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[yestrday]

— YANDERE! MALEWIFE! GENSHIN AU part one | two | three | four | five

⇢ neuvillette, wriothesley, lyney, freminet + baizhu

introducing ! fontaine is the country of romance, and what could be the peak of romance but marriage? you have sworn your eternal love and fealty to your partner and fontainians are anything but dispassionate lovers! if you're scared that your partner will get too passionate, well.... qui vivra verra.

[ happy new year! is yestr actually being productive?! i did not do mika bc... gasp! yestr is lazy?! who wouldve known! ]

warning ! yandere behavior, bIackma1l, múrder, i feel like im getting lost by own aus so i have to say it again: this is modern teyvat!, hints at poison, jealousy, child assássins?!

— ORDAINER OF INEXORABLE JUDGMENT. neuvillette | ヌヴィレット

[ “clearly, your workplace is not complying with multiple clauses of the Code du Travail, i should—” ]

⇢ before meeting you, neuvillette couldn’t have imagined getting married and settling down for a domestic life. he’d always thought that he’d forever be swamped with trials and paperworks until he hit retirement age. he had no ideal life in mind, only work and justice to occupy his thoughts, until you came along and he found himself exchanging vows with you in a fontainian church.

⇢ he wouldn’t call his current life ‘retirement’ per se, but rather a change of occupation. tending to the house while you left for your job appealed to him more than working day in and day out in courthouses. he had taken up baking and cooking, something to treat the visiting melusines with as they dropped by to check on their father and his partner. neuvillette and a party of chatty melusines having tea and homemade cookies is a common sight to return home to. the melusines are pretty friendly with you, having seen how enamored their father figure is with you. their innocent smiles and cute lil bodies are stress relievers, though not more so than your husband’s gentle smile and firm hands massaging the knots from your shoulders.

⇢ he busies himself with various hobbies once all the chores are out of the way. flip through a book and read out loud to the melusines snuggled on top of him, attempt a baking recipe one of the girls begged him to try, or stroll through the neighborhood to clear his mind. he doesn’t even know he’s so so lonely until he hears your car pull up in the driveway and he immediately jumps up from whatever he’s doing and rushes over to greet you. the first thing you see is your husband peering through the window with a cool composure, but you can see straight through that facade. you see his brows knitted together in worry, his fingers nervously adjusting the hems of his robe, and his eyes eagerly drinking your tired body in as you make it up the steps. you can’t help but smile as you bring him down to your level and kiss him, your big, awkward oaf of a husband.

⇢ is very particular about the water in your household. taps are all filtered, the water dispenser is stocked with only the best brands, and he is oh-so-meticulous when it comes to drawing your baths! he makes sure that the water is at the right temperature, filters out any impurities no matter how minuscule of an atom by his hand, and uses salts and bath bombs according to what he assumes will be your liking for the day. the both of you prioritized the bathroom when building your house, so the bathtub and the surrounding atmosphere is juuust right for a little cuddle time in the bath.

⇢ dragon-born that he is, you have to forgive neuvillette’s tendencies of being a tad too possessive. well, ‘tad’ is a bit underselling it, but you have to understand. the whiskey scent stuck to your wrinkled laundry, the nauseating aroma of another one’s perfume… something dark and guttural creeps from within his depths that he forces himself to repress. you know he’s not one for perfumes, but if you did wear one it would be one that he liked— crisp, fresh, aquatic. not this scent-numbing sweetness that cloys his senses. he’d like to burn the top and its offensive scent away but… he remembers how damn good you look in this v-neck and decides that it’s nothing a lil spin the wash can’t fix.

⇢ luckily, your husband is still on the saner side, so you’re one of the lucky few who might never come across your husband’s violent tendencies. but they still come out, just a bit more… subtly. he massages your stiff shoulders late at night as he puts on a record on the gramophone for you, listening to you rant about your terrible boss. there are a few details that make him pause, and for a second there you thought he was going to pop your arms from their sockets. but he composes himself so quickly that you think you just imagined it. he inquires a bit more, rubbing your back with a generous helping of lavender oil, and you tell it all to him because… why wouldn’t you? this is your sweet, worried husband who is oh-so-wise and amazing!

⇢ the very next day, not your boss but your upper management gets a visit from the maison gardiennage. they’re all in upheaval now that they’ve got the police on them, but neuvillette is sitting at home contently, sipping tea with you in the garden after your office has suddenly called off work for the day. he’s taking glances from his oh-so-interesting novel to watch your face as you reach for another cookie the girls baked, rambling about how miraculous it for your company to generously allow all of you a day-off. he just chuckles and goes back to his book, gratefully accepting a cookie a melusine’s reaches towards his mouth.

“oh, it hardly feels real!” you gush over a cup of rose tea, lounging in the shade of your backyard’s trees while you, neuvillette, and the melusines enjoy a perfect sunny afternoon. “they called the whole day off, it falls on a friday, i get to have a long weekend, and i get to spend it all with you and the girls!” you sigh dreamily. “pinch me neuvi, it feels like a dream!” your husband, picture-perfect in his chair with a book and melusine in his arms, chuckles at your dramatics. “dear, if one measly day off makes you act this way, maybe it’s time for you to find another job. or…” feeling huffy by the mere implication, you abruptly stand up and slam your hands on the table.  “no, no, neuvi! i love you, but i can’t possibly have you working again! you deserve it after all these years of hard work! i want you to just sit back and relax and have your awesome partner shower you in money, okay?” he takes your face  in his hand, his thumb running along your dark undereyes. you watch as his face, normally so composed yet awkward, contort into a mixture of worry and regret, before finally dissolving into acceptance. “well. that i would allow. so long as you return to by my side at the end of the night.” you giggle and press a kiss into his palm before plopping back down. “so romantic!” you tease. “of course, neuvi! where else would i come back to anyway?” you don’t know it, but the dragon inside him preens at your unknowing admission of ownership as he settles back into his chair and continues his novel with a silent smile on his face.

[ “well girls, that is how marriage ought to be when you are bound to a dragon. ownership of your spouse and in turn, protect your treasure at all times.” ]

— EMISSARY OF SOLITARY INIQUITY. wriothesley | リオセスリ

[ “keep my shirt on, you say? well sure, but you’re the one enjoying the show.” ]

⇢ your darn stud of a husband…! with his cool blue eyes, his large scarred biceps, that cocky smirk when he catches you staring and just… everything about him, he makes you feel like you’re back to the younger you who could only stare yearningly at him from afar. he’s always teasing you, making sure to unbutton the first three buttons just to show off his cleavage… he gets a kick out of seeing you blushing and squeaking when he gets too close wearing nothing but an apron.

⇢ when the two of you moved into the neighborhood, he scared off the neighbors with his cold features and muscled, scarred body, but that’s not quite the case anymore. they quickly got to know him as pretty easygoing and reliable; the community relies on him for a lot of heavy lifting for their projects, and he frequently invites the aunties for tea parties in your backyard. you often come home to the aunties filing out your gate in giggles, slapping you on the shoulder for a job well done securing such a ‘hunk of a man’. you raise your eyebrows at wriothesley, who leans against the door frame with a smug smirk before beckoning you for dinner.

⇢ he’s a little bit hesitant whenever the topic of having kids comes up. he knows he is not his foster parents… and yet the thought of setting these scarred hands on an innocent little life. these hands have ended people— cruel, abusive, and cold-hearted, but people nonetheless. he’s afraid that he might continue the cycle of abuse that he’s been haunted by for so long. wriothesley knows deep down that will never happen; you were there to ground him and keep his wits about him, but his fears still surface whenever the conversation happens. these children would be yours too, and he wants nothing but the best for you and this family.

⇢ when you talk to him about a co-worker hitting on you at work, he isn’t so insecure as to immediately get jealous and possessive. he’s a smug bastard; he knows he’s hot. he’s got aunties telling him, men and women alike eyeing him in the gym, and he’s got you blushing every day like you aren’t married. so he only laughs with you at their meaningless attempts. things get… a bit different when you’re in actual danger. throughout your relationship, wriothesley’s always been the overprotective type. sometimes you think he’s going too far, with the way you’ve seen him throwing hands and crushing skulls at sleazy men trying to grope you in bars. but you haven’t seen anything yet.

⇢ you don’t know. you don’t know his past, don’t know his deeds, don’t know his sins. he’s only ever presented himself as a suave, teasing gentleman. he was as normal as a prison warden could get and he played this role until you said yes to his proposal. you don’t know about life before he was in power. when he was the one behind those bars. you’ve never questioned why he didn’t let you into his workspace or why he was so eager to get away from that life as soon as you two signed the marriage papers.

⇢ and so it sends a shiver down your spine when you see wriothesley so… lifeless. you thought it was a nice surprise, seeing your husband wait for you outside your work, but with the way he’s staring down your co-worker you’re beginning to suspect that he’s not actually there for you. you try pushing him to make him budge, but his muscled body doesn’t move an inch as the slimy rat scampers away from his glare. you call out his name, worriedly, and he blinks a few times before he’s back to his normal, friendly self. you spend the rest of the week in unease, those strangers’ eyes haunting you at the back of your mind.

“look at you,” wriothesley hums, dropping the nearly unconscious person from his grasp. they fall to the alley’s cement ground, heaving and spluttering blood as they try to regain their senses. splotches of black block their vision, the buzz of nightlife so far away and muffled in his ringing ears, and when he tries to prop himself up, the ex-warden’s glare makes them freeze in terror. “i don’t make a habit of hurting people, believe me, but it’s hard to stay calm when i hear some rat is harassing my partner when i’m not there.” he presses a heel into their ruptured throat, indifferent to the ensued coughing and choking. “do you know how long i’ve been waiting for this? to teach you a lesson?” “i don’t— wheeze— don’t know what’re ya talkin’ about—!” at this, wriothesley scowls and he releases them from his heel’s pressure before delivering a swift kick to their shin. they’re sent flying towards a dumpster, their back hitting the metal and sending them back to the concrete. wriothesley approaches them, towering over their bloody figure. they’re ways off from the red district and even if they could scream, their throat is too damaged to even think about it. they can only stare in growing fear as they pray that this… monster before him would spare him. “pleading guilty, huh? too bad.” their eyes roll to the back of their head as his fingers wrap around their throat, crushing their pipe with the eased movements of a murderer. “i’m not some justice system. i’m just here to kill you. plain and simple” he grins at the dying man still weakly struggling to push away his arm. “you understand, right? all’s fair in love and war… or somethin’ like that.”

[ “they said something about me? pay no mind. people like to gossip about handsome people like me.” ]

— SPECTACLE OF PHANTASMAGORIA. lyney | リネ

[ “one moment there is nothing in my palm and the next… tada! roses from the garden! welcome home~” ]

⇢ lyney’s always been the coy, teasing type. he likes to suddenly pull your faces together, breath on your lips as he leans in for a kiss, before his finger slips in a failed cooking and he bounces away laughing as you splutter and gag. he likes to wake up in the morning, innocent stretching as if he doesn’t notice the way his shorts ride up his thighs and your shirt on him hiking up to show his lean physique. he puts on a show— hiding his face as he teases you for being a pervert for enjoying his oh-so-vulnerable body. you blush and finish straightening out your necktie, leaving lyney to laugh as you bolt out the door for work.

⇢ even before you were married, the two of you already enjoy all the stresses and joys that come with being parents. lyney, after all, is the successor of the same orphanage he grew up in. the children there call him ‘father’ and when he introduced you to them, you found yourself taking up the same parent role as your partner. lyney is overjoyed to see you take to the children so well, fondly dropping by the orphanage next door and taking time out of your busy schedule to play with them. when you’re finall off the clock, you see lyney in an apron waving you from the porch surrounded by children leaning over to greet you two. you always have to tighten your grip on the steering wheel whenever you see the sight. it’s like… it’s like… gah, you can’t explain it, but something about this domestic bliss lights up a fire in your loins.

⇢ has a habit of rewarding you after a long day’s work. once he makes sure that all the orphans are settled in for the night, the two of you move to your abode next door so he can soothe the stress from your body. poor thing, he murmurs, finger tickling the shell of your ear as he sets down your plate in front of you. his pretty partner, being bullied by their big, mean boss and their pushy co-workers. lucky for you, you’ve got such an adoring husband ready to take care of you for the rest of the night, huh?

⇢ family. family. he’s had lynette, but to have parents by his side to coddle and cherish him? he’s never grown to know such a feeling. so when he sees you playing with the kids, begrudging in indulging their outlandish requests yet smiling with such fondness… something inside him burns so passionately he thinks it might consume him. by blood, these kids were not his but this must be it. to have a whole and complete family. and to have this family with you, the love of his life! were it not for the tight feeling in his chest, he would’ve thought that this would be a fantastical dream.

⇢ the house of the hearth is just a government recruitment agency under the guise of a loving orphanage, and everyone but you is privy to that information. you don’t recognize your own children following you in the streets or peering into your office windows. the cctvs don’t catch them rustling through your boss’ drawers for black market transactions. why would you, when you come home to them smiling and hugging your legs, begging you for a bedtime story? when you retire for the night, they report to their boss— their Father— and it’s just another day of keeping their family whole and happy.

⇢ you are, after all, are lyney’s weakness. you remain blissfully aware of the many people after your head, hoping to cut deep into snezhnayan government by gaining the upper hand with lyney. so you don’t know how much blood has been shed in your name by the same innocent kids you’ve grown to care for as your own… or the fact that it has been all commanded by your loving and faithful husband, who kisses you on the lips so sweetly every night that you would never know they’ve been long tainted by poison.

“father,” one of his children kneel on the ground, cloaked in black as they ready to deliver their report for the day. “nothing unusual has happened today in the office.” “that’s good news then!” ‘Father’ claps happily as he lounges lazily on his mahogany office desk. despite the smile in his voice and his cheery demeanor, his child doesn’t have to look up to see the cold-hearted eyes of an experienced agency and killer. “nice to know that the new boss has been behaving himself. it took so many of them before they realized what was actually going on!” “yes, father, this new one has been behaving himself but…” his child pauses, cautious to speak what they were about to say. “have you not considered asking mama to move jobs?” lyney sighs and puts a hand on his cheek. “oh dear, believe me i have. in fact, i even said that they didn’t need this job! but, well, you know how stubborn your mama can be. they wouldn’t even hear of it! i hope you and the other children can persuade them but… before that time comes, let’s just support your mama in whatever they want.” the child nods in understanding. they are, after all, the shining example of all their children. they remind him of himself back when he was still under the previous father’s care. “i will try, father. mama has promised to bring cake and have tea time with us when they get off their job so… maybe.” “hehe, your mama really loves you all so. have fun then, dear~”

[ “what do you mean the children have been acting strangely? maybe you’re tired from all that work you’re doing…” ]

— YEARNING FOR UNSEEN DEPTHS. freminet | フレミネ

[ “even though i am the way that i am… i hope i can always make you happy, like you make me.” ]

⇢ your sweet, sweet husband! he’s always hiding those shy blue eyes behind his pale blonde hair, head hunched over some mechanical device or seeking respite in his diving helmet. even after all these years together and eventually getting married, he’s still so shy when it comes to initiating physical contact. someone in this relationship has to, and so it seems to fall on your shoulders to get the hugs and kisses the two of you deserve. it’s not like you’re complaining, not when you can hear that precious squeak when you wrap your arms around his delicate waist and press a giggle-kiss onto his neck while he’s cooking up breakfast.

⇢ he’s a bit insecure about his role in your marriage. it has nothing to do with being a housewife, really! it’s just that… once you’re gone, he’s just so totally lost. at least when you’re there with him he can feel human again instead of some clockwork puppet rusting at home. you would guide him and tell him on what to do instead of him alone fretting and fussing over what he should do and if he would even get it right. you would never hurt him, and yet you get a bit concerned whenever you arrive home and freminet is there waiting for you with his hands nervously wrung together. you have to assure him that you would never get mad at such a sweet and dutiful housewife! only a monster would! and freminet knows that you’re anything but a monster.

⇢ you wouldn’t be able to tell by his face, but whenever you show him off to your co-workers and friends, he’s so over the moon that it’s a wonder he can contain himself. hearing you call him by such sicky-sweet names like ‘honey, dearie, baby, lovely’ while bragging about him has him hiding his face, but it’s only because he feels like the smile on his face looks so stupid! the others gag while you drone on and on about how pretty and amazing your partner is and freminet can only look down on his lap and clenched fists as he squirms in his seat. knowing that you adore him as much as he adores you… it makes his heart beat a mile per minute, something he thought would never happen before he met you.

⇢ he’s deathly scared of losing you. without you, he fears that he’ll revert back to his old self— that soulless, emotionless human more akin to a robot than a person. all his life he thought he would be better off unfeeling and wishing to be born with gears than a heart, but you came by and showed him how colorful life could be with the right person. he doesn’t want to lose you, but he’s so incompetent, so clumsy, so socially inept… how could he ever compare to the wonderful brilliant you?

⇢ he hopes you don’t hate him when he gets rid of these better, more amazing people. they’re usually your co-workers, sometimes strangers who’ve caught your eye, rarely ever your friends (he doesn’t want to make you unhappy). killing is rare for him and something he doesn’t do on a whim, but he fears that once you surround yourself with so many brilliant people you’ll see him for the failure that he is. so, even if it is only a temporary solution, he dons the diving mask and takes them out at the perfect timing. he was raised to be the perfect assassin, so in theory, he doesn’t have to worry about getting caught—

⇢ — except that you know him better than he knows himself. you have a talent for seeing through him that he gets scared that you’ll immediately sus out what he’s done the moment he walks through the door. on these days, he gets clingy and more affectionate, trying to make up for what he’s done. it’s a pleasant surprise to see your taciturn husband fling himself at you and nuzzle his head in your chest without further explanation. usually, people would demand an explanation for the sudden change of behavior… but why would you? you’re not going to complain if freminet decides to shower you with love out of nowhere! freminet in turn is just glad that you’re the way you are. you’ve invested so much love and resources into him… he doesn’t want to waste all of that and throw it all away.

“you’re so cute!” you giggle as you spin freminet around, still cuddled into your chest and pale arms around your torso. “what’s with the sudden love bomb? gosh, how were you born so cute! it doesn’t make sense!” you pepper kisses onto his face as you press him against the sofa, delighting in the way he tries to cover the blush on his freckled cheeks at your over-affectionate behavior. “n-nothing, really…” he mumbles, peeking at you through his fingers as you continue to shower him with pecks. you’ve loosened your tie and your white button-down has been wrinkled thoroughly by this sudden love fest. “i just… i love you, [your name]. i love you a lot.” you hum happily at his confession. this was nothing that you didn’t know, but it was still delightful to hear. you hear him suck in a breath, hesitating, before finally letting it out, “do– do you love me too…?” you cease your incessant kissing just to raise a brow at him, an incredulous look on your face. he reddens even further. he knows it’s a stupid question. how could anyone with two eyes ever question your love for your blonde husband? but still… he wants to hear it. even if he’s heard it from you this morning, and the day before, and every day before that… he wants to hear it now. “i love you, silly.” you boop him on the nose, flopping yourself beside him on the couch. he turns to look at you, his ice-blue eyes peering up at you through long lashes. “always have, always will.” you thread your fingers together. his hands, unlike the rest of him, are calloused and rough. hardened by those years of diving, perhaps? or something else? nevertheless, you press his hand to your lips and look at him. “i’ll say it as many times as you want.” you watch as those eyes, usually so taciturn and shy, tear up at your confession. you were so loving, so wonderful… he could hardly believe that you were his. “thank you… thank you, [your name], i just…”  he lets out a choked laugh, a rare smile breaking out on those delicate features. “i don’t know… i just feel stupid today.” you hum in understanding, pressing another kiss to each of his fingers while he watches you. “rough day?” you ask, and he simply nods, not wanting to elaborate further. it’s okay. more than okay. you could guess by the metallic tang blooming on your lips on how exactly his day went.

[ “please… please don’t hate me… you don’t deserve this but i… but i don’t want them to realize what kind of person i am!” ]

— BEYOND MORTALITY. baizhu | 白术

[ “look at those dark circles… don’t prioritize your career over your health, okay? do it for me?” ]

⇢ baizhu is always fussing over your health despite being the sickly one, but you suppose that’s in line with him being a doctor. your pretty husband has relocated his clinic to your new home together and continues to enjoy a steady stream of his loyal customers. you worry about baizhu overworking himself while you’re at work, but him being at home puts you at ease. at least changsheng will be able to quickly guide him to bed whenever his chronic illness flares up and he has little qiqi with him… actually, you think you’re more worried about qiqi.

⇢ being married to baizhu comes with the benefit of welcoming qiqi and changsheng into your family. he treats qiqi like his own child despite being an amnesiac girl that he picked off his streets that you’ve grown to also care for her like she was your own daughter. baizhu tells you that you needn’t spoil her so much; she’ll probably forget to put on the new dress you bought for her, but he can’t tell you what to do! baizhu enjoys seeing you fawn over the child, watching in amusement as you desperately try to make her remember your name. it’s been a tough journey, but you are over the moon once she calls you mama/papa. that does make baizhu a tad jealous, something that changsheng teases him about. after all, he’s been with qiqi longer!

⇢ the two of you enjoy your quiet moments together. when night has fallen and qiqi has retired to her room, the two of you sit in the living room as you prepare for another day’s work. only his rustling of prescription papers and your hurried tapping on the keyboard can be heard; not a single conversation passes between you two. even changsheng has drifted off to sleep in the midst of this silence. finishing the last email for the day, you stretch and look to see how baizhu is doing. as always, he’s always so pretty focused on the task before him. his hair is still braided in its usual fashion, and you settle behind him and slowly detangle his locks. he doesn’t glance at you, but he hums in appreciation. his hair, oiled and trimmed at changsheng’s insistence, is soft and glossy as you brush it while you wait for him to finish up.

⇢ although he’s lauded by his patients as kind and selfless, those who don’t know him would think that he has an odd air about him. maybe it’s because his eyes contain a hidden cunning that the people you introduce him to becomes rather wary of him. or is it the way that he talks all politely but with a subtle bite to them? you don’t know why he becomes rather passive-aggressive when you invite someone over to your home, but you’re so enthralled by this change of behavior that you forget to scold him for it. your friends complain about the way baizhu looks at them from head to toe like he’s assessing them. you have to explain that it’s actually a doctor’s habit, some sort of medical procedure… or so baizhu explained once.

⇢ physical ailments are his expertise, mental illnesses he can refer his patients to another doctor, but stupdity is a disease that unfortunately cannot be cured. before he married you, he abhorred the disgusting feelings that stirred inside him whenever he sees you smile at another person. but now that he has married you and you have proclaimed yourself as his, he’s thrown away all self-disgust now that his jealousy has been justified. it’s human nature to feel possessive over someone that is his by right. for your sake, he tries to be as civil as possible… though it becomes impossible whenever he hears them complain about him to you whenever they think he’s out of earshot.

⇢ if they refuse to give the two of you some space, then baizhu surmises that he will have to do it himself. herbal concoctions are his thing, after all. who said it needed to be medicine? changsheng hisses in amusement as he mashes herbs together out in the lawn while you’re snoring away in bed. her eyes flicker to baizhu, face shadowed by the dark of night. before you, he’s always been so civil and logical. aside from his frail constitution, changsheng thinks that his marriage to you might have given her partner another malady.

“hey, baizhu, something’s up with guanxi,” is the first thing you sat when you come back from work. changsheng watches as the doctor’s eye twitches before he forces his lips to smile warmly to greet you. you peck your husband on the cheek. “he’s been coughing and hacking blood since yesterday.” “oh my,” he says in a tone that’s supposed to sound concerned. “that is concerning. go contact him to see when he’s available and i’ll squeeze him into my schedule tomorrow.” you start tp dial his number on your phone, before you stop and after a few seconds of thinking, shake your head. “nah… that wouldn’t work. he gets very awkward around you. says you give him the creeps. i don’t get it! you’re like, the most perfect being to exist.” baizhu giggles when you cup his head into your palms as you admire the beauty that is your husband. you slyly smile and whisper. “don’t tell him, but just for that, i gave him twice more work than he had to do.” and people think he’s sly. they should see you! baizhu laughs at your show of devotion and presses a kiss into one of your palms. “now, now. you can’t make all your friends like me the way you adore me so. but, well… call it coincidence, but i did make your favorite today.” you gasp in delight. “is this my gift for avenging my darling wife?!” he rolls his eyes at your dramatic antics and pinch your cheeks fondly. “mmm, call it a… hm, a celebration feast.”

[ “oh my, and i just had the prescription for that as well. people should trust their local doctors more.” ]

[nehswritesstuffs]

HEART PIRATES WEEK 2024 - Part 8 of 9

I told myself last year that I was going to participate in Heart Pirates Week this year, and by thunder I'm going to participate in Heart Pirates Week!

Day Eight: Hakugan - Caught

912 words; I struggled with this one until I almost couldn’t stop, let me tell you; the warning for this one is non-sexual nakedness and references to some of the darker things that happen in canon; still not proofread lololol

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

He had one condition: the mask stayed on. That was all Hakugan asked for as he hesitated before the gangplank, staring at the captain who was standing on the deck.

“Whatever; don’t let it get in the way.”

Nodding, Hakugan stepped onto the Polar Tang and into his new life as a pirate. He was shedding his past, as he knew many others did once they boarded a ship—let alone a pirate ship—and it was freeing beyond all measure. Once he was atop the deck, he followed the captain underneath before being passed off to a surly-looking woman about his age.

“This is what I’ve got to work with?” she scoffed. “You’re killing me, Cap.” The captain simply kept walking, making the woman scowl. “Fine. Whatever. So, what’s your name?”

“Hakugan.”

“…okay. Hakugan.” She seemed to be testing the name out on her lips. “You ever been on a ship before?”

“Yes, but not like this one,” he said. The young man shuffled back and forth on his feet. “I like this one better.”

She raised an eyebrow, her expression somewhat curious. “As long as you remember this is my baby, got it?” She patted the nearest bit of metal wall. “Ever since I got here and liberated her from the morons, she’s been under my care, so what I say goes, got it?”

Hakugan nodded, not wanting to incur someone’s wrath so quickly. “Is there somewhere I can wash up first before I get hazed? It’s been a bit.”

“Yeah; showers are down the corridor, to your right,” she said, jabbing her thumb over her shoulder. “First door should have some clean underwear, socks, and coveralls that’ll fit you. Use those until we can get you some new clothes—those are filthy.”

Shrugging, Hakugan didn’t argue that fact. His clothes were more sweat and dirt than fabric at that point. “I’ll, erm, meet you in the engine room in half an hour…?”

“Sounds fair.” She then turned around and left him alone, allowing him to grab what he needed out of the cupboard before slipping into the shower room. It was very open for the most part, but there were a few stalls in the corner, doors nothing more than a curtain. He grabbed a towel from the stack along the wall and hid himself in a stall, freezing as he stared at himself in the mirror.

‘I’m doing this,’ he marveled silently. ‘I’m really doing this.’ He hung the towel on a peg and the underwear and coveralls on the curtain rod so they were mostly out of the stall. First, he kicked off his boots so the rested outside the stall—new ones were going to become a priority despite they were the best things he had—followed by peeling off his clothes. Soon there was a crumpled lump of clothing in the corner as he stood there naked save his mask…

…the one thing he would stubbornly carry over from his old life.

Carefully, Hakugan took the mask off and hung it up on a hook before looking at himself again in the mirror. There, plain in the yellowed overhead lights, he saw his reflection and cringed. He saw his twin brands: the one over his left eye that took out his vision, leaving the claw parts of the Hoof above and below his eye, while the other one sat on his right cheek, put there after they had secured him from struggling more. If he was lucky, no one would be able to guess his depth perception was due to burgeoning Haki skills for at least a few months…

No, he couldn’t think about that. He looked at the liquid soap dispenser and realized it was a three-in-one—it was better than nothing. The water ran cold for only a few seconds after he turned it on, allowing him a soothing hot spray as he stood there in a daze. A couple moments and he was able to snap himself out of it, dispensing some soap into his hands to work into a lather in his hair and on his body.

‘Oh, I really should get that too,’ he thought as his good eye caught sight of the mask. He lifted it off the peg and got some more soap, carefully rubbing the liquid all around the mask’s interior and exterior, careful to get the ridges where dead skin and oils built up well. Hakugan was so involved in attempting to wash out his mask that he didn’t even notice anyone else was in there until it was too late…

“Hey, uh, Ikkaku said that you probably don’t have anything as far as things to keep clean with, so she wanted me to give you—” A red-haired man in a floppy hat and glasses pulled back the edge of the curtain, making Hakugan jump in surprise. They both stared at one another before the intruder held out the small bag in his hand. “Here. This is yours.”

“I can’t go back,” Hakugan croaked out, his voice barely above a whisper. The other man wrinkled his nose and let out a chuckle.

“Go back…? Nah; if you’re here, you belong with us.” He waited until Hakugan took the bag before replacing the curtain. “Being in the Polar Tang is going to break you of that shyness, by the way.”

Hakugan stayed frozen in place until he felt the water begin to chill against his skin.

[mariacallous]

Anna Kai believes in self-gaslighting. On TikTok, as @itsmaybeboth, she markets beauty products for Garnier, Nivea, and Nexxus Hair Care while dispensing relationship advice to her 1.3 million followers. “If you can gaslight yourself into believing the man that doesn’t love you actually loves you, then why can’t you gaslight yourself into believing you will find a man who actually does?”

For Blaine Anderson, finding the right partner is all about savvy marketing, which “great guys often SUCK at,” a note on her website exclaims. She has hacks for every possible scenario that can, and will, arise during the dating process: how to text like a “high-value man,” what first-date mistakes to avoid, how to make women obsessed, and the best ways to attract them without talking. In case you were curious, it starts with good posture and grooming. “If you haven’t been shopping since the Obama administration, it’s time,” she says in a video uploaded to TikTok in May.

“As a relationship therapist, I’ve literally spent my career studying the art of attraction and human psychology, so I know that these things work,” Kimberly Moffit, a Toronto-based psychotherapist, said in a TikTok video from 2022. Maybe your crush is shy and you want to know if he is “micro-flirting” with you? One tell-tale sign: dirty jokes. “An aggressive guy is just gonna hit on you,” she said, “but a shy guy is really gonna test the waters first.”

If you haven’t heard, it’s boom times for dating influencers. According to a new survey of single adults aged 18 to 62 conducted by the app Flirtini, one in four people rely on TikTok as their primary source of relationship information, and almost 50 percent of people surveyed turn to social media for dating advice.

This phenomenon has created an ecosystem of thoughtful, overzealous, trend-chasing dating influencers who think they know what’s best for you. The marketplace is now overrun with gurus offering up romantic hacks and how-tos to anyone who will listen. Everyone from credentialed therapists and life coaches to that annoying friend who just discovered bell hooks’ All About Love and wants to share everything they learned brands themselves a dating influencer these days. The effect has been seismic. On TikTok, the hashtags #datingadvice and #relationshipadvice have upwards of 16 billion views.

And it’s not all bad advice per se. Kai’s self-gaslighting tip is actually quite clever. (Kai and the other influencers mentioned in this story did not respond to messages seeking comment.) There’s just one problem: Relationship misinformation is spreading fast.

A growing number of young adults now get their news from TikTok, according to a 2023 Pew Research Center study, “so it makes sense that they’d turn to the app for relationship advice too,” says Liesel Sharabi, a professor at Arizona State University who specializes in the effect technology has on interpersonal relationships. The increased reliance on the platform as a go-to source for romantic guidance has led many users to form parasocial relationships with advice-giving influencers. Unlike face-to-face, IRL relationships, these tend to be one-way. But emotionally, they feel like the real thing.

“Someone might feel like they’re getting dating advice from a trusted friend because they’ve developed such a strong sense of familiarity and connection with that person,” Sharabi says. “The problem is that when it comes to dating, there are plenty of people who call themselves experts on TikTok without any sort of training or qualifications, which can make it difficult to separate fact from opinion.”

Not all advice is created equal. As dating influencers gain more traction across social media, the proliferation of relationship misinformation becomes harder to contain. This, Sharabi describes, is “false or misleading information about relationships that can’t be evaluated using scientific data and which may perpetuate harmful stereotypes.”

The increased spread of questionable dating advice is having real-world consequences. According to the Flirtini study, 46 percent of people faced relationship struggles after following TikTok advice, with 23 percent saying it led to a break up. It begs the question: Has our need to be plugged in all the time—let's face it, many of us are hooked on the booze of social media—outweighed our rationale as humans, leading people to look for advice from the wrong people?

“Relationship advice that is attention-grabbing may not always be the most sound or accurate to people’s actual relationship needs,” says Aparajita Bhandari, an academic at the University of Waterloo who’s conducted research on TikTok. “The way our current online attention economy works breeds content that is outrageous or tends toward misinformation because it is what goes viral and gets views. Unhealthy ideas or advice can spread so quickly on a platform like TikTok that it can be difficult to even trace back to one specific source.”

For some dating influencers, love is not actually the endgame—status and comfort are. There is a dedicated core of influencers who can teach you how to marry rich, live comfortably, and never work again. For them, it is all about “high-value” dating. Love is simply the icing on the cake to a life of worry-free, jet-setting luxury.

Shera Seven is a household name among this contingent of dating influencers, beloved for her matter-of-fact approach to modern partnership. In her eyes, love is nothing more than a business transaction. “Make sure the second date is a money date. The faster you get him to spend money, the faster he attaches to you,” Seven recommended in a recent video. “You’re seeing him as a provider, a baller—and he might not even see himself that way—but now that you are perceiving him that way, he’s going to start acting that way. Drag him into your delusion.”

Influencers with large followings like Seven, Cam Donnez, and Niko of The Daddy Academy carry an impression of social authority, and therefore credibility, says Makana Chock, a communications professor at Syracuse University. But something else is also at work. More and more, TikTok is being used as a search engine in the same way many of us use Google.

“Relationships are areas where people often feel the greatest insecurities and need advice. We are sometimes, however, reluctant to turn to personal contacts for help,” Chock adds. “We may be reluctant to reveal weaknesses, concerned about close others’ conflicting motivations, or skeptical about their relationship skills.”

But relying too heavily on TikTok’s algorithm has repercussions, especially in matters of the heart. “The algorithm isn’t necessarily incentivized to recommend the most scientifically sound advice,” Sharabi says. “It’s going to prioritize content that leads to engagement in terms of likes, followers, and views. What makes something go viral on TikTok isn’t necessarily that it’s good advice—in some cases, it might even be the opposite.”

[chickensarentcheap]

Sneak Peek :). Chapter four of In a Heartbeat

“What about my other boots?”

“What other boots?”

“The ones  I had on my feet.  When I was brought in here.”

 “Babe, I threw those out the first day.” 

He scowls.

“I tried, believe me.  I wanted to save them. But they were completely unsalvagable.”

“They were practically brand new.”

“Brand new a decade ago, maybe.  They had definitely seen better days.  They were a completely mess BEFORE  Dhaka ever happened.  I promise I did my very best. That I tried everything I could think of short of giving them mouth-to-mouth.  They flatlined.  There was no hope.”

It’s the truth.  She HAD tried to salvage them. . And the bulletproof tact vest that he’d been wearing.  And she can vividly able to remember the moment she’d stood -a dirty and exhausted, tattered mess- at the sink in one of the many public bathrooms. Working her fingers raw as she used scalding hot water and soap from a hand dispenser to vigorously and relentlessly scrub at all the blood.  It had still been damp and fresh; the smell of copper had hung heavily in the room; as the water, soap suds, and the porcelain of the sink turned a bright and furious red.  Sobbing until she was breathless and gasping for air, tears streaming down her face as her desperate and terrified brain tried to make sense of where she was, what had happened, and how she ever managed to survive.

And what she thought cleaning those badly damage items could accomplish.

He’s going to use them again, she had silently argued. Common sense no longer her friend and ally.  He’s going to be okay, and he’s going to wear these, and they need to be clean.

They HAVE to be clean. 

*****

@tragiclyhip @munstysmind @mrsmungus @youflickedtooharddamnit @secretaryunpaid @thebejeweledwatercat @alisbackalleybbq @asirensrage @themaradwrites @residentdormouse @ninjasawakenedmystar @kmc1989 @karimac @theesirenteller

[bortbytingen]

So, I've discovered this thing. Most likely not the first one to discover it, but thought I would share anyway.

I'm very sensitive to textures and one of the things I hate the textures of is shampoo and shower gels. However, foam versions of it works. Unfortunately, those are expensive and I also have sensitive skin and can't use any of the pre-made foamy shower gels I've found (they also tend to be way too perfumed anyway). Thankfully, I have now discovered a cheap way to turn most shampoos and shower gels into foamy ones.

All you need is a foam dispenser bottle, water (I use boiled, but cooled down, water) and shower gel/shampoo.

(I'm trying that Sanex one right now, in hope my skin will accept it since I'd like something that's a little scented and also doesn't smell like fruit or bubblegum.)

You can either buy a brand new foam dispenser bottle or, like I did, buy a cheap one with product in it (mine was 95p at Home Bargains and I poured out the face wash in it and cleaned it out).

(Sorry, I forgot to take photos of the steps.)

Pour some shower gel/shampoo in the bottle.

Pour double the amount of water into the bottle. So, if you, for example, use 1 tbsp of shower gel, you need to use 2 tbsp of water.

Screw back the dispenser cap/mouthpiece and shake. The mixture needs to blend.

Done! Push the dispenser and you'll get lovely foam.

PS: This works best with clear products. If you shampoo/shower gel is creamy, you might need more water. Or at least that's my experience.

[mcluxurybangalore]

Eco-Luxury Faucets: Combining Sustainability with Opulence

In the world of interior design, where opulence meets sustainability, the concept of eco-luxury is gaining momentum like never before. Luxury bathroom faucets, once seen as mere functional necessities, have evolved into exquisite pieces of art that harmonize seamlessly with environmentally-conscious values. The marriage of opulence and eco-friendliness is indeed possible, and this is where the realm of eco-luxury faucets makes a stunning entrance.

Best Luxury Bathroom Faucets: Merging Elegance and Sustainability

Gone are the days when luxury was solely associated with extravagance. Today, luxury lies in the integration of art, functionality, and mindful consumption. The concept of eco-luxury bathroom faucets embodies this shift, presenting a harmonious blend of sustainable practices and lavish aesthetics.

When it comes to selecting the best luxury bathroom faucets, one is no longer limited to just the visual appeal. These faucets are crafted with precision, utilizing sustainable materials that not only exude charm but also ensure longevity. Imagine enjoying the soothing flow of water through a beautifully designed fixture that reflects your commitment to the environment.

Luxury Bathroom Accessories and Decor: Elevating the Experience

The allure of eco-luxury faucets extends beyond the fixtures themselves. It embraces an entire range of luxury bathroom accessories and decor that complement the faucets’ elegance. From intricately designed soap dispensers to eco-friendly toothbrush holders, every accessory contributes to the sustainable opulence of your bathroom.

The true beauty of eco-luxury bathroom accessories lies in their ability to enhance your space while minimizing the ecological footprint. These accessories are often crafted from renewable materials, making them an indulgence that aligns with conscious living.

Eco-Luxury Faucets: A Greener Perspective on Kitchen Faucets in Bangalore

The eco-luxury wave isn’t limited to bathrooms alone; it’s sweeping across kitchens as well. In the bustling city of Bangalore, where innovation thrives, eco-luxury kitchen faucets are becoming a prominent feature. The garden city’s residents are embracing the idea that luxury doesn’t have to compromise on sustainability.

With kitchen faucets in Bangalore embracing eco-luxury, homeowners are experiencing the joy of having water-efficient, beautifully designed fixtures that elevate their culinary spaces. These faucets not only add a touch of sophistication but also contribute to responsible water usage, a crucial consideration in today’s world.

In conclusion, the convergence of luxury and sustainability in the form of eco-luxury faucets is redefining how we perceive opulence. No longer is luxury confined to indulgence; it’s about making mindful choices that enrich our lives while caring for our planet. As we witness the rise of eco-luxury bathroom and kitchen faucets, it’s evident that the future of design lies in a harmonious coexistence between opulence and eco-consciousness. So, why not embrace this transformative trend and adorn your living spaces with faucets that not only captivate the eye but also resonate with the heart?

For the best eco-luxury faucets, visit MC Luxury in Bangalore for the best in class collection from international brands.

[caxycreations]

I

Wanna answer this with a short story, ha. So here goes...

Luka stood in awe, staring at the screen of his phone. He'd been added to the new work group chat at the school, and the teachers were discussing a possible update to the teachers lounge: a Galvanized brand coffee machine.

Top of the line, with a chamber for flavored cups of ground coffee for instant dispensing of the drink. It could hold up to ten flavors, and bore a screen with each flavor listed on it for easy selection. On top of that, the water chamber was filtered and self-cleaning, which meant no more taking turns scrubbing out the chamber.

But even with all this, the icing on the cake was the smart features and temperature control. It offered a range of temperatures, including iced and boiling, to satisfy all customers, and could be activated and operated through voice commands.

The only problem was that the device cost nearly six hundred dollars, and the conversation in the group chat was about whether or not the faculty could convince the board to find the budget for it. Of course some had suggested pooling their money to buy it for themselves, but the topic of ownership had come up and Luka had tuned out.

His mind was focused on the machine itself. Coffee was his favorite part- well, second favorite part- of his morning routine. It gave him the energy to jog to work, the awareness to think at his best. And best of all, the boost it gave him made it all the easier to keep his energy up for both cleaning the halls and playing with the children during recess.

Looking to his counter at the rather pitiful coffee machine he owned, an old and simple discount machine he'd gotten from a second-hand store, he raised an eyebrow and smirked. Thinking about it, he rarely spent money outside of the necessary, and had a decent nest egg set aside to spend however he pleased. After all, a few hundred dollars on a single luxury wouldn't set him back so far he would be unprotected if hard times hit.

As he thought of this, his true favorite part of his morning came walking out of the hallway and into the kitchen. As Olivia took her cup of coffee from the counter, still hot thanks to Luka's decision to prepare hers a little while after his own, the sergal's wife sat across from him.

As the cheetah sipped her coffee, Luka mulled over how to approach the topic. She was as frugal as he was, and neither of them were much for luxury. Both of them had always been more than happy with the simpler things in life, and expensive things which were only expensive as the cost of convenience were usually below their radar.

Luka decided it best to simply mention he wanted to replace his old coffee machine. That may lead to a conversation, and maybe he would find she was as excited about the new Galvanized product as he was. He smiled, inhaling as he opened his mouth in preparation to speak, the words forming at the base of his throat and finding their way up, only to be stopped before a single word could be uttered as Olivia held up a finger.

"No, you're not buying the coffee thing they're on about."

Luka snapped his jaws shut, smiling sheepishly as he simply sipped his coffee. Olivia eyed him sternly before rolling her eyes and smiling, simply sliding her phone across the table. The sergal looked to the screen, seeing that she had been on Galvanized's website, and had already ordered one.

She giggled, resting her head on her palm as she placed her cup on the table. She spoke in honeyed words, her accent distinctly southern, love dripping from each syllable as she looked into her husbands eyes. "Honestly, Luka...You're too easy to read some times, Dearest." She took his hand in hers and Luka blushed beneath his fur.

"I believe you are simply smarter than you believe yourself to be, my love." His accent was thickly Russian, and his words carried with them a tone of admiration and adoration in equal measure. The pair shared a smile before they each returned to their drinks, and Luka thought for what he felt was the hundredth time this morning about how unbelievably lucky he was to have earned the heart of the woman sitting across from him.

which member of your otp says “no” right after the other takes a deep breath

[sreelekshmi123]

Top Electronic Wholesale Shop in UAE – Best Deals on Electronics

Explore the best electronic wholesale shop in UAE, offering a wide range of home appliances, including ACs, TVs, water dispensers, and more. Perfect for bulk buyers and businesses, we provide high-quality, energy-efficient products at competitive prices. Upgrade your inventory with trusted brands and enjoy reliable service and great value. Shop now for the best deals on home appliances!

[policylegit89]

Essential Home Appliances for Every Household

In today's fast-paced world, home appliances have become indispensable for simplifying our daily lives and making our homes more comfortable and efficient. From cooking to cleaning, these modern marvels offer convenience and save us valuable time and energy. This article will explore some of the best home appliances that every household should consider having.  

1. Refrigerator:

A refrigerator is arguably the most essential appliance in any kitchen. It keeps our food fresh and prevents spoilage, ensuring a healthy and safe food supply. Modern refrigerators come with a variety of features, including ice makers, water dispensers, and adjustable shelves, catering to different needs and preferences.  

2. Washing Machine:

Washing clothes by hand can be a time-consuming and laborious task. A washing machine significantly reduces the effort involved in laundry, saving time and energy. Front-load and top-load washing machines are available, each with its own set of advantages.  

3. Microwave Oven:

Microwave ovens are incredibly versatile appliances that can quickly heat food, defrost frozen items, and even cook meals. They are a must-have for busy individuals and families who value convenience and speed.  

4. Electric Kettle:

An electric kettle is a small but mighty appliance that can quickly boil water for tea, coffee, and instant noodles. It's a convenient and energy-efficient alternative to stovetop kettles.  

5. Blender:

Blenders are essential for making smoothies, juices, and soups. They can also be used to crush ice and grind nuts, making them a versatile addition to any kitchen.  

6. Toaster:

A toaster is a simple yet indispensable appliance for quickly toasting bread, bagels, and other breakfast items.  

7. Vacuum Cleaner:

Keeping your home clean is crucial for maintaining a healthy living environment. A vacuum cleaner is an essential tool for removing dust, dirt, and debris from floors, carpets, and upholstery.  

8. Iron:

An iron is a necessary appliance for keeping clothes wrinkle-free and presentable.  

9. Air Conditioner:

In hot climates, an air conditioner is essential for maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature, especially during the summer months.  

10. Fan:

Even in milder climates, fans can provide much-needed relief from heat and improve air circulation.  

Choosing the Best Home Appliances:

When selecting best home appliances for your home, consider the following factors:

Budget: Determine your budget and choose appliances that fit within your financial constraints.

Size and Space: Consider the size of your kitchen and other areas where you plan to place appliances.

Features: Choose appliances with features that suit your specific needs and preferences.

Energy Efficiency: Look for energy-efficient models to save on electricity costs.

Brand Reputation: Choose appliances from reputable brands known for their quality and reliability.

Warranty: Look for appliances with good warranty coverage to protect your investment.

Maintaining Your Appliances:

Proper maintenance is essential to ensure the longevity and efficiency of your home appliances.  

Regular Cleaning: Clean your appliances regularly according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Preventative Maintenance: Perform routine maintenance tasks such as changing filters and cleaning coils.  

Address Issues Promptly: If you notice any problems with your appliances, address them promptly to prevent further damage.

Conclusion:

Investing in the right home appliances can significantly improve your quality of life. By choosing the best home appliances that suit your needs and budget, you can create a more comfortable, efficient, and enjoyable living environment. Remember to prioritize energy efficiency, safety, and proper maintenance to get the most out of your appliances.

[hopefuldelusionsuit]

The Best Dog Accessories for Urban Living

For cheap and best Dog Products - https://dogiclub.com/

Urban living offers a unique set of challenges for dog owners, with limited space, bustling streets, and fewer green areas for play. To ensure that your dog thrives in the city, the right accessories are essential. These products not only provide convenience but also enhance your dog's comfort and safety. Let’s explore some of the best dog accessories that make urban living easier and more enjoyable for both you and your furry friend.

Compact and Comfortable Dog Beds In a city apartment or smaller space, your dog needs a cozy spot to relax. A compact yet comfortable dog bed is an ideal solution. Look for beds that are memory foam, orthopedic, or cooling, depending on your dog’s needs. These beds offer comfort while saving space and are portable enough to move from room to room.

Durable Leashes and Harnesses When walking your dog in busy urban areas, a sturdy leash and comfortable harness are a must-have. Opt for a harness that distributes pressure evenly, reducing strain on your dog’s neck and back. Urban environments are often filled with distractions, so a leash that gives you control while allowing your dog some freedom of movement is important. Many brands offer reflective leashes for added visibility during night walks.

Foldable Water Bowls Hydration is crucial, especially when walking through the city during the summer. A foldable water bowl is a practical accessory for urban living. These bowls are lightweight, portable, and easy to carry in a bag, making it simple to give your dog a drink wherever you go.

Travel-Friendly Dog Carrier For trips to the vet or other outings, a travel-friendly dog carrier is essential. Look for carriers that are easy to transport, ventilated for comfort, and secure to prevent any escape attempts. Whether it's a backpack, roller carrier, or a simple soft-sided bag, make sure it suits your dog’s size and comfort.

Dog Waste Bags and Dispensers Living in a city means being responsible for your dog’s waste disposal. Always have a waste bag dispenser clipped to your dog’s leash to ensure you're ready during walks. Opt for biodegradable bags to help the environment and keep the streets clean.

Interactive Toys for Mental Stimulation Urban living can be stressful for dogs due to noise and limited space. Interactive toys, such as puzzle games or treat-dispensing toys, can provide mental stimulation and help burn off extra energy. These toys keep your dog entertained when you're not around or during rainy days.

In conclusion, with the right accessories, urban living can be comfortable and enjoyable for your dog. From compact beds to durable leashes, these accessories help make life easier in the city.

[chickensarentcheap]

In a Heartbeat: Chapter Four

Fandom: Extraction

PAIRING: TYLER RAKE AND ESME DRUMMOND (ESTABLISHED OFC)

WARNINGS: angst. Big time angst.

SUMMARY:  Dhaka nearly ended everything before it even began.  In it’s aftermath and with Tyler’s life teetering on the threshold between life and death, Esme is about to realize just how strong she can be.  And that love happens when it happens. There’s no rules. No rhyme or reason. No timeline.  

Tagging: @tragiclyhip @munstysmind @themaradwrites @youflickedtooharddamnit @secretaryunpaid @asirensrage @thebejeweledwatercat @karimac @residentdormouse @kmc1989 @ninjasawakenedmystar @alisbackalleybbq @arrthurpendragon @ocappreciation @occommunity @theesirenteller

Warnings: none really. Just some canon stuff from E2.

Link to Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/48691714/chapters/129185005

My tag list is OPEN. Please let me know if you'd like to be added :D

****

TWO MONTHS LATER

“I hope we don’t forget anything,” Esme laments, hands on her hips as she surveys the room. “It’s not like we can just hop in the car and head over here to pick shit up.”

“What’s there to forget? I came in here with basically nothing.”

“I’ve bought all kinds of things since then. Not to mention everything Nik has picked up for us along the way.”

With her head cocked to the side and an index digit pressed to her lips, she uses the fingers of her free hand to count out the various items, announcing each out loud. Brand new sneakers, t-shirts, several pairs of sweatpants, and shorts were all purchased to be worn during his gruelling and often painful physiotherapy sessions. A handful of smaller personal effects: toothbrush and paste, electric razor, brush and comb. And a brand new winter jacket, beanie, and boots for the start of their life in Austria.

Tyler winces as he gingerly rises from the couch across the room; using both the coffee table and a simple, black metal cane for balance and support. That morning’s final rehab session had seemed especially brutal; an already weary and aching body pushed even further past its limits. Yet it’s a welcomed pain, a sign that things are working correctly and that he’s healing and well on his way to recovery. And while he isn’t thrilled about having to use an assistive device or having to sport the brace that keeps his surgically repaired right knee stabilized, it’s far better than the alternative of not being able to walk at all.

Or, worse, being dead.

He slowly makes his way towards her. “What about my other boots?”

“What other boots?”

“The ones I had on my feet. When I was brought in here.”

“Babe, I threw those out the first day.”

He scowls.

“I tried, believe me. I wanted to save them. But they were completely unsalvageable.”

“They were practically brand new.”

“Brand new a decade ago, maybe. They had definitely seen better days. They were a complete mess BEFORE Dhaka ever happened. I promise I did my very best. That I tried everything I could think of short of giving them mouth-to-mouth. They flatlined. There was no hope.”

It’s the truth. She HAD tried to salvage them. And the bulletproof tact vest that he’d been wearing. And she can vividly remember the moment she’d stood at the sink in one of the many public bathrooms, working her fingers raw as she used scalding hot water and soap from a hand dispenser to vigorously and relentlessly scrub at all of the blood. It had still been damp and fresh, and the smell of copper had hung heavily in the air; the water, soap suds, and the porcelain of the sink turning a bright, furious red. And she had sobbed until she was breathless and gasping for air; tears streaming down her face as her desperate and terrified brain tried to make sense of where she was, what had happened, and just what she thought she would accomplish.

He’s going to use them again, she had argued. Common sense no longer her friend and ally. He’s going to be okay, and he’s going to wear these, so they need to be clean.

They HAVE to be clean.

“Those were my favourite ones. I had them for years. And you just go and throw them out? What…?”

“I’ll buy you another pair.” Her response -and tone of voice- is far more curt and aggressive than necessary. And she immediately regrets it; noticing the concern that darkens his eyes and furrows his brow. “Maybe you’ll like them better,” she quickly adds and throws in a half-assed smile.

It was the stroll down memory lane; the visit to that dark and scary place that she has no desire to ever return to. But the harsh reality is that while she may never step foot in Dhaka again, it will forever be etched in her mind and upon her soul. A traumatic and harrowing experience that haunts her in the dead of night and on those early, rainy or snowy mornings; when the house is still and eerily quiet and she has too much time on her hands to think.

“Esme…” Tentatively reaching out for her, his knuckles skim along her cheek, hating the tears that sparkle in her eyes and the way both lower and chin tremble as she fights back her emotions. “...I was joking. Just giving you a hard time. Teasing you. I didn’t…”

“I’m sorry. For snapping at you. I guess I’m just really overwhelmed. It’s hitting home, you know? We are FINALLY getting out of here. And in less than ten hours, we’re going to be starting a whole new life. In Austria. Together.”

“Is that a bad thing or…?”

“No! God no! I have been waiting almost nine months for this. For you to be healthy enough to walk out of here. This is everything I have wanted for so long; for you to get back on your feet and for us to hide ourselves away and concentrate on each other.”

“And you’re not doubting your decision or questioning whether or not we’re doing the right thing?”

“Are you?”

“I asked you first.”

“I’ve never questioned if I’ve done the right thing. Not when it comes to you. Do YOU have cold feet?”

“I’m a little nervous,” he admits. “Last time I lived with someone, it didn’t end so well. And it was mostly my fault. Guess I’m just worried I’m gonna fuck it up. That I’m going to end up being a huge failure and you’re going regret every hooking up with me and…”

“That’s NOT going to happen. It’s NEVER going to happen. And what if it’s the other way around? What if I drive you so batshit insane, YOU regret ever meeting ME?”

“Esme, I love you. More than I ever thought I could love someone. But you weigh a hundred pounds soaking wet. You’re small enough to carry around in my pocket. I think I can handle you.”

“Well, you know that say; about tiny people being the ones you really have to watch out for. We’re sketchy, cagey little things. Everyone underestimates us.”

“What are you going to do? Bite me in the shins? Head butt me in the nuts like an angry goat?”

“Did you honestly just compare me to livestock?”

“Goats are little and cute. You’re little and cute. It’s an accurate comparison.”

“That isn’t the smooth and effortless save you think it is.”

“If you ever do come at me, all I have to do is…” Placing palm flat on the top of her head, he easily holds her at arm’s length. “...and that’ll keep you right where you are until you calm down. Can’t even take a swing at me. Your arms won’t reach that far.”

“Is this how it’s going to be? For the rest of our lives? You taking cheap shots just because I happen to be vertically challenged?”

“Vertically challenged?” He chuckles when she slaps his hand away. “That’s what the kids are calling it these days? You’re not just a short ass anymore?”

Smirking, she returns her back to him, returning to the open duffle bag in the middle of the bed. “You are really pushing your luck, buddy. You’re already on my second-to-last nerve, and we haven’t even gotten to Austria yet. All the shit I’ve done for you in the past nine months, and this is the thanks I get? This is how you show your gratitude? By making fun of me?”

“You’re right. I’m sorry.” Draping a forearm across her collarbone, both knee and back crack when he bends down to press a kiss to her temple. “ I’m sorry that you’re freakishly small. And that your parents’ DNA screwed up somewhere along the way, and you haven’t grown since you were twelve.”

Smirking, she directs a playful elbow into his stomach. “Asshole.”

“You’re just way too easy to pick on. You know I only do it to get a reaction outta ya, right? It’s fun; seeing you get all hot under the collar.”

“If that’s your idea of fun…”

“Well, I can think of a few other things I’d rather resort to for a good time, but…”

“Have you ever thought that maybe I’M the normal size one and you’re just freakishly tall?”

“I hate to break it to you, but being four foot nothing is NOT normal.”

“I’m five foot three, thank you very much!”

“Be honest.”

“I am being honest! I’m five foot three!”

“You wouldn’t be five foot three even in heels. Tell the truth.”

“I am! I’m…”

“Esme…”

“Fine…” She sighs in exasperation and surrender. “I’m five feet. And three-quarters!”

“Those three-quarters don’t matter.”

“Sure they do. They make me closer to five foot one, don’t they? And for the record? You are freakishly tall. And big. In many ways.”

“I would be to you. You’re a munchkin.”

“I swear to Christ…”

“What are you going to do? I can’t take a threat seriously when it comes from someone that practically doesn’t have to kneel when they’re giving me…”

“You are one SICK human being, you know that?”

“In all the ways you like best.”

“I also think you have some weird size kink going on.”

“Size kink? What the hell is THAT?”

“Technically, a kink just means unconventional sexual behaviour or preferences.”

“I know what ‘kink’ means. But size kink?”

“You get off on the fact that I’m so much smaller than you are. It was probably one of the things that attracted you to me. You liked the idea of being so much bigger; all that power and strength compared to my size means you can dominate me much easier than other people. And you DO like being in charge, so…”

“You were tiny and cute. I liked that.”

“So did your dick, apparently.”

“I will admit, it did like it. A lot. It still does.”

“Definite size kink. I’m freakishly small, and you’re freakishly big. We’re a very odd couple. You see the way the nurses and everyone here look at us whenever we’re out for walks together.”

“I just assumed it’s ‘cause you’re so fucking hot.”

“As much as I appreciate you consistently stroking my ego, it’s because we look weird together. Maybe not in a BAD way. But we do. And there’s nothing wrong with having a size kink. That’s something to be ashamed about. I guess maybe I have one too. I seem drawn to men that are a lot taller than I am.”

“Everyone is taller than you are.”

“But you’re definitely the record holder when it comes to height. And weight. You’re well beyond what’s normal for me.”

“I’m sorry. That I wrecked your vagina for everyone else.”

“Tyler, I swear…”

“Who am I kidding? There isn’t going to BE anyone else.” He reaches over her shoulder for an item at the top of the bag. A small yet neatly wrapped bundle; pristine white tissue paper secured by strips of purple satin. “What’s this?”

“This…” She snatches it away before he can get a firm hold on it. “...is none of your business.”

“Whose is it?”

“Mine.”

“Why’s it a secret?”

“It’s not a secret. It’s a surprise.”

“For who?”

“Who do you think? Jesus….”

“But I don’t like surprises.”

“Well, too bad. Learn to like them. You’re in for a lot of them, trust me. Living with me is no easy feat.”

“If you’re talking about me finding out about your twelve different personalities…”

“Don’t make me smother in your sleep.”

“Can’t I get some kind of hint? When it comes to what to expect? Give me something here. Just something small. So I can kinda prepare myself.”

“Nik was NOT kidding. When she told me how difficult you can be. On the bright side, I have experience with FAR more problematic people than you.”

“Baby, you ain’t seen nothing yet.”

“If you’re trying to scare me away, it isn’t going to work. I’ve already been through the depths of hell with you. There’s no way it could possibly get any worse.”

“Be careful what you wish for, Esme.”

“Please…” She gives a derisive snort “....you’re harmless. Everyone else who meets you may think you’re scary and intimidating, but you’ve never made me wet my pants.”

“I’ve made you wet them in different ways.”

Sighing in exasperation, she briefly closes her eyes.

“Just give me a little hint. About what the surprise is. I’m not asking for much here.”

“You are such a control freak, you know that?”

“I just don’t like surprises. I like knowing what’s coming. What to expect. So cut me a little slack, yeah?”

“It’s something to wear.”

“For who to wear?”

“For ME to wear. It’s black, and it’s soft, and it’s sort of shimmery. And it’s something for our first night in our own place together.”

“It’s something like THAT.”

Nodding, she zips up the bag and turns to face him. “Do you realize it’s the first time we will be completely alone in NINE MONTHS? No nurses, no doctors, no one just wandering in whenever they feel like it. No Nik or Yaz just showing up out of the blue. Just me and you. In the middle of nowhere. Where no one can hear you scream.”

“You’re the noisy one.”

“I meant when I kill you.”

“If a bullet to the throat can’t do it, what makes you think you can?”

“Oh baby, I have powers that you can’t even begin to understand. You’re not the only one that can be difficult to live with.”

“You know, you might be the first person I’ve ever been legitimately scared of.”

“You should be. I have ways of hurting you….” Sliding a hand between their bodies, she slides her down down his stomach and allows it to briefly rest on his crotch. The tip of her tongue sweeping across her top lip as she gives a firm squeeze. “...that no one else has ever thought of.”

“I’m spooked.”

“Rightfully so.”

“You’re going to cut my dick off, aren’t you.”

“If I find your dick inside of anyone else? You’re damn right I will.”

“You’ll never have to worry about that. I may be a lot of things, but a cheat isn’t one of them.”

“But for just being an insufferable asshole at times? I would NEVER. I’d miss your dick way more than even you would.”

“So that IS why you’re with me. It’s totally the dick. And what I can do with it.”

“Well, it’s not the ONLY reason. But it is pretty high on the list.”

She squeals when he aggressively smacks her ass, laughing as fingers bite through the denim of her jeans and he pulls her tightly against him. A long, content sigh escapes when he kisses her; standing on her tiptoes with both arms wrapped around his torso as she eagerly responds. Her eyes remaining closed when he pulls away, smiling at the feel of soft, warm lips as they connect with her forehead.

It remains a mystery. How such an enormous, strong man known for his strength and his aggression and violent and bloody lifestyle, can possess such tenderness. But he’s an entirely different being when they’re alone, and the outside world ceases to exist; patient and kind, his face and his voice much softer, his touch and his kisses so attentive.

“For the record…” Remaining on her tiptoes, her eyes flutter open, and she smiles up at him. “...I DO love you.”

“I know. I’m not quite sure what I ever did to deserve it, and sometimes I wonder if you’ve lost every ounce of your sanity, and that’s why you stick around, but…” His hands move upwards, the simple movement causing pain in the surgically repaired left shoulder. But he successfully bites back the wince, refusing to allow his broken yet healing body to ruin the moment as he cradles her face in his palms. “...I do know it. And I love you. Even when I’m giving you a hard time.”

“It’s part of your charm. I think.”

“So what’s going to happen when you put that surprise 0n and things don’t work properly? On my end.”

“It’s not that it NEVER works. It’s just that it’s hit or miss.”

“We’ve never actually tried…THAT.”

“But we’ve tried other things. With a forty percent success rate. That’s pretty damn good, considering what you’ve been through and all the drugs you’ve got in ya. And maybe being away from here will be just what you need; to get those numbers up even higher. Once we’re home, you’ll be totally relaxed and not worrying about anyone wandering in.”

“But…”

“But, we deal with it when it happens. IF it happens. Like I told you and SHOWN you, there’s more than one way to skin a cat.”

“.If you even dare bring out sex toys or even think about putting Viagra in my coffee…”

“I’m not going to put it in your coffee. I’m going to put it in your scrambled eggs.”

“Joke’s on you. I only eat fried.”

“I will be patient and understanding and let the problem…the ISSUE…work itself out. It isn’t permanent, Tyler. All the doctors have told you that. It’s just how you're responding to everything. You were clinically dead nine months ago; your body is still healing, and some things are misfiring along the way. And you’ve got enough meds in you to knock out a horse, so…” She presses a kiss to the underside of his chin. “Are you nervous?”

“About my dick not working properly for the rest of my life? Yes.”

“I mean about us. Building a life together. Does that spook you, too?”

“Not for the reason you think. You think it’s something to do with you.”

“It’s crossed my mind; that maybe you’re having second thoughts. About me. As a person.”

“I’ve never had any second thoughts when it comes to you. It’s all me. And my issues. The last time I lived with someone, it didn’t end very well. And I was the main reason.”

“Things hadn’t been good for a while,” she reminds him. “Long before your son got sick. And both you AND her were to blame for that.”

“She deserved a lot better than what I gave her. I had no business getting married. Not when I was totally committed to the military. She was always second. And she always would be. If we’d stayed together.” . “Do you wish you had? Stayed together?”

“No. It happened for a reason. All of it. Had our marriage been healthier and had my boy not gotten sick, I never would have gotten into the job, and I never would have crossed paths with Nik. Which means I never would have met you. And I wouldn’t give that…YOU… up for anything. Or anyone.”

Tears well in her eyes. “And to think, legend says you’re a man of few words.”

“Guess the ones I DO say are worth it.”

“I’m nervous too. For the same reason you are. I don’t exactly have the best track record, either.”

“None of that was your fault. What happened with Mark. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I should have left sooner. But I kept going back. I kept believing all his bullshit and all his promises. No matter how many times he hurt me. And where did I end up? Where did being a stupid little girl lead me?”

“To this fucked up circle we’re both caught up in. It led you to Nik. To me. I don’t think you did too bad.”

“I’ve definitely traded up, that’s for sure.”

“I’m not him, Esme. I know it’s easy for me to say and not so easy for you to believe. But I’m not. I never will be. We’re gonna be alright.” The pads of his thumbs skim along the tops of her cheeks. “If we can get through the past nine months, we can get through anything. I’m sure of it.”

Turning her face up for another kiss, her hand tightly grips the back of his neck. It’s an addiction: the taste of his mouth, the smell of his skin, the press of his body against hers. No one has ever made her feel that way before; so overwhelmed by not only love and adoration but animalistic want and need. And she gives a mewl of disappointment when the moment comes to an abrupt end; interrupted by the sound of heels clicking along the tiles, followed by the clearing of a throat.

“Is that all the two of you do?” Yaz grumbles as he follows behind his sister, dutifully pushing an empty wheelchair. “I swear, every time we walk in here, you’re all over each other. Can’t you wait until you’re alone?”

“Can’t YOU knock?” Esme retorts, as she slips out from between Tyler and the bed and greets both her friends with warm, tight hugs and kisses on the cheek.

“He’s just jealous that no one kisses him like that,” Nik takes a cheap yet teasing shot at her younger brother. “Or even wants to.”

“There’s a lot of people that want to!” Yaz angrily informs her. “I just don’t want to kiss them! Have you ever thought of that? And how do you know what I do and don’t do? I could be doing a lot of things…a lot of PEOPLE…and….”

“And what? And nothing. Of course I know what you’re up to. We live together. Your room is across from mine. Not to mention the walls are thin. No one is buying what you’re trying to sell, lonely boy.”

Scowling, Yaz mumbles a string of profanities and insults in both Arabic and French and then purposefully steers the wheelchair over his sister’s foot.

“What’s up with your shirt?” Tyler lays the end of his cane against Yaz’s torso, eyeing the monstrosity with the utmost disgust. “Lose a bet or something?”

“You don’t like it?”

“No.”

“I’ll get you one. What’s your size? Forty-four regular?” Reaching out, Yaz playfully squeezes one of Tyler’s biceps. “You’re a little bit slimmer, no?”

“Shut up.”

“I missed you, too.”

“Valentino?” Esme fingers the item in question, giving a nod of appreciation and a low, impressed whistle as she studies the sea of colours and the unique pattern. “Get him one. He won’t wear it, but I will.”

Tyler frowns, his nose wrinkled in disgust. “Not if we’re out in public together, you won’t.”

Scoffing, she picks up a discarded sling and slaps him in the stomach with it. “Like you actually have a say in it.”

“Your life is no longer your own,” Nik informs him, as she helps him into the sling, ignoring the mumbles of protest and the profanities he spews in the process. “Your bachelor days are over. Now you have someone telling you what to do and when to do it.”

“Which is exactly what he needs,” Yaz adds. “It’ll do him some good. Have someone around to keep him on his toes. Hold him accountable for his bullshit.”

“You realize I can hear you, yeah?”

“You’re going to have someone cooking and cleaning for you and…”

“Hey!” Esme objects. “I never said anything about cooking and cleaning. I’m useful in many ways. But those are NOT two of them.”

“She’s already told me she can’t cook for shit. Apparently, she kept sweaters in her stove. When she lived in Prague.”

“The closets weren’t big enough,” she explains. “And I CAN cook. I’m just not any good at it”

“It’s going to be the blind leading the blind,” Nik chides. “This should end well. Who kills who first is what I’m wondering.”

“He’ll drive me to the brink of a mental breakdown before either of us has a chance to resort to homicide,” Esme informs her, and playfully pinches Tyler’s side. “He’s been testing the limits of my patience since he woke up this morning.”

“I warned you. As soon as you started talking about this whole living together thing. I told you he was difficult. That you had no idea what you were getting yourself into.”

“He’s just anxious to get out of here,” Yaz reasons. “I mean, do you blame him? Not everyone gets to take their favourite nurse home with them. I heard you give really good sponge baths. With a little something extra thrown in. A happy ending. VERY happy one, actually.”

“Jesus….” Nik shakes her head. “...Yaz…”

Tyler frowns. “You weren’t supposed to repeat that.”

“I’ll take it as a compliment,” Esme assures him, then nods at the wheelchair. “Sit.”

“Why?”

“This is your ticket to freedom!” Yaz manoeuvres the apparatus behind his old friend. “We’re breaking you lose!”

“I can walk.”

Esme sets the brakes on the chair. “You know that. And we know that. Even the doctors and nurses know that. But the hospital says this is how it has to be. So you either leave this way, or you stay here forever.”

“That’s stupid.”

“I don’t make the rules, babe. But unfortunately, I’m the bad guy that has to enforce them.”

“And you say I’ve been testing YOUR patience?”

“You’d miss me if I weren’t around, giving you a foot up the ass every now and then.”

Wrapping both arms around one of his, she keeps a firm hold as he slowly lowers himself into the waiting chair. And while her much smaller and lighter frame would offer no real assistance if he were to slip or lose his balance, it still gives him a sense of security. Further proof that she is indeed his ‘safe place’; the one person that he feels most comfortable with and isn’t afraid to be vulnerable and needy in front of. Far stronger and mightier than he ever could have anticipated when they’d first met. A tiny and seemingly weak woman who is anything BUT.

And a total pain in his ass at times.

“You’re looking good,” Yaz praises, as he collects the duffle bag and a lone suitcase. “You clean up nice. I’m kind of disappointed, though; I thought for sure you’d do something different with the hair.”

“She wouldn’t let me. I was going to tell the barber to just shave it all off so I could start over again, but…”

“I would have had to kill both of them,” Esme finishes, and combs her fingers through his longer top tresses. “It suits you. It’s the perfect haircut. My absolute favourite.”

“You haven’t seen my hair any other way. So how do you know this is your favourite?”

“Well, I’ve already had the best, right? So why settle for anything else.”

“You’re difficult. You know that, yeah?”

“Mmmhmm.” Moving to stand behind the wheelchair, she tugs affectionately at his ears, then leans down to press a kiss to his temple. “You ready?”

Nodding, he turns his face into hers, lips meeting the corner of her mouth. “As I’ll ever be.”

*****

The cabin is nestled in an isolated valley miles above sea level. Miles away from neighbours and the tiny ‘downtown’ area, it’s nothing but a mere speck of wood, brick, and cedar shingles swallowed by a sea, spruce, and fir trees. Its front door mere steps from one of the many lakes in the region; the crystal clear waters now snow-covered, their abundance of fish gathered somewhere under feet of thick, smooth ice. Across the expanse of land lays the base of the Grunberg mountain range; more feral and isolated than its many counterparts in the Gmunden region, but still a ‘must see’ for both tourists and those who enjoy its more difficult -and sometimes perilous- hiking trails. Yet despite all the beauty -in its most raw and pure forms- he’s not been able to notice anything outside the rental car; instead, he's too caught up in watching and listening to Esme as she sits behind him. A woman who was born and raised in Colorado and whose family home sits less than five hundred metres from the base of the Rockies, she’s like a kid on Christmas morning. With each turn the tires make on their climb, her reactions grow in glee and intensity: the sighs of enjoyment, the gasps of awe, and the way she clasps her hands together and bounces up and down in her seat.

It's that experience that he finds himself enthralled by, emotion choking at him as tears prick at his eyes. After being so fearless and strong over the course of the past nine months, she suddenly exudes an almost childlike innocence. So completely caught up in the moment that everything else around her has ceased to exist; she has found a slice of heaven, and she isn't missing a single second. This tiny and fierce woman who has been through so much heartache and brutality in her life yet refuses to lose an ounce of her spirit. Somehow still able to see and appreciate all of the beauty around her and experience things with such passion and wide-eyed wonder. And he's never seen anything more beautiful.

He’s out of the car and at her door before she even has the chance to open it. It’s all about the smallest of gestures right now; having to partake in less strenuous moments and activities in order not to inflict more wear and tears on his still-healing body. His strength and stamina are still not where he had hoped they would be; still teetering on the edge of sixty percent and increasing at an extremely slow pace. But she appreciates even the smallest of gestures and the effort behind them; her tiny hand fitting so perfectly into his much larger, more powerful one as she allows him to help her out of the vehicle.

“Look at it!” She gushes, as her fingers push through his, and tucks herself into him. Their joined hands resting against her stomach as they take in their surroundings; the pristine white of the snow and the lush green of the trees, and the slivers of sun that attempt to sneak through thick, gray clouds. The air so fresh and crisp it burns their lungs; a welcome and refreshing pain after months of breathing in stale, hospital air and the combination of antiseptic, sickness, and cleaning solution.

And death. Lots of death.

Esme gives an excited bounce on her heels, then tilts her head back and beams up at him. “Isn’t it beautiful? Isn’t it PERFECT?!”

“Even better than the pictures. So what is this, Nik? A rental? Lease to own? It can’t be one of yours. This is slumming to you.”

“Consider it a gift. From Yaz and I. It’s the least we could do. Considering…” Her voice trails off; the wounds caused by Mahajan’s betrayal still raw and fresh. The failure to receive full payment pales in comparison to the real damage done; the heavy burden of both physical and mental trauma that the main players will carry with them for weeks and months. Maybe years.

Perhaps even forever.

“Did you bring my chickens?” He inquires, as they follow Nik and Yaz to the cabin; Esme offering what little support she can as she snakes an arm around his waist and places her free hand on his stomach. The queen of the ‘simple gesture’; desperately wanting and needing to help and someone finding even the tiniest and most mundane of ways to do it. And it feeds directly into her love language; an almost overwhelming desire to touch and BE touched. Starved of real love and genuine affection for so long that seeking it out has become a near obsession. And although he’s been touch starved for just as long and is still trying to adjust to her level of neediness, it’s an obsession that he’s more than willing to nurture.

Reaching into her jacket pocket, Nik fishes out the keys to the front door. “We ate them.”

“What about my dog?”

Yaz sets the suitcase on the porch and drops the duffle bag into one of the empty deck chairs. “We ate her too.”

“Jesus…” his sister grumbles. “...Yaz…”

“I’m kidding. She’s in the house.”

“So…” Tyler shifts his weight from one foot to the other, wincing at the pain that settles deep in the right knee. “... what are we supposed to do now?”

Esme shrugs. “Anything we want, I guess.”

“I mean, you could go on hikes. Learn to knit. Try to reach mindfulness,” Yaz suggests, then gives a small shrug. “You’re going to like it here. Alright, brother…” Lightly punching Tyler in the left shoulder, he turns to head for the car. “...I’ll send you that shirt!”

“Hold up!” Esme calls out, then gives Tyler’s side a squeeze before hurrying after her friend. “I forgot something!”

He watches her as she goes. The way those tiny feet shuffle through the snow and over the ice that lies below. The bottom of her ponytail, the ‘strings’ that dangle from the sides of her colourful wool beanie, and the pom-pom on top swaying and bouncing with every single step. And for a brief moment, panic and uneasiness set in; the irrational fear that she’s going to simply climb in the car and take off. Leaving him all alone in the middle of nowhere.

Even more tarnished and broken than when she’d found him. And he’s only moments away from chasing after her when Nik captures his attention, jamming the corner of a small cardboard box into his stomach.

“What’s this?”

“We packed up your house. That’s all we found. Your entire life fits inside one little box. Maybe it’s time to change that.”

“I’ve already started.” He glances toward Esme and Yaz as they linger by the rental. The latter teasing the former about her flushed cheeks and nose, Esme playfully scowling and pouting in response. Catching her friend off guard when she affectionately ruffles his hair and then scoops up handfuls of snow and shoves them down the front of both Yaz’ jacket and sweater. As the younger man squeals and squirms and attempts to flee, her infamous giggle floats in the air and causes a smile to tug at the corners of Tyler’s mouth. The noise high-pitched and childish, yet somehow the most amazing goddamn thing he’s ever heard. “Get back to me in a couple of months. I bet there won’t be enough boxes in the world.”

“Be good to her. Treat her right. She deserves that. Especially after she’s been through.”

“She does deserve it. I’m not going to fuck this up, Nik. I refuse to.”

“Good. Because she has put everything she is and everything she has into you. She’s trusting you with her whole heart. And if you hurt her…”

“Not gonna happen.”

“And be gentle with her. As strong as she’s been, there’s a traumatized and scared little girl in there who needs to feel safe. Protected. And most importantly, she needs to feel loved.”

“Is there where you threaten to break every bone in my body if I do her wrong?”

“No. It’s where I threaten to break your face.”

Smirking, he watches as Nik makes her way toward the car; Esme and Yaz already exchanging a final hug and kisses on the cheeks. “When will we see you again?”

Her eyes and smile are softer than usual, possessing a level of finality that hits hard and extremely deep. “When we all have something to celebrate.”

“You’re going to love it here!” Yaz reassures him. “Enjoy your retirement!”

That word again. Retirement. Something that seems so foreign to him. He’d spent decades relying on his brawn, strength, and the skills he’d developed both in the military and then on the job. And now here he is, about to embark on an entirely different path; his body bruised and broken and completely unreliable.

The snow crunches under the soles of Esme’s boots as she scurries over; leaning her back against his front as they watch their friends depart. A now mittened hand waving the entire time; until the car reaches the end of the drive, makes a sharp left, and disappears from sight.

Tyler sighs.

She tilts her head back and peers up at him, concern beginning to diminish the sparkle in her eyes. “You okay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“It’s a big step. This is all really happening. You. Me. Us. It’s okay to admit you’re spooked.”

“Are YOU?”

“A little. What if you find out you don’t like me very much?”

“Not gonna happen.”

“I mean, it’s possible, you know. To love someone but not LIKE them.”

“Not gonna happen,” he sternly repeats, then leans down to peck the tip of her nose.

“Nik said she picked up some food. Enough to get us through a few days at least. That way we don’t have to rush; we don’t have to run into town right away and grab things. Are you hungry?”

“I could eat.”

“Let’s go and see what she picked out. And get a fire started. Did I forget to mention that it’s heated by a fireplace? I think I forgot to mention that.”

“Yeah, you did.”

“Let’s go. Before the cold really starts to set in. It can’t be making your knee and your shoulder feel very good. So let’s….”

He stops her when she attempts to step away. Capturing a tiny, mittened hand in one of his and drawing her tightly against him; his back and surgically repaired knee cracking when he leans down to kiss her. And when he pulls away, he takes a moment to take it all in; the redness to her cheeks, the freckles that grace the bridge of her nose, and the errant snowflakes that nestle in her lashes.

“You’re beautiful.”

Her smile returns. The one that causes her eyes to sparkle and dance. That he’d fallen in love with almost nine months ago. He’d never admit it, of course, the things that he’d been feeling and experiencing from day one. Not out of embarrassment or shame, but because he doesn’t quite understand it himself. How you can be so head over in heels, so damn fast.

“Come on,” she says, still holding his hand as she steps away. “Let’s go home.”

[ashish2345]

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Espresso Machine for Your Home

Coffee has become an essential part of many people's daily routines, and with busy lifestyles, espresso machines have become increasingly popular for their convenience and ability to brew high-quality coffee with minimal effort. Whether you’re a coffee connoisseur or just someone who enjoys a good cup of joe in the morning, selecting the right espresso machine for your home can make a huge difference in your daily caffeine experience. In this ultimate guide, we’ll walk you through the key considerations to keep in mind when choosing the best espresso machine for your needs.

1. Understand the Different Types of Espresso Machines

Before diving into specific brands and models, it’s important to understand the types of espresso machines available on the market. Generally, espresso machines fall into three main categories:

Fully Automatic Espresso Machines

These machines take care of the entire brewing process for you, from grinding the coffee beans to frothing the milk (for lattes and cappuccinos) and dispensing the finished product. All you have to do is press a button, and your perfect shot of espresso is ready. Fully automatic espresso machines are typically more expensive, but they are the most convenient choice for espresso enthusiasts who want high-quality results with minimal effort.

Super Automatic Espresso Machines

A step beyond fully automatic machines, super-automatic espresso machines offer a high degree of automation and advanced features, including customizable settings for strength, temperature, and volume. These machines are great for those who want a completely hands-off coffee-making experience, from grinding to brewing to cleaning. Super-automatic espresso machines can also be highly programmable, allowing you to set timers and adjust settings to suit your preferences.

Semi-Automatic Espresso Machines

Semi-automatic espresso machines give you more control over the brewing process. They come with a built-in grinder and a steam wand, but they require you to manually tamp the coffee grounds and monitor the brewing process. While semi-automatic machines don’t offer the same level of convenience as fully automatic models, they are preferred by coffee enthusiasts who want to experiment with different variables and craft their perfect shot of espresso.

2. Consider the Coffee Drinks You Love

Different espresso machines excel at making different types of coffee. If you're someone who enjoys a range of beverages, such as espresso, cappuccinos, lattes, and regular coffee, it’s important to choose a machine that can handle these variations.

Espresso Lovers: If you primarily drink espresso, you'll want to look for a machine that can brew strong, concentrated shots of espresso. Both fully automatic and super-automatic espresso machines are excellent for making espresso, but you should check whether the machine includes a dedicated espresso button or feature.

Milk-Based Coffee Enthusiasts: For those who enjoy creamy lattes, cappuccinos, or macchiatos, a machine with a milk frother or steam wand is essential. Look for a model that either has a built-in milk frother or automatic milk frothing capabilities.

Regular Coffee Drinkers: If you simply want a classic cup of coffee, many espresso machines allow you to choose between different brew strengths and sizes. Make sure the machine has a large water reservoir and can brew your desired cup size.

3. Pay Attention to Size and Design

The size of the espresso machine is one of the most important considerations. Espresso machines can be bulky, so you’ll need to ensure that the machine fits in your kitchen space. Consider where you plan to place the machine and measure the available countertop space before making your purchase.

In terms of design, many espresso machines come in sleek, modern finishes such as stainless steel, matte black, or even white. Choose a machine that complements your kitchen’s aesthetic and matches other appliances you may already have.

4. Look for Easy-to-Use Controls and Features

Espresso machines are designed for convenience, but some models come with more advanced features than others. When shopping for the best espresso machine, you’ll want to ensure that the controls are easy to understand and intuitive. Many machines feature touchscreens, buttons, or even mobile apps for control. Here are a few features to consider:

Programmable Settings: A good espresso machine should allow you to adjust key variables, such as brew strength, temperature, and cup size. Some machines even allow you to store your preferences for future use, so you don’t have to make adjustments each time.

User-Friendly Interface: Look for a machine with clear controls and an easy-to-read display. This will make it simpler to select your drink, adjust settings, and maintain the machine.

Pre-Infusion Feature: This feature wets the coffee grounds before brewing, allowing the coffee to bloom and enhance the flavor. It’s especially important for those who want a more refined and flavorful espresso.

Customizable Grind Settings: Some espresso machines come with built-in grinders that let you adjust the grind size to match your coffee preference. If you're particular about your coffee beans, having this feature can be a huge advantage.

5. Evaluate the Water Reservoir Capacity and Filtration System

A larger water reservoir means you can make more cups of espresso without needing to refill the tank frequently. If you drink espresso multiple times a day or entertain guests, a machine with a bigger water reservoir (e.g., 1.8L to 2L) may be more practical.

Additionally, consider the water filtration system. Some espresso machines come with built-in water filters, which can improve the taste of your espresso and reduce the buildup of mineral deposits in the machine. A good filtration system will ensure that the water used in brewing is free from impurities that could affect the flavor.

6. Cleaning and Maintenance

Maintaining your espresso machine is crucial to ensuring it continues to function properly and brew great espresso. Machines with self-cleaning mechanisms and removable parts, such as the drip tray, coffee grounds container, and milk frother, make it easier to keep your machine in good shape.

Look for a machine that has a dedicated cleaning cycle, or one that alerts you when it’s time for descaling. Machines with a one-touch cleaning option will save you time and effort. In addition, some models come with automatic rinsing systems for the milk frother, which simplifies the process of cleaning milk residue.

7. Noise Levels

Noise levels can vary significantly between espresso machines. Some machines can be quite loud when grinding beans or brewing espresso, which might be disruptive in a quiet kitchen or early in the morning. Check product reviews for noise level information to find a machine that suits your preference for quiet operation.

8. Price and Warranty

Finally, you should consider your budget when choosing an espresso machine. Prices can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the machine's features, brand, and quality. While it's tempting to go for the cheapest model, investing in a higher-end machine might offer better longevity, advanced features, and superior espresso quality.

Look for machines that offer good warranties and customer support. A 1-2 year warranty is standard for many models, but some premium machines come with longer warranties for added peace of mind.

Conclusion

Choosing the best espresso machine for your home requires careful consideration of your preferences, budget, and the types of coffee drinks you love. Whether you opt for a fully automatic, super-automatic, or semi-automatic machine, make sure it fits your needs for ease of use, espresso quality, and convenience. By evaluating the key features outlined in this guide, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying perfect shots of espresso with minimal effort every day. Happy brewing!