#helped me narrow it down to like three possible topics

[mishkakagehishka]

The weather forecast says thunderstorms for the weekend, i'm actually looking forward to it

[cursingtoji]

as requested, a longer version of this drabble

synopsis: geto spared one woman from the village he exterminated due to the pleading of mimiko and nanako, now he has to live in between preaching a world without non-sorcerers during the day and sleeping with one during the night; a dive into the mind of a conflicted man.

cw: canon events (no major spoilers), death topics, fem submissive reader x cult leader geto, smut, oral (m -> f), 1.6k words.

part 2

The day was horribly busy, on days like these, where he had to talk in front of a crowd for such a long time, then entertain donors, then eat curses, Geto can’t sleep due to the loud noise of his mind, he would probably sleep if he was in a equally loud environment, but, except for the sound of your soft breathing, the room has dead quiet.

Dead quiet.

Geto sits up, the cold air hitting his bare chest as he takes in the sight of the red temple across the open window, a ruffling makes him draw and narrow his eyes to the figure in his bed.

He remembers the day he first saw you, trying to sneak in the room where Mimiko and Nanako were locked in, he was in the process of exterminating the people in that village so he didn’t think twice when he grabbed you by your hair ready to let a curse rip you apart but the deafening sound of the girl’s scream stopped him, only then he noticed a bag with food that fell of your hands.

He could see from a distance, you were like the rest of them, a regular non-sorcerer and a few minutes ago he decided what he wanted.

A world free of non-sorcerers.

He can’t make an exception. He shouldn’t.

The twins had tears in their eyes. They’re young and his responsibility now, so a helping hand couldn’t be a sin. He could leave you for last. 

Somehow he finds in his heart to spare you, and once he consolidated his power as a leader, he took the three of you in, the girls only leave your side when he’s around, they don’t approach anyone else except the two of you.

The first week you were around sorcerers he could see the fear and confusion in your face. Nanako tugged his clothing and he squatted to listen as she whispered to him “She cannot see them”.

So he provided special glasses for you, one with cursed energy so you could see what people like you shouldn’t, and he made Nanako hand it to you as you slowly began to comprehend what the weird events around you actually were.

She should be thankful, she’s only alive because of me.

He thought about that constantly, especially when watching you smiling and minding your own business.

And you are grateful and respectful towards him, almost never making eye contact, just keeping your head down and only calling him “Geto-sama”, he appreciated that, you should know your place.

It’s only a matter of time before he grows fond of you too, with his influence and your submission, it didn’t take long before you were in his bed, being happy to serve him in any ways.

It’s a contradiction having you around, he knows it. A monkey.

You sleep so peacefully, he wonders if you understand how lucky you are to make it this far.

Tonight could be your last night on earth, how deserving are you to live in his ideal world? You have two little girls that adore you, is that enough? He could just tell them something awful happened.

His cold fingers trace the back of your neck, ghosting your cervical spine.

You fell off the stairs and broke your neck, so sad.

That’s believable, the temple has many stairs.

His index finds your pulsing point.

A man attacked you, another monkey, and cut your throat, how horrible.

His eyes drop to your rising chest.

You fell on the lake and drowned, a terrible accident.

There’s so many possibilities to get rid of you without them blaming Geto.

Warm fingers unexpectedly find his hand, your small hand covers his. Suguru feels his human side returning to him, the dark cloud over his head slowly fading away as you take his wrist and you turn your head to kiss his palm.

He feels like crying, confused and guilty.

The bedroom is dark enough for you to miss the look of despair in his eyes, he allows you to caress the veins in his forearms, tracing it all the way to his biceps until you find his neck with your arm completely extended. Suguru gives in to the light pressure you make, bringing him to lay back down with you. You kiss his shoulders, his chest, his neck.

He doesn’t feel worth your kisses.

Again the contradiction.

You kiss his jawline and he stops you with a hand over your lips, he doesn’t want you to feel the way his lips quiver, you don’t ask questions, just accept and kiss his palm again, holding it against your cheek.

Geto is hard on you sometimes, giving humiliating tasks such as cleaning up the remains of someone who wronged him or capturing a curse that will for sure attack you. As much as he sometimes thinks of creating a space between the girls and you, the little ones always find a way back, helping you clean while keeping a non-morbid conversation topic or helping bandage the scratches you got from the small but feisty cursed spirited you were assigned to.

Yet you never once complained, always bowing in obedience with a soft “Yes, Geto-sama” coming out of your lips.

He knows when to treat you well too, sometimes he knocks on your room at night, sometimes he sends someone to call you over to his. When his whole cult speech was over he would dismiss everyone except you, to be alone in the giant spacious room with him, he likes to take you there, where your quiet sounds of pleasure bounce through the walls and create an echo.

You’re good to him, not to his cause, to Geto-sama you’re useless, but to Suguru Geto you’re an anchor.

He returns your kisses, sucking on your clavicle then down the soft skin of your breasts, where he takes in one nipple and licks until it gets hard enough for him to gently bite on and make you gasp.

Your hands find his hair, his long soft locks, the same ones you brush ever so patiently when Mimiko and Nanako turn it into a mess of knots from braiding and tying tiny silicone elastics on, you don’t scold them, even if it means to stay hours with Geto trying to undo it afterwards. 

They will grow up to be spoiled.

But he also could never scold them like a father is supposed to, deep down he knows he won’t need to, they adore him, anything he’ll say they’ll do. 

They’re good kids, he supposes he owns it to you too.

Suguru leaves a wet trail of kisses down your body until he’s between your legs, he first starts by licking the surrounds of your clit teasing patiently as you get wetter, the sleepiness doesn’t allow you to protest or whine, only to close your eyes and take whatever he’s willing to give you while tangling your fingers in his hair.

When he finally gives your nub some attention in the form of sucking, your leg twitches, he squeezes it and places it over his shoulder, at this point he’s laying on his stomach vaguely thrusting his pelvis onto the mattress to relieve a bit of the aching in his cock he gets when eating you out.

He adds more tongue as he moves down your needy hole, which pulsates around nothing, Suguru hums nuzzling your glossy folds, the vibration goes straight to your hardened nub.

“Geto-sama” you moan when he fucks you with his tongue, the tip of his nose hits your clit perfectly, once he looks up to see you falling apart on him you shiver, his eyes are predatory, you wonder if you should retrieve your hand from his head, but he quickly closes them again, losing himself in the taste of you. God, you taste so good. What makes him get through the day when he has to absorb those disgusting curses is the thought of getting lost between your legs, sucking your nipples, eating his own cum off you, sucking your tongue…

He feels your orgasm approaching as you tug his locks harder, whimpering softly. Usually he would make you beg, stopping his ministrations just before you get there and delaying it until there are tears in your eyes. Tonight he’s enjoying the silence, he might just let you go ahead, but there’s something he wants to hear.

“Say my name” he orders with a raspy voice.

“Get—“

“No” he bites your inner thigh, “My actual name.”

“Suguru” you roll his name so beautifully on your tongue.

“Keep saying it” he dives back, making out with your pussy and paying extra attention to your puffy clit as you call his name in a prayer.

He misses it, the way his first name used to be used, nowadays is just “Geto-sama this, Geto-sama that, master, sir”. It would inflate his ego if it didn’t come out of monkeys' mouths.

But Suguru? He left that for you only, even the other sorcerers he considers family just call him Geto.

Before he realizes you’re already cumming, hole pulsating around his tongue and heels digging on his back. He slows down his pace, nibbling on your glossy lips then taking your hand out of his hair to kiss it like you did earlier, the act makes your heart swell, you caress his face, thumb rubbing the dark circles under his eyes.

“Suguru” you call his name again, this time looking straight in his eyes, they don’t seem predatory anymore as he moves up finding a safe spot on your chest, where he lays down listening to your heartbeat as your fingers work through the knots in his hair, this time caused by yourself. Your other hand caresses his back and shoulders, whatever skin you can find to soothe him. Now he doesn’t have the loud voices in his head and bitter taste in his mouth and manages to fall asleep again.

part 2 ->

[nenelonomh]

how to take better notes during fast-paced lectures

taking better notes during fast-paced lectures can be challenging, but here are some tips to help you keep up:

abbreviations and symbols: create a personal shorthand system. for example, use “w/” for “with,” “b/c” for “because,” and arrows (→) to show relationships. this can significantly speed up your note-taking.

focus on main ideas: listen for key points and concepts rather than trying to transcribe everything. lecturers often emphasize important information through repetition, changes in tone, or visual aids. pay attention to these cues.

structured methods:

cornell method: divide your page into three sections: a narrow left column for cues, a wider right column for notes, and a bottom section for a summary. during the lecture, jot down main points in the right column. after the lecture, add cues and a summary.

outline method: use headings and subheadings to organize information hierarchically. this helps in understanding the relationship between topics.

mind mapping: create a visual representation of the lecture content. start with a central idea and branch out with related concepts. this method is particularly useful for visual learners.

leave space: if you miss something, leave a gap and move on. you can fill in the details later, either from the textbook, recordings, or discussions with classmates.

record the lecture: if your lecturer allows it, recording can be a lifesaver. you can listen to the lecture again to fill in any gaps in your notes. just make sure to review the recording soon after the lecture while the material is still fresh in your mind.

review and revise: go over your notes as soon as possible after the lecture. this helps reinforce the material and allows you to clarify any points you didn’t fully understand. consider rewriting or typing up your notes to organize them better.

active listening: engage with the lecture by asking questions and participating in discussions. this not only helps you understand the material better but also makes it easier to remember.

use technology: apps like evernote, onenote, or notability can help you organize and search your notes efficiently. some apps even allow you to record audio and sync it with your notes.

do you have any specific challenges with note-taking? let me know in the comments.

❤️ nene

image source: pinterest

[amongemeraldclouds]

not being romantic

Jess Mariano may be cute, possibly charming, but he is most definitely annoying. He certainly can’t hold a candle to your secret pen pal who’s smart, loves books, and aspires to be an author. Or can he?

Jess Mariano x f!Reader

Warning: no use of y/n, mostly fluff, some angst, cursing, suggestiveness. This fic is set after he left Stars Hollow.

✿ Masterlist | 3.3k words

The cafe buzzed with the rush of customers lined up for their afternoon caffeine fix. Coffee machines droned on churning coffee as sunlight streamed through the windows and the smell of baked goods wafted through the air.

You smirked at Jess Mariano before you called the customer to hand them their drink. You proceeded to add another point to your scoreboard, waving your arm for emphasis. He rolled his eyes at your dramatics and hurried up, adding whipped cream to the drink he was preparing. 

Everything was always a game with him. Who could get the highest amount of tips? Who could guess the new customer's coffee order? Who could make the most convincing foreign accent?

Today’s game was: who could make the fastest coffee order?

“You’ve gotten better,” he observed as you grabbed a cup for the next customer. “Aren’t you glad to have had an incredible instructor like me?”

You scoffed, “more like an incredible loser if you don’t hurry up with that order. Just because you taught me, doesn’t mean I’d go easy on you, Mariano,” you taunt, narrowing your eyes for emphasis.

He shook his head with a smile, “I expected nothing less from you.” He made his way to the other end of the counter to call the customer and handed them their drink.  

Another busy shift flew by and before you knew it, it was time to close down the cafe.

You grabbed the scoreboard, beaming with pride. “I won! You can now call me the Queen of Speed, Barista Extraordinaire. Bow down before your queen.”

Jess looked up from where he was wiping the counter with a flat expression. “I’ll call you the Queen of Clean if you help me with these last few tables?”

You frowned at him and stuck your tongue out, of course he had a whole arsenal of retorts with him at any given moment. You grabbed the towel and disinfectant spray from behind the counter and moved to wipe down the tables. “You’re no fun, but I’ll let it slide since you now owe me a favor.”

“As long as I don’t have to help you dispose of a body then it’s fine,” he replied, eyebrow raised. 

You rolled your eyes, “if I ever need to dispose a body, it would probably be yours.”

“Are you confessing to something you’ll commit? I don’t think that’s very wise.”

“I’m not planning anything,” you sighed, pinching your nose. The conversation was getting more and more off topic by the second. “You, however, will be the dea*h of me.”

“I’ll add you to the waitlist,” he nodded as he set aside the towel and grabbed the key, ready to close for the evening. Of course that wasn't the first time that line was directed at him.

“You’re just trying to avoid what you owe me. Stop deflecting, Mariano,” you accused, heading towards him to return the cleaning materials. “I need your help with my toaster, it stopped working and I can’t afford to get it fixed or replaced. Can you help me with that?”

“Of course, anything for the Queen of Speed,” he replied.

“You forgot Barista Extraordinaire,” you added helpfully.

Jess just shook his head as if to say, I can’t win with you. He fought the smile that threatened to break across his features. Perhaps you too had your own arsenal of comebacks.

With the final turn of the key, the door swung in and you and Jess headed into your tiny apartment. It was a studio that’s three steps away from the kitchen, five steps away from the bathroom, and ten steps away from the bed. You liked to keep it simple, minimalistic. It definitely had nothing to do with the cheap rent.

“Welcome to my apartment. It’s not much but it’s home,” you said, gesturing around the place.

“It’s cozy and it’s very you,” he remarked.

You folded your arms and stared at him, “I can’t tell if that’s an insult or a compliment.”

“Let me see. Second hand furniture, potted plants around the area, and the artwork looks similar to your napkin doodles. Don’t think I didn’t notice them. It’s a mosaic of different things, but you managed to tie it all together and make it work. It’s just like you to make good out of a potentially bad situation,” he observed.

“Slow down there or you’ll end up hosting shows about house tours,” you teased. “And hey, I’ll take the compliment. Who knew Jess Mariano could be nice?”

He shrugged, “I just call it like I see it.”

You took the three steps necessary to reach the kitchen. “Here’s the troublemaker, by the way. Not you, well, aside from you,” you amended and pointed to the toaster. “Not sure what’s wrong, it just stopped working.”  

He approached you and it struck you just how small the kitchen was, certainly not big enough for two. When you turned to speak to him, all the words left your mind as you realized you’re only inches away from him. Heat crept up your cheeks and you blinked.

Jess smirked at your reaction, keenly aware of the effect he had to you. That cocky bastard. He leaned in a bit closer and your breath hitched. “You know, if you just wanted me over at your place, there’s a lot of other fun things I can help you with.” You scrunched your nose and took a step back, immediately transported to the area you considered your bedroom. “If that’s your way of confessing your feelings for me, it’s not very romantic at all. Thought you’d have more game than that, Mariano,” you hedged.

“Oh, that’s because I’m not trying to be romantic. If I were trying....” he said, taking a step forward, closing the distance you tried to place between you. He brushed the hair away from your cheek, the touch so unexpectedly tender coming from Jess. You took in how soft his lips looked up close.

When he touched the side of your face, your attention returned to his soulful eyes. “...I’d do something like this,” he concluded, his breath against your lips like the ghost of a kiss. That’s all it took for him to steal the breath from your lungs.

You’re disoriented when cool air greets you again as he took a step back and the only trace left is the fading warmth from where his hand caressed your cheek. “But like I said, I’m not trying to be romantic,” he shrugged.

You cleared your throat, brushing off the lingering heat of the interaction. You ignored the pang of disappointment that hit you. Besides, someone else already had your heart, this was nothing but a silly little crush. “Well can you please try to fix my toaster?” you asked, trying to stay on topic as always.

“Sure, I have tools at home. I can take it with me and bring it back when I’m done.”

You nodded, “okay thank you. Let me just grab a bag you can carry it in.”

He scanned the room while you opened the cabinet to grab a reusable bag.

“Why do you have lots of mail?” He asked, thumbing through the pile of opened envelopes on your kitchen counter.

You mulled over the question, unsure how much you wanted to share with Jess Mariano and risk a round of his teasing. Then again, you could handle Jess. “Well, there’s this guy I really like. We send each other letters. If you really want to know what romantic is, Mariano, it’s hand written letters. No one bothers to write them anymore. There’s something sweet and sincere about it.”

“Who’s the lucky guy?”

“I’m not really sure. I got his first letter from the bookstore I frequent, the employee handed it to me and I asked him to hand back my reply. We just kept going from there, I think the mystery just adds to the romance.”

Jess shot you a worried look. “You mean to say, you’re corresponding with a complete stranger? For all you know he’s hiding his identity because he’s a stalker or a serial killer.”

“Please, he is not. He is smart, funny, and he’s writing a book. I just don’t feel like he’s that type of person.”

“You’re going off this based on your feelings? I don’t think that’s wise or safe.”

“Jess, it’s fine. There’s nothing to worry about,” you replied, having had enough of him for the day. After handing him the bag with the broken toaster, you shoved him towards the door and out from your apartment, wishing him a good night.  

“That was quick,” you said as you headed out of the cafe and walked towards Jess’ apartment to retrieve your now functional toaster.

Jess shrugged, “it was no big deal, just had a few loose screws to reattach. Speaking of loose screws, how about that imaginary boyfriend of yours? Finally decide to reveal himself?” 

You sighed, Jess had been on your case the whole week since you told him about your mysterious crush. Needless to say, you regretted telling him about it. “No, but he hasn’t written to me recently,” you pondered. “He must be busy writing his book.”

“Or planning your untimely demise,” he retorts.

“Jess, I swear,” you grit your teeth, “I’ll be planning your untimely demise if you don’t drop it. Why do you care so much? Are you jealous? Is that what this is about?”

“Well I’m trying to look out for a coworker, why does this have to be about me? But hey, I’ll drop it,” he relented. “Besides, I won today so you owe me a favor.”

You groaned, but don’t say anything further. He won fair and square, you were ready to accept your fate.

Jess continued, “My uncle sent some food last night and I have a lot more than I can finish myself. Help me with that before you leave with your toaster?”

“Jess Mariano,” you narrowed your eyes at him, “are you asking me out for dinner?”   

“No,” he quickly said and then caught himself. “We’re not going out, we’re dining in. Besides if I were being romantic, I might bring you flowers, pick you up, take you somewhere nice. So this,” he said, pointing between him and you, “is not me being romantic.”

“And there goes Mr. Defensive,” you smirked. Of course he was not being romantic, not to you. He had a hundred and one ways to tease and annoy you but never to charm you. Still, you couldn’t help the way it killed you just a little inside.

“I swear if you tell me this is where the magic happens, I will smack your head,” you deadpan as Jess opened the door to his apartment.

“Why does that turn me on?” He teased. Your face twisted in confusion and disgust and Jess laughed triumphantly, having drawn out a reaction from you. You had no idea you were adorable, he thought.

“Just welcome to my home then,” he said. 

You stepped in, admiring his cozy space. You imagined a messy home with leftover containers and soda cans strewn about reeking of old laundry and faded furniture. You had little to no expectations at all.

Instead what greeted you was a small space, similar to yours. The bed was made, blanket tucked in neat corners and the furniture, while undoubtedly secondhand, was well maintained. If anything, the mismatched pillows against the pale blue sofa and the sanded down wooden table gave it personality. It smelled like subtle household cleaners and carried the scent that is so distinctly Jess, a mixture of soap and sweat, plus a hint of cologne he would never admit to wearing.

“It’s very you,” you remarked, “and I don’t mean that as a bad thing.”

He shrugged, handing you your toaster, “I’ll take it as a compliment.”

“Thanks again for the toaster. Now there’s only one troublemaker here in this room,” you quipped as you move towards his kitchen to help him set the dinner table.

“That’s definitely you,” he replied, handing you the plates and utensils while he moved to heat up the food from the fridge. “Hand me the glasses over there?” He asked, pointing to the drawers on the opposite end.

You nodded, setting down the plates on the table and headed towards the drawer. “Well, I’ll let it slide just this time because you’re feeding me and I can’t say no to free food. Thank you Jess,” you said, a small hint of affection blooming in your chest.

You opened the first drawer and found only papers. You were about to close it to check the next drawer when the familiar edge of stationery caught your eye. It was exactly the type of paper you smiled at for hours on end, trying to memorize each word. Curiosity got the better of you and you lifted a half written letter to your eyes. A half written letter addressed to you.

A storm of emotions struck you then: confusion, hurt, and anger. All this time. The boy who weaseled his way into your heart, who called you cute in his first letter and wanted to get to know you. Who charmed you into the romantic idea of secret identities like spies undercover. Who shared your love for books and had the best recommendations that made you feel seen like no one ever has. Who spoke about his love for writing with a passion that inspired you. 

All this time it was Jess Mariano.

All this time it was a lie.

Just another one of his games.

“What about those gla—” he stopped mid-sentence when he turned back and saw you reading his letter.

“Fuck,” he exhaled softly as heat crept into his cheeks.

You looked at him, fire burning in your eyes. “Is that all you have to say, Mr. Fantastic Writer?” You huffed, trying to quell the tears that threatened to choke you. 

Jess opened his mouth and closed it, wanting to say a million words and failing. You watched the war raging in his head.

“Well then indeed, fuck!” You exclaimed in frustration. “And fuck you too. I know you love your games Jess, but you can’t just go around playing with other people’s feelings.”

You retreat and grabbed your things, shaking your head. “God, I feel like such a fool.”

You threw the door behind you and was a few steps away when you realized you left your toaster. Shame and betrayal marched with you as you opened his door again and found him still frozen where you left him.

“I’m just here for my toaster, which I actually need. Unlike you, I don’t need anything from you, Jess. I’ve read and heard enough,” you said, your voice wavered at the end and tears spilled down your cheeks.

You turned away from embarrassment, toaster in hand, and ran the rest of the way home. He didn’t deserve to hear your sobbing. He didn’t even deserve any of your tears. He was just a stupid boy that your stupid heart fell for. No big deal.

The next week passed in a blur. Unable to switch shifts with anyone else, you called in sick at the cafe and lived life between your university, the library, and your apartment. Never mind that you needed the pay, you could drown in instant noodles for all you cared. It didn’t matter anyway. A broken heart never cared for a full stomach.

That Friday, you were about to call it a night when the doorbell rang. The was odd, you thought, you weren’t expecting anyone. 

“You’ve got the wrong—” you stopped mid-sentence when you saw the last person you ever wanted to see, Jess Mariano holding a bouquet of flowers and books. If it were any other day, it might have sent butterflies to your stomach. Now all it did was fan the flames of your anger because it was much easier to be angry than hurt.

You slammed the door close but Jess stopped it with his outstretched arm. “Are you trying to get yourself injured?” You accused and you hated it, how much you still cared.

“Please, I just need to talk,” he said, pain and sincerity etched in his handsome face.

You sighed and let him in, not wanting to cause a scene at the hallway. “You have five minutes,” you held up your hand for emphasis.

“Fine, five minutes,” he breathed, steeling himself. "Here’s a story for you: I met this girl working at a cafe. She’s smart and quick witted, she never runs out of comebacks. Her smile makes my day and I needed to see more of it so I came up with these games. And damn it, I looked forward to going to work every day because of her.

There was a nagging at the back of my mind to get to know her better. I wanted her to get to know me too, but I have a track record of screwing things up so I sent a letter. Just one couldn’t hurt, right?

Clearly, I underestimated her. One letter was never going to be enough. I loved hearing about her dreams, her stories, the inside jokes we created along the way. Without meaning to, I fell for her. I fell for you. It was never a game for me, all of it was real. Is still real.

When I heard you liked your secret pen pal too, I didn’t know if I should reveal myself or just disappear, let you forget me. Of course, I screwed things up again. I’m so sorry, I never meant to hurt you but clearly I have. Would you give me a second chance? I’m not good at this but I want to try."

He’s breathless by the time he ends his speech and you take a moment as the words settled in. No wonder he discouraged your interest in your secret pen pal, which also turned out to be him.

You sighed, “you really screwed it up.” Your heart broke all over again only to come back whole together because he did like you. All those silly gestures he brushed off really did mean something. And the boy you loved through letters and your cafe crush turned out to be the same person.

You pondered his question. The way he went about it was all wrong, but a second chance might be worth a shot. “Fine, we can start over, but you’ll have to make it up to me. You owe me unlimited favors.”

“I'll fix all the toasters you need,” he said, presenting you with the bouquet of flowers and books.

“Oh you’ll have to do more than that. I have a broken bulb on the ceiling, the heater needs fixing, and the microwave will definitely break tomorrow,” you taunted him, accepting his bouquet nevertheless.

He just smiled, “I have a lot to make up for, but I’ll do it for you.” He moved closer to you, bringing the bouquet to rest on the kitchen counter, so he can wrap his arms around you. “You’re worth it,” he whispered in your ear and you hugged him back, fighting off the delicious chill that ran through your back from his words. Being in his arms felt so right.

“You like me,” you sing, teasing him like a child and you enjoy the way his chest rumbles against you as he laughs.

“Don’t let it get to your head,” he said, kissing your cheek. “Besides, you like me back.”

You removed yourself from his hug, already missing his warm embrace. “I never said I liked you,” you teased. 

Mock hurt danced across his features, “what’s not to like?”

You laughed at his arrogance, the need to touch him overwhelming everything else. “Fine,” you relented, “we can call it even.”

You closed the distance this time, “just to be clear, this is you being romantic?”

He smirked, wrapping his arms around your waist again. “Yes, this is me being romantic and I will show you so much more,” he said, bringing his lips to yours with a thousand unsaid promises you were about to discover.

✿ Masterlist

Author's note:

✿ When I came across a Jess Mariano fic, I just knew I had to write one too. Jess and his sarcastic ass in a (sort of) rivals to lovers trope, heck yes. ✿ Thanks to my lovely wife @pizzaapeteer for encouraging me to write this all those weeks ago ♡ ✿ Published this fic from a cafe, very on brand for the story.

[irondad-and-spiderson]

Hi! Sorry to bother, idk if you take asks like this (if you don't feel free to ignore!) but do you know any good fics where SI employees bully/threaten/mistreat Peter and Tony comes to the rescue? Thank you so much for your time 💙💙

Hi! I absolutely do! I might just take forever to respond and take your prompt a little loosely 😃 The three under the cut are employees with (valid) security concerns. I know there are more that I can’t find, so anyone feel free to add some 😉

A Big Security Issue by FotiBrit

When Peter lost his Stark Industries Staff ID, Tony handed the kid his own. That was never an issue, until Peter had to check in at the front desk.

-

The Cusp of a Breath by SpaceCowboysFromMars

“That was the most stressful thing I’ve ever experienced.” Peter says as he and Tony make their way into the crowd. He wipes his sweaty palms on his thighs, cringing when he remembers how much the suit costs.

“You got shot on patrol last month.”

“This was worse.”

Or; Peter is introduced as the official heir of Stark Industries, but not everyone is completely welcoming of his presence. Luckily, he has a pretty awesome mentor to keep him on track.

-

the love (and other things) you inherit by ironfidus

“Which is why,” Catherine says, unblinking, as delicately as she can, “the board requires that you name a successor in the event of your untimely demise. The risk has simply become too great for us to ignore.”

Tony Stark’s spent a large portion of his life thinking about legacy: his legacy, his company’s, Iron Man’s. He’s spent a lot of time fighting to protect his legacy, too. But today, with a lawyer as his witness and FRIDAY as his one-AI cheerleading squad, he stops, takes a step back, and lets go instead—because for the first time, his legacy isn’t about him, not really.

And as FRIDAY would say: it’s about damn time.

Alternatively: Tony updates his will and gets himself an heir, Peter gets a promotion (for lack of a better word), and the rest of the world gets a wake-up call—in that order. Ft. an impatient board of directors, a Stark Industries charity gala, and a universe in which Tony Stark gets to be happy.

-

Security Bias by Sara (ctrsara)

Happy Hogan asks Daren Anderson to help him out with a little project.

My take on idk-bruh-20's irondad fic ideas #128: Fic where, after a security incident in which some bozo accused Peter of trespassing at Stark Tower, Happy holds an emergency briefing for the entire SI security team.

The topic of the briefing? The absolutely untouchable, vital-to-know-if-you-want-to-keep-your-job level of importance of one Peter Parker.

:)

Five Times Tony Stark's Fabled Intern Just Showed Up + One Time He Was Invited by kingdomfaraway

While Leroy didn’t like gossip, he wasn’t immune to it and he’d heard about a young boy claiming to be Tony Stark’s intern showing up randomly throughout the building. He just figured it was some random mystery, a Stark Industries cryptid if you will.

Never did he think he’d have a sighting.

“Are you Peter Parker?” Leroy questioned, narrowing his eyes at the young boy, looking for any signs of deceit.

“Oh yeah, that’s me, hi!” Possibly Fabled Intern Peter Parker reached into his pocket and pulled out a badge and lanyard, this one with his face on it and INTERN written underneath it. “Mr. Stark got me a badge so I can get nachos whenever I want.”

-

Chapter 1 of 200 Park Avenue (5+1) by Sara (ctrsara)

Peter hasn't seen Mr. Stark, or been able to go out as Spider-man since he turned down his invitation to join the Avengers a few weeks ago. He ends up at Stark Tower rather randomly, finding an unlikely hero in Mr. Stark's AI, then keeps returning for different purposes.

The first chapter is a short I did for Comfortember 2022 that I've just kept thinking about. I'm building on that story and creating a 5+1 to explore the new dynamic (post-Homecoming) in another way.

Or

5 Times Peter Visited Stark Tower and 1 Time He Stayed

-

Home by patrochilles_trash ((it’s less angsty than it sounds))

Tony had been out of the country for weeks on SI business, and Peter was having a hard time. He missed him, plain and simple.

Okay. Maybe not so plain and simple.

Peter had a rough time in the weeks and months that followed the final defeat of Thanos in the ruins of the Compound. Thrust back into life, only to be forced to fight for the lives of the entire universe for the second time at only sixteen-years-old, and then to be told that his last living relative died in a crash during his five year absence did wonders for his psyche.

He developed a nasty form of separation anxiety toward his mentor-turned-adoptive-father -- not that Tony fared much better himself -- and his therapist had said it was a side effect of PTSD and that it would get better over time.

OR

A small field trip fic to SI where Tony has been out of the country for a few weeks, and Peter isn't handling it well.

Don't be fooled. This garbage fluff to avoid my other fics that I'm writing

[ilys00ga]

hellooo, ur blog is such a comfort for me <3 ! can i request yoongi meeting reader who’s quite literally the same person as him. he could’ve met the reader through one of the members trying to hook them up. “you two are so alike it’s scary, i think you’d be a match made in heaven”. so yoongi agrees..eventually. but when he meets the reader, it’s horrible! their similar personalities clash in the worst way possible. it’s pretty funny to everyone, because they totally thought they were in matchmaker mode?? the two constantly talk about how they couldn’t stand each other, so it surprised everyone when yoongi just admitted that he’d and the reader had been dating for a few months after their first meeting. loll

A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN.

pairing: yoongi x reader.

genre: fluff, i tried to make it funny loool, best friends to lovers, non idol au (?), non idol!yoongi, non idol!jimin, non idol!namjoon, jimin is the dramatic bestie and namjoon is just the very supportive friend that's happy to be there.

warnings: this is pure fiction and English is not my first language.

A/N: okay so, there was also this one ask I got from @parkjennykim that says: "Hiiii ❤️ hope this finds you well. Could you write a fluffy bsf to lovers with yoongi? Theres hardly any of those out there 😭 i need some fluff ive been too deprived and depressed".

I thought these two were similar so I decided to merge them, I hope that's ok for both of u :). thank u sm for sending these reqs, I really appreciate it and I hope u enjoy this read. do not hesitate to send more if u want to !

ᵎᵎ 𖦹彡⋆｡˚・ ─ ・ ⋯ ・ ─ ⊹ ♡₊˚๑

“I'm sorry, WHAT?!” Jimin, who’d been slouched on the couch with his head leaning against its rolled arm, sat up straight and goggle-eyed as soon as he heard what Yoongi had said.

The latter only rolled his eyes, not surprised one bit at his friend’s dramatic reaction. In fact, he expected it to be so much worse, but he guessed the younger one was just too tired that day for all of that. “don’t be loud.” he hissed and crossed his arms.

“hyung, are you serious?” Namjoon asked from where he was sitting with his chopsticks hanging in the air near his mouth as he too was stunned by the eldest’s statement.

“why the hell would i lie and say that me and __ have been dating for almost two months now?” Yoongi muttered through narrowed his eyes. "TWO MONTHS- woah, this is crazy. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.” The youngest of the three covered his face with his hands and heaved a big, disappointed sigh.

“Seriously, why is he so annoying today?”

Namjoon chuckled as the older continued side eyeing their dongsaeng, “hyung, he’s just really happy for you. I too am.”

“I’m very happy, yes, but, hyung, how could you hide such a thing from me? I literally helped you grow the balls to ask her out.” Jimin whined and slouched back down on the couch with a growing pout, “I've been waiting for you two to get together for months.”

It's true, Jimin was a man on a mission ever since he’d noticed the insanely similar character traits when you and your (now) boyfriend met for the very first time. two individual human beings but the exact same patterns and edges. on a large scale, talking to you always felt like talking to Yoongi and vice versa.

It was like a game to him. It made him buzz with excitement, reminding himself every now and then to keep a close eye and count all the similarities you two shared. not that it was hard to notice to begin with: having almso the exact same taste (especially in music), always sitting silently when being around other people and speaking little amounts of words when necessary, getting flustered and smiling shyly when being complimented, being chill and too soft to scold or yell at anyone (most of the time), having that same slow tone in your voices whenever you talk, having random bursts of energy or playful teasing despite the cold facade both of you display, getting so talkative when it comes to topics and things you’re so passionate about, being very honest but never too rude or offensive about it, being the most hardworking people jimin has probably ever met in his entire life—something that nevers fails to admire about the two of you.

You and Yoongi were so similar, even your bad habits and red flags matched. When setting your mind on finishing a task—say a project for example—you’d wear your bodies out for the sake of completing it, even if it meant you’d stay up several hours late during the night. and when mad or during intense clashes and arguments, you would put thick walls between you and the other person, ignoring and shutting them out until you're human enough to confront them. sometimes it’s too hard to even apologize, instead, you’d slowly start approaching them as if nothing had happened at all.

“No wonder you two ended up together, you’re basically a match made in heaven.” Namjoon nodded his head as he munched on his food, as if approving of his own statement.

“i know! and the way you wasted your time pinning on each other was killing me.” being the biggest shipper of your pair, Jimin huffed as he spoke with a very serious tone.

“how did you guys even make it?” namjoon asked.

“We hit it off right after the first date.” Yoongi answered with a shrug, acting as nonchalant as ever.

“you mean the date i had set for you?” it was jimin who asked this time, and when Yoongi nodded in confirmation, the younger groaned and buried his face into the couch, “hyung, you are seriously the worst.”

“hyung, you both are coffee addicts, take her to a new café this time!” Jimin suggested with a huge grin on his face. after finding out that you two secretly liked each other, he spent weeks pressuring Yoongi to confess his feelings for you. He couldn’t believe that his hyung finally obliged after many “no”s and “I don’t like __ that way.”s and “we’re just friends.”s. it was getting really annoying.

YG: “Can we hang out tomorrow? as two people wanting to know each other.”

ME: “Are you asking me on a date?”

YG: “yeah?”

ME: “okay :)”

that was the conversation you had with him the day before he took you on a cute café date. The place was impressively good, but the date was the complete opposite of that. Nothing bad happened, yet sitting down with someone you’ve known for a good period of time and have shared good amounts of vulnerability with in that intimate context was too unpleasant. Both of you struggled to find comfort and normality in the heavy awkward silence that fell on the table. and everytime he would try to play it off and throw some joke or normal piece of conversation that he found appropriate for a date, you two ended up laughing int your sweaty palms because of how ridiculous the whole situation was.

“stop laughing!” Yoongi exclaimed while his shoulders shook, giggling.

“I'm sorry, I'm trying!” you wiped at the corners of your eyes.

"Just act like this is a normal hangout.." he had said after a short moment.

"We're literally on a date." you reminded him.

“right..”

The “date” didn’t last long, and the two of you ended up at his house. eating popcorn on his couch and watching your favorite series of movies together.

Later that night, he asked, “so, what are we?”

“whatever you want us to be.” you answered with flushed cheeks.

“I like you..” he whispered, eyes never leaving the TV screen acroos the couch, "more than friends should like one another."

“Great, ‘cause I'd be sad if you didn’t like me back.” you whispered back, never daring to glance his way even for a split of a second.

“Wait, does that mean I won the bet?” Namjoon suddenly spoke, making Jimin kick him lightly on the shoulder from where he was still lying with a sour frown, and toss a few dollars he had grabbed from his wallet at the smiling man's extended palm.

“Did you two seriously make a bet on my relationship?” came a sharp question from Yoongi.

[madman479r]

Jaune was heading back to his dorm room after a session at the gym following Nora's workout routine (Seeing as he was still standing was proof that he was improving) when he heard two familiar voices.

From the sound of it, it seemed like they were in some sort of argument.

"I'm telling you, Blake's is just better."

"Coming from someone with simple taste, I'd rather not take your word."

"Simple?!"

Jaune rounded the corner and saw that it was Sun and Neptune who were arguing. "Sun? Neptune? What's going on? Why are you arguing?" He asked.

The two other students turned to see Jaune. "Jaune, buddy, we were just looking for you!" Neptune said, his mood taking a 180 degree turn.

Sun, still with a narrowed and determined look on his face, continued. "Yeah, settle this debate for us."

Jaune was unsure but couldn't help himself. He liked hearing good debates about certain topics after all. "Okay. Hit me." Jaune said. Maybe this was about some book or movie. But then again Blake's name was mentioned so that kind of narrowed down the list of possible discus-

"Between Blake and Weiss, who do you think has the better butt." Sun bluntly asked.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Jaune stared at the two Haven students, wondering if he heard right. "I'm sorry, can you repeat that?"

"Which girl has the better ass?" Neptune repeated. "Weiss' lean, toned behind, or Blake's overly large-"

"Hey!" Sun cut in. "That's not cool!"

Jaune silently agreed with Sun, appreciating that his fellow blonde was defending his friends' dignit-

"Your putting words in his head to sway his decision!" Sun accused, putting his finger close to Neptune's face.

Scratch that, Sun was just as bad.

Sun pushed on. "Besides, Weiss is just too small."

Neptune was quick to rebuke. "But Blake's is too big. Those type of butts jiggle at just a gust of wind. It reminds me of those rubber things with thin gel inside."

"Bigger is better. I'd prefer an ass with some meat on it. It's got its own name for crying out loud! The Bellabooty is superior."

"But age will ruin it, it'll become saggy. A butt like Weiss' basically stays the same. And it shows she actually takes care of herself with a good workout."

Jaune shook his head as Sun and Neptune continued to argue. This was getting ridiculous and he didn't want any part of it. He was about to say so until...

"Gentleman." A stern voice cut in, making all three men freeze in fear. Sun and Neptune looked at Jaune, or rather behind him. Jaune himself slowly turned around and came face to face with an unamused Glynda Goodwitch.

"I understand your at an age in which your hormones can sometimes get the better of you and that you can't help but notice those of the opposite sex, so I will let you off with a warning. But should I catch you talking about your fellow students in such a degrading manner, I will not be so lenient. " She warned, her glare sending shivers down all their spines.

Professor Goodwitch then focused on Jaune. "Mr. Arc, my office." She ordered shortly.

Jaune sputtered. "Bu-but I wasn’t-!" He tried to protest.

Only to stop Immediately at the combat instructor's narrowed gaze. "That wasn't a request, Mr. Arc." She then turned and headed for her class room.

Jaune stood rooted while Sun empathetically patted his shoulder. "Tough break, pal."

"Yeah. sorry, dude." Neptune added.

Jaune gave the pair a small glare, showing the apology wasn't accepted.

"Mr. Arc! I won't be kept waiting!" Goodwitch's voice made Jaune hurriedly follow along.

0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0

Glynda strode into her glass room and stood by her desk, her back towards Jaune, who entered after Glynda. He was quick to defend himself. "Professor, I wasn't a part of that. I was about to tell them to stop but you-."

"I'm well aware of that, Mr. Arc. I heard it all." Miss Goodwitch stated, her back still facing Jaune.

Jaune grew confused. "So why was I-."

"Simple, Jaune." Glynda said and lifted up her skirt.

Jaune's throat became instantly dry as he stared at his girlfriend's bare ass.

"I wanted to remind you that my behind is much better than Miss Schnee and Miss Belladonna's." Glynda's voice changed from stern to sultry and low.

Jaune looked at the meaty behind, mesmerised. It was like seeing the sun rise. You can see it a thousand times and never get bored of it. (And you'd dread never seeing it again.) He stepped close to Glynda as if in a hypnotic trance and unconsciously raised an open hand.

'SMACK!!!'

Glynda's eyes widened at the stinging sensation on her ass before closing her eyes and moaning in pleasure as the offending hand began to gently massage and squeeze it. She then gave a small giggle as she felt a finger slip under her panties and rub her puckered asshole, but that giggle turned into a gasp as the digit it lightly pushed against her hole, as if testing the tightness.

"Honestly, Jaune. Ever since you convinced me to try anal sex, I have a hard time deciding if I want to feel you in my pussy and filling up my womb or have you in my ass and painting my guts white." Glynda breathed over her shoulder.

"I think teaching you dirty talk is the best thing I've done." Jaune whispered into her ear, earning another shiver from Glynda. "And it doesn't really need to be said. But your ass if way better."

The pair shared one more look of love and lust before pressing their lips together.

[idontplaytrack]

New beginnings, new life, new love

Janis ‘Imi’ike x fem! reader(+ Cadina)

Warnings: fluff, some coarse language, some descriptions of labour + delivery

Read other parts here! Cady and Regina welcome their baby boy.

“Hey, Reg.” You stepped into the kitchen to see Regina by the stove, making breakfast, “Where’s Cady?”

“Hi, baby.” She smiled slightly, “Cady went to work early. I woke up late, didn’t wanna wake you.” 

“Oh, right. I forgot.” You replied, “You could’ve woke me, I wouldn’t have minded.”

“It’s okay, this is perfectly manageable.” She assured, “I swear.”

“Alright.” You slid down into a chair at the dining table, watching her.

“How’d you sleep?” 

“Uh, okay, I guess.” You bit back a sigh. She turned around and walked over with two plates of french toast and fruit.

“You wanna talk about it?”

“I’m not sure I want to dump more stuff on you that you need to worry about, Reg.”

“No, it’s okay. Talk to me.” Regina insists, handing you a knife and fork.

“Well, awhile ago I had this conversation with Janis where I told her I was anxious about our future— mine and hers. Seeing you and Cady going through with IVF and waiting and waiting to see if it worked, then the symptoms and stuff and — I just kind of got to thinking myself. Thinking if I want to go through that, or if I wanna have kids at all. It’s not that I want a way to conceive that’s a guarantee, but a part of my brain somehow convinced me that I’m gonna end up like Mom. There are so many possibilities that I’m scared, terrified even.”

“I get that.” Those were the first words that came out of her mouth, “I went through that same thought process before we eventually went ahead with IVF. But, I know I’m getting better and better, and I’ll do all I can to break the cycle.” 

“You asked me…last week if I wanted to be there, when it’s time but I don’t think I can do it.”

“I’m not going to make you be there, it’s okay.” Regina told you, “Okay? You’ve helped me more than enough as it is. Don’t stress about it anymore. I’m not mad.” 

You ate a forkful of french toast before saying, “Technically, I’ll be there…just outside.”

“And I appreciate that. Yeah?” 

Giving her a firm nod, Regina then quickly moved to a different topic of conversation. “Do you wanna hear names?” 

“Ooh, you haven’t told anyone else?” You let out a soft gasp.

“Nope. Just Cady.” Regina grins, taking a swig of water. 

“Fun.” You chuckled, looking at her in anticipation.

“We’ve narrowed it down to three.” She began, “Ashby Cole, Wyatt— just Wyatt. Then…Jace Kinsley.”

“Oh, I love Wyatt.” You remarked.

“I thought of that.” Regina laughs, “Ashby and Kinsley were Cady’s idea. But they’re cute, so I don’t mind them.”

Janis returns home first that evening, and you immediately ran into her arms when she walked through the door. “Hi, honey.” She smooches you on the cheek, then a few more times for good measure. You chuckle, “Hi.” Then, you kiss her back. 

“Hi, G.” 

Your sister flashes Janis a small smile before focusing her attention on the TV again. “I bought dinner. Thai food, for you.” She looked over at Regina. “Tacos for you, from El Cielo.” 

“Maybe later.” You sighed. Cady comes home at this moment.

“She has a migraine.” Regina just mentioned it oh-so-casually, you clicked your tongue in annoyance.

“What?” Regina squinted her eyes at you, “You can tell me that but I tell her and it’s suddenly a problem? It’s not like you’re gonna hide it.”

You yank your wrist away from Janis’ grip then left the living room, leaving Janis standing right there. “Geez.” Regina grumbled. Janis didn’t know what to do for a moment. “Shit.”

Regina sighs, “I really need to shut up, don’t I?”

“Regina— no, it’s just— you know what? I’ll be right back.” Janis decided to leave the living area too and went to look for you in the bedroom. Regina was fine, you on the other hand…not exactly.

“Hey, what was that?” She asked you.

“Nothing.” You shrugged, avoiding Janis’ eyes. “Just a headache.”

“I know that, but she’s just worried.”

“She didn’t have to tell you and bother you with it.” You continued staring out the window. “I’ll be fine.”

“I don’t get bothered by that. Never by anything that concerns you and the people I care about.” Janis shrugs, sitting down in the spot next to you. 

“I’m in a bit of a bad mood. My period just started— a whole week early.” You admitted, “I’m sorry. I didn’t have to pull my hand away like that.” 

“I get it. Everything hurts, it’s frustrating.” Janis answered, “You haven’t taken pain meds yet, I’m guessing?”

“Not yet, no. Just had to strip the sheets, wash it and clean the mattress because I somehow managed to stain it.” 

“I’m gonna grab you the Midol. Take it, then take a nap. If you can’t fall asleep, it’s okay. Just lie down and rest for a while.”

You didn’t say anything and just laid down on the freshly changed bed, until she returned with water and the meds. “Thank you.” 

“No problem.” She says, watching you take the pill. You swallowed it with some water then set the water bottle down on your nightstand.

“I’m gonna go take a shower, if you need anything. we’re right outside.” She says before planting a kiss to your forehead.

You nodded silently, pulling the blanket up to your shoulders. You closed your eyes, but were almost certain you wouldn't be able to get much restful sleep. Because ever since Hawai’i, your period symptoms started to include terrible nausea too and sometimes? That comes with throwing up. Though, yes, you were indeed craving for the tacos. 

After drifting in and out of sleep for awhile, the sound of the water in Janis’ shower hitting the floors was somehow making your stomach churn. Before you could even process it, you were running to the bathroom and bursting through the door— luckily, the door wasn’t locked. Well, there goes the pain meds.

“What the fuck—” Janis was shocked. “Are you okay?” 

“No, not really.” You scoffed, annoyed. “I think the migraine did this, or the bloat. Maybe both.” You rinsed out your mouth and just stood there staring in the mirror until Cady’s voice snapped you out of your daze. “y/n, do you want some ginger tea?”

“No, I can’t—” You sigh, “Do we still have those dried plums? Jan, the li hing mui.”

“We do. Dad got more.” Janis answered first. “There’s some in my purse. If not, the pantry.”

“Fuck, I just wanna sleep.” You groaned.

“I’m sorry.” Janis said over the shower curtain. “I’ll be out in a few minutes. Just sit for awhile, yeah?” 

“Fine.” You grumbled, leaving the bathroom with Cady. Regina hands you a container of the dried plums, “Thanks, Reg.” 

“Poor thing.”

You chuckled wryly, “Sure, Reg.” 

“Wow, I’ve met my match, huh.” She joked.

“You are so lucky.” You grumbled, “You don’t get all this during your period.” 

“Well, I believe I’ve definitely paid for it during pregnancy.” Regina shrugged, “Go lie down again.”

You scoff, “No way unless one of you wants to mop the floor if I spew whatever’s left inside my stomach.”

“But you’re sleepy.”

“I know that, Jan.” You look up at her and she grabs your hands. 

“C’mon.” She tugs on your hands, “Let’s go to our room.”

You whined, leaning forward and your head rests just below her chest. Janis rubs your back. “You want me to carry you?” She asks with a laugh. “Yes?” You answered hesitantly.

“I’m serious, you know.” She plants a kiss on the top of your head. “Come on, up we go.” 

“Oh, you are so still the same girl you were.” Regina commented, “Clingy, clingy, clingy.” 

“Okay, okay, okay.” You exhaled harshly, letting Janis carry you off the couch. Cady and Janis tried not to laugh but did anyway. Regina only raised an eyebrow and smirked. “I hope you’ll be able to get some rest, baby.”

“Don’t smirk at me.” You sneered.

Janis cackles, rubbing your back as the both of you retreated to the bedroom. 

“You’re gonna sleep.” Janis says, leading you to sit down on the bed with her.

“No.” 

“I know what to do.” Janis shrugs, “Come on. Lay on me.” 

“Do you really think that would work?”

Janis squints, “Of course.We both know it always makes you sleepy, so…get on.” You obliged, kind of straddling her and having your head on her shoulder— the usual. 

After some time, Janis sets you down in bed and leaves the room. She hangs around the living area with your sister and Cady, having dinner together. “Everything is packed, right?”

“With her? Of course. It’s been ready for at least a month. She’s so scared.” 

“Scared?” The redhead’s eyes go wide. 

————

“Calm down, Cady.” Regina laughs as she got into the front passenger seat, “Well, get in. You’re driving us to the birth centre or am I?” 

Cady cracked a smile as she took a deep breath, “I am. Let’s go.” 

“Let’s fucking go. Let’s do this.” Regina nodded.

“Janis said they’ll meet us there in a couple hours.” Cady says while keeping her focus on the road.

Regina hums, “I know. y/n’s asleep still. Plus, I want them to eat before they rush to the centre. It’s gonna take awhile anyway.”

“Dr. Dunn said we could go in already.” Cady reminded.

“I know, you worrywart.”

“I am not.” Cady gasps playfully. Regina smirks, “I’m fine. The contractions are still a piece of cake right now.”

“Yeah, right now.” Cady turned her head to glance at Regina for a moment. 

“Cady, everything is literally going as planned.” Regina bites back a chuckle, “I’m having a contraction right now and I’m just chilling. That should tell you something.”

“That tells me you should note it down on your phone.” Cady sassed.

“Doing that right now, baby.” Regina used her phone with one hand while the other squeezed Cady’s thigh in reassurance.

“I know, it’s just all new to us and I don’t want to take any chances. I’m sorry, I’ll try not to be in freak-out mode.” Cady took a few deep breaths after speaking, “I’m glad you’re not in too much pain.”

“I get it. Just trying to lighten the mood.” Regina shrugs, “but we got this, yeah? We’ve done all the research and learning we can up until this point.” While Cady and Regina arrived at the centre, you’d just woken up. “Sooo…after breakfast, we’re going to the birth centre. Cady and Regina just got there.”

“Why didn’t you guys wake me?” You huffed.

“Hey, I’m just following your sister’s orders. She didn’t want you just stumbling out of bed. You had a late shift yesterday.” Janis sat down with you, pushing a plate of waffles and sausage in front of you. You mumbled a thank-you and promptly dug in. “They say anything else?”

Janis shook her head, “Nothing other than the fact that Regina’s all settled in. Want something to drink?”

“Sure.” You agreed.

“Tea, two sugars? Or do you want coffee?”

“Tempting, but since we gotta head out, no coffee.”

Janis laughs, “I figured.”

You yawned, then chuckled, “Sorry.”

Janis replied, “You’re good. Sure you wanna go?”

“Yeah, I promised I'd be there at least.” 

She places the mug in front of you, next to your plate, “Here you go.”

“Thanks, Jan.” You nodded, mouth full with half-chewed food.

“No problem, honey.”

After breakfast, Janis drove the both of you to the birth centre where Regina and Cady were at. Knocking on the door, Janis enters first and you were right behind her, holding onto her hand. “Hey, guys.”

“Hey.” Regina smiled back.

“Since you said food and drinks are fine, we picked up a smoothie for you on the way here.” You placed the bag down on the table.

“Aw, thank you.” Regina’s face lit up again.

“There’s some snacks in the bag too.” Janis quipped, “Any progress?”

“Uh, no. Not yet. They said it’ll be pretty slow. And it sure feels like it.” She chuckles humourlessly. 

“You’re close, Regina.” Janis smiled softly, “It’s happening.”

Cady looks at you, a little concerned. “I’m fine.” You told her. She nodded, you sat down on one of the chairs while Janis sat on the side of the bed. 

Regina was so calm and relaxed, you were thoroughly impressed. She looks at you, saying, “I’m okay, everything’s going great. They just checked me before you guys got here.”

“That’s good, Reg.” You smiled in some relief. 

“Thanks for being here.” She reached out for your hand, squeezing it, “I know what we talked about and I really appreciate this.”

“I know how much it means to you. I wanna be here for you— as much as I can.” 

You hung around for a couple hours, then went to your therapy appointment before returning. When you entered the room, Regina stirred in her sleep and woke up. “You came back.” She chuckled.

You nodded, mirroring her smile, “How ya feeling, Reg?”

“Contractions have become more painful and a little closer together but I’m just chilling, baby. Managed to sleep for quite a while.” She was in a good mood. “Janis went to eat, Cady followed. I made them go out because they were so anxious, it’s kinda funny.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re in a good mood, Reg.”

Janis called you while you were watching TV with Regina. So you went to a corner to answer the call. “Hey.”

“Are you back?” 

“Yeah, got back here awhile ago.” 

“Do you want anything? Me and Cady are about to head back there as well.” 

“No, I’m okay. Thanks, though.”

“Alright, honey.”

About ten minutes later, Cady and Janis came back. Janis sat down on an armchair and pulled you into her lap. Cady sat next to the bed to keep Regina company, of course. “How are we doing?” Janis asked, resting her chin on your shoulder.

“Getting a little irritated because the pain’s getting more intense.” Regina admitted flatly, “But that’s expected.” 

Cady asked, “Did you manage to sleep?”

“Yeah, I only just woke up when y/n came back from her therapy session. Fell asleep when you and Janis went to eat.”

The waiting was keeping everyone on the edge of their seat, but with each check, with each hour, Regina got closer to the finish line. You fell asleep yourself, completely not expecting this level of peace and quiet during an admittedly distressing and painful time. Your sister was something else. You nodded off for awhile, and in the meantime, you knew the three of them were chatting. It was going to be a pretty long day…they got here at around 9am and it was currently nearing 7pm. And things have picked up its pace. Regina was starting to feel the burn, and she was barely able to sit still. Her team came into the room and started to set up, and there was a shift in the atmosphere. It started to get a little hectic for your liking. But, you stayed in the room, seated in the armchair while Janis sat next to you on the armrest with an arm around you. 

“One centimetre to go, Regina.” Dr. Dunn declared, “Are we ready?”

Regina gave the doctor a firm nod, “Yep.”

“You’re doing perfect. Deep breaths, listen to your body. We’re ready for you and baby boy, okay?” 

Regina couldn’t respond before another contraction coursed through her body, causing her face to scrunch up briefly. She squeezed Cady’s hand, and the redhead just let her— obviously, while telling her words of assurances to get her through it. Just like she’s been doing for hours and hours. 

“The tub’s ready, so if that’s what you want, you can go in there. It’s completely up to you.” Dr. Dunn added on.

“Okay.” Regina answered quietly, trying to focus on her breathing.

“Water’s warm, so it could help alleviate some of that.” Cady mentions. 

“Can I go in there now?” Regina asked, looking at Dunn. Her brows were furrowed together— it seemed that the pain was finally getting to her.

“Yeah.” Dunn nodded, “Of course. Undress to whatever level you’re comfortable with and go ahead.” Within the next minute, Cady and the doctor helps Regina into the tub. And honestly the sight of her accepting help without a fight freaked you out— and you hated that it did. Why was it scaring you?

Janis definitely picked up on how tense you were, because you felt her rubbing your lower back. Then she was looking at you with worried eyes. You gave her a look in return, to silently tell her you were going to step outside. You left, she told Cady. And Regina obviously heard it, but she knew better than to stop you because it’d already been discussed. Besides, her priority now was to deliver this baby safely. And hopefully quickly because the pain was going to make her cry soon. 

Janis stayed behind for awhile, but Regina told her to go outside and be with you. “She’s fine.”

“So am I. But she’s your partner, I think she needs you more than I do.” Regina replied, resting her chin on folded arms that were on the edge of the tub. She was kneeling, because she could no longer sit comfortably. While Janis was still standing, Cady had already made herself comfortable and sat on the floor. “Do you want me to be in there with you?”

“This is good.” Regina hummed, shutting her eyes. That meant another contraction was making its way through her body. She held on tight to Cady’s hand and breathed through it, this time, a little grunt fell from her lips. “I can feel the head coming down.” She mumbles. 

“I’ll go call the doctor back in.” Janis said, scurrying to exit the suite. And once the doctor had entered the room, Janis sat outside with you. “We can go home, honey. It’s alright.”

“I know. I just want to be here for her, but my brain is still so easily…terrified.”

“Hey, you are. You’re here right now, baby. She knows you are. It’s okay to be scared, I mean, have you seen Cady the last few weeks? Heck, even the last month? Today’s the calmest she’s been in awhile.” She wraps her arms around, “She’s in great hands, and Regina gets it. You guys talked about it, there will be no hard feelings if we stay out here, or just head home. We’ll get to see the baby soon either way.” 

“You’re right. Just had a little moment, that’s all.” You sniffed, leaning your head on her shoulder, “I’m okay. She’s okay, everything is going well.”

Janis pulls you closer and kisses the side of your head, just holding you in silence as you continue to calm down. The brief surge in anxiety faded away, getting replaced by excitement. You couldn’t hear anything that was happening on the other side of that door until piercing cries filled your ears. You and Janis gasped almost in unison, and you sat upright. “Oh, my God.” You mumbled. Several minutes later, Cady emerged from the door and said that you two could go in. So you did, Janis held onto your hand, still. “Holy shit, he’s cute.” Janis gasped, speaking in a whisper. Cady rolled her eyes at the language, Regina just laughs as she lightly bounces the bundled up newborn in her arms. You stepped closer to get a better look, and your heart as good as melted into a puddle. He was so, so tiny and adorable. So damn precious. 

“Red hair?” Janis notices. 

“Damn, I know.” Regina lets out a soft sigh, admiring her sleepy baby boy. “Hopefully he gets my height.” 

Cady sulked jokingly, “Anyway.” She sits down carefully next to Regina on the bed, “We have a name.” Cady and Regina shared a look before your sister nodded, “Jace. Jace Kinsley Heron-George.” 

“That’s a cool name.” You chimed in.

“He’s going to grow up to be the coolest kiddo.” Janis grins, looking at the baby again. “I mean…”

“That, I agree. He has you two as aunts, and Karen and Gretchen. And Damian’s going to be amazing, too.” Regina looked up at you and Janis, teary eyed. “Wow, I’m actually crying. This is crazy.”

Cady cups her face and tilted it towards herself, capturing Regina’s lips into her own, “I love you. And I love Jace, so very much.”

Regina sniffles, “I love you more. Thank you for choosing me, I literally couldn’t be here today without you.” Regina looked at you again, a tear slipping from her eyes, “Or you.” Then Janis, “And you.”

You put an arm around your sister, planting a kiss on her head, “I’m so proud of you.” 

“Thank you, baby.” Regina looked at you with the biggest goddamn smile, and watery eyes. You started tearing up, too. You knew those three words from her meant more than just simple gratitude for what you told her a few seconds ago. So much more. 

The baby was born at around 10:30, and once the adrenaline wore off, you were all just wanting to sleep and get some rest. You and Janis got to hold Jace before leaving though. And seeing Janis holding him? Damn, something changed within you. You wanted that, you wanted to start your own family and you were so sure. You couldn’t wait for it to be yours and Janis’ turn.

“Good night, Reg. We’ll see you soon.” 

“Yeah, you will. Good night, guys.” Regina smiled despite the sleepiness.

That night, it was just you and Janis in the apartment. So it was very quiet, even for this time of the night. And as usual, you don’t exactly do that well with silence. So your mind drifts, except this time it was back to the image of Janis holding Jace in her arms, and seeing that look of pure adoration in her eyes holding someone so tiny and fragile, someone that depended on someone else to live. Seeing her so careful, so happy? You wanted that for her, you wanted that for yourself.

“Baby?” Janis scooted closer to you, a hand on your thigh as her thumb brushed over the skin. 

“Hm?”

“You okay?”

“I am. Just thinking.” You nodded, laying your head on her chest. On reflex, she wraps her arms around you. “Janis, I’m sure I want kids.”

“Okay.” She nodded.

You continued, “I don’t know when, but if the time feels right, we can just go for it. Really. I’ve never been more sure about this.”

“What changed?” She asked, curiously.

“Honestly, everything today changed my perspective. But especially seeing you hold him and admiring him. It was beautiful. It’s like, it’s hard, but it so, so worth it. And that’s what I want, I want something like that. So precious, so beautiful. Life is incredible, and as daunting and stressful things can get, nothing beats the good things. New beginnings, new life, new love.”

“New memories.” Janis chimed in, smiling slightly. You nodded, “Life…life can be pretty exciting, huh?” 

“Absolutely it can.” Janis agrees, “Pretty great too. Some things are so rewarding. Meeting you, getting to go through so much of my life with you, it’s a blessing. My life is so filled with love and laughter and so fucking much of joy ever since. And I cannot wait for more to come.” 

🏷️Tag list:

@ashecampos @auliisflower @cheesysoup-arlo @frogs00 @ludoesartandstuff @pda128

💭A/N:

This chapter seemed like it took me forever to, but well, here it is! <3

[ultimatedetectivequeen]

Kyoko, is it true that you use that FAT ASS of yours to milk confessions out of criminals?

Lewd topics lie below!

"This shouldn't be a surprise, but I'm very well versed in the art of interrogation.” Kyoko proudly informed. “It also helps that my particular techniques are quite effective in forcing a confession out of stubborn criminals. Speaking of which…”

CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!

"Are you ready to tell me what I want to know? Or do I have to demonstrate to you further on how I deal with pathetic crooks like you?" The gorgeous detective kept a perfectly calm face as she bounced up and down on the lap of the crook in question, his cock sandwiched between her incredibly large ass cheeks.

CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!

"Grr... S-stupid bitch..." The thug cursed as Kyoko expertly teased his member. When she had first come into the interrogation room and climbed into his lap, he thought he had hit the jackpot. He figured that as long as he promised to give her the information, she would do anything for him. Unfortunately, he would soon find out that he was most certainly not the one in control here.

The greatly skilled detective alternated between quickly bouncing up and down, and slowly shaking her fat ass from side to side, effectively driving the crook mad with anticipation.

“All you need to do is give me what I want, and I’ll give you what you want.” Kyoko reminded him casually.

“Like hell, I’ll tell you y—?!” The criminal froze as Kyoko suddenly leaned in close and rested her hand on his chest

“There's no need to act all tough. I know you’re at your breaking point…” She spoke softly, slowly dragging her hand down his chest. He gulped as he stared into the detective's lavender eyes.

"... I'm gonna count down from five, and If you tell me where your boss is before I reach one..." Kyoko leaned in and whispered in his ear.

"... I'll let you release it all~"

And before he could give a response...

CLAP!

"Five!" The detective began to count down, as she gave a single clap of her ass cheeks.

CLAP!

"Four!" Then another.

CLAP!

"Three!" Then another...

CLAP!

"Two!" Then anoth—

"He hangs out at the Crazy Diamond gang's old hideout!"

Kyoko immediately stopped and then raised an eyebrow. "Care to be more specific?"

"T-That's all I know, I swear! I don't even know where that is. I only overheard some of the other guys talking about it!"

Kyoko narrowed her eyes at him and stared for a couple of seconds before taking out a small notebook and jotting something down.

"Hmm, and here I thought this would be my last interrogation for today. Though, I suppose it will be more like some simple persuasion, considering he isn't exactly a criminal." The detective thought aloud, already having in mind exactly who she can question to locate the hideout.

The crook just stared at her with confusion.

"The point is, I have somebody else to 'visit', so I'll just have to finish you off as fast as possible." Kyoko planted her hands firmly on his shoulders. The crook eyes widened as he tried to object. "Hey! You never said—"

CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!

Without warning, the detective began to bounce her backside up and down at full throttle with his cock tucked tightly between her cheeks, making him throw his head back in pleasure.

After going from being teased to this, it wasn’t long before he succumbed to her intense ass-job.

SPLUUUURSHH!!

Kyoko started to gradually slow her pace until she laid still, straddling his lap, her huge cake covered with his thick seed. She smirked as she scooped up a bit of cum with her finger and proceeded to suck it dry.

"Thank you for your cooperation..."

[snow-system-wol]

OC-tober shorter prompt list from @endrae,

Day 4: Dream

Home was just as S'ria remembered, perfectly unchanged.

It got cold out here sometimes, when the temperature dropped at night, but sitting around the fire was enough to help except for only the coldest times of the year. Warm food helped too. S'ria gratefully took a bowl of soup from his mother as she settled back down across from him. Her hair was a somewhat darker and more saturated color than his (and far curlier besides), but it always had this amber glow to it when the firelight caught it just right.

S'ria waited patiently for her to start eating, gently nudging G'raha to do the same. Normally, the Nunh would be served first, but they must've gotten here late after travel, after others had already eaten and presumably since gone to sleep. It was kind of his mother to stay up and cook for them, at whatever time it may have been.

It was halfway through the meal, once S'ria felt fully warmed through, that she got their attention.

"So, Ria, are you going to properly introduce me to this "Raha" of yours?"

Her voice held only a mix of fondness and amusement. S'ria relaxed. The tone, at least, was a good sign. G'raha looked rather the opposite of relaxed and S'ria put his hand over G'raha's where it rested on the ground. It's fine, he tried to convey.

"This is G'raha Tia, my… partner? Yes, that's the best word for us." S'ria realized they'd never had a recent conversation about labels, but – it seemed right. Lovers was not something that needed to be touched upon, and boyfriend just felt…too casual for what this was.

"A G Tribe boy, huh? I assume you two met in Eorzea, not somewhere farther off. What's the story there?"

"Ma, haven't I told you that in my letters?"

She frowned at him. "Yes, but you always leave out so many details." The smile popped back onto her face. "Besides, I want to hear it from G'raha."

G'raha shot S'ria a somewhat panicked look and he just shrugged helplessly. She could be persistent, G'raha may as well. S'ria held back a fond laugh – if she wasn't careful with the whole Allagan research part, she might get a bit more out of G'raha than she expected.

S'ria was anxious as well, but for different reasons than G'raha – they'd talked before this, agreeing to please not tell his mother how dangerous his life was, but it was hard to dance around without lying. She'd… worry so much, if she knew.

"Y-yes, ma'am." (S'ria wasn't sure if anyone had said "ma'am" to her in her entire life before this moment.) "Well, 'tis honestly a rather simple story. My topic of research as a scholar was always the ancient Allagan Empire, you see, and there was a perfect research site in Mor Dhona. Your son lived in the area at the time and was always picking up whatever jobs interested him. We met because he agreed to some material procurement and to helping us with, uh – he was a bit like a bodyguard?"

Short and not inaccurate. Well, bodyguard wasn't a lie, at least – and it was better than 'volunteered to clear out possibly the most lethal bit of Allagan architecture ever located.'

S'ria's mom gasped delightedly. "Oh, that's very romantic. If S'ria was protecting you, I can see why you fell for him." Her eyes narrowed. "You're able to take care of him too, right?"

G'raha briefly looked terrified. "Of- of course! Archery just wasn't the best thing to use for that situation – and I've since taken up various forms of magic, for both combat and healing."

Her face softened. "...Healing magic, that's good. I'm glad."

G'raha relaxed, apparently having passed whatever test that was.

"Was it love at first sight?"

G'raha seemed to have far less difficulty or hesitation answering that one. "Honestly? Yes."

"And Ria, how long did you keep him waiting again? Three years?"

S'ria's tail bristled. Gods, he couldn't even defend himself here. Technically it was less than one year because he was in suspended sleep. No, that wouldn't do – though there was at least an excuse he could give that was truthful.

"After his work was done at that research site, I… actually didn't see him again until recently." The sense of regret in S'ria's voice was not faked, even if his mother was somewhat in the dark about what caused it.

Her face fell and S'ria immediately wished he had just let her make fun of him and kept the subject light. "Oh, I'm sorry dear – that sounds like a sore subject." She walked around the firepit to collect their empty bowls and pat their clasped hands. "You two are together again now, that's the important part."

"Yes." S'ria and G'raha both spoke at the same time and she smiled at them.

"You both must be exhausted after traveling here. That tent on the end is vacant for you both." That familiar teasing look came into her eyes again. "Do try not to wake anyone up, yes?"

"Ma!?"

"I'm joking, Ria – G'raha seems far too worried about our opinions for that."

S'ria was certain that G'raha's face must be entirely red by now. S'ria had tried to warn him, his mother was very prone to teasing when it came to her son, even if it came from a place of deep love. She would definitely start breaking out embarrassing stories in the morning, S'ria just knew. Ah, but – G'raha would probably genuinely enjoy hearing about his life, wouldn't he? For some reason, S'ria felt as though he hadn't told G'raha nearly enough stories about himself.

S'ria cleared his throat and pulled G'raha to his feet. "Well, we will be going to lie down – to sleep, after traveling halfway across Gyr Abania today." He dropped the semi-affronted tone in favor of something softer. "Goodnight, Ma".

She turned to walk to her own tent with a good-natured laugh. "Goodnight Ria, Raha."

G'raha half-stifled a gasp and S'ria squeezed his hand. Once they were sitting down in the tent, alone, S'ria turned and whispered to him.

"Are you all right? Is it... okay that she called you that?"

"Y-yes, I. Yes. I am very all right."

"Good."

The tent was small, as most were, and the process of removing their travel-dirtied outerwear would probably have been easier outside. They managed. There wasn't exactly room to stretch out side-by-side – the whole tent was probably smaller in floor space than S'ria's bed back in Revenant's Toll – but it wouldn't be the first time they'd slept in very close quarters. S'ria lay down behind G'raha, wrapping himself around his back and pulling the blanket over them both. Even if G'raha had the occasional faux-complaint about their height difference, he was the perfect size to hold like this and they both knew it. Warm, the scent of G'raha mingling with the scent of home, S'ria had no trouble falling asleep.

---—---

S'ria's face was already wet with tears when he opened his eyes. It was still night, the faint aether glow around Mor Dhona the only source of light from his window. He didn't think he'd be able to fall back asleep any time soon, but it didn't feel bad. It felt… some sort of relief, to be honest, to be allowed that extra moment with her. The dream felt like a rare moment of kindness from the gods.

S'ria wasn't sure what he believed in, but a part of him would like to think that the conversation meant something, that his mother would've truly liked G'raha if she was still alive to meet him. It was nice to think about, if nothing else.

[tarabyte3]

I Want You to Show Me Weak

Fandom: Andor

Pairing: Kino Loy/F!Reader

Chapter 3/27 (2.7k words)

->start at chapter 1<-

<- Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 ->

Summary: You're pretty sure Kino Loy hates you. He screams at you, grabs you, and shoves you against the wall, and it's becoming a problem because, well...it shouldn't fluster you as much as it does.

Warnings: Explicit rating, Smut, Prison, Prison sex, minor non-graphic injuries, Dom/Sub, sexual tension, dirty talk, praise, hair-pulling, light choking, unprotected sex, oral, angst

A/N: If you wanted Dom Kino on top of dirty talk Kino, boy do I have some good news for you 😌 Work title is from "Poison" by Vaults. Chapter title is from "Wicked Game" by Chris Isaak.

AO3 Link

Chapter 3 - What a wicked thing to do, to make me dream of you

During your shift the next day, your hand hurts, but it's functional. It does slow you down, though, because you can't move it as well as you usually do. Alis is kind enough to help you out since he was already faster than you before you injured yourself. Now he's doing his job and nearly half of yours. You owe him big time.

But Kino's "not officially" comment is still rattling around in your skull. You're new enough that maybe you've missed something. So you ask your table if there are any unofficial rules you should know about. If anyone has more context for whatever the fuck yesterday was, outside of the whole…incident, it will be them. Because so far, the only actual rules you've been given are to do your work, keep up, don't get fried, and don't cause problems. If you do cause problems, take them to Kino. "Problems" appears to be the key word there. Covers all manner of sins.

Threl seems relieved that it sounds like you're trying to make an effort to stay out of trouble, bless his heart. He gives you a whole list of shower and tool etiquette, a lecture on respecting communal and private spaces like the cells, and what not to do during quiet hours. Which all seem like basic common sense to you because you know all of that already. You do all of it. But he says nothing about sex, possibly because he doesn't want to bring up sex to the only woman in the unit. Or the rules don't exist.

"What about fooling around?"

Jevid leans forward so he can be heard over the noise on the floor and his large belly presses against the table. "You really think Kino lets people get away with rough housing at all? You should know that better than anyone with how often you get your ass chewed."

"Once for rough housing, if I recall." Alis grins.

"Oh my god, you've all been in here far too long. No, I mean what about sex?"

They all stop, hands hovering over tools and parts, and turn almost as a group to look at you. There's an equal mix of confusion from the three younger men and concern from the three older men staring at you from around the table.

"What?? Why are you all staring at me?"

"What about it?" Alis asks with a furrowed brow, as if your question doesn't make any sense. "Sex is a pretty big topic, you're gonna want to narrow that down for us."

"Are there any rules about sex?"

They all glance around at each other, as though someone in the pod has the answers and will explain what is happening to the rest of them. Jevid clicks his tongue thoughtfully in the empty space where a tooth should be.

"Jeez, you guys are acting like I just mentioned the rancor in the room."

"That's because no one talks about it, duh." Taybus rolls his eyes at you. "You think we all walk around talking about how much we're getting laid? Or that we're getting laid at all?"

"Okay fine, how about this. Are there any rules forbidding sex? Because I'm one woman in here with forty nine men. I think my chances are a little better than yours."

"Oh my god." Sorrek sounds like someone is strangling him.

"Fine, forty eight. Happy?"

"No," Sorrek whimpers.

"Forty seven, sorry kid. Don't swing that way," Threl laughs.

You look at him in pleasant surprise. "Yeah? Well damn, Threl. Then you and I both have forty seven more chances than these fools."

"Forty six," Jevid grumbles. "I'm way too old for this bullshit."

"Fair enough, Jev." You glance at Taybus and grimace. "Let's just cut it down to forty five."

"Oh, fuck you!" He attempts to look angry, but he's trying not to laugh.

Alis, however, is fully shaking with laughter as he slides a part into place. "Woman, if you can find a way to have sex in here or get any privacy, then be my guest. Good for you, in fact. I got your high-five right here." He holds up his hand. "Most of us just…take care of it ourselves." He then waves his still raised hand around. Sorrek protests next to him. His face and ears have been turning dangerously red the entire conversation.

"Oh, and I don't?" You smirk. There is a mixture of groans and snorts in response, except Sorrek, who finally puts his head into his hands.

"But no," Alis adds, "there's no rules or anything. Just be respectful and don't get caught, you know?"

"Why, you see someone you fancy?" Taybus wags his eyebrows at you suggestively.

You have to fight not to glance over and look for Kino, and you tell yourself it's just because that weird interaction in the locker room is what led to this conversation. Not because you're attracted to him. Definitely not that.

"In this lot?" You snort. "Hardly."

"Why else would you be asking?" Taybus is grinning at you now, like he's caught on to something interesting. "You totally do. Who is it?!"

"That's enough," Threl sighs. "Did we not learn any lessons from yesterday? Let's focus."

Taybus ignores him. "It's Vage at table 1, isn't it? I saw him checking you out once."

"Nope. Don't worry, I won't steal your boyfriend." You wink at him.

Taybus flips you off from across the table. You go to return the rude gesture, when there's a hand on your shoulder. You jump and turn to see Kino standing next to you. He has a fake smile on his face. The kind he gets when he's pissed, but he wants to make a point first.

"I see we're all taking our jobs very seriously over here at table 7 today. So seriously that you're in," he pauses to check his data pad and several men at the table wince, "last place! Which puts our shift in fifth. So I have to wonder what is more fascinating than work?"

You start to say "nothing," but to your horror, Taybus butts in with, "She's got a boyfriend."

The panic washes over you and you sputter, "No I don't!' You glance at Kino in fear, but he just gives you an intrigued stare. If you didn't know any better, you'd think he's amused, even. "He's just kidding." And you don't know why you feel it's so important Kino knows that. The man could probably not care less. He does hate you, after all.

"But you asked about sex." Taybus continues, knowing damn well he should shut his mouth, but is unable to resist the opportunity to distress you further. Probably as payback for excluding him from the list. You feel your face burning with embarrassment. You suddenly wish the ground would open up, swallow you whole, and spit you out into the ocean.

"No! I didn't!" Even though you absolutely did. You just don't want Kino to know you're sniffing around after what he said to you. What will he think? Probably that you're trying to find a new way to piss him off. But he's been standing there the entire time, watching your face. Intently taking in every flash of horror and mortification.

Threl uncomfortably clears his throat.

"Enough," Kino finally growls out to the table. "Your numbers better be up by the time I come back around, got it?"

There is an off beat chorus of "Yes, Kino." He turns to look directly at you, waiting expectantly.

You squirm, and give a belated, low, "Yes, Kino."

"Good." There's a slight, pleased twitch in his eyebrow as he stares you down. He looks back around the table. "Unless you're looking forward to frying in ten hours, get to work!"

He finally removes his hand from your shoulder and stalks off. You hadn't realized it had been there the whole time. You glance at the spot he touched you without thinking about what you're doing because, now that it's gone, you can feel his absence and the thought makes your chest flutter.

"Way to go, you pissed him off again."

You quickly look up at the table, like you've been caught doing something you aren't supposed to. "Shut the fuck up, Taybus, and hand me the wrench or I swear to every god that will listen that I will smother you in the shower."

"And you'd deserve it, too." Alis says next to you. "Man, what's wrong with you? Bringing up her sex life to Kino? No wonder you aren't getting laid." The two begin to bicker as you all get back to work.

Jevid gives an annoyed grunt and checks his panel. However, you notice Threl and Sorrek eyeing you suspiciously. And you really hope they aren't going to corner you and bring this up again later.

They absolutely corner you and bring it up again later.

"You wanna tell me what that was about?" Threl crosses his arms and Sorrek looks apologetic next to him, but doesn't move. You're blocked in by the dads.

"Not really." You huff. "It's not your business and I'm far too old for the talk, guys! Come on." You give them a pleading look, hoping they'll drop it.

"It's my business if you get yourself in trouble again! They're gonna kick your ass out to some place worse than this if you keep it up." Threl sounds angry, and you feel bad that you somehow managed to stress him out this much.

"We're just worried about you. That's all this is." Sorrek gives you a kind smile. Aha, you think, the good dad, bad dad routine. You're annoyed that it's working.

"I know you are." You can't help but smile back at him, damnit. "Honestly, guys, there's nothing to worry about. Yesterday when he was patching me up, Kino asked about how I was doing and if…and if anyone had been…inappropriate to me." You wince a little because you didn't want Kino's name to be connected to this conversation at all, just in case one of them was too perceptive for their own good. "It just got me thinking. I wasn't sure what the expectations are about that stuff. Figured I may as well find out. Just in case…you know." Sorrek suddenly finds the ceiling very interesting because he can no longer meet your eyes. "That's all there is to it. Promise."

"So there isn't anyone…?" Threl trails off, letting the question hang between you.

"No. I have no prospects. There's no one throwing themselves at the pariah."

Threl's posture relaxes and he shakes his head. "Okay. Fair enough. Just be careful." Then he surprises you by giving you a mischievous grin. "I think you'd be surprised if you actually paid attention. But good luck, I've been trying to get some in here for years."

At that, Sorrek finally excuses himself with a scandalized look. You let him go and quickly turn on Threl for more details because you haven't gotten the chance to talk about it yet. The two of you gossip about who is hot or not in the corner until it's time to line up. You specifically don't mention how weird things with Kino are getting because you don't think he can handle that yet. And you aren't even sure what the fuck is going on or if you can handle it yet.

When you catch Threl and Kino talking the next day after shift, you swear it isn't on purpose. You're heading out from the showers and you overhear Threl's unmistakable deep voice from around the corner, which catches your attention. The voice that answers him is gruff and low. You'd also recognize that voice anywhere. Especially when it's saying your name. So you stop by the doorway and listen.

"Just promise me you didn't chew her ass out afterwards," Threl pleads. He sounds tired, like they've had this conversation before.

"I promise I didn't yell at her," Kino sighs, and you can feel his irritation from there. "Not that she didn't deserve it."

"You don't have to tell me. I don't know how she keeps shoving her foot in her mouth, but she's a good kid—"

"She's an adult, Threl. You're not that much older than her—"

"—and she's good at the job." Threl ignores him and pushes on. "You and I know it's more than just the work, too. It's how you work. She keeps up with Taybus and keeps him in line, and you know how hard that used to be." Kino grunts in response and you smirk at the floor. Because you'd really love to rub Taybus's face in that. "Edii loves having her there." Okay, at that you're a little surprised because you didn't think Edii has ever expressed a like or dislike for anything other than Taybus. "He's almost relaxed, Kino. He smiles now. Not often, but I know you can see the difference—"

"Yeah, I see it," Kino growls.

"—Hell, I really like her, she gets along great with Alis and Jevid, and Sorrek adores her."

There's a pause in their conversation where you begin to reflect on everything Threl just said because you hadn't thought of yourself as good for your table at all. You can be obnoxious and disruptive, and you keep getting in trouble. You don't know how any of them manage to like you despite that. Then Kino's voice pulls you from your thoughts.

"You're not telling me anything I don't already know. She could get by in here just fine if she would just think before she speaks. Or acts, apparently." You can tell he's annoyed. Which annoys you, even though you can't really blame him.

"I know she's a lot. But she isn't going to learn just because you yell at her."

"I've already figured that out, too," he huffs.

"You have, huh?" You can hear the smile in Threl's tone.

"I know what she needs." There's a confidence to that simple statement that sends a rush through you. Because what the fuck does that mean?

"What does that mean?" Threl warily echoes your unvoiced question.

"Nothing. Look, I just need you to trust me." That is the closest to begging you've ever heard Kino Loy get. "Especially when it comes to her."

You really wish you could see their faces right now. Especially Kino's because your brain is in overdrive trying to work through his words like it's a code or puzzle. Why does he have to be so mysterious and unreadable all of the time?

"Alright. I trust you, Kino. You know I do."

"Good. Now I have to go do a sweep of the showers. I'll see you later."

You jump up in panic and scramble to get away from the doorway. You can't imagine how pissed Kino will be if he catches you eavesdropping. It isn't until you're trying to act natural, and Kino is turning the corner, that you realize you were so focused on not getting caught that you forgot you're only in a towel. He stops the second he sees you and stares at you in surprise. You stare back at him.

"Hi!" You wince because there was way too much enthusiasm in your voice. So much for acting natural.

He doesn't respond. But his eyes drop away from your face and slowly glance over your towel wrapped body. It's slow enough that it's obvious what he's doing. It's slow enough that you feel like he's absorbing every inch of you. Memorizing you. And you let him because it never occurs to you that you can stop him or leave. That you have any other choice but to let him.

Because maybe you want him to.

Because maybe, if you were a braver woman, you would remove your towel and let him look even more and see if you can crack his stony expression. Or beckon him to you and let him remove it himself.

"Are you done in here?" His indifferent voice snaps you out of your thoughts. You're disturbed because where the fuck did that come from? Also, how is he so unaffected? He checked you out and now he's just, what, standing there like nothing happened?

Maybe he didn't see anything he likes, you think. And why does that thought bother you so much?

"Yeah, sorry." You hunch in on yourself, holding your towel to your chest, and you run out, giving him a wide berth. You know with absolute certainty that you're not actually leaving, but are, in fact, running away.

NEXT CHAPTER->

[littlemessyjessi]

"Untamed": BTS 8th Member x Park Jimin: Finale!

"Staring Exercise": Finale!

BTS 8th member series Untamed

Park Jimin x Mae Jae

🖤

Scenario: Jae is finally back from her vacation time with her family. As usual,  it's back to business for BTS and their schedules.  Today they are filming and have decided to do the social experiment where you stare into each other's eyes. 

These include the scenarios with Jae and each member.

🖤

Jae took a seat on the stool, running a hand through her hair.

"Oh heck, am I first?" She asked as she turned towards the camera.  "Why is it always me?"

"Because you're the oldest!"

She rolled her eyes as the unmistakable voice of Jin even if she couldn't see him.

"And yet you have no respect for your noona, Seokjin." She laughed.

Internationally,  technically she was six months and it was constant topic between the two of them... even if they were both born in the same year.

So really she wasn't his noona at all. 

But it irked him… so she used it every chance she got. 

He finally made his way into her line of sight with a smirk donning his features.  

"Because you're not my noona. You're only like six months older than me." He said taking a seat across from her.

She rolled her eyes again, "That's still six months more than you."

"Well, at least I look six months younger than you forever." He said.

"Fitting, man child." She said. 

"Namjoon,  mom and dad are fighting again! "

"Be quiet, Hoseok." Jin and Jae said together before bursting into laughter. 

"Ah, the joys of coparenting." Jae said and Jin gave her a long suffering sigh. 

"Do not call me your-"

"So what are me and the baby daddy doing today?" She cut him off.

"Yah!" He complained before he launched into full rage rap. "I am not your baby daddy! I'm too young for children! And I could never spawn with you. Our children would be beautiful but evil! Does this look like the face of someone who can deal with that? How could you do this to me?!"

"Pipe down, baby daddy." She said over the laughter of everyone in the room before turning to the camera man. "Please continue."

"Today we're doing the social experiment of staring into each other's eyes for four minutes.  We're breaking you off into groups and then pairs. Then we'll switch until the eight of you have all had a chance to participate with one another. "

"Aish, whyyyy? She's going to steal my soul." Jin whined and Jae smacked his arm. "See! Abuse!"

Jae rolled her eyes.

"Who do you think will do well with this experience?" The camera asked.

"Suga will hate this." Jin answered.  "He's not so good with eye contact."

"Says the man who compulsively winks if you look at him for more than three seconds. " Jae said.

Jin narrowed his eyes at her, "I loathe you."

"The correct pronunciation is love, dear, but I see that you're already overwhelmed so I'll let it slide." She said before turning back to the camera. "I think Jimin will probably do the best. He's all about eye contact. He gets a little shy sometimes but I think he can do it. Possibly V.  He can stare right into your soul."

"Alright, you two,  please face each other. You're allowed to blink and you may speak to one another.  But you have to keep direct eye contact. Understand?"

The both of them nodded before turning to face each other. 

"Great.  Your time starts when the beep  sounds and an alarm will go off when your time is up."

Jae looked at Jin and he couldn't help but laugh, cracking instantly. 

"Yah!" She yelled at him before turning to the camera. "Do over, please."

The director nodded and the beep sounded again. 

Jae held her fist up at Jin and locked eyes with him.

"You better get it together,  Seokjin." She threatened. 

"Or what?"

"Or I'll unplug your computer in the middle of your game."

His eyes widened comically.

"That's monstrous."

She shrugged, "That's war. So don't test me. You make it through these four minutes with me and I'll buy you cake. You don't and I will make you miserable."

"So violent." He laughed. 

She shrugged again and laughed when he winked at her.

"And so it begins." She said winking back.

"It's my habit. Stop bullying me." He whined.

"Your ears are turning red too." She said. "And your neck.  Oh look, that little vein is starting to pop out!"

"Yah, stop! You're gonna make me fail!" He accused.

"Alright, alright.  So let's talk then, I guess. " she said.

"Did you enjoy your time with your family?" He asked.

"I did. It was very healing. " she said. 

"Good.  You need more of that." He said.

"We all do." She agreed.

"You certainly do. I see how much you put on yourself sometimes." He said.

"Things have to be done and someone needs to do it. " she said.

"But even when you are supposed to be relaxing, I still see you working. Like you never turn it off." He said.

"I guess I have some trouble with that." She said.

"You should do nothing.  Sleep more. Play games. Eat good foods. " he said.

"I'm sure you're right."  She said.  "Maybe I just don't know how."

"I would teach you. " he said.

"I'm sure you would, Jinnie. I appreciate that." She said.

The two of them were quiet again as they stared into each other's eyes.

It was a rare occurrence for them.

They were usually bickering like children. 

There weren't often serious moments between them.

"Hey." He said.

"Hmm?" She asked.

"Thanks." He said. 

"For what?" She asked. 

"For always being there." He said. "When I asked and more importantly when I didn't."

Jae's gaze softened on his.

"Don't mention it.  Thank you. For always helping me even when I fought you every step of the way." She said.

He nodded.

The two of them tapered off into silence again just staring at each other. 

The lingering feeling of mutual respect and care permeating the room.

The timer went off and the two of them blinked. 

"How was that?" The director asked.

"A little intense." Jin said. "I don't think I've ever stared into your eyes like that."

"Did I snatch your soul?" Jae teased.

He patted his chest, "Still seems intact for the moment."

Jae chuckled.

"Jae, how about you?" The director asked.

"I think I feel the same.  It was intense but not necessarily bad." She said.   "We're the 92 liners and the oldest. So I think a lot of the time we've spent back to back or shoulder to shoulder,  ya know. Just ready to take care of the others as a united front."

Jin nodded, "I agree with that.  Because even though we've obviously known each other all this time and had many conversations,  I still don't remember having ever done anything like that. I didn't mind it though."

"Me either." Jae said, turning towards him. "I feel closer to you..."

Jin narrowed his eyes at her, "Don't you da-"

"Baby Daddy."

Jin rolled his eyes before he was sent off to pair with another member and Yoongi entered the room. 

Jae couldn't help but laugh a bit. 

He was already uncomfortable and it showed.

"Who'd they pair you with?" She asked as he took a seat.

"Jiminie." He said. 

Jae burst into laughter before turning to the camera.  "Y'all are wrong for that."

"Why?" The director asked.

"Because you paired the person who hates eye contact with the one who loves it. And his first one? That's cold. " she laughed.

"At Least it ripped the bandaid off." Yoongi said.  "You ready?"

"Damn, boy. You in a hurry?" She asked as they turned towards each other. 

"Just want to get it over with.  It makes me anxious, I guess." He said locking eyes with her as the beep sounded. 

"I guess I can understand that. " she said. "So you wanna sit in silence for four minutes or what?"

"Please God, no." He said, eyes widening. 

Jae laughed, "Well,  then I'm going to take this opportunity to embarrass you."

"Jae, please."

"I am going to use this time to tell you how much I love you because you have to sit here and you can't look away." She smirked. 

"Please have mercy. " he whined.

"I'm serious, Yoon.  I love you.  Like I'm so fucking , oh, shoot, sorry. I didn't mean to curse. " she said, "I just meant I'm really proud of you,  ya know. Like it's more than your professional accomplishments.  I think I'm just really proud to see who you are, ya know." She said.

He sat there staring at her for a bit longer.

His eyes watered and his lip wobbled and he finally cracked.

"Fuck..." he said finally looking away from Jae and the camera.

Jae scooted her chair closer to his and took his hand between hers.

"I'm sorry I made you cry but I mean it.  I love you so much.  You make me so proud to know you."  She whispered.

"I love you too. " he whispered.  "I didn't think this would affect me like this. I'm sorry."

"Well, to be fair, I did punch you in the feels. " she laughed before turning to the camera.  "If we have a penalty for this,  I'll take it.  I did play dirty and thwacked him in the heart."

"Can't believe you. " he laughed. "You knew I just came from a room with Jiminie staring at me like a weirdo and then you do this to me.  You two deserve ea-"

His eyes widened when he realized he almost let it slip but she just patted his hand.

Soon, Yoongi was replaced with Hoseok who looked at her suspiciously. 

"Why does Suga-hyung look like he's been crying?" He asked.

"Because I told him that I loved him." She said.

"Oh." He said.  "Well, I know that you love me."

Jae laughed,  "I don't doubt that. "

"Although with your recent behavior,  I seriously reconsider it." He said. 

"Oh?" She asked.

"It's been three days since I've gotten a kiss on the cheek. Three. Three." He said.  "You deprived me of your love and affection for your entire holiday and then you do this to me."

Jae rolled her eyes at his decision to be theatrical before she leaned forward and grabbed his face and placed a kiss to each cheek and his forehead. 

"Better?" She asked.

"You know, somehow that is a completely different experience when I keep eye contact with you. " He said.  "That's slightly terrifying. "

Jae shook her head and simply passed a hand through his hair.

"I remember when we first started and I was having a lot of trouble sleeping and you'd come over to my bunk and play with my hair until I fell asleep." He said, head leaning into her touch.

"Well you were tired and you needed sleep. We all had a lot on our shoulders back then.  We still do.  It's just different now." She said. 

"I missed my mama so much then." He admitted. "I still do but it was really hard then."

"You're close to your mama." Jae acknowledged.  "I'm sure you missed her alot."

He nodded,  "Can I give you a kiss back?"

Jae lifted her brows and laughed.

"I can already see the JaeHopers losing their minds." She said. 

"Just a forehead kiss." He giggled. 

"Sure." She shrugged. 

Hoseok's long fingers splayed across her cheeks and his heart shaped lips pressed to her forehead. 

"I don't think I've ever done that to you. " he said. "You're usually the one giving affection to me."

"You hug me all the time,  Hobi." She said.

"Its different. " he said.  "It's gentle."

"I agree." she nodded. "A forehead kiss is affection in it's purest form." 

The next few minutes spent between Jae and Hoseok consisted of him making cute faces at her trying to get her to crack and her just smiling or laughing at him in fondness. 

Soon he was sent away to stare at Jungkook while Namjoon replaced him. 

"I'm not trying to take this awful punishment so you sit there and behave yourself." he informed her. 

Jae laughed, "Oh, damn.  You going all Daddy Joon on me?" 

He wrinkled his nose and looked away from her in digust. 

"Ha!" she laughed. 

"Aish! Jae!" He complained. 

"I literally didn't do anything!"  she laughed. 

"You can't just- " he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.  "You can not call me Daddy.  That's weird. You're like my sister." 

"Ok, A, I didn't like address you as Daddy.   I referred to you as 'Daddy Joon'.  That's Army's nickname, not mine.  I know you're a helpless clumsy little baby." she teased causing him to roll his eyes. 

"You deserve it if Jungkookie slays you." he remarked as he left the room to be paired with Seokjin.  

"Cheeky little twit!" she called after him. 

However, no less than three seconds later, the maknae was standing in the door with a look of determination in those big doe eyes. 

"Oh god." Jae laughed. 

Jungkook grinned wickedly, "I haven't lost yet, Noona." 

"This isn't a competition, Jungkook." Jae reminded him. 

"Everything is a competition." he shrugged. "Go!" 

"That's my job." the director said. 

Jae snorted. 

"Go.." the director said softly. 

Jungkook was staring at her, refusing to blink. 

"You know we can blink, right?" she asked. 

"I'm making it challenging." he said, elbows on his knees staring her down. 

Jae lifted a brow at him but kept his gaze. 

She settled back in her chair to get comfortable, her gaze softening more and more until she hadn't even realized that she was crying. 

It was only the look on Jungkook's face that alerted her. 

"Noona?" he whispered. "Are you ok?" 

"Yeah." she sniffled. "I'm fine. Why?" 

"You're crying." he said, brows furrowing. 

"What?" she said wiping her face to feel the wetness on her face. 

"What's wrong?" he asked concerned. 

"Nothing." she said sniffling again.  "I just, I guess I'm just really proud of you, Koo.  You've grown into such an amazing young man.  One second you're this young kid following me around everything and now you're just.. this amazing person.  I'm just so proud of you." 

Jae cracked, a sob breaking out of her and Jungkook, who couldn't stand to see her cry, followed after and immediately pulled her into a hug. 

Both of them losing for breaking eye contact before the bell sounded. 

"Ah, shit.  I caused you to lose, Kookie.  And hell I didn't even win." she chuckled trying to make light of the situation and pull away. 

However, he just pulled her back in, pushing her head onto his shoulder, "Don't worry about it.  I got you.  You know I do." 

She squeezed him in a tight hug, the both of them pulling away sniffling after some time. 

Soon after he was replaced with Taehyung who burst into the room and demanded that he complete this challenge with hair pats. 

And damn it if Jae didn't comply because he was just as spoiled rotten as the rest of them. 

In the end, Taehyung lost the challenge because Jae played with his hair and he fell asleep. 

Like always. 

She just let him, taking a moment to stare at his face and the way his lashes dusted his cheeks. 

She spoke quietly to the camera, "I'll take the punishment for this one.  I don't think he slept well last night." 

"He's the one that insisted though." the director laughed. 

Jae shrugged, "I'm his Noona. It's my job to look after him.  I'll take the punishment." 

"If you say so." 

Eventually, she gently woke the slumbering teddy bear and sent him on his way. 

There was only one left but she heard him before she saw him. 

Undoubtedly, laughing at Taehyung's sleepy face in the hallway. 

Park Jimin entered the room looking so beautiful that angels must've been jealous. 

Hell, Jae was jealous. 

But also, incredibly grateful that she could call him hers. 

Behind the camera, he winked at her causing the heat to crawl up her skin a little. 

The little shit was flirty even when he didn't mean to be. 

Though she had no doubts that he damn sure meant to be in that moment. 

"I'm sure you're just thrilled with his challenge." she remarked as he made his way over. 

"I'm not unhappy." he smirked as he scooted his chair close enough to hers that their knees touched. 

"Same rules apply." the director.  "However, the two of you are the last ones because Jae let Taehyung sleep a little longer earlier.  So the others are joining for this last one." 

"Oh great…" Jae rolled her eyes as the rest of the members filed in. "An audience." 

"Count down starting in 3, 2, 1." the director said. "Go." 

Jimin took Jae's hands in hers, bringing them up to his lips to kiss the knuckles. 

"Jimin…" she said, widening her at him. 

His gaze never wavered, "You know, all those years ago, the first time I saw you, I knew right then that you were the only one for me." 

"Jimin, what are you…?" she started, gesturing to the camera and everyone else. 

He simply kissed her knuckles again. 

"And I knew that at the time, I was too young.  I knew you had no interest in me at the time.  I knew that it would take time.  I had to watch you date, fall in love with people that weren't me.  I had to watch when you were heart broken.  And I did.  I'd do it all again. Because I know what I have.  I waited so long and finally, finally the stars aligned and the universe smiled on me because finally the woman of my dreams saw me not just as someone she loved but as a partner.   That's all I've ever wanted, sweetheart." 

Jae swallowed. 

She had no idea what he was doing. 

She was well aware that they were on camera and in front of people but in that moment, all of that faded away. 

She was lost in Jimin's eyes and surrounded by his voice. 

"Jae." he said, sliding down off the chair and onto his knee.  His fingers opening a box containing a ring. "Will you make me the happiest man alive and honor me by becoming my wife?" 

Jae's mouth fell open, tears spilled over her lashes and she completely fell apart. 

She felt his fingertips on her chin, lifting her face to his, "Baby?" 

Her eyes connected with his, the question hanging in the air between them. 

"Yes!" she struggled to get out. "Yes, yes, yes!" 

She was half crying, half laughing as he pulled her out of her chair and spun her around.  

The members all but stampeded over each other to get to the happy couple, cocooning them into a massive group hug of congratulations. 

And suddenly it dawn on Jae and she ripped herself from all of them, "How many of you fuckers knew about this?!" 

The reactions was a mixture of sheepish looks and coy smirks. 

She could've murdered them all in that moment and then she glanced at the camera. 

"Oh, shit.  Jimin, you do realize you've just outed us to the entire world, don't you?" she whined. 

Jimin smirked, pulling her down in a breathtaking kiss. 

When they parted he whispered, "Army will understand." 

And they did. 

Because to be completely honest, Army had been saying Jimin and Jae were getting married for years. 

There was a collective hashtag amongst Army. 

#jiminandjaefreakinfinally

.

HEllo my loves! I know this has taken FOREVER to post but the finale is finally here! I hope you enjoy it and look forward to updates to the other series as well as.....new projects! Kenny's Comeback is in full force!

Love,

K

@thickemadame

@toomanyfictionalboyfriends

@blackirisposts

@alisoncdariel

@therealmrshale

@thegreatirene

@angelus320

@thedarkwinterrose

@m-rae23

@shycupcakealissa

@minshookie29

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@vj21

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[karyacemplon]

Week 3: Progress Updates

Hi! I'm back again with another update on my project! 😱

In week three, I entered the Te Kitenga phase. Turns out it took longer than I expected to get an improved version of my How Might We statement. To recap, I have received insights, research inspirations, empathy interview tools, colours, created questions and conducted the interview/conversations.

Week three started with gathering insights from a guest speaker.

Guest Speaker Notes

Figure 1

Guest speaker highlights

Although I did not have a one-on-one session with the guest speaker (as shown in the empty post-it notes beside the questions), I gained valuable insights relating to my capstone topic. I summarise the discussion into one critical insight: consider native plants not only in New Zealand but also in Auckland.

This is significant as my capstone project is located in Auckland, and an example could be the Nikau, which is planted along Queen Street, as it is the native plant that grows along the stream beneath the area. In a way, from the conversation, I imply that bringing back native species to Auckland ensures an opportunity for biodiversity to develop, as different regions have different native species that accommodate their climate.

Empathy Interviews

Figure 2

Empathy interview questions

Truth to be told, I felt really lost… Hence, as a foundation, I decided to conduct empathy interviews (or conversations, as I like to call them). Since I do not know much about what international students think about this and what they want, conducting this method allows me to gather valuable lived insights.

To start, I did some research regarding empathy interviews, exploring the appropriate way to conduct them and act and what questions to ask. From digging the internet, I gathered that creating a safe and comfortable space is essential, as the topic might be sensitive to some people. Thus, following the guides I discovered, I created questions based on my topic, which I adjusted accordingly depending on the people I interviewed.  

Online Questionnaire

Figure 3

Online questionnaire questions

Spicing things up a little, rather than conducting another empathy interview, I have chosen to do an online questionnaire. This way, I can reach more people within my target audience to gain more valuable insight into an element in my How Might We Statement/idea–relating to senses and the natural environment. Similarly, I researched survey examples and tips while adhering to the empathy interview guides to ensure I was sensitive and thoughtful with my questions.

How Might We statement change

Diverting away from my previous How Might We (HMW) statement of,

"How might we design a multi-sensory space, olfactory community garden for tertiary international students in Auckland CBD to feel at home despite being away while fostering connections to Aotearoa's whenua?"

I have decided to explore different areas of opportunities. Thus, I changed the statement to,

“How might we leverage human-nature connection to the environment to foster the feeling of belonging among tertiary international students?”

which is a deconstructed version of my previous HMW statement. This encompasses any possible solution idea and is not limited to only a community garden. It allows me to explore deeper areas of interest that I have bookmarked regarding this topic, yet I was unable to do the previous statement restriction.

With this new statement, I have three ideas in mind to explore: a community garden, workshops and storytelling exhibitions, all inspired by existing projects I discovered. 

Precedents/Inspirations

Figure 4

Inspiration research

I ended the week with research of existing projects for inspiration, which helped narrow down potential areas to explore.

I am getting even more stressed each week--see you in the next update! 💅

[onestoplegalcenter]

How To Choose The Right Legal Services In California

Choosing the right legal services provider in California can be tough, especially when there are so many to choose from and you want to make sure that you’re getting the best representation possible. However, before you do your research, there are two questions you should ask yourself to ensure that you pick the perfect law firm or lawyer for you and your case: what kind of experience do I need? and how much will this cost me? Once you know those two things, it’ll be easy to figure out what kind of legal services in California will help you get your needs met at a price that works within your budget!

1: The Process of Hiring an Attorney

Legal services are a very important part of running a successful business. They can help you with contracts, lawsuits, and other legal matters that may arise during your time in business. Hiring a lawyer is not as simple as walking into any law firm and asking for one. There are many things to take into consideration when choosing an attorney that will best suit your needs. The following is a list of tips on how to choose the right legal service for your company:

Do some research about legal services. Use google or search Facebook pages to find different attorneys who specialize in your particular need. It’s always good to know more than just one person before making such a huge decision. Read their blog posts and watch their videos so you get an idea of their work ethic and what they’re all about! Once you’ve narrowed it down to just a few people, contact them via phone or email so they can provide information regarding what type of legal service they offer, the prices for those services, and whether or not they offer a payment plan for clients who cannot afford the price tag upfront. Make sure to ask them if there are any discounts available that would apply directly to your case.

2: What to Look for When Hiring an Attorney

Legal services can be a confusing topic, and selecting an attorney can feel like a daunting task. As you’re researching attorneys, here are some things to keep in mind as you’re looking for legal services that will best suit your needs.

You want an attorney who specializes in your field.

if you need help with real estate, find an attorney who specializes in real estate law.

You want an attorney who's qualified.

Make sure they have experience practicing law and know what they're doing.

You want an attorney who can communicate well.

If you don't understand something they say or are frustrated because they talk too quickly, this might not be a good fit for you.

3: The Different Types of Lawyers

If you’re wondering what kind of lawyer is best for your legal needs, take a look at these different types of lawyers. There are three main categories: personal injury attorneys, family law attorneys, and criminal defence attorneys. Personal injury attorneys work on cases that include car accidents, medical malpractice, and slip-and-fall. Family law lawyers specialize in divorces, spousal support, and child custody matters. Criminal defence attorneys help those charged with any type of crime or violation of probation – even if they have not yet been convicted. Each attorney can also be classified as a general practitioner (handle many types of legal matters), litigator (argue civil or criminal cases in court), transactional attorney (prepare legal documents such as wills and contracts), or expert/specialist (such as elder law). You may want to choose an attorney based on location, too. Attorneys located near airports are often excellent for travellers who need quick assistance because most airports have very limited space where passengers can meet with counsel without missing their flights.

4: The Cost of Hiring an Attorney

Legal services in California can be expensive, but there are ways to cut back on expenses. You might want to hire a general practitioner instead of an expert, or you might want to limit your legal representation to those who have a track record of success with cases similar to yours. It’s also important that you pay close attention when you’re signing legal documents so that you understand what is being agreed upon. Some people mistakenly think that they don’t need to read through everything before they sign because their lawyer knows better than they do, and if something goes wrong it will be their lawyer’s fault. But this attitude could end up costing more money and time than if the person had just read over things themselves.

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[survibers]

"oh i don't think my friend, i know. i think based on current knowledge we'd make a great team, actually. brilliant minds," she teased but she was actually being pretty serious. there was nothing that avery really loved more than creative thought partners. avery was a talker and she truly enjoyed someone she could talk to at length about topics that actually made her think. his questions made her smile wide and she actually laughed at how excited she was to answer them. "just three? okay, let me narrow it down," she made a show of putting her fingers to her temples as she thought of it and took a deep breath. "number three would definitely be people who stand in a long line and don't know what to order by the time they get up to the counter. it's bitchy and i really should have more patience but a menu is only so big, you know? and at this point we've all been here enough. like this is a system, get it together. only exception is ice cream cause i definitely love a taste test. number two, without a doubt is how every single person in the mall parking lot has never met a straight parking job in their life. why is it that every time i drive in i end up having to crawl through a window just to get into my car. and i'm tiny! ridiculous. like are we sardines? i swear they built that thing and tried to fit as many of us in there as possible and number one to round out the three," she took a deep breath again, "definitely when people make me prove myself," she told him with a smirk, "well that and people put change on the counter for you to pick up instead of handing it to you." she sat back with a satisfied grin, knowing that list could go on and on.

"oh are you sure you want to take that challenge?" she had, of course been in love before but she didn't want to mention that to paulie now, since it only helped his point that it was all hopeless. it had been amazing until it broke her heart and since she hadn't been able to connect with anyone. desiring anyone seemed too scary at this point. "you give me very persistent vibes so i won't stop you." she laughed at his reply, glad she could tell him something he hadn't heard before. "yes, you. fun to talk to. don't let it go to your head too much. but there you go, people are full of surprises."

"you really think it'd be ten whole times better with you on the team?" he questions, raising just one eyebrow, and trying to dull the smirk that stretches across his face. he doesn't want to come across as too pleased with their interaction, though he's not quite sure why exactly he feels the need to hide it. perhaps it's merely his inability to get too close to people that is trying to protect him from making a friend with someone he's finding himself really clicking with. "you're gonna have to prove yourself first. like, what's your top three complaints? about anything at all in the world? the broadness and the vagueness of the question is key to knowing whether or not you cut it," he tells her, as if he's thought it through. "yeah, i wish i could say that i was surprised, but i'm really not," he admits as she speaks of the anchors. typically those with the most credit do the least work.

"hey, i never said that, they're all your words," he can't help but laugh as she decides that there's still room for change on his stance. "i don't know, i'll dispute it," he offers, though as he thinks more about it, he can think of plenty of things that he loves, so maybe she is right after all. paulie can't allow himself to love people, having lost too many loved ones in the past, when he was only young, when his brain was still developing and able to be more drastically changed by trauma. he does, however, still have a love for things like music. but he won't bring that up and prove himself wrong until avery prompts it - which he guesses she will. "you only think so, so there's still room for change," his grin is wider as he uses her own idea against her. "i'll get you to stop believing in love one day, just you wait," he's only joking; no matter how different her view on love is from his own, paulie isn't the type of person to persuade another into sharing all of his beliefs and ideals. "i'm fun to talk to?" he's never been told such a thing, so it takes him by surprise, and he can't hide the honest reaction. "i wouldn't have ever guessed someone to actually think that," he tells her, still honest.

[profeyandere]

𝐂𝐔𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐑 𝐁. ─── ☾ 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐁𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐄𝐍 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏

ʟɪɴᴋꜱ ↪ ᴍᴀꜱᴛᴇʀʟɪꜱᴛ ↪ ᴘɪʀᴀᴛᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀʀɪʙʙᴇᴀɴ ᴍᴀꜱᴛᴇʀʟɪꜱᴛ ↪ ᴡᴀᴛᴛᴘᴀᴅ

ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏꜱ ↪ ᴡᴏʀᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ: 3ᴋ ↪ ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ: ᴄᴜᴛʟᴇʀ ʙᴇᴄᴋᴇᴛᴛ x ꜰᴇᴍ!ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ

English is not my native language, so I apologize for any mistake and if you can help me improve it, I will greatly appreciate it. I hope you enjoy it :D

A young Cutler Beckett was, as he did every day after the summer holidays had begun after the last semester of learning at school, in the small park that was closest to the port and that was furthest from his house, trying to seek the tranquillity that he had not been allowed to have since the moment in which the last month of the school year had begun, being forced to move away from the pleasures that reading and other various arts of literature brought him; the young boy, although he had been marked as someone weak and sick from a very young age due to his appearance and his terrible immune system, had always been fascinated by the written arts, mainly by his older sister who had bothered to seek his well-being in at all times and had managed to transmit all the wisdom he possessed through books, hence his love for them.

Now that the summer holidays had arrived, and knowing that he would have to see his father more than he liked to imagine, he was forced to find someplace that would allow him to be calm in the mornings, at least until meal time, to later lock himself in his room to continue with his different studies in which his brothers would not interfere due to their lack of intellect. Cutler was the most intelligent of the three youngest men in the family and had found a way to keep his two brothers away while he was in the comfort of his home, in this case investigating a specific topic that did not interest them at all.

Beckett found in a large old tree the perfect place to hide from the world, staying in the shade and feeling sheltered by the fresh breeze that came from the sea, which could perfectly be seen from the point where he settled. He found himself gently brushing aside the small dry leaves that fell laughingly on his head or between the pages of his book, but on this particular day, it seemed that the tree must be willing to disturb him because a large number of leaves had begun to pile up on his sides and about himself, coming to feel so overwhelmed that he forced himself to stop reading to change position several times, believing that in this way that little martyrdom would end.

« This can't be possible », the boy thought to himself, looking momentarily towards the top of the tree, unable to distinguish anything that could be causing that constant movement in him.

The passing thought that it could be a wild animal made him calm down, maybe a cat or a squirrel could have lodged between the branches, and their constant movement caused the leaves to fall, in addition to the fact that the gentle wind could be of more help to cause the constant fall of the same, but when he narrowed his eyes slightly to be able to focus more on the great shadow that was above him, he felt a great chill in his whole body when he saw two enormous eyes look at him; Beckett couldn't tell exactly what kind of animal he was, but when he spotted those huge pearls that belonged to you he felt quite unsettled and annoyed.

« What intention would anyone have in observing me if it is not to annoy me? »

That question filled him with some fear as he thought that he was in danger and, with a quick and light movement of his legs and arms, he managed to stand up, facing the tree so that he could carefully observe the crown in which he had installed himself without having been noticed by him, looking for the shape of your body among the leafy and greenish leaves that covered the skeleton of the plant.

"Okay, you have five seconds to report to me before I call the authorities who, by the way, are a few meters from here," he warned seriously, hearing a soft giggle that came from you. Angrier, he snapped back. "I advise you to take this seriously because, whoever it is, I don't care if I denounce this lack of consideration and respect."

For your part, although it amused you to see how he had reacted as soon as he had noticed your presence, you couldn't help but think that the sooner you explained your reasons, the sooner you would feel as calm as you had during the time you had been together passed unnoticed so, intertwining your ankles around the branch you were lying on, you allowed yourself to fall face down to come face to face with him. Surprised by the closeness, he took a couple of steps back to put some distance between the two.

"Hello," you greeted me with emotion, dragging your fingers through your scalp to let your hair fall due to the action of gravity, "consider me pointing out that I had found that novel fascinating and, due to your paranoia, you have not allowed me to continue it."

Beckett was completely silent as soon as you appeared because, although he could easily distinguish that you were a woman, the type of clothes you were wearing, in addition to the manners with which you had presented yourself with him, seemed too strange to him; everything about you seemed curious, fascinating and abhorrent at the same time.

You were an all-in-one.

"Sorry?" He questioned, he had once come to his senses and had been able to react to your words. "Read my novel?"

"Of course," you said quickly, gently nodding your head. "I love to read, but my father doesn't allow me to bring too many books with me, and it's only when we land that I can read anything other than regulations and all that nonsense."

"I suggest that if you want to read a book, you go to the library which is four streets from our position," Beckett pointed out, turning his head to look at an elderly couple who were immersing themselves in the crowd in the nearby plaza. "It would be a pleasure to accompany you, but I'm sure you'll be able to find it on your own. I would only be a burden to you."

"Of course, of course," you replied sarcastically, rolling your eyes. "But I'm interested in that book, so if you'd be so kind, could you sit down and pick up where you left off, or am I going to have to take the book away from you so I can continue on my own?"

"In case you haven't understood me correctly, I'm telling you directly that I have no interest in you being my company this Saturday morning," he spoke again, this time with a more distant tone as he held the book between them more tightly in his hands.

"Oh, I see," you murmured. "What about them?"

The question confused Beckett and, although you took advantage of the moment he turned to steal the book from him in a moment of confusion, he felt indignant at the impolite way you had shown your interest in the novel he was reading. He wouldn't have shared the book with you, after all, it wasn't entirely his, and you were just a stranger, but as soon as he saw you take it in your mouth and return to stand on the branch, he internally regretted not having agreed to sit back on the ground and endure your sudden movements on the branch.

"Give it back," he ordered seriously, extending his arm to the branch, meeting with silence in response.

"Let me finish the chapter, and I'll answer you," you murmured, already immersed in the reading while you placed the branches in such a way that I couldn't see you.

"No," he quickly denied, moving closer to the trunk and tilting her head toward several gaps in the branches to try to find you. "The book does not belong to me, so I demand that you come down from that tree and return it to me right now."

The seriousness with which he had spoken to you had almost made you laugh because, even though you were on one of the branches closest to the ground, it amused you to see the way he spoke to the air as if he were truly speaking directly to you, hoping to be able to exercise some power over you so that you would obey him and, although you were about to return the book to him out of grief at seeing him so alarmed, it almost seemed like a better idea to make him suffer while you entertained yourself with his strange angry faces. You had made sure that his brow was furrowed exaggeratedly and, although he spoke calmly and his body showed the attacking posture he was taking in the argument, his slightly wrinkled nose took away all the serious side he was trying to show you, giving him an air very similar to an angry rabbit or a raging hamster.

"I intend to keep this book until the end of the chapter," you repeated, slowly moving a small branch that covered your face so you could make eye contact with him. "Also, keep doing that cute face you do, I find it very attractive."

The teasing you had done to him had annoyed him and, although you remained several seconds looking at each other in search of some answer from the other, Beckett was confused to see how your eyes widened with fear and suddenly disappeared from his field of vision when moving again the small branches that had covered you, but when he heard a series of very characteristic voices that always made his hair stand on end, he understood your reaction. The three boys who approached him with mischievous smiles were his classmates who, although he had been able to avoid them for a while, he had not expected to find them in a place so far from the crowd that they were always stuck.

You, on the other hand, had hidden even better in the treetop as you watched the scene begin to unfold between the stranger and the trio who seemed so interested in him.

At first, you were not worried about the meeting between the young people and, although it was true that you were not able to hear a word of what they said since you had settled on the branch to resume reading, you had been able to observe that the four of them began to talk calmly, even if the face of the brown-haired boy you had met showed more tension as soon as he had seen them arrive. You gently tilted your head to the side, curious and confused, for you couldn't understand how a group of people who knew each other could be in tension while around each other.

You made sure of the look that the boy you had met showed and, although it was true that you were not aware of anything about him, you were able to feel the slight panic and anger he felt due to the position he presented. His hands were made into fists, with completely white knuckles, while his eyes were slowly exchanging between the three who were looking for some kind of help or courage to face him and you, before the penetrating and malicious gaze of the three thugs, you couldn't help but act.

Your body reacted on its own because, as soon as you realized it, you were already with your feet on the ground, having placed yourself between the trio of thugs in front of you, and the stranger who had ended up behind your back. Even if you hadn't seen it, the brown-haired man was pleasantly surprised to see you appear suddenly and disinterestedly.

"And this one?" One of the kids asked, letting his arm rest on the shoulder of the one in the middle, dropping his weight to try and intimidate you. "Look at those clothes, didn't they teach you that you should wear a skirt?"

"And you surely used a puddle of mud as a mirror before leaving home, but nobody tells you anything," you countered, smiling broadly to the point where your teeth could be seen perfectly and your playful tongue appeared between them as a warning. derision.

Your scowl angered the trio of boys who, ready to make the first move at the start of a fight, seemed to come to an abrupt halt when they took in the small black ink mark on your right wrist that you were unashamedly displaying and the small object you took out of the pocket of your pants with which you began to play and move without hesitation. Beckett, who could only see your back and the faces of his thugs, was confused to see how his faces turned a sickly whitish hue as if they had seen a ghost pass in front of his eyes.

"Okay, guys," you said, leaning forward, holding out the hand that held the small knife you'd drawn. "What were you going to do? Don't you want to come a little closer to talk about why you bothered my friend?"

"Your friend?" One of them questioned, causing them to look quickly at each other. "Is Beckett your friend?"

"Of course, we're close," you lied. "Are you going to answer me now or do I have to call my comrades?"

At that question, the trio began to shake their heads quickly before taking a few steps back, mainly out of fear and distrust, before starting to run in the opposite direction to which they were heading so they could warn the closer guards close to your position.

With a victorious smile, you turned to face Beckett, receiving a strong headbutt from him who, wanting to thank you for your act of bravery, had come too close to you without expecting you to turn to look at him, causing both of you to separate a few seconds steps before you, seeing how he rubbed his forehead, began to laugh; with the tension already eliminated around you, you had managed to release yours in that way, confusing him.

"What are you laughing at?” he questioned in confusion, frowning.

"Easy, tiger," you tried to calm him down. "We are very clumsy and, hey, have you seen his face?"

Your laugh, although he could have found it irritating, was now beginning to come across as a good sign where amusement was the main feeling there.

"Yes," he affirmed, nodding his head slightly before looking you completely up and down, finding what had scared the trio so much. "I hope you are aware that the lifestyle you have is not going to be favourable to you."

You shrugged and smiled.

"My mother died when I was born, my father took care of me and he is a pirate, what can I do? Asked. "I will never be a young lady and, to starve, I prefer to stay with my father until I get a ship of my own and he can sail completely alone."

"That's impossible," he said. "You need at least two people and, being alone, I doubt very much that you will get far."

"Then come with me, be my second in command," you proposed. "You can see the world, get all the treasures you want and be free."

"The offer is tempting, but there is a drawback," he murmured, pointing his finger at the two men who seemed to be looking for you. "If it was something allowed under England law I wouldn't mind, but I'm fine for now, thanks."

"You're very boring, you know?" You said before handing him the book you had taken from him. "But my proposal will still stand and I am sure that one day you will join me to form the best pirate crew in history."

Your words, although you had not meant them to sound so loud, betrayed you and, because of nerves and enthusiasm, you caused the guards who had been looking for the pirate they had heard so much about to become alert and quickly turn in your direction.

"If they don't hang up on you first," he murmured, taking the book carefully before placing it under his arm.

"Let's knock on wood so that doesn't happen," you whispered, moving away from him. "See you around."

With that quick goodbye, Beckett watched you run with great speed and agility towards the town square, where they would surely lose your trail and, although he wanted to deny it, he had been quite intrigued with you and was not about to lose this offer that seemed so tempting to him, even if over the years he ended up loathing any kind of pirate activity that came his way.

Now, several years after that first chance meeting, Cutler Beckett had managed to get an honorary title that accredited him as a lord, as one of the most powerful men in England and in the service of the East India Company, doing work that, quite morally questionable, they had made him grow as a man and a person, but not without forgetting the reasons that led him to be the man he was now. Piracy, being at its height, had been a practice that he had detested since his young adulthood, from the moment he was taken prisoner by a French pirate and from which he had managed to escape by a small miracle with a happy face and a great smile. agility.

He hated pirates with all his soul, he had promised himself to hate them until the day they died, but it was seeing you sail to the port of the island where he was that made those negative thoughts vanish and others deeper and more love emerged.

"I hope you know that you don't have to appear abruptly before me to surprise me, I know you're there."

Beckett's words made you gasp and, as if you were as young as you were then, you appeared face down in front of his face, still with the big smile that characterized you so much.

"It makes me angry to know that you already know my tricks, that's not how this works."

You saw how the British didn't hesitate to smile back at you.

You could never put aside that forbidden friendship that society, the laws and your respective jobs had marked you for life.