#firepit incoming

[satancopilotsmytardis]

Off-Shift

Pairing: Shigadabi

Rating: Explicit 18+

Summary: Commissioned by @dahvampire. Dabi has been working in retail for a while as his day job. He doesn’t put up much of a fight when someone on high asked him to transfer to the Kamino branch and work their returns and customer service counter, but his new boss is a little off-putting. Whatever, between that work and dealing on the side, he’s just happy he’s making enough to rent an apartment without roommates. 

Contents: No Quirk AU, Retail/Mobster AU, Sex Club, Exhibitionism, Mild Sexual Harassment, Intoxication Kink, Dom/Sub, Undernegotiated Kink, Anal Fingering, Dirty Talk, Praise Kink, Degradation, Oral Sex, Dick Stepping, Premature Ejaculation, Humiliation, Anal Sex, Overstimulation, Multiple Orgasms, Dry Orgasm, Creampie.  

Word Count: 13,491

Dabi hasn't had an easy time hopping from job to job since his dad kicked him out of the house at fifteen. He was given the warning that anything he said about the Todorokis to the press would destroy his siblings, but especially Natsuo's, lives and told to live or die on his own. He was no longer the problem of his sperm donor the same way as his baby maker had been thrown out as soon as she produced a good enough heir for Enji to be satisfied with. Dabi hadn't been prepared to be sent away like that, but he also hadn't been about to beg his father for any form of charity. So he had left the house with a backpack of his clothes and a few belongings he got out of his room, and he had gone straight to a friend of a friend's older brother's apartment who sold drugs. He was always looking for something stronger than weed or over the counter painkillers to try and feel better after he'd gotten badly burned trying to set up a firepit on his own when he was twelve. He had only been back up from the ensuing coma and integrated back into the world for six months before Enji decided he liked it better when people thought his eldest son had died tragically. He started selling too and that had gotten him enough money to pay for his own food, clothes, and medicines outside of pain mediation so that he could continue to scrape by. But it wasn't the only source of income he would need if he wanted to have a place of his own when he was old enough to get one, or if he wanted to have enough money for a fake ID to get that place faster. 

So in addition to selling, he got a job at a convenience store first. That was easy enough, he worked the worst shifts, but he was reliable and the consistent paycheck helped him buy better clothes and hair dye. He didn't look homeless anymore when he found out that the big department store down the street was hiring. He probably would have stayed at the convenience store for longer than three years if he hadn't heard that the department store was looking for 'customer service specialists' and given the abuse that people working the returns and complaint desk usually get, their starting rate was more than half of Dabi's hourly rate and that would get him much, much closer to having a place of his own sooner rather than later. He applied, making sure he was dressed well for his interview and speaking with the most polished grammar that he'd had to use in years, channeling every lesson that had ever been imparted to him by his fancy tutors back when his father thought that he was worth bothering with. He saw the hesitation in the interviewer's face when he had looked at him, but by some miracle, Dabi had gotten the job. 

He worked at that store for five years, encountering more violent, vitriolic, aggressive people than he ever did dealing drugs, but he could take it all for the paycheck. Dabi was good at acting numbly to most customer encounters and even better at doing his job just well enough that no one ever thought of getting rid of him if they ever did have need to remove some of their staff, but never being so good or reliable that anyone would ever think of promoting him. He didn't want to be the one who was ever up for becoming manager, even with the pay bump, because he didn't ever want to be the one who had to deal with the worst of the customers who just couldn't be wrangled by anyone else.

He's not sure what exactly he did to earn being called into his manager's office, but he certainly wasn't expecting to be asked if he would be okay being relocated to the Kamino branch of their stores. His immediate answer is 'no' but his manager says that his transfer was requested by someone on high, though he can't get a clear answer about that, and they are willing to give him a small stipend for him to find a new apartment and a week of paid leave for him to relocate when he's done so. He doesn't know whose dick he's supposed to be sucking, but he can't say that he isn't thrilled by the prospect. He's still living in a terrible apartment with two roommates because affording a place all on his own in this area was too expensive for him to manage while also taking care of his seams. But Kamino has cheaper housing options and vacancies that even just a quick glance at show a fair amount of appeal. Cheaper apartment means no roommates and he is going to commit a murder if he doesn't have one place in the world to get away from the constant drone of someone talking to or around him after spending everyday dealing with that shit. 

Dabi finds an apartment for rent over a dingy little bar that has thick enough floors that he can't hear every voice or glass hitting the counter during opening hours, and he makes an offer. It only takes three days before he's approved and able to start the move. The two boxes of his crap and three pieces of furniture that he owns are easy to load up into a rented truck in a single day, and he promptly spends the next six he has off getting high and relaxing in his own space before he has to go to his first day at the new location. 

///

For as nice as his short vacation was, Dabi is still not really feeling it when he has to go in for his first day at this new place. But he puts on his purple uniform shirt, khaki pants, and black tennis shoes and makes himself as presentable as he can before moving his ass down the stairs and out onto the street. It's a twenty minute walk to the store and by the time he's arrived he's about five minutes early from his clock-in time. Good employees are supposed to clock in fifteen minutes early and are expected to get to work immediately, but those extra minutes are not compensated for their pay, so Dabi always lingers until the actual time that he needs to, not giving up a second to the company that he doesn't have to. So instead he finds the employee entrance that he was told he would use around the back of the building and lights up. He hopes that he isn't in for anything too different from the last location, but there's really no telling. Every place has its own idiosyncrasies and he isn't looking forward to finding new rhythms. 

He finishes his cig and then he heads inside. The punch cards are in the same place as they were at his last location and the manager has already put a label on his and put it in his slot. He punches in not a moment too soon as he hears voices coming from elsewhere, other people clearly having already arrived and getting to their stations for the day. 

Dabi isn't surprised when he steps out to the customer service area to find two other people already prepping the registers for returns before the store opens. The sixteen year old girl and blond man with a scar splitting his forehead immediately grin at him. 

"Hi! I'm Himiko Toga, you must be Dabi!" 

"Yo, Jin Bubaigawara."

"Hey. Should I check in with the manager?" They both have the plain white name tags instead of the ones with the little line of gold around the edge that would tell him they were management, and Toga reaches over to a little basket with pens beside one of the registers and takes out his new name tag for this location. 

"Tomura got called away for a meeting with corporate," She tells him. "He said that he'll be back this afternoon to go over any questions with you." 

"Okay, sounds good. Where do you need me?"

Jin and Toga show him the ropes which are almost exactly the same as how things used to work at his old store. The hardest thing that he'll have to learn is memorizing the new passwords to open the computers and he does accidentally default to the old ones a couple of times throughout the morning, but that is a minor thing. For the most part, everything else is exactly the same as it was before and while he never got close to the other people that he spent a lot of time with, it's clear that the two on shift with him now are the best of friends even with a decade and a half separating their age. Toga, he realizes distantly, is the age that Shoto would be now, and he finds out very quickly that she's in a similar position to he himself was at her age. She was a problem child and her parents gave up on her and had more kids, disowning her in everything but name, so she is here as many hours as she can be legally during the week and on weekends. Jin was in a motorcycle accident a decade ago and served two years in jail for it even though he wasn't at fault, and this was the only place that would hire him afterwards. He has brain damage from the crash and sometimes needs them to keep an eye on things he's doing in case his wires get crossed, but it doesn't impede him too badly, certainly not enough for him to lose his job or anything, so that's fine. 

From the stuff they tell him about their other co-workers in this department between wrangling returns and complaints, Dabi gets the sense that everyone who works here is a little bit of a misfit. Mr. Sato only works mornings because he does magic shows, acrobatics, and performs in local plays at night. Magne is a trans woman and while that isn't particularly strange, she tends to fight transphobia with her fists, which includes leaping over the counter here if she has to defend herself against assholes who try to harass her. He's pretty sure any other place would have fired her for that, but instead there is a whole bulletin board in the break room that has the list of banned customers and their faces with their crimes written on it. From the number of them that simply read 'transphobe' underneath, he figures this location is more than happy to lose the business to keep one of their employees safe. Iguchi is the last coworker he's told about and he is something of a reclusive gamer outside of the shop. Apparently he's mixed race and has dealt with a lot of harassment throughout his life to the point that he had been rotting away before the manager, Shigaraki Tomura, had gotten him a job here. He still isn't very good at dealing with the rowdiest customers, but he has the fastest fingers and a nearly encyclopedic knowledge of the entire stock and their SKU numbers so it's a fair trade-off to everyone working to keep him on the easy returns and deal with the ruder clients for him. Plenty of idiosyncrasies, as expected, but Dabi doesn't want to become a good friend to any of the people here. He wants to show up, get his paycheck, and go home.

So when Toga asks if he wants to go out after his shift with her and Jin to a local cafe, he declines immediately. He doesn't need to make himself a lot of friends, and he's suddenly got a decent idea of why corporate wanted to move him to this location so badly. If this is the place that their weird employees who haven't earned being fired go, then of course they would want the one who looks like a horror show to end up here too. 

He doesn't eat lunch in the little coffee shop that is attached to their store, he fully leaves the building and walks about ten minutes so that he doesn't have to worry about spending all of that additional time with his co-workers and gets something from a convenience store. He'll do his job and do it well enough to not get fired, but the less the people around him know about who he is outside of work, the less likely they are to pick up on the ways he makes money outside of the legal avenues and the less likely they are to ask about his given name or how he got burned. Distance has been his friend for years and he's more than willing to keep it like that if he can. 

When he gets back to the store after his break, he finds the manager has returned from his meeting with corporate. Shigaraki Tomura is a few centimeters shorter than him with sickly pale skin, red eyes, a solid frame of muscle, and long wavy white hair that is tied into a neat pony at the nape of his neck. His lips are chapped and he has a birthmark on one side of his mouth and a scar cutting through his lips on the other, alongside a scar that curves over one of his eyes. 

"You must be Dabi. I'm Tomura Shigaraki, nice to meet you." He's wearing a half glove on the hand that he offers for a handshake and when Dabi accepts that, he feels that his thumb, fore, and middle fingers on that hand are too hard. Stiff. Unnaturally so. He wonders how he lost the fingers, if he was in an accident like Jin or if there might be something else going on, but he doesn't comment on it. 

"Yeah, nice to meet you." 

"Toga and Jin said that you seemed like you were settling in fine, but do you have any questions for me?" His voice has a rasp to it that makes it sound like he's been smoking more packs a week and longer than Dabi has, but there's no hint of smoke on his clothes that Dabi can pick up on. 

"Nah. Everything seems about the same here." 

There's a little flash in Shigaraki's eyes as he says that, and the serine smile that comes across his features makes something discontent crawl along the back of his neck. "Good. If you have any questions, just let me know. I'll take care of anything that you might need." 

"Sure." He is more than ready to go back to his work if it means getting out of this conversation so he heads back into the main area and finds that Toga has left for the day and that it's just going to be him, Jin, and Shigaraki. Great. At least Jin is talkative enough to keep the creepy manager from focusing on him once he sees that Dabi is more than capable of keeping up with his work. He makes it through the whole shift without any issues and the slight nod of approval he gets from the manager tells him that this isn't going to be any kind of big shift in his usual routine. 

Getting to go home and to shower and order himself food, being able to sit on his bed and watch TV without having to compete with the noises from other areas in the house means that taking this relocation was more than worth it for him. 

///

Every job has its own weird things and strange routines that show up once a person has been there long enough. At his last place they had the most returns on weekday mornings very close to opening because the store was located closer to the suburbs where stay-at-home moms would get up and come to do their errands after dropping off their kids at their daycare, then they were mostly dead until a few people would run in on their lunch breaks. In the Kamino branch, Dabi quickly finds out that they're busiest towards the end of the average work day, people coming in to shop or do their returns after they're done for the night. They also tend to get their most aggressive customers during the lunch hours making the biggest returns. 

"I want to return this." The large TV is one of the models that he thinks goes for around a hundred thousand yen and Dabi winces just seeing the thing. 

"Okay, sir." He says automatically falling into his script. "Do you have your receipt?" 

The burly man on the other side of the counter pauses and then scowls. "No." 

"Ah, do you have an account with the store? If you did and paid with a card then I can look up your purchase history--"

"I paid in cash. I want cash back." 

"...Okay, do you have an account with us?" 

"No. Can you hurry up, I have other places to be." The scowl on his face tells Dabi this is going to be another difficult transaction. 

"Unfortunately, sir, if you don't have a receipt and don't have an account with us, I can't verify your purchase history and accept this return." 

"I've never needed a receipt here before and I don't want this TV. Take it back and give me my money." 

"As I said, sir, I am unable to do that without you providing proof of purchase." Dabi doesn't cower as the guy puffs up, absolutely ready to start a scene with him. He has been dealing with this for years and short of the guy actually throwing a punch, nothing that he says to him now is going to make him flinch. 

"This is bullshit. I want to speak to a manager." 

"I can get the manager for you." Sure, if Shigaraki has to do this instead then it's no skin off his nose. He goes to the back, these weekday shifts only having one or two of them at the desk as someone else stays in the back actually reentering their returns back into their stock if their packages aren't opened or damaged and they don't have to be zeroed out as lost stock. Shigaraki is doing that today and he goes back to call him up. 

"Got a no receipt return with no account asking for you," he calls into their mini-stock room, the tall shelves too numerous for him to actually spot the other man. 

"Alright, I'll be out in just a second." He hears something get set onto one of the shelves and goes back out into the main area where the guy has taken out his phone and is texting someone, a scowl still stark across his face. 

"The manager will be with you in just a moment." Dabi wishes there were other customers waiting after him so he could ask him to step aside and go back to his own work. But it's dead at the moment and the minute that it takes for Shigaraki to come back out feels like an eternity. 

"Hello, sir, what seems to be the problem." 

The man repeats his request and Shigaraki takes the scanner and brings it around to the item's barcode. He types something into the computer that opens up a new window that Dabi hasn't ever seen before. The number for the item is highlighted on the readout and Shigaraki gives that man the placating smile that Dabi has made himself give so many times since he took this position as well. "It looks like we do have a record of your purchase, sir, and we'll be able to process that refund." Dabi just barely manages to keep himself from gaping as the money is exchanged and the man is sent on his way. Shigaraki waits until he's gone before he turns back to him, "Sorry, we've been doing this so long that I forgot that this isn't part of most other stores that aren't in the same pilot program as we are." He waves him back over and shows him the new screen. "Because this area is prone to having so many no receipt returns, we keep a separate log of anything over seven thousand yen that was paid for in cash. If we have it logged here proving it was purchased, and the item is still in the box, then we'll accept the return." 

"Oh, okay." His store never did that, but he guesses that this isn't really a big deal. "Is there a limit to how many times people can do that?" He knows other department stores only allow three receipt-less returns a year for their customers. 

"No, as long as their item comes up in the system, they can make their return." 

"Okay." 

So Dabi learns that this store does have another aspect that he has to deal with, but that's not really any major trouble for him. He just also happens to notice that they get a lot of returns. Sometimes it's groceries which are the worst because those immediately have to be thrown away and he always has to have Shigaraki take care of that because of their policies on acceptable states of food-stuff returns, and there are so many big ticket items that get returned too. Sometimes Dabi wonders how they don't run out of cash at their counter. Weirdness, but it doesn't stop him from taking his smoke breaks so Dabi is more than happy to just continue letting it all wash over him. The others are friendly with him, but after his third outright rejection, he stops getting invited to a bunch of shit and they leave him be. 

On his days off he goes down to the bar he lives on top of and it is a seedy little thing that absolutely is a hub for criminal activity, and he's happy to introduce himself to a local broker with a gap in his front teeth. He tells him that he used to run drugs and that he wouldn't mind some extra cash and that gives him an in with one of the chiller local dealers who doesn't mind if he isn't out trying to move product every day. He doesn't need to do as much selling as he did before just to scrape by, but he likes having the extra security in his funds. 

And on life goes. 

///

Dabi has been working at the Kamino store for five months. Five months and he's used to all of the usual bullshit, used to his new weird co-workers and the different return policies. Outside of his legitimate job, he is usually just sent invites to parties that want something extra available and he shows up when it doesn't overlap with his day job and moves whatever product he needs to for the evening. He isn't beyond indulging usually, but he knows that it's company policy to drug test new employees and he is still waiting with baited breath to see if Shigaraki tells him it's time to be tested. He thinks if he crosses the six month mark that he'll be in the clear, but until then he doesn't want to push his luck. He also gets the sense that Shigaraki is just as weird as the rest of them, always doing his business with that same placid smile that has no warmth or realness in it. Dabi knows the customer service smile and voice are great ways to just make it through the day without losing their minds, but there is something... stranger behind Shigaraki's. Dabi is pretty sure that he's a serial killer or something outside of the store given just how disconcerting he is. But his immediate boss being a weirdo doesn't change how he gets paid so he moves on and focuses on keeping his head down. 

The store, thankfully closes at eight each night and the nights that he does close have him getting out of the building by nine at the latest. He is not looking forward to the holiday season when it comes around because the extended hours will cut into his nightly activities, especially on weekends. Right now, his new dealer has a good habit of texting Dabi what parties are happening in the area and what they might be interested in and Dabi picks up what he needs from his apartment, changes, and heads out, getting into most places when they see what party favors he's brought and usually able to clear out everything he's brought and line his pockets in a few hours, especially if people are already a little too drunk to think very hard about what they're having. He usually sticks around as people partake because it's rare he's ever asked to leave and that means he gets to drink for free himself before he goes back to his own apartment, usually picking up something to eat between the house, apartment, or building. 

This Saturday only differs because he's been told that some big private party is taking place at a fancy nightclub downtown that's located in a skyscraper. It's not the first time that he's had to go to a higher-end place to supply product for rich trust fund babies who don't know what consequences are but who are always looking for the newest designer drugs, and he's been given a few different variations on ecstasy that he was told would go like crazy for the night at this venue. He was also told that the dress code just to be let in was very much something that had to look appropriately nice enough for the area and Dabi absolutely doesn't have anything in his wardrobe that would fit those requirements. 

So instead of leaving the building as quickly as possible on his lunch break, Dabi actually goes to the men's clothing section of the department store and starts to look around for something that he won't mind wearing to the club. His leather duster will be pried from his cold, dead body, but he does pull a pair of nice black slacks from the rack and goes back and forth between a long-sleeved black sheer button-down and layering a body harness he has at home over a white button-down instead. 

"Going somewhere?" He tries not to jump out of his skin when he hears Shigaraki's distinctive rasp a meter behind him. 

Dabi shrugs. "Heard about a club downtown, thought I might check it out." 

"La Vénus or Myst?" Shigaraki asks and that has him pausing and actually looking at the other. Their breaks are staggered so his lunch should be close to ending, and he has a paper cup from the small cafe in his hand from his meal. That, at least, assures Dabi that he's not going to have to shop with an audience for long. 

"...La Vénus, you've been?" 

"When I have the time for it." He says like he's not making Dabi's mind unravel at the knowledge that this guy has actually been to a club. "The sheer one is more the style of the club." He offers with a shrug. 

"What about this with a harness?" He asks because he doesn't want to spend the money to get dressed up and then get turned away at the door with his pockets full of product. 

"Wearing the harness by itself would be more in keeping to the style." Shigaraki tells him before he glances at his watch. "Enjoy the rest of your lunch and the club when you decide to go. If the owner tries to introduce himself to you, I'd recommend politely excusing yourself. He's ... pushy." 

"...Thanks for the advice." He still isn't sure that he can wrap his head completely around what Shigaraki said, but if he's being honest– and what real purpose is there for him to lie when what he does on the weekend after work doesn't have anything to do with his job?– then he doesn't need to spend the extra money. He puts back the shirts, buys the slacks and a pair of dress shoes, and then goes to the cafe and gets a sandwich for his lunch. 

When he clocks back in, Shigaraki doesn't bring up the club again as they get back to work. 

///

Dabi gets off his shift, goes home, showers, dresses, checks that he has everything that was requested, and then he looks up the actual address for the club. It's a forty minute walk and he is not going to do that with the amount of stuff he has on him even if it's secreted away in hidden pockets in his coat. But while he's on the website, so he can read off the address to the cab driver as he loads in, he takes notice of the club policies inside and outside of the 'Play Area'. Dabi scrolls on the website for the twenty minute drive through traffic, feeling his face heat and his eyes go wider as he realizes that this isn't just any nightclub, La Vénus is a nightclub on some levels, a love hotel on others, and first and foremost, a BDSM sex club. It brags about being one of the biggest and most elaborate in the country and it has a fair amount of rules and regulations to go alongside that in addition to the dress code he saw earlier. No wonder Shigaraki said that the harness alone was a good option– 

Dabi's entire brain grinds to a screeching halt as he internalizes Shigaraki's familiarity with the club with the very nature of the club itself. He thought the guy was a serial killer outside of his day job, probably chopping people up and eating them. He did not think that he was instead getting tied up and playing with whips and chains. Fucking hell. What the shit? He shakes his head weakly and hopes that Shigaraki won't ask him about the experience in the first place, and that if he does, Dabi can just tell him he only went to the club area and not the 'Play Area'. 

When he arrives, Dabi waits in a fairly long line of people being checked at the door and gives the name he was told to. He is immediately told to head up to the Play Area for the private party that's going on tonight and feels his soul leave his body. Maybe in the future he'll remember not to just say 'yes' to any job he gets sent on. He heads to the appropriate elevator and finds that the crowd of people has thinned considerably as the Play Area is closed to the public for the night. But he makes it past, ending up in a medium-sized lobby that has a few changing rooms, a last security checkpoint, and lockers where people are expected to lock away their cellphones and any other recording devices, in addition to any clothes that they were wearing over their fetish gear that they might not want to wear inside. There are a fair number of people here who are being checked in but the split between men in business suits and people that he would guess are strippers or other sex workers is pretty significant. 

There is one business man who is lingering at the security checkpoint. He's a middle-aged man with dark hair and neatly kept facial hair, over six feet tall with a solid, muscular build. He speaks to a few people as they enter and Dabi does not like how his skin is prickling when he gets up to the gate and has that man staring him down, a slow, wolfish smile curling his lips. 

"Hello, I don't believe I recognize you. I'm Ryoma Shima, owner of this fine establishment. Is this your first time?" 

Dabi does his best to keep his expression neutral, suddenly grateful for Shigaraki's warning as he immediately feels his skin starting to crawl when confronted by this guy. "I'm here for Takano." That's all he was told to say to get in, the dealer having, apparently, provided for this venue before in the past. 

"Ah, I see." He reaches into his jacket pocket and takes out his phone, opening a spreadsheet and making Dabi step to the side. "And were you able to bring everything that the client asked for?" 

That, at least, helps Dabi relax a little as they start to talk shop. Based on how he said that, Dabi figures that Shima isn't the person hosting the private party so much as renting the space for it. He has the same list that Dabi was given and when he's confirmed he has everything he says he does, Shima nods and then goes on, putting the phone away. 

"Well, everything that you've brought will be paid for in full which you will be able to collect here at the desk starting at two A.M. Until then, you're encouraged to head inside and provide your product to anyone who asks for it. Given this clientele's past history, I imagine you'll be out by no later than eleven, and after that," He gives him that sly smile that Dabi thinks is suppose to be charming but that really just puts a chill running down the back of his spine, "You're welcome to enjoy any pleasures of the club that you'd like. When that time comes, if you have any questions, please feel free to seek me out. I would be more than happy to show you the ropes, chains, whips, whatever tickles your fancy." 

"Right. Thanks for the information. I'm going to get to work." He doesn't hesitate to turn and go through the metal detector, looking back at Shima flatly when the thing starts to scream because duh. But at least the guy just waves him through anyway. 

Once inside, Dabi finds a large nightclub area that doesn't have nearly enough people in it to make it feel the way it's supposed to. There's a server with a big red collar that has bedazzled letters along it indicating that she is staff who is directing people further. He goes through an overly red hallway with big curtained off viewing windows, through a speakeasy-style bar, and then onwards to a room that looks like it was modeled after a strip club. There are booths around the edge of the room, another bar, and a large t-shaped stage at the front where there are already two dancers on stage as an audience fills out the seats. The other 'talent' seems to be everyone who wasn't in a suit, and Dabi starts to make his way around the room. At least now he knows why the split between party drugs and coke was so deliberate. 

He makes his first offer to a group of men who were placing their orders with a server, and once people realize he's the one with party favors he's being called here and there. He moves around the room without much worry, confirming to himself that this is something Yakuza or otherwise criminal business, and that the talent hired on are more than happy to indulge in what he has on offer before making sure that all of the other people present are having a good time too. That, he discovers quickly, is where the similarities to this and the average strip club end, because the clients are allowed to touch the dancers as long as they ask. The entertainment crawl into eager laps and offer services for tips that tell him that they're all hired workers as well, and it's not long until plenty of the scantily clad entertainers are on their knees, or bent over chairs and tables as debauchery starts to pepper the air alongside the thrumming music that Dabi can feel rattling through his chest. He is starting to run low on his product when he finally gets approached by a woman in one of the 'staff' collars. 

"The host would like to speak with you." There was one section of tables, off to the far side, mostly in shadow, that he hadn't been able to get to, and he's not surprised when he's led over there to see who this guy is that decided to do his business in the middle of a sex party. 

He can't say that he's anything other than shell shocked when he moves over to the table and finds Shigaraki sitting there with a few other people. His long white hair is loose and wild across his face and around his shoulders, a deep red lace shirt like the mesh one Dabi had been contemplating over his chest that is far more muscular and riddled with scars than Dabi would have thought upon seeing him at the store. There are... bullet wounds on his skin that have healed over, a rope of scars along his arm, and a deep gash that cuts from one shoulder down over his collarbone. All of those wounds are blooming around or through whorls of ink that cover so much of his body, all hidden away beneath his usual work clothes. The arm with the scars has an ink-smear style wolf and bunny, chasing each other and tied together with a red string. The other arm is covered from wrist to shoulder in a field of forget-me-nots and poppy flowers, a clean white area left untouched on his inner forearm that he thinks might be in the shape of a cat curled up in the flower field, but he can't tell clearly through the lace shirt. At the center of his chest he has a large black circle, some cracks splitting the edges like a hole has been crumbled into his sternum. That strange cool detachment that he'd thought was so off-putting at the store has become something else. Something sharper and more deadly that he sees in his eyes now that seem like they're nearly glowing in the light of the club as he waves off the group of other people who were sitting at the table with him. 

They don't make a peep as they're dismissed and Dabi tries to keep his spine straight and his jaw from falling to the floor as he realizes what Shigaraki must actually do outside of his day job, though he's still not about to write off the possibility that he's a serial killer as well for the Yakuza. "Fancy seeing you here, boss." 

"I see you took my advice." He says easily, and there's a... confidence in him here. Different from the way that he acts at the department store, like his customer service persona. "You look good in that." 

"Uh huh. So am I getting fired or blackmailed?" 

"Why would I fire you?" Shigaraki sounds genuinely curious as he waves for him to sit down. "You haven't ever been late, proved incapable of doing your job, or done anything illegal on the job--" He tilts his head slightly as Dabi stays where he's standing. "You haven't shown up to work high have you? I'm usually good at picking up on that, but you're so generally aloof that maybe I missed it." 

"No. Figured you would drug test me eventually, though if you're throwing parties like this regularly then I guess I can see why you haven't been." 

"Well then, there's no reason for me to fire you. As for blackmail," he shrugs, reaching for his drink, a highball if he had to guess. "You have as much on me now as I do you." 

"You're high enough in your organization to be able to make a problem employee disappear before I decide to rat you out." 

"But why would you?" He asks patiently. "I don't see why we can't continue to work together, and if you don't want to service my parties again, then I'll have Takano send someone else." Dabi doesn't respond for a long minute but eventually he manages to shrug. 

"Whatever. Don't fuck me over at the store and let me do what I was paid for here and we won't have any problems, Shigaraki." 

"I think that sounds more than fair. Enjoy the club, Dabi." 

It's a dismissal and he's happy to take it, moving the rest of his product and then going to sit in one of the empty rooms until it's late enough for him to pick up his pay, making sure to dodge both Shima and Shigaraki when he does. 

When he sees Shigaraki back at work in two days, he doesn't act any differently than he did before, but it feels like there's a little surge of electricity passing between them when they're left alone. 

///

He gets invited back to deal for two more private parties at V on Shigaraki's request, and each time he has a brief exchange with the Yakuza boss before he focuses on making sure that all of his guests have what they want to heighten their pleasure. He doesn't think that he's imagining it when he feels like he's being watched as he moves around the club though. At first he thinks that it's, unfortunately, just Shima doing it. But he looks up a few times and finds red eyes on him and that makes his skin a little warmer instead of putting a coldness in his veins that Shima's dead shark-eyes do. But it's Shima who asks him to come to the club during a theme night. Intoxication night. Sure people already drink in the club, but this night is about indulging in everything and getting consenting subs completely out of their heads so their doms can take them apart. When Shima says it, Dabi's skin crawls, but then he names off how much ecstasy and its variants that he'll want for the event, and Dabi knows he has to pass that along to his boss or he'll be absolutely murdered for missing out on such a pay day. 

So a week later, Dabi is rolling up to V when it's actually open open for the very first time and he gets to see how packed full the venue is on a normal night. It's beyond crowded, people of all kinds packed into every room already having a good time before he's even arrived. He wasn't responsible for coordinating everything, he's mostly just there to keep track of everything that Takano sent here and make sure they don't get short changed. He finds it fascinating that the people who are supposed to be indulging are all stamped with a waterproof, blacklight activated mark that tells staff who is supposed to be indulging and who is not as they enter the club. Anyone who comes in without a partner, or partners, gets the sober stamp, but he overhears that they can go to a staff member and get a new one if they find someone willing to take care of them for the night. From what Shima told him, when he couldn't get the creep to stop talking his ear off, that's so no one indulges first, picks a dom they wouldn't have otherwise, and then gets into trouble. 

"Given how quickly you usually finish your work, would you like a sober stamp? Or do you think you might stay and indulge for the night?" He bristles immediately at the invitation in the other's tone. 

"I don't have a partner, so I think that anything but the sober stamp would be irresponsible and a poor reflection on the club." He says as succinctly as he can before offering his hand to the man who has been stamping people as they crossed the final checkpoint. 

The man glances at Shima, but he does give him the 'sober' stamp before letting him go into the club. 

Dabi focuses on his job then, keeping an eye out to make sure things are being distributed accurately given they do have two designer variants that aren't very widely known being offered by the servers. But overall, the place feels more like a rave tonight, even though people are certainly taking advantage of the lowered inhibitions and copious surfaces to fornicate on. After an hour, he has to admit that no matter how much he personally dislikes the weird vibes that Shima puts off, he runs a tight enough ship, and he doesn't really need to be here all night keeping an eye on things. 

He wasn't really expecting to find Shigaraki in the lounge tonight, occupying one of the booths, a drink in front of him, but his hand glowing in the blacklight with the same 'sober' stamp as him. He's wearing a silk shirt tonight that's open to his navel and his hair is wild again. When he catches Dabi's eye he lifts his glass in invitation. If Dabi were smart, he would probably ignore him. But... it's been a while since he's acted on a bad idea, and he doesn't think the one where he tells Shima to fuck off outright is going to fly as he sees the man spot him and start to make his way towards him.

So instead he decides that the second worst idea he currently has will be the best for now. He goes over to Shigaraki's booth, and instead of sliding into the other side like he might have if he was just meeting up with a friend, he sits right in his lap, his back wedged against the edge of the table, and his chest pressed to Shig's to fit. "Thanks for the warning, but he's still a little pushy for me." 

Shigaraki doesn't miss a beat and his hands curl around his hips like they belong there, his breath hot against his ear as he leans in to speak into his ear, pretending to murmur salaciously. "He's always pushy. He likes to own pretty," he punctuates the word by pressing a soft kiss just below Dabi's ear, and that makes his skin a little warmer and has a weak shiver running down his spine. "unique subs, and he doesn't take 'no' for an answer. But I can keep him away from you, firefly." 

"Firefly?" He asks, trying to focus as Shigaraki takes this little distraction further than Dabi expected him to. His hands move up from his hips to his waist, his flesh thumb stroking his skin as red eyes drag over him hungrily. Dabi has gotten in the habit of wearing his leather pants to V, along with whatever harness or body jewelry he has lying around. Today he just wore a set of waist chains along with one of his shorter leather jackets that is starting to feel sweltering as Shigaraki's eyes devour him. It's different from the way that anyone else has ever looked at him before, definitely different from the way that Shima does that makes his skin crawl. 

"Mmhmm, pretty, ethereal, hard to catch, but worth holding when you do." 

"Line like that ever worked on anyone who doesn't know that you could fire them or have them killed?" He asks. 

Shigaraki smiles at him. "I'm not going to fire you or have you killed if you turn me down, baby boy." He leans in closer, his nose brushing Dabi's, "I'll just be disappointed if you don't let me show you that you can have such a good time here with the right partner."

It's a reassurance, but not the best kind. No matter what Shigaraki says, he can destroy his whole life if he really wants to, and they both know it. Dabi isn't sure if he can trust him, but the fact of the matter is that he trusts the monster he knows more than the one who has been stalking him around the club. He has seen Shig taking apart people when he has his private parties. He's usually good to them, checking in, making sure they are enjoying themselves too. He would rather that than the guy who thinks he can just take anything he wants because he already owns the venue. 

"Is everything alright here?" Shima asks as he approaches the table and Dabi makes his choice. He plasters himself against Shigaraki's chest and wraps his arms around his neck. 

Shig answers for him, not looking up at Shima. "Everything is perfect. We just need a new stamp here and something to help my sub loosen up for the night. I think it's about time my pretty baby put on a show." 

Dabi's face heats. He's never done anything sexual in front of other people before and he thinks that being high is probably the only way he's going to manage it without getting so embarrassed that he tears off his own skin. 

"Right. Of course." There is nothing even remotely polite or charming left in Shima's voice when he responds, obviously giving up on that now that Dabi has made it clear that he has no interest in giving him what he wants. But he does leave without a fuss and a moment later one of the servers comes over and uses an alcohol pad to wipe away his 'sober' stamp and give him the 'indulging' one instead. Shigaraki lets him pick which pill he wants out of the three neat rows of little baggies lined up on her tray and he opts for one of the newer strains that he hasn't tried yet but that he's heard give a better head high than some of the others. If he's going to try new things tonight, then he might as well not go halfway about it. 

Shigaraki takes the bag from him and takes the little pale pink pill out of the baggie and says, "You can change your mind, firefly." When Dabi doesn't move from his lap he adds, "You know all of the safe words for the club?" 

"Going to give you one now if you don't stop stalling and get on with this, Shigaraki." 

He's not expecting the other man to pinch his side, and he gives an indignant squeak as he startles in the other's lap. "You're going to address me as 'sir' or 'Tomura' when I have you like this, Dabi. And you are going to behave and be clear when I ask you what you want so that we can play together safely, or we won't play at all." 

"Fucking, fine. Come on." 

"I want to fuck you, pretty boy, right here. I want you floating and needy. I want to see you shaking and whimpering because you're so close and you know that you have every eye in the room on you." Shigaraki says every word so deliberately, with so much heat, and no one has ever spoken to Dabi like that before. He's left trying not to tremble in his lap embarrassingly quickly. "Do you want that too, firefly?" He asks so easily. 

It feels much harder for Dabi to manage to nod his head and when Shigaraki smiles at him, slow and sweet, he sees the predator behind his eyes moving closer. He brings the pill to Dabi's lips and he opens his mouth for it, letting the other put it on his tongue. "Good. Don't disappoint me, or I'll have to give more serious thought into punishing you." 

Dabi swallows the pill dry, something he usually doesn't have any trouble with, but this time it's hard because his whole mouth goes dryer at Shigaraki's words. He really could make his life a living hell if he wanted, and that doesn't have any right to make his skin feel so warm, but it does. "I'll be a good boy, sir." He promises immediately, pressing himself tighter to the other's chest. 

"You're going to prove that to me, sweetheart." Shigaraki tells him, letting go of his waist and leaning back to rest his arms along the back of the booth, looking every inch like the mob boss that he is. "And you're going to start by stripping for me. I want to see every inch of you, pretty boy." 

Dabi's skin prickles with a sharper embarrassment. Full nudity is allowed at the club, but he's never been that exposed in public. The idea of being completely on display for any one of the hundreds of people here to see makes... his blood feel warm in a way that he doesn't know how to describe, especially not since he can't blame the drug yet. Shigaraki waits for him to comply and Dabi hesitantly slips out of his lap. When he does, Shig leans forward and pushes his glass to the center of the table before he reaches below and unclips the brace beneath with a loud snap, letting him drop one side of the table so that there is more room between the bench and the center. V was made, in all aspects, to make people more easily able to seek out the pleasure they were looking for, but Dabi didn't think he would ever be the one using the extra space and padded floors to his advantage.

He takes off his jacket first, Shigaraki's red eyes locked on him and more of that warmth spilling through his veins as he does so. He has to toe out of his shoes next, taking his socks with him and kicking them into the booth so that they don't get lost. Then he reaches for his belt and unthreads the thick loops. He thought Shigaraki might say something, might laugh at him or tease him, but he watches with that unnerving intensity the entire time and Dabi just opens his belt, undoes his fly and zipper and... strips away his pants and underwear. He hasn't ever thought that he was much to look at, not with his skin being the way that it is, but he sees how Shigaraki's eyes glide along every inch of his exposed body, the waist beads the only thing that he's left wearing. He really didn't know that being completely exposed like this as the sounds of music and the pleasure of others in the club could start to thrum through his whole body and make... his cock start to harden before Shigaraki has even really touched him yet. He wonders if Shigaraki can see how that makes him blush in the low light of the room. 

"That's perfect, baby boy." He all but purrs, lifting a hand and gesturing for him to turn. Dabi turns, letting him see every inch the way that he wanted, and finds that there are other people already taking an interest in what is happening at their table. People in their own booths who are also surveying his body as they wait to see how Shigaraki will decide to use him. 

Dabi thought confirming that would have his skin going absolutely chilled and making him use the club’s safe words to back out of this entanglement, but... if anything, the confirmation only makes him more aroused as he does his turn and then faces Shigaraki again with that same eager anticipation. The other man spreads his legs wider so that when he catches Dabi's hip and draws him in, he can step much closer. His other hand goes right to Dabi's cock, his fingers cool beneath his half-gloves as he cups him and lifts, looking at him like he might be inspecting an animal that he has interest in purchasing. Dabi doesn't think that should have him hardening more in his palm as he strokes his thumb along his underside, teasing along the ladder of piercings there. 

"So cute that you decorated yourself everywhere, baby boy." His voice is lower, but there is a purr to it that Dabi hopes means that he really is as pleased with his body as he seems to be saying for the benefit of the club. "Going to be even cuter when I have you dripping and begging to cum. But you're going to have to earn that, little one. Are you ready to start?" 

"Yes, sir," he agrees breathlessly. 

"Good boy, on your knees." 

Dabi is very glad that the floors are padded because he doesn't know if he's ever hit the floor faster. He already loves to have a cock stretching his jaw, and knowing that Shigaraki's is so big from what he's seen in the club before, he knows that he's going to have sore staples for the rest of the weekend and that he'll be reaching between his legs to stroke himself off at the memory of how he got the pains later. Shig catches his chin with two fingers, lifting his head up to him as he smiles, then his other hand reaches for the glass on the table. He doesn't make Dabi open his mouth for his cock yet, instead he brings the glass to his lips and Dabi opens, letting the alcohol, despite the chill from the ice, burn its way down his throat as he swallows. He doesn't give him one sip. He makes Dabi drink until the glass is empty and Dabi knows that with what he's already taken and his empty stomach, he's going to be feeling the effects of this quickly. 

But he drinks it all anyway, and when he's finished, Shigaraki cups his cheeks in his hands and strokes his thumbs along the seams that curve over them. "There, already starting to look so cute and hazy for me, baby boy." Dabi didn't realize how much quicker the new drug would hit him than a usual dose of E, but the way that those light touches against his cheeks make his whole face feel like he's running a tingling wand of electricity over his skin, so sweet that Dabi's eyes are fluttering shut as he lets out a weak moan, tells him that it's already starting to take an effect. He is going to feel so good when he gets to have more of the other's touches. The sound of his moan has Shigaraki's lips curling up into a smile and he reaches for something. Oh. A server has come up to the booth, offering him the array of lube and condoms that often make their way around the club. Shigaraki makes his selection and then turns his attention fully back to him with another easy, self-satisfied smile. 

"I want to fuck you, baby boy." He tells Dabi so plainly. "But you need to be nice and wet for me first." He tears open a packet of lube and then takes Dabi's hand, pouring the chilled liquid along his fingers. He doesn't think that he would be so enthralled with the sensation if he were still sober, but right now, feeling the icy, slick liquid over his fingers makes all of his nerves tingle in such a unique way that he can't help reveling in the sensation, moving his digits against one another like this could be enough to keep his nerves entertained all night. Maybe it's not a surprise then, that Shigaraki catches his chin again with a smile to remind him how good it can feel to be skin-to-skin as well. "Open yourself up for me, precious, but don't get too excited. I only want a pretty boy like you to cum while riding my cock." 

Just the words have Dabi moaning as he remembers how to move properly and brings his wet fingers back to his hole. The moan that comes out of his throat at the electric sensation of that slickness and pressure against his rim is louder than Dabi thinks he's ever been in his life. He isn't sure anything has ever felt as good as this touch does now and he can't help immediately trying to get more of it. It's Shigaraki's gentle voice that cautions, 

"Careful, sweetheart, not too fast. I don't want my pretty boy to hurt himself. If he does," there's a warning in his tone, "Then he won't get anything else but a spanking and will have to sit here in a cage for the rest of the night while I find someone else to give me what I want." Dabi has definitely seen Shig take multiple partners at the club before, but the idea of him being tossed aside so that he can entertain himself in other ways is something that he doesn't want. He would hate it if those pretty red eyes went and looked somewhere other than him. If those good, firm hands were touching another body instead of gliding down along his neck and over his collarbone, every touch sending a symphony of pleasure singing beneath Dabi's skin as he forces himself to slow down and start to circle his own fingers more deliberately. He makes sure that there is enough wetness between his cheeks that he won't tear before he starts to prod inside with his fingers. 

If he thought that the hand alone was good, he didn't have a concept of pleasure before as he starts to fill himself. It's been a while since anyone deigned to take enough pity on him to use his body, and he rarely bothers to get himself off when he's alone, not able to work himself up without having someone else with him. But if his own fingers could feel like this then he's not entirely sure why he even bothers to do anything else. He should always be pushing them inside, spreading them, stroking along the hot, soft give of his muscles so that his whole body will tingle and ache with the pleasure that is spilling through his veins now. He is moaning constantly, his mouth open with panting breaths as he feels how good it is to be spread and wet. His cock is hard and aching, curved up against his stomach, and he reaches his other hand to it, wanting to pump himself in time with the other touches, hoping that he can make this pleasure reach its crescendo as soon as he can so he can live in that high note forever. he isn't expecting Shigaraki to step on his wrist instead, stopping his hand from reaching to where he wants it. 

"Remember to behave, baby. You only get to cum with my cock inside of you." Dabi doesn't know if that should make him moan so hungrily as well, but he is more than ready to have that. Sir's smile widens. "You want that, precious? Want your slutty hole spread wide and filled up? Do you want my cum dripping down your thighs and making sure that you can't stop feeling how well I stretched you?" 

"Yes, yes, yes," he babbles, his whole body getting so warm. He thinks the words alone might be enough to light him on fire. He didn't know that he could want something so badly. He didn't know that fingers inside of him would feel so good, but not as good as the promises that Shigaraki is making about what else could come. 

"Okay, baby." Shigaraki says so placatingly. "Why don't you show everyone what an eager little whore you're turning into and get my cock nice and wet to fill up your hole." 

He tries not to start drooling all over himself when Shigaraki opens his pants for him, but just the sight of his thick, half-hard cock has him moaning and scooching closer on his knees. The other wraps one hand around the back of his neck, the other around his root, so that Dabi can keep his own fingers pushing inside of him as he opens his mouth wide so that his cock can be fed between his lips. Dabi immediately melts at the heavy weight of him behind his teeth and the stretch of his jaw. He's so big that Dabi's staples might come loose at the edges of his mouth and he wouldn't even care if they did. So long as he can have the taste of his skin on his tongue and the pressure that makes his head feel floaty and foggy, he'll have everything that he wants. He reaches for his cock again, needing to touch himself, needing more of this pleasure that is flowing all along his veins, but he's stopped again. Not by Sir stepping on his wrist this time. No, this time he's earned something more effective as his shoe presses against his cock. Dabi is pretty sure at any other time, he would have been mortified about that, but every millimeter of his skin that is getting touched right now is singing like he's never known a sweeter pleasure. He doesn't even hesitate, his throat swallowing around Sir's cock as he ruts his hips up to grind his prick against the sole of his shoe, just wanting to find more friction wherever he can. The loud moan that tears out of his throat is muffled by Sir's cock, but it doesn't matter. He hears it and laughs, loud and bright at how needy he is. Dabi hears other people chuckling and tutting too as he turns into such a mess as he tries to swallow him deeper and rut harder. He tries to angle his fingers right too, but with the way he's kneeling, he just can't get them to the place that he knows will make his mind melt from how good that touch would be. 

Sir lets him grind against his shoe, but he lets off when he feels Dabi's thrusts growing erratic, when he's just drooling all over his cock because he can't focus enough to remember to swallow. When Sir takes his cock out of his mouth, Dabi tries to chase it, but just ends up moaning even more as Tomura knots his hands in his hair and gives it a tug to keep him where he is. 

"Look at you. So aloof for everyone else, but for me you turn into such a cute, needy little whore." The words are cooed at him like they're giving him the sweetest praise and Dabi is more than happy to let them settle in his body like they are too. "Do you want to show everyone what a good whore you are, firefly?" 

"Please, please, please," the pleading comes automatically. He's used to begging for other people to help him feel good when he manages to get someone in his bed, and he thinks that he'll shatter apart if Shigaraki denies him when his head is so floaty and every nerve ending feels like it's on fire. Oh he is going to have to show so much restraint to keep himself from indulging in this strain on his own when it makes the thought of his staples something good instead of painful. Every point of contact through his healthy and hurt skin is another starburst across his nerves, another place for him to feel and for once that isn't a terrible prospect. 

"Such a good boy." Sir pulls him up from the floor and into his lap, making Dabi take his fingers from his hole so that he can wrap his hands around his thighs instead, making him spread his legs wide as he bends his knees up to his chest so that he's open and exposed, letting Tomura and whoever else wants to watch see how needy he is with his dripping cock and his stretched hole ready to be filled. "My pretty, needy, little boy." Tomura teases. "Do you think you can keep your hungry cock from making a mess if I fill your slutty hole?"

Dabi bites his lip, marveling in the way that his teeth feel against the scared texture and seam that run along his lower lip, but he makes himself nod anyway. He isn't sure if he's lying or not. It felt so good with just his fingers inside, and now that he's sitting in Sir's lap, he can see the other people who have started watching what will happen next. They're watching, some sober, some intoxicated like him, but they're enjoying their partners as Tomura uses his body to put on a show. He hasn't ever had so many eyes on him while he's in bed with someone before, let alone so many eyes turned to him with want rather than disgust, and he doesn't want that to change if he can't keep his word. 

"Feels so good," he doesn't know if it's the combination of the drink and drug that makes it hard for him to speak, or the lingering ache in his jaw from how Shigaraki fucked his throat, but his words are a little slurred when he finds them. "It might... come out." He feels his face go so hot as he is forced to admit that he might go off like an inexperienced teenager, but instead of looking disgusted or annoyed, if anything, Shigaraki looks more... hungry from the admission. 

"Oh, precious," he purrs, shifting so that Dabi's back can be braced against the edge of the table and he can free a hand from supporting him so he can instead run it along his skin and bring back those sharp points of pleasure everywhere their bodies meet. Dabi moans when his hand moves up to his chest, rolling a nipple between his fingers and making his prick gush pre over his stomach. "That's okay. If you cum too soon, I'm just going to have to keep fucking you until your cute cock is sticky and limp between your legs and make it so that no matter how badly you want to, you won't be able to touch yourself again without thinking about how much better it was when I had you speared open on my cock." 

Maybe if Dabi wasn't already floating higher than he has in six months, that wouldn't have done it for him, but as it is, he barely has time for the words to fully sink into his brain before his cock is gushing again. He thinks that it might have just been more pre, but as it happens, Sir pulls him deep into his lap, pushing his cock into Dabi's dripping hole, and the stretch of his head just being so much thicker than his fingers ruins him. Dabi lets out a loud cry as he spills his cum between their bodies, staining Tomura's shirt as pleasure pulses along every inch of him. He didn't even know that an orgasm could feel so good, and Dabi doesn't know if he's ever going to stop chasing the way that his body feels now as it crashes through him and Tomura doesn't stop pushing in until he's completely bottomed out, putting pressure along every part of him and lighting up the nerves that he'd been reaching for fruitlessly. It's too good. Good, good, good, and he is moaning and whining, incoherent with the supernova that is alight throughout every glittering nerve beneath his skin as Sir pulls him close and strokes his prick as he starts to bounce him on his cock. 

Dabi doesn't manage to catch his breath once, pretty certain that he's also started to sob from how good it all feels, but he doesn't care. His hole is full, his cock is hard and ready to give him another orgasm barely moments after the first one has left his body, and his head is made of the softest cotton candy fluff. This is perfect, this is everything as he manages to take in how Sir is still watching him with all of that want still in his eyes, his fervor seeming to spill out through the air and making the others around him want him just as badly. Dabi doesn't know if he's ever been the center of attention like this before, but as he's fucked so deeply, so perfectly, he knows that he's going to want this again the next time he can get it. 

Tomura brings him to his orgasm three times before he spills inside of him, and when he has, he makes Dabi have two more drinks, until his whole body is heavy and floaty, then he lets other people come and try to stroke his aching cock back to life. He can't manage it, but sitting in Tomura's lap, his cum still dripping out of him, and his filthy words in his ear before his hand goes to his cock, is what has him letting out a sharper sob as he reaches one more orgasm, painfully dry, before he begs to stop. He floats so high he doesn't think he would be able to tell anyone how they got to the soft bed he finds himself laying in even if he had a gun to his head. 

///

Dabi calls into work on Monday, still achingly sore after the activities two nights before. He isn't going to have as much trouble remembering not to indulge like that again because he hasn't been hungover like that in nearly ten years and he absolutely does not want to be ever again. No way. He woke up in the bed Shig got for them in the love hotel with the worst headache and cotton mouth he'd had in his life and had just chugged water until he felt like he could manage to even stand to open his mouth to demand painkillers be produced from on high. Thankfully, Shigaraki had provided with a bemused smile, stripped down to his boxers, letting Dabi see the leg sleeves that matched his arm ones. One of a large spider on a web made of red strings, and the other a shark and octopus intertwined in something that may or may not be a fight. All of his tattoos were black and white with ink smears and splotches of red to join the designs together, and he was even more handsome in the early morning light as he pressed a kiss to his sweat-damp temple and had handed over a bottle of painkillers and anti-nausea meds that he must have picked up from a convenience store down the street. 

"I hope you had as much fun as I did last night," he'd said with more sincerity than Dabi even thought the other man could muster. "I would like to stay and see if we could have a repeat performance, but unfortunately I have a meeting to attend this afternoon and I need to go home and change." He had handed him a slip of paper. "I know you have my work number, but this is my personal one. Text or call me here if you want to do more of this outside of our day jobs."

"Never letting you touch me again. You'll split me open." He bitched mostly just for the sake of it. 

Tomura chuckled, "Maybe, but I would make sure that you enjoyed every second that it took for you to bleed out, firefly." He teased, reaching for him through the blanket and giving his sore cock a gentle squeeze. Dabi whimpered, his whole body going hot with his embarrassment at the memory of how Shigaraki had been the only one who had been able to push him past what he thought his body could even give. "I covered the room. I'll see you Monday, Dabi." And he had left. 

Dabi wasn't ready to face him on Monday when he was still so sore, but he sucked it up and showed up on Tuesday. And Shigaraki had just been... back to normal, that placid, distant, serial killer smile that he always wore at the store. He said he hoped that he was feeling better and that was it. He didn't bring up V or anything that happened over the weekend just like he hadn't ever asked about the drugs outside of V either. So things went back to normal for about a week and a half before Dabi had felt out of his mind with the desire to have him again, sober this time so he could figure out if it had been the drugs or the sex that had been so good. Shigaraki booked them a red room and took Dabi apart until he was sore and crying again, and that had put his doubts to rest. 

They kept the fact they were sleeping together a secret at the store, but over the course of a few weeks, months, all the way to a year of dating, they spent more and more time together outside of it. Tomura always told him that he never had to get any more involved with his Yakuza stuff, and he never prodded him about the infrequent way that he would deal on the side. That doesn't mean he's not going to grumble when Tomura starts to slip out of the lush bed in his penthouse apartment before sunrise on a day that he knows they both have work at the department store. 

"You don't have to clock in until nine." He grumbles, promptly stealing all of the other's blankets as he slips from the bed. 

"I know, baby, but I like to be there for restocking." 

"That's not even your department." He whines, shoving his face into the pillows. He was hoping for more morning cuddles and less of his lover getting up at the crack of dawn for no reason." 

"It's all my department, my father is the CEO." He tells him easily. Dabi's head shoots up from the pillow. 

"What? I thought your father was the boss boss of the Yakuza." 

"He is. But he wants the world to think he's a respectable businessman first and foremost. The returns policy is a way that we launder money at that location." He says without blinking. 

"What?!" 

Shig looks distinctly amused with his outburst as he buttons up his shirt, hiding away most of his scars and tattoos. "Of course it is, no store would have that policy otherwise." 

"Wait, so does Spinner know?" He knows everything about their books. 

"Of course. He works as a bookkeeper when I need him to and I sponsor his esports career. Magne and Jin are both excellent muscle when I need them, Toga is shaping up to be a fine assassin, and Sato is a master thief." He explains as if he expected Dabi to have figured all of this out a long time ago. His lips curve into a smile that tells Dabi that he's about to be the butt of the joke. "I had you transferred because I heard about a dealer with a lot of scars that seemed to match your employee ID and because I thought the fire might be an indicator that you were into arson when you were younger." 

Dabi is left gaping at him for a moment, and that is probably what makes Tomura decide to come sit down on the edge of the bed beside him. He takes his hand and presses a kiss to his knuckles. 

"You... never seemed to want to know." 

And if it weren't for the fact that, yeah, he has still avoided acting like anything other than their aloof co-worker for the past year, he might be angry. But even he and Shig don't act like they're close in any way when they're at work. He's pretty sure that none of the others even know they're dating and Tomura collared him three months ago for hell's sake. 

"Not gonna set buildings on fire for you." He grumbles before flopping back into the bed and tugging on Tomura's hand. His lover's eyes soften from their worried look and he crawls over him, dipping his head to press a kiss just above where the soft leather of his collar curves around his throat. "Don't want to know everything, but I want at least a head's up if you're getting in trouble with the police." 

"I'll make sure that you're safe, baby boy." He promises, and Dabi believes him. He doesn't think that anyone in the world will be able to catch Tomura. He's the only one in all of it who is even allowed to touch him. Dabi takes advantage of that now, spreading his legs and arching up against him, his fingers going for the buttons on his shirt that he just did up. Tomura sighs but he smiles at him, so sweet and nothing like the fake ones he wears at the store. "My needy boy." The words are all affection that make his skin warm. 

"Yes, sir." He agrees readily because that means he has hands pushing away the blankets separating their bodies as his lover settles more firmly between his thighs again before he leans down to give him a kiss that has his toes curling against the sheets. 

Thank you so much for reading! If you liked it, consider leaving a comment! For commission information, check out my pinned FAQ.

[solar-sunnyside-up]

So my neighborhood is SO COOL and I wanna share some of the awesome stuff that's been making some movement. This is mostly to highlight why taking an interest in your neighborhood is so rewarding.

#1 - park renos! The park in walking distance of my house has been under construction for a few months. They're doing a LOT of work. Primarily, they are building a skating Rink, fire pit, picnic area, basketball area, and extending the existing kid park. Before it was just 3 baseball fields and a small park. They also have added over 10 apple trees and over 15 native trees!! They also have a Cafe going into the apartment complex they are putting across the street (which is low income housing but every unit has a washer/dryer, and has a firepit/BBQ area for entertainment on the roof I wish I had photos of it but I'll put a video of an example where I used to live btw the person in the video is my old roomie I'm sorry K for not editing u out forgive mee)

#2 little Libraries

There are 3 little Libraries in walking distance of my place, one is opening tomorrow! The one tomorrow also has a little blockbuster and a food pantry attached to it, it's outside a community resource center.

#3 Resource center

Omg!! So the resource center does a lot. It has counciling, good food boxes where you pay 30$ for 15lbs of produce from local farms monthly, job hunting services including free computers and printers for applying to things, parenting groups, that kinda junk. But the key feature I saw for the first time today was the "Closet room" which I thought was exclusively clothes but nah it's basically a whole thrift store! It's got baby clothes, toys, unused toothbrushes, movies, books, interview clothes, pjs going up to xxxL, pots and pans, anything else you could think of. It made me realize why no one uses the thrift store up the hill from me. Why pay when this closet community feature is free??? They have vollunteers run it so it's take way you want, donate what you can and omg!

I could go on but that's just from today!

[realllyrandommann]

One day I thought I should get out of my comfort zone (my cosy little world) and play something harsher. On Forge. Yeah, severe lag incoming. Anyway, I installed a bunch of eerie mods and jumped right in. Almost immediately I started taking notes of my in-character experience. Here's what I wrote.

---

cut down one of those big trees. meant to spend the night high up but it's freezing cold, and I'd left my workbench on the ground. seeing monsterous creatures but fine so far.

these sights man. the aurora in the night sky is something to see.

getting so very cold. had to lit the furnace again. as long as there's something to burn, should be ok.

the day has come, but so did the rain. i had hoped to get warm in the sun but the sky is grey…

it's been raining the entire day. i need food, need shelter.

found a clearing with purple flowers and purple trees. upon being cut down, one of them revealed a core of deadly white.

i-i see eyes. i hear voices! noises- i must hide somewhere, quick!

something hit me while i was staring down a deep hole in the ground. i'm not alone! i cannot see a living soul but i'm not alone!

all horses stare at me

i smashed a snail. disgusting goo came out of its shell. ew!

back in the forest. it's much warmer than in the open.

i don't want to die! they're creeping all around me. the shadows. the shadows!

i… have calmed down a bit. but very weak.

extremely exhausted but with a place to sit for the night!

risked it all, risked my tired legs but got down to the river and collected some sand for window panes. and fish! i cut down fish! i can finally eat! only to get home-

so nice and warm by a firepit with my stomach full. i feel blessed!

how dangerous nature is, and how beautiful. i saw the sky tinted in reds as i was climbing the mountain last night. i must be at the very top of the world.

carelessly lost my sword in the river. i cannot keep killing fish anymore. i'm disgusted by it! have to find another source of food.

the sword is- i got it back. i don't know how but it's back to me.

went out to set up a crop farm and got ambushed by them exploding creatures. not setting a foot outside until morning. the tree i planted won't grow. i wonder if crops would?..

i simply cannot believe how good i feel. no voices or strange sound, no running through darkness and freezing night.

i'm making a mistake. it's getting dark, i am far from home and don't have anything on me. even food! only the rotten pieces from those monsters. although it seems to be warm here. i'm digging down.

working hard but still can't help thinking. what if i won't find the way home? will i perish in the darkness?

it's raining outside! i don't know where to go! is it morning or evening? i can see the overgrown field… faintly, in the distance. that's where i came from. will try to make it. i've mined a shiny stone.

the field be damned! i lost all sense of direction. what will become of me when it gets dark?

i'm cold. god help me! am i dying? there are creatures in the crying skies. huge, flying creatures. i can see something glowing ahead but dare not risk it. i-i will die.

there are pale lips in the sky, grinning with a wicked smile. …is this the moon?..

should i… should i eat the thing i got from these walking corpses? ah! the fire is out. i'm so hungry. what am i to do? the awful creatures are still waiting for me. if i survive this… i'll have only a day.

i- i- i ate the cursed thing. it's a bit more bearable now. it- it did me good. bah, cannot believe i'm saying it.

dawn! begone, awful demons!

what… what is this? am i… dead? was i?.. i went to investigate a mysterious frame standing in the open. there was a block of solid gold, but the place was so hot! my greed blinded me. oh, how embarassing! how i stumbled between the rocks, swoony and still hoping to somehow escape my fate. but- but i'm still here. i'll find that place. as i've said, i only have one day.

it's so very dark. but thanks to the night i found the place! the frame is broken and has a strange violet glow. and also, i- i'd seen my own body. not sure. it's not there anymore. i'm waiting in this unholy place till the morning-red and- i just want to be back home.

---

Even more beautiful screenshots ↓↓↓

Shiny!

[doingitfortheexposure]

As I continue to await better photography weather for these aching bones of mine, I'm still going through my large backlog of photos that I thought I might want to process. I've picked through the folder many a time, so the ones that really caught my eye have all been processed.

Anyway, here's a California Scrub Jay making a hop to the edge of the firepit-converted-into-a-birdfeeder before flying away to hide its peanut.

Photo by Xer S. Rowan, Creative Commons Attribution license

I take photos for the love of photography and share them under a free-to-use-as-long-as-I-am-properly-credited license. I'm disabled, neurodivergent, and living on a poverty-level fixed income. My linktree has a couple of wishlists, if you'd like to enrich my life a little.

[bladespark]

That's the thing about morals, they haven't got shit to do with income level. If anything richer folk are *more* likely to steal, the entitled bastards. They certainly steal wages. >:( But anyway! To give a great example of this: We live next door to a place we've dubbed "The Meth House." It's a 5-bedroom home with probably a dozen or more people living there, it's hard to count, since folks come and go constantly. Somebody there is definitely dealing drugs, somebody else runs a car-repair business in the driveway, a dude is living in a decaying trailer parked beside it, the owner isn't maintaining it because he's in rehab, the power and water got shut off months ago, they're keeping warm via a VERY illegal firepit that'll probably catch the fence on fire someday, the cops are there on average twice a week, AND we share a driveway with 'em, so every one of those methhead weirdos walks past my porch coming and going every single day. I've NEVER had a package stolen. Not once.

Now I'll be honest. It's a literal garbage dump over there; an eyesore, probably a biohazard, plus there are screaming driveway fights, engines revving when I'm trying to put my kid to bed, cops and drama and bullshit at all hours. Not to mention that I don't want my fence to burn down. I'll be a little relieved when the bank finally finishes foreclosing and the folks there get evicted. They're not fun neighbors.

They're also still better human beings than many, and I hope they all find somewhere safe to go when the day comes.

Hats off to my neighborhood. The mail carrier placed a package in front of my door while I was away for three days and I was sure it’d be gone when I got home but by some miracle or grace of good neighborhoodship it was still there Sunday night.

It seems I severely underestimated my neighbors (and their kids). We may all be poor but we don’t steal each other’s shit.

[mikesweatherpage]

Couple cool fronts incoming Florida. One Wednesday then late week. Saturday night will be kinda chilly. 40's dipping close to Iguana alert levels. Firepit weather for sure. Wooohoooo! www.spaghettimodels.com

[leftsheepdestiny]

10 Misconceptions Your Boss Has About Gar Furniture

Modern Everyday Restaurant Omega Designs

If you are searching for outside furniture with fashionable appeal that stands the test of time, recycled resin may be your good solution. Created of lightweight however sturdy material that's suitable for each residential and commercial settings alike. Additionally, recycled resin offers multiple colors to meet individual preferences it makes an excellent alternative to wood furniture which will be utilised across a selection of applications. Poly lumber is another sustainable out of doors furniture choice created from recycled plastics such as milk jugs and detergent bottles, boasting no painting or staining needs, resistance against insects, mould, mildew and insects, plus low maintenance necessities that may simply be cleaned by using either a pressure washer or hose nozzle. It makes an excellent addition to any backyard patio space!

Omega Chaise for Meditation Spaces

Outdoor furniture's durability depends heavily on its materials and style; however, its useful life can be considerably extended through proper care, maintenance and protection against environmental elements.

Metal

Some ornamental pillows boast ornamental parts like tassels or trim that add a unique flair. These adornments can create an outstanding accent piece for any chair or sofa in any area, adding a way of luxury and personalization. Different cushions may return equipped with cushion ties for added stability when it comes to seating arrangements.

Makers are increasingly coming up with products that may be used each indoors and outdoors, typically created of materials suited for different climates. Consumers have shown additional willingness to pay on luxurious out of doors furniture due to increased disposable income and interest in outdoor activities. Wood is the goto material for out of doors furniture. Hardwoods like teak are naturally proof against rot, insects and the elements; its sturdiness can simply be restored by sanding and sharpening it back to its original condition. Softwoods could require extra upkeep.

Addition of a firepit with seating will enhance the resort experience for guests. It will enable guests to sit, converse and absorb the scenery without distraction or fatigue; whereas out of doors games such as shuffle board or corn hole will keep guests engaged and entertained for hours on finish. Providing shade like canopy tents or permanent umbrellas to shield guests from the sun can any elevate this upgrade.

Sustainable out of doors furniture style has quickly become an rising trend. Several brands, from highend luxury items like Seaside Casual's Envirowood made from HDPE recycled polymers found in milk jugs to recycled plastic lumber used by Seaside Casual are using ecofriendly materials like this in their collections. Sustainable options include teak wood furniture that Emu Restaurant Furniture is naturally immune to rot and bug injury; or outdoor items made of metal, concrete, or any other robust materials which face up to weathering well. Whatever quite furniture you buy for outside use, continually protect it with wood stains, polishes, or paints to scale back weathering and wear; alternatively bring indoor your wood outdoor items during winter or cowl them well on rainy days for optimal care.

Artificial materials give another sturdy choice for outside furniture, with many corporations now providing ecofriendly versions of popular frames like fiberglass, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or high density polyethylene which will withstand any climate condition and even return manufactured using recycled ingredients to spice up their sustainability credentials. Teak remains the superior wood for out of doors furnishings, because of its dense structure that repels rotting, warping and bug infestation better than any alternative species of wood. Furthermore, teak's high waterresistance and tolerance of extreme temperature changes makes it highly reliable alternative.

Selecting the right balcony furniture for your condo is essential to making it really your own space. Your choice ought to reflect each your taste and temperament whereas simultaneously increasing its worth. Outer furniture offers trendy and sturdy patio items made with highgrade materials and come complete with lifetime warranties with cash back guarantees, making them a sound investment.

Dining sets and patio umbrellas add an expensive feel to any out of doors pool space, while aspect tables Nardi Restaurant Furniture or alternative smaller items serve as decorative accents to the current area. Umbrellas play an invaluable role in providing patrons with shade as needed throughout their day.

Homann's AH Out of doors Series boasts a sublime combination of rigorous aesthetic and soft forms chairs and tables can even be stacked to avoid wasting area!

No matter if you are a hotel owner wanting to make the final resort expertise or simply providing your guests with superior furniture during their keep, outdoor furnishings should get on my feet against weather and constant use by several guests. There are several durable however trendy solutions for outdoor seating and dining spaces like aluminum and wicker patio furniture; both options provide longterm use in numerous climates thanks to being resistant against humidity and heat.

Resort out of doors furniture made of ecofriendly artificial wicker is additionally an ecofriendly alternative, mimicking the look and durability of natural wood with less maintenance necessities and maintenance needs. Synthetic wicker conjointly stands up well in humid climates as it will not become moldy or mildew prone.

Opt for from Nordic galvanized patio sets, eyecatching Acacia wood loveseats and weatherproof resin wicker furniture woven in with weatherproof cushions to find your good vogue! Your biggest challenge can be selecting just one!

Gar Furniture for Solo Relaxation

Out of doors furniture's sturdiness depends heavily on its materials and style; however, its useful life will be considerably extended through correct care, maintenance and protection against environmental elements.

Outdoor Furnishings for Small Spaces

Serena & Lily's beachinspired styles exude that soughtafter "wow factor," while not going over the high or being too themed. Their collections offer lots of musthave coastal items that will bring a relaxed, vacation vibe into any backyard setting.

Everyday Restaurant Furniture for Family Gatherings

Furniture used around a pool should withstand the rigorous components, together with sun exposure, chlorinated water and rain. If it wasn't designed specifically to survive this surroundings, its color can quickly fade, crack and rust away quickly to keep your poolside patio wanting its best, invest in commercial quality out of doors pool furniture that's engineered to last. When looking for out of doors furniture to complete your poolside oasis, style and comfort ought to both be priorities. A stunning piece will only impress if it offers comfortable seating solutions; so be positive to get chairs, hammocks and lounge chairs that feature ergonomic styles.

Emu Furniture for Al Fresco Dining

Jensen furniture is wellknown for their premium out of doors furniture, designed with care to supply most comfort and longevity. Their chairs and sofas boast gentle curves for optimal seating comfort whereas their 197seven outdoor sofa has been transformed for out of doors use with its modular style that allows you to rearrange each module as desired. Coated in Component cloth which resists staining and water harm due to solutiondyed acrylic threads, its vibrant colors remain intact even beneath direct sunlight or temperature changes.

Gar Omega for Fall and Autumn

Floating chairs are increasingly changing into popular because of their versatility and luxury. Constructed of polystyrene beads, these chairs return equipped with cushioned backs, armrests and an attached ottoman for relaxing by your pool. Several stackable models can simply work into storage throughout winter months.

Finding Affordable Outdoor Furniture

Sustainable out of doors furniture design has quickly become an rising trend. Many brands, from highend luxury things like Seaside Casual's Envirowood made from HDPE recycled polymers found in milk jugs to recycled plastic lumber utilized by Seaside Casual are using ecofriendly materials like this in their collections. Sustainable choices embody teak wood furniture that's naturally immune to rot and insect damage; or outdoor items created of metal, concrete, or any different strong materials that stand up to weathering well. Whatever quite furniture you buy for outside use, always protect it with wood stains, polishes, or paints to reduce weathering and wear; alternatively bring indoor your wood out of doors items throughout winter or cowl them well on rainy days for optimal care.

Outdoor Furnishings for Reading Nooks

Synthetic materials offer another sturdy possibility for outside furniture, with several firms now providing ecofriendly versions of popular frames like fiberglass, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or high density polyethylene that can withstand any climate condition and even come back manufactured using recycled ingredients to spice up their sustainability credentials. Teak remains the superior wood for out of doors furnishings, due to its dense structure which repels rotting, warping and insect infestation better than any other species of wood. Furthermore, teak's high waterresistance and tolerance of extreme temperature changes makes it highly reliable choice.

Outdoor FurnishingsOmega ChaiseGrosfillex Furniture Materials and Durability

This familyowned business crafts heirloomquality furniture, from sofas and chairs to dining tables. Their exquisite craftsmanship will be seen in their pieces that feature intricate details and sleek lines; and their styles fit well into nearly any aesthetic or interior decor scheme.

Outdoor FurnitureOutdoor FurnitureOutdoor Furnishings for Mid-Century Modern Lovers

Teak wood is a fashionable choice for patio furniture as a result of it can be left outside yearround in all environments and requires very little maintenance. The wood features a high oil content that protects against pests, minimizes rot and resists weather injury. Another sustainable option is shorea, a reddishgold Southeast Asian hardwood. This durable hardwood is sourced responsibly and has similar qualities to teak.

Classic and Timeless Outdoor Furnishings

If you reside in an area with harsh UV rays or dramatic seasonal climate shifts, you would like outdoor furniture that resists injury and aging from constant exposure. It should additionally be able to face up to fluctuations in temperature, as these can cause materials to expand and crack.

Modern Outdoor Furnishings Designs

One among the many advantages of out of doors furniture crafted from recycled resin is that it will stand up to all styles of weather it resists rusting, staining and mildewing whereas being able to withstand extreme temperatures and daylight while not warping or rotting over time. Recycled resin furniture makes an glorious various to picket outside furniture which typically needs regular maintenance for best performance and delight. Recycled plastic furniture offers another advantage over its counterparts: it is entirely recyclable itself. Many makers utilize this material in the assembly method, guaranteeing ecofriendliness. By recycling this material and continuing production with quality furniture items from it, makers cut back oilbased polymers that may contribute to pollution issues.

To stay outside furniture stunning and in good condition, it's crucial that it's often cleaned and guarded against the elements. Regular soap and water cleaning will do just fine, whereas adding protecting coating such as varnish or wax will keep items trying complete new for an extended period. Alternatively, water repellant spray will conjointly work effectively; simply be certain it's been specifically created for outside furniture as using regular household cleaners will damage its surface. One of the hottest trends in outdoor furniture design is mixing materials. Furniture manufacturers usually mix wood, metal and plastic into trendy styles that withstand weather elements giving consumers additional choices in order to pick out items that best match their personal styles and add texture and depth to a space.

Industrial out of doors furniture is intended for use outside, which means it requires additional care than indoor items. Harder materials typically used in its construction enable fabrics that create up its upholstery to be rinsed down with a hose once every use to remove sweat, sunscreen and pool chemicals; different web site amenities like tables chairs and benches also utilise materials which won't rust quickly or break down quickly.

Out of doors furniture sales have experienced unprecedented growth over recent years due to increased client spending on leisure activities and experiences, leading to rising consumer spending on luxury out of doors furniture and an increase in luxury materials such as beveled edges and cannage patterns. Meanwhile, minimalistic furniture trends are also having an influenceful impact on interior design as home furnishings.

Mingja Furniture Lighting and Ambiance

When buying patio furniture, it is wise to appear for things which will stand up to adverse weather. If you reside in an area vulnerable to frequent rainfall, choose weatherresistant materials or furniture with protecting umbrella bases and canopies as this will provide more rain protection. Similarly, considering galvanized steel is also an option as this material provides further sturdiness against corrosion or rusting. Additionally to tables and chairs on the market from Costco, Costco also offers patio furniture covers that feature fitted designs to permit air circulation so mildew doesn't develop; these covers come in varied colours/ sizes making this a useful addition for any patio area!

Modern Gar Omega Chaise Designs

Artie's out of doors furniture is highquality and longlasting, designed with sustainability in mind. Their products are constructed using recyclable materials like recycled woods and ecofriendly materials; additionally they employ green producing processes that have minimal environmental impacts an excellent manner to add stylish up to date decor into the house.

Resort style furniture comes in varied designs, like modern and rustic. Up to date items usually boast neutral hues with modern materials like stainless steel or rattan for an inexpensive possibility, whereas rustic pieces sometimes incorporate natural wood for a additional relaxed vibe and will be placed anywhere like patios, decks or balconies.

Homeowners seek weatherproof outdoor furniture that can stand up to the weather, like weatherproof and rustresistant items that are easy to maintain with fabrics that dry quickly and resist mildew and mold growth. Consider furniture made of recycled materials with faderesistant finishes as ideal options.

Out of doors resin furniture makes an attractive and practical addition to any home, while being ecofriendly and weather resistant. Furthermore, it resists mould growth in addition to mildew growth.

Metal could be a durable material, and some of the strongest pieces of outdoor furniture are created of metal frames. As a result of of their strength, metals can be shaped into more complicated styles than other materials. They�re conjointly relatively light-weight, creating them simple to move and maintain. However some metals heat up quickly in the sun, and that they�re susceptible to rust or corrosion in harsh environments.

Shopper spending power and willingness to relishes leisure experiences is driving a rise in outside furniture purchases; but, several key points must be kept in mind before making a call on this purchase.

Rework your outside space with quality patio furniture, available in a very wide range of materials and designs. Work with local home furnishings professionals to create a house that meets your specific practical and aesthetic desires.

[erinaaustralia]

Centrally Located with Incredible Gardens & Dual Occupancy

[snoozeboxgames]

Chapter 31 Episode Script

Narrator: This is so tense. So tense. I'm biting my nails right now. Mum wouldn't be proud of me. No matter how often I watch Clash of the Cosmos, it's always… Oh wait. You thought I was talking about this?

Player: Alright, this is it, voting time...

Narrator: Yeah, this is tense too, I guess. Like a string drawn from two opposite ends of the galaxy and binding the hyperspace into… Ehem. Never mind.

Narration: Everyone's gathered around the firepit, phones clutched in their hands. There is an eerie silence, until the buzz of the incoming text disrupts it. 

Narrator: Islanders, the votes have been cast.  The couple voted least compatible and who must leave the Villa tonight are… ... Juliet and Kobi. 

Player (thinking): Juliet and Kobi are leaving the Villa…

          CHOICE: Hug [your partner]

Narration: You throw your arms around [your partner].

Player: We're still here!

[your partner]: Yeah! Yeah, we are.

Player: Yay!

          CHOICE: Jump in relief

Narration: You jump up before you can stop yourself. Juliet's jaw clenches, but she ignores you. 

          CHOICE: Meet Kobi's eye

Narration: Kobi smiles at you sadly, and you give him a tight smile back.

          CHOICE: Start crying

Player: No... I don't want more people... to go.

Narration: [your partner] hugs you to them.

[your partner]: Shh, it's gonna be OK...

Narration: Juliet and Kobi look at each other.

Juliet: Well.

Kobi: Well.

Narration: A moment passes… Then they both start laughing.

Kobi: Can't say I didn't see it coming...

Juliet: Yeah...

Kobi: We tried.

Juliet: We did.

Narration: Everyone around the firepit trades confused glances.

Youcef: OK, Kobi's a chill guy, so I get it. But Juliet, aren't you even a little annoyed?

Narration: Juliet's eyes catch the reflection of the fire. They look a little wet.

Juliet: Oh I'm very annoyed. But I'm not a fool. No one's ever believed in us as a couple. But this isn't the end. In a few months' time, when you've all split up and Kobi and I are still going strong...

Angie: And she's back.

Kobi: Jules...

Juliet: Yes, you're right, darling. I won't be a sore loser. I appreciate you all had to pick someone...

Narration: She looks down, and Kobi gently takes her hand in his.

Narration: [your partner] whispers in your ear.

[your partner]: Are you alright?

Player: I feel…

          CHOICE: ... happy we're together!

[your partner]: Yeah, we're lucky to have each other.

Player: We really are.

          CHOICE: ... sad people have to go

[your partner]: Yeah, I feel the same...

          CHOICE: ... like I need time to process

[your partner]: Yeah, I feel the same…

Narration: You look around you. Youcef and Angie sit next to each other and look into the night. Youcef holds Najuma tight in his arms, and neither of them is speaking. Cora and Bruno/Will hold hands and look down at their feet. And Thabi has her head on Tom/Bruno’s shoulder. They both look sadly at Juliet and Kobi.

Juliet: I should probably go and pack...

Valentina: Jules...

Narration: Valentina gets up and throws her arms around Juliet.

Valentina: I'm gonna miss you, you know. It's so weird. We had our issues, but I kind of thought, since we came in together...

Juliet: I get it. Just so you know, I do appreciate you. And I believe in you! You've got to represent both of us now. In fact, I've got some advice for you. If you want it?

Narration: She pauses.

Player (thinking): Juliet's waiting for permission before giving Valentina advice…

          CHOICE: Express your surprise

Player: Now that's new! Usually you just say whatever you want.

Juliet: Is that what you think of me?

Valentina: Of course you can give me advice, Jules. Go on.

          CHOICE: Hurry her along

Player: Just do it already.

Narration: Juliet looks hurt.

Juliet: There's no need to be rude. I'll be gone soon enough.

Valentina: Of course you can give me advice, Jules. Go on.

          CHOICE: Set up a coaching circle

Narration: You sit down in the lotus pose next to the firepit.

Player: Let's make a coaching circle! Everyone who wants to listen to Juliet's advice, join in.

Valentina: I like that.

Narration: She sits next to you. Youcef quirks an eyebrow and follows suit.

Angie/Najuma: Seriously? Seriously?

Youcef: What? I'm curious!

Valentina: Go on, Jules.

                         {alternate 1} 

Juliet: Right. OK. Valentina, I think you need to figure out what you really want. You went from Will to Bruno/James and back again. I know that's mostly Will's doing, but still.

Narration: Will bites his lip and looks down.

Juliet: If he wasn't the last boy standing, would you have picked him today? 

                        {alternate 2}

Juliet: Right. OK. Valentina, I think you need to figure out what you really want. You've coupled up three times with three different boys. And they're not even the same type. I know part of it's the luck of the draw, but you should ask yourself, would you pick James/Will next time?

Valentina: That's not...

Juliet: I'm not trying to stir the pot, so don't answer that now. What I'm saying is, that chaotic energy you have is beautiful. But in here you need to pick someone and stick with them. And don't do it as a way to stay in the Villa. Do it for you. If you don't give people a proper chance, how will you get to know them for real?

Valentina: That's... pretty perceptive.

Thabi: Yeah, it does make sense...

Player (thinking): Juliet says Valentina needs to pick someone for good…

          CHOICE: As long as it's not [your partner]

Valentina: No risk of that! You're properly glued to each other. I can take a hint.

          CHOICE: Give Will a proper shot

Valentina: Yes, well. He needs to give me a proper shot too.

Will: I know. Let's just see where this goes...

Valentina: Yeah, I guess that's all we can do…

          CHOICE: Give James a proper shot

Valentina: I intend to!

James: Thank you, Valentina, I truly appreciate that.

Valentina: But you have to drop the formality. Seriously.

James: I'll... try.

          CHOICE: Do what you want, you only live once

Valentina: That's kinda what I've been doing so far…

Valentina: But I think Juliet has a point. It's not like it's worked out great for me. Thank you, Jules. This was really helpful.

Bruno: I feel like I've just met Coach Juliet for the first time.

Juliet: That's what I'm usually like. I guess it's just easier when I'm not under all that pressure...

Narration: She looks down.

Youcef: OK, give me some advice now.

Angie: Pass.

Najuma: Why would we need any?

Youcef: It can never hurt, right?

Juliet: Sorry, but Youcef has volunteered to be a client now, and I never leave a client in the lurch. Youcef, we haven't talked all that much during my time here, so please stop me if I'm off-base. But it feels like you have very, very high standards.

Player (thinking): Juliet says Youcef's got high standards…

          CHOICE: That's because he's so handsome

Youcef: Oh my, thank you, Player!

          CHOICE: I don't know about that

Angie: What is that supposed to mean?

Youcef: That's not directed at you, Anj.

Najuma: What is that supposed to mean?

Youcef: Never mind that, bébé.

          CHOICE: Clearly, he's dating the best

Angie: Thanks, Player, you're a real one!

          CHOICE: That's a good thing, right?

Youcef: Yeah, I know what I want.

Juliet: Maybe... or maybe you're setting a high bar because you know most people won't clear it?

Narration: Youcef raises an eyebrow and observes her.

Juliet: You've been engaged before haven't you? Was she really perfect, or were you just prepared to overlook her flaws?

Youcef: That's... an interesting point.

Juliet: So what changed after that?

Narration: Youcef looks at his nails and says nothing.

Juliet: It seems my advice for you isn't that different from the advice I gave Valentina. Figure out what you really want. Not what you think perfection looks like. Perfection's boring anyway.

Angie: That's really well put. Honestly, I'm a little impressed. It's almost like... I'm starting to get you?

Najuma: This is like, spookily on point. I wish you'd shown this side of you before, Juliet. Now I kinda feel like we could have had pretty good chats.

Narration: Juliet tightly clasps her hands together and takes a deep breath.

Juliet: I wanted to leave with no regrets... but I'm not so sure I..

Narration: Her voice starts to break just a little.

Juliet: I really should go and pack now...

Narration: She flees towards the bedroom.

Player (thinking): Juliet looked like she was about to burst into tears… She could probably use some support. And she might have some useful advice for my relationship with [your partner]. Maybe I should go check on her…

          CHOICE (Premium): Follow Juliet to the bedroom

          CHOICE: Stay by the firepit

Kobi: I'm gonna let her have a bit of space...

Narration: He looks emotional, and Bruno gives him a bear hug.

Bruno: C'mere, little flower.

Narration: Kobi chuckles and returns the hug.

Player (thinking): It's a bit sad to leave Juliet all alone… And she made really good points just now. Do I want to have a private chat with Juliet?

          CHOICE (Premium): Yes, let's do it

          CHOICE: No, I'll wait here

Narration: [your partner] tenderly presses their nose into your cheek.

Kobi: It's gonna be odd not to see this firepit anymore. Not gonna lie, when I first walked into the Villa, I thought it was a bit over the top. But now I'm gonna miss it.

Angie: It's gonna miss you back.

James: And so will all of us.

Narration: Kobi looks down with a smile, and a little silence stretches.

Thabi: Maybe we shouldn't leave Juliet alone for too long.

Kobi: Yeah, and I should also pack.

Narration: Everyone nods and makes for the bedroom. When you come in, you find Juliet her back turned to you, folding clothes on her bed.

{skip scene}

Narration: When you walk into the bedroom, Juliet's sitting on her bed, wiping her eye.

Player (thinking): Did I just hear a sniffle?

          CHOICE: Call out to her

Player: What's up, Jules?

          CHOICE: Come over and hug her

Narration: You quietly walk up to her and put an arm around her shoulder.

Player: You OK?

          CHOICE: Sit at the end of the bed

Narration: You gently sit down on a corner of the bed.

Player: You OK?

Juliet: Ah, Player. Come to gloat?

Player: Not at all. I wanted to check up on you.

Juliet: Ah, Player. Thanks for checking up on me.

Narration: Juliet fans her eyes and sighs.

Juliet: I've been better, I've been worse. I'm sad to be leaving, but thinking about it, life on the outside might do me and Kobi some good. It'll be less pressure. And I'm actually keen to give it a go, so...

Narration: She gives you a tight smile.

Juliet: Keep having fun when I'm gone, OK? The way I see it, unless you mess up really badly, you've got a shot at winning this.

Player (thinking): Juliet thinks I've got a shot at winning this…

          CHOICE: Why do you think that?

          CHOICE: All I want is to find love

Juliet: Of course. That's what everyone wants.

          CHOICE: [your partner] is what really matters

Juliet: I'm glad you've found someone you're connecting with. Now you just need to make sure it stays that way!

Juliet: Honestly, I probably shouldn't give you advice. Seeing how you snapped at me earlier. But this will all seem really small to me when I'm out of here, so… Time for some Juliet coaching, I think. No reason why you shouldn't get your turn.

Player: Sure!

Juliet: First, I've got a question for you. Do you think you and [your partner] will make it as a couple after the Villa?

Player (thinking): Juliet's asking if I'm going to stick with [your partner] after the Villa…

          CHOICE: Definitely, we're solid

Juliet: Yeah. You know what you want, and that's a great start.

          CHOICE: It's too early to tell

Juliet: Fair enough. If I were you, I'd ponder it, though. You should probably know that stuff before you start making promises to each other.

          CHOICE: Absolutely not

Juliet: Really? Well, that's OK. As long as you know what you want, and [your partner] knows that as well.

Juliet: But that brings me to my next point. You've been around [your partner] for a while now, so you must have started to see what they’re like.

                        {if James/Tom}

Juliet: James/Tom's a really sensitive guy, and he doesn't have as much confidence as you'd think.

Player: Yeah...

Juliet: So I guess being with James/Tom gives you a sort of... responsibility. Like you can show James/Tom a different way forward?

Player (thinking): Juliet thinks I can show James/Tom a different way forward…

          CHOICE: All I want is be there for him

Juliet: Good, because that's exactly what he needs. I believe in you!

          CHOICE: I'm gonna show him my way

Juliet: Right. Be careful though, because I feel he's had enough people telling him what to do before Maybe let him figure out some stuff for himself...

          CHOICE: I like him as he is

Juliet: You do? Ah, well. Good for you then, but do make sure he also likes himself as he is...

                        {if Will}

Juliet: I know you and Will have been a bit long in the making. He’s got a bit of a flaky reputation and all.

Player: Yeah...

Juliet: But I do think Will’s really into you. Will’s just the kind of guy who runs for the hills if that can spare him a difficult chat. So I guess the question is, can you crack Will’s code?

Player (thinking): Juliet's wondering if Will and I can understand each other…

          CHOICE: I'm damn well gonna try

Juliet: That's the spirit.

          CHOICE: I think I get Will pretty well already

Juliet: That's good, then.

          CHOICE: As he’d say, we'll just have to see

Juliet: Yes, of course, but don't wait and see too long, if you catch my drift. Will’s a tricky one, but if you can get through to him and keep him honest, I think he'll be an amazing partner.

Player: Yeah...

Juliet: I believe in you!

                        {if Najuma/Bruno}

Juliet: You and Najuma/Bruno have been together for such a long time now. Whatever you're doing, it's working. I honestly find it aspirational.

Player: Thank you!

Juliet: Also it's pretty clear Najuma/Bruno’s head won't turn. They dote on you. So I guess the main question here is, could your head turn? Like, what if you start connecting with someone new? Either someone you don't know very well, or a new Islander.

Player (thinking): Juliet's asking if my head could turn…

          CHOICE: Actually, there's someone I like

Narration: Juliet gives you a long look.

Juliet: I see. 

          CHOICE: For the right person, it might

Juliet: Well that's OK, but make sure what you find is as good as what you leave behind. In fact, it's advice I often give people. Maybe I should make it into a song. It even rhymes and everything...

Player: Right...

          CHOICE: No, I'm staying put

Narration: Juliet smiles at you and nods.

Juliet: You're lucky you found each other the way you did. It's special.

Player: I know…

Juliet: Well then, I don't think you have much to learn from me at all. You and Najuma/Bruno have been some time in the making.                        

                        {alternate} 

Juliet: It feels like you've had a bit of trouble settling on someone. So I guess your situation is a bit like Valentina's, really. There's nothing wrong with shopping around, but if you want to connect, you should stick with someone, you know?

Player (thinking): Juliet says I need to settle on someone…

          CHOICE: I'm sticking with this one

Juliet: Good. I think that's the right choice, to be honest. [your partner]'s a good person, and they’re really into you, so my work here is done.

          CHOICE: I just haven't found the right person yet

Juliet: I see. That happens but… Make sure you give people a fair shot, OK? Or you'll turn around, and someone you really like will be gone, and it will be too late.

          CHOICE: I'm in here to have fun

Juliet: Ah well. That's fine, but make sure the people you're with know it, OK? Everyone in here's a good person. You don't want to hurt them.

Narration: Before you can reply, all the other Islanders trickle through the bedroom door.

_

Thabi: You OK, Juliet?

Juliet: I'm fine, yeah. Thanks.

Narration: Despite her puffy eyes, her voice is steady. Kobi walks up to her and kisses her on the cheek, before getting his own things.

Thabi: You're doing really well. I was a little worried, but...

Narration: She stops herself and looks down.

Juliet: Thabi... You really are a sweetheart, you know that? In fact, let's make you the last installment of Coach Juliet. If you'd like?

Thabi: Yeah, go ahead!

Juliet: So first of all, I want to say, I think you've changed a lot since I first met you. You used to be very unsure of yourself. You were always apologising for being here, that kind of thing. And your choice in men reflected that. Look at Will.

Will: Hey now...

Juliet: No offence, Will, you're lovely and everything, but you haven't exactly been dedicated to Thabi.

Narration: Will looks down.

Player (thinking): Juliet says Will was a bad pick for Thabi…

          CHOICE: You two just weren't a match

Bruno: Yeah, Will didn't light Thabi's fire!

Angie: Please, don't.

          CHOICE: You met in the wrong circumstances

Will: Yeah. Relationships are like stars, they need to align properly...

Angie: Right...

          CHOICE: You could still make it work!

Will: No, the cherry blossoms have fallen off that tree...

Bruno: You mean that ship has sailed?

Will: Something like that.

          CHOICE: But he's a great pick for me!

Player: He's like... the water to my tea leaves?

Will: Oooh yeah, I love this!

Angie: Eurgh.

Narration: Juliet turns to Thabi again.

Juliet: But now I feel like you're on the right track, sweetheart. Tom clearly thinks the world of you, as he should.

Tom: I really do.

Narration: Thabi squirms, trying and failing to hold back a huge smile.

Thabi: Thank you, both of you.

Juliet: So my advice for you is, keep putting yourself out there. Spend less time solving other people's problems, and more time building your own happiness.You only deserve the best, and the best is what you're gonna get. Understood?

Thabi: Yes, coach!

Narration: They exchange a smile. Then Thabi nervously bites her lip.

Juliet: What is it?

Thabi: Would it be OK... if I gave you some advice too?

Narration: Juliet's eyebrows shot up but she nods.

Juliet: Of course!

Thabi: It's like Bruno said before, this is the first time we're actually meeting Coach Juliet. And I've been thinking why that is.

Player (thinking): Thabi wonders why Juliet's acting differently…

CHOICE: I don't see much of a change

[your partner]: Really?

Thabi: Yeah, I do think tonight's Juliet is different from usual Villa Juliet.

CHOICE: She's meeting her nice side

Player: Ever heard the story of Coach Juliet and Mrs Snide?

Juliet: Mrs Snide? That bad?

Thabi: Well, honestly... sometimes it did come across that way. Is that a mean thing to say?

Juliet: No, you're good! Go on.

CHOICE: Pressure does that to people

Thabi: Yes, that's exactly what I'm thinking.

Thabi: You know how people say it's about the journey, and not the destination? I think everyone in the Villa, you included, has helped me see that I wasn't focused on my own journey enough. I was kinda... flailing about, wanting to be loved by everyone, instead of just being present in the moment. And, tell me if I'm wrong, but I feel like the same thing happened to you?

Narration: Juliet looks down, brows knitted in thought.

Thabi: Oh gosh, did I hurt you? I did, didn't I?

Juliet: No! Thabi, honey, you couldn't hurt a fly. In fact, I think you're right… Wanting to be loved by everyone. That's true, I suppose that's what I wanted. But trying for that always achieves the opposite, doesn't it? I did butt in a fair bit, I guess...

Narration: There's a short silence.

Tom: It's alright, Juliet. We're all growing all the time. I hope.

Juliet: Well, you certainly have! And so has Coach Thabi. I should hire you when we get out of the Villa!

Thabi: Maybe you should! Otherwise I'll set up my own company and you'll some serious competition.

Juliet: Oooh, cheeky! How fast they grow...

Player (thinking): Thabi's threatening to compete with Juliet's business…

          CHOICE: No one can replace Coach Juliet!

Juliet: Thanks, Player.

Thabi: That's OK! I kinda have other plans anyway.

          CHOICE: I'm here for Coach Thabi

Thabi: Yay, Player! My first client! Although to be honest, I kinda have other plans.

          CHOICE: Beware of Coach Player!

Juliet: Oof, Player! You'd do great at it, but I don't know if the market can take three of us.

Thabi: That's OK! I kinda have other plans anyway.

Narration: She smiles to herself.

Juliet: Right! I'm all packed up.

Kobi: I'm not yet. But go ahead, I'll join you as soon as I'm done.

Juliet: Alright!

Narration: Juliet grabs her suitcase and makes her way outside, followed by everyone else. You and Kobi are left alone in the silent bedroom.

Kobi: It's been a ride, huh, Player? It's odd that it's going to be over tonight...

Player (thinking): Kobi's feeling odd about leaving the Villa…

          CHOICE: I'm gonna miss you a lot

Kobi: Me too… We've had good times. A good run.

          CHOICE: We'll see each other again soon

Kobi: Yeah, I guess that's true. And we've had good times here. I had a good run.

          CHOICE: When it's time, it's time

Kobi: You're right, I've had a good run.

Kobi: Although now I think back on it, perhaps I should have done some things differently.

Player (thinking): Kobi says he should have done things differently…

          CHOICE: Like not dating Lexi?

Kobi: Honestly? Yeah. I do think I was a bit oblivious to the Lexi situation.

          CHOICE: Maybe Juliet wasn't the right pick…

Kobi: No, Juliet's OK. I mean, I guess we'll see what happens now, with her. But she's not a bad person. But I do think dating Lexi made everything after that a bit difficult.

          CHOICE: Do you regret not ending up with me?

Kobi: That's... I don't know. : We've become really close friends now, so it's kind of a moot point? Maybe? We just didn't go that route. There was always someone else in the picture… I don't know.

Narration: He gives you a confused smile.

Kobi: I will say that dating Lexi was maybe not the best choice I've made in here. It was just a lot of drama.

Player: That it was…

Kobi: So I guess in a way, I'm relieved that I'm leaving all that tension behind. But in another, I'm kinda wondering, what if? You know, what if I'd taken the initiative more? What if I'd given more people a fair chance? I don't regret leaving now, because you're all in solid couples. Like, you and [your partner], there's something real between you, more real that what Juliet and I have.

Player: Thank you for saying that.

Kobi: No, I mean it. You know I love you. As a friend, I mean. And I seriously hope you win this. Not this, the show, this, the finding-love game. But yeah, I just don't know...

Player (thinking): Kobi's having regrets…

          CHOICE: There's no point in regretting things

Player: What's done is done. You made your choices with the information you had. I don't know if they were all the right choices, but at least you've learned from them, so it wasn't a waste.

          CHOICE: You'll know better next time

Player: Lexi wasn't a great start but I wouldn't beat yourself up. That relationship was a useful learning experience in the end, wasn't it?

          CHOICE: This isn't over yet

Player: I mean, yes, your time in the Villa's over. But we're all going to stay in touch afterwards, and who knows what will happen? Plus it sounds like you've learned a few things! So it wasn't a waste.

Kobi: Yeah, I guess you're right.

Kobi: See, this is why you're my best bud in here. I can always count on you. You're always telling it straight, you're always helping me see through things. I'm a naive fool sometimes, but you took really good care of me.

Narration: Kobi's voice breaks.

Kobi: Dammit, gimme a sec.

Narration: He turns away and wipes his cheeks.

Kobi: The thing I'm most looking forward to right now is meeting up again. I wanna show you my shop, I want you to meet my other friends. I want you to be proud of who I really am, in my day to day.

Player (thinking): Kobi says he wants me to be proud of him…

          CHOICE: I'm already proud of you

Player: You're amazing, Kobi. Never forget that.

          CHOICE: I can't wait to see all that

Player: We'll have the best time ever! Just you wait.

          CHOICE: I'll make you proud, too!

Player: In here, and when we meet again outside. I'm not gonna let you down, I promise.

Kobi: Player...

Kobi: Come gimme a hug.

Narration: He opens his arms to you and you meet him there. His strong, wide hands press firmly into your shoulders, and you feel cosy and safe.

Kobi: Well, that's it then. We should probably go.

Player: Yeah...

Narration: You smile at each other and walk out of the bedroom. When you come outside, everyone's standing awkwardly in front of the Villa.

[your partner]: Here you are, guys.

Narration: Bruno walks up to you, then envelops Kobi in a big hug. [your partner] comes up to you and extends their hand to Kobi. Kobi looks at it for a second then shakes his head, smiling.

Kobi: Bring it in, mate!

Narration: He opens his arms wide, and [your partner] happily hugs him back.

Thabi/Angie: The Villa won't feel the same without you...

Kobi: Hey, chin up! This is a see you later, not a see you never.

Narration: Thabi/Angie still clings to Kobi. Juliet bites her lip, then shakes it off and walks over to them.

Juliet: Group hug?

Player (thinking): Juliet's suggesting a group hug…

          CHOICE: Group hug!

Kobi: Of course!

Narration: Kobi and [your partner] make room for you and Juliet to join them.

Cora: Don't forget about me!

Narration: She laughs and energetically pulls both you and Juliet into the Kobi hug, one arm around each.

Juliet: Ah wait!... I can't walk fast in these heels!

Cora: Too bad. I don't wanna waste a second of hugging.

Valentina: I know I'm one to talk, but that'll teach you to wear flats next time you're about to be hug-mugged!

Bruno: Hug mug! I love that!

Angie: Of course you do.

          CHOICE: I don't know…

Juliet: Eurgh...

Cora: Well I do!

Narration: She laughs and energetically pulls both you and Juliet into the Kobi hug, one arm around each.

Juliet: Ah wait!... I can't walk fast in these heels!

Cora: Too bad. I don't wanna waste a second of hugging.

Valentina: I know I'm one to talk, but that'll teach you to wear flats next time you're about to be hug-mugged!

Bruno: Hug mug! I love that!

Angie: Of course you do.

Juliet: Eurgh..

          CHOICE: No thanks

Youcef: In that case, let me through.

Narration: He walks past you and snakes an arm around Kobi's shoulder and the other one around Juliet's.

Youcef: I know it's uncool... but I'm actually gonna miss you, people.

Kobi: Wow, Youcef being uncool? That's character growth right there!

Youcef: Don't make me regret it.

Valentina: Now I want in as well! Open up the circle!

Kobi: The circle's open.

Juliet: Yes, that's the point of a group hug!

Valentina: Yay! Valentinator coming through!

Narration: She jumps onto the rest of the group.

Juliet: You don't like ‘Val', but you're fine with ‘Valentinator'?!

Valentina: It's just for tonight. And if you keep being nice, maybe I'll let you call me Val down the line.

Narration: Soon everyone joins the hug, and Juliet and Kobi disappear into a sea of arms. Angie is the first to disentangle themself and stands a little way aside.

Player (thinking): Angie looks worried…

          CHOICE: Ask Angie what's wrong

Narration: You join Angie. 

Player: You alright?

Angie: Ah, Player.  I'm fine. This is just... a lot.  You know I'm not one for big displays. And not gonna lie, it's odd to see all this loving when I've been getting none.

Player: I'm sorry...

Angie: I'm... a bit like a sponge. I soak in everyone's emotions. So when it gets intense, I need to take a break sometimes.

Player: I get that...

Angie: But also, I can't help feeling I should be the one leaving the Villa. I really thought that would happen, and now I don't know what to do with myself.

Player (thinking): Angie says she expected to leave the Villa…

          CHOICE: Just enjoy your time here

          CHOICE: Lighten up, you're in the best position now!

          CHOICE: That's a problem for another day

Player: You never know who might come along next.

Angie:  ... Yeah, I guess I should get over myself. Thanks, Player.

          CHOICE: Give Angie a hug

Narration: You walk up to Angie and give her a hug.

Player: You alright?

Angie: I'm fine. This is just... a lot. You know I'm not one for big displays. And not gonna lie, it's odd to see all this loving when I've been getting none.

Player: I'm sorry...

Angie: I'm... a bit like a sponge. I soak in everyone's emotions. So when it gets intense, I need to take a break sometimes.

Player: I get that...

Angie: But also, I can't help feeling I should be the one leaving the Villa. I really thought that would happen, and now I don't know what to do with myself.

Player (thinking): Angie says she expected to leave the Villa…

          CHOICE: Just enjoy your time here

          CHOICE: Lighten up, you're in the best position now!

          CHOICE: That's a problem for another day

Player: You never know who might come along next.

Angie:  ... Yeah, I guess I should get over myself. Thanks, Player.

          CHOICE: Stick with Juliet and Kobi

Narration: You turn back to Juliet and Kobi just as the group hug drifts apart.

Juliet: We haven't always seen eye to eye, Player, I know that. But I respect you and I think... I'm going to miss you. 

Juliet: You're a nice person, Player. I think... I'm going to miss you.

Kobi: But not as much as I'm gonna miss my bestie.

Cora: And me too?

Kobi: Yeah, of course! Both my besties!

Cora: Eurgh, I promised myself I wouldn't cry, but you're making it hard. Please expect to find a song called ‘Kobi' on my next album. Right next to a song called ‘Player’. 

Player: As it should be!

Kobi: Yeah, it's the bare minimum, really.

Juliet: No song for me?

Cora: I'll give you a big cameo in Kobi's!

Juliet: Is it me or does that sound a little... threatening?

Cora: Not if you stick with him.

Narration: She gives Juliet a wide, meaningful smile, and Juliet blinks uncomfortably.

Kobi: Yeah... We've had good times in the Villa, Player.  Here's to more good times on the outside!

Player: Yeah!

Narration: Juliet and Kobi smile at you.

Kobi: Right... I guess we should go.

Narration: Kobi takes Juliet's hand, they give the Villa one last look, then they walk away into the dark. The mood is quiet after Kobi and Juliet are gone, and you prepare to go to sleep.

Player (thinking): First night with [your partner] after the recoupling… I should make sure I look stunning!

Narration: When you walk back into the bedroom, [your partner] pulls you aside.

[your partner]: First of all, let me just say…

                        {if new outfit} 

[your partner]: You always look gorgeous, but this is another level!

                        {else}

[your partner]: You always take my breath away when you wear this.

[your partner]: I don't know how you manage to look so cute.

Player: Thank you. I try!

Narration: [your partner] gives you a small smile.

[your partner]: This evening ended up being a lot, didn't it?

Player (thinking): [your partner] seems emotional about Juliet and Kobi…

          CHOICE: I'm here for you

[your partner]: Thank you, Player. I am a bit sad, that's true.

          CHOICE: Yeah, I'm gonna miss these guys

[your partner]: Definitely.

          CHOICE: I've already forgotten about them!

[your partner]: Have you? I guess it's a good thing you're able to flip the switch so fast. 

[your partner]: I'm a little bit down, to be honest. But I'm still happy we're here together.

Player: Yeah, me too...

Narration: [your partner] gently cups your cheek. [your partner] fingers graze your skin before lightly touching your lips.

[your partner]: I just wish we could have some alone time...

Player (thinking): Actually, we could have some alone time. The daybeds are out there and everyone's inside. Maybe I should suggest we sleep on the daybeds tonight?

          CHOICE (Premium): Let's go to the daybeds

          CHOICE: We'll have other chances to be alone

[your partner]: I guess...

Player (thinking): [your partner] looks really disappointed. If we went to the daybeds, we could have a longer chat out of everyone's earshot. And we could maybe even get our sexy on… Going to the daybeds might be an idea…

          CHOICE (Premium): Daybeds it is

          CHOICE: Let's just stay here tonight

[your partner]: That's fine. Let's get all cuddled up!

Player: Sounds good.

Narration: You slide under the duvet and lie down facing each other. [your partner] whispers softly, close to your ear.

[your partner]: I feel so lucky… After the last recoupling, I was so scared we might not find our way back to each other...

Player: I did say I'd wait for you.

[your partner]: You did. But things happen so fast in here… And it's not like we promised to wait or anything. But I still wanted it to happen. So much. I really hoped you would choose me, but I couldn't be sure...

Player: It should be pretty clear I'm into you, by now.

[your partner]: Yes, well... I know I picked you out of the blue last time. And you're so amazing that I... couldn't believe you really wanted it to happen. I honestly didn't think you'd choose me.

Player: And yet here we are.

[your partner]: Yeah... To be honest, when Cora picked you last time, I thought that was my one chance gone. Then we've been spending more time together and, I don't know, it made me really sad to think that was it. I guess having so many people around all the time... It makes it confusing. Harder to land on just one person. But lately, I've been so sure you're what I want… So this feels like a small miracle.

Player (thinking): [your partner] says this feels like a miracle to them…

          CHOICE: I know, I'm miraculous {Bruno}

Bruno: Bruno's Miraculous Player. 

Player: So I've graduated from banging, then? ... That didn't come out right.

Bruno: I don't know, I loved it. Maybe we should start a comedy double act!

Player: Maybe...

          CHOICE: I know, I’m miraculous

          CHOICE: I feel the same way {Najuma}

Najuma: Being with you feels like the first time I went on a demolition job.

Player: ... Really?

Najuma: Hear me out. It was a super early morning, and I was very nervous. I had all the butterflies, stage fright, whatever they call it. And then I got there, I got out of the car. I looked at the site. And it's like it all fell into place. I knew exactly what I had gone there to do. That's what I feel like right now.

Player: OK, this was surprisingly nice to hear.

          CHOICE: Let's focus on the future {Will}

Will: We should, at some point. But right now I just wanna stay here and enjoy you, like I'd enjoy the sun falling through spring leaves.

Player: That's actually... a nice way to put it.

Will: You know. Sometimes I say things a certain way, because that's just how the world makes sense to me. And I appreciate that means you've gotta read between my lines. But I feel like you're starting to crack the Will code.

Player: I intend to become an expert!

Will: I'm very on board with that.

          CHOICE: I feel the same way {James} 

James: I'm about to be very cheesy, I apologise. But I feel like I need to come out and say it.

Player: Go on.

James: Well... I think in my romance novels, in my stories, I was always writing about the same ideal woman. And of course, I've always known she's not real. But there've been times I wished she were. But now I'm here, with you, and this is reality… And it's infinitely better than any fantasy I've ever had.

Player: Wow...

James: Sorry, I'm just a big romantic blob. What I'm saying is, I'm happy we're together.

Player: You really are a big romantic blob.

          CHOICE: Let’s focus on the future {Tom} 

Tom: I hope what's in the future is us spending lots of time together. You're truly something money can't buy. And I'd know.

Player: You're cute...

Tom: I mean it though. It's like... being around you changes my perspective completely. You're really helping me see what's important. Things I'd never have figured out without you.

Player: Thank you. But you should also give yourself some credit. You've been growing so much since you came in here.

Narration: Tom blushes and hides his head in the pillow.

Narration: You gently chuckle at each other.

Cora: Oi, lovebirds! Some of us are trying to sleep.

[your partner]: Woops, sorry! We probably should get some sleep as well.

Player: Yeah, we should...

Narration: [your partner] gently puts their hand on your waist, and you put yours on their neck. Then you both close your eyes and let the world vanish.

{skip scene}

[your partner]: I would love that!

Narration: You smile at each other and sneak out of the bedroom. Outside, the night air is a bit chilly, and you wrap your arms around you.

[your partner]: Let's rush under the covers!

Narration: [your partner] holds you close to them and quickly leads you to the daybeds.

Player (thinking): [your partner]'s picked that side to shield me from the breeze...

Narration: You slide under the covers and lie down facing each other. [your partner] softly speaks up.

[your partner]: I feel so lucky… After the last recoupling, I was so scared we might not find our way back to each other...

Player: I did say I'd wait for you.

[your partner]: You did. But things happen so fast in here… And it's not like we promised to wait or anything. But I still wanted it to happen. So much. I really hoped you would choose me, but I couldn't be sure...

Player: It should be pretty clear I'm into you, by now.

[your partner]: Yes, well... I know I picked you out of the blue last time. And you're so amazing that I... couldn't believe you really wanted it to happen. I honestly didn't think you'd choose me.

Player: And yet here we are.

[your partner]: Yeah... To be honest, when Cora picked you last time, I thought that was my one chance gone. Then we've been spending more time together and, I don't know, it made me really sad to think that was it. I guess having so many people around all the time... It makes it confusing. Harder to land on just one person. But lately, I've been so sure you're what I want… So this feels like a small miracle.

Player (thinking): [your partner] says this feels like a miracle to them…

          CHOICE: I know, I'm miraculous {Bruno}

Bruno: Bruno's Miraculous Player. 

Player: So I've graduated from banging, then? ... That didn't come out right.

Bruno: I don't know, I loved it. Maybe we should start a comedy double act!

Player: Maybe...

          CHOICE: I know, I’m miraculous

          CHOICE: I feel the same way {Najuma}

Najuma: Being with you feels like the first time I went on a demolition job.

Player: ... Really?

Najuma: Hear me out. It was a super early morning, and I was very nervous. I had all the butterflies, stage fright, whatever they call it. And then I got there, I got out of the car. I looked at the site. And it's like it all fell into place. I knew exactly what I had gone there to do. That's what I feel like right now.

Player: OK, this was surprisingly nice to hear.

          CHOICE: Let's focus on the future {Will}

Will: We should, at some point. But right now I just wanna stay here and enjoy you, like I'd enjoy the sun falling through spring leaves.

Player: That's actually... a nice way to put it.

Will: You know. Sometimes I say things a certain way, because that's just how the world makes sense to me. And I appreciate that means you've gotta read between my lines. But I feel like you're starting to crack the Will code.

Player: I intend to become an expert!

Will: I'm very on board with that.

          CHOICE: I feel the same way {James} 

James: I'm about to be very cheesy, I apologise. But I feel like I need to come out and say it.

Player: Go on.

James: Well... I think in my romance novels, in my stories, I was always writing about the same ideal woman. And of course, I've always known she's not real. But there've been times I wished she were. But now I'm here, with you, and this is reality… And it's infinitely better than any fantasy I've ever had.

Player: Wow...

James: Sorry, I'm just a big romantic blob. What I'm saying is, I'm happy we're together.

Player: You really are a big romantic blob.

          CHOICE: Let’s focus on the future {Tom} 

Tom: I hope what's in the future is us spending lots of time together. You're truly something money can't buy. And I'd know.

Player: You're cute...

Tom: I mean it though. It's like... being around you changes my perspective completely. You're really helping me see what's important. Things I'd never have figured out without you.

Player: Thank you. But you should also give yourself some credit. You've been growing so much since you came in here.

Narration: Tom blushes and hides his head in the pillow.

Narration: You gently chuckle at each other.

[your partner]: I don't know about you, but being together like this is giving me... ideas.

Narration: [your partner] draws a little closer to you, and you can feel the warmth radiating from their body.

[your partner]: What do you say? Want to put this daybed through its paces?

Player (thinking): [your partner]'s suggesting we do bits…

          CHOICE: Let's give the daybed a night to remember

{insert intimacy module}

          CHOICE: I thought you'd never ask

{insert intimacy module}

          CHOICE: Not tonight

[your partner]: Fair enough. We'll have other occasions.

Player: It's a date!

[your partner]: Cross my heart.

Narration: [your partner] relaxes in your arms. Your eyelids grow heavy, and the last thing you see is [your partner] gentle smile before you fall asleep. A night bird sings somewhere in the distance, and [your partner]'s hand finds your cheek.

[your partner]: No matter how many times I'm next to you like this, somehow it's always new and exciting.

Player (thinking): [your partner] says it's always new and exciting to be with me…

          CHOICE: I feel the same way you do

[your partner]: I love to hear that.

          CHOICE: Same old, same old

Narration: [your partner] pokes your cheek.

[your partner]: How dare!

Narration: You stick your tongue out at [your partner].

[your partner]: Seriously, though.

          CHOICE: I hope we feel this way for a long time

[your partner]: I think we will.

[your partner]: What we've got is special, and I think it's always gonna be special.

Narration: [your partner]'s other hand softly caresses your arm. Your eyes meet, and [your partner] smile changes.

[your partner]: I'm so glad we're growing closer. And I hope it's going to keep getting better and better.

Player (thinking): [your partner] hopes we're going to keep growing closer…

          CHOICE: I already feel very close to you, you know

[your partner]: I'm so happy to hear that... Like, really, really happy.

Narration: [your partner] hand on your cheek trembles a little.

          CHOICE: I'm excited to spend more time together

[your partner]: Me too...

          CHOICE: We're literally in the same bed

Player: How much closer could we be?

[your partner]: Pff! That's not what I meant and you know it.

Narration: [your partner] gently pokes your cheek.

[your partner]: Naughty Player. 

Narration: Your eyes meet, and [your partner] smile changes.

[your partner]: This, now, it feels both so new and so familiar… It's comforting. Like coming home.

Player (thinking): [your partner] says being with me feels like coming home…

          CHOICE: Right back at you

Narration: You both pause for a moment.

[your partner]: I'm really happy this means something to you, too.

          CHOICE: It feels like moving into a new place!

Narration: [your partner]'s hand on your cheek trembles a little.

[your partner]: Is that a good or a bad thing?

Player: That depends on the place!

[your partner]: Then I gotta make sure it's a real nice one.

          CHOICE: Come home into my arms

Narration: [your partner] laughs and hugs you. Your eyes meet, and [your partner] smile changes.

[your partner]: I'm so excited. Is it alright if we cuddle a bit?

Player (thinking): Do I want to cuddle with [your partner]?

          CHOICE: Agree to it

Player: Get in here.

Narration: [your partner] smiles and gently draws you to them. [your partner] arms tremble a little around you.

[your partner]: I'm a bit nervous to be with you like this. Does that make me a fool?

Player: It doesn't.

[your partner]: Good. Because I'm not sure I'd know how to fix it. And I don't think I want to. I love feeling these butterflies.

          CHOICE: Hug [your partner] to you

Narration: [your partner] plants a soft kiss on your forehead. [your partner] looks like they’re about to say something else, but then hesitates.

Player: What is it?

[your partner]: Well... I don't want to go too fast. But I'm looking at you like this, up close, and you're so pretty, and I really, really want to kiss you...

Player: Way ahead of you.

Narration: You throw your arms around [your partner]'s shoulders and pull them close. [your partner] hugs you back. [your partner] arms tremble a little around you.

[your partner]: I'm a bit nervous to be with you like this. Does that make me a fool?

Player: It doesn't.

[your partner]: Good. Because I'm not sure I'd know how to fix it. And I don't think I want to. I love feeling these butterflies.

Narration: [your partner] plants a soft kiss on your forehead. 

          CHOICE: Ask to wait for next time

Player: Actually... Do you mind if we take it slow? I'd be happy to just stay like this tonight.

[your partner]: Oh, of course! We'll have other occasions. I can wait.

Narration: Soon [your partner] relaxes next to you, and their breathing slows down. Your eyelids grow heavy, and the last thing you see is [your partner] gentle smile before you fall asleep.

Player (thinking): [your partner] says they want to kiss me…

          CHOICE: Then maybe you should

[your partner]: Alright then... Let me consider it.

          CHOICE: I love the sound of that

[your partner]: Alright then... Let me consider it.

          CHOICE: Let's wait for next time

[your partner]: Sure. I really don't want to make you feel rushed. Is it even OK that I asked?

Player: Of course it is.

Narration: [your partner] relaxes in your arms. Your eyelids grow heavy, and the last thing you see is [your partner] gentle smile before you fall asleep.

Narrator: 🎵 Twinkle, twinkle, little star... 🎵 🎵 Thank you for your tiny spark. 🎵 I know, I know, everyone tells me I should have been a pop star. But what can I say, living in a cabin without a working shower is just so much more fun. If you've never poured a bucket of ice-cold water on your head, have you even lived? ... Don't answer that. The spark between [your partner] and Player burned nice and bright tonight.

Narrator: [your partner] and Player had a nice sort of tiny spark going on there. But tomorrow, it will be time to fan another sort of flames!

Cora: A talent show! Yay!

Narrator: What? A talent show? Well now that's hot. Wait for me! My pop star career is finally within reach!

[verdantlyviolet]

18 and 21 :)

What is your favorite way to communicate with the gods?

I feel silly saying this because, duh Violet, but: prayer and offerings. But two way communication: divination methods I use most often are my playing cards and the Homeromanteion.

What would your ideal practice look like?

Give me a couple acres and the funds to work the land and sell/trade products without additional income, and I’d dedicate my life to it. No longer having my “orchard” in pots would be wonderful. I’d place a stone shrine by a pond and an open area with a firepit. I could have quails again, but also chickens. I’d grow and raise my offerings and feed myself and my cats and dog. Maybe I’d invite you all lol

[ ask game ]

[swampstew]

𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉'𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑀𝒶𝑔𝒾𝒸 𝒲♡𝓇𝒹? - 𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝟤

Welcome back to Raven’s Reading Nook - a small corner of this blog dedicated to cozy story times. Come in a for a spell, grab yourself a hot cocoa and join us by the firepit as we begin tonight’s installment. You can find a link to the full chapter at the end of the post.

Assault after assault wore on as Rowena and the Kid Pirates fought against Bartholomew Kuma and the never-ending waves of Marines flooding the field; Kuma’s monstrous strength and resilience was taking a toll on the fighters.

Rowena shouted out in anger, “I can’t keep wasting time like this, I have to get back to my crew!”

“Well unless you have any other moves up your sleeves now is the time. If this giant fuck takes us down, I’m making sure you come down with us,” Kid yelled at her, waving his giant metal arm down on another onslaught of marines.

“How much time can you buy me?”

“How much do you need?”

“2 minutes, 3 tops.”

“What’s the plan?”

“I do something awesome and then we run like hell”

Grinning evilly Kid barked out, “men, defend the broad and make sure no one gets through!”

“Great, on my signal run behind me and stay inside the circle!”

“What’s the signal? What circle?!”

Rowena didn’t answer as she pulled a burlap sack from the bag hanging loosely around her waist, spilling the white substance down on the ground and running in a huge circle. Once a giant circle was formed, she hopped inside and sat on the ground at the edge of the line. She closed her eyes and started muttering something quickly under her breath accompanied by a flurry of hand sign movements.

Kid couldn’t follow them fast enough, torn between wanting to watch out of sheer fascination but also busy trying to keep the Marines and a Warlord at bay. His patience quickly started to wane and just as he was turning to demand an update, he heard her voice rise above the clashing of weapons and the screams of dying men.

“Run, Red!”

“Let’s go boys” Kid roared, and Killer and the crew came running to the circle jumping inside and standing behind Rowena.

She opened her eyes slamming her hand down to the ground, screaming out “Summoning Spell – Demonic Bloodlust!” and a large, black hand-shaped shadow appeared on the ground just beyond the circle boundaries, complex runes and characters magically etching themselves into the shadow hand, and it grew larger as it seemingly reached out towards the incoming Marines.

The pointed fingers turned to tendrils that reached out at Kuma and the Marines as an unholy wailing began to emit from the ground. Swooping and swooshing sounds rushed the air as dark forms started whipping out from the still expanding hand shape. The formless shapes snarled and snapped, taking down Marines in a frenzy, blood splattering on the ground. The pirates watched with a mix of horror and amazement at the small woman’s power.

“Hold out your hands and take this salt. As soon as you step over the line, throw the salt over your left shoulder and don’t stop running,” she quickly explained dumping the substance into outstretched hands. She grabbed a handful for herself and with one hand shoved the burlap sack back into her bag.

“Where are you running off to?” Kid grabbed her shoulder tightly but she shrugged him off.

“Grove 13. Don’t get caught,” Rowena gave Kid a look before taking a running leap over the line, tossing her salt behind her.

“SEE YA!” she yelled back at the Kid Pirates, a dazzling grin plastered to her face, waving a hand back at them as she whipped her head forward and took off running.

Read on Wattpad 🏴‍☠️ Read on AO3

[doingitfortheexposure]

The California scrub jays will start swooping down for peanuts the moment I back away from the platform feeder (made from an old firepit and some scrap wood).

Photos by Xer S. Rowan, Creative Commons Attribution license

I take photos for the love of photography, and I share them under a free-to-use-as-long-as-I-am-properly-credited license. I'm disabled, neurodivergent, and living on a poverty-level fixed income. If you'd like to enrich my life a little, I have wishlists.

[colleendoran]

Wishing that this New Year sees many bright changes and brings all of you hope and clarity.

 I know many people are suffering, and I am deeply sorry for your troubles. I know we are all pushing as hard as we can to get through this crisis, both physically and spiritually.

 I am very grateful for all the support and friendship I have found here. I have plenty of work, and being able to work at home means that I have not faced the issues many others face. I didn’t lose any major jobs: in fact, I had to let a few smaller jobs go because I could not fit them in, more due to my distress over world events distracting and discouraging me than anything else. It was very difficult to get out of bed in the morning for awhile.

 I know many artists depend on the convention circuit for income, and have taken a serious hit because they are not able to go to shows and sell prints. Again, I’m lucky because this hasn’t affected me much as I make most of my income in publishing.

 A year or so ago, someone came to this page to lecture me about how I would never have fallen into debt if I had been better about money management. According to him, I should join some sort of debtor’s anonymous group.

 I fell into debt because of chronic illness, not because of my being a spendthrift.

 Now that my health issue is well managed, I work regularly, steadily, and am doing well. My debt has evaporated. Between the wonderful success of my books over the last few years, and my Patreon support (which, BTW, is not a charity, I have one of the most productive Patreons on the site,) I’ve turned my situation around. I get to devote all of my time in 2021 to amazing projects (especially finishing A DISTANT SOIL,) and to not have to worry about the wolf at the door. I work very hard to make my Patreon worthwhile, and I am truly grateful to all the fans and readers who support me there and who buy my books. https://www.patreon.com/ColleenDoran

 But I can’t help thinking about That Guy when I think of all the people who are now out of work due to this crisis. People with chronic illness endure years of distress and uncertainty. In one year, this crisis did to millions what the chronically ill face year after year, decade after decade. Without substantial cash reserves and the ability to make money from home, many have been wiped out in a matter of weeks.

 Because I have always been self employed and fairly frugal, I endured many years of low productivity and low income until I was lucky enough to get a proper diagnosis and treatment and to come out on the other side.

Millions of people around the world now face mounting medical bills and devastating health issues because of COVID. Long COVID patients have symptoms very similar to the ones I’ve experienced off and on since 1983. You have no idea just how awful that is until you get endure it. For weeks. Then months. Then years.

 Because I work from home, because I know how to handle long dry periods of work and income, because I carefully invest, because I have built goodwill with my public and cultivated multiple income streams, I can deal with all of this.

 But many people can’t.

 I think there’s a tendency to victim blame over issues like this because people are sure that if they just do all the right things and tick all the right boxes, nothing bad will ever happen to them. People deserve bad things because they’re bad.

 But if, in my case, I walk through this crisis like I just walked across a firepit without getting singed, does that mean I’m a good person?

 No. It just means I am used to living like this and am prepared because I can be. Not everyone has the same set of choices.

 Not everyone is suffering because they didn’t put their money in the bank.

 The good and the bad have good luck and bad luck. It’s no reflection on who they are as people.

 Making all the right choices is just swell, but no one gets magic armor by doing so. You just get an expanded array of possible benefits.

 Which is a plus. But not a guarantee.

 Have a great year.

 And truly…thanks again.

 But don’t be That Guy.

[silyabeeodess]

FusionFall Headcanons: Coco

It goes without saying that Coco plays a pivotal role in the war effort thanks to her eggs; however, because she often runs off to do her own thing, she can also makes trouble for those ordered to protect her.  It’s not the hardest job a fusion fighter could have, but it does come with an insane amount of stress.     

She’s really good at disappearing, which simultaneously relieves and terrifies those around her at the same time.  On one hand, she can escape Fuse’s forces pretty well: On the other, the same can be said for their own forces.  She’ll go somewhere without telling anyone, including sneaking onboard a S.C.A.M.P.E.R. to fly to dangerous areas, which sends everyone into a frenzied panic.  Nevertheless, she always has her reasons, typically to help the war effort in some way.      

While Coco is encouraged to stay safe at all times due to the important role she plays, again, that doesn’t mean she just sits around idly while people look after her.  Outside of her runaway stunts, Coco regularly takes part in missions by watching the movements of fusion monsters and keeping the things they drop for study, like in “Building a Master Arsenal (Part 4 of 4).”     

Coco has a motherly nature not just reserved for her close friends: She really does enjoy spending time with kids in general, as seen in the episode “Cuckoo for Coco Cards.”  Because of this, there’s not really any better place for her to be than at a KND base.  For her sake, the security is pretty top-notch, and for the kids, she can sometimes act as a good role model whereas they may not listen to an actual adult.  Her wacky, fun nature as an imaginary friend draws them in, making it easier for her to get down to their level and reason with them when needed.  She’s also, as Wilt describes, “good with words.”     

Still, if someone irritates her, Coco’s not above eating their belongings and only giving them back in egg form after they apologize.  

She’s glad that Mac doesn’t take an aggressive role in the war, since she can’t help but feel responsible for him chasing after her all the way to Mt. Blackhead.  While she understands it may be inevitable and that there are other kids his age within the KND who are fighting fusion monsters, she’d feel really guilty if anything happened to him because of her.  In “Fuse No More (Part 3 of 4),” she actually got a small taste of her own medicine in his sense, as Mac snuck inside Fuse’s Lair to help in the major battle.    

No one knew prior to the start of the war that Coco could lay eggs that give a person special abilities instead of a physical item.  The one trouble is that these are always extremely temporary boosts, and many nano abilities typically offer these same enhancements for longer periods of time.  As a result, these eggs are used more often in situations when a nano can’t/shouldn’t be summoned.  The main exception is the health and explosive eggs seen in the Firepits, which are scattered there in large numbers to be used against the powerful fusion monsters located there.   

The E.G.G.s from the E.G.G.E.R.s aren’t produced by Coco herself.  Both the machines and capsules were designed by the KND as a small way of generating income to help support the war financially and give Fusion Fighters something to do--which is why we see them at many of the major bases.  They are, of course, inspired by Coco though and she in-turn has the group give her a small chunk of the profits for the use of her likeness. (She’s all about being kind and helpful, but she’ll draw a line at mass producing things after herself without benefit.)  It’s a small past time for soldiers, who will purchase the capsules and then trade the items, codes, and tools from them with each other.        

[myemergence]

True Love (is a Slow Burn)

A/N:submission for Buddie First Kiss Week @buddiefirstkissweek. Prompt: Interrupted. You can read it over on AO3 here

Buck tags along on the Diazes father/son camping trip.

Thanks to Nicole for the beta!

**

“Do you need anything else out of the cooler?” Eddie asks as he bends down and grabs a beer for himself as dusk settles in. The campground is quiet aside for a few families gathered around their own fires. “A beer?”

“Nah, I’ll wait till Chris is in bed,” Buck says with a small shrug of his shoulder, relaxing into the  chair as he stretches his legs out in front of him.

Eddie chuckles as he glances to where Christopher is reclined in his own camping chair. “Suit yourself,” he says before he settles back into the empty chair beside Christopher. “Hey bud, you ready to show Buck how to make the  best  s’mores?”

Buck’s not oblivious to the fact that he’s playing the third wheel on a father-son camping trip as the result of a lie. A white lie. A tiny fib, really. He also knows that he should feel guilty about it, at least a tiny morsel of regret. But being in their presence makes it hard for Buck to feel guilty for how he ended up being included. 

Buck shifts in his chair and looks over at Eddie who’s pulled marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate out for assembling the s’mores. “I’ve never actually had s’mores before, but just tell me what I can do to help.”

“Bucky! You’ve never had s’mores?” There’s a tiny shake to his head. He wants to point out that at least this is not a lie, but he decides it would probably be a terrible time to out himself. Christopher’s eyes brighten then. “They’re the best part of camping! And we get to show you.” 

His excitement is contagious and Buck can only grin back at him.

Eddie laughs as he opens the bag of marshmallows before handing it to Chris who takes one and pops it in his mouth before offering a few to Buck. “Is that really your favorite part of camping, mijo? What about sleeping in a tent? Or sitting around the campfire?”

Chris shrugs before he slides the marshmallows onto the forks. Eddie opens up the graham crackers and breaks the wafers in half so that they’re square. “You make s’mores around a campfire. So it’s my favorite because s’mores are the best  and  we get to sit around the campfire.”

“Very clever, Chris.” Buck laughs.

“Alright,” Eddie says seriously as he slides his eyes over to Buck, “so you’ve never made smores before, do you have any experience toasting marshmallows?”

“Of course I do, who hasn’t toasted a marshmallow before?” Buck scoffs.

Eddie’s brow raises. “Maybe the same kind of person who’s never gone camping.” Buck’s eyes dance with mirth before he takes the cool metal stick in his hands. Wordlessly, Buck scoots forward on his chair and shoves the two bright white marshmallows into the flames until they ignite. He pulls them out of the blaze, holding the stick upside down until both marshmallows are completely engulfed in flames. “What the- I thought you said you’d toasted marshmallows before?!”

“Uh, this is how you toast a marshmallow.” Buck looks down at the marshmallow, waiting for the fire to dissipate. The outsides of the marshmallows are charred black.

“Wow, I feel like I never knew you until today, Buck,” he says. “You’re a monster. Why don’t you just scoop up the coals from the firepit while you’re at it? I’m sure those will taste great in a s’more.” Buck smirks as he looks over at Eddie while Christopher giggles loudly in his seat.

“Can I try one?” Christopher asks.

“Christopher, you know how marshmallows are supposed to be:  golden brown .”

“Eddie, are you going to deny your son this  experience ?” After another moment of allowing them to cool off Buck slides the marshmallows off of the fork and extends one to Christopher.

“You’ve ruined my son now.” Eddie huffs like he’s pouting, but the look in his eyes is light and fond. Buck pops the marshmallow into his mouth to hide another smile as he looks over at Christopher.

“Well?” Buck asks and Christopher offers a thumbs up in reply.

“You’re going to learn to make s’mores and toast marshmallows, the right way.” Eddie tosses the bag of marshmallows at Buck so that he can take a couple more and replace the ones that he’d charred and eaten. “Chris you wanna put them together for us?” After Chris nods, Eddie gives him the graham crackers and chocolate. He uses a fire poker to adjust the logs so that he has a calm area of coal to use. “Come on Buckley, out of your chair.”

Buck groans dramatically. “Is he always like this?” 

When the response is another peal of giggles, Eddie slides his eyes over to his son. “Christopher,” he scolds teasingly.

“Come on, these marshmallows aren’t going to make themselves golden brown.” 

Buck moves out of his chair and walks over to Eddie with a roll of his eyes. “So it’s your way or the highway?”

“Is that an actual question?” Eddie laughs as he hovers the marshmallows over the coals, and Buck feels Eddie’s eyes on him as he settles beside him. Eddie carefully turns his marshmallows to make sure no side gets too dark.

“This is taking too long,” Buck whines after a minute, following Eddie’s lead and turning his marshmallows as well. “It’s so much faster to just set them on fire.”

“Good things come with time, Ev,” Eddie chuckles. “Haven’t you ever heard of a slow burn?”

The words catch Buck off guard and he lets out a throaty laugh. “Everyone hates a slow burn,” he finally mutters. His gaze flits over Eddie’s face, not missing the quiet way that he’s biting down on his lower lip, or the reserved look on his face. Like he wants to say something but is holding back.

Buck opens his mouth to say something, but Christopher interrupts asking if the marshmallows are ready yet and the moment slips away. “Incoming,” Eddie announces as he stands upright, moving over to Christopher and making the first of the smores.

Eddie and Buck each toast a few more marshmallows until they settle in their chairs, enjoying the s’mores. “These are amazing,” Buck manages before he goes in for another bite of the sweet treat.

“Best part of camping?” Chris asks.

“It’s too early to say,” Buck smiles. “Ask me when we’re packing up tomorrow.” Christopher stifles a yawn, which he tries to hide from his dad. Eddie notices and glances down at his watch.

“Mijo, you look like you’re getting sleepy and it’s past bedtime. Why don’t we take you to brush your teeth and get you all tucked in?”

“But Dad-” 

“I’m making a killer breakfast tomorrow, and we need to be out of here by 11. Which means you have to be up early to eat, yeah?” Buck asks with a smile. Without any further argument they get Christopher ready for bed and tucked in.  

“You gonna turn in early?” Buck asks as he walks over to the cooler and grabs a beer for himself and Eddie shakes his head. “You want a beer?” Eddie folds up Christopher’s camping chair and puts it away.

“Yeah I’ll take a beer,” Eddie says. “And for the record?  The last night of camping is the best night to stay up way too late.” He settles back into his chair and takes the beer that Buck offers to him. Buck notices for the first time that, in the absence of Christopher’s smaller chair, the armrest of his chair presses against Eddie’s.

Buck takes a few swigs of his beer as he watches the fire and listens to the light crackling of the campfire in front of them. This is so quiet, so peaceful. Being with the Diaz boys is exactly where Buck feels he belongs most in the world. “He had a great time. You’re really good at this-- at finding these special ways to bond with Chris. He’s lucky to have you.”

Eddie tilts his head slightly to look at Buck. “He’s lucky to have you, Buck. I’m his dad, he’s stuck with me for life.” Eddie chuckles into the otherwise quiet air, a random crackle sounding as embers float up from the fire every few seconds. “You choose to be in his life, in our lives. I’m glad that you came with us this weekend.”

Buck isn’t sure what to say to that. He knows that Eddie’s been trying harder lately to verbalize his emotions instead of keeping a top on them and the difference is obvious to Buck. There’s less tension in his shoulders than there used to be and his smiles reach his eyes again. “I’m glad, too. Even if I did bait you into bringing me.”

“You’d never been camping before, man.” Eddie shrugs like that explains everything. He feels a small twinge of guilt at Eddie’s words.

“This isn’t actually my first time camping,” Buck admits, his voice barely above a whisper before he takes a swig for beer. “It’s my second.”

“But you said-”

“I know. I know what I said.”

“You lied?” Silence falls between them and Buck thumbs over the label on his beer bottle. He drags his fingernail under the label, trying to figure out how to answer Eddie. “Why?”

Buck sighs as he rests his free hand against the armrest. “I don’t know, Eds, I-” he leans his head back then, glancing up at the darkened sky, eyes settling on a grouping of stars above. “I guess I just didn’t think you’d want me to tag along otherwise.  This is your time with Chris, and I shouldn’t have tricked you into inviting me.”

Buck hears Eddie shift in the seat next to him. “Is that what you think happened? That you  bullied  your way into an invitation?” Buck doesn’t move, he keeps his eyes fixed on the star-covered blanket above them, focusing on keeping his breathing slow and controlled so that it doesn’t betray him. “Ev,” Eddie whispers, fingers brushing against Buck’s wrist, sending a jolt through him. “We invited you because we wanted you here.”

“After I told you that I’d never camped before.”

“Yeah, but we were planning on asking you all along,” Eddie says softly, pausing as he seems to be pulling together his own thoughts. “Can I ask you what your first camping trip was like?”

They were planning on asking him all along?  Buck swallows hard as he tries to hold it together. He wonders what exactly he’d ever done to deserve to be treated as an unofficial member of the Diaz family. Sometimes the longing to be a part of their family was all-consuming, and he had to force himself to take a step back. This time he wasn’t able to take that step back,  he was greedy -- taking more than was his-- and they had planned to offer it to him all the same.

“Nothing like this weekend,” he says, “I went on a camping trip with my ex once, when I was like twenty, maybe twenty-one. We’d been together for a few months and he thought it would be a great idea to go away from the weekend. I’ve never argued with a person more than I did that weekend, ya know? Over putting up the tent, he was miserable about the bugs, sleeping on the floor. I just can’t recall a single happy memory from it. People always talk about going camping with their families. I was always kind of jealous of that because I never had that experience. Thank you for letting me pretend for the weekend.”

“Sounds like it was pretty miserable,” Eddie hums, his thumb brushing against Buck’s wrist again, causing Buck’s heart rate to spike. “I don’t know about you, but I haven’t pretended anything this weekend. You belong here as much as Chris and I do.”

Buck's breathing becomes more shallow with Eddie’s thumb resting against his pulse point. The heat feels like it’s going to sear a hole in the skin there. Buck hopes that it does so Eddie can seep into his bloodstream and live there; live in this moment and this feeling forever. He’s afraid to turn and look at Eddie, afraid of what he’ll see if he does. So he keeps his eyes focused on the campfire in front of them, swallowing hard against the feelings pressing harder into his chest that don’t want to remain dormant anymore.

His tongue darts out and wets his suddenly dry bottom lip. Buck feels a languid sweep of a finger against his jawline. He turns his head towards Eddie and looks into his hazel eyes, realizing his face is only inches away now.  “E-Eddie,” Buck’s voice cracks. He slips his beer carefully into the cupholder as his sole focus shifts to Eddie. His finger traces along Buck’s jawline again and Buck has a moment of denial, sure that he’s imagining this. After all this time, after all of their tiptoeing around each other there is no way that they’re going to take this next step.

Except they are. 

Buck reaches out a hand and gently cradles Eddie’s jaw, his thumb moving in a pattern similar to Eddie’s, hesitant. He watches the way that Eddie leans into his own hand slightly and being able to see Eddie’s reaction helps to settle Buck’s nerves, just a little. His eyes flutter closed as he angles in towards Eddie, feeling the whisper of Eddie’s breath against his face. The scent is a mix of beer, s’mores, and something that can only be described as Eddie. Their lips remain a hair’s breadth away, lingering there in the quiet, the only sound being the sporadic pop from the burning logs on the fire.

“Dad!” They both pull back slightly, the moment shattered. Eddie lets out an uneven breath, and Buck’s eyes widen slightly now that the promise of finally kissing Eddie has slipped away. “DAD! I have to pee!” Christopher calls from the tent that’s only a short distance away, his voice breaking them away from their silent trance.

“I-I’ll be right there, Christopher,” Eddie chokes out and he offers Buck a nervous smile as he moves to the tent. Buck watches as Eddie helps Christopher out of the tent to take him to the bathroom. Buck drops his head into his hands. His heart is thundering in his chest and his hands feel unsteady. 

The minutes drag on until Christopher and Eddie reappear and Buck smiles softly at them. Christopher walks over to Buck and wraps his arms around his neck. “Hey, what’s that for?” 

“I’m glad you came with us, Bucky.”

“Me too, kid. Me too.” He places a soft kiss on the crown of Christopher’s head.

“Come on, mijo, back to bed.” 

Christopher sighs unhappily and mutters, “Okay, Dad.”

Eddie returns a few moments later, and he seems to sit down beside him with uncertainty this time. He looks nervous, eyes focused anywhere that isn’t Buck’s face. Buck studies him, worrying his bottom lip between his teeth. Maybe he regrets making the first move. Maybe he’s thinking of all the reasons this can’t happen, the prospect of ruining their friendship. Maybe it’s better that it didn’t happen.

Maybe.

Buck wants to look away, wants to pretend the bubble didn’t completely break when Christopher called for Eddie. As much as he wants that, Eddie’s features tell him otherwise. There’s a hard set to his jaw and his brow is furrowed as he stares into the flames.

“Buck, I’m sorry,” he says finally. Buck’s eyes close briefly and he watches as a mask of regret washes over him. “I shouldn’t have-”

“I’m not.” The words stumble out before he can reign them back in.

“What?”

“I’m not sorry,” Buck says quietly as he studies Eddie. For the first time since he rejoined Buck by the campfire, Eddie turns his head and actually looks at Buck. He sees worry etched in Eddie’s features and Buck wants to reach out to smooth his thumb over the creases, a promise that everything’s okay.

“You’re not sorry?”

“I’m not,” Buck reiterates firmly. He knows it’s a risk, but it’s one that he has to take. “I’m only sorry that Chris had to pee.” He watches as the hard lines disappear, a quiet snicker slipping past Eddie’s lips. Buck places his hand over Eddie’s lightly, his thumb tracing an invisible line.

“So you’re really not…” Eddie trails off slowly, eyes lowering to where Buck is rubbing his thumb against Eddie’s forearm and wrist. “You’re not having second thoughts?”

“I’ve wanted this for…” Buck lets out a breath nervously as he turns his body completely towards Eddie. “For longer than I’d care to admit. I never even knew that this was on the table, but now that I  know that it is, Eddie. I don’t want to unthink it. Unless,” he pauses, observing Eddie’s reaction, “that’s what you need from me.

“No, I—no.”

“Okay, then…” Buck nods slightly, reaching out a hand to cradle Eddie’s face. “I’m going to kiss you now.” 

When he leans into Eddie’s space, their noses brush lightly and he hears Eddie’s breath hitch. Buck slides his other hand up Eddie’s arm until it rests at the nape of his neck, urging Eddie closer. Eddie’s reaction to his touch is all of the encouragement that Buck needs, capturing Eddie’s lips with his own. The kiss is firm and needy, Buck’s tongue pressing against Eddie’s lower lip. 

Eddie’s groan is muffled by Buck’s lips, parting his lips without further prompting. The positioning is awkward in the camping chairs, trying to stay connected and press further into each other to eliminate any offensive space. Buck nearly grumbles as their lips part. He moves out of his chair, crouching down in front of Eddie’s chair so that they’re level. Before Buck can move any closer, he feels Eddie’s hand grab his t-shirt by fistfuls, dragging him closer until his weight crushes against Eddie, lips and hands exploring. Buck finally breaks the kiss, breathless as he leans his forehead against Eddie’s, hand resting against Eddie’s chest, feeling his heart thrumming rapidly beneath his fingertips.

“Well…” Buck whispers breathlessly, dragging his fingers through his hair in an attempt to compose himself.

Eddie grins at him then and Buck considers kissing him again, but forces himself to remain upright and not move back into his space. “Still think you don’t belong here?”

Buck hums. “I’m not sure I’m convinced yet,” he teases, his lips turning upward into a content smile. Eddie leans forward and places a chaste kiss against his lips. Buck’s sure as soon as Eddie’s lips sweep against his so tenderly that he’s never belonged so completely before; the missing piece in someone else’s life.

[scotiaeire]

BURNING BONES: THE WORLD HISTORY OF BONFIRES

“ The source of the word is suitably gruesome for this time of year when tradition holds that the veil between the world of the living and the dead is whisper thin. The bon in bonfire isn’t from the French word for good (no matter what the wonderful Dr Johnson thought), it’s from bone. The original bonfires were fires for burning bones. “

ARTICLE SOURCE: https://wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2020/10/26/burning-bones-the-word-history-of-bonfires/

INTERESTING ARTICLE. AS A BAIRN I WAS TAUGHT “BONFIRES” STEMMED FROM BALEFIRES...FIRE NORMALLY LIT ATOP HILLS WHICH SIGNALLED INCOMING RAIDERS, AND BEFORE *THAT*, “BAL”FIRES, TO AN ANCIENT SUN GOD.

OF DR JOHNSON, I’M NOT AMONG HIS FANS. HE WAS PRETTY SCATHING TOWARDS THE NATIVES OF THE LAND OF MY BIRTH AT TIMES...

“ Although Johnson admitted he understood nothing about Scottish Gaelic, he reported what he had been told about it: "Of the Earse language, as I understand nothing, I cannot say more than I have been told. It is the rude speech of a barbarous people, who had few thoughts to express, and were content, as they conceived grossly, to be grossly understood". He thus popularized the misconception that the Gaels had no written literature going as far as reporting "that the Earse never was a written language; that there is not in the world an Earse manuscript a hundred years old; and that the sounds of the highlanders were never expressed by letters, till some little books of piety were translated, and a metrical version of the Psalms was made by the Synod of Argyle." 

THE ASSUMPTION THAT LITERACY WAS ONE OF THE FEW THINGS TO DESIGNATE INTELLECT AND CIVILISATION IS AN ANNOYING ONE. THE GAELS HAD A STRONG ORAL TRADITION IN WHICH PEOPLE WERE TRAINED FOR MANY YEARS TO MEMORISE, CONTAIN AND PASS ON NOT ONLY MYTHOLOGY AND LORE BUT THE HISTORY OF CLAN, PLACE, EVENTS AND MORE, AND TO DO IT *ACCURATELY*.

HOW MANY FOLKS CAN DO THAT NOW? PEOPLE NOW ARE SO USED TO STORING INFO ON THEIR DEVICES SOME I KEN HAVE TO LOOK UP THEIR OWN NAMES.... OK, SERIOUSLY, I *DO* KNOW FOLKS THAT HAVE TO LOOK UP THEIR OWN PHONE NUMBERS OR POSTCODES...

THAT THE GAELS WERE BARBAROUS SAVAGES WITH LITTLE CULTURE WAS A PREDOMINANTLY ENGLISH VIEWPOINT OF US. THE FACT THAT PEOPLE CAME TO SCOTLAND TO BE EDUCATED IN THE ORAL TRADITION AS WELL AS OTHER ARTS AND THAT INCLUDES WARFARE IS OFTEN IGNORED AND FORGOTTEN.

EVEN CUCHULAINN HIMSELF WAS SENT TO SCOTLAND TO BE TRAINED IN FIGHTING BY THE WARRIORESS SCATHACH.

SO AYE, JOHNSON CAN BUGGER OFF. SPENT MUCH TIME COMPLAINING ABOUT THE FOOD (BUT ATE PLENTY OF IT ALL THE SAME) AND MOANING ABOUT THE WEATHER (POSSIBLY IGNORANT OF THE FACT THAT THE FURTHER NORTH YOU GET, THE WILDER THE WEATHER ALSO BECOMES)

I DON’T KNOW IF BONFIRES ARE LEGAL OR NOT IN IRELAND (NOTE TO SELF: FIND OUT!) BUT I DO HAVE A WEE FIREPIT AND AM HOPING AGAINST HOPE THAT SAMNHAIN WILL BE A DRY ENOUGH NIGHT TO LIGHT A WEE FIRE. THOUGH GIVEN THE RAIN WE’RE HAVING AT THE MOMENT, IT’S PROBABLY 50/50 EITHER WAY.

WHERE I COME FROM, YOU’D LIGHT A BONFIRE THIS TIME OF YEAR AND SEND MESSAGES TO YOUR ANCESTORS IN THE FIRE VIA PIECES OF PAPER BURNED (DR JOHNSON WOULD NO DOUBT HAVE APPROVED) AND YOU SCRIED FOR OMENS IN THE FLAMES.

YOU ALSO BOBBED FOR APPLES, PEELED APPLES AND THREW THEM OVER YOUR SHOULDER FOR THE LETTER OF THE FIRST NAME OF YOUR FUTURE SPOUSE AND OTHER SUCH GAMES...YET THE APPLE IS IMPORTANT IN BOTH CELTIC AND NORSE CULTURE, NORMALLY REFERRING TO HEALTH AND LONGEVITY, AND FERTILITY.

ROASTING MARSHMALLOWS, ENTIRELY MODERN TRADITION BUT HEY, I’M NOT AVERSE TO GOOD CHANGE! THOUGH I’D RATHER DROP MY MARSHMALLOWS INTO A STEAMING HOT MUG OF CHOCOLATE AND JUST LET THEM MELT.

WHEN IT COMES TO FIRE IN GENERAL, THE ONLY TIME I LIVED IN A HOME WITHOUT A HEARTH WAS IN EXILE IN BELGIUM. IT FELT...STRANGE. WASN’T THE HOUSE’S FAULT..AT  ONE POINT IT DID HAVE A FIREPLACE, AS YOU COULD SEE BY THE DEFUNCT CHIMNEY ON THE ROOF.

SPEAKING FOR MYSELF HERE, I BELIEVE A HOME NEEDS A HEARTH, WITH A FIRE AT IT’S HEART. FIRE REPRESENTS SO MUCH AND THE ROOTS OF IT GO BACK SO FAR IT’S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEPARATE THE HISTORY OF FIRE FROM MANKIND.

AND AS WITH THE AUTHOR OF THE ARTICLE, I TAKE PRIDE IN USING FLINT AND STEEL OR FERRO ROD AND A WEE KNIFE I USE FOR A STRIKER, TO START A FIRE.

I DID, ONCE, MANAGE THE STICK RUBBING. TOOK ME AGES, LEFT MY HANDS AND ARMS ACHING AND I SWORE TO TAKE MY ZIPPO WITH ME NEXT TIME.  SO I COMPROMISE..THE ROD AND STRIKER IS “IT” IF I’M CAMPING OR CAN’T FIND THE HOUSE MATCHES.

BUT WHAT CAN BEAT SITTING ON A COLD WINTER’S NIGHT IN FRONT OF A BLAZING FIRE, TOASTING FEET OR MARSHMALLOWS, OR STARING INTO EMBERS AND SEEING LANDSCAPES OR EVENTS UNFOLD AND KENNING OUR ANCESTORS WOULD IDENTIFY WITH THE COMFORT, ENJOYMENT AND IMPORTANCE OF THE LIVING FLAME.

TALKING OF BONE BURNING, BTW, THAT TAKES SOME HEAT.

IN THE NORTH OF SCOTLAND THERE ARE “BURNT GLASS MOUNDS”. I’VE SEEN A FEW SO DISAGREE WITH THE “BATHING AND COOKING” THEORY, SIMPLY DUE TO THE SIZE OF SOME OF THEM, AND THE HEAT NEEDED TO CREATE GLASS. NOBODY’S GETTING IN A BATH *THAT* HOT....FOLKS INTERESTED IN GLASS MOUNDS CAN READ MORE HERE THOUGH THERE’S A LOT OF INFO ONLINE...

http://assyntfireandwater.aocarchaeology.com/what-is-a-burnt-mound/

SUTHERLAND WAS MY STOMPING GROUND BEFORE MOVING TO SCOTLAND, WITH ASSYNT NOT TOO FAR FROM US. FROM BURNT MOUNDS TO SOUTTERAINS AND “DRUID TEMPLES”, STONE CIRCLES AND HOLLOW HILLS, THE NORTH OF SCOTLAND IS AWASH WITH HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY, MUCH OF IT STILL REMOTE AND UNINVESTIGATED. WHICH, IMO, IS NICE. :)

“SUTHERLAND” BTW WAS NORSE NAMED, FROM “SUDRLAND”, LITERALLY, SOUTH LAND.

IF YOU’RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE LIGHTING YOUR BALEFIRE THIS YEAR, MIND BE SAFE AND HAVE FUN. TRY A WEE BIT SCRYING. IF YOU FIND OUT NEXT YEAR’S GOING TO BE AN IMPROVEMENT ON THIS ONE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW...