#fuck now I want biscuits and gravy

[ibswarriors2nd]

Cracker Barrel has fallen.

[stormbreaker-290]

51 for the ask game >:3

✨Pasta my beloved✨

Either that or biscuits and gravy casserole XP

[gremlingottoosilly]

Sooo I am from the Southern United States,and so I can't help but picture Konig having to deal with a Southern!Wifey.

One thing Konig will have to get used to, if his little wife is Southern,is her food and drinks. She will make Biscuits and Gravy(White Gravy) and drink Sweet Iced Tea by the gallon. Also,if she is the home maker he will learn he can not set foot in her kitchen while she is cooking otherwise he will be put to work. "Oh handsy hmm? Well if you have energy to be handsy you can peel potatoes,shuck corn,and shell some peas now can't you?"

He will never go hungry,or have to worry about her defending herself. Nothing is scarier than an angry southern woman with a cast iron pan in her hand.

Sorry if this like came from no where,I just don't see a lot of southerner rep in COD headcanons or stories and sorta just wanted to share my thoughts!

Hi!! Omg sometimes I forget that Americans are real, it's sounds so cool!! Konig is FOLDED. Southern wifey actually goes really well with his traditional values and how he perceives his possible wife-to-be. He was raised on the belief that a true Austrian woman should always care about home, cooking, going to church etc, and be ready to face the attackers with her own powers - so when his adorable wifey from overseas cooks for him, takes care of him, all with that cute accent of hers...poor guy is ready to get USA citizenship and buy a farm in the midwest. He loves your food! He is a big boy and he needs meat, and he would gladly sacrifice his time to cook with you just so he could get an opportunity to grop your ass and steal a few kisses while you are too busy with doing the meat. Someone is trying to harass you and before Konig could step up, you already defeated the attacker?? Omg he wishes he could marry you a second time..... He is a bit of a cringe cowboy fan because he is a loser who was reading that very old western and exported Italian cowboy movies, so he still thinks of you as a bit of a cowgirl...he would silently push a hat to your direction, but would actually fucking die if you'd wear it.

[ornii]

Folie a Deux III: Trending

The shoots were getting more and more intense as time went on, from your magic, to faking being blind to shooting your own fight scenes, a lot of work with little downtime, but when you did, you spend it focusing on your music. Making samples and producing, one late night in your trailer, the sounds of a cello tuning cut your music time down, you couldn’t focus with it. You heard that melody so vividly, You placed your headphones down and stepped out of your trailer, you heard the sounds coming from inside one of the rooms for shooting, it was nearing midnight. You crept up the stairs as Paint it Black was echoing.

Jenna sat with a Cello, trying to mementoes the strokes for her character Wednesday but it was always off by a smidge. She sighs as she stops to tune it. You watched her, her dedication to her character, to the art. You were, admittedly amazed.

“Don’t tune it.” you say, her head jerks over to surprise, seeing you.

“Shit. I didnt wake you, did. I?”

“No I was just finishing some samples Metro sent me, you’re really good at that.” You walk over, trying to not be a creep you sit always away from her, Jenna shrugged it off.

“No I’ve.. only been playing for a few months for the role.”

“A few months?” You say, flabbergasted. You scoot closer.

“It took me a year to learn bass guitar! You’re amazing, can you play something for me?” You ask, as Jenna was fumbling around to form an excuse you had an idea.

“Wait; let me help you, gimmie a sec.” (Y/n) darts off, leaving Jenna alone only for a minute, he enters with a keyboard piano and a violin, he sits across from her.

“It might Help you to recognize keys from songs you like and mentally implant them for your song, like this.” You say, you tap a few keys for drums and begin a simple beat, and with the lyrics she immediately recognizes the song

“I wish i knew you wanted me~ I wish I knew..” you sing, you then put the drums on repeat and take the violin and help with the bass line.

“Okay, take the keys, minor. Cellos a low register, I’ll pick up on high.” You say and begin a Violin and Cello rendition of “Bad Habit” by the one and only Steve Lacy, your eyes can’t stay off of her as you watch her play. The lyrics flowing like red wine from your lips.

“I bite my tongue, it's a bad habit

Kinda mad that I didn't take a stab at it

Thought you were too good for me, my dear

Never gave me time of day, my dear

It's okay, things happen for

Reasons that I think are sure, yeah…”

The keys started to come naturally to her, listening to the beat and focusing. While the music was amazing, it attracted more of the cast members who were unaware of what was going on, Peeking inside the Enid and Wednesday bedroom stage they saw the two performing and it was magical. The duo were reaching the chorus as they entered, actually impressed by the cover, and joined it.

You can't surprise a Gemini

I'm everywhere, I'm cross-eyed, and

Now that you're back, I can't decide

If I decide if you're invited

You always knew the way to wow me

Fuck around, get tongue-tied, and

I turn it on, I make it rowdy

Then carry on, but I'm not hidin'

You grabbin' me hard 'cause you know what you found

Is biscuits, is gravy, babe, ah-ah

(Y/n)’s eyes locked with Jenna’s. He couldn’t tear away from that gleam, those eyes, that smile.

“You can't surprise a Gemini

But you know it's biscuits, is gravy, babe

I knew you'd come back around

'Cause you know it's biscuits, it's gravy, babe

Let's fuck in the back of the mall, lose control

Go stupid, go crazy, babe

I know I'll be in your heart 'til the end

You'll miss me, don't beg me, babe..” He ends with a violin string, and the others watching immediately started berating them with questions, wondering if this was going to be in the final shoot. After some laughs and awkward chit chat, they all left, but Emma saw (Y/n) and Jenna chatting as the night was coming to a close, and couldn’t help but smile.

Wednesday had been a Commercial success, the internet going wild for it. Netflix had found lightning in a bottle and much of that was Thanks to Jenna of course, but much of the conversation was about the supporting cast. Mostly You. The Wenclair ship was trending, but it was #Healday that kept on the charts. The internet obviously went wild for the show and a season 2 was bound to happen, and of course there was the press tour, promoting the show and showing up appearances.

Exiting the Limo you kept a fairly calm demeanor, unbeknownst to everyone a little anxious, stepping out in a Notch Label embroiled Suit with a deep red scarf to boot. Wearing deep black shades your eyes were hidden to the crowd, you turn around and extend your hand and from the Limo Miss Ortega takes it, steeping out with a slim fit single shoulder dress with a thigh split for the thigh high leggings to show. Thank god for your shades, everyone would have seen just what you were oogling at. You kept composure as you lead your “Friend.” Out of the Limo to more flashes and cameras. Fitting a perfect example of a Modern Victorian Couple indeed. You walked with her slowly to let the Paparazzi get their moneys worth.

“Great dress.” You say to her, she attempted to hide the smile but couldn’t.

“I thought you’d like it..” she accidentally blurted out.

“What?” You reply, not entirely sure if you heard her correctly.

“I just meant It would go well with yours, we gotta keep this up, people really seem to like us.” She said, you shrugged it off and Jenna, taking a small risk leans up against your shoulder just slightly, the brush of her hair along your neck made you soul tingle. It seems this coverage was going swimmingly. You casually checked your phone and you see what’s treading. Both of you.

“Well.. that didn’t take long.”

When it came to interviews you kept things pretty professional, but always did your best to support your cast members and always talk positively about it. Your fame continues to grow and your friendship with Miss Ortega seems to be blooming so swimmingly, unfortunately for her; two words stuck a dagger into the heart of your relationship, making it bleed with jealousy.

This words.. Olivia Rodrigo.

Folie a Deux IV: Jealousy

[mortuarywriting]

If I outline what the fuck i wanna see in my self indulgent au will it give me the kick in the ass to write it.

Obviously relative spoiler/high notes/plot points below

The premise is, so far, nobody has seen where Simon lives. As far as they- they being Gaz, Soap, and Price- know he has a flat in Manchester.

Well leaving base one night(ish, time negotiable), the road they were all taking in their separate vehicles is closed due to a nasty accident. Gonna be blocked for 24 hours kinda mess.

So Ghost offers to let them all stay at his place, if only for a bit or the night if they prefer

Everyone just kinda. Well this isn't what we were expecting but alright. So they follow his car, it's pissing down rain and you can't see shit before you but the tail lights you're following but they've committed and by the time they pull off the road they're fuckin nowhere. House is fairly isolated, separate garage building, coop in the backyard, and a thatch roof cottage. Whose Nan's attic is Simon living in???

Except, not a random old biddie. Just a random fat American?? It's obvious they're familiar enough with each other, giving each other shit and that there's a whole "you got back from a mission here is our you came home routine"

Whole mess. The group stays the night because now they're nosy and wanna find out what the relationship is. You both say roommates. They don't wholly believe that.

Simon and roomie sleep downstairs, he can't sleep in a bed yet after the mission and roomie makes sure there's enough background noise that he doesn't snap into combat mode everything is about to go to shit.

Next morning roomie and Simon team up to make a hodge podge of all kinds of breakfast food and between them all there are no leftovers. Concerns are had if everyone ate enough (and then biscuits and gravy settled).

Its back to routine and roomie goes out to grocery shop to stock back up on "i need to feed myself and a whole ass army dude" levels of food and snackies.

While Simon is trying to get Soap and Gaz to stop making excuses to stick around (all good-natured fun) there is a call. Roomie prefaces this with they're fine!!! But uh. They did get hit by a car. A bit. Enough that there has to be a report. Come get the groceries?

And this is the part where they find out Simon and roomie are married. Have been for y e a r s. Technically the town knows them under roomie's last name as a couple.

After the dust is settled and everyone is back at the cottage the explaining happens. Yes, they're married. Vegas happened. It's been a long time and they kinda glossed over the whole "he's a dead man" legal bit for it. Roomie still gets married rights. How do you think he has a lease as a dead man roomie legitimately wants to know. The cottage is in their name, his isn't on it to keep it all off the record if people come knocking for him.

(He does actually have a Manchester flat, though. Landlord takes cash payments however many months at a time and doesn't ask questions. Roomie gets mail from it every once in a blue moon.)

Relationship is largely "we're married but for tax benefits"esque because they're both some flavor of ace. If he's in town roomie checks on if he wants to go to the Saturday munches or not but that's sir not appearing in this fic.

But yeah. Just fun self indulgence.

Could go write the Vegas bit. Write work "being brought home". Bonding activities. List of things for when he retires. Potentially kidnapping. S o many fun options but I just. Gotta write it.

[gnrlove1987]

Summary: When your relationship goes wrong, you leave Axl. Sometime later, Axl tracks you down at the beachside ice cream shop you're working at.

You scooped some mint chip ice cream into a pastel pink cup and handed it to the little girl on the other side of the counter, happy that your shift was finally over and your last customer was served.

You felt a tap on your shoulder. You turned around to see your coworker Jane.

“You’re free to go!” Jane said enthusiastically with a chipper smile that showed how young, innocent, and unjaded she was. Yet, at least.

Untying your apron, you gratefully said, “Thanks, Jane. My shift couldn’t end fast enough”.

You liked working at Peach’s Seaside Ice Cream shop. The laid back vibe here was a nice change from the life you lived before you moved to Long Beach. Though, some days seemed to drag on and today was one. It wasn’t like you had much going on after work anyway. Since your breakup a year ago, you had your one bedroom apartment, your cat, and your job. That was good enough for you.

Taking your keys and your purse, you walked out of the shop but after barely four steps, you were stuck in your tracks. You couldn’t move and just stared. He was standing before you and looked just as good as he did a year ago when you left him. Maybe even a little better.

You tried to speak but you couldn’t.

“Hey, y/n.” He said quietly.

Stunned, you eeked out, “What are you doing here, Axl?”

You thought when you left him a year ago you would never see him again and now somehow he found you. You moved to Long Beach to get away from him. That way you wouldn't see him around town or hear what he was up to from friends of friends.

Seeing him standing before you, all the memories good and bad flooded back. You remembered how things were before you left.

You had been with Axl way before he was the biggest rockstar on the planet. You knew him when he struggled to pay for biscuits and gravy at Dennys. You were paying his way back then but you didn’t care because what he couldn’t give you in jewelry or flowers he would give you in love and devotion. Then when his album came out, everything changed. At first it was nice. You were thrilled his dreams were coming true and money wasn’t really a worry anymore.

But different problems replaced the old ones. Girls were constantly throwing themselves at him. Everyone around him turned into a yes man. Everyone but you. It started to seem like you and him weren’t a team anymore either, that he just wanted you to be Axl Rose’s girlfriend, nothing more than arm candy. And even with that he began to make you feel like you weren't good enough either.

As his fame grew, you felt like you didn’t fit in with his new life. You thought he had the same idea when he started going to awards shows, parties, and premieres alone. Two days later, there would be his picture splattered on the front page of the tabloids with a leggy, model type hanging off his arm. You didn’t know who he was anymore. Worse, you didn’t recognize yourself. Your self esteem was wrecked and the past 4 years of your life had stupidly revolved around Axl. You knew the only option was to get far away from him. Let him be this new version of himself while you found yourself again. A better version you could be proud of again.

A year later and he somehow found you. Was he looking for you this whole time or was it just some meaningless fucked up coincidence?

When he didn’t respond to your question, you muttered under your breath, “ I don’t need this shit. “ as you went to walk past him. But he stopped you.

“I can’t believe it’s actually you." he marveled. “ I’ve been looking for you for a long time. You’ve been hard to find, y/n.” He said with a small smile.

He went to stroke your cheek but you backed away.

He looked down and then away, not wanting you to see the hurt in his eyes.

“You know, I actually hired a private investigator to find you” he started, “ I spent a lot of money to find out where you ran off to.”

You laughed dryly and stood with your tongue in your cheek “ Long Beach isn’t that far from L.A. You must’ve sure been working hard to find me in between fucking every model in L.A." You said sarcastically. You continued, "You’re so full of shit. Don’t act like you've missed me. Don't act like you were upset when I left. You’re upset that you got left by someone. Period. It hurt your ego. But you never gave a shit that I was actually gone. It was a relief for you to not have me around anymore.”

“You ended the relationship, y/n! Not me! Fuck you for saying that!" he snapped. "Don’t pretend like you know how I felt especially when you ended it the way you did. It wasn’t fair! With everything we’d been through, you just fuckin left! You didn’t even give me an explanation! Fuck, you didn’t even bother to let me know you were ok. That night you left, I had no clue why you never came home; if you got hit by a fuckin bus or were killed or something! Do you have any idea how scared I was that something happened to you?“

“If you cared so damn much back then, you sure had a funny way of showing it.” You glared.

"That’s bullshit and you know it.” he spat back.

You started to retort but stopped yourself when you realized your coworkers had a front row seat to the fight between Axl Rose and his NOT girlfriend.

“Axl, I don’t want to do this here.”

Axl scoffed. “I’ve been looking for you for a fuckin year and we’re not going to talk about this cos you ‘don’t want to do this here’. ”He took in a deep breath before saying, “We’re doing this now.”

You remembered how bossy he could be and it wasn’t one of the traits you missed about him in the time apart.

“I’m parked over there” you pointed to your car that was nestled in between two palm trees, “we can talk in my car. Ok?”

He nodded and followed you. He sat in the passenger seat while you sat in the front. It was silent for a beat as you both looked around nervously.

”It broke my heart when you left me, y/n."

“Yeah, well it broke my heart when you wouldn’t come home at night for no reason other than you just didn’t want to. It broke my heart when you would make me feel like I wasn’t good enough for you. You broke my heart long before the relationship was officially over, Axl.”

"It was a hard time for me. My whole world was changing. I didn’t know how else to handle it. I’m sorry. But you should’ve told me that. Not just leave.”

“I’m sorry I left but it was the only way. If I would’ve talked to you about all this you just would’ve thrown a tantrum and-”

“You’re fucking throwing this back on me!?”

“Take responsibility for your shit, Axl! You know what I’m saying is true. That’s why you’re getting angry again!”

“I don’t know why I came here!” Axl began to get in your face

“Then leave!” You shouted

“I will! “ he shouted back

You two glared at each other, chests heaving with your faces so close your noses nearly touched. Your lips then collided with his as he pulled you on top of him. With his tongue massaging yours, he felt up your tits as you rubbed your palm again his crotch, feeling him firm up beneath your hand. He pulled his lips away from you and planted warm kisses along your throat, then lingering kisses on your breasts. You ran your fingers through his hair as you ground your hips against him.

“ Oh, fuck, y/n, I need you.” He groaned.

“The backseat.” you said breathily in his ear, feeling his stubble scrape along your cheek.

You maneuvered into the back with him following close behind. Sitting across from him, you unbuckled the belt of his jeans as he pulled your shirt off. With his jacket and shirt off, his chest was smooth and hard on top of you as he laid you down and inserted himself in you. You clenched around him as he rhythmically thrust. The familiar pattern was there just as it was before and you melted into him. Feeling the knot in your stomach get tighter and tighter, you wound your fingers in his hair and bit his lip gently. Breathing harder, the car windows were fogged from the heat coming from the backseat. You felt closer to unraveling as you dug your nails into his back, which he took as a sign to go harder. You arched your back as he delivered one last shaky thrust before you collapsed into each other. You both laid there a minute with him still inside you, taking in each other, smelling his signature scent of tobacco and cologne as he breathed heavily against you.

You then pushed yourself from him and he rearranged himself to sit up. Fishing through his jacket pocket on the floor of the backseat, he got out two cigarettes and a match. He lit yours using the butt of his cigarette and passed it to you as you pulled your legs up. He laid his hand on your bare thigh and kissed your knee before he reclined against the seat. You sat back, watching him as you inhaled the smoke, the first smoke you had had in a year. He sat with a satisfied smile looking out the window. You wondered if you just made the biggest mistake of your life. But, you thought, could something that felt so good be such a huge mistake?

He turned to you, confidently smiling, “ You ready to come home, y/n?”

You looked in his deep green eyes, trying to think how to respond. Nothing had gotten solved and who was to say things would be better this time around if you did go back with him. You missed the man like crazy but fucking in your car was one thing, being thrown back into the chaos that had become his life was another.

Looking down, you exhaled a puff of smoke and softly replied,

"I don't know."

[parkerrogersgirl]

Birds of a Feather- Chapter 2

Pairing: Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw x Reader

Summary: you're stationed at Top Gun with your brother's long time best friend/your forever crush, Bradley. When you finally realized that your feelings were unrequited, you settled for Adrian. But what happens when Rooster reveals the truth about the man you thought loved you endlessly?

A/N: HI GUYS! I'M BACK!! This is my new series because i am an absolute hoe for Rooster, so I'm gifting this to all of you. I will be coming back to Anything But Free as well, I just needed to get this out of my head. I promise I will try to make the other chapters longer!

Warnings: fluff, pining, cheating, language, angst

Word Count: 2,617

-------------

Rooster’s POV

Rooster hadn’t slept for more than an hour. When he finally did fall asleep around 4am, all he did was dream of you. By the time he woke, he had resolved that today, he would tell you everything. There was the possibility of losing you, sure. But even that was better than watching a cheating pig like Adrian use you over and over again. He got dressed into his running clothes so he could at least jog to your house to plan what he was going to say. As he stepped outside, locked his door, and began running, the intrusive thoughts returned.

There was no easy way to tell you that the man you’d loved for so long couldn’t care less about your feelings. The man you’d given so much, and from whom you’d received nothing in return. The man who broke your heart over and over again while Rooster picked up the pieces and put you back together. His brain was so full of thoughts and anxiety, he hadn’t even realized he was at your door.

Reader’s POV

As soon as you open your front door, Rooster envelopes you in one of his famous Bradshaw hugs. The moment his arms are around you, something inside you snaps and the dam breaks. You start sobbing, and Rooster picks you up and carries you to the kitchen. He sets you on the counter, staring at you.

“Are you- Do I smell biscuits and gravy?”

You laugh through your tears, “I made it for Adrian since it’s our anniversary but he won’t be home for breakfast. I was going to bring it to work for you.”

Rooster shakes his head, laughing with you, “you’re the best. And I will eat it later if you still want me to. But right now, I have to talk to you before I chicken out.”

He stands in front of you, taking your hands in his. “What I’m about to tell you is a big deal. If you never want to see me again because I’m the one telling you, I’m okay with that. I just couldn’t forgive myself if I let this go on any longer.”

You watch him cautiously, cocking an eyebrow, “Bradley, you’re freaking me out.”

He takes a deep breath and lets out in one breath, “Adrian is cheating on you.”

“He’s what?” You let out a nervous laugh, unsure of how else to react, “what are you talking about?”

“Like eight months ago, remember when you had pneumonia and you wouldn’t let anyone come over because you didn’t want them to get sick? You were upset because Adrian said he was working or some shit and he wouldn’t bring you soup. Well, he wasn’t sick. He was at the Hard Deck.”

Your heart sinks like it did earlier when you received Adrian’s text, “why would he lie to me about that? He could have just told me.”

“He lied because he didn’t want you to know he was there. He was there with another woman. I caught them fucking in the bathroom. He saw me and told me that you’d never believe me. And if you did, you would never trust me again because I ruined your relationship.”

You sit in silence for a few minutes, staring at your shoes and avoiding your best friend’s gaze. After a few minutes, he speaks up again.

“Do you want me to leave?”

“No.”

“Do you want to stay here?”

“Where else am I gonna go, Roo?” You finally make eye contact with him, his eyes pleading with yours.

“You can stay with me. I’ll help you move your stuff, we can carpool to work, it’ll be great.”

You feel warmth in your cheeks, but your smile falters almost immediately, “Why would he do this to me? Do I deserve this?”

Bradley wraps you in his arms again, kissing your forehead like he always does, “of course not, sweet girl. You only deserve happiness. He did this because he is spineless, and he doesn’t understand how wonderful you are. You are sunshine. When you walk in the room, everyone smiles. Adrian is selfish. You deserve someone who will take care of you.” Someone like me, his inner voice chimes in.

You take a deep breath to steel your nerves, “we should get ready for work.”

“I already called Mav and explained everything. We’re off the hook for today. He told me to take care of you. So, what do you want to do?”

“I think I need to leave him, Roo. I’m so tired. All this time he’s just been tolerating everything I do for him. I can’t do this anymore. This is the end.”

He squeezes you tightly one last time, “I’m gonna call a moving truck and have them come meet us here while we start packing your stuff. You’re gonna stay with me. It’s gonna be great.” Rooster picks up his phone and heads into the other room, making arrangements. You slowly slide off the counter and walk around the home you shared with the man you thought would be your endgame. You run your fingers along the walls, looking at the photos you’ve taken together. With Rooster’s bombshell, you’re noticing new details. How Adrian’s smile never really reached his eyes. How, on the few times he put his arm around you, it was possessive, like he was holding you in place. On the other end of the spectrum, there were photos where you were leaning on him, and he wasn’t returning the affection at all. He was simply supporting your weight.

When you reach your bedroom, you grab your suitcase set from under your bed. It was a gift from Adrian for your one-year anniversary when you’d made plans to go to Cabo together. A trip that had never happened because he’d “had to work.” Now, you wondered how many times he’d used that excuse on the phone with you with another woman’s tongue down his throat.

You went to your closet and started mindlessly packing your clothes into your suitcase, dissociating from the activity. Every so often, you find a t-shirt or hoodie of Adrian’s in the mix of your stuff, and you carefully fold it and put it on his side of the bed. You know with every fiber of your being that if you allowed any part of Adrian to slip through the cracks, you would forgive everything he had put you through.

You don’t know how long it’s been when Rooster puts a hand on your shoulder, making you jump.

“Sorry! I just wanted to tell you movers will be here soon. They’ll bring boxes for everything and pack it really carefully and bring it to my house. When we finish packing your clothes, we can get lunch and drive to my- our house.” He gives you a sweet smile before helping you continue to pack. When you fill up your largest suitcase, you move onto your smaller suitcases and pack your lighter clothes and accessories in them. Periodically, Rooster will hold up an article of your clothing and ask if you think he can pull it off, earning a small smile from you. Otherwise, you work in silence, both of you unable to fill the void that you feel in your heart. Eventually, the movers arrive and Rooster lets them in and explains the situation, then returns to finish helping you.

—------

Rooster’s POV

He’s helping you pack your last few items, when suddenly you speak up.

“Roo… Why are you helping me?”

Because I love you! His inner monologue screams. He bites his lip, continuing to fold your clothes.

“Because you’re my best friend. I care about you. Because I should have told you sooner. And… because it’s what my dad would’ve done.”

“Oh… Well why did you think I wouldn’t forgive you for telling me?”

Rooster takes a deep breath, putting your last pair of pants in your suitcase. “Adrian… He got in my head. He told me that if I told you what was going on, you would blame me for your relationship ending.”

You bite your lip, letting a nervous laugh slip out as you look around the bedroom which was now devoid of your belongings.

“Bradley… You realize that’s silly, right? He’s the reason the relationship is ending. He cheated. He just can’t handle taking the blame for something for once in his fucking life. He knows you’re too good to not tell me, so he manipulated you. That’s what he-” The sound of a car door closing cuts you off, and you look at your best friend with wide eyes.

“It’s okay, we have all of your stuff and the movers are gonna finish up. We can go. You don’t have to say anything to him.” He takes all of your suitcases in his hands with ease, and you follow him to the staircase.

“Baby? Are you here?” You hear your now-ex call from the foyer.

You shrink behind Bradley as you round the corner and begin your trek down the stairs.

“Y/N? What’s going on?”

“I-” Bradley shakes his head, turning slightly to give you a look.

“What the fuck does it look like, Adrian? She’s leaving you. You fucked up for the last time.”

Adrian scoffs, sending shivers up your spine, “yeah? And I suppose you’re gonna take care of her, big man? She’ll never forgive you. You did this.”

Bradley starts to say something, but you dodge around him and come face-to-face with the man you once loved.

“He didn’t do shit, Adrian. He didn’t cheat on me. He didn’t abandon me when I needed him most. He didn’t laugh at me with his friends. He didn’t ditch me on anniversaries, birthdays, when I was sick, just to fuck someone else. Bradley is the only one in this house who cares about me. The only thing he did was spare me from thinking you were my forever. Fuck you, and fuck everything I ever let you put me through.” Holding back tears, you pull out your favorite photo of the two of you, from your very first date at the Santa Monica Pier. You rip it into pieces while maintaining eye contact with him, then drop it to the floor.

You walk out of your house and hop in the passenger’s seat of Rooster’s car, and the dam breaks. Every emotion you’ve felt today comes pouring out, and you start sobbing. The loss of everything you thought you had comes crashing down, and you struggle to breathe between your sobs. You hear Bradley close the tailgate after loading your stuff, but your body won’t let the tears stop. He opens his door and when he sees your current state, his face falls.

—----------------

Rooster’s POV

“It’s okay, sweet girl. He can’t hurt you anymore. He can’t touch you. I won’t let him get near you ever again.” He continues whispering sweet nothings against your hair until he’s sure you’ve stopped crying. He drives you to his house with a determination you’ve never seen before and gets there in record time.

He steps out of the car and comes around to let you out, scooping you up in his arms and carrying you inside. He takes you up the stairs and sets you in his large master bathroom. He scuttles around, grabbing various bath products and towels, then turns on his bathtub faucet.

“Take a bath, take some deep breaths. I’ll get your clothes and some pajamas. Do you want to sleep in the guest room or my bedroom? I can sleep in the guest room if you want my bed, it’s more comfortable honestly.”

He can see the gears turning in your head as you weigh your options, then meets your gaze when your head moves up to look at him. “Can I sleep in your bed with you? I just want to cuddle… It’s okay if not I don’t want to bother you, I don’t want to make you uncomfortable I just don’t want to be alone and you’re my best friend-”

He cuts you off with a hug, and all he can think is that he’s screwed. Completely, totally screwed.

—-------------

Reader’s POV

Bradley’s quiet for a moment as he holds you, and all you can think is that you should have never overstepped. You know immediately you fucked up by asking him that, and nothing would ever be the same again.

He steps back with his hands on your shoulders, looking you directly in the eye again, “of course you can. It won’t bother me, it won’t make me uncomfortable. I know you need affection, and I’m your best friend. I’ll always be here for you. Now, I’m gonna go get your stuff, I’ll leave you some pajamas outside the door. Take your time and just breathe.”

You nod and thank him before stripping and slowly sinking into the tub, almost moaning at how surreal the water feels on your skin. Your mind wanders to when you were living with Adrian and how he never wanted you to take baths because it was time spent away from him. You couldn’t go out with friends, you couldn’t go on walks without him suspecting something was going on. He truly did trap you into thinking you were safe with him.

You shake off the thoughts of your ex and sink deeper into the water, letting your mind roam to thoughts of your best friend. He had done so much for you, and you had no idea how you would ever repay him. You’d had feelings for him years ago, and having him take care of you now was making those feelings resurface. It had been so long since someone had genuinely cared about you, listened to you, or made you feel appreciated. And here Bradley was, doing all those things like he always did. Ever since you had started dating Adrian, you could see that Bradley was concerned. You’d thought it was just a friendly kind of concern, but now you suspected it was more than that. Could this be the catalyst you needed to finally be with someone who showed you he cared about you every day? Could you confess your feelings without Bradley thinking it was an impulsive decision based on your current situation?

As you wash up and finish your bath, you resolve to tell Bradley in the morning when you were clear headed. Tonight, you would just bask in the affection and the knowledge that despite Adrian’s best efforts, you did have someone in your life that cherished you. And that was what mattered.

You get up and dry off, then turn to see your pajamas on the counter, along with a pair of underwear. Your eyes widen, embarrassed that he went through your underwear, until you realize that if the clothes are in the bathroom, that means he saw you in the bathtub. You blush at the thought of him seeing you naked but regretting you didn’t get to see his face. Did he linger to watch you? To appreciate you? You shake off the intrusive thoughts and get dressed before leaving the bathroom to see Bradley laying in his bed in shorts with no shirt. He extends his arms to invite you in, and you don’t waste a moment climbing into bed and snuggling up to him. He rolls the both of you onto your sides, still holding you close.

“Is this okay?” He asks softly into your hair, and you feel him start to stroke your arm.

“It’s perfect,” you mumble back, his touch lulling you into the first peaceful sleep you’ve had in months.

-------------

@my-emotional-self @thankyouforanonymity @supernaturaldean67 @lostinthoughtsandfeelings @princess76179 @srgntjbarnes @jcc04220 @ilovethefandomwho-blog @a-tale-of-two-comics @p-parkerrr-blog @magellan-88 @healojane @mizz-kraziii @lostinspace33 @esther-maslow-90 @astheskycries @kunaikunari @turningtoclown

[14carrotghoul]

WIP Word Search

RULES: use this generator to generate three random words (or however many you’d like to do!) and share the lines where they show up in your wips!

Thanks to @cha-melodius @firenati0n @gayrootvegetable and @xthelastknownsurvivorx for tagging me! These are all lines from my fake dating Xmas AU!!!

Polite:

Alex and Nora grin because they have, of course, noticed Henry’s afraid of and politely avoiding the biscuits and gravy.

Top:

Alex reaches over and takes Henry's hand – swipes his thumb softly over the top and really sells the doe-eyed lover schtick. “And now we're here.”

Even:

“We earned a fucking long honeymoon phase, though,” Alex replies smoothly. “This one wears the tiniest shorts around the apartment, and I've been having to keep my hands off those thighs for years.”

Henry frowns. “You cook without a bloody shirt on half of the time, which doesn't even make sense considering how much you fry food. How do you think I felt?”

Tagging @read-and-write- @inexplicablymine @cultofsappho @happiness-of-the-pursuit @orchidscript @sherryvalli @tintagel-or-cockleshells and anyone else that wants to play!

[howlingday]

real sorry about the gamut I’m asking lately, but I am burstin. Can you do a post-Mario SuperMarioLogan parody please?

I think I can, yes. And no worries on your asks. Ask asmuch as you'd like!

---------------------------------------------------

Yang: Ruby! Time for class!

Ruby: Okay, I'm just gonna finish eating my breakfast.

Yang: Ruby, you're not going to eat chocolate chips for breakfast.

Ruby: Well, I'm 18, and I'm going to do it anyways!

Yang: Ruby: You're 18 and attending Signal. Now eat your cat food!

Blake: Yang, don't make her eat cat food.

Ruby: It's fine, Blake! I like shrimp and biscuits!

Yang: See? She likes it.

..................................................................................

Ozpin: Good morning, Miss Xiao Long. I just came by to let you know that I sold your mortgage to the White Fang.

Adam: 'Sup.

Yang: YOU SOLD MY MORTGAGE?!

Ozpin: Indeed I did!

Adam: Do you know why I wear this mask? It's because I missed my mortgage payment, so I burned out my eyes myself to teach myself a lesson!

Ozpin: Excellent. I'll just leave you to talk.

Adam: So where's my money?

Yang: I... don't... have it?

Adam: Well, you better get it, or else I'm going to mucho gracias your tits!

Yang: ...

Adam: This is a nice house. Have a nice day.

Yang: W-What does that mean?!

Ruby: It means he's going to a lot thank you your tits.

..................................................................................

Goodwitch: You have cancer.

Yang: Is it bad?!

Goodwitch: No, it's actually the good kind of lung cancer.

Yang: R-Really?

Goodwitch: No, it's bad. It's cancer. It's always bad.

Yang: What can I do?

Goodwitch: Well, there is treatment, but it's hundreds of thousands of lien, and I know you can't afford that.

Yang: W-Well, what can you do for me?!

Goodwitch: Well, I can give these tissues so you can cry me a river. And since it's you, I'll also give you this hammer so you can build a bridge and get over it.

Blake: (Sobbing) Yang, what are going to do?!

Yang: Well, I'm the one with the cancer and the mortgage, so I think I'm the one who should be crying.

Blake: Oh, right.

Ruby: Don't worry, Yang! You can't be denied medical care, so just let your medical bills go to collections while you worry about your mortgage payments.

..................................................................................

Ruby: Okay, Yang, I got the snitch knocked out and tied up! What should we do?

Yang: What we always do to snitches.

Ruby: Okay! (Drags them away)

Blake: Yang! You're not cooking Dust are you?

Yang: No, no! It's, uh, rock salt! Old Xiao Long recipe and all that!

Blake: Okay, good.

Ruby: (Comes back) Yang, I got the fucker's head!

Blake: (Screams)

Yang: TIE THE BITCH UP!

..................................................................................

Pyrrha: I can't believe Dust is illegal.

Nora: I know, right?! So lame!

Ren: I would pay anything for just one chunk.

Jaune: I've never used Dust so I don't really care one way or the other.

Ruby: Hey, guys, want some Dust?

Jaune: OH FUCK YEAH! GIMME THAT SHIT!

Ruby: You guys are my friends, so I'll give you half the bag for forty lien.

Nora: Sold!

Goodwitch: Hello, class, I'm back from taking a- HOLY SHIT!

Goodwitch: Why do you all have Dust?!

Pyrrha: Jaune bought it for all of us!

Goodwitch: And where did you get it, Jaune?

Jaune: I AIN'T SQUEALIN ON MY HOMIES!

Goodwitch: Fine! Then I'll have to escort you to detention!

Jaune: FUCK YOU, PIG! I'LL USE MY ONE PHONE CALL TO CALL YOUR MOM!

..................................................................................

Blake: (Tied up, Locked away) HELP! HELP!

Goodwitch: (Opens the door) Good gravy!

Yang: TH-THIS ISN'T WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE!

Goodwitch: Look, whatever weird and kinky shit you do is your business, not mine. So I don't want to see it.

Blake: WHAT?! NO, NO, NO! SHE TIED ME UP AND BANGED ME IN THE HEAD!

Goodwitch: I-I don't need to know where she banged. (Shuts door)

..................................................................................

Goodwitch: God damn, did you see that shit?! He fell off the cliff and drowned! Thst was way better than arresting him!

Yang: But... But he had story potential.

Goodwitch: Yeah? So do you. Fuck him.

Yang: Huh. Guess I never thought of it that way.

Goodwitch: Oh, and by the way, I took another look at your X-ray, and it turns out you don't have cancer. That was just my thumb pressed against the screen. So yeah, no cancer. (Leaves)

Ruby: Yang! I sold all the Dust! We now have 4.2 million lien!

Yang: That's great, but we don't have to sell Dust anymore. Our mortgage payment issue is gone.

Ruby: Oh... Well, wanna hit the arcade?

Yang: Yeah, I do!

Blake: ...Yang? ...Ruby? ...Anyone? GET ME THE FUCK OUT OF THIS CLOSET!

[chilidogloverr]

“I just came from r/196” ask game

Saw another post. I think I should invite y'all to one of our longstanding traditions. Answer the questions then tag 10 (or more) people. I'll go first.

Name? Jarrod

Pronouns and gender? they/he, guy???

Sexuality? Pansecual

Country? USA MERICA FUCK YEAH🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅

Top 5 fandoms? hazbin/helluva, fnaf, team four trees two, i forgor the rest

What is your Most forbidden snack? fabuloso also chapstick

Would you pet a bug? scared scared scared of bugs. dont like them. scary scary.

Share a weird fact/story about yourself with the class. i love fixing things, no matter what it is. my silly little brain just latches onto it like a puzzle, which it kinda is. i can already fix most electronic devices, or alteast know how to (FUCK apple and their stupid fucking anti repair policy. thats actual fucking bullshit. i dont want to have to pay for a 200 dollar course and license to fix your shitty god damn phones. mac books and ipads are aight. but FUCK apple as a company. all this does is protect their silly little fucking income from their stupid ass fucking phones breaking all the fucking time. all it does is make it so that people who do fix phones for a living fucking cant, and no devices to fix means no food on the fucking table for them or their families. they're toying with peoples livelihoods for a bit of fucking profit.) if i dont know how to fix it (cars, microwaves, tvs, literally anything that could break) i want to learn

What does the color blue taste like? mmm yumby

What is the most beautiful thing you've ever seen? the ocean. it goes on forever. it doesnt stop. i didnt realize that until i saw it in person. it stopped me dead in my tracks.

What is the stupidest thing you've ever done? ive got this protein bar. in 2020 (my second year of marching band, freshman year) i was eating a box of them on the way to marching band camp. i lost one. this was in july. i found it on the ground still sealed in january of the following year. i still have it. im going to eat it my senior year at the end of the year band dinner. i have not done it yet. im going into my senior year. im going to do it. it will kill me. i will not regret it.

Stupidest thing you've seen/heard someone else do/say? a pastor for a church i used to attend (unfortunately hes my uncle) blamed crime and evil on transgender people

Hyperfixation song? long list. Starman David Bowie, banana man tally hall, mr white keys cherry poppin daddies, play that funky music wild cherry, cant take my eyes off you frankie valli, sh-boom the ink spots, the devil went down to georgia the charlie daniels band

Is there any meaning behind your profile picture and/or username? I've been asked several times where "Chapstick Man!" comes from. It comes from TF2. I named a rocket launcher "chapstick gun" with the description "ngl chapstick taste kinda good" and then i thought the joke was funny and it stuck. my name is now Chapstick Man on like everything. i have not been sued yet. Im too cool to be sued.

Dream career as a child? also electronics repair technician (i am answering these out of order)

Dream career as an adult? still kinda a child ig. but i want to be an electronics repair technician, running my own little computer/electronics repair shop. i already know how to do it, i just need a building and to be 18 (i turn 18 in december) and people to come and give me their stuff to fix. i love fixing things.

Thoughts on cilantro? its aight ig

Have you ever been banned from a location and if so, why? I havent. but i plan to be. i am going to be silly and they cannot prevent it.

What is your cursed food combination? I did my burgers in ketchup if i want ketchup, i did my biscuits in gravy for biscuits and gravy

Trans rights? are epic!!!!!!

@everyone im lazy

[funnelcloudd]

My dad was from a little former(?) fucking sundown town in central IL and that side of my family refused to season their food at all. Whenever I went there for holidays I had to eat bland gray slop. My dad couldn’t stand garlic or anything with too much seasoning on it. When he died I remember thinking “well at least we can cook with garlic now” and then feeling like a monster for thinking that. Grief is weird.

Thinking about the weird deviled egg man from Tolono that I worked with on Election Day who’s wife said she “didn’t grow up with mustard.” Not even French’s yellow mustard not even fucking MUSTARD.

My mom’s family (also white) is from the working class south Chicago burbs and they’re the exact inverse of the cold, stilted people on my dad’s side. They’re loud and dramatic and dysfunctional in the opposite way that my dad’s family is dysfunctional. Grandma just kept having kids and couldn’t stop bc no birth control in the 50s and 60s so they were all crammed together in this tiny 3 bedroom Sears kit house and some real Jerry Springer shit went on, but god damn could my grandma cook. Homemade waffles, pancakes, biscuits and gravy. Leg of lamb on Easter studded with cloves of garlic and mint. Fried chicken in a cast iron skillet. I wish I would have asked her for her recipes (the lamb especially) but she’s gone now and I didn’t. Idk if it’s bc the white people up north aren’t as homogenized as they are down here and still retain a sense of cultural identity outside of the vague blob of “whiteness” (a lot of them are still real racist yes I know) or bc my grandma grew up on a farm in southern Indiana which is basically the south but either way the difference is stark.

I grew up and still live downstate but in a diverse college town with a huge East Asian population in particular, a town of 260,000 people where you can throw a rock and hit a really good Chinese or Korean restaurant. There’s places tucked away in strip malls and on campus where nothing is in English and you have to point at shit like a big goofy white idiot but it’s all very good and unlike anything either side of my family ever fed me growing up. I’m lucky to be from this little oasis where I got exposed to other foods and cultures. I kind of want to write a book about university towns in otherwise deeply conservative areas bc I feel like it’s a complicated and interesting subject that hasn’t really been explored that much.

Anyway my feelings toward my downstate home are complex. I get real mad when coastal or Chicago people are dismissive and shitty towards a place they’ve never lived in before but I also recognize that there’s a lot of serious problems here. I’m not gonna discount small towns entirely like some lib asshole bc there’s a lot of cool things and people tucked away in those places, but it’s also like. Yeah.

But I still love a goopy casserole some times or a big pile of chicken and noodles. I’m not above it by any means.

[glitterandmoondustofficial]

Side to Side

Chapter 241: Grief and Lonliness

Characters: Ikkaku, Jean Bart, Jun, Penguin, Law Rating: Teen Warnings: Language, depression Notes: I had planned on uploading a chapter sooner after I took a week break from writing, but then a tornado almost hit my house, then I had a migraine, and then one of my roommates moved to another state for a work-study type thing. YEESH!

~~~~~~

Ikkaku was upset.

She was absolutely fucking upset. 

Ruby was gone. She had been gone for almost two weeks! Ikkaku was so sad. She was so miserable. She hated every minute that Ruby was gone. 

Jun was no help. It seemed that she was still pretty annoyed at Ruby for making such a big decision on her own and then actually going through with it. Every time Ikkaku mentioned Ruby, Jun got this sour look on her face and changed the subject. 

She tried talking to the rest of the crew but most of them brushed her off, saying they were busy or not to worry about it. Shachi even suggested going to Erina, for missing Ruby! What a load of shit. Jean Bart, who was supposed to be Ikkaku’s and Ruby’s close friend, didn’t acknowledge that Ruby was gone. Even Bepo seemed to have moved on from Ruby’s presence, and she expected him to be at least a little sad. 

Ruby was important to the crew. Ruby was a precious crew mate. She loved her crew so much and worked so hard for them. Why wasn’t anyone sad that she was gone?!

Captain hadn’t spoken a word about Ruby since they all had gone fishing. He just continued to work, going back to being dry and sober. It’s like he didn’t care that she was gone! How dare he?! He had the privilege of becoming so close and intimate with Ruby and now it’s like she was never on the Tang. 

It pissed Ikkaku off.

Every single Heart Pirate pissed her off! 

She was so incredibly frustrated and angry. Was she the only one who truly loved and missed Ruby? Was she the only one who wanted Ruby back home? 

Ikkaku stopped herself from crying for the millionth time in the past two weeks. All she wanted was her best friend back. She was so lonely and she couldn’t even call! Captain had the den den mushi on his person at all times. He said he needed to be able to answer it whenever she called. He said he needed all the information Ruby had immediately. 

Of course that’s all he cared about. It wasn’t about Ruby it was about Ruby’s information. 

In fact, Ikkaku had no idea if Ruby had already called! Captain hadn’t once mentioned if she had. Ruby may already be in Dressrosa and Ikkaku would have no idea because Captain refused to say anything.

Ikkaku stared at her oatmeal in silence as the crew was loud and rowdy around her. Everyone else was enjoying their breakfast but Ikkaku couldn’t bring herself to join them. All she could do was stop herself from crying. She felt like she was just dumped. Only this was worse, because Ruby would’ve been the one comforting her.

“Ikkaku,” Jean Bart said her name quietly. “Are you hungry?” Ikkaku shook her head. Jean Bart sighed. “Maybe it’s because it’s oatmeal, why not ask Clione to make you something else?”

Ikkaku scooped up some oatmeal with her spoon and then watched it plop down back into the bowl. He was right, she should eat. Not eating wouldn’t bring Ruby back. She sighed and stood up with her bowl, walking towards Clione.

He looked up at her with a raised brow. “Oatmeal not good enough for ya this mornin’?” He was definitely teasing her, so she shouldn’t get mad. Her stomach burned in anger, though, and it took everything to not bite his head off.

“No.”

Clione smiled. “Well, that’s fine. What would ya like? Crepes? Pancakes? How ‘bout biscuits and gravy?”

Ikkaku’s lip shook so she bit it. She took a deep breath. “Just eggs and bacon is fine.”

“Comin’ right up!”

Clione quickly made her an omelette and a side of bacon. He also handed her some orange juice that he had squeezed from Ruby’s oranges. Ikkaku didn’t need a whole omelette but she appreciated it. She wouldn’t say “no” to an omelette with onions, peppers, and sharp cheddar cheese.

She sat back down in her seat and started to eat it. Clione was such a great chef, she could never complain about his cooking. She ate silently, ignoring everyone around her. They all seemed so happy and carefree and Ikkaku wasn’t. She knew Jean Bart was staring at her but she didn’t look at him. She knew if she did she’d give him a shitty look. She couldn’t believe that someone Ruby considered her best friend just didn’t care that she was gone.

Jun sat next to Ikkaku with a plate of cold cereal and toast with jam. She ate silently pretending like she wasn’t interested in what Ikkaku was doing, but Ikkaku knew she kept staring at her out of the corner of her eye.

Jun reached over and grabbed a piece of bacon slowly. She took it from her plate and took a bite. Jun chewed and sighed. “You didn’t stop me.”

Ikkaku shrugged. “It’s just bacon.” The crew went silent and they all stared at her in shock. Ikkaku frowned at them. “What?”

“You just said that it's “just bacon.” You fight people over your bacon!” Hakugan said, completely astonished.

“We’ve literally watched you try to stab Penguin’s hand with a fork when he tried to take your bacon!” Shachi said with half a laugh.

Penguin and Jean Bart stared at her silently while the others laughed around her. Well, while they made fun of her and her bacon habits. 

She heard, “she’s not like that with Ruby, though,” and it made Ikkaku flare her nostrils in frustration. She said nothing, just continued to eat her meal in silence and everyone joyously made fun of her. 

“Are you okay?” Jean Bart asked quietly. 

Ikakku gave him an annoyed look. “Does it look like I’m okay?” She snipped.

He sighed at her, looking at her in pity. Ikkaku’s eyes narrowed. She wiped her mouth with her napkin and picked up her empty plate and cup. She walked towards the sink and dropped her plate and cup in it. 

Clione smiled at her. “Anything else I can get for you? I could always make you a parfait like I did for Ruby.”

Ikkaku huffed. “No. I don’t want a damn parfait.” She brushed past him and didn’t wait to see his response. 

She walked out of the cafeteria, ignoring Jean Bart’s stare and Jun’s attempts to grab her attention. She didn’t care, if everyone was just going to make fun of her she didn’t want to be around to hear it. Not when she was so sad and angry.

She stomped away, her mind a blur as she ran away from the cafeteria. She stopped when she realized she was in front of Ruby’s greenhouse. She stared at the sign that was covered in dried flowers and glitter, and had GREENHOUSE written in big letters. Ruby’s attempt at adding color to the yellow submarine.

Ikkaku sighed and reached for the door handle.

“Ikkaku!” Jun called. Ikkaku turned her head to look at Jun who was jogging towards her. She breathed out when she reached Ikkaku. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you with the bacon. I didn’t think everyone would-”

“I don’t care,” Ikkaku said.

“You…don’t?”

“No.” She turned back to the door and started to open it.

“Why are you going in there?” Jun asked, an annoyed hint in her voice. “She’s not in there.”

“Maybe I just want to be in there for a little while. Ruby said anyone could go in as long as they didn’t mess anything up.” Jun sighed like that annoyed her, and that annoyed Ikkaku. “What’s with the attitude?” Ikkaku snapped.

Jun stared at her. “I don’t have…” she groaned. “I just don’t think you need to be thinking about her all of the time. You have better things to do than worry about someone who just left and-”

“Shut the hell up. If you’re going to be a bitch about my best friend then just leave me alone.”

“Hey!” Jun protested, obviously offended. “There’s no reason to-”

“No reason to what? Be annoyed? Every time I’ve tried to talk to you about how I’m feeling you get pissy and bitchy about it. Well, I’m tired of it. If you’re not going to be supportive then I don’t want to be around you.”

“Ikkaku...” Jun frowned. “I just don’t think obsessing over Ruby is healthy.”

“I’m not obsessing! I miss her! She’s my best friend! I’m fucking allowed to miss my best friend!” Ikkaku threw open the greenhouse door and walked inside. She turned to close the door and glared at Jun. “Go somewhere else and waste someone else’s time.”

She slammed the door before Jun could respond. Ikkaku turned around and leaned against the door. She closed her eyes and breathed for a moment, letting her temper and emotions calm down until she no longer saw red. She opened her eyes and took deep, calming breaths. 

She looked around the room. She sighed sadly. It just wasn’t the same without Ruby. Ikkaku looked at the tomato plants and smiled at herself. How many times had she caught Ruby eating a tomato like an apple?

Ikkaku pushed off the door and walked up to the plants, looking them over like she knew what she was doing. She sighed. There were no flowers, only food. Ruby didn’t want any flowers growing because they could get “needy.” 

Ikkaku walked over to the desk in the corner of the room and sat on it. She stared at the plants, missing Ruby’s enthusiastic hop in her step as she flitted around the room. 

The door opened and Ikkaku looked over. Jean Bart was standing in the doorway, looking confused. 

“Ikkaku? What are you doing in here?”

“I’m…” she swallowed. “I walked here without thinking about it.”

Jean Bart stared at her for a moment before walking over to some of the tomatoes. He picked at them for a bit before sighing. “I saw Jun,” he started and Ikkaku rolled her eyes. “She looked pretty upset. Is everything okay?”

Ikkaku huffed and crossed her arms. “She was being a bitch so I told her to leave me alone,” Ikkaku said simply.

Jean Bart grabbed a basket and started to put tomatoes into it. He sighed. “Can I ask how she was?”

Ikkaku snorted. “She was talking shit about Ruby. She hasn’t even let me vent to her about how upset I am, she just gets pissy whenever I mention Ruby. I’m tired of it. If she won’t be supportive of me and my emotions I don’t want to be around her.”

“I see,” Jean Bart said slowly. 

“I just want someone to talk to! Just a friend not a therapist. It’s not fair that I’m the only one who misses Ruby!” Her voice cracked but she cleared it.

Jean Bart stopped placing tomatoes in the basket and looked at her. “You’re the only one who misses her?”

“Obviously! No one is sad or saying anything! No one but me! Not even…not even Captain! The person who’s supposed to love her the most!” Ikkaku’s bottom lip shook. “I can’t imagine the heartbreak Ruby will go through when she finds out he doesn’t care.”

Jean Bart sighed. “I don’t think…that’s right,” he said and stared at her sadly. “I think Captain misses her deeply.”

Ikkaku huffed. “He sure isn’t acting like it. I haven’t seen him look sad or depressed. I haven’t seen anyone like that! Just me. I’m the only one…” she became choked up and sniffed. 

“Everyone has their way of dealing with losing the presence of someone they love,” he said gently.

“I don’t care!” Ikkaku clenched her fists and jumped off the desk. “Ruby deserves better than that! She deserves people who mourn her loss, who cry, who ache! Not nothing!” She started to walk out of the room.

“Ikkaku,” Jean Bart called. “I didn’t mean-”

“I don’t care,” she responded with tears in her eyes. “I’m leaving. I guess I’m the only one who’s actually her best friend,” she said scathingly and left the room with a slam of the door.

“Whoa!” She heard as she slammed into someone. They settled her. Ikkaku looked up and saw Penguin looking at her with concern. “Are you okay? You’re crying.”

“Does it matter?” Ikkaku asked bitterly. 

“What? Yeah, of course. I care about you, Ikkaku,” Penguin rubbed her arms. “What’s wrong?”

“Why does everyone act like they don’t know?” She sniffed. “I miss Ruby! I’m the only one who cares about her! No one will let me vent or talk about it. No one cares!”

“Ikkaku, that’s not true. I-”

“Of course it’s true!” She hiccuped. “Not a single person on this ship looks sad at all! No one will even talk about her! Captain doesn’t care either! He’s just moved on like she was never even here!”

Penguin’s face turned serious. “Don’t say things like that about him. He’s-”

“See! You’re talking about him instead of Ruby.” She sobbed. “No one cares about her or me!’ She pushed him out of the way. “Just leave me alone!”

“Ikkaku! Wait!” Penguin called after her. 

Ikkaku ignored him, wiping her eyes as she ran towards the boiler room. She ran in and up to the engine. She cried. She heaved and sobbed, tears rolling down her cheeks, snot dripping down her nose. She sniffed loudly and let out a breath.

She was tired of her crew. No one understood how she felt. They had no idea what it was like to have your best friend gone, knowing she may never return. Ikkaku was so lonely and hurt. No one cared about Ruby. No one cared about how she felt. They had just moved on with their lives, acting like normal, like Ruby was never part of their lives.

Ikkaku sniffed and wiped her face. She took a deep calming breath. She walked over to where her tools were and pulled them out. She stared at the old tools. These were the tools that came with her when she became a Heart Pirate. She never mentioned it to anyone but Ruby and Jun, but she needed new ones. Ruby said to tell Captain but Ikkaku shook her head, saying that they were her responsibility, she would get them herself. She didn’t need to rely on anyone else. 

Ikkaku sighed and stayed with her engine. This was the only room where she felt truly at peace. Most of the time no one else came in, saying it was too hot. Ruby would, however. She would come in just to talk and spend time with Ikkaku, often bringing snacks with her. Ikkaku would lecture her about food getting onto or into the engine but Ruby would just grin and offer her a cookie. 

Ikkaku busied herself with work, ignoring the rage and sorrow she felt within her chest. She chased Bepo out of the room when he tried to get her to eat lunch. She wasn’t hungry and she for damn sure didn’t want to be around her heartless crew. 

Ikkaku fiddled with her tools. She checked things on the Polar Tang’s engine that didn’t need to be checked. She tightened and loosened screws. She oiled parts that had already been oiled. 

She glowered at her precious submarine engine, so incredibly peeved and frustrated. She should’ve gone with Ruby! They could’ve been together through this whole thing! Ikkaku was just as capable in a fight as the rest of the crew, she could take care of herself. She could be quiet, too, when she tried. 

There was no real reason why the two of them had to be separated. 

“Alright.” Ikkaku heard a voice from behind. “I guess I need to have a word with you about your attitude.”

Ikkaku blinked, processing her captain’s words, before rage set in. She whipped around, her face growing hot, and glared up at the tall man. Her nostrils flared, her lip curled into a snarl, her hands made fists, and her poor eyes started to tear up in frustration. 

“Attitude? My attitude?!” She growled. “The only attitude I have is me being the only person on this godforsaken submarine that misses Ruby!”

Her captain stared at her calmly, his lips forming a thin line. He sighed. “Well, quit being so damn aggressive. You made Bepo cry.”

Ikkaku opened her mouth and then closed it. She ground her teeth together, closed her eyes, and let out a frustrated screech. She breathed deeply for a moment before opening her eyes. She stared at her captain, who watched her neutrally. 

“Well, I’m so fucking sorry I made the one person you care about sad!”

Captain sighed. “Ikkaku-”

“Don’t! Don’t even! I’m here, mourning and missing my best friend and you don’t even have the decency to even look sad! You’ve just been so focused on your damn goal that you don’t care! You threw Ruby into your mess!” Ikkaku realized she had started to cry too late to stop it. She stomped up to him. “You’re her boyfriend! You’re supposed to grieve for her! You’re supposed to miss her! Why don’t you care?!” Ikkaku sobbed, her frustrations spilling out of her. 

He remained silent and it made Ikkaku angrier. It made her want to punch him. Instead, she cried. She sniffed and hiccuped. She was so angry at him. Ruby loved him so much and he was acting like nothing had changed. Like she didn’t matter to him. 

He placed his hand on her shoulder and she stiffened. He sighed and opened his mouth to say something again but she started to beat on his chest pathetically cutting him off. 

“I thought you loved her,” she sobbed. “You're supposed to love her.”

Captain grabbed her wrists gently and held them. “I do,” he said quietly but firmly. 

Ikkaku sniffed grossly in return. She cried as he held onto her wrists. She was so mad. So sad. She felt so alone. She thought she would have found comfort in her captain. He should be hurting, too. He should be lonely, too. “Why aren’t you acting like it?” She croaked out. She looked up at his face and stared at him through her tears. 

He let out a tired sigh. “Are you done hitting me?”

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“Well, I’m not letting you go until you are,” he said. 

It annoyed Ikkaku. It really did. “How can you be so calm?”

“It’s my job to stay calm while my crew member is throwing a tantrum.”

Ikkaku glared at him through her tears, but it was useless. He stood firmly, a stoic look on his face, revealing no emotion or thoughts. She wanted to yell at him. Scream at him. She wanted to tell him she hated him.  

But she knew that it wasn’t true. 

She loved her captain, even if he didn’t miss Ruby. Even if he didn’t care. Law was her captain, her friend, her brother.

Ikakku squeezed her eyes shut, tears falling out of her eyes and down her cheeks. 

Captain sighed. “I do miss her,” he said, barely above a whisper. Ikkaku blinked open her eyes and stared at him. She watched the calm expression on his face melt away and turn into sorrow. “I can’t just be depressed and emotional because I miss her. I have to take care of you all until I can get you to Zou.” He sighed, his eyes showing a new kind of despair she had never seen from him. “She would be furious with me if I acted like a grieving fool.”

“She’d want you to miss her.”

“Of course she wants me to miss her.” The cloudy misery he held in his eyes started to fade and held faint amusement. “She’s selfish like that.” He let go of her wrists.

Ikkaku sniffed and wiped her cheeks. “No one else cares.”

“Just because they’re not howling in grief doesn’t mean they don’t care. People show their unhappiness in different ways. Besides, if everyone was acting the way you’ve been acting nothing would get done. The crew would be completely useless.” Ikkaku didn’t answer, she just sniffed. He sighed. “If it’s affecting you this much you need to talk to Erina.”

“I don’t need to,” she protested. “I’ve been trying to talk to Jun but she gets annoyed when I do. She’s still pissed at Ruby for leaving like she did.”

“So talk to someone else. Anyone else. You can’t get to the point where you’re yelling at the crew and breaking down like this.” He sighed. “You need to apologize to everyone you got pissy with today and that’s not a suggestion. I will not have my crew members getting into fights that can easily be avoided,” he said seriously. Ikkaku frowned deeply, not feeling any better nor did she feel like anyone cared about her feelings. “Ikkaku, if you can’t talk to me about what’s wrong then I’m really failing you as a captain,” he said sadly.

Ikkaku sniffed. “Everything sucks,” she said. “No one is talking about her at all and it makes me feel so alone. I know it’s only been a couple weeks but I’m so lonely and sad!” She sobbed. Captain leaned in and hugged her. Ikkaku didn’t hesitate to hug him back. “I know I’ve been acting like an unreasonable brat! But I’m so scared that I’m never going to see her again! What if she never comes home?!” She hugged her captain tightly and sobbed into him.

He rubbed her back in small circles. He didn’t say anything and that’s what Ikkaku wanted. She didn’t want to hear empty words of comfort. She just needed someone to hear her complain, to hear her cry. She felt like she was alone on this Polar Tang, and she was tired of it. 

Ikkaku cried until there were no tears left in her, until she was nothing but a red, snotty mess. Captain pulled away and patted her head. Ikkaku looked up at him, truly feeling pathetic. He looked at her in pity and it made her temper rise. Captain must have recognized the fire in her eyes and poked her wet nose.

“Enough,” he said. “Do you feel better after crying?”

Ikkaku sniffed. “I don’t know.”

He sighed. “Ruby will come home,” he said. “I will make sure she comes home.” He paused. “You’re not alone on this ship, Ikkaku. You can always talk to someone. You can always come to me, I’m your captain.” Ikkaku sniffed and nodded. “Take a shower, wash your face, and when you’re ready come to the cafeteria. Everyone will be starting to come together for dinner. Make sure to apologize to everyone and explain what’s been going on.” His serious face lightened. “You’ll be okay.”

Ikkaku only nodded, unable to do anything else. Captain left after another quick, awkward hug. Ikkaku stared after him before slapping her cheeks. She walked out of the boiler room and to the crew quarters. She grabbed cleaned clothes and then walked to the showers. 

She washed her body, hair, and face, making sure to use all the hygiene products that Ruby forced upon her. She stared at herself in the mirror, realizing she didn’t look good at all. She looked miserable. She took a deep breath and wrapped her hair in a towel. 

She dressed in her clean clothes and put on a pair of slippers. She shuffled to the cafeteria anxiously. She peeked her head in and saw Jean Bart and Bepo talking to each other. Captain was at the same table reading a book, the travel den den mushi to his side. Ikkaku took a deep breath before walking into the room. 

Bepo and Jean Bart both looked over to her. Bepo flinched and Jean Bart stared at her neutrally. Captain didn’t look away from his book. Ikkaku took a deep breath before bowing to them.

“I’m so sorry for being unreasonable!” 

They were silent so Ikkaku dared to look up. She looked up just in time to see Bepo hugging her. Jean Bart laughed at them and Captain had a very, very small smile on his face. 

The night went on and Ikkaku apologized to each crew member she had offended. Everyone easily forgave her, hugging and kissing her. She told everyone how she was feeling — how lonely she felt, how much she missed Ruby and how scared she was that they may never see her again. 

The crew understood and for that Ikkaku was grateful. They told her that they all missed Ruby, too, and that she wasn’t alone. 

Erina took her aside to let her know that she could talk to her if she wanted. Ikkaku sighed and gave in, saying she would speak to her in the morning. 

Everything was improving and Ikkaku seemed to feel a little lighter. 

Except for Jun.

Jun didn’t look like she was interested in talking about Ruby and she wasn’t interested in talking to Ikkaku. That was fine, Ikkaku wasn’t sure she was interested in talking to her if she was still upset with Ruby. 

Ikkaku sighed and sat next to her captain as everyone got rowdy. She sighed with a soft smile. 

“Feel better?” Captain asked. 

“Mm a little, I guess.” 

“Good.”

Ikkaku smiled and then looked at the den den mushi. “Has she called?”

Captain frowned. “No. Not yet.”

Ikkaku looked at his face and saw that same sorrow from before. She took a deep breath and placed her hand on his arm. “She will.”

He looked at her for a moment before sighing. “Yeah. I know.”

Ikkaku smiled and then turned to Penguin as he sat in front of her. They became engrossed in conversation, Ikkaku temporarily forgetting her misery. 

After dinner, she went to bed first, realizing that crying all day had made her tired. She crawled into bed in her pajamas and almost instantly fell asleep, dreaming of a life where everyone was safe and together again.

[woilt]

You know what? Fuck it. As a British (sad i know) ‘person’, the American dialect rocks. Custard creams? Digestives? All cookies. Incredible. But what about biscuits? Completely different. Eaten with gravy sometimes. Whats gravy? Not even slightly similar. What about colour? Its color now. Bitch. Gray and grey. Incredible. Hoagie. Greatest word ever. Or a sub. Who cares anymore. Want a soda, pop or a coke? All the same. Every thing is a win with you silly American people.

And finally, what does a tap become over the pond? How do they say it? Faucet and spigot. Great job all around. And you organised one of english’s best dialect on a continent sized country. Amazing

[the-players-arcade]

Personal

I’m not sure if i’m going to post this or not. I feel like I should. Like I want to. Fuck it. I’m gonna. So. I’ve been a bit busy with life. Mainly, dealing with myself and my mother being kicked out by my Aunt, Christine Brooks.

The reason we got kicked out was because my Aunt, was yelling at my mother and blaming her for things like asking if she wants the trash in the living room to be taken out. And my mother began crying.

I couldn’t stand it, and I stormed into the room, and screamed back at her in defense of my mother, saying “She was trying to help you”.

Out of all the things I thought my Aunt would do, CALLING THE FUCKIGN COPS ON ME, is NOT what I expected.

I would’ve yelled more at her if I wasn’t so shocked. I went upstairs with my mother, who afterward went back downstairs, and waited for the Cops to arrive. I was sitting there, shaking and rocking in place as I genuinely believed that my life was now over because my Aunt got scared of me, as I couldn’t stop thinking the words “It’s my fault”

And I had to mentally fight against myself on that thought. Because it wasn’t. I couldn’t have known that my Aunt would escalate to calling the fucking cops on me, because I yelled back at her for the first time in fucking ever. Because I chose to defend my mother against her yelling, because I could not fucking stand hearing my own mother cry.

The cops arrived, and I calmly stated that all I did was yell back at my aunt. I made no move to physically harm her nor ever had the intention to do so. My goal in that moment was to get between my aunt and my mother and protect my mom.

No one got arrested. All the cops did was say they can’t make me and my mother leave, and said my aunt could try and get an eviction on us. Which she said she would try to do so, once the Courts and stuff were open; It was the weekend, and the court would only open on Monday.

After that, I was genuinely afraid of going downstairs by myself. Because I know my Aunt owns a gun. And after her calling the cops on me, I no longer knew what she might decide to do.

To skip ahead a bit... We managed to get a place, on lease for a year. I ended up personally putting in 1,400 dollars. One bedroom, but we can make it work. Happens to be something me and my mom are good at; Making stuff work.

It’s a lot nicer then living out in the city. I don’t hear gunshots at night. i don’t hear explosions. or screams. Or yelling. It’s so much nicer here.

But my Sister got left behind. Sierra. Who Christine Brooks raised as her own child. Who, legally I must admit, took her form my mother. Because when me and my sister were born, my mother got sick. Really sick. To the point she didn't know if she’d make it. She trusted me to my Father, and my Sister to Aunt Chris.

She made it. She lived. And then my Aunt decided not to give Sierra back.

My aunt has since used the funds she has procured from having Sierra to get things she otherwise wouldn’t have. And currently, before we left, all my Sister was given to fucking eat, has been biscuits and gravy, cheese pizza, and fucking puffy cheetos. Christine Brooks also babysits for her actual child, Tony, helping care for Tony’s baby. And neglecting my Sister.

Did I mention my Aunt also smokes pot? Legally, yes. But she smokes it way too fucking much. She smokes it around Sierra. Even around the baby. Whenever me and Mom got back from somewhere, we’d be able to smell the pot before even getting in front of the front door. Oh, speaking of that baby, she lets that baby draw on everything. On the walls, the fridge, and even lets her play atop the stove.

And my Sister is forced to be stuck in a fucking room so the baby can leave her alone. Because my sister, has autism. More severely then I. She has health issues, medical problems, and problems with her sight. So yeah, my Aunt made a lot of money raising her. Money isnt’ really the issue I have with her having my Sister though.

The real issue is all the time I could’ve spent with her. All the time me and her could’ve bonded. When we were kids, we got along great. We played so much stuff together, when we could see eachother. But then we had to move a long time ago, and saw eachother a lot less. ...And my sister changed. I don’t know of everything she went through. But she seemed a lot less happier.

And now my Sister... may never see me again. As she probably gets yelled at more by our Aunt for not understanding things. Manipulated and mentally messed with by my Aunt. My Sister is about as old as me, but mentally... she didn’t really get taught how to grow up. My aunt tells her she needs to learn things, yet she still yells at her and makes her stay in her fucking room for so long.

I am so sorry Sierra. I am so, so sorry. You deserve a better life. You deserve so much better. i’m sorry I couldn’t stick around to help you. I would’ve if I didn’t feel so scared of being killed by my own aunt because I no longer knew what she could decide to do.

As for my aunt, Christine Brooks? Believe me, I know what I could have chosen to do. I know what i’m capable of. But it’s not knowing what you can do that makes someone dangerous or evil. It’s whether or not you choose to. And I chose not to do anything to her. Because she’s in her 60s. I’m in my 20s. I have a lot more time in my life then her.

I’ll outlive her. And that’s good enough for me.

[bottledclown]

thoughts at 4am:

thought 1: i could really go for some chicken and eggs right now

thought 2: isnt it fucked up that other countries dont eat gravy biscuits

thought 3: i want to be beautiful

thought 4: fuck i want a singular bacon

[gefdreamsofthesea]

I just want to ask everyone who voted for Popeyes in that chicken restaurant poll if they're okay because I'm worried that they have never tasted a decent meal in their lives.

Maybe Popeyes Canada is just weird but I just ordered some out of curiosity and here's my take on everything:

Chicken sandwich (with spicy sauce) - take a chicken fillet and dunk it in salt, this is what I imagine they did to this fillet because I have never had saltier chicken, no not even from KFC. I don't think it's the fault of the sauce either.

Biscuit - I don't know how you fuck up a biscuit but they fucked up a biscuit, the texture is fine (I do like my biscuits a bit softer at the edges) but the biscuit itself is bland and was obviously made for dunking in gravy

Rice and beans - again, how does this side have no flavour whatsoever? I will say I feel like you could add this to soup and it would be amazing but you could also throw rice and beans in a pot without any seasonings and they would still be 10x more flavourable than these

Cajun fries - fine, these are fine

Strawberry pie - I love these hand pies a bunch of restaurants sell now

I will say that compared to other chicken restaurants (especially KFC) you do get a ton of food for the price (and I have leftovers) but the food itself is disappointing.