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maiamore · 14 days ago

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LUCKY YOU

Pairing: Joel Miller x Female!Reader - No Outbreak

Rating: 18+ | W/C: 2.7k

Summary: Joel tries to read his book instead of giving his wife attention on his honeymoon.

Or, Joel fucks his wife at the beach.

Tags: husband!joel, public indecency, sex on the beach, established relationship, outdoor sex, p in v sex, accidental creampie,honeymoon vibes,able bodied reader, implied age gap, slight coercing(?) reader just wants her husband to fuck her on her honeymoon smfh, use of pet names, pussy pronouns, one use of the word daddy A/N: i don't even have to explain what conjured this, beach pedro y'all, i enjoyed writing this SO MUCH

Edit: this song, Image - Magdalena Bay suits this fic perfectly in my head arghh MASTERLIST

It wasn’t easy getting a man like Joel Miller to relax.

Every goddamn chance he got, he’d find a way to keep busy–mind or body. Whether it was fixing the creaky cabinet door or patching up the leaky air-conditioning unit that the landlord swore they'd call someone for. Joel thrived on activity, claiming it "kept the bad thoughts away." Whatever those bad thoughts were, you weren’t sure, but you suspected they’d always be lurking at the edges.

Even now, with the tropical sun bathing both of you in its’ lazy warmth and the lull of crystal blue waves breaking the shore, Joel had insisted on unwinding by reading, of all things.

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead.

Given, it was a good read, you’d insisted for him to give it a try. And you’d enjoyed it—a book that had you question societal norms, ethical implications of how humanity treated animals and the environment through the eyes of Janina Duszejko.

Could you really be upset at your husband keeping his mind occupied with a good book?

Oh, you could. And you would. Considering this was your honeymoon.

Three blissful, chaotic years of marriage had finally led you both here. A getaway, tucked in a small Caribbean resort. You both managed to rub every damned spare penny together and finally found yourselves living a much needed pleasure.

You spent your mornings indulging in piña coladas and your afternoons barefoot on powder soft sand with cool foam kissing your ankles. Taking in the salty ocean air.

To Joel’s credit, you were finally getting to see a side of him you weren’t able to in your entirety of knowing him.

The deep creases of his brows had disappeared, replaced by something softer, easier. The only lines on his face now were the crows feet that appeared in his relaxed laughter. Work and responsibility kept him on his feet back in Austin. But here? With Tommy stepping up to manage Miller’s Construction, Joel had let himself breathe.

A man unburdened. Lord knows he’d deserved it. Though it was a double edged sword.

You’d never found your husband sexier than ever in his relaxed state and your libido was through the fucking roof.

If his hand wasn’t resting on the small of your back, it was tangled in yours, his thumb brushing lazy circles into your palm. And when it wasn’t there? It was on your thigh beneath the dinner table, his fingers tracing the outline of your knee absentmindedly.

You found yourself stealing glances at him.

In complete awe at the man who could quite literally wrestle a washing machine up three flights of stairs without breaking a sweat—look so utterly peaceful, sprawled on the sun lounger. With sand clinging to his calves and a vibrant blue book spread open within his thumb and forefingers.

Good fucking god. His hands.

Your palm crinkled around the sweet peach seltzer that you pulled from the mini cooler, desperate to quench the growing thirst. The fizz popped against your lips as Joel glanced up from his book, offering you a smile with the soft shadow you brought with you. An angel you were, he thought.

He adjusted just enough to plant a kiss on your cheek, his scruff tickling your skin. A grin spread across your face and you leaned in to steal a proper kiss, only for him to swerve to give the book his attention.

“Enjoying your honeymoon with the book?” You snark, flopping onto the soft white cushion beside him. Unpacking the essentials you’d lugged out here.

“Don’t be dramatic, darlin’. S’a good book.” He remarks, voice slow and warm, like honey dripping from its dipper. He doesn’t lift his gaze to look at you. Though his palm comes up to knead around your waist in a half assed attempt to acknowledge your existence.

You huffed, sinking into the lounger. The deep blues of your bikini catching in the sunlight. Joel’s gaze flicked up for a moment and you caught the way his tongue darted out to wet his bottom lip, like he was trying to play it cool.

He snorted suddenly. “You tryin’ to be the book, hopin’ I’ll look atcha’ more?”

You paused, squinting at him before glancing down at your bikini and then the book cover. Damn it. They were the same shade of blue. A groan left you as you grabbed the sunscreen and tossed it his way.

“Don’t start. It’s a coincidence, Miller.”

He catches the bottle one handed, setting his book aside. You notice him eyeing you again as you turn to present your back. This surely would rile him up just a little and finally get his attention, wouldn’t it?

The untied straps of your bikini dangled and you give him a pointed look over your shoulder.

“Well?”

��Aight, Mrs Miller. C’mere.”

He muttered a curse underneath his breath, squeezing a dollop of sunscreen into his palm. He worked the lotion over your shoulders and down your back, his calloused hands moving slow and deliberate, like he was savoring every second. The curve of your waist–down to the dip of your spine, it was all too much.

“You sure this ain’t part of your plan?” he begins, his voice low, a little strained now.

“What plan?” you tossed over your shoulder, feigning innocence.

“Mmhmm. You’re real sneaky, y’know that?”

You smirked, closing your eyes as his hands smoothed over your skin. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He lets out a frustrated little breath, planting a chaste kiss on the back of your shoulder like it might ground him. His hands lingered for just a second too long on the gentle curve of your waist before he pulls away, clearing his throat and settling back into his lounger.

Joel was still a red-blooded man. How the hell was he supposed to keep his head straight when his wife looked like that, all soft and pretty, perched right there like she didn’t know the power she had over him?

Without another word, Joel busies himself with fiddling the pages. Trying real hard to convince himself he hadn’t just lost that round. But the way his thumb taps restless against the edge of the book gave him away.

You knew going into this relationship that being a man almost a decade older than you would entail a quieter life.

Joel’s age had never been an issue. Not when he could still work circles around men half his years and definitely not in bed. No, he had no need for the blue pill, thank you very much. But times like this? Times when you’d laid yourself out like a fucking michelin star dessert and he couldn’t be bothered to take so much as a bite?

That was fucked.

You lift your shades to perch on your head, glancing around the beach. It was almost empty, just a few scattered umbrellas and the rhythmic sound of waves breaking against the shore. Yet here he was, sunk deep into his book. The golden rays danced along his tanned skin, kissing the flecks of gray in his beard like he was a goddamn painting.

Your teeth catches your bottom lips before you finally decide to make a move. With a casual shift, you scooted snug next to him, thigh hooking around his underneath your paisley blue and white blanket. Your fingers drift to rest over his, twisting the cool silver of his wedding band.

Joel doesn’t look up right away but he gives a soft grunt of acknowledgement. Tugging you closer with a firm hand on your waist. He leans in to press a kiss just below your ear, the scrape of his beard sending a delicious shiver down your spine.

“Somethin’ on your mind, sweetheart?” he murmurs.

“Oh, not much,” you replied, glancing pointedly at his book. “Just wondering if it’s one of those magic books from Harry Potter that sprouts new pages.”

He smirks, finally tilting his head to look at you, eyes full of that slow, teasing mischief. “Maybe it’s ‘cause someone keeps tryin’ to distract me.”

You gasped, hand flying to your chest like you were scandalized. “Me? I’d never.”

“Uh huh,” he hums, clearly unconvinced.

You swat at his arm playfully but he catches your wrist, pulling you in for a deep kiss. It wasn't a chaste one this time. His lips locked with yours, slow, attentive. The taste of piña colada lingered on his tongue, mingling with the faint tang of sea salt from his earlier dip in the ocean. Your hands drift to the strings of his red swimsuit, sliding lower down the middle.

That makes him pull away. Looking at you half-lidded, though he doesn’t quite move your hand.

“You tryin’ to get us arrested, baby girl?”

“There’s no one around, Joel.”

You offer as you lean in to kiss him again. You feel him hesitate, rightfully so. Maybe it was the drinks you’d pumped into your systems earlier, but Joel doesn’t push you away this time. His rough palm comes to wrap around the back of your neck, drawing the sweetness of peaches from the seltzer from your tongue into his.

“Gotta make it quick, then.” He murmurs into your lips as you feel him guide you onto his lap. To your delight, your husband was already rock fucking hard for you.

He lets out a drawn out sigh as you rock your hips onto his erection, his palm steady behind you to encourage your movements. He couldn’t have been any harder now. “Lookin’ like fuckin’ sin.” His thumb swipes up to the gusset of your bikini bottoms.

“What’re you trying to do t’me?”

You smile against his lips. “Finally noticing your poor neglected wife?” You flip your hair to the other side of your shoulders to nip at his ear lobe. He tenses at that, grabbing your jaw with a rough hold.

“Had to, baby. Else we’d be spendin’ this entire vacation with my cock stuffed in this needy fuckin’ pussy.”

You shudder at the want in his voice. You attempt to reply but a thumb slips into your parted lips, two fingers coaxing the drool out.

You let out a soft uunff as Joel pulls out his fingers with a string of your saliva following. “Gross. Supergoop tastes like shit.”

“Yeah well, didn’t give me much time to get all cleaned up for you now did ya?”

He grins at your little complaints about the taste of sunscreen on his fingers. You were quickly shut up by the sensation of his split slick fingers nudging into your pussy.

You groan out. Hips jumping as he probes into you gently. You catch the flutter of your beach blanket in your peripheral, watching as Joel covers both of you–as well as it could've from the bottom down.

“Don’t think that’s gonna do shi—hhhhiitt.” Your words slurrs at Joel’s steadily thrusts into your pussy. Your hands come to rest on his shoulders. “God. Baby that’s so—…so good..” You manage, words barely a whisper.

Joel leans in to pepper kisses up your jaw. “I know. Practically suckin’ my fingers in.” He mumbles against your neck, fingers squelching deeper into your walls, caressing it in a repeated motion. His thumb swipes against your throbbing clit simultaneously.

“So fuckin’ warm n’ soft. She’s gonna milk my cock dry.” He mutters, more so to himself.

A sharp shiver creeps down your spine. “J-Joel—…i’mclose—…shit i’msosoclose—“ You mutter incoherently. Your hips rising a little to Joel’s persistent finger-fucking.

He hums against your shoulder. Other hand, keeping your hips down firm, making sure you felt the full bearing of his two fingers thrusting in and out of your pussy. “Give it t’me.”

Your eyes roll back in pure fucking ecstasy within a matter of seconds. Hips attempting to squirm away from Joel’s fingers. He kisses your cheeks softly.

“Good fucking girl.”

You let out a fucked out giggle. Suckling at his jaw and down his neck. Joel doesn’t give you much of a cool down, evident in the way he’d already been sliding his pre-cum soaked cock out of his swim trunks, nudging the tip against your sticky folds.

His thumb pushes aside the gusset of your bikini bottoms further, watching your slick bubble around the soaked fabric.

“Lookit’, all ready to fuckin’ go.” He grins. With a quick glance around to check for the soul of another, he fully sheathes himself into you.

He groans out and earns a pathetic whimper from you at the motion. Joel tips his head back against the lounger. Almost seizing up at how your tight pussy strangles his cock.

“Oh, god!”

“Ain’t god, sugar. All me.”

He chuckles at the way you shoot him a warning look, though it held no bite. Joel wraps his arm around your hips to piston himself into your pussy.

The sounds of your cunt squelching as you slam down onto his pelvis spurs you on even further as you ride him. Joel looks up. Letting out a sssst as though he’d been burned at the sight of your tits bouncing before him like a goddamned porn star.

“Right outta Hustler issue cover, baby girl.”

“Lucky you.” You laugh a little. Head tipped back to keep up your momentum, rocking your hips to his periodic grinds. You wince as your hair sticks to the back of your shoulders uncomfortably. The prick of overstimulation long gone at the glint of Joel’s gaze on you.

You feel the strings at the back of your bikini unravel at Joel’s gentle tug, allowing your bikini top to shift just enough for your tits to spill out.

Joel gathers your hair loosely off your shoulders. Driving headfirst to pop a tit into his mouth. The grumble he emits against your chest makes you giggle, the scruffiness distracting you from your discomfort.

“Ahhh shit!” You whine out. His hips stutter relentlessly into you as you arch deeper to rest your full body weight onto him. Letting him do the work as he lazily thrusts into you.

“Aww sweetheart, tired already? Lettin’ yer old man do all the damn work?” You offer a mere grunt at his taunt. “Shut up. You’re the one taking for-fucking ever.”

Joel doesn’t respond to you right away, but you get the memo when he pretty much begins to thrust into you like a man unhinged.

The grip around the back of your hair turns meaner when he tugs you to look at him. Deep brown eyes pooling in admiration and sheer fucking need.

“Look at me.” He commands. The way he jackhammers into your pussy being the only constant. “Look at me when I fuckin’ cum in this pussy.”

Your gaze flickers in slight surprise, soft gasps turning into moans when he thumbs your clit. “W-Wait. Joel—I-I can’t.” You manage when the sensation builds in you again.

He adjusts his hold onto your hair in a pleasant grip. Making sure you looked at him while he fucked you hard and fast.

“Yeah y’can.” He grunts into your ears, fucking you deeper in shorter bursts now. Joel could feel his balls steadily tensing up.

“Give daddy nother’ one n’ I’ll consider fuckin’ this come deep into ya.”

You grit your teeth in focus, desperate to give him what he wanted. If you couldn’t come with just his fat cock poking deep into you, you’d come at the way he was looking at you. Brows knit in focus, lips twitched in an attempt to not come.

You finally falter, nails digging into his shoulder as your gaze flashes white and orange. Squeezing around his cock. Joel shudders at the sensation.

“Shit, baby, I’m gonna—”

You snap your gaze up when you hear a shuffle from behind the parasols. It doesn’t register in your head how you managed to grab the yellow and white and yellow tube.

Joel seems to catch your shock, but he isn’t able to stop his cum from spurting deep into your cunt the same time you squirt an obscene amount of sunscreen into his chest.

His hand instinctively comes up to adjust your bikini top, more so to make sure he isn’t letting his wife flash her yabbos out to other people.

You stiffen up, palm smearing the sticky white lotion down Joel’s chest as one of the resort workers comes around with arms full of beach cleaning supplies.

“Um…bonjou?”

#pedro pascal #joel miller #joel miller smut #joel miller x reader #joel miller x y/n #joel the last of us #joel x reader #joel miller fanfiction #joel miller one shot #joel miller x you #joel miller fic #joel miller fanfic

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atticinsulationpro · 2 years ago

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minkdelovely · 3 months ago

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kinktober — day III

prompt: lingerie

mirror, mirror

“like seeing shooting stars in the sky there’s danger in the dark of your eyes”

✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧

Alastor x Lucifer ; RadioApple ; MDNI 18+

tags/warnings: human au, age gap (lucifer is fifty, alastor is mid-thirties), non-sex-repulsed alastor, luci is a bummed divorcé, alastor is an attentive salesman, unhinged peter mention, rimming, anal fingering, prostate massage, dom!alastor x sub!luci vibes? 🪞✨

word count: 4.8k

summary: lucifer, fresh off a finalized divorce, wants to buy himself a present, but is pretending to shop for his now ex-wife as a cover. alastor, the shopkeeper, helps to curate the perfect gift.

author’s note: hello my little devils! i hope you’ve been enjoying kinktober so far, and i am here to humbly offer up my first piece of the month. this is also my first attempt at a human au, and i had a lot of fun with it. i love making luci up into a pretty, rich suburbanite hehe quote is from lightning by charli xcx

coven: @fraugwinska @hazelfoureyes @macabr3-barbi3 @sugoi-writes @synamartia 🕯️♥️

the coven’s kinktober masterlist

✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧

Lucifer was sat at the patio of a cafe, killing time. His latte had gone cold at least twenty minutes ago. The foamed milk had dissolved and oil from the coffee beans left a reflective film on the surface that turned his stomach, while his fingers anxiously tore at the delicious (and overpriced) pain au chocolat he had ordered with it. He was alone, but that wasn’t unusual these days.

Or, well… for the last couple years, if he was being honest.

The divorce had been finalized a month ago, but his marriage had been colder than his coffee long before that. How Lilith hadn’t walked away sooner than she did at the top of this year was a mystery, considering the winter their marriage had become. Their split had been colder still. Dividing their assets with an aloof disinterest that never failed to spook their attorneys, who were much more accustomed to — and delighted by — bloodbaths.

My bitch of a mother-in-law is warmer, his own had quipped through a plastic smile. And she’s been dead for five years!

Lucifer paid it no mind. It was none of Peter’s fucking business how the rift between him and his wife had gotten as wide as it had. Their interests and careers had pushed them further and further apart with every one of Charlie’s birthdays, every anniversary. Until the gap was simply too far to bridge.

A Gap Too Far, one could call it.

A huff of a laugh rattled his petite frame, and he shook his head at the lameness of the joke — though it would make for a decent porno, and he was partial to Historical Fiction. The wry smile on his lips was the first to grace him all week. But he wasn’t here to wallow in self pity in view of the general public. There was plenty of time to do that at home.

Lucifer eyed the boutique across the street, his pulse jumping as he watched a man approach the inside of the display window and flip the elegant wooden Closed sign to Open.

He had noticed the place the last time he and Charlie came here for some retail therapy. This street had always been a favorite destination of hers, and Lucifer would be lying if he said he didn’t enjoy it himself. It was like if Rodeo Drive had gone Coastal Grandma. Spanish style buildings with crisp white exteriors, hand-painted shop names, and espresso tiled roofs. Tree-covered patio dining at nearly every restaurant. Serenely picturesque, albeit a bit uppity. It was a bitch-and-a-half to find parking, though.

They had shopped for hours until eventually capping the day with some gelato before making the forty-five minute drive home. In short, it had been a perfect day. As was typically the case when he was spending time with his daughter.

The lingerie shop had replaced a different store — one that Lucifer couldn’t really remember. Before a couple months ago, it had been nearly two years since the last time he was here. Point being, he was just really glad the place was still there and he definitely would have noticed it before.

The guy inside didn’t hurt, either…

Lucifer had seen him through the window as he and Charlie walked past to get to the record store across the way. It was a brief meeting of eyes, but earth-shattering all the same. Lucifer would never forget how the body shiver left his hair on edge, like he had just passed through a cloud of static. Those warm hazel eyes, dazzling smile, and handsome face all but burned into his retinas and Lucifer had spent many hours since imagining what his voice sounded like or what cologne he wore.

It had been so hard not to find an excuse to sneak away from Charlie to slip into the boutique. Beyond the Adonis working there, the display window was immaculately dressed with a selection of elegant silk and chiffon robes; enticing passersby with their pretty silhouettes and rich colors. Lucifer had a particular… weakness when it came to this, and it was one he had been unable to properly indulge in during his marriage. But he had been dreaming of the gorgeous robes (and the equally gorgeous mystery man) for weeks, and now that everything had gone through with the separation he couldn’t see a reason why he shouldn’t treat himself.

To a robe! Or maybe a playsuit.

Lucifer finished the last bite of his pastry and brushed the crumbs off his fingers, giving himself a quick once-over to ensure none of the toasted flecks had settled on his clothes. While he scrunched his nose at needlessly overpriced things, such as his breakfast, he didn’t bat an eye when it came to his wardrobe. Lucifer would rather be struck dead by lightning in the street than enter the lingerie shoppe in a stained cashmere sweater. Mercifully, he had avoided disaster. The heather-pink of his sweater remained untarnished, his white linen pants pristine; a favorite of his that showcased the daintiness of his ankles. There weren’t even any scuffs on his loafers, which he had owned and worn now for at least a year.

He caught his reflection in the cafe window and preened. Fuck, he looked good, especially for fifty. His platinum blonde hair was perfectly tousled, designer sunglasses resting just above his forehead like a makeshift headband. The crossbody bag he found with Charlie accentuated his slim waist under the comfort of his sweater, the hemline of which stopped at the hip, allowing for a full view of his lean legs and resiliently pert ass. The slight opacity of the linen showing off his meticulously chosen underwear and the legs in question when the sun hit him just right.

Yeah. He was definitely just here to buy a robe…

✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧

The pleasant sound of a bell rang as Lucifer entered the boutique, a delicate tinkle compared to the nervous beating of his heart and the soft jazz that was playing over the speakers. Now that he was in the shop, Lucifer couldn’t help but wonder if he hadn’t underprepared himself for this. An initial sweep of the inventory revealed an overwhelming choice of items, making him the proverbial kid in the candy store, and he felt immediately out of his depth. Not that this was his first time in a place like this. Far from it. But it was the first time he was here to explicitly shop for himself, and not for Lilith.

The mysterious shopkeeper looked up from his place behind the counter with an easy smile, and Lucifer felt that same static tingle ripple through him again as he made his way out from behind it to greet him. The younger man was taller than him by nearly a foot, with a sinuous frame that Lucifer wanted to climb like a tree. If he had any desire to back out, there was no way out of this now.

“Good morning, sir, welcome in! Is there anything I may help you find today?”

Lucifer was properly stupefied, the reality of the voice he’d been daydreaming of far exceeding expectation. His voice was rich and smooth, reminiscent of a golden-age movie star, with a slight nasal pitch. And while the distance between them was polite, they were standing close enough that Lucifer could catch the smallest whiff of cologne and swallowed thickly at the tantalizing blend of tobacco and vanilla. The warm, inviting scent was agonizingly perfect and it took all he had not to drool. It was too easy to imagine the man spritzing his gorgeous tawny skin with the perfume, standing only in his belted pants and a white tank top before moving on to get fully dressed.

How was he this much of a mess over someone whose name he didn’t even know? Lucifer scanned for a name tag but found nothing. With how cleanly-dressed the man was, he wouldn’t be surprised if the missing tag was a win for aesthetics over professionalism. Not that Lucifer was offended by its absence, but it would have been a nice way to avoid having to go through the mental gymnastics of asking after this guy’s name in a way that didn’t reveal his desperation to know it.

It didn’t help with the way those hazel eyes were watching him behind thin-rimmed glasses. Paired with his primly styled chestnut hair, it gave him the air of a sexy librarian despite the blood-red button-up and slacks he was wearing in a sea of lace and leather.

“Good morning!” Lucifer reciprocated, perhaps a tad too boisterously, with the flash of amusement that crossed the man’s face. “Uh, this is actually my first time in, so I think I’ll just look around for now…”

The admission sparked something in those beguiling eyes, and the toothy, bright smile that followed made Lucifer want to scream.

“You don’t say! Well, I appreciate you stopping in to take a peek at this shop of mine. Please feel free to wander — I’ll be right behind the counter if you need anything Mister…?”

Thank God, an opening.

“Oh, please call me Lucifer,” he supplied, reactively sticking his hand out in greeting to reveal the middle-aged man that he was. “And who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?”

For a second Lucifer worried that he had laid it on too thick, but the thought disappeared when the younger man accepted his hand with a firm shake and a light laugh.

“My name is Alastor, and I assure you the pleasure is all mine, Lucifer. I hope you enjoy looking around, but please don’t hesitate to ask for any assistance. It’s just yours truly today, as you can see, so consider me at your mercy.”

If you only fucking knew, Alastor.

✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧

Lucifer spent the next fifteen minutes meandering through the store, taking his time to inspect the collection of robes, corsets, and hosiery. Despite the boutique being relatively small, Lucifer had to admit that he was quite impressed with the selections offered here. There was an array of brassieres, ranging from cute to scandalous, some made with lace while others were adorned in Swarovski crystals. Most of them had matching panties, though Lucifer had managed to find a few that also paired with a corset and other accessories.

He had been particularly tempted by a set that came with an ouvert suspender, the attached lace panties designed with a small opening between the hips that left him just a little out of breath even though the open gusset in the back was much more… inviting. He didn’t have breasts to fill out the brassiere with though, so the price tag felt a bit more justifiable given that he could get away with just the suspender, some stockings, and maybe some pasties if he was really going for it. It wasn’t what he originally had in mind, but the thought of leaving it behind made Lucifer’s heart sink.

Not that he had anyone to show it off to, but this was supposed to be a gift to himself. Something he could put on in the comfort of his bedroom and make himself feel good on days when life was kicking his ass, which had been all too common recently.

“Find something we like?” Alastor’s voice came from behind him, his breath tickling the back of Lucifer’s ear with his proximity.

Lucifer jumped a bit, forced back into the present from his daydream. The image of his pale skin glowing under the sleek, almost wet-looking black fabric and lace still burning in his mind’s eye.

“Oh! Uh… yeah, you could say that,” he answered bashfully, clearing his throat. Though he didn’t bother to hide the little number in his hands. “I’m just wondering what my, uh, wife would think of it.”

Alastor hummed in response, the sound of it too ambiguous for Lucifer to decipher, but hopefully he had maintained his cover. While Lucifer definitely had a little bit of a crush on the man, he wasn’t quite ready to admit to a stranger that he was actually in here for himself. Whether or not Alastor would care was an answer to something he found himself too scared to want to know.

“What does she normally like?” Alastor posed, walking out from behind him. “I might be biased, but I find this set to be pretty glamorous. I can’t see why she’d find it offensive. Between us, it’s one of my favorites that we’re selling now.”

Lucifer could’ve fallen to his knees then and there. His daydream, still too fresh in his mind, elicits his image again now with Alastor sitting on the edge of his bed. Those hazel eyes gone dark with hunger as Lucifer stands between his legs, lost in the abyss while Alastor kneads his backside with those lovely hands of his.

“Her taste changes with the tides,” Lucifer says wryly. “Likes to keep me on my toes, I guess.”

If only that had been the full truth. Changing tastes, yes, but Lilith couldn’t be bothered to keep him in the loop. Nor had he cared to be after years of mutual indifference. He had done his best to stop caring after the first dozen failed attempts at reigniting their spark, seeking his own pleasures and comfort in the solace of what became his bedroom when Lilith temporarily moved into the pool house. And Lord knows she was having a grand old time in there. What a relief it had been when she moved out for good, leaving his driveway clear of unfamiliar (and ever-changing) luxury cars.

“Would you like to try it on?” Alastor offered, arms crossed respectfully behind his back.

The perfect neutrality in his tone delayed Lucifer’s ability to process the question, until it hit him like a ton of bricks. His face grew hot and he felt himself stir in his pants at the prospect, deepening the flush on his face. He was more than eager to make his daydream a reality but… here?

“Me?” Lucifer balked, a nervous laugh following suit. “Oh no! It’s not for me, why would I try it on?”

Alastor’s smile was polite, but his eyes gleamed with a mischief that made Lucifer feel naked, and he shifted self-consciously on his feet.

“To make sure it fits, of course! How nice it must be that you both wear a similar size.”

They didn’t.

Lucifer had always thought his petite frame paled in comparison to Lilith’s buxom figure, though they complimented each other nicely. But Alastor didn’t need to know that, and it really would be a shame to spend all this money on something that might not fit him once he got home. Or even worse, what if he just didn’t end up liking it? He’d have to drive all the way back here to return or exchange it, like so many other dejected partners who had failed to get the perfect gift.

For the second time today he thought he’d rather be struck dead by lightning. If he was coming back here, it wouldn’t be to take a hit on Alastor’s sales goals.

Fuck it.

“Yeah, I suppose you have a point… you’re the professional, after all.”

The smile Alastor bestowed on him then made Lucifer shiver, it was so disarmingly handsome. Had he been paying more attention to Alastor’s eyes he may have well and truly fallen to his knees. But since he hadn’t, he followed the younger man to the back of the store where the dressing rooms were.

✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧

A knock on the door gave Lucifer a start.

“Lucifer, are you decent? I’ve taken the liberty of grabbing a few other items for you to consider. I hope you don’t mind.”

Decent.

He was, in fact, anything but.

Lucifer had been admiring his reflection for the last few minutes, having gotten himself situated in the suspender. The inky black fabric was cool and soft against his porcelain skin, glowing like candlelight against the darkness. It fit like a dream, hugging the taper of his waist in the front while the lace of the open gusset and chap style of the garment elevated his ass from perfect to ethereal. Lucifer had actually started tearing up before he realized his dick was getting hard. A revelation made mere seconds before Alastor knocked on the door.

So, no. He wasn’t decent in any sense of the word.

Mercifully, Alastor had provided a robe for him to slip into, and he quickly pulled it on while calling over his shoulder that he’d be just a second. He shuddered from the sensation of his awakening cock throbbing against the slight abrasiveness of the lace, hoping to whatever God could hear him that Alastor wouldn’t notice he had been turned on by his own reflection.

He took a deep breath and opened the door, Alastor looking statuesque in his patience with an array of pretty black fabric in his arms.

“Whoa, you weren’t kidding,” Lucifer said, a little breathless.

“I figured it might help, since you’re still on the fence with the suspender. Have you tried it on yet?”

Lucifer glanced away, sweat breaking out on the back of his neck. The polite look on Alastor’s face was too much of a contradiction for the obscenity he was hiding under his robe. But there was no reason to lie.

“Uh, yeah, actually. It fits really well,” Lucifer conceded. Then, remembering his cover-up, he quickly added, “Too bad it’s not for me, though! Let’s see what else you’ve got there.”

Alastor merely smiled and presented his curation. Lucifer inspected the items with reverence, soaking in the feeling of each of the differing fabrics and garments. He had never felt so free to enjoy them before, his admiration always forced through a lens of appreciating how they looked on someone else. He had been looking at a pair of stockings when it hit him.

They were in his size.

True, he had gone along with the facade that he and his pretend-wife were similar in size. It hadn’t phased Lucifer in the least when he was looking at the slips and panties Alastor had procured. But as the realization of the hosiery bloomed, Lucifer also realized that there weren’t any bras or corsets in the pile. Lucifer felt dizzy as blood rushed to his face and cock, and the proud chuckle from the younger man didn’t help.

“Looks like I’ve been found out,” Alastor said smoothly, not at all apologetic. “I hope I haven’t overstepped, but I couldn’t help myself. You have lovely taste so I figured I’d give you a few options if the suspender wasn’t working out. I hope you haven’t changed out of it — I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing it modeled yet.”

Alastor gave him a pointed, hopeful look that made Lucifer wonder if he hadn’t slipped into a coma somehow. Or a fever dream. While he had spent the last few weeks daydreaming over Alastor, he had never expected anything to really come from it. His whole cover story painted him as a married man, for fuck’s sake!

If Alastor noticed any of the alarm on Lucifer’s blushing face, he was doing a great job at hiding it. Lucifer’s heart was in his ears as Alastor stepped into the dressing room, and felt his cock somehow getting harder underneath the silk robe when Alastor presented a small, black corset from behind his back.

“I thought this waspie might pair well with the suspender. If you’d allow me, I’d be more than happy to lace it up for you.”

It was a generous thought, but Lucifer was scrambling. How the fuck was he supposed to go about telling Alastor no without revealing the fact that he had a raging fucking hard-on under this robe?

“Um, that’s uh — ahem, a very kind offer but —”

Lucifer’s blush intensified as his floundering echoed in his mind in real time. He had felt so confident not even an hour ago. Now here he was, reduced to sputtering excuses to hide his erection like it was eighth grade Math class all over again.

“Oh, you don’t like it? That’s a shame, but I’m sure we could find something else.”

“No, no, it’s very nice. I’m just, uh —”

“If you’re nervous about it hurting, I can assure you that it’s actually quite comfortable. In fact, I’m wearing one myself.”

The statement made Lucifer’s brain short circuit, and the words were out of his mouth before he could stop them.

“I have an erection! I can’t take the robe off because I have an erection!”

A heavy silence fell over them, Lucifer’s shameful confession hanging heavy in the air. Oh god, if only he could disappear. Turn into mist and dissolve from sunlight, like early morning fog.

“You… have one right now?” Alastor asked, as if not understanding.

Lucifer couldn’t even answer, merely nodding his head as he pinched his eyes shut in an effort to hide.

“From wearing the suspender?”

“Yes,” Lucifer huffed, wrapping his arms around himself. “I was looking at myself in the mirror and it just… happened. So, look, just… give me a couple minutes and I’ll change, buy the piece and get the fuck out of here, okay?”

More silence.

Looking back on his life, Lucifer had done some fairly embarrassing things. But this really took the cake. How did his morning get so royally fucked?

“I remember seeing you through the window, you know,” Alastor said, finally breaking the silence as he took another step forward. “You looked so lovely that day. You were glowing.”

Lucifer’s heart was thudding as Alastor tipped his chin up with his hand; a sheen of sweat breaking out over his skin.

“If that’s really the only reason, I’d love to see the waspie on you. But at the very least…,” Alastor’s hand left Lucifer’s chin to cup his face, voice dipping low as he continued, “I don’t think I can let you leave this room without seeing what you look like in that suspender.”

✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧

The morning had taken all sorts of turns, but this was almost too good to be true. Though at the moment, all Lucifer wanted to do was praise himself for his morning showers and bidet.

Alastor was on his knees behind him, having left a trail of kisses down Lucifer’s spine until he reached the floor. Lucifer had watched in the mirror as Alastor’s beautiful hands caressed him, the difference in their skin tones stark and beyond erotic. He’d choose Alastor’s gorgeous tan hands on him over the midnight suspender any day. He loved how large they were against his smaller frame, petting his waist and kneading the softness of his inner thighs. But Alastor’s talent was really shining now, massaging Lucifer’s cheeks with his hands while he fucked him with his tongue.

“Wha — fuck… What if someone comes into the store?” Lucifer asked, not sounding nearly as worried as he should be. In truth, the thought of someone walking in only added to Lucifer’s excitement.

“Hmm, that is quite the predicament, isn’t it? Guess I’d better hurry.”

Instead, Alastor continued his languid pace, seeming to savor every inch of skin that happened to fall under his mouth. Lucifer shivered and brought a hand to his aching cock. He had only managed to caress himself once, the shaky moan that fell from his mouth tipping Alastor off. Alastor ripped his face away, the shock of which made Lucifer groan a little in pain; left to stand there with his desperate hole practically begging for mercy as it clenched reflexively in Alastor’s face.

But Alastor wasn’t paying attention to that.

“Touch yourself again and I’ll stop. I won’t have anything obstructing my view.”

They met eyes in the reflection of the mirror, and Lucifer knew that Alastor really meant it; his eyes had become pitch, pupils blown out and hungry. Alastor looked even better this way than he had imagined, and Lucifer’s dick wept at the sight; the yearning twitch left him feeling just shy of messy. He didn’t have much room for involuntary reactions in the confines of the lace, forcing his arousal to be flush against his lower stomach. But he’d comply. Happily.

“Fuck, Alastor, I promise,” Lucifer moaned, sounding desperate even to himself. “Please… I won’t touch.”

“I know you won’t,” Alastor agreed, giving his left cheek a playful bite that left goose flesh in its wake. “Put those naughty hands on the mirror where I can see them.”

Lucifer whined and did so with an embarrassing speed. With his hands just above his head, the angle gave his back an alluring arch, putting his ass on display even more than it already was. It also constricted Lucifer’s chest a little, his heaving breaths shallowing in a way that only intensified his arousal.

“What a good listener you are,” Alastor praised, placing a kiss over the flesh he had just bitten. “I’d better reward you, hm?”

Alastor stood then, smiling wickedly at the dumbstruck look on Lucifer’s face. Lucifer watched in the mirror as Alastor pulled something from his pocket, shaking it between his thumb and middle finger once his hand was raised to eye level. It took a moment for Lucifer to realize what it was in his lust-drunk haze, but he whined again and curled his fingers against the glass. Alastor purred in response and flicked open the bottle, making a show of spreading the lubricant on his right index finger.

He pressed himself against Lucifer’s back and leaned down, placing a chaste kiss at the nape of Lucifer’s neck. Alastor’s finger now rubbing a teasing circle around his entrance before finally pressing in. They both groaned, and Lucifer was honestly amazed he hadn’t climaxed then and there, it had been so long since someone had fingered him.

Alastor started slow, working his appendage in and out at a comfortable pace while Lucifer did his best to breathe enough. He was fighting a bit of tunnel vision, but couldn’t figure out if it was from the position he was in or just… Alastor.

“You’re glowing again,” Alastor cooed, nipping at Lucifer’s shoulder before straightening to his full height. “How’d I get so lucky that a pretty thing like you walked into my shop?”

Lucifer cried as Alastor curled his finger, working over his most sensitive spot at his maddeningly easy and consistent pace. It was delicious but not enough, and soon Lucifer found himself pushing back against Alastor’s hand for more friction. That earned him a sultry growl from the younger man, Lucifer moaning long and loud when he heard the pop of the bottle cap opening again. The coolness of the lube dripping down the crack of his ass was startling, causing him to clench down on Alastor’s finger.

Alastor hissed but waited for Lucifer to relax again before adding a second finger. Lucifer cursed, the stretch burning him in a way that made his eyes roll to the back of his head. He was already starting to grind himself against Alastor’s hand again, a not-so-subtle plea for him to increase his speed, which he mercifully obliged. The lewd slapping of Alastor’s palm against the fat of Lucifer’s ass filling in the space between their heavy breathing.

“Ohh, fuck, Alastor… it’s so good. So good,” Lucifer panted, eyes closed and mouth open as he focused on chasing his pleasure.

He was close. The tension in his belly was so tight and his cock was absolutely dripping wet. If Lucifer wasn’t so blissed out he would have spared a thought and prayer for the ruined lace of the pretty garment trapping him, but at present he really couldn’t care less. All he knew was that his sweaty palms had him suctioned to the mirror, keeping him in place while Alastor relentlessly worked him open with his elegant fingers. Stars burning behind his eyes every time they massaged over his prostate; now a near constant.

“Yeah? You like getting fucked by my fingers, little dove?”

Lucifer screamed, his orgasm crashing through him with unexpected force. He felt his cock spasm, hot ropes of his seed shooting up into the waistline of the suspender and dripping down his sweat-slicked skin. Alastor had wrapped an arm around him to hold him up, knowing that without the support he would have collapsed to his knees. He wanted to say thank you but his head was too empty, his tongue thick and dry in his mouth. Lucifer whined as Alastor slowly removed his fingers, his hole twitching from the sudden emptiness. But the consolation of Alastor’s soothing kisses on his neck and shoulder was more than enough to make up for the loss.

“Let’s go get you cleaned up in the back,” Alastor murmured sweetly. “I still have about half an hour before I need to open the store, so we don’t have to rush.”

“What are you talking about? The store is open,” Lucifer said, but it sounded petulant through the thickness of his post-coital delirium.

Alastor chuckled and tightened his arms around Lucifer’s waist, pressing a long kiss to his temple. “Oh darling… I don’t open until eleven. Today was just an exception.”

✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧

banner by @synamartia ❤️‍🔥

tag list: @fairyv-ice, @wat4r, @midorichoco, @raynerrold, @krak-jj, @tremendoushearttaco, @redfoxwritesstuff, @chibistar45, @kaylopolis, @cutiebimbo, @lousypotatoes, @rfox1998, @cosmiccandydreamer, @hyperfixations-keep-me-going, @cherry-cola-100, @wonderlandangelsposts, @catticora, @velvette3, @sailorsmouth, @reath-solia, @junieshohoho, @cxrsedwxrlds, @littlebluefishtail, @nxcxllxsevens, @swagkittybear

#human au #radioapple #radioapple fan fiction #radioapple smut #alastor x lucifer #alastor x lucifer smut #alastor x lucifer fan fiction #human alastor #human lucifer #human alastor x human lucifer #hazbin hotel fan fiction #lingerie #kinktober #kinktober 2024 #kinktober prompts #coven works #covenworks2024

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poetryvampire · 7 months ago

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The thing about Zevlor is once he gets comfortable in his relationship he's the most affectionate man tiefling alive. And the absolute king of soft/pleasure doms.

Nothing gets me foaming at the mouth feral like super secure confident Zevlor holy hell

Have some thoughts. Nsft at the end

Let's goooo🔥

●It's definitely gonna take awhile for him to get settled into being with someone and let himself loosen up. He's been alone for so long and is so filled with doubts. At the beginning he doesn't believe you're serious about wanting to be with him. He's sure you'll leave before too long. But when you don't and stay by his side and your bond deepens to love Oh Boy does it flip a switch in him.

●That shy, timid man that could barely bring himself to touch you for fear of rejection? Long gone. Replaced with an adoring passionate lover ever ready to shower you with affection. Before you were always the one to have to initiate any intimacy. Zevlor was once far too restrained to act on his desires but now he can hardly keep his hands off you.

●Once he was certain of your feelings he made sure you could never doubt his love for you. He's a true romantic at heart so be ready for never ending compliments, pet names and soft touches throughout the day. Zevlor can't pass by you without planting a chaste kiss to your hand or cheek, can't part from you without a firm kiss on the lips and a whispered 'I love you', can't walk beside you without slipping his hand around your waist or caressing the small of your back.

● Lord don't even get me started on PDA. Now Zevlor doesn't really seek out PDA but being in public isn't going to stop him from expressing himself. Hells, he'd sing his love for you from roof tops if you wanted, he does not care what people think. So he's unafraid to sink into a heated kiss or get a little handsy if the moment takes him. Especially if you tease him. Want to coo some sweet longings into his ear? Get ready to be pinched and pawed at all evening. Though he will keep it within reason usually.

●On that note, Zevlor adores taking you out on the town. Whether it's going to a play, a festival or even a nice walk around the community gardens he loves to see you all dressed up. And what he loves almost as much is seeing you turn heads. To him you're the most beautiful thing in the world and you deserved to be shown off a bit. It's always amusing to see someone's (that's eyeing you up) face fall when the paladin snakes an arm around you. He's not going to admit it easily but having you on his arm is a huge confidence boost.

● You think his passion for you out in the world is insatiable just wait until you get in the bedroom. This man reveres you utterly and is going to make sure you feel it with the kind of body worship you've only dreamed of. Zelvor can never fully find the words to express just how thankful he is for the time you took with him at the start of your romance. He's going to go out of his way to return the favor and make you feel just as loved and cherished as you made him feel.

●*crosses self* Get ready to get overstimulated within an inch of your life. This man is going to wreck you. Once he feels ready to take on a more dominate role it's pleasure doming all the way. Nothing gets him off like seeing you lose yourself, he wants you completely fucked out of your mind. Zevlor has legendary patience and stamina and will go all night if you let him. He'll lay you back and rub every inch of you down with those big rough hands. He has you cumming with his mouth, fingers and tail before he's even got his pants off.

● You'll be a sobbing, babbling mess by the time he's actually inside you and even then prepare for a long (hell)ride. When he's worked up enough he doesn't even need to pull out between rounds. Instead he'll hold you tight and have you cockwarm him until he's fully hard again and fucking back into you with a renewed intensity.

● One of Zelvor's favourite things is to watch you on top of him, especially as a finale. He loves seeing you try to ride him with your shaking thighs and flushed cheeks. He'll make you go until you can't anymore and then generously help you along by digging his fingers into your hips and bouncing you up and down his cock. You feel weightless and intoxicated by his ability to take you like this. He has you screaming and cumming around him again in no time.

● Honestly Zevlor loves cuddling and aftercare just as much as making love to you. You're going to be taken care of just as thoroughly. He'll hold you close whispering his devotion to you, read you your fav book or poems, draw a bath for you. He a big fan of bathing together. The intimacy of washing your hair make him feel so close to you. Zevlor's even more than happy to braid flowers into your hair afterward. You're his everything and he's going to make you feel as such.

💖

Anyway, rn my heart has an insatiable need to write Zevlor angst but i couldn't stop thinking about this today and needed to get it out of my brain. Someday the old man's gonna get so many happy fics omg.

#or all the fics #any kind #your honor i love him #zevlor #headcanons #bg3 #zevlor x reader #zevlor x tav #nsft #zevlor nation #pleasure dom #wallfish #wallfishdividers #smut

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sirwadewilsonfromimgur · 1 month ago

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Deadpool & Wolverine: Amber Crimson and Noir

Authors note: this chapter contains story elements from "When two murderous Canadian mercenaries love each other very much..." aka the James chapter as well as the plot point from Amber Crimson and Noir so far. Enjoy the thrilling conclusion of the Noir ark. I hope you've read them

Content warning... Violence/Tourtre

[Pess play on opening music below]

youtube

Ark finale

Vanessa

Kansas city Missouri Earth-10005 2031

Vanessa had moved into one of the spare bedrooms of Logan and Wade's condos about two months ago, Dermot had set up a desk in the corner of the generously sized room that had a sweeping view of crown center. He was happily working from home but definitely out of his element. Even in a large home, Logan, Wade, and Althea were strange, loud, and .... unique room mates.

Vanessa had lived with Wade in the past, so she was used to Wade's quarks. However he'd developed some new ones. For instance,

The floor to ceiling windows present in almost every room had blackout curtains that had to be closed before the sun went down... Wade would run from room to room, closing the curtains. If he wasn't home and he walked in and someone else hadn't done this task he'd freak out, yelling " it's 6 o'clock and winter why are the fucking curtains still open! He'd then proceeded to sprint around the house, closing them.

It was compulsive but not without justification, due to an incident. During the day, everything is fine. All the windows had been coated with a reflective film. You couldn't see inside unless your face was pressed up against a window. But at night, the lights inside illuminate and defeat this privacy.

A sniper had put several holes through the window... and Wade... honeymoon phase of moving to a new city was over.

And now they needed new windows.

Years later, Logan had grown tierd this nightly curtain nonsense and had mechanical curtains installed that automatically shut at sundown... this didn't stop Wade's patrol, making sure the mechanism hadn't broken and looking in all the rooms to check the curtainshad indeed closed. It was just quicker now. Years later, this did lead to one embarrassing moment for James in his teen years

Sorry, kitten! By the way, that's perfectly normal. No need to feel shame about it.

FUCKING KNOCK NEXT TIME DAD!

The process of replacing the windows was the last straw of Wade playing nice with the HOA of the tower. Maranda (fucking bigoted bitch) had pulled her typical stall tactics and nonsense as a board member during the first remodel of the house.

Wade, to expedite the process had broken into the board president's unit and sat in his bedroom. Waiting for him to get home.

When he turned up and walked in his room, there was Wade on his bed, pointing a gun at him.

Hay Ed! Is this a memory foam mattress because it is comfortable as fuck... I usually avoid them because so often Logan gets too excited and stabs be when he's stabbing me if you know what I mean. *wink* and its just sucks all the blood up and never comes out. We've gone through 4 mattresses this year alone.

Mr. Wilson... please don't shoot.

Oh, Ed... I'm not here to shoot you. Im here to make a deal....

Wade hands him a shoe box labeled fuck me pumps.

Sorry about the box had to improvise. Logan got me those for our anniversary... it's all he wanted me to wear that night. Such a romantic... anyway, inside that box is three hundred thousand dollars in non sequential one hundred dollar bills. All for you, on the condition that whatever I want to do, I fucking get to do it without push back from You fuck's. If I want to put a giant inflatable godzilla on the roof with anatomically accurate genitalia for Halloween the only thing I want to hear is "what day is good for you to get that started"

He was installing level 10 bullet proof glass on the entire 19th floor, and whatever other security measures he saw fit in the common hallway, and they weren't gonna say shit about it. To add motivation to the bribe. A nine millimeter bullet with their name neatly written on it was given to them.

Here. Take this, hide it. Throw it away. Hell, put it on your mantel... I don't give a shit. Because if I really need to, I'll find that exact bullet again... and I'll give it to you again only the next time it will be moving really, really fucking fast. So don't make me give it to you again.

He did this with a majority of members of the HOA board and hadn't had any problems since...

Logan had been a less openly dramatic roommate. He had been consumed by his work. how Wade sweet talked his way into convenienceing him that now was a great time to have a baby, Vanessa would never know. Though she did know that mouth of his was more than just talented at yapping and quiping.

I wonder if Logan ever got the plastic vampire teeth on Halloween.

She was trying to avoid him when he was working. She didn't want to bother him while he was holed up in the office. Besides, he was smoking like a chimney on a poorly insulated house during a January blizzard. The smell of his cigars currently nauseated her, not to mention the second-hand smoke wasn't good for the baby evenin a well vintalated room like the office.

Logan had recently taken on a lot of investigative work. Detective shit. Murders, kidnappings, missing persons. He'd told vanessa that he really wanted to branch out from just being just killer. Not that she'd ever held that against him.

Some of her best friends were mercenaries, vigilantes, and contract killers. Hell, even the nerds at the Xmen put quite a few people in the ground, and she liked the one's she'd met.

From her understanding Logan had actually been doing well, he wasn't just a bloodhound, which he literally was. He told her that the egg had taken and she was pregnant before any tests were done. Lucky, first try. It was something they had all worried about.

Sometimes surrogacy takes a couple tries before one sticks... there was a 25% chance of failure and that's normal at least thats what the blue fuzzy doctor told them after the procedure.

I wonder what else he can smell on me and is too polite to mention.

Logan was also a decent investigator in his own right, followed clues, and noticed things the cops missed. He'd found quite a few missing persons, runaways mostly. He did his due diligence and made sure without question they weren't being abused, and that's why they ran away before returning them to their families. He'd even helped break up a sex trafficking ring.

Vanessa knew the trouble didn't really start until Logan took the case of his friend Maxine. She was murdered and dumped like so much garbage and not treated much better by the police handling the case. Vanessa had actually met her once at one of the boys' parties.

She remembered her and her partner Dal being warm and jovial with her. Though she'd heard that they were just as fiery as Logan and Wade at times, the only difference being their fights resulted in significantly fewer stabings as persons without a healing factor. Apparently, her case had been a brick wall Logan just couldn't claw through.

Vanessa herself had been fairing the last 2 months decently... the morning sickness was an annoyance. She'd felt like she'd been moving past that stage though.

It was a relief mostly because Wade had gone full mother hen

Vanessa, sweetheart, you ok in there?

I can hear you yacking and heaving like when Wolvy gets one of his hairballs.

I'm fine, Wade.

Ok... I just... Fuck! OW!

Ouch! Stop stabbing me, Lo! We'll take you to the vet and get some Laxatone. Fucking ow bad kitty!

One thing was certain tonight, Vanessa was board. She hadn't left the condo in about a week to do anything, Wade was out shopping, and Logan hadn't left the office since 9 am. it was now 9 pm... Dermot had an upset stomach. He made the mistake of trying the Satan sauce Wade kept for chimichanga nights, or lunch's in this case. He was warned by her and Wade. But he wanted to be one of the boys...

She texted all 3 of them and let them know she was going to Missy Bs, the drag bar that was just down the street. Dirty Dorothy was hosting shows their again, so Vanessa was double encouraged to go out and alleviate her bordum, she'd get a soda and watch the show. Perhaps be back in time to warm up her dinner and watch whatever Korean drama or old show on streaming that Wade was currently fixated on before going to bed. She did specifically tell Wade not to wait up for her since she knew he'd start cooking the second he got home.

She had stopped by an ATM and got about two hundred dollars in 5 dollar bills, it was customary to tip the drag queens, and being a former exotic dancer herself, Vanessa knew how important it was to be generous with the entertainment. Nothing worse than literally shaking your ass off only to find a G-string full of bills that added up to about 35 buck... and there was always at least one asshole who you had to call the bouncers on because he tried to slip a quarter in there.

Vanessa was actually well off, officially retired. She was serious when she said she'd offer her services as a surrogate as a friend, but not for free. In the midwest, the number of dollars currently in her NBKC account would last her the rest of her natural life and then some... she told Dermot he could retire too. But he liked work. Definitely the kind of guy that if he didn't have a 9 to 5 to go to, he'd disappear into an easy chair and an early grave... Vanessa also suspected he had a little of that toxic masculine pride, cant ask your sugar mama for money. It'd gotten him into trouble, you can't out marksman Wade at the range, You can't out drink Logan and live... and as he recently learned. You can't out hot sauce either of them.

Silly boys *she chuckles to herself*

The ride share had dropped her off at the door. She was a little early for the show. She walked in, got a ginger ale, and quietly thanked god that they didn't allow public smoking indoors in Kansas city.

The show, as expected, was a loud and flamboyant good time. A lot of the queens were aslo funny as fuck on top of being on point with thier costumes. Vanessa didn't leave the show with a single five dollar bill, and to her, it was money well spent.

She headed to the bar to get one last Ginger ale for the road when she was approached by a woman...

Hey pretty lady, can I buy you a cocktail...

Oh, sorry, I'm not drinking tonight. Just getting a Ginger ale...

Oh, cheap date then. She winked as she ordered the soda and a Martini for herself.

I appreciate the drink, but I don't want to lead you on. I'm in a pretty committed relationship...

That's ok. Vanessa... felt disarmed as she said this... it was odd, like for no reason, her defenses were down... and it was ok, sure she'll have the drink.

I'm just out trying to make friends, you know. It can be kinda lonely...

Again, she didn't quit understand, but Vanessa suddenly felt a little lonely and wanted the company.

Vanessa chatted with the lady for a while. She was about to tell her she needed to go home.

If you're hungry, there's this place called Town Topic. Fantastic burgers, been there since the depression or some shit. Open 24 hours... we should go.

Vanessa wanting to tell her that perhaps another time, that she really need to go... but instead she found herself hungry, and agreeing to go with this lady. It was weird... she felt compelled. Next thing she knew she found herself getting in to this lady's car.

Ya know, it's been a long night... why don't you take a little nap... I'll wake you up when we get there

No sooner than it was said.... Vanessa was out like a light, snoring lightly in the passenger seat.

Logan had stepped out of the office. It was getting close to 11pm, long day of brooding, and he worked up an appetite. Wade and Al had eaten already... when he opened the fridge, he noticed two tinfoil covered plates.

The hair on the back of his neck stood on end...

Has Vanessa not come home yet.

No penut, she's at the drag show...

Logan looks at the clock... the show ended a while ago, darl'n, I'm gonna text her.

she hadn't been gone that long.... she's a big girl papa, she can stay out past curfew if she wants.

No, it's not like that Wade.... Ive got a bad feeling... something is off.

Logan put his plate back in the fridge and walked to the bedroom. He quickly changed into his black and yellow combat suit. He walked back into the living room.

Peanut, what are you all dressed up for.

I'm going out to find Vanessa... she hasn't responded, I don't like this.

And you couldn't do that in your normal clothes?

I told you. I got a bad feeling, besides blood and Versace don't exactly pair well.

Oh, wrong again, Penut. Blood and Versace is the best paring.

Stay here, call me if she comes back...

Wolverine started at the obvious place, Missy B's. He thanked providence or whatever for trusting his instincts. He'd not been too late this time, Vanessas scent was still fresh and heavy. He was able to lach on to it and follow it out to the parking lot... he'd made his way to an empty spot when the trail lightened slightly... they had obviously taken her in a car...

Unfortunately Logan could not be afforded such luxury. In order to stay on the trail he'd have to be on foot.

thankfully, the fates again had shown favor. It was a still night, not even a lightbreeze. The scent was still fresh if a little less intense. Following his nose without regard for his safety, Wolverine walked out into the middle of southwest traffic way. Was certain that she'd been taken due east, and he bolted down West 39th Street running on all fours, looking like a yellow and black werewolf.

Eventually he found himself in the hyde park neighborhood of Kansas city.

When vanessa came too, her head was throbing, and the fluorescent lighting was not helping. She tried to move but she was shackled to a wall. Standing up right arms open... Wade would call it a T pose.

What Vanessa didn't know is that Cynthia Bragg had been escalating the degree of suffering she caused in her kills, she'd been killing less because she knew Logan was creeping around every corner. So now she economized her victims. Less opportunity meant not letting the one you had go to waste.

Vanessa was gagged... she could breathe, she could scream, but the sound would be so deadened that no one could possibly hear her in this basement... she wasn't scared so much as she was sad at her predicament. She new what would happen when the boys figured out she wasn't coming home... This wasn't Wade fault... but Vanessa knew he'd blame himself... and be devastated... double loss, her and the life that could be that she had inside her.... this was the worst possible end for her short life.

Her captor turned around, almost sensing Vanessa's waking.

Hello again... she smiled like a demon. You and I are going to have some fun... pretty lady...

I'd tell you to not be afraid, but you should... you should be terrified...

This statement didn't net Cynthia the response she'd hoped Vanessa just stared at her defiantly. Vanessa clearly had her wits about her now... not an unexpected circumstance... her powers of suggestion worked better when she could charm someone first. Disarm them.

Cynthia wordlessly presented a box... in it were needles of various gages, conditions, and sharpness... she slowly jammed and jabbed Vanessa up and down her arm, leaving some in, pulling some out. Rivulets of blood formed dripped and flowed. The pain was exquisite, Vanessa groaned but did not scream as she endured the pain of the dull one's ripping through her skin, looking very much the sick caricature of a cartoon Voodoo doll.

Unsatisfied with the results, Cynthia left Vanessa for a second and came back with a ball pein hammer and a gruesome looking masonry cut tempered hardened steel nail. The point of which is not that pointy... the was absolutely going to hurt.

Slowly, methodically, Cynthia slammed the nail into Vanessa's palm, all the while humming Ave Maria. the crucifixion Imagery clearly not lost on her.

Vanessa did not! Would not scream. She wouldn't give this Depraved hearted bitch the satisfaction as her hand was pinned to the wall, crushing nerves, tearing flesh.

Oh, a tough gal i see... we'll just have to up the anti.

She holds up the hammer an Vanessa's eye level and drops hammer on her foot.

Oops... well, since this doesn't seem to be working, we will try something else

Vanessa figured this was the end. Sure that cunt was gonna come back with a Bowie knife and slowly disembowel her.

On the journey of her life, she had a lot of regrets. Also, at the moment, she was in incredible pain. She mourned for herself almost as much as she mourned the fetus inside her.

Wade would be devastated, he'd lose his best friend and his future baby all in one horrid act... these thoughts, the pain... the frustration of being unable to defend herself. She was so sick of being the fucking damsel in distress. She thought... only this time she was going to fucking die. She wasn't going to be saved. She didn't see how. The pain and despair began to consume her.

All of it came to a head, she was in the darkest spot, of the worst day of her life, and that was saying something...

Then suddenly... Her skin flashes blue for a second... she feels... different. Unknown to her until just now... Vanessa had been a mutant in her own right. The stress, worry, and pain of this moment brought it out of dormancy. She didn't know how she knew, but she knew she could transform, shape shift. And not just skin deep like Mystique, she could copy bilogy and abilities.

Well shit, this could have been handy with fucking Francis... she thought to herself... think quick Vanessa how do we use this to get out of here. She wasn't sure how to harness her abilities, but she had to be a quick study if she wanted to live.

What could she be that'd get her out of these shackles and get the nail out of her hand... that's it! That one guy Logan and Wade, always banged when they were in New York. Kevin... (Wade tells her fucking everything) but more importantly she met him once, what was is Xmen name.... fuck it was hard to think clearly with several inches of galvanized steel in your hand.... Morph, she said a small prayer to a god she doubted existed. Keep the baby safe while I do this. She struggles through the pain she concentrates and transforms into a grey skinned being sliding her hand up and off the nail and warping her arms through the shackles quietly.

Cynthia was looking at her toolbox of tourtre devices totally engrossed in her maniacal thoughts, looking for the perfect toy to satisfy her vile lust. She hadn't noticed Vanessa slip free.

Vanessa stealthy as she could carefully picked up the ball-pein hammer that was dropped.

What did Wade always tell her

When you have the opportunity, always go for the headshot.

Cynthia had settled on the end of a frog gig fork and was about to get back to her dark hobby when she felt a sharp pain in the back of her head... and then nothing

Vanessa was spatterd in gore by the time she heard the loud bang from upstairs...

Wolverine had kicked in the door of the house, he'd made his way to the basement to a scene that shocked and immediately relieved him covered in blood holding a hammer dripping in a visceral liquid of brains, blood with a tangle of hair... Vanessa had not stopped when Cynthia hit the ground. The back of her head looked like a grenade went off in it. She turned to Wolverine. Dropped the hammer on the corpse and walked towards Logan...

Ooops *she Sneered*

Vanessa, I'm so sorry... I was late, I... I...

Vanessa grabbed the man dressed in yellow and black and hugged him tightly

It's ok, you're here, Im alive... also, you and Wade never have to worry about being late or saving me again... Vanessa Carlysle can save herself.

She took a step back and held up her arm... it transformed into a familiar looking muscular arm, and *Snikt* three bone claws popped out.

FUCK THAT HURTS! HOW THE FUCK DO YOU DO THAT ALL THE TIME!

Logan chuckles, tell me about it, sister. Looks like you've discovered your gifts...

Why aren't mine metal?

That's a long story I'll tell you later... I'm gonna call Wade.

Not the police....

No.

Logan looked around the room, the blood and gore of the scene was bad... first, the defense for justifiable homicide in self-defense in Missouri requires that you stop after the assailant is stopped/disarmed/disabled. You can't shoot someone in the chest and then go for the headshot after they're already on the ground... you can't pummel a hole in the back of someones head after you've knocked them out. It ceases to be self-defense.

There's a chance Vanessa could be charged with manslaughter at a minimum if the prosecutor was feeling frisky... and Logan, who's had bad feelings all night, had a bad feeling about calling the cops.

Logan was able to pin the address address in his phone and send Wade the address. Craftsman style home in Hyde park much like the ones around it.

He'll be her as soon as a ride share pics him up...

Vanessa trying to not think about her trauma...

Why the fuck do you guys not have a car yet... you're gonna need one when the baby gets here, what if they get a fever and you gotta run to the ER, you gonna wait for a car?

Logan choked back a little emotion as he realized how close he came to losing his best friend, his baby, and probably Wade, who would have never recovered.

We need to... but that's Wade... Missouri counties treat cars as real estate. You have to pay taxes on them annually based on assessed value. He's weirdly libertarian about that one thing. Lord knows he jumps through hoops to keep the IRS paid and off our back.

That is fucking weird...

That's fucking Wade... and we both know what thats like

(Meanwhile, just beyond the vail)

Are they really discussing local tax policy over my corpse...

I've seen weirder scenes.

Who the fuck are you?

Some folks call me Azrael, Yama, Shinigam, La Calavera Catrina, Vanth, Ankou, Anubis, and Osiris... though I have one friend who calls me Lady Death. I'm partial to THE Green Witch lately... she says this as she produces a flower and hands it to Cynthia

Oh... ok, she looks at her closer. I liked your work in Parks and rec by the way

Aubrey Plaza looked like her. Not the other way around, Lady Death had this face for centuries, and it was one of her preferred aspects. She thought this as her charge spoke again.

So... am I going to Hell.

The afterlife is kinda what you make it... or so I've been told. I'm just here to keep you from haunting the place. I've only seen the door and shown people in... speaking of. It's Time Cynthia Bragg.

So God doesn't care?

Oh... I've never met the Architect, the being closest to what you'd call God... and I don't really know what they think about morality or other complex questions that I'm certain you want to ask. but unfortunately, i don't have a lot of the answers and even less time.

Ok, one more question... whay are you being so nice... I was a monster [she said this with suddenly gained post-life clarity]

It's not my job to punish, also as they say. You catch more flies with honey.

Or corpses... files are attracted to corpses.

Indeed, come now. It's really time to go now.

(We return to the full material plane)

Vanessa and Logan had taken the opportunity to go through the house, what they had discovered was shocking and created more problems.... Cynthia was a cop... Logan actually knew her. He hadn't recognized her for obvious reasons when he first walked in... Secondly, in her office, he'd discovered her second pet project beside murder. Him, and Wade... and MFM. She'd been doing her own legs work tying all of them to organized crime, contracts they had agreed to. Interpol reports and illicit weapons purchases...

It killed his soul... but Logan could not report any of this for sure now... this crime scene, this evidence. For their safety, it had to disappear. Wade had walked into the office when he came to this conclusion.

What's up in here, Penut?

We got big problems, Princess. Call Peter... we need the cleaner.

The cleaner was actually an employee of MFM at this point, an anti-forensic expert he could wipe a crime scene...

He was there within the hour, was briefed on the situation, and came up with a game plan... all four of them suited up in hazmat suits he'd brought and proceeded to clean.

Free advice to any would be assassins...

Clean all visible evidence of blood with high concentration peroxide, not bleach. This will destroy all genetic material and clean the area. Secondly, treat the area with sodium percarbonate... this chemical defeats luminol/BlueStar Forensic, the room may be suspicious to the well experienced investor... but investigators have to convenience jurys made up of common folks who expect "CSI" evidence to be presented, and when it's not, the argument fails. Investigators know this. it's how many cases get relegated to the cold case archives.

The body was wrapped and put in Cynthias' car. Both would disappear without a trace. The house was cleaned and wiped of any evidence of anyone ever being there. Logan had found all the evidence against him and Wade and loded it in the cleaner's car. He and Wade would take it to the safe house in Liberty while the cleaner delt with Cynthias car... He also found evidence of Cynthias' own crimes... her trophys... he packed these too.

By the time Cynthia was reported missing, they were all long gone... the house looked spotless, as if nothing was ever out of place yet lived in. Reports from neighbors stated that they had seen her the day prior. They didn't see her drive off that night to go to the bar, and perhaps Cynthia herself had something to do with that, not wantingher neighborsto see when she had "guests"...

To them, it looked like she'd got in her car that night some time after dark drove off and just never came home.

5 days later

Logan called Dal, he'd ask her to come to the house. She arrived an hour later... he met her at the door; escorted her to the office poured her a glass of the best scotch he had on hand, a Sherry Oak 25 Year old Macallan.

He set the glass in front of her...

If you don't like your scotch neat, I can go to the kitchen and get you some ice... though some would call that an insult to the alcohol. I won't judge.

This is fine Logan... she sips the scotch.

Why'd you have me over. You were very insistent...

I solved Maxine's murder... That's the good news..........

That pause is 8 months pregnant buddy. What's the bad news.

You're the only person that can know. The suspect met an end that would implicate someone that's important to me, and frankly, covering it up was the better option... professionally. Dal... Maxines killer was a Cop. She's dead... and will probably be assumed missing. My team will have made it look like she skipped town for unknown reasons...

Your... team... implications... cover ups.

Logan I thought you were a fucking detective.

Fuck... I'll level with you, Dal... I wasn't 100% honest with you when I told you what Wade and I did for a living... I am a licensed private investigator, and on paper, that's what I do... poorly... apparently, I'm a mercenary... a contract killer. That's our bread and butter. The P.I. shit is just a cover. But just once I wanted to do something, I wanted to help...

Dal reach over and opened the Humidor on Logans desk.

May I?

Sure.

She pulled out an Opus X, carefully cut the end off the same way she'd seen Logan do a hundred times, grabbed the small blowtorch like lighter and lit her cigar. Logan went over to the wall and flipped on the rooms air filter system.

Logan... sware on your unborn child's life! the person that killed Maxine is dead, and you're 100 percent sure that was her killer...

Logan walked over to a banker box against the wall and grabbed it.

I went through the house, I found the sick fuckers trophy collection. I found these... Logan pulled out a pair of underwear... genetic evidence suggests they belonged to Maxine (this was bullshit, no lab analysis was done on them, the truth is Logan could still smell Maxine's scent strongly on them. They'd been kept in a plastic zipper bag... but Logan didn't want Dal to think he had the impropriety of a "panty sniffer" today was weird enough she didn't need that.) Maxine's killer is dead and what's left of them is probably at the bottom of the Missouri river.

She took a big swig from he scotch and puffed her cigar.

If we're being honest Logan, for me... it was a job well done. Did maxines killer suffer?

I'm not sure. I couldn't have been pleasant.

Good! Fuck'um! Logan i'll be honest had you brought them in I would have smuggled a gun in to court and shot them myself... I don't know if I was ever interested in justice. Revenge; That I can handle... detective or hitman, though... I hope that pro bono offer still holds up...

Logan chuckles lightly You couldn't afford it if it weren't.

She kissed him on the cheek. Thank you Logan... I'll see you and Wade later... I've got things to do.

Bitter sweet for Logan... he was glad that the results worked for Dal...

But for him, this was one of his biggest failures. Having to cover up Cynthia's death meant a significant number of families would go without the closure that Dal now had.

Had he'd been a moment sooner, he could have saved Vanessa and taken Cynthia Bragg in. Damn the evidence she had on us.

We could have picked up and started somewhere else. Fuck we came here on a whim, why not.

Too late now. He packed all the cold case files, the evidence recovered, took them, and buried them in the deepest part of the storage room.

He was stacking boxing and holding in his emotions, trying not to feel the devastation and failure in his chest... Wade was standing in the door...

After all these years, Peanut... I think i can sense whenever you're not doing good. You want to talk to me about it?

I spent the better part of a year running in to a wall trying to solve this case. To do it the right way! To bring that fucker to justice.

But you did get her...

Vanessa "got" her Wade! I was late!

She's dead, though. She can't hurt anyone else. The city is freed from a killer who terrorizing the community. Not just the community, our friends.

At what cost...

We're soldiers, Wade. You know damn well that Pyrrhic victories don't count for shit!

Logan grabbed Wade, held him close... and did something that shocked Wade... he cried, guilt and failure for once didn't manifest as rage...

Oh... Penut. Im so sorry, I didn't realize it was like that.

I think I'm done solve'n crimes... I should stick to what I'm good at. Killing.

No, babe... don't say that. You've solved murders, found kidnapped children... you've done great things... this... this is just a setback.

It's a big one, Wade. I haven't felt quite like this... well, since I got to this world.

Wade knew what Logan was alluding to.

Tonight, it'd be Wade holding Logan together. Riding the storm of emotion out. He'd do it gladly, anything for the man whom held him together these last 7 years. His rock, his anchor being.

All the cold case files tied to Cynthia Bragg, knowing he couldn't bring peace to those families. He put them in a box and placed them as far back in the storage room as he could.

Epilogue:

Late July, Friday night, 18th and Vine... the jazz district of Kansas City... Logan and Wade dressed in suits of a color more muted than Wade normally would have worn black with pinstripe and slate grey, respectively. They walked into the Blue Room Jazz club, and following behind them was Dermot in a Tuxido, the only suit he had brought with him from New York and Vanessa who was in a black sequined dress tight but classy it had a plunging neck line accented with a necklace.

The platnum chain was set with white diamond, rubys, and citrine. The pendant was a large Tanzanite in brilliant cut about the size of a half dollar. It flashed blue or purple depending on how you looked at it. It was a gift from the boys to express gratitude for the greatest gift Vanessa had given them... a son. James was born on July first, a happy health baby boy.

They'd all been obsessed with the child and his care. Wade was a dutiful father unafraid of soiled diapers or the spit up that occasionally happened when he fed the boy... however, that morning at breakfast, Althea had enough.

Listen fuckers! It's time for a family meeting. You dumb bastards are going out tonight, and I don't wanna hear any guff. I'm a blind woman but I can cook and care for myself so I can handle a fucking baby for a few hours. None of yall have left this house in almost a month and I'm fucking sick of hearing you! So figure out where the fuck your going because come 8 o clock better not be a fucking one of you in this house!

Althea was salty but they agreed she was right. They settled in to there table ordered cocktails and waited for the show.

So Ness, since you've had an opportunity to flex your powers a little more, are you gonna go back to New York and join the X-men [cough] dorks [cough]

Logan elbowed Wade in the ribs. Are you calling me a dork bub?

Of course not sweetheart sides you ain't an Xman anymore.

Vanessa laughing. No, I don't think I'll be joining that club... besides, can you imagine me on a mission and Scott calling me by some goofy code name... like what Copycat? Because I can copy people?

I suppose all the good names are taken

Right!? No, I don't think I'll be doing that. Besides, we got a little announcement... Dermot and I aren't going back to New York. We've decided to stay here.

Oh, that's fantastic! Lo you here that? We're going to save so much money on jet fuel!

I'm happy to hear it.

We've actually already done some house hunting online. We're gonna go to some open houses in Liberty and Blue Springs next week. If we like what we see, we'll make an offer.

Well, I will say it's been great having you and Dermot as roommates. I'm thrilled you won't be far.

Let us know if you need help with anything.

And the night wore on. The friends discussed future plans, he drinks came. They tosted to new beginnings and the company of good friends.

The show started, and the music played, and the credits roll.

youtube

The End

#Youtube #deadpool #wolverine #deadpool x wolverine #logan wolverine #poolverine #wolverpool #deadpool and wolverine #loganpool #logan howlett #deadclaws #deadpool wolverine #deadpool and wolverine kansas city au

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leahstuff · 2 months ago

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Artvend in situ. I realized my Insta video was being weird here on Tumblr so you're getting more Artvend content.

My ArtVend art vending machine I’ve put some work into weirding up. I really want it to give you those Baba Yaga hut as a vending machine vibes 👁️

I initially covered it with removable wallpaper to make it less plain white, which I may replace with a plain black removable wallpaper or a chalkboard paint.

The “roof” is cardboard, hot glue, a liquid sculpey window, and foam tiles with some scrapbook paper “boards” attached.

The decorations on the actual machine are mixed media polymer clay tiles backed with magnets so they’re removable/modular.

The labels are some fancy label holder for boxes that I also stuck magnets to and the label part is changeable.

I am pretty happy with how this came out. I’m sure I’ll tweak it and maybe find a place to get it out of my house for interactions/vending.

#art #artvend #diy #vending machine #art vending machine #polymer clay tiles #comics #zines #baba yaga #baba yaga inspired #baba yaga house vending machine #baba yaga house #liquid sculpey #cardboard #artists on tumblr

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auckie · 8 months ago

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Finished my boys back panel for his new apartment. After it cures more I’m gonna install it, then the drainage layer (which I absolutely don’t need) and then the substrate. I was gonna make the bottom water proof but decided to just go with a protective mat instead. I don’t think I’ll be able to take it apart later but maybe it’ll be like. The last thing I ever move idk. Then Ill put up the UVB, his lamp, I miiiight have a heat mat on the bottom just in case but probably won’t ever use it idk, and finally his giant fucking water dish and ugly bottom hide. Then I’ll see if I can fit some of the roof/side climbing limbs I had planned. Was gonna drill them in but I don’t think the pvc will allow for it. I might try more foam/silicone *and* a bit of drilling, but we’ll see. Then the top leaf coverage (silk plants lol), and finally his giant cork log. I was also planning on putting some tiling over his ugly hide, or just replacing it completely bc he has the wall one plus the log. I also gotta test the weight capacity of the wall log tomorrow after curing. It’s resistant to heavy tugging, and he really doesn’t weigh *that* much but you never know the kind of stress he might put on it. It’s low to the ground so it wouldn’t be catastrophic but it would be difficult to fix. Eventually I would like to go full naturalistic and add plants and bio active substrate. Moving water is beyond my skill capacity/willingness to learn or spend so the static dish will have to do, but I am interested in a mister even tho I know it’s not necessary. He’s been doing well with my humidifier and just some sprays, wet corners, and the dish, but if I do pursue plants it may be crucial. Granted I know scale rot is something people warn about but I figure if I keep it high then I can avoid laden substrate. Plus the drainage layer would help.

I even bought a kitchen scale to weigh him. I was gonna get a temp gun too but that’s kinda absurd since I got like, two different humidity gauges and a temp regulator + thermometer. if I have room I may also try a slight rock border at the bottom of the back panel but I’m not really like. Interested in using foam again, either panel or expanding. Bc it sucks and i despise it. Silicone too honestly, even the aquarium rated stuff which is easier (imo) to get off skin. My dad REALLY wanted to use caulk but I was like hell no. I’ll resort to shelf pins/rivets for support before I try that lol.

I just scrolled up and realized the pic is so dark bc I just turned the overhead light off and didn’t have flash on but I’m so tired and sweaty I don’t care. It’s a cork bark/spanish moss/sphagnum moss back wall but it does just look like a mess of leaves and shit from the pic. I started really clean and then got progressively sloppier as time went on

Here’s a before progress pic SORRY for foot

And here’s snoopert head. He’s getting upgraded from 60 gallon to 120. Tbh if I had the room and money I’d totally have gotten the 240 one

Fuck snoopy

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blackiraven · 2 years ago

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Scarecrow had a nightmare for sale!scriddler, if you don't mind.

Of course! Here they are!✍

Ask is still open. If you want a couple of paragraphs from me - welcome!🤗

A match struck. The sound was so loud, but only I could hear it. A small, weak flame was desperately struggling with the thick darkness of the night. But soon I helped the yellowish light turn into a scarlet fire, devouring whole hectares. The darkness dissipated in fright. The old wooden house was completely burned down to the rotten foundation. The whole history of my family, all memories, all kindred blood were destroyed in one night with one match. I'm the only one left. The roof collapsed, fire drops flew in all directions and fell on a huge field. I have given this land almost all my life, but its burning pleased me.

Through the loud crackling of burning wood, screams and cries for help sometimes slipped lost in the fire. All the doors were closed, and I had a heavy bunch of keys. Finally. My torment is over. I got rid of my curse. Burn! Shout! Remember me before your death! Remember everything you've done to me. Call our precious mommy. But this time she won't save her pets, she won't hide them under her skirt, because my hands have previously turned her neck into a flexible rope. Now this creature sleeps forever, and the screeching of her children burning alive has become her last and eternal cradle.

Suddenly, the beautiful and overly bright picture began to change. The fear of tormented souls was replaced by bitterness. Smoking black hands reached out to me, grabbed me and dragged me into the hellfire I had created. No! Let me go! You deserve it! Leave me alone! You should be afraid of me!

"Decided to get rid of us, Johnny? You must be punished! Punished!"

The fire enveloped my body and tore off my skin. Blood boiled and foamed, bones smoldered. Fingers with exposed, sharp and red-hot phalanges clung to my face. My hair burned, my flesh hardened and cracked, blood flooded my whole face and darkened my eyes with a scarlet veil. There was nothing left but to scream in panic at the top of my voice and resist to no avail. The fire ran wild and devoured the boundless field at high speed. My only friends and listeners, a flock of crows, did not have time to fly to a safe place. They, too, disappeared into the sky-reaching wall of fire. No! It shouldn't be like this! They deserve it! Deserved it! My punishments must stop!

"…deserved it!.." stagnant hot air burst out of my chest. The body jumped at once, the hands twitched and squeezed the pillow. The claws almost tore the pillowcase. A dream… just a dream. I grunted with displeasure and rubbed my swollen eyes with my palms.

"It's all in the past… in the past… only I am left." I repeat this several times in order to even out my breathing. Through the slightly open window, a cool wind blew into the room, which soon calmed my inner heat. The drops of sweat dried up, drowsiness gradually returned, but annoying thoughts and throbbing pain did not leave my head. Squinting, I looked around and rummaged a little in the crumpled blanket. Right next to me was Edward, sleeping peacefully. One hand was holding on to the corner of the blanket, the other was raised above his head and laid on the pillow. It's a good thing I didn't wake him up. He worked for a very long time today, I barely managed to get Edward out of his office and persuade him to go to bed. I don't sleep well myself, so when I manage to get enough sleep, I want him to be with me. A calm, even peaceful look, parted lips and a quiet sweet sniff, which immediately began to calm me down. I quietly creep up to Nygma and nuzzle his shoulder. Just need to be patient a little and the pain will go away. It's so nice to have you with me. My hands took his palms by themselves, fingered his thin fingers and sometimes stroked his head. So good. This smell of paper, ink, newspapers and vanilla sugar reminds me that I am no longer alone.

"Mnh… huh? Jonathan?" Edward mumbled softly when I stopped holding back and just hugged him like a favorite toy. My response was silence and a careful kiss on the cheek. "Is everything okay, Jonathan?" he kept talking through his sleep and took my hand. "They… deserved it, didn't they?" I didn't want to say it, but my tongue let me down. Edward immediately woke up and turned to me. "Again?" he asked excitedly. Green eyes glittered in the dark. "Yes…" I didn't deny it. Edward knows that I am sometimes disturbed by such dreams. With a sad sigh, he slowly stretched out his arms. "Come to me, dear." and Edward hugged me and pressed me to his chest. It immediately became very convenient. All sounds were muffled and only the pounding of his heart filled my ears. I hugged Nygma tightly in response, naturally clung to him, wanting to drown in him. Now all thoughts were about Edward. He is so gentle, caring, understanding and all these values go only to me. Sometimes, it's hard for me to believe it. Sometimes, it all seems like a dream too. "It's okay… I'm with you." he whispered gently in my ear and stroked my head and the back of my head. In his arms, all the scars stop hurting, all the dark memories go away. I feel at peace and enjoy every second. "I… love you." "I love you too, my dear."

#scriddler #riddlecrow #scarecrow #salecrow #riddler #saleriddler #jonathan crane #edward nygma #Blacki's fanfiction #Blacki's ask #writers on tumblr

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diabolus1exmachina · 2 years ago

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Maserati MC20 Cielo

Cielo means “sky” in Italian, and we knew the MC20 Spyder was imminent the moment the company rebooted itself by launching the coupé. What we couldn’t foresee is Maserati’s plan to help supercar drivers get rid of their unfortunate hat choices by introducing a folding hardtop with Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal technology, the more advanced smart glass Mercedes and McLaren customers could only dream of under their less sufficient SPD glass roofs. What’s more, Maserati says the full-electric version of the MC20, the upcoming Folgore will also come first as a Cielo Spyder.

There are two active glass solutions in the luxury automotive segment. The suspended particle roof from automotive supplier Gauzy is transparent when not under power, and can only go from a light 30 percent tint to “a nearly opaque” 95-percent tint. The Maserati glass roof developed by Webasto, however, is fully opaque when the car is parked, going fully transparent if you wish. What’s more, it offers 96-percent ray reflection due to a filter layer at the bottom, alongside better thermal and noise isolation. In practice, it looks something like this from the passenger seat:Operating at speeds up to 31 mph, this 12-second folding roof represents a 143-pound weight penalty over the coupé, not bad at all. The carbon fiber monocoque is layered and foamed differently to maintain a high torsional rigidity, which is also aided by the one-piece aluminum frame of the roof mechanism, bolted in between the monocoque and the rear shock towers. Sixty percent of the spyder’s 3,395 pounds is on the rear axle, which now uses a milder differential ratio as well.The chassis settings, power curves and performance figures remain unchanged. The slightly higher rear section brought a minimal increase in drag, while the springs are a touch stiffer to compensate for the extra weight, aided by more rebound. Being the lifestyle choice, the MC20 Cielo Spyder isn’t here to break track records, yet will still reach 62mph in 3.0 seconds, and keep going until the 200 mph mark.

A popular design feature of the hardtop MC20 happens to be its rear screen with the trident-shaped cutouts that aid cooling of the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6. With that piece being replaced by the roof holder and its cover, design chief Klaus Busse and his team went for new boomerang-shaped outlets cut into the side fenders, while engineering came up with deflectors that channel clean air to the intercooler through the equally discreet additional air intakes. Busse explained that while his design team insisted on retaining the MC20’s sleek roofline and clean side profile, engineering got every chance to use the bottom half of the car, finished in carbon fiber instead of body color to optimize aerodynamics, resulting in the retained downforce levels and low drag despite the raised rear panel.

Optionally, for those who miss the rear screen, Maserati is offering a large titan finish Trident logo sticker on the roof cover panel, which screams MASERATI at everybody driving behind when the roof is raised or dropped. It's also something of a visual trick to hide the cover’s extra volume.

#Maserati MC20 Cielo

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jlcroofinginc · 1 year ago

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JLC Roofing Inc

Since 1994, A+ BBB Rated Licensed, Bonded & Insured Professional Roofing Company in Peoria, AZ. Experts in Residential Tile, Shingle & Foam Roof Repair and Replacements. Service Area: Phoenix, Glendale, Sun City, Surprise, Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Carefree, Goodyear, Arizona. Request a Free Estimate.

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#Roofing Company #Roofers #Roof Repair #Roof Replacement #Emergency Roof Repair

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darkeeveeanimatesus · 1 year ago

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Fnaf ruin sun/moon angst

Sun lay in the corner of the destroyed pizza place, surrounded by the rubble that used to be the daycare center. His eyes, while one still glowing bright with a soft blue hue, were also filled with sorrow. They no longer had the same playful spark they used to, now replaced by sadness and a type of resignation. Sun was alone in every way; he was a guardian without a child, a protector without someone to protect. He had been abandoned, cast aside as the world changed around him, and that loneliness had left its mark on him. Physically and mentally. The earthquake that destroyed his home took away most of his right leg. He hated thinking of the agony of trying desperately to pull himself from the piece of the ceiling that crushed it. He was terrified every time he looked down and saw the mangled metal nub. He didn’t understand how, but it hurt. Every part of him ached. But most of all, he felt the pain of battles waged inside his mind. He could feel Moon clawing at his insides, trying to overpower him and rule over him mercilessly. It was like a daily battle for control, and Sun was losing. The strain of constantly pushing Moon away was slowly become too much. The daycare attendant cuddled up as close as he could to one of the only lights that still somehow managed to be lit. “Light on… light good…. Moon can’t be free as long as it stays on.” He whimpered. He retracted into himself; burying his face in his knees as his arms hugged them tightly. He finally let it out and sobbed as he remembered all the children who had found solace here, but were now gone. It seemed his only purpose was to remain here and fight, and yet he was failing at that too. As he wept in the silence, Sun began to accept the fact that any chance he had of happiness had gone. Thinking of this, Sun found himself crying harder as the misery overtook him. He was all alone, and it was all his fault. No… It was Moon’s fault. HE was the one who started acting up. HE was the one who nearly slaughtered Gregory. Granted, that child was a no-good rule breaker, but still! They were programmed to never hurt a child; not even think of it! Sun used to love turning into Moon to help the children with nap time. His cool blue eyes were so soothing to fall asleep too. But now they were as red as a blood moon. He was no longer his peaceful brother, but rather a monster that was ravenously trying to be the sole wielder of their body. He wanted to make sure Sun never took control again. He could NOT let that happen. Who knows what he would do running around unsupervised?! What if he harms more innocent people? More innocent children?! POSSIBLE NEW FRIENDS?!?? Oh, the thought was unbearable! Sun stayed curled up next to the light for what seemed like an eternity, just desperately trying to think happy thoughts. Eventually, he began to ache from sitting in the same position for what was probably over 2 days. He angled the light down at a downed playground tube and walked towards it. It was a blue crawl tube that had practically no roof. Inside was a collection of pillows, blankets, and foam from the inside of the giant plush building blocks. The exhausted animatronic crawled in and curled up. “Come on Moon… please stop fighting. We’re in our bed now- just please stop.” “Never...” A voice echoed in his head. “I’ll only rest once I’m the one in control. No more sun…” Sun glanced up at the suspended spotlight aimed at them. “You can’t come out. As long as I stay in the light, you’ll be kept at bay.” The sinister voice gave a chuckle. “We both know that whatever is working that singular light is going to run out of power eventually. This place hasn’t exactly been paying the electrical bills recently. That light WILL shut off. And when it does- no more Mr. Sun…” The daycare attendant felt a wave of darkness and pain wash over him as the lone light flickered at the end of Moon’s threat. He knew he was right. But for now- he just had to fight it a little bit longer. Even if the fighting tore them into a million pieces!

Moon would not win.

#fnaf #security breach daycare attendant #security breach ruin #fnaf security breach #sun fnaf #fnaf sb ruin #fnaf sun #fnaf moon

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accessdoorsandpanels · 2 years ago

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Insulation 101: Benefits and Types of Insulation

Commercial building owners invest in quality insulation materials because of their numerous benefits. Insulation helps enhance the overall performance of any commercial building, decreases harmful greenhouse gas emissions, and helps keep your energy bills from increasing.

In addition, adding insulation to your establishment can also reduce the number of noises coming in and out. This is beneficial mainly for establishments that require better acoustics or sound barriers. Let's learn more about the different types of insulation material available now.

Batt Insulation

Professionals use batt insulation efficiently, one of the most affordable options available today. It comes with two options; with or without facing. Professionals must place this per specifications to resist water vapor transfer. Most insulation today contains recycled materials such as sand. Fiberglass also includes sand which is an environmentally friendly content source.

Batt insulation can either be fiberglass, cotton, or stone wool blankets. Fiberglass is the most common type out of the rest. It is the perfect insulation for attics, walls, ceilings, crawl spaces, and basements.

Blown-in Insulation

When it comes to blown-in insulation, proper installation is a must. Professionals should utilize special equipment and safety measures to ensure long-term function. In addition to being primarily recycled, cellulose blown-in insulation also contains fire-retardant properties. It also resists insects, rodents, and mold and impressively creates a good sound barrier. Once the professionals finish the application, there are also available products with insulation that you can incorporate to enhance your commercial building, such as an insulated roof hatch.

Spray Foam Insulation

If you prefer an insulation material that forms an air barrier, then spray foam insulation should be the option on your list. This material can effectively cover your walls, floors, and ceiling cavities against air movement. This includes spaces around electrical outlets, light fixtures, and walls that meet windows and doors.

Professionals use spray foams in open cavities, like in new construction, crawl spaces, rim joists, and attics. You can also use this on remodeled homes. You can apply the spray foam if the cavities are unrestricted and accessible. Here are the two varieties of spray-foam insulation;

Closed-cell SPF- is a type of spray foam insulation that adds structural strength and is a rigid, vapor-resistant foam that doesn't require replacement in case of a flood.

Open-cell SPF- spray foam insulation that offers identical insulation advantages but does not act as a water barrier or vapor retarder.

Air Sealing

Controlling the air leakage of an establishment is critical to effective insulation. You can do a great job protecting an establishment, but if air can seep through gaps or cracks in the building envelope, you lose your valuable heated or conditioned air.

Concrete Block Insulation

A concrete block's center contains insulating materials such as polystyrene, polyisocyanurate or polyiso, and polyurethane. The hollow centers of concrete blocks can be filled by pouring and injecting loose foam beads or liquid foam. Some professionals create concrete blocks that support rigid foam inserts.

Reflective System

Unlike most typical insulation, which resists convective and conductive heat flow, reflective insulation works by reflecting radiant heat away from your commercial building. These insulation types are best for hot and humid climates, primarily if you have cooling air ducts in the attic. According to research, radiant barriers can lower cooling costs by up to 5% to 10% when utilized in a warm, sunny temperature.

There are still other insulation options available. Ensure to collaborate well with your architect, engineer, or contractor to choose the best insulation option based on your commercial building's needs and your project budget.

Did you find our blogs interesting? You can find more exciting blogs at Best Access Doors! We also offer various top-quality access doors and panels for any commercial building application. You can dial (800) 483-0823 to learn more about our products.

#Insulation

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aonoexpat · 2 years ago

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Road trip - Day 6 (part 1/2)

15-04-2023

It took me a moment to find the time to finish this little road trip series, but here it is: the finale (part 1, in true SnK fashion)!

Day 6 started off on an incredibly high note, because our first stop was one I'd been waiting for since before I even got to Aotearoa: Hobbiton, the film set for The Shire. More specifically, The Shire as depicted in the Hobbit movies, because the one from the Lord Of The Rings got largely taken down after filming. The gift shop and cafe at the beginning already created a wonderfully magical atmosphere, but the real butterflies hit me when the tour bus came to pick us up:

It drove us across the beautiful hills of the Alexander estate, as we listened to the movie soundtrack and a special welcome message from Sir Peter Jackson himself, and I have to admit I got a bit teary-eyed when we caught the first glance of The Green Dragon and the stone bridge leading up to it. They showed some scenes from the movies in the bus, and then we arrived at the entrance to Hobbiton!

We passed through the little gully that the first Hobbit movie sees Bilbo running through, the contract billowing behind him as he shouts "I'm going on an adventure!", and I will forever curse the fact that I didn't think to recreate that moment with a photo. I was a bit distracted by the weather because at this point it had started to rain, and rain quite a lot. But that didn't spoil our fun, no, it actually made the grass and the vegetable gardens look lush and full of colour 💚

We got to see over 40 hobbit holes if I remember correctly, all but one of them simply facades with no interiors, but there was no way to tell. The attention to detail in the entire set was baffling, with each hobbit hole having tell-tale signs of its inhabitant's profession:

Even the lichen on the wooden fences was put there deliberately with a concrete mix. And the most impressive fake feature of all: the big oak tree on top of Bag End. It was recreated after the oak tree in the Lord Of The Rings movies, which Sir Peter Jackson found somewhere else, cut down, and placed on top of the Baggins' hobbit hole. He didn't bother to replant it, so it tragically died after they shot the movies. He needed an exact replica for the Hobbit movies, no similar tree would be good enough. So he had his people build this one from a steel base and expanding foam, and - get this - a quarter of a million hand-painted leaves, which had to be painstakingly wired on one by one. Due to Sir Peter Jackson falling ill, they had to stop filming for about six months, and when they got back to the set the leaves had been bleached by the hot Aotearoa sun, so they had to all be taken down and replaced 😬 which had to be done a couple more times since then! The budget must have been through the grassy roof 😳

By the time the sun finally broke through, we got to walk across the (also fake) stone bridge next to the mill and grab a complimentary drink at the Green Dragon:

On the way back I genuinely felt quite sad to go. A place like that successfully makes you believe such an idyllic little village could exist and you'll never be truly happy until you live in one (even when you know damn well it takes a full team of gardeners and landscapers and caretakers and builders to keep it looking like that). Instead I had to make do with a cute little postcard from the gift shop and the vow I'd save all the pictures I took to use as inspiration for when I get to decorate my own place some day 🙏

Since Tumblr only lets me post 10 photos per post, we'll have to continue this series finale in a part 2...

#aotearoa #backpacking #road trip

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tryst-art-archive · 2 years ago

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March 2010: "Capture the Flag"

Jason inspected his troops from dirt-smudged face to bandaged knee. Marlene, in her pigtails, her grin showing the places where her baby teeth had yet to be replaced, wore overalls. Her pockets were cluttered with various tools and miscellaneous useful-seeming objects, such as several lengths of rope, that she had scavenged from her family’s garage. Chris bore a mischievous grin; he had recently fashioned a slingshot out of a particularly ideal Y-shaped stick and the elastic of an old pair of underwear. Armed with small rocks, plastic bottle caps, and some especially stale marshmallow Peeps, he was prepared to bruise his enemy, preferably from the safety of a tree. Alex, armed with a brand new, rapid-fire Nerf gun and a hefty, fully loaded Super Soaker, jabbed his pudgy elbow into the side of the slim boy beside him and let out a hearty laugh. The slim boy, Thierry, said nothing, only stepped back and calmly blended into his surroundings to observe the proceedings.

Jason tapped his plastic baseball bat against his knee and pushed his cap farther back on his head. “Alright boys – and girl – we’re here to capture us a flag!” He whooped, leaping and waving his baseball bat over his head. All but Thierry followed suit, shaking their weapons and letting their excitement fly off their tongues. A response to their hollering cut over the roof of Jason’s house, whose porch they were currently huddled under, and the group fell silent. Jason curled his lip, sneering at the sound of his rivals’ enthusiasm.

“Listen up!” he said. “The red team ain’t gonna lose to no stickin’ blue team, y’hear? We’re gonna get their flag and bring it back here, and we’re gonna kick butt! Marlene, you’re gonna have to set up some traps. Make it hard for them to get our flag, alright? Chris, I want you to find a good spot to hide in. Y’gotta slingshot anyone coming too close to our base, okay? Alex, I want you to take down anyone who gets in our way, and Thierry, you need to sneak into their base. Take down any threats you see.”

The group nodded excitedly, shouting various affirmatives and bursting into giggles.

Jason grinned. “Alright, let’s do this thing!”

The group dispersed, Marlene and Chris heading to the best posts they could find, Thierry into the nearby trees, and Jason and Alex running around to the house’s side yard where a representative of the blue team waited.

Jason approached his blue counterpart with a swagger. He eyeballed the boy – his older brother - and barked a laugh. So what if his brother and his team were older? Jason’s team was better.

Alex lowered his Super Soaker. “You ready to lose, Chad?”

Chad shook his head, laughing. “Not a chance in hell. See you in the winner’s circle, ladies.” He darted between Jason and Alex, rushing toward their flag, hidden under the porch.

Startled, Alex jogged after him, pulling out the Nerf gun and firing the foam darts at his back. Jason darted around to the enemy side of the house, plunging into the unknown, thinking only that he must capture and secure the blue flag before his brother could score a point. The result was that he immediately tripped over a strategically placed skateboard. He flew up into the air and landed on his back, the wind knocked out of him. A girl with a pixie cut and a blue sweatshirt sauntered over.

“Real smooth,” Ellen said, pointing a water gun in Jason’s face.

Jason squeezed his eyes shut against the water, only to reopen them as he heard the girl yelp. Thierry, who had witnessed Jason’s fall from the safety of the bushes, had leapt out and tackled the girl to the ground. Now, he grappled with her for control of the water gun. “Run, Jason!”

Jason scrambled to his feet and began to sprint, shouting a thank you over his shoulder. He darted around to the driveway and hid himself behind one of his parents’ cars, frantically scanning for other blue team adversaries while frantically trying to think where the flag was hidden.

There were numerous possibilities. His house and the surrounding area were rife with hiding places. The back and left side of the house, from which he had just come, were bordered by woods while a large lichen- and moss-covered rocky mass, typical of New England, rose on its right side. The front of the house saw a view of the street, but a large portion of yard stood between the front door and sidewalk. This segment, the side of the house occupied by the blue team, was primarily bare with only the half-circle driveway and a large pine tree in its grassy middle to decorate it. Even so, the borders of the yard were not off-limits and there were plenty of hiding places for the blue flag, if Chad had been clever about it. The fact that he couldn’t see the flag anywhere worried Jason.

The backyard where the red flag hid, however, was rife with more apparent hiding places. It featured the porch, including its underside, and a host of small boulders and expansive woods to choose from. Jason and his team had decided to simply place the red flag under the porch, in plain sight, but defend it with all the tools and wits at their disposal. They had assumed that Jason’s speed would allow them to quickly capture the blue flag before Chad could bypass the red team’s defenses.

Looking over the decidedly flagless front yard, Jason was not so sure that the plan was half as solid as he had believed.

As Jason contemplated his next move, Marlene finished her traps. She had strung rope between trees and the posts supporting the porch and littered the grass with marbles. Now, she tied the flag down where it stood, inventing knots as she worked to bind it to nearby protruding objects. If Chad’s team got by her other traps, they’d at least be stuck trying to pull the flag from its place while Chris, hidden in a tree which commanded a perfect view of the backyard, pelted them with pebbles.

Presently, Chad came around the corner, pursued by Alex. “Dammit,” Chad was saying. “Enough with the Nerf gun already!”

Alex continued to fire the squishy rounds. “Well turn back then!”

Chad snorted and ran toward the porch, leaping over Marlene’s ropes only to stumble over her marbles and fall to the ground, face-first. Marlene jumped into the air, pleased with her success. “Yes!”

Her glee was short-lived, however, as Alex stepped gingerly over the rope and onto the marbles. He attempted to pass over them slowly, balancing his mass as best he could, but before he could reach Chad, he too lost his footing and fell to the ground with a grunt. Marlene’s face fell. When Alex didn’t get up immediately, she hastened over to him to make sure he hadn’t been hurt, only to be caught by her own trap, falling and skinning her hands.

By this time, Chad had decided to obtain greater stability by forsaking bipedal movement in favor of crawling on all fours. In this fashion, he crossed the field of marbles and made it to the flag. When his first effort to yank the flag from its place in the ground failed due to Marlene’s extensive binding, he swore. He cursed again when a pebble from Chris’s slingshot bit into his arm.

Chris cackled to himself. “Yeah, that’s it. Just stay right where I can see you.” He fired another pebble at Chad who glared in his direction then crawled over to Alex who was, presently, sitting up and debating how best to overcome the marble field. Seeing Chad approaching, he pulled out his Super Soaker and doused the older boy. Heedless, Chad pressed forward and, once close enough, threw himself at Alex, attempting to wrestle the Nerf gun from his hands.

Chris bit his lip. Chad’s thinking was clear: he needed time to untie the flag, and he certainly didn’t want to spend that time being pelted by Chris’s decidedly painful projectiles. As there was no immediate cover from Chris’s line of fire near the flag, the only way to avoid the projectiles would be to take Chris himself down, possibly by causing him to lose his balance and fall out of the tree. Chris briefly considered leaving the tree now in order to avoid a potential tumble but decided against it. He wasn’t very strong or fast; it would be easy for Chad to overtake and overpower him. Better really to stay in the tree and get the best of Chad from there.

As it became increasingly apparent that Alex would lose the battle to maintain control of his Nerf gun, Chris pulled out the kinder of his three ammunitions, the stale marshmallow Peeps, and began to fire them at Chad, wincing whenever he hit Alex by accident.

Marlene, watching all this and frantically searching her pockets and mind for something that would help her team, wondered where Jason was and why he hadn’t returned with the blue team’s flag yet.

For his part, Jason had left his hiding place behind his parents’ cars and headed for the rocks bordering the yard. They were fairly easy to climb, and, he reasoned, a pretty good place to hide a flag. Thierry had lost his battle with Ellen who, water gun in hand, was presently running toward Jason. She was slower than him, however, and he was certain he could climb the rocks and find the flag before she had a chance to reach him.

The climb up the rocks was surprisingly easy – he had expected more booby traps – and this caused him to second guess his suspicion that the flag was hidden there. Indeed, a thorough search of the brush atop the rock revealed no flag, though it did turn up one of Chad’s other friends, a boy named Matt. He was armed with a suction cup bow and arrow set, probably stolen from Jason’s own room, and clearly had intended to protect the true location of the flag from afar. Jason yelped when he stumbled across him – nearly tripping over his legs – and the other boy gasped, swinging around and blindly firing his arrow at Jason. The suction cup failed to stick to Jason’s T-shirt, and, weaponless, the would-be sniper stared blankly at Jason who, after a moment, jumped atop him, shouting, “Where’s the flag?”

“Get off me, you little twerp!”

“Tell me where it is!”

The older boy wrestled Jason off of him, throwing him to a mossy patch some feet away – thankfully not near the edge of the rock – before bolting down the rock’s face. Jason got on his feet, not bothering to brush himself off, and followed Matt, only to meet with Ellen’s determined frown.

“Gotcha now,” she said, leering. She squirted water in his eyes, distracting him sufficiently to get him in a headlock. Rubbing her knuckles in his hair, she laughed, saying, “How do you like that, huh?”

Jason attempted throw her off of him, pushing against her arms with all that was in him only to find, much to his embarrassment, that he was weaker than a girl. In spite of his shame, he called for help.

Thierry, winded still from his own struggle with Ellen began to head toward Jason, only to be stopped by Matt who simply tackled Thierry to the ground and sat on him.

Jason’s call did not go completely unanswered, however. The sound carried over the house to the backyard for his three remaining teammates to hear. Unfortunately, the call distracted both Alex and Chris sufficiently for Chad to wrestle the Nerf gun away from Alex, whip around with it, and fire a well-aimed dart at Chris’s forehead where the suction cup took hold. Startled, Chris became unbalanced and fell from his perch. He landed with a thud and, thanks to not being too high up in the tree or hitting too many branches on his way down, bore only a bruised rear and a number of scratches as a result.

Satisfied, Chad crawled back over to the flag and began to tear at the knots that tied it down. Alex stood and attempted to go after him, temporarily forgetting the marbles, and slipped again. He elected to lie, groaning, in the grass rather than try his luck again.

Marlene, however, did not forget the marbles. She crawled out of the trap and ran around the side yard, heading toward Jason’s call even as Chris picked himself off the ground and began to rain yet more pebbles on Chad. On ground level, Chad’s Nerf darts were simply not as effective as Chris’s rocks and bottle caps. Even so, Chad elected to ignore Chris; he had seen Marlene head around the side yard and had realized that who won this battle would soon come down to whether he or his brother was the faster runner. Refusing to lose to mere kids, he pulled at Marlene’s knots as Chris rained bottle caps on his shoulders.

Marlene was not especially strong, although she was, certainly, a tomboy. If Jason couldn’t bring down Ellen, then Marlene certainly could not. However, luck was with the red team; Ellen’s back was to the side yard such that, as Marlene came around to the front yard, she was able to obtain the element of surprise.

Matt saw her coming and attempted to yell a warning to Ellen, but his call was cut short by a sudden thrashing from Thierry, who had also seen Marlene, and the consequent need to subdue him.

With a running start, Marlene, taking inspiration from kung-fu movies, leapt and kicked Ellen in the rear clumsily. Ellen’s grip on Jason loosened, and he, breaking from her arms, ran towards the pine at the center of the half-circle driveway, guessing that to be the flag’s true location. Ellen started after him, but Marlene threw herself at the backs of the girl’s knees and brought her down to the ground, forcing her to deal with the tiny pig-tailed tomboy who, while not strong, was certainly persistent.

With Marlene and Thierry buying him time, Jason sped to the tree and began to scale its heights, climbing from one branch to the next as quickly as he could. The tree was littered with traps; the net from an old home soccer goal had been drawn across some of the branches, preventing an easy climb up to the top of the tree where, Jason could now see, the flag resided. Alternate routes up the tree had been coated with grape jelly from the kitchen cabinets, and Jason was ultimately forced to choose between potentially slipping and falling down the rather tall pine or losing time by attempting to remove the net.

He chose to risk injury by taking the jelly route, and, sticky-handed, he climbed breathlessly, facing only one heart-stopping scare. He could hear Thierry and Marlene struggling and, slowly, losing, as he neared the top. As his hand closed around the flag’s shaft and brought it to his chest, he caught a yelp from Marlene and knew she had been cast aside, unable to contain Ellen any longer.

His pulse quickened, shaking him so that he could hear the faint rustle of the blood in his ears gently pushing them against his cap. Full of adrenaline, he half slid down the tree, accepting scrapes and bruises in exchange for speed. With a quarter of the tree left to descend – still no laughing distance though the chance of bodily harm was significantly diminished – Ellen appeared below him and began to clamber up the tree to apprehend him. Rather than face her a second time, Jason took a breath and leapt from the tree, pushing off its trunk, out into the open air. His descent seemed curiously slow and allowed him time to observe that, though Thierry still occupied Matt, he would not be able to hold him off for much longer, that Marlene lay crumpled against the rocks on the right of the house, and that Chris’s voice came over the house’s roof: “Hurry, Jason!”

Jason allowed instinct to take over as he neared the ground, rolling when he reached it, and therefore able to run immediately rather than struggle to get up. This made all the difference as a mere moment later and Matt would have broken from Thierry in time to stop Jason’s flight; all would have been lost. As it stood, Matt barely missed his chance, and Jason sped by, through the left side yard and into the backyard where he passed his brother, recently victorious over the ropes. Their eyes met as they passed, both frantic to be the victor in this brothers’ feud. Then Chad was gone toward the front yard, fighting to reach the tree before Jason could reach the porch.

Jason forced his legs to stretch farther and move faster. Rather than fight the traps he could see Marlene had laid, he leapt up from the grass to the porch’s stairs, ran up them to the spot directly above where his flag had been located and forced a syllable from his heaving lungs: “SAFE!”

He knew he had won when, a moment later, he heard Chad’s not-so-quiet curse. Faintly, he could here is mother opening the front door and beginning to chastise her eldest for this profanity. Jason grinned, catching Alex’s eye.

“Safe,” he panted.

#writing archive #TrysKits work #prose #fiction #short story #old writing #assignments #capture the flag #10s #2010 #Age 19

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