself was when I left them and they dragged my name through the mud! They are great at twisting the truth to fit their narratives. Don’t get pulled in. Would you be willing to meet with me so we can talk?”
You growled at her tone and accusations as what they told you, her voicemails on their phone, and what she said about you on national television swirled around your head.
Opening your Instagram, you uploaded three images with different captions. The first was from the night of charity event that Stephanie took of you three before you left the apartment with you in-between them and their arms wrapped around your waist posing with their other hands pushed in their pocket. Your grin stood out as you laughed at their insistence to not smile in pictures so it looked “sexy yet intimidating” while showing you a demonstration. 
“My name is Y/N Y/L/N and as a lot of you may have noticed I am the woman that went with Eddie Munson and Steve Harrington to the event last month. I have known these men for a few months and have been in an intimate relationship with them for some time. For my privacy and because of the things being said online by Miss Frost, they tried to protect me by referring to me in the media as ‘just a friend’. I hope that notion alone goes into the column that they are not the lies that people have said about them. I love them both with every fiber of my being and I have never felt safer in my life then in these men’s company.”
The second image was a video of you and Steve sitting in your living room on the floor where you were trying to put one of your face masks on him while he kept making jokes to keep you laughing. 
“Why is it, cold?!”
“Because, you dork! It good for your skin now stop moving.”
When he playfully sticks out your tongue to lick your wrist as it grazes his lips, you can’t help but lean back on your knees as your tummy shakes with almost uncontrollable giggles. 
“Steven! Stoooop.”
“You want me to stop being adorable? I can’t do that, honey. That would be like asking me to stop breathing.”
“Steve Harrington is one of the kindest souls I have ever met even going overboard sometimes. I thoroughly believe that if he could move heaven and earth with his own two hands just to see me smile he would. He has never once asked me to change who I am but has himself adjusted his own personality to make me comfortable without me even asking. I love him as is but he can be stubborn when it comes to people he genuinely cares about. 
Your third video had Eddie straddling your waist while pinning your wrists to the floor. The power had gone out due to a storm so you three had been passing the time anyway you could think. While play wrestling, he got the upper hand and leaned down to kiss your lips. 
“Woooo! And Eddie Munson wins by a landslide!”
While he pretends to be praised by a nonexistent audience, you wrap your arms around his waist and push your chest against his bare one, flipping you both around till he was underneath you. 
“Oh no! And with the cruel hands of fate, Eddie Munson is no more.”
You giggle as he closes his eyes and pretends to pass out before you lean down to kiss him, making him grin as his fingers tangle in your hair. When you go to sit up, some of your locks get tangled in the metal of one us rings and his playful tone promptly changes to a concerned one. 
“Oh, hang on, princess, I got you here. There we go. Are you ok? I didn’t hurt you or anything? Good.”, he beams up at you when your shake your head and the video stop as he leans up to wrap his arms around you in a big bear hug. 
“Eddie Munson is so sweet and caring. He’s very protective and does whatever he can to make sure I know I’m safe whether that be by making me laugh or holding my hand till I feel comfortable. He’s never belittled me or physically hurt me in any manner unlike men from my past. I love this goofy rockstar and there is no place I feel safer or more at home than in his arms. 
Gina Frost believes that these men chose me because I’m nothing like her and I genuinely believe that is the only thing she’s said with any truth. I would never hurt them the way she did and continues to do even though they are no longer in her life. They deserved better than you and I will do whatever I can to make them happy because they do that for me every single day.”
As soon as you posted your response, a small wave of fear rumbled in your stomach as the likes began to quickly fill up your notifications until you noticed the only two handles that matter when it came to your words. 
 “@thereal_EddieMunson liked your post.”
“@thereal_EddieMunson added your post to his story: “My princess is a queen 🤘.”
“@StevenHarringtonOfficial liked your post.”
“@StevenHarringtonOfficial added your post to his story: “I would move the stars in the sky if she asked me to.”
A wide smile paints your face as you blush and hastily get dressed to skip downstairs. 
“Jesus, child. Took you long enough. Were you writing your memoirs up there?”, you father joked as you came around to hop on a stool at your kitchen counter next to Eddie who was picking at the appetizers your mom had made while dinner was being prepared. 
As you reach for a slice of garlic bread, the rockstar leans towards you to kiss your cheek before taking your other hand in his and placing it on his lap. 
Steve, who was helping by cutting up vegetables, met your eyes across the marble and smirked as he gave you an adorable little wink.
###############
@aol19 @paradisepoisons @paleidiot @dashingdeb16 @lilaclazer @joannamuns9n @thwippyparker @emotionaldreamer @aactuaaltraash @alastorssimp @mygirlchaos @starksbabie @imagine-all-the-imagines @hardladyheart
240 notes · View notes
lapsed-bookworm · 1 year ago
Text
This isn’t an exhaustive list, but I’ve run into some of these organizations as places to donate, and it's fine for my followers to share other lists that have gone around. (I'm not going to be offended.) This is version three with some organizations that include long-term goals of Israeli-Palestinian cooperation and peace in addition to the initial organizations offering emergency aid. Organizations are listed alphabetically.
Alliance for Middle East Peace
ALLMEP is a coalition of over 160 organizations—and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and Israelis—building cooperation, justice, equality, shared society, mutual understanding, and peace among their communities. We add stability in times of crisis, foster cooperation that increases impact, and build an environment conducive to peace over the long term. (Even if you're not really keen on supporting AllMEP itself, searching Member Organizations may also be a way to find organizations based on sectors - environment, women, youth, etc. - or type - Palestinian, Cross Border, or Shared Society.)
American Friends of Magen David Adom
The most common way I’ve seen recommendations for USAmericans to donate to Magen David Adom. (Additional Friends Societies are on Magen David Adom’s site for other countries.)
As a fully-fledged member of the International Red Cross / Red Crescent, Magen David Adom serves as the Israeli Red Cross organization.
Anera
Anera, which has no political or religious affiliation, works on the ground with partners in Palestine (West Bank and Gaza), Lebanon and Jordan. We mobilize resources for immediate emergency relief and for sustainable, long-term health, education, and economic development. Our staff serve in their communities, navigating the politics that constrict progress to get help where it’s needed most.
A Land For All
A Land for All is a shared movement of Israelis and Palestinians who believe that the way towards peace, security and stability for all passes through two independent states, Israel and Palestine, within a joint framework allowing both peoples to live together and apart.
Doctors Without Border/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
An independent organization “focused on delivering emergency medical humanitarian aid quickly, effectively, and impartially.” This link goes to the Palestinian Territories section.
Friends of Roots
We are a network of local Palestinians and Israelis [in the West Bank] who have come to see each other as the partners we both need to make changes to end our conflict. Based on a mutual recognition of each People's connection to the Land, we are developing understanding and solidarity despite our ideological differences. Ongoing Initiatives include interreligious exchange, a women's group, partnership lectures, a children's summer camp, youth group, after school program, incident response team, and community de-escalators.
Hand in Hand
Hand in Hand is building inclusion and equality between Arab and Jewish citizens of Israel through a growing network of bilingual, integrated schools and communities. [...] The curricula in Hand in Hand’s schools are based on values that reflect both cultures and languages, oriented in multiculturalism and shared and equal citizenship. In our bilingual educational model, Hebrew and Arabic have equal status, as do both cultures and national narratives. Our thousands-strong adult community members come together year-round in celebration, solidarity, and dialogue. These community activities are geared towards parents, staff, and other active citizens who are interested in taking part in a shared community. We believe it is not apt to place the burden of creating a shared future on the shoulders of our children. We, the adults, must lead the way. These community activities are an inseparable part of our work towards building a shared society.
MAUSA - Muslim Aid USA
An international charity that provides assistance from natural disasters and conflict. They have a specific Palestine Emergency page.
Mrs Najah’s Kitchen
Emergency food relief in Gaza.
Off The Grid Missions
Off-The-Grid Missions (OTG) is a global humanitarian aid organization filling the gap in disaster-response by providing Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing people with critical life-saving resources in high-risk and disaster-stricken regions around the world.
Depending on the mission, aid can include assistance with evacuations, providing food, solar lighting and emergency electric sources, and assisting with alternatives to sound based warning systems. (Assistance with Deaf and Hard-of-hearing individuals in Palestine and Israel has been mentioned on quickly updated social media sites, like Facebook.)
Palestine Red Crescent Society
The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) is an officially recognized independent Palestinian National Society. It is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
Standing Together
Standing Together is a grassroots movement mobilizing Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel in pursuit of peace, equality, and social and climate justice. We organize protests across the country demanding economic equality, climate justice, and an end to the occupation. We hold workshops on grassroots power, organize get-out-the-vote campaigns, and run candidates for student union elections [related to university chapters]. Our alternative media outlet, Rosa Media, produces Hebrew and Arabic podcasts highlighting underrepresented political stories and perspectives from across Israeli society. We maintain a robust presence in Israeli social media – combatting extremist voices and advancing hope.
Women Wage Peace
Women Wage Peace is a broad, politically unaffiliated movement, which is acting to prevent the next war and to promote a non-violent, respectful, and mutually accepted solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with the active participation of women through all stages of negotiations.
World Central Kitchen
World Central Kitchen is first to the frontlines, providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises.
They have response teams and partners in Gaza, Israel, Lebanon, and Egypt.
Charity Navigator page for additional organizations for the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Posted: 5 February 2024. (Link to Version 2.)
292 notes · View notes
nthspecialll · 9 months ago
Text
"That Jimmy isn’t as dumb as he looks."
Jimmy Brooks is one of the first characters we can choose to kill or to let live after being dumb enough to confront Arthur about seeing him in Blackwater, other than that one encounter, we can find references to him two different places throughout the game, which might lead to something interesting going on.
Tumblr media
The most commonly known other place to find Jimmy Brooks is in the strange man's cabin where two different poems can appear depending on if he is killed or not. "There was a man called Jimmy Brooks, Who was always running into crooks, Till one chased him down, And he had to talk his way round, That Jimmy isn’t as dumb as he looks." Now this points is strange, him not being as dumb as to just recklessly point out a killer. Though it could refer to him being able to talk his way out, I wouldn't say that anything he said saved him, him being saved is completely depending on Arthur. I feel that we as a player already have an idea about if we will kill him or not before he starts very badly pleading for his life.
The second place, a lesser known place, in which you can find Jimmy Brooks, is on the register stone a little outside of Cornwall Oil and Tar.
"J. Brooks. US Post 63." (Confirmed to be about him)
Tumblr media
Now the person we saw in Valentine looks about thirty, but this was made 36 years ago and I doubt he worked in the US post when he was like four, and I will not put him in his mid fourties, same age as Dutch.
These two instances alone can be explained logically, however when dealing with anything related to The Strange Man, you can allow yourself to think a bit more.... Unlogically, magically if you will.
The Strange Man is sometimes seen as Death and the time after the Blackwater Masacre is often seen as marking Arthur's last time leading to his inevitable death, and with it approaching, Death might want to see what kind of person he is dealing with.
Jimmy Brooks is one of the first times that Arthur's honor is affected, a trial of Arthur's character, and it wouldn't be the first time that The Strange Man tests the morality of people he knows is dying, he does the same to John in rdr1, sending him out to rob Sister Calderón or stop a man from cheating. The only difference is that John has to go to the trial whereas the trial is presented to Arthur. However it can simpily be that The Strange Man is adapting the challenges to the people.
Arthur's trial is one of life and death, John's aren't. The ones John gets are more about his morals about life rather than death. Encourage a man to cheat, or tell him he is better. Rob the sister, or donate to her.
Both of the negative things John can do are... Negative, but they aren't that bad. Encouraging a man to cheat is just bad moral but not illegal, and robbing a sister is illegal but you can gain something from it, thus you would choose to go there even if you had the choice not to.
Arthur's on the other hand. It would be better for Arthur to not at all encounter Jimmy, stealing a horse and chasing after him through an entire town is bound to draw attention, and afterwards killing him not far from said town, is not optional, even if you save him, you have drawn attention to yourself. If Arthur's trail was optional, he would not take it thus it is forced upon him.
There is also a reason why The Strange Man appeared for John but not for Arthur and it is all about their redemptions.
Arthur's redemption comes from inside, he doesn't care what others think about him, only what he thinks about himself, and until he changes his mind about himself and everything he does, nothing can even sway him. He thinks he is a bad man, nothing can change that until he himself changes his perspective. He doesn't need The Strange Man telling him "you have done bad" because he knows and he is suffering for it already, he needs to be shown he can be a good man.
John on the other hand, his redemption comes from the outside, he doesn't change because he wants to, he changes because the world needs him to. He doesn't care about what he did or who he killed and he doesn't need to prove to himself that he is a changed man, he needs to show the world that he is a changed man, that is the only way he will be left alone. However The Strange Man is there to remind him why he hasn't been forgiven yet, because he killed many and he needs to be reminded of it.
Now who is Jimmy Brooks then? Well, he can just be a random man who looks young for his age and was influenced by The Strange Man to do what he did, but he could also be dead. It is a solution to him being old enough to work with the US Post in 63 and being in his thirties in 99.
He died sometime after 63, when he was in his thirties, and then when Death (The Strange Man) needed Arthur's morals tested, he didn't want to put an living person's life on the line, as it was not their time to die, so he used a person who was in fact already dead.
Anything with The Strange Man is possible.
94 notes · View notes
scarletwinterxx · 1 year ago
Text
jaemin dad scenario #2
hellooooooo ~ not sure if y'all are familiar with this audio but I saw a cute tiktok vid earlier with this audio and I wanted to write one about it. plus I've been wanting to write another dad jaemin scenario so here we are😅 hope you like it!!!
For my other works you can check them out here, and for my other story series’ you can check them out here.
and if you want, u can buy me coffee(totally optional but any donation is very much appreciated!) thank you🥺💛
All works are copyrighted ©scarletwinterxx 2024 . Do not repost, re-write without the permission of author.
(gif not mine, credits to rightful owner)
Tumblr media
Jaemin hears the voices from downstairs, waiting for his wife and daughter to walk in the kitchen where he's currently baking cupcakes for Heejin's school day.
"Daddy, we're home"
He turns around to face the two of you, his two girls smiling widely at him. Heejin reaches out for him, immediately getting Heejin from you to give him her after daycare cuddles and kisses
"There's my baby princess, how was daycare today? Did you have so much fun? You didn't cry?" he ask in between kisses on her face. Meanwhile you watch the adorable scene between your husband and his mini me.
"She didn't cry, her teacher told me and she got a star"
"Wah you did? Can appa see it?" he asks the little girl in his arms, Heejin holds out her hand to show the star sticker on the back of her hand
"Wow, that's great! I'll give you a cupcake since you're very good" he promises Heejin, you give him a strict look but you let it slide.
You and Jaemin are on the same page when it comes to raising your daughter. You rarely have any arguments, but there are times Jaemin folds whenever Heejin wants something. Like giving her sweets, or letting her stay up past her bedtime.
You really can't beat the dad-daughter duo, they both know how to make you say yes. One look at you with their round eyes, you're nodding your head to whatever wish they have.
"Also Heejin got something to say" you tell Jaemin, walking towards the fridge to get a drink while Jaemin sets Heejin on the counter
"What is it, baby?"
"I got a boyfwiend" her little baby voice says happily.
Immediately Jaemin's smile changes while you try to hold in the laughter. He looks over at you then back at Heejin
"You don't have a boyfriend"
The little girl frowns at her dad, "I do have my boyfwiend" she says a bit louder this time
You can't help but laugh, Jaemin looks over at you with a glare clearly not amazed with the situation but to you it's very hilarious.
"You don't have a boyfriend" he sternly says, Heejin then sobs then reaches out for you.
You step closer to give her some comfort while Jaemin stands beside you, still not done with his argument with his 4 year old daughter.
"Aw love, what's wrong? who made you cry?" you ask her, patting her hair. The Little Na looking up at you with teary eyes
"Daddy says.. daddy says i don't have boyfwiend" she says in between sobs. At this point you can't help the big smile on your face, your daughter is being so adorable right now.
"But you do have a boyfriend?" you ask her, giggling.
Jaemin playfully pinches your waist, you brush him off while you watch Heejin nod her head "You do? What's his name?"
"Ji-hun" she says with her lips cutely pouting
You laugh again, enveloping her with a hug and kissing her head. Looking over at your husband to see him with an opposite expression on his face, "Yah, they're kids. Just go with it" you whisper
"She's four, she's my babygirl" he grumbles, taking Heejin from you to hold her again
"You're not allowed to have a boyfriend until you're 50" he tells her seriously. To little Heejin, it doesn't really make any sense apart from meaning she doesn't get to be right this time which she doesn't like.
This makes her cry again but doesn't move from her father's embrace
"Boys will make you cry then I have to beat them up then dad will have boo boo's. Do you want dad to have boo boo's?"
"No" she answers, hugging Jaemin quickly. She's always been a worried baby, if she feels like either of you are in danger she gets very anxious and starts to cry. When she was a baby, she hated seeing Jaemin on his bike. She thought he was going to fall.
"Okay then don't get a boyfriend okay? Pinky promise" he holds out his pinky towards Heejin, the little girl sealing the promise
"I can't even imagine how you would be when she actually starts dating" you tease him
"Don't start with me. I'll actually fight them"
You laugh, joining in their hug. Jaemin wraps one arm around you while the other holds Heejin, both of his girls in his arms.
"And I love you for that, but one day she's going be a big girl and would fall in love just like I did. With you" you tell him, giving him a kiss on the cheek
He looks at you, his eyes full of love and adoration like they always have ever since you met. "Well then as long as she falls in love with someone who loves her the way I love you, then I guess I'll be okay. That's still a maybe though, no one deserve our baby girl"
You smile at him, kissing him again this time on the lips then giving Heejin a kiss also on her chubby cheeks "I love you more, both of you. How about we finish baking these then let's have a cuddle night the three of us?"
"Sounds like heaven to me" He agrees, kissing both you and Heejin on the head before he sets Heejin down. The little one getting her standing stool ready to help with decorating the cupcakes but you both know she's after the sprinklers
"After I put her to bed, you and I are going to have a talk" he whispers
"What did I do" you laugh "Mhm, you can laugh now. Just wait until later"
308 notes · View notes
riley-coyotl · 5 months ago
Text
Hey friends! I recently found out that Dog Splash, our area's only indoor dog pool, is struggling financially and may have to close its doors by the end of January. There is currently a GoFundMe set up by a volunteer of a local rescue, in hopes to help support them through this.
We love Dog Splash and would be devastated to see it go! We only just became customers in November and already it's become a beloved part of our routine. Dog Splash provides an invaluable service to the community, this is the only place like it anywhere in the area. Providing a safe and welcoming environment for dogs to swim year-round, all for a reasonable price, this is not only great fun and excellent exercise and enrichment in general, but also wonderful low-impact exercise/physical therapy for older dogs/those with orthopedic issues, like my Maple, who loves to swim!
And under the new management that acquired the business a year ago and worked so hard to turn the place around in the past year, they are even willing to accommodate our fearful reactive dog Juni too, so I really hope to get to bring her in soon! For those with reactive dogs, you know how hard it can be sometimes to find safe places to get your pups the exercise and stimulation they need. All dogs deserve opportunities for fun and enrichment, and Dog Splash does not discriminate and helps to accommodate and provide that opportunity for all, in a safe and welcoming manner.
Not only are they providing a unique and important opportunity for local dogs and their owners, they also kindly allow dogs of local rescue to swim free of charge to help them get some much-needed exercise and time outside a stressful shelter environment, letting these dogs decompress and get real world experience, which can go great lengths towards getting them adopted.
This place is amazing and the owner is very kind. Last time we were there, they gave us homemade Christmas cookies. This local small business is truly a labor of love for them, and beloved by the dogs and their owners who go there to swim.
Please please please consider donating or sharing this GoFundMe to help save Dog Splash! Any amount helps, and sharing/reblogging is also a great help to get them more exposure. Let's all try our best to save this wonderful gem!!
Tumblr media
53 notes · View notes