#anthony swofford

[miange1]

ANTHONY SWOFFORD

'you'll find, there's never any time for babes or wine'

male reader, anal sex, sexual frustration, raw dogging(ow.), cheating, slight internalized homophobia, sexual actions in the military (DON'T. do that), is it a crime to imagine myself with hair, i have dreads, these AREN'T coming off.

he slammed the white and worn out phone onto the holder of the booth. lunch was next, but he felt much to sick to even think about food right now. this was one of those moments he wish he hadn't signed that damn paper.

he wanted to be back with kris, feel her again instead of jerking himself dry to a picture of her in the stalls just for him to not leak a single drop of nothing.

he swirled the rice and chicken around in the paper bowl, his cup of water still full as he hadn't picked it up unless he received it. 'just a friend' she said. what bullshit.

deep down he knew this would happen. it happened to everyone else, so it was blind to happen to him. "..fuck." he muttered under his breath. he needed to get it together, he couldn't break down over her— not now, not like this. and definitely not here.

what was he gonna do? how could he focus this way? there was just no possible way for it to happen if this shit was nagging in the back of his brain.

he ended up throwing the food away, no longer even wanting to stare at it with this damn girl on his mind.

now he couldn't sleep, staring up at the barracks' ceiling just..thinking. what would he do when he got back and saw that guy just staring back at him. opening that door, seeing some random looking at him like he'd never seen him before.

no, no, fuck that, he'd know him. his friends were probably right saying kris had that military fetish. getting off telling that man that he was a jarhead—

"psst," his thoughts were interrupted by a whisper. was it directed towards him? he sat up, jumping a bit to see you right next to his bed. you were a friend of his he made here, a bit closer to him than anyone else. everyone described you as a sweetheart, you were real kind and caring but you got done what needed to be done whether you disliked it or not.

"i snuck these from the cafeteria," you held up two chocolate chip cookies, and it made him surprised that they even had any sort of flavor here. "you want one?" you gave that smile to him, making his heart melt. you thought of him when taking these? practically risking yourself to get something sweet.

"sure," he sat up, moving over a bit to make room for you to sit with him. he opened the wrapper, giving a hum of satisfaction at the sweet taste touching his tongue. god, this felt great.

"thinking about that white chick of yours?" he almost choked, not thinking that you could tell— but hell it was obvious. ever since the phone calls he had been spacing out, and getting angry easier.

he exhaled through his nose, but he didn't deny it. "there's this guy, charlie or charles or some shit. something with a c, i dunno." he looked down at his bruised knees, his feet planted right on the cold hard ground beneath the two of you.

"she met him at some hotel and..they seem to talk a lot apparently. but i just..i know they're boning and-" he looked over at you, seeing how your cheeks were stuffed with the cookies as you ate. he almost burst out laughing but held it in so no one else woke up. "what?" you swallowed down the rest of the food, confused as to why he was laughing.

"jesus man, im talking about my soon to be ex girlfriend be serious for a sec." you gave him a look, "i am!" your voice was still a whisper as you exclaimed, yet you couldn't help but laugh with him.

you had stopped for a moment but he still had a few chuckles. something just tempted you and you weren't too sure what it was. you always felt a bit of something towards him, but it was mostly just admiration right? yeah, he was a good soldier and you looked up to him to better yourself despite being here longer than him.

your eyes slightly hooded, your head getting a bit closer and he took notice at that. his body backed up a bit, but the two of you were still close. it hit that this must have made him uncomfortable, hint being he was giving you a weird look. he made it clear at the meet when the drill sergeant was yelling at him he most definitely wasn't gay. so what the hell were you thinking?

too ashamed to stand up and walk away, you backed off and looked down at the floor. you weren't gonna cry or anything no, you just felt shameful.

your skin felt cold, and full of goose bumps feeling his finger underneath your chin and tracing at your jaw line. it made you look over at him, the uncomfortable look replaced with longing and need. both of your heads went together again, lips connecting like magnets and moving against each other like smooth waves.

his arm rested on your hips, and your on his chest to keep yourself steady because fuck he was a real rough kisser. there wasn't much teeth, and the kiss still went amazingly but he would push against you like he absolutely needed this.

and he did, he needed it so badly because who else did he have? no one, he had no one else except for you.

"oh..tony, chill out a bit.." he was being as 'chill' as he possibly could. going at a medium pace as to keep everyone asleep, but damn no one ever told you something up there hurt like a bitch.

"trying," he said, leaning down and coming to kiss at your lips and neck. "need you so bad.." his thrusts were slowing down but still harsh and hard. he felt so good, finally feeling something around him other than his damn hand.

he himself couldn't lie that he felt a little something for you as well, even after he knew he would regret this. he might want this to keep going if he could let it happen.

"i know but, mngh.." your words cut off when he aimed at somewhere inside you specifically, making you forget everything all at once. "gosh, right there."

his heart sped up as did his movements. he couldn't help himself! he couldn't keep going so slow, it was killing him.

his hand slapped over your mouth, and feeling the vibrations of your muffled moans against his palm. the bed creaked, your legs wrapping around his waist to keep him close.

yeah, this was definitely going to be more than a one time thing.

[jakegyllenbaalz]

jake gyllenhaal as anthony swofford (jarhead, 2005)

[charliehoennam]

the road trip.

Pairing: Anthony Swofford x F!Reader

Summary: Tony and his girl decide to make the best of the time they have to together before the longest deployment he's ever had.

Warnings: nsfw smut, p in v, creampie, oral (both giving and receiving), unprotected sex, language, 18+ ONLY

SHARING IS CARING, SO PLEASE REBLOG

You woke up to the sound of running water coming from Tony's bathroom down the hall.

Being a natural morning bird, you weren't surprised to find his side of the bed empty, but you did wonder if he was able to get much sleep after your lovemaking.

As the warm water rained over his head, Tony closed his eyes dreading the day he'd have to say goodbye. It filled his heart with an agonizing anxiety just knowing that you'd be alone for such a long time.

Although he loved serving his country and following his father and grandfather's footsteps, he'd never thought he'd actually contemplate retiring from the service.

Dressed in only his army green t-shirt, you slid out of bed and knocked on the bathroom door, snapping him out of his dull trance and chasing away his worries. He smiled to himself knowing you were awake and told you to come in.

"Babe? Mind if I take a leak?" you smiled softly grabbing your toothbrush and his toothpaste.

"Not at all, sunshine. Knock yourself out. You wanna join me?"

"Lemme pee first then."

"Just pee in here," he smirked. "I ain't opposed to golden showers."

"Ew, Tony!" your laugh was partly muffled by your brushing as you sat on the toilet to relieve yourself. "I am not going to pee in the shower."

"Not even if it turns me on?"

"Well, I'd have to think about it. I can't just pee on command" you mumbled back.

"You'd really do that?" he asked surprised popping his head out from behind the shower curtain.

"For you, yeah."

"I was actually kidding, but I'm flattered" he grinned.

Despite last night's news, he seemed to be in a much better mood.

Tony was actually just determined to enjoy the day and make it the best you've ever had. You didn't know it yet, but it was going to be a very special day.

You chuckled in response as you flushed and walked to the sink to rinse your mouth.

"I'd do anything for ya, babe. You know that."

"Anything, huh?" he smirked watching you slide his t-shirt off from your body and toss it to the floor. "Why don't you come in here then and do something for me?

His dick couldn't help but twitch at the sight of your naked body. It was just his instinctive reaction to you, but it already had him stroking his cock to harden up.

"You are just always ready to go, aren't you?" you giggled stepping in the tub.

"I can't help myself, baby. Look at you. You're fucking beautiful."

Tony stared at you with hungry eyes as he stepped aside to make way so you could enjoy the water first; his hand never ceasing his movement below his hips as he watched the water trickle down over the curves of your breasts.

"You think so?" you smirked at his eager cock.

"I know so, sweetheart. So fucking sexy and beautiful. But what I really love is knowing you're all and only mine."

You nodded as you closed the space between your body, letting your perky nipples graze his chiseled chest.

"Yes, I am. I'm all yours, baby."

Dipping his head down to kiss you, you welcomed his tongue and let it dominate your mouth.

Feeling his cock poking your belly had your skin burning hotter than the water that now felt cold against you.

Your hand reached down to replace his and continued the firm stroking it as you knelt down.

Tony was so much taller than you that you couldn't comfortably reach his cock on your knees.

Already aware of the height differences between you, he sat on the edge of the tub on the opposite end of the shower with his back against the wall to allow you more comfort.

You thanked him with a smile that melted his heart like a flame held against wax.

He moaned when your tongue licked over the sensitive vein on the underside of his shaft. With his knees spread wide open, he let you effortlessly lull him into pleasure.

You took your time to cover every inch you knew he loved.

You sucked on each of his sensitive heavy balls, using your lips to delicately tighten around them, sending a wave of pleasure through his core to force out a breathless 'fuck' from his lips.

You teased the soft skin between his dick and balls with your tongue until he was begging you to suck him, desperate for your warmth.

Although you knew you could torture him like this, you decided to be nice today and obliged by taking his tip into your mouth. Your head bobbed up and down his deliciously thick and heavy cock as his hands gently gathered your hair to hold it back for you. It wasn't just to help you; he just loved watching your cheeks hollow out and your jaw hang open around his thick dick.

The moans from your throat vibrated down his legs into toe-curling pleasure.

"Fuck, baby. You know how to suck my cock just right" he breathed.

You chuckled muffled by his cock until you lifted your head up to press his tip against your lips to let your spit dribble past your lips, letting him watch his salty precum mix with your saliva.

"Look so fucking pretty with my cock in your mouth. You like that, baby?" he smirked praising you as he stared at your tongue twirling around his excited pink head. "You like sucking my cock?"

"Fucking love it. I love it even more when you come in my mouth. Make me swallow it all."

"Jesus, fuck..."

He gently pushed his dick back into your mouth, even more turned on than before just listening to your filthy words. He couldn't take it anymore.

He stood with your mouth still latched onto his cock and bent his knees for your comfort, urging to intensify the act.

You were so wet and warm on his cock and it drove him wild.

You loved it when he couldn't control himself anymore, surrendering himself to the pleasure.

You reminded yourself to breathe through your nose as his hips snapped ruthless against your face. As you cradled his aching balls, he shoved his cock down your throat over and over and over again, bottoming out completely despite your tearful gags.

Drool dripped from the corners of your lips and onto your chest, drawing strings of saliva and precum every time he pulled your head back before burying his dick down your throat again.

His hand tightened around your makeshift ponytail, tugging at your hair harder as his desire grew more and more with the gagged moans as he stuffed your mouth with cock.

He growled as he finally came in the back of your throat, holding your head all the way down his cock until he was sure you swallowed the large load.

Pulling away to let your breathe, he used his hand to milk the final drops against your red plushy lips and smirked darkly as he watched you lick it up, flaunting the pearly white drops against your tongue with teary eyes locked on his before swallowing it down and holding your tongue back out.

He smiled down at you and stroked your cheek with his thumb

"That's my girl. Taking cock like a champ. Think your pussy can take it well too?"

"Yes, sir" you smirked widely at the thought.

"Gimme a taste of it first, baby."

He helped you back up to your feet and knelt in front of you. Hook your leg over his shoulder, you set your foot against the tub's edge to balance yourself.

"Such a pretty little pussy all for me" he whispered against your mound before delving his tongue into your folds.

If there was one thing Tony excelled at, it was eating pussy. You tried not to think too much about it since it kinda made you jealous. But the way his tongue worked over your sensitive nub and licked your juices from your entrance was enough to silence those worries and make you melt into him.

It didn't take him very long to have your legs spasming from an orgasm, but it gave his body enough time to recover and harden again.

His shit-eating grin showed how proud he was for turning your pussy in a drenched slippery mess of juices.

Holding on your thigh as he stood, he effortlessly lifted the other with his free.

With your hand clasped around the back of his neck, he slid you up against the wall tiles with your legs spread opening over his arms. You slid a free hand down to align his dick to your soaking cunt, allowing him to slip it past your welcoming lips.

"Pussy so wet, it just slides right on in there" he smirked proudly at you.

"Like a glove" you moaned holding onto him.

As he pinned you to the wall, his hips slammed against your ruthlessly.

The bathroom was filled with panting breathy moans, echoing slaps of wet skin-against-skin as his balls smacked against your ass and the metallic rattling of his dog-tags hanging from his neck.

His lips were merciless against yours, mauling them with feverish kisses until your lips were swollen and sore.

He was hitting all the right places; the position he held you allowed him to fuck you raw and deep, tickling that specific spot in your core that made you come undone.

You begged him not to stop. You begged him to cum in your pussy and fill you up again. You reminded him how good he stretched your cunt out.

He tightened the grip on your ass as he held you firmly in place to fuck you harder.

Lowering his head, you followed his gaze to watch his beautifully angry cock brutalize your sopping pussy.

"Y-you fuck me s-so good!" you moaned loudly throwing your head back.

You could feel it building up again. The searing toe curling pleasure was beginning to ripple through from your core, forcing your fleshy walls to tighten around him.

You gasped as your body trembled from the pleasure, but he wouldn't stop. Tony refused to stop until you got what you asked for because his girl always gets what she wants.

"Tell me what you want, baby" he panted watching your breasts bounce wildly with every thrust.

"Fi-fill me up again, T-Tony. Please! Please! Please! Cum in-in my pussy, Tony!"

Hearing you beg sent him over the edge with a husky low growl that sounded as animalistic as the sex.

His hips thrusted into you once, twice, three times as your pussy milked his cock of every drop of cum he could release into your womb.

Stilling his thrusts, he held himself inside your pussy to keep his load in place while he lifted his head to capture your lips in a passionately tender kiss, letting the water rain down over his back to soothe and calm you both from your high.

The intense shower sex left your legs wobbly as you got dressed in a part of denim shorts, a cute flirty top and a pair of low top sneakers.

Tony dressed himself in his favorite jeans and white t-shirt with a pair of black sunglasses hanging from his collar. The most important item was tucked secrely in his bag, hidden away from your eyes.

He thought about leaving it in his pocket, but since you'd be going on ride at the pier, he was worried it could slip out and be lost forever.

Thanks to the late start in the shower, you opted to have breakfast on the road, stopping at the highway Denny's for a quick bite.

The drive to Santa Monica consisted of talk, music and laughter. Having bought a camcorder, you decided to turn it on to film bits and pieces of your road trip.

You'd done it many times before and Tony welcomed it, agreeing that it would be nice to document your intimate moments so he could watch them while overseas or even share it with your family if it came to having one together.

During the drive, you debated which rides and foods to try first, which radio station to listen to, if The Backstreet Boys or Christopher Cross sang 'Sailing' better after singing along to it.

There was never a dull time with Tony. He just felt like home. Like you could talk about anything and everything and still be so interested in everything he has to say.

Tony loved that you were so comfortable and down-to-earth around him instead of constantly worrying about if you looked pretty or how you sounded in sharing your thoughts. He adored that you were willing to speak your mind freely and respectfully debate him if he had an opposing opinion.

You weren't just arm candy to him or someone to flaunt off. You were his best friend; the one person in the world he felt he could be himself around.

There was a level of comfort between you that blossomed organically and effortlessly. Neither of you were afraid to be yourselves because that's what you loved the most.

As you reached the hotel, you realized why Tony hadn't told you anything about it. He wanted to surprise you and he knew you wouldn't have agreed to stay in a fancy hotel only for two days.

"Tony, you said you got us a simple hotel. This is not a simple hotel."

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I just wanted to do something nice for us. It's for a night. Might as well treat ourselves" he smirked slyly as the valet opened the car door for you.

Walking into your room, you were speechless. The room was elegantly simple, but the oceanfront from the balcony was beyond breathtaking.

You instantly gravitated to the balcony and stepped out onto it. Gasping at the view, you held the railing in awe.

Tony followed you quiet and wrapped his strong arms around your waist, enveloping your frame.

"Do you like it?"

"I love it, Tony. But you didn't need to go all out to impress me. I would've been happy with something simpler than this."

"I know, babe. But you deserve more and if I can spoil ya, I will." He smiled as he pressed a kiss to the back of your head.

"I figured we could spend the day today at the pier. Then enjoy a relaxing night in the hotel's hot tub. And relax on the beach tomorrow. What do you think?"

"I love the sound of that."

[gyllenhaalstories]

ANTHONY SWOFFORD DRABBLE

trope: "who hurt you?"

warnings: army/military, sexual harassment, violence, blood. no smut. 18+ NO MINORS.

word count: 550

photo credit: iheartjake / divider credits: @/firefly-graphics

notes: thank you to @sizzlingcloudmentality for the spin the wheel activity and for encouraging me to post my results as actual little drabbles. 🥰 thank you for reading & REMEMBER TO REBLOG!

I like thinking you guys are strangers, he's seen you around a few times but he doesn't even know your name. You probably work on the base and you're used to getting a flock of starving seagulls whenever you walk around or wait for your food at the cafeteria. And by seagulls, I mean other soldiers and privates and basically all these guys with pent up testosterone just desperate for a glimpse of cleavage. I think it's obvious where I'm going with this.

A party, could be Christmas or New Year who cares. A party happens and everything goes awry. You're not enjoying yourself at all and you're trying to leave but there's this one very insisting guy who just doesn't get the memo. You keep telling him to get away from you, to shut up, to leave you alone or to let you leave at all but he is not budging. The more you tell him to go fuck himself the more riled up and aggressive he's getting. Maybe you insulted him, spat on his face, threw your glass at him, whatever you tried ended up in him grabbing your arm and roughing you up to force himself on you. You manage to run out of the tent where the party is happening and Swoff sees that. He sees that and it makes his blood boil. He can't catch you before you leave, but he makes a plan to find you again.

The next day, he waits for you. You're scared at first but he greets you with: "Who hurt you?". The bruising grip of the drunk guy at the party is showing on your skin and Anthony doesn't want it to get worse. A rough grip is only the beginning.

He's heard about the way the guys talk. They're ruthless. They speak of one another's wives and girlfriends like they're objects they want to pass around. They speak of the women who work on base in such ways that Swoff can't even comprehend how it's so accepted and how people just laugh along. Of course he has made a bunch of salacious jokes before, but he still knows there is a line that should not be crossed.

He insists, he asks you to show him who hurt you. At the second your eyes are done scanning the room and spotting the guy, he stalks him like a hawk until he pulls him outside and makes him regret he even laid eyes on you. Anthony could easily kill him, he won't, but they've all been trained to. Isn't that the goal? Isn't that why he works so hard to climb the ladder being corporal? To serve and to protect? Or was it to destroy and to kill? He scoffs in the guy's face at the antithesis when he punches his nose one last time. He leaves him scattered in his own blood. Lesson learned, or so Swoff hopes for the best.

Anthony finds you again to tell you that the asshole won't hurt you anymore. You're unsure of what he means until your eyes land on his bloody knuckles and the way his biceps have swollen from the effort. Before Anthony walks away, you finally ask for his name. You did not even know the name of the man who defended you.

[jennaajoseph]

❛ Jake Gyllenhaal Icons ❜

ANTHONY SWOFFORD (JARHEAD 2005) ICONS ⸻ ﹙ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘﹚

── ☆

── ﹙౨ৎ ⋆｡˚ CREDITS.﹚. ☆

images — by me.

divider — @/anitalenia.

── ﹙౨ৎ ⋆｡˚ MASTERLIST&INFO.﹚. ☆

── ☆

[wigglywogglrr]

unpopular opinion maybe very popular but bald jake was his best era

[spiderling-pete]

A new little roleplay-moodbard from me and my hubby Anthony x Nico - The medic and the sniper ♥

[shadow-draws-gta]

more Jarhead incorrect quotes because I am still consumed by this movie (in a good way) :)

[caffeineplusmypen]

Christmas in July! Oh yeah...

🎅🎄🎁 HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!! 🎅🎄🎁

[vickylamborghini]

do i make a freaky or fluff idfk dalton ff or anthony Hmm……

[famousborntoday]

Anthony Swofford is an American writer and former U.S. Marine, best known for his 2003 book Jarhead, based heavily on his accounts of various situations encount...

Link: Anthony Swofford

[theartofreadingbyroxxie]

10 Buchtitel beginnend mit "J" | Top Ten Thursday №34

Buchtitel beginnend mit "J" sind an diesem Donnerstag gefragt. #TopTenThursday

[caffeineplusmypen]

Gorgeous either way!

#Jarhead

[charliehoennam]

Jarhead

Chapter 1 - The Set Up

A/N: this is a little series based on Jake Gyllenhaal's character Anthony Swofford in the movie Jarhead. Jake is just too cute in the movie to ignore and I just wanna give him a happy ending with lots of angst on the way there. Shoutout to @juniebugg for the idea!

Pairing: Anthony Swofford x f!reader

Warnings: mentions of bad break-ups, flirtation, language, no smut....yet

Word count: 3,185

SHARING IS CARING, SO REBLOG!

You walked into the salon, greeting your lady co-workers as you strutted to your station. Doing hair was definitely not putting your degree in practice, but it got your bills paid. And you found it rather pleasing helping other regain their confidence. The salon belonged to your aunt and you had worked there since high school. It helped get you through high school and college, though it wasn’t quite enough to keep you from applying for student loans.

Despite not being in your area, you liked the salon. You liked the people you met, the elderly regulars that stopped by once a week for a perm or a manicure, the neighborhood gossip that they were always eager to share, the co-workers that always had your back.

One of them was Maria. She was a beautiful woman with long dark hair and tan skin that made even gold envious. She was admirable in so many ways. With her husband, Juan, away on deployment, she was quickly thrust into the role of a single parent to their 3-year-old son. She never complained about it. She might have complained about Juan and his habits, but never that he had to be away. In some ways, she was very thankful. The Marines had provided many benefits for them to compensate for his absence like providing stable housing, health-care and education for their family. Granted there were flaws in the system and his absence was at times unbearable, she understood and supported his decision to enlist. Aside from being a great wife and mother, she was also your great friend.

“Buenos, chica” she smiled hugging you. “How was your date last night?”

“Total dud. Just didn’t really click, you know?”

“Yeah, I know why too. You still hung up on that fool.”

“I’m not hung up on anyone.”

“Yes, you are. That puto lost the best thing that ever happened to him, but you know what? Good for you. You’re better without him and you deserve better than his broke ass.”

“Can we please not talk about him?” You sighed, eager to leave your ex in the past.

“As you wish, chica. Besides, I got someone I want you to meet.” She smirked widely prepping her hair brushes and combs to make sure they’re clean for a new day.

“He cute?”

“Don’t tell Juan, but he is fine, chica. I love my man, but I know fine when I see it” she laughed nudging you with her elbow. “His name is Tony, he’s gonna be at the barbeque we’re having for this weekend for Daniel’s birthday. You’re coming, right? Danny’s gonna be so sad if you don’t.”

“I’ll be there, don’t worry” you chuckled as you reassured her. “I already got his present and everything. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. You know how I adore that little man.”

And you really did. You often babysat him when Juan was on leave and needed some alone time with his wife.

“Good, because I already told Tony I’ll be introducing you to him.”

“Are you serious? You know how I feel about that, Mari.”

“Girl, don’t worry. I showed him a picture and he’s interested. I think you guys are a great match and Juan agrees.”

“Juan agrees with everything you say, he’s your husband” you laughed.

“Well, just come out and meet him. You don’t have to do anything and if you’re not interested, I’ll forget it. But trust me, you’re gonna wanna meet him” she chuckled with a smirk.

"Fine. I'll meet him, but I'm not promising anything."

From everything she described about Tony, you couldn't deny the butterflies forming in your stomach as the days went by. As the hours crept closer, they quickly began to swarm in your belly and you couldn't remember the last time you felt this way.

You decided to look extra nice that day. It was more than just a casual birthday party, but you also didn't want to go over the top. Settling on a new figure flattering skirt and cute top, you accessorized strategically with a cute necklace that hung just above your fairly modest cleavage. You weren't hoping to end up married by the end of the day, but Lord knows you needed some physical action.

The party was already in full swing by the time you arrived with your renowned dish of crispy and perfectly seasoned panko fried vegetables. Knowing they were a popular favorite among the adults, you'd made more than plenty in two large aluminum foil pans.

Walking into the backyard through the side gate, you immediately recognized the song playing from inside the house. Love Like This by Faith Evans was a personal favorite of Maria's and you had sung to that exactly CD mix in the car plenty of times driving home from your girls night out.

The kids were happily playing on the bounce house Juan had rented for the day. Some played in the pool, stopping only to find their parents for a drink of water. Most of the women were sat by the picnic table setting out the food, so you quickly made your way over to greet them. You knew everyone pretty well having been a family friend for years. Some were Maria's aunts and cousins. A few were your own co-workers and you greeted everyone, with a warm, bright smile and a gentle embrace.

Looking over at the grilling area that had been Juan's third pride and joy - second to the pool he had been finally able to afford and his very own family- you couldn't help but scan over the men gathered there. You couldn't make out what they were talking about, but you knew that Tony had to be one of them. Your heart raced at the thought.

Your eyes landed on a tall man stood beside Juan, helping him man the grill. His hair was short as if he'd been growing it out after a buzz cut. His features strongly resembled Maria's description. His smile stretched from ear to ear as he patted Juan on his shoulder, possibly complimenting him on something. You couldn't tell what he said; the distance and music didn't quite favor that. His long thick eyebrows intensified the bright blue orbs that shone even from a distance and sent goosebumps down your arms the second he caught you staring.

You blushed and quickly looked back down at your dish as you removed the aluminum foil to reveal the fried tasty side dish, secretly praying he hadn't noticed. But unknowingly to you, he had.

Just as you knew who he was, he knew exactly who you were as well. Juan told him all about you the day after he'd agreed with Maria to hook you two up. And Tony couldn't be more thankful. He was starstruck the minute he saw you arrived. Juan nodded at you with a smirk as he laid another steak on the grill.

"That's her, man. What do you think huh?"

"I think she's fucking beautiful, that's what I think" he chuckled excitedly as he patted his friend’s shoulder.  "What’s her name again?” he joked.

"Dude, I know your brain is small and can only process shit at a slow pace, but please don't fuck up her name" Juan joked.

"I got it covered, man. Relax. Y/N will be in good hands soon enough" Tony chuckles back at him.

After sharing a couple smiles and glances, you decided to make the first move and walked over to grilling area as the guys began served the perfectly charred meats.

"Think you fellas could spare me a steak?" You smirked glancing between them.

"You can have your pick, sweetheart" Tony smiled back. "I don't believe we've been properly introduced. I'm Tony" he stated holding his hand out.

"Pleasure to meet you. If you're Tony, then I guess we hardly need an introduction. Maria's told me a bit about you already" you smirked shaking his hand.

"Has she?" You nodded with a smirk.

"Good things though. She said you're a real gentleman."

"I try to be, at least" he smiled.

Seeing him up close now, you couldn't help but take in all his details. His long brown eyelashes only embellished his blue doe eyes. Small brown freckles adorned his skin. His beard was grown out just enough to notice he had nice potential of beautifully growing it out to its full extent, but not long enough to hide the skin, dimples and freckles underneath it. He was a sight for sore eyes.

The attraction between you and Tony was undeniable. You invited him to sit with you at one of the fold-out tables to eat. The conversation flowed naturally as you savored your meal and watched the children play while the hours passed.  It might have been due to the fact that you had a bit in common like similar musical taste or interest in movies and books.

Not everything was in mutual interest and Tony liked that you were willing to debate and defend your beliefs. He admired that about you, that you stuck to your guns. He also liked that you didn't shy away from teasing and joking. It had felt like you'd known each other for years before. Like two old friends reunited after years apart, almost as if time had no effect. Tony had craved for that: the instant connection and not only attraction. He'd met plenty of girls before, but it had been a while since he felt a connection with someone. Due to the way his last relationship with his ex, Kristina, had ended, Tony hadn’t allowed himself to get too comfortable with girls. He had his flings and they stayed just that: flings with no emotional attachment. Until now. Until he met you. And his favorite thing about meeting you? How easily you made him forget about the world surrounding you both.

You two seemed to be inseparable the whole day until Daniel raced over to you, excitedly asking about the present you had promised. It was only then that you realized you forgot it in the car.

You made your way to the gate and left the backyard to walk out to your car. It had barely shut behind you when you heard it open back up. Turning around, you found Tony stepping out.

"Tony." You smiled curiously. "You forget something too?"

"Uh, no. Not exactly."

His lips curled into a smirk as he tenderly cradled the side of your neck. Guiding your lips to his, he pressed a sweet kiss. You could feel him smile into it as he relished the wet warmth of your lips slowly melting into his.

"I'm sorry. I probably should've asked first, but I've been dying to do that all day."

You could feel the blood rushing to your cheeks as you beamed up at him.

"N-no, don't apologize." You stuttered, still stunned at the very pleasant surprise. "I'm definitely not sorry about it at all."

"Neither am I really." He smirked and returned to the backyard with the widest grin on his face.

Juan was quick to notice the smile and seemed to read Tony’s mind when he walked back to continue his help, slicing and distributing the steaks, sausages and chicken wings.

“Oh, you went for it, didn’t you? Cabron! I knew you would. You’re a dog” Juan laughed, nudging his friend.

Soon after everyone had had a couple slices of the delicious chocolate cake, the party had come to its end and you offered to stay and help the small family clean up. Tony stuck around as well since you promised him a ride home, but he was more than quick to help out. So, you got ahold of a large garbage bag and went around the backyard, collecting the disposal plates, cups and forks that some guests had forgotten to throw out. Tony was further down the yard, helping Juan scrub the grill down.

Daniel sat up on the porch, opening his brand-new presents. You smiled as you watched his excited reaction to the new water gun you'd gotten him. It was more like a rifle and the size of it made the little boy even more eager to try it out. You were quick to offer to help him fill it up. Once it was full, his little legs quickly ran across the yard toward Tony and his father. His first victim was Juan. Tony was right after.

"Oh, no! Man down! Man down!" Tony exclaimed, holding the wet spot on his chest as he fell to one knee.

"Please, Danny. I thought we were friends. I let you have a cupcake before the cake." His voice was strained as if in pain.

You had to admit, Tony was a pretty good actor. The way he fell to his side when Daniel sprayed him again was pretty realistic. He played dead until Daniel was close enough. Suddenly shooting up, he grabbed the child careful enough to not hurt him and wrapped his arms around him. Daniel's laughs filled the air as he dropped the toy gun.

"Get his weapon, Cortez!"

Juan smirked and quickly picked it up to spray his son.

You chuckled as you watched the wholesome scene. Tony clearly had a way with kids due to his playful nature. It made you wonder if he would be the same with his own kids. It made you think about having your own kids and you wondered if that could happen with Tony, but it was far too early to even think about that.

"So, what do you think, chica?" Maria asked coming into the kitchen and snapping you out of your daze.

"Huh? Oh, sorry" you chuckled blushing. "About?"

"About Tony, duh!"

"He's uh definitely cuter than you described." You smirked, replying in the most modest way possible.

"I told you he was fine" she laughed. "You know he likes you too?"

"Does he?" You smiled thinking about the kiss.

"Yeah, but I think you knew that already."

Damn right, you did.

After saying goodbye to everyone, Maria handed you a couple of containers full of leftover food and cake. She'd always separate some for you to take home after get-togethers. It was her way of thanking you for all the help you gave them when they needed it.

“You sure you don’t mind that I’m kinda wet?” Tony asked slightly worried that he’d ruin your passenger seat as he fidgeted with the containers in his lap as you drove to his home.

“Don’t worry. This car has seen a lot worse” you chuckled. It wasn’t the fanciest car, but it served enough to get you from point A to point B.

“You got a pretty nice way with kids. You got any of your own?”

You wanted to be as subtle as possible about your curiosity in his past relationships and his opinion on having kids.

“I don’t, no. But who knows one day? I do have a sister though. Rini… She’s younger than me. Guess that’s how I got my way with ‘em.”

“Oh, that’s cool. I didn’t know you had a sister. She nice?”

“She’s great. Real sweetheart. I love her to death.”

“I take you’re very close?”

“Yeah. We try to be, at least. My folks aren’t exactly the Brady Bunch, so we try to be there for each other.”

The way he didn’t delve into too many details made you think it might have been a sensitive subject to touch on, at least for a first date. Despite being curious about his family history, you simply nodded and glanced at him with a smile.

“Family can be tough. Wouldn’t be family if they weren’t” you chuckled.

To diffuse the hidden discomfort, you reached out and turned on the radio. Skimming through the channels, he grinned when he caught the sound of one of his favorites, Hip Hop Hooray by Naughty By Nature.

“N-no, no, leave it there. This is a great song, one of my favorites.”

He quickly jumped into the middle of the first verse, rapping along to the song perfectly knowing every lyric by heart. You smiled widely listening to him before joining him in the chorus, waving a hand side to side to the beat of the song. He was surprised when you joined in on the second verse, proving you knew just as much as he did.

You sang along together the rest of the way. If there had been a worry in mind, neither of you could think about them now. It was a perfect ending the day you had. Neither of you wanted it to end just yet.

Pulling to the front of his humble townhouse, you parked and shut the car off.

“You know somethin’?” He started as he leaned back against the headrest, rolling his head over to gaze at you longingly. “I had a really great day, thanks to you. I was nervous when Juan said you’d be there today. I didn’t really know what to expect. But I’m really glad I met you.”

You smiled as you unconsciously mimicked his movement and leaned back into your seat.

“Don’t sweat it. I was nervous as shit too” you chuckled. “But I have no regrets. I had a great time too.”

“It doesn’t have to end if you don’t want it to.”

“You trying to say something, Tony?” you smirked.

“Maybe. I’m just saying” he shrugged with a sly smile. “Maybe you could come in and I dunno. Maybe have some wine with me.”

“I’m driving tonight though.”

“You could sleep it off at my place. Drive home in the morning.”

You wanted to say yes. You wanted nothing more than to mount him like a horse and ride him all night. You were eager to get laid at first. You hadn’t expected to really like Tony. The fear of coming off desperate must have been radiating off of you. You could’ve sworn he was reading your mind when he reached over to hold your hand as you began nervously picking at your nails.

“We don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to. I really mean that, sweetheart” he said with a soft comforting tone, looking down at your hands aa he thought about how perfectly they would fit together with his. “I just really like talking to you. And it’s been a long time since I’ve wanted to just talk, you know? You can crash on the couch if you want. I’ll keep my hands to myself.”

His concern for your sense of security was genuine. He wasn’t going to come onto you if you don’t want him to. It was everything you needed to hear to silence the doubt in your head.

“Yeah” you smiled from ear to ear. “I’d love some wine. And just you know, you don’t have to keep your hands to yourself.”

[callsignvenomcod]

a soft life

Prompt: Retired! Simon Riley. A slow life in a Manchester farm.

warning: mentions of PTSD, mentions of cartel related violence, mentions of violence, MDNI.

PS: Opening line is from the book "Jarhead" (2001) by Anthony Swofford.

______________________________________________________________

A story.

A man fires a rifle for many years, and he goes to war. And afterwards he returns the rifle in at the armory, and he believes he's finished with the rifle. But no matter what else he might do with his hands, love a woman, build a house, change his son's diaper; his hands remember the rifle.

Sometimes he could still hear the bullets.

For a long time, it was hard to convince himself he deserved to grow old. It might have been a given fact to some other people but not for those in the military, not for Ghost, at least; not after Tommy and Beth, or Las Almas or Johnny. It took him a lot of time to be grateful to be almost 40. For several reasons, he never saw himself living past 20.

And now he was opening up the crates of the chickens he kept in his very own farm, a piece of land he actually owned, without a mask on, very far away from the bullet sounds and a barrack, from the mud and the camo, away from everything and everyone, not sound in the horizon but the chickens and Riley, the border collie dog he got, barking at a three somewhere in the distance.

He retired the summer he turned 40, there was a ceremony and everything, with Laswell and Price and he got more chest candy that would eventually end up in a wooden chest, never to be seen again, under the bed. There wasn't a reason, he just had to. He was in his prime, physically, but his mind was made of glass lately, everything rubbed him the wrong way, couldn't even train recruits without snapping too hard at them, making them quit, yell at them too much, scare them too much, beat them up to a pulp too much.

Every man in the military had a story. A life before, a life after. And in the middle, sand, or mud, or just camo. A war that last years, a mission that lasts hours. Silence and nosie.

He, like other recruits, like other Sergeants, Lieutenants, Colonels, had shadows over them. It took months for him to stop looking over his shoulder while doing the big shop on a sunday, started going to those overnight groceries store to shop alone instead. The butcher's reminded him both of his adolescence and the carnage he had caused, flinched whenever he saw a mohawk kid walking down the street, looked twice sometimes only to find a stranger.

Sometimes he could still hear the bullets, aye.

He turned in his paperwork and retired silently with lots of medals under his name, lots of dead men and probably women under his knife, missing friends, missing nerves and too scarred to be a model now. Ha.

Oh, and Y/N's wanted to get away at some point anyway.

Y/N. The last drink he never should have had, the cut that made him hide his face, and the party that made him feel his age. Pulp's words, not his. All it took was a few nights shopping at the Tesco she was working in as a cashier, late night shift, for them to become acquainted.

A year of mutual pinning, a single night in which Y/N placed the bourbon bottle and the batteries inside of the paper bag and looked up at Simon, change in hand (because he paid in cash always, no traces behind) and smiled at him. COVID had made it easier to transition from the skull balaclava to a medical mask and then to a bare face, so Simon looked at her behind the black medical mask and stared at her while she opened her mouth.

-Why do bees have sticky hair?

Simon blinked, looking down at her. -Pardon?

No line behind him. It was the first time the cashier talked to him other than "Goodnight" and "Drive safe", or "It will be 5.66, please". There was a faraway sound of some sort of 80's American pop music, something to pass time by. Simon had noticed her since the first time he came into this very same Tesco a few months ago, had noticed how she sang along whatever music was on, how her Tesco blue uniform looked too big on her, making her look insanely small and slinky. He noticed how she was always almost without a medical mask and whenever she used it, it was laced around her chin; he noticed short, clean nails, and a heart necklace over her chest, a pair of dazzling dove eyes, full hips, a belly.

He really noticed the full hips.

The girl fucking giggled and repeated. She must had a bit of Irish in her judging by the sound of her accent. Simon felt as awkward as a teenage boy in front of any girl ever -Why do bees have sticky hair?

The man shook his head, still confused, a quid in his hand.

-Because they use a honeycomb.

Ah, a woman after his own heart. Such a lame joke.

He snorted out a laugh.

It simply slipped and he memorized the name tag before grabbing his shopping bag and shaking his head, hearing her giggle behind him as he exited the store, and he came back two days later after convincing himself he needed two jars of red bean jam instead of the usual one.

Sometimes he could still hear the bullets.

And now she sleeps here; and Simon had stared at her sleeping form wondering how much time it would take for her to start hating his way of loving, of being, how many times he would go silent on the phone, a bad texter, a worst caller, how he hated crowded places and loud noises and most of their dates happened in her flat, when her roommate was out, staring silently at a film on TV, her friends thinking she's getting her brains fucked out by an experienced, older, lust thirst Vet when in reality, Ghost was gathering up the courage to wrap his arm around her shoulders.

And now she sleeps here.

In the crook of his neck, his thigh over his hip, wild hair all over the bed, sometimes inside his mouth because he stopped using a mask a while ago.

In the mornings, tangled in their bed, warm sheets, the soft breeze of Riley sleeping under the bed, her sweet sweat and vanilla scented skin under his, it took Simon a few seconds to realize he was sleeping in the company of someone; in the arms of a woman and in his own bed, a king size bed with soft white sheets that were washed and changed every 5 days, not a twin bed in a barrack, that his years of active service were over, not forgotten, as if, but that he could allow himself to become whatever he might end up becoming if the 141 didn't happened.

-Come here, boy. Come here, Riley. Yeah, yeah...- said Simon scrunching down to caress right behind Riley's ear, the dog sticking out his long tongue and barking of joy mixed with the hyper sense of his breed, the soldier being careful not to break the eggs he held in a small basket. Simon had found him a puppy a few months ago, seemed like years really, in a litter box with 6 of his brothers and sisters, a beat-up cardboard sign reading "For adoption." And Simon picked up the only one with a lazy ear. He knew deep down that Y/N would appreciate that and simply put him in the passenger seat of the black Bronco truck he owned and drove all the way back home. -You're up early, eh? You having breakkie with us?

He had fallen into a comfortable routine now. He would wake up, crawl over Y/N's sleeping figure, careful not to wake her with the crack of dawn, 5AM with the BBC on his headphones, a 6'2 shadow jogging through the hills of the outskirts of Manchester, for an hour only the dark of the road, the eventual baby blue of the sky, the warmth of the sun. Sometimes Riley was up for it, sometimes he stood behind cuddled up in their room. And upon his return he would work out in their driveway for another hour, noticing the growing presence of what the media now called a "Dad Bod" (Y/N's words, not him) and eventually hearing soft barefoot steps coming from the room.

There was tea for two before he had to head out, get some tasks done, and a soft kiss hanging from Y/NS plush lips, and he would always try to push it, try his luck. He would smile against it, whispering "Good morning..." with a lazy voice, hands on Y/N's full hips, kneading them, in need of them, and Simon would press up with hard on against her stomach, while deepening the kiss.

It never failed to make her wet. It never failed to make her forget the kettle on the fire for a minute and simply give into his kiss, his embrace; him, overall. Simon would pick her up, easily, laid her on the counter, and her robe would open for him, with or without his help, and she was always so wet for him, so ready to do it.

-Simon...- she will say. - Breakfast...

And he wasted no time into twisting her words, dropping to his knees as if he was in the presence of a saint, of a virgin, of the end of the world, staring at her glistening cunt first thing in the morning, looking up with the adoration she deserved; she would gulp and argue it was not what she meant but she would recoil and whimper when Simon stuck his tongue inside his cunt anyway, overlapping her folds, blissfully eating her out before the sun was completely out.

The dog kept barking all the way down to the house, past the barn and the driveway, the small stable with the one horse they had, the pen he was building to eventually own sheep, and Simon felt the cold breeze of the early morning seeping through his black knit sweater and his jean jacket, as he walked all the way across the grass fields and into his porch, the swinging chair Y/N liked to read in, in a need of a reparation.

-Right...- he whispered to himself seeing the hammer he left outside to remind himself to fix the damn chair, bloody hell. Riley's nose peeked through the front door, opening it with ease and technique allowing themselves in, and the cold of the outside world was quickly gone.

Simon stepped into a cozy home, with a color palette he would have never picked, all warm yellows and oranges, pinks and whites, and soft cushions, warm blankets, a picknick turntable in the coffee table; and music, soft music he didn't recognize coming from it, a spinning record on it with yellow and pink lyrics, a girl signing about a loved one, and another voice, a present one, horribly trying to sing along.

He snorted out a laugh when Riley started barking and the voice was interrupted abruptly.

-Simon?...- Radio silence. -Babe?

Oh, the sound of his name in her mouth.

He crossed his living room, stepping into the kitchen, holding four eggs in a small bowl, one from each hen they owned, and he stood in the door frame, just a tad taller than him, admiring the view. He had endured white missions in the Russian winter, literal months of the gruesome torture and gory tasks and they all suddenly made sense because there was a girl.

Ah, there was a girl, alright.

Today was English breakfast. No peas for him, no sausages for her. It was stereotypical but easy to make and no one was around to judge them anyway. Next house was a few miles down the road, and even the road was far away, the town was a 30-minute ride. It was their little bit of heaven. The man stepped in, handing her the basket like every other day and kissed her temple, as she grilled some tomatoes slice ups leaning back against him. His hands would find her hips again and she would yawn with intimacy, hair still a mess, thighs still sticky. -Teas on the table, love. It's gone get cold.

-Ah, it's alright...- he said, hugging her tightly, as she kept leaning on him. -Slow morning today, eh...

She had been there and stuck around whenever the PTSD started acting up. She was the one that loved him when he started going fucking mental; and stuck around when she found her burning up SAS gear, a lost look in his eyes as he did so. He would throw in a Ghost mask and watch it burn for a moment, before murmuring a shocked sob and reaching out into the flames to retrieve it. She stuck around while he drank too much bourbon sitting on the porch, skull mask on, his dogs' tags held so tightly his knuckles will go white with force. Y/N even stuck around when the nightmares came, and she would wake up to Ghost whimpering on his side of the bed, breaking a cold sweat, his jaw tight and her brows furrowed, screaming out "Johnny! Johnny!" before waking up in tears, in raged hot tears down his cheeks, short of breath, his head a full of bullet noises and sirens wailings, pictures of his team and the blood and the grease paint. A mess. A shaking shadow.

Every October 11, she will make sure to hold him a little tighter, kiss him a little softer, love him, if it was possible, a little louder.

And she was here now, cooking breakfast, no peas for him; now he was living a soft life, with tea every morning, and a dog named Riley, with soft hands that wondered around his chest whenever he thought about Soap too much, about Gaz and that helo. But she was here now, and she had no sausages today, as they sat down on their small chair in their small kitchen in their small farm. He was living a soft life, and he didn't think of himself as worthy of it, but he must have been done something good to have her cooking breakfast and sleeping in their bed and caressing their dog under the table.

Tomorrow, Ghost would ask her to come out to the porch to find her reading swing fixed and a wedding ring.

She's going to say yes.

He didn't heard the bullets anymore.

_____________________________________________________________

Hello! Venom here.

Thank you so much to anyone that's been liking my story.

Happy 2024!

[gyllenhaalstories]

this is so so fun! and i so so cheated! but it's so so okay because the cheat with the spinning rule was about AND for me (confirmed). all is well! but all was not well when i started spinning again and again until i had way too many options. so... i did 5 pairings instead of 3!!! yay me.

thank you for this amazing idea!!! it's so fun to read people's results and i loved writing about these prompts but also it was quite the challenge to write about characters i have never really considered writing for.

warnings: sexual harassment, army, violence, intoxication/drugging, monster fucking cough cough, funerals & death.

Anthony Swofford 💖 "Who hurt you?"

I like thinking you guys are strangers, he's seen you around a few times but he doesn't even know your name. You probably work on the base and you're used to getting a flock of starving seagulls whenever you walk around or wait for your food at the cafeteria. And by seagulls, I mean other soldiers and privates and basically all these guys with pent up testosterone just desperate for a glimpse of cleavage. I think it's obvious where I'm going with this.

A party, could be Christmas or New Year who cares. A party happens and everything goes awry. You're not enjoying yourself at all and you're trying to leave but there's this one very insisting guy who just doesn't get the memo. You keep telling him to get away from you, to shut up, to leave you alone or to let you leave at all but he is not budging. The more you tell him to go fuck himself the more riled up and aggressive he's getting. Maybe you insulted him, spat on his face, threw your glass at him, whatever you tried ended up in him grabbing your arm and roughing you up to force himself on you. You manage to run out of the tent where the party is happening and Swoff sees that. He sees that and it makes his blood boil.

The next day, he waits for you. You're scared at first but he greets you with: "Who hurt you?". The bruising grip of the drunk guy at the party is showing on your skin and Anthony doesn't want it to get worse. A rough grip is only the beginning. At the second your eyes are done scanning the room and spotting the guy, he stalks him like a hawk until he pulls him outside and makes him regret he even laid eyes on you. He finds you again to tell you that the asshole won't hurt you anymore. Before you walk away, you finally ask for his name.

David Jordan 💖 Sex Pollen

Something something he made it home safe from space (and not gangbanged by Calvin the alien). He got to keep a few things from his trip in space, mainly his yo-yo but also... a very limited amount of a foreign substance that Doctor Derry extracted from Calvin. He keeps it in a small bag, he rarely ever reaches out for it except on special occasions. What does it do, you may ask? Not much unless you ingest it. The particules in the air would just make you a bit giddy at best, lightheaded at worst. The effects are more intense in space, he remembered that day when the entire team felt like they were high as Derry explained his discovery. On Earth, they're mainly manageable unless you ingest a considerate amount of it. A wet fingertip dipped into the powder and brushed under the tongue would take you on a wild ride.

One day you ingest it for whatever reason, possibly some experimental treatment very few people have heard of. David retired from active missions in space but he's probably still involved in research to help his fellow astronauts recover from their trip in the void. And through the branches, rumour has it he's trying to reproduce this alien substance to use its benefits to help the astronauts feel better faster after a long mission. It's basically a mood booster of some sort, at least that's what they're trying to develop in the labs. David has the good stuff, the strong stuff, and eventually you meet with him and, hoping to help you with your issues, he offers you to try it. He is not aware of the extent of its powers, but he's aware of it enough to walk you through it. He puts it in your mouth and talks you through every step of it. A feverish warmth in your body, your mind abandoning itself to this urge you cannot fight and resist. You'd be begging for David to help you, to alleviate some of the pain it causes in your core so you can release the endorphins you crave but he would hold back. He would help you, he would assist you, but he would not take advantage of you. When the sex-pollen runs out, he will help you clean up, hydrate and rest. Some sort of one of a kind experience only David can provide.

... Or maybe he did get gangbanged by the alien and inherited some tentacles he has to satisfy every once in a while so they don't cause him harm. He has to sex pollen himself so he can handle the seemingly endless sex drive of Calvin at times (Calvin has his way with David). Perhaps, when the need is too grand for one person to fulfill it, you have to get sex-pollened too so you can both get used beyond your mind and body's limits (Calvin has his way with both David and you).

Tommy Cahill 💖 Childhood Friends to Lovers

I was going to write this prompt whether the wheel wanted me to or not. Any version of friends to lovers screams Tommy to me. Years of secret pining, years of insatiable yearning, years of secret feelings. Years of listening to the same U2 song while thinking of each other!!! The song Tommy introduced you to, the song that might have started it all! You were both waiting to be picked up by your parents after school, Tommy was kicking rocks as far as he could and you were watching him while swaying your lunchbox around. Your respective fathers drove into the parking lot around the same time, windows rolled down, the same radio frequency playing the same song. "My dad likes this song a lot" little Tommy said. "My dad likes it too!" you answered before running to your parent's car as Tommy did the same. You would start to hang out at recess. Tommy was full of energy, he had the best ideas for games. You liked hanging out with him so much. You liked to invite him for a snack after school when your parents let you. He felt more like home with you than with his own family. He had always lived in the shadows of his brother, Sam, except with you. He always wore a beanie on his head even when it was warm. He liked to eat popsicles all year long. He liked sour candies to the point he burnt his tongue with the citric acide. He brought his small collection of Hot Wheels cars to play with you on rainy days at school. You were the only person he invited for his birthday party year after year.

Year after year, Tommy and you were inseparable. Two peas in a pod that, as time passed, got into trouble all of your parents would disapprove of. Your family blamed Tommy for his bad influence, his family blamed him too. You were teenagers, you found new ways to hang out. You would go to the park in the evenings to share a conversation sitting on the swings. You would stay in the school yard to do homework, copying off each other to make up for your weaknesses. You would listen to him while he talked about his father, about his brother. He would listen to you too. You would share his walkman, alternating between who got the headphones to listen to songs you both enjoyed. It became more and more difficult to find time to hang out, you both tried. You tried so hard but it felt as though everything was pulling you apart.

Until you, inevitably, drifted. You focused on your life while Tommy struggled with his. He was getting into fights at school, he started smoking and drinking, he hung out with the wrong crowd. He was a fun and charming guy, everyone loved him. Everyone but his family apparently. It came to a point where you barely saw him at all, he got suspended from school and your parents disapproved of you talking to him even on the phone to catch up on shows you both watched on television or movies you were excited to see at the theatre. Until one day, Tommy disappeared from your life about as suddenly as he entered it. You continued with your projects and he continued with his bad ideas that eventually led him to jail. When you found out about it, you visited him. It was only for about half an hour every month, but you visited him and it felt as though things had never changed between the two of you. You brought your new CD player, the security guards allowed you to let Tommy listen to a recent U2 album you knew he would love. You had pictures developed of your small adventures, of your apartment, of the snowmen you built after a storm. You visited him around Valentine's Day, the last Valentine's Day he spent in prison, and he had bribed a guard so they would buy you a rose at the florist in town. He gave you the rose in the visitor's room and it felt like the most romantic gesture in the world. You almost never missed a visit, if you did he would know about it in advance so he would not get sad. You were the highlight of the several months he spent in jail, the years he spent there until his sentence ended.

Things were not always easy. Tommy had a temper, he had a past with actions you did not always approve of. You had to fight with your family, with the Cahills too so they gave him time to start over. You faced every obstacle life threw his way. When the news broke that his brother was dead, Tommy and you went back to your elementary school. To hang out, to try and remember what it was like to be a kid when your biggest worry was to get as many candies as possible while trick or treating. You watched him as he kicked a rock across the parking lot. You handed him the other earbud connected to your MP3, it played this same song you both loved. Through the years, you guys had held hands and kissed. Silly hand holding all sticky and grimy from a crafts projects at school, silly pecks on the lips after eating cupcakes with too much frosting. Holding hands in high school when you needed support after receiving a disappointing grade. Kissing and laughing about how it was gross to do it with a friend after going for a swing at the park. You had done all of that. But when he held your hand and when he kissed you that night, things changed for the better. It felt as though this kiss spoke for all of the years spent with or without each other, when you were so painfully in love that everyone around the two of you knew it except you.

John Kinley 💖 One Bed

I'm going full sad mode here, but funerals. He's back in America, funerals are held to one of the many men who died under his authority. You're in the family of the deceased guy. John wants to keep it low profile, he wants the focus to be on the man they're celebrating both the life and death of not on the war-hero-but-kind-of-not-heroic-at-all who helped one afghan interpreter get a better life. So he sits towards the back of the church, next to you in fact. You don't talk, it's as if he doesn't acknowledge your presence at all until you hand him you small packet of tissues because you noticed he cried. The funerals end, everyone gathers in the cemetery of endless white graves of all the other fallen soldiers. Except the sky gets dark and heavy, the clouds gather and soon enough rain pours and lightning strikes. Everyone rushes to the nearest restaurants or malls or hotels, for a place to stay dry until the storm passes.

You both end up in the lobby of the same hotel, soaked to the bone from the rain. Phones keep ringing, the computers' system crash from such high demand, the new and modified reservations keep coming in. The hotel manager is trying to calm everyone down and accommodate as best as they can. John, who had already gotten a room, spots you in the crowd. You look distressed. He goes up to you, you tell him you don't know how you can drive home in the rain. He's almost offended you're even considering the option of driving in such weather and put yourself in danger. He offers you to use his room, you can dry up with towels or take a hot shower until the storm passes. Except it doesn't pass. Now, not only are you stuck away from home but you're stuck in a hotel room with a total stranger.

Eventually, night falls and John insists that you get some rest so you can drive home tomorrow. The room only has one bed, not a big one at that either. There aren't enough blankets and pillows to sleep on the ground. John insists he can take the floor if you'd prefer, if it makes you feel safer. He doesn't mind. He's slept on worse surfaces than carpet. That's when you inquire about him. John. As in the Master Sergeant John Kinley? Yes. You feel a bit safer, if he went so far to protect his interpreter, you assumed he was not a bad guy. You both surrender and share the bed, using a decorative pillow as a separation for your peace of mind. Except, you shiver. The cold rain had gotten to you. You shiver and John cannot sleep. John has slept in worse conditions, the loudest noises or the worst smells someone can think of. He has slept surrounded by cadavres after a mission that left him stranded and waiting to be picked up. He's slept through it all (except the emotional turmoil left by Ahmed's uncertain destiny but you don't need to know that) but you shivering and shaking keeps him up. He scoots closer and closer to you on the bed. He puts the decorative pillow between your head and the headboard so you don't hurt yourself. Warmth is warmth, whether it comes from a fireplace or a body, it does the job. He coos at you when you stir in your sleep, he whispers he just wants you to calm down. He rubs your arm, hoping the friction helps your body to warm up and allows you to drift to sleep. You eventually do... John falls asleep too. Holding you, spooning you, keeping you safe.

Elwood Dalton 💖 Fake Dating

This follows the events of that one infamous fight that ultimately ended Dalton's UFC career. They were desperate to improve the public's opinion of Dalton, so people saw him as more than a murderer, so people stopped talking about how he killed Harris in the octagon that night. Many ideas were thrown around: visit an animal shelter and take photos with a funky looking dog, leak a bunch of nudes and make it seem accidental, say he's going to a rehab facility for God knows what. Anything, they considered anything. Brands had ended their contracts with him abruptly, trainers abandoned him, most friends (within and outside of the UFC) left him behind... No one wanted to be around him. No one except you.

Perhaps you were a long-time friend who knew him before he became a notorious fighter, perhaps you were someone who worked with him (assistant? social media manager? nutritionist? a masseuse? skilled trainer who could kick him across the room? professional ice bath provider? you choose). You stayed by his side and watched everyone ditch him in the dirt. His manager (or whatever replacement they got to handle the crisis since his actual representative left as shit hit the fan) came up with this great idea. A new relationship. A new narrative. A new image. After Dalton the fearless fighter, Dalton the rage-filled killer, the world could discover Dalton the loving boyfriend. Dalton could not be more against it, he refuses to drag you into his mess. Your reputation has been affected already, he can't let things get worse. He does not want any of this fake-dating story. But you... You know it would help him. You want to help him.

So you guys start to date. Photos are staged so you post them on your social media, pretending you had been going on several dates with the former fighter. Cute captions, cuter anniversary stories to celebrate months spent together and different milestones in the relationship. Appearances to random events, mostly parties or brand deals when they warm up to Dalton again as they see the traction he is receiving online. You become his arm candy. You can't lie, you appreciate the luxurious treatment but you hate that it makes Dalton so uncomfortable. You knew this fake and extremely public relationship would help him... But did Dalton want to be helped at all? The relationship eventually ends with a photograph of the two of you looking your best. No harm. No bitterness. A mutual agreement your relationship has come to an end. Dalton and you share a moment together, alone, away from cameras and people's nosiness. He tells you that he wants to disappear. That he needs to disappear. You understand and let him choose his fate now that the world sees him as nothing but a furious animal. You let him go. Maybe, eventually, he realizes he made a mistake letting you go too.

i thought i was done but then i was like "aww i didn't get dalton what if i spun one more time in case i got him". and i did get him. <3

i had to research sex pollen because i knew almost nothing about it so i needed some help (fanlore & reddit one of the comments mention this sweet talking through the effects of sex pollen, i didn't even read the whole comment i was sold right away but then i read the comment and it feels like plagiarism oh nooooooo 😭).

this was sooooo much fun! thank you again daphne! i might have girlbossed too close to the sun with the five ideas but i had many more options to pair i could have kept going forever! i love this so much.

Great, now that I have the attention of the right target audience: it's time for another SPIN THE WHEEL - Jake Boys Edition

Spin the character wheel 3 times

Spin the trope wheel 3 times

Pair your characters with the tropes however you like and share in the comments or tags. Got ideas how a combination might turn out? Great, tell us everything!

Choose your favorite trope in the poll if you like (poll under the cut)

have fun (and cheat with the spinning if you want, I won't come for you)

this was inspired by our lovely @harmonity-vibes, I hope you're okay with what I did with your idea

Shamelessly tagging the Crew (hit me up if you want me to stop annoying you):

@gyll-yee-haw @gyllenhaalstories @charliehoennam @harmonity-vibes @jennaajoseph

@billyboyblue@stephendorff @lust4life01 @det-loki @ilovedavidloki

@anunusers @frozen-hearts-club @caffeineplusmypen

The crew=every blog that comes across my dash and interacts with Jake content. If we've never talked: hi! If you want to be part of the crew, dm me. ✨🫶🏻