#clandestine meetups

[zriasstuff]

All because I liked a boy

Theodore Nott x reader

Before you scroll: THANK YOU FOR 314 FOLLOWERS RAHHH <<33 (the pi number is perfect) and special shoutout to @babygoddam who ALWAYS likes my shit first, you a real one. Feel absolutely free to send in requests (totally not because im running out of ideas)!!!! // pt.2 here

Summary: Theo is dating Pansy, but is also seeing you secretly behind her back. What happens when you get sick of that and present him an ultimatum. Will it be her or you? And what if a unexpected friendship develops from all this?

It’s your last year at hogwarts, so that makes you about 17/18 yo.

Everything about your clandestine meetups behind the quidditch field was morally wrong. As you’re walking up to your meetup spot, you feel the urge to stop yourself and go back to your dorm. You want to, and most importantly should stop making the same mistake again and again. But your lack of self control would be the eventual death of you.

Actually, no. Theodore Nott would be the eventual death of you. He was the reason for your lack of self control.

The freezing January air made it impossible to breathe, your red nose hurting from every drawn breath. Shivers ran through your body, all the way to your head where you were experiencing a first hand brain freeze. How was it possible that this is what your life has come to.

Through the foggy air, you eventually make out a tall and lean figure, approaching you with arms crossed and head down. Death has arrived.

“My bad on suggesting to meet up here in this crappy weather, but my dorm is occupied”, he breathed out while clouds of vapor escaped his mouth.

“What about the library then?”, you suggested. Any place inside would be better than this.

“No”, he decisively rejects your idea while shaking his head.

“Why not”, you ask.

“You know why”, he says, sounding increasingly annoyed.

“I don’t” You do. You know exactly why. You want to hear him say it.

“Don’t do this”

“I really don’t know”

“Stop, I really don't want to do this right now” Theo let out a repressed huff with his head lowered. One of his hands that was in his jacket pocket began ruffling through his hair. Whenever he was uneasy he did that.

“Fine”, you let it go. Truth be told, you were also afraid that you wouldn’t be able to digest what Theo would say. On one side, you knew that this was wrong. But on the other hand, admitting it was wrong meant that you would have to end it, otherwise it would make you guys horrible people.

Not that you weren’t horrible people now, but saying it just made it all the more real. Real is bad. Reality sucks. It was easier to hide in a bubble.

Theo looks you in the eyes again, assessing that this probably wasn’t a great time to do anything. But he didn’t want to make you feel like trash either.

“So how was your day?”, he awkwardly asks.

“We don’t have to do this, don’t pretend you actually care”, you sigh. His attempt was meant well, but it was futile. He could never make you feel fully cared for. And that was alright. You know you don’t deserve it anyway.

“I do care”, he exhales while nailing you with his intense stare.

“For your dirty mistress? How naive do you think i am”

“So you do want to do this right now” You thought you didn’t, but today seemed to be especially hard on you. Perhaps it was the stress from classes, perhaps it was the passive aggressive letter you got from your parents, or perhaps it was Theo barely acknowledging your existence in between classes.

“If not now, when then? I'm getting sick of not talking about it” It was time to face reality and put your fears aside.

“I thought you were okay with this”, he raised his voice confusingly.

“With being your side chick who can’t be seen or associated with you in public? Am I okay with seeing you prance around with Pansy, while I have to meet you out here like this?”

“Hey I'm not the bad guy who is forcing you to do this”

Theodore Nott wasn’t forcing you to do anything. No. He would just call you baby behind closed doors. Buy you flowers. Secretly spend nights with you. Anything a boyfriend would do, just without the emotional attachment.

And Pansy. His girlfriend he actually prances around with. His girlfriend who thinks she means the world to him. This slippery slope with Theodore down to where you were now started approximately four months ago. He had gotten into a really bad fight with her and at a party he started flirting with you. He lied about having broken up with her.

The worst part— you didn’t even find out up until two months later. In those two months he had obviously made up with her and didn’t end it, but he was sneaky. You had to give him credit for having juggled the two of you for that long without either noticing. You guess it helped that you were in Gryffindor. But after two months Theo got tired of being on edge all the time, so he decided to make his relationship with Pansy public again.

Why didn't you end it with him back then? Good question. All you remember is a bunch of unconvincing bullshit from him. But as unconvincing as it was, he gave you a sense of comfort. And although he didn’t make you feel fully cared for, he was still better than your supposed friends. Those two months you lived in the unknown were special, you had to admit. You felt special. But even the brightest spark eventually dies out.

“I know you’re not forcing me, but I'm getting fucking exhausted of this. And I feel terrible about Pansy”

“Why do you even care about her?”

“WHY DON’T YOU?!”, you suddenly burst out. Yes, he chose her over you because he had been together with her before you got together with him. Admittedly, he’s treating her better than you. But you don’t hate her. She actually didn't do anything. And unlike you, she isn't actively hurting you. It was so frustrating to know that you were choosing some guy over the “girls protect girls” vow. All because you couldn’t handle being alone again. Pathetic.

“Do you realize how ridiculous you sound Theo? Saying you like both of us, but in reality you treat both of us like shit.”

“Well what do you want me to do?”, he angrily asked.

“I'm giving you an ultimatum. Either you break up with me and stay with her. Or you tell her and deal with her breaking up with you. If she doesn’t, and if you also don’t, then I will anyway”

Perhaps it sounded a bit too extreme at the moment. You were definitely the last person to talk about morals, but it wasn’t too late yet. In the long run, it would benefit Theo too. A huge weight was finally going to be lifted off of your shoulders.

“Please, you’re not thinking straight”, he pitifully pleads in a last attempt to escape his responsibility and ultimately reality.

“I mean this works just fine. Pansy is happy, I can make you happy, and i promise you won’t feel like a dirty mistress”

A scoff is all you’re able to respond with. “You got until the end of the week, otherwise I will immediately cut off any ties with you”

Are you as important to Theo as he says you are? It’s wrong, but innerly you wish that he would break up with Pansy without telling her. That would be ideal for you. Freaking Theodore Nott, who showed you what kind of person you really were.

The next day, you caught Theo and Pansy making out in the hallways. “Ugh get a room”, you think to yourself. The day after, still no change. And on the day after that, everything was still the same. And as one could imagine, on the fourth day, still nothing.

With Friday approaching, Theo would only have two more days to make his decision according to your ultimatum. Perhaps he thought that you didn’t mean it seriously, but you did. You swore to yourself that if after two days still nothing happened, you’d break up with him. “Break up”, as in quit being fuck buddies, it wasn’t like you were in a real relationship.

Consumed by your own thoughts, you apparently missed McGonagall's announcement. Suddenly half the class was packing their stuff and getting up.

“Hey what’s going on”, you ask a guy sitting in front of you.

“Did you seriously not pay attention?”, he hisses.

“What do you think, smart-ass, since I’m asking you right now?” This was not the time to be lecturing you.

“We got a new seating arrangement, she just read out all the pairs who are going to be sitting next to each other. I think you’re with Pansy”

Shit. You swallow hard at the mention of her name.

“You sure?”, you ask dumbfounded.

“I mean she’s walking up to you right now”, he says shrugging his shoulders, “anyway gotta go”

You hope to fuck that he was wrong. But after turning around frantically, you observe that Pansy was in fact walking up to you. Out of all forty students, of course you would be next to her.

“Heyyy, looks like we’re going to be stuck with each other for a semester. Cute bracelet by the way, where’d you get it?”, she greets you in quite a chipper tone.

“You’re boyfriend actually got it for me after our first time”, is what you would say if you didn’t lie. Instead you reply “thanks, a friend got it for me but I don’t know from where”

“Y’know I actually have a really similar one”, she says as she’s sitting down next to you and pulls up her sleeve, “Theo gave it to me”. It was basically the same bracelet, just in gold instead of silver. So, what were the chances that Theo bought several bracelets in the same shop and just gave them out to whoever he fancied at the moment. Not even the slightest effort.

“How sweet”, you force yourself to say in the happiest tone you can manage.

“So what’s going on in your life?”, she continues the conversation, “I just realized that I barely know anything about you, even though we’ve known each other since year one”

You almost want to say “trust me, you don’t want to know what’s going on in my life”. Instead you say “nothing much, I’ve been thinking about maybe trying out for the quidditch team”

“Oh how cool, I’ve seen you fly in class, you totally should try out. You know during the last game between Slytherin and Gryffindor Blaise did this really funny thing where…”

What Blaise did, you’ll never know because you tuned out. But what you do know now is that Pansy is actually an incredibly nice person. In just five minutes she has shown you support, complimented you and began talking to you like you were her new friend. Perhaps she thought you could be friends. After the lesson ended, you felt almost carefree. You guys barely got any work done, but instead gossiped about anything that came to mind. Time practically passed away in seconds, and you were just hugging Pansy goodbye before going separate ways. Nothing felt weird at all until…

As you’re about to pull away from the hug, you catch Theo staring intensely from the corner of your eye. Was he suspecting something? Truth be told, you could’ve inquired more about his and Pansy’s relationship, but you decided to not be nosy. The less you knew, the better.

Later on, after you spent hours feeling like an empty shell of a human being, you slouch to your dinner table. During the day your thoughts felt like a huge, untieable knot, so you decided to ignore everything. When all classes ended, you immediately hopped into bed, rolling around, slowly rotting. Feeling nothing was better than thinking too much. There was simply too much. There was the question of whether you were a terrible human being, wondering if you should completely rebrand yourself, thinking about what Theo would do and about how it would affect Pansy, and so much more. In the end, nothing would be answered by just thinking about it.

Even while eating dinner, you have to restrain yourself from letting your most inner thoughts wander. Though, Pansy sure added fuel to the fire by smiling at you. Genuinely flashing you the purest, brightest smile. For no reason at all. Just to be nice probably. Instead of smiling back like a normal human being, you almost choke on your water.

This was it. You couldn’t pretend to be unbothered. You had to end it. You hated that option because it meant that Theo could escape from his responsibility, but it also meant that you could redeem yourself. Right? After all, you also carried some of that responsibility.

To contact Theo, you wrote “meet me at astronomy tower, important!” on a small piece of paper and slipped it into his hand after dinner was over. Hopefully no one saw that transaction. Since everyone always pushed another, it was only natural to bump into someone and touch their hand or arm.

Halfway on your way to the tower, you question if all this had been a huge mistake. Would you even have the guts to do what you had set out to do ? Theo could be so goddamn persuasive sometimes.

On your last few steps you lose a bit of balance and barely make it to the balcony, feeling like you would collapse any time soon. It even takes you a second to realize that Theo was already there. Before he turned around you just thought that it was some random guy.

“How were you faster than me”, you huff completely out of breath.

“I have my ways”, he says. “So why’d you want to meet me here”, he asks, seeming disturbingly nonchalant. As if he couldn’t guess the possible reasons.

“I want this to be as quick and painless as possible”, you begin. You gain an eyebrow raise from the otherwise collected looking guy.

“Let’s just officially end this. You and me. We are officially over.”

You were pretty sure that you didn’t sound as confident as you wish you had, but nonetheless you had done it. Officially calling the breaks would be your ticket to a normal life again. Whew did that feel freeing. But this wasn’t fully over yet.

“I thought it was up to me”, Theo sounded agitated now.

“Well i changed my mind”

“That’s not fai-“

“Seriously, Theo, you want to talk about fair ?”

“So what if i told you that I would’ve chosen you over Pansy”, he tells you while throwing his arms around. “You just want to give up like a coward?”, he spits at you, blowing up in anger and disbelief. His widening eyes and clenching jaw told you were enough to convince you that he was full on serious.

Is that what you were doing? Giving up on something genuine? You never thought about it in that way. Sure, your connection to Theo was undeniably strong, but were you ready for actual commitment?

“You don’t get to say that”, you defensively say as you take a step back. He immediately gets in your face again.

With tears forming in your eyes, threatening to spill out, and quivering lips, you try your best to curve your mouth upward and take your last stand.

“I am not giving up. We never had anything to begin with because you were a coward.”

He steps even closer, his nose touching yours. His dead brown eyes looked hauntingly beautiful in the moment. “But don’t you see, I want to give us a try”

“I CAN’T DO THIS THEO”, you yell in his face, not caring that your tears streamed down your face. All that bottled up anger came down to this. “WHAT DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND, THERE IS NO US.” Just as you say that, you frantically tear off his gifted silver bracelet and throw it in his face. “We’re done Theodore” are your last words before storming off.

When you notice him following, you run even faster, yelling “STOP FOLLOWING ME FOR FUCKS SAKE”. Eventually you stop hearing his footsteps, and you allow yourself to break down in an empty corridor. You keep muttering “it’s for the best” as a way of reassurance, but you don’t even know if that’s true anymore.

That night you went to sleep, wanting nothing but to drown out everything. Instead you got a fucking nightmare about the entire events at the astronomy tower. Only, you were watching from the third person point of view this time.

Luckily, as you wake up, you realize that it was a Saturday, so you could be in peace a little longer. Apparently you also woke up pretty late because you were alone in the dorm. Great, your “friends” didn’t even bother pretending to include you. It was always like that. They were nice to your face, but actively excluded you. What was it about you that alienated you from everyone?

*BANG*

HOLY FUCK.

You suddenly jolt up and watch Pansy come through the door. She looked furious and extremely messy. You notice her heavy eye bags and smeared mascara.

“YOU WANT TO TELL ME WHY THE FUCK YOUR BRACELET WAS ON THEOS NIGHTSTAND?!?”, she shouts, probably loud enough for everyone in Gryffindor to hear.

“What are you talking ab-” It was mid sentence when you realize that you in fact threw your bracelet in Theo’s face yesterday and that Pansy recognised it from McGonagall's class.

There was no point in lying. “Pansy please I can explain”, you desperately choke out, feeling a knot in your throat.

“Fuck you. I actually liked you, but i guess you are just another snake”

Before you can actually explain yourself, she already left. All by yourself, you begin to sob. Perhaps your “friends” were right in excluding you. You wouldn’t even want to be friends with yourself.

This mess you were in— what if you never went to that party where you met Theo? But that wasn’t even the most important part. You had to find a way to make it up to Pansy.

Argh this is it…for now ? So if you read the deleted original fic “Baby”, you will recognise the first part, but not the rest. I asked if you wanted a pt.2, but then i realised i could just make all of it into one, longer part. I really really hope you found this if you read “Baby”. And who knows maybe this storyline will continue.

Also thank you for the people who commented, i tagged y’all (except for two i couldn’t find), so you could find this more easily. @onyxwingsandcrowblackdreams @princessofsilverandserpents @pumpkinchee @laur20a23 @ladyblablabla @the-mrs-malik-styles @boomdolle @mmeskywalker

[balletfilmss]

can i request luke x fem reader where they’re both counselors and have a secret relationship where they sneak out tg a lot, then the camp finds out. thank u!

CLANDESTINE MEETINGS

✸ pairing: luke castellan x fem!reader

✸ synopsis: during one of your many secret meetups, you and luke get busted by your friends

✸ warnings: like one cuss word, kissing, established relationship, clarrise + chris my beloveds <3

✸ a/n: i’m sorry this took so long, classes just started back & i wanted to die. anyways. also literally what is chris & clarisse’s ship name? 😭

hermes was the god of messengers, the god of travelers, the god of thieves. his children were welcoming to most, for anybody who appeared at camp half-blood had been funneled through cabin eleven at one point, and new campers would continue to be.

his children were mischievous and they were smart. and above all of that, they were sly, sneaky, and secretive.

so had you really been surprised when one of these children proposed keeping your relationship a secret?

it wasn’t like luke was ashamed of you and your relationship or anything, don’t get it wrong. no, he wished more than anything that he could stand on top of a table in the dining pavilion and scream to everyone that you were his. but he couldn’t.

the two of you had decided that with all the new rules regarding camper relations (which totally weren’t passed thanks to chris and clarisse or your friends from the aphrodite cabin) and the strictly good example you two were to set as head counselors, it was best that it stayed between you and him.

that was why about four months ago, the sneaking around had begun.

meetings behind the boathouse, in the woods and in every secluded area of camp that you two could find. secret smiles and looks that only the two of you could see. holding hands under the table at counselor meetings and whispering in each other’s ears during a capture the flag matches.

it was thrilling, really. like the two of you shared a secret that nobody else had a clue about, something that was seen only by the sun and the moon.

you had been keeping it up for four months unsuspected until one particularly cool night in july.

you hadn’t seen luke all day, you were exhausted from a day of extra long training and losing a capture the flag match, so you were feeling extra clingy when you met him behind the big house. not your greatest hiding place, but you missed him so much that you couldn’t make yourself care.

nobody would notice you two missing with the campfire going on to distract them anyways.

“hey, sweet girl,” he greeted you with a smile that was reserved for your eyes only. “how was your day? i feel like i haven’t seen you at all.”

“because you haven’t.” you groaned in reply, taking his hands in yours because it had been too long since you had done so. his hands were warm and enveloped yours perfectly and you never wanted to let go. “today was exhausting.”

“oh yeah? too tired to see me?” he asked with that sly little smirk of his.

obviously you weren’t, because if you were, you would’ve been sleeping away in your cabin instead of out here in the dark with him.

“clearly not.” you responded with an eye roll that gestured about to your surroundings.

“never too tired for me, huh?”

“shut up.”

and he did, because within less than five minutes, your mouth was on his and his back was pressed up against the building behind.

now, luke prided himself on many things, such as his self-control and diligence, his keen spatial awareness and sneakily ability to keep a secret. but when it came to you, all of those things were gone.

he melted at the mere sight of your eyes meeting his, and your touch was like the blissful fire of a thousand suns.

you weren’t much better when it came to him, with his pretty eyes and the sweet names he gave you.

when he held you in his arms it felt as though the gods had made a mistake of separating your body from his so that you had to endure seventeen groveling years apart before you found one another again.

you were so caught up in one another that you never heard the footsteps coming.

“i knew it!”

you nearly jumped out of your skin when chris’s voice met your ears.

you pried yourself away from luke and the two of you were met with clarisse and chris staring at you, mouths wide open. you were caught.

“um . .” luke mumbled. real smooth.

“we can explain—“

“there’s nothing to explain.” clarisse cut you off, a knowing little smirk on the corner of her mouth as her boyfriend still stared at you with wide eyes. “this is a terrible hiding place by the way.”

“i knew i should’ve taken connor’s bet that they were dating.” chris said.

okay, they had to be exaggerating. you and luke weren’t that obvious, were you?

“oh come on, connor doesn’t know anything.” luke said with a nervous laugh, as if there were a way to cover up what had just been discovered. with the way his hands were still on your waist and fingers hooked through your belt loops, that wasn’t very plausible.

“dude, half the camp knows.” clarisse snorted.

“they do not!” you protested.

clearly, there was no saving your secrets now.

“you guys literally hold hands under the table at counselor meetings.” chris pointed out.

“how would you know? you’re not even a counselor.” you argue with him, but the little smile on luke’s face wasn’t helping your case.

“i have friends.” chris crossed his arms. “they tell me things.”

“he’s lying, silena told him.” clarisse shrugged.

“hey!”

you couldn’t help but laugh at that. accepting your fate, you looked at luke, who sucked air in through his teeth and said, “guess we’re busted.”

“yeah you are. now come back to the campfire and help me with these kids before they kill me.” chris said to his brother.

succumbing to counselor duties, you and your boyfriend emerged from your hiding spot and walked back to the campfire hand-in-hand, the secret out.

when the two of you took your seats in front of the fire and luke pressed a sweet kiss to your cheek, chris twisted his face up in mock disgust from luke’s other side.

“you know what, go back to hiding. i don’t wanna see that shit.”

[lacunafiction]

Is w a RO?

Hi Anon,

I hope you're doing well! 💚

Yes, the W is a full-fledged RO. 😌 Within Book One, they are meant to be mysterious and tempt the MC into seeking them out to unlock hidden scenes. Their overall romance route can be both trickier and more delicate than the others! The W seems to recall your choices.

The stat and relationship guide for Book One is: here, if you want to see how to start their romantic route.

The W is already featuring more heavily in Book Two given the ending of the last book. It's like they've been waiting (and watching) for their time to shine—more scenes, more sudden appearances out of nowhere, a clandestine date, a midnight meetup, and more. 👀💞

Thank you for your ask!

Book One Launch Post💚 | TFS Patreon🌲

New TFS Patreon benefits, including spicy stories 🔥, alpha content drops ✨, and more! Please check it out: here. If you enjoyed your time in Fernweh, please consider reviewing/rating it. 🥰

We're into RO excursions (date branches)! 👀

[thisisevenharderthannamingablog]

I'm halfway through this show, and I think they missed an opportunity with how utterly wild the staff gossip sessions would be in the two houses. There would be like, underground newsletters tracking the players. Bingo cards. Huge betting action. Clandestine main/minor meetups, trying to outdo each other with "oh yeah well MY guy..." stories.

[agentsterling]

Unnaturals and S.T.A.K.E. had been stretched so thin by the Westview fiasco. Between having to deal with S.W.O.R.D.'s involvement, the magical nature of things, help for the victims, interviews, the cover up, the clean up, and everything in between, even pulling agents from other bases hadn't helped much. The least Sterling could do was volunteer to help with interviewing the witnesses from Eastview. Sure, they hadn't been in the thick of it but if anyone had seen anything unusual from the outside it could be of some help with sweeping the whole incident under the rug. It wasn't exactly a solution Sterling would have agreed to if he called the shots on these major projects but it was something he was willing to go forward with to keep panic down until they could deal with those involved.

Secrets were their business, after all.

Interviewing a boy from Eastview with amnesia from a car accident right outside the hex didn't seem like it would be incredibly fruitful but Sterling had volunteered anyway. For some reason, he wanted to be closer to Westview again. He had been just outside of the Hex the day before it had expanded. He'd been dropping off equipment S.W.O.R.D. was requesting of S.H.I.E.L.D. to help with their investigation and, despite Sterling's terrible track record with magic he had been admittedly curious as to what was going on. He'd spoken with Darcy and he'd, unfortunately, seen his father.

Then the next day he'd gotten the news. The hex expanded and swallowed many of the agents working just outside the border. His father and Darcy included. Just 24 hours between himself and having to play circus in a witch's fantasy.

The interview had gone about as well as could be expected. William Kaplan didn't remember anything about the Hex. Or anything. His parents only remembered seeing the emergency alerts and the walls receding. None of it made for a good report but he had left his card with the new teen and told him to call if he remembered anything. It was a bit cliché but it was standard protocol for this sort of thing.

The last thing Sterling expected was a phone call out of the blue from the boy three years later. It took him a moment to recognize the name but Kaplan hadn't been a surname he had often been exposed to so the memory resurfaced without much hesitation. It didn't seem like he remembered much himself but he had asked for an audience anyway. For once someone was looking for information from Sterling and not the other way around. It was curious but Sterling was eager for another trip near Westview. It wasn't terribly out of his way, just a couple hours drive, and if the boy was suddenly contacting him like this it must have meant something had changed.

Sterling wanted to know what.

Public parks were a fairly common place for clandestine meetups. At least, they were in the agent's line of business. Calm. Populated. Open. Sterling sat on a park bench, having gotten there about twenty minutes early just to be safe. He'd never been to this park but it was the only bench near the fountain, as Kaplan had requested. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs and clutching his hands together as he looked around and waited. Sterling wasn't quite sure the teen would recognize him from three years prior, especially given he had just had a very serious brain injury at the time, but he knew he would recognize Kaplan on sight.

'I'll probably visit Westview after this. See how the people are doing.' He thought.

@billyktothemax

[the-scandalorian]

The Language of Flowers by @lowlights

this fic combines several of my favorite things: din, gardens, clandestine meetups, and yearning

it satisfies the dream i didn't even know i had--getting romantically railed by the mandalorian in a victorian greenhouse

it's hard to put into words just how lush, steamy, and idyllic the gorgeous writing is and how delicious the pining is, so please go read it and see for yourself 💚

[edwardallenpoe]

it's so strange seeing people being secretive and shit about reading fanficrion like it's a taboo that you read in the clandestine meetups at 3am in your bed, because I've been reading fanfiction at the ripe age of Way Too Fucking Young (seriously I think I learned my abc's two months prior) and I'm also the very talkative type of autistic so. It is very safe to say everyone I know KNOWS I read fanfiction. If I'm on my phone for more than ten minutes around any given family member they ask if I'm reading fanfiction. They're wrong sometimes. Bc I also write it.

[jennycalendar]

there is LITERALLY that scene in lie to me where buffy is talking to giles and jenny about ANGEL AND DRUSILLA. and obvs because jenny's backstory wasn't retconned in yet + there wasn't room for it in that episode, all we get is jenny going "isn't angel supposed to be a good guy?" in response to buffy mentioning angel and dru's clandestine meetup, and actually that makes enyos's lecture retroactively funnier too because that is the closest thing we ever see to jenny "doing her job." one halfhearted comment about how maybe angel is bad actually before angel saves her life and she just throws in the towel and goes "vengeance sucks. :)" no one hire this woman

[pj-the]

New clandestine meetup location just dropped.

Genkai Undersea Observatory, Karatsu

[vibescannabis]

Exploring the Modern Cannabis Store: A New Era for Weed Retail

As legalization spreads globally, the concept of the weed store has evolved from backroom dispensaries into a legitimate and often luxurious retail experience. Cannabis stores today reflect the growing acceptance and normalization of marijuana in various regions, offering a wide array of products beyond just dried flower. These stores are designed not only for seasoned users but also for newcomers interested in exploring cannabis for both medicinal and recreational use. In this blog, we’ll explore what a modern weed store looks like, the products they carry, and what customers can expect when stepping inside one.

The Changing Face of Cannabis Retail

Gone are the days when buying weed involved clandestine meetups or navigating through sketchy establishments. Today, cannabis stores, especially in legalized areas, are often sleek, well-lit, and staffed by knowledgeable professionals. Much like how wine or specialty coffee shops focus on creating a refined experience, modern weed stores aim to cultivate an inviting atmosphere that dispels old stereotypes.

From the moment you walk into a cannabis store, you’ll notice how mainstream the environment feels. High-end displays, open layouts, and well-organized shelves mirror those of high-end retail spaces. There’s a deliberate effort to make these stores feel inclusive, approachable, and professional, appealing to a wide demographic.

What’s on the Shelves?

Weed stores today offer far more than just marijuana buds. The modern cannabis consumer has a variety of options to choose from, including edibles, oils, topicals, concentrates, and pre-rolled joints. This diversity is one of the key differences between modern cannabis retail and the illicit market of the past.

1. Flower: The classic product, available in a range of strains that offer different effects based on their THC and CBD content. Each strain often comes with its own description, helping users find the perfect fit for their needs, whether they are looking for relaxation, focus, or pain relief.

2. Edibles: Cannabis-infused foods and beverages have surged in popularity. From gummies and chocolates to infused teas and coffees, edibles provide a discreet and delicious way to consume marijuana.

3. Concentrates: For more experienced users, cannabis concentrates like wax, shatter, and oils offer potent options. These products deliver a more intense experience and are favored by users looking for stronger effects.

4. Topicals: Not all cannabis products are for consumption. Topicals, including creams, balms, and oils, are applied directly to the skin and are used for localized pain relief or skincare.

5. Vapes: Vaporized cannabis products offer a smoke-free option for those looking to avoid the harshness of traditional smoking. These can be found in disposable pens or refillable cartridges, providing a convenient and clean way to enjoy cannabis.

The Role of Budtenders

One of the standout features of the modern weed store is the presence of knowledgeable staff known as "budtenders." These individuals are trained to provide guidance on product selection, helping customers navigate the sometimes overwhelming variety of strains, consumption methods, and dosage options. Whether you're a first-time buyer or a seasoned cannabis enthusiast, budtenders are there to answer questions, offer recommendations, and ensure a positive experience.

Conclusion Cannabis stores have come a long way from the shadows of prohibition to the mainstream retail landscape. Today, they offer a welcoming and informative environment for anyone interested in exploring marijuana, whether for medical relief or recreational enjoyment. With a wide variety of products and knowledgeable staff on hand, stepping into a weed store is an experience tailored to the needs of the modern cannabis consumer. As legalization continues to expand, these stores are likely to become even more prevalent, shaping the future of cannabis culture and retail.

[alexbkrieger13]

Kirk knew the rules since he said he helped put the code of conduct into place. A typical male azzhole who shifts the blame onto the woman. �� It’s all about how she was persistent with her advances and it was her idea to join him on his Milan getaway.

The coverup is always worse than the crime. He’s saying everything was consensual…ok then why not be upfront and tell the club immediately. Nope let’s do the clandestine meetups. Pretty shitty display of judgement for someone who reminds everyone he has 14 years of Woso experience.

yea he really dug his own grave

[mylifeinfiction]

City in Ruins by Don Winslow

How I fought, he thinks, what I gave for this. . . Nothing. This dust.

Don Winslow saved the best for last. The final book in the Danny Ryan Trilogy (and the final book of his 33-year writing career) City in Ruins is a masterful conclusion that finds Danny Ryan on the Las Vegas strip, building an empire and trying to stay legit while maneuvering the minefield of Vegas business-politics. While the first two each had their issues— City on Fire only suffers from an open end, but City of Dreams suffers from an open end, uneven tone and time wasted on recapping events)— City in Ruins is damn-near perfection, delivering an electrifying, thematically affecting crime epic.

Old joke, "This Irish guy walks past a bar. . ." That's it, that's the joke.

Capturing the vibes of Martin Scorsese's Casino while telling an original, hard-as-nails tale of survival in the hellscape that is Las Vegas, Winslow touches upon a little bit of everything, here. Whether we find ourselves in boardrooms of Las Vegas, the courtrooms of Providence or clandestine meetups anywhere in between, he balances the characters and genres so effortlessly and economically that we can't help but keep reading.

This is all that really matters, Danny thinks. These people, this life we've built together. This good life.

Winslow juggles these characters (new and old) and their individual plot lines so expertly that every moment hits home exactly as he intends, allowing him to wrap up this story of power, revenge and family in a way that's as thematically poignant as it is downright satisfying. He even nails the recapping, this time around, inserting it into moments that find Danny Ryan at his most reflective and discontent. So yeah, City in Ruins is indeed the perfect ending to the Danny Ryan Trilogy, but with its focus on legacy, it's also a pitch-perfect ending to Winslow's career.

Danny Ryan is home.

9/10

-Timothy Patrick Boyer.

[flailingdreamist-blog]

ilicit affairs (folklore) - don't call me kid

This was not one of the highlight tracks for me in folklore, until I saw her shortened version of it at the Eras concert. By shortened, she immediately went straight to the bridge and belted it with simmering rage like a lite Pat Benatar, stirring up a rousing solidarity within me, stoking my interest in this song.

And you wanna scream Don't call me "kid" Don't call me "baby" Look at this godforsaken mess that you made me You showed me colors You know I can't see with anyone else

The songs talks about infidelity and how one can't stops him/herself from continuing a futureless affair shrouded in shameful secrecy. Taylor likened this to "a drug that only worked, the first few hundred times". Could it be the sex? The fruitless longing for the person the protagonist is cheating with? Yet theres an irritability of being called these patronising endearments, perhaps a last ditch attempt to retain a slice of dignity despite being too weak to stop those clandestine meetups.

Tell yourself you can always stop What started in beautiful rooms Ends with meetings in parking lots

Literally and metaphorically, the affair carries on but degrades into something cheap overtime, sacrificing mood and atmosphere for a quick fix and convenience. IT'S the desperation in wanting intimacy but you end up with one dollar potato chips; superficially yummy but empty of nutrients.

Leave the perfume on the shelf That you picked out just for him So you leave no trace behind Like you don't even exist

These lines are genius. Taylor simply uses a very relatable and specific action to denote the internal push and pull within someone who loves (?) the person he/she is cheating with but can only expressed it in covertness.

You taught me a secret language I can't speak with anyone else

I'm still trying to figure out this one but I'm too tired to scrutinise this song any further.

6.5/10 (7/10 with the Eras Tour bridge)

[theromandaniels]

If Roman were someone who cared, he’d let his train of thought wonder why Saul would come here ‘many times’. It wasn’t exactly the social hub of Blue Harbor, and for someone like Saul Weissberg who fed off attention, didn’t seem like somewhere he’d frequent. Perhaps it was work, or — if the former bassist truly believed there was anything interesting about his neighbor — he was a dirty lawyer, hosting clandestine meetups in the one place in town that abided by its own laws. 

Instead he muttered a petty ‘yet’ around the rim of his glass, taking a swig and going back to just…staring at the wall, he supposed. An activity he was perfectly content with engaging in prior to Saul Weissberg’s entrance to the bar, but now he felt oddly disturbed, and that the lawyer was watching every microscopic movement and analyzing them so he knew the best way to strike, and when. How he’d already scored a point with the ‘my man’ comment, setting the music store owner’s teeth on edge in a way he couldn’t quite explain.

Some people would have called that paranoia, but Roman thought having your wits about you no matter the situation was actually an example of forward-thinking.

The gardens. Oh, lord help him. Why was this man incapable of speaking normally? “I’m aware of where I live, thanks.” The beatnik comment was clearly a way to get a rise out of him, but instead of playing his role of ‘annoyed neighbor who constantly acts like someone who pissed in his Cheerios’ he decided on a different angle. “Funny, actually because both the beatnik and the hippie subcultures were mostly just bored, rich people who had the money and means to fuck about doing drugs and sticking it to The Man, so, take that for what you will.” Not an ideal scenario, but implicating himself as some bored rich person who liked to dress up poor was better than Saul thinking he knew him.

saul was a lawyer, so obviously he was used to arguing. though divorce law didn’t have him inside of a courtroom often, it was still part of his nature to volley with anyone that dared to oppose him. most of the time, he was eager to get into a little tiff with anyone, as long as they weren’t an ex-wife of his or shared the last name of weissberg. sometimes, though, saul wasn’t in the fucking mood. sometimes, he just wanted to get a little drunk, maybe take someone home with him, and get on with the night. while o’shea’s was his normal haunt, mostly due to knowing the bar’s owner (in more ways than one), he occasionally stopped by the pour house whenever he just needed a simple scotch and a place that was louder around him than all the noise inside his head.

anyone who thought leon was the angriest man in blue harbor had clearly never met roman daniels. his neighbor never seemed to warm to him, despite how saul tried to connect with the other man. he thought: they both had money, probably a good decade between them, and roman was newer to town than he was. that must’ve meant roman would be happy to have a new friend, someone that could relate to him in ways that other people couldn’t (namely, they were both old men, and they had money). unfortunately, roman didn’t seem to want any friends at all. every time saul caught a glimpse of him, he tried to smile and wave, start a conversation, but roman just gave him blank stares or poorly hidden sneers. well, whatever. saul could deal with someone hating him. he couldn’t deal with someone hating him for no reason, however. it made no sense. he had done nothing to offend roman, yet he always just seemed so offended whenever saul was around. that was exactly why saul groaned at the sight of his neighbor also patronizing the pour house.

he had actually intended, for once in his life, not to engage. as much as he loved to bother people that were bothered by him, on that night, he just wanted to get a drink, maybe get lucky with some regular, and return home to his cats. upon seeing him, saul had intended to just walk by without acknowledgement. surprisingly, roman was the one to acknowledge his presence. though he wanted to have a peaceful night, if roman was willing to play, well, then saul would bite back. he stopped short, then approached roman at the bar. he leaned forward against the bar top, but didn’t sit down. “i’ve been here before, roman. many times.” saul gave him a weary sigh. “haven’t been mugged yet, and my car tires still have its rims.” the bartender greeted him with a familiar smirk and asked for his order. “i’ll take what my man here is having.” a simple scotch, just like saul had been craving. maybe this meeting was destined. he regarded roman with a raise of his brow and provoking smirk. “i think you’re forgetting that you live in the gardens, too, roman. you’re not some beatnik.”

[danielflemingart]

Meeting Place.

54x44"

Acrylic and water on rough canvas

[dear-mrs-otome]

Silvio Ricci - Main Story - Chp 04

Standard Disclaimer: I do this for fun. I don’t, and never would, claim to be proficient at JP. There will be mistakes herein. There will be dialogue I choose to smooth out or change, because it feels choppy just straight translating. There will be the occasional snarky aside and irreverence and just plain summarizing. If you’re looking for 100% pure accuracy, without commentary or localizing, this is not for you. If you don’t mind that…then proceed, and I hope you enjoy! And please, support your local localizer (they make this stuff look easy) and Cybird by playing the games and routes when they come to English.

~~~~~~~~

(If you’re reading along, I am cutting out the redundant part where they repeat the end of the last chapter here)

In the wee hours of the night, two princes are having a clandestine talk at the Benitoite embassy that could upset the balance of the four countries.

Gilbert observes aloud that the existence of Belle means there is no king. “That,” he points out on a smile. “Makes this a good opportunity to attack Rhodolite.” 

“So am I to take that as a declaration of war against an ally of Benitoite?” Silvio asks.

Gilbert counters this by asking if he’s going to turn a blind eye to all this - hasn’t he heard anything from his father, the king? He’s not believing that, not with Benitoite consumed with who’s going to succeed the king. “If you want to be the next king, I would think you’d be happy to please him.”

Silvio seems none too pleased about the workings of the inner circle of Benitoite being leaked, but Gilbert is unapologetic and reminds him that cultivating spies is his hobby.

“It’s a bad one,” Silvio sneers.

“I think it’s more charming than your way of letting money do all the talking,” Gilbert counters. He goes on to say the emperor of Obsidian has taken to reevaluating things, and is seeking to form alliances with other countries. Silvio reminds him that he was just talking about attacking Rhodolite only moments ago, and Gilbert clarifies that they want to pick and choose their friends. They can’t get along with everyone.

As far as which friends would be suitable, the emperor thinks Benitoite would be one. 

“Ha,” Silvio scoffs. “Don’t lie.”

Gilbert denies he is, unlike most cut-rate nobles, and Silvio tells him then that Benitoite’s definition of ‘friend’ and Obsidian’s definition of ‘friend’ seem to be wildly different. Accusing Obsidian of looking to make temporary truces, only to turn around and bite their ‘friends’ at the first opportunity - 

“I don’t say ‘friend’ to food I eventually plan to prey upon,” Silvio derides.

Gilbert says maybe so for him - but not for the wise king of Benitoite. He’s already met in secret with Obsidian’s delegation.

“...That feckin old man.” Silvio kicks his heels up onto the table in irritation.

Gilbert nonchalantly rescues his tea before he shrugs. He says the reason he came to the four-country summit was to show his goodwill to Benitoite - at least, on record. A suspicious Silvio asks what his real deal is.

“I’ll tell you if you become my friend,” Gilbert promises.

Silvio says he’ll pass, he’s not interested. Casually said, but his eyes are sharp. He moves things along to the real point here - Gilbert went to all this trouble to deceive the Rhodolite people and offer a secret meetup, there must be something he wants, no?

Gilbert reveals that he knows Silvio is in Rhodolite on a mission from his father to find something that could lead to breaking off their alliance with Rhodolite, and Silvio is less than pleased to hear once again how many of their secrets Gilbert seems to know.

"I'll help you," Gilbert offers. The candle gutters strangely, despite the air being still, and there's a moment of silence as if Silvio is mulling the idea over.

"No need," he says eventually. "I'm not even ready to agree to working with your country to begin with."

Gilbert questions whether he can really afford to say that, with such an important mission and the potential for the throne on the line, earning himself only an annoyed glare that he merely smiles at. He suggests the following 'scenario': Benitoite is greatly upset by the fact that Rhodolite hid something as important as the death of its king - and given Rhodolite's lack of trust and honesty, they unfortunately must opt to dissolve their alliance.

Silvio scoffs that it's a lame story, but Gilbert points out it doesn't really matter. All that matters is that the story helps Benitoite save face amongst the rest of the countries out there. And if Silvio really wants to go through with that angle, he'll need to find evidence that the king is dead.

"Rhodolite is no fool though. It's certain they'll pick their next king while we try to prove the prior ones passing," Gilbert observes, but he says it'll be too late if Belle gets to choose the next king. "The fastest way then would be…"

"Getting that women to admit she's Belle," Silvio finishes.

Gilbert agrees. "My hands are tied here though. It's all up to you."

Silvio asks exactly what Gilbert's 'help' is supposed to be then, and Gilbert tells him it's information. He does have spies everywhere, remember? And a pawn of his in Rhodolite - not just in the city, but amongst the 8 princes themselves.

Silvio laughs that he didn't think there'd be a traitor amongst those chummy bros, but Gilbert assures him they've got someone sympathetic on the inside. 

"You know how it is with royal brothers, don't you?" Gilbert says.

After a long pause, Silvio shrugs his comment off noncommittally, looking up at a nearby dog statue with darkened eyes.

Gilbert observes that Belle is a commoner, a rube basically, and a woman like that should be an easy mark for Silvio right? Silvio reminds him he's on whichever side benefits him most - be that the land of roses or the land of ore, he still hasn't made up his mind.

"I'm still trying to decide. So it's up to me to choose whether things go the way you plan them to or not," Silvio warns him.

Gilbert laughs approvingly. "Good. Even though you're a royal, you're straightforward and direct. I like that about you, you know?"

"Not that I'm thrilled about you liking me." Silvio surges to his feet then, so violently he almost knocks his chair over, and turns to go with one last warning to Gilbert. "I'm still debating what to do about the woman. Don't touch her."

"Alright. I'm watching, so be careful, Silvio," Gilbert replies.

Silvio slams the door shut behind him, hard enough to almost break it…and left alone in the room, Gilbert sips his tea and sets the cup down gently with a smile. "Dogs are useless when they've been trained, right?"

~~~~~~~~

Starting the day after her disaster dinner with Silvio, security's been tightened around Emma. Everywhere goes she has either Rio or a servant with her at all times, no matter what.

There'd be no repeat that horrible day, she thought.

'Thought', that is.

"You're naive. Servants can be easily bribed, you know." Silvio grins unrepentantly at her from across the table at the bar he's taken her to after snatching her away from the castle.

She's fuming at how underhanded he can be, stooping to bribing a servant and getting her alone, poised for a repeat of her hellish experience before.

Silvio chides her not to be down in the dumps this whole time and to pour him a drink - that's her job, entertaining him, no?

She'd expected things to be weird between them, given the fight they'd ended their last interaction on, but Silvio seems his normal tyrannical self - or maybe it was just so commonplace for him he didn't even blink.

She watches as he takes an elegant sip from the drink she pours, and can't stop herself from speaking up. "....I was surprised."

"That I didn't punish you?" Silvio supplies.

"There is that…but also, this is a bar for just about anyone." It's not the highbrow place he took her to last time - it's a local joint full of townsfolk and commoners, and even Silvio himself is dressed far more casually than usual, as if to match the surroundings.

He's still got the bling on, but she's kind of used to it, and him, by now.

She says aloud that she thought he was only into expensive stuff, but he tells her not to be silly. A good drink is a good drink, regardless of how much it costs.

She finds it interesting that he's the sort of person to let money do the talking, but yet doesn't value things solely based on their price tag…and has to admit to herself that her view of him has shifted. A tiny bit.

"Besides, if you're a commoner, you're more used to this kind of bar, right?" he points out.

".... I'm not a commoner," she denies.

“If you wanna be stubborn and refuse to admit it, that’s fine,” Silvio grins. “For now, let’s just drink.” He lifts the bottle and fills her empty glass  - a gesture which seems decidedly odd to her. Not like him at all. 

He remarks on how he’s pleasantly surprised by how good the rose wine is here, and his haughty stare is urging her to drink up too. Still feeling as if something is slightly off, she agrees and takes a sip. 

“Oh, it’s true, it is delicious,” she notes.

He agrees, and observes that she’s a good drinker. She tells him she doesn’t mind alcohol, which seems to please him. “Ha, not too shabby. One of Benitoite’s main industries is brewing,” he tells her. “A woman who enjoys a good drink is more than welcome.”

She says she thinks she’d probably do well in Benitoite, and he agrees she might…and then the conversation dies off, leaving Emma to squirm at the silence. Silvio continues to drink wordlessly, and she’s casting about for something to talk about.

Just like him being the one to pour her a drink just now, something seems strange about him today. She knows there was an ulterior motive behind the party and the fancy dinner, to try and suss out her real identity…but she can’t pin down what his purpose is behind today. Not to mention, if he’s trying to force her to admit she’s Belle, he’s doing a rather half-hearted job of it right now. Or none really at all, frankly. 

Though she knows she should be wary of him…she makes up her mind what to say. “I really am quite sorry.”

“Huh?” Silvio looks puzzled.

 “The other day. I said a little too much,” Emma concedes. She sets her glass down and chooses her words carefully, holding Silvio’s gaze as best she can. “I don’t think it was wrong to object to you. But…my words went too far.”

“Ha,” Silvio huffs a laugh. “Being rude to royalty can’t just be smoothed over with some trite apology.”

“...I figured as much.”

Silvio’s grin fades. “Ah, hells…don’t look at me like that, you’ll make the booze taste bad. I was just kidding.” He surprises her when he takes ahold of her head and softly strokes her bangs with his thumb. 

Inwardly, she’s surprised by how gentle his touch is. Having fully expected him to say something arrogant again.

“I forgot what you even said,” he tells her, to her surprise. “I was drunk then, so let’s just chalk it up to that.” She’s trying to process why he’d say something obvious not true, when he goes on. “And also…”

He trails off, falling silent long enough that she prompts him with his name. “Prince Silvio?”

Still he remains wordless, his gaze meandering about for some time before he finally frowns. “...I’m sorry.”

It’s said so quietly that his voice is almost drowned out by the hustle and bustle of the bar, but she’s pretty dang sure she just heard maybe the last words she thought she’d ever hear out of the tyrant’s mouth. She’s still blinking at him, utterly taken aback, when he musses up her hair.

“Ah, stop that, please!” she cries. 

“Be quiet. We’re done talking about this,” Silvio scowls blackly. 

She never actually expected him to apologize. Maybe the other day he realized he’d gone too far with his threats, even for him. All that despite her having thought he was a tyrant who didn’t give a fig about anyone’s heart or feelings.

She finally understands the motive behind him pouring her a drink…and she thinks that perhaps, past the arrogance and the harsh tongue, he’s not a bad person at heart?

“What is it? Don’t stare at me,” he tells her, messing up her hair tas much as he pleases before turning away, and his current lack of tyranny has her forgetting her wariness.

She tells him she was drunk too, so she also ‘forgot’ what he said…and he just looks at her in surprise.

“I see,” he says eventually, his surprise melting to a relieved laugh, and the air between them seems finally calmed and clear. 

This is bad…she thinks. Her thought prior had been to proceed with The Plan that she and Sariel and Rio had hatched after making her apology - but realizing that Silvio might actually not be a bad person has her heart trying to pump the brakes. But she steels herself to go on with it, because even if they’ve made up she can’t continue to play hostess for Silvio. 

The fate of her country depends on this, so she has to put a stop to it no matter what.

“If drinks aren’t enough, order some food. I’ll buy you whatever,” Silvio offers on a grin.

She declines though, pointing out that he bought everything their last outing together too, so she’s good. But he reminds her he’d told her the hostess isn’t supposed to disagree with him, so just go with it. “I know this place has some of those sweet things women seem to like.”

That’s why he chose this place, she realizes. Maybe with legitimate thought put into what she might like. But she chides herself not to get too thrilled with that - it’s probably far more likely he’s just trying to butter her up, and she should find a way to delicately refuse. 

She suggests trying a strawberry tart, and asks if he’d like to try it too (fully expecting him to turn the whole thing down and give her an out). Silvio declines, claiming that something that sweet would just give him heartburn…but then he folds and says he’s willing to try a bite or two if that’s what she wants. 

Immediately he calls out to the staff to put in the order, and she’s kicking herself  - she should have just said no flat out! Even Silvio comments on her visible dismay, forcing her to scramble to cover by thanking him.

“You won’t accept jewelry, but this you will,” he notes.

It’s true, she sent the dress and the jewels back to him via Sariel after last time. But today she’s not putting up much of a fight, and she can only come up with one reason why. “Because this time, I can tell you mean something by it.”

Silvio claims to have no idea what she’s talking about, but he laughs, clearly in a good mood, and for some reason her heart flutters just the teensiest bit.

No, no wavering! she scolds herself, recalling the moment Sariel had asked her if she was prepared to become an evil woman. She can’t waver…because she’s made up her mind to become a villainess Silvio would hate.

~~~~~~~~

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