#cable reel table

[senorabond]

Rumor Has It: Chapter 4 Peña x f!reader x Pike

Rumor Has It (Peña x f!reader x Pike)

Pairings: Javier Pena x f!reader; Marcus Pike x f!reader; future Pena x f!reader x Pike

Chapter 4 Summary: Marcus is still reeling from your phone call and can’t stop thinking about the last time he saw you. Peña is ready to get things moving.

Rating: 18+ (Minors DNI), Explicit sexual content, additional warnings may be added for future chapters

Chapter Warnings: no use of y/n, previous relationship (Marcus x Reader), flashback, semi-public/workplace sex (evidence locker after hours), unprotected p-in-v (stay safe, folks), probably talking about cum way too much?, Dom/sub dynamic, soft Dom!Marcus, praise kink, you are such a good girl, denying all the feels, Javi is apparently a leg guy

Reader/Character notes: Reader is fem!afab; No mention of Reader’s body size, shape, composition, or skin color.

Words: 4.6k

Author’s Note: This was going to be the final part of the evidence locker flashback, buuut it turned into part 2 of 3. There will likely also be more future flashbacks of Marcus and Reader, perhaps in the form of one-shots. Javi has always had a mind of his own, but he really surprised me while writing this chapter! As always, thank you SO SO MUCH to my beeeeautiful beta @kilamonster for helping me find Javi’s voice and mannerisms. You help keep me going!!

Masterlist || Previous Chapter

Present Washington, D.C.

Marcus sits on his couch, bare feet propped up on the coffee table, summarizing case notes for court on his laptop. He’d be giving a deposition later that week, and wasn’t looking forward to catching up on all the work he’ll miss for the actual trial. The case you and he worked on before your move to Texas was set for a few weeks away. Six months after you made the arrest, and it feels like things are finally coming full circle – both with the case, and with you.

Your call had been a shock to his system, leaving him distracted at work and sleeping restlessly these last few days. Marcus would be lying if he said it wasn’t a welcome shock. He’d been anxious to hear from you, both worried and frustrated that you’d never returned any of his calls. Hurt, too, if he was honest. What the two of you had went beyond some convenient arrangement – it developed out of the natural chemistry the two of you shared, after you’d been working together on the case and developed a friendship based on your mutual respect and admiration. 

Marcus realizes he’s been drifting off again when his laptop goes into sleep mode and he has to tap the touchpad to wake it back up. Taking a swig from his beer, he sighs and moves his laptop to the couch cushion next to him. With a heavy sigh, Marcus slouches down deeper into the worn-in leather sofa and rubs his stiff neck. You’re really the reason he’s working at home this late, having to make up for time lost spent thinking of you. And the last time he saw you.

A glance at the clock on his cable box evokes a rough swear. Marcus told his girlfriend he’d call her after dinner, but he also forgot to eat any dinner and time just got away from him. He fires off an apology text and makes a mental note to get up early enough so he can surprise her with coffee before work.

Marcus hasn’t been to the store in awhile, so his stomach will have to subsist on a dry ham and cheese sandwich with stale bread. Too tired to finish his notes, he shuts his laptop and packs his work bag before heading to bed. As he enters his bedroom and goes through his nighttime routine on autopilot, Marcus’ thoughts drift once again to your last night in D.C. 

In bed, stretched out on the side you used to occupy on the nights you’d spend over, Marcus lets out a heavy sigh and tries to clear his mind. Unbidden, thoughts come to him: you, laid out on the light table, wet, writhing, and begging. This has happened each night since your call. Tonight, Marcus is hard in seconds, precum already forming a damp spot on his boxers, and he needs relief. 

Before he can change his mind, Marcus walks to his dresser and opens his sock drawer. He pulls out the pair of panties you were wearing that night, given to him as a cheeky parting gift. Too embarrassed to admit how long it took him to get around to finally washing them, he’s since used them several times for his own purposes. Having a girlfriend the last couple of months has meant the panties were kept hidden in the back of his sock drawer instead of his bedside table drawer. This would be the first he’s pulled them out since they’d made it official.

Back in bed, Marcus tells himself this is just to help him get a good night’s sleep. He’s removed his boxers and lays there with the covers kicked to his feet, free to move as much as he wants. Marcus fists his cock, and swipes the leaking tip with his thumb, spreading it around the swollen head. 

Mentally, he takes himself back to that night in the evidence room: the feel of you in his arms, pussy wrapped perfectly around his cock. Already so aroused, it won’t take him long to finish. As he’s done before, he plans to shoot his load in the panties that once collected your combined cum, spilled from your weeping cunt. Marcus strokes himself feverishly until his thighs shake and he’s bucking up into his fist, trying desperately not to moan your name.

Washington, D.C.6 months ago

“Hey, come back to me,” you hear Marcus murmur, and feel him turn your face to meet his. He kisses you slowly and deeply, and you taste your tang on his plump bottom lip. He presses his forehead against yours and you share a couple of breaths. 

“I’m not done with you yet.” 

You focus on the feeling of your exhaled breaths mingling in the space between yours and Marcus’ mouths. He nuzzles your neck and trails wet, open-mouthed kisses across your collarbone and chest. His every move is slow, languid, intentional; every touch sets your nerve endings alight. Your hands are buried in his hair, caressing the back of his neck, holding him to your breast as he sucks a taut nipple into his mouth.

“You’re so soft, so beautiful,” Marcus mutters against your skin, lost in his senses. He’s unbuttoning your shirt the rest of the way, kissing and nuzzling down with each inch exposed. 

Suddenly, Marcus is pulling you up, a hand behind your neck, another behind your back, until you’re sitting up fully on the edge of the table. He’s thrown in a slight shadow as your body blocks the lit surface behind you. You love the change in the angle, the difference in your height making him tilt his head up to meet your gaze, his own eyes full of adoration and awe. 

Removing your shirt entirely, Marcus quickly unhooks your bra and tosses it onto the table with your shirt. He rolls up his sleeves, his tie draped forgotten over the back of a nearby chair with his jacket. Desperate to feel more of him, you busy yourself with undoing more buttons of his shirt and running your hands across his chest and shoulders and back, wherever you can reach. Marcus reaches for you and helps you off the table, your skirt staying bunched at your hips and waist. 

“Turn around for me,” Marcus commands in his gentle, coaxing tone. You obey, and close your eyes a moment while they adjust to the white light of the table surface. Strong hands explore the curves of your ass, caressing, squeezing. 

“Feet apart, sweet girl.” His words are right behind your ear, a low rumble of satisfaction elicited as you follow his order immediately. You place both hands on the edge of the table, readying yourself for him. 

“Mmm, good girl.” You feel him moving behind you and shudder a bit – he’s undoing his pants, pulling his length out. Then he’s there, body pressed against yours, kissing the back of your neck, hard cock leaking on your ass. Your pussy is already pulsing in anticipation.

Marcus drags the tip of his nose up the line of your neck and nips at your earlobe. “Are you ready to take my cock, sweetheart?” He brushes your hair back from your face and you can only nod vigorously. A firm hand tilts your chin up.  

“I need to hear it, baby. Say it.” The suspense is torture, you need him inside you, stretching, filling you, in the way only he can. 

“Yes, Sir. Please. I need it.” The intensity of your need weaves a tremor into your voice. 

“What do you need?” Marcus grinds himself into your ass with a grunt, his hands gliding over your back and breasts. 

“I need your cock, Sir.” 

“Then you better take it.” Blood rushes in your ears, your breathing gets more labored. 

Marcus removes one of your hands from the table, guides it back towards him and you reach between your bodies. He places a hand over yours, wrapping your fingers around his shaft. The heft of him, the heat, the grip of his hand on yours as you give him a tentative stroke – “Good girl,” his breath hitches.

Marcus’ hand on your shoulder lowers your upper body closer to the table. You tilt your hips up at a better angle, offering yourself to him, then line his cock up at your entrance and try to push back. Marcus stills your hips, holds them firmly in place with both of his strong hands. 

With anyone else, you’d be embarrassed at the pitiful whine you let out, but it’s different with Marcus. It’s always been different, and right now you’re too far gone to care about anything else. You just need him inside you one last time. 

“Shh, it’s okay, sweet girl, I’ve got you. I’ll take care of you.” Marcus speaks softly, soothingly. “I’ll give you what you need.” He drags the head of his cock through your folds, getting it slick and ready.

Marcus inhales deeply through his nose, then enters you in one slow, smooth movement, pulling a moan from deep in your throat, and a stuttered exhale from him. You both take a moment to catch your breath and relish the sensation of being joined again. The stretch, the fullness – it makes your head swim.

“Fuck, that’s good,” Marcus mutters. “You’re so good, so perfect…” His hands caress your back and hips, then he’s moving – slowly, mindfully working you open with each press of his cock. He slides one hand up between your shoulder blades to the back of your neck, digs the fingers of his other into the flesh of your hip. You can tell he’s trying to hold back, give you time to adjust. But soon, he pulls out almost all the way, only to slide home again with more force, your forward momentum stopped by the table.

His pace quickens slightly, each thrust elongated and ending buried deep inside like it belongs there. The hand on the back of your neck moves to grip your shoulder, pulling you back onto his cock, forcing a breathy moan from your lungs on each snap of his hips. The edge of the table digs into your belly, but the feeling of being trapped and utterly at the mercy of Marcus’ increasing heat and ardor only fuels the flames kindling in your lower belly. 

“That’s it, baby. You’re doing so good. You always take my cock so well. My perfect girl.” Marcus’ unceasing string of praise elevates the stimulation to new heights and you feel the first flutters of another orgasm starting. Marcus feels it too and groans, slowing his rhythm to a torturous pace so you feel every drag of the head of his cock inside you.

Whimpering, you fight the urge to beg. Marcus knows what you can take, knows how far he can push you. He knows when you’re working hard for him, lavishes you with praise and adoration, and always rewards you with the best sensual, pleasurable experiences you’ve ever had.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart, I’m going to let you cum for me again,” Marcus lets out a breathy chuckle. “But we’re not there just yet, okay?”

“Yes, Sir,” you respond automatically and Marcus hums in delight. He strokes the back of your neck with his thumb and gently presses down on your shoulder until your breasts are pressed flat against the warm light of the table.

“Look at you, so beautiful. You should always be in the light, always be seen and appreciated.” Folding your arms to cradle your face, you close your eyes against the light of the table and bask in the warmth of Marcus’ words. His hips never stop their fluid motion, almost lazy if not for the strength and intention behind each thrust. 

This is another of his lessons in patience. Patience has never been a strength of yours; Marcus has taught you the value of slowing down, waiting, living in the moment – especially a sensuous moment such as this. If you can focus on the here and now instead of the finish line, the end will be so much sweeter. 

“Mm, that’s right, just relax and take it,” He pulls back and spreads the globes of your cheeks to see where his cock is splitting you open. His breath hitches at the sight, “Ohh, that’s pretty. I wish you could see how beautiful you look like this, sucking me in over and over. It’s like your pussy was made for my cock, sweetheart.” 

This makes you moan even louder, your breath catching, ass pushing back involuntarily, cunt clenching around his cock. Marcus curses under his breath and shoves himself in harder, thrusts becoming shorter again, hitting even deeper. 

“Oh god, Sir. Yes, please fuck me.” the words spill out unbidden, punctuated on each slap of Marcus’ hips into your ass and thighs. 

“Does that make you hot? Knowing your pussy was made just for me? Meant for my cock.” Marcus’ words come out more strained as he fucks you harder. “It had to be, you take it so well. You fit so perfectly wrapped around me. Fuck, you’re squeezing me so tight, baby.”

He’s got you pinned against the edge of the table now, driving into you, breath coming out in pants. Sweat is forming at your temples and the back of your neck, you’re craning your neck to try and see his face, but the light of the table is blurring your vision. Marcus, always so attuned to you, must see you struggling. He stops, remaining buried in you and says, “Come here, sweetheart. Let me help you up.” 

His arms slide around you, one across your stomach, the other wrapping across your breasts to your shoulder. You push up off your folded arms, and Marcus pulls you back against him, burying his face in your neck and hair. Marcus resumes, his thrusts short and staccato. The angle has changed, the head of his cock presses more firmly against that fleshy spot inside you over and over and your vision blurs a bit at the edges. 

“How’s that feel, sweet girl? Hm?” A whine loosens from your throat. “I can feel your legs shaking, I know you’re getting closer.” Panting, you grip onto his arm across your middle, wrap the other one behind you to card your fingers into his hair that you love to muss. You’re struggling to hold the angle, arching your back almost painfully. “I’ve got you, beautiful, relax. You don’t need to strain, just hold onto me.” 

Slowly, you start to let your weight sink into Marcus’ strong arms around you. “That’s it,” he whispers encouragingly against your ear. “That’s my good girl – letting me help, giving in. I know that’s not easy, you’re doing so well.” 

He’s hunching over you, holding you against him tightly, supporting most of your weight now. “I know your body, I know how to take care of you.” Marcus grunts as his cock twitches inside you – he’s getting closer as well. The need for him to fill you is overwhelming, suddenly.

“Please, Sir. I w-want–” Your plea is choked off as the fingers of his hand on your lower stomach start to travel down. 

“Talk to me, baby. Tell me what you want.” He nuzzles against your neck, nips at your jaw as you turn to look at him over your shoulder.

“I want your cum, Sir.” His rhythm falters for a moment and he lets out a deep groan. 

“I’m going to give you my cum, I promise, sweetheart.” Those fingers make a beeline for your cunt. You cry out as they deftly circle your clit. “But I’m going to need you to give me one more first. Can you do that?” You’re keening, teetering right on the edge. Marcus is relentless, plunging his cock into you, applying just the right amount of pressure to your clit, and tonguing across the fluttering pulsepoint on your neck. 

“I know you can do it, baby. C’mon.” You’ve reached your breaking point as his voice goes deeper, his cock twitching inside you as he fights to keep from following you. All it takes is for him to practically growl his next command, “Cum for me. Now.” 

As he feels the pulsing of your cunt around him, Marcus crashes his mouth down on yours to swallow your cries, muffling your moans with his tongue. He grunts against your mouth and stills his hips, breathing deeply in and out through his nose as he comes back from the edge. You sag against him, legs shaking, as you ride out your high.

“Good girl,” he rasps. “My good fucking girl.” He kisses your forehead and temple, then presses his lips in a trail down to the crook in your neck where he rests and catches his breath. 

“Thank you, Sir,” you whisper breathlessly. 

“I should be the one thanking you,” Marcus says softly into your hair. “You did so well for me.” As you begin to regain the strength in your legs, he runs a hand across your cheek and cups it, kissing you gently. His other hand trails featherlight touches across your breasts, then tweaks a nipple making you gasp. 

“Do you still want my cum?” This makes you clench around him with a moan, and he smiles. “I’ll take that as a yes.” 

~~~

PresentWashington, D.C. 

Marcus lays in bed, eyes squeezed shut tight, remembering the sounds you made as you came. He fucks up into his hand, once, twice more – “Oh fuck…fuck— fuck-” your name on his lips, cock pulsing as ropes of his cum land in your panties and spill over his fist. He strokes himself through it all, gasping for breath. 

“Jesus Christ,” he mutters to himself, waiting for his heart rate to slow. He chooses not to dwell on the fact that he just came the hardest he has in months. Cleaning himself up, he puts the cum-soaked panties in his hamper and almost collapses back into bed. Post nut clarity begins to set in, yet he doesn’t feel guilty like he thought he would, jerking off to those memories while in a relationship with somebody else. Somebody who actually was emotionally available and interested in him that way. 

It’s late, but Marcus knows he’s going to sleep like the dead tonight and probably wake up feeling refreshed. He’s gotten past the shock of your phone call and come through the other side.

Marcus lets out a deep sigh and closes his eyes for sleep. His phone buzzes on his nightstand and he rolls over to check it, thinking it must be his girlfriend responding to his apology earlier. 

Talked with Peña – I’m officially on the case! Thanks for your help xo ☺️

His mouth breaks into a grin. Of course it’s you. Happy to get the update, Marcus tries to think of something appropriate to write back.

You did all the hard work, you just needed a friend to listen.

Then he adds: Always here to help, I mean it. 

He watches the three little dots appear as you type back immediately: Can I call you tomorrow?

He writes: Of course, call any time

Thanks, talk tomorrow. Go to sleep!

If only it was that easy.

~~~

TexasThe Next Day

Javier leans back in his desk chair, fingers laced behind his head. Last night was an unexpected, albeit pleasant, surprise. He hasn’t had someone go toe-to-toe with him like that in awhile, and he always enjoys a challenge. Especially a challenge as good looking as you.

You respect Javier’s position in the structure of things, and you certainly have enough experience as a Fed to understand the rules of the game here. But Javier can tell you’re not just another meek, pushover type. Obedient, maybe, under the right circumstances, yet always ready to put up a bit of a fight when warranted. 

That last thought has certainly gotten Javier’s dick interested. He tries to adjust himself inconspicuously, mindful that his office door is open and to get up and shut it could be a wrong move if somebody were to walk by. Shifting a bit in his seat, he focuses instead on the paperwork he needs to sign to make your assignment to his case official. 

CBP Agent in Charge is written next to your name on the form. Javier smirks; you said you wanted all in – until the end – and this will make sure of it. You’ll be officially attached to the case, responsible for any Customs involvement in the investigation and a trial, if it comes to that. Javier knows this is a big step up for you, professionally speaking, and a huge undertaking. But he knows you’re up to the challenge. 

Now he just needs you to call your guy and bring in the – how did you put it last night? – boys with the fancy toys and the dollars to spend. Javier chuckles at that a bit as he signs and dates the last form. He doesn’t know who it was in the FBI you were previously entangled with, but if it brings him what he needs to finally get these fuckers behind bars, he’ll play a bit dirty to leverage that connection. And it won’t all be to his benefit, there’s a distinct possibility that you’ll get a promotion once this is all over. This is something Javier is more than happy to use his clout to influence. 

 A thought occurs to Javier that as the CBP’s lead representative on the case, you won’t be directly reporting to him. Not officially, anyway. It’s not like he’s never slept with somebody a few rungs beneath him before, just never a direct report. Besides, at this point in his career, in his current position, any kind of fraternizing is not worth the risk. He hasn’t slept with anybody at the office in quite awhile. Well, he hasn’t slept with anybody in quite awhile, period. Maybe that’s why you’ve been such a source of distraction to him, he just needs to get laid. 

He’s had his eye on you ever since you first arrived six months ago. You intrigued him. That’s why he talked to Sandra in Human Resources to get the scoop and a copy of your resume. Once he saw your background and heard a few of the rumors circulating, he had to speak to you for himself. 

Most newer agents in the area meeting Javier for the first time are a bit intimidated, excited, or even a little starstruck. He hates those kinds of encounters the most, he shouldn’t be looked up to for the things he’s done. You, however, had a different impression of him entirely. 

It stings a bit, he admits, to imagine you thinking poorly of him because of those rumors. Javier doesn’t know what it is, but there’s something about you that makes him want to show you he’s not like that. He knows at least half the rumors he’s heard about himself aren’t true. He doesn’t really mind the rumors about his dick being huge, though, because he can live up to that one.

It’s the rumors about what really happened in Colombia that bother Javier the most. Some of them are purely malicious, but others are a little bit too close to the truth for his liking. Most of the rumors about his sex life, though, are funny, bizarre, or just plain unimaginative. He’s not sleeping his way through the office, or leaving a trail of broken hearts in his wake. Yeah, he was closer to being that guy in Colombia, but that was about survival. Getting into the bed of another person got him out of his own head for a little while. The physicality of the sex was his escape. He could drown himself in the sensations, lose himself in his partners’ sounds, what made them feel good, how to take them to new heights. 

You’ve had your own share of rumors spread unfairly about you, too. It occurs to Javier that he also had preconceived notions about you from those rumors. He assumed that because he’d heard you’d slept with some FBI guy, it must be true. Sure, you ultimately confirmed the kernel of truth in the rumor, but only when presented with the worse versions. The versions Javier offered up so readily, almost cavalierly. Within minutes of meeting. 

Javier growls a fuck and throws the pen down onto his desk in frustration. What the fuck is wrong with him? It’s a miracle you even agreed to help him with the case. He won’t blame you if you never call the FBI. He’d deserve that. Digging the heels of his palms into his eyes, he tries to think of how he’s going to fix this. 

“I am such an asshole,” he grumbles to himself. 

“Why are you an asshole?”

Javier’s head jerks up at the voice and sees you standing in the doorway of his office. Shit.

“I’m not disagreeing. Just curious,” you say, with a sparkle of mischief in your eye. 

“Oh, uh…” Javier searches for some excuse and grabs the paperwork in front of him. “I fucked up these forms. Gonna have to redo them, and my admin already hates me.”

“Oh. Okay then.” You hover in the doorway and glance at the chair in front of his desk that’s covered in stacks of files and papers. “Do you have a minute?”

“Uh, yeah. Sure, let me just–” Javi moves quickly to take the clutter off the chair and decides a spot on the floor next to his desk is its new home. This is the first time you’ve been in his office, and it feels strangely intimate. Like if it were the first time you’re visiting his house. He stamps that thought out before it can take root and sits back down behind his desk. 

“What’s up?”

“They’re in,” you say perfunctorily. 

You momentarily distract him by crossing one leg over the other. 

“Wha– uh, who?” 

“The FBI. I spoke to my contact in the art squad, briefed him a bit on the case, and he’s going to see what they can do to help.” 

You really do have great legs.

“You’re serious?” Javier looks up at you sharply, then scratches absently at the stubble on his jaw. “Just like that?”

“Well, yeah…?” Your smile is bemused. “Javi, I’m confused here. Didn’t you want their help? I thought that’s what this whole thing was about, using my contact to try and get FBI support on the case.”  

Isn’t that what this was all about? Javier doesn’t know jack shit about art, other than if he personally likes the look of something or not. He knows narcos, the FBI knows art, and you were the link. Why does it feel like it’s about more than that now?

“Yeah, of course, I’m just surprised, is all. Figured they’d want something in return or would put up a bigger fight first.” 

Javier leans back in his chair and considers you for a moment, runs a finger over his lips. “You must have left a really good impression on them.” 

“I guess so.” Your cryptic smile threatens to put all kinds of ideas in Javier’s mind. Thoughts that are not permitted within interagency cooperative arrangements. You stand up to go. “I’ll let you get back to work.”

“Thanks, by the way. For calling.” You’re watching him curiously. “And, uh–” he gestures at the paperwork he lied about fucking up. “You’re on the case.” Your facial expression makes his throat stick. “All in,” he adds. “‘Til the end.” 

“Then I look forward to working with you, Javi.” You depart with a brighter smile, and Javier tries very hard to not watch you walk away. It’s only when he’s handing over the signed forms to his admin later that he realizes you didn’t call him Agent Peña once.

~~~

Next Chapter || SeñoraBond's Masterlist

Additional Author’s Note: I am so thrilled at all the folks who have liked this story and that there are others enjoying my horny little musings! As always, I would love-love-love to know what you think. I really want to become a better writer, so any and all feedback is welcome! Thank you for reading! 💜

[frostgears]

We Who Are Far From Home, ch. 3: Bree 2

Bree sketched a glyph in the dirt atop the hill and forced power into it, grumbling with the effort of manipulating something not part of herself. It eventually flared into upward-drifting motes of purple light. Just a matter of time now…

An hour later, a steel cable dropped from the sky.

She planted her feet on the small platform at the very bottom, hugged the cable, and spoke a word that quenched the beacon's light.

In response, the cable hauled her into the clouds. She couldn't help but whoop in delight; this had yet to pall for her. Wind whipped at her cloak. Chill mist streaked pass her, darkness engulfed her as the cable passed directly through a cloud, and then she was through the clouds and soaring though the clear, star-dappled night. Above her, she could barely see her destination against the sky: a black shape with a warm glowing light at its center.

It reeled her in, pulling the cable up toward its belly. Doors opened. She waited for them to close again, stepped off the cable platform, and executed a neat little bow to the woman at the winch controls.

"Perfect grab, Nost."

"W-well, it's a calm night, not much turbulence up here… thank you!"

The little redhead locked up the winch controls and beckoned to the hatch leading out of the winch bay.

"C'mon! I woke up the girls when I saw the beacon. We're all waiting for you."

Bree followed her, ducking under the low hatchway. She only regretted the extra height she'd built into herself above her original design in tight spaces, such as below the decks of her very own airship. Which was its own compensation, really.

The rest of her crew was seated around the big circular table in the mess room, which, when the plates were put away, was also the strategy room, the map room, and occasionally the surgery.

Emmerline had her feet up on the table. The curly-haired mage smiled as Bree walked in, then suppressed a yawn. Probably on the day watch.

"Emmerline, get your feet off the table," Nost said with the air of someone not really expecting to be obeyed, and then added, "It's unbecoming of a lady."

"Ugh, Nost, you sound like my governess, or my mother," Emmerline replied, as she tucked her feet under herself in the chair. "Bree, help, I'm being forced to have manners. These two bullied me terribly while you were away."

"You're the representative of the Kingdom's blessed aristocracy, long may they reign," Bree said, packing the traditional toast with as much sarcasm as she could muster. "Aren't you supposed to act like it?"

"Yes, maybe, but not up here! Also, welcome back and all that." She yawned again. "Did you find it?"

"I found it." Bree tapped her left arm. It made a hollow sloshing sound.

"Can we move on, then?" the third crew member asked. "We've been on standby for weeks and there's only so much I can do from up here through a telescope."

"Nice to see you again too, Zai. What's this I hear about you forcing poor Em to have manners? Is it true?"

Zai gestured to Emmerline. "I simply suggested that she would be most useful as an asset if she continues to play the role of a Kingdom noble, which should not be that hard, since she was allegedly born to it."

"Zai," Bree said, "it's also not manners to point at people with a knife."

"She cleans under her fingernails with it," Emmerline interjected.

Nost was horrified. "You clean under your fingernails with an alkalium throwing dagger?"

"It's perfectly safe and non-reactive as long as I don't break the skin— all right, fine. I'll put it away."

The dagger vanished. Bree's crystal eyes tracked much faster than humanly possible, and even she could barely follow Zai's hand as she pocketed it. Dark eyes caught hers, and surprisingly, Zai smiled.

"Welcome back, Bree."

"Thanks. Okay. Time for good news and bad news. The good news is that I have, here and in flasks in my pack, about as much liquid utterfrost as I could safely carry, and Em, it's everything that you predicted and more. The bad news is that on the way back here, at Glacierport, a Crimson Fist hit squad found me. They're using dolls now. So that's exciting."

"Dolls," Nost said flatly.

"Yep. Well, one doll."

"From the fucking Pact?" This from Emmerline.

"Not sure about that. I mean, definitely Pact. She was as haughty and full of herself as any Fist executioner I've had the pleasure of dealing with. But also, the design looked an awful lot like me. So maybe not Pact-built. I don't know."

"Did you beat her?" Zai asked.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Had a civilian with me. Had to break and run."

"Hm," Zai said in response. Then, "Could you have?"

"I don't know," Bree told her. "She was tough. Took a septupled utterfrost construct blade to the chest, knocked her down, but that was about it, didn't more than scratch her enamel. Used at least one spell I don't know by sight and didn't get close enough to feel. Not sure if she cast it, or if it was cast for her."

"She was pretty."

"What? Like me, a bit, but blonde. Shorter. Not by much, though. Red eyes."

"So yes."

"I don't know what to say to that."

"Not much stops you. She did. That's a problem for us."

"I promise it was because I took my best shot given the circumstances and she got right back up! Plus the civilian!"

"Hm." A moment's pause. "Forget I said anything."

"Yeah, it's probably not that. She has a whole crew of hotties up here. I mean, there's me, obviously, and then Nost is extremely fit from all that artificing — don't think I haven't noticed, Nost — and even our pet spook would clean up really nicely, I bet."

"Emmerline!"

"You don't think so, Nost? Like if we put all that long dark hair up, and got her out of those trousers, and maybe took her knives away — okay, I've got to be realistic here, I can tell by that face she's making, so we give her some prettier knives—"

"Emmerline, go to bed."

"Yeah, get some sleep, Em. I'll give you the whole travelogue in the morning."

"I'd have to see the knives," Zai said.

It was good to be back.

---

prev: We Who Are Far From Home, ch. 2: Lyric 1 next: We Who Are Far From Home, ch. 4: Lyric 2 original location: https://www.tumblr.com/frostgears/751006242320826368/bree-2

[disco-elysium-via-polls]

🎵 Protorave

"Disco Elysium."

NOID - "Like that Dolorian word for the world, you mean? Elysium..."

ACELE - "But *Disco* Elysium..." She looks unsure. "Isn't it wacky? Disco's kind of gone, isn't it? Forgotten."

EGG HEAD - "THE PAST IS THE FUTURE, BUT THE FUTURE IS DEAD!"

ANDRE - "No, it's beautiful. Beautiful and brave! Like we want it to be."

NOID - "*And* short. *And* memorable!"

ACELE - "It's settled, then. Everyone, welcome to Disco Elysium!" A light beam washes over the dance floor, bathing it in violet blue.

Task complete: Help ravers start a nightclub

+70 XP

Level up!

ANDRE - Andre breaks into frenzied dance-like motion to celebrate the name. Someone turns up the beat.

SUGGESTION [Easy: Success] - You should go with the flow. Join in on the experience.

Start tapping your foot.

(Observe his movement.) "What are you doing, Andre?"

SUGGESTION - It feels good, it feels right... but what is this? What is this *thing* that Andre is doing with his limbs?!

(Observe his movement.) "What are you doing, Andre?"

(I don't care.) "Cool, let's move on to the questions then."

ANDRE - "I'm dancing!" He performs yet another strange pattern of moves, but it doesn't look very cool or modern. Honestly, it looks kind of lame...

CONCEPTUALIZATION [Medium: Success] - That soft-core gyrating is supposed to be *dancing*?

"We should talk about it. We should talk about your so-called 'dancing'."

ANDRE - "Yes, my man!" He jumps up and down with glee, his moves punctuated by the stroboscopic flash of the club lights.

COMPOSURE [Easy: Success] - Talk? What is there to talk about if you can express yourself with *moves*?

PHYSICAL INSTRUMENT [Trivial: Success] - Audio waves thump against your rib cage. The speaker set-up makes everything sound much better... but the *BEAT* is still so weak.

"I've been meaning to ask you, what's with the hair?"

"You mentioned some kind Ecclesiastes own the church. Who are these Ecclesiastes?"

[Savoir Faire - Impossible 18] No words. Just dance.

"That's it for now." [Leave.]

ANDRE - "It's to express my individuality."

PERCEPTION [Medium: Success] - Is that a bald spot? It's hard to tell for sure with the fused-together spikes, but it looks like he's balding.

"Or is it because you're balding?"

"Is it important for you? To be an individual?"

"Fair enough."

"That's idiotic."

ANDRE - "...or because I'm balding, yes. I want to fuse the remains of my hair together, before it leaves me."

"I wanna show my hair: I don't give a fuck how old you think I am. I'm twenty!"

"How old *are* you, Andre?"

ANDRE - "Not twenty."

2. "Is it important for you? To be an individual?"

ANDRE - "Of course it is, otherwise I'd just be another poor guy with no education and no money. General-issue, man. Now I'm all that -- *and* I have radical spikes."

3. "Fair enough."

ANDRE - He looks at the molten toothbrush. "Maybe it was a bad idea... anyway."

Let's see talk to the others and see if we can get some more bonuses to this check before we attempt it..

4. "That's it for now." [Leave.]

ANDRE - "Goodbye, officer."

EGG HEAD - "Dolorian church, the place to be! Make some noise, my church people!" Large speakers are set up behind the young man, blasting a familiar song.

PHYSICAL INSTRUMENT [Medium: Success] - Vibrations thump through your blue soul. The music sounds much better in the church.

SHIVERS [Medium: Success] - A hawthorn tree on Rue de Saint-Ghislaine. Tangled in its branches, something bronze flutters in the wind...

Already taken care of.

EGG HEAD - He stands on stage behind a table, nodding along to the music and waving his hand in the air. In front of him -- the audio mixer, one reel spinning.

The other reel deck is empty. Cables run hither and thither. On one side, you see an auxiliary line-in with the number 4.5 written next to it.

"How do you like it in the church?"

EGG HEAD - "Yeeaaaagh! Back on the case, no disgrace!" He pumps his fist in the air. "Bring it down to party place!"

"THE FIRST PAGE OF THE SECOND CHAPTER!" His voice echoes all around the grand hall.

CONCEPTUALIZATION [Medium: Success] - Could it be? Maybe for him -- you only have a chapter or two left in you. Last of the penultimate, more like...

Nothing else is new with Egg Head.

ACELE - She's whistling a melody, her trusty contact mic attached to a wooden pulpit. At the sound of your footsteps, she stops what she was doing and turns to you.

"Hey, there." She gives you a shy smile. "I've been recording some new audio from all these beams and rafters. The sounds travelling through the wood are pretty cool -- creaks and stuff. Like you're underwater, you know... But, like, underwater inside a tree."

"And yes, I'm being more like Contact Mike, alright. Don't even bring it up."

"I wasn't going to --"

"But Contact Mike is --"

"Okay, fine."

ACELE - "No-no." She cuts you off before you can finish the sentence. "I actually wanted to thank you. For getting me and my friends in here. And we even found some new... associates, such as they are."

"How's everyone doing?"

"Alright, I got some questions for you."

ACELE - "Good, I think. Noid is getting a read on the place, I think he finds the carpentry very impressive. Andre's been setting up the compressor and... dancing. Egg Head's keeping the party up, he's got the stage under control."

"Soona, the programmer, she's doing... whatever she does, behind that radiocomputer of hers. She doesn't talk to us much. And the crab-man hasn't shown himself, thank god."

"*Now* can you tell me about your associates?"

ACELE - "Sure. You helped us out, I can repay the favour. What do you want to know?"

Task complete: Get Acele to talk about her associates

+10 XP

"Tell me about Soona."

"What about Tiago?"

"Tell me about Andre."

"Tell me about Noid."

"What's the deal with Egg Head?"

"Thank you. Some other questions."

ACELE - "Uh... she's a bit odd, I have to say. Doesn't talk much. I'm not really sure how to vibe with her, y'know? Seems like she's not in a very good mood most of the time."

"But earlier today she told me about... welkins?" Acele grimaces, as if it's the first time hearing the word. "And she seemed oddly happy. Like she had had some idea with those... little creatures. Some artistic idea. I didn't really listen, I was busy with my mic."

2. "What about Tiago?"

ACELE - "Oh, the crab-man." She shudders. "Still gives me the creeps, the way he moves... But he doesn't actually come down that much, just climbs around the rafters."

"I just try to stay away from the crab-man, but he talks to Noid. They seem to have some 'thing' going on."

"Oh, he talks to Noid? What for?"

"What does he do up there?"

"Thanks. About the others…"

ACELE - "Beats me... Noid said they get along, somehow. They're both crazy enough, I guess."

2. "What does he do up there?"

ACELE - "Who knows?" She shrugs. "He doesn't really answer our questions, see. Not that it's easy to ask them. What are we supposed to do, yell up at the tower?"

3. "Thanks. About the others..."

ACELE - "Who do you want to know about?"

3. "Tell me about Andre."

ACELE - "Andre? He's a cool guy. Doesn't really come off as one, but he is. To me at least..."

PERCEPTION (SIGHT) [Medium: Success] - She rubs her sides, but not from cold. Her shoulders are relaxed. She must have taken a hit or she's on an upswing.

ACELE - "He takes care of shit. Sorry, I mean he's got a *vision*. Of what life should be, you know? He tries to push things until everything falls into place. He's an organizer."

"What has he organized?"

"Tell me about the others."

ACELE - "Nothing. But then again... there's nothing to organize around here either. He really wants this church thing to work..."

"Must have taken it as a sign when he found it abandoned like that. Said it was an *augury*. I don't know where he got that from." She smiles. "Andre's not super intelligent..."

"I've never seen him so psyched about anything though -- and he's often psyched. Looked sort of desperate, like it's his last chance or something. Or maybe he was just high..."

"I mean, not that he does drugs. Just *high* you know."

"On life?"

"On his mother's love?"

"Relax girl. We're police officers, but we're corrupt, rotten to the marrow. You can tell us about drugs and shit, I don't give fuck."

KIM KITSURAGI - "Yeah. Drugs. Shit. Fuck. We don't care." He smirks.

ACELE - "Uh, yes. Anyway."

"Could it be that he's balding? Him thinking it's his last chance?"

"Is Andre your boyfriend?"

ACELE - "Come to think of it, yes!" She laughs.

INLAND EMPIRE [Easy: Success] - This is the first time you've heard her laugh.

ACELE - "He's in some kind of a self-destruction mode with that hair of his. Bleaching it like that. Probably wants to get rid of it altogether."

"Is Andre your boyfriend?"

"Tell me about the others."

ACELE - "Yes." She nods.

2. "Tell me about the others."

ACELE - "Who do you want to know about?"

4. "Tell me about Noid."

ACELE - "He's a Faubourger I guess, like the rest of us. Okay, maybe not Egg, I don't know about him, but Noid and the rest are from Faubourg, making the pilgrimage up north to visit The Paliseum."

"He's real hard core about the lifestyle."

"What does he do?"

"What is this pilgrimage you're talking about?"

"Actually, tell me about the others."

ACELE - "What do you mean, 'do'? Like for a living?"

"Yes."

"No, I meant for breakfast. Of course for a living."

ACELE - "He's a carpenter. Trained and all. He's very good, he just doesn't have the mindset to work like that -- in a shop somewhere."

"What kind of mindset is that?"

ACELE - "He abides by the hard core, sir. You would have to ask him yourself."

"And you?"

"Tell me more about him."

ACELE - "Sir," she gives you a switchblade smile. "I abide by *the law*."

INLAND EMPIRE [Trivial: Success] - A strange feeling... like before, when you caught her lying better than she should have. Every now and then something feels off about the way she speaks. She doesn't exactly change tone, but you feel as though there's more about her than she lets on.

2. "What is this pilgrimage you're talking about?"

ACELE - "It's just something poor Faubourg kids do every spring, to pass the time. We walk the entire length of Boogie Street, up to Jamrock. Or as much as possible."

"Why wouldn't it be?"

ACELE - "I don't know man, have you *been* down Boogie Street? It's a little bewildering."

"Let's say I *haven't* been down Boogie Street."

"Oh, I'm sorry... have I not told you I'm a raging alcoholic who recently drank himself into an oblivion so deep he can't even remember what sounds like the biggest street in the city?"

ACELE - "Uhm... kind of? I'm gonna say: yes."

"Well, I am."

"Because I'm not. Now tell me something else about Noid."

ACELE - "Okay, then you should go and take a look, I guess. Boogie Street is cool. It's got a lot of immigrants and all kinds of different people."

"I might just do that if I make it there alive."

"It's unlikely I'll make it there. Chest pains. Need to continue drinking. But thank you."

ACELE - "Yeah," she says, then adds: "I hope you do."

3. "Actually, tell me about the others."

ACELE - "Who do you want to know about?"

5. "What's the deal with Egg Head?"

ACELE - "What do you mean?"

"What does he think he's doing when he yells all that stuff?"

"Where's he from? How long has he been with you guys?"

"Tell me about the others."

ACELE - "Oh, that... he's the party boy."

"What's a party boy?"

ACELE - "Anodic music doesn't really do vocals in the traditional sense. Vocals are thought of as *rock*. That's to say they're a bit *backward*. No offence if you like rock music, though. Rock music is cool by me."

CONCEPTUALIZATION [Medium: Success] - Ptew ptew! Sweeesh! Your credentials as the resident Futureman of Revachol are being questioned. Show her you're hip with the times, gramps!

"God damn right, rock music is the coolest. Rock music forever!"

"No offence taken, go on."

"You don't have to tell *me* rock is backward. I am The Futureman. I abandoned rock in the Thirties. Stupid rock." (Spit.)

ACELE - "Uh, okay..." She nods.

"Anyway, even if you don't have vocals you still need someone to say something every now and then, right? To urge things on. That's where the party boy comes in…"

"He basically just stands on the stage and dances and yells how awesome everything is. It's very catchy."

KIM KITSURAGI - "I understand. People are usually afraid to do things if others aren't already doing them. Dancing makes you dance like sneezing makes you sneeze. Or yawning makes you..."

"Anyway..." He looks around, a little embarrassed of the enthusiasm of his interjection.

2. "Where's he from? How long has he been with you guys?"

ACELE - "Actually, we don't know where he's from. Or who he is, really."

"One time we were out partying, somewhere in backwater Faubourg. Or maybe even Coal City, I can't remember. Maybe it was Coal City..."

ENCYCLOPEDIA [Medium: Success] - The worst of the *banlieues*. A wretched heap of closed-down mines even west of Jamrock, on the dusty slope of Mont Martin. The remotest possible area of Revachol, no one even wants to exploit those people anymore.

ACELE - "Egg was yelling along to some jams someone was spinning, all night long. Just kept yelling until he didn't have a shred of voice left. When the sun came up over the mines... there were mines? Yeah, it was in Coal City!" She nods.

"Egg came with us. He made this wheezing puppy dog sound all the way back. Couldn't even speak."

"It was definitely Coal City, because it took us two days to walk back to the Fau. He just wheezed the whole way, we never really asked him why he came with us. Or who he was. I think his name is Germaine..."

"People are sweet," she says quietly.

EMPATHY [Trivial: Success] - You can see it must have been a great night. The memory causes her to go silent for a moment or two.

INLAND EMPIRE [Easy: Success] - You wish you'd been there.

3. "Tell me about the others."

ACELE - "Who do you want to know about?"

6. "Actually, do tell me about *yourself*."

ACELE - "Me? Again?"

"Yes, I forgot. Tell me about yourself."

"Actually, no."

ACELE - "I told you, I'm a silver bird."

REACTION SPEED [Easy: Success] - There's that phrase again. It really reminds you of... *something*.

"What does that mean?"

"Okay, lets leave it at that then."

ACELE - "It means I don't answer questions about myself."

"But I'm a police officer. You *have* to answer me."

"There's more to you than you let on. What am I not seeing?"

"Fair enough."

ACELE - "Is there a law that would stop me from lying, though?"

KIM KITSURAGI - "That would depend on the circumstances." The lieutenant taps his foot.

2. "There's more to you than you let on. What am I not seeing?"

ACELE - "Alright." She picks up the tape recorder and looks you in the eye...

"There is."

3. "Fair enough."

ACELE - "Thank you."

7. "Thank you. Some other questions."

ACELE - "Sure."

3. [Reaction Speed - Legendary 14] Catch the silver bird.

+2 Dresscode: Avian investigator.

REACTION SPEED [Legendary: Success] - "O pasăre de argint" -- it flutters by your ear.

It's what the "Zemlyaki" -- the Graadian community in Revachol -- call a person who never breaks under interrogation. It's an organized crime term.

"O pasăre de argint."

"I remember now... it's a Zemlyaki term. For someone who won't break under questioning. An organized crime term."

ACELE - "Excuse me?" She casually brushes her hand through her hair.

COMPOSURE [Easy: Success] - She's attempting to remain calm, but the phrase made her flinch.

"I remember now... it's a Zemlyaki term. For someone who won't break under questioning. An organized crime term."

ACELE - "What do you mean?"

"The silver bird."

"That's why you've handled my questioning so calmly."

ACELE - "All right," she concedes. "My father was a Zemylaki. He died years ago. He was a bad man. Not a lot of good things to say about him and what he did."

"He bought the family a huge house, so we got to live... at least temporarily... in a giant *castle* in Jamrock. And then he died."

"What happened next?"

"Oh, hmm, I can imagine what followed after."

"Never mind, I don't really want to hear any of this."

ACELE - "What do you think? The competition came and took everything away. It was like in a war zone..." She's gritting her teeth.

"So after his death we had nothing left. And we were in danger. My mother had to change her name, mine too. We left it all behind."

"Are you sure about that? What about this drug lab plan?"

ACELE - "It was a stupid idea and I'm still disappointed *I* came up with it."

KIM KITSURAGI - "Aren't there any local authorities who might look down on such activities?"

ACELE - "I took that into account, of course. Coordinated the operation with the Débardeurs, else they might get... unhappy."

"So, what you're saying is... Evrart authorized this?"

ACELE - "Not in person, but I let them know. You can't do anything without the fat ones getting wind. It wasn't too difficult to convince them, really..."

+5 XP

"It's a good thing you ended that mess, though. I felt I was turning dad-wise, into a corrupt business-person. Unpleasant."

AUTHORITY [Easy: Success] - Hear that? Set justice on its feet. CONFRONT EVRART.

REACTION SPEED - C'mon. This is all fine, but you don't have anything on Evrart now. That's not how these things work.

"We should confront Evrart about this! Maybe we can manipulate him using the information." (Add it to the list.)

"This is all good to know... but let's leave it at that." (Leave it off the list.)

KIM KITSURAGI - "No, I don't think it would lead anywhere with Evrart. He's just going to deny it."

ACELE - "Yeaaahhhh..." She really draws out the word. "Have you seen Evrart?"

New task: Ask Evrart about Acele and the drug lab

3. "Actually, that's it for now." [Leave.]

THOUGHT COMPLETE: THE PRECARIOUS WORLD

BONUSES: Critical success and failure thresholds lowered by 1

SOLUTION:

How *not* to lose? It is impossible not to. The world is balanced on the edge of a knife. It’s a game of frayed nerves. You’re pushed on by numbers and punitive measures: pain, rejection, and unpaid bills. You can either play or you can crawl under a boat and waste away -- turn into salt or a flock of seagulls. Your enemies would *love* that. Or you can fight. The only way to load the dice is to keep on fighting.

This can allow us to succeed at rolls that are otherwise impossible... but it's not super useful if you already have a solid build, imo.

NOID - "You got us in, cop. I can't believe you got us in..." He looks around the hall, examining the carpentry.

EMPATHY [Easy: Success] - With wonder in his sharp eyes.

NOID - "Between you and me -- I don't know if you've noticed this about me... I'm a little *suspicious* of authority. But you -- you really came through for the hard core underground."

Task complete: Sync the sines with Noid

+10 XP

KIM KITSURAGI - "Yes. You really came through. For the hard core underground." He spreads his arms, looking around at the speedfreaks setting up shop. "How come?"

ANDRE - Andre is busy cutting some slightly less lame, but still quite ungainly shapes on the church floor, sweating profusely.

ACELE - Acele using her contact mic to listen to a tree, underwater.

EGG HEAD - The one with the large head is blasting the dance track on repeat, while the stained glass window behind him is rattling from the bass.

DRAMA [Medium: Success] - Sire, the tent -- 'twas a *securitie risk*! And in here? Sanctuary! 'Twas only noble of you.

[beedlemania]

I think micky’s mom definitely knows about Davy’s regression and he becomes like a grandchild to her. she always gets him little gifts to the point where whenever they go over davy bounces into the house like “hi where’s my gift!! 😃” and mike’s like “AH—no no no”.

She even sometimes babysits! she definitely reads to davy, and peter too i feel like, and sets up little coloring stations at the kitchen table for them and brings them snacks of cut up fruit and stuff.

AWH omg!

She’s definitely a mother hen who feels very alone after all her kids move out then in toddles Davy like a godsend.

Davy isn’t even regressing the first time he meets her but she can just tell. He loves going to her house because she always has baked goods ready and she pays cable so she has cartoons. She’s the only person Davy allows to pinch his cheeks and Micky always gets jealous because Davy gets all her attention.

Micky usually goes to her house to get his laundry done or to pick up dinners she’s made for them all and Davy tags along one day and the rest is history. He’s all charming greeting her and she’s a bit surprised because when Micky told her about his roommate she didn’t anticipate the 5’3 babyfaced teenager but she immediately takes to coddling him. When she hears about Davy’s mother she makes sure to always be there for him. There’s also a chance that Davy never fully regressed until she pushed him into it. She asked to see him alone and Davy was super nervous thinking he was in trouble for something but when he gets there there’s cookies and milk waiting for him and she sits with him and holds him and coos to him until Davy kinda falls into the headspace. She definitely reads Micky’s old kid books to him and stops him from biting his nails by giving him an old (clean) teether to chew on instead. He’s insanely embarrassed when Micky comes to pick him up but with a stern look from his mother, Micky doesn’t say a word and Davy’s regression becomes a normal occurrence.

The gift part - yes! Davy’s just so excited that he doesn’t realise it sounds rude and Mikes trying to reel him in but Micky’s mother just laughs because she’s already holding his gift behind her back ready for him. She knows what kids are like so Davy’s enthusiasm doesn’t throw her and he’s always so grateful so she really doesn’t mind. Whatever she gives him will keep him occupied the few hours the guys stay over and he always hesitates by the door because he’s never sure if she’s giving it to him to keep or if she was just showing it to him.

She also gives him a bunch of Micky’s hand-me-downs from when he was a teenager and Micky’s always like “are those my clothes? 😡” as if he’ll ever wear/fit into them again. Davy just sticks his tongue out at him and skips away.

One night in March, Davy takes out all the craft supplies the guys own and sets up on the kitchen table. He stays up all night making the perfect card and though he struggles with words, he expresses his gratitude the best he can in it. The next day he gives it to Mickys mother for Mothers Day and everyone’s kinda confused until Davy explains that its Mother’s Day in England and he didnt realise it was different here. Mickys mother cries and takes him out for the day. They go for lunch and for a walk in the park and she pushes him on the swings because he really wants to play. It’s great because nothings too busy because it’s not Mother’s Day in America which also means she can spend US Mother’s Day with her own kids without Davy feeling neglected. She puts the card up on the mantle and leaves it there for months.

When the guys all forget to pay the bills she lets them sleepover at her house. Micky loves it because he’s back in his own bedroom. Mike feels guilty because he feels like he’s intruding so he’ll clean up and help cook etc. Peter and Davy treat it like a real sleepover and they’re super respectful and when she comes in halfway through a film they start begging “five more minutes please!” But she’s like “? I wasnt gonna send you to bed”. The next morning she puts all the boys’ breakfasts in smiley faces with the eggs and rashers.

When Mike and Micky are out looking for jobs she’ll come over to watch Peter and Davy. She plays board games with them but it doesn’t hold their attention long. She sets up a colouring/craft station in the kitchen and winces when either of them go ham on the glitter. But she encourages them and puts all their work on the fridge for the guys to admire when they return. She brings them snacks and monitors their sugar intake because she’s a little older now and really can’t handle hyper kids they way she used to.

[faulty-heat-vents]

//Narrative communication established. [ASSIST: COURSE-CORRECT]> RE-ESTABLISHING NARRATIVE TRACE. [your story will continue|it is by grace alone you persist]

No blackouts or double-edged words on the way back. All Ashton has as company during his walk is the mech-shop’s cacophony- so natural that his mind doesn’t even spare it the resources. Instead, it burrows in on itself like a pillbug, looping over and over the visions he saw during his nightmares.

He was right- that gore-painted chassis in space was a Monarch. He hadn’t guessed it was his- or rather, a previous Ashton’s. He also hadn’t guessed about its destruction method.

The dream before was a freeze-frame, looking in. Looking out and seeing a laser shear through reality and pierce your cockpit… he never thought he’d remember it. 

Did he think about remembering it at all? Had the concept of that death ever crossed his mind before he saw it?

He can’t remember.

Thermie’s voice cuts through his mind-haze just as sharply as the Unraveller-

 //[THERMALLY_CHALLENGED]:

Movement suggests Pilot has awakened. Welcome back. You have [0] reply-less messages. You have [ERROR: MISSING VALUE.] unread messages.

You have [2] unopened parcels, both of which contain pastries from Omninet denizens. Both have been cleared by Biohazard and Forensics for consumption, and are located inside of your cold-storage locker.

//CORRESPONDENCE: ASHTON-212:

thanks thermie. omw rn

The message is brief, tapped out on the inside of his bracer while walking. Eyes down, mind drifting. 

His path leads him to the armory. Wrong place.

Wait, Ashton thinks to himself. Indigo told me to investigate my weapons. I left that auto rifle down here. Wonder if…

Sure enough, it was- one GMS T-1 automatic assault rifle, freshly-printed and unattended at the testing tables. Waiting.

Up close, the weapon is massive- easily weighing as much as Ashton himself. Each panel along its side is brutal and simplistic, printed with universal compatibility in mind. Ash slides the breech open with considerable -yet necessary- force, exposing its vacant firing and magwell chambers. 

I shouldn’t be doing this without my armor. Command would skin me alive…

He looks up to the empty range around him-

But one little firing test shouldn’t hurt. It’s a GMS rifle- damn things are perfect out of the box, right?

With a determined chirp, he gets to work- first finding a spare Main mount dummy, then hoisting the weapon onto it and buckling it down. As is typical for its make and model, the gun satisfyingly clicks right into place. 

Whatever-above, bless GMS.

Interfacing with GMS tech is as simple as installing it- a single robust cord with interchangeable male prongs, socketed directly into the firing control of its attached machine. Ashton threads the cable to the testing terminal and begins the booting sequence, quickly jumping up to correct the rifle’s aim downrange before the internals spin up. 

A deep breath, then-

>DISENGAGE SAFETY? Y/N >Y [enter] >AUTOMATIC TARGETING SYSTEMS INITIALIZING. PLEASE WAIT.

…Wait, automatic targeting? That’s not stock sta-

BRRRT

The rifle kicks to life, sending its mount dummy reeling backwards. A volley of rounds sprays from its muzzle like a severed artery. The air reeks of accelerant and burning metal as the assembly twitches in animalistic death-throes.

“SHIT! SHIT SHIT SHIT SHI-”

Ashton lunges from his command post, tackling the wild gun to the ground and yanking its connection cable from the receiver. Horrifically, the weapon keeps firing- exhausting all energy inside of its artificial body to maintain the stream of lead. Ashton flips his pack-ax out of its holster and hacks wildly at the assembly’s vital organs, trying in vain to shut it down. 

Time slows. 

A flash crests the edge of his vision- then weaves its way right in front of his face.

For a single breath, one lone bullet hovers directly between his eyes. In the next, it finds itself buried in the faceplate of the target dummy downrange.

The rifle spits out a burst of ammunition before running dry. It clicks, clicks, clicks- over and over before Ashton drives the axe inside its receiver with both hands, finally dealing a killing blow to the plasteel monstrosity.

----

Ashton can barely hear over the ringing in his unprotected ears. He most certainly doesn’t hear the thudding of boots coming his way, nor the voices of Security yelling at each other. He barely registers the hands on his shoulders before they hoist him aloft.

Commander Oracle storms into the room, diadem and third eye flashing neon green as they scan Ashton’s recent memories.

“CADET G-212, STAND DOWN!” they roar.

“Bit hard to do with these tanks grabbing me by the scruff, Oracle!”

“That’s Commander Oracle to you right now. What in the Sham Hells were you THINKING, Cadet?! Unsanctioned, unprotected firing of an uninspected firearm, alone?!”

Ashton squirms in the Security officers’ grip, to no avail. “I was just checking to see if it was printed right!”

“Like HELL you were- and breaking every protocol in the book while you were at it!” 

Oracle kicks the broken weapon with their boot, sending a thud echoing through the range… tailed by a squelch.

Everyone freezes, then slowly trails their collective heads down. The left guard’s hand shakes and falls from Ash’s arm, leaving him to dangle from the other over the growing puddle.

Leaking from the mangled corpse of the T-1 automatic assault rifle is blood- red, quickly-coagulating blood. The weapon’s exposed, fleshy insides cough up more intermittently as its witnesses stand frozen in horror and disgust.

“It- it wasn’t like that when I killed it,” Ashton stutters. His voice hitches as he tries to hold back his nausea.

The guard to his left breaks their resolve much easier, turning away to be sick. Ashton looks to Oracle, whose face has taken a similar shade of pale green to their dimmed diadem. They swallow back their own unease and get back in character-

“Security, restrict this range. I’m contacting Biohazard and Forensics as we speak. G-212, you’re going to answer my questions with utmost honesty and brevity. No word-dancing. Out, now.”

“Yes, Commander Oracle.”

----

“Then you guys showed up, and now we’re here.”

Ashton crouches beside Oracle, poking at the now-very-dead-and-toasty “gun” with a screwdriver. Oracle places a hand on their chin in thought, then speaks-

“Ashton. You know how this looks.”

“I know, I know.” Ash tosses the screwdriver back into its home pail of tools. “A1 did the same damn thing with that Gorgon.”

“No. You talk like an NHP, pass out, see yourself dying over and over again, and then book it towards your gun filled with flesh. If the rest of the Administration saw this, I’d be fired- and you’d be fired upon.”

Ashton makes a face. “What do you suggest we do, then?”

“...”

“Ori?”

“Field it.”

Ashton wheels on a paw with surprise, jaw wide agape. No words manage to form- just shocked squeaks.

Oracle continues- “You heard me, Cadet. Patch this thing up. See if it works. It did pretty damn good here.”

“What the fuck do you mean?! It went ballistic and shot everywhe-”

“Look.” 

Oracle raises a finger and points at the target downrange. A pair of clean holes are punched through its head and heart, no marks anywhere else. No marks on the walls either. 100% accuracy.

“Take this slag to Ciryn and nurse it back. I’ll talk Biohazard into letting it go. If everything goes to shit on the field, it’s on your head again. Last chance.”

“I… thank you, Oracle.”

“Commander Oracle,” they correct again. “And don’t thank me. I’m sending you into the next deployment with this fucking thing on your mech. Spend that gratitude on safety precautions.”

Not much else to say. Oracle whistles and spins two fingers in the air, motioning for everyone to move out.

Ashton stays behind, seated next to the charred remains of the smartgun. 

Maybe it’s the dim lights of the range. Maybe it’s Oracle’s diadem reflecting the hangar above. Maybe it’s lingering embers.

Or maybe the optic winks at him.

[a-drabble-a-dray]

“‘Just leave it at the front door and run’…” He repeated, sitting on his bike, looking between the delivery instructions on his phone and the destination in front of him. The office building was obviously closed, as was much of anything this close to midnight. “...The hell?”

He stepped forward, carefully. Odds are, he was going to be mugged. With his bank account, he hoped the robber was into jokes.

Clutching the paper bag carefully, warily glancing off to the sides, he gingerly set the delivery down on the sidewalk in front of the closed doors.

Then, the ground fell from beneath his feet.

The dim room made it hard to judge what happened, but the contrast between the cold wind and a warm, noisy AC had him growing confused.

A loud yawn had him jump to his feet. 

A door creaked open. A figure, indistinct under an oversized hoodie, crept drowsily into the room.

They, reciprocally, froze at the sight of him.

“...Oh.” Their eyes, barely lit with a threatening gleam, narrowed carefully. “Am I going to have to kill you?”

“I, uh–” He flinched, reeling back, holding up the paper bag as an impromptu shield. “N-No…?”

“...Oh!” They relaxed, the room itself feeling less tight. With a snap of their fingers, the lights were on.

He looked around, finding himself in a mess which seemed to act as a living room. Couches and chairs sat scattered, ranging in design from modernist seats to Victorian decor to exceedingly expensive leather couches. Thick cables criss-crossed the floor like tree roots. A woefully understated coffee table bore the scars of a thousand un-coastered cups. The lighting itself, as he looked up, seemed to be provided exclusively by RGB LED strips.

He opened his mouth for comment. The sight of a recycling bin symbol pointing to the single window in the room scared it back shut.

“So, uh.” The person he tentatively saw as his host, or perhaps his kidnapper, spoke up. “Do you… Want to eat?”

“I…” He paused, considering his options. His own question, quickly, overrode any possible response. “Actually– Where the hell am I?”

“Oh, well.” They looked around, finally returning his gaze with only a shrug. “...My apartment?”

“How did I get here?” He followed up, confusion slowly giving way to aggravation.

“...Good question.” They responded. “Well, you for sure didn’t run away like I wrote.”

“I didn’t have time.” He countered, scowling as he placed the food on the table.

“No time…?” They blinked. “...Is all your stuff in your pockets?”

“I…” He gave himself a pat-down, finding his phone and wallet in their rightful places. “...Yeah?”

“Alright, snap your fingers.”

“Huh?”

“Indulge me.”

He raised his hand, snapping his fingers– Only for the lights to flicker off for a second.

“Oh. Oh!” They smiled. “Yeah, that explains everything.”

The words took him out for a second. He had no idea where he was, and he was certain he didn’t fall unconscious. It’s not like he could’ve been knocked out and brought in there. The place was the wrong kind of suspicious for actual kidnapping. Everything was still in his pockets, so it’s not as if he was robbed, or if his phone was taken away. He looked back up with renewed indignation. “No, it fucking doesn’t!”

He, however, found himself staring at an empty doorway. The stranger had wandered off during his little crisis.

“Hey, do you want something to drink?” Their voice reached out from a neighboring room.

“...No!” He countered, twitching a little at their sheer casualness.

“I’ve got vanilla cola!”

“...Fine.” He relented.

They sauntered back in a moment later, his soda can accompanied, worryingly, by a trio of energy drinks.

“...You’re gonna explain a lot of things.” He threatened.

“Oh, you just seem like the kind of person who’d like vanilla cola.”

“Not that!” He countered. “The fact that you kidnapped me!”

“You’re hungry.” They cracked one of the cans open. “Aren’t you?”

“Don’t change the subject!”

“I’m not. You’re stuck here because you wanted to eat burgers.”

“I–” He blinked, ignoring the two true facts to focus on their bogus causal link. “What? No!”

“It’s because of your weirdly high magic potential, I think.”

“Weirdly high what?” He narrowed his eyes. “The hell are you talking about…?”

“Come on, Chris.” They looked at him. “It’s pretty clear you teleported, right?”

“I– Wait.” He stepped back, bracing himself. “...How do you know my name?”

“Delivery details.”

“...Oh.”

He gingerly sat on a nearby couch, slowly trying to process the info.

“Wait, so…” He blinked. “...Magic?”

“Mhm.” They took a discomfortingly long sip. “Look out the window.”

He stood up, following their pointing finger with some hesitation. “The… Trash window?”

“That one, yeah.”

Taking a step closer, he leaned up against the glass, peering out.

The dim night sky outside was a lie. The ‘stars’ instead blinked and danced slowly, like a snowfall of fireflies. The world beyond the window didn’t exist beyond black pillars stretching out past a cloudy violet haze. 

“Suffice to say…” They smirked. “You’re not in Texas anymore.”

“...Kansas.”

“Whatever.”

[vonev]

Operation: Ivory, 4.

CH 4: Returned (Interlude)

MW2, Simon "Ghost" RileyxReader fanfiction

A short interlude before we continue with the next chapter.

Self-insert, AFAB, she/her pronouns.

Word count, 1158

Chapter summary: Trapped in an abandoned home, you recalled the good old times.

______________________________________________________________

—A day in the past, 23rd of September 20xx

3:33 a.m.

Mexico City.

“Alpha 1-3, this is Bravo 0-6. Do you copy?”

It was a stormy night—well, that was an understatement. 

The thunderstorms had been furious, the strong wind blowing past several houses down the streets—threatening to reel their rooftops into the dangerous current. Lightning strikes provoked the region you resided in.

One even had struck way too close for comfort.

At the very least, you were safe, or as safe as you could be. You thanked the heavens above for finding a sturdy shelter to hide from the aggressive rain; knowing your luck, you didn’t dare to stay in the field for longer than 5 seconds since the thunderstorms had come through. 

A shudder brushed your body as you felt the unforgiving, cold wind hit your exposed skin. You had removed your outer layer of clothing as it had been drenched during your short journey to the shelter, leaving it hanging off the table to let it dry in the harsh weather. You doubt it would be much help, but it had been better than nothing.

You let out a long, exasperated exhale; the worsening condition of the climate nudged at your patience. Your hand found the radio you had thrown hastily onto the sofa when you first entered the house; fingers reached around the perimeter of it as you shakily pressed down on the button. 

“This is Alpha 1-3. I’m currently confined in a small shelter,” worry festered inside your mind as you remembered your comrades who could not reach the safety of a shelter like you did. “Is everyone else alright?” your voice, muffled by the deafening sounds of the thunderstorm, was unable to reach the receiver’s end. 

“H-ell Al- I can’t h-” oh, that was not a good sound. You shouted out for the receiver; Desperation clung to your voice as you gave your radio a few smacks to its side, praying that your communication wasn’t disturbed.

After a couple of minutes of you nearly tossing the radio at a nearby wall out of frustration, you concluded that it was not worth the effort to rekindle the signals somehow—no one had been able to pick up your orders. So your communication was officially dead.

There you were, concaved by the decaying walls of the shelter you found and your radio deemed useless. 

The house seemed to have been lived in at one point before being abandoned by its owners. Clutters were found at every corner of the house. If you hadn’t had a clue, you would’ve assumed the owners had left for groceries and would be back soon. Instead, as you peered around the living room, you noticed shattered picture frames and lamps on the floor. You also spotted bloodied fingernail scratches that dotted the walls in vintage red—you did not fail to see the holes that looked homemade, too.

Miraculously, the electricity and water still operate with no issues. Although you were sure the heater around the house stopped working quite a while ago—as you guessed, a shuddering breeze had your arms wrapped around yourself.

You wasted no time, picking yourself up as you searched for loot around the house, your heart rate fast-paced as the constant lightning strikes catch you off-guard every time. Fortunately for you, you managed to scavenge a dusty comforter from the bedroom closet, canned foods, bottled drinks and most importantly: a heater. 

A wave of relief came crashing down on you when you fumbled with the wardrobe and found the electronic stashed away behind the piles of clothes, barely visible. You sat down on the cold, hardwood flooring and plugged the heater cable into the outlet, gushing with anticipation, you prayed that the outlet was not out-of-service. 

Your eyes lit up with excitement as you felt the heater start to light up with the colour of flames, emulating the vision of fire as the electronic burst into life. You rubbed your hands together to ignite warmth before facing your palms in front of the heater, feeling the shivers down your spine as your body started to heat up, and you sighed in relief.

Feeling the bodily tension leave you, you took a big stretch. Then, walking toward the closet you previously rummaged through, you looked at your selection of clothing: a couple of dress shirts with matching dress trousers, a few Hawaiian shirts—different assortments of dresses and undergarments thrown carelessly on the floor. You were disappointed at the lack of comfortable clothes until your tired gaze landed on the piece of hoodie shoved into the very back of the closet, you could tell it was chalky from a mile away, but your hand reached out to pull it off of the jumble of wife beaters on top of it. 

Your other hand covered the lower half of your face as you smacked the hoodie against the wall a few times to remove as many clouds of dust as possible. Once you were done, you held the hoodie up in the air, your fingers gripping the shoulders of the fabric as you scanned the words across the front of the hoodie—

—#1 Best Dad Ever

And for a moment, you sat there.

You weren’t one for emotional outbursts, but as your eyes took in the sentence sprawled on the fabric, you felt tears bundle up in your eyes—blurring your vision.

This house once belonged to a happy family.

Now that you had a second, you recalled the photographs and portraits that decorated the living room walls. And even as you turned around to inspect the room, you could see the abundance of family pictures torn apart by years of decay, forever rotten as the anonymous faces of the family and their smiles smudged by the mould that had accumulated. 

Your mind raced back to the days when your family would gather: your parents, siblings and even friends would come over for all sorts of celebrations as an excuse to meet each other, pouring drinks and feeding meals to the people that mattered the most. 

Sure, like with any other family—yours weren’t the model ones in textbooks. But you made things count and mended fragile bonds over a couple of juices and warm meals that made everyone’s mouth water.

You guys made memories that struck to the core for years to come—

—Now, you could only remember them in fragments.

For a while, you stood amid the room that once belonged to the parents of this family, their legacy lost and buried within these walls that deteriorated over time.

A droplet of tears slid down your cheek and landed on your knuckles that held the delicate, soft fabric tight, as though the feeling would dissipate your emotional state. 

And for a while, you let the tears stream down your face, one droplet after another—and they wouldn’t stop. For the heartache you felt was greater than the tears shed.

[myindustrialspecialist]

30th October 2024 Key Insights and Buffer Zone Requirements For Understanding Light Industrial Factories in Malaysia Discover the essentials of light industrial factory in Malaysia, including types of manufacturing activities, buffer zone requirements, and factors to consider for selecting the ideal industrial property for your business. Light industries in Malaysia are typically small-scale operations that produce goods directly for consumer use. These businesses generally require lower capital to start and focus on manufacturing activities that have minimal environmental impact. A critical aspect of these industries is the inclusion of a buffer zone—a designated space between the industrial and residential areas that helps mitigate pollution risks and maintain separation. Buffer zone between light industry area with residential area The size of a buffer zone can vary depending on the specific activities within the industrial sector. The list below provides examples of light industrial manufacturing activities commonly found in Malaysia. These categories primarily reflect the scale of activity involved, with certain overlaps between light, medium, and heavy industry. Types of Light Industry and Manufacturing Activities Type of IndustryManufacturing ActivitiesManufacture of Food ProductsProcessing and preserving of fruits and vegetables; manufacture of vegetable oil, margarine, dairy products, and grain mill products.Manufacture of BeveragesProduction of wines, soft drinks, and mineral water.Manufacture of Tobacco ProductsProduction of tobacco products and substitutes.Manufacture of TextilesTextile spinning, reeling, and washing of silk; production of textile floor coverings and narrow woven fabrics.Manufacture of Wearing ApparelProduction of wearing apparel, fur articles, and knitted or crocheted clothing.Manufacture of Leather and Related ProductsProduction of luggage, handbags, and footwear.Manufacture of Wood and Related ProductsProduction of wood products, cork, straw, and plaited materials (excluding furniture).Manufacture of Paper and Paper ProductsProduction of paper, paperboard, envelopes, and wallpaper.Printing and Reproduction of Recorded MediaPrinting services and reproduction of recorded media.Manufacture of Chemicals and Chemical ProductsProduction of basic chemicals, distilled water, and various chemical products.Manufacture of Basic Pharmaceutical ProductsProduction of pharmaceuticals, medicinal chemicals, and botanical products.Manufacture of Rubber and Plastic ProductsProduction and semi-manufacturing of plastic products.Manufacture of Computer, Electronic, and Optical ProductsProduction of electronic components, communication equipment, and consumer electronics.Manufacture of Electrical EquipmentProduction of electric motors, batteries, accumulators, fiber optic cables, and other electronic wiring.Manufacture of Machinery and EquipmentProduction of machinery and power-driven hand tools.Electricity, Gas, Steam, and Air Conditioning SupplyElectric power generation, transmission, and distribution, including steam and air conditioning supply.Water Collection, Treatment, and SewerageWater collection, treatment, and distribution for domestic and industrial uses, including temporary sewage treatment.Other ManufacturingProduction of jewelry, sports goods, games, toys, and dental instruments. Browse more for light industrial property for sale Buffer Zone Requirements for Light Industry A primary buffer zone is a designated area outside the core industrial zone that helps contain potential environmental impacts. Light industries require a shorter primary buffer zone than medium and heavy industries due to their generally low impact on the environment. The table below outlines criteria that define a light industry and the minimum buffer zone required: CategoryIndustry / Activity DescriptionPrimary Buffer Zone RequirementLight- Low to no potential for air, noise, vibration, or odor pollution

- Avoids hazardous materials and hazardous waste Utilizes renewable energy sources and minimizes greenhouse gas emissions - Generates low to no wastewater with water pollution potential - Produces non-hazardous solid wasteGreater than or equal to 50 meters. Specific polluting processes may require extended buffer zones, determined by modeling studies if necessary. Understanding the characteristics and requirements of light industrial properties is essential for businesses and property investors. By providing buffer zones and following zoning regulations, light industrial factories in Malaysia can operate efficiently while maintaining environmental standards and protecting nearby residential areas. With a commitment to low environmental impact, these industries support economic growth and urban development while prioritizing public health and sustainability. Browse more new launch light industrial project in klang valley If you're looking for the ideal light industrial property, look no further. Contact My Industrial Specialist today and let us help you unlock the full potential of light industrial property for your business.

[stylebymagda]

Creative Upcycling: Transforming Cable Reels into Funky Furniture

Hey there, upcycling enthusiasts! If you’re like me and love giving everyday items a new lease on life, then transforming cable reels into funky, functional furniture is just the project for you. Inspired by my work at the Cross Keys Pub in Newbury, I’m excited to share this unique DIY adventure.

Materials You’ll Need:

Cable reel

Sandpaper

Paint (choose your favourite colour)

Wood oil

Paintbrushes

Beer barrels (optional)

Spray paint (optional)

Cushions (optional)

Step-by-Step Guide:

Find Your Reel: First things first, you need to find a cable reel. I’ve had great luck finding these on construction sites and electrical supply companies, and even snagged a few from Facebook Marketplace for a bargain!

Prep Work: Once you’ve got your reel, it’s time to get sanding. This step smooths out any rough spots and splinters, giving you a perfect surface for painting and oiling.

Paint Party: Now for the fun part – painting! Choose a durable, weather-resistant paint that complements your decor. I love using bright, bold colours to really make the piece pop.

Oil Up: After the paint dries, apply wood oil to the top of the reel. This enhances the natural wood grain and provides protection against moisture. It’s a simple step that makes a big difference.

Creative Seating: To complete the set, I love using beer barrels as quirky chairs. Sand them down, spray paint them to match your reel, and top them with cushions for a cosy touch.

Set the Scene: Place your new furniture in your favourite spot, whether it’s your living room, garden, or patio. Trust me, your guests will be impressed by your stylish and sustainable creation.

Why Upcycle?

Budget-Friendly: This project is incredibly affordable. My tables cost less than £40 each!

Eco-Friendly: Upcycling reduces waste and gives new life to old materials.

Personal Touch: Customise your furniture with colours and finishes that reflect your unique style.

My Success Story: The Cross Keys Pub in Newbury has become a local favourite thanks to our upcycled cable reel furniture. Patrons love the unique, eco-friendly vibe, and the stylish seating has really added to the pub’s charm. Seeing our creations enjoyed by so many people has been incredibly rewarding.

About Me: I’m Magda, the creative mind behind Style By Magda. I specialise in innovative and sustainable interior design solutions. My website, Style By Magda, is a treasure trove of creative ideas, upcycling tips, and stylish solutions for your home. Plus, you’ll find tips on fashion, beauty, travel, and more – everything you need for a stylish, sustainable lifestyle.

Get Started! Ready to give it a go? Follow this guide, unleash your creativity, and enjoy the process. Upcycling is not just about creating beautiful furniture; it’s about making something uniquely yours. Happy upcycling!

Let’s make the world a bit more stylish and sustainable, one upcycled project at a time!

[midseo]

Vibrating Table, Vibratory Compaction Table Manufacturers

We are Vibrating Table, Vibratory Compaction Table, Vibrating Table Manufacturers, Vibrating Table Suppliers, Vibrating Table Exporters in Navi Mumbai, India.

Vibrating Table, Vibratory Compaction Table, Vibrating Table Manufacturers, Vibrating Table Suppliers, Vibrating Table Exporters, Cable Reeling Drums, Spring Operated Cable Reeling Drum, Spring Operated Slipringless Cable Relling Drum, Sprocket / Gear Driven Cable Reeling Drum, Torque Controller Motorised Cable Reeling Drum, Stall Torque Motor Operated Cable Reeling Drum, Hose Reeling Drum, Spring Operated Hose Reeling Drum, Torque Controller Motorised Hose Reeling Drum, Stall Torque Motor Operated Hose Reeling Drum, Cable Drag Chains, Slipring Collector Column, Vibrating Motors, Unbalance Vibrator Motors, Electromagnetic Vibrating Motors, Vibrating Feeder, Electromechanical Vibrating Feeders, Heavy-Duty Vibro Motor Powered Electromechanical Vibrating Feeders, Vibratory Motors, Tubular Vibratory Feeder, Vibrating Screens, Linear Motion Rectangular Vibrating Screens, Vibrating Table, Vibratory Compaction Table, Furnace Charger, Vibrating Furnace Charger, De Watering Vibrating Screen, Tubular Motorized Vibrating Feeder, Motorised Through Vibrating Feeder, Magnetic Vibrating Feeder, Cable Guide, Roller Guides, Turnover Anchors, Resistance Box, Stainless Steel Grid Resistors, Punched Steel Grid Resistors, Reeling Lays, Monospiral Lay, Random Lay, Standard Lay, Parallel Lay, Installing The Reels, Mumbai, india.

[homeimprovementway]

Transform Your Space with Finishing Cable Spool Table

To finish a cable spool table, sand the spool, apply a clear coat, and assemble the table. In Austin, Texas, DIY enthusiasts repurpose cable spools into unique furniture pieces like coffee tables, dining tables, and bar tables. By cutting the spool in half and staining or painting it, you can create quirky console tables for various spaces. You can acquire wooden spools for free by contacting local utility or construction companies, who might even offer them at no cost. Proper storage of cable spools involves sheltered areas and protective coverings to shield them from the elements. Converting cable spools into trendy furniture, like dining tables and coffee tables, is a creative and sustainable way to add character to your space.

DIY Transformation

Transform an old cable spool into a stylish table with a DIY twist. Discover creative ways to repurpose wooden spools into unique furniture pieces for your home. Explore innovative ideas for finishing cable spool tables with a touch of rustic charm. Upcycling An Old Cable Spool Upcycling an old cable spool into a stylish and functional table is a fantastic way to give new life to a discarded item. Transforming a cable spool into a table not only adds a unique touch to your home decor but also contributes to sustainable living by repurposing materials. Step-by-step Process - Materials - Cutting the wood - Sanding the spool - Assembly - Staining - Applying clear coat Turning an old cable spool into a table involves several steps, from acquiring the necessary materials to the final finishing touches. This step-by-step process ensures that you can create a beautiful and functional table from a simple cable spool, adding a personal touch to your living space. Wooden cable spools can often be acquired for free from local utility or construction companies, making this DIY project not only creative but also budget-friendly. Once you have the spool, the process involves cutting the wood to the desired size, sanding it to create a smooth surface, and assembling the components. Staining and applying a clear coat finish will give the table a polished and professional look. Whether you choose to use the cable spool table indoors or outdoors, the upcycled piece will undoubtedly become a conversation starter and a unique addition to your home decor.

Sourcing Materials

When it comes to finishing a cable spool table, finding the right materials is crucial. This section will guide you on where to source wooden spools and provide a cost comparison to help you stay within your budget. Finding Wooden Spools - Contact local utility or construction companies to inquire about available wooden spools. - Approach working crews directly or ask for contact information for potential free or low-cost spools. Cost Comparison Provider Price Amazon.com $83.23 Etsy Reel Spool Tables $50.00 eBay $495.17 School Outfitters Spool Table $190.00 Epoch Furnishings $80.00 Holt x Palm Cable Reel Coffee Table $1,400.00 Etsy Wire Spool Table $374.00 eBay $557.85 Wooden spools can be sourced from various providers at different price points, allowing you to choose based on your budget and preferences.

Creative Uses

Transform an old cable spool into a unique finishing table. Explore creative uses such as turning it into a patio display, a rustic coffee table, or a stylish mini table. With some sanding, staining, and assembly, you can repurpose a cable spool into a practical and visually appealing piece of furniture. Repurposing Cable Spools Old cable spools can be repurposed in various creative ways. By cutting the spool in half and applying some finishing touches, you can transform them into unique console tables, perfect for hallways or living rooms. Contact local utility or construction companies to acquire wooden spools for free. Diverse Project Ideas Wooden spools offer a versatile canvas for DIY projects. From crafting coffee tables to patio furniture, the possibilities are endless. When storing cable spools, ensure they are kept in a sheltered area and covered with protective material to shield them from the elements.

Maintenance And Storage

Proper maintenance and storage of your cable spool table are essential for ensuring its longevity and preserving its aesthetic appeal. Whether you have just completed refinishing your cable spool table or are looking for tips on how to maintain and store it, these guidelines will help you keep your furniture in top condition for years to come. Storing Cable Spools When it comes to storing cable spools, it's crucial to protect them from environmental elements that could cause damage. Here are some key considerations for storing your cable spool table: - Store the cable spool table in a sheltered area to shield it from direct sunlight and adverse weather conditions. - Cover the cable spool with Masonite or a dark film wrap to block the sun's rays and protect it from the elements. - Ensure the storage area is free from moisture and humidity to prevent any potential water damage. Refinishing And Sanding Tips Refinishing and sanding your cable spool table is an important aspect of its maintenance. Here are some tips for refinishing and sanding your cable spool table effectively: - Use a fine-grit sandpaper to sand the surface of the table, ensuring it's smooth and free from any imperfections. - Apply a high-quality wood finish or varnish to protect the table from wear and tear and enhance its visual appeal. - Regularly inspect the table for any signs of wear or damage, and address any issues promptly to prevent further deterioration. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypoy4nY6FuM

Inspiration And Examples

Transform an old cable spool into a stylish coffee table with these creative ideas and inspirations. Discover easy DIY tutorials and innovative examples for finishing cable spool tables, adding a rustic charm to your living space. Explore unique designs and storage solutions for repurposing wooden spools creatively. Real-life Examples Transforming an old cable spool into a functional and stylish table is an inspiring DIY project that has gained popularity. Many individuals have showcased their creativity by repurposing cable spools into unique and attractive tables. Here are some real-life examples that demonstrate the versatility and creativity of cable spool table designs: - Cable Spool Patio Table - Indecision & Cake - DIY Spool Coffee Table - Easy Rustic - The Carpenter's Daughter - EPOXY CABLE SPOOL TABLE (INCREDIBLE RESULT) - Weekend Builders - Transformation! Coffee table made out of a GIANT Spool (DIY) - Morgan Renfro - Cable Spool Mini Table - Coffee Table - Rustic Maker Unique Designs Furthermore, cable spool tables are available for purchase, showcasing a variety of unique designs and styles. Some of the distinctive designs include: Product Price Etsy Reel Spool Tables $50.00 School Outfitters Spool Table $190.00 (57% OFF) Holt x Palm Cable Reel Coffee Table $1,400.00 Etsy Wire Spool Table $374.00 These unique designs and available options provide inspiration for those looking to incorporate a cable spool table into their living space. Additionally, creative individuals have found innovative uses for old cable spools, such as transforming them into console tables, offering a variety of possibilities for repurposing these items. Individuals interested in embarking on a DIY project can also explore acquiring wooden spools for free by contacting local utilities or construction companies. These companies often have surplus spools that they may be willing to part with or sell at a nominal cost. Moreover, proper handling and storage practices for cable spools are essential to maintain their quality and integrity. Storing cable spools in a sheltered area and ensuring adequate protection from the elements is crucial for their preservation. For individuals seeking guidance on repurposing cable spools, various resources are available to provide insights and practical tips on sanding, cutting, and finishing cable spools to create unique and personalized tables.

Market Availability

Discover unique cable spool tables at various price points on Amazon, eBay, and Etsy. Repurpose an old cable spool into a trendy coffee table with a touch of DIY creativity. Transform your space with a rustic and chic finishing cable spool table. Finishing cable spool tables are becoming increasingly popular in the furniture industry. They are versatile, durable, and eco-friendly, making them an attractive option for customers who are looking for unique and sustainable furniture pieces. The market availability of finishing cable spool tables is wide, with a variety of platforms offering different designs and price points. Pricing on Different Platforms The pricing of finishing cable spool tables varies depending on the platform and the design. Amazon offers the Rustic Maker Cable Spool Mini Table for $83.23, while Etsy has Reel Spool Tables for $50.00. eBay has a wide range of finishing cable spool tables, with prices ranging from $495.17 to $557.85. School Outfitters offers the Spool Table for $190.00, and Epoch Furnishings has the Cable Spool Mini Table for $80.00. Holt x Palm's Cable Reel Coffee Table is one of the most expensive finishing cable spool tables on the market, priced at $1,400.00. Variety of Designs Finishing cable spool tables come in a variety of designs, making them a versatile option for any interior design style. The Carpenter's Daughter offers an easy rustic DIY Spool Coffee Table design that can be customized to fit any decor. Morgan Renfro's Transformation! Coffee table made out of a GIANT Spool (DIY) design is another unique option that stands out. The Wire Spool Table from Etsy is perfect for those who want a modern and industrial look, while the Reel Spool Tables from Etsy are ideal for those who prefer a more traditional and rustic feel. In conclusion, finishing cable spool tables are a great option for those who want sustainable, unique, and versatile furniture pieces. With a variety of designs and price points available on different platforms, customers can easily find the perfect finishing cable spool table for their home or office.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Can I Do With An Old Cable Spool? You can repurpose an old cable spool into furniture like coffee tables, dining tables, or outdoor patio tables. Simply cut the spool in half, apply varnish or paint, and you'll have a unique and stylish piece for your home. You can also get wooden spools for free from local utility or construction companies. Where Can I Get Wooden Spools For Free? Contact local utility or construction companies for free wooden spools. Inquire with crews working on site or ask for contact information. How Do You Store Cable Spools? To store cable spools, it is recommended to keep them in a sheltered area and cover them with Masonite or a dark film wrap to protect from the elements. It is important to follow recommended handling and storage practices to ensure the longevity of the cable spools. How To Sand A Cable Reel? To sand a cable reel, first, gather the necessary materials. Then, start sanding the spool thoroughly to remove rough spots and splinters. Finally, finish by applying a coat of varnish or paint for a smooth, polished surface.

Conclusion

Incorporating a cable spool table into your décor can add a unique and rustic touch to your space. Whether you repurpose an old spool or purchase one, the possibilities are endless. From coffee tables to dining tables, the DIY options are diverse. Embrace the creativity and versatility of cable spool tables. Read the full article

[verodicia]

The Supper Club dream

Dark wine-red carpets. Glossy but worn, black tables. One long bench table in the middle.

Its not fresh and airy like the Atrium, or bright and regal like the Eyrie. It's slightly narrow, and boasts one large patterned window, allowing for moonlight.

Carved, embellished seats and seating benches with gold legs juxtapose with simple, high wooden stools, red chairs and lounges in dark leather. Dark stained wooden booth-tops with halfcurtains along their windows and strange mirrors wall across the back.

A small, low stage hosts a grand piano, in a corner, somehow unobtrusively. Waitresses wear black and white. Silent swing doors semi-obscure a passage through to the back.

Large potted plants with broad leaves, both on the floor, and bar corners. Prestigiously labelled vintage wine bottles now hold almost week of candles' melt, here and there. They're changed out intermittently.

Dark ceiling fans efficiently moving heat and air rather than letting it go stale, and it flows like a room full of fishes ghosts, whispering energy around and over the skin. Low lighting with elegant sconces in a tulip style, along walls. Down lights well spaced so as not to be over-bright.

There is one corner of the ceiling that is darker, has no lights, no fan. It seems longer, deeper, to hold a bunch of strange pipes and cables, and a mass encased in hard black plate. As I take note of this, in particular, it shifts and unfurls, and I realise I am seeing Broodmother, amused as she sees my recognition.

She observes all patrons that come here, going largely unnoticed by them. She is waiting patiently for any player to break the rules, to snatch them quietly, to be reeled swiftly to that dark ceiling corner.

[24kmedia]

FENLO’s Oval Future Desk Brings A Mid-Century Modern Style ✨ With Today’s Charging 🔌 Tech, To Your Home 🏠. With one power cable, you get a USB-C port, USB-A port, & an AC port under the desk. The light switch only controls the lamp 💡, which is adjustable, via a little armature up 🔝. I like the soft light that it produces and the table’s size. Unlike other furniture, this was easy to assemble in about 15 minutes, without any instructions. They have three colors, this is the natural wood 🪵 option. They also have a rectangular desk in the same style and colors. I’m using it now to help with tech reviews and unboxing videos. I use the side charging port to plug-in my additional ring light on a tripod. ad

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[gurugirl]

Tales From the Modern Incubus | Part 17*

Summary: You & Harry attempt to catch up on some much needed physical activity (*cough* sex *cough*) but Adam being around makes being alone together rather difficult, until you make it work. The Four are still plotting but their efforts continue to fall short. Aim tricks Lilith.

A/n: Remember, this is demon/incubus!Harry so there may be some triggering topics. Please read all warnings in the TFMI Masterlist before continuing.

Warning: SMUT, exhibitionism, voyeurism, use of ties, slapping, spanking, choking, anal play, talk of evil spirits, religion, spells, seances, etc.

Characters List

Part 16

Part 17*

Adam really liked Harry. He liked you too, of course, but Harry was… sexy and charming. His smile was attractive with deep dimples when it was genuine. His voice was arousing. His eyes were mesmerizing. Adam couldn’t get over how attractive the incubus was. But he soon learned that you and the demon were an item. It didn’t stop him from recognizing how alluring Harry was.

And because you’d been busy with trying to halt the plans of high angels and demons so you could be safe, you and Harry hadn’t had sex in two days. But Adam turned out to be a very good resource, so it was worth it. Though he was still learning, his abilities were incredibly impressive immediately. It was at once far easier to veil your presence. Adam didn’t even know what he was doing but, like you, all he had to do was merely think what he wanted and it was. Well, for the most part.

And tonight, you all were laying low. Harry was getting antsy, though. He’d been smelling you for half the day, just as you could sense his need. You’d been busy, getting the work done that was needed but now that things were quiet and Adam was reading from some of the ancient texts you’d brought, you figured you two could mess around a little.

It would be very hard to keep your deeds a secret, though. Not only could Adam read your thoughts (and emotions you found), the little model house you were in was not of good quality and it was not that big. The walls were rather thin. Even if he couldn’t read your mind, he’d probably be able to smell and hear you both.  

Harry was already half-hard in his Gucci trousers. He was too easy to get excited and you hadn’t even done anything. You acted like you didn’t care but Harry knew you were already achy and dampening your little lace panties he watched you put on earlier. Harry had foregone underwear himself, as he does from time to time, but he regretted it in that moment. The skin of his thickening dick was brushing into the inside seam of his zipper and it was only making him hornier. The more he thickened, the tighter the squeeze and his tip was pushing upwards against the waist in his trousers. And the way he could be in your head now, knowing the things you were thinking about him… yeah, he wasn’t going to be able to stop his erection from growing.

You and Harry were on the couch while Adam was at the dining table reading and learning. Harry played along with you, pretending he didn’t care as well. You were both reeling, swelling, breaths slowly getting heavier. The TV didn’t work in the house (actually none of the electricity did), because there was no reason to set up cable in a model home. So, there wasn’t a lot to do. You weren’t interested in reading anymore. You wanted to play with Harry.

When you brushed your arm along Harry’s thigh on “accident” Harry huffed and spread his legs. He turned his head toward you slightly and inhaled your scent. You turned your own head toward him but kept your eyes on his muscular, cloth covered thigh and wished you could bite into it. Obviously, your thoughts were not hidden from Harry, nor from Adam. Harry’s own thoughts were much more vulgar.

“There’s a bedroom upstairs you know,” Adam offered when he looked up from his reading. He could feel and hear what you both were, and it in turn made him a little aroused. He was bummed to find out that Harry and you were an item. He’d have loved to try him out too, but he quickly realized Harry was yours.

“Thanks, Adam,” you smiled at him and then finally put your eyes on Harry’s. He was looking down at you. The black of his eyes nearly completely taking over.

“I can’t handle it anymore. I need you,” Harry whispered, though it didn’t do any good to whisper given that Adam could hear almost everything.

You stood from the couch and looked over at Adam with an apologetic look, “We’re gonna, just… sorry, Adam,” you gave him a thin-lipped smile and Adam just shrugged.

The room was dark and the bed was cheap but big. With the door closed you and Harry quickly stripped down and he immediately latched on to your neck and you moaned softly, putting your hands into his hair. When he’d bitten down on your flesh you pushed him into the bed and climbed over him, straddling his hips as you placed your hands on his chest, “What do you want first? Want to eat?” You grinned. You were gonna climb over his face and make him lick your pussy no matter what – but he always wanted to eat your pussy anyway.

Harry nodded and breathed in a sharp breath when you dragged your wet pussy over his shaft, “Fuck yeah. Gimme that pussy…” he moaned as he grasped onto your thighs to pull you up to his face.

For some reason you had the urge to go slow. Harry was in too much of a hurry so, without thinking a second thought, you playfully slapped his face, knocking his head to the side as he grunted. You hadn’t really thought out your action. It was like second nature somehow, almost as if he’d asked you to. His mouth parted and his eyes were completely dark now. His nails bit into your skin.

He liked it. But so did you. His chest heaved and he licked his lips with his black eyes on yours. You grinned defiantly and then slapped him on his other cheek and Harry grunted again and his breathing deepened in need.

“You like that?” You didn’t realize he’d like it so much but when he whimpered in reply with a short nod, “Yes, please,” you knew you’d unlocked something new in yourself as well.

You smiled and looked over his face before giving it another smack, causing him to moan louder and hiss in pleasure. His grip on your thighs tightened and you grasped his hands and pulled them over his head with both of yours holding them down. You were leaned over Harry and he couldn’t help but lift his head and wrap his mouth around your right breast. He bit at your nipple gently and you threw your head back and gasped.

“Holy shit, Harry. Fuck,” you panted out. You moved yourself up his torso until you’d settled your pussy over his mouth and sat, you couldn’t wait any longer. He immediately began eating into you and licking you up. You let go of his hands and placed yours on the headboard and kept your eyes on him as you rubbed yourself over him. You angled your pussy down so your clit would rub over his nose and you gasped softly. Two days was too long.

Harry couldn’t make a sound except muffled moans. His mouth was covered by pussy and he wasn’t going to complain at all. It felt nourishing to lick you up and down and have you smearing yourself over his face the way you were. His cock was untouched but he felt the pleasure you were feeling and it made him throb and his balls tighten.

Sitting on his face was probably one of your favorite ways to get off. Harry loved it too. Loved your thighs wrapped around his head, muffling his noises as your flesh pressed over his ears. He also couldn’t get enough of watching you from underneath, the way your breasts wobbled when you’d move, how you’d take over control and begin riding him harder til it hurt, the taste of you dripping down into his mouth, the way your labia and clit would press into his nose and he’d almost pass out from lack of oxygen. You’d get rough when you were on top of him like this, but he fucking loved it.

And this time was no exception. You began grinding down over him as he held onto your ass to keep you as close as possible. He could feel your cunt fluttering and could make out how loud you were being, even with your thighs covering his ears. He began to think of Adam and how he could probably hear you. Though, that didn’t bother Harry one bit. He didn’t mind showing off at all. You didn’t either.

“Suck it, right there, Harry!” He began to slurp at your clit as you grind down over him and he felt your shockwaves take over as you started to come and he moaned deep into your cunt as he spurted his own hot come over his torso. His cock twitching and pulsing as his come poured out its tip.

But you weren’t done yet. You moved back down to straddle his waist and issued him another quick slap as you laughed. Harry groaned and kept his hands at your hips and you smoothed yourself over Harry’s shaft, up and down slowly. You looked down and noticed the come all over his stomach so you slid upward and rubbed yourself on the dip of his belly button, “What a waste… all this delicious come,” you took your finger and wiped it through his sperm, then rubbed it over your pussy before you brought it up to your mouth to lick it off. Harry breathed out a whine as he watched you.

“Oh? Did you want some? Here…” you were grinning as you put your finger back through his come and then brought it up to Harry’s mouth, “open.”

Harry opened right away and wrapped his lips around your finger. You’d never done this with him before but you really liked watching him lick his own come off your fingers.

“You’re so dirty, Harry. Ejaculating all over yourself without even being touched and then licking it off your girlfriend’s fingers?” You teased Harry smiled and his breathing was still heavy as he spoke, “Hit me again.”

So you slapped his cheek again, with a little more fervor this time since he asked to be hit. You watched him as he opened his eyes back up and looked at you in pleading so you did it again and he groaned into the room and his hands squeezed your hips roughly making you suck in a sharp breath from the bite of pain it caused.

Adam of course was hearing everything. He was just trying to keep his own cock compliant because so far it sounded very hot and you hadn’t even started fucking yet. He was going to do his best to ignore you two, but it was very hard and he could hear each and every one of the noises Harry was making. He tried focusing on the text he was reading.

He read over a few more lines, and then over them again because his mind was having a hard time retaining information in that moment. Then he heard Harry’s voice get louder and the bed springs creaked and your laughter bounced off the walls.

“Trying to dominate me, little girl?” Harry spoke as he was now on top of you, with your body pinned down by your wrists and hips. He had your hands above your head, not unlike what you’d just done with him. His hips were pushing into yours keeping you flat on the bed. You could feel his dick digging into your pelvis.

It happened quickly. One moment you were on top, slapping him and grinning and then next Harry growled and then pushed you off of him to your back, and now here you were. You laughed at the suddenness.

“No. But it seems like you liked it, Harry. I know you liked it,” your bratty smile stayed on your features until Harry released your wrists and shifted himself so he was in between your legs. He grasped the base of his cock and ran his head through your crease. He nudged at your entrance and you kept your eyes on him. His brows were stitched together in frustration and you were about to laugh at the state he was in until he pushed himself inside and moved into you hard. Your mouth dropped open and any voice you had was gone.

“I didn’t say I didn’t like it. But I also know what you like,” Harry pushed in until his balls were pressed into your bum, “and you like this cock.” He breathed out his words. It was relief to be inside of you finally. He was desperate to get in there.

You let out a shallow breath as Harry began to rock into you slowly and the bed began to dance under you. You were already so wet and Harry’s cock was slipping into and out of you with just the right amount of friction. Even with your arousal coating him, he was still so thick it ached.

You closed your eyes, savoring the way his cock stretched you and spread your insides apart. You felt Harry lifting your legs upward to rest your ankles on his shoulders as he continued driving into you. You sighed at the new angle and Harry dipped in deeper.

And poor Adam. Hearing the hottest man he’d ever seen railing a woman. Harry was strong and had great stamina. Adam tried not imagining what it would be like to have sex with Harry himself. But that’s the thing. The more one tries to push away a tempting thought, the harder it is to do so.

Adam could almost see it. The way the bed was creaking in rhythm with Harry’s hips as he slammed into you, the sound of wetness and breathy moans. The dirty talk. God the way Harry spoke to you, the way Adam could tell his voice was strained from lust. He didn’t want to think about it.

But when he felt himself plump up in his jeans he groaned and closed the book he’d been reading. He placed his elbows on the table and put his head in his hands and shut his eyes to will it away.

“Fuckkk! Harry, oh god please…” you moaned and Harry pounded into you harder at your words. The bed was cheap and the springs in the mattress were digging into your back, but Harry’s cock was too good to let anything bother you.

“Yeah? Want me to come inside your tight hole? Shit… I’m gonna come…” Harry tried to hold back. He got himself too worked up at the feel of you and it had been two days to be fair. Plus it was you. Your pussy was magical and he felt your pleasure in himself.

You buzzed as you felt Harry’s cock twitch and he started to release his warm come inside of you. The way his orgasm burst out of him was something you could feel too. You felt his orgasm and his pounding heart. You gasped when you came suddenly, unexpectedly.

Adam palmed over his crotch and sighed. He was too far gone at this point. The way Harry sounded as he reached his high, and the pheromones he released were too much. He got up from his chair and the room you two were in was finally silent for a moment, as you were both coming down. Adam went into the bathroom, which unfortunately was closer to the bedroom you two were in. He pulled himself out of his jeans and began working on getting rid of his erection by fucking into his palm quickly. He had just meant to jerk himself until he came and then he’d be okay. Then he could ignore whatever else you two might do. He just needed a quick nut.

You looked up at Harry as he helped you move your legs down from his shoulders. He lowered his mouth and kissed you softly. Dreamily. It was easy to forget that you two weren’t alone when you were in the throes of passion, but now, with your orgasm seeping away into the distance you were hyper-aware of the smell and sound of Adam.

Harry broke from the kiss and looked down at you. You both heard it. Adam was masturbating. You stared at one another for a few moments and then in unison nodded. You were thinking the same thing. You didn’t mind if he wanted to watch. You actually were starting to develop a thing for having people hear you. In Italy, you and Harry were wildly loud, probably annoyingly so, but to you, knowing others could hear only made it hotter. And you still had yet to have invisible sex in public. That would be on the list.

“Hey, Adam?!” Harry spoke as he pulled out of you and sat back on his heels. You leaned up to prop yourself onto your elbows as you both heard Adam halt his movements.

“Fuck!” Adam whisper-shouted to himself. He’d been caught. When he took a deep breath and his fog cleared for a moment he realized he was being invited. Not to join but to watch. Did he want to watch? Harry was quite the specimen and he’d really like to get a better look. And you, well, you were adorable and he liked the occasional straight porn when the male was hot enough.

But then he wondered if it would be weird after. Would you two freak out about it later? Would he? You three were meant to work together to stop some pretty scary things from happening so was this a good idea?

Suddenly there was a knock at the bathroom door and Adam knew it was Harry. He tucked himself back into his jeans the best he could and clenched his jaw as he leaned forward over the sink, palms down. He shook his head as he looked at himself in the mirror. His whole life was upside down. Nothing would ever be the same for him. He laughed briefly about the crazy circumstance he was in and thought, fuck it, before opening the door.

Harry was fully nude, tattoos drawn over his torso and even a large one on his thigh, hard cock stood outward, thick and long, still wet. Adam was shocked by the size of it. Adam’s own cock was impressive but Harry’s was… how did you fit that thing inside of yourself, he thought. Adam looked back up at Harry’s face and swallowed thickly.

“Come in and watch if you want. We’re gonna be going at it for a while. Maybe all night. You deserve a break from studying. Come and have some fun. I promise it’s not going to be weird after,” Harry dropped his gaze down Adam's frame and saw the bulge at the front of his pants and smirked before dragging his eyes back upward to look at Adam in question, “It’s up to you, but you’re turned on by it so, thought we’d offer.”

Adam breathed out a laugh and looked down to his feet. Was he really about to do this? Yeah. He was. He followed Harry silently to the bedroom and Harry pointed at a soft armchair that sat in the corner of the room, “Put it wherever you like so you can get the best view.”

You were watching Adam as he seemed a little hesitant but you knew he’d loosen up soon. He wanted to watch or he wouldn’t have followed Harry. He was horny. He moved the chair closer to the bed and sat in it.

Harry kneed up to the bed and crawled toward you. You’d never done anything like this, but you were excited for it. To have a hot man watching you get nailed to the bed by another hot man. You watched Adam as he sat in the chair. He still had his pants on, but you figured they’d be coming off at some point so he could stroke himself. You noticed how his eyes were on Harry’s back.

Harry wrapped his hand around his cock and you spread your legs as he settled in between them again. He kissed you and then nudged you back to lie down. Lifting your legs, he bent them at the knee and put his mouth over your pussy again. He flicked his tongue over your clit and through your folds and you moaned at the feel of his mouth devouring you. You turned your neck to see Adam shifting in his chair and then felt Harry swat at your thigh, “Don’t look at him. He’s just an observer. Keep your eyes on me. You only think of me when I’m doing this.”

Adam scoffed and Harry lifted his mouth off of you and turned, “What?”

Adam cleared his throat, “Don’t worry man. I’m not like, looking at her really. But I can go if you want,” Adam knew Harry was okay with him in there. He just wanted to voice it. The whole situation was weird. Hot. Strange.

“If you want to go you’re free to. But I can tell you’re enjoying this,” Harry turned to look back down at you and moved your legs again so you were spread wide with your feet on the mattress. He was enjoying this a lot. He liked being watched, liked it when anyone found him attractive. Harry had done things like this before. He’d had orgies and shared partners with friends. But he wasn’t willing to share you at all. Things were different with you. Your bond made him feel very protective and possessive. And this was a perfect scenario because the one watching was attracted to Harry, not to you. He just wanted your attention on him, though.

Harry turned you a bit and then when he situated his hips over yours he suddenly pushed his long cock inward and you both gasped as the bed rocked and creaked under his force.

Harry railed into you hard in long strokes, really making you feel his cock as it dipped deep, parting your insides at each thrust.

“Fffucck!” You shouted at the way he was pounding you into the creaky, cheap bed. His balls were hitting your ass and Harry was grunting.

Adam swiftly removed his cock from his pants as he watched Harry’s thick cock move in and out of you. The way Harry’s ass clenched at each thrust, the muscles in his back protruding and contracting, the noises he was making. The natural smell he was emitting.

“Oh shit! I’m gonna fucking come so hard inside of your cunt…” Harry groaned as he railed you deep before pulling out suddenly. He was panting and his eyes were black.

He flipped you to your tummy, “Ass up, baby,” he smoothed his hands over you bottom as you positioned yourself, ass up. Harry smacked your bottom and you moaned and wiggled a bit. He spanked at you with a bit of what you felt was necessary force until all at once his entire length was slammed into your guts. You were knocked forward and he gave you little time to adjust before he was working into you deeply and you were pushing yourself back against his relentless thrusts.

The sound of sex was loud in the room and even Adam was on the edge as he spit over himself and jerked his cock, his eyes on Harry’s cock as it plunged into you, his balls wetted with you, the scene was hotter than he thought it was going to be. He always preferred gay porn. But there was something about watching Harry’s big dick penetrating a wet pussy with such force, and your ass was red with hand marks all over.

“Taking my cock like you’re made for it. Fucking yourself on me like you’re desperate, baby. Yeah? It’s that good is it?”

You nodded and moaned, “Fuck yes, it is. I need your cock all the time, Harry!”

Harry was going in hard but you could barely hear his skin slapping into yours with the way the bed was rocking and the headboard was banging into the thin walls. The bed was shit. It almost felt like you were in a rocking chair.

Adam was taking his time now that he was allowed to. Before he’d been invited to watch he was going to be fast about it, but he loved a good long wank and watching the demon fucking into someone was incredible. And every now and then, when Harry would lean over you at a certain angle, Adam could see his bum hole and it was sending Adam. He could smell it and almost taste it. God he’d love to lick Harry up but he knew that wasn’t allowed.

You heard it though, Adam’s thoughts. And you pushed yourself up a bit and turned to look at Harry, “Wait,” you said as Harry slowed his movements.

Adam continued stroking himself as you spoke, “Lie on your back. I’m gonna eat your ass, Harry.”

Harry breathed out a laugh and his nostrils flared, “Fuck. Okay.”

You’d done it before. It wasn’t bad. Harry was clean and the way you got him to moan and whine when you’d do it was such a turn on. Plus part of you wanted to show Adam that he was yours to lick. He could fantasize about it, but that would be as far as he’d ever get.

Harry got on his back and you moved his legs up, bent at the knee and put your hand around his cock. He was warm and wet with your arousal so it was perfect for the way you were going to jack him off in front of Adam. You scooted lower and licked over his balls, and then lower to his bum between his cheeks.

The moment your tongue made contact you felt what Harry was feeling and you both moaned. But Harry’s moans got progressively louder and his whining was breathy.

It didn’t take you long to get the result you were looking for. You stroked him with one hand while your mouth licked over his ass. Before he could come you remove your mouth and stuck two fingers inside of him, reaching as deep as you could go.

Harry suddenly began to shake and his whines were so loud. His body tensed as you brought your mouth over his cock and continued pumping your fingers into his bum and he was whispering and moaning your name, “Fuck me. Fuck me like that, Yn! Fuck! Fuck! Yes! Yes!” His breathy chants of yes continued until he was bursting into your mouth, salty come slipping down your throat. And then suddenly your own orgasm was triggered by his, you could feel his in your body, had you moaning and clenching around nothing. You had never come from no stimulation before. It was the first time that had ever happened and you loved it. Loved that you came because Harry came, because you could feel what he was feeling. You nuzzled yourself down over his dick as far as you could get and Harry put both of his hands on your head as he quivered under the pulsing orgasm you’d just given him. Your nose was stuffed into his hair, that smelled of you and you pressed your thighs together and rocked your hips in your own high.

And that’s when Adam came all over his hand and on his t-shirt. He grunted, but kept his noises to a minimum as he watched the scene before him.

You kept Harry deep in your throat until you felt his body finally relax under you and his hands lifted from your head. Your body relaxed finally when your high began to subside.

You moved your mouth from off his cock and Harry laid with his eyes closed, chest heaving. You turned to see Adam with his cock still in his hand, his own chest rising and falling rapidly. He’d clearly come all over himself.

The three of you had come at the same time. It made you feel pretty powerful to be sitting in the room after making Harry come and having Adam in a chair with his own softening cock in his hand. You don’t know why it made you feel so powerful, but it did.

Calling on Dybbuk had not been successful. Not yet anyway. It had already been days and Zozo kept answering their call during the séance. The first time Zozo appeared he said he was Dybbuk, appearing as the dead spirit, and wasted hours of their time. He led Hannah and Asmodeus to where he said you were and they found soon that he was fucking with them. That’s when they realized it was Zozo and not Dybbuk who’d come to them.

But they tried again and each time the spirit to answer was Zozo. Now, this isn’t uncommon when hosting a séance. Zozo tends to be the one that comes to the scene, not the one called upon. He’s tricky and he misleads those wanted to make contact with the dead and pretends he’s the one they are seeking. When humans call on dead spirits with a séance or use a Ouija board he likes to come to them too. But many times, he does very awful things to humans and then they become haunted by a dead spirit that Zozo brings with him to attach to the human who’s doing the calling. Especially if they are alone.

In this case, they were short one soul. If they had just one more angel or demon with them calling on Dybbuk, he’d probably come to them and Zozo wouldn’t be able to penetrate the will of five celestial beings. But they couldn’t have a fifth. They needed their secrets to stay with them.

“I don’t think we have an option. We’re going to have to just wait to meet them until tomorrow,” Hannah spoke.

They had been strategizing and plotting, divining their sights and calling on Dybbuk all this time and it was all for nothing. It had been a total waste. And in this time they’d lost track of Adam somehow. He was no where to be found. They knew he was with you.

“Let’s talk to Aim before we give up. He didn’t allow us to know anything but he might be interested to know his incubus is still missing. Maybe somehow he’s made contact with them. It’s worth a try,” Michael said.

When they released Aim the day after cornering him and questioning him, Aim made sure to document what he knew. He was tempted to go to Satan, or Lucifer right away and tell them about the plan but he wanted to wait. Wanted to see how you’d deal with the issue first because sometimes, going to Lucifer backfired. He was just as caught up in himself as The Almighty was. They didn’t care much about anything or anyone.

And Satan, well, he was mean and now that Aim had waited as long as he had to come forward with what he knew, he might imprison him for treason. Because Aim had known about you since the beginning. When the watchers found out about the truth and your powers were revealed, was when he should have gone to Satan, but he didn’t. So he’d be held in contempt. Lucifer was more easy going, would probably not care that much. But that was the issue, he didn’t care. Aim imagined Lucifer laughing him out of his lair. Lucifer and The Almighty wouldn’t dream that someone would try and overthrow them. Threats had been made in the past but none had gone through successfully.

So Aim felt it would be better to wait. Because he knew too much and he could be setting himself up for more trouble. And part of him thought that if you and Adam could team up, you’d be able to stop the plan entirely. It was certainly a possibility.

Aim was easy to find. Lilith approached him and Aim felt her presence right away. He shook his head before turning to see Lilith with a smug look on her face.

“We need your assistance again Aim. Come,” she gestured with her finger in a come-hither motion.

Aim sighed and looked up at the dark sky of Pandemonium. He’d been on his way to a meeting with Beelzebub and the Order of the Fly. It had been a direct invitation as well. If he missed it, Beelzebub would know.

“Aren’t you invited to the meeting of the Order of the Fly? It’s about to begin and I’ll be missed if I don’t show. It would not be a good look to have you pulling me away from my duties so you can plot against those who have requested my presence. I’ll be forced to tell them you were the one to interrupt their proceedings,” Aim looked at Lilith.

Lilith actually hadn’t realized a meeting had been called. She was normally invited. The proceedings were usually kept quiet. The Order of the Fly is a bit like a secret society that only the most powerful could attend. Yet somehow, this time, she was not called to join.

“I can’t make the meeting but we have far more important things to discuss, you and I,” Lilith realized that calling Aim away could be trouble. But they were running out of time. Out of options. They wanted to have some kind of advantage going into the earthly realm tomorrow to meet with you and they currently did not.

Aim pushed out an unamused laugh, “Ahh… I see. You weren’t invited. Oh, that must feel just terrible. Do you think they’re on to you, Lilith? You and Asmodeus? He probably wasn’t invited either and he’s a fucking Prince of Hell. What do you think that means?”

Lilith scoffed. It did get her hackles raised, though, and she knew he was right. There could have been a leak of information. They were getting sloppy. Now they had a good handful of outsiders involved in or who knew of their plan. Any of them could have snitched and perhaps the meeting was about them. About their plan.

Feigning nonchalance she spoke, “Fine. Go on then to your little meeting. I’ll find you later.”

When Lilith vanished Aim let out the breath he’d been holding. In fact, he knew that the meeting was about something very specific, but it had nothing to do with Lilith or Asmodeus and their plan. It was a hearing for one of the legions Aim led. He was called to be there to oversee the committee and final verdict on a case that had been ongoing. Lilith and Asmodeus would not need to be present, but at least he got her thinking and feeling paranoid.

You’d had Harry tied down on the bed now. His wrists were connected by the fabric of a shredded blanket secured to the headboard. His cock was still thick and hard. He whined as you slapped his face and sat over his chest. He needed his cock sucked or fucked and you’d been teasing him. He wanted to use his hands on you to push you down over his dick but he resisted. He could have easily snapped the fabric. You knew it too.

Adam had left for a bit but had come back in to watch some more when he, once again, couldn’t concentrate on anything but the sound of you and Harry. It had been going on for hours. Adam realized that angels and demons had abilities that humans did not. And one of them was that sex could go on as long as they pleased and that a penis could continue to stay hard and come many times over.

Before Adam met you, he noticed how he was always able to perform as long as necessary but his human partners would be spent after one orgasm, or two at the most. It was an eye-opener for him to understand this bit about himself. So many things suddenly made sense to him. His own lack of refractory period meant the sound of you and Harry fucking and moaning was hard to resist. If he had been a human man, he could have come to orgasm and had been fine for a while, maybe for the rest of the night. But since he was not human, he wasn’t gone long from you two.

“Please, Y/n. Fuck yourself on my cock. Get yourself off on me. I need to feel you,” Harry groaned when you gave him a bit of respite. You smiled down at him. You both had black eyes and you were dripping over his chest, your pussy pressed over the butterfly tattoo.

“Need your cock warmed up, honey? Aww… Let’s see…” you turned a bit and reached your hand back over his throbbing dick. He was thick and heavy in your hand. You cooed at just the feel of it on your palm. The skin on his shaft was tacky from the liquids that had begun to dry over him (spit and your arousal).

Harry sucked in a sharp breath at the feel of your hand on his cock. He was dying to come again and you could feel it. Which meant you were dying for it too. So you moved down over him, letting your cunt settle over the top of his dick.

“Want me to fuck it? Hmmm?” You spoke, a tinge of mockery in your voice, but you were just as desperate as he was.

“Please. Please…” Harry begged and so you lifted and angled yourself to put his tip at your entrance as you slowly pushed down over him. Harry gurgled out a moan and closed his eyes. He bent his knees (you hadn’t bothered tying his ankles down) and put his feet flat onto the bed and began shifting himself to get deeper into you.

“Fuck!” you groaned when his cock impaled you sharply. You leaned forward and pressed your palm onto his neck and squeezed his throat a bit. Harry opened his eyes and his mouth was already hung open in desire but now there was a smile to go with the yearning.

He continued fucking upward into you as you placed one hand on his broad chest and your other held his neck down.

Harry was panting and looking you in the eyes. His nostrils flared and he was moaning softly each time his tip dipped deep enough that it was being squeezed by your insides.

Adam was very much enjoying the show. He liked seeing Harry’s arms tied above his head and you gently choking his neck. He really liked getting quick peeks of Harry’s thick cock each time he pulled back before thrusting up into you.  

You increased the pressure over Harry’s throat and his soft moans were now quieted from the extra pressure. His breathing became labored.

You were gasping at the fast thrusts from him and your clit was in perfect contact with his pubic bone. You were gonna come soon and your mind was swirling as your whimpering grew louder.

Harry was in ecstasy. You felt so good on him, around him. When he felt himself about to orgasm he lost control. He ripped the cloth tied to his wrists from the headboard and grabbed you by the waist as he continued pounding into you from below. You were forced to release his neck with the sudden impact of his hard thrusting and you held onto his forearms.

“Gonna fill you to the brim…” Harry panted his words and his fingertips squeezed hard into your flesh as he continued the assault on your pussy.

“Come inside me, Harry! Please!” You breathed out a long moan when you began to come and your body shivered from the intensity. Harry’s cock was still working in and out of you, poking deep into your guts when he finally released into you, filling you up with his come for maybe the fourth time that evening. Not counting the time he came down your throat.

Adam let out a cough and grunted when he came, throwing his head back. He hadn’t realized it, but his own eyes were black as well. His carnal pleasure had taken over and he was in a haze of ecstasy and frenzy.

When you’d caught your breath and calmed a bit you found it bizarre what you were doing. A month ago, you’d never imagined yourself being fucked by a demon and having someone watch you get railed as you came. You’d never imagined how easy it could be to fall into such a way of being. But you weren’t normal. You weren’t human. And even though there were moments where you had to pause and reflect on how fast things had changed in your life, you’d never considered going back to how they were before you met Harry.

When you and Harry heard Adam standing up and shuffling around you both looked over at him. Adam took note of your attention on him and in the silence and darkness of the room, everything seemed so funny suddenly. You started to laugh a bit and then Adam joined in. Adam was also struck by how odd this was but he couldn’t lie and say he didn’t enjoy it thoroughly.

Harry just laid on his back as he watched you and Adam laugh about the moment you were in. Harry of course wasn’t new to this so he didn’t find it as comedic as you two did, but he could appreciate the absurdity you two felt.

Oh, but things would only continue to get more absurd for you, Harry, and Adam. There was no turning back now.

Part 18

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[drtanner]

So before I hit the sack tonight I want to gush for a just a second, just this one time, because I finally got my ADHD meds today and took them for the first time and jesus fucking christ, it's been wild. I didn't know what to expect going into this at all, but I'm over the moon with my first experience of it, lmao.

I'm on the elvanse/vyvanse, or lisdexamfetamine if you fancy trying to say that five times fast, because apparently that one lasts Long and I would like to have to remember to take pills as infrequently as possible. I had one (1) Real Adult Human Job to do today, which was to tidy and dust my coffee table. I am going to tell you how I got on with it, about an hour and twenty minutes after I took my first dose.

I will preface this by saying that the state of my coffee table was very much exemplary of my ADHD issues. It had become the dumping ground for anything I couldn't immediately decide what to do with or how to deal with, which is a lot of things given that one of the major problems my ADHD gives me is decision paralysis! If the answer isn't immediately obvious, my brain just checks out and the decision just ends up getting abandoned; the coffee table was piled high with all kinds of shit that had fallen victim to this phenomenon, letters and tools and knick-knacks and what have you that had no immediately obvious home or that needed something doing with them before they could be used or put away, all of them gathering dust for having remained there, wholly untouched, for so long, and because there was so much of it, I would then get decision paralysis about where to start chipping away at it as well and the problem just had no solution at all. It was, to make no bones about it, a fucking shitshow.

But suddenly I just sort of knew what to do with things? Every time I picked something up off the coffee table, it was suddenly just very, very easy to decide where it should go? It wasn't tiring or difficult or anything, it was just me, starting at the top of the pile without even thinking about it, grabbing shit and going OH, THIS NEEDS TO GO IN THE DRAWER. THIS NEEDS TO GO IN MY FILE. THIS NEEDS TO GO IN THE BIN and so on like it was the simplest and most obvious thing in the fucking world. Suddenly I just knew what to do, which I realise implies in some way that previously I didn't know what to do, and of course I did, of course I knew what to do, but I guess it's a lot like it is when you're trying to have conversations about things you're knowledgeable about when you have ADHD in that the information is absolutely there in your brain, but you can never seem to recall it when you actually need it.

But yeah, no. I found permanent homes for all kinds of little bits and pieces, I fixed things that needed fixing and cleaned everything that needed cleaning and it was, for the first time in my life, blessedly easy to do. I found letters from fucking 2019 at the bottom of the heap, for fucks sake. There was a fucking dried leaf in there. A leaf, from a fucking tree. The skipping rope I'd been putting off using because the (adjustable!!) cable rope was too long has now been adjusted and put in a proper place, ready to be used. My set of hand grippers all have a permanent, tidy place to live and are ready to go as well. Everything's clean and like, still cluttered, but in a nice and intentional way rather than the objectively awful way it was before. It is fucking insane how quick and easy all of this was to achieve. I'm still reeling, honestly. Is this how it is for NTs? Is this how life is supposed to feel? I guess it must be. Fucking wild.

Also I actually had conversations with a couple of my neighbours and I could, like, hear everything they said? Because I was listening?? It doesn't usually work like that! Usually when I'm having a spoken conversation with someone I lose fully half of what they say and I have to kind of piece it together from the context of the other half that I actually do catch and make my best guess, which is not a fun way to have conversations, to say the least. But again, having a conversation was easy, listening was easy, remembering what I was talking about and going back to it when we got a little sidetracked was easy. I stumbled over my words less, my knowledge came to the front of my mind when I needed it, I didn't forget what I was going to say a half-second before I got to say it. To say that I could stand to get used to this is a gross understatement.

The only downside I've had so far is that about five or so hours after I took that first dose, I got a very, very mild headache and straight away thought OH, I BET THAT'LL GO AWAY IF I EAT SOMETHING LOL, so I did, and it did, and that was it! I took it pretty late and, again, it lasts Long, so I'm anticipating that I might have some issues getting to sleep tonight, but that'd be no different from normal honestly so I'm not too torn up about it.

I really hope this keeps up. I might actually be able to get this book written before I fucking die if I keep getting results like this, lmao.

[fortheloveoffanfic]

Blackout

John Wick x Reader (A/n- For day 16 of @toomanystoriessolittletime Christmas Writing Challenge and had so much fun writing it!)

Masterlist

Warnings- none? Just fluff

Finally, they were done. Decorations had been hung, the tree had been trimmed and there wasn’t a room in the house that didn’t smell like gingerbread. Their first Christmas together and it was coming together perfectly. Y/n was actually really proud of them, she and John had managed to get it all done before mid-December and all they had left to do was go shopping for a few more presents before getting to her favorite part; wrapping them. But that could be next week’s fun.

She was just in the process of packing up the remaining decorations, the ones that didn’t really match her theme and others that would just make the whole set up a little gaudy if she added them, into a box to be stored a hall closet until it was time to take everything down, when suddenly everything just shut done. Everything; from the colorful, blinking lights on the tree, to the dimmed fixtures embedded in the ceiling, to the radio that had been playing Christmas carols. With a gasp, Y/n clumsily dropped the ornament into the box that had been set on a bureau tucked against the living room wall. Despite not being able to see as much as the back of her hand, she looked around, an expression of confusion hidden in the pitch darkness. “What the….?”

A heavy sigh broke her lips, and instinctively, Y/n pulled the sleeves of her cable knit sweater over her wrists, more as a soothing gesture as she got over the initial shock. Abandoning her unfinished task, Y/n started gravitating toward the living room window, almost tripping over a leg of the coffee table as she did. Peering outside, Y/n shifted the curtains, huffing, half in disappointment and half in relief upon discovering that the entire street had gone dark. No illuminated windows, no Christmas lights adoring architecturally stunning homes. Not even the street lamps worked.

It had been snowing pretty heavily for a couple days by then, and while the forecast had said that it would clear up, by the looks of it, things had only gotten worse- and had undoubtedly caused the blackout. The street was blanketed in a thick layer of white that seemed to glow in the darkness, while the decorations in their neighbors’ front yards were sitting in at least three inches worth of powdery white. It looked hauntingly beautiful; with the moonlight casted a dim, blue hue on the gathered snow and the absence of life on the sidewalk and in street ensured that there weren’t any footprints tarnishing the picturesque scene. She doubted that anyone would be venturing out anytime that evening, unless it was to clear the snow off their doorsteps or leave altogether. As Y/n watched the flakes drifting to the already gathered bed, occasionally blowing in the direction of a gentle breeze, she thought the whole thing looked wonderfully scenic, and while it wasn’t exactly the way she thought she’d spent that night, at least she was there with John.

“Sweetheart?” A gorgeously low baritone interrupted the deafening silence that always seemed to accompany a power outage, and even if she knew exactly who it was, Y/n jumped anyway. Speak of the devil.

When she turned, John was standing about a foot away, holding a short, decorative candle in a jar, warm yellow light illuminating his rugged features. “Jesus,” Y/n clutched her chest, erratically thumping under her palm, “You scared me.”

By the light, she could see his brows knit in surprise, “You didn’t hear me come in?”

Scoffing a chuckle, she moved to reach him, that time managing to steer clear of the coffee table’s leg as she walked. “You know,” when she all but stumbled over another box of decorations on the floor, John reached for her hand, easily taking it in his despite the dimness, “We’re not all highly trained assassins with fancy skills, Mr. Wick.”

When she finally reached him, John reeled her in at the waist, keeping the candle close so they could see each other’s faces, “Right, yeah,” he chuckled, “Some of us are very clumsy.” Again, she scoffed, that time swatting playfully at his chest, and in response, she was offered another rumbling chortle, “But very cute.”

Standing on her toes, she let her lips find his in a slow, sweet peck, “How do you know that I'm cute right now? You barely see me,” she giggled, kissing him again before settling on her feet.

When John leaned down, it was for a longer, more endeared kiss, she felt his groomed scruff tickle her lips. “I just know,” he murmured, as she looped one arm around his neck while cupping his face with the other, “You’re very cute, I’m very lucky,” he added, tip of his nose pressed to hers.

“I’m lucky too. So lucky,” she hummed, and John’s response was another languid lip-lock. When they broke for air, they stayed like that for just a moment more before John straightened up, though keeping Y/n tucked to his chest. “So much for enjoying the decorations,” she sighed softly, frowning.

John’s hand smoothened up and down her back, and she felt his mouth on the crown of her head, “There’s always tomorrow,” he quipped, leading them to the sofa, setting the candle down on an end table as they sank into the comfort of the cushions. “What’re we supposed to do in a blackout?” He eventually wondered out loud.

Y/n shrugged against him, “I don’t know,” worrying on her lower lip, she tried to think something up, “When I was a kid, we’d play board games,” she suggested indifferently.

“Board games,” he mused, as if the phrase were foreign to him, though, Y/n supposed that John had never been one to be particularly interested in board games, “I don’t think we have any of those,” he determined after a minute of thinking.

“We could make cocoa,” she quipped offhandedly, it would fill the time for a while.

“Stove won’t work,” John returned, reminding her that nearly everything in the house needed electricity. “We could go for a drive,” he offered.

Mulling over it for a minute, Y/n made a soft sound of disinterest, “Nah,” the day had already been so long between cleaning the spots she’d missed and finishing up with the decorations with John’s help, and going out just seemed even more exhausting. If the power wasn’t back by later that evening, they’d definitely have to leave; everything that might have generated heat required electricity, but it was still warm and Y/n wasn’t ready to go through the motions of packing a bag for the night, or even getting ready to leave, yet. Once more, they lapsed into comfortable silence, thinking of other things they could do in the blackout, and at some point, a shiver ran through her, prompting Y/n to pull the cuffs of her sweater over her hands once more as she shifted on the sofa.

“Cold?” He peered, arm still keeping her close.

The warmth that had built up from the house’s heating system and the electric fireplace just started going from heated and cozy to simply comfortable. It wasn’t particularly cold, but the traces of winter’s white chill that seeped through the cracks in the sills of windows and the sliver of spaces at the bottom and sides of the doors had just started having its effect. “Not really,” Y/n snuggled closer, winding her arms around John’s middle.

“That’s too bad,” John hummed softly, his hand journeying down her back before slipping beneath the hem of her thick sweater, “I’d already thought of a plan to keep you warm.”

Scoffing humorously, Y/n pulled her head back so she could observe John’s ruggedly gorgeous, smug expression in the poor candle lighting, “That was your line?” She teased, “So cheesy,” she rolled her eyes playfully, pretending to not be amused.

“Was not!” John defended, their lighthearted scuffle amplified by the still silence,

Huffing, Y/n suppressed a laugh, “I love you but it really was. Worst line ever. “I’d already thought of a plan to keep you warm, Y/n”,” she mocked, only to have her side tickled, her giggles erupting in the quiet.

“Does that mean you don’t wanna…..you know?” He asked when their laughter died. They’d clumsily fallen into an awkward lying position, with their legs tangled and John hovering above her, held up only by an elbow sunken into the beige cushion.

Dragging her lower lip through her teeth, Y/n encircled his neck with her arms, the tips of her fingers curling in the ends of John’s raven mane. “Oh, I definitely wanna,” she grinned, urging him lower so their lips would meet, the darkness hardly proving to be a barrier as they kissed, lips in ardent synchrony and their noses brushing. John’s free hand invaded the hem of her sweater once more, journeying up her sides, the tips of his pleasurably rough fingers raising goosebumps along her soft skin, and for a fleeting moment, Y/n realized that they’d found the perfect thing to do in a blackout.