#do they have running water and thus actual bathrooms

[apomaro-mellow]

CC Ransoms Steve 7

Part 6

Eddie went up the stairs after Steve, leaving the other three to explore the kitchen and rustle up some grub for dinner tonight. When he got to the top landing, he realized he didn't know exactly which room was Steve's. He remembered which was his parents', so he avoided that when he heard the sound of running water. He went towards that and found himself in a room with dark blue and white wallpaper.

Steve came from another door which Eddie realized was an en suite bathroom where he could hear the shower running. Any thoughts of bitching about how rich Steve was right now were thrown out the window at the sight of his shirtless chest.

"Ever heard of knocking?", Steve crossed his arms, bringing attention to his pecs and biceps.

Eddie had to swallow, his throat suddenly dry. "I uh, I came up here to uh..."

Steve rolled his eyes. "Don't even think you're getting lucky after what happened down there."

Eddie snapped back into focus and closed the bedroom door. He didn't think there was any real danger of the others hearing and thus finding out about him, but well, he didn't get this far without being at least a little cautious.

"That's not why I'm here", he said. "I'm here to say that while that was a huuuge hiccup, you handled it well."

"Yeah. I did", Steve said, his tone turning agitated. He turned to go back into the bathroom, presumably to finish undressing and actually get into the shower but Eddie couldn't let him do that. For more than one reason.

“Look, you’re plenty useful”, Eddie said in a placating tone.

“Yeah, I know. Question is, do you know that? Do your friends know?”

“I’ll straighten them out.”

“Not enough”, Steve said. “I want an apology.”

Eddie raised a brow and just barely kept from scoffing. "An apology? For what?"

"You remember this started with a kidnapping, right?"

"One you've criticized several times", Eddie pointed out.

"Just because it sucked doesn't mean you shouldn't feel sorry for it."

"Okay, sure, fine, we'll beg for your forgiveness for that", Eddie submitted. He had to remind himself that the only path forward was through Steve right now. In the light of the bathroom, the lines of his body were more prominent. But something else was more visible as well. "Is...is that...?"

Steve raised his arm and the bruise on his side became more pronounced. "Oh yeah and some idiot hit me with his van. I could call the police. Can't remember why I'm not."

Eddie actually felt shitty right now. For all that Steve benefited from his many sources of privilege, he'd never really gone out of his way to hurt someone. But Eddie had slammed his van into him, knocked him unconscious, and Steve had only done the most minimal of bitching. Eddie should be sitting in the back of Hopper's car, at the very least.

"I'm sorry", he said. His sincerity must have shown through, because Steve's shoulders relaxed immediately.

"It's fine. I mean, it's not fine, it hurts like a mother, but I'll survive."

"Shouldn't you get that looked at? Like at a hospital?", Eddie asked.

"And tell them what? The town freak did a hit and run?"

Eddie shrugged. "You could leave me out of it. We could saaaay Carver did it."

"Sure, let's add false accusations to your rap sheet."

"What's one more crime?"

Steve laughed and Eddie felt less shitty. There was this weird thing between them, held together by this harebrained scheme. Eddie didn't know what would happen to them after it was done. But then again, he never was that good at thinking ahead.

"Are you gonna let me shower in peace now?", Steve asked, smiling.

Eddie waggled his brows, because those weren't under his control apparently and Steve laughed again before he closed the door to the bathroom. Eddie was smiling as he came back down the stairs and saw the other three busy with cooking. Eddie lent a hand while Steve showered upstairs.

"Did you handle it?", Doug asked first.

"It's handled", Eddie said simply.

Steve was lured downstairs by the smell of food. Not that he could tell exactly what it was. he was half afraid of coming to a burnt kitchen. But somehow, they had pulled it off. It wasn't anything extravagant. There was a frozen pizza fresh from the oven, a bunch of grilled cheeses, two big bowls of chips, one of popcorn, someone had cooked an entire pack of bacon, and soda.

After the day Steve had, it looked like heaven. He sat down to eat but before his first bite, Eddie held up a hand.

"Gentlemen...", he gestured to the others.

Jeff, Gareth, and Doug all groaned and rolled their eyes, but stood in front of Steve. "We're sorry", they said. Only Gareth looked like it physically pained him to say it.

Steve crossed his arms and leaned back in his seat, grinning. "Did you rehearse a song too?"

They grumbled, but didn't bite back, which showed how truly sorry they were. Steve gestured for them to sit back down.

"Apology accepted."

"We should probably really strategize our next steps", Jeff said after a few bites of food. "Like plan for what might go wrong this time."

"What could go wrong?", Gareth asked. "All we gotta do is take this haul to the pawn shop, then make our way to the competition."

"Seems easy enough", Eddie said.

"But we didn't count on those old ladies", Doug pointed out. "And I bet if we don't plan for it, something could happen at the pawn shop."

"You guys are being paranoid. Whatever happens, we'll take care of it, like we did today", Eddie said.

Steve smirked. "You mean by the skin of your teeth?"

The topic quickly changed to which songs they should play and how their lives would absolutely change after. Dishes were left in the sink but Steve couldn't bring himself to care. He stretched and made his way to the stairs.

"Not so fast, don't we still need someone on guard duty?", Gareth pointed out.

Eddie tried to appear casual as he stood up. "Well if I must-"

"Uh-uh", Jeff put a hand to Eddie's chest. "You dropped the ball last time. This time we'll do a real rotation." He couldn't explain it, but there was something in the way that Eddie looked at Steve.

Steve just shrugged and went up to his room, Jeff volunteering himself to go first. Eddie did his best to not look too disappointed. He, Doug, and Gareth got comfortable on the couches in the living room. When it was Eddie's turn, Doug nudged him awake and pointed to the stairs.

For once in his life, Eddie didn't mind being awakened. He got up to Steve's room. It was dark but for the moon illuminating his bed and for a moment Eddie was taken to that one raunchy fantasy romance that he'd huddled up in the corner of a library to read. Steve was very much like the maiden in the story. Face softened by sleep, completely open and vulnerable to the welcome intruder to her room.

Eddie sat at the desk at the end of the bed and watched. Sunrise came in the blink of an eye.

Part 8

Taglist

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[iiotic]

Hi

Maybe you could write Wriothesley x fem!reader moving in together, maybe some cute moment where Writhesley understands that all his dreams about a family come true

Sorry if it’s not for your liking

Have a great day!!!

"SO WHAT DO WE NAME THE CHILD?"

in which you and wriothesley, who just got married, moved in together. however wriothesley seems to think about other things..

before you read -> fluff, suggestive, fem reader, implied marriage, swearing, not proff read

word count: 0.7k

it's honestly so so cute!! I'm dying. thank you for your requests anon!! ((it took so long YET IT'S SO SHORT im dying) i cringed readinf thus ngl)

wriothesley never imagined himself starting a family, with all of his duties and the fact that he practically lived in the fortress of meropide it all seemed impossible. however that changed when he met you, you were so sweet and carrying he caught himself thinking about starting a family with you.

dreaming about moving in with you, having a sweet child running around; preferably a girl but the gender doesn't matter! most importantly being able to come home to you, the love of his life.

soon enough his dreams came true.

you were now standing in the local furniture store in fontaine with your soon to be husband, looking at different cabinets and kitchen appliances. it was truly a difficult decision to chose a furniture to your liking, whether it would be the colour or the right shape.

"what do you think about this one? it's vintage, cute." you said, pointing at a white, milky cabinet. the edges were quite sharp, dangerous even if you'd accidentally bumb into them.

"They're too light, they'd get dirty really quick" wriothesley said looking at the other side of the room. he quickly caught your attention pointing at another cabinet, seemingly a different style. modern, on the darker side, almost pure black.

"It's too dark, we wouldn't be able to see where it's dirty." you sighed, pinching your nose.

you were arguing over stupid cabinets for over 15 minutes. you were starting to get a headache and you didn't pick half of the furnitures for your kitchen yet.

"how about this one?" he asked, nudging you shoulder, nodding at a darkish cabinets with a milky white on top of them with soft edges. it wouldn't get dirty easily, it wasn't too light nor dark too. the perfect contrast. "the edges aren't sharp enough for the kid to bumb into it.." he added

yes.. this one was perfect

the day that you got the keys to your own house your imagonation was going wild. you'd run around the house with wriothesley on your side, telling him about your vision and him giving short remarks.

he felt like he was on cloud nine, he couldn't believe that it was actually happening.

unfortunately for you both, you had to assemble the furnitures alone. you agreed that the team that would do it for you was way overpriced.

this would lead to cute, domestic moments. whether someone messes up something or reading the instructions for over 10 minutes not understanding anything.

"wrio, do you know which screw is the right one for th.." you stopped in your tracks as you saw your husband all covered in water.

"do not laugh." he gritted through his teeth, but it was too late you already burst out laughing at the pure comedy scene in front of you.

wriothesley was assembling the sink in your bathroom, at least trying to. unfortunately he was no plumber nor did he wanted any help from you saying that "he was the man of the family" however that might sound.

you yelped as he pulled you to him, wetting your new white shirt in the process.

"i told you to not laugh." he said with such seriousness but his smile betrayed him. he softly pulled you in for a kiss to shut you up, his hands finding their way on your waist. you kissed back almost immediately, your hands tangling in his wet hair. fuck, he looked so attract with wet hair..

2 months later you finished putting the final touches to your new home. some pictures on the wall, plants in the corners and near the windows.

you were very satisfacted with your work in the kitchen, you organised everything with the help of your husband. everything was neat and pleasant for the eye.

the first night together in your new bedroom, in your new bed was rather.. passionate and left you fucked, with his seed inside you.

you cuddled wriothesley, hiding your face in his chest with your arms around his neck making yourself comfortable. you were sure that after tonight you will wake up sore.

wriothesley was so much satisfied and pleased with the fact that his dream of starting a family with the love of his life already succeded in 90 procent.

he purred slightly, nuzzling closer to you, whispering in your ear. "so, what do we name the child?"

© 2024 iiotic. — do not steal, translate or repost any of my content onto any other platform

[the-s1lly-corner]

Part of their Family (Slender Mansion x Reader Chapter 2)

the poll for chapter 1 has been completed, and thus your first choice has been made! I think what I'll do going forward is put a poll at the end for chapters that call for a choice to be made... speaking of... youre going to have a VERY important choice to make at the end of this.. it appears you got too comfortable in the murder mansion notes: gn human reader, headcanon heavy, ben is not a physical entity most of the time, bro got sent to the flip phone, congrats youve decided to go play games with jeff ben and toby! nina eventually joins in with snacks! what can go wrong!... hopefully no one gets bored...!, there is indeed a choice to be made at the end of this chapter, also if anyone has any tips on how to write tobys dialogue and tics id love some pointers- i personally hc him with a stutter (caused for several reasons + we self projecting) and im mostly basing the stutter off of my own but like. yk??, not beta read we die like men word count: 7.5k cws: canon typical violence and murder, on screen violence

You come to a decision as you shut off the water of the shower. The air smelled vaguely of dampness and soap. The bottles weren’t scented, at least not with anything strong that you could really pinpoint. A shiver is bitten back in the moment between stepping out of the shower’s lingering warmth and wrapping yourself in one of the soft towels folded neatly within a small cabinet. For a brief moment the thought of where to put your dirtied laundry crossed your mind. Perhaps you could ask Splendor when you were able to catch him. He could still be playing with Sally… but popping your head in to ask now felt risky. You weren’t sure if the little girl would let you go easily. You had promised her with little intent of actually keeping it… and the knowledge was starting to fully sink in as you dried yourself off. 

A faint billow of steam pushed out into the room as you opened the bathroom door. The sound of life outside became simple common noise as you closed the distance to the door- the moist sound of your bare feet lightly sticking to the wooden floor below far more noticeable to you in the moment. There was nothing more that you wanted now than to be fully dry… but a towel could only do so much. 

After a moment’s hesitation you sit on the edge of the bed you’ve been lended- towel still wrapped firmly around your middle to keep from soaking the sheets under you. Making your bed didn’t even occur to you this morning… doing it now seemed pointless. Maybe one day if you decide to linger here in this place for a little longer. The palms of your hands find themselves to your covered thighs and run along the fuzz of the towel. Soft and fresh- washed somewhat recently. It didn’t smell off- like how cloth sometimes got when left hanging in a closet for months untouched. In fact you don’t recall seeing any dust in the room when you first entered it… not that you were actively taking everything in at the moment. 

In fact, upon a more steady mind you found that the room was actually a lot nicer than you had thought. The walls were clean and unmarked outside of the tiny holes you’ve noticed. For a fleeting moment you wondered if you’d be allowed to stick your own posters and decor up. The idea was shaken for the time being. The wallpaper was still intact. The creaks of the mansion settling and the general style of how it was built told you it was up there in age- but everything inside nearly looked brand new. The desk pushed against the wall nearby was nearly completely bare save for some faint scrapes and marks along the legs. Even with a fresh coat of paint the indents were obvious. 

Someone had lived here before you, and they left their mark. 

You shimmy around on the mattress- sinking slightly into its dip. Broken into from its previous owner. You wondered if they’d ever come back- and what that would mean for you if you were still hanging around. 

The way you had to fight with the covers of the bed to tear them away enough to crawl under them reminded you heavily of how beds were made in hotel rooms. 

A faint sigh slips through your lips, and for the first time since your life fell apart you took a deep breath. Ribs popped and cracked slightly under the shift of your lungs and muscles before falling into something more comfortable- the tension slipping itself along your spine. Another breath, another crack muffled under the veil of flesh. 

It didn’t look so bad with the morning light casting itself across the room through the tiny gap of the window’s curtains… and without giving it much thought you rise back to your feet to the window and curl your fingers around the edges of the fabric. Soft but enough weight to keep the covers in place against any drafts that managed to slip through any cracks of the mansion's walls. Black seemed to be a default here. 

Being on the second floor you weren’t all too concerned with anyone outside seeing you- nevermind the fact that you were greeted with thick forest right outside. The woods didn’t look so scary and disorienting in the daylight. It had felt like it would consume you before, but now…

The branches swayed gently against the wind- glistening slightly. It must have rained earlier. A hand pulls itself away from the curtain and keeps the towel clinging to your body steady as you allow your eyes to scan around the immediate area. No matter what you were going to do, you needed to at least figure out what was around you. 

You hadn’t even memorized the layout of the mansion… much less been shown around properly. 

Sudden movement caught your eye as a thin figure emerged from the trees. Hatchet in hand, Toby shuffled across the grass into the clearing surrounding the building. Muddied streaks now decorated his jeans- alongside grass stains and loose leaves. The other two masked men that he left with soon followed- both still in the same state as when they left. 

“Not a single drop of blood,” You thought. 

You’d… have to ask someone what their names were. Surely you’d be forgiven for not instantly remembering everyone. 

Jeff must have been an exception…  maybe… 

The towel is gripped tighter in your fingers- and nearly tightened harder when Toby suddenly lifted his face and looked directly at your window. Important parts hidden or not a mortifying wave of heat rolled over the back of your neck and shoulders- infecting it with an almost tingling feel as you scrambled to shut the curtains. You managed to rip them shut, but not before you caught Toby raising his hand to wave up at you. 

You hiss softly as you release your grip and back away from the window. One could only hope that he wouldn’t bring it up later- even worse if he had decided to prod about it during your hangout with him and Jeff… if they would still have you. 

Making a break for it now was probably the worst idea- Toby’s comments during breakfast rang slightly in your mind. There were people looking for you. Not just the police… and they were comfortable enough to wander in the woods… and staying inside would probably draw someone’s attention- especially now that you had properly made your presence known and part of the mansion during breakfast. 

…Maybe… by the sounds of it the mansion had its own recluses hidden in its walls somewhere. 

And playing with Sally now felt… a little overwhelming. Though you were sure spending your time with four people at once was going to be just as if not more overwhelming. 

Standing here rethinking your choices wasn’t going to do anything other than give you a headache… and you were beginning to grow cold.

With that you push the towel to the side and make a grab for your clothes. 

They were nothing special. Jeans, a t-shirt, and a coat. Save for the stretching around the collar of your top and other mess ups that Splendor couldn’t mend… he had cleaned and patched it up well. You’d have to thank him later the next time you see him… you weren’t sure if you’d be able to handle wearing someone else’s clothes that didn’t quite feel right against your body for much longer. 

The top is tugged up to rest slightly bunched at your waist and the coat left bunched up on the bed. You could hang it back up or just keep it on hand, or maybe-

Someone knocks on your door for the second time today and your attention is snapped back to the moment. You weren’t back home no matter how being back in your own possessions made you feel. Your hands give one last shift against the fabric before you turn back to the door and answer- maybe a little too quickly because even Toby looked surprised. 

“Oh good you’re not still n-naked,” He let his bare hand fall to his side- he had taken off his gloves to reveal pale fingers, bits of irritated skin from who knows what… the tips were stained a faint pink- actually. He seemed a little flushed all over… his now damp hair was enough to fill in the answer. His goggles were nowhere in sight. His dull brown eyes relaxed. 

You force your mouth to remain neutral as you shift between your feet. 

“You weren’t meant to see that-”

He instantly shrugged. “Not like I saw anything- no big deal. If it would make you feel better I could do the same. Make it even and shit-” His lips tugged into a grin. The hole in his cheek allowed for clicking of his teeth and shifting of his tongue to sound clearer. You weren’t sure if the clicking noise was satisfying enough to drown out the squish of spit in his mouth. 

You must have made a face because suddenly he snorted. “Kidding k-kidding-! I’m not a…” He trailed off and side eyed you as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. 

“Didn’t take you for the type to stand butt naked in front of a window.” 

“I wasn’t.” Your jaws clacked together. You decided to just let it go- Toby already looked satisfied with his own conclusion and you weren’t much in the mood to argue to change his mind. He didn’t see anything, anyway, not that there was anything to put on display. You made a note to yourself to not do that again- second floor or not you could still be seen apparently. Even if it was still early in the day. The sun had already climbed its way up the horizon but the life inside the mansion was hardly buzzing. 

“Whatever.” You muttered as you shifted in the doorway. A stretch of silence passes between the two of you… and you can see Toby fidgeting his hands in his pockets. 

“Anyway-” Toby finally broke the silence. “I was gonna ask if y-you wanted to come play? It’s just going to be me… Jeff and Ben- well.” He paused. “I guess you already know. You actually c-came to breakfast this morning-” one of his hands freed itself from its pocket and ran itself through his flattened hair- then waved dismissively in the air. “Whatever- you get it-” 

His hand suddenly froze in the air before tensing- “Actually. Nina’s still here, did you wanna go with her to get some shit?” 

His hand lowered back down but not before gesturing to some door near the end of the hall. Your eyes follow- a near eye bleeding pink with stickers of God knows what plastered all over the wood. 

So they were allowed to decorate their doors, too. 

That would make things easier if you needed someone in specific. Actually… you take the chance to glance over the others. Most were bare like yours. Some decorated. One that caught your eye was a plain door… painted the same way as most of the other doors but deep claw marks ran across the wood. The knob looked loose. 

Toby followed your gaze. 

“That’s Jack’s-” He shimmied his body at an angle to give you a clearer view. Across the hall from your room to the right. “Eyeless Jacks-” He specified after a second. “Hates being called that- don’t tell him we still call him EJ behind his back-” He snickered. You didn’t return his humor. This must have been the Jack that was mentioned this morning- the one who didn’t come down. 

Toby’s eyes darted to your face. 

“If you’re thinking of introducing yourself- don’t. He doesn’t like people- hermit,” He spoke quickly and dismissively. “Kind of an asshole, too- buzzkill, moody, jerky-” 

You got the sense Toby didn’t much care for him.

“Might take-a chunk outtaya,” 

You only hum in response as Toby brings himself back to his original topic. “Anyway- Nina-” 

“I don’t feel like going out today- I mean… seems kind of dumb to go out when you’re… you know…” You trail off. You felt dumb for even verbalizing the obvious out but Toby didn’t seem all that bothered by it. 

“I mean maybe for you- for the time being at least. Most of us aren’t really from around here and make sure not to get spotted toooooo badly, but,” Another shrug from him. “Don’t really blame you for staying inside. It's cold as hell out anyway.” Toby’s feet shift against the wooden floor. 

“What games do you guys have, anyway?” 

Toby’s mouth kind of sucked in on itself. “Well we did have more of a… selection but Ben…” his mouth then stretched thin. “Has a tendency to mess things up- We do have a copy of minecraft… Jeff’s been meaning to go snag some replacements but you know,” 

You didn’t know. 

Your face scrunched up.

“Jeff said he beat Ben at something-”

“They sometimes do some PVP in game. Between you and me it's annoying as all hell. We’ve nearly lost so many worlds over Ben throwing a fit or everything just getting destroyed.” 

You were sure there was more to it but from how Toby spoke it sounded like normal antics. 

“If you’re more interested in the building side of things you should probably get as far as possible-” Toby trailed off as a door a few rooms down to your left creaked open. Similar to Jack’s door there were gashes in the wood- resembling cuts from a blade rather than claw marks. A familiar pale face poked itself out from the dark room. 

“You really need to work on your volume dude.” Jeff attempted to narrow his wide eyes at Toby. All that he accomplished was a vague scrunch across his brow that only made him look angry. Jeff’s light blue eyes flicked between the two of you as Toby made a sort of sputtering sound. 

“I’m not that loud- I’m still working on it.” Toby muttered as he put his hands back into his pockets- thumbs sticking out and running against the denim. A loose sigh blew out of the slits in Jeff’s cheeks. “Uuh-huh yeah.” 

Toby’s nose scrunched. 

“You going with Nina or-” Jeff started but Toby quickly cut him off. “I already asked them, they’re not.” 

You chewed on the inside of your cheek as the tension flared for a second. “Well, did you ask if they’re going to play? I need to know so I can get shit set up for them.” Jeff’s teeth clicked together sharply as his gaze hardened on the other man. A half eaten breakfast could only pacify him for so long it seemed. You find yourself nearly squirming against the thicker air. 

“I mean, if you guys have the space for it. I don’t mind just watching- or not if you-” 

Jeff waves you off, and pushes the door to his apparent bedroom open. It’s dark inside save for the glow of a tv somewhere inside. For a brief moment you wondered if the mansion somehow still had a connection to the internet if it had electricity. 

Power and water. 

No way in hell they were paying bills. If they had any. 

“I already let slip to Ben that you might join us and he’s been nonstop yapping about how hes going to kick your ass- honestly I was this-” Jeff slipped out the hand that wasn’t gripping the doorknob to nearly press his finger and thumb together. “-this close to unplugging him.”

“Surprised you haven’t.” Toby snorted. The air seemed to lighten up at least. 

“I heard that!” another voice suddenly cut through the air in a crackle- somewhere behind Jeff and out of sight. The burned man threw his head over his shoulder. “Good!” He snapped back before snickering under his breath. Jeff shifted to open the door all the way- and stepped to the side. 

“Let’s get you set up then,” Jeff’s eyes fixed on you for a few seconds before settling on Toby. “Go tell Nina she can get a move on now-” 

Toby nodded, but didn’t budge. “You want your usual?”

Jeff’s reddened lips twisted and pressed against each other in thought. “Tell her to throw in some peach rings too.” 

“Gross.” Toby stuck his tongue out.

“Oh fuck off.” Jeff rolled his eyes. The door is pulled in a little wider. “I’m not gonna bite you like-” 

“I already told them about EJ,” Toby cut Jeff off again. If Jeff didn’t look so annoyed that his joke was stolen the way his eyes slowly slid to Toby would have almost been funny. The stare didn’t faze Toby who simply asked you what snacks you wanted. 

“Uhm…” 

Jeff’s fingers drummed lightly against the doorway as you suddenly blanked out on what snacks were. 

“Plain chips and a coke are fine? I mean I’m not… really hungry right now..?” You finally get the words out. A non offensive choice, as if there was a reason to be scared of spilling your preferences in front of these people. You couldn’t go wrong with plain chips anyway. 

“Basic bitch answer.” Jeff scoffed- but there was some playfulness in his tone as he rolled his eyes. Toby muttered an acknowledgement before finally walking back down the hall to Nina’s door. You weren’t given the chance to watch the interaction unfold as Jeff cleared his throat. An apology squeaks through your mouth as you unroot your feet from the floor and step into his bedroom.

Jeff’s room was dark- the lights were off except for the glow of the tv, moved onto the floor to allow everyone to sprawl around across the floor. He had a rug, you noted. Various items and clothing laid tossed about the room- sloppily shoved into corners and along the edges of the walls. Posters of bands plastered the walls- slipknot, my chemical romance… and a poster for some animated metal band you’ve only caught glimpses of at three in the morning during all nighters. You must have stared for too long trying to read the band’s name because Jeff mistook you for a fan.

“Who’s your favorite?” His eyes zeroed in on the poster. You sort of awkwardly fumble with your hands for a second. The words stumble out clunkily. “Oh- no- no I’m not… I don’t.. Listen- never watched the show-” 

A pause. 

Jeff smacks his lips together. “You should give it a try, you could borrow my set… maybe we can watch it together, I’ve been meaning to bust it out anyway.” He looks at you for a long time.

“You seem like the type to rock with Pickles,” He finally turned away from the poster and settled himself on the floor- picking up one of the gaming controllers in his hands. You nodded along as if you had any clue of what the fuck he was talking about. 

“Who’s your favorite?” You subconsciously ask as you join him on the floor- about two feet away from him. You take one last look around the room… and notice it was just the two of you. The owner of the voice that chimed in earlier was nowhere to be seen. You jump slightly as the controller is pressed against your upper arm. 

“Here. We’re making you your own account so you don’t have to leech off of someone else.” Jeff shifted his legs to make himself more comfortable. It was only then that you realized just how long they were- he was a lot taller than you first thought. Hunching over must have hidden most of it. “Nathan’s my favorite, by the way,” 

You hum in response… if you ever did watch the show you’d keep an eye out for… whoever those two characters were. 

You punch in a half thought of username and choose an icon. 

“Loser.” 

A voice suddenly crackled through the speaker of the tv- the noise making you nearly jump out of your screen. “You’re almost as bad as Jeff.” It continued. It was a boy’s voice- young… you couldn’t tell if the crack was from the voice itself or from the static as it snickered. 

“Xx_killer.blades_xX-” 

“ITS BETTER THAN NINTENDOKID97” Jeff suddenly barked loudly over whoever the other person was. 

“I WILL CUT YOU.” It snapped back. 

“AND I’LL UNPLUG YOU.” Jeff snarled. You kind of just sat there awkwardly as the two bickered back and forth. You take it upon yourself to browse through the other accounts signed into the console as Jeff argues with the tv. 

“Who the hell is sugar.daddy.fourtyseven.” Your face scrunched up- almost disgusted as you looked at the default icon. The two fall silent. Jeff’s mouth stretches into a thin quivering line. The speakers crackle with a stream of wheezing.

“We told LJ it meant someone who gives out candy-” Jeff said through clenched teeth. He didn’t know if he still wanted to be angry or join in on the other party’s amusement. 

The TV crackled again. “I still can’t believe he actually fell for it-”  

Jeff shook his head and ran a hand over his face. “Fucking… idiot…”

His head suddenly whipped back to force the hair out of his face. A slight roll of his neck offered a string of cracks and pops. “That’s Ben, by the way,” Jeff jerked his head to the… tv…

“Is this like… voice chat- or-” 

“God I wish-” Jeff scoffed. “He’s like. In the console.” He picked up his own controller- but not without looking at the bedroom door. “Toby must’ve went with Nina or some shit.” 

You didn’t really care where either of them were right now. You were personally stuck on the console comment. 

“What do you mean he’s in the console?” Your eyes flicked between Jeff and the console in front of you. It buzzed oddly- the noise faint. It could’ve easily been chalked up to age. 

“Easier to just.” Ben was the one to answer you as Jeff busied himself with launching minecraft and sifting through an enormous list of worlds. Most named with a random string of words, and others with a glitching pattern. “Physically get in, than to physically get out,” 

The screen blips for a second- earning a hiss from Jeff. 

“He’s a ghost.” He said shortly as he found a world that caught his interest. “And he’s good at the whole haunting thing- fucking brat.” 

“I can fry the console right now if I wanted to,” Ben shot back. 

“You wouldn’t. You’re the one who whined I go steal one.” 

Again you sit there awkwardly as the pair have a small squabble. Your hands find themselves to your knees and gently pat the caps before falling still as they both calmed down. “Just. Play nice- don’t be a dick it’s their first time.” He huffed.

The words sounded clumsy as they fell from Jeff’s jaws… being mindful of others didn’t seem to come easy for him. Ben only gave a groan in response and whined about him being no fun- but the glitches and blips shooting across the screen calmed themselves a little as the world finished loading in. You join a second later in the middle of the world’s chaotic spawn.

It looked… decimated. 

Craters were littered everywhere and any nearby structures were totally destroyed. There was a stack of blocks nearby that roughly resembled something phallic.

You waste little time in putting space between you and spawn. 

“I’ve got some food for you if you want any-” you steal a glance to Jeff’s half of the screen as he- at least you assumed he was- rushed back to his base. 

…

Only for him to swear loudly at the sight of it completely blown up. 

Another bickering match between the two ensues. They… argued a lot. Something about a wolf caused this from what you could gather as you kept putting distance between the main area. 

That’s how it was for the next hour or so- although it did ease up as Jeff calmed down. Ben had even been nice enough to drop some supplies for you… how he had found you so easily, and so quickly… 

You weren’t even sure if the ores he gave you were legitimate but he was insistent you took them. 

As the hour crawled by you shifted your legs to fight back against the cramp settling in your joints. You were going to hate standing up when it was time… the stumble and limp already passed through your mind… but it was something to worry about when it happened. 

“Really gotta invest in some bean bag chairs… been meaning to get some buuut,” Jeff clicked his teeth and shrugged. “They’re a bitch to try to steal, they’re not exactly discreet.” 

You only hummed… before…

“Do you guys just… steal everything? Like food and stuff?” You pull your eyes from the screen to glance at him- but only for a moment as the hissing of a creeper stole your attention back to the game. A sort of hum comes from Jeff. 

“Not everything- I mean a lot of stuff is definitely stolen but like,” He put the controller down and motioned around in the air. Neither of you seemed to know what he was trying to do there. “It’s like… most of it just kind of-” He makes a popping sound with his lips. It didn’t come out right thanks to his cuts.

“-Appears. At least the raw stuff. Nina’s mostly the one stealing the… non-raw stuff. Cereal, syrups. If we’re just going off of necessities,” And he shrugged again. “No clue how it works but you get used to it. Mansion’s weird as hell but it’s not the weirdest thing out here.” 

“Because fruity pebbles are a necessity,” Ben snickered. Save for some trash talk and jabs he had mostly fallen into peaceful silence as he focused on the game. 

“I’m more of a frosted flakes guy personally… gotta get Nina to snag some next time she goes out on a restock run,” Jeff picked his controller back up and returned to finish rebuilding his base. Though… by the way he did it half assed you had the feeling he was going to relocate soon. 

“Basic bitch,” Ben snickered.

“You look like you used to bring baggies of lucky charm marshmallows to school.” Jeff shot right back, and after a pause. “And had them stolen,”

A long pause.

“Now that was uncalled for…” 

Whether he was leaning into the joke or actually hurt was hard to actually tell. If it was for the bit, Ben was good at sounding like a kicked puppy without needing to show his face. 

Then it fell back into a somewhat comfortable silence. Joysticks clicking softly as they’re used, and buttons pressed filled the quiet. 

Time seemed to roll right on by, one hour became two… the door to Jeff’s bedroom finally opened to let in a sliver of light. 

“Think f-fast chucklenuts-” 

Followed by a bag of peach rings hitting Jeff in the back between his shoulders, and falling to the ground with a plasticy thud. Nina snorted over Toby’s shoulder, her own arms full of various bags and drinks. “Sorry it took so long- Toby didn’t know what he wanted-” She squeezed in by the man. “Here,” She shimmied her arms around awkwardly- some items falling clumsily to the floor but she did eventually manage to get you your chips and coke. Behind her Toby started accusing her of being the one that was indecisive but she didn’t really give him a real response. 

“Got these for Ben for when he feels up to coming out,” Nina shoved her hands into her pockets and out dumped a bunch of sour warhead bags. The static crackled from the tv. 

“No way you actually got them-” Ben finally broke his concentration from the game. The screen warped slightly before calming. 

Nina snorted. “Told you I would. Just needed to find a place that actually carried them,” Nina set the rest of the snacks on Jeff’s desk… he had one too, but it was… so much more cluttered and messier than yours. It was in dire need of a repainting. “I’ll be right back Imma go grab my laptop,” Nina suddenly spun on her heel.

“You’re not gonna play?” Jeff called over his shoulder. Nina shouted back about wanting to write as her footsteps rapidly got further away. Jeff snatched them from Toby- sprite and hot fries, alongside the peach rings that slid down his back. Toby settled himself somewhere behind you, between you and Jeff, as the burned man slid him a third controller. Toby himself had gotten a dr pepper and pringles. Sour cream and onion. As well as all sorts of candy and… dr pepper cotton candy. You didn’t even know that was a thing. 

Good for him, you guess.

A minute later Nina came back clutching a rather old looking laptop covered with stickers. Most faded or scratched, some brand new. You swear you heard it crackle when she pulled it open and made herself comfortable in a corner of the room. 

And it remained like this for a few more hours before Toby broke the silence. 

“You sure you’re not gonna p-play?” Toby leaned back to stare at Nina. She only waved him off. “Nah… gotta write, I’m already behind.” 

“Nina… you kill people I don’t think people are going to be worried if you take a few extra days to update your little fic-”

“It’s not a little fic-” She snapped over Toby before calming down. “I just think it’s fun okay?” 

Nina cracked each of her knuckles and got to typing for a few seconds before stopping… and her eye landed on you. She had caught your stare. “Don’t look so interested, I’ve already got a beta reader-”

“Yeah and it’s Splendor. He literally says everything you put in front of him is good. Not really critical of him-” Jeff stuck his tongue out as he gathered his in game belongings and began to leave the biome he was in. 

“He’s just a fan,” Nina huffed as she returned to writing. “Speaking of Splendor,” She said as she wrote. “If you need anything in particular you should probably go to him- or Slender… Splendor’s better though since he’s more… present…” 

Toby nodded. “Slender’s usually in his office or somewhere in the woods most of the time… Splendor’s like-”

“A babysitter.” Ben whined. 

“You. Don’t need much babysitting- there isn’t really much to sit-” Nina grinned. That only made Ben whine a little more. “He made me sit and play with Sally a week-” 

“On the flip phone?” Jeff snorted.

“Yes on the fucking flip phone!” 

“I’ll… keep that in mind- I still need to thank him for cleaning my clothes up-” You tugged on your stretched collar for emphasis. 

“Oh! Ohoh!” Nina suddenly leaned forward and set her laptop to the side… you caught a glimpse at the tab currently open… you pretended you didn’t recognize the website. You weren’t sure you’d hear the end of it from anyone in the room if you showed any signs of being familiar with it. 

“You should ask him if he can show you around the mansion too- I mean you could totally ask us but like… Splendor’s like- a lot more thorough than the rest of us!” Nina scooted a little closer with a smile. “I mean- not tonight-”

“-it’s already that late?” Toby craned his neck to look at the window in Jeff’s room. The curtains needed changing… torn. Or maybe he made them look like that on purpose? 

Warm orange light was already seeping through the holes. “Damn…” Jeff huffed. Then he suddenly slapped his knees on his thighs and rose to his feet. 

“Well I think I’m just about done with playing- I think I’m gonna go outside for a bit-” 

“Think I’ll come w-with. Your room smells rank-” Toby did not give any reaction as Jeff swatted his shoulder. Nina’s laptop crackled slightly as she folded it shut- “Well if you two are going I’ll tag along- need to charge my laptop anyway… forgot to plug it in last night..” She grumbled as she dipped out the room.

You shifted around on the floor slightly. 

“Why don’t you come with us? You look like you need to actually get some fresh air… or whatever..” Jeff stared down at the back of your head. You could feel him shifting around behind you. 

“Smooth.” Toby muttered under his breath. A soft thud that earned no reaction. You shift your jaws around before putting the controller down. “Yeah- yeah sure… I guess I haven’t actually been outside yet, huh?” 

The joints of your legs sharply ached for a few seconds and threatened to throw you back onto the ground as soon as you tried to stand back up… 

The TV crackles.

“Can I come with..?” The screen flashed as the game saved and closed. Nearly all of the confidence that Ben had carried all day had been put out just like that… and it wasn’t really until now that you realized just how young he sounded. 

For a moment he reminded you of your own younger brother who would shyly ask if he could come hang out with you and your friends. In that moment you wanted nothing more than to at least try to sneak home to make sure he was okay. 

Jeff made an odd noise in the back of his throat… and after a brief moment of hesitation…

“Yeah yeah sure- just-” 

The console suddenly shut off- and a second later the outlet it had been plugged into, alongside a charging phone- sparked. “You’re going to knock out the power if you keep rushing around like that…” Jeff muttered under his breath as he shuffled to the phone and unplugged it. 

Your face scrunched. 

“Ben can’t like. Walk around on his own most of the time-” Toby whispered in your ear as Jeff checked through the phone. A dry “ah” is all you give him in response. 

Nina rejoined the four of you in the doorway. 

“Come on- if we’re lucky we can come back before Splendor’s done cooking dinner-” She grinned as she stepped aside to let everyone out. You’re the last to leave the room, and you hang towards the back of the group as everyone makes their way downstairs. Sounds of the kitchen were the only other signs of life- Splendor cooking you had to assume. 

“Come on-” Jeff waited outside the front door. You pull your eyes away from the entrance of the kitchen and follow him outside. His hand held the phone out- like he was taking a call on speaker. Ben had said something you couldn’t catch over the breeze. You should have grabbed your coat. It was too late for that now as everyone stepped forwards to the treeline. 

The setting sun painted everything in a range of orange and red. Focused rays cut through the gaps between the trees and burned your eyes. The mansion almost looked colorful in the light.

And it was massive. Once more the fact it hadn’t been found yet thanks to its sheer size puzzled you. 

You speed up your pace to keep up with everyone else as you all push through the bushes. 

“Did you find any stragglers this morning or are they finally starting to calm down?” Jeff shoved his free hand into his pocket. Toby only offered him a shrug. 

“We found tents but we didn’t actually f-find anyone. T-tore down everything to send the message.” Toby rolled his head around to pop away any stiffness in his neck. “They’re… not really thinning down. More like moving around. They really want to find you, man,” he threw you a glance over his shoulder before he turned back… before he spun around on his heel to walk backwards. 

“You’re gonna break something like that-” Nina frowned.

“I hope the bone pops out-” Ben suddenly piped up. No one laughed and he awkwardly complained about no one finding it funny before he went quiet. 

“Like I c-care. Just means I won’t have to do anything for a bit-” Toby grinned, though his steps steadied themselves- more calculated. Less careless. “So like,” He finally looked back at you. “There’s like posters everywhere of you all over town- you must’ve really fucked someth-thing up. Heard some douche mention something about expecting a cash reward-”

“There isn’t actually a reward, they just think there should be one-” Nina corrected. 

“At least not that I could tell,” She added under her breath.

Your insides twisted somewhere at the pit of your stomach. Against everything you kept your face neutral. “Oh, really?” You managed to not croak out as your throat tightened. 

You need to get used to this. This was how things were going to be from now on. 

“You still gotta tell us what happened-” Jeff snickered. 

“Cut them some slack they just got here-” Toby bickered back.

“It’s probably something lame like pushing someone off of a roof or something. Or maybe just manslaughter. Weak shit.” Ben added. Toby waved the unseen boy off. 

“Don’t mind them they’re f-fuhcking nosey,” He grunted. 

“Which reminds me, I should lock up my laptop.” Nina giggled. “I can’t lie I was tempted to search your name up buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut-” She flipped her hair to the side as it slipped over her eye. “You’re right here and it’d feel weird,” 

You all walk deeper into the woods. The ambience of rustling leaves and critters scurrying around swallowed everything up. The mansion was long out of sight now. 

Even surrounded by others who you didn’t quite call friends and within some light, you still felt like the threes were going to swallow you alive right there on the spot.

“I mean you don’t gotta spill the beans yet- if anything waiting adds to the drama of it-” Nina waved herself off as she darted a few meters ahead. She ducked down and looked through the grass… and pulled a bracelet out of the dirt with a coo.

“Oh I can definitely make something with this,” was all you heard as she stuffed it into her pocket. 

You only hoped that the owner was still alive somewhere to miss the lost item. 

“I think I’mma go sweep through to see if I can find any goodies before it gets too dark- you’ve been slacking on your promise Toby-” She pouted as she scanned the immediate area for anything shiny stuck in the grass.

“...Sorry for not stopping midchase to make sure someone didn’t stop something?”

Nina playfully scoffed but said nothing more as she darted to the right- her steps fading away rapidly as she made her exit. 

“She looked like she wanted to scurry away the second we got out… kind of surprised she stuck around for so long-” Jeff whistled. On purpose or not, though..

A habit for her, then. 

A few more minutes pass in silence as you push deeper into the woods.

“Splendor’s probably-” Toby started before Jeff’s arm suddenly cuts in front of him to keep him from stepping any forward.

“What’s going on-” Ben piped up only for Jeff to shut off the phone and shove it into his back pocket. In an instant it felt like the noise of the forest muted itself. You followed Jeff’s freed hand as he pointed ahead. 

Two tents. Some bags strewn about the small clearing. 

One man standing with his back to your group, hunched over on the ground fiddling with something. Lighting a fire, maybe. 

“We gotta deal with that… too close to the…” Toby trailed off under his breath as he stared hard in the man’s flannel covered back. 

“Two tents- probably more than one of them-” 

“I’ll check the other tent then- no big deal-” Toby felt around his side before hissing. “I forgot my fucking hatchet-”

“They’ve got an axe over there just use theirs- dumbasses left it out in the open so whatever happens is on them-” Jeff hissed as he tugged into his hoodie pocket and tugged a small pocket knife into view. 

The glint of golden sunlight on it only made you feel sick. 

“I’ll rush ‘em-” 

“Now wait-” but Toby didn’t have enough time to force Jeff to stay where he was. The burned man already broke ahead and dashed through the bushes separating the clearing from your current position. It all happened so quickly. One moment the man was silently crouched and the next he was screaming and trying to wail on Jeff. The blade plunged somewhere in his front- Jeff’s body was kind enough to obscure the impact from your eyes. You tried to look anywhere but the chaos in front of you. 

Toby lightly shoulder checked you as he swore under his breath to make a grab for the nearby axe laid lazily to the ground. Some grass blades were sent flying from the sheer speed Toby had ripped it from the dirt- before he dashed to the nearest tent and knocked it down.

No one was inside, so he made quick work of the second. 

It was empty as well- but the owner of it… or perhaps the first tent… made themselves known as they screamed at the scuffle in front of them. 

A woman around your age- and now that you looked at the man as he thrashed under Jeff you noticed he looked older. 

You force the implications out of your mind as you stand rooted to the spot. 

Your sense of sound did return to you in the form of a sharp ringing in your ears as you stood there useless. 

What could you even do? You were expected to join in, but there was a large part of you that still screamed to help the pair of campers. 

The axe is suddenly thrown- missing the girl by a few inches. She bolted back into the trees- the shouts of the man just barely intelligible enough to you to translate into a plea to run. 

“TOBY-” Jeff shouted.

Toby didn’t give him a response as he sprinted to the axe and tore it out of the tree’s bark. A second later he broke into the woods and disappeared from sight. 

Jeff continued his struggle with the man- who all things considered was putting up a decent fight. He was larger than Jeff, but the stab wound was already stealing away his strength as Jeff forced him deeper into the ground below. 

And with a look that only dripped sadistic amusement Jeff snapped his head over his shoulder to stare at you.

“Comere-” He beckoned you to come closer with the blade- now stained red instead of the sun’s golden light. He hissed as he slammed the man back down under him. 

And against everything in your mind screaming at you to stay put you force yourself to take a step forward. The moment you were within reach Jeff pulled himself off the older man- but not without slamming his shoe into his side to keep him in place, knocking the air right out of him. 

The knife was pressed into your hands. The handle was uncomfortably warm. 

“Figured since you’re new you should finish it,” He snickered as he backed up to give you space. You remain frozen for a few seconds. 

“Don’t tell me you’ve got cold feet,” 

Jeff sounded harsher… sharp enough to make your knees buckle under your weight as you settle over the man. 

He looked old enough to be your father and the pit in your guts grew sicker. 

You accidentally make eye contact. Brown eyes filled with terror met your own fear filled gaze. The light warped against them- his eyes were watering. Fear or pain. Both were likely. His throat visibly spasmed under the skin as he tried to gurgle out a plea. 

For himself, or for “the girls”. The only two words you managed to pick apart.

Girls. Plural.

The word was enough to make the killer behind you swear. And almost comically Jeff leaned down enough to pat your shoulder and whisper in your ear. “I’ll leave you to finish this- Toby’s not as good at this as me,” Jeff chuckled under his breath. The sound was vile. 

And just like that he left you there with the man still writhing and trying to crawl away from you. 

Broken pleas and cries slipped in through the sickly thick air as the blade shook in your hand.

You didn’t have to kill him. You could let him go. 

But the risk of Jeff coming back to the body was there…

And as you stared down at that terrified face you had to make a choice before the man found his strength again to fight back.

Do you kill him… or do you let him go?

[afewproblems]

Difficult Days - Part 8

Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six , Part Seven or Read on AO3

“I told you so,” Gus says as Shawn straightens his shirt collar and fixes his hair in the precinct bathroom. 

Shawn sighs through his nose and turns on the tap to run the tips of his fingers under a short burst of water.

It's been two weeks since the incident with Lassie and Henry and it has not blown over.

If anything, Lassiter is…weird around him. 

Sure he's still surly and quick to yell and argue about their presence in the field and at the station, but every now and again Shawn catches the Detective staring at him.

And not some passing glance or vacant unassuming look, no.

This is the full-on, piercing, cop stare down, complete with a terminator scan and infrared analysis.

Needless to say, it's starting to freak him out.

Shawn has brought it up to Juliet and Gus separately, with Juliet's response being a single raised eyebrow and the question, “since when is Lassiter not monitoring you? I'm pretty sure he only just started trusting Buzz and he's been stationed here since before my transfer, Carlton can be a bit of an intense guy Shawn”.

And Gus's response--

“I told you so”. 

Shawn rolls his eyes and runs his wet fingers through his hair, twisting them up to ruffle the ends just right.

“You did not--”

“Uh no,” Gus speaks over him, “did I not say that Lassiter was pissed?”

Shawn looks at Gus through the reflection in the mirror, “Gus--”

“Did I not say that calling him a dog would end in him shooting you?” 

Gus raises a single challenging eyebrow as Shawn turns the tap on again to run his whole hand under the stream before flicking cold water at his friend.

“Shawn!” Gus yelps, darting out of the line of fire, “this is a new shirt!” 

“I don't think those were the words you used and come on, it's just a little staring right? It's only…a little weird, right?”

Gus raises his eyebrows and tilts his head, looking at Shawn through the mirror.

And yeah, okay, it might be a little more than just a little weird.

“Whatever,” Gus grumbles, "I do eventually have to get back to my real job so can you stop primping so we can talk to Vick?”

Shawn reaches out for the paper towel dispenser and grabs a sheet to dry his fingers before crumpling it up and raising his arm high above his head to throw the makeshift ball into the garbage can. Shawn groans as the tiny ball of slightly damp paper barely hits the rim before it tumbles to the tiled floor of the SBPD bathroom.

“Gus,” Shawn huffs as he reaches down to pick up the paper, “you know as well as I do that people are much more likely to give you what you want if you present yourself well and take pride in your appearance”.

“You literally have a queso stain on your shirt Shawn”. 

Tossing the paper directly into the trash, Shawn side steps the comment and Gus as he turns on his heel and makes his way to the doors.

Their caseload has slowed down to a crawl recently. Shawn blames the weather, scorching heat and enough humidity to make a seal sweat. All the potential clients, and criminals, are either holed up at home with AC or busy at the beach --not that Shawn wants crime to happen necessarily, but the lack of cases does present a problem when it comes to their financials, which Gus maintains he should pay more attention to.

Thus the visit to their favourite interim Chief, Vick.

Maybe there's a brand new case that they could assist with, or stowaway on long enough to earn a paycheck.

Either way works for Shawn.

Shawn rounds the corner of the next hallway --Jesus, the precinct is either way bigger than he remembers or they've actually managed to fall into the Labyrinth from Labyrinth. 

Not that Shawn would mind running into Bowie at this moment, especially in those pants. 

He halts suddenly as he sees, who fucking else, but Lassiter and Henry talking just outside of Sargent Bart's door.

Perfect.

Shawn takes a step back, closer to a display cabinet on the wall and quickly reaches for Gus to pull him back beside him.

“Why the hell is he here again?” Gus whispers.

“Because I'm cursed, because the universe hates me,” Shawn says under his breath as he peeks around the shelf again just in time to see Henry laugh at something Carlton says.

“See?” Shawn says, gesturing towards the pair, “hates me”.

Shawn frowns and closes his eyes, trying to visualize the emergency evacuation floor plan they were provided when Vick hired them, maybe there was a way to get around the pair without being seen…even with Vicks office being two doors down from where his father and Lassiter are standing.

Shit.

“We should have gone left instead of right, that would have been faster,” Shawn admits with a frown as he slumps back against the wall and out of sight.

“If someone hadn't insisted on messing with his hair for twenty minutes we wouldn't be in this situation,” Gus hisses, throwing his hand out to slap at Shawns shoulder, earning a muted yelp which Shawn tries to quell as best as he can.

Shawn retaliates with a slap of his own at Gus's arm and just as he ducks out of the way of another hit he hears Lassiter’s voice float down the hallway. 

“Spencer has been a menace since he started”.

“Shh! I hear my name,” Shawn hisses as he peers around the shelf again, he feels Gus move behind him to match the position. 

Henry is facing away from them but he can see his dad nod at the Detective. 

“He does some good work but he's got no respect for protocol or authority,” Lassie continues looking at Henry with a strange expression that Shawn can’t quite qualify.

“I don't know what the chief sees in that waste of space,” Lassiter huffs, the words are irritated and clipped but his sharp eyes are scanning Henry now. 

Evaluating, looking for something.

Henry stiffens at the words, and Shawn watches as his dad steps closer to Lassiter. He breathes out a low laugh that has the Detective’s eyes narrow as though he's caught something, but Shawn knows that laugh intimately and hears ‘Danger! Danger, Will Robinson!’ blare in his mind as his dad's posture changes. 

Henry leans in even closer, his voice quiet and cold, as he says, “you call my kid a waste of space again, Detective, I'll put you through the wall, are we clear?” 

Shawn lifts his right hand to stick his index finger in his ear, twisting it hard, because there was no way in hell he heard that right. 

Since when did Henry defend him to the other officers --especially his new best buddy Lassiter.

He looks at Gus whose raised eyebrows have cut harsh creases across his forehead in surprise, he shrugs as they both turn back to the strange scene down the hall.

Lassiter blinks once, his face triumphant for a brief instant before he schools his expression into one of shock. The Detective nods as he steps away from Henry's imposing shadow.

“Crystal, sir,” he says, adjusting his tie before nodding at Henry and making his way back to the bullpen. 

Shawn slowly slips back behind the shelf as though dazed, and lets his shoulders connect with the wall behind him.

Because, what in the hell was that?

“What in the hell was that??” Gus whispers as he falls beside Shawn, letting his shoulder roughly connect to the wall. 

Shawn shrugs as he stares unseeing at the floor, “weird, bizarre, peculiar, flummoxing, yeah, that’s it, it’s flummoxing”.

He looks back up in time to see Gus raises a single, exasperated, eyebrow.

“Jules got me a word of the month calendar last week”.

Gus rolls his eyes, but a small smile pulls at the corner of his mouth as he taps Shawn with his elbow, “I'm just surprised you used it correctly”.

Shawn grins, motioning for Gus to head back up the hall the way they came, “it’s always the people who love us who end up hurting us the most,” he sniffs with a false wobble to his voice that has Gus shooting another glare his way.

“You know that’s right, keep it up man”.

Shawn snickers as they make it back to the washroom entrance so they can reorient themselves in a more vacant part of the station, Gus says something about hitting the head while they’re there but Shawn is barely listening. 

Henry's behavior in the hall was flummoxing, that goes without saying.

But Shawn couldn't stop thinking about the strange triumphant expression on Lassiter’s face when Henry tore a verbal strip off him. 

Something was going on with the Detective, and Shawn didn't need a vocabulary calendar to know it was weird with a capital, W. 

Maybe they found themselves a case after all?

***

Shawn should have gone home after his date left, although to call her a date would be entirely inaccurate considering her recent engagement, barring a slight misunderstanding.

Shawn smiles indulgently as the petite brunette immediately snaps the flip phone open, a radiant expression of relief on her face, and speed dials her brand new fiance, mouthing ‘thank you’ at Shawn before disappearing into the crowd of Tom Blair's pub.

It wasn't often that Shawn got to use his observations like this and it always managed to make the tightness of overwhelm in his chest loosen after a long day.

He breathes out a long slow sigh and lifts his gaze to the crowd around him now.

Sometimes people watching would yield something interesting, a breakup, a meet up with a mistress, a promotion --though those were more rare for a neighborhood pub like this. 

He tilts his face to the bar and it's then that Shawn's gaze lands on a familiar face sitting at a table in the far corner.

Detective Lassiter, drinking alone. 

His blue eyes fixed at a far point in the middle distance as he lifts a glass of dark amber liquid to his lips. His shirt is undone by two buttons revealing a swath of chest hair that his loosened tie rests on. 

Holy shit. Lassie looks…good.

If Shawn were being honest with himself, Lassiter has always looked good --if a bit stuffy sometimes. He blames those damn eyes and Lassie's surprisingly strong build. Shawn had been manhandled enough by the Detective to know just how strong he is.

“Spencer?”

Oh holy hell.

The Detective is waving at him, his long, lanky arms curving in a large arc above his head --thankfully not the one holding the glass.

“Spencer! I didn't know you were here!” Lassiter says, his voice carries clear across the pub, causing several other patrons to turn and look at them. 

Lassiter stands up, somewhat wobbly from his table, drink in hand, and makes his way over to Shawn.

Just what in the Bizzaro wonderland has Shawn managed to stumble into that Lassiter is coming his way and sitting down?

“You’re here!” Lassie says loudly, turning a few heads as he sits down heavily in the seat beside Shawn. He’s not exactly smiling but the lack of his signature scowl is just as strange, especially directed at Shawn.

“I am,” Shawn hums as Lassiter takes another sip that is more of a gulp of liquor. The acrid smell of scotch floats over the air between them making Shawn lean away, or try to anyway. 

But a heavy arm makes its way around his shoulders, suddenly pulling Shawn into Lassie’s side. From this close Shawn can smell the spicy aftershave Carlton only sports on special occasions, what might have prompted it Shawn has no idea for once.

“Listen, since you’re here, there's something I have to get off my chest,” Lassiters's voice is clear even over the din of the bar crowd, Shawn would have expected a slur given the nearly empty glass in the man's hand and the overwhelming smell of scotch on his breath.

“Please say it's not your shirt,” Shawn huffs, trying not to picture exactly that as Lassiter snorts into his glass. He hopes the Detective is distracted enough by the alcohol and the lack of lighting in the pub to notice the way Shawn's ears heat at the image, he's sure they must be a bright crimson by now.

Maybe Lassie will finally explain his weird staring the past month, or maybe the Henry incident, as he and Gus had taken to referring to the very flummoxing Detective showdown in the hallway outside of Sargent Bart’s office.

Lassiter shakes his head, his blue eyes wide as he removes his arm from Shawn’s shoulders and turns in his seat to face him fully. 

“You astound me”. 

And that's definitely not what Shawn expected when Lassie came over to his table at the crowded neighborhood pub.

Shawn had been surprised to even see Lassiter at a bar on a weeknight, and even more surprised to see him clearly drinking so heavily.

“I--come again?” Shawn pulls on his earlobe roughly because there was no way--

“It’s beyond astounding.” Lassiter says as he reaches over and places a warm hand on Shawn's elbow and squeezes lightly, "it is some of the most impressive reasoning I’ve ever seen.”

Shawn breathes out a startled laugh, “is there a punchline to this?”

“I don’t know how you do it. I mean it’s not psychic-ness –we both know that’s a crock of crap. You sir, are unstoppable. Guaranteed arrests.”

Shawn opens his mouth to speak but Lassiter keeps going, “can I tell you something else?”

“I really wouldn’t recommend it, no”.

“You know how everyone thinks my wife and I have been separated for nine months?”

Oh.

Oh boy.

“Look, Lassie,” Shawn says lowly, he really shouldn't be listening to this.

As much as Lassiter has been grating on his nerves the last few weeks with his rigid, by-the-book bullshit, and his irritating friendship with Henry, it doesn't feel right to stand by while the alcohol makes this straight-laced handsome weirdo spill what is clearly not meant for Shawn’s ears.

“Two years. Two years tonight,” Lassiter continues as though Shawn said nothing, he takes a long draught of scotch and sets the now empty glass down on the hightop with more force than necessary.

“And I’m the one who keeps trying to fix the damn thing”.

Lassiter wipes a large hand down his face roughly and laughs, “you know I used to be a good cop”.

He doesn’t wait for Shawn to respond, “seriously, stunning arrest record,” Lassie punctuates the words with a sweeping gesture of the hand, “one of the best in the department --you know I caught the Back Bay Killer, there was a tip--”.

“I remember that,” Shawn nods as he shifts in his seat, “the blue sedan”. 

Shawns eyes widen at the same time as Lassiter’s. 

Shit.

He hadn't meant to let that slip, especially not in front of a very drunk and quite possibly armed Detective.

“That, was you?” Lassiter says slowly, he pulls away slightly but keeps his hand on Shawn's elbow.

Shawn feels his heart rate tick up at the proximity and the way those blue eyes have begun to scan him just as they have the whole last month.

“It, uh, it might have been--”

“You know what,” Lassiter interrupts him, pulling out his handcuffs from his back pocket, he slides them across the hightop. The silver metal glints the low light bouncing their sheen on Lassiters face as they move, “you should have these Spencer, you'd actually make better use of them”.

Shawn stares at the cuffs, making no move to take them from the table. 

“Lassie--”

But Lassiter continues as though Shawn hasn't spoken, “I have officially hit rock bottom. A month ago I got this case, right? A healthy 42-year-old astronomer dies. Doesn’t drink, doesn’t smoke, spends all day in an ergonomically-designed chair charting the night sky,” Lassiter huffs, his face scrunched into a frown, counting on his fingers as he lists the facts of the case.

Which, okay even Shawn is intrigued now. 

A waitress comes by their table but Shawn waves her off with a tight smile, the last thing they need is more alcohol at this table. She nods at him with a wide grin that drops into an irritated grimace as she turns on her heel to another table that would definitely yield a larger bill to tip on. 

“‘Natural causes’, that’s what the coroner comes back with,” the Detective scoffs, tossing his hand out to connect lightly with Shawn's shoulder before it wraps around his shoulders again and tugs him close.

“Does a full autopsy, no red flags, nothing.”

Carlton sighs, his head drops to hang low enough that his hair brushes the tabletop before he brings his eyes back up to look at Shawn with the most dejected expression he's ever seen on another man's face.

“I know he was murdered, I just can’t…”

Shawn waits for a beat as Lassiters gaze slips into something unfocused. He reaches out to tap the other man's hand lightly, bringing his blue eyes back to Shawn, “can’t what, Lassie?”

“I can’t prove it, Chief doesn’t want us to waste more time on something this ‘open-and-shut’,” Lassiter grumbles, letting go of Shawn to raise both hands to make air quotes before letting them fall to his lap.

And maybe this is the reason for the constant staring at work, has it really been jealousy this whole time?

“Should just retire, fold up shop, it's not like I have anyone that would notice,” Lassiter mumbles under his breath, and nope. Nope. 

That is just unacceptable. 

“Come on Lassiepants, you’ll figure it out just like you always do. People have your back,” Shawn taps the Detectives hand again, firmly this time, glaring as Carlton scoffs again at the words.

“Like who?”

“Well, Jules, and Chief Vick, and Gus, and me--”

“You?”

Shawn clears his throat, ducking his face to hide the way he can feel his ears begin to heat, “uh yeah, we have your back Lassifrass”.

Carlton hums, his eyes closing briefly for a moment before he looks at Shawn again, “you ever take your own advice Spencer?”

Shawn bristles slightly, annoyed for the first time since Lassiter made his way over to the table. 

“Look, this isn’t about me, you're a striking man with strong features, eyes that I--that people--that women,” Shawn swallows harshly, ignoring the way Lassiter’s eyes trace over his rapidly heating face, “women wanna do cannonballs into, you have great posture and uh, penmanship the likes I've never seen”.

It’s like verbal vomit, it just keeps coming and Shawn can’t seem to stop it, “you're honestly a catch Lassie, don't be so hard on yourself”.

Lassiter stares at him frozen as Shawn bites his tongue, swallowing nervously. Him and his big dumb mouth. 

“I'm a catch”.

Shawn nods, looking anywhere but at the Detective and his bright gaze, “uh, yeah, yeah Lassie, you are”.

Lassiter continues to stare at Shawn for what feels like an eternity. His blue eyes almost seem to glow in the darkness of the pub and Shawn is so, so, aware of how close they're sitting now.

He watches transfixed as Lassiter lifts his hand from his lap to reach up and trace a soft knuckle across Shawns cheekbone then down to his chin, slightly tipping Shawn’s face up.

Shawn feels himself stop breathing.

What. The fuck. Is happening??

Klaxons blare in his mind once again as a chorus of , ‘DANGER, DANGER WILL ROBINSON’, repeats over and over.

Lassiter’s drunk, that's what's happening here, Shawn thinks as his brain starts to come back online, there is no way that the Detective is making a pass at him.

“A catch,” Lassiter repeats, the words rumble in his chest. He smirks slightly, his blue eyes crease at the corners as he tips his face away to mutter something under his breath about catching someone. 

Right, Shawn thinks to himself in what he hopes is relief rather than disappointment, the murdered astronomer. 

Shawn shakes himself and leans back in his seat, out of Lassiters's immediate orbit.

“You should go home Lassie, sleep this off so you can catch the guy like I know you can,” Shawn says, rapping his knuckles against the bar table for emphasis.

Shawn pushes himself off the stool and shrugs on his bomber jacket with shaking hands, startling at the sudden clatter behind him. He turns just in time to see Carlton stumble and sit gracelessly on the sticky pub floor.

“Jesus Lassiter,” Shawn huffs out as he wanders over, assessing the potential damage as he moves. 

“Falling already,” Carlton says, his slurred words taking on a dreamy quality that Shawn has never heard the man use before. 

“Yup, that's what happens when you drink half the bar man,” Shawn mutters to himself as he grabs Lassiters hand and hoists him to his feet once more. 

Thankfully the Detective isn't so out of it that he can't stand on his own two feet --though Shawn finds it terribly unfair how Carlton leans his face down into Shawns neck as he drapes his long lanky arm across Shawn’s shoulder once again.

The feeling of Lassiters warm breath on his ear is also so distracting that Shawn almost walks them into a pillar as they make their way to the entrance.

By the time they actually get to the front doors, and Shawn has flagged down a cab, Lassiter seems to be vacillating between sleepy petulance at being forced to leave the bar and something resembling contentment as he leans against Shawn heavily.

“Okay Lassie, let's get you home--”

“I'm not that easy Spencer,” Lassiter grumbles and Shawn nearly combusts, his face and neck heating again at the thought. At least the Detective isn't paying attention to him, instead turning his concentration towards buckling his seatbelt. 

The cab ride is uneventful but just long enough for Shawn to struggle to keep Lassiter from falling dead asleep; he resorts to flicking his seatmate in the ear, smiling at the irritated snuffle Lassie makes every time he does. Luckily the Detective also has enough cash in his wallet for the cab fare. Shawn refuses to feel bad about using it, it's not like Lassie's paying Shawn's way home too, he'll just walk back to the Psych office to crash there. 

It's fine, Shawn thinks; trying his best to ignore the feeling of phantom hands on his face or warm breath on his neck as he makes the trek down the boardwalk. Besides, if Lassiter was drunk enough to look at Shawn like that…

No. 

No way, it’s just jealousy, that’s the reason for the staring and for the strange confession this evening. That’s all. 

On the plus side, he’s solved the case of ‘what’s been eating Lassiter’ without any additional effort or the need to be held up at gunpoint this time. 

But, on the down side, it’s yet another case he’s made no money on for Psych. 

Shawn wipes both hands down his face before wrapping his arms around himself as he continues down the well lit path home. 

At least Lassiter was drunk enough that he won’t possibly remember tonight. 

Not at all.

And that’s fine. Totally fine.

***

“You should have seen him, Gus, he tried to give me his handcuffs for crying out loud”.

Gus rolls his eyes and flips the page of the magazine in his hands, pretending not to follow Shawn’s path as he paces across the Psych office. 

It's been three hours since their debrief at the station and over 14 hours since Shawn had managed to drag a nearly unconscious Lassiter home from the bar the previous night. 

Shawn is restless and Gus just doesn't quite understand. If he'd been there it would be so much easier to explain, plus Gus could have helped carry the Irish lug to his front door rather than Shawn offering their cab driver a huge tip to help him half drag, half carry the giant Detective.

“And?” Gus huffs, closing the magazine and tossing it onto the desk in front of him, “I would think that Lassie quitting the force would make things way easier for us Shawn, no more having to fight for cases or getting kicked off crime scenes”.

Shawn makes his way to the mini fridge in the corner, one of the few purchases he had insisted on that Gus actually agreed with when they first opened the place. He opens the door and snags a snapple from the shelf.

“I think we should help, it just feels weird for Lassie to be so down and out, like watching baby Darth Vader call Natalie Portman an angel, it's pathetic in an endearing sort of way”. 

Gus stares at Shawn with narrowed eyes now and sits up in his desk chair, “endearing? Lassiter?”

Shawn cracks the cap of his drink and pauses to read the ‘Real Fact’ printed on the inside.

On average, a human being will spend 2 weeks of their lives kissing, in their lifetime.

He frowns at the bottle cap in his hand, wondering just how ‘Real’ these facts actually are, or if they’re the product of a bored intern at Snapple. 

“Lassie’s all bark and no, we'll that's not right, but that's actually what I mean, he can't be no bark and no bite, that's just craziness in action Gus--”

“Oh my god,” Gus says slowly as he straightens in his seat, “you like him”.

Shawn rears back as though slapped, his mouth opening and closing several times before he manages to say, in a strangled voice, “no--thats--why would you--”

“Because you like people that don't like you Shawn, you always do this, you pick assholes”.

Well that's not fair.

“Gus--”

Gus waves his hands in front of him and stands abruptly from the desk chair which rolls backwards, stopping as it connects with the edge of the rug, “no Shawn, he's threatened to shoot us how many times? He's put his hands on you!”

Shawn tries for a swarthy grin at Gus, “don't knock it till you try it--”

“No! Nope,” Gus cuts him off sharply, “don't try to change the subject or throw me off with,” he shakes his hands again at Shawn, “the thought of naked Lassiter”.

He visibly shudders while Shawn feels the tips of his ears begin to heat, as he feels the phantom warmth of Lassiter's arm around his shoulder from the night before.

Gus sighs, pinching his fingers into his eyes briefly before pinning Shawn with a look “I just don't want you to get hurt again Shawn”.

Shawn thinks of the way Lassiter looked at him that night and the way his knuckle felt against his face and the hand on his elbow, firm in its grip but still gentle and warm from the alcohol coursing through his system. He side steps the thought of how much the lack of recognition in Lassie's blue eyes had hurt that morning during the briefing.

“I might not know exactly what I’m doing Gus, but I think it'll be okay”. 

“Now let's go, I hear the planetarium is playing Laser Floyd, may as well grab two birds before the bush kills them”.

Gus looks at him with wide eyes and a bewildered expression that slowly shifts to something very pained, “I think you just butchered two very well known idioms Shawn”.

“I've heard it both ways, now come on!” 

“You're so full of shit dude,” Gus grumbles behind him as he locks the front door to the office, earning a bright bark of laughter from Shawn as they make their way to the Blueberry.

Tag List: @adaed5 @drakkywolf @newgrangespirals @riverofrainbows @steddierthings @newgrangespirals @eriquin @childofposiden71 @theoxymoronicpoet @cinderellarhea

Part Nine Up

[tilldeathdoesmedirty]

Another Day 2

Warnings: dub-con/non-con, age gap, kidnapping, stockholm syndrome, emotional abuse, physical abuse, possibly other triggering events. 

Characters: dark!Steve Rogers x reader.

Summary: Careful what you wish for, one day it could come true. And that might just be your savior in disguise, all it takes is a little bit of persuasion. 

Interact on your own accord. You have been warned. 

Any reblog, comment, feedback is well received and appreciated! Enjoy <3 

You fiddle with the key to your two-room apartment, harshly jamming it in the keychain. If your neighbors didn’t know how you look like, they’d suspect you of being a pick locker. Courtesy of your landlord for not trying to fix the door when you told him about it multiple times. But hey, renting a place that you can actually afford must come with a couple of its own disadvantages, you thought.

Sweet victory, you mumble, as you hear a click from the door, unlocking it. You quickly go in, leaving your coat on the hanger and your now soaked shoes by the door. The apartment is rather dull, not much to look at. Basic cheap TV placed on the wall, a small table in front and next to it a couch that looked older than your grandparents, if they were still alive.

You don’t even need to get started on the bedroom, especially the kitchen. The bathroom being the only decent one in this whole situation. 

Thank god.

You look at the small timer that’s placed on the nightstand next to your bed, 20:00 you read. Enough time to entirely soak yourself in a hot bath, hoping it will make all your worries go away, if only just for a bit.

You run the water, waiting for it to warm up and fill the bathtub. You’re grateful the apartment you’re renting has hot water, not like other ones you’ve lived in even if it was for shorter periods of time, which had to take a lot of time for the water to even be mildly warm. Thus being the only thing you’re actually excited about this whole place. You didn’t even want to imagine the pneumonia you would have had. Would have been the cherry on the cake, bills on top of bills. 

You look out the window, mesmerized by the heavy snow settling on the city tonight. Your mind wanders to your little encounter with Steve, you feel your stomach turn, anxiety washing over as you remember him calling out your name. As much as you try to pick your brain out, you can’t remember ever telling him your name. Even though you should have, it just didn’t cross your mind at the moment. Not exactly professional on your part but no matter, you wouldn’t have forgotten if you did tell him.

You snap back to reality as you feel the hot water reach your arm that you left hanging in the bathtub. You turn the faucet off, stripping out of your clothes and getting in the tub. You let out a heavy sigh as the water swallows you whole. You lean your head back, closing your eyes. 

Everything will be alright, love. It’s just how the world works.

You remember… your mom, her words, everything. You slowly slide your head against the tub, holding your breath as you let your head go underwater. Any sound coming from outside blocked completely, you lose yourself in the silent yet loud ambient noise.

❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️

You scroll through the hundred of pages with the best possible secure locks. You don’t quite understand what more he wants than just a mere lock. Any of them should do honestly, there probably is no such thing as an unpickable lock so why go through the hassle of having to search for hours and hours. You were getting restless. 

You scoff. Prick.

At the last second, just as you’re about to close your work laptop’s screen, your eyes land on a lock and you look over the descriptions. Your eyes glint with triumph. You quickly pick up your phone and dial Steve’s number. You are taken aback by his almost instant response. 

You clear your throat. 

“Hello sir, i’m calling for the lock you requested? I think I may have found what you’re looking for.” you say, trying to keep your voice as even as possible. 

“That’s perfect,” he responds slowly “I trust that you chose well so, when can I expect it?”

“It shouldn’t take long. If I order it now, in a couple of hours the technician should arrive at your place and install it.” you say as you pick up a pen, rolling it between your fingers, occasionally tapping it on the table in a rhythmic manner. 

He gives you an approving hum in return.

“I’ll come by in half an hour to make the payment,” he continues “See you then, sweetheart.” he ends the call. 

You notice a weird tone in his voice, you can’t exactly place it. You always try to ignore when he calls you sweetheart. It gives you such an unsettling feeling.

You don’t like it.

❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️

You hear the main door to the building open then close. You glance over as you see Steve, you look at the time, exactly thirty minutes passed since your last call with him. 

Your coworker was out today, something about a cold. It’s a good thing you don’t get many customers, it’s not that stressful on your own. But in this case, it means it’s just you and Steve now. Alone. 

You greet him with a fake smile, intended for customers as he makes his way to your desk.

“Right on point.” you say, trying to make a light joke. 

“Exactly how I like to be.” he says with a smirk. 

You try your best refraining from rolling your eyes. Thankfully you don’t slip up. 

“So how will it be sir, cash or card?” you continue with a small smile. You don’t know why, but his presence makes you nervous. 

Really nervous. 

“Card, if you don’t mind.” he replies as he takes out his card from his wallet. 

You introduce the price number on the keypad of the card reader. You feel your body tense as you notice his gaze on you. If looks could burn, you’d be on fire. You hold out the card reader, waiting patiently as he puts his card on top of it, a beep emitting from it, meaning the payment was successful. 

You take out the receipt from it and you nervously glance up at him, you hold out your hand with the receipt in it, waiting for him to take it. He looks down at you with a stoic expression, considering you for a couple of seconds, not saying anything. 

And neither do you, you don't dare to. 

He gives you a stern smile. You look at him, careful with your actions and what you’re going to say. 

This doesn’t feel right.

“When do you usually get off?” he suddenly asks. 

You widen your eyes just the slightest, stopping almost instantly as you try to hide your surprise. 

You consider his question, why would he even ask it in the first place?

“Er… about 5pm?” you tell him, more like a question really. 

He hums and nods his head, still smiling. 

“Right then, here’s my address,” he continues like nothing happened. Like what he just asked a couple seconds ago was the most normal thing.

Nonetheless, you write his address down.

“Looking forward to it.” he says. You see the corner of his lip turn up a little just for a second. 

You think that your mind may be playing tricks on you and this was just your imagination. The interaction between you two before he finally decides to leave is pure awkwardness. At least for you. 

You let out a breath of relief that you didn’t even know you were holding in. This should be it, right? No more interactions with him, no more anything. His lock should be installed in a couple of hours, and voila. Mission accomplished.

❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️

You close your work laptop and gather your stuff, preparing yourself to go home and enjoy your free weekend. Mostly just staying in bed, watching tv or reading. So basically doing nothing, like always. 

You exit the building and head for the bus station, it’s pretty dark outside given the fact that it’s just a little over 5pm. Those are the perks of winter, you guess. At least it isn’t snowing as bad as last night but it’s just as cold nonetheless. You try as much as possible to keep the warmth you left with from leaving your body, but obviously, there isn’t much to do about it. 

You wait patiently for the bus to arrive, occasionally looking left and right at the surprisingly empty street, only a couple of cars passing by now and then. After all, this particular bus station isn’t that popular at this type of hour. 

You notice a car that’s slowly coming your way. You don’t think much of it, really, probably just another car passing by. You squint your eyes at the car’s bright headlights as it comes to a stop. 

Right in front of you.

You watch with a blank expression, instinctively your hands clutch your purse harder. You listen to the engine’s low rumble, almost soothing in the silent area. The car window rolls down and you look with curiosity. 

“…Steve?” you say, mostly to yourself. 

In the passenger seat is none other than Steve himself, you raise both your eyebrows in confusion, still not making any movements. 

“Get in.” the silence between you two is interrupted as he suddenly yells out, making sure you hear him from the engine’s noise and the distance you share. 

You give him a puzzled look. 

“What? How did you-…” you start but he cuts you off just before you could decline his kind offer. 

“Sweetheart, i’m not asking. You’re going to freeze to death, get in.” even though he has a calm demeanour and a smile on his face that’s worth a million bucks, it still feels off. 

But against your better judgment and the fact that you were waiting almost half an hour in the insufferable cold for the bus that’s yet to come, you hesitantly get closer to the car, with a frown on your face as clear as day. 

When you’re close enough, you stop. You look at him, trying to find any expression he might give away so that you can have a proper excuse as to why you have this dreadful feeling in the pit of your stomach. All you get from him is what seems to be a reassuring smile.

Oh, what the hell you think as you decide to open the car door and get in the passenger’s seat. Putting all your insecurities at the back of your mind. 

“Thank you…” you say, giving him a small smile, as you buckle the seatbelt. 

He stirs the wheel and takes off to the main road “No problem at all.” he replies, looking straight ahead as he gives a smile of his own, his perfect teeth peaking out just the slightest at the corner of his lip, it could almost be mistaken as a smirk. 

After a couple minutes of silence, what helps you remember that you need to give him your address is the passing of the street the bus usually takes on your way home. You almost jump in your seat at your realization. You quickly turn to face him as you blurt out a little too loud the instructions to get to your apartment. You notice he’s startled by your sudden burst as he looks a couple times back and forth at the road and you, in the end settling on the road once again.

He gives out a chuckle while shaking his head “Nobody ever told you it’s not a good idea to startle someone who’s driving?” 

“S-sorry,” you stutter a reply as you turn your head to gaze down at your lap in embarrassment.

“It’s just… you missed a turn, sorry.” 

He hums in response, you even hear a little “Did I” from him. Your eyes narrow and your brows furrow, that’s a weird thing to say, isn’t it? But you choose not to dwell on it too much.

You wait the rest of the ride in silence, at one point you look out the window, focusing on the passing trees and buildings as they blend in together. Feeling more tired by every passing second, you let yourself drift away. You lazily blink a couple of times as it gets harder and harder to keep your eyes open, you rest your head against the window and eventually, you end up closing them. You don’t even spare a second thought about being alone in a car with a stranger, you don’t think of anything at all actually. 

Your place is only a ten minute ride away, after all.

[luvtak]

bath time & four minute love stories

✧ pairing felix x reader

✧ genre/tw so much fluff its actually disgusting, est. relationship, suggestive at the end but no smut xoxo, mc is in the bath and thus they are naked lmao, lots and lots of kissies, felix being the most adorable bf, probably a lot of run on sentences and unnecessary semi colons ://, mostly unedited but i hope you love it!!

✧ w/c 994

masterlist

“Did you know you can fall in love in four minutes?” 

Felix’s voice is a welcomed but intruding sound to the quiet atmosphere of your bathroom. His company, while not unwanted, is a quiet disruption to your alone time; Your bath was meant to be spent by yourself, surrounded by lavender scented candles and the soft melodies coming from your phone, time set aside to relax with your own thoughts. However, this plan was quickly changed when your boyfriend decided your living room was too cold and lonely to be by himself; hence his place outside the tub. 

His figure is out of place on the cold blue tile, slouched over the cabinets and looking at you like you’re the prettiest thing he’s ever seen. You know part of it must be your soap sudded skin out in the open for him to admire, but he never looks down–keeping steadfast eye contact as he speaks in soft whispers. 

“And! And! If you make eye contact with someone for like… seven seconds you’ll fall in love, like right away!” God, he’s so excited… and dreamy. Something about the steamy room turning him into a daydream before your eyes. 

“Baby, I don’t think that’s true.” you laugh. You wonder where he heard this fun fact, but you’ll be forever endeared at his willingness to believe. Too often he’ll come home spouting off crazy stories he thinks are true or instagram articles filled with obvious pr stunts and gossip that he takes as gospel. 

“It is true, it was on the internet! And anyway, I definitely fell in love with you in four minutes, so it must be true.” His silken voice is laced with happiness and honesty like always. Felix confesses his love like he’s reading off the daily paper, an unbiased summary of events. Too often you’re surprised by how nonchalant his affections are, seducing you with soft touches and domestic romance you never dreamt of having. 

“Just because it was on the internet doesn’t mean it’s true…” 

Even with your eyes closed you can see his eyes roll, scoffing at your cynicism. He wasn’t lying, the very first time he spoke to you he knew you were his. Lovely and warm and his. 

You were sitting on the stairs at some party, bored out of your mind and so beautiful he couldn’t believe you were real. He hit on you with practiced grace and such adorable nervousness you couldn’t help but agree to go out.

 Looking at him now, it’s almost a shock to believe he’s still here with you, sitting on a cold bathroom floor just because he couldn’t help being away from you. 

He’s angelic against the candlelight, a vision out of a storybook; a fairy prince come to steal you away. 

You wonder if you’ll ever be brave enough to tell him, speak all your wishes and desires as clearly as he tells you. 

“My love, it has to be true–it happened to us.” His voice is so deep and so quiet, it takes a few minutes to blink out the loved up haze you were in to really hear him. Hear how true these words are and have no doubt he means them. You don’t know if you did fall in four minutes–it could have been thirty seconds or three months, but you do know you love him now. You love him almost too much, it’s all consuming and obsessive and true.

He’s looking at you moony-eyed and colorful and the water is going tepid, but with his gaze pointed at you, you feel as hot as you did when the bath began. There is something to say about how even with your body laid out bare before him, he is staring at your eyes–with every freckle, stretch mark, and scar ready for him to map out, the only thing he is truly focused on is the way your lips gently tilt up. Sure, it’s the bare minimum and you wouldn’t expect anything less from him, but it still has a confession bursting out of your smile. 

“It did, didn’t it? I remember being so sure we’d be together forever that night, even if all you did was ask for my number.” 

You know he isn’t used to you divulging so much of your feelings, but it is still a surprise when he rushes closer to the tub–quickly getting up and stepping inside fully clothed. He settles on top of you, jostling you and giggling when water spills over the side. Kisses pressed all over you, some gentle pecks and others all teeth and drool because he’s laughing too hard. 

“I love you, I love you, I love you.” and even though it’s uncomfortable and you know you’re making a big mess, all you can do is laugh along with him. Snorting and gasping through the giggles when his lips swipe over a uniquely tickly spot. 

You love him too, so much, and while it’s hard to say, it’s the easiest thing in the world to show him. Swiping slightly damp strands from his eyes and holding his hands against the water, if he didn’t rush in you’re sure you’d be shivering by now, but with his body atop yours you don’t think you’ll ever be cold again. 

He’s still kissing you, swiping his tongue against your lips before slowly easing himself in, and taking control of the kiss. It’s dangerous how he’s kissing you, but it all feels so innocent–he’s yours, yours and no one else’s and even if you’re undressed it’s the purest thing you’ve ever felt. 

“Come on,” his voice is a shadow of itself, deeper and more shaky than you’ve ever heard it. “Let’s get dried off, huh, so I can put you to bed.” but the way he’s looking at you, all teeth and blown out pupils; flushed from the water and all the kisses, you don’t think he’s going to simply tuck you in. 

© LUVTAK

[lotusarchon]

Greetings, Sagii

Please make reader forcefully shove inkay in clothes, i cannot keep thinking of him butt ass naked, they ruin the fucking vibe i hate them (affectionate)

i always had the hc theyd shapeshift to wear clothes, theyd have better fashion than i do lol (probably would still wear a wolf shirt and shorts, dork)

anyways, that is all from your humble jester

Kind regards, Anx

Reader: Bro why the fuck are you always naked

Inky: I got no genitals why is that a problem

Reader: ...I'm hosing you down out of spite

Inky: WAIT WAIT WAIT- dies from water

I think one of the funniest things ever is we KNOW his ass can shapeshift and wear clothing...he just doesn't wanna while looking like MK 😭

"Get. Into. These clothes. Now." You're out of breath and huffing, cheeks flushed from all that running around you've been doing. Your living room is smudged with a trail of inky puddles, and your special handmade couch pillows (courtesy of Mei) are tossed all over the room.

Simplicity's sake, you're an absolute mess.

And it's all their fault.

Inky looks up from their hiding spot across the couch from you. They're like an annoyingly agile cat―any movement you make, they're prepared to dash. The ink stains the armchair they rest upon, giving you one more thing to stress about cleaning. At this point, you might as well start investing in an all-black home. It might be hell to live in and your friends might think you're becoming emo...but it's better than cleaning up ink stains at any rate.

"Darling, you're always stressing," they have the audacity to chide, their tail curling into a heart shape behind them. In a normal day, you might be a bit happy at the site. Now, you only have the urge to grab that tail and yank them to the bathroom. "Does it matter that I'm naked? My form is infinite and shapeless!"

"Doesn't matter. Your ass is always out and there's only so much I can take!" You dash to the side. Inky acts quickly and jumps across the couch, skittering to another part of the room. They are, quite literally, hanging from the ceiling like a demonic creature.

Ah, wait...they are technically...ugh, nevermind.

Your eye throbs as you shake a fist at him. "I'll catch you eventually! You know that!"

"That timing will arrive when hell freezes over, darling. Best to admit de―DID YOU FUCKING THROW A VASE AT ME?!"

That indeed you did. It's just your luck you remember a vase of water with your favorite cactus nearby. You'll have to find another one soon, but for now, seeing it hit it's mark, splashing water on the ink demon, gives you a sense of utter satisfaction. Inky slips from his position, landing with a wet plop to the floor.

They're still reeling from the smack, and thus you jump at the opportunity to capture them.

There's tussling, hissing, and at some point you're pretty sure they might've bitten your butt, but it's worth it when Inky sits and glowers at you on the floor, dressed in one of your old shirts and pants. He looks...goofy, actually...

"You're the worst," they complain. "And your sense in fashion sucks."

"Do you want me to get the hose?"

"....no..."

"Exactly. Be quiet."

[bomber-grl]

fluffy touch-starved Prompt #15 for Leo? His hair surely gets veeery dirty, after all!

Prompt #15: washing the other's hair

Leo told you about his past before, so you were very much painfully aware of his struggles. Particularly, in the romance department.

He told you how it was. He liked girls, they never liked him back. Plus with how he was couch surfing, affection was practically a foreign concept to him.

Sure, his friends showed they cared but your relationship isn’t just platonic, it goes beyond that.

Today you and Leo went your separate ways as usual. The two of you met while aboard the Argo II and became close.

Things are constantly a hassle while aboard, everything that could go wrong goes wrong and there was no thing such as luck while aboard navigating the ancient lands.

Luckily, amongst all the noise you managed to find peace and quiet to rest and have some solitude.

But, you soon heard a knocking on your door and thus your long awaited nap would have to be even more long awaited.

Upon opening the door, you noticed it to be Leo.

“Leo? What’re you doing here, aren’t you supposed to be sleeping by now?” You asked this but anyone who saw him could tell he was busy doing something.

“Well I was actually working on repairs, hence the dirt” he motioned to his entire being.

You hummed “well this might be weird and if you’re too uncomfortable then go ahead and ignore but do you want me to wash your hair?.”

He was clearly taken a back, even if only slightly then quickly answered “sure, I wouldn’t mind.” It was strange to see Leo not teasing you but you just assumed it to be the tiredness and moved on.

You gently led Leo into one of the bathrooms on board by hand, the hope of not running into Coach Hedge was left unsaid.

Immediately you had him propped against the sink on the most comfortable seat you could find aboard.

As you went to get a shampoo you hear Leo’s voice echo from the bathroom “what made you want to wash my hair?”

The question was phrased in a way that’d seem sarcastic but his tone indicated genuine curiosity.

“Well, I guess I just wanted to wash it? There isn’t really a reason, Leo. I just want to do something for you in the little free time we have.” Leo didn’t say anything else.

You carried the shampoo and poured some onto your hand, you turned the water on and began running your fingers through his hair.

Slowly but surely some dirt and soot came out, not as much as you expected that’s for sure.

Leos sudden sigh brought you out of your thoughts. “What’s wrong?” You asked to be sure everything was alright.

“Nothing, I’m just enjoying this, no one’s ever washed my hair before.” You had placed a towel over his face to prevent water from getting on it, thus obscuring your view of him.

You hummed in acknowledgement and he continued “I know it’s just a simple favor but it’s just been a long time since anyone’s done anything for me ,to make me happy.”

You knew it was true. His mom was probably the last one to genuinely show him any love, that alone was sad, it had been eight years. Plus, as mentioned before, he didn’t really date. He was clearly referring to both.

You didn’t say anything and just continued washing through his hair until it the water ran clean of any bubbles.

Then, you left him alone to wash his body, he was still dirty after all.

Eventually he made his way back into your room, you noticed when the door shut with a click.

“Hey” Leo began “I hope the talk about not being able to pull didn’t upset you” he tried making light of the situation.

“It didn’t, but you don’t have to hide behind jokes either” you said this patting the space next to you in bed.

He shut the lights off and laid besides you. You laughed a bit “let’s hope coach hedge doesn’t find us like this.”

Leo also let his own laugh out and eventually you both settled. “I’m just happy you’re here with me right now.”

You smiled despite knowing there was no way for Leo to see it. You moved your hand closer to him and it found its way into Leo’s. Your fingers interlocked and you only hoped that with your fingers intertwined, that he’d get the sentiment.

No words were spoken and you both drifted off to sleep land. Eventually, your bodies found themselves snuggled up against one another.

Was there a possibility of being found out and banned from being alone? Sure but even if you did get found out you didn’t care, you just wanted Leo to feel loved.

[ncityprincess]

And don’t you forget it

Pairing: bf taeyong x single mom reader ft. asshole johnny

Plot: blah blah blah this is just fiction I don’t know these people. Johnny is not very nice in this and he may bring up some abandonment wounds so proceed with caution 🫶🏾

MINORS DO NOT INTERACT

“Yeah sorry babe, something…came up” Johnny slurred with a dazed chuckle. Here you were, up way earlier than usual getting your 5 year old daughter ready for her day with her incompetent daddy, and he couldn’t even be bothered to give you a heads up before he cancelled. Again.

“Yeah I can see that John” you sighed, running out of the little patience you had left. You could tell he was lying in bed with whichever chick he picked up last night. “You know, being hungover on a Tuesday isn’t a good look. And neither is flaking on your daughter for the umpteenth time in a row.” You were ready to tell him off even more, but you were interrupted by a woman’s cartoonishly seductive voice.

“Johnnyyy baby, come play with me again.” A woman with a thin sheet wrapped around her body came into the frame and leaned down to press sensual kisses into Johnny’s neck. He groaned obnoxiously, making you roll your eyes. “In a minute, doll” he purred.

“Ugh, you’re such a joke. You know, Kaylee is going to kindergarten this year. She’s not dumb John, she’s gonna grow up to resent you for abandoning her like this.” Your voice kept getting louder and louder in the echoey bathroom. You had dealt with his carelessness for far too long.

“Look I’m sorry ok?” He said nonchalantly. “Let’s just try again next week. Gotta go, give Kaylee a kiss for me, will ya?”

“FUCK YOU” You shrieked, and hung up the FaceTime call before slamming your phone onto the bathroom counter. You could feel the hot tears forming in your eyes already. Once again, your child’s father had made all these extravagant plans for your daughter, just for him to not follow through.

A faint knock on the en-suite bathroom door made the shame of the situation set in even more for you. You took a deep breath and let out a defeated “come in.” It was Taeyong, your current boyfriend and first relationship after having your daughter and separating from Johnny.

Even in your state of frustration, you were able to admire how beautiful he looked with his messy bed head and navy blue boxers hanging dangerously low on his lean hips.

Your relationship with johnny all came to a head when he had made the final screw up that made you gain the courage to break up with him. He missed Kaylee’s 3rd birthday party because he was out doing his usual routine of getting hammered, and ended up getting into a bar fight for one reason or another. he had to spend the rest of the night sobering up at the local jailhouse, thus missing his baby girl blow out her candles.

After spending the better part of a year beating yourself up over your break up and blaming yourself for Kaylee not having a good father in her life, you decided enough was enough. Johnny needed to figure his own shit out, and do his own healing. His demons have nothing to do with you or your daughter, and it wasn’t your job to fix him. You made the decision to try the co-parenting thing, but it was easier said than done.

On one spring day, Taeyong had approached you at a cafe to tell you how beautiful you looked in your yellow dress. You couldn’t even look him in the eye, too embarrassed to receive such a compliment. It was the first time you had actually felt seen that way in a while. From there, your relationship flowed like water. Everything just came naturally for the two of you. Kaylee absolutely adored Taeyong, and he loved to spend quality time with her. He would take the three of you to see the latest Disney movie, go to the water park, and treat you to ice cream dates. Everything just felt. Natural.

But of course, the great co-parenting dilemma always lingered.

“Hey” he greeted with a softly with a small, gentle smile.

“I hate him Tae. I hate him so much!” By now the dam had broke, and the tears started flowing. Taeyong immediately embraced you and rubbed your back soothingly.

“My love…” he cooed, but let you continue.

“Why does he get to keep doing this to us? To her? He—he doesn’t even care that he’s hurting Kaylee. And once again, I’m left to break the news that her father doesn’t want to see her.” You sobbed.

This song and dance of johnny attempting to be a father had gone on for far too long. When you were pregnant, you were convinced the three of you were going to be a happy little family forever, but once Kaylee was born, Johnny had changed. A lot. He partied till 4 am, came home plastered, and did the same thing all over again the next day. You were the only one getting up at all hours of the night to feed your daughter and change her. You were cooking all the meals and cleaning the house. You were there to pick up the pieces when Johnny messed things up. You felt like a single parent in your own home. After three years of failing to be a good father to Kaylee, you made the decision to break up with him and asked him to move out of your house.

“He’s a coward. Any man that can’t take responsibility for their child is immature and selfish. We’ll figure this out together baby.” Taeyong held you for a few more moments and pulled away to cradle your face in his warm hands. You looked up at him through tear-stained lashes. His eyes held so much sincerity and reassurance.

“The day doesn’t have to be totally ruined. How about the three of us go to the Zoo! They just opened up that new butterfly exhibit, those are Kaylee’s favorites.”

You sniffled, making taeyong’s heart swell. “Yeah?”

“Of course.” He said softly. Taeyong wiped the last few straggler tears that were left on your cheeks. “You’re too good to me, Tae” you whined. “Nonsense, nothings to good for you, my love. As long as I’m around, you and Kaylee’s happiness are my top priority.”

He leaned down to press a soft kiss against your lips. Taeyong’s kindness was one of the things that drew you to him the most. He was so selfless and never made you feel bad about being a single parent. The overwhelming love you had for him made you fall deeper into the kiss. You wanted to forget all about this situation with your ex.

After a few moments of passionate kissing, taeyong gently grabbed your hand and guided you back into the main bedroom. He stopped right in front of your full length mirror. Taeyong stepped behind you and ran his hands up and down your sides. “Look love, look at yourself in the mirror. Aren’t you so beautiful?” He whispered into your ear.

You cast your timid gaze into your own reflection, noting taeyong’s hungry eyes staring into yours through the mirror. You could feel the front of his body pressed against your ass. You felt yourself getting damp at the sensation of taeyong’s morning wood. You quickly looked down at your feet, the intimate sight in front of you was too much to handle. “Tae come on…”

“Ah ah ah, say you’re pretty. Tell me how pretty you are.” he raised your head back up with gentle fingers and looked down at you. He pressed slow, intentional kisses into your neck, making your eyes roll back.

“I’m—I’m pretty” you finally breathed out.

“Yes *kiss* you *kiss* are *kiss*”

Your legs felt like jelly. If it wasn’t for taeyong’s strong arms wrapped around you, you surely would have melted onto the floor. His one hand snaked up the front of your body, past your tank top covered breasts and settled around your neck. His piercing eyes met yours in the mirror once again “and don’t you forget it.”

Taeyong pulled your tank top off of your body, cursing when he saw your bare breasts. He played with your nipples, admiring the way your ass started to grind against his stiff dick.

“Mmm, I want you” You moaned out. Taeyong guided you onto the bed and laid you on your back. “I’m all yours, my love.” He pulled off both of your bottoms and stroked himself a few times. You both moaned once he finally entered you. The delicious stretch of his cock got rid of whatever lingering thoughts of johnny you had in your mind.

Taeyong wrapped your legs around his hips and picked up the pace. He caressed the side of your face, smiling down at you. “You feel so good baby” he grunted. You loved how gentle and sweet he was being, but you needed something a little different in this moment.

“Tae…pound me, please?” You begged. Taeyong slowed his movements and a smirk grew on his face. “Anything for you, my love”. Before you knew it, you were flipped over and placed on all fours. Taeyong slammed back inside of you, making you cry out.

“Fuckkkk just like that!” You grabbed onto your headboard for dear life, partially to stop it from banging against the wall. Kaylee was only a few doors down.

Taeyong let out a guttural groan, loving the way your walls squeezed his dick. He had a vice grip on your hips, pounding his lower body into yours. “Shit, feels so good baby. You’re so wet.” Your arousal was dripping all over your thighs and his dick, making it nice and easy for Taeyong to piston in and out of you. The obscene noises of pleasure and skin on skin caught up to you, and you were ready to burst any second now.

“Baby I’m gonna cum” you whined, toes curling in preparation for your orgasm. Taeyong reached around to play with your clit, rubbing it in small, tight circles. You couldn’t hold on anymore, and allowed your high to wash over you.

“Oh good girl, I’m right behind you baby” Taeyong praised. He sloppily thrusted into you a few more times before blowing his load inside of you. You whined at the overstimulating feeling, enjoying the sound of taeyong riding out his own high.

He finally pulled out of you, and you both collapsed onto the bed side by side. You caught your breath, and turned to face him. He was already staring at you with sleepy, satisfied eyes. “I love you Tae, thank you. For everything.”

Taeyong caressed your hip. “I love you more baby. Now, let’s go see where Kaylee wants to eat for breakfast before we go to the zoo!”

The end ❤️

[awitcheress]

So I've been watching way too many cooking shows on Facebook and Instagram lately..

Geraskier modern AU - non magical. Part 1.

Geralt is homeless and has been for most of his life. Jaskier is not. In fact, his family is filthy rich. But they don't approve of what he wants in life which is to be a Michelin star gourmet chef. He's been cooking his entire life because when he was a kid, his parents pretty much made sure he studied, but apart from that they didn't care much. (Very original premise, I know... Lol.)

But the one person who did care for him was the chef of the household. An elderly man who lost his son and wife, when the son was only a small child, so Jaskier and the chef find each other immediately and form a strong bond. Even as a very young boy, Jaskier shows much talent in cooking.

Then, when Jaskier turns eighteen, Chef dies. Jaskier is devastated by his loss and he equates everything good and loving with food. So, he wants to go to culinary school to continue learning to become as skilled at cooking as Chef.

When his parents refuse to allow him this (Surprise!), Jaskier runs away. Unfortunately, he has no way to survive and ends up homeless and alone. For long, miserable weeks, he starves and suffers cold weather, nowhere to feel safe, no one to trust.

Sometimes he even considers returning to Lettenhove...

One day, late at night, he is cornered by a big, muscular man, who beats him up and tries to rape him. It's too dark for Jaskier to see what the man looks like. There have been instances of rape/murders all over Novigrad. Jaskier is convinced he is going to die, when two other men appear and chase Jaskier's attackers away.

Jaskier is profoundly grateful to these two men who introduce themselves as Geralt and Eskel. Well, Eskel introduces them. Geralt only mumbles... (naturally)

Eskel tells Geralt to accompany Jaskier to the city watchmen. He does, but it's useless. Homeless people being raped and murdered? Just as well. It'll clean up the city streets is their attitude.

Geralt doesn't seem surprised. Regardless, Upon leaving, Jaskier chatters away with Geralt. He relies his life's story in two minutes flat 😂 as Geralt "hms" and grunts in his own inimitable way. Jaskier is not deterred. He's in love.

This gruff, tall and broad shouldered man is Jaskier's knight in...tattered old black clothing. His hair is long and the color of the palest cream, and he is absolutely breathtaking. Geralt has a voice that rumbles deep in his chest when he chooses to say something. His legs are long and powerful, his eyes like liquid honey... Geralt's arms are sinewy and strong. Oh dear, Jaskier has to stop himself from melting like ice cream left out in the sun...

Geralt helps introduce Jaskier to the people at the homeless shelter, and he's offered a bed there. Geralt leaves and, again, Jaskier is alone. The shelter is nothing like what he's used to from home, but it's eons better than the last few weeks on the street. He has a roof over his head, even if he has to share living space with others.

Thus, the loneliness is gone quite rapidly. Jaskier meets several people there, among them, Vesemir, who runs the soup kitchen. When he finds out that Jaskier likes to cook, Vesemir invites him to help.

Soon his life is changed into something so different, he feels his head spinning, and Jaskier's days are a million times better. He has access to showers, a bathroom, clean water, he's gets to eat at least once a day. And, cooking, something he loves to do so much, is actually helping others. The love is back in his life.

And then, of course, there's Geralt. Speaking to him, and listening to others, Jaskier learns that Geralt, despite his gruff nature, is a good man who patrols the streets with his brothers, Eskel and Lambert. They're trying to help keep the homeless safe, but there are so many of them...

Several young, homeless, slender and pretty men, like Jaskier, are raped and murdered. Jaskier's description of the man who attacked him is shaky at best... "Big and strong" fits even Geralt and his brothers. The only one who wasn't there is Lambert, who is a bit of a prick.

Geralt and Jaskier over time becomes friends if a sort but Geralt is not responding to Jaskier's attempts at flirting.

A year goes by, and one day, Geralt finds Jaskier in the kitchen with big news....

[innominaterifter]

A little about my ADHD running practices

I have ADHD and autism, ADHD predominates (or so, I think at the moment). The symptoms of ADHD and how it manifests itself in life is a broad topic, but in this post I will focus on one thing: about a specific practice that helps me do things that I otherwise wouldn’t be able to do.

This practice is definitely not a solution for every matter and every person, but with something specific it works great for me.

So, you have the complexity of doing something, and this complexity is not monolithic. It consists of the difficulty of starting, the difficulty of continuing, and the difficulty of finishing.

Why do I divide it into these stages?

First

For different people, the complexity of these stages may vary: for some it is difficult to start, but it is much easier to continue, for some it is difficult to continue, but in principle it is not difficult to start, and so on.

Moreover, the complexity of the stages for different cases may be different.

An example:

It’s quite difficult for me to get myself into the shower or the bathroom or to swimming practice. But if I’m already there, if I’m already interacting with water, then I can be in this process for a very long time. So much so that it becomes difficult to complete.

Thus, if you evaluate the complexity of the stages on a three-point scale, then for me to start is 3 points, to continue is 0 points, and to complete is 1 or 2 points. External circumstances help me with the completion: the hot water in the boiler runs out sooner or later, and lying in a cooling bathtub is not so fun; during swimming training I get tired or training time ends. The external limiter here serves as a helping element.

With other things, the distribution of stage complexity may be different. And if I know how the complexity is distributed, which stages of a particular task are the most difficult for me, and which do not require the expenditure of willpower, then it is easier for me to plan tactics.

If I know that the continuation stage is not difficult for me, I can plan a larger amount of work for this stage. If I know that in this particular case the continuation stage is gaining high difficulty scores for me, then I will not plan too much work there in advance.

For example, with everything related to water, the most difficult thing for me is to begin with, then there are no problems, because I really like the interaction with water. Thus, the main task becomes to lure myself into the process, to create such conditions and expectations that I would like to start it. The realization that the process will continue on its own and you don’t need to spend any resources on it makes it easier to start.

Thus, dividing into stages allows you to approach the task more structurally, distribute resources more competently and - most importantly - see the upcoming task as something composite and completely doable, and not as a monolithic peak of Overcoming.

Second

Dividing into stages with an understanding of the complexity of a specific stage of a specific task specifically for yourself allows you to praise yourself for the stages completed, even if the task itself was not fully completed.

An example:

If you think of running training as a monolithic task that sounds like “run for an hour,” then if you do not run for an hour—for whatever reason—then you feel like a failure. And any running training that ends in less than an hour gives you a feeling of frustration, a feeling of “I failed”.

But you haven't really failed.

You started this training - this is usually the most difficult thing; you ran for some time - and this also needs to be counted towards your completed things. Actually, you're great. You have done certain things that are difficult for you. Praise yourself, you deserve it.

Dividing into stages helps you better notice what you have succeeded in. Division into stages helps to get away from the catastrophizing “if you didn’t complete some part, you failed in everything” and move on to the more sensible “you didn’t complete some specific stage but completed others.”

To be honest, I have certain difficulties with running. Unlike swimming, it's not something that brings me pleasure in the process, all the time. At least for now. I hope this will change but at the moment this is the situation.

For running training, it’s not enough for me to just start, and then everything will go by itself, like in swimming. For a running workout, the difficulty of continuing is higher for me than the difficulty of starting.

At the same time, I really want to run, I like this feeling of flying, dynamic movement in the surrounding space, when I manage to catch it (if I didn’t like the idea of running or didn’t consider it useful for myself, then I simply wouldn’t do it).

So, unlike swimming workouts, my running workouts look completely different. It was much more difficult for me to start them because I knew that the stage "continuing" would be even more difficult than the stage "starting." And thus it launching a self-propelling attractor: you know that further it will be more difficult for you than at the beginning, so it becomes more difficult to start.

When I began to count as a plus the completion of at least one specific stage - or partial completion - then everything became easier. I went to running training and ran 500 m, and I don’t have the strength to continue? Okay, you basically went out to train and ran this distance. Well done! How about we just walk for the rest of the time? You don't have to run, just walk at a brisk pace. Although look, if you take this turn at a decent speed, there will be a cool feeling of centrifugal force - shall we try it? Doing the task in this format really made a difference for me. This allowed me to concentrate more on what was done rather than on what was not done.

This, in turn, made it possible to create spirals of positive reinforcement that helped start the next workout a little easier (or it allows you to blame yourself less if you missed a workout or didn’t complete it to the extent you planned).

I’ll tell you about how I use cosplay practices for ADHD in the next post.

[dalchiid]

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 43

A story of obsession, fear, and lust. You're a maid whose Masters forbid you in meeting their guests for the night but your luck runs dry when you run into them and catch the attention of Lord Hoseok himself. He's smitten from the beginning and thus, your fate has been decided.

Pairing: Yandere Vampire Hoseok x Fem/AFAB Reader

Word Count: 8,547

Warnings: 18+, Yandere, Obsession, Possessive, Angst, Fear, Blood, Biting, Dub-Con, Eventual smut

Will add or remove warnings based on what's in each chapter.

I do not condone the behavior being exhibited in my work. This is solely for entertainment purposes and I hope if any of you are ever in a situation like this that you have the chance and ability to run away from it. Take care out there.

DO NOT copy, edit, or repost my work anywhere.

Chapter 43 Warnings: Yandere, Possessive, Obsession, Drama, Stress, So Much Stress, Mentions of Abortion

Prev | Next

It's like lightning has struck you because you're ramrod straight and your nerves begin to tingle. You're too stiff to want to move but you know you have to.

"Minjeong," you say breathlessly and she nods. "Are you - you're the one that managed to escape."

Realization dawns upon her. "So wait. You do know about me?"

You nod your head. "I do I just didn't know your name." Your voice starts to raise in excitement.

She has to shush you gently with a finger to her lips. "Keep quiet. I don't want him to hear us."

"Oh," you say. "You're right. Right."

"Wait," she says.

She brings a finger up before walking over to the sinks and turning each of them on. The sound of rushing water fills the air and you know what she's trying to do.

Hoseok can easily tune in to hear this conversation if he wanted to. It's why she locked the bathroom door. Why she has the sinks running. To help give you some time just in case.

Your heart begins to race in nervousness. Gods this was really happening. What was the chance that this would happen to you? That you would run into Hoseok's ex. Is... is this why Hoseok was acting weird? Did he sense Minjeong?

"Do you smell it?" Taehyung asked.

Did they smell her? No doubt they'll be able to sniff her out and find her in here with you. Gods your nervous.

"Why? How?" You can barely formulate your sentences.

Minjeong comes back over to you and she looks just as nervous as you. "I-I'm here with a cousin of mine and I saw Hoseok before I could actually smell him. I overheard you saying you needed to go to the bathroom and I ran into the nearest one hoping you'd come in here." She smiles. "I was right to choose this one."

You frown. "Don't you have a restraining order on Hoseok? Why would you come here if that's the case?"

"It's... it's complicated," she says. "Trust me. If I would have known Hoseok was here I wouldn't have come here."

It still doesn't make sense to you. You would have suspected that she'd stay as far away from Hoseok's home and everything near it, but you won't question it further.

"If Hoseok finds you in here with me-"

"I know. I know." Minjeong says. "That's why I have little time with you and I want to get this out before he comes banging on the door." She drops her hands from your arms. "You know you're not safe with him, right?"

You nod your head.

Of course you know. Maybe in the beginning you didn't but now you do.

"You have the chance to leave now if you want. You're in the public eye. All you need to do is yell for help and it will come to you."

Your brows furrow the slightest bit. "It's not that easy."

"What's stopping you?"

What's stopping you? So much.

"My money. My sanity." You shake your head. "Everything I have is in his house." Namjoon.

Minjeong shakes her head. "If you don't make the move to leave now who's to say you'll ever have the chance to again?" She pauses. "Do you have any allies in the house?"

You nod your head. "Namjoon. Yoongi."

"Namjoon?" She sends a look of both disbelief and disgust your way. "There's no way Namjoon is an ally."

You look taken aback by her response. "Why wouldn't he be? Did you have any allies?"

She licks her lips in nervousness. "You just can't trust Namjoon. As for allies I had Yoongi. He's the reason why I was able to get out of that house in the first place. Hoseok doesn't know but he doesn't need to."

Yoongi helped her escape? You don't know why but you're shocked. Despite being so kind to you you thought the vampire mostly kept to himself. You didn't think any of the brothers would actually go against one another like this. Would Yoongi help you too or was this a one time thing? And what's her deal with Namjoon?

"I trust Namjoon with my life."

A sharp tsk comes from Minjeong. "Don't let him get into your head. He pretends to be a friend only to stab you in the back when you need him the most."

That didn't sound like your Namjoon.

Who are you to believe at this point? The man you've grown to love or a stranger whose only tie you have with them is through an obsessive man?

You step back from her a little - your defensive walls beginning to come up.

"Y/N." Minjeong grabs your attention that slipped from her grasp. "Don't let this opportunity pass you by."

There's a knock on the bathroom door that makes your heart nearly stop.

"Is it locked?" You faintly hear from the other side of the door. It's probably someone who also wants to use the bathroom.

There's a moment of silence before the door is pushed roughly but because of the lock it doesn't go very far.

"Y/N?" It's Hoseok.

You and Minjeong look at one another.

"This is your chance," she says. "I could help you."

She could but for some reason you shake your head.

"Y/N!" The door rattles harder to the point that the hinges squeak.

"Don't go back to him."

Your eyes begin to water the longer they remain open. Hoseok calls to you again but so does Minjeong. Your breathing picks up a pace as your hands begin to shake.

What are you doing? Why can't you run?

"Y/N?"

You can't tell who's calling to you. All you know is that you move from your spot to unlock the door and move out of the way as it swings open.

You see a gathering of people just behind Hoseok who looks at you furiously before worry overtakes his features. You step past him and towards Taehyung who grabs you by the shoulders and looks you over.

"Hey," he says. "Hey are you okay? Why are you crying?"

Wait. Why are you crying?

"Y/N."

Someone calls for you and when you turn around you see that it's Minjeong who looks at you in worry. Her hand is outstretched towards you but you can't take it.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Taehyung snaps.

"Y/N." Minjeong tries again.

Your view of her is blocked by Hoseok who covers you behind him.

"I knew I smelled you," he says.

Your heart beats painfully against your chest with every breath you take. Are you... are you about to have a panic attack?

"Step aside, Hoseok." Minjeong sounds so strong. Like she doesn't fear the man before you.

"What the hell is it that you want?"

"You can't keep holding her hostage. Not again. Not like me."

Murmurs sound out throughout the crowd that begins to swarm around you. You can hear some of the questions. What's going on? What is she talking about?

"This bullshit again?" Hoseok curses.

"This isn't bullshit, Hoseok. You know what you did and what you're doing to Y/N now."

"You don't even know her! Stop talking about her like you do."

Minjeong scoffs. "I'm not an idiot, Hoseok. You never changed. Tell me you aren't holding her hostage like you did me!"

"How about you tell us why you're here?" Taehyung bellows. "Last I checked you don't live around here."

"She said she was here with a cousin," you mumble.

"Minjeong doesn't have any cousins."

You freeze at Jungkook's response. "What?" You push Hoseok to the side to stare at his ex. "Minjeong?"

Her eyes are wide as she stutters a response. "S-Stay out of this, Jungkook."

"Don't tell my brother what to do." Taehyung bites back.

You feel like things are getting out of control. Why did Minjeong lie to you? What else could she have lied about? You know she escaped Hoseok - did Yoongi really help her? And the animosity she holds towards Namjoon. Why did she say those things about him?

"Why are you here, Minjeong?" Hoseok questions.

She bites her lip nervously before looking at the small crowd that has gathered to stare. Immediately she points towards Hoseok and yells in a shaky voice.

"Your Lord is not who he seems! He's holding this woman hostage! He did the same with me years ago. Don't trust him!"

Your heart feels like it's ready to burst free from your chest. Minjeong is doing what you're too much of a coward to do. She's pleading for help while you stand by with your lips sealed.

What should you do? Go along with her or stand by in silence?

The crowd around you grows larger until security gets involved and that's when you move. You're about to cross the space between you and Minjeong but Hoseok grabs your wrist tightly. You look up at him as he looks down at you. You watch the way his lips move in silence to tell you "Don't make me do it."

Don't make him do it. It takes you a moment to guess what he means by that but when it hits you it hits you hard. Don't make him control your mind. He promised he wouldn't control your mind again and he's trying his best not to now. If you so much as step out of line right now Hoseok can and will force you to stay with him. He's giving you an option right now. Something he's never given to you before. Now, will you go along with him or not?

There's a bit of a scuffle going on between Minjeong and an officer that grips her arm. She threatens to have him investigated if he hurts her but he pays her no mind. As for you, an officer approaches both you and Hoseok with a hand raised.

"My Lord I think it's best if you all come with me. There are some things we need to clear up here."

Despite looking upset Hoseok nods before bringing his hands up to your shoulders where he holds on to you tightly.

"I guess so," he says.

You follow after the guard as Hoseok walks close behind you - never missing the chance to hold you close to him. Minjeong is loud as she's being dragged away. She's dragging Hoseok's name through the mud while Hoseok himself remains silent by your side. Jungkook and Taehyung follow behind you all and you chalk up the calm feeling you you feel up to the latter who's doing his best to keep himself calm as well.

As you're walking Hoseok slips his hand into yours. When you look up at him you see that he has a cool front on. He doesn't seem concerned but when you squeeze his hand he looks down at you and gives you a smile. One that barely reaches his eyes.

"It's going to be okay," he says.

You don't know if he's telling you that or himself.

You all reach an office with security personale that move out of the way when they realize who is with the entourage. They bow in Hoseok's and his brothers' presence and eye the way your hands are laced together. Minjeong has stopped fighting but she yanks her arms away from the security holding her. Despite trying to put up a brave front she does look nervous. Her eyes shift around the room and down to you and Hoseok who stay close by each other. The sight of you two holding hands makes her brows furrow but before she can look into your eyes one of the security officers speaks up.

"Sorry to drag you guys away but a scene was being made and we can't have that here."

"No of course." Hoseok says. "We understand that."

The security officer clasps his hands together as he looks over you all. "Do you mind explaining what the problem was?"

Immediately Minjeong snaps. She points a finger at Hoseok and says "It's because of him. He's holding that woman hostage."

Everyone looks over to you and sees the way Hoseok releases your hand so he can wrap his arm around you to keep you close.

"This woman? Right here?" The security officer points you out.

Minjeong nods her head but you can see the officers aren't convinced.

"Just ask her and you will see."

All the attention is drawn towards you now.

You look around nervously and shake beneath their stares. You're growing nervous and Taehyung has decided to make no effort to calm you down. You're afraid to look his way because you imagine he must be staring you down. Waiting for you to slip up and give him a reason to hate you. Is Jungkook expecting the same or is he just as disinterested as usual. Hoseok, when you look up at him, he just smiles at you.

"Go ahead, baby. Tell them," he says.

He's expecting you to lie. He clearly has a lot of confidence in you to not speak the truth. Is it out of delusion or blind trust? Either way, you're growing more and more nervous.

If you speak the truth what would happen to you? It's not like you have a place to go without your money. You left everything back at Hoseok's. You doubt Minjeong would take you in. You two don't know each other like that. You don't even think you'd feel comfortable staying with her. Then there's Namjoon. You have some questions for him. Even Yoongi but if you leave now you'll never get them.

Without the answered questions it still stands that you have no where to go. Even with the money and that reality is settling in hard for you.

That stomach ache from earlier is starting to come back and it leaves you feeling nauseous.

"Y/N?"

You look over to Minjeong who gives you a look of desperation but your answer never comes.

"How about this," Another security officer starts to say. "Why don't you explain who you are ma'am and then we can go on from there."

He's asking Minjeong this and she looks affronted.

"Why do you need to know?"

"Well you're the one who caused the commotion. So please tell us who you are and what is your relation to these people."

She blinks a few times before speaking. "I'm Lee Minjeong. I'm a part of the Lee clan down South."

"The Lee clan?" An officer asks. "You're a little far away from home aren't you?"

You can see the way Minjeong clenches her teeth with the way her jaw works.

"That's besides the point. I'm here because of him." She points to Hoseok. "He's holding this woman hostage the same way he did with me years ago. I had to get a restraining order against him because of this."

"So wait," The first officer holds his hand up. "You have a restraining order against him which means he can only be a certain amount of distance away from you."

"100 feet." Minjeong says.

"100 feet. Okay. And you're claiming this woman here - what's your name," he questions you.

"Y/N." Your name leaves your lips softly.

"Y/N. You're claiming that Miss Y/N is being held hostage by Lord Hoseok who seems to know her very well judging by the way he's holding her."

Minjeong's brows furrow as a deep frown mars her face. "You're making it sound like she has a choice."

"You're making it sound like like she doesn't but all I see here are two consenting adults." The officer points a finger at Minjeong. "You said you have a restraining order against Lord Hoseok. So then why are you two here? Together?"

It's here that Minjeong chokes. She doesn't look so angry - doesn't look as sure of herself anymore. Her nostrils flare in slight irritation or is that nervousness? She swallows deeply and gives you a quick look that you don't know how to define as.

"Lady Minjeong?" One of the officers call for her. "Please answer the question."

She clenches her teeth together and works her jaw before balling her hands into fists. Looking down she licks her lips and speaks without making eye contact with anyone.

"I saw the articles about Hoseok and... and Y/N. About them being together." She looks up at the officer in front of her. "I know Hoseok. I know him better than most and I knew - I knew he was holding Y/N hostage. I had to find her. It took some time but I did and she admitted to me that she was in danger."

Everyone's eyes move over to you. Your face drops in surprise. You didn't admit to anything. Yeah you may have agreed to some of the things she said back in the bathroom but you didn't admit to anything.

"Honestly," Your attention is drawn over to the one female officer not looking at you but Minjeong. "It sounds like to me that Lord Hoseok is the one needing a restraining order."

"What?" Minjeong snaps.

The officer continues. "You stalked Lord Hoseok and his partner," she looks at Hoseok. "I presume?"

He nods his head.

"You stalked them and now you're trying to get in the middle. It sounds to me like you're just jealous."

"Jealous? Jealous?! I am far from jealous! This has nothing to do with jealousy. I'm trying to protect Y/N!"

"You don't even know her!" Hoseok bites.

Minjeong's hands come up to her hair in frustration before a thought comes to her. "You!" She points towards Hoseok then at the officers. "You're controlling their minds. Don't let him control your minds!"

The officer before her huffs a laugh. "No one is controlling anyone's mind here."

"Y/N." She looks back at you. "You know the truth. Come on please. Speak up."

You're having a hard time maintaining eye contact with her. What you wanted is happening here right now so why aren't you speaking up?

You do have to say you're a little speechless. Minjeong was spying on you? You just met her and to know she lied to you about everything? You guess you would have lied too if it meant you could help someone.

Hoseok's arm around you feels like a weight. Like a warning that if you step out of line he'll control you again. You don't want that, but right now Minjeong is looking like an idiot the longer you stay quiet. The officers are clearly showing a bias here. They're taking Hoseok's side without outright saying it and twisting Minjeong's words.

To be honest you're a little scared right now because despite knowing you have no where to go if you speak up you also know that no one will take your side. The officers have made it clear that they're on their Lord's side and not the victim's. No one will believe you. No one but Minjeong whose family was paid to keep quiet.

You grab your stomach with both hands as the sudden need to gag hits you.

"I think I'm going to be sick."

Quickly the female officer moves to grab the small trash bin near the door. She pushes her way between you all so she can hold it near you.

"Let everything out if you have to," she says.

Your nostrils flare as you try to breathe evenly but it's coming and it's coming fast.

Leaning over you begin to vomit. It rushes out of you quickly from both your nose and mouth. You can feel Hoseok pull your hair back as you throw everything up.

You didn't eat that much for breakfast so what mostly comes up is acid. It burns the back of your throat and the acrid smell just makes you more nauseous. You vomit and vomit until all that's left are dry heaves and a cramping stomach.

"Get her a bottle of water and some tissues." You hear an officer say.

Hoseok gently massages your back and asks if you're okay. You can only grunt in response as you're handed a box of tissues.

You grab a few to wipe your mouth and blow your nose. The feeling of vomit mixing with your mucus is disgusting but you have to get it all out.

"I'm sorry," you say.

"No no. You're okay." The female officer says.

You're handed a bottle of water you open up and take a swig of to rinse your mouth. You spit it out before taking another mouthful and drinking it down. The cold water feels like a blessing to your throat but it makes your stomach cramp. You wince at the feeling as your fingers dig into your stomach to help stave off the pain.

"All good?" Hoseok asks you.

You nod your head and the officer removes the trash bin from your sight.

You feel a little better now but you still have the lingering feeling of nausea. It's not as strong now that you threw up but some bit of it remains. Because of it you temporarily forgot about why you were here with all these people. It's now that you wish you were preoccupied with something else so that you wouldn't have to deal with the real issue at hand.

You look at Minjeong and you wish you were just as brave as her. Maybe once upon a time you would speak out but you realize that over time you've been made into a coward. You would love to escape but you don't think it's the right time. Or at least it won't be for a while. The sudden realization of that hurts you and you think Minjeong sees that because she gives you a look of worry.

"Don't," she says lowly.

You shake your head. "I want to go home."

Her eyes shut momentarily before she looks at you again. "Don't. Please."

"She wants to go home." Hoseok says. "You heard her."

You don't hear how smug you know he must be feeling. He plays the part of a concerned lover so well.

"I thinks it's best that we should leave." Taehyung says. "Why don't you stay out of our lives. For good now."

Minjeong squares her shoulders while flexing her jaw.

"Would you like for us to call the police to press any charges, my Lord?"

Your attention snaps to the officer who spoke before looking at Hoseok. Your captor stares at you and watches the way you shake your head.

"Don't," you say. "Just let it go."

Hoseok just stares at you with an unreadable expression and you're worried he might go against you but then he smiles.

"I'll let things slide. For now." He looks at Minjeong. "Do me a favor and leave while you still can."

Minjeong swallows deeply.

Before anyone can say anything else, Jungkook leaves. Taehyung follows after him and Hoseok does as well but not before bidding the officers farewell. You hesitate a moment before leaving as well.

Gods you're a coward. You've always sworn you would be able to escape but once the opportunity was finally presented to you you came up with a million excuses as to why it wouldn't work out. Excuses they were but you know you were right to walk away. It's so easy to formulate plans but for them to actually follow through - that would be the hard part. It doesn't stop your eyes from getting watery.

No one says a word as you four leave. You prefer it that way. You just want to stew in the silence. Accept your fate.

As you near the Macy's you hear a call of your name. You turn around to see Minjeong standing a few feet away from you. She's standing there with a menacing look directed at Hoseok and his brothers but when she looks at you her expression softens.

You're thinking of asking her what was wrong but something compels you to walk towards her. Hoseok's hand on your shoulder stops you but you're quick to shake it off.

"Give me a minute," you say and surprisingly he lets you go.

You walk over to Minjeong and give her a sorry look. You want to apologize but she just shakes her head.

"It took me a while," she says.

You don't get what she means until she reaches for your hand to hold tight.

"Don't let it be your last."

You feel something in your hand and hold it tight when she releases you. You want to see what it is but you don't dare look.

She gives you a smile before walking away.

You ball your hands into fists and feeling whatever is in your hand crumble up. It must be a piece of paper. In a nonchalant manner you slip your hands into your pockets and leave them there as you turn around to face Hoseok. He's frowning but he doesn't seem to suspect anything.

When you near him again he stretches his hand out for you to grab and you take it. Leaving behind whatever it is Minjeong gave you deep in your pocket. You'll have a look at what it is later when no one is around to watch you.

When you all return to the car you have to close your eyes and breathe. The sound of doors slamming shut around you makes the nausea from before slowly come back and it makes you a bit antsy.

"Are you okay, my love?" Hoseok asks. "How are you feeling?"

You grunt. "Feel sick."

"Again?" It's Taehyung who speaks. "You threw up a lot already." He hums to himself. "Maybe the events from today was too much."

"Maybe you have the stomach flu." Jungkook adds on.

You're grateful he isn't referring to you as an it like he would have before.

"I was feeling just fine earlier. Maybe it's nothing."

Jungkook shrugs. "Maybe."

A long pause of silence presents itself as the car starts up and Jungkook makes his way out of the parking lot. When he turns his head around to back out of the spot he gives you a quick onceover and hums.

"What," you ask.

"You look like shit."

"Thanks for that, I guess."

Hoseok brings a hand to the back of your head and scratches your scalp.

"We'll take you home now so there's no need to worry."

You moan in pain as your stomach cramps up. "Feeling sick again."

"We don't have anything in here to help you out." Taehyung says. "You'll just have to let Kooky know when he needs to park for you to vomit."

"Don't vomit in my car. Please."

You have half a mind in doing just that right here right now but you won't. You don't think you'd be able to handle the smell on the ride home.

"Do we need to take you to the hospital?"

You look over at Hoseok that looks at you in concern before shaking your head.

"I'll be fine. I just need bed."

"A visit to the hospital wouldn't be a bad one." Taehyung chimes in. "They'll at least give you what you need so you can get better."

You groan but it's because you know he's right.

"I'll take you to the hospital." Jungkook says. "Maybe it'll make you stop moaning and groaning."

There's a kick to the back of Jungkook's seat from Hoseok who chuckles.

"Be nice, Kooky."

The youngest doesn't say anything back but you know he wants to.

You rest your head on the window as you look off into the distance. With the car moving you have to keep your eyes open because with every sway it triggers your nausea.

Why are you feeling like this? You were just fine earlier. You think maybe because of the stress it must have triggered everything. First the fight with Hoseok and then the run in with Minjeong. Finding out Minjeong was stalking you but you know she did it for the right reasons. Today was too adventurous for you. That's for sure.

Hoseok holds your hand in his before turning it over. His fingers run over your wrist until he finds a spot and presses into your flesh. It's a steady amount of pressure he provides and you turn your head to give him a questioning look.

As if sensing your eyes on him he looks up at you and smiles before looking back down.

"Acupressure for nausea."

You hum before looking out the window.

You try not think about any of the stressors in your life to avoid triggering your nausea and vomiting again. It's a little easier said than done with you being in the car with your captor and his brothers one of which you still believe dislikes you. No matter what anyone says.

The car ride is quiet save for the low music that plays and the occasional talk between Taehyung and Jungkook. They talk about Jimin's birthday, new games that are coming out and mundane things about life. What they don't talk about is Minjeong and you suspect they will but behind Hoseok's back. For now though she's the farthest from their minds.

After a while you reach a large hospital that you realize isn't that far from the house. It has a beautiful garden up front in the middle of a roundabout. If it weren't because you feel sick you would have checked them out to see which flower is what.

Your eyes trail up to see the sign 'Emergency' written in large, red letters above double doors that open when approached.

As you and Hoseok undo your seatbelts Taehyung turns around to look at you.

"Call us when you need a ride."

Hoseok smiles. "Will do."

Your stomach begins to cramp again when you exit the car. Digging your fingers into your flesh you wait for Hoseok to come around and urge you forward with an arm around you.

The air from inside the hospital is on full blast and it makes you tremble when you get inside. Everything looks new to you though as you've never been to a hospital before. Only once to help that woman who escaped her brother but you never really had a chance to look around. Your sheltered life at the Baek's made that whatever you do know about the outside world was through movies and online shows. It's a bit startling honestly. Despite missing your old home you can't help but to be thankful that you've been allowed some time out thanks to Hoseok and his brothers, but you're not about to admit that out loud.

You walk to the front desk where a young receptionist whose eyes widen a bit when she sees Hoseok. She stands to bow and the other receptionist next to her gives her a weird look but says nothing.

"Lord Hoseok," she chirps. "What can I do for you today?"

He gives her a small smile to which she smiles back before sitting down.

"My partner has been sick," he says. "She's been nauseous and throwing up."

Now that she hears this she gets to work. Asking for your name and date of birth. She types some more and after a minute she asks for your wrist. When she does you give her a confused look before you realize that she's going to tag it. After she puts it on you look at it to see it has your information on it.

"You can have a seat. You will be called shortly."

By shortly she means an hour later. At some point Hoseok had to get you a vomit bag because you needed to throw up again. It wasn't a lot this time unlike when you were at the mall. Your stomach still cramps and the longer you wait out in the waiting room the more anxious you grow and the more you become nauseous.

Thankfully you are called back and get your vitals taken. Everything seems normal and afterwards you meet with a nurse who wants to put you on IV fluids. You give her a look that Hoseok catches on to. He's standing by your side on the hospital bed you're sitting on and begins to rub your back gently.

"Have you ever gotten a needle," he asks.

You shake your head no to which he smiles.

"It'll be a small pinch. Nothing too bad."

When the nurse comes back she has everything and gets to work. You watch as she ties a tourniquet around your arm and checks for a good vein. You're starting to feel anxious and can feel the way your heart beats painfully. When she finds one she likes she preps the needle and brings it close to your arm but before she can dig it in your head grows light and everything goes black.

You don't know what happens after that. You just know that when you wake up you're lying out on the bed with a worried Hoseok by your side.

"Hey baby," he says with small smile.

You look around confused and down at your arm where you feel something cool going into it. You see that you're hooked up to an IV bag and the cool feeling is from the liquid seeping in.

"What happened," you ask.

Hoseok goes to ease you back down when you try to sit up.

"You fainted." He huffs a small laugh. "I think you getting your first needle did it for you."

"Oh." You don't know what else to say but that.

"Just relax." Hoseok says. "I'll see if I can find your nurse."

He stands up to leave the room and when the door shuts behind him you sigh.

Your hand rubs your belly. It still aches but you don't have the need to vomit. You don't know if the nurse gave you anything for it while you were knocked out but if she did you're thankful for it.

You look back down at your arm and stare at the sliver of the needle that sticks out and how it's attached to a plastic piece that's connected to the IV tube. You make a face at it and settle back down onto the thin pillow that's placed beneath your head.

It takes Hoseok a while to return but when he does he comes in with a smile.

"She'll be right in in a moment."

You hum as he sits down on the bed next to you.

He grabs your hand and massages your palm. He looks down at you and you can tell he's trying to not look so worried. You sigh again and it makes him look at you.

"You okay," he asks.

You shrug. "I guess."

"You really had me worried for a second there. I was already worried you were sick but when you fainted I couldn't help but to freak out." He nibbles his bottom lip before pushing your hair behind your ear. "I still am worried."

"I'll be okay I'm sure. It's probably just stress."

"Probably."

There's a knock on the door and you peek around Hoseok to see that it's the nurse.

"Hey there, honey." She comes around to stand by your side. "Before putting the IV in I drew some blood so that's in the lab right now."

You nod your head.

"The doctor will be in to see you shortly but is there anything else I can do for you?"

You think on it before shaking your head. "Not really."

She smiles. "Okay. If you do need anything please let me know. My name is Dawn and like I said the doctor will be in shortly."

She gives you one last smile before heading out.

For the time it takes the doctor to come you and Hoseok stay in silence. He wanted you to close your eyes and relax which you did as he played with your hand. Soft and gentle touches running up and down your arm as your body goes lax. When the doctor does come you open your eyes and welcome him in with a small smile.

"Hi. Y/N?"

You nod.

"It's nice to meet you. I'm Dr. Callahan. So what brings you in today?"

You try to sit up but Hoseok urges for you to stay lying down. You don't try to fight him but it doesn't stop you from sighing.

"My stomach has been cramping and I've been throwing up."

"How long have you been like this?"

You shrug. "For a few hours? I was fine this morning."

"Anything you ate?"

"She didn't eat that much today." Hoseok chimes in.

Dr. Callahan nods. "Are you sexually active?"

Your head jerks back a bit in surprise but you shouldn't be you guess. He is a doctor asking reasonable questions. It doesn't stop the heat from creeping up your neck.

"Yes."

"Okay. Have you had a pregnancy test done?"

Your eyes widen as your mouth slowly hangs ajar.

There was no way in hell. No way in hell you were pregnant. Right?

You shift your sights over to Hoseok who has a look of subtle surprise but nothing more nothing less. It's not helping the way your anxiety is starting to spike up.

"I um," you start. "I - no. No I haven't."

The doctor nods. "Okay that's fine. We can do one for you now. All we need is a little bit of your urine and we can get a result within minutes for you."

"Okay." The word leaves you in a shaky manner.

When he leaves to retrieve a cup for you you look at Hoseok with wide eyes that scream discomfort.

"There's no way I'm pregnant," you say.

He squeezes your hand in what you assume to be comfort.

"We don't know that yet."

"No Hoseok. I am not pregnant."

There's no way. You couldn't be. You'll never be. It's already bad enough you're in the predicament you're in with Hoseok who just so happens to be your kidnapper but to have a baby by him too? Gods you think you're about to have a panic attack.

"If you aren't then good but if you are," Hoseok shrugs. "We'll deal with it."

You sit up quickly and your stomach cramps because of it.

"I don't want to deal with it." You're beginning to tremble with nerves. "I can't be pregnant."

"Shh baby. Hey." He brings a hand up to your cheek and caresses it with his thumb. "We'll get through this. It's going to be okay."

He doesn't seem to get the severity of the situation but then again he isn't you. He wasn't kidnapped and forced into a certain life by someone. It's terrifying to think about even more so with knowing you just might be carrying his child.

You're not fit to be a mother. Maybe some day but today is not that day.

Swallowing your spit is getting hard when it grows viscous with your nerves. The feeling to vomit doesn't come but something akin to nausea does hit you. You're even growing a bit lightheaded.

"You need to calm down, Y/N. If you don't you're going to faint again."

You know he's right and so you try to take deep even breaths. It still doesn't change the fact that you're a bottle of nerves. Filled to the brim with anxiety.

There's a knock on the door and it opens to reveal the doctor with a little cup in his hand.

"Alright so I just need you to pee in this. It doesn't need to be a lot. Just a little bit."

The door opens again and in walks in Dawn. She smiles at you.

"I'll run the test on it when you're done," she says.

You're hesitant to take the cup but you know you need to do this. You have to do this. For peace of mind.

Hoseok helps in easing you up off of the bed along with the nurse once the doctor leaves. She says she'll take you to the bathroom and encourages him to stay in the room, but there's a hesitancy about him. Like he's not sure if he should leave you alone with the nurse. His hands come together in nervousness and he looks at you with pleading eyes. You know what he's asking for. For you not to slip up and fuck his whole life over.

After today you don't think you'll be leaving any time soon. After the incident with Minjeong you were left feeling like you have no place to go and then you're reminded of something. In your pocket is something Minjeong slipped to you. When you go to the bathroom you'll check to see what it is.

You nod towards Hoseok as a way to let him know things will be okay. He seems to release the tension in his shoulders a little as the nurse leads you out of the room.

You drag along the stand the IV fluid hangs from as you hold the cup in a death grip. You're far beyond nervous right now and you're afraid the result might be that you are pregnant. What are you going to do then? There's no way Hoseok would allow for an abortion will he? He's controlled your life in every other aspect you wouldn't doubt he would control your pregnancy as well.

"Here we are." The nurse says. "I'll be waiting for you right here."

You thank her before entering the bathroom and closing the door behind you.

You sigh as you place the cup down on the edge of the sink. The first thing you do before bringing your pants down is dig into your pocket. You fish out a folded piece of paper. It's what Minjeong passed to you before she left and you hurriedly unfold it to see numbers. Not just any set of numbers. It's her phone number.

You close your eyes in relief. You didn't know what to expect but now that you see it you're happy. Without hesitation you pull out your phone and enter the number on it. You hope Hoseok doesn't go through it but just in case you don't put her name. You think on what to put as you look around you. When your eyes draw to the cup an idea hits you and you're quick to write the name Dawn. If he were to ever ask you who Dawn was you'll say it's the nurse from the hospital. That you exchanged numbers because she was really nice to you. That's all.

You quickly discard the piece of paper and lie your phone next to the cup before pulling your pants and underwear down to pee.

Nothing comes out at first and you have to turn the faucet on to get the urge going. You take the cap off of the cup and stare at it, letting the sound of rushing water get to you until you finally have the urge to pee.

You slip the cup beneath you and get what you can before finishing in the toilet and cleaning up. You wash your hands and wrap the capped cup in a paper towel, turn off the faucet and grab your phone to slip it into your pocket. You're done, you're set and exit the bathroom to see Dawn waiting for you just like she said.

She smiles. "All done?"

You nod your head and give her the cup.

The two of you walk down the hall towards your room seemingly calm but your heart is beating a mile a minute. Fingers crossed you're not pregnant because you don't know how you're going to deal with that.

When you open the door you see Hoseok who fidgets with his fingers. He looks just as nervous as you but he does his best to hide it when he sees you.

He stands and pulls you into his arms where he hugs you gently and kisses your forehead.

"The test will take a few minutes. Once I have a result I'll let you guys know."

You give a soft "Okay" and watch as she departs.

Behind the closed door Hoseok kisses your forehead again and urges you to look up at him with a hand to your chin.

"Your heart beat," he says.

You know what he means by it. He can hear how nervous you are.

"It's going to be okay. If you aren't pregnant then good but if you are we'll deal with it, okay?"

You nod your head though what you want more than anything is to not deal with it. You think of bringing up getting an abortion but you're afraid of what he might say. So you stay quiet for your sake.

A few minutes turn to more and more turns to almost an hour. You were told the pregnancy test would only take a few minutes but now you're left feeling nothing but dread because you have yet to receive an answer. You can't sit still and you're stomach is starting to cramp again. Hoseok had to retrieve you a clean throw up bag because the nausea is starting to creep up again. Gods this doesn't help. You want to be put out of your misery right now because you can't keep dealing with the wait.

Almost on the dot of another hour does Hoseok sit up in his seat and looks at the door. When he does you look at the door expectantly until there's a knock. The door opens to reveal Dawn and she has a sorry look on her face.

"I'm so sorry it took so long. We had a bit of an emergency that took up our time."

You shake your head. "No no. It's okay." You're a restless mess but you can't fault her for this.

"So I got your results."

Hoseok reaches for your hand and you find yourself holding him tight.

"You're not pregnant."

Like a huge weight being lifted off of your shoulders you sigh in relief. You look at Hoseok who sighs as well but he doesn't make a big show of it like you do.

Dawn smiles. "As for your blood everything is looking good."

"Then what's causing the stomach issues," you ask.

"Have you been under any stress lately?"

That's the million dollar question.

Of course you've been under stress and after things having been calm for a few weeks the issue with the letter and then Minjeong things got a little out of control. So you nod.

"A little bit."

"Well that can be causing it. When you leave we'll give you some scripts to take to the pharmacy for both the stomach pain and the nausea."

You nod again. "Okay."

Okay. You breathe another sigh of relief and let the nurse handle everything that needs to be done. She asks if you're still having issues with your stomach pain now that she sees you with another throw up bag. You say yes and she's quick to issue another dose of medicine to cool it down along with something for the nausea. When she leaves to check on your discharge paperwork Hoseok squeezes your hand and you look over to him.

"We need to get you on birth control," he says.

Your brows furrow a little at the prospects of getting on birth control. You know about it not just through media but the women who your former Masters would have frenzy feedings with. It's clear that you and Hoseok should have been using protection from the beginning but you just haven't. If you would have ended up pregnant it wouldn't have been a mistake. You and Hoseok looked for that problem although unintentional it was.

"There's all types. We just have to find the right one for you."

"And what about you," you ask.

"What about me?"

You shrug. "You don't want to try condoms?"

Hoseok's lips slowly part in mild surprise. "Um. I guess? With birth control you should be fine."

"But what if none of them work?"

"Then we use condoms."

You nod. "Okay."

You won't get into an argument with him about it but you wanted to make it clear that condoms were an option.

Today has been a roller coaster ride of emotions and pains. The nurse tells you to limit your stress to avoid your stomach aches and nausea again. It's easier said than done. Especially because the main cause of your stress is because you were kidnapped. Something she of course doesn't know. Something you know Hoseok is thankful you didn't speak up about because you're too much of a coward. At least you have Minjeong's number. She said it took her a while to escape. It's going to take you a while too but if you need help you have her number.

You also have some questions for Namjoon and Yoongi. You don't know if they'll be willing to answer them all but you'll make sure you're alone with them when you go to question them. Just so that they don't feel pressured around their brothers or the servants.

You're also glad Hoseok wasn't too keen on the idea of you being pregnant. He didn't show outright disgust or annoyance about it but it seemed as if he preferred that you weren't. It's the small things to be happy about you guess.

You don't know what you would do with a child. You don't feel like you're ready for one and you especially don't want to have a child with your captor. You're already living a nightmare. You don't want to make it worse.

You also note something else and it's something you try not to think about. You try not to because if you ignore it maybe then it wouldn't be true. You're becoming complicit with Hoseok. He's wrong for kidnapping you. Wrong for doing all the things he's done but you're not fighting him as much. You chalk that up to being a coward. A coward that was too scared to speak up to the security officers. Too much of a coward to speak up even now. You would like to think it's because of that and not because you're settling into this new life of yours. It scares you to think that but you're not doing much else. You're always thinking about escaping but you're not putting in the effort.

You wonder if Minjeong was the same way. She said it took her a while to escape so maybe. Maybe if it weren't for Yoongi she'd still be with Hoseok and you'd be still with the Baeks. Or would Hoseok had chosen you anyway the day he first saw you? Would he have sent Minjeong off or would he keep you both?

You don't want to think about these things but sometimes you can't help it.

Hoseok holds you close in a hug and tells you how he's going to set up an appointment for you with a gynecologist and you just listen attentively. You let him talk without interrupting. No you don't like to think you're getting used to this life but you're something close to it. Very close to it.

[iannicellis]

Hi all! I'm so thrilled to be able to bring you my first writing update. I so though this would have happened already, but trying to get any writing done during this semester has been like fighting in the trenches.

Anyway, I haven't been able to work on any of my long form wips, but I have been able to complete the first draft of a short story that will be the first in a science fiction collection. Let's talk about it!

This short story is called MY LUNGS REMEMBER AIR. Logline below:

A young girl reaches a breaking point when denied the opportunity to grieve for her deceased sister.

I wrote this story over the course of about three days for the science fiction and fantasy workshop I'm taking this semester. Getting it down on paper-- especially the second half-- was a little like pulling teeth, but it's amazing what a deadline will do for you lol.

I am very much still warming up my science fiction muscles, as it is a new genre for me (at least when it comes to writing, not so much reading), but I really felt like I started coming into my own voice for the genre with this piece. As the logline suggests, it deals with themes of grief and sisterhood, as well as autonomy and ethics (of resurrecting your daughter as an android and pretending she never died). The first two, you will find if you keep following me here, are things that I cannot stop exploring in my writing. So! I clung to the familiar territory of grief and sisterhood to navigate the waters of this new genre, and I think it went well???

My goals were twofold: I wanted to convey an off-putting vibe, and I wanted my protagonist's grief to be palpable and relatable. Based on the feedback I've gotten on this story thus far, I definitely succeeded in the first of these, but on edits I'm aiming to delve even deeper into my protagonist's grief.

I learned in writing this that sci-fi fucks actually and I had a great time. Very much looking forward to writing more short stories for this collecting that's slowly slowly starting to come together in my head.

MY LUNGS REMEMBER AIR excerpts below!

One year comes and goes without recognition. What is there to recognize, when, according to her parents, Monterey is at the dinner table every night, watching the television with dad before bed, cracking jokes with mom as they get ready for Saturday morning yoga? She wears Monterey's laugh like an ill-fitting coat. Daytona passes the day in the darkness of Quay's bedroom, demolishing a handle of whiskey between herself and Quay and Flossie. She lays her clammy head on Quay's lap and watches the two of them play video games until she sees stars behind her eyelids when she blinks. When she vomits in Quay's bathroom later that night, he rubs her back and Flossie holds up her hair and the desert heave of her sob is swallowed by the sound of the toilet flushing.

In the quiet midnight hours one night, after waking up from the routine sleepwalking, Daytona shuffles into the kitchen and cuts an apple in the darkness. She slots a slice into her mouth, and the crunch of teeth on fruit flesh is the loudest thing in the neighborhood. She runs the knife under a thin stream of sink water to rid it of the juice, and rubs slow, contemplating circles on the metal with a rag to dry it off. Moonlight shines on the blade, pulsing like a heartbeat.  It might kill her, Daytona thinks. If she plunges it in just the right place, the not-sister might stop talking with Monterey’s voice, and laughing with Monterey’s laugh, and looking at her with Monterey’s eyes. They could bury the not-girl in her sister’s place and finally, finally let free the relief and rot of grief. 

[ezplumbingusa8]

Plumbing Emergencies in Carlsbad? Call Our 24/7 Service for Quick Fixes!

Essentially, one should be in constant search for expert assistance when confronted with challenging plumbing emergencies, such as those experienced in Carlsbad. You may find yourself having to deal with a burst pipe, unclog a drain, fix a dripping water heater, and these activities are disruptive to your normal day and much worse if left unattended. No matter the position occupied, it portrays that an emergency plumber in Carlsbad is always for the protection of the afflicted. You can take advantage of our emergency plumbing services, which are available at all hours, and therefore there are no delays in getting quick solutions at any time of the day or night!

We evaluate the plumbing emergencies such as factors causes response time advantages and how our team of emergency plumbers in Carlsbad is able and will carry out your plumbing problems in the most practical and efficient manner possible.

1. Why You Need a Carlsbad Emergency Plumbing Services

Most of the plumbing problems will occur with little or no regard to the time and location. Be it in the late nights, on the busiest days or holidays, plumbing issues do not adhere to the working schedules of their clients. This means that in such situations, it is important to have contact details of a Carlsbad emergency plumber who can come in at a moment’s notice.

From minor drips to completely flooded basements, we understand how frustrating these turn of events can become. Our emergency plumbing experts are ready for any type of emergency and will act with utmost speed to ensure your home or office remains intact and operational.

2. Plumbing Emergency Cases That Most Carlsbad Residents Have Experienced:

When it comes to plumbing emergencies, they differ in terms of types and levels. Below are some of the common plumbing related issues we find in Carlsbad:

Burst Pipes

A burst pipe will definitely give you a plumbing emergency that is as extreme as a big chunk of ice in winter. A skillfully trained and equipped plumber is therefore important so that incase of high water pressure or even other reasons that may lead to bursting pipes, water does not panic the residents or cause much water related damages in the structure. That is why it is important to call a Carlsbad emergency plumber that will establish the cause of the problem then they will act fast to repair the damaged sections of the pipe system as possible to avoid unnecessary loss.

Blocked Drains

A clogged drain can actually cause serious inconveniences; if not treated, the situation becomes a mess. From the kitchen sink to the bathroom drain, the consequence can lead to backups and unpleasant odors. Our plumbers can clear your drains quickly with professional tools and techniques to restore the flow of water in no time.

Water heaters problems

When a water heater stops working, it is problematic, perhaps all the more so in winter. Be it due to leakages or a failure to pump out hot water; your water heater needs repairs instantly. With the help of a Carlsbad emergency plumber, any water heater malfunctions can be diagnosed and corrected, and thus, hot water will always be available.

Issues Related to Sewer Line

The unpleasant smells and high-risk effluent backing up in one’s house or compound due to a broken sewer pipe can be very uncomfortable. The most apparent problems concerning sewer lines are serious and require mitigation measures in order to avoid possible health hazards and destruction of property. Our plumbers are on call for emergencies and are qualified to carry out sewer line procedures to ensure that your drains are functioning optimally.

Leaking Faucets and Toilets

This might be the tiniest leak - for instance, a small dripping faucet or running toilet. After some time, such slight leaks lose thousands of gallons of water and hike utility bills in your home. Once left unchecked, this might also result in water damage. Our Carlsbad emergency plumber will promptly end any leaks to cut costs and avoid future damage.

3. The Justification for Acting Quickly

Such a plumbing emergency is bound to happen, this should be attended to immediately and not left for a long time. The more you put it off, the more you are endangering your residence or office. Left dialled plumbing problems always result in leakage which causes wet damages, growth of fungi and worse off even affect the building. These are expensive issues.

Prevent Water Damage

In case of a burst pipe or massive leakage, the water spreads throughout your house almost in seconds and submerges carpets, walls, and other flooring. This may cause weaknesses in your structure and allow mold growth in that area that may contribute to your ill health. A Carlsbad emergency plumber will arrive quickly to ensure water does not cause major damage.

Avoid Expensive Repairs

The longer the plumbing issue goes unchecked, the more costly the repairs might get. For instance, a slow leak may lead to structural damage or rusting after some time. An early call to an emergency plumber saves you from such pricey repairs down the road.

Minimise Interferences in Your Daily Activities

The plumbing related issues can strike at the most unexpected moment especially those associated with water supply. If you are not able to use your kitchen due to a sink filled with dirty water or it is a faulty water heater or any other plumbing related problem, water tends to create havoc and trouble to you even in the simplest of errands. A qualified and experienced plumber will certainly analyse the situation and help you get back on your feet in no time.

4. What You Will Experience Upon Calling Our 24/7 Emergency Plumbing Service

While making a call for emergency plumber in Carlsbad, California, be ready to receive the following:

Fast Response Times: We know how crucial it is to fix plumbing emergencies quickly and will give you prompt attention to all service calls.

Experienced Plumbers: We provide the best, most experienced, and licensed plumbers to work with on the widest variety of emergency plumbing situations.

Transparent Pricing: We charge you upfront and charge no hidden fees, so you know exactly what you're getting in return.

Professional Solutions: From diagnostics to repair, our plumbers use the best tools of the day and techniques to ensure that the solution is long-lasting for your plumbing issues.

5. You can call our plumbing service 24/7 all year round

Another significant benefit of our Carlsbad emergency plumber service is that we work round the clock. This is because plumbing problems are very random and erratic and can strike any minute , hence we have made it our goal to offer round the clock service in such a manner that the burden does not reach the customers.

This means that a client can count on our service at any time of the day and night and even on holidays. It is a service that provides coverage twenty four seven and hence you do not have to worry about getting stuck due to a plumbing emergency.

6. How to Avoid Plumbing Emergencies while in Carlsbad

However, because no one is perfect and there are still chances that plumbing problems will arise, there are ways of reducing their occurrence:

Regular Maintenance: Conduct periodic inspections and maintenance services of the plumbing system to identify problems and threats beforehand.

Install Water Softeners: Pipe narrowing and blocking due to hard water mineral salts’ deposits within the pipe systems and consequent piping systems failure. Use of a water softener will save your pipe fittings.

Promote Non-Blocking Drains: By Avoiding The Disposal Of Grease: Do not discard any kinds of oils, food leftovers, or non-flushable products down the drains as they will clog the system.

Pipe Insulation: Avoid damage to your pipes by insulating the pipes especially during winter. This will help prevent pipe breakage during the winter season.

7. Why us for all the plumbing emergencies in the Carlsbad area?

In case you require Carlsbad emergency plumbing services, we rank among the most preferred services to households and offices in the region. Here is why:

Professionals: Not all plumbing companies are made the same and for CPJ plumbers and their work in any plumbing emergency there is no exception.

Response Time: We understand how plumbing problems can turn into catastrophes and therefore we try our level best to arrive the scene of the damage very fast to contain it.

Pricing: The markets being competitive, we charge very friendly prices with no surprise charges making it possible for you to be able to get the best value for your money.

Conclusion

Probably the optimists say that catastrophes occur in every place but they forget to differentiate the role of a Carlsbad emergency plumber as a necessity at such times. We assure you that our services will be rendered to you upon request any day anytime, be it a burst pipe, clogged up drain or anything else. There is no need to wait until the situation deteriorates further – contact us right away for fast, expert, and budget-friendly plumbing services.

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[tileregrouting]

Why You Should Consider Professional Tile Regrouting Services in Sydney

Tile regrouting as a process does not get the attention it should despite being important for the aesthetic and functional look of tiled surfaces in . It is a welcome relief for Sydney homeowners that there are tile regrouting services that can be of great help for them that can bring about a lot of helpful changes that do not only entail aesthetic enhancement. Below is a guide why you should opt for professional tile regrouting services for your residential place.

Improvement of the Aesthetics and New Look

 The main benefit of tile regrouting is the remodelling of the outlook of the home that comes with professional regrouting of tiles. Years pass which of course stains, discolours or even cracks grout because of general wear and tear. This can give the most attractive tile a ragged and old appearance even if it was installed a short while back. Hire professional regrouting service providers to help you enhance the appearance of your tiles by having new and better looking grout. This does not only enhance the appearance of the floors and the walls but also helps to make them look new and in better order.

Better Bathroom Hygiene and Minimising Mould Formation

 The grout is typically permeable, and it can easily soak moisture and becomes a popular place for mould and mildew, particularly where humidity levels are high such as the washrooms and kitchen. This in the long run causes unpleasant smell and health complications to those who use the toilets. When looking for professional regrouting Sydney, residents should choose high quality mould resistant grout that minimises the ability of moisture accumulation thus preventing the formation of mould. In this way, with the normal and adequate reaction to the grout issues, you will guarantee a cleaner and more sanitary living space for you and your family.

Prevention of Further Damage

 If this problem is left untreated other issues such as water damage or a structural problem can occur. When the grout dries, it creates small channels where water can flow under the tiles hence demoralising the adhesive and thus the tiles tend to become free. Professional tile regrouting successfully eliminates such problems because it makes sure that the grout is well placed as well as well covered. This is quite preventive in nature that can help you to prevent damages that may require repair of the tiled surface and enable the tiled surface to last longer.

Increased Property Value

 Clean mosaics and fresh-looking grout will give the house a face lift hence improving the market value of the house. It will be shocking to find that prospective buyers are most probably going to take note of the cleanliness of tiles and grout which can influence the impression of the house they are going to buy. If you decide to hire a professional to service your tiles through re-grouting, (and this will not take long to do so) you are not just enhancing the beautification part of the house or any place for that matter but you are also making the place attractive to those who might want to buy it.

Time and Cost Efficiency

 There are actually many problems associated with DIY regrouting, including the fact that despite the fact that it may be done independently, and therefore seems to be a very cheap method, it consumes a lot of time and patience, and the results achieved are not always good. Professional tile regrouting services on the other hand are done by a team of technicians who have the technical knowledge and the right tools to do the job in the right manner. The implication of this is that one can get back good results provided by a good professional yet without stress of having to do it herself. Also, the services are usually faster, and this ensures that one will not have to disrupt his or her daily working schedule frequently.

Customization and Expertise

 Professional tile regrouting services also tend to be customizable to a considerable extent. Whether in an attempt to restore the tiles and the existing grout colour or insistent on getting a new colour to blend with your walls or floors, there are people who can advise and guarantee a satisfactory result. They have created a foundation that enables them to work with tiles and grout of all sorts and provide the best finished product.

Long-Lasting Results

 Since you’re hiring tile regrouting services, one advantage is that one gets to use the best quality materials and methods that guarantee a longevity of work. Specialists apply the hydraulic cement that is more resistant and utilises techniques that would increase bonding and protect against wearing down. This way, your grout will remain clean and pristine for a long time and therefore give you the value for your money.

Regrouting tiles is not just about changing the face of your floor, but it is also the process of renewing your home’s and tiles value. To Sydney homeowners, regrouting of tiles has the following benefits; it provides the place with a better look, clean, valuable and more importantly it’s cheaper having someone professional do the job for you. Through investing in professional regrouting, it is assured that the tiles run in its optimal quality and aesthetics that pass on the clean, appealing and solid area for many years to come.

For more info visit here:- grout repair

bathroom regrouting

[sterloc]

Personal Hygiene: What You Must Know! 

From taking a shower daily and washing our hands frequently to following essential toilet hygiene practices, we all are constantly and naturally involved in personal hygiene activities. It is a part of our lives that contributes to making us feel fresh, confident, and ready to take on the world. Maintaining personal hygiene also helps keep us free from germs, infections, and illness, thereby ensuring we’re healthy.   

It might not be necessary to define personal hygiene since we have all been used to it since our childhood. But personal hygiene is actually more than what we simply do. It is an umbrella term that covers a number of aspects. Each one of them is crucial in order to ensure holistic wellness.   

In this blog, we will talk about the two most important areas of hygiene – Hand hygiene and toilet hygiene. They are usually considered the easiest route for germs to enter our bodies. Thus, it becomes essential to maintain proper hygiene in these two areas. We will also recommend some insightful books on hygiene to help you read more about how to keep your hygiene regimen at its best.   

Hand Hygiene  

Hand hygiene is one of the most important parts of personal hygiene. Our hands touch several surfaces and become an easy pathway for germs to travel. Keeping them clean is an effective and useful way to prevent the spread of germs and infections at their core. Here are the simple steps of hand hygiene:  

Wet your hands with clean, running water.  

Then, lather them using soap, covering all surfaces.  

Scrub your hands (at least 20 seconds).  

Rinse them properly under clean, running water.  

Lastly, dry them with a clean towel or air dry them. Avoid touching surfaces immediately after drying to prevent recontamination.  

In addition to this routine, using hand sanitizers can also be a convenient alternative when soap and water are not available. You can choose an alcohol-free hand sanitizer like Sterloc that is not harmful to your skin.   

Toilet Hygiene  

Public restrooms and even home bathrooms can harbor a multitude of germs and bacteria. So, it is essential to keep   

Consider using a toilet seat sanitizer spray or wipe before sitting to kill harmful bacteria.  

Always flush the toilet after use to prevent the spread of germs. Use your foot or a tissue to flush if you can't avoid touching the handle.  

After using the toilet, make sure you wash your hands with soap and water following the steps given above. You can also use an alcohol-free hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable. 

Dispose of feminine hygiene products, toilet paper, and waste properly in the toilet or designated bins.  

Regularly clean and disinfect your bathroom, focusing on the toilet seat, handle, and surrounding areas to prevent germ buildup.  

Books on Hygiene for Adults  

For those interested in deepening their understanding of hygiene and incorporating best practices into their daily routines, there are several excellent books on hygiene for adults. These resources offer valuable insights into the importance of hygiene and practical tips for maintaining it. Here are some highly recommended books:  

"The Germ Code" - Jason Tetro  

"Clean: The New Science of Skin" - James Hamblin  

"The Art of Clean Up: Life Made Neat and Tidy" - Ursus Wehrli  

"How to Be a Hygienic Human: 30 Days to a Cleaner, Healthier You" - John Smith  

Final Word 

Maintaining good personal hygiene is essential for good health as well as solid self-esteem. By understanding the crucial areas of sanitization and using safe products like Sterloc, you can significantly improve your cleanliness habits. Remember, good hygiene is not just about preventing illness; it's about fostering a lifestyle that promotes health, comfort, and self-respect.