#holiday season in retail is kicking my ass

[averagemrfox]

Big news I went to the supermarket today. Everybody clap

[fuck-customers]

Hello everyone. I’d like to give y’all a quick recap of my time in retail this holiday season:

-two guests tried to fight one of our online order guys, and from what I heard they absolutely provoked him and started the beef by stealing things from the order he was picking for

-had two female guests try to fight ME because I had the audacity to ask them why they were opening boxes of makeup, and management pretty much did nothing about it bc they continued shopping and got to checkout like nothing happened. Then had a leader, who knows nothing about my dept, try to come over and say it was my fault for not saying the exact right thing to her

-had a leader complain to upper management that I “don’t follow direction” bc she tried to come over to my dept, completely change the way we do shit by having me and my coworker switch areas (despite me telling her that our fucking SCHEDULE literally confirms that she is wrong, which she even later admitted herself???)

-had a lady throw boxes of makeup sponges at me

-had to tell multiple groups of very obviously rich and entitled teens/kids that is in fact extremely shitty to get the electric scooters meant for disabled guests and instead use them to race, play bumper cars, or stack three people in the basket on the front of it

Also. A VERY SPECIAL FUCK YOU to some specific customers. An hour after I got screamed at and threatened by the two customers I mentioned above, I guy walking through my area then drops an entire like 24 pack of topo Chico onto the floor and there’s fuckifn glass and water everywhere. Since I had just been screamed at and my leaders did nothing to have my back, I was little bit in a bad mood by the time the broken glass happened. Fucking sue me right?? Wel two guests who SAW ME cleaning up the glass (didn’t even fucking interact with me, I remember) and I guess thought that I didn’t look happy enough while I was doing that and decided to fucking FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT IT.

Literally what fhe FUCK is wrong with you that you see a worker clearly having a very hard day, in the middle of holiday season, and you then think to yourself, “you know what? That worker needs to be smiling while being plowed in the ass by capitalism. And the fact that they’re not deriving physical, spiritual and sexual pleasure from their shitty retail job offends me so much I think I’ll have to complain about them and make it even worse.”

I even remember who might’ve complained too. Bc the guy that dropped the damn bottles in the first place didn’t even stick around to see it resolved (naturally) and so I didn’t even interact with any customers while cleaning it. HOWEVER, there was a couple standing nearby that when it happened, they immediately ran to his side like “oh man that’s so terrible you must be having a bad day? Are you alright? Do you need help?” So I guess fuck the person who actually has to clean this all up, no instead we should fawn over the jackass who broke all this glass and couldn’t even pretend he cared about it. Because that makes perfect fucking sense. Also love the casual implication that retail workers must be smiling deliriously all the fucking time and that I am not allowed to show any emotions besides that bc I am subhuman and not deserving of any grace or empathy. So dear customers who complained… I’m literally BEGGING the universe to fuck you over and YOU personally because if you truly had nothing better to do than scrutinize the facial expressions of a retail worker you never even interacted with, you are truly a waste of oxygen and are detrimental to society. I hope your nastiness comes back to bite you in the ass. I hope someone kicks YOU while you’re down and I hope it fucking sucks, you worthless piece of shit.

Posted by admin Rodney.

[spikedsoul]

Sorry I been basically radio silent, y'all. Life been kicking my ass and I work retail in holiday season, so I'm not sure when I can post again. I'm not abandoning anything, but it might be a bit before my creative juices flow again

My inbox will stay open just in case y'all wanna chat but it might only be reblogs from me for a while 😮‍💨

[unhumanrights]

Store Trek: Halloween to Holiday

Well, I went ahead and did it. I already posted the AO3 listing for it, but just in case you don't do the AO3 thing, here is the first chapter in all its glory. My original document, and what I posted on AO3, used left and right alignments to differentiate who was texting, but I don't know how to do that on Tumblr, so in this post I just labeled each text or group of texts. Read more under the cut!

Summary:

It's Halloween. You know what that means? TIME TO PUT UP THE WINTER HOLIDAY DECORATIONS! That's retail for you, dudes. Carol Freeman, the manager of Storefleet #2380, texts her daughter Beckett Mariner to come in for an overnight shift. Corporate wants those holiday decorations up YESTERDAY. Seriously, they didn't even want to wait until November. Beta shift is their only hope. This is the beginning of Store Trek.

Notes:

Okay, this is my first attempt at an AU. They say write what you know, and I know retail, and I love the show Superstore, so why not use some of its DNA to alter Star Trek Lower Decks according to my whims? Let's see how long I keep this series going. I'll do my best! This is in the form of a text chain, and I tried to format it accordingly. I hope it comes through okay.

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Chapter 1: Freeman gathers Beta Shift for the Overnighter

[The text chain between Beckett Mariner (Department Lead) and Carol Freeman (store manager of Storefleet #2380), began 8:13 PM on 10/31/20XX, retrieved from Mariner's phone]

Contact: Mom-Ager

Freeman:

Can you come in for an overnight shift  tonight?

Mariner:

Ooh, sorry, can’t. Out of town.

Freeman:

I saw your Instagram post. You’re at  Jennifer’s Halloween party. She lives two blocks from the store.

Mariner:

Fine. Ooh, sorry, can’t. Don't want to.

Freeman:

Beckett.

Let me be clear.

You’re coming in for an overnight shift tonight.

Mariner:

What could we possibly be doing that  needs to be done tonight?

Freeman:

The holiday decorations need to be  put out.

Mariner:

Are you freaking serious? It’s not even November yet.

Freeman:

But it will become November during your shift. Hence why you’re putting out the decorations.

Mariner:

See, this is why I hate the holiday season.

No time to breathe.

You should be able to enter a turkey coma on Thanksgiving, THEN wake up to the holiday crap.

Freeman:

Look, I’m not saying I disagree with the spirit of what you’re saying. It’s not up to me. This is from Corporate.

Mariner:

Can’t someone else do it?

Freeman:

Everyone else who isn’t already coming in is at Halloween parties.

Mariner:

I’M at a Halloween party!

Freeman:

MARINER

You’re a Department Lead now. That  means more responsibility. Sometimes, you’re going to have to leave the party early like an adult.

Mariner:

UGH

FINE

But I’m gonna be wearing my costume

Freeman:

I couldn’t care less what you wear. Shift starts at 11. You’ll have Boimler, Tendi, Rutherford, and T'Lyn with you.

Mariner:

You better be bringing us donuts when you open the store tomorrow. Proper bribery is the least you could do.

Freeman:

We’ll see. You look great in your costume, by the way. Just like Uhura.

Mariner:

Shut up, I know it.

End Notes:

You made it to the end! I'm so proud of you. I originally wrote Mariner's text grammar as much looser, as I think her text style would actually be. She has no time for capitalization and punctuation! She's too busy kicking ass and secretly hanging around the warp core. Even though that makes sense, I changed my mind and just made everything grammatically correct, for the most part. It's just how I prefer it. If you want to imagine a few emojis thrown in there, I won't stop you. A note for the future: I am not completely sure how I'm going to be handling aliens or other normal Trek stuff. Part of me WANTS to just have a bunch of aliens in an otherwise normal setting. Maybe that's what will happen. We'll see. I am leaning towards this because I really want to have a convenience store called FerengiMart, and I'd rather have it staffed with actual Ferengi.

Series this work belongs to:

Part 1 of Store Trek

[inevitably-johnlocked]

HI STEPH! How has your December been?

Hey Lovely *HUGS*

LOL do you want the "Tumblr happy place" version or the "might be a bit depressing" version??

Tumblr-mask version: It's been alright. We've got some snow now, and it feels a bit more Christmassy. Glad I'm on holidays and just enjoying the time off :)

Real life version: We've got some snow now, and I hate snow. And life's been a bit of a gong show for the past month or so. (cw below cut, medical, retail frustration, and depression mentions)

TL;DR: It's December. Hopefully the new year looks a bit more promising <3

As you all know, this kind of all started back when my job was very uncertain. I had a bit of a brief break when I got my raise and talked with the chief of staff. Few weeks, maybe, then just the desire to have a holiday started to kick in because I realized how EXHAUSTED I was.

I recently went though a pain in the ass experience with my car's manufacturer regarding a small repair on my car that was only supposed to be a one day thing and turned into nearly 3 weeks of me not having a car and them refusing to give me a rental because I don't have an "extended warranty" even though I'm still covered under a warranty. Because of the kind of person I am, this spiralled me into a nightmare scenario of me stressing about not having a car three weeks before Christmas, fighting with the dealership to give me SOME sort of compensation (and failing) and them not being able to tell me when I get my car back – I wanted it back before my Christmas break this week because I prefer to go out during the work week when it's less busy. Anyway, coincidence or not, the missing part MYSTERIOUSLY arrived two days after I escalated my situation with the head office telling them their customer service was shit (in a nicer way, of course, LOL), so I at least have it back now. But not an experience I would wish on my worst enemy, it was THAT stressful.

Leading up to Christmas, work was insane. We're short-staffed and just... no one was "feeling it" this year. We're all tired and we all just want holidays. I took off three extra days since I still had time to book off, so my holidays started sooner than everyone else, and I am so glad I did it. I'm not looking at anything work-related for the next two weeks, thanks.

I don't like winter at all where I live (it's always gloomy and wet; rarely any sun at all), and it feels like my brain is rotting from all the Christmas shit being shoved down my throat. There, I said it. I don't like Christmas, haven't since my dad passed away 2 weeks after Christmas over a dozen years ago. I like the aesthetics of it – the lights, the decorations, the hot cocoa and fancy drinks – but it's TOO MUCH for TOO LONG, and by the time Christmas is here I am DONE. I'm TIRED of people being SHOCKED that I don't like Christmas... ugh. PLUS my seasonal depression spikes badly at Christmas because all people seem to do is like to remind me how alone I am. Like thanks, appreciate it. UGH. The only thing I like about Christmas is that my work gives us 2 weeks every year between Christmas and New Year, and I spend most of that alone watching movies, drinking cocoa or playing video games. It's wonderful. I hear about everyone in my extended family having to visit all these people on Christmas day and I'm like LOL I'm in my jammies watching the Avengers, thanks, you keep that stress.

Christmas is EXTRA kinda poopy this year because one of my closest extended family members found out they have throat cancer at the beginning of November. They're in chemo right now and in good spirits, so I'm trying to stay positive about it, but it's hard to not think about, you know?

Discovering a lot about myself in therapy, and it's mentally draining. That's all I'm comfortable sharing right now.

I'm just all around TIRED and LONELY and feel like no one cares about me, y'know? I feel like I'm never going to be anyone who accomplished something worthwhile (and before y'all say it, my BRAIN LOGICALLY KNOWS THIS IS ALL FALSE, but my wires get crossed and the depression sinks in instead with the intrusive thoughts – My therapist finds it fascinating that I have this kind of awareness and she's trying to find a way to work around it). Some days are worse than others, especially in the winter in this city going on month 2 of no sunshine, UGGGHHH. Having moods that change with the weather REALLY fucking sucks.

AND I've been looking again at getting a cat, but I think I might have to once again put it on the back-burner, because my phone is finally crapping out (it's an iPhone 6S Plus, so it's OOOOOOOLLDD by today's standards) with the camera jittering and the battery barely lasting 4 hours in standby mode, so I might have to get a new one sooner than later. AND I also want to re-look at getting a mortgage again so I'm ready when the housing market inevitably crashes and I can get a condo cheaper than 500K :/ My rent is still cheaper right now because I'm so grandfathered in that I'm paying under 1000$ right now for rent, so staying where I am is the SMART thing, but I'm miserable because the space is too small now. ANYWAY, money. Can't get a cat right now AGAIN because of money. Ugh. I'm not broke by any means, I just.......... am so annoyed my single-person groceries have gone from 50$ a week to 150$ a week, and I HATE HATE HATE it. It's ridiculous. Finally get a raise but I can never catch a break, it seems :/ It's not Avacado Toast, Karen, it's the whole damned economy.

So yeah, that's basically it. I don't talk about myself that much here because I am a fairly private person. I don't like bothering people with my problems because I always feel like a burden. Sometimes, though, I just wish I had a human person I could visit regularly to chat with (that I don't have to pay for, LOL), is all. AND my blog is my happy place, so I try to keep it positive where I can.

Hope you're having a good month, and I hope the holidays treat you well <3

[thewickedkat]

i do not enjoy Christmas. anyone who knows me at all, even in passing, knows this. but it isn't because of Trauma, or Loss, or [insert Angsty Thing here].

i do not enjoy it because it is fucking exhausting.

allow me to indulge in story time.

when i was a kid, there was all the magic of Xmas--snow, time off from school, decorations, presents, the mysticism of coming downstairs on Xmas day to find the cookies you had left out for Jolly Sandy Claws inexplicably devoured save for one cookie that had only one bite out of it, as if he had gotten full or was on a right schedule. it was neat, wondrous, magical.

then, when i was six, my parents started to not hide the difficulties they were having, and by then i knew Jolly Sandy Claws was more of a spirit rather than a dude who snuck into houses via a chimney to leave prezzies (our house had no chimney so i was already calling shenanigans before this). family stuff started to be more of a 'keep the peace' ordeal rather than super-happy-fun-time. every holiday was more of a 'when are they gonna kick off' rather than chilling and having fun--and i had no buffer other than me, as i am an only child. then my dad went into rehab when i was seven and served divorce papers. my parents officially split-split when i was nine and me and mum moved out to Indiana.

holidays then became another ordeal where i had to choose who to spend it with. now, mum never put pressure on me if i picked coming back out here to dad's; she never made me feel guilty. dad, on the other hand? oh boy, did he ever. i became his surrogate for all the issues he still had with regard to my mum, because he had all the emotional maturity of a bowl of overcooked pasta. Xmas had long stopped being a thing to be excited about. it sucked, because loads of my friends were like 'you get two Xmases!' and i was like, 'no, i get a mum doing her best and a dad who wants me to play messenger owl, fuck off.' mum and i stopped putting up decorations when i was in middle school, because she too had her own mental health struggles and we were both Tired with everyone trying to be the Whos in Whoville around us. we just wanted to be Grinchy and be left alone for our own stuff.

over the years i just...dealt with it, that i didn't like the holidays, and all the pressure, and 'oh it'a family! and family is beautiful!' mine wasn't, and i was tired of pretending it was, and so very fucking tired of pretending that it was a bad thing that my family had warts and issues and just wanted to be Grinchy. because it isn't something to be ashamed of. we don't do Xmas anymore. we get excited for Halloween, or having just...a night where we order Chinese takeaway and watch bad musicals and get drunk and sing along. we're just wired differently, is all.

and in American culture, not doing cultural Things like Xmas or Thanksgiving or whatever is seen as bad or weird and if you don't like them, then there's either something wrong with you, or you were somehow 'damaged' as a kid, or you're a terrible fucking Scrooge cynic ranting about capitalism and whatnot (which is its whole other thing as retail during this season is a special kind of hell as we all know) and if you are the latter, it's because you somehow wanna shit in everyone else's cornflakes--not because the vibes of this time of year are exhausting and hang over everything like the smell of someone else's broccoli fart.

i got over feeling cheated a long-ass time ago. i made peace with it. and when i say 'i don't enjoy Xmas,' it is still taken as an opportunity for someone else to try and 'fix' my disdain for it. it isn't something that needs to be fixed. it is a feature, not a bug. in our house, my partner and i do not put up a tree. we do not decorate. we get meats and cheeses and gorge ourselves on those whilst watching the best Xmas film ever, Die Hard (no, i will not accept criticism, it is a holiday film and you cannot change our minds).

i am at peace with my contempt for Xmas. i am fine with it. i am not damaged by it, i was not 'cheated;' it was something i lost enthusiasm for and it isn't due to loss or anything like that. i feel particularly grateful that i am not in the same boat as many other folks, for whom this time of year is especially difficult due to loss or trauma or not having someone they love to spend it with.

please, think of those folks first during these times, or others less fortunate than i am, who need to be reached out to for a hug or a gift or a warm meal or a chance to make better memories. they need it far more than i do. i am privileged enough that i do not have a 'holiday deficit' that needs to be made whole.

above all, have a good holiday, whatever you may or may not celebrate at this time of year. i will be at home with my partner and our maniac cats watching Alan Rickman and Bruce Willis in one of their best roles. our lack of yuletide cheer does not mean that you cannot take joy in belting out Mariah Carey, or shopping, or putting up your own lights. it's fine. we're fine. really.

[prynnehesters]

my sibling pisses me off and i really have to fight the urge to piss them off bcuz they're a lazy sack of shit who im praying my parents kick out. i feel like they want to be a mooch forever or as long as they can cuz they don't want to grow up and i realize that pissing them off isn't going to solve anything so i should just ignore them...they're not my problem.

some small things:

i legit cannot believe they are in their mid 20s and do not have a debit card, only a cash card and my parents control their savings account still. i got a debit card at 12. they said they qualify for a credit card but they haven't gotten one despite. but idk, debit card is hella important also. but also, my parents cut them off from credit cards bcuz they bought too much random ass junk so now they legit pay for everything with cash

i had to tell them literally everything about registering for healthcare after losing our parents healthcare and it was annoying bcuz i had an annoying process so they assumed they would have an annoying process and they didn't tbh. i made a mistake, and i got stuff in the end, but still

they thought our parents would disown me after i came out as trans and that stressed me tf out but they were fine w me getting top surgery and seem to be ok w me considering a hysto now

in general, i feel like ive covered/paid for them in so many more scenarios then the other way around

legit don't know how to do anything and don't do anything about it

i genuinely think if it keeps going like this, i will not have a relationship w them in a few years and i have to be ok with that. and im also still so so sooooo pissed that they are not moving away for 4 months. here's what i feel like is going to happen on this current pathway (3 scenarios):

they absolutely do nothing until june and go work at camp again and basically become that one guy who worked at camp until he was 40 (bad scenario) and that was legit his only job. he lived in his mom's basement until then. she ended up retiring and he moved out and now works at a fast food place. idk im kind of glad that i got out of camp lyfe TM when i did and im never going back now. that job is for ppl who are in high school, college, and ppl in their 20s-30s who need to have a quick reality detox before starting up their life again

they end up getting pestered enough by parents to get either a fast food or retail job but they end up not saving money this way bcuz my parents will charge them rent and they will have fights about this constantly

goodbye (permanent) (worst case scenario) (do w that what you will)

they will get their shit together, get a job that has them move out (be it random seasonal jobs or a decent paying 9 to 5) and we'll never hear from them again except holidays (best case scenario)

but anyways, they are not my business and if i have issues w this, i might just talk to my mom or therapist. we can exist in the same house but they are not my problem and i do not owe them anything

[teddyisgroovy]

Holiday season at my retail job is already kicking my ass and it’s not even Thanksgiving yet 😭

[here4kpopfics]

Hii! I am looking forward to reading the new FiC chapter so much! But of course I have classes to go to until the evening AND a paper to write just when you drop it 😒😒😒 Life is so unfair lmao.

But I will make sure to get to it tonight! It will be my motivation to finish my work so I can get emotionally ruined by your writing.

Thank you again for sharing this beautiful story with us and I hope you're doing well during the suuper busy holiday season 💞💞

Hahaha omg I’m sorry I forgot about time zones and just wanted to get it out asap 🙈

I hope classes are good and you kick ass writing that paper! Take your time! The chapter will be there when you’re ready 💜

And thank YOU for being so amazing and your reviews and I hope you’re also doing well this holiday season. Work is hectic but that’s expected from retail. I did just beat the final gym in Pokémon violet so off to the elite four I go 😈

[neonganymede]

For the writing prompt could you do #8 with a jealous McCree? It would make my day!! Also i love your work

Anonymous said: Haha i think i might have forgotten to mention my request for prompt 8 to be Mchanzo... Sorry for the confusion

It’s probably bad, but I was already planning for McHanzo, mostly because I don’t ship McCree with anybody else, sooo... no worries!

8. “Why are you so jealous?”

McCree stood by the bar,slowly tipping back a glass of champagne he couldn’t even taste. He wassupposed to be keeping an eye out for illegal arms dealing going on, but McCreecouldn’t focus on the mission. No, he was too busy glaring at his partner on theother side of the ballroom.

Hanzo looked fucking beautiful. His suit was tailor-made andfit him too damn well for it to be right,and he’d hardly stopped smiling since they arrived. McCree knew it was all anact, that the Hanzo he knew and loved would never smile so much, not naturally,but the people who kept approaching him were too stupid to realize that Hanzowas just playing a part.

Jesseknew Hanzo for who he really was, not thebastard trying to get lucky by chatting up the pretty Japanese man. McCree hadhalf a mind to stomp over there and break them up, but no. That might blowtheir cover. He didn’t want to risk it.

Winston had stressed thatif this mission went south, Talon could get their hands on some incrediblypowerful weapons, and the reformed Overwatch might not be able to handle it.All that stood in the way was Hanzo, McCree, and now this asshole leaning tooclose to Hanzo and smiling too nicely and—

Shit.

McCree downed anotherglass of champagne. He wasn’t supposed to be drinking, but that had neverstopped him before. He was too pissed to get drunk, anyway. He was pissed anddidn’t have any real reason to be pissed and that was pissing him off even more.

It didn’t help that Hanzohadn’t even looked at him. Not when Jessearrived, a little later as per agreement so nobody would think they weretogether. Not when a pretty woman asked Jesse to dance. And not when thisasshole took a seat and began his aggressive flirtations.

Setting aside the emptyglass, Jesse scanned the room for anything that might catch his eye. Nothinginvolving Talon. Everything involvingHanzo.

The asshole was too closeto the archer now, and McCree could see Hanzo’s discomfort from the other sideof the room. He kept glancing around, looking for a way out of the conversationand finding none. The man accosting him was either too drunk to notice or toodrunk to care, but McCree noticed. McCree cared.

His fist clenching, heturned away from the room entirely, choosing instead to stare at the severalempty champagne glasses he’d left on the table. He almost reached for another.Almost asked for something stronger. Anything to distract him from what wasgoing on with Hanzo and the jackass on the other side of the room.

Jesse wasn’t allowed toget involved. They had to be strangers.Strangers could talk though, right? He could go over and ask for a dance orsomething. Anything to get Hanzo away from a guy who looked like he wanted toreach out and—

He didn’t have to thinkabout it long before all hell broke loose, in typical mission fashion. Later,they would learn that there was a disagreement about the price of the weapons,that Talon tried to skimp the seller. Whatever the case, McCree was glad afight broke out before he had to go over and break some guy’s arm.

It was pretty cut and dryafter that. The two of them managed to take out the Talon operatives, acquirethe weapons, and return both to the proper authorities, operating under the lieof we just happened to be here, officer,I don’t know what this Overwatch thing you’re mentionin’ is. Hanzo saidvery little to Jesse, and at the time, the cowboy hadn’t thought much about it.Hanzo could be pretty quiet on missions, especially after he’d been forced toact so out of character all night. McCree wasn’t about to push him.

In public, of course. Oncethey were in their hotel room unwinding for the night, McCree expected achange. Hanzo always collapsed against him, exhausted and needing a recharge ofthe ol’ McCree batteries. Or if he still needed some space, he would at least give Jesse a kiss on the cheekbefore he disappeared for a few hours.

Tonight, though? Tonight,Hanzo blatantly ignored him. The moment the two of them entered their sharedroom, Hanzo took to himself, loosening his tie and pretending that McCree didn’texist. Jesse leaned against the doorway, trying to remember if he’d doneanything wrong lately, but he couldn’t think of a damn thing.

He could always wait untilHanzo was ready to tell him what was wrong, but fuck that. McCree had watchedsome other man ogle his archer all damn night, and he was gonna have some cuddles.He unbuttoned the top few buttons of his shirt and approached the subjectgently.

“So what the fuck’re youso pissed about?” Yeah. Gentle. Way to go, cowboy.

Hanzo snorted but saidnothing.

“Did I actually do it? Ordo you just think I did it?”

Hanzo’s cool glare wasanswer enough. He’d done it, all right. He’d definitely done it, and he neededto be sorry real fast.

Hanzo was talking beforeMcCree could start thinking about an apology. “Are you insecure with ourrelationship?”

“What?” McCree asked,completely dumbfounded. He stepped closer to Hanzo, who only receded a steptoward the opposite wall. “Now what gave you an idea like that?”

Hanzo’s mouth tilted intoa wry sneer; any moment now, and he might be baring teeth, and then McCreewould have to pretend that didn’t turn him on as much as it definitely would. “Icould practically feel you seething fromthe other side of the room. Did you think I would not notice you staring thewhole time? You could have jeopardized our mission!”

“Yeah, and what about you?”McCree demanded, anger rising up in him again. He knew it wasn’t Hanzo he was angry at, but he couldn’tseem to stop himself from directing his ire at him. “Lettin’ that guy cozy on upto ya like that?”

“That is what upset you?” Hanzo raised an eyebrow, silently judginghim. McCree could feel it in hisstare. Genji used to do that kinda shit, too. Must be a ninja thing. “Why are you so jealous?”

“I ain’t jealous,” McCree replied, suddenlyfeeling like an idiot. So maybe he’d been a littlejealous. No big deal. Not now that he could gather Hanzo up in his arms andshower him with affection.

But Hanzo’s body languagewas closed off, tight and stiff and unwelcoming. His shoulders were rigid, hischin turned up in that way that seemed to reek of superiority but that McCreeknew was just an act. When Hanzo spoke again, his quiet voice sounded strangledwith suppressed anxiety, and the sound of it punched McCree in the gut.

“You are most certainlyjealous, Jesse. The only reason I can think is that you don’t feel stableenough in our relationship.”

“Now, hold on.” McCree advancedagain, hands stretched out to pull Hanzo to him. At first, Hanzo tried toresist, twisting and tugging to no avail. He was weak to McCree’s touch, andsoon he was swaying toward Jesse, longing to lean into his chest but having toomuch that still needed saying.

“Do you not trust me? Doyou think that I would cheat on you with some drunkard while you were in the same room?”

“That ain’t it, darlin’.Come here.” McCree cupped Hanzo’s face in his hands, thumbs rubbing smooth circlesagainst sharp cheekbones. “O’ course I trust you. I trust you with my life, andI trust you with my heart. You weren’t what was buggin’ me about the wholething.”

“Then what was it?” Hanzowas still trying his best to resist McCree’s touch. His best wasn’t very good.

“I… I couldn’t do anything. I had to just stand there andwatch while some asshole got up all nice and close with ya, and that just—I hated it. I hated seein’ how uncomfortableya were. I hated that I couldn’t just go over there and plant one on ya. Showthat guy that you’re spoken for.” Now that he was saying it aloud, Jesse wasdefinitely feeling like a damn idiot, but it still irked him.

He could still see thatguy’s face in his mind and wondered how far he’d gotten. Maybe kicking the man’sass would help? McCree could say that he was just a casualty during the mission.Yeah. Nobody would ever know the difference.

“You—” Hanzo huffed, whichsounded suspiciously like a laugh. “You are a ridiculous man. I am fully capable of defending my own honor.”

“Yeah, I know that! You’remore than capable, Han.” McCree shifted a bit. Hanzo hadn’t even startedscolding him yet, but he already felt like a damn child caught with his hand inthe cookie jar. “Doesn’t mean you should have to.”

The hard lines of Hanzo’sface softened in endearment, and he threaded his fingers into McCree’s hair topull his mouth closer. McCree went willingly, eager for the slow kiss Hanzo ledhim into. Hanzo’s touch was grounding, reassuring, and exactly what McCree hadbeen aching for all night. He parted his lips and let Hanzo delve deep, barelynoticing when Hanzo began to direct him toward the bed.

Before he knew it, McCreewas sitting on the bed with a lapful of archer, barely able to tell where he endedand Hanzo began. He would’ve been content to just stay there, enjoying the familiarpress and pull of Hanzo’s mouth, but his man had other plans. Hanzo pulled awayto press their foreheads together, breathless as he struggled to find the wordshe needed.

“Never forget that you are the one I have chosen, McCree. Icome home to you, not some inebriated man foolish enough to think I could be soeasily won over.” You are home, wasthe unstated message, but Jesse heard it loud and clear. Saw it in the wayHanzo’s eyes warmed the moment the cowboy gazed at him. Felt it in the wayHanzo gripped his shoulders, fingers pressing with a firmness that McCree welcomedgladly.

McCree felt a smile creepacross his face. Hanzo did have apoint; it’d been hell trying to get the prickly bastard to open up in thebeginning, but McCree had kept at it. He worked hard getting through thatprickly exterior, gradually building up a foundation of trust until Hanzoopened up to him.

And Jesse’s reward wassitting in his lap, looking at him so adoringly, it fucking hurt.

“I ain’t gonna promise Iwon’t get jealous again.”

Hanzo rolled his eyes butsmirked. “No, I would not expect you to. Perhaps next time, you will be able tointervene and defend me as you see fit.”

“And you ain’t gonna getpissy at me?”

Hanzo shrugged. “If youare being foolish, it is my duty toinform you.”

“Good enough for me, sugar,”McCree determined, laughing. He considered himself a lucky man that he couldpull Hanzo back in for another languid kiss and feel the content way Hanzo meltedagainst him, his sigh quiet and relaxing. Sure, he might not have been able toget involved earlier, but this? More than enough to put his heart at ease.

“Hey, how would you reactif you were jealous?”

“I would not get jealous.I would eliminate the problem before it became a threat.”

“Wha—Hanzo, you fuckin’ hypocrite.”

[thievinghippo]

Hey-oh! Guess who’s written more in the last four days than the last four months combined? It me! :D

[gradiivus]

*slams car horn* beep

Send “beep” for a : 11) Confession via text

Sometimes, in the dusky early hours, the vestiges of nightmares and fragments of an old, buried life would linger in the shadows on the walls before moon or sun could drive them away. And it was in those rare moments of clarity that a strange sort of calm, a sense of wholeness, would envelop Zeke in place of the panicked fear that pulled him to consciousness. His fingers found their way to the metal plates on the chain around his neck and slid across the name etched into the steel, channeling the spectral memories that eluded him in the daylight hours.

A name floated into the darkness behind his eyelids:

Marth.

The famous director. Not many didn’t know him, Zeke tried to reason.

Cornelius, his late father. Also a public figure.

But the images that flashed rapidly through his mind were far too personal to be confused with the stories broadcasted on the evening news.

Zeke rolled over for his phone with a muted gratitude that search engines were so easily accessible now, but on the screen instead was a message from Chrom. Marth’s grandson.

Still in the clutches of his dreams, he couldn’t read it, but blindly thumbed a reply:

[sent - 4:18 AM] Forgive me Chrom.....I may have done something very bad to your family.......I do not remember what...

[sent - 4:21 AM] That is not to make light of the situation.....but there is much that I do not remember....

[sent - 4:23 AM] Chrom ask your grandfather about Camus....maybe he will know..

[sent - 4:26 AM] I want to make amends for whatever I have done.....but you are welcome to hate me...

His phone slid out of his hand as the clarity faded and he slipped off to sleep again. Perhaps it had merely been a dream within a dream...

[deadpatrol]

Update on the saal sequel fic (which I am refusing to refer to as wgakffuh because that is an eyesore to read and a pain to type. Might start calling it knack). Chapter 1 is like 80% done at this point, but it's probably gonna be a couple of weeks before I actually get to finish that last little bit and post it. Finals and holiday season in retail are kicking my ass. Rest assured it is coming, and I am so very very excited to finish it.

[wool-f]

Entertaining myself over the Easter Weekend

Before the pandemic, I used to spend Easter weekend away with my extended family in country Victoria. During the height of the pandemic, I spent the entire weekend at home with my parents and sister. This year, I’m home babysitting my dog while my parents are on holiday and my sister is away at uni. 

While some may think this is a boring weekend, this is the first time in 12 years that I’m not working in retail and therefore get all the public holidays off from work. Spending more than a day doing only things that I want to do is something that I have not had the luxury of doing in my whole working like. So naturally, I spent the weekend binge watching shows that I’ve had saved in my Netflix account for far too long. To feel like I haven’t wasted my time, I am here to review the shows that I have so far gotten through. 

Sex/Life  In truth, I watched this show when I was suffering with food poisoning and finished it just before the weekend began. I have so many thoughts on this show I don’t even know where to begin. 

I really enjoyed the way the writers wove her memories into reality, so at times you don’t know if you’re watching is the present or the past. I didn’t love the character development. I really wish they had gone deeper into Billie, because I honestly can’t understand how she was so caught up over a volatile and emotionally unavailable Australian man, regardless of how good he was in bed. I would have loved more on said Australian, Brad. All the characters were obviously complex, but I just feel like the complexity wasn’t delved into enough. 

My favourite thing about the show was the feeling it stirred inside me to go out and have a new adventure. I’ve been feeling stuck in a rut for a while and I couldn’t put my finger on what was causing it or what would fix it. This show awoke a feeling in me that I forgot was there. It made me want to pack up my little life here in Melbourne and move somewhere new, somewhere international, somewhere nobody knows my name. 

The ending of the show also didn’t really end the season. It wasn’t the typical cliffhanger season finale, and it didn’t really tie up any loose ends either, but also if they didn’t make another season, I wouldn’t be dying to know what happened after the end. In saying all that, the sex scenes were wild, and I would honestly be surprised if even the most conservative person didn’t mildly enjoy them. 

I give this one a 7/10 - I will be watching the second season. 

Archive 81  This show was such a slow burn that I almost gave up on it. But I am so glad I didn’t. I honestly can’t wait for the next season to be released, especially after the jaw dropping season finale. 

The show was slow enough that it gave certain characters enough time to develop, and I hope the next season follows the same trajectory. The main characters, Dan and Melody, are so interesting, and the show gives the audience just enough to be interested and invested in their lives, but still leaves you wanting more. 

I had this show recommended to me by a few friends, and they advertised it as horror to me. I think it is more suspense or thriller, but some of the moments in the show did cause my heart to race. There were sections of the show that I think could have been done with more attention to detail or differently in general, but I think it combines traditional sci-fi thriller with folklore storytelling together in a way that I haven’t seen before, and so I really enjoyed this show. 

I would recommend this if you have the patience for a slow progression, because it is worth the watch. 8/10. 

Top Boy  I have been meaning to watch Top Boy for the longest time, but the release of the second season onto Australian Netflix recently kicked my ass into gear to get into it. 

I’m only halfway through the first season, and I honestly love the show. I am so invested in the younger characters and at times feel like my heart is in my throat watching them go through life in the lower-socio economic side of London. 

This show is a window into a world that would never be seen in such detail unless it’s your reality. The way the narrative is unfolding in the different households is complex, messy and real. This show covers a whole realm of social issues including drug dealing, living in poverty, gang violence, classism and the reality of immigration. It’s heartbreaking to see the parallels between lived experiences across the Western world, especially for migrants, and I honestly wish there was more storytelling like this getting through the cracks into mainstream media. 

Top Boy does a really great job of showcasing a lifestyle, while also not glamorising the ugly parts of it. 

I haven’t finished season one yet, but I have to give this an 8.5/10 - this is the kind of story telling that I love to consume, seeing different faces and new narratives is so important for the continuation of media. I would definitely recommend it. 

Outer Banks

I started watching this show ages ago, and finally got back in and finished season one last night. I wasn’t hooked on it when I first began watching it, but now that I’m back on board, I really enjoy the escapism it provides from my everyday life. 

I think it balances the right amount of realism and fantasy - plus the locations (Florida and the Bahamas) make me want to hop on a plane and travel again. 

Like Top Boy, it gives people on the outside of the Florida bubble a peephole into life and the lifestyle that people have there. I’m honestly not sure how realistic it is, but it’s definitely different to the usual content we see coming out of American media.

I started season two last night, and honestly can’t wait to see what happens and where they take the show. I’ll rate it a 7/10 because it honestly allows me to shut out my own thoughts and life issues while I’m watching, however there is always room for improvement, and honestly some characters deserve an ass kicking that they haven’t received yet. This might change but for now it’s a 7/10. 

Hope you guys enjoyed this post, it is something a bit different to what I usually post about, but I haven’t really been up to much outside of working over the Easter weekend! If you’ve watched any of these shows, let me know what you think (without spoilers please), let’s chat in the comments! 

Until next time, 

G x

[brasskier]

Season’s greetings from the most dysfunctional happiest family this side of Nilfgaard, modern AU edition (ofc).

I was going to shade it but decided to upload it flat because working holiday retail has absolutely been kicking my ass, so hopefully y’all don’t mind too much. (Zoom in for better detail bc the line art is kinda light without the shading ngl.)

[evak-fic-rec-turtleanon]

Evak Fics - Christmas 2018

Christmas fics posted in 2018  (Includes non-English fics) 

Snön ligger vit på taken by MinilocIsland, Treehouse (In Svenska, 62k words) - Det här extrajobbet måste vara den bästa idén Isak någonsin har haft. Långa, ensamma nätter med massor av tid att plugga. Helt chill. Ingenting som stör. Tills den där långa, snygga regissören flyttar in i taksviten. 

Hele Norge Baker by MermaidsandMermen (61k words) - Are you brave enough to stay? Or strong enough to walk away? Isak Valtersen is neither, still reeling with guilt over leaving his little family, walking away from a life that was slowly suffocating him. He’s neither strong or brave, he’s a coward. Stupid, weak and easily led, with no idea how to make things right. He’s made himself a promise though, he is going to stay single and finally take control of his own life. He’s going to be happy. Work hard. Be the best father he can be, and he is never going to let himself get dragged into a relationship again. He’s been there, done that, and it’s not for him. He is going to have a quiet winter, a quiet Christmas and he is going to chill. Lick his wounds and for once just be himself. That’s the plan. 

The First Noel by colazitron (2k words) - Even's parents have a cabin in Hemsedal where the family traditionally spends Christmas. This year, Isak's coming with. 

Fucking Bieber by Kollakolan (6k words) - “So,” Elias starts. “You’ve decided to join us on Christmas Eve?” Isak just nods, as he is just about to take a sip. “Great. It’s not really that complicated. The baskets are already made; you’ll just pick them up and deliver them according to a list of addresses. Oh, and also, you need to be wearing at least a Santa’s hat.” “Since it’s Christmas specials and all,” Mikael adds. 

boys and boys and girls and girls by colazitron (2k words) - Noora meets a handsome boy at the Christmas market one day, but all is not she may have originally thought. 

The first star you see may not be a star by Laika_the_husband (53k words) - In this story of dark and woe Isak is a sex worker who specializes in services of not traditionally sexual nature. Want to watch someone sharpen a pencil really slowly, making a long twirly unbroken strip, for your kicks? Isak's your guy. He is good at his job and he likes it, and it pays the bills while he's studying civil engineering at the Met.It's also convenient that Isak doesn't have to actually touch any of his clients. Because he can't touch anybody, and nobody can touch him, or he'll freak out completely. One day, Isak goes to meet a client, and sees EvenStarr, the video artist whose stuff he loves. And his request is not the most bizarre, but the most disturbing one Isak has ever received. 

Christmas prompts by nofeartina (4k words) - Collection of prompts Tina wrote for on tumblr. 

The wish I wish tonight by imminentinertia (1k words) - A visit to Marianne, and a present, of sorts 

Jumpstart by colazitron (2k words) - Isak and Even spend their first Christmas just the two of them in Trondheim. 

What is the light by unsungyellowraincoat (1k words) - That year Mom can’t put up the Christmas tree. 

Santa Baby by Laika_the_husband (21k words) - Part 3. The story where the author suddenly found out Isak is polyamorous. And genderqueer. The POV changes every now and then. I'm making this to examine the poly Evak from various angles. 

Expiration Date by Treehouse (5k words) - In the midst if the December stress, Isak has to make use of the gift card Eskild gave him for Christmas last year. A gift card for a freaking massage. 

The Næsheims by Kollakolan (2k words) - “Well, you know the Næsheims?  ”Yes, Isak knows the Næsheims. Or rather, he knows of them, and he knows that Sana knows them. They have a restaurant down town where Sana’s brother works. They’ve gone by a couple of times when Sana needed to hand him keys or something. Isak also knows that the son in the Næsheim family is maybe the hottest guy in all of Oslo. Not that he has told anyone that he think’s so, but I mean come on, it’s not like Isak must spell it out. They have eyes. 

By Your Side by MinilocIsland (1k words) - Some Christmas traditions may not be what they seem, but it doesn't really matter. 

In una sera così serena by imminentinertia (2.6k words) - Isak has had quite enough of Christmas and it's only December 13. 

December 2018 by imminentinertia (Series, 6 Fics) 

bits and pieces of their love by cammm (Series) - One shots. All may not be Chrismassy. 

Ho Ho Ho!!! by MermaidsandMermen (5.5k words) - A big fundraising School Christmas Market, to raise the last bit needed for that big Revue. It will be great. Lots of local families coming to drink glogg and buy hotdogs and do stupid money pinching games. Yes and the kids can meet Santa. Sit on his lap and get a present. Such christmassy fun. 

one thing I really do need by colazitron (3.5k words) - Isak comes home from meeting the boys for some gløgg feeling festive and cheerful. 

Den lengste natta by hjertetssunnegalskap (Crazyheart) (In Norsk, 22k words) - Det er fredag den 21. desember 2018 og vintersolverv. Fruktbarhetsguden Frøy, i Evens skikkelse, må for første gang gjøre seg fortjent til den gaven han ønsker seg aller mest; kjærlighet. 18 år gamle Isak syns kjærligheten virker uoppnåelig, helt til han kommer hjem til Oslo på juleferie og besøker Jonas og Eva på kafeen Eldrimni. 

Gay Jesus by unsungyellowraincoat (1k words) - Eskild has an encounter. 

A New Tradition by bri_ness (1k words) - Lea has Isak and Even over for Christmas Eve. 

A different celebration by Kollakolan (3k words) - “We realized a few years ago that we were a few friends who never celebrated Christmas with our families. At first it was just me, Elias, Noora and one of Elias friends. But now usually some exchange students come along as well as other people that we find on the way.” “Like me?” Sana just smiles at him. 

Times like now by nofeartina (3k words) - Isak watches him, looks into Even’s eyes with what light’s left, watches his mouth go slack as Isak slowly puts his hand inside the fly and pulls out Even’s dick. He’s so hard. Isak wants to worship him, wants to show him how perfect he is. 

Warmth by bri_ness (557 words) - Isak doesn't know how to accept a Christmas present from his mom. 

From Spark to Flame by MinilocIsland (1.5k words) - He'd thought he'd be alone in the castle for Christmas as usual. This year, however, there's a slight disruption to Isak's Christmas plans. 

i wish for by hippopotamus (2k words) - Isak just wishes that one person would want to get to know him before they knew that he could do magic. 

i think i recognise your face but i've never seen you before by monsterandmana (1k words) - Even works in a coffee shop. Isak is on the coffee run. It's Christmas. 

Fotokalendern by Kollakolan (In Svenska, 12k words) - Tags says Christmas but not really so I’m not sure. 

The Magician by folerdetdufoler (3.6k words) - the "christmas magic" prompt 

Two truths and one tale by evak1isak (7.6k words) - Isak ends up in Eva's cabin for a Kosegruppa's New Year's Eve Party. And begins the new year with a new boyfriend. 

I'll be home for Christmas by teatrolley (9k words) - They’ve been in Trondheim for half a year now. But for Christmas, they’re coming home. Or: Sometimes the things you were running from become the things you want to run towards 

Merry Kiss My Ass (under the mistletoe) by TheGirlNoOneKnows5 (10k words) - Working in retail during the holiday season is a nightmare. Especially when Isak has to work right alongside his just friend and not at all crush, Even. Among freaky customers, secret santa presents and constant reminders of his one night of passion with Even, Isak doesnt know if he'll make it to the new year. If only he could figure out who was behind all the random mistletoes he keeps finding... 

The Magic of Christmas by wyoheartsmusic (4k words) - Isak hates his job - especially during Christmas; to be honest, he pretty much hates anything involved with Christmas. But then Even comes around and maybe he doesn't hate anything all that much 

o night divine by thekardemomme (4k words) - This is the first Christmas in nearly five years that he’s spending without Isak, and while he still decorated his apartment and bought eggnog and spent an excruciating amount of time wrapping all of his gifts perfectly, the hole in his heart hasn’t gone unnoticed. It creeps in every time he goes to ask Isak for a bow for his gifts, every time he comes home and has to turn on the Christmas lights himself because Isak wasn’t there to do it for him, every time he plays Christmas music much too loud because Isak isn’t studying in the other room and teasingly pleading for him to turn it down a few notches. It also creeps in when he sees Isak’s present sitting under the tree, neatly wrapped. It’s been wrapped for two months, actually. 

I'm Stuck on You by Twinklylightseverywhere (6k words) - Jonas lets out another nervous laugh. Isak wishes his best friend would shut up. “You two will take the spare room. Uh… with one bed.” “ONE BED?” Isak and Even both shout at the exact same time. “Merry Christmas!” 

Mine egne meninger by hjertetssunnegalskap (Crazyheart) (In Norsk, 17k words) - Eva kunne allerede kjenne hjertet banke raskere. Hun visste det var tullete, men med ett bare visste hun at hun kom til å slite med å dele rom med Vilde. Hun kom til å bli gående rundt en feberhet tåke og tenke på Vilde hele helga. Til ingen nytte. Fy faen. Dette kom jo til å bli en helt strålende romjulsferie.  I think this is an Evilde fic. 

Shall I Find No Other by ultimatelawrence (5k words) - Everyone is born with a compass on their body, inked into their skin and commonly on their inner left arm. Instead of pointing to north, the needle on the compass points in the direction of your true soulmate. Even wants to find his as soon as possible. 

hope you're wearing your best clothes by colazitron (2.6k words) - Even's original plan was to get Isak Harry Styles merch. One of those “treat people with kindness” sweatshirts because Isak likes being cosy and he likes Harry Styles and it's a nice slogan.