#best wrinkle creams for women

[the-d-wave]

Learn to minimize wrinkles and blemishes and maintain a balanced moisture barrier to achieve smooth skin. Follow a skin care routine and get healthy glowing skin.

[primeluxhub]

Shop the latest Wallets For Women Online! Discover stylish, chic designs that blend fashion with functionality. Find your perfect accessory today!

[skynoptik]

Rediscover Your Youth: Best Anti-Aging Cream by Skynoptik

If you are searching for the best and most reliable Anti Aging Cream then we at Skynoptik has bought for you all the Best Anti Aging Cream. This cream easily reduces Wrinkles, Fine lines and Dark Spots and gives you radiant and youthful skin. Doesn't matter if You had crossed your 40s still, it is the Best Anti Aging Cream for your 40s. 

[lanveurskincare]

Reveal Timeless Beauty: Experience Lanveur Skincare's Best Organic Anti-Aging Secrets!

Unlock the secret to timeless beauty with Lanveur Skincare's best organic anti-aging skin care . Our carefully crafted products harness the power of nature to nourish, rejuvenate, and restore your skin. Experience the transformative effects of our premium skincare line and embrace a radiant, youthful complexion that defies the hands of time.

[skst8497]

Achieve Youthful Skin with XYZ Smart Collagen: Boost Collagen, Reduce Wrinkles, and Restore Elasticity

You're on your way to youthful skin with Revolutionary XYZ Smart Collagen, which tackles aging by boosting your skin's collagen production. Made with powerful Bulbine Frutescens and nourishing Acerola Cherry, this product reignites your skin's capacity to regenerate essential collagen and restore elasticity. 

Apply the cream twice daily to see reduced wrinkles and improved skin quality, aligning with the positive experiences of 90% of users. Regular use enhances a notable transformation, and the hydrating complex keeps your skin perfectly moisturized.

Curious about the full impact of integrating XYZ Smart Collagen into your skincare routine? You'll discover how each ingredient contributes to those age-defying results.

Key Takeaways

XYZ Smart Collagen reduces wrinkles and significantly improves skin quality.

Incorporates Bulbine Frutescens, which reignites the skin's collagen production.

Offers a non-invasive alternative to frequent treatments with its smart collagen management.

Enhanced with Acerola Cherry and Madecassoside for brightened skin and improved repair.

Consistent application twice daily yields best results for a youthful appearance.

Product Overview

XYZ Smart Collagen offers you a groundbreaking skincare solution, delivering visible improvements in skin firmness and texture while reducing wrinkles. Free yourself from the bonds of ineffective treatments as clinical results show a notable boost in skin quality. Imagine the confidence you'll gain as 90% of women who've used it recommend this miracle cream, reflecting high user satisfaction.

It's not just about looking younger; it's about feeling liberated in your skin, embracing a solution that truly works. Join the ranks of those who've seen real changes. Don't settle for less; choose a product that delivers on its promises. It's your time to shine with healthier, more resilient skin.

Smart Collagen Management

You'll discover that Smart Collagen Management is a breakthrough approach, focusing specifically on the age-related decline in collagen production.

This innovative strategy isn't just about replacing what's lost; it's about reigniting your skin's ability to regenerate collagen on its own.

Imagine the freedom of watching your skin naturally rejuvenate, reducing the need for frequent treatments or invasive procedures.

Key Ingredients

Harnessing the power of nature, XYZ Smart Collagen uses key ingredients like the Bulbine frutescens plant extract, which is essential in managing collagen production efficiently. This formulation is rooted in scientific research to guarantee its effectiveness.

Here's why you'll love what's inside:

Bulbine Frutescens: Boosts collagen production, supported by scientific studies showing its effectiveness.

Acerola Cherry: Loaded with vitamin C, it helps in brightening your skin and restoring elasticity.

Madecassoside: Derived from Centella Asiatica, known for its healing properties and improving skin repair.

Hydrating Complex: A blend that maintains moisture balance, ensuring your skin stays hydrated and plump.

Embrace these ingredient benefits for a liberated, youthful glow.

Application Instructions

To achieve the best outcomes from XYZ Smart Collagen, apply the cream twice daily to clean, dry skin.

Part of your liberating journey towards reclaiming your skin's youthful vigor involves integrating this potent formula into your daily skincare routine.

Here's your quick how-to guide: morning and night, after cleansing, take a small amount of XYZ Smart Collagen and gently massage it onto your face and neck using upward strokes. This ensures maximum absorption and effectiveness.

Purchase Options

XYZ Smart Collagen offers several purchase options to suit your skincare needs and budget. You're not just buying a product; you're investing in freedom from aging worries.

Here's a breakdown of your choices, featuring pricing comparison and customer savings:

Single Purchase: Buy one jar for $59.99, regularly $69.99—save $10 instantly.

Three-Pack: Grab the 3-pack for $149.97, a slash from $199.96, saving you nearly $50.

Five-Pack Bulk Discount: Opt for the 5-pack at $249.95, down from $349.93, pocketing almost $100 in savings.

Subscription Options: Subscribe and save 15% more on each order, ensuring your liberation from aging doesn't take a break.

Choose freedom, choose smart savings with XYZ Smart Collagen.

Customer Reviews

As you consider the different purchase options, let's examine how other customers have benefited from using XYZ Smart Collagen.

The anti-aging testimonials are inspiring, revealing stories of remarkable skin transformation. Users report not just visible improvements in firmness and texture, but a reinvigorated sense of freedom and confidence in their appearance.

They've broken free from the doubts and limits aging skin often brings. Reviewers frequently mention looking and feeling years younger, with results that defy their age.

This isn't just about reclaiming your skin's youth; it's about liberating yourself from the constraints of time. Embrace this journey to a more youthful you, powered by the proven results of XYZ Smart Collagen.

Nature-Based Collagen Restoration

Harnessing the power of plant extracts, XYZ Smart Collagen offers a nature-based approach to restoring your skin's collagen effectively.

Embrace the freedom of rejuvenating your skin with the pure essence of nature. Here's how you can achieve that youthful liberation:

Plant Extracts Power: Utilize the potent Bulbine frutescens for natural collagen synthesis.

Skin Rejuvenation: Experience visible improvements in skin firmness and texture.

Youthful Liberation: Free your skin from the signs of aging with a controlled, quality collagen boost.

Natural Efficacy: Trust in a product that merges nature with science for best outcomes.

Step into a domain where your skin's health is restored naturally, giving you the power to shine with essential energy.

Sustainability Commitment

Building on its commitment to nature-based solutions, XYZ Smart Collagen also prioritizes sustainability in every aspect of production. You're not just choosing a product; you're embracing a movement with eco-friendly practices at its heart.

Each jar of our organic skincare harnesses ingredients that respect the earth and your skin. We're devoted to minimizing our environmental impact, ensuring that our green packaging is as conscientious as the contents inside.

We know you're seeking freedom from the conventional, the harmful, and the unsustainable. That's why we're transparent about our processes – so you can feel liberated, knowing you're part of a larger solution.

Join us in transforming skincare into a force for good, where beauty and responsibility go hand in hand.

Age-Defying Results

You'll notice remarkable age-defying results as XYZ Smart Collagen restores your skin's youthful appearance. Embrace the freedom of turning back the clock with every application, liberating your skin from the signs of aging.

Here's how you can expect your skin transformation to unfold:

Boost in Collagen Production: Increases your skin's natural collagen synthesis, firming and smoothing age lines.

Reduction in Wrinkles: Noticeably reduces the appearance of fine lines and deep wrinkles within weeks.

Enhanced Skin Texture: Revitalizes and heals, enhancing your skin's texture and giving it a youthful glow.

Improved Skin Elasticity: Restores elasticity, making your skin feel suppler and more resilient against aging factors.

Rediscover your skin's youthful radiance and feel emboldened every day!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can XYZ Smart Collagen Be Used With Other Skincare Products?

Imagine layering your favorite serums and moisturizers like a skin-nurturing quilt. You can indeed use XYZ Smart Collagen with other products, just check for ingredient compatibility to guarantee they mesh well.

Is XYZ Smart Collagen Suitable for Sensitive Skin Types?

XYZ Smart Collagen is generally suitable for sensitive skin types, but you should test it first to check for any skin reactions or ingredient interactions, considering your unique sensitivity levels and product compatibility.

How Long Before I See Noticeable Results From XYZ Smart Collagen?

You'll start seeing a rejuvenation in your skin within 3 to 6 weeks of integrating XYZ Smart Collagen into your skincare routine, as per glowing customer reviews highlighting its anti-aging benefits.

Are There Any Allergens in XYZ Smart Collagen Ingredients?

You should review XYZ Smart Collagen's ingredients for allergen concerns, as ingredient sensitivity varies and may lead to skin reactions. Confirm the product's shelf life hasn't expired to see best XYZ Smart Collagen results.

What Is the Shelf Life of XYZ Smart Collagen Once Opened?

Once opened, XYZ Smart Collagen has a shelf life of 6 months. For best longevity, follow storage recommendations and keep it in a cool, dry place. Check the expiration date to maximize effectiveness.

[icequeenbae]

Shot Through the Heart (m) | BBH

Related works: Snapshot (m) [pt.1], Giving Love a Shot (m) [pt.3]

Pairing: photographer!Baekhyun x idol!Reader ft. soloidol!Kai

Photographer AU, PWP, angst(ish?), smut

Warnings: explicit content, unprotected sex, rough sex (incl. oral), angry sex(?), dirty talk, creampie

Word Count: ~4.5k

Summary: You and Baekhyun cross paths at work again. Problem is, your steamy photoshoots almost always lead to you having sex. Would the dynamic change if there’s another person in the room?

© Please do not copy/ post on other platforms without permission.

Author’s note: Hello my sweethearts!! I apologize for taking way too long to post this... Since last summer I wasn't nearly as active as before, and I wasn't sure why. But now that Baekhyunie is finally back from the military I suddenly feel slightly more energized. Maybe I'll post a bit more often from now on? 🙃 Unless my lovely @baekshoney kills me for making her beta read my crazy stories haha In any case, I hope you used your chance to refresh Snapshot in your memory, because this will be a continuation of the story of our idol!Reader and fuckb- ahem, photographer!Baek~

As always, my asks are open and I do my best to respond to all of your comments (in reblogs as well), so don't be shy to share any thoughts and impressions ❤️

Tags:  @exo-writers-net  @bbh-net  @superm-net

The makeup crew was floating around you, pampering, and pampering, and pampering. You weren’t confident that there was even the slightest chance for your skin to survive this. It wasn’t unusual – photo shoots required just as much preparation as premiere events, the close-ups being rather demanding. Still, the more powdered your face became, the heavier you sighed, imagining the skincare routine you’d need to complete afterwards.

The best you could get from your make-up artists was help with removing the layers of whatever they used so generously on your face. The rest was up to you, and, fortunately, you care enough to go through with all of the gazillion steps of the process. Cleansing your pores, soothing your skin with toners and masks, applying serums and essences, using revitalizing creams… This took you forever, and any time you decided to skip a few steps, you ended up with acne, awfully dry or blotchy skin, or even more horrendous allergic reactions.

Tonight was going to be pretty long with all of the efforts that went into your behind-the-scenes glow-up.

‘Erase that frown, your makeup will get wrinkles, honey.’

Your frown only deepened as you heard his voice.

The women carrying the inquisition tools for your poor face almost squealed as he stepped closer. Baekhyun and his stupid charms. Even the makeup artists (in their late thirties to mid forties) were on the verge of fainting out of earthly existence whenever he walked by. You could swear he gave them a semi-interested onceover and a slight smile as soon as he stepped closer.

Although you really wanted to say something dirty just to take a swing at him, you stayed collected.

‘Is Kai ready?’ You asked with a scowl. ‘I want this over with. It’s been a long day.’

The day in question was indeed long. This photoshoot began in the morning, and you kept changing outfits and settings. Today's concept was ‘honeymoon’, so you and your partner – the biggest male solo act in your company – did your best to portray a young couple having the time of their lives. And this was supposed to be the final setting. The newlyweds’ bedroom.

After the huge sensation that your pool photoshoot became, your management decided that having you do more sexy and borderline scandalous concepts wasn’t a bad idea. Easy to monetize, anyway. So here you were, waiting to get half-undressed and possibly groped by none other than your sunbae.

Kai debuted only a year before you, and was instantly famous. His dancing skill was incredibly flamboyant, so it wasn’t surprising how quick he was to capture the audiences’ hearts. He was also a well-known heartthrob in the business, although most of the stuff in the media was made up to hype him up. This was a perfect opportunity to promote both of your albums, especially riding the wave from your previous sexy shoot.

‘Did I hear you call out for me, my love?’ Your partner for the day walked into the room bearing all of the grace in the world.

The swoons renewed, and you barely managed to prevent your eyes from rolling backwards.

‘Stop calling me that already.’

‘How can I? We should stay in character to convey the newlywed passion accurately.’

‘If you keep talking like the company staff in the meetings, I’m gonna barf.’

‘That doesn’t sound sexy. Not at all.’ Kai scrunched up his nose before winking at you. ‘But, in sickness and in health, right?’

‘Alright, lovebirds. Finish up your makeup and let’s do this. The sunrise will be over soon and I want to catch you in natural lighting.’

‘Mine is done,’ Kai quipped, climbing on the bed next to you.

‘I certainly hope that mine is too.’

‘We’re almost finished, Y/N-ssi. Just making sure your skin doesn’t look oily in the pictures,’ one of the staff members provided.

You gave her a pointed look before someone seized your face and tilted your head backwards to examine it closely.

‘Looks matte enough to me. Let’s clear the room.’ Baekhyun murmured before repeating louder for the rest of the team.

‘How cute,’ Kai chuckled in your ear while the photographer busied himself with the equipment.

Sighing, you avoided his teasing gaze.

Kai was also a friend. And one of the very few people who knew that you had something going on with Baekhyun. Prior to this shoot, you had asked him to be discreet about it, especially since the whole topic of your relationship with the blond was sensitive. You didn’t want him (or the staff!) to get the wrong idea. So, your sunbae’s occasional ‘meaningful’ looks seriously made you tick.

‘Alright, let’s begin.’ Baekhyun finally closed the door and turned around, eyeing you with precision. ‘Stand in front of the bed, so that she could look up at you. A bit to the left.’

He took a couple of shots, mumbling something in affirmation. You glanced in his direction while he was checking something in his camera.

‘Look at him, not me,’ Baekhyun pressed playfully, and Kai snatched it away from him.

‘Right, look at me only, wifey!’

His fingers touched your face to get your attention, and you heard a few clicks.

The three of you were quick to fall into step, and soon enough you’d moved on to posing on the bed. Play fighting, hugging each other, almost kissing – all with strict instructions from your photographer. This was… exhibitionistic in a way.

Only half an hour into the process, Kai was already shirtless. Baekhyun also ditched the usual hoodie, and you glanced at the plain tee he was wearing underneath. It hugged his chest tightly and made you crave touching it. But you weren’t about to act on this impulse.

‘Show more skin. Ride her dress up a bit and put your palm on her hip. Yes. And keep looking at her like this.’

You nodded to Kai as he gave you a chance to refuse and held onto his shoulders while watching him proceed. The pads of his fingers were cool, so it naturally roused goosebumps all over your thigh. Blinking at the reaction of your skin, you looked away, bashful. But in that, you turned to the other man.

Baekhyun stared at Kai’s hand for a second or two longer than necessary, and then got back to finding the best spot to capture it. The click of the shutter brought you back to reality, and you realized your eyes were on him the entire time.

‘Lie down,’ the photographer commanded, voice laced with gruffness. ‘Kai, stay up on your elbow.’

The whole thing was more uncomfortable than sexy, if anyone asked you. Posing or acting that way wasn’t at all intimate. For all of the people present it was simply their job, and you were enormously thankful that there were only the three of you. Having more spectators would’ve made this so much direr.

Nevertheless, the biggest hardship on your account was your and Baekhyun’s eyes accidentally crossing paths. The way he looked at you gave you chills. His eyes were hollow, dimmed by the scenes he was conjuring up in his mind, no doubt. The shameless desire he had for you made your own pulse pick up. Damn him and his effect on you.

The tension forming between you was almost palpable, and you were getting a bit nervous.

Kai asked something in a hushed voice, and you nodded. As soon as you did, a touch to your inner thigh made you jolt.

‘Sorry. I assumed your nod meant it’s okay,’ he eyed you half-curiously and half-apologetically.

You cleared your throat.

‘Uh- yeah. I’m just- ticklish.’

Baekhyun huffed, and you kept yourself from glaring at him. Yes, you lied. You weren’t ticklish there, you were sensitive. As a person, who used every opportunity to shove his face between your thighs, he knew that very well.

‘No need to actually get under her skirt.’ He stressed, looking at Kai.

‘Jealous much?’ The model murmured back mockingly, and Baekhyun frowned.

‘Why would I be?’

‘Ask your boner.’

As soon as the words left Kai’s mouth, both you and Baekhyun looked at his crotch. It was obvious that something was stirring up, even though he wasn’t visibly tenting. Otherwise, the blond wouldn’t have reacted to the provocation so easily.

Gulping, you tore your eyes from his pants to turn to your ‘husband’ for today. He grinned charmingly at you, caressing your cheek.

‘I hope you’re getting this, Baekhyun-ah,’ he nudged, again, messing with him. ‘Wifey here is living her best moments.’

Addressing Baekhyun so very informally while he was two years older than him was a challenge.

‘As if you know what you’re doing,’ the photographer shot back, tilting his head to the side.

You furrowed your eyebrows, not quite grasping where this childish rivalry came from.

‘And you think you’d do better if you were in my place?’

Kai’s hand stroked the curve of your waist before resting on your hip again.

‘I know I’d do better,’ Baekhyun sneered coldly. ‘I do better whenever I am.’

As he said that, your vision went dark for a split second. You literally thought he was crazy. He had no idea that Kai knew about your… whatever this was between you. And being so explicit about it made you question his motives once again.

What was this even? Marking his territory? You’d been around long enough to understand that this wasn’t his ordinary behavior, and you in no way agreed to being his territory.

‘How about I touch you some more, love?’ Kai teased, leaning in provocatively.

‘How about you do not?’ Baekhyun interrupted.

As you look up at the photographer, you notice the tick in his jaw. He seemed properly frustrated at this point. You realized you’d never seen him this annoyed. He looked… hot, even. Very similar to what he looked like when he was on top of you, excruciatingly close to coming.

The thought made you gulp.

‘Why not? I say we make this concept a reality. Someone’s eager anyways,’ Kai smirked, raising a sassy eyebrow.

Baekhyun returned his gaze, chin defiant.

‘I don’t share.’

You couldn’t explain why, but hearing this curt phrase had you biting down on your lip for a second, to contain a moan from the sudden pulse through your core. This was probably nothing, just men being… well, men. But you decided to wait and see where this would lead you.

‘Alright then. Let’s give the lady of hearts the choice! Whom would you like to leave this room, peaches? I call her peaches, because, I mean, you’ve probably seen that gorgeous ass of hers…’

Kai trailed off, almost making you chuckle. He’d never actually called you that before.

But you’d accepted the fuse and lit it.

Taking a couple seconds to exchange gazes with Kai, you then slowly turned to face Baekhyun. And then you motioned towards the door with your eyes.

His lower lip twitched in a way you couldn’t miss.

‘I see. Guess we’ll be carrying on without you,’ the model singsonged.

Baekhyun’s expression hardened. You knew you were in trouble as soon as he carefully put his camera down and ran his fingers through his blond hair.

‘Get out.’

You knew you were in trouble.

‘She just said-’

‘She’ll change her mind in no time,’ Baekhyun ripped the door open. ‘Out.’

Kai fell silent at the authoritative tone the photographer now acquired. He turned to you and you nodded slightly, agreeing to submit yourself to whatever awaited. You watched him get off the bed and walk out of the room reluctantly before the door was shut and locked behind him.

Baekhyun turned around, and you were met with the darkest expression you’d ever seen on his handsome face. You felt your skin prickle with goosebumps, and your tongue instinctively ran over your lips.

Furiously aroused. That he was.

The photographer walked towards you silently before grabbing you by the hair and dragging you off the bed and onto the floor. Before you knew it, his pants were down, and his dick was deep in your throat. Not that you weren’t ready for that.

‘Fucking slut.’ His voice was low and merciless.

Baekhyun went at it, rough and fast, keeping you on your knees while fucking your face. You looked straight at him despite your eyes watering, and there was no doubt that your makeup was instantly ruined. But you didn’t really protest, letting him use your mouth to ease his frustration.

This was new. Exciting.

You whimpered, and he panted as the pleasurable vibration in your throat made his pelvis stutter. So, you did it again. On purpose, this time. Baekhyun grunted, tugging you away.

‘Enjoying yourself too much, I believe,’ he smirked at you, breaths ragged, and slapped your face with his fully hard cock.

Giving him a sharp look for going as far as to destroying the rest of your makeup, you shifted in your spot.

‘No. You don’t get to give me attitude after acting like a whore.’

He wasn’t gentle when he got you up on the bed again, on all fours. Slapped your ass in the process as well.

‘Is this where you wanted his hand to go?’ He traced your inner thigh before slipping under your panties and smearing your arousal around your entrance. ‘Dripping, aren’t you, little slut?’

He slammed two fingers inside and you yelped. You weren’t ready for such an unceremonious intrusion. Still, without giving you a second to recover, he began fingering you. Because he knew that if you didn’t lean forward, that was because it felt really damn good. His long fingers were quick and harsh, and the pace made you start sobbing in seconds.

It was divine.

But Baekhyun got impatient soon enough and flipped you over on your back. You felt his palms on your thighs as he pulled up your dress and removed your littered panties.

This wasn’t something you did often, and maybe you should’ve been offended by his ways of handling you… On the other hand, you felt so naughty that you were ready to beg him to fuck you.

Fortunately, there was no need to do so. He wasted no more than two seconds getting on top of you before beginning to pound you into the mattress. The sex was fast and angry, and you were surprised that it didn’t hurt. Or maybe you simply couldn’t feel the pain, because of how enthralled you were by this man.

The photographer’s blond hair looked messy, and you got a handful just to spite him. Smirking breathlessly, he threw one of your legs over his shoulder to stretch you out, and went even harder. It was clear that your pussy was nothing but a wet slippery mess that Baekhyun tore through like a feral animal. You whined, arching your back to get the best of his thrusts, while the pleasure in your center was building and spreading like a forest fire. The sensation was subtle in the beginning, yet progressed rapidly to intense throbbing.

His fingers rubbed your swollen lips, almost making you drool, and his hips kept up the brutal pace. The blond’s eyes stared deep into yours, and you simply couldn’t hold his gaze.

‘B-Baekhyun, I’m gonna c-’ Your breath hitched as the wave of your pleasure subsided to start building back up right away. ‘Oh-h my god-’

It usually wasn’t this intense. Once your release was there, it was there. This time… It came and went, and you were dying for him to push you over the edge.

‘Want me to leave the room now?’ Baekhyun gritted vindictively, enjoying your helplessness underneath him.

‘Please-’ Your eyes kept rolling backwards with every abrupt press of Baekhyun’s lips to the blotchy skin of your neck until you couldn’t take it anymore, muttering like a mad woman. ‘I’m coming, I’m coming, oh fuck, I’m… Baek- mph-’

His palm was swift to find your mouth and cover it, sealing your moans just in time.

Shaking violently, you didn’t even notice the moment he let your leg slide off his shoulder to press closer to your vulva with each movement. The rubbing of the sensitive skin, the wetness and squelching, the uncontrollable shaking… You hiccupped, enduring all that while he continued fucking into you until he finished as well.

Your eyes fluttered shut as soon as the last spurt of his cum filled your insides. There was no pulling out this time, and it was exactly how you needed it. You’d never had angry wild sex like this, and finishing it any other way would’ve been a disgrace.

He didn’t pull out for a minute, and you just blinked away the water in your eyes. You weren’t really crying; it was a natural reaction to the intensity of the act.

In fact, your mind was so entirely blank and smoothed out that when Baekhyun suddenly looked you in the eye, it startled you.

‘Date me.’ He repeated his long-standing offer, forcefully this time.

As you opened your mouth to refuse again, you ended up immobilized by both his weight and determined gaze.

‘Why not?’ He pressed, guessing the intended answer.

‘I don’t want to.’

‘Bullshit. Why not, Y/N?’

He slipped out, and you flinched, sitting up as well. The aftershocks of your pleasure still had you on edge, and you had to clear your throat before announcing what your thoughts on the subject were.

‘I don’t want a boyfriend who can’t keep it in his pants.’

Baekhyun clicked his tongue.

‘Interesting. I haven’t had sex once since our last shoot, what, 3 months ago? And you’re telling me I can’t keep my penis in check?’

You rolled your eyes, unappreciative of his ‘heroic’ abstinence duration. He didn’t let it slide.

‘Hey, you may think it’s nothing. But- I’ve never gone longer than a couple of weeks without it. And I haven’t masturbated this much since I first hit puberty,’ he sighed and tongued his cheek, contemplating his next words. ‘I just can’t stop thinking about you, Y/N. And I don’t want anyone else.’

Looking down, you avoided his eyes. His reputation preceded him, and you knew exactly what he was famous for in some circles.

‘Yeah, I did screw around. A lot. But it’s because I chose to. This…’ he motioned between you, ‘is different.’

You scoffed at his words.

‘Spoken like a true fuckboy.’

‘So, you’re gonna hold it against me? What am I guilty of, being young and healthy, being a man? Or never having met anyone I wanted to start something serious with?’

Pursing your lips, you allowed him to continue.

‘I cared about none of those girls, Y/N, and I never told them otherwise. I wasn’t looking for a relationship, only to satisfy my needs. You have no idea how frustrated even a few days of no sex make me. I don’t know, I just have a high sex drive, maybe.’

‘Yeah, I’ve noticed.’ You muttered.

‘I’m serious.’

‘I hear you, Baekhyun,’ you raised your arms, asking him to chill. ‘But I can’t say it doesn’t scare me away. You’re not exactly what they call boyfriend material.’

He exhaled sharply, visibly irritated by your attitude.

‘That’s not fair. I am not going to deny that since the moment I saw you for the first time, all I could think of was getting you naked and underneath me. And maybe for a second, I believed that it was going to solve everything. But it didn’t work,’ he hesitated before clarifying. ‘I never lost my interest in you.’

You scoffed again, this time in offense.

‘So, you just wanted to fuck me to get it out of your system?’

‘Fucking you wasn’t my goal, initially. I- Remember how we met?’

Of course, you remembered. It happened last year at a huge annual gala held by one of the top entertainment broadcasting companies. You ran into each other at the afterparty, conversed, had a good time and genuinely enjoyed each other’s company. At the end of the evening, he insisted on giving you his number…

All in all, it went great, and you even intended to hit him up. Until the next day, when one of your members told you to stay away from him. She said he was trouble and shared that she’d heard plenty of relays of his Casanova adventures on the grapevine. How he liked to mingle with all the pretty young models he conducted photoshoots with, and how managers didn’t let rookies out of their sight whenever they had to work with him. You remembered very well how your high hopes for him had crumbled that day.

‘Yeah, at the gala.’ You answer matter-of-factly. ‘We ran into each other.’

‘The afterparty,’ he nodded. ‘But do not think for a second that we’ve met by accident.’

You furrowed your eyebrows in confusion.

‘I don’t follow.’

‘Y/N…’ He shifted on the bed next to you. ‘I ‘bumped’ into you on purpose. I liked you. And I liked you even more by the end of that night, which seemed mutual. But you never called.’

Swallowing, you looked away.

‘I- Heard things. About you. And I didn’t want to be another notch in your belt for people to talk about.’

‘Yet the next time we saw each other, after your group photoshoot… I didn’t come to your dressing room to fuck you, you know? I wanted to ask you out. Discreetly.’

You sneered.

‘Right. Your platonic means didn’t last, as far as I recall.’

‘You’re the one who was at the door wearing nothing but a robe! Also, you dragged me inside.’

‘I didn’t want anyone to see you! You know gossip travels fast.’ You argued.

That wasn’t a lie, you had many eyes on you at the time. Even now being caught together like this could’ve been problematic. You pulled him into your dressing room without thinking. But as soon as you were left alone… Something came over you. It was impossible to bring to mind who made the first move then, but just a few moments later you were already kissing.

That photoshoot started your little ‘tradition’ of having sex after each one.

‘I was too infatuated with you to stop. And you kicked me out so fast afterwards,’ he continued ranting. ‘I know it’s my fault that I didn’t- But it’s not fair for you to judge me. I liked you for a long time, and you always kept me at an arm’s length. You only ever allow me to get close when we fuck.’

‘That’s not- Uh- Maybe it is true. And I told you why.’

‘Come on, Y/N,’ he ruffled his blond hair up in frustration. ‘I admit that I’m no church oppa. Still, that doesn’t mean that I can’t be a good boyfriend.’

‘Up until you don’t see me for longer than a couple weeks. And that’s bound to happen sooner or later.’

He let out a frustrated huff, getting off the bed, pulling his pants up and beginning to pace the room.

‘You’re driving me crazy. Why are you pushing me away? Do you prefer it the way it is now?’

Looking away from him, you gave a soft answer.

‘No.’

‘Then what? Do you even know how many half-nude photoshoots I had in the span of these 3 months? I didn’t even care. At all. The girls seemed disappointed, but I didn’t care. Because none of them were you.’

‘Maybe you just want me because I keep saying ‘no’ to you.’ You sounded unsure, because you were.

Things were popping into your head now, stuff you’d heard on the idol radio in the past few weeks. Like your members gossiping about the main dancer of another group, who was salty about getting turned down by a photographer on a recent occasion. They discussed in great detail what she’d said, and you remembered a couple facts.

The girl was angry, because they’d had sex before and she knew he didn’t do the same person twice. Her pride was hurt since she was sure she could be the one he overlooked his principle for, and he did not. Another thing (you remembered it since your maknae became flaming red when this was brought up) was that… she couldn’t get him to go down on her even the first time. She was pissed, because, apparently, the guy didn’t like oral. Which, in your mind, was certainly proof that it was a different photographer. Baekhyun was the oral sex guy. He loved putting his mouth to good use, and he (like any man) welcomed a casual blowie, so that couldn’t have been him. Unless?

‘What’s your stance on oral sex? Giving?’

Baekhyun stopped pacing and looked at you in surprise.

‘What?’

‘Just answer the damn question.’ You huffed impatiently, letting your feet down to get off the bed as well.

The slow trickle of his seed caused you to cross your legs.

‘I love it. I could do it all day with you. Why?’

‘And with others?’ You clarified, withholding your disappointment.

‘I’ve never done it with others.’ The earnest tone of his voice stunned you.

Reading the look of disbelief on your face, he shrugged.

‘I told you. Fucking was to blow off some steam and nothing more. With you… it’s not.’

He came closer and took your face in his palms.

‘I’ve always been serious about you, Y/N. And I need you to give me the benefit of the doubt.’

‘You’re asking for a lot.’ You closed your eyes as he pressed his forehead to yours.

‘I know. But I promise I’ll do my best to- not fuck this up. It’s new to me. So- don’t get mad at me, just guide me and tell me what you need. I’m a quick study,’ he took a breath, and you realized you needed one as well. ‘If you want me to shower you with flowers or send you sugary ‘good morning’ messages, just say the word. I don’t know how to be a good boyfriend, but I want to be one for you.’

You looked him in the eye, evaluating his sincerity. And he seemed so overwhelmingly genuine that you couldn’t find it in yourself to push him away this time.

‘Okay…’

He blinked.

‘Okay?’

‘Yes. We can… try.’

Baekhyun’s eyes became wide, and he suddenly grabbed you and swirled you around.

‘Sh- no, put me back down!’ You whisper yelled at your… boyfriend?

This was crazy. Your train completely went off the rails.

‘Nicely played!’ The voice behind the door exclaimed.

You both froze, then Baekhyun put you back down, frowning.

That was without a doubt… Kai’s voice.

‘Is he… still here?’ The blond asked out loud.

‘Of course! I couldn’t chill out forever without attracting suspicion. And did you really expect me to not come back to eavesdrop? I’m going back, but Y/N’s manager might be coming up any moment now.’ The voice became more distant by the end of the sentence.

Both of you looked back at the messed up (and cum-stained) bed and the state of your own clothing and makeup.

You swore in unison.

‘Shit!’

Masterlist

A/N: Done with part 2, what about part 3? 🤪 Alright, let's get a breather first. Don't be shy to drop an ask and reblog to give your author here some gratification for the nights of no sleep 😊

[signorinaclaudiacardinale]

Claudia Cardinale: A shy beauty who can only live outdoors…

"My first beauty secret is the sun. The real and natural sun, which is taken in spring in the meadows, in the countryside, in winter in the snow, in summer on the beaches. As for secret number two, I must say, as we read in encyclopedias or dictionaries, see above, it is, in reality, an intensive outdoor treatment, a treatment that I undergo as much as I can in the 365 days a year, because the beauty of a woman, in my opinion, is above all health, freshness, cleanliness, elasticity of the skin and muscles kept active."

"In life and at work, however, I try to make the most of my eyes: I blend pencil with my finger on the eyelids to give depth to the look and I paint white under the eyebrows and on the line inside the eyes to make the eyes appear larger."

"Only recently, after cleaning my face, do I try to remember to apply some gel around my eyes to soften the skin. This area is especially prone to wrinkles, or as in my case, expression lines (my mother told me that I had wrinkles around my eyes when I was a newborn baby) according to my humble advice, nourishing creams, serums and similar products, more or less effective, should never be used before day twenty-four." - Claudia Cardinale.

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

BLANCHE CARDINALE TALKS ABOUT HER SISTER CLAUDIA:

"To photograph her well, make her feel uncomfortable. Photographically, Claudia is a very easy subject: she has no defects in her face or figure that would make it necessary to photograph her in one way and not another, or with a certain light and not another. Like everyone, it has a different profile, but of the two I couldn't say which one is better."

/Blanche Cardinale by Terry O'Neill/

"When taking those photographs that are defined as having character, it is best to take her from one side: when instead you want to highlight her grace, her femininity, in short her beauty, the other profile is exactly what you need. However, to be honest, I must say that to make the most of Claudia's beauty I prefer to take it in three parts. Normally she doesn't wear lipstick, she wears a small, over terracotta pink-brown one for photographs."

"Claudia was my first model and she is, to this day, my favorite. I know that to take good photographs of her it is best if she is seated because when she is standing she becomes rigid, she loses a bit of her naturalness, while she is seated, on the other hand, she maintains the mobility that makes her one of the most lively women and actresses true ones that I have ever seen and photographed. Claudia always moves, tirelessly."

"In my opinion as a photographer, what Claudia has most beautiful are her arms and her neckline: as her beauty is wild, strong and aggressive, I would even say primitive, it is precisely in her arms and her neckline where the most of her is contained: grace and femininity."

"Linearize the lips and avoid interventions to highlight them with touch-ups that can modify the line and expression."

"One of the poses that my sister instinctively assumes in front of the camera is that of biting her finger: it is not just a habit, it is a link to childhood. When her favorite pastime of Claudia was biting her nails. She only stopped doing it when she was 14 or 15 years old: taking advantage of her ambition, which was stronger then than today, our mother, brothers and me broke her habit by making fun of her and telling her that, if she continued with it, she would have the ugliest hands and nails in the world." - Blanche Cardinale, photographer.

Credits: ▪ Summary and photos by the Italian magazine "Oggi" on 09/06/1966. ▪ First photo of Blanche Cardinale taken by Angelo Frontoni, 1962. ▪ Second photo of Blanche Cardinale taken by Terry O'Neill in 1964.

[saikokirakira]

Part 2 of 2: Pagtingin (Feelings) [Steve Harrington x Reader]

a/n: hello. it me. i definitely did not forget to post part two. if you would believe it, i was actually getting sick every week the past month because of the insane hours and workload of my new job. so, umm, probably not lasting long there... i wanna be pretty again and lose all the stress hives all over my body.

summary: based on this blurb on a hanahaki au/flayed!reader

word count: 12k words (big boi over here; i definitely bullied our girl throughout this entire chapter)

warning: barely proofread, only edited twice; no use of y/n; steve is an oblivious himbo (but i'll excuse it because he was the ultimate bbg in s3); ANGST TRAIN, hurt no comfort; moms of hawkins summer '85 (i have 911 on standby); billy "walking red flag" hargrove; unrequited feelings / pining; minor violence; body horror (it's hanahaki, what'd you expect?); writer's torture of a self-insert character; stranger things season 3 canon, but Alexei lives fyuck canon actually; metal goodboi cameo

You despised summer. You didn’t used to hate summer, but working in the summer heat when your recently recurring childhood asthma gets triggered by intense heat wasn’t the best option for you. While you couldn’t pass off as a lifeguard at the Hawkins Community Pool, your neighbour and acquaintance, Heather Holloway, pulled some strings to have you manning the snack bar.

It wasn’t ideal, but it certainly opened up the opportunity to listen in to a lot of gossip all around town. Not your favourite pastime, yet Heather enjoyed the very juicy ones, something you noticed she most likely inherited from her father, the chief editor for the town’s paper. Every time her shift ended, so did yours and either you share interesting stories of the day while you drive home or to the newly opened Starcourt Mall.

“Ew, those women are either married or divorced,” your nose wrinkled in disgust at Heather’s favourite gossip topic, Hawkins group of moms. Specifically, their scheduled visits to the pool whenever Billy Hargrove would be on duty as lifeguard.

“He likes the attention, I guess,” Heather shrugged, “and the moms get to ogle eye candy.”

“Still a minor, Heather.”

“Uh-uh, he turned 18 a few months back,” Heather argued, though the distaste was apparent on her face. “The term is barely legal.” Then she suddenly giggled. “I’m still calling the police when they make a direct move,” she half-joked. “I know they call me a bitch behind my back.”

“You’re a menace.”

“And you’re a sissy,” Heather shot back. “When are you going to ask Steve Harrington ou— JESUS!” She clung at the grab handle when your foot landed too much on the gas pedal. “No need to take me with you to hell just because you can’t get a date.” Then with a cheeky grin, she added, “I heard Steve can’t get a date either, and he talks up anyone at that ice cream place.”

You slammed the brakes. “That’s it!” you exclaimed. “You’re walking the rest of the way to Starcourt!” The only reply you had was Heather’s maniacal giggles at getting you so riled up.

You and Heather parted ways when you arrived at Starcourt after telling you that she’d be getting a ride home with her date. You waved her off and headed to Scoop’s Ahoy. A group of girls were giggling as they were leaving when you got there. You also noticed the whiteboard that Robin, Steve’s co-worker, held up, adding another tally on the “You suck” scoreboard.

“See what I have to deal with?” Steve immediately ranted, jerking a finger at Robin’s direction. “If you worked with me, I don’t have to be subjected with workplace abuse.”

You and Robin snorted in sync. “You poor baby,” you cooed teasingly while pinching Steve’s cheek. “How can I ever live without the longer shifts, ridiculous uniform, and being your wingman?” You earned another laugh from Robin while Steve scoffed before shooting you a pout.

“Well, you certainly miss me since you constantly visit as soon as your shift ends,” Steve shot back.

“Sure, I’m definitely not here as Heather’s chauffer to her movie date,” you said, “or just hanging out at the comic book store.”

“You want me to come wi—?”

“Bye, Robin!” you ignored his offer yet still blowing Steve a raspberry to which he rolled his eyes at. Exiting the ice cream shop, you made you way to the pharmacy first before the comic book store. It was mostly empty when you got there, so it was a breeze in getting your prescription inhaler.

It’s been forever since you had asthma, the last one during your elementary days. Your wheezing fits had only come back since that occurrence in those tunnels that you still see in your nightmares. However, after the countless tests and screening from military scientists, they cleared it to just “your body shifting from all the trauma.”

You’d think after opening gates to other dimensions with monsters, they’d be able to create a cure for asthma.

The thought was highly amusing to you that you almost missed the fiery redhead that just entered the pharmacy. Your eyes watched Max Mayfield carefully as she walked through the aisles with her head low, trying to be inconspicuous. Grabbing your bag of prescription, you slowly followed where Max wandered off, which happened to be a shelf of bandages.

You almost let it go, knowing that her skateboard hobby always led her to a number of scrapes and bruises. But when she reached for the bandage wrap on the high shelf, her shirt sleeve revealed a hand-shaped mark wrapped around her pale wrist. Trying to be nonchalant as possible, you approached her and grabbed the bandage for her, ignoring how Max quickly put her arm down and tugged at her sleeve.

“Skateboarding mishap again, red?”

Max’s signature cocky smirk covered the surprise on her face. “It’s one of my better falls,” she said. Then her eyes wandered to the prescription bag in my hand. “Still have those? They said you’d be better in a couple of weeks since the incident.”

“Well, I didn’t, so here I am,” you shrugged. “Hey, listen, I’m heading out to the comic book store if you want to tag along. My treat.”

Once you were at the community pool. Though you resorted to buying your carefully as she skimmed through the new arrival stack. You didn’t really have anything worth buying since most of the comics you read are from Dustin’s collection that he recommends and lends to you every other week. Sometimes you get the appeal, sometimes you didn’t. Still, it was a great way to pass the time when things are slow from working the snack bar at the comic book store if you want to tag along. My treat.”

Maybe you should’ve offered to buy Max a cone from Scoops Ahoy instead.

“You got any good recommendations?” you randomly asked the guy who just walked in. You seem to have caught him off-guard, the look of surprise that you were talking to him. “Munson, right?”

“Yeah, Eddie,” he said after a brief pause. “Didn’t think you’d be the type to read comics.”

You thought so too. But you also didn’t think that monsters that live in an alternate dimension exist.

You shrugged. “I read almost anything to pass the time,” you said. “Henderson lends me a lot of X-men.”

Eddie was about to reply when Max approached you with two Wonder Woman comics. “I can pay for the other one,” she offered.

You scoffed lightly and ruffled the top of her head. “Don’t be ridiculous,” you said. “Didn’t I say it was my treat?” Before she could argue, you snatched both copies from her hand and headed to the counter with her trailing behind you. “See you around, Munson.”

You and Max wandered aimlessly around the mall. You offered to go watch whatever movie was in the cinema, but Max turned you down, saying that she had plans with the party later that week once their campaign planning was through. After you ran out of things to do, you offered to drive her home, which she sheepishly accepted.

Before you could even pull out the parking area, Max said, “I know you saw the bruise. You didn’t have to do all that to make me feel better.”

A surprised smile tugged at your lips, impressed on how quickly she caught up on your intentions. “I don’t really have any sisters to dote on,” you said, “so it isn’t entirely on pity. I know you can stand up for yourself, red.” You continued, “But promise me one thing?”

Max nodded.

“You tell me when anything gets too much, okay?” You held her hand to show your support. “I’m always going to be here for you.” Trying to lighten up the mood, you added, “Billy is a prick anyway.” Then you pulled the car into drive.

“He has it worse than me.”

You tried to hold in your composure, but you couldn’t help your eyebrows rising up at the unexpected information. You always suspected something going on with Billy. No one suddenly becomes an asshole overnight. That you knew from being friends for a long time with Steve. Aside from the horrible friends he used to have, Steve grew up with his parents barely around, and even if they were, his father was always either hard on him or emotionally absent.

“Well, it doesn’t give him the right to take it out on you.”

“I know.”

Later that week, you were at your usual spot at the snack booth. The heat was especially brutal that day at it almost felt that your lungs were constricting every time you tried to breathe out. Not even ice water seemed to help, and when the thin clouds cleared, the blaring sunlight only made it worse, even though you were under the shade of the booth.

“Hey, watch the stand for me?” you said to your co-worker who mostly just tried to look busy by restacking cans of soda and rearranging the chips as a way to avoid kids yelling out their orders. He sighed but nodded, getting up to man the counter. On your way out of the booth, you pulled out your inhaler out of your backpack and staggered into the searing sunlight to make your way to Heather.

As you took a blip of your inhaler, you didn’t notice the person near you and collided into them, sending your inhaler flying. “Shit,” you muttered, picking up the plastic case. “Sorry about that.” You looked up and paled upon the realisation that you bumped into Billy Hargrove.

Billy didn’t seem to mind and just grunted before brushing past you. If anything, he looked as disoriented as you, dishevelled and profusely sweating. He had an obvious stumble to his step on his way to the locker room to what you assumed was to get ready for his shift.

You had half a mind to approach him when you heard “Hey! No dunking, Curtis!” from the pool area. You were suddenly reminded of your current task and shrugged off the Billy’s concerning state. For all you know, he was still probably drunk from whatever party he was at last night. It was summer break after all.

You carefully avoided being splashed near the poolside as you circled over to where Heather was stationed at the lifeguard post. Unfortunately, you almost tripped from another dizzy spell again and collided with another person. Just your luck.

“Oh, dear,” a woman this time voiced her concern. “Are you okay, hon? Maybe you should stay out of the heat.”

You steadied yourself and stared into the eyes of Karen Wheeler. “I’m okay, Mrs. Wheeler,” you wheezed. “Sorry ‘bout that.”

“Drink some water!” Mrs. Wheeler called out before walking off.

Finally, you were able to tell Heather that you were cutting your shift short and that you couldn’t drive her to her dad’s office as you agreed on earlier that day. She waved you off and told you to drive carefully, assuring you that she could always call her mom to pick her up later.

On your way out, you noticed Mrs. Wheeler coming out of the locker room looking distressed and teary-eyed. She didn’t seem to notice you staring at her as she made her way back to the pool area. A few moments later, Billy came out of the same room, still looking as physically uncomfortable as before.

For the past weeks of working at the pool, it was no secret that one of Billy’s favourite moms was Mrs. Wheeler. But was there really some illicit affair between them? You probably wouldn’t put it past Billy, but the woman had three kids, for goodness’ sakes. You made a mental note to ask Heather what she knew about it tomorrow.

After a gruelling half hour drive while cranking your A/C up to full blast, you finally got home. You barely got a mouthful of ice water when your door rang. You wondered who it could be when the neighbours knew that you and your parents were usually at work during the entire day.

“Hey, can you drive us to Starcourt?”

You stared into the wild grins of El and Max, standing excitedly on your doorstep. Fifteen minutes later, you were back in your car, playing chauffeur for the two girls giggling from the backseat of your car.

“I’m telling you, El, boyfriends lie,” Max insisted. She poked you. “Tell her.”

You chuckled dismissively at their tween antics. “I wouldn’t know.”

Both El and Max paused and focused their attention on you.

“You haven’t dated anyone?”

“I’ve been on dates,” you clarified, “but I never really dated anyone.”

“Why?” El asked. It was more inquisitive than mocking or accusatory. She was very curious, that one.

“Because she has the biggest crush on Steve.”

“Oh, my God!” you exclaimed. “Does everyone just know about that?”

“Well, anyone with eyes, yeah,” Max said, rolling her eyes for good measure. “The only reason why he hasn’t caught up is because boys are dumb.”

That made you laugh out loud despite the discomfort in your ribs.

When you arrived at the mall, you expected to have them run off to who knows where while you hung out at the waiting area, taking advantage of the air conditioning, but those two dragged you to every clothing outlet at the mall. You tried to not exert yourself, but it was hard not to match their energy when they were clearly having so much fun. It was even so endearing to see El emerging from her shell, trying out outfits that she genuinely liked and not those lumberjack fits that Chief Hopper had her on all the time.

By the third store, you insisted to sit that one out and merely watch them try on a bunch of different hats. You giggled at them posing at the mirror as if they were at a fashion show. However, you only had a moment of peace before Max approached you with a sundress that looked way too close to your size.

“No,” you stood your ground.

“Yes.”

“No!”

“Yes, then we’re going to Scoops Ahoy to get cones after this.”

“Ask Steve out on a date,” El urged, smiling encouragingly.

“What happened to ‘boys are dumb?’” you said, raising your brow.

“He’s not going to ask you out first, so you will do it for him!” Max said. She and El both grabbed each of your arm and pulled you to your feet and into the dressing room then tossing in the dress and pulling the curtain shut.

You stared at yourself in the mirror and the dress you held in front of you. You hated to admit it, but it was a pretty dress. Even if you couldn’t score a date with Steve, at least you had a great addition to your wardrobe. With that positive thought in mind, you pulled your shirt over your head and hung it on one of the clothing hooks.

You carefully pulled down the zipper on the dress when you noticed something odd on your reflection. Peering closer on the mirror, you stared at your ribs, noticing the almost black veins that almost seemed to be moving underneath the skin. What the…

“Are you done?!” Max called out from behind the curtain.

You snapped out of it and quickly pulled on the dress. All your initial worries faded once you saw yourself in the mirror. For good measure, you pulled your hair out of your scrunchie and let your tresses fall out in waves over your shoulder.

“Wow,” El and Max chorused.

You didn’t even notice them pulling the curtain open.

When you made your way to Scoops Ahoy, Max and El apparently had already made plans that you don’t come in with them. “Let it be a surprise,” Max had said. It was almost ridiculous that you were letting 14-year-olds dictate you on how to get a date from your crush.

“Okay, here you go, you got a strawberry and then a vanilla with sprinkles, extra whipped cream.” Steve paused and looked at the two girls suspiciously, especially at El. “Wait a second,” he thought out loud, “are you even supposed to be here?”

The two girls giggled, and El said, “A pretty girl drove us here.”

The words ‘pretty’ and ‘girl’ caught Steve’s attention. Predictable. “Yeah?” he grinned, leaning forward as if asking for more details. “She still with you?”

“You know her, silly,” Max giggled before running off with El. On their way out, they both flashed you a thumbs up and mouthed, “good luck.”

You stepped inside Scoops Ahoy with a newfound confidence. It was definitely the dress, and you hope it paid off. When Steve caught sight of you, his eyes brightened up and flashed you his charming smile.

“Hey, stranger,” Steve greeted. “I see the girls made you their babysitter and chauffer.”

You tried not to let your smile falter when you didn’t get the reaction you hoped. You laughed, trying not to give off the fact that your confidence was quickly crumbling. “Yeah,” you said, “my shift ended early at the pool.”

“That’s great!” Steve cheered. “Listen, Dustin just caught Russians on his new radio thing, and we’re trying to translate it. Spy shit and all.”

You blinked. “Dustin’s back?”

“Yeah,” Steve nodded animatedly, “he’s at back with Robin translating the tape. Well, mostly Robin. Didn’t even know she’s amazing at languages.” He continued, keeping his excited energy, “She already knocked down a couple phrases. Isn’t that cool?”

Then it clicked.

Steve liked Robin.

Too late again.

“Listen, we can use your help because there’s this music at the end that I couldn’t remember where it came from,” Steve said. “Robin and Dustin say it’s stupid, but you can back me—”

“Um,” you breathed out. You cleared your throat, wondering why you started to get out of breath again. “I still have to drive the girls home before dark,” you said, gently turning him down.

“Oh.”

“Um, call me if you find something cool?” You didn’t wait for him to reply and turned your back on him. As soon as you left Scoops Ahoy, you pulled your inhaler out your pocket and took a blip, but it seemed to only make your lungs angrier and cramp even more.

As agreed upon earlier, you found the girls at the main doors of the mall, but they were in a heated conversation with Mike and the rest of his party. You sighed and quickly approached them before it turned into a full argument.

“I dump your ass!” El declared, making you stop in your steps. Lucas and Max were flabbergasted at the outburst, except Max looked somewhat proud. Mike just looked lost and was clearly at a loss for words. Will just looked uncomfortable enough to be witnessing the entire thing.

“Okay, that’s enough,” you interfered. “We’re leaving, come on.” You looked at Will who seemed to be the most aware among the boys at the moment. “You guys need a ride?”

He shook his head.

“You take care, okay?”

Will nodded.

The walk to your car between you and the girls was quiet. Though Max decided to break the silence when you pulled out of the mall compound. “What happened?” she asked.

You simply shrugged, ignoring the burning in your ribs from the simple motion. “Boys are dumb.” Then the car ride was silent again.

Later that evening, you laid in your bathtub in cold water, finally relaxing when you can breathe easily again. The summer heat fatigue really got you today, you thought. Suddenly remembering what you saw in the fitting room, you looked at your ribs again and was relieved when all you saw was nothing but your usual skin.

You were pulled back to your thoughts and remembered the beautiful sundress that was now laid discarded on the bathroom floor. You groaned at the memory of what just occurred this afternoon. You sighed and slid down to submerge the rest of yourself in the almost freezing water, leaving all your worries for the few seconds you had underwater.

Don’t be afraid. It’ll be over soon. Just stay… very… still.

You were scared. You couldn’t open your eyes, and the water suddenly felt too thick. The searing pain that was becoming too familiar in your lungs felt like it was begin to crawl out of your chest and into your throat.

But it was all gone in a split second.

Panicked and scared out of your wits, you immediately crawled your way out of the bathtub, not caring if you were curled up naked on the bathroom floor. You reached for the first thing you could grab to cover yourself, until you realised that it was still the same damn sundress. Suddenly, all the air just left your body, and you were starting to wonder if it was still an asthma attack.

You hoisted yourself up on the sink, both coughing and wheezing, trying to do everything you can to get yourself some oxygen.

“Sweetie? What’s going on?” the familiar voice of your mom came muffled from the other side of the door. When you replied with nothing but aggressive and painful coughs, the knocking became incessant, and her calls turned to worried cries. “Open the door!”

The same sensation of something crawling out of your throat came back. This time, you were more aware than your paralyzed state a few minutes ago. You stuck your fingers in your throat, feeling for any obstruction.

And you did.

With one forced cough, you were able to pinch out something smooth but foreign. You yanked it out, clenched it in your fist, and spat whatever fluid it brought out. You were initially worried that it was blood, but as you looked at the white ceramic of the bathroom sink, it was black.

When the bathroom door burst open, you quickly opened the faucet, flushing down whatever it was. Your mom rushed over to you and covered your hunched figure with a bath towel before pulling open the medicine cabinet behind the mirror to fish out your emergency inhaler.

“Come on, sweetie,” she carefully urged the inhaler in my mouth, pressing down to dispense a dose, but you could barely bury it down. “Let’s go to your room. You’re freezing.” She led me step by step to my bed and laid me under the covers, but the warm blankets only made me feel worse. “Your dad is coming with the nebulizer. Don’t worry. Just careful breaths.”

You didn’t remember how long it took for you to fall asleep that night, but you woke up the next day to your mom entering your room, already dressed in her office attire. She must’ve seen the panic on your face when you realised that it was way past your alarm.

“I called you in sick at the community pool,” your mom said. “Your dad will be picking you up after work to bring you to the hospital. In the meantime, just rest, okay?” She pressed a kiss on your forehead before she left the room, and you were alone again.

Then you felt the soft thing that you had in your fist the entire night. You raised your hand and held the foreign object over your head.

A black petal.

Panic bubbled up at the base of your spine, and you wasted no time in getting out of bed and getting dressed. You needed to tell Chief Hopper or Mrs. Byers. Or even just any one in Mike’s party.

And Steve.

Suddenly, it hit you. Dustin would still be around Steve decoding whatever Russian code they were on. The kid can easily call a code red for your situation. You grabbed your keys with the intent of going to Starcourt.

Just as you locked the front door, Max and El came rushing in their bikes, looking as alarmed as you are. They rushed to you, especially El who gave you a pleading look.

“It’s Billy.”

~

“As much as I appreciate you calling a grown up to investigate, this seems highly unnecessary.”

You were clearly uncomfortable as you turned the corner to Cherry Lane. You already gave them an earful when they admitted that they were spying on random people during their sleepover last night. Personally, you didn’t think that Heather would suddenly go for Billy when she just went on a date with someone else the other week, but maybe Billy was just that convincing.

“But the screams,” El reasoned.

“When Billy is alone with a girl, they make, like, really crazy noises,” Max argued, making you laugh at her words. Case in point.

“That’s surprising,” you noted. “I assumed that because he’s such an asshole he doesn’t…” you trailed off when you caught El’s clueless look from your rear-view mirror. “Never mind.”

“They scream?” El voiced out her confusion.

“Yeah, but, like… happy screams.” Then Max turned to you. “Oh, just that house right there.”

Your laughter came out in breathless snorts at this point. You pulled the car in park around the curb. “Okay, that’s enough,” you interrupted. “You don’t need to know about that yet, El.” You watched the house and hummed in thought. “His car’s not there. This’ll be easy.”

The three of you went inside the house and headed to his room. You knew that their family was very far from a loving one, but you tried to wrack your head for a reason as to why Billy’s bedroom door had a hinge lock from the outside. You barely had any thoughts about that little detail before Max pushed the door open.

“Why do I get the feeling we’re gonna find all sorts of wrong here?” Max said.

“Well, his tastes in music aren’t half bad,” you commented, flicking through his stack of cassette tapes by his stereo. You pulled open his bedside drawer and laughed at its contents. “Jackpot.”

Max rushed over to peek, only to see his collection of ‘printed ladies.’ “Ugh!” she exclaimed. “Gag me with a spoon.”

Then we heard El calling us from the bathroom.

We followed her to see empty ice packets around his tub. The unsettling feeling crept in again as you remember that you were also trying to keep yourself cold last night. But you weren’t the only one who was unsettled.

El, who was breathing heavily, stared off into the corner, and when Max and you followed her line of sight, there it was. Blood. You carefully opened the trash bin and pulled out a utility bag from Hawkins’ Community Pool.

“Let’s go.” You didn’t waste any time leaving the house and getting into the car.

Despite the darkening skies and thunder rumbling, you got there in record time. You ran to see a co-worker of your closing the pool area. Protocol. But he definitely wasn’t pleased to see you.

“Didn’t you call in sick?” he said, sounding annoyed. “You’re the second person to bail today.”

“Heather didn’t come in?” Max asked.

“Obviously. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be doing thi— Hey!”

The three of us ran back to the car to figure out what to do next.

“We can go back to my place,” you suggested. “Wait out until Heather comes home next door.” Then you remembered. “Shit,” you cursed, turning on your car before the girls agreed. “My dad is supposed to pick me up for a doctor’s appointment.”

Luckily, your dad wasn’t home yet when you got back. Probably due to the storm. However, the girls already had their own plans in mind when they walked over next door to the Holloway’s.

“Shit, shit, shit,” you hissed, jogging over to them. “Don’t go running off without me.” You looked at the now open front door. “Did you just unlock the door? This is trespassing!”

“She’s inside,” El whispered. She and Max entered the house, and you had no choice but to follow.

The three of you carefully treaded towards the voices in the dining room. There you found Billy with Mr. and Mrs. Holloway chatting away. The sight of your three by the hallway halted their conversation.

“Um, hey, Janet, Tom,” you greeted. “We tried to knock, but you probably didn’t hear us over the storm.”

“What on earth are you doing here?” Billy cut in, his eyes trained on Max and El.

“Where is she, Billy?” you asked firmly, staring straight into his eyes.

“Where is who?” Billy smiled innocently, but it didn’t give you any ease.

“Well, they’re a little burnt! I’m sorry.” Heather walked in from the kitchen, carrying a tray of cookies. “Oh, hey, girl! Is your shift over?”

“Heather!” Billy called. “This is my sister, Maxine.” He gestured to Max before his eyes landed on El. “I’m sorry. I did not quite catch your name.”

“El.” Eleven responded with her eyes pointedly trained on Billy.

“El,” Billy echoed, his polite smile turning into something menacing.

It definitely unnerved the three of us. Your hands held onto their shoulders and pulled them behind your back, leaving you to face Billy. “You guys weren’t at work, so we got worried,” you said, trying to keep your voice steady.

“Heather wasn't feeling so hot today, so we thought we'd take the day off to nurse her back to health.” Billy turned to Heather. “But you’re feeling just fine right now. Aren’t you, Heather?”

“I’m feeling so much better,” Heather smiled, but there was something about it that didn’t seem right to you.

Max and El tugged at your hand. You looked at them to see them silently pleading at you with their eyes. You gave a brief shake of your head before turning back to Billy. “I’m sorry to disturb you,” you said carefully. “I’ll take the girls home.”

“Thank you for looking out for my sister and her… friend.”

You made sure that the girls walked ahead of you, and right before you passed the front door, Billy pulled you to him. You barely could get a noise out as he pressed his hand over your ribs.

“You’re one of us,” Billy whispered before he shoved you out and shut the door.

It all happened in a split second that the girls didn’t even notice the exchange. The fear stabbed you deep in the gut that you basically dragged them back to your house, forcing them not to look back. Only when you got inside your house that the tension released from your body but only just.

“I’m taking you guys home, and tomorrow, we’re meeting up with the party, okay?”

“You’re not going anywhere, young lady.”

You winced and found your dad staring you down with his arms crossed.

Damn it.

~

“As soon as we’re done here, you’re grounded for a week.”

You groaned and held back the urge to roll your eyes. You were in the hospital waiting area for your family physician, but because there were a handful of minor accidents because of the storm, the wait was a bit long, especially when you were not priority. It was fine during the first ten minutes, but after half an hour, you were starting to get cranky.

“I’m going to the restroom.”

Your dad made a move to get up, but you stopped him. “There’s literally a storm out there, and you drove me here,” you pointed out. “Where else can I go?”

Your dad just scoffed but leaned back in his seat, waving you off. “Bring me back a coffee then,” he said.

You walked down the hallway but turned to the payphones instead of the restrooms. You dialled in the number you were so familiar with and hoped that he’d be home by this time.

“Hello?” Steve’s voice rang through the speaker, sending relief through your body.

“Pick me up at the hospital,” you said.

“Wait, what?”

“Oh, and do it in half an hour.”

“There’s literally a storm outsi—”

“I’m also staying at your place tonight.”

“Hey! What is going—”

“Thanks, Harrington.”

Steve arrived at the hospital in twenty, still dressed in his sailor uniform. With your dad still busy with his coffee and a random medical pamphlet, you cocked your head to the side and sent Steve a signal where to wait while you made your escape. For the second time, you got up to your feet.

“I think I want a coffee actually,” you said. “Be right back, daddy.”

Your dad hummed, not even lifting his eyes from the pamphlet.

For a split second, your heart seized at the sight of your clueless father. You wanted to tell him and mom about the monsters and how they were this close to taking you, but they were better off not knowing. It wasn’t worth risking their lives when it could be just you.

With a heavy heart, you kissed the top of his head and walked down the hallway, heading for the exit and into Steve Harrington’s getaway car.

“Okay, but what the hell is going on?” Steve asked, pulling the car in drive.

You didn’t answer and just hugged your knees to your chest while crying silently. You’re one of us. You squeezed your eyes shut and tried to level your breathing, which now felt like such a laborious task. Now that you knew the truth, it was almost like you could feel it all inside you. Taking every piece of you.

You were quickly pulled out of your thoughts by a warm hand clasping yours. You raised your head and looked at Steve, who kept his eyes on the road, but continued to squeeze your hand. You managed to stop crying and thread your fingers through his and bask in his warmth.

You knew it was just temporary. You knew who he really liked. And as if the universe was aware of your feelings, they decided to cut the moment short by sending your chest squeezing and blocking your airways again. You dropped Steve’s hand and clutched at your chest as you exploded into another coughing fit.

Steve panicked and quickly glanced between you and the road. “What’s happening?” he asked frantically. “Should I take you back to the hospital?”

You violently shook your head. “N-no,” you managed to wheeze out. “Dr-drive.”

“Where’s your inhaler?” Steve asked to which you left unanswered.

Finally, you managed to cough out a chunk of something, freeing your airways. You quickly shoved it in your pockets without checking before Steve noticed it. You exhaled in relief and leaned back in his seat.

“It didn’t use to be that bad,” Steve pointed out.

“Yeah.”

“Was that why you were at the hospital?”

“Mm.”

“We should go back.”

“Doesn’t matter. We’re near your place anyway.”

By the time you got to Steve’s house, he rushed to his parents’ room to find you something to wear from his mom’s closet. “Go take a shower and warm up!” he called out from the second floor.

You dragged your feet into the downstairs bathroom and rinsed your mouth. As you spat out the water, swirls of blood and black goo circled around before disappearing down the drain. You pulled out the clump that you hid in your pocket and teared up at the sight of a fully formed flower.

It was cruel that something as hauntingly beautiful as this was killing you from the inside.

When you flipped the flower over, you noticed thin tendrils from where the stem should be. You were horrified that the tendrils were actually moving like tiny tentacles. It reminded you of that day when you were in the tunnels under the pumpkin farm.

Without any more thought, you dropped the flower in the sink. Remembering that they were susceptible to heat, you immediately turned on the faucet to its hottest setting. As the water hit the flower, your lungs were suddenly set on fire.

Out of instinct, you turned the faucet off, relieved that the flower immediately dried out and broke off into ashy flakes. The burning stopped as well but still lingered under your skin. Almost tripping over your own feet, you staggered over to the shower, stripping yourself of your drenched clothes and turning on the water to its coldest setting, and only then did you find relief.

You’re one of us.

It took over almost half an hour to compose yourself and figure out what to do from here on out. You put one of the fluffy robes in the bathroom and headed out to the living room where Steve was already lounging on one of the sofas, shirtless but with a towel hanging over his neck. He only seemed to notice your presence when the sofa dipped beside him under your weight.

“You okay?” Steve asked when you rested your head on his shoulder, not minding that his hair was still dripping wet. “Jesus, you’re freezing.” He moved to grab the throw blanket and pulled it over both of you then rubbed his hands on your arms to warm you up.

Meanwhile, you wrapped your hands around his waist and just closed your eyes at the sound of his heartbeat. You were mad that his was steady when you couldn’t even control the fast drumming of your own heart whenever you were near him. Still, you held Steve as if you were afraid to let go, as if he was your only reminder that you were still you. But why did it hurt, even physically, so much to hold on?

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Steve whispered, stroking the back of your head. “I don’t think we held each other like this since middle school,” he chuckled to himself at the memory. “When Vicki Carmichael took stole your partner for the Snow Ball and kissed him in front of everyone? You slept over and cried in my bed, telling me you hated her for it and me for going with Tammy Thompson.”

You wracked your head trying to remember what Steve was talking about. Maybe because it was a long day, but you couldn’t remember him holding you like this in middle school. Still, it must have been a beautiful memory if even Steve remembered it.

Sometimes it felt like you were the only one holding on so tightly in this relationship with him.

“Don’t you remember?”

You just hummed and snuggled closer to Steve.

“Okay, how about when Lewenski and I got into a fight because his girlfriend tripped you up and you skinned your knee pretty bad?”

This one, you remembered. “Your dad grounded you for a month, and you got benched for two games,” you chuckled softly.

“And you still cheered for me in the sidelines,” Steve said, sounding relieved that you were finally talking. After while a long pause, he said, “What happened? You used to tell me everything.” He continued, “I know I joke about it a lot, but I was really worried when you didn’t sign up with me at the mall. And you being sick all the time now?”

“Steve, just drop it,” you said, almost in a plea. “We’re okay. You never have to worry about me.”

Steve scoffed playfully. “That’s never going to happen,” he argued. “I’m always gonna worry about you. You don’t even notice how much trouble you get yourself into without realising.”

You tried not to think about it, but for the rest of that night in Steve’s arms, you almost felt like the vines were moving inside you, growing and taking up what was left of you that you haven’t already given to Steve.

~

“So, basically you’re a fugitive now?”

You chuckled and tiredly patted Dustin’s back. “Man, I missed you, kid,” you said. “And to answer your question, technically yes. I’m facing a lifetime of being grounded if I’m caught.”

“Let me get this straight,” Dustin began, his eyes trained on your plain black shirt that obviously belonged to Steve, “Steve snuck you out of the hospital, and you stayed in his house the entire night?” He leaned close to you. “And nothing happened?”

“Jesus, Dustin,” you wrinkled your nose at him. “People serve food here.” You gestured at the small cup of ice cream you were eating as breakfast slash brunch. Though you were wallowing your sorrows in cold, cold sweets, it did make you feel like a kid again.

“Steve is so stupid sometimes it amazes me,” Dustin thought out loud.

“I’m surprised you caught on. Seems like everyone in the world knows except him.”

“That’s because I’m me,” Dustin grinned proudly. “I bet the rest of the party doesn’t even know.”

“Who doesn’t know?” Steve entered the backroom with Robin in tow.

“Probably that you’re a dingus,” Robin snickered. Then her eyes trailed over to you. “So, we have another addition to the team,” she pointed out. “Who’s bringing her up to speed?”

“Dustin,” Steve said the same time that Dustin also said, “Me.”

Of course, it was Dustin.

While Dustin explained to you that the Russian military was most likely running a secret base right in the Starcourt Mall, you worried about El and Max, especially with not-Billy on the loose. Though they probably were already with the rest of the party right now and alerted Chief Hopper and Mrs. Byers. There was absolutely nothing to worry about.

Right?

“Got it?” Dustin finally said before narrowing his eyes at me. “Were you just zoning out the entire time?”

You snorted. “What do you take me for?”

“Fine, what did I just say?”

“Okay, I probably zoned out halfway through,” you admitted. “But your problem is pretty simple.”

Steve, Dustin, and Robin waited for you to continue.

“You just need the blueprints for the mall.”

“Why haven’t you called her the moment we were cracking the code?” Robin said, rushing outside and grabbing the tip jar. Ignoring Steve’s calls for her, she was off leaving us three at Scoops Ahoy.

~

“Touch my butt! I don’t care!”

“Can we keep it PG in here?” you frowned at the ridiculous show Steve and Dustin were putting by trying to get into the air ducts. “Just pull the boy down before someone gets hurt.”

“He can’t get hurt. He’s missing bones like Gumbo.”

“Like what?” you tilted your head.

“He means Gumby,” Dustin corrected, grabbing hold of Steve’s shoulders as he got hoisted out of the vent, “and that’s not how cleidocranial dysplasia works, Steve. I’m missing collarbones, not nerves.”

“Whatever,” Steve said. “We just need some else who could fit in there.”

Just as Steve said those words, Robin burst in the backroom, looking like she had an epiphany for the second time today. You were beginning to think she was the reason how Steve and Dustin had gotten this far. Behind her stood Lucas’ younger sister, Erica. Ah, the epiphany.

It only took the rest of the day of convincing her. The kid knew how to play hard ball. You’d give her that. She wouldn’t take anything less than ice cream for life. Frankly, you’d do the same.

You waited until the mall closed, though Robin and Steve cleared up Scoops Ahoy a few minutes early. So far, your parents were a no show, though you assumed that they didn’t think you would be hiding in the backroom of a very crowded mall. Frankly, they probably wouldn’t even believe you that you were infected with a monster from an alternate dimension and would rather help your friends with a Russian invasion than go to the hospital.

“Free ice cream for life,” Erica smirked smugly as soon as the thick sliding doors – actually odd for a simple storage room – slid open for us.

It didn’t take much snooping to find vats of glowing neon green vats of unknown substances hidden in regular delivery boxes. Without much thought, you grabbed one and made your way to the door. “Let’s just go before someone catches us.”

Again, the universe… just hated us.

“Uhh, which one do I press, Erica?” Dustin asked, insistently pressing the “OPEN” button.

Panic began to rise among all of us as mechanical whirring buzzed between the walls. Between that and the fact that we were trapped, we definitely knew we were screwed. While all of them fussed over the buttons that were no longer working, you stepped back, feeling something prickle under your skin.

“Just open the door!” Robin cried out, echoing into someone… something different.

Open the door.

Open the door!

Open the goddamn door!

Suddenly, you were on fire. You barely noticed your screams rising over everyone else’s. You fell to the floor, convulsing in agony as flashes of different people appeared in your head as if you were them. An old lady in a hospital bed, Heather, her parents, so many people who barely even knew in Hawkins… then Billy.

It was quiet with him. You saw flashes of a beautiful blonde woman calling out to him, her face concealed in a sunhat, then the beach with sand in between your toes. There was a moment of peace and tranquillity, and like someone playing a sick joke, you were in a dark place, standing in Billy’s place in front of people who were lifelessly standing still right in front of something. Something that you didn’t recognize but was so familiar to you, inside you.

He made me do it. It’s like a shadow, like a giant shadow. Please believe me, Max.

“Billy, it’s gonna be okay,” Max’s voice echoed in his head as if it were yours.

“It’s gonna be okay,” a different voice filtered through from all the noise.

“She’s unconscious. How is her inhaler going to help?” “I’m pretty sure that’s a seizure, nerd.” “Check for a pulse, Steve.”

Your consciousness fell right back on you like a pile of bricks. Your eyes fluttered open to see Steve hovering over you with your inhaler tucked between your lips. Once your eyes locked with his caramel ones, a huge wave of relief washed over his face as he pulled you into his arms.

“Oh, my God,” Steve gasped, clutching on to you for dear life. “Don’t scare me like that.”

“Get… out.”

Steve tensed and pulled away to look at you. “What?”

You weakly pulled up your – actually Steve’s shirt up to your ribs, revealing angry black veins that were now crawling over your torso. You cried out and clutched at you. “Get it out!”

“Holy sh– what the hell is that?!”

You rolled to the side and fell into a coughing fit, your back hunched over. Your nails clawed at your throat, feeling something trying to crawl itself out. Whatever happened somewhere in Hawkins pissed off the plants inside you, and you can feel them twisting and curling throughout your torso.

With much straining and the remaining oxygen in your lungs, you managed to pull out the parasite from your oesophagus. The action made Dustin and Robin gag in the corner, while Steve and Erica warily looked at the slithering vine with a fully bloomed flower you dropped on the floor, leaving a trail of blood and black goo.

“You guys, by any chance, have a lighter?” you panted, pressing your cheek against the cold metal floor for any cool relief you can take.

Silence told you no. You hoisted yourself up with much difficulty and leaned back into the crate then immediately had an idea. Albeit, a bad one. With shaky knees, you got on your feet and lifted the vat of green goo that rolled away when you dropped unconscious. You looked for the right twist to open the container when Dustin stopped you.

“What are you doing?”

“We have to kill it,” you said nonchalantly. “I mean, I could just drink this to get it over with, but I don’t want to die that quick.”

“Are you…?” Then Dustin’s eyes widened. “That day. You were… because you saved me.”

“Wait, wait, are any of you nerds explaining what’s going on?” Erica interrupted.

You sighed. “Monster,” you pointed at the vine. “Infected,” you pointed at yourself. “Must kill monster with something. Preferably fire.”

“You killed one of those before?” Robin asked.

“It was smaller last night,” you shrugged, finding the latch to open up the vat. “Hot water took care of that sucker easily.” Twisting the lid a certain way, it clicked and released. “Aha!” you exclaimed. “This is gonna hurt.” You eyed the goo apprehensively.

Then Steve snatched the lid and sealed back the vat. “There has got to be a way to do this without you in pain,” he said.

“We don’t have time, and we’re stuck here in a metal box with a monster crawling towards Erica’s sneaker!”

“Why are you yelling?!”

“I’m not yelling!” you shouted. Then you turned to Dustin with a much softer voice. “How did Will get rid of his the last time?”

“Space heaters, a lot of them,” Dustin answered. “Anything from the Upside Down hates the heat, including D’Art.”

“Well, we’re not waiting until you cough all the flowers out, so I say we dump you into a hot tub and crank the heat to full,” Steve suggested, keeping the vat out of reach. “Once we get out of here, of course.”

“Boiling her alive,” Dustin scoffed. “That’s genius, Steve.”

“Or,” Robin interrupted, “we just use the same space heaters. It worked before, so it might work again now.”

“Thank you,” you said, pointedly looking at Steve. “At least someone is trying not to kill m—” Suddenly, your lungs were set aflame as you dropped into a heap on the cold floor, convulsing in agony with your mouth open in an open scream. You briefly heard Erica speaking before ultimately passing out.

“What? You only kept one of that green acid away from us. At least the monster’s dead.”

After passing out for the second time that night, you seemed to be sleeping much longer, but when you woke up, it wasn’t much of a surprise to hear Dustin and Steve still bickering. You opened your eyes to see Steve’s legs hanging from the ceiling. Again, not a surprise.

Probably nothing else would surprise you at this point.

“Shh! Jesus Christ!” Steve hissed before disappearing entirely to the top of the elevator.

Now that spiked your curiosity.

Robin was preoccupied with Erica, and both of them didn’t even notice that you were awake. You sat up and climbed on the stacked boxes leading up to the opening on the elevator ceiling. The burning in your ribs and your shortness of your breath was easier to ignore now that you were too lightheaded to actually feel the discomfort. Still, you managed to poke your head out the opening, accidentally ending up eavesdropping.

“I heard you guys talking all night,” Dustin whispered to Steve before his eyes landed on you. He winced and shot you an apologetic look.

Steve turned and saw you by his feet, making him jump in surprise. “What are you doing up?!” he scolded. “You scared all of us last night. I thought Erica killed you.”

“Gee, your welcome!” Erica called out from inside.

“’Last night’? It’s morning?”

Dustin smiled emptily. “Yeah,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’ve been trying to reach anyone on the radio since the mall is open. I think we’re too far down though.”

“Okay, take Dustin down with you please,” Steve said, facing the wall. “I’m gonna take a leak.”

“First of all, ew. Second, good morning,” you said, hopping back down with Dustin right behind you.

“This is one looong sleepover,” Steve called out before the sound of a stream hitting the ceiling echoed inside the elevator. “Two nights of being your personal pillow!”

“Two nights?” you muttered to yourself. “Was I with Steve the other night?” you turned to ask Dustin, who gave you a weird look.

“You stayed over his place, and he drove you to the mall, remember?”

“He did?”

“Hey!” Robin called out. “We have company.”

One fight with a Russian later, which Steve won – finally – you and the rest of the group snuck into the comms room of the secret Russian base and found out why your lungs had been reacting different once you walked further down that tunnel.

“The gate.”

You, Steve, and Dustin looked at each other in horror before turning back to the machine that was trying to pry open the gate that El had shut down last year. It was your first time seeing it, but the same dark familiarity was tugging from the deepest part of your mind. There was no reason to dwell on it, so you tugged Dustin and Steve, urging them to leave and quickly warn the others as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, leaving was harder than getting in. Guards were alerted, and all of us were sent into running. It ultimately sent us to the direction of the gate itself with Dustin almost running into the laser machine that was opening the gate if it wasn’t for you tugging the back of his shirt collar.

You didn’t like being that close to the gate. Between the soldiers yelling and Steve barking which way to run, a louder voice was whispering crystal clear voices inside your head. You surrendered to the voices for one second to try and understand what they were saying, which proved to be your mistake.

In that one second, you were teleported to an incredibly vivid memory of meeting Steve for the first time.

“Sweetie, say hi to Mrs. Harrington and Steve.”

Your hand curled into a fist on the hem of your mother’s dress. It wasn’t the first time you saw Steve Harrington. Your classmate pointed who Steve was when he passed you at the hallways of Hawkins’ Elementary. She boasted that her older sister was Steve’s “girl friend” after he kissed her during recess yesterday.

You didn’t know what any of that meant, but when you glanced at Steve Harrington, you thought he was the prettiest boy you ever seen. Steve Harrington was exactly what you imagined the princes looked like that your mother read to you at bedtime.

And now, you were at their front door because your mom worked with his mom, and Mrs. Harrington thought it would be nice to have her and you over for tea.

And Steve was still the prettiest boy you ever seen.

You were catatonic while staring up into the gate opening.

While the rest of the guards were chasing after Steve and the others, the scientists urged that the guards don’t touch you, seeing that your pupils had turned entirely black. Your exposed neck revealed raised veins that they could tell were black even under the dim, unsteady lighting in the lab.

Your blank state was finally broken when the Russians took you in a secluded room, further away from the gate. Your mind was wildly fuzzy as if you were in the middle of sinking badly in your own subconscious. You inner daze didn’t last long when the door opened again, and Steve and Robin were dragged in and also cuffed like you were.

“What happened to you there?” Steve said in a low tone. “You just froze.”

The soldier didn’t like the chit-chat and struck Steve across the face. The sound was loud enough to echo in the room that you winced upon impact. “No talking!” he spat in a thick accent. “Now, who do you work for?”

“I’m confused,” Steve said, trying to sound unphased from the hit. “Do I not talk or do I tell you who I work for?”

That earned him another hit.

~

“We have many stories of monsters from where I’m from.”

“So do we,” you groaned at the man pacing the room. “You’re not that special, dude.”

Robin and Steve were taken away over half an hour ago, mostly likely for their own interrogation. So far, on your end, this soldier has done nothing but talk your ear off about stories from where he grew up while you were strapped in an examination chair.

“I suppose you know about flowers that grow on lungs?” The surprised look on your face told him everything he needed to know. “No one knows where they come from,” he said, “… until now.” He leaned in close to you. “You are very important test subject.”

“Not for long,” you said spitefully. “I’m dying anyway.”

“Well, I suppose you will be buried in Russian soil by then,” he said, sending chills in your spine. “But now, I need to see the flowers itself.”

Your breathing quickened at the thought being sliced open.

But…

They wanted you alive enough to bring you to Russia. That meant…

“Steve!” Your eyes widened at the sight of him as they dragged him inside the room and dropped him in a heap on the floor. Your heart clenched at the blood streaked all over his mouth and his eye swollen shut. “What did you do to him?”

The soldier and the rest of the guards merely looked at you struggling from where you were restrained while Steve remained unresponsive on the floor. The soldier looked displeased at the results before him and barked out another order. Soon enough, Robin was also dragged inside the room, and similar to you, she was as distraught at the sight of him beaten up.

Then… they just left the three of you in the room alone.

“What do they want?” Robin asked. “We told them everything, and you’re the only one not strapped with us.”

You gulped. “They, uh, they know what’s wrong with me.”

That gained Steve’s attention. With much difficultly, he raised his head and slurred out, “They’re not taking you, and we’re getting out of here.”

“Right,” you snorted. “Unless you have a way of getting to those scissors and cutting yourselves free, I’m on the next flight to Russia by the end of the day.”

“Those morons. They left scissors here?” Steve scoffed.

“I think that if we move at the same time, we could get over there, and then maybe I could kick the table and knock them into your lap,” Robin said, her voice rising with desperation. “So, on the count of three, we’re gonna hop.”

You smiled as hope bubbled when they succeeded the first two swivels. But on the third, the chair legs slid, knocking them both on the floor. Robin, who had her back to you, began shaking. At first, you and Steve thought she was crying, until her quiet giggles turned into full-on laughter.

“I’m sorry,” Robin laughed, trying to contain herself, “but I just can’t believe I’m gonna die in a secret Russian base with Steve ‘The Hair’ Harrington, while his girlfriend gets shipped off to another secret lab in Russia.”

“We’re not gonna die,” Steve huffed, “and she’s not my girlfriend, okay?”

“Gee, we’re tied up and have no hopes of escaping, and you choose to correct that?” you snarked at him.

There was a moment of quietness, mostly just to collect our wits, but Robin was the one to speak up again. She talked about Mrs. Click, our history teacher. Turns out she had been in the same class as Steve for the longest time, remembering every detail about him.

Just like you.

“Do you even remember me from that class?” Robin said, her voice lowering into a whisper. “It didn’t matter that you were an ass.”

And her next words just crushed you.

“I was still… obsessed with you.”

There was nothing else to do but watch as Steve’s eyes — well, eye — softened. In that moment, you felt like you were in someone else’s moment, just an audience. But wasn’t that what you always have been in Steve’s life?

“You know, I wish I’d known you in Click’s class,” Steve said, a fond smile growing on his lips. “Maybe instead of being here, I’d be on my way to college right now.”

Last semester, you wrote two of his history papers just so his grades would be high enough for him to play during the basketball playoffs.

“And I would have no idea that there were evil Russians beneath our feet,” Robin chuckled, “and I would be happily slinging ice cream with some other schmuck.”

“Gotta say, though, I liked being your schmuck.”

And there it was…

The burning in your lungs intensified, sending you in a painful fit of coughs. It was hard enough not to curl over because of the restraints on your chest. There was no way to claw at your throat or to grasp at your chest from the twisting pain.

You were too engrossed in trying not to choke from blood and black goo that you didn’t notice the door open. A different scientist came in, this time more sinister-looking, and leaned over you. “I knew it,” he smiled. “He feeds the flowers inside you.”

“W-wha…?” you managed to gasp out. “P-please… can’t… br-brea-eathe… In.... inhal-er.”

In the midst of the black spots tinting your vision, you barely made out a jet injector and something bright blue before you heard Steve yell out and everything went dark.

“… up. Wake up!”

You opened your eyes to see Dustin’s face. “Am I dreaming?”

“Come on! We have to go!”

You were so groggy that you followed Erica and Dustin to a hijacked mini-truck with Steve and Robin giggling along. Both their antics only heightened when we finally ascended back up to the mall. Steve couldn’t stop booping Dustin, while Robin was saying stuff about food and death.

“Did they give you something too?” Erica asked me.

“They probably took something instead,” you rasped out, feeling your throat. “They baited one out and pulled it out while I was trying not to choke to death.”

“Where is it now?” Dustin turned to me, smacking away Steve’s finger from booping his nose again.

“How the hell should I know? I was tied up!” you scowled at him.

“We just saved your asses!” Erica and Dustin chimed back at your tone.

The bickering didn’t end until you were all forced to be quiet as you hid in a cinema that was showing ‘Back to the Future.’ Once upon a time, it seemed to be a fun movie to watch with the kids, maybe even with El, but now, you could barely keep your knees from fidgeting as your eyes constantly watched between Michael J. Fox and the cinema doors for any evil Russians.

It wasn’t long when your lungs began burning again. You didn’t feel the need to cough this time, but it didn’t stop for a metallic taste bursting in your mouth. You grabbed an empty popcorn bag nearby and spat into the paper. Even under the dark theatre, you could see that it was mostly blood now.

You were out of time.

~

“Jesus, you look far worse than El.”

You shot Max a very unfriendly look. “The girl who just pulled a monster out of her leg using your mind powers?” You glanced at El who was cuddled up with Chief Hopper while Mrs. Byers attended to the open wound on her leg.

“Well, both you are bleeding out of your noses, and you are also growing monsters inside you.”

“ERICA!” you screeched while furiously wiping your nose.

“Just the facts!”

“What?!” Everyone else in the party, including the adults, chorused.

“You’re dying,” Will said as if he could still tell. He gave you a look of empathy and a little bit of familiarity. You knew he went through a similar thing last year, and it somehow made you less scared that he was here with you.

You nodded solemnly. “I don’t have much time,” you admitted. “It grows faster the closer I am to the gate… or when I feed it.”

“’Feed it’?” Max asked.

“We don’t have to talk about that,” you waved her off. At this point, you were just desperate to stay alive. All of you were so, so close. “If we close the gate, we can cut off all connections, right?”

“Theoretically,” Lucas added.

Since there was no other option but that, we all based our plan on that ‘theory.’ A man named Murray, who also got into a tiff with Erica, came in with a map of the underground Russian base from a guy named Alexei. With the goals in place, everyone began splitting off into groups.

“You’re coming with us, right?” Steve asked.

You bit your lip as you shook your head. “I’m staying with the girls,” you said. “You go with Dustin and Robin to Cerebro.” At the sight of his worried look, you added, “I’ll be okay.”

Steve shot you a scowl. “Don’t die without me.”

“Hard promise to keep,” you smirked, smacking his hand away from ruffling your already messy hair. Your fingers tangled with Steve’s, and he ended up holding your hand completely. “Don’t die first, Steven.”

Steve chuckled and was about to pull away when you tugged his hand back.

“Hey, Steve.”

“Yeah?”

“I know you and Robin…”

When you trailed off, Steve raised his brows at you, urging you to continue.

You shook your head, waving it off. “You guys just got drugged,” you reminded him. “Drive safely.”

“You say that as if I don’t have any experience from partying.”

“That isn’t comforting at the very least.” Then... you let go.

~

Turns out that it wasn’t just the gate that was triggering the growth.

When the Spider Monster burst through the glass ceiling for Starcourt Mall, the flowers in your lungs reacted the same way when Billy had grabbed you at the Holloway’s. It was one thing to lead the monster away from El, but it was another thing to be hunched in the trunk space of the Wheeler’s hatchback with said monster chasing you down the road.

“The answer to a never-ending story…”

You laughed at the song number from the radio in between coughs. “That definitely takes the sting out of dying,” you said. You can only imagine Erica’s face during this whole ordeal.

“Don’t say that.”

You looked at Steve in deadpan. You kept eye contact as you spat blood and body matter into an empty soda cup you found discarded in the car. It was a low-blow towards him, you knew that, and he didn’t deserve it.

But you were so tired, and you were so mad at yourself for always being late, for being cowardly.

So, when Jonathan turned the car to follow the Spider Monster that turned back to the mall, you immediately hopped off and went looking for El instead of going with them to set off the fireworks. Steve, as expected, put up a fight, insisting that you all stick together.

“I won’t go near it,” you reasoned. “I’m finding El and getting her out of here, while you keep it distracted.” When he looked unconvinced, you added, “The fireworks will also distract Billy. It’s going to be okay.”

“That isn’t comforting at the very least,” Steve said, making you laugh at your early words being thrown back at you.

“Hey!”

You turned to see Nancy Wheeler toss a bundle of fireworks at you. At your raised brow, she shrugged, “Just in case.”

Following a broken gate not too far from where Steve rammed Billy’s car, you found an employee’s corridor where Max and Mike passed out nearby with angry bruises on their faces. You rushed over for Max and shook her awake. Her eyes immediately shot open.

“Billy, it was Billy,” Max said, panicked. “He took El. You have to go. I’ll take care of Mike. Go!” She staggered to her feet, gripping the pipes for stability.

“I can’t go near him or that thing.” You hesitated leaving Max, but when she yelled at you again to go for El, you turned your feet and broke off into a run. Then the fireworks began…

“Fuck!” you screamed, falling to your knees. Every corner of your body was set ablaze. You cried out as the flowers inside you constricted with every blast.

Max and Mike quickly caught up to you, pulling you to your feet. Suddenly, it was quiet, and a wave of calm washed over you. You saw a beautiful woman in a sundress and a hat by the beach. It wasn’t your memory, but it was being returned to someone after being taken away. Billy.

“She was pretty,” you could hear El cry in your head. “She was really pretty.”

Taking advantage of the situation, you sped through the corridor and into the mall. You found Billy beginning to stand up to the Spider Monster. “When I make a run for it, you grab El and get her out of here, okay?”

“What? You just said you can’t face that thing!” Mike told you.

“Just do it!” You pushed your feet as fast as you could to face the monster.

“No!” Billy roared, grabbing the monster’s tentacle mouth to stop it from reaching El.

Seeing your opportunity, you quickly pulled the taped matchstick from the bundle and ignited the fireworks. Swinging your arm back, you flung it as hard as you could into the monster’s mouth. Right as soon as the explosive left your hand, you caught incoming smaller tentacles headed for Billy’s side, slinging two of them to your side from the crook of your elbow.

“I got you,” you said out of breath, seeing Billy’s surprised face. However, your fight had the monster targeting you, sending two other tendrils to your side instead. You barely felt it, even as its sharp tongue stabbed into your abdomen.

Touching the Spider Monster was as worse as looking straight into the Gate. You cried out as flashes of memories of you and Steve, growing up through the years, bombarded you, while the flowers inside you began crawling outside your ribs instead. You barely heard the last firework go off as you felt the vines throbbing under your skin.

An arm wrapped around your waist and pulled your unmoving feet, dragging you away. Your spotted, blurred vision could only see a head of dark blonde curls with a massive dark mass in the background screeching in agony.

“It’s over. It's supposed to be over!" you heard Max’s muffled voice say. “What’s wrong with her?!” You felt hands on your shoulder, shaking you to snap out of it.

“Steve,” you breathed out. You tried to focus on Max, but with a blink, you were trapped back in your memories. Steve telling you to go home every time as he led a different girl up the stairs to his room. Steve dropping you off while thanking you for picking out a gift for Nancy. Watching him smile ever so fondly at Robin. Seeing the smile that you so desperately desired every time.

All the memories of Steve breaking your heart, you felt all at once.

You continued to unconsciously call out Steve’s name. Even when the paramedics began wheeling you out in a stretcher. You vaguely saw them cutting your shirt open, exposing the gore that was concealed by the fabric.

The black vines had reached out on the surface of your skin. The outline of your ribs was exposed, threading black and purple angry bruises over your torso. The right side of your ribcage had completely sank, one rib twisting outwards and leaking a mix of blood and black goo. The damage was extensive, but the monster you grew and fed inside you seemed to be finally lying still, only remaining dormant once the gate was sealed once again.

“… -eral broken ribs and possible internal bleeding!” a paramedic called. “One of her lungs has collapsed. She's in shock!”

Then Steve was there. You couldn’t tell if it was a memory or if it was happening at that moment. He was struggling against two firemen, trying to get to you with one hand reaching out. With the last bit of energy left, you raised your hand, reaching out towards him too.

“Steve…”

[zmwrites]

Writemas 2024: Day 24

Look at me! I finished! This one took forever because it is super long (oops). Thank you to @agirlandherquill for hosting this event and for getting me writing again—almost 15K words after not writing for most of 2024.

WIP: Just Jane

Prompt(s): “What do you mean you don’t know how to dance?” + A castle + The chill of rain

Words: 1,698

Notes: In which Jane and Kell hide from a party together, Kell tries to teach Jane how to dance, and they finally address the elephant in the room.

Jane stood where the terrace met the garden, as far from the glittering hubbub of the ballroom as she could while remaining socially acceptable. The holiday party thrown by Duchess Anwen was in full swing and she was doing her best to stay out of the way. The interior of the castle was decorated beautifully with garlands and bouquets of flowers, working together to lift the drabness of the cloudy sky.

“Ah, Jane! There you are,” Kell greeted as he approached. He was walking faster than normal. A group of three young women watched him from just inside the ballroom, their eyes hawkish and their mouths turned down.

She gave a terrible, unserious curtsy. “Good evening, Mr. Dyer.”

“I’m going to hide here for a few minutes,” he said, standing with his back to the ballroom. “If that’s okay with you.”

“Be my guest,” she replied. “Are you being flirted with by eligible young women again?”

“You make it sound like a good thing.”

“It can’t be that bad.”

He grimaced. “The anxiety it inspires is akin to being hunted for sport.”

She laughed and looped her arm through his, tugging him into the garden paths and away from the prying eyes of the ballroom. It smelled like it was going to rain soon, but she didn’t care. As long as she had an excuse to stay away from the crowd for a little while longer.

“Are you enjoying the party?” he asked as they passed under an arch of white gardenias.

“It’s nice,” she replied. “But I’m feeling out of my depth.”

“How so?”

She hesitated. It was something she’d avoided saying anything about to Pavia and Percy thus far, and she wasn’t interested in adding a new type of lesson to her social schooling.

“Jane?” Kell bumped into her just hard enough to jostle her.

“I don’t know how to dance,” she admitted.

He stopped. “What do you mean, you don’t know how to dance?”

“It’s not a big deal,” she insisted, trying to pull him back into motion. The lanterns that lined the garden paths swayed gently in the breeze.

“No wonder you never want to come to these parties. Dancing is the main activity if you don’t want to talk to people.”

Hence why she was hiding in the garden, as she didn’t know how to dance and was tired of talking to strangers. “I mostly come for the cakes. Tonight they have these tiny cakes with strawberries and cream on the top, and they’re so good I think I’m going to steal an entire platter.”

“You need to learn how to dance if you’re going to be part of polite society,” he said, ignoring her attempt to change the subject.

“I spend enough time learning social graces every week; I don’t want to add dance lessons. Percy hired fancy tutors now that Lyra and I both need instruction, and they’re so bossy and strict and I hate them.”

He studied her. “What about private lessons?”

“I don’t—”

“I’ll teach you,” he offered.

Jane blinked at him. “You?”

“I’ve grown up in this world. I know how to dance, even if I choose not to.”

She chewed on her lip. It would be useful to know how to dance. Maybe not all of the different ones, but at least one or two so she could show Pavia she was trying to fit in. “It can’t be that hard if you can do it.”

“I will accept that barb gracefully.” He held out a hand. “We’ll start with the basics.”

“What, now?”

“Would you rather go back to the party?”

No. She wrinkled her nose but accepted his hand. No one could see them to judge her—they’d stopped at an intersection of two footpaths and were surrounded by tall trellises and hedges, so they had more privacy than they’d get anywhere else in the garden.

“Put your other hand on my shoulder,” he instructed. He put his free hand under her arm and rested his palm against her shoulder blade. “Keep your elbows high and out.”

“This is weird.”

He chuckled. “Our movements will mirror each other. I step forward with my left foot, you step back with your right foot.”

She did as he instructed, giggling as they struggled through a basic box step. They weren’t even rotating as she saw couples do in the ballroom and she couldn’t stop stepping on his toes.

“Why is this so hard?” she asked, unable to stop laughing as she watched their feet.

“You’re getting better,” Kell said. “Try looking at me instead of your feet. You need to trust yourself.”

She raised her gaze, ready to say something sarcastic, and her brain froze. The space between them had dwindled and he was closer than she’d expected. His brilliant green eyes were just inches away. Even in the dim lantern light, she could see the streaks of amber and the dark ring around them that she found so fascinating.

“Jane?”

“Sorry. I was just—you have pretty eyes.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she cringed. That was not a normal thing to say, even if they were friends.

Kell smiled, only slightly bewildered. “Thank you.”

A blush climbed her face. She couldn’t make her feet go in a simple square, but apparently she had no trouble putting one in her mouth.

He squeezed her hand. “Let’s go again.”

She counted out the steps under her breath just for something to focus on that wasn’t the strange way he was looking at her. Back-back-together, forward-forward-together. It was ridiculous that she was having so much trouble with something so simple. She could scale walls with the smallest of handholds! She could climb chimneys, and pass through crowded rooms unnoticed, and pick locks others deemed impossible! Why was she suddenly so clumsy and uncoordinated?

“Do you want to stop? I can see you getting frustrated,” Kell said.

“Am not.”

“Your forehead is all scrunched.”

“That’s focus.”

“No, when you’re focused you get a little line between your brows. This is a full scrunch of frustration.”

She scowled at him. She knew she had an expressive face, but she didn’t like being read like an open book. Not by the one person who made her stomach feel all stupidly fluttery every time they were close to each other.

He smiled cheekily, then spun her under his arm. “Come on, one more try and I’ll let you give up for the evening.”

“Just for the evening?”

“You’re Jane of House Greystone, you can do anything you put your mind to,” he said. He tugged her back into the closed position, overruling her reluctance. “One more try.”

“I liked it better when I was the positive one and you were the pessimist,” she grumbled. Still, she returned her hand to his shoulder and raised her eyes to his. He’d told her to look at him instead of her feet, so that’s what she would try. She was prepared for how pretty his eyes were, and the tousle of his honey-dark hair, the teasing curve of his mouth, the warmth radiating from him even through his fancy suit, the heat spreading across her skin from their three points of contact, the rise and fall of his chest, his exhales stirring the loose hairs along her temples, the softness of his lips, the—

Where had this thought been going? She mentally shook herself back into focus. 

She was fully prepared for the effect he had on her and was capable of being in close proximity without forgetting her goal.

Jane grimaced at her own lie. The truth was that she couldn’t even control her thoughts when he was so close. 

“Don’t make that face, you’re doing it perfectly,” Kell said, interrupting her brooding.

“I am?” She looked down and, sure enough, her feet were following his. “Hey, I am!”

He laughed, surprising her enough that she tripped over her own feet and had to grip his arm to stay upright.

Keep it together, Jane.

“Did the master thief just stumble over nothing?” he teased.

“I would never,” she replied primly, unable to stop the warmth climbing her cheeks.

“You’re blushing again.”

“Shush.”

“It’s cute.”

She scrunched her nose at him.

He raised a hand to her cheek, his fingers splaying down her neck, and leaned closer. Her face tilted towards him. He stopped just inches away, their breath mingling in the tiny space between them.

“Are you going to kiss me?” she asked, barely above a whisper.

His nose brushed hers. “Are you going to let me?”

She nodded, perhaps too eagerly, but he must not have cared as he closed the short distance between them. It was gentle, almost hesitant, but she didn’t expect anything else from him. This was Kell, who had almost died by her side three times before admitting they were friends. He didn’t jump into things recklessly; he had probably thought this over a thousand times before taking action.

He broke the kiss but left his forehead pressed to hers. “Is that okay?”

“Are you asking for a review?”

He snorted. “I know you’re skittish about physical affection. I figured I should check in.”

“Are you holding back out of concern for my comfort?” she demanded.

“Yes?”

Jane threw her arms around his neck and dragged him down to her level, eliciting a small noise of surprise before she found his mouth again. Gods and saints alike, she finally understood what the poets meant. Every verse and sonnet she’d rolled her eyes at suddenly made sense. This was what they were all searching for. This was what they were trying to communicate. 

With a low roar, the clouds above opened up. It started with a few scattered raindrops, but quickly crescendoed into a cold downpour that drenched through the airy material of her dress in seconds. 

Jane looked at the sky, arms still around Kell’s shoulders, and mentally cursed Kustia. After everything she’d done for the nature goddess, surely she deserved better than this. 

“Unbelievable,” he murmured, squinting into the rain.

She laughed and threaded their fingers together, pulling him back towards the ballroom through the garden paths.

[piarelei]

hi, would you be able to write a Cymav fic for me? Rated T or G. Maybe Cyclone is really stressed and ends up going to The Hard Deck, Maverick finds him there and they end up going home together. The main thing I want is Mav comforting Cyclone and helping him find a way to relax. Thank you

Hello, I did a lil something, not sure how satisfying it is to you. I'm not really used to this dynamic and this was incredibly interesting. I had a lot of fun, thank you! Not beta-ed, sorry, we die like Goose.

Cyclone would not use reckless as an adjective to define himself, but he feels positively so when he lets Maverick take the seat across from him. A self-satisfied Maverick is a dangerous one and Maverick looks like the cat who got the cream.

“Go away, Mitchell,” Cyclone says, reflexively.

Maverick flashes a smile and puts his sweating beer on the table, ignoring the perfectly serviceable coster a few inches from it. Cyclone sighs and flicks it towards him. It has the unfortunate effect of reading as an invitation.

“What’s up?” Maverick asks, sprawling on the back of his chair. He looks good, relaxed and happy. Life after death and all that crap.

“Is that how you speak to your superior?”

Maverick snorts. “As of…” He looks down at his wristwatch. “Two days and three hours ago, I officially retired. I don’t really answer to you.”

Cyclone huffs a bitter laugh. “Have you ever answered to me?”

Maverick shrugs. “Well, orders are orders.”

Cyclone sips at his whiskey sour instead of answering.

“Well, seriously,” Maverick pushed on. “What’s up?”

“Have you never had a bad day?”

Maverick hums. “Sure did. Plenty. But I usually didn’t make it better by having a drink by my lonesome in the bar where the people who have turned my day to shit also go drink away their sorrows.”

Cyclone presses his lips together. He concedes the point. “What do you prescribe then, doctor?” he answers, bitterness flooding between his teeth.

“Pack it up and find someone to show you a good time,” Maverick says with a smug grin, leaning forward conspiratorially.

Cyclone wrinkles his nose. “Is that you offering?” It’s only half a joke and he almost regrets it as he says it.

In response, he feels the press of Maverick’s boot against his ankle. “Is that you taking me up on it?”

Cyclone’s body goes taunt, a little with apprehension, a little with want. Breathing is a conscious effort.

He looks toward the bar, where Penny Benjamin is cracking jokes with her regulars. Cyclone swallows back on his own desire and turns judgmental eyes to Maverick.

“In your girlfriend’s bar, really?”

Maverick cracks a smile like Cyclone is a very prolific comedian. “Penny is a very good friend, but she’s no girlfriend of mine, no sir.”

When Cyclone doesn't find an answer fast enough, Maverick mellows and reaches out, touching two fingers to the white-knuckle grip that Cyclone has around his glass. “We don’t have to, but I would really like to take you home.”

He had heard the stories of Maverick’s very long string of girlfriends and had never understood how good looks could pull so many women into one’s bed. He gets it now. It’s not just good looks. The depth of his eyes where dances something caring and wild is a powerful seduction tool.

Cyclone pulls away, pretending to take another swallow. Then a second. Then a third. Until he sits there, with ice burning his lips. He has very little time to make a decision and he is afraid that it’s already all made.

He lets his glass thunk on the table and looks straight at Maverick. He pulls all of the authority he has amassed in his body, which has already given him the reputation of a hardass, and does his best to appear collected.

“You’ve taken you bike here, correct?” He waits for Maverick to nod, a playful purse to his lips. “You’ll follow me, then. These are your orders.”

Maverick rises from his seat. “After you, sir.”

Hope you liked it! My inbox is still open for suggestions, I'm not a regular to Cymav but this was a really nice time. If you have any Icemav, Hangster, (dare I say Cymav if this was not a complete disaster) literally anything you wanna read, send me a prompt.

[the-d-wave]

With gentle skincare, you can minimize eye wrinkles, also known as crow's feet and achieve youthful, healthy-looking skin. Read its causes and how you can manage them.

[ultrajaphunter]

Men Are Just Happier People 

What do you expect from such simple creatures? Your last name stays put. The garage is all yours. Wedding plans take care of themselves.

Chocolate is just another snack. You can never be pregnant. You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park. You can wear NO shirt to a water park.Car mechanics tell you the truth. You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky. You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. Wrinkles add character. Wedding dress – $5,000. Tux rental - $100. People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.New shoes normally don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet. One mood all the time. Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.

You know stuff about tanks. A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase. You can open all your own jars.You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness. If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend. Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack. Two pairs of shoes are more than enough. You almost never have strap problems in public. You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.Everything on your face stays its original color.

The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades. You only have to shave your face and neck. You can play with toys all your life. One wallet and one pair of shoes – one color for all seasons. You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife. You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache... You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes. No wonder men are happier!

NICKNAME  If Laura, Kate, and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah. If Mike, Bob, Dan, Ed and Pat go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Bubba, Bird Brain, Idiot and Wild man.

EATING OUT  When the bill arrives, Mike, Bob, Dan, Ed and Pat will each throw in $20, even though it's only for 62.50. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back. When the girls get their bill, outcome the pocket calculators.

MONEY  A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need but it's on sale.

BATHROOMS  A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel. The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337.

A man would not be able to identify more than 20 of these items.

ARGUMENTS  A woman has the last word in any argument. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

FUTURE  A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband. A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.

MARRIAGE  A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't. A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, but she does. DRESSING UP  A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the trash, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail. A man will dress up for weddings and funerals. NATURAL  Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed. Women somehow deteriorate during the night.

OFFSPRING  Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears, and hopes and dreams. A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 

A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing!

[magnoliamyrrh]

Can you drop the face wrinkle exercies routine? You said it did wonders to your face

sure! I know i wrote this on here before cuz someone asked me but i cant find it so here we go again lol

ive started using some new skincare products bc of the rash thing ive gotten on my face and those help too ive come to see. ive been using azelaic acid cream 10% morning sometimes night too, it helps increse skin overturn (like retinol does) and increse the collagen in the skin, but has been pretty gentle on my skin, and made it more smooth than it has been in yrs. it also dries out the face tho and i have a naturally very oily face without the acid, so ive been using A+D ointment (vaseline + lanolin (sheep grease)) which has been working great (vaseline cant clog up pores). having moisturized skin rly helps! also, ive v rarely used sunscreen throughout my life, and i know ppl say this helps prevent as well

other stuff, sometimes when i wake up i will take a icecube and rub it on my face. great way to wake up lol, but it also tightens the skin and helps reduce inflation. everyonce in awhile i will freeze an eggwhite and use this instead. also, being well hydrated helps, and Maybe taking collagen supplements or eating a diet heavy in collagen (soups w bones, bone marrow, skin, chicken feet etc, taking gelatin or collagen supplements) may help (i do this anyway bc of my lack of collagen bc genetic disorder).

as for the exercises, i follow the ones of this lady. you can also find her on tiktok where she has more content

the one at 2:38 (first link) is the one i do most often and i feel like its rly helped! it rly is a big difference compared to how it used to b before i started all this (and i can also tell a difference bc ive stopped doing it regularly for some weeks and its still better than it used to b, but not as good). i feel like i look less like a chronic smoker 30 year old exhausted mom lol, like i rly look moreso my age, most times i dont even have actual wrinkle dents in my laugh lines anymore where before there used to be!

this is for laugh line wrinkles tho, she has many others too for other parts of the face: ive done her eye exercises before and her forehead massage exercises and feel like those helped too! ive also done her exercises for jowels, and felt like they were sagging less. make sure your face is moisturized before you do this tho! ,,, ive also been at times doing a version of the lymph notes face massages you see online (but w my hands, not that stone thing), cant tell you if they help w anything but it does feel nice and help release tension in the face (tension being one of the things which leads to wrinkles)

i really did notice a difference after awhile of doing these every day! how much i did a day varied, sometimes just 10 min sometimes more as i was sitting around doing other things. i know at some point my cheeks hurt the day after, like i had muscle fatigue like when you exercise other muscles lol. i also noticed that after a few days it became a lot easier to do the movements and my face muscles were definetely getting stronger. be consistent and have patience and i really do think you will see some results!!! ive also seen a scientific study on this sort of exercises done on elderly women (50/60+) where they did 30 min of exercises every day for months, showing before and after photos, and i was rly shocked by the results; its why i decided to try to do this! best of luck :)

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[gezondenmooi-net]

Unlock the Secrets to Health and Beauty: Natural Remedies, Wellness Tips, Skincare Routines, Anti-Aging Solutions, and Cellulite Creams Revealed

Welcome to the ultimate guide to health and beauty! In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about natural remedies, wellness tips, skincare routines, anti-aging solutions, and more.

Let's start with natural remedies. One of the most popular natural remedies for sore muscles and joint pain is horse balm. Horse balm is a natural topical cream that contains menthol, camphor, and other natural ingredients that provide a cooling and soothing effect. It can be found at many stores, including Etos.

Another natural remedy that has gained popularity in recent years is CBD oil. CBD oil is a natural extract from the cannabis plant that has been found to have many health benefits, including reducing anxiety, relieving pain, and improving sleep. It can be ingested or applied topically, and is available at many health food stores.

Now let's move on to wellness tips. One of the most important things you can do for your overall health is to stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day can help improve your skin, boost your metabolism, and even improve your mood.

Exercise is another important aspect of wellness. Regular exercise can help improve your cardiovascular health, strengthen your muscles, and even reduce stress and anxiety. Find an exercise routine that you enjoy, whether it's yoga, running, or weightlifting, and stick to it.

Skincare is also a crucial component of health and beauty. One of the most important things you can do for your skin is to protect it from the sun. Wear sunscreen every day, even on cloudy days, to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Additionally, make sure to cleanse and moisturize your skin regularly to keep it looking healthy and radiant.

Now let's talk about anti-aging solutions. One of the most effective anti-aging ingredients is retinol. Retinol is a form of vitamin A that has been found to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin texture, and even out skin tone. Look for skincare products that contain retinol, or talk to your dermatologist about prescription-strength retinoids.

Another popular anti-aging treatment is Botox. Botox is a cosmetic injection that temporarily relaxes the muscles in the face, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It's important to do your research and find a reputable provider if you are considering Botox.

Finally, let's talk about cellulite. Cellulite is a common concern for many people, especially women. While there is no cure for cellulite, there are many creams and gels on the market that can help reduce its appearance.

One popular cellulite gel is the cream against cellulite by Elancyl. This cream contains caffeine and other natural ingredients that help improve circulation and reduce the appearance of cellulite.

Another popular cellulite cream is the anti-cellulite cream by Nivea. This cream contains coenzyme Q10 and other natural ingredients that help firm and tone the skin, reducing the appearance of cellulite.

When looking for a good cellulite cream, make sure to read reviews and do your research. While there is no miracle cure for cellulite, regular use of a good cellulite cream can help improve the appearance of your skin.

In conclusion, this ultimate guide to health and beauty has covered everything from natural remedies to anti-aging solutions to cellulite creams. Remember to stay hydrated, exercise regularly, and protect your skin from the sun to maintain your health and beauty. And when it comes to cellulite, do your research and find a good cream or gel that works for you. With these tips and tricks, you'll be on your way to looking and feeling your best.

[mint-moon25]

ITZY “BET ON ME” M/V @ITZY

GETTING - LEGAL - PERMISSION

IMPERIAL - HIGHNESS - OF - JAPAN

MET - HIM - LAST - CENTURY - MET

LITTLE - BOY - THE - CROWN PRINCE

IMPERIAL - HIGHNESS - ASKED - ME

AS - CHILD - IF - I - WANTED - 2 - YES

MARRY - CROWN - PRINCE

WE - BOTH - GIGGLED

HE - LOVED - FAST - VEHICLES

TRICYCLED - EVERYWHERE

WITH - MY - PLASTIC - SURGERY

PRESENTING - MYSELF - 2 THE

IMPERIAL - HGHNESS - OF - JAPAN

FACES - MARILYN MONROE - PAULINA

PORIZKOVA - 'STATE - FAIR' - PAMELA

TIFFIN - CANDICE SWANEPOEL SUCH

BEAUTY - ASIAN - PART - KOREA's

SE-KYUNG SHIN - LASER - HEIGHT

5'9 FT - LIKE - SERENE - PRINCESS

CATHERINE ELIZABETH

BUT - NO - MORE - WRINKLES

LOOKING - AGE 16

WITH - MAKE UP - LIKE AGE 19

WHAT - HIS - SON - LOOKS - LIKE

TODAY - THEY - NEED - BOTOX - 2

WHAT - MY - TOKYO - JAPAN YES

MALE - SCIENTISTS - CAN DO - 4

ME - SOMETHING - MORE SPECIAL

MARVEL - 'THE - AVENGERS'

THE - IRON - MAN - UNDERNEATH

WOW - SUCH - BRILLIANCE - THE

ULTIMATE - BULLET - BOMB FIRE

WATER - PROOF

LEGAL - PERMISSION

ITZY - HELLO KITTY

CHANGING - THEIR - SUITS - THIS

TIME - WILL - B - ABLE 2 BREATHE

BETTER - BULLET - BOMB - FIRE &

WATERPROOF - CAN - DANCE AND

DO - ACROBATIC - GYMNASTICS

AS - I - REMINDED - EVERYONE OF

ITZY - AS - ANIMATION - WE - ARE

CREATING - SUITS - 4 - THEM TOO

WHO - IS - HELLO - KITTY - AS - A

TALL - LARGE - CHARACTER

INTRODUCING - ME - FUTURE

CAILEY BAILEY

ROCKER - PINK LOVE

MY - ASIAN - MALE - DANCERS - SINGERS

WITH - ME - ON - STAGE

AS - HELLO KITTY - AKA - KITTY WHITE

DOING - ACROBATIC - GYMNASTICS AND

SING - AND - DANCE - ITZY - ON - STAGE

AS - THEMSELVES - EACH - LARGE DOLL

THINKING - SE KYUNG SHIN - AS MIMMY

TWIN - SISTER - YELLOW - BOW

POP UP - TENT - IS - HIGHLY - DEPENDABLE

ON - ONE - LOOK - RIBBON - ATTACHED SO

GATHER - LIKE - GIVING - A - HUG - GIVE IT

2 - U - AS - YOU - LIE - DOWN - THE - POP

UP - TENT - AND - BRING - EDGE - LEGS

UP - NO - RIBBON - TIED - WON'T WORK

AS - TENT - IF - OVER - DID - TYING UP

USE - BARRET - 2 - START - AGAIN

HELLO - KITTY - RESORTS - PARKS

HAVE - FAT - WOMEN - BRINGING IN

KIDS - WE'LL - HAVE - OUR

DEMOCRAT - CHEERLEADERS

MALES - FEMALES

2 - WORK - OUR - ITZY - HELLO KITTY

PARKS - HELP - WITH - OR - STORES

CAFES - HOTELS - INNS - MAJOR JP

PROVIDE - EMPLOYMENT

ON - STAGE - YOU - WILL - DO - YES

GYMNASTICS - AS - PEOPLE - LIVE

OTHER - STARS - LIKE

VANESSA HUDGENS

SUIT - LOOKING - LIKE - HER - ALSO

SINGS - AND - DANCES - WITH - IT 2

CHILDREN's - PARK

TEENS

YOUNG - ADULTS

ADULTS - SENIORS

SO - HELLO - KITTY - ITZY - WE'RE - STARTING

OVER - AGAIN - WITH - OUR - OWN JAPANESE

MERCHANDISE - COUTURE - DESIGNER - YES

WE'RE - JUST - SELLING - CHEAPER

ITZY - HELLO KITTY - OURS - THEIR DESIGNS

COUTURE - AND - DESIGNERS - AS - WE YES

BRING - BETTER - MERCHANDISE

BUT - THIS - TIME - AFFORDABLE

BRINGING - ADULT - AND - TEENS - NOT JUST

KIDS - ONLY - SOFAS - FURNITURE - BEDDING

PAJAMAS - CLOTHES - WHOLE - FAMILY WILL

HAVE - CLOTHES - MAKING - ABOUT - FAMILY

BEST - CLOTHES - APPLIANCES - KITCHEN

COOKWARE - ITZY - HELLO KITTY

SMART - HOUSES

ITZY - HELLO - KITTY - GATED - COMMUNITIES

SMART - HOUSES

AESPA - CHARLIE BROWN - GATED COMMUNITIES

SMART - HOUSES

SMART - APT - BUILDINGS

ITZY - HELLO KITTY

AESPA - CHARLIE BROWN

SOMETIMES - THEIR - STUFF - IS - GREAT

MANY - TIMES - JUST - EXPENSIVE

FUTURE - 0 CAL - ICE - CREAM

0 CAL - SOFT - SERVE - VANILLA - YOGURT

THERA - PEDIC - REMOTE - BEDS

ITZY - HELLO KITTY

AESPA - CHARLIE BROWN

SPORTS - ITZY - HELLO KITTY

ARCHERY - ARROWS - LIKE

'THE - SMURFS: THE - LOST - VILLAGE'

ARCHERY - ROUND - WHITE - BALLS

KIDS - 12 AND YOUNGER

ARCHERY - COMPETITIONS - BOTTOM

HELLO KITTY - 2 - MAKE - SAFE 4 KIDS

HOST - ITZY - SPORTS - BOW AND ARROW

SAME - WINNER - TAKES - ALL

500 BILLION - YEN - EACH - TAX - PAID

HELLO - KITTY - TROPHIES

PINK - DIAMONDS

DIAMONDS

RUNNING - LATE - LEAVING - SOON

2 - DO - LAUNDRY - BUS 8

HAVE - 2 - WAKE - UP - 3:30A - YES

INSTEAD - BECAUSE - TOOK - 2 HRS

WILL - B - LESS - IN - FUTURE

BUT - ABOVE - CAN'T - WAIT 2

PERFORM - WITH - ITZY - AND

AESPA - WITH - THEIR - ASSIGNED

ANIMATION - JESUS - IS LORD - JP