#hurricane season is also scary now!

[annalisearabella]

the last thing i wanna see when i'm checking the weather temp is "tracking a severe threat!" like please I'm not scared of much but Morrigan save me not the fucking storms

[neopuppy]

SOS (M)

pairing. alpha Jeno x female omega reader x alpha Jaemin

genre. haunted escape house AU👻, non traditional ABO, it’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to(or bang my older brothers friends), pw-minimal-p, M/F

warnings. profanity, y/n is Mark’s younger sister, pollen induced heat/rut, smut warnings under cut

wc. 10,000+

a/n. I am drunkhazed, no need to message to tell me that I stole my own fic.

smut warnings. f*ck or die, threesome, double penetration(vaginal/backdoor), slick, knotting, loads of cum, overstimulation, unprotected rough sex. mostly pure filth.

———————————————

I mіght burn with the flame evеn if it hurts me

I јust endleѕslу over and оvеr again go towаrds you

”Don’t think this rain is going to let up anytime soon.” Your brother calls out to you upon entering the house, followed by the sound of shaking his umbrella dry. “Hopefully it will be over by the weekend so we can still have the party.”

He smiles worriedly, reaching for your shoulder. “You had to be born during hurricane season.”

Not only during a time of temperamental unpredictable weather, but also during the spookiest time of the year. It was Hallow’s Eve when your mother pushed you out, still half-dressed up in a witch costume as she screamed, kicking the air and practically ripped apart the collar of your father’s cheaply made Spirit Halloween vampire costume; rueing the day she ever let him impregnate her, again.

“Should we plan for something else?” Mark scrolls through his phone, sitting down with a furrow between his eyebrows. “Horror nights? Might be sold out by now. Maybe a haunted hayride? We did that a few years ago though, was kind of boring huh...” he hums, snapping his fingers. “Maybe I can beg Jisung to sneak us into that new paranormal escape room. Tickets have been sold out since they opened but I’m sure if I pull some favors he’d be willing to help me out.”

“Is it really scary?”

“Shouldn’t be too bad pup.” Your brother grins, reaching to pet the back of your head. “Besides, I’ll invite the guys. You won’t have anything to be scared of with us around to protect you from all the spooky things that go bump in the night.”

Right. The guys.

The guys being your brother's best friends, the same ones that still treat you like some immature clueless puppy. It’s nice for the most part, the way they all coddle you and insist you stay their baby forever.

It’d be nicer if they didn’t feel the need to make it clear so often just what a baby you are. Acting like you are not only a year apart in age.

“What were you going to dress up as this year anyway?” Mark continues, texting his group-chat about the possible change of plans due to the erratic weather.

“Doesn’t matter I guess, my package still hasn’t made it. Might have to recycle an old costume.” You sigh, bummed that the brewing hurricane hasn’t only ruined your party but also your valid excuse to dress like a slut without a reprimanding lecture from your older brother.

“You should definitely bust out Gollum again.” He laughs, nudging your arm. “My precious.”

“Mark, I was a kid! Let it go!”

“What, a kid?! That was just last year!” He clutches at his chest offended. “That was our best costume! Do you know how hard we worked on those hobbit feet?!”

“You guys looked like idiots.”

“We did not!” He splutters, tugging on your hair. “Take that back! People still talk about how great me and Jaemin acted out Sam and Frodo’s friendship monologue.”

“Can’t believe he agreed to being the fat hobbit.”

“Can’t believe you agreed to being Gollum.” Mark laughs, adding a wink. “Well, I guess I can. That crush you had on Jaeminie back then was unbearable.”

“Shut up!!!!” You shout, nearly tackling your brother from the couch. “I did not have a crush on him!”

“Oh really? Because I believe your diary entry from October 3rd would disagree!” He runs behind the couch dodging your advances, raising his voice in pitch.

‘Jaemin presented as an Alpha today! I always knew he’d be an Alpha! Goddess he’s so handsome! I can’t handle the thought of him getting any bigger and stinking up the house with his pheromones whenever he’s over. What am I going to do, I can barely hide how much I like him already!?!?’

“Shut up!!!” You scream, lunging over the back of the couch to choke your brother out. “Shut up shut up shut up!!”

“You’ll never catch me!” Mark laughs maniacally, charging for the staircase to run and hide in his bedroom.

“You’re dead when I do!”

———————————————

“What the fuck is this?!” Your brother fumes at the bottom of the stairs, head shaking in disapproval as you flounce down toward him.

“What?”

“This costume!” He motions angrily. “What the hell is that!”

“Jennifer Check!” You say dumbfounded, rolling your eyes. “Like, duh! One of my favorite movies, you know! My costume made it on time!”

The front door pushes open right as you spin to show off the purple and yellow cheer costume, mini-skirt twirling around your hips showing off a pair of snug fit panties adorned with the words ‘I KILL BOYS’ across the backside.

“Woah.” Jeno stutters, falling against Jaemin’s side where they both stand, mouth agape and wide-eyed in disbelief.

“The fuck are you pervs looking at!” Mark smacks the two of them across their chests, grabbing one of his jackets from the coat hanger nearby to throw at you. “Go change! You can’t wear that!”

“What?! Don’t be a jerk!” You snap back, throwing the jacket at his face. “It’s my Birthday!”

Jaemin steps forward to grab Mark’s arm and tug him back. “Come on dude, it’s just a costume. Besides, it’s cute..”

“You would say that.” Mark mumbles, shoving his friend off. “When you’re freezing your ass off out there, don’t come running to me for my hoodie.” Your brother grunts again, headed to the kitchen with Haechan and Jaemin in tow.

“You can always borrow my hoodie.” Jeno grins, approaching you with open arms. “Happy Birthday, or well, early Birthday.”

“Thanks Jeno.. Mark can be a real dick sometimes..” you mumble, squeezing around the Alphas waist to tighten the embrace.

“I think he’s just doing his duty of fulfilling your protective older brother role.” Jeno’s palms smooth down your back, cupping your waist. “For what it’s worth, I love the costume.” Taking a step back he gives you a once over, slowly nodding. “Jennifer’s Body, great movie. Not quite a final girl though, but..”

“I thought about that, but since none of my friends want to battle this hurricane and it’s turned into an all boys party again,” you turn around, flipping the back of your skirt up. “I’d say my chances of surviving are pretty high.”

Jeno licks his lips, biting back the urge to smile. “You got me there.” Reaching for the chain on your neck he draws out the crystal Evenstar pendant hidden between your chest. “You’ll spare me, right?”

The Alpha strokes over the design, smiling as he remembers your last Birthday when you cried about dressing up as Gollum. “You should have done Arwen this year.”

“Without Aragorn?”

Jeno’s gaze drifts back to yours, setting the pendant in place to sit on your chest nicely. “Well..”

“Alright, let's start heading out before this rain picks up.” Mark interrupts, barging back out with a backpack full of snacks for the drive. “Jisung texted, they just let in the last group of the night to enter the escape house, by the time we get there it should be ready to go for us.”

Jeno clears his throat, patting away the sweat collecting on his palms. “Yeah, sounds good, let's grab our umbrellas from Haechan’s car just in case.”

“Passenger seat for the Birthday girl!” You squeal, waving at your brother's friends. “The three little pigs in the backseat!”

“Heyyy!” Haechan snickers, swatting the air behind you as you run past.

———————————————

“Stay close to me pup.” Mark pulls on your elbow, shooting a glare over his shoulder at his friends.

“You know escape rooms work better if we all separate and try to find the clues on our own.” Haechan laughs, shaking his head and throwing a thumb in Mark’s direction. ‘This guy.’ He mouths.

“Isn’t rule number 1 to not separate?”

“This isn’t a horror film Jeno, it’s a game.”

“What do you think Saw was?!” Jeno’s arms flail, bumping into Jaemin’s side. “I wanna play a game?!”

“Haechan’s right.” You sigh, tugging yourself free from your brother's grip. “The timers started already, we need to work faster.”

Mark frowns, pulling off his jacket to throw over your shoulders. “You look cold.”

“Oh my God, what happened to not sharing your jacket with me huh! You’re so annoying! It’s Halloween!” You screech, shoving it back at his chest.

Haechan snorts, patting his friend on the back. “You know, we’ve seen her in less than that.”

“I’ll fucking kill you dude.” He growls, lunging at his friend's neck. “Don’t talk about my sister like that!”

Jeno and Jaemin let them grapple, watching with half-amused half-annoyed expressions as their friends fall to the floor tackling each other.

“You guys think this is a hint?” You nod to a pile of photos, all containing different guests that have passed through the rooms caught off guard with mouths wide open screaming. “They haven’t taken our picture yet, maybe it happens in this room.”

“We have 7 minutes left.” Jaemin moves next to you, snapping his fingers to a camera tripod set up in a corner. “Maybe we are the ones who have to take the picture.”

Jeno opts to continue searching for clues, moving down onto his knees to get a look under a couch against one of the walls. “The riddle said something about letting your worst fear consume you.” He crouches lower, coughing at the dust that lifts as he reaches and pats around coming up empty.

“I hate clowns.” Jaemin mumbles, working on figuring out how to set up the old camera.

“Clowns?” You snort, anxiously moving closer to the taller, pretending to care about the camera. “Didn’t think you’d have a fear of clowns of all things..”

“Why not?” Jaemin smiles, avoiding your gaze as he continues to tinker and focus on an area to point the lense toward.

“I don’t know.. clowns aren’t scary..”

Jeno pats off his legs, neither of them wearing much of a costume besides masks they’d pocketed once entering the escape house, claiming it was too hard to see anything. “Remember that movie Cujo? Shit had me terrified to go near a dog for years when I was a kid.”

“Dogs?!” Both you and Jaemin respond abruptly, falling into laughter together. The tension evades your limbs as you lean onto his side and wrap around his arm.

“You can’t be serious!” You say, wiping at the moisture pricking the outside corners of your eyes. “Geeze, clowns and dogs.. here I thought Alphas were supposed to be tough and fearless.”

Jaemin scoffs, flexing the bicep wrapped in your hold. “Hey! A lot of people are scared of clowns!”

“Can’t lie, I’m feeling pretty tough right now, my biggest fear is probably like a demon entity that’s decided it wants my soul specifically.”

Jeno’s mouth opens, shutting and closing again before speaking. “That’s uhm, dark?”

“Understandable.” Jaemin shrugs. “Why don’t the two of you go pose like a demon just appeared out of thin air to suck the soul out of you like some Dementor.”

Jeno moves to stand next to you, pointing past where Jaemin stands behind the camera. “Over there!”

The other Alpha runs into the shot just in time for the flash to go off and capture the three of your fright filled surprised expressions, ejecting the photo onto the floor beginning to develop.

“Guys, the door!” Jeno says loud enough to grab Mark and Haechan’s attention on the other side of the room. The two glancing over confused from the puzzle they’ve been working on for the last few minutes. “It’s opening!”

He rushes forward, motioning for the rest of you to follow after, an impending beep beep beep emitting past the speakers above as you make way into the next room.

“Guys, hurry up!”

“We’re coming! We’re coming!” Haechan shouts, stumbling to stand and grab Mark’s shoulder to pry him up.

“Shit,” Mark misses a step, tumbling back to his knees. “Ah, fuck!”

“Dude!” Haechan shrieks, turning back to watch the door begin to slide shut with three sets of eyes peering back at him full of worry.

“Hurry up!” Jaemin screams, rushing to push against the thick metal sliding down.

“Jaemin!” Jeno draws the younger Alpha back to his chest, using his weight to pull him away from the slam of the door locking into place.

The slam of the door sounds final, more ominous as darkness pours over the room before the slam of bodies bang into the opposite side; power buzzing off with the clink of a lock setting into place.

“Guys?!?” Spinning around you begin to panic, unable to find either of your friends without the help of light.

“What’s happening?!” You fret, slapping the door that's shut behind you. “Mark?!?”

“I’m here!” He calls back, throwing his side against the other side. “Fuck!”

“Was everything supposed to shut down like that?” Jeno asks, patting around the room for a switch.

“Fuck, wish I had my phone.” Jaemin follows his lead, gingerly tapping along the shelves set up against one of the walls and cursing about the ‘no phones allowed’ rule. “Wait, I think I found a flashlight.”

A click illuminates the room, shining around displaying nothing much abnormal. A few chairs, cushions, and boxes stacked together in one corner. The shelf holding a variety of items from DVDs to books to sculptures.

“Is it me or is it kind of..” Jeno tugs on the collar of his shirt, gaze skirting around quickly in search of a vent. “Humid in here? I feel sticky already.”

Jaemin nods, shining the light on the boxes. “Yeah, it’s stuffy in here.. uh..”

Mark continues slamming into the door, calling out for help. A worried murmur following from Haechan. “Did the power seriously just cut out? Like, this isn’t part of the game dude??”

“Hey, Jeno… come here..”

Jeno’s eyebrows perk up, walking over to where Jaemin stands searching through slew of boxes. “What is i— what the fuck..”

“Wh-what room is this?” Jaemin stutters, peering over his shoulder where you still try to pull the door open. “What are we supposed to do with this?”

Jeno swallows, head throbbing hard enough to make his eyes squint shut, blinking away beads of sweat beginning to roll down his forehead. “I don’t feel..”

Jaemin dry swallows, shutting the lid to open up another box. This one at least offers more, a box full of masks, unlabeled pills, cloths and fresh water bottles. “You think this is safe to drink?”

“Mark, I can’t anymore.” You sound breathless behind them, palms slapping down weakly one last time before sinking to your knees before the door. “I feel hot.”

Jeno’s instinct shouts at him to help you, waving off Jaemin to squat down by your side and place a palm across your forehead. “Shit, you’re burning up.”

He cleans the back of his hand off on his pants, grimacing at how soaked his forearm looks, shirt clinging to his chest. “Maybe it’s me actually.”

Jaemin pants, shaking his shirt away from his chest the more it begins to cling to his skin. “The hurricane must have killed the power, I don’t think the air is working.”

The three of you fall silent, quietly listening to the barely there soft blow of air coming from somewhere. Shining the flashlight up to the vent, Jaemin squints, blinking away the sweat clumping his eyelashes together. “It’s not coming from there..”

Jeno shares a look with him, setting a finger on his lips to keep their voices down as he crawls around the room to find the source. Approaching the shelf, he pulls away a pile of books, coughing and falling back as a waft of strong dust flies at his face. “Jeno!” Jaemin runs over, coughing and waving away the air to help his friend. “What the fuck is that?!”

“It’s—“ you sit up on your knees, head heavy, dropping you to hold yourself on all fours.

“It’s pollen!” Jeno shouts, eyes wide and crazed, turning to bury his face in Jaemin’s chest to keep down a growl. “We have to get out of here!”

Jaemin panics, grabbing onto his friend tighter to pull them both away from the now fully uncovered hole pumping out endless waves of dizzying scent, circling them both and instantly weakening his will to move. “I-I can’t.”

Jeno bites down, face drenched in sweat, gathering at his chin in large droplets. “We have to get away from her!”

Jaemin can hardly hear his friends' screams over the overwhelming sound of his racing heart, each breath deeper than the last. Each inhale more crucial to his system, pumping toxic oxygen through his veins and overtaking his mind.

“We’re getting help pup!” Mark calls out again, sounding more pathetic than usual. “I’m going to get you out of there okay?! I promise!”

“Mark..” you cry, falling flat on your side out of breath. Pupils fully blown out covered in gold as heat engulfs your every sense, soaked right through your Halloween costume. “I feel..”

The smell of arousal hits the two Alphas next, punching them across the face both hard enough to snap their necks, awakening feral need to impale an Omega on their cocks.

“The box.” Jaemin gasps, covering his face with one hand and letting the flashlight in his hold fall, rolling around shining light around the room. “The chains.”

Jeno follows after him in a rush, pulling his sweat soaked shirt up to cover his nose and mouth. It’s useless, the pollen already integrated with their biology, shaking its way through their limbs and bones.

“We ne-need to..” Jaemin struggles, teeth chattering as he reaches for the box he shut just minutes ago, pulling it down with the tips of his fingers. The loud clatter of chains, ropes, sex toys and boxes of condoms spills across the floor, now making complete sense. “Jeno, tie me up. I… you have to tie me up.”

Jeno shakily reaches for one of the ropes, dropping it with an anguished moan at the first throb passing between his thighs. The pollen fully absorbed into his lungs from meeting it face on, he falls face first with a loud thud, chest beating wildly. “Jaemin, t-tie me.. me first— I—can’t.”

“Jisung’s here!” Mark calls, knocking the door happily.

Haechan runs back into the other room with their friend, both out of breath from racing their way back through the dark, using the employee route on the way back.

“What the fuck is this Ji?!?” Mark’s enraged tone is hard to miss even between walls, followed by a mumble of panic and worry.

“The power died, news is saying it could be hours..”

“So what?!? There has to be a way to open this door!” Mark shouts back, face full of heat and anger.

Jisung’s mouth falls, reaching to scratch his neck nervously. “I can’t go in that room.”

“What the fuck do you mean you can’t!”

“It’s the..” Jisung swallows, pulling out a map to hand to Mark.

“Sex pollen?!” His eyes widen, nearly popping out of their sockets before turning back to kick at the door. “If either of you assholes fucks my sister, I’ll kill you!!!”

Your brother's threat has Jaemin working faster to tie a knot around his friend's wrists, completely avoiding your existence by the room entrance despite the thick taste of slick filling his mouth. “Come on Jeno, we have to work together.” He says frantically, licking away the bats of sweat trickling from his upper lip.

“Alpha..”

The air stiffens, hard enough to shatter like glass if either of them were to take another breath. The two freeze in place, trembling with their hands gripped around each other deadly tight as the most beautiful helpless moan dances through their ears.

“Alpha, I need you.”

Jeno manages to somehow get Jaemin’s arms chained together behind his back, struggling as he fumbles with a pair of handcuffs to attach on the other and keep them locked together- at least for as long as their bodies will allow.

“Jeno..”

Your voice licks at his ear, back going stiff as his lips twitch and he nearly breaks down into tears. Every demand to control himself grows more distant, fading away past the chants to fuck, claim, breed and mate.

“Jeno!” Jaemin’s raspy shout cuts through him like a blade, falling forward in a daze as his canines burn as if the pollen has seeped into his brain and began to flow with the blood rushing through each of his rapidly pulsating veins. “Don’t! You can’t!”

“Alpha, please.”

The call beckons him to lift his head, lips coated in a thick layer of spit pouring freely the more he falls victim to the crushing need to give in to his primal desires.

“Alpha.” The land of your palms against his chest has him lurching up straight, neck going ramrod with wide-eyes at the realization of your lack of distance, having crawled your way closer to capture him. The loosely tied rope hanging off his wrists uselessly, easy to free himself from. “Need you, it hurts—it hurts Alpha.”

Jeno struggles to swallow, the lining of his throat blanketed with a molasses thick layer of saliva, making it harder to breath and forcing him to wheeze as he meets your blown-out gaze. “C-can’t, we can’t.”

“Jeno! Listen to me!” Jaemin shouts, mostly barricaded away by the fog thats begun to stuff the olders ears. “You have to resist! It’s the pollen, she doesn’t know what she’s asking for!!”

“Alpha..” your voice breaks past the piles of cotton stuffing his ears, managing to squeeze your way past his lack of sense as Jaemin fails to.

Jeno wants to tell you to stop, he wants to push you away as gently as he can, wants to control himself, but as you make the next move forward and settle onto his lap, he can’t find himself anymore; he’s gone. Lost in the delirious magic of your high potent arousal.

“Jeno!” Jaemin audibly struggles behind the two of you, neck twisting to watch you push down onto Jeno’s lap and circle his shoulders, the Alphas neck limp as he leans forward, forehead crashing against yours. “Jeno! Think clearly! Try to think!”

Jaemin cries between his screams, fumbling around with the chains and handcuffs the older had managed to lock shut just a minute ago, his chest aches; screaming with something akin to jealousy that he wishes to ignore and shove aside. He should’ve contained the other Alpha first.. Jeno got hit with the pollen hardest..

“What was I thinking..” he sighs, forcing his eyes shut to look away from the first roll of your hips landing down against his friends. Jaemin bites back a growl, head dizzy the more he tries to work through the jumble of thoughts racing past him.

Mark will kill you.

Mark will kill you.

Fuck his sister.

Fuck his sister.

Fuck her now before Jaemin can claim your Omega.

Jeno can’t tell anything apart in the room anymore, the only clear vision in front of him is you. If not for the incessant need to feel every inch of your flesh he’d move slower, he’d move faster if not from his own exhaustion and resistance still struggling to bring him back.

“Jeno..”

“Omega.”

“Yes.” You gasp out, clawing at his chest for some type of contact. Everything burns, from the blood pumping through your veins to the heat raging through your nerves; screaming through your bones to have your Alpha, to consume every bit of him.

“Want me to fuck you?” Jeno hisses, head spinning as your scent invades his nostrils and takes over any minor hint of sense he possibly had left.

“Jeno, no!” Jaemin fights to unlatch himself, the flesh lining his wrists cut through with each pull and cry he lets out the more he fails to get free. “Don’t!”

The Alphas cock thrums, aching up his chest with a pained howl swarming his mind. The pollen awakening his feral instincts, shouting at him in anger to not let another Alpha have you before he can.

“Is that what you want?” Jeno clutches onto your hips, rutting you down against the stiff lump protruding from his crotch, panting along your lips that part open the faster he works you down.

“Inside,” you breathily gasp, flushed by the heavy want and need to press flesh to flesh. “W-wanna feel you inside.”

“Ah, fuck.” Jeno rocks your hips down urgently, ass lifting up to push harder against the seat of your underwear. Wound up too tight to stop himself, he manages to maneuver you onto your back with quick speed, still humping erratically between your thighs for some type of friction. “Fuck, I can’t.”

The Alpha jerks once, twice, neck strained back in arch leaving the veins lined up his neck on full display for your Omega to salivate over, canines aching to dig in and mark him up. With tight lips he grunts, circling down against the now wet fabric of his boxers, soiling through his jeans as release spurts out and makes a mess between his cock and underwear.

“Alpha?”

Jaemin scoffs loudly, chains rattling with another curse as he shouts to be let free. “You can’t even get your pants off before cumming!”

Jeno grimaces, ducking down to kiss your chin apologetically. “Alpha please, need your cock, need it inside.”

God, your begging can make his head explode, crumbling as he litters searing pecks down your throat and licks over the pendant splayed on your chest. “Wanna be inside you.” He pants heavily, gliding beneath the cheerleader top keeping your breasts hidden, scooting the material just high enough to expose the hardened tips of your nipples for his thumbs to flick and press down on.

“Alpha!” Screeching and arching you, you writhe under his hold, lengthy palms swipe up your sides, cupping your chest to bounce up as he bites down a moan and grinds harder against the soaked material of your panties.

“Unchain me!” Jaemin’s shouts grow lost the more the thick scent of your sweet slick wraps around Jeno, opting to replace a hand on your breasts with his mouth in favor of finally reaching down to unbutton and tug himself free.

The Alphas lips encase your nipple, tongue lapping roughly as if he expects something to trickle out. Already envisioning the sweet nectar of your lactating breasts after he fills you with enough seed to ensure you carry his pups. Without a clear mind to process a thought beyond fucking and breeding, Jeno tugs at his wet cock, shoving your panties to the side with the same cum covered hand before slapping the thick length against your already swollen slit.

“Please please please!”

Jeno growls, gliding the girthy meat between your blood filled cunt, the arousal hot enough to scorch around him, making his chest flutter with fear and hunger. “It’s all for you.” Hauling one of your thighs up, he leans in to lick across your upper lip, puffing wheezed breaths as the tip of his cock prods at your entrance.

“Alpha, Alpha!” The pathetic cries you let out as he works into your tight heat has his eyes rolling back, cock throbbing enough to feel each tremor pass through his limbs.

“Fuck fuck fuck.” Jeno groans, eyes clenched shut when he hits obstruction and the weight of his heavy balls slaps against your ass. “Oh fuckkk.”

“Alpha,” you sigh dreamily, mouth hung open covered in drool. “Feel s-so good, feel so big.”

Jeno’s forehead presses to yours, sweat slipping your skin together and pushing his nose to dig against yours. “It’s you, so fucking tight.” He emphasizes with a pointed thrust, inching out to the tip only to feed his cock back inside much faster and pick up the pace until your hole finally gives around him and he can fuck into you with a renewed ease. “That’s it, relax for me baby, you like that? Like how my cocks pounding into you so fucking good.”

“Jeno,” you gasp, lower back arching up with each expert thrusts. The Alpha more experienced than you, evident by the way he takes control and fucks you harder without having to beg for more. “Love it—love your c-cock.”

Jeno fucks into you even harder at that, dripping with sweat as your bodies run together chasing the highest high, mind numb with nothing but the desire to feel his cum shoot out deep inside of you. “Louder.” He smacks your thigh, the clap thunderous throughout the room, forcing Jaemin to twist up from the floor in seek of his own pleasure.

“Asshole.” He cries, tears streaming down his cheeks as he breaks and watches the two of you lost in the animalistic desire that has you fucking like two feral blood thirsty wolves in heat. It’s enough behind his wet vision to tune the other Alpha out and focus on the euphoric pleasure that's taken over your usually innocent angelic face.

“Love your cock!” You whine, face wrenched up as you turn away and your head bounces back from the overwhelming sensations racing through you. “Love it so—so much.”

“Fuck yeah.” Jeno groans, beginning to lose rhythm as his hips stutter and he pulls out completely one more time, quickly punching back through your tight heat in one go just to feel you clamp down around his cock to a suffocating point. The Alphas everywhere, arms encasing your head as he leans in and licks down your cheek to capture your lips, balls tightening up letting him know he’s close. So close to filling your womb with cum, fucking faster and faster even as you pulse around his length and jostle under his punishing thrusts. Pussy milking his cock dry as you hit climax and grip around him mercilessly.

The kiss grows sloppy, weight dropping down as he sucks your bottom lip in and circles his cock deep inside until the last white string shoots out. “You okay?”

Jeno pants loudly, clothes heavy on his back now drenched by sweat. He waits for you to nod before pulling out with a hiss to fall by your side and allow his eyes to fall shut for just a minute, a minute to catch his breath. A minute too long as you already find yourself crawling to Jaemin, ripping at the cheerleader top halfway up your torso.

The Alphas gaze lifts to yours excitedly, licking his lips as he shakes his head awake after seeing white as he fucked up into the air and came inside of his pants. “Alpha.” You say in the most seductive tone he’s ever heard, better than music to his ears in this hedonistic state.

“Pup, help me.” Jaemin sounds shattered, voice raspy as if sandpaper scrubbed his vocal chords. “My hands.”

The scent of his release punches into you, scrabbling up his thighs to remove his pants from hiding him away. “Alpha, need more, need you.”

“Please puppy,” he grits, thighs trembling under your eager hands, hips twitching up. “Please get my hands!”

The tormented whine he lets out steals your focus long enough to show concern, nodding as you scoot in closer and reach around to his back in search of the chains latched together.

“Need to t-touch you.” He whines pitifully, helping you by shaking his forearms weakly with each unravel of the chain. “Need to—“

Jaemin lets out the loudest blood curdling howl, finally able to roll his wrists around, he pounces up to settle on his knees, hoisting you by the waist to be manhandled onto all fours. “Just like that.” His large palm closes around the back of your neck, pinching the skin taut until you mule and whimper, arching back showing off the obscene mess you’ve made.

Jaemin snarls at the sight of another Alphas cum smeared all over your underwear, quickly digging his sharp nails into the material to tear them off, the seams ripping apart nastily loud, pulsing terror through your nerves. “Let him fuck you before me?” He growls, leaning over your back and landing a strike to your ass.

“You’ll let anyone fuck you? Slutty Omega, any cock would satisfy you.”

“N-no Alpha,” you squirm, buttcheek stinging for less than a minute before another whip-like slap lands. “Ahh!”

“Don’t lie to me, Omega.” The Alpha grunts, sparing your ass from another hit to work his pants down and flip your skirt up, sad excuse of underwear(that you paid extra for) left shredded into pieces nearby. “No fucking point, I’ll fuck you the way you deserve.”

Jaemin wraps around his length, swiping through the wetness covering your inner thighs as he works up to your slit and pushes between your swollen soft folds. “Fuck you like I found you out in the wild, pussy leaking everywhere begging to be claimed.”

“Yesyesyes! Alpha, take me!”

“So fucking wet.” Jaemin rasps, wrapping your hair around his fist to pull your neck up and attach his lips to your jugular, softly teething at the vein pumping fiercely against his tongue. “Don’t move, or I’ll really make it hurt.” He says between kisses, licking at the sweat dangling from your jawline.

The Alpha shoves up, keeping the hold on your hair tight as his arm extends to push your chest to the ground, hips ramming against your supple ass. “Present.”

A gurgled sound of agreement leads your hips to push open, ass lifted high as you spread apart, placing your soaked cunt perfectly under the dim streaks of light coming from the scattered flashlights. “Good girl, keep it exactly like that for me.”

Jaemin slaps his length between your thighs a few times, biting down to keep his moans at bay. “Omega with the prettiest pussy, how’d I get so lucky?” He mumbles, head spinning this close to your sugary sweet scent.

“Ah, p-please—ahhh!” Without wasting another second he slams in, finding lack of resistance thanks to the amount of slick spilling out of you, and maybe because someone else was too greedy before he had the chance.

“That’s it, take all of it.” Jaemin says, lapping at the saliva slipping from his plump lips and grabbing a firm hold on your hip with one hand while keeping your head twisted painfully. He begins to pound fervently; turning just in time to catch Jeno’s eyes fluttering open, irises blown out red full of hunger. “This is what you needed, Omega? Feel that pussy nice and stretched around my cock? Tell me.”

“Y-yes!” You sound near death as you shout, fucked into like nothing but a cocksleeve to fuck for his own gain. Jaemin growls, tugging your hair to turn your gaze to Jeno’s.

“Say it.”

“N-needed,” you wail, cock sliding in and out of you easily, copious amounts of slick rammed out with each pump of his length pushing in deep. The wetness claps through the room, drenched thighs shaking form the force of the Alphas weight slamming down. “C-cock, needed!”

“Say you needed my cock.” Jaemin says in a lowered strict tone, scooping around your waist to pull you back onto his cock even faster.

“Yours!” You shriek, the Alpha squatted over your back with his feet flat to the floor to gain power. Jeno’s lip curls, pushing up to sit and throw off his sweat soaked shirt. “Yours Alpha! Ahh fuck!”

He sighs, cock aching already from listening to your pretty sounds, even if he’s not the one receiving them.

“Pussy so fucking good.” Jaemin grins at the other Alpha, drawing his cock out inch by inch to admire the thick gloss of slick stained up to his abdomen. “How am I supposed to stop fucking you now?”

Jeno rolls his eyes, moving closer to slap Jaemin’s hand away from your hair. “Sweet little puppy, you’ll do anything for some dick.”

He snickers a bit, forcing a soft smile when you blink up clearly lost to the feeling of being stuffed full again and again. “You close baby?”

“Pussy’s gripped around me so tight,” Jaemin adds, fucking at a punishing fast and strong pace.

“Y-yes,” you slur, finding comfort in Jeno’s palm gliding over your cheek. “Wa—wanna cum!”

“You cum when I tell you to cum.” Jaemin says despite your consistent whines, slamming down hard enough to have you slip on your knees, pushed belly flat to the floor to be used as nothing more than a fucktoy.

“Alpha! No, please!” You kick, screaming through grinding teeth. Jeno glares at the younger, snaking his free hand under your hips to find your clit and pinch the bud between two fingers.

“Shh shhh, it’s okay puppy.” He says sweetly, watching your eyes roll back leaving nothing but whites behind. “Don’t listen to him, cum for me.”

Jaemin’s hips barrel down even faster, enraged that the other Alpha has the audacity to touch you. “If you cum, I’ll punish you worse than this.” He says in a deep low registered growl, colliding down against your ass hard enough to bloom bruises tomorrow.

“It’s okay baby, cum for me.” Jeno repeats, thumbing away the tears tracking freely down your cheeks, dick throbbing the more his hand gets drenched with slick.

“Alpha—I—I,” your eyes roll up, empty of thought as gold coats across any color, fiery and wide, lips parted in a silent scream. Jaemin curses behind you, struggling for a moment to push through the ruthless clench of your heat, he fucks through your orgasm even with slick shooting out around his length making it harder to fuck you fiercely.

“Shit.” Jeno salivates, licking at his lips repeatedly as his hand draws free from under your collapsed weight and takes in the arousal that slid down his forearm.

Jaemin’s movements turn erratic, slapping sweaty palms down on your upper back for leverage to keep going even as his release approaches; lost in the depths of his own nonsensical pleasure. “O-oh shit!”

The Alpha stutters, letting out a high-pitched sound similar to a wounded puppy, hips hitting with finality as he finally lets go and shoots drop after drop of cum deep inside of you.

Breathing becomes harder with Jaemin’s chest landing against yours, slapped over and over again by the older Alpha to move. “Get off of her.”

“Ah, fuck you.” He mumbles, biting down on his lip as he slips out, half-hard cock landing against his pelvis softly twitching. “Damn.” His head reels for a minute, calmed momentarily. Coherent thoughts pass by, blinking slowly at the ceiling as he takes in deep inhales of pollen filled air and quickly succumbs to the desperation, the need to be inside of you again.

“Jeno,” you whimper, reeling from being fucked back to back.

“More?” He asks, taken aback but also not surprised, his own arousal spiking up at mere glimpse of you.

Nodding, you turn lazily, cupping to cover your mound to hide. “H-hurts..”

“That’s fine.” Jaemin speaks up, moving next to his friend with a grin as he kneads your ass, lifting your buttcheek to get a good look at your hole. He bends forward, swiping two fingers between your pert mounds, circling over the rim. “Jeno got to fuck your first..”

He says, peering over his shoulder at the Alpha with a mischievous glint in his eye. “I’ll make it feel good, puppy. Real good.”

Shivers run up your spine, Jaemin pushing his way closer to hold your ass apart with his lips pursed together, dropping a wad of spit just to watch it dribble down your rim. “Want it?” He asks, digits digging into the meaty flesh of your bottom.

“Alpha..” your hole pulses, winking enticingly, answering for you as he surges in and runs his tongue across the wrinkled entrance.

“No time for all this,” he says between huffed breaths, setting a searing kiss on your rim. “Sorry angel, promise it’ll get better.”

Confusion draws your eyebrows together, manhandled up for your back to lay against the Alphas chest, pushing between your thighs from behind he rubs between to gather up the wads of slick continuously pouring out, cock dripping with the thick cream. “Ready?”

“Unghh..” lifelessly, you shake your head, unsure what he’s even asking. Jeno moves in to take a hold of your waist.

“Slow, give her time to adjust..” he says in a low warning, already imagining the younger to brutally fuck into you as he already did. “Don’t hurt her.”

Jaemin mumbles a curse, stroking the slick up and down his size and smearing the rest over your rim. “She can take it, she’s a good Omega.” He whispers, gaze directed to your lower halves with focus on the tip of his cock nudging at your rim. “Isn’t that right angel?”

Heavy breath fans Jeno’s lips, watching your eyes widen at the first inch pushing past your viscously tight rim. “Shh shh, it’s okay.”

Cupping your chin, he kisses lightly across your upper lip, stealing the pained moans passing through with a firmer press. Jaemin groans gravelly behind you, holding your ass spread apart to ensure the best view of his cock stretching your hole open.

“Fuck, that’s too good..” he whines, teeth grinding together the more his cock disappears. “What a good slut, hmm? Taking Alphas cock anywhere.”

Jeno can’t help but rut against your hip, growing more hazy with the vibrations of your cries tracing past his tongue. “Can I fuck you too?” He asks desperately, nose rubbing against yours sweetly. “Please?”

A light nod gives him enough answer, thanking you with a firm kiss and tongue massaging around yours. “The best Omega for us.”

Jaemin grunts to agree, pushing in balls deep with a shout, neck stiff and rippling. The tight clamp of your ass has his thighs shaking, heavy hands smoothing around your hips to press down on your lower stomach. “Fuck, this is crazy.” He says with a meticulous roll of his hips, ass bouncing against him. “..Won’t last long inside this pretty tight hole puppy.”

Jeno’s fingers pass between your thighs, teasing past your folds to rub circles at your sore stretched entrance. “This okay?”

“Fuck man, hurry the hell up before my dick falls off.” Jaemin growls, biting at your shoulder to stave off the the urge to completely pull out and fuck back into you raw, throw you back onto your knees like a good little breeding bitch.

“Alpha, p-please, put it in—“ you drawl, vaginal opening spasming around the tips of Jeno’s fingers. Kissing at the backs of his teeth, he nods fast, gripping his length to push between your fleshy velvety folds.

“More, more!” You whine, slapping and clawing at his chest. Jeno hisses, guttural and deep, grabbing your flailing arms and clutching your wrists together, shoving them to your chest with one hand to keep you held in place.

“More? Wanna become our pretty little slut? Fucked by two Alphas at the same time?” He asks softly, the words sounding sweeter than they should from his pretty pout.

“Yes yes yes! Jeno, Alpha! Please please,” you gasps, head rolling back, neck dropped against Jaemin’s shoulder. “Wan-wanna be filled so bad, so fucking bad.”

“So God damn pathetic,” Jaemin whimpers, licking the light teeth marks left behind on your shoulder.

Jeno thinks he might pass out if he doesn’t get his dick inside of you in an instant, steadying himself with the hold on your wrists, he strokes at his shaft one more time to spread the slick; slowly pushing the tip in past your opening as he leans in and huffs over your lips. “How bad do you need it?”

“Please!”

Jaemin screams a slew of curses, gripping hard around your waist and slamming you down to fully take Jeno’s length. Choking on your breath, you stiffen up, legs falling apart only held up by the Alphas keeping you full with their thick cocks.

Jeno’s lips twitch, face dropping to catch his breath as he notices a bulge jutting out under your navel, experimentally swirling his hips forward to see the skin protrude from his cockhead pushed that deep inside of you. “Fuck! Oh fuck.”

He gasps, short of breath admiring the skin stretch out, his cock overbearingly hot with Jaemin’s filling you up from the other side. The skin separating their lengths thin enough to feel the younger Alphas girth rest against the underside of his, throbbing together deep inside of you. “That has to hurt baby.”

“That’s it.” Jaemin encourages, struggling to speak with wads of saliva wrapped around his tongue. “You’re doing so well.”

“F-fuck—me.” You beg, eyes clenched shut tightly, growing delirious with need to feel the Alphas move in and out of you.

“Feel stuffed full, huh?” Jaemin grits, punctuating the question with a harsh thrust.

“So—so good!” You sob, reeling as Jeno follows and removes his length leaving only the bulbous tip of his cock inside before pummeling back in, fucking with full force. Pulling out only to bury back into the hilt again and again, pussy skin grasping around his cock better than anything he’s ever felt before.

Jaemin gets lost in the feeling of your taut pulsating ass swallowing his cock, head spinning with each honey-dripping moan you let out by his ear. “Ah—God, your ass is too fucking good.”

The Alphas begin to work their hips faster, simultaneously thrusting in and out, cocks moving in unison unbeknownst to each other. The rhythm they build up feels punishing, pushing you into a state of ecstasy; gasping out short little breaths as your lungs close in.

Jeno reaches down to rub at your clit with his thumb, swollen nub beyond sensitivity, stealing a fast orgasm out of you. It hits harder than any so far, blacking out as your breath is punched out of you. Thighs quivering and cramping as a stream of clear slick rushes free from your convulsing cunt, arching out high enough to land on Jeno’s abdomen and trickle down.

“Oh—shit—ah,” he shouts, cock stilling as Jaemin lets out an ear-shattering growl and his solid biceps squeeze around your waist, lifting you up and down to thrust in and out of your asshole at a relentless pace.

With your pussy continuing to pulse, Jeno buries his cock back in. Biting down on his lip as you keep squirting around his length.

“Alphas—s’too much, ahh! C-can’t!” You whimper, helplessly trying to free your wrists from Jeno’s strong grip.

“You can take it.” Jaemin says with demand, moving in and out with measured strokes, the tip of his cock leaking maddeningly.

“And you will.” Jeno finishes saying for him, firm hold continuing to restrain your wrists as his free hand circles your throat.

Jaemin blinks back tears, half-upset that he can feel his climax approaching. Snapping quick jabs of his length as he chases after the peak of pleasure, he bites down on your shoulder roughly, nipping the skin hard enough to hurt. “G-gonna cum—“

He grunts out, thrusts becoming more harsh and erratic forcing Jeno to halt his movements, allowing you to be fucked down by the harsh thrusts Jaemin pounds into you with.

“P-please Alpha—wan-want it!”

Jaemin yells, pumping his hips up sloppily a few more times, cock pulsing with hot spurts filling your ass. Quietly moaning with his head dropped, not even able to hold himself up anymore.

Jeno gently pushes his shoulders back, scooping you by the waist with one arm, cock slipping out as he shifts away to reposition you.

“Just a little more for me?” He can’t guarantee he’s not lying, under the heavy spell of sex pollen coursing through his veins. Turning you on your back, he adjusts between your thighs to seeth his cock fully back inside, savoring the heat blanketed around him yet again. “How—how are you still so so tight.”

The Alpha would guess you’re a virgin if he didn’t remember last summer when he found you in a jacuzzi alone with some guy nowhere near your league, bikini bottoms floating away with guilt stained across your face.

“Should’ve been me,” he murmurs, quick to capture your lips and thrust fast, but short, cock mostly inside. Too addicted to the feeling of your walls sucking around him.

“K-knot me, please, please please, Alpha please.” Your lips tremble as you plead, making it impossible for him to refuse. Not that he would, reaching between your bodies to rub figure eight’s around your swollen clit, he groans, fucking faster on the brink of orgasm.

“Can you take it?” He asks, only to see you nod maniacally, biting down on the backs of his teeth with a wrinkled skewed forehead the more he exerts himself to pinch your clit in succession with his rapid jerky thrusts. “Take all of it for me pup, it’s all for you.”

Coming to an abrupt stop he twitches harshly, cock beating against your insides with the first shot of cum bursting free, painting a mess of white inside with the tip of his cock pressed up to your cervix. “Ahhh!—“ Jeno’s lips curl in, struggling to breathe properly as the base of his cock swells painfully and he has to push in deeper, push in the feel as much of your hot tight cunt kissing at his knot.

“Ugh!” Slick streams out, splashing against the enlarged base of his length keeping all of his cum trapped inside. The possibilities of being full of pup spiraling through the both of you, pushing another shot of pleasure out of your tired body.

“Fuck.” He sighs, wet hand moving to hold the back of your neck and take in your fucked out face, take in your wide dreamy gaze. Envisioning how perfect a future between the two of you could be.

Even if this whole thing was some freak accident, his Alphas never felt this elated, full of life and love. “Mate.” He says with a grind, knot pushing against your sore tender entrance, having tears sting behind your eyes.

“I’ll take care of you.” He whispers, kissing down from your cheekbone to your chin, gently sucking at your jawline before he makes way to your neck. “And you’ll belong to me, only me.”

Possessiveness burns through his heart, beating faster as he takes in your scent gland and pulls at the thin chain around your neck too roughly, snapping the metal for his nose to graze freely. His teeth itch with need, licking at his canines the more they throb up to his gums and his wolf howls to bite.

Do it.

Bite her.

Our Omega.

“Alpha..” you say weakly, eyes drifting shut from the exhaustion of heat and the overbearing scent of Alpha seeping from your pores.

“Omega.” He hums, licking up the column of your throat only to lick back down again, willing himself to not bury his teeth in. “My perfect Omega.”

Even half-passed out, your body responds, heat sucking around his length earning a deep rumble from his chest, he hisses, grazing higher for his teeth to scratch closer to your nape.

“Please..”

Jeno thinks his minds playing tricks on him, head full of clouds as he bites down just hard enough to leave a mark and not break the skin completely. It seems to be enough, for now, to satiate both of your wolves. The tension leaves his spine as he relaxes against you, nose firmly tucked against your scent gland.

“I’d give you the world if you asked.” He mumbles, eyes drifting shut for no more than a few minutes as his knot finally goes down enough to at least shift onto his side.

Jaemin grumbles, slowly coming back to, no doubt wanting to fuck again. “Move.” He says from behind Jeno, sitting up only to come to a halt as the door slams up streaking light from the other room over your figures.

“Get off of her!” Mark shouts, spit flying from his mouth as he grabs Jeno’s shoulders and rips the larger Alpha away with strength that can only be fueled by rage.

Protective instinct takes over, throwing his jacket down before anyone can get a look at you. “Haechan, give me your hoodie!”

Haechan rushes to unzip himself and quickly hand over the baggy hood, your brother fast to wrap you up safely before lifting your exhausted body and shooting a glare at his friends. “I’ll deal with you two later.”

———————————————

After a long talk involving a ton of yelling and crying, Mark finally decided to let it go; having to accept that maybe you aren’t a baby anymore.

“You’re still my baby sister though and you always will be.” He grumbles, tugging you close to his chest with an arm around your neck.

“Always.”

“And..” he sighs, releasing you to give you a stern look. “I don’t think I can handle you dating one of my friends quite yet.”

“Markkk!” You whine, smacking his arm. “I already told you!”

“Yeah yeah, I know, it’s not like that.” He says sarcastically, throwing up quotations. “But it’s going to be weird now regardless, I mean..”

“You think so?”

“I don’t think any normal person can go through what the three of you went through and..”

“Well they’re coming over in a bit to help set up the new console system so.. I guess we’ll find out.”

Mark sighs, running a hand through his hair repeatedly. “If they make you feel uncomfortable—“

“They won’t.” You cut him off, smacking his shoulder. “Don’t forget they’re still your best friends who have done nothing other than respected me and done their best to take care of me too.”

“Yeah yeah, whatever.” He grumbles. “But if either of them do anything to step out of line!”

“Yes yes, you’ll—“ you deepen your tone, glaring at him venomously. “KICK THEIR ASS!”

“Pft.”

Three knocks rattle against the front door before you and your brother can get into a back and forth mockery of each other, shoving him aside as you yell out that you got it. “Go away!” You add quickly, shooing him to exit the living room area.

“Whatever.” Mark murmurs, flipping you off on his way out.

Taking a deep breath you open the door to greet Jaemin and Jeno, both standing side by side nervously, scratching their necks and shifting from foot to foot. “Hey!”

“H-hey..” Jeno speaks up first, clearing his throat and nodding at you as he steps in.

“Mark’s in the kitchen, I think.” You say, motioning to the 6-pack of Diet Coke tucked under his arm.

“Oh, yeah..” Jeno shifts back on his heels nervously, eyeing Jaemin who makes no effort to move. “I’ll go put this in the fridge real quick.”

His gaze passes between the two of your wearily, wishing that Jaemin had been the one carrying the drinks now. “Be right back.” He says, skillfully darting his eyes to the younger's face in silent warning before you notice.

“Hey pup, come here,” Jaemin draws you back from following after the other Alpha, pointed teeth on display with a large smile. “You feeling okay today? After everything..”

“I’m fine Jaem.” You force a smile, straightening up at the trickle of sweat rolling down your back the more you fail to create space between your bodies.

“You don’t seem fine.” He steps closer, reaching to push loose strands of hair behind your ear. “I’m sorry if—“

“There’s nothing to be sorry about, if anything you guys saved me.. pollen, it’s—“

“You saved us too.” Jaemin corrects, adding a small smile. “Not really the circumstance I ever imagined we’d do something like that, but, I wanted to let you know..”

Taking a step back he sighs, scratching down the center of his throat nervously. “I really—“

“Hey, Jaem, can I get a minute?” Jeno returns, jogging over seemingly short of breath as he pats the younger Alphas arm and nods toward the hallway. “Could you go help Mark start to unbox everything? We’ll be there in a bit, I just need to talk to her in private first.”

“Uhm..“ Jaemin’s eyes go wide, lips tightened into a thin line nearly disappearing as he silently fumes and wills the urge to shout away. “I was about to—“

“Great, thanks.” Jeno nods, smiling and striking down heavy pats on his shoulders before proceeding to direct him out of the room. “We’ll be in soon.”

Jaemin sports a hard smile, teeth gritted together as he waves and nods. “Sure.”

Jeno’s palms clasps together, motioning for the two of you to sit once alone. “I really wanted to apologize.”

“Jeno, it’s fine, seriously.” You start, waving off cooly. “Like I was telling Jaemin, everything that happened was out of our control, you know?”

“Not about that.” Jeno reaches into his pocket, drawing free a thin squared box draped with black velvet. “Everything that happened feels like such a blur..”

Leaning in closer he clicks the box open, a beaming crystal Evenstar pendant identical to the one missing from your neck shines, the Alphas fingers lifting the silver chain attached to show you. “I broke your necklace..”

“You did?!” Letting out a surprised gasp you reach to grab the chain from him, only for the Alpha to move away and shake his head.

“Let me.” Jeno shifts to sit behind you, gathering your hair to one side to expose your neck, breath caught upon seeing the light marks his teeth left behind. “I really am sorry about that.”

“The necklace? It’s okay, I’m sure it wasn’t on purpose.”

Jeno hums, pulling the chain around to lock in at your nape. “Yeah..” the tips of his fingers trace over the bite marks, sighing before placing a gentle kiss. “You’ll let me make it up to you, right?”

Twisting around to get a proper look at the Alpha, your eyebrows lift confused, tilting your head to take in the hint of distress pulling his lips into a pout. “What’s wrong?”

“I feel bad about what happened in that room.” He says, gaze lowered. “Like we took advantage of you or—“

“You didn’t.” Boldly, you cup his cheeks to keep his eyes on yours, giving him a gentle smile. “It’s weird but even after that I feel nervous around you.”

“I do too.” Jeno sighs, relaxed under the warmth of your palms pressed to his cheeks. “It’s because I like you.” He blinks rapidly, swallowing as he forces his gaze to return to yours. “I like you in a way that would probably get Mark’s ass locked up for attempted murder.” He laughs to lighten his mood, sensing a bubble of worry beginning to erupt in his gut.

“Really?”

Jaemin clears his throat, entering back through the hallway that Jeno had banished him to exit from earlier. “You two done yet? Mark’s getting tired of waiting and we already opened everything up.”

Hands fall away from Jeno’s face abruptly, shooting up to stand upon spotting the other Alpha. “Oh yeah! Sorry sorry.”

The older grumbles, getting up to stay by your side and glare at his friend pointedly. “You could have started without us.”

Racing ahead, you miss the whispers passing between them, more paranoid that your brother could be suspicious of how long you’ve been alone with one of his friends.

“You really have a death wish huh?” Jaemin snickers, bumping into the older Alphas shoulder as he leans in to whisper. “Or maybe you really wanna see Mark behind bars for that attempted murder.”

The two continue to appraise each other throughout the day, mindful of every move the other makes before Mark warns them when you head to the bathroom to ‘Knock it off before I rip one of your stupid Alpha heads off and punt you into the afterlife.’

“Don’t think I’m just going to allow either of you to fuck my sister now because of this.” He says quietly before you come back in and sit down besides Jaemin, toying with your new pendant.

Jeno smiles, admiring how much you seem to enjoy the new necklace. “Oh, I thought you lost this.”

“Jeno bought me a new one.” You mumble, quickly throwing the Alpha a smile.

Jaemin reaches to hold the pendant, frowning as he steals a glance at Jeno. “Or, maybe you’re more bold than I assumed. A real rule breaker, willing to spend a lot to win..”

“What?” You ask, half paying attention out of fear of your brother’s wrath if he catches you staring at either of his friends too long.

Jeno smirks at the younger Alpha, leaning back against the couch with a cocked eyebrow. “Are you? ‘Cause if you’re not.. you better run..”

Jaemin glowers back at him, whispering quietly. “One way to find out.”

[targaryenluvs]

MAKE YOU STAY / EDDIE DIAZ

PAIRING: Dark!Eddie Diaz x Fem!Reader

SUMMARY: Your attempt to leave Eddie won’t work, because he won’t let them, or you.

WARNINGS: Obsession, guilt trip, jealousy, possessiveness, sexual content, manipulation gaslighting & entrapment.

WORDCOUNT: 2.3K Words

A/N: Happy season 7 launch!! I got inspired slightly by @megalony and her new Dark Evan series go check it out!!

Gif not mine, credits to the owner!

Life with Eddie use to be everything you could ever dream of. Whether it be slow mornings getting ready together, sharing a shower and helping Chris get ready. Or an absolute hurricane ripping through your home whilst the three of you stumble over each other to get ready after a sleep in.

No matter the time of day, you loved whatever you were doing, as long as they were by your side.

And Eddie’s protectiveness use to be just another aspect of your relationship you loved, until you opened your eyes.

It use to be small, his anger.

An incessant colleague reaching out for tips and aid in a new project, you being a senior member meaning it wasn’t uncommon for people to reach out to you. You were one of the best workers at the company, well respected and loved as well as brilliant. And always willing to help someone in need.

He use to love that about you. Until it followed you home.

Chris was currently at a friends house, leaving the two of you to an inside date night, “Now on what planet would I ever sit and watch four movies with the title ‘Die Hard’. You sure as hell can’t die that many times.” Eddie shook his head as you refilled each of your respective glasses.

“Sure you can, just ask Chimney.” You gasped before swatting Eddies arm, “Be nice! And put on our show.” The murmuring voices of your favourite characters was more than enough to lull you into his arms, content washing over you. Your ringing phone however, was ready to disturb the peace Eddie had longed for all day.

“Let me just grab this.” His hand scooped your phone up before you could, “Just get it later.” His dismissive tone made you frown, “Give me my phone, please.” You leaned over to snatch it, walking into the hallway. Eddie couldn’t help but massage his temple, did you seriously chose a phone call over peace and quiet in his arms?

He hadn’t noticed how often you picked up your phone, until it interrupted him. It happened often. When the two of you were cooking together, soft music and ambience long forgotten. Almost falling asleep, cuddling, and out of the blue the world was falling apart without you. Eddie thought he could handle it, you were needed, that wasn’t your fault, right? But what he also couldn’t handle was the secretive nature.

Why did you always walk away? Were you hiding something?

And now you were coming home later, clanging into the house at 11, or 12. Sometimes even later. “Where were you?” Eddie stood by the door as you hung your jacket, “Jesus, you scared me E.” His arms were crossed, shoulders tense as you made your way to him, a smile too wide for his liking. “Work ran late, m’ sorry.” As you walked away, his hand caught onto your wrist.

“Ow, let go.” Eddies grip loosened as you retracted your arm, soothing it, “What is your problem?” You looked up to view a sweet smile, “Nothing, just worried about you. When you didn’t call, I got so scared. This world, it’s scary Y/n, you know that, especially during these times.”

Your eyes watered involuntarily at his saddened demeanour, “Oh Eddie, I’m so sorry, I should’ve called. That’s my fault, forgive me?” Your arms came around his neck, before trailing down to his chest, playing with his name tag. “I forgive you, I can also think of a way you can make it up to me.”

His smile was mischievous, and intentions impure. “Oh? And what would that be Mr Diaz?” His hand was heavy on your back and slithering lower by the second, “I think we have an appointment with a bed tonight.”

“I have work tomorrow, so do you.”

“Cmon, for me?” His eyes were pure evil, and you were more than happy to give in, even if you were tired. Really damn tired, but he wanted you, so you should give in right? You did give him a fright. “Take me away Diaz.”

If you’d noticed the signs earlier, maybe you could’ve gotten away. His jealousy, when it did rear its head, was an ugly shade of green.

A late night, again.

Eddie had been by the door for 10, sitting for 20, pacing the kitchen and stress-eating for another 10 before he finally settled into bed. Wide awake of course. The opening of his bedroom door caused him to stir. He watched as you slowly moved around, placing your stuff away, putting your phone on charge and then changing.

He sat upright as you yelped, “Eddie! You scared me, again! Why are you sitting in the dark?” His face was drained of warmth, skin cold to the touch. “Was waiting for you, again.” You frowned at his words, “Baby, you know I’m late these days. Better for you to go to sleep than wait up.” He shook his head, burying his head into your stomach as his body relaxed. Your hands raked through his hair gently, “I think you should consider working from home.”

Your hands stopped in their tracks, working from home? The last time you worked from home was during lockdown, and you’d driven yourself half mad. “Why is that?” Eddie glanced up at you, “You’re barely home, Chris misses you, I miss you. Don’t you want to be with us?” You took a deep breath in before smiling, “Of course I do. I- I’ll see what I can do baby.”

His hands quickly dragged you into bed, “Knew you’d understand amor.” Eddie rested his head in the crook of your neck, his hands slowly making their way underneath your shirt.

“Sweetie, I’m tried.”

“I missed you.” You relented, letting him continue. It seemed to be all you were doing these days, bending backwards and over to please him, literally.

The first time you noticed his behaviour was also when you realised you needed space. Not that he’d give it to you. A new coworker, Harry, had invited not only yourself, but your friend Aleya and Jack out to lunch.

He was a nice guy, very eager to learn and never scared by a little constructive criticism. The only problem was probably his overbearing cologne, very pungent? Intense?

You’d also been driven to work that day, courtesy of your boyfriend. You were working shorter days now, completing about an hour or two of work at home now. It had taken some adjusting, after a few forgetful days and about a million texts from Carla with an impatient Chris at home waiting for you.

You spotted Eddies truck pull up as you wrapped up your conversation with the your three lunch goers, “And that’s me, I’ll see you guys on Monday. Thank you so much for lunch!” You reached out to Aleya for a side hug, the same for Jack and a normal hug for Harry. “Tell Eddie there’ll be a fire at my house later tonight, and he better bring Evan!” Jack joked as you waved him off.

Jack may or may not have a huge crush on Evan.

You hopped in, quickly chucking your purse and files into the back seat before kissing Eddie on the cheek. “Hi! How was Chris’s school?” Eddie shrugged his shoulders, “Fine.” Your eyebrows furrowed at his shortness, “Something wrong?” He turned onto the highway, knuckles tightly gripping the wheel, “You smell like him.”

“Like who? Harry?”

“That his name?”

You rolled your eyes, “No, it’s actually his father’s, middle name Jesus. Care for some wine Eddie?” Not once, had Eddie ever been physical. But raising his voice? Oh that was fair game.

“You think you’re funny huh? Having lunch with other guys and taking the piss outta me?”

“Nothing happened baby, it was lunch. He’s new and trying to fit in and I’m being nice. There’s nothing to worry about I swear.” The silence permeated in the truck, causing the hair on your arms to raise. You hated the silent treatment wholeheartedly.

“Whatever.”

His change in demeanour could flip like a switch, you always assumed it was him putting up a front. But when Eddie showed up the next day, flowers in hand and looking his sharpest, you were forced to reevaluate. “God I wish my boyfriend was that sweet.” Your project partner whispered as you sighed, “That’s Eddie.”

Even your boss wanted you to go with him, “Take the day off sweetie, you deserve it.” And with a pat on the back and a million swooning interns drooling over Eddie, you were sent on your way.

“I got these for you Y/n/n.” Your favourite flowers, arranged perfectly and smelling divine. Your hands wrapped around the bouquet, “Thank you Eddie, they’re perfect.” His smile caused your heart to race, he looked amazing. The Eddie with you that day was incredible.

His infectious laughter, perfect smile and the sweet nothings he whispered into your ear. That, was the Eddie Diaz you knew and loved. A gentleman, who had eyes for only you. Which is why you couldn’t help but wonder, what made him change? How was it possible to go from absolutely furious and unnecessarily jealous to an angel?

You didn’t want to know, and you didn’t want to stay around long enough to find out.

Maybe it was the date, or the fact that you felt as if he deserved an explanation face to face. Either way, if you’d known better, you would have made it away.

“Eddie, we have to talk.” The two of you were currently sitting on the couch, favourite show playing in the background. Eddie hummed along, a slight acknowledgment to your words. “It’s, about us.” Eddie turned the volume down, your sentence piquing his interest.

“What’s wrong?”

“I think, we should break up.”

And with six words, Eddies entire world came crashing down in front of him. What on earth were you talking about? “What did you say?” The smile on Eddies face was anything but sweet or reassuring, a bad attempt at keeping his composure. “You’ve been acting, odd, to say the least.” You stood from the couch as he followed in pursuit, all the way to the kitchen.

“I feel like, all that we’re doing lately is either fighting or sleeping. Every time I come home, you have something to say. Whether it’s about my later nights, about who I was with or what I’m doing on the phone. It’s like I have no privacy at all. I cannot keep a single thing to myself. And if I try to? You blow up at me. I mean last week for example, I tried my hardest to not argue with you by walking away. And all you did was follow me around the house, it drove me crazy. Showing up to my workspace when I tell you I can get more done without random lunch dates. I’m a grown adult but you treat me like a child. And if I stand up for myself I’m cheating. It makes no sense at all Eddie. And I tried to make it work, but I feel like you’re controlling me. I even reduced my hours, because you asked. I moved in even when I wasn’t ready, because you asked. I need a break.” You took a deep breath after your monologue, needing a second.

Turning towards Eddie, he stared straight at you. “I had no idea you felt that way baby. I’m so sorry, I never meant to do any of it. I love you so much, I can’t help but worry. After everything we’ve been through with Shannon,” And there it was, the guilt. It was blinding, clawing its way through you. Shannon. He’d already lost someone he loved, and Chris lost his mother. No wonder he was always to protective over you.

“Hey, I’m not leaving like Shannon okay? What happened was a tragic accident, and I promise nothing like that is going to happen again Eddie.” You immediately engulfed in a hug, his head resting against yours, “I don’t want to loose you, I don’t want Chris to loose you.” Eddie muttered repeatedly as you closed your eyes.

Chris walked into the room, thirsty, tired and curious, “Is something wrong?” You immediately detached yourself from Eddie, wiping away your tears, “Nothings wrong sweetie, did you need something?” He nodded before turning around and walking to his room, “We’ll talk later yeah?” Eddie whispered into your ear before moving ahead.

Sniffles came from underneath Christopher’s blanket, “You alright buddy?” Eddie asked, patting his hair down, “Water.” You watched as Eddie swiftly made his way to the kitchen whilst you sat down, “You need anything else?” Chris’s hand slowly lowered the blanket before smiling your way, “No thanks mum.”

And as quickly as he spoke, he turned over to sleep again. Your eyes were probably protruding out of your head, shock filling your senses. “Mum?” The word sounded foreign on your lips, but apparently comfortable enough on Chris’s.

“He called you mum.” Eddies voice was low, most likely as astounded as you based on the look on his face. You got up slowly, aware of the sleeping boy. You couldn’t help but smile, and kiss his forehead before making your way to Eddie. “I can’t believe it.” Eddies hand came up to wipe away the stray tears before pulling you in and kissing your forehead, “I can.”

“You’re apart of this family baby, always have been.” His words seeped in as he guided you to your bed, whilst you were stuck on autopilot. Chris viewed you as a parent to him, that’s how common you were in his life now, a constant for him to fall back on. He loved you, almost as much as you loved him. Your words weren’t forgotten just swirling in your head, how the hell could you ask for a break now? With this new huge responsibility?

Eddie knew, of course he knew. He was the one encouraging Chris to call you by your new name. Because if there’s one thing Eddie knew he needed, besides Chris?

It’s you, and he’d do anything to make you stay.

[andrevasims]

Here's the text that can appear in pop-ups when a sim watches the weather channel:

— Summer: —————————————————————

• When it's a really hot Summer day, sometimes I think about cold things, and my mind tricks my body into thinking it's cooler than it really is. Except one time I thought about too much ice cream and it made my stomach hurt.

• Sorry, but I can't help you today. I'm out at the pool.

• Why do they call us Meteorologists? I have never predicted a meteor in my whole life! They're scary. If you see one, let me know and I'll tell people. I'm on TV, you know.

• I'm having a bad day. Just go outside if you want to know about the weather. Stop bothering me.

• I've wanted to be a weather man my entire life. Sure other kids thought I was weird playing with my barometer during recess but I knew I was meant to affect people's lives.

• Weather prediction is a serious science. I have a college degree in it. At least I think it was a college. It was all done on the Internet, but I got a shiny certificate in the mail!

— Fall: —————————————————————

• My advice for today? If it rains, wear a jacket.

• I used to like playing in leaf piles. But not as much anymore. They're itchy.

• You know when people say things like "It's raining cats and dogs out there!" Well, that doesn't happen. Trust me. I've checked.

• Oh, what's the big deal? It's hot, it's cold, it's raining, it's snowing. Who cares? It still doesn't change the fact that my job is basically to look out the window. You know how depressing that is?

• I was struck by lightning once. It didn't feel so good. I put a lightning rod on my roof after that and it hasn't happened since.

• I just love playing in a great big pile of leafs. Burning them is fun too. Except when you accidentally set someone on fire. Poor grandma. Her eyebrows never grew back.

— Winter: —————————————————————

• It's Winter. Wear a sweater. Does that help?

• Sorry. Couldn't make it into work today. It's too cold out there!

• When I was a kid, I made up my own superhero. I was "The Boy Weather - Master of the Forecasters!" My mom made me a cape and a mask, and I ran around my house shouting things like "Chance of Showers: 50 percent!". I fought off evil tornadoes and powerful hurricanes with my powers of prediction. I didn't have many friends.

• I had the worst Nightmare last night. I dreamed I was being chased by a penguin and he wanted to hit me with a fish.

• Did you know Penguins can't fly? They also have a natural resistance to polar bear attacks.

• I always wanted a pet penguin but my mother said that I was too young. I asked her again yesterday, but she said that I should let it slide.

— Spring: —————————————————————

• Can you help me out with something I've always wondered about? If you're in the pool, and it starts raining, do you get more wet?

• It's allergy season out there. The pollen count is off the charts! I'm sneezing just thinking about it!

• I have the greatest job in the world. I can be completely wrong nearly all the time and never get fired. When I make a mistake, I can just shake my head and say, "What are ya gonna do? It's the weather!" How sweet is that?

• Don't look to me for all the answers! The knowledge you seek is just a small step out your front door.

• We've been hearing reports of lightning striking tall trees in the neighborhood, so be careful out there!

• Hello. You have reached the Weather Station. We're not in right now, but if you leave a message after the beep…

[supermaks]

Top 10 essential Verstappen races list please!

I habe been watching since I was a literal infant but I kinda took a break from 2014 until 2018 so I missed a lot of teenage Max lore. Now I treated myself to some f1tv for Christmas and want to rewatch a couple old races!!!

Malaysia 2015 Baby boys first points on his 2nd ever f1 start. Drags that lil toro rosso to q3 and then beats both red bulls. Also very funny to listen to the sky commentary because they dont take him seriously at all but he keeps doing things with that car he shouldnt be able to do so they have to keep talking about him and they're so annoyed about itnklfdjgkfdj

Singapore, 2015 classic max race. car d1es at the start. somehow makes it back on track 1 lap down, waits for his main character moment. gets it on lap 13. breezes past the field. gets told to swap positions. literally yells 'NO' and does not do it. U thought brazil 2022 was shocking, well. Educate yourself

USA, 2015 first of all there was a whole hurricane happening bro like a literal hurricane everything about thsi race is like .. what is going on. Hello. Is that Elton John???? Mind you, its Max's rookie season. Austin with wet conditions is the race track equivalent of a fucking minefield I think like half the grid retired. And still, u will witness that lil boy bring the fight to Merc and Ferrari. He actually fought Lewis and Seb Vettel for a podium. In a toro rosso. yeah

Spain, 2016 anime protagonist race. lil babby makes the jump to the big sister team amid much mockery and controversy, and wins on his debut. I can't say this enough. Max has made a career out of owning up to bitches. Every single time. Mercs take each other out, Danny ric gets inexplicably put on a 3 stopper ((lmfao)), and Max holds off fucking RAIKKONEN on DRS!!!! for like a billion years. Not a wheel out of place. And not even his defining moment of the year. For that, u gotta go with--

Brazil, 2016 He became MOTHER age 19 in Interlagos. Nothing else to say. if ur a verstappie u gotta watch Brazil 2016 like twice a year for ur troubles

China, 2017 just a super underrated race imo. Imma go on a tangent for a bit sorry but one of most insane aspects of Max's move to f1 is that he did so with 1 year of experience in f3. Like f3 had been the strongest engine he'd driven up to that point. f3 cars are fast but they're not f1 fast. So Max was supposed to be like a lil squid in a bowl of sharks. To anybody else it wouldve been extremely intimidating and scary to make that jump and its likely they would've sacrificed speed just because they didn't have that confidence in the car yet. And there'd be nothing wrong with that, thats just normal. Well Max never did normal. Seb put it perfectly and Im pretty sure he's not the first driver to comment on this, but Max goes for moves that nobody in their right mind would even dream of attempting. Shit that takes a special type of instinct, but more than that, a complete lack of fear. And with that comes the other side of the sword, which is the recklessness. Max was a reckless driver. A lot of drivers can be reckless, especially if the car doesn't allow them to just cruise to podiums, but Max was a child. This race is so important in his curriculum because it solidifies that his recklessness is not foolishness, but necessity. Bro passed 9 cars in one lap and held off danny ric with older tires. This after a disaster quali where he finished second to last because of an engine problem. To come back from that and get a podium the way he did, its a character drive. It showed who he was and Max was the future

Mexico, 2017 here. Yeah

Austria, 2018 quali is a must watch for this one. Listening to Max educate his engineers on 'discipline' for even DARING to ask him to pass danny ric prolly makes that move to Renault less confusing. Like u cant fight that. That is not a mf who will ever let u win a world title. But he didnt show it just during quali. This race is important because u can compare it some of his most dominant 2022 victories, in a car that would literally spit out its own tires and explode if Max idk farted or something.

USA, 2018 ok I'm biased but max has never come to the US and not served. Idk why its kind of funny but every time he steps foot in here he stunts and gets super wet and looks amazing. He's also absurdly good in US circuits for no reason. Like Max says, u gotta know how to defend not just attack. Prolly one of the most impressive defensive performances from him here, against none other than sir hammer herself. Lew had fresher tires and a championship winning merc and still couldnt crack lil bro with his renault engine, cap and a dream. Also they literally installed a whole new curb on the track specifically to make drivers stick to track limits and called it the verstopper and that. literal tears in my eyes yk look at this shit

Look at her . anyway

Enjoy thjs humble selection of our fav boy genius/fbi most wanted best hits. Next up

✨😤 Part 2 😤✨ Part 3 🧨🧨🧨🧨🧨

[casmybelovedass]

I hate how New Who's problem is fundamentally the writing, cuz then people can just decide to ignore it and blame the actors to win the best doctor war.

Chris had fantastic writing g for a test season, and he was a great Doctor. He really embodied the whimsical of it all while still showing the darkness of an ancient being who had lost it all and was ready to make it rain Hell. Unfortunately he only lasted one season for us to enjoy, but canonically he'd had a century of being himself.

He's skippable.

David had some BRILLIAN writing and some really fucking MEH writing, but he did portrait the figure of someone trying so hard to run from their past while still being haunted by it in a poisonous way. BUT he was also trying to paint this image of himself as dashing merry-go-lucky but tragic hero, which inevitably brought him to his downfall. Water of Mars, while being a kinda MEH episode, contains the most important lesson of them all for him. He is not a human, nor a God, and he was trying to be both at the same time. And he is especially tragic because in canon he only got to live about 6-7 years. Fuck.

He's a crybaby.

Matt. Was. It. He WAS whimsical itself in that "I am clearly not a human and I do not care in the slightest 😀" way. WHILE being the one to actually almost succeed in leaving everything behind. The man who forgets. Fucking beautiful. BUT fucking Moffat had to go and create all these beautiful and interesting storylines to just... kinda fuck them up. Sometimes there really is a feeling of missed closure that makes me visibly shake. Oh well. But for real, I'm a hardcore 10girl (gn) and even I say that Matt's Doctor was the PERFECT combination of friendly and scary. 11/10

He's not Tennant.

PETER. WAS. IT. I will never rest until he gets recognised as one of the fucking best doctors. He was done. SO fucking done with it all. And while 9 was anaesthetised, 10 was PTSD-ed, and 11 was TIRED™️, 12 is 💯 done. Him finally getting back to Gallifrey only to fuck off in his childhood shed as people keep trying to talk to him? His fucking look when Rassilon interrupts him from eating his soup? AND THEN STRAIGHT UP LEAVING?!?!! Iconic. He is done playing young Prince Charming. He is Done trying to be human. He is letting all his years hit him like a truck and being incredibly autistic about it. SO fucking real. BUT his writing was shit. Same thing happened with Matt, he was given shit material to work with but CONSTANTLY like I can count on almost two hands the number of episodes I for real FOR REAL enjoyed. And unfortunately most of them would be because Missy or River were there. That was a mastodontical fucking loss. Fuck.

He's old and tasteless.

And Jodie. Poor fucking Jodie. She got caught in the Chibnall hurricane and suffered massively for it. The writing? Shit. The storylines? Shit. Motives? Shit. Characterisation? Sometimes really fucking shitty. AND DON'T GET ME STARTED ON THE TIMELESS CHILD BULLSHIT my god help me lord I am going to be sick. She did an amazing job being 🦄The Doctor🧚‍♂️, BUT her writing for the Oncoming Storm was so shit she couldn't do anything with it. They made her a tasteless Tennant and then blamed her for it. They really treated her as the "Yeah you got your female Doctor now shut up" Doctor, and gave her nothing else to be remembered for, unless you count the having the most fucking absurd writing Doctor. And to make her leave after having broadcasted to the moon and back that David was reprising the role, and that a non-british actor of colour was coming next, really took her moment away. Fucking awful.

She's a woman and tasteless.

Shameful.

[eclectic-sassycoweyes]

Mar! For the ama,

I know you've previously talked about being on a ship, is that for a competition or hobby? 👀 How often do you do it and how long are you at sea?

Hi Tessa! Thanks for the question ☺️

Sorry the answer is a bit long 🙃 bc it’s kind of neither but has become a little bit of a hobby now that I’ve had the experiences I’ve had in the last year?

The story is that my parents’ puppy befriended another puppy and that puppy’s dog-parents were also boat-owners and planning a long sailing trip when we met them.🐶⛵️

I already had the interest and had wanted to try sailing like that - I love the ocean and had liked the scarce sailing I had tried and my dad used to be a sailor for awhile before I was born so I guess he passed the interest on.

So I talked to the couple who own the boat and they had room for me to join them on parts of the trip they had planned and it was too big an opportunity to pass up!! So I sailed with them down the coast of Europe in about one and a half month, then I joined them again with a friend from home for two months in the Caribbean.

During the first trip I became good friends with them and when they decided to head home and needed people to help them cross over the Atlantic back to Europe (they had to get enough people to cross before hurricane season started😳) I decided to help them! Also ofc bc it sounded scary and exciting and like a huge and challenging experience. So that’s what I was doing in the month’s time I was away last, and why I didn’t have much internet connection because I was in the middle of the ocean in a 51 foot long sailboat😳

This last trip was obviously where we were on the water the longest - it was about 7 days from Miami to Bermuda and then 16 days from there until we reached the Azores. The other times the longest was 4 days but also many shorter trips lasting everything from like 5 hours to 1-2 days. We lived on the boat the whole time though (8 people😳) (though only 5 over the Atlantic which I think was a good thing though it meant longer shifts and fewer hours of rest😅)

For now I’m done sailing. I have just moved into a new apartment back home and the plan is to finish my studies. I have a dream of one day crossing the Pacific Ocean but I don’t know if I’ll ever do it - there are many other things I want to do and places I want to travel and it would take a lot of time and money. And crossing the Atlantic was already very hard and challenging even while it was an amazing experience 🌊😬 I hope to find a way to sail a bit once in a while though, just shorter trips!

Ask Me Anything

[the-silver-peahen-residence]

||The mokkori's punishment and lesson 4: dragon and Jackal team up/Final||

*Waving* Hi. Just writing the last chapter of the lesson drabble for my friend but it seems we are continuing with this one now being the last chapter. So, lets see what this story takes place for our friends hmm?

IF you wanna read the three lessons they are under here:

Lesson one

Lesson two

Lesson three

((Your reading lesson 4/final chapter))

||Drabble Summary||

Mineta has gone and messed up when both Davion and Jaron finds out he has stolen the panties again from the girls to even sneaking a kiss to Melinda! Now, a Jackal and dragon are in rage. What will happen to Mineta now? Read to find out.

||Warning||

~Beatdown will happen later or in between

~Chase scene will happen with both Davion and Jaron working together in drabble

~scary girl moments will happen and boy scary moments too.

((~Guests in Drabble~))

The DBT along with some other fractions like The Lupins, The Demon Elite Anthem, The Upstander Campagin, and the Knights of Darkness belong to my friend @demon-blood-youths

While The cursed vixens, Shallow Butterflies, The season demon warriors, The Elemental Phoenix feathers, and The Dark Eclipse nightshades of both boys and girls belong to me. A few of the A-1 class members are guests but I do rp as a few of them.

((Note: This drabble will have heavy grammar mistakes and errors but this was written for fun. I hope you understand but also enjoy please.))

"Well, this is a nice hall. My collection is getting bigger and bigger!" Mineta was happily hiding again near some area of New York City after losing Melinda. He was smiling at the cute girl panties he stole from her and blushing from the stolen ones he has gotten again! He just won't listen and it just gets worse and worse for him.

"Though, I know the others back in the small hotel will be wondering where I am even if we are over seas. This is the best!" he sighed thinking of all the girls in the fractions so far. He already had plans on trying to steal more and more again.

"I better hurry up and get out of here before I get caught." he snickered but he rushes off while not knowing he was going to be hunted in a moment.

~~~~~~Meanwhile~~~~~~~

"Wait, again!?" Shdwkyz said seeing a very disturbing angry Vivi who was glowing a dark violent purple mixed with black. It seems her panties were stolen again! Even seeing some of the guys trying to calm the girl members down.

"Yes Shdwkyz..again. I'm really really getting sick of this little rat..stealing my clothing.." she said in a cold tone that he sweatdrops seeing her quirk reacting rather dangerous. Oh boy.

"Breezy please calm down! We'll find him don't worry!" Rust said even if Breezy was freezing the air around her showing sharp needles. Yeah the hurricane was pissed!

"But this is getting out of hand! He's stolen our clothes AGAIN! I thought the last beating we gave him told him not to do it anymore!" Haliee cried while seeing seeing Damien trying to calm her down.

"Well, he's pushing his luck because he's stolen a lot more! We need to find that little fucker and make the beating worse!" Kali said in rage now but Rex was calming her down even if he saw his sister Ashley crying and Joshua helping her calm down.

"I say we just beat him worse the next time!" Vanessa said even looking more furious than ever.

"Well, we already have some idea on what to do but we need to spread out to find him. He could be anywhere!" Fin said with arms crossed with the others thinking about it. Even Ahmed sigh to think of this. True, they need a plan but that's when he noticed.

"Speaking of which, where is Jaron?" he asked but the DBT boys tense to think. The last time they saw him he went 'out' for a bit but they had a idea of what and where he went.

"...Lets just say he's.......'out' right now. But I'm sure he will be back soon." Navarro said even if the others were unsure. They sounded worried and nervous. Ink blinks when hearing this but that also includes her cousin. He wasn't seen after hearing a familiar angry shout one time. So where could they be right now?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mineta was relaxing like nothing was wrong, eating some hot dogs while smiling. He had the stolen panties and bras in the bag so no one knows what was in them. It was like the best day for him even thinking about going to Philly to see the fractions there. Or remembering some of the girls from the Seeker tribe fraction and the elemental phoenix feather fraction. He still even had a pair each from the girls there!

"Well, seems I can move on. I wonder where I should go next?" He snickered finishing up his food and gets off the chair while happily picking up the sack. He was about to head out before hearing some growling. "Huh?"

He sees three growling familiars smelling and trying to pick up some scent. It seems Mineta wonders what they were while holding the bag of stolen girls underwear. "You know...I wonder who they belong to??" he mutters but he turns to start walking off then saw Christine look up. It seems she saw him and smelled the air before growling.

Mineta blinks looking back now seeing the three growling at him. "....Uh oh.." That's when Christine, Sid, and Layla started chasing him! With a yelp, he begins running away from the three that was now chasing him.

~~~~~Back with the others~~~~~~~~~

The guys were finally able to calm the girls down with some sweets which helped but Fosh was seeing Mouse trying to find Mineta with him helping before Fosh was upset inside seeing that Mineta stolen from her again!

"Damn it. Where did he even go. I can't see him on the cameras and he's not even showing up in the regular areas." He said.

"But he's got to be somewhere Fosh. He can't have gotten far." Maggie grumbled with T-bone rubbing her back. Even Ping and Taz were upset with Gerald rubbing Ping's back and Timmy rubbing Taz's back worried. Both were upset too but didn't show it.

"I am looking everywhere from camera to camera. I even asked the other hackers to help us out but nothing yet." he said but keeps looking.

"Well, that little fucker better hope no one finds him but if I did I would have blown his ass sky high! Hell, even the six claws are looking for him!" Echo said in rage that her green eyes were red as Navarro was trying to calm her down and being sure Ink was good. She was thanks to Jinx but he knew they were pissed too.

However, as he was looking he got a call to look at his phone. A Jackal icon was seen telling him it had to be Jaron. He picks it up and speaks. "Hello? Jaron?"

"Fosh....did you find Mineta?" Fosh looked nervous hearing the new tone from the Jackal's voice. Even the others were shocked hearing his tone. He didn't sound like the happy cheerful cook they always knew. Oh no no no, he sounded really cold, and a bit darker than normal. What the heck happened? This even shocked the DBT a bit. Yeah, the Jackal was pissed.

"I...N..No. I'm still trying to find him with Mouse helping me. He's not being seen on the cameras and we been looking for a while." he said but got nothing from Jaron didn't speak to sigh.

"That little thief has to be somewhere..he couldn't have gone far..right?"

"U...Uhh..n..no. But I'll keep looking for him with Mouse helping me. He can't have gotten far Jaron." he said but Jaron was driving looking around but he was already looking about.

"Hmm...well, I'll keep looking..he's bound to be somewhere." he said.

"Yeah, but we will keep-"

"Hold on..." Fosh blinks to look at Mouse as she was checking a camera.

"What's wrong mouse? Did you find something?" he asked.

"Yeah...I'm picking up something near the North! I...wait, isn't that Jaron's three familiar jackals?" she asked showing the screen seeing the three chasing someone holding a bag stuffed with something.

"Wait.....that's Mineta! He's near Davion's location!" he said but Jaron heard that.

"So the thief is there....thanks Mouse and Fosh..." he said before hanging out but everyone was silent to slowly look at one another.

"I..I never heard Jaron sound so cold before..that's new." Hex said looking nervous.

"Y..Yeah..he sounded really an..angry.." Ashley said worried.

"Well, he has a right to be. Mineta stole Melinda's panties like the other girls AND he kissed her cheek! If that's not one way to piss him off then Mineta should be begging for mercy if Jaron finds him." Rust said but Shdwkyz thinks.

"Though remember Davion knows about this so you know he's keeping a eye out for him. You don't think he's just got Jaron on him. He's also got Davion on his ass too." the snake said but they knew it was true. Oh boy.

~~~~Near Davion's section~~~~~

Mineta was running tired but scared from the three familiars trying to lose them. They were quick but he had to get away before they catch him. He looks left and right trying to find a way out before making a right turn in a alley way to keep quiet. The three jackals went by barking trying to find him but the other lets out a breath to see they went off to keep looking.

"Seems I might be hunted again. I better move before I'm found." he said quickly leaving to try finding another area to hide but as he did, a wave of flames hits in front of him to make Mineta jump back startled. "!?!" He backs up from the hot red flames but walks into someone.

"....."

"So your the little fucking thief that stolen from my cousin?"

Mineta's face went pale slowly tilting his head back to look up. He saw a very tall but very angry male above him. His eyes were amber red with flames showing in his hands. Even his dragon wings were seen. Davion the dragon bounty hunter has found him. This made Mineta pale even worse shaking in tears.

"Uhhhhh...t..thief? What thief? I don't know what your talking about man! Hahahahaha.." He said scared backing up but Davion growls making the other yelp.

"Don't lie to me! I know you stole from my cousin and her friends! You little sick fuck have their underwear and bras in that bag don't you?" he said.

"I..I don't! I DON'T!" he said but held the bag tight like his life depended on it. "Besides, I don't know anything about the girls in New York. Or your sexy cousin or anything-" he laughed but stops when hearding a very angry dragon that was changing to his dragon humanoid form.

".......oops....."

"You fucking little..."

"Uhhhh I'm going to go now sooooo......." backing up, he quickly runs away to get from Davion.

"HEY! GET BACK HERE YOU LITTLE SHIT!" he roars taking flight while Mineta was screaming.

"LEAVE ME ALONE! YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE!" he screams running off from the rage fueled dragon. Davion roars out but was chasing him in the air now trying to catch him.

"WHEN I GET MY FUCKING HANDS ON YOU, I'M GOING TO WRING THAT LITTLE NECK OF YOURS FOR MESSING WITH MY COUSIN AND HER FRIENDS!" he roars hearing Mineta screaming in fear as he ran.

However, down the road, Jaron was checking something trying to figure where the thief was but that's when he saw his three familiars Christine, Sid, and Layla show up. "Did you three find anything?" He asked seeing the three give light nods pointing to the north. Looking that way, Jaron glares to see the familiars lead him as he slams on the gas speeding off to follow them. He was not going to let this slide when it came to his friends but the same goes for anyone messing with his girlfriend.

Mineta was running afraid of a dragon trying to burn him to ashes as he runs with the bag of stolen underwear and bras. He didn't want to die by the scary dragon. He did throw a few of his purple balls at him but the did stick to him. Even using them to jump away quickly.

"LEAVE ME ALONE!!" he screams.

"GET BACK HERE!" Davion shouted trying to knock him down but Mineta looks ahead seeing a street but he quickly bounces to the right seeing Davion make a sharp turn to the same direction.

"Fuck fuck fuck fuck!" Mineta was still running for his life trying to get away from the dragon. But as he did, he heard something speeding to see a car coming up. He blinks to look but noticed it.

Wait, wasn't that Melinda's boyfriend? When getting a look, he can see that the Jackal's expression was..not friendly. He looked ready to do something that scared the grape hero.

"uh oh.." He quickly jumps over a fence and runs through a alley way as Davion sees him disappearing. He growls to look but saw Jaron screech to a stop.

"Jaron!"

"Shit.....he got away." He said not happy but Davion sighed. "Don't worry, I know a short cut. He can't get far. I'll take the north side but you take the other side. We will catch him." he said seeing Jaron nod but gets back in the car to quickly drive off and Davion taking the skies again. One of them will find him for sure.

~~~~~~With Mineta~~~~~~

He keeps on running but finally gets back to a hiding spot. Seems he was able to get to where he's been able to get a breather from the two hunting him down. He was tired from running but at least he got his so called treasure.

"Too close...they were too close. I think I'll have to keep a eye out from now on. Though, at least they didn't catch me." he smiled now looking through the bag of cute panties. He was nuzzling his cheeks against a few of them with a smile but even already looking happy. His true treasure. He knew nothing would stop him! Nothing would make him give up the ways.

"Though, this is too good haul." he laughed still looking at the pairs of bras too. Nothing could ruin this for MIneta. However, as he was looking through and giggling that's when he heard three growling to make him stop. He blinks to look up seeing three familiars again.

"Oh no.." Wait, did they find him!? He quickly gets up to put the stole panties and bras back in the bag to get away from his hiding spot but as he gets out of the hiding spot, he sees it go up in flames thanks to a Dragon from above who finally found him! He looks scared running off but that's when a car screeches to a stop in front of him to make Mineta stop and fall on the ground wincing.

He sees Davion land but he made sure he didn't get away but he looks seeing the car door open showing a rather silent Jaron Jackal. He shuts the door but looks to walk over while standing in front of the thief.

"Ummmmm...It's not what it looks like?" Mineta laughed only for Christine, Sid, and Layla to growl at him even louder with the baby pup joining who growls and yips at him mad too.

"No? Well it seems like it does you little punk!" Davion said cracking his knuckles scaring the hero before he got scared.

"You know.." he heard Jaron speak but he didn't show the upper part of his face due to the hat. "I'm really never the type of guy to be violent even when it comes to working on a way to make peace with anyone but you know that don't you?" Jaron asked but Mineta blinks getting a bad feeling.

"I..I do..."

"Well...you also know I'm not the one for violence towards anyone......however.." that's when he lifts the hat up that Mineta really paled seeing him. Jaron's eyes were cold and deadly but he was showing that same disturbing smile on his face.

"You..Oh my friend you on the other hand deserve a far worse violent punishment than what you gotten so far. No one.....gets away with being a creep to my friends and team members.." However his expression darkens that the upper part of his face was shadowed.

"And No fucking asshole gets away with stealing my girlfriend's panties or fucking touching/kissing her. So..maybe you need a more...'learning lesson' so you won't do this again...right Davion?" he said with that thrill seeking grin but Mineta was shaking in tears knowing Davion was glaring with a evil smirk.

"True. Lets show him......" he said as the two looks to him that Mineta was crying.

"W..wait, wait we can talk about this! I'll be good! I won't do it again!! Please don't kill me!" he begs.

"Oh? Well, everyone has given you a chance Mineta..and you blew it so..maybe you need a more harder lesson.......but don't worry...it will hurt for a while.." Jaron said as Mineta tries to get away from the two but he got grabbed by them.

"W..wait No no NO! NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" His scream was echoing through the area to signal he got caught by both Jaron and Davion while he received the worse beating of his life. Even worse than the ones he's gotten so far.

Seems the thief was caught.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hours later, everyone was meeting up with each other. Even with the Six claws, the fractions wondering what happened. It seems both Davion and Jaron found him but Jaron gave him the punishment. However during that time, Melinda came back from her look around while she was tired after getting a call from Mouse to come back.

"Mouse, I just got your message. Did you guys have any luck finding him?" she asked but she looks up. Mouse saw but sighed.

"Well no but it seems Davion and Jaron found him." she said.

"Oh? Did they? But where.." she asked for Mouse to point. In the kitchen, everyone was speechless seeing Mineta shaking in fear while cleaning up and behaving for once. He was being watched by Jaron who was showing a smile.

"See? It was not too bad was it?" he said having a hand on his shoulder even if he was gripping it, scaring Mineta even more.

"N..N..N..No s..s...sir. Nope. It was fine. All fine!" he said crying even if he also looked like a mess. Mineta got some burns on him from Davion, a few bruises, a swollen eye, blood was seen but cleaned up and he looked just like a mess.

After catching him, Jaron made Mineta give the girls their stolen clothes again well after washing them well so it was like he never took them but he gave them back so the girls can fold them and put them away in carrying bags to take home.

He then was forced to give a full written down sorry to every girl he's stolen from. Even to the ones on a video chat with the fraction girl members in philly, the ones from the jujutsu group, and the ones from New Jersey. Jaron then had asked Davion help with getting another beat down by the boys this time while making him say sorry once more to insure he wouldn't do this again.

Yeah, he made sure Mineta learned his lesson alright. Even the boys in the fractions was shocked not expecting this from Jaron. And he's usually the peace keeper! Though, they seem even he had a breaking point.

".....Ummm..did I miss something?" Melinda asked with a sweatdrop.

"Yeah..you missed a bit but we'll explain later." Mouse said but the guys were nervous to speak seeing Mineta cleaning up like a good boy. She goes to see then noticed.

"Ummm Jaron?" He heard Melinda's voice to look at her but his gentle happy self relaxed seeing his girlfriend.

"Hey Melinda, I'm happy to see you came back. I was wondering where you been to." he said going to happily hug her tight even if she blinks to hug him back.

"Yeah I was..looking for that little thief but it seems you and Davion found him." she said.

"We did but..Melinda, I believe Mineta has something to say to you...don't you Mineta?" Jaron said in a scary yet happy tone making Mineta more scared.

"I..I do.." he said shaking but he looks to Melinda but was bowing his head.

"I..I'm sorry Miss Brooks. I didn't mean t..to steal your panties, bras and uhh...k..kiss you on the cheek. T..that was wrong of me s..so I cleaned them for you a..and...uhhh...been doing some things to help Jaron around! B..but I hope you like the tea and things I made." he said but Melinda blinks.

Wait, he did what now? She looked more shocked seeing he even had her stolen panties and bras clean like he said but they were resting in Jinx's arms to insure he didn't try anything.

"I...Ummm thank you I think.." she mutters even with Mineta going back to cleaning up. She looks to him but then at Jaron who was happy.

"....I get the feeling you really scarred him for life Jaron.." she said.

"Well, you know I'm not the one for violence Melinda but when it comes to you I have to make a little acception. No one won't harm or do anything to you again." he said happily hugging her but she blinks to blush a little even from that. He even pulls back to gently kiss her cheek while she blushed worse.

Before asking, she then saw Christine, Sid, and Layla appear happily licking her face as they tackle her down. Even the baby pup was yipping and resting on her head.

"H..Hey guys wait that tickles!" she said trying to calm them down but Jaron was happy. See all was well again!

"....Note to self, never piss Jaron off. That was fucking scary.." Rust mutters to the DBT males who agreed on that.

"Agreed.." Fin mutters back.

"T..true.." Joshua said.

"...." Rex nods but agreed.

Yeah, they were scared from seeing Jaron that angry but that's what Mineta gets for stealing and kissing Jaron's girlfriend.

"Yeah...he's scary when pissed off. Even more than me." Bakugo admits that even the six claws were shocked hearing that from him! Though, they didn't question it. But it goes to show, never mess with someone's girlfriend but thanks to the Jackal and Dragon, the days of the mokkori thief has come to a close. So all was well.

[orions-hole]

GREEK GODS? | Piper | 3/?? | 1/5

ALL | PREVIOUS | ... | NEXT

The week had already been horrible. First, my (ex) boyfriend did a "prank" that nearly killed Jason. Then there was what happened with my father... I still got chills remembering the nightmare.

I was all alone in a mansion. I felt... small. So small. "Dad?' I called out but nobody answered. The corridors seemed to crush me. "Daad?" I called out more desperately and arrived at the living room. The firepit was gigantic. It could swallow me whole. I held tightly onto my plushie and then... A giant walked out of the fire. Suddenly everything changed. We were no longer in a gigantic living room but a gigantic cave. And dad... he was bruised, battered. I tried to run to him, I really tried. But I wasn't moving.

IF YOU WANT HIM KILL STORM AND FIRE

I was unsure what that meant. It was scary but I decided not to dwell on it further as Jason woke up. It was so cute how much he flustered... I enjoyed playing oblivious. He was 13, and I was 15 nearly 16. So I wouldn't let him know I was aware of his feelings, for his own good.

As we got off the bus Dylan took my hand and dragged me around, he was back to acting all sweet and caring, but after that day... I just couldn't see him the same. "Why are you acting like nothing happened?" I asked coldly, he tilted his head "What do you mean?" "Oh. And now you play blind after what you did to Jason!" I snapped, but he continued pretending to be clueless. "I don't know what you-" "YOU HUNG HIM OFF THE ROOF HOW CAN YOU SIMPLY NOT REMEMBER!?" I snapped, and I saw a strange wave of realization in his eyes "..I thought you stronger to the mist, love..." "STOP IT WITH THE LOVELY NONSENSE! I told you that day! WE ARE OVER!"

I felt the wind pick up, but everything seemed normal. Then... a hand choking me, but I couldn't see anything.

"I should've known your mortal eyes would eventually be deceived..." Dylan snarled, his voice was so full of fury - like the thing in front of me wasn't even human.

Then something shot him - I fell with a thud and Leo dragged me inside the bus. That's when I saw who had shot Dylan. Jason. Coach kicked Dylan and told Jason to go inside. Jason listened - me and Leo dragged him inside. The Bus's doors closed and all we saw was a hurricane unfold outside, but based off Jasons expressions... He saw something much, much worse.

Everyone was huddled up together - trying to keep each other safe, when the winds died down. A girl forced the door open. She... looked like a well-seasoned warrior. A soldier born into the war. Her hair - Her skin. I didn't pay attention to any of that. Just her scars, like the patches of grey hair - no doubt from stress and strain.

"Everyone. Out. It's safe now." Her voice was cold - but also with an edge of worry, like she was looking for.. something. No - someone. She was very worried.. I could tell - but something also told me.. That it was someone so important. She'd fight god to make sure they were sure.

We followed her out - there was another soldier, this one even more scarred, he was holding a necklace up to everyone's forehead, no... a thermometer. No definitely a necklace on second(third) thought.

It glowed on Leo's turn, it also glowed with me, and it glowed with Jason. "..these three need emergency transport" she decided and told everyone to hold still and wait for the rests of the medics.

She took me and the kids back to a carriage. She sat us down and sighed

"Hello. My name is Annabeth." "Hello Annabeth... I'm Piper" I extended my hand, she never took it, instead she turned to the driver. "You explain, or I explain?" "Well, I guess I am the trained professional," he sighed and hopped over to us. He was much like coach hedge. Yet... so different.

"Hey, you know greek gods, right? Like Pan the god of the wild or Athena the goddess of wisdom?"

I nodded, yeah I'd read about them for one of dad's movies... dad. The earlier soldier came back and took Annabeth away, talking about something, coach-hedge-if-he-was-younger resumed talking "So, every person has different faiths, but the greek gods are reals, and they have... angered a lot of people of the centuries. Right now.. That storm, it was a bunch of venti. They targetted you three, well because... hey Malcolm!" The boy threw the amunet and the goat held it up, it glowed shaprly. "because you're demigods." "What- What you're saying makes no sense goat man." Leo said, he laughed "How do you know I'm a goat, then?" Leo rolled his eyes "Because of my GREAT imagination." he snarked - "I always see weird things! Coach hedge was also a goat. Its just my imagination"

The boy relaxed and laughed a bit.. He sighed "Let's start from 0. I'm Grover, you three are?" "Jason" "Leo" "Piper"

That was... the start of a very confusing(and very scarring) year and a half.

[mariacallous]

In an eerie echo of 2018’s Camp Fire, which sped through the town of Paradise, California, destroying 19,000 buildings and killing 85 people, ferocious wildfires are tearing through Maui, forcing some people to flee into the ocean. Much of the town of Lahaina is now ash, and the death toll stands at 36 so far. 

Like so many other places around the world, the island of Maui is being swept into the Age of Flames, also known as the Pyrocene. In places where fire is a natural part of the landscape, like California, wildfires now burn with ever greater ferocity, oftentimes spawning their own towering thunderclouds made of smoke, or obliterating ecosystems instead of resetting them for new growth. And where wildfire was once very rare in the landscape, like Maui, residents and governments are struggling to cope with their descent into the firestorm.  “Hawaii's ecosystem is not adapted to fire. It is destroyed by fire,” says Elizabeth Pickett, co-executive director of the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization. “So we don't have good fire and bad fire. We have bad fire, period.” 

In the immediate term, what’s driving Maui’s fires is what makes wildfires so deadly anywhere in the world: wind. Hurricane Dora, which is churning hundreds of miles to the south, is a low-pressure system. Meanwhile, to Hawaii’s north, a high pressure system has formed. Those opposing systems have created 80-mile-per-hour gusts across Maui, driving the flames forward. Once the fire reaches a town like Lahaina, it easily hops from structure to structure. (California’s wind-driven wildfires have been known to throw embers miles ahead of the actual fire, setting new blazes ahead.)

Maui is in its dry season, but parts of the island were already abnormally parched, to the point of moderate or severe drought, according to the US Drought Monitor. Less moisture in the landscape means that vegetation dries out and piles up, ready to burn. Dry winds exacerbate this problem by scouring the landscape, sucking out any moisture that might remain. In general, as the atmosphere warms with climate change, the air gets thirstier and thirstier, leading to further desiccation. (Hot air can hold more moisture than cold air.)

Historical factors have also conspired to push Maui into the Pyrocene. When Europeans arrived in the late 18th century and established plantations for growing sugarcane and pineapple, they also brought invasive grasses. Now the economics have changed, and those fields lie fallow. But the grasses have spread like a plague. “Those fire-prone invasive species fill in any gaps anywhere else—roadsides, in between communities, in between people’s homes, all over the place,” says Pickett. “At this point, 26 percent of our state is covered in these fire-prone grasses.”

This stuff is highly sensitive to short-term fluctuations in rainfall. The grass will grow like crazy when the rains come, then quickly desiccate when the landscape dries. “When we get these events like we’re seeing these past few days—when the relative humidity really drops low—all those fine fuels become very explosive,” says fire ecologist Clay Trauernicht of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. 

While the contribution of climate change to these Hawaiian fires hasn’t fully been worked out, Trauernicht says, it’s clear that something has gone awry. But between 1920 and 2012, over 90 percent of the state has seen a drying trend. “It's really coming from the firefighters, who are also telling us that they're seeing fire behavior that they haven't seen in 20 years fighting fires on these islands,” Trauernicht says. “The extreme fire behavior coming up out of these grasslands in particular—the erratic movement and rapid spread and the intensity—that's my kind of yardstick. Is climate change affecting fire? It’s definitely making it more challenging to work with.”

Social dynamics are also making these Hawaiian wildfires far more dangerous. People are at the greatest risk along the “wildland-urban interface,” or WUI—the places where human development butts up against vegetation. The town of Paradise was very much like this, with lots of vegetation interspersed with buildings. “Virtually every community in Hawaii is on a wildland-urban interface,” says Pickett. “So we're just like a WUI state, because we have developments that are all adjacent to wildland areas, or surrounded by wildland areas.”

That’s not only putting more people in the path of fast-moving wildfires, but providing more sources of ignition in the first place: cars driving over dry grass, camp fires, fireworks. “Lahaina hasn’t changed much—it’s been where it’s been for a long, long time,” says Trauernicht. “But that landscape around it has gone through some dramatic changes, just within the past couple of decades. And that’s really like the message that we’ve been trying to harp on, is that this is a fuel-management problem.”

Which means it’s a solvable problem. There’s already growing awareness of the dry vegetation issue in Hawaii, Pickett and Trauernicht say. Not only can communities clear more brush, but they can also bolster wetlands, which act as natural firebreaks and support native species. And then, maybe, no other Hawaiian community will have to suffer Lahaina’s fate. “The vegetation is within our control,” says Trauernicht. “Unfortunately, this is the worst outcome you can imagine. And maybe this will make people wake up.”

[spinningintheshadows]

sunshine || jj maybank

JJ comforts his daughter during a storm.

JJ was awake before the words left her mouth, but he kept his eyes shut in hope that that pattering of tiny feet he heard was just his imagination. It was just past two in the morning, wind and rain beat against the house. Lightning crackled and thunder boomed. Hurricane Christine, the first hurricane of the season, was bearing down on the outer banks in full force. Unlike his wife, JJ couldn’t sleep during loud storms. Something about them made him uneasy. Suddenly, a tiny hand was smacking him in the arm, followed by the absolutely terrified voice of his three year old daughter, Adelaide.

“Daddy!” Her voice was barely a whisper but her tone made his eyes shoot open. “Daddy, wake up!”

“What’s wrong, Sunshine? C’mere” he sat up lifting her onto his lap, to hold her against his chest, pressing kisses into her hair. “Did you have a bad dream?” She shook her head, burying it deeper into his chest.

“Is it the storm?” He questioned to which she answered with a nod. Her tiny hands clenched the material of his t shirt as he rubbed her back. “Do you want Daddy to sleep with you? We need to go back to your room though, so we don’t wake up Mama.” Silently, he lifted them both out of the bed, padding down the hall to her room. He laid her in the double bed, crawling in next to her and pulling her blanket up around them, the same blanket that was made by Ivy’s stepmother when they’d found out they were having her.

“Hey, you wanna know something cool?” He whispered to his daughter, who was flinching every time thunder boomed. “This blanket? Your nana made it, you know. It’s got super powers. It keeps you safe from all the scary things.”

“Like bad dreams?” She questioned. He hummed, moving to rub soothing circles in his daughter’s back.

“Mhm. Just like bad dreams.” He said. “It also keeps you safe from storms. Nothing bad can hurt you as long as you’re covered by this blanket.” Sure he was pulling all of this out of his ass but Adelaide was still young enough she didn’t know that. Whatever would comfort his baby girl when she was scared. He hated seeing her scared. It reminded him of his childhood, but he took comfort in knowing that she never had to fear her own father, let alone her grandfather.

Hell, as far as he knew Luke Maybank was still in Mexico, and had no idea of the life, the family that JJ had built for himself in his absence. Sure he got the occasional letter telling him that his dad was clean now, that he’d found himself a woman down there and that he’d changed, but he hadn’t ever brought himself to write back.

“Daddy?” Adelaide’s voice brought him out of his thoughts as he glanced down at his daughter, whose eyes were growing heavy again. “Will you sing to me?”

“Of course, baby.” JJ was a rough singer at best, but if his daughter wanted him to sing to her, he would.

“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are grey…”

Taglist: @maybankforlife @teelagurl558 @k-k0129 @lindzaylove

[caxsthetic]

When The Storm Passed

Kita Shinsuke x F!Reader

Unfurling: They said there will always a good thing that we could get after every storm—and he could only wish to see a rainbow when the hurricane stop.

Pt. 1 ⇚ Part 2 ⇛ Ep.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *. GRAND MASTERLIST .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Regret. A word that haunted him ever since one fateful night where he only looked forward from. He still remembered that night as if it just happened yesterday. His mind replayed to the memories like a broken record, one that no one could fix.

Hello, how are you? How is life?

It had been years since the last time he saw your face. But every little emotion that you once evoke, every single word that rolled down from your lips, everything about you still adheres to his mind. Even after the season changed, months after months, the storm still had the power to ravage his life.

If only he let you in, if only he turned his back and chased you like a madman, would the storm pass and turned into a rainbow instead? Would you be here? With him?

Sweat trickling down on his skin as the rays of sun hit him without mercy. But he was alright with it, bowing down to make sure each seedling was planted neatly. This was the time he could only find peace, taking care of the rice fields as if they were his children. Maybe because he thought they were indeed—his children.

Being here became the only way he could give out the love inside his heart. Through every good quality seed, every movement he made as he embedded the tiny beads into the soil, he gave the feelings that he should have poured towards another human being.

But he didn't trust his feelings anymore, not when it stayed and yet, he couldn't give it to her.

He couldn't give it to you, in consideration of how you never belonged to him.

Wasn't it what he wanted from the start? To never let you in? Despite the realisation that you already struck his heart, maybe it was for the best. He did not know much about love except the one that he got from his grandmother. And to have someone as perfect as you to be his cavy for love would be an embarrassment to the universe.

So he had to endure whatever pain that caused by the storm called you.

"Where is Osamu?" The setter had his phone on his ear, a frown emerged from his face as the only thing that he could hear was some beeps. "I wanted to borrow some money for shirts, yet he was nowhere to be seen somehow."

Atsumu kept grumbling under his breath, muttering curse after curse as his brother didn't once pick up the call. The entire team snickering from how pouty and childish the scary setter looked at the moment, stomping his foot and blowing some raspberry like a spoiled child.

"I think he went somewhere with (Y/n)," The libero just finished tying up his shoes, "Knowing them, probably making out somewhere on whatever quiet place they could find."

The others chuckled at the remark—ah, to be in love—was something that not everyone had the chance to feel, especially while they were all still hormonal teenagers. Yet you and the opposite wing spiker always clicked in one way or another.

While everyone laughed at this, teasing and gossiping about the couple, Ojiro couldn't help but spare some glance towards the captain that decided to keep silent. Even after days had passed, the sight of him with tears cascading down his cheeks still persisted.

It was the second time the wing spiker saw Kita Shinsuke cried. One time when he received the captain's jersey; which lasted for around five minutes, and the second time when he realised that he was falling for their manager. While this one—lasted for even minutes after he dropped the captain off.

"The bus is here." Shivers ran down everyone's spines as he spit the words, like every syllable that came out from his lips became venom, "They parked on the front of gate B, all of you go there now." The entire team nodded and grabbed their belongings, walking towards the exit in unison.

But not him. He walked to the opposite direction instead, leaving the others raising their eyebrows in wonder.

"Oi, Shinsuke, where are you going?" Akagi stopped in his tracks and turned his head. "Toilet or something?"

"No," Kita grabbed his phone, sending a text message to the grey haired underclassmen of his, "I am going to search for Osamu and (L/n)." This statement made Ojiro widened his eyes in a second,

"Wait, I am going with—"

"No need." It only needed those two words to make the tall wing spiker's move come to a halt, "Just tell me in case they were already on the bus. I think I know where they are, I wouldn't be long."

As much as Ojiro wanted to accompany his friend, to be there as a support system, he knew that once the captain made a statement, that means he wouldn't take no for an answer. So the only thing that he could do as a good friend, was following whatever the perfectionist friend of his told him to.

Kita could feel the lingering gaze of worry that was being thrown towards him, one which remained until he turned the corner. He was not that weak—at least that what he said to himself. He had seen you and the wing spiker sharing a passionate kiss after practice, holding hands subconsciously to feel a flicker of warmth from each other.

It hurt, at first. For the first few days he wanted to just run away. Run away from the storm that turned into a hurricane for every lingering gaze that you gave for the grey haired man instead of him. When he was still the receiver of such love, he blinded himself. Since the feelings were so foreign for him.

But now his mind clouded with regret—as every single breath that he took didn't feel like a blessing anymore.

"Hey, it's okay, Samu..."

He stopped when he could hear the familiar gentle voice, soothing someone that he knew so well whom. Kita just needed to take this one last turn to see your face and brought the two to the bus. But as he fixated there, listening to the tender tone of your words, he felt like he was the one who was with you.

And he didn't want to waste this one chance of reverie.

"It's alright to cry. I would never judge you, you know that right?" Yes. "Cry in my shoulder, it's okay, I don't care if you ruin my jacket." Alright.

He could feel it deep inside every fiber of his being. How you caressed his hair as he rested his forehead on your shoulders, tears making a mess on your clothes as you whispered sweet nothing in his ear to calm him down. He could feel your touch, getting lost on the strands of his hair while the other hand pulled him close to feel your affection.

No matter how real it felt, it all only twirled inside his mind. He was chasing a storm that already walked past him. But the aftermath was still visible, not lessening after days he realised you already torn his life.

"Thank you, (Y/n)," He unconsciously clenched his hand into a fist when he was back to reality, slapped by the hoarse voice of his underclassmen, "I didn't know how I would be if I didn't have you here." You wouldn't want to know that, Osamu.

"Oh, it was nothing. I am just doing my job as the best girlfriend that I could ever be." You always sell yourself too short, "What important now is that you feel better, right?"

"Of course," He could hear how the two lips collided, it didn't sound needy and fiery like how you always shared your kiss. This sounded gentle, like the first droplets of rain hitting the grass. "I love you,"

It was silent for a few seconds before you pulled your boyfriend to another kiss. Now it sounded fiery, a hurried kiss as if you didn't hear the three words that were given for you. As if you didn't want to answer that, "I love you, I really do." But those words wanted some answer, it didn't want to leave you alone.

"Samu, I-I love—"

"The bus is here."

Osamu immediately pulled himself away from you. Tinted pinkish hue adorned your boyfriend's cheeks when he saw his captain standing around five feet from the two of you with the expression that rarely changed, flustered to get caught in such a predicament with you, "I am sorry if I disturbed the moment."

"N-No, it's alright, Kita-san." You were the one who answered him, so quick as your eyes found him. There was a little bit of... gratitude that lingered on your mind. What was it? His eyebrows raised a little before coming back to normal in second, Why did you look so grateful by him interrupting the moment?

He didn't want to walk into any conclusion. Even though he was sure of the reason behind your meaningful gaze just now, he didn't want to believe it.

Kita Shinsuke didn't want to have any hope.

"Kita-san?"

Because he knew whose heart would break if it was not him.

"Y-You are Kita-san, right?"

He turned his head to the right, only to see you standing there in front of the fish vendor. Once his eyes locked with yours, a smile immediately shaped on your facade. The smile that you had looked so charming, didn't lose the same warmth even after times went by.

There was something delicate about how your face contorted. Gentler, matured, like you have lived such a rough yet beautiful life. And you survived, you survived whatever obstacles that universe hurled on your direction—shaping you into such a marvelous being.

"(Y/n)..." He didn't call out or anything, your name just slipped from his lips without a brake, "(Y/n)..."

You giggled a little from how dumbfounded he looked right now. His lips parted a little, pupils dilated as if he didn't believe that you were real. And he grimaced when he realised that he was making a fool of himself, "Where are my manners—yes, I am Kita, (Y/n). Your upperclassmen from Inarizaki High."

"Goodness, always so formal." A small chuckle rolled down from your lips, so angelic even if a snort slipped from his statement, "Of course I know who you are Kita-san. The captain of Inarizaki Volleyball Boys Club who loved all of the members so much." Yes, including the manager.

It was funny, how the storm that ripped his heart apart also became the source of his happiness. He didn't realise it by now, but this little smile appeared on his face every time he heard your voice as if he was listening to some of his favourite music.

"Ah, and you are the (L/n) (F/n), the manager of Inarizaki Volleyball Boys Club who admired all of the members so much." He wanted to say it playfully. But somehow it turned into a sarcastic one, making him cringed a little, "Sorry, I—"

"Always the same, huh, Kita-san?" You walked closer to him with hands full of grocery bags, "Always the same ol' Kita-san that I admire."

That was not a fair move. To say the same verb you used the night that he wanted to redo. But then again you were saying that not with any ill intention. You just laughed with an innocent resonance, didn't know what kind of impact that you had for his fragile heart.

"Yes, still the same old me indeed."

He gave out a sigh, so soft to make sure you couldn't catch it. You calmed down after seconds, the chuckle died down into the smile that you wore when he turned to look at you before, "Want to take a walk?"

Kita didn't know what struck him right now. He thought if the universe gave him a chance to meet you once again, he would just say hi and gave his back on you like he used to. But what he did right now was the opposite of it.

Maybe he had matured? Maybe after all this time he was ready to have whatever consequences that he would get. He used to be a coward when a storm like you appeared in his life. But not now. Now he wanted to make things right, as he was more prepared than his past self.

You agreed, with a simple nod and the smile which never left your face, you followed him as he brought you to a stroll. It was so peaceful—to walk with you side by side. The petals of cherry blossoms blown by the wind as small talks filled his eardrums.

He used to hate it. To walk with you alone, to have some small talks that he thought could be used to do something productive instead. But as he listened, to your soft voice as you told him where you have been after all this time, he felt like you sung him a lullaby; he felt at peace.

His eyes searching for yours, taking one step ahead since he wanted to catch your gaze. You halted when he stood right in front of you, confusion was written on your face. An odd move for him, but then again you did exactly what he wanted; meeting his eyes.

Just like that, the two of you shared some whirlwind of emotion as he gazed deep into your shining orbs—trying to find some remnants of warmth that he used to find from you on his high school days.

In hope that maybe, it was still there even after all this time.

He looked down to his hand where the scroll of graduation certificate rested gently. Three years had passed since he enrolled in this school. The place that taught him a lot of things in life. Friendship, pride, family, sportsmanship—and love. Something that he never thought he would experience in such an early phase of life.

Everyone was taking a picture with their friends, either from the same grade, or some of the underclassmen. He was just done talking to Atsumu, lecturing him a little and gave the setter some reassurance. Yes, Osamu wouldn't be there on the court anymore after graduation. But the golden yellow haired man had one more year, one more year to make memories together.

No matter how many times Atsumu said that memories weren't needed in his life, it was the only thing that he could cherish when someday he missed his brother to play with him on the same court.

Kita smiled softly as his friends were being dragged by a lot of people. Some girls timidly asked Ojiro to take a picture with them, Akagi was given some chocolate, Omimi in a deep conversation with some teachers.

And he just decided to stand there, sheltering under the trees that have aged for perhaps hundreds of years. His orbs observed the joyous atmosphere that spring gave. He was too focused on how the scenery unfolded in front of him, that he didn't even hear some footsteps coming from his side.

"That was a rare sight," You popped out, unnoticed, uninvited, "That smile of yours Kita-san, it was such a rare sight."

He was taken aback by your words, but then he composed himself in a matter of seconds, smiling softly by now, "See? That smile! Can I take a picture? For scientific purposes!"

"You know there was no such thing as a scientific purpose of taking a portrait of mine."

"A smiling portrait of yours," You corrected.

"Alright, a smiling portrait of mine. Still, there was nothing that you could get."

"I can get serotonin."

The statement that you blurted made his face adorned with some shades of red, didn't expect you to say it so smoothly as if he was your boyfriend. While he was in a pause, you successfully got a picture of him, your lips immediately shaped into a grin.

"Delete that."

"No!" You chuckled when he tried to grab the phone off from your hand, "I am going to print it and worship it. Bet if I gave it to Suna and Atsumu, they would pay lots of money." He wanted to feel annoyed, he was supposed to get annoyed by your childish act.

But what he felt right now was just the banter that made his heart flutter. The banter that he could feel every day if only he let you talk to him, the conversation that he could have for a year knowing you if only he didn't turn his back on you.

You, the storm that when he first saw you he didn't want anything with. Yet right now as you laughed in front of him, making fun of him, he wished that he wouldn't be a coward and let you in completely. You were a beautiful calamity, one that he never met for eighteen years he had breathed the fresh air in this world.

He used to be so afraid whenever you were near, always making sure that there was at least a three feet gap between your figure and his. He used to be afraid to talk to you, didn't want to make himself fall even deeper to this bottomless pit called love that you offer.

But with you looking so terrific with a sunny smile that was a total contrast to what you are—a storm—he was hitting himself mentally for even thinking that you were a storm that could stir his life. There was nothing from you that radiated chaos with how gentle you looked through his eyes.

Both of you were lost in each other's presence, didn't recognize how some pairs of orbs scrutinized the magical occurrence between you and the captain. It was as if there were some kind of bubble that separated the two of you from the rest of the world.

He didn't think much as his hand rested on top of your head, ruffling it gently as a soft smile adorned his face. You were stunned, jolting a little since never in your mind you thought that Kita would even touch you, let alone ruffling your hair as if you just won some extraordinary award. But indeed felt like that.

Your eyes met with his, the brown eyes gazed at yours, searching for the warmth look that you always had just for him. It was there. Flickering in between awe and wonder, you still had these feelings that you offered for him all those months ago. He was actually amazed by it, didn't expect that someone would admire him still even after all of those cold gestures that he showed.

In this moment, as your eyes locked with his captivating one, it felt just like the first time he saw you running through the schoolground. With your teeth clamped on a piece of bread, only for you to slip and eat the soil instead. Remembering all of those recollections, he realised that the storm called you was there inside him since that particular day.

"I lo-"

But before he could continue the words that have been stuck on his throat for months, his gaze met with a pair of dark grey orbs, filled with pain and fear. Your boyfriend was there, shoulder slumped as he saw how his captain looked at you. It was the same with the look that he had every time his eyes laid on you—from what his brother said.

Within instance, Kita pulled his hand away from your head. He could see the disappointment appearing from your eyes for a second. But at the same time it was like you realised that you were not his, it was as if you realised he never let you in and it was all too late for the two of you.

You were just a storm. He reminded himself as he almost hurt his underclassmen that he cared so much, just because he wanted you too. From the start he knew he was at fault here, but he needed to twist his mind for now. Hoping that the storm would go out from his life someday.

Or at least if the storm stayed, he didn't want it now. Not when he knew so well the storm didn't come just to him.

He panted hard; today's job felt so tiresome as he needed to make sure every rice packed neatly. With diligence and patience, he was satisfied that each ounce he produced could be spread all around Japan, tasted and enjoyed from any kind of place.

It has always become one of his dreams, to create something that was impactful to a lot of people. He imagined a scenario where a family gathered around, praying and thanked the deity from giving them such a wonderful life—grateful for everything that had been given to them.

A child, maybe one or two, listened in and followed every movement of their father as they circled around on the dining table. The time filled with love and appreciation, little family that he always wanted; one that he never had.

He thought that you would be a great wife, especially after a week ago where he crossed paths with you once again. With a gentle smile, groceries bag in hand, everyone who saw the two of them yesterday would think that they were some newlywed couple.

In the middle of work, this was the first time he was distracted and thought about anything else beside the rice fields and the numbers that may come. See? A storm. He chuckled under his breath, remembering how much you had changed, yet a perfect kind of change.

If before he always grimaced and frowned when his mind went back to you without him wanting to, now he seems like he enjoyed it. Maybe he finally embraced it, the fact that no matter how many times he tried to run away from you, a storm will always catch up with him.

Especially you; the one kind that swirled on his heart, the one that slipped without permission. Who stayed, and never left him—leading him to the conclusion that some storm would be there for the longest time.

"Shin," A gentle voice that belonged to his grandmother brought him back to reality, "You look happy there," She chuckled a little, walking closer towards her grandson that she was always proud of.

"I am always happy at work, granny." He emitted a smile that only showed when he put his walls down, "And well, you are here too, so it doubled up my happiness."

"Ah, always so charismatic." She shook her head in amusement and patted his back, "Are you going to send in the supply for Osamu-chan?" He almost snorted from the choice of nickname that his grandmother used for his old teammate, still not used to it even after years he had heard it.

"Yes, I will." He gave her a soft smile and put his record book inside his bag, "I am going there now, he needs it to cheer up someone tomorrow."

"Alright, stay safe and focus on the road, Shin."

Kita nodded and went towards the car, starting the engine with a light heart. With one last glance and a little wave towards his grandmother, his car started to roll down the road.

Hyogo was peaceful, especially around his neighbourhood. Acres of land that were still untouched, with big trees adorned the side of the road. He always had his car window down as he soaked the serene atmosphere.

And now his mind was running wild, imagining you to be there beside him. What would you do if you were in the passenger seat? Would you turn on the radio and sing along to whatever tunes that were being aired? Or maybe you would just hum and enjoy the scenery with him.

Whatever it was that you would do, anything that reminded him of you made his heart burst with joy. So he would be okay, he would be okay for any of your antics, he would be ready now when he faced you once again.

He thought about sending you a message since a week ago when he got your new number, wanting to maybe ask you out on a date. Date—does everyone still say that? He felt so old as he was not really good about this thing called love. But one thing that he knew, he felt like he never aged at all by keeping this storm in his life.

You used to love some peaceful cafe that looked aesthetically pleasing. With a wide variety of drinks so you would never get bored, ordering some different beverages until you found the right one. At least that was what he heard from Osamu before on the high school days.

His eyes fell to the familiar building, a traditional Japanese one which was full with wood and chocolate accent. Dark blue banner written with "宮" (read: Miya) could be seen even when he was still a little bit far from the place.

It felt like another home for him, obvious with how his lips shaped into a smile every time he was here. Proud. He was always proud with how everything turned out for all of his old teammates. It was such a hectic day that time when Osamu told his brother that he would no longer pursue his career in volleyball, resulting in them with faces full of band aid.

But looked at them now, all grown up chasing their own dreams with a smile on their faces.

Kita parked the car near the back door so it wouldn't prevent any pedestrians from seeing such a cozy place to stop by. As if the owner of the shop had a six sense, someone popped out from the back door with a glint of joy glimmering inside his dark grey orbs.

"Kita-san!" The rice farmer turned his head only to meet his old teammate, "Come on, let me help you." Both of them had the same soft smile since they knew that together, they felt like they were home. His old teammates were all considered as his family, the one who had been with him through ups and down.

"Don't you have workers who should unload the stock?"

"Yeah, but I like unloading the stock with you. We didn't hang much like we used to after all."

Even if they live in the same prefecture, the same city to be exact, they had their own schedule that needed to be fulfilled. They were not teenagers anymore who had more free time, doing some routine and hobbies. They were adults now, with different burdens on each of their shoulders.

The rice farmer nodded at this and opened up the baggage, dozens of rice sacks filled their vision. All of them were arranged in a neat row, making sure that not even one of them bounced while in the road.

With cheeky grins on their faces, they looked at each other. Within seconds, both of them immediately had sacks of rice on their shoulders. They had this kind of ritual and inner bet. For those who could load the most sacks inside the shops would treat the winner some drink for the next four times they hang out.

"Gah, you win this time, Kita-san." Osamu plopped himself on the pile of sacks while stretching his body, "I am drained mentally and physically after yesterday."

"Oh? What happened yesterday?" The light grey haired man leaned his body on the wall, looking down on his old teammate who looked so beaten up. "Did something happen to you?" Now his eyes lingered with worry, he never liked the idea of his friend getting into something bad.

"Ah... It was nothing bad." There was a tranquil smile that was visible on his underclassmen's face, "I just did something that I have been planning for a long time, that's all."

"So how did it go?" Now the rice farmer was curious. It's been maybe two months since the last time they had a casual conversation about life, "Just like the plan?"

"Even better, Kita-san, I—"

"Samu, did the rice arrive already?"

His breath hitch when a familiar figure suddenly appeared from the kitchen. Even with all of the hair being swept to the back, a simple black shirt that didn't really compliment your figure due to maybe the wrong size, the cap that covered your head and hooded your eyes.

He wouldn't mistake the only woman who ever had his heart since high school.

There was shock, written on both of your faces, once again feeling like the two of you were in some kind of bubble without anyone else. It felt like a lifetime ago when he saw the glimmer of old feelings from your eyes; that somehow still visible when he met you last week.

But now as you stood there with the same attire as his underclassmen—that he knew so well had its eyes on you even before he realised his own feelings—something clicked on his mind like a turmoil before the big storm came.

"I actually wanted to surprise you, knowing how much you used to admire Kita-san so much." Osamu stood up and walked towards you, wrapping one of his arms around your waist as his lips touched the side of your head, "Kita-san is the main supplier for Onigiri Miya, you know?"

"R-Really?" You sounded surprised, widening your eyes a little bit more than before. Your gaze never once left him, and right now he didn't know what to do with the fact he would never have the second chance, "Goodness, why didn't I know that?!"

Your fist hit your boyfriend's chest playfully, but it was more forceful than it supposed to be. The black haired man only cackled at this as he saw how embarrassed you looked right now.

This was the same banter, the same laugh and smile that you and your boyfriend always had since high school. The same one that he once felt. Yes, once. A long time ago where you took a picture of him on his graduation day. How is the photograph now? Do you still save it like what you said that day?

"Okay, okay, I will grab one sack. And you, Miya Osamu, go have some chit chat with Kita-san. You whined a lot when I was away saying that you rarely had time catching up with him." You pecked the black haired man on the cheek before slipping away to grab the rice sacks. Your feet brought you closer to the rice farmer, smiling softly as your gaze fell on his figure.

"Hey."

"Hey, Kita-san."

Your hand grabbed the handle of the sacks and straightened your posture as you stood right in front of him. At this rare time, he felt like you never became a storm. Even after every wrenched and disconsolate that you brought. You still looked so beautiful, and no way a calamity supposed to look like you. "I never said this, but, it's good to see you."

He chuckled a little, trying to calm himself down as his eyes fell towards the diamond ring that rested on your finger. Oh, it suited you, simple and yet sophisticated, So this was the plan.

And in the blink of an eye, he fixed his gaze on you once again. Swallowing down all of the immense pain that bubbling inside his heart.

"It's good to see you too, (Y/n)." Always.

You smiled at him, bowing a little. Just like that time you said that you admired him. You turned his back on him, walking towards the opposite direction. Just like that time when you ignited the foreign feelings inside his heart.

His eyes never left your facade as you put your hand on the shoulder of your fiancé. He could hear it, as the black haired man leaned to your ear and whispered the three beautiful words. He remembered how you were hesitate before, he remembered how you were so grateful that he came right at the time.

But it was a long time ago,

"I love you too, Samu."

There was no hesitation this time. The words rolling down from your lips that sounded so heavenly for his underclassmen. Yet for him, it felt like he was in the peak of the calamity, where everything wrecked until the roots.

He should have known that the admiration in your eyes from a week ago was platonic. He fell into an illusion of hope that his own mind created to save him from the heartbreak. The heartbreak that he was supposed to get when he looked at your glimmering orbs at that time.

The adoration that you had for him was not like what he saw on his graduation day. He could still see the remnants of your love that you offer when you teased him about his smile. He could still feel the warmth of longing as you stood still when his hand rested on top of your head, ruffling the strands of your hair as if you were his lover.

But it was not there anymore and he shouldn't have been so naive.

He thought that maybe, the storm that had been inside him for years could magically passed and produced a magnificent result.

Perhaps he would have his own rainbow, the beauty after the storm, just like what people said about what may come after the catastrophes. But as he stood here, at the back of the place that one day would be yours too with a forced smile on his face, he didn't believe in such a miracle anymore.

Because the only thing that left when the storm passed for him—was just a wreckage of an unfulfilled heart that wouldn't be intact evermore.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*     ༶• ┈┈ ⛧ ┈ ♛ ♛ ┈ ⛧ ┈┈ •༶     *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Tagged Lovelies:

@muffins-puffins​ @vlovers-world​ @blacckdiamondposts​ @for-ests​ @atsunflower​ @miyatsunami​ @iwaixiumi​ @hihiq​ @the-fandom-ness​ @quirksandbreaths​ @rintarhoe​ @verbluehte​ @simp4tsukkii​ @ladyalicevii​ @evermorehaikyuu​ @clowninfortodoroki​ @koutaroulovebot​ @fitriiaw​ @mistypoison​ @aquariarose​ @greenleaf-fantasy​ @t-amajiki​ @kuraomi​ @haikyuuwithadashofart​ @starbybokuto​ @shiningstar-byulxx​ @nerdyphantomlady​ @raequii​

[rootedincuteness]

Meet The Gang: Mabel

FULL NAME: Mabel MEANING BEHIND NAME: It was one of many names I suggested to her, and she liked that one best. TYPE OF BEAST: A dark tan mayapple rootling with a bright white flower and plenty of leaves. GENDER: Female PERSONALITY: Painfully shy. So shy that she often covers her face with her leaves. She embarrasses easily and doesn’t have a lot of confidence. Being in The Roots & ‘Shrooms Gang has really helped her, though. She’s making friends like crazy now! OCCUPATION: She’s too shy to have a job, but she’s trying. BEST FRIEND: She likes Lilliana and Vanessa, but has to get to know them better first. RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Single. Dating is scary! FAVORITE COLOR: Blush. It’s a very soft pink. It’s also what she does almost every day. FAVORITE FOOD: Pancakes. With lots of maple syrup. FAVORITE SEASON: Summer. FAVORITE HOLIDAY: Pancake Day. Yes, that’s a thing. LIKES: Pancakes, maple candies, chrysanthemum tea, honey, flowers, soft grasses, trees, blue sky, and singing. DISLIKES: Salty flavors, spicy foods, stinging insects, thunderstorms, hurricanes, scary movies, and chunky peanut butter. PET PEEVE: When someone farts and doesn’t apologize. It’s so rude and gross! CURRENT OBSESSION: Making pancakes in all sorts of weird shapes.

[encyclopika]

Animal Crossing Fish Explained - Habitats #2

Brought to you by a marine biologist who lives in the Westerlies...

CLICK HERE FOR THE AC FISH EXPLAINED MASTERPOST!

The habitat we’ll be doing today is more broadly known as the Neritic Zone, also known as the continental shelf, nearshore, etc etc. This tank in particular is most definitely a temperate, nearshore habitat, with lots of light and structure for a very vibrant ecosystem that experiences seasonal changes in nutrients and temperature. So, let’s get to it:

~~~Nearshore~~~

There’s so much to cover here. Because I live right on top of the nearshore habitat (on an island), most of my marine biology studies went towards understanding this habitat. This is where most fishing practices happen. This is where the most diverse habitats are in the ocean. This is the habitat that sees the most change. There’s a lot to understand. 

But let’s talk about the Westerlies and winds in general. Wind is very important to the surface habitats because it dictates temperature, currents, and nutrients. Major wind systems are generated by temperature differences in the atmosphere and the Coriolis effect from the Earth’s rotation. As sun strikes the Earth directly at the equator, hot air circulates across the globe, as shown in this great diagram:

By KVDP - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8158719

The North and South trade winds (so named because they aided wind-powered trade ships across the oceans, from east to the New World in the west) flow from east to west due to the Earth’s rotation. Likewise, the Polar Vortexes at the poles also flow this way. The winds stuck in the middle are deflected eastward from the west, making them The Westerlies. Because of this constant flow, weather patterns, especially that of hurricanes and cyclones, become predictable - hurricanes travel from the coast of Africa west to the Americas, for example. Sometimes, you’ll see a hurricane get swept from the Americas back east towards Europe - that’s the hurricane basically getting handed off into the Westerly current and moving east. 

The Westerlies get stronger as the Polar Vortex gets stronger and vice versa. In the winter, the Polar Vortex is at its strongest, and so are the Westerlies. These strong winds bring storms that mix up the ocean water and stir up nutrients. (Here in the Northeast, we get almost-hurricanes called Nor’Easters in the winter...they bring a ton of snow, wind, and they can be pretty scary.) When things start calming down in the Spring, and the days start getting longer, this combination of new, available nutrients and more light spark the Spring Bloom.

Image courtesy the SeaWiFS Project, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, and ORBIMAGE (Northeast USA and Canadian coast. Dark red indicates really concentrated blooms of phytoplankton. I absolutely love how that big red plume off South Massachusetts is right where Georges Bank is, one of the most productive habitats in the temperate nearshore biome - it’s famous as a prime fishing ground. What I love about marine biology is how easy it is to see these patterns and connections in action!)

NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC.(Actual image of a phytoplankton bloom off the coast of Iceland.)

The spring bloom doesn’t last forever. Eventually the phytoplankton exhaust the nutrients that were stirred up in the water. Now it’s time for a population boom of zooplankton, particularly copepods that feed on the phytoplankton. Once their numbers are up, it’s time for fish larvae to take advantage of the buffet and have their first meals. If everything is timed perfectly, you get a great cohort of many of the fish species we humans rely on, like Atlantic Cod. It would be a terrible shame if something were to disrupt this perfect balance of growth and renewal in the Westerlies! *cough cough* climate change *cough cough*

Anyway. 

The temperate biome also has a lot of bottom habitat - from sandy shores to rocky habitat, seagrass and algae meadows, and oyster reefs...

Here are the animals in the Temperate Biome tank in ACNH (and I’m kinda pissed the Lobster isn’t in this tank :T ):

 Sea Bass :: Zebra Turkeyfish :: Abalone :: Red Snapper :: Dab :: Olive Flounder :: Acorn Barnacle :: Gazami Crab :: Octopus :: Ray :: Squid :: Moray Eel :: Sea Pineapple :: Saw Shark :: Hammerhead Shark :: Pufferfish :: Seahorse :: Barred Knifejaw :: Seaweed :: Oyster :: Dungeness Crab :: Sea Star :: Turban Shell 

And there you have it. Fascinating stuff, no?

[flowerfan2]

David x Patrick, 37k so far, A03.  Read from the beginning here.  Updates weekly.  Angst, h/c, with a happy ending (honestly the happy happens way before the ending...)

Summary:  Being stuck in the Milwaukee airport is bad enough. Then David realizes that the man who broke his heart is sitting right next to him. After a rom-com worthy reunion, David decides he won't walk away again.

Chapter 12

Patrick wakes up the next morning to David smiling at him, already dressed in his running clothes.  He stretches up and David leans down, giving him a chaste kiss that shouldn’t make either of them blush the way it does.

“Have a good run,” Patrick says, and David purses his lips to hide his smile.  

“Thanks.”

After David leaves the room Patrick turns and flops over, looking for a cool place on the pillow to hide his face.  

He knows why he feels so exposed this morning.  He and David have finally confronted the elephant in the room (not an elephant - “elephants are not sexy,” he can hear the David-in-his-mind chiding him) about their lack of intimacy, and although things almost went absolutely to shit, it all worked out okay.  More than okay.

And to be fair, saying that they haven’t been “intimate” isn’t quite right.  David said something last night that lights Patrick up inside when he remembers it.  

“I kind of liked just being close to you.”

David said it like a confession, like a beautiful secret he was holding close.  And Patrick loves him for it, because even while Patrick was feeling guilty about not going further physically, he was soaking up the joy of being close to David.

Patrick wants to kick himself for trying to rush them past this, this opportunity to give each other the comfort they both so desperately need.  Because Patrick was so busy worrying, he almost missed it.

They’ve gone about things differently this time around, for sure.  Back in Schitt’s Creek, the beginning of their relationship was full of firsts, and it was as heated and horny as Patrick always wished he felt as a teenager. This time, although they were drawn together from the beginning, it has been for warmth and tenderness, rather than sex.  And David doesn’t mind – more than that, he likes it.

It makes Patrick nearly cheer with glee, here under the blankets that are still warm with David’s body heat, that still smell of his cedar cologne.  He knows they have a lot to talk about, and a lot to process, but he can feel the bond between them growing stronger with every difficult conversation.  Every time they confront something that has the potential to drive them apart, and instead use it to heal and make new connections, Patrick thinks they are that much closer to something that will last.

He can hardly believe all that has happened over the past few days.  Stevie appearing on their doorstep was a real change-up that could have ended in disaster.  Instead, Patrick discovered that the rift between Stevie and David was caused by David being concerned for Patrick, even while believing that Patrick had cheated on him.  Patrick can’t help but find this endearing, even though David was wrong about him, and wrong in assuming that he should cut ties with Stevie the way he did.  

Frankly, Patrick has felt pretty bad over the past few years, knowing that Stevie and David weren’t talking.  Their friendship had seemed to be rock solid, and he knew it must have hurt for David to lose her, and vice versa.  But he had never imagined that David had arranged the whole mess himself.  He feels a pang of guilt for not pressing Stevie harder about what happened, but then again, it sounds like Stevie didn’t really know at the time, either.  

And regardless of what David did and why, he and Stevie seem to mended things.  Last night David’s face lit up when Stevie texted him silly photos of her and Ruth at Disney World, posing with princesses at a character dinner.  Although he might deny how much it matters to him, David is clearly thrilled to have his friend back.

Patrick finally forces himself to get out of bed and into the shower.  He stands under the hot water for a while, pleased to find that his various aches and pains are really much improved.  Even the nasty bruises on his ribs are better, most of the area now yellow or a faint green, instead of the dark purple from ten days ago.

David’s still out of the house when he finishes, so Patrick takes his time shaving.  He finds it easier to look at himself in the mirror these days, and it’s not just because his hair is starting to grow in over the healing gash on his head.  

David’s toiletries are spread out all over the countertop.  Patrick recognizes most of them, although there are some face creams that seem to be new.  Not everything is RA branded, probably because they stopped carrying some of the products when the brand cut down to just items needed for the motels.  

Patrick picks up David’s cologne and sprays a little bit on himself, knowing it will make David smile.  There’s a moisturizer that looks familiar, and of course the body milk, still a Rose Apothecary favorite.  He pauses when he sees a little round pot of lip balm.  Raising it to his face, Patrick twists the top off and breathes it in.

It’s a citrus blend with a fresh scent, a pale yellow balm that Patrick can’t help but sample.  He purses his lips and smooths it on, and suddenly feels a wave of déjà vu.

This is the lip balm David had been sourcing just before everything fell apart.  Patrick liked the scent, and thought it would be popular; David found the vendor difficult and didn’t want to agree to the terms she was requesting.  And both of them were annoyed that the vendor insisted on using a hard to find base for the product which might delay production.  They had almost agreed to go for it anyway (“it’s not La Mer, but it is remarkably moisturizing”) when their relationship imploded and new products were the last thing on Patrick’s mind.

He’s lost in thought, holding the little tub in the palm of his hand, when David leans against the open door of the bathroom and dances his fingers along Patrick’s bare shoulders.  “Find something you like?”

Patrick holds out the lip balm.  “I didn’t know you made this one.”

David stills, then takes it from Patrick and plays with it in his hand, tightening the lid and then showing it to Patrick.  <i>Limited Edition</i> appears under the Rose Apothecary logo.  

“You said it smelled like sunshine,” David says, looking anywhere but at Patrick.  “I ordered a box.  I was going to give them to you, one of the million or so times I imagined finding a way to see you again.”  David squirms, rolls his eyes and then holds it out to Patrick.  “Here.  Better late than never.”

Patrick smiles and leans over to kiss David, so David can taste his lips, already coated in citrusy goodness.  After they broke up, David had the lip balm Patrick liked made.  He wore it on his lips, thinking of him.  His heart swells.  “Thank you.  I love it.” Patrick sets the lip balm back down on the countertop, tapping it with a finger.  “Do you have any more?”

David gives him a wry smile.  “I think there were 144 in the carton, so, yeah.  I have a few left.”

*****

“Tell me again why we can’t go out?”  David is pouting, looking outside at the bright blue sky.  

“You are welcome to go anywhere you want,” Patrick says.  “But the window company is coming to install new hurricane screens, and I told my mom I’d be home to supervise.”

David turns towards Patrick, who is idly channel surfing, looking for something interesting to watch on television.  “Wait, what did you say?”

“The window guys are coming, and I told my mom I’d be here.”

“I believe you also said <i>hurricane</i>.”

“Well, yeah.  There are these special covering screens that you can pull over the windows in case of hurricanes, and some of them got dented or something and don’t extend right, so we’re having them fixed and some new ones installed.”

“Patrick.”  David backs away from the large patio door and into the center of the room, eyes wide.  “You did not tell me about hurricanes.”

“It’s Florida, sometimes there are hurricanes.  This isn’t exactly news.”

“I agreed to alligators, and bugs, and apparently I am also risking my toes to fire ants.  But hurricanes were never mentioned.”

“You didn’t ask for a disclosure form.”  Patrick stands up and approaches David, who is looking around the room as if the wind was going to pick up any minute and blow the house away like Dorothy’s farmhouse.  “And there’s really nothing to worry about.  It isn’t even hurricane season.”

“There’s a season?”

“Yup.  And it ends in November.”

“It was November just a few days ago.”

“Even if it was still November, there are hardly ever any hurricanes that late – maybe a tropical storm or two.  Most of the hurricanes are between August and October.”

“Is that supposed to make me feel safe?”

“Yes, it is.”  Patrick runs his hands down David’s shoulders, grasping lightly at his elbows.  “Would it make you feel better to hear more about how the hurricane screens protect us from the scary storms?”

David frowns, and then gives his shoulders a shake.  “Yes.”

Patrick pulls David down to sit on the couch with him and takes out his laptop.  “Look, the nice people from the hurricane screen company emailed us all kinds of information.  I bet they’d even let you watch them work.”

David glares at Patrick.  “I don’t appreciate you making jokes at my expense.”

Patrick grins back.  “We can watch a movie later, continue your education.  Maybe <i>Twister.</i>”

“You think you’re funny.  That’s not about a hurricane, anyway.”

Patrick thinks for a minute.  “There’s the one with the boat, in New England.  </i>A Perfect Storm.</i>   George Clooney’s in it.”

David smirks at Patrick.  “George Clooney, huh?  How old were you when that movie came out, maybe ten?  Eleven?”

“My dad likes movies about boats,” Patrick protests, his face feeling warm.

“If you’re in the mood for George Clooney, we should watch <i>Ocean’s Eleven,</i>” David says.  “At least that’s got Julia Roberts.”

“Leave it to you to know that.”

“I’ll have you know that Clooney’s been in other movies with Julia too, and one with Sandra Bullock.”

“Sounds like someone has a bit of a fixation.”

“I know everything there is to know about Julia and Sandra.  This cannot come as a surprise to you.  This body of knowledge just happens to include some information about George Clooney.”

Patrick catches David’s gaze, and then rakes his eyes up and down his body, as obviously as possible.  “Maybe I have a type.”

David looks like he’s about to jump out of his seat.  “Are you telling me I look like George Clooney?”

Patrick does think there’s a certain something about both of them, around the eyes, and the way they smirk.  And David will look fantastic if he goes salt and pepper the way Clooney has.  But they’re not really that similar.

“No.”

“Oh.”  Disappointment flashes across David’s face.

Patrick leans in and traces David’s cheekbone.  “You are much, much prettier than he is,” he says, his voice low.

Sadly, it is at this precise moment that the doorbell rings, depriving Patrick of the chance to bathe David’s blushing cheeks in kisses.  He gives David a quick peck and goes to answer the door.

*****

David excuses himself to do some work in the office while Patrick talks to the window installers, and reappears only after the workers have left.  They settle on the couch, bickering for a while about what movie to watch, and finally agree on Ocean’s Eleven (although David won’t commit to the entire trilogy, as Julia Roberts isn’t in Ocean’s Thirteen).

David seems jumpy all through the movie, and it makes Patrick worried.  He thinks about their conversation last night, both of them noting – correctly – that they should have just <i>said</i> something about what was going on, and David practically begging Patrick to tell him if he thought there was something David should do differently.

He pushes away the small pang of hurt at the memory that David rejected his advances, reminding himself that David is scared about this, too.  Not to mention that he doesn’t ever want to fall into the category of people who David regrets having sex with.

A shudder runs through him as he remembers David implying rather strongly that he’s been in sexual situations he didn’t consent to.  Of course it’s at this moment that David interrupts his train of thought, doing exactly what Patrick had been working up to.

“Patrick?  Everything okay?”

Patrick focuses on David, looking gorgeous in a leopard print sweater that fits snugly around his chest and shoulders.  “I was going to ask you the same thing.”

David fiddles with the remote and mutes the television.  After a long moment goes by, he gives Patrick a look.  “What?  I asked first.”

Patrick snorts a little bit and slides closer to David on the couch.  “I was thinking about last night.”

David nods.  “Mmm.  Me too.”  He glances quickly at Patrick’s hand, resting on his knee, and lets go of the remote to grab it.   His palm is sweaty, which is very unlike David, and that’s when Patrick is certain that he’s nervous.  “I hope you know that I do want you,” David says, a slight blush tinting his cheeks.  “Very much.”

Patrick can’t help the shiver of arousal that goes through him just at these simple words.  He realizes with relief that he hasn’t felt this way in a long time, that last night was really the first time in ages that he was attracted to someone and comfortable about it, excited and happy and pleased and – safe.

“I’m glad to hear that,” Patrick says, pressing his knee against David’s.  “I want you too.  I mean, you probably figured that out, but in case there was any doubt, I do.”

David gives some sort of disbelieving head toss and purses his lips.  “I’m not naïve enough to think that just because someone comes on to me they actually want me.”

Patrick feels his stomach swoop.  “David?”  He shuffles closer and lays a hand gently on David’s shoulder.  “You know that’s not me, right?”

David rolls his eyes, but Patrick can tell he’s not convinced.  And <i>oh,</i> there it is, that’s why David hesitated last night.  Beneath all of his new athletic accomplishment, his designer sweaters and his continually impressive pompadour, David is still unsure of himself when it comes to his worth.  David took a leap, coming with Patrick to Florida at a time when Patrick himself was wobbly with self-doubt (he’s still wobbly, he knows it), but inside, he’s still David.  And whatever harm was done when the two of them broke up won’t be fixed in a week.

Patrick lays his head on David’s shoulder and puts his arm around him, pulling him close.  He can feel David relax against his body, and he waits to make sure his breathing calms before he speaks.  

“You’re going to trust me again, David,” Patrick says, and it’s not a command.  It’s a promise.  “We’re going to be okay.  We’re going to get through this, and when we come together again, it’s going to last.  We’ll be solid.”

David nods against his head.  “I’d like that.”

“Just give it a little time.  It’s okay to be nervous.”

David stills.  “Does being nervous mean I don’t have enough… faith in us?”  

“No,” Patrick says, trying to pour every inch of sincerity he has into his words.  “Absolutely not.  Being nervous is natural.  It’s expected.  Given what happened between us, I’d be surprised if you weren’t a little nervous.”

“I don’t want to hurt like that again,” David whispers, and Patrick’s heart clenches.  

“I don’t want you to ever hurt like that again,” Patrick says.  

“How do we do it differently this time?”

“Maybe just like this.  We talk more, if something’s wrong.”

“I didn’t say anything was wrong.”

Patrick smirks.  David can’t help himself, even in the middle of this heartfelt conversation.  “You’re right – nothing’s wrong.  We’re doing it right.”

David sighs and leans into him.  “Doing it right is hard, and kind of terrifying.”

“Don’t worry, the hurricane screens will protect us.”

[slashhinginghasher]

You, 87 years ago: (I seriously have an entire childhood planned out for Jesse based on nothing but that 2-second flashback in L2R2, but that’s a beast for a different post.) Us, checking watch: Is it time for this post yet??

How To Raise A Serial Killer

Paul Cromeans was a mean son of a bitch. Anyone in town would attest to that. He was drunk more often than he was sober and liked to talk with his fists. Rumor had it he’d beaten his wife to death and hidden her body in the swamp. Other folks said that was stupid, that she’d just gotten tired of being a punching bag and high-tailed it out of there. Whatever the truth was, she’d vanished seemingly overnight, leaving Paul behind with their infant son. When little Jesse was old enough to ask about his mother, Paul - who would never accept the consequences of his actions - told the boy that she’d been a gold-digging whore who ran off with a richer man.

He blamed the specter of his wife for all the woes in his life. When the windows leaked during hurricane season, it was because she had never taken good care of the house. When it became clear that Jesse would never talk, it was because she smoked and drank while she was pregnant. When he turned his fists on his son, it was because she had left him a lonely and desolate man instead of supporting him the way a wife should.

***

Paul worked nights cleaning the county funeral home. The pay wasn’t much: it was enough for Paul’s drinks and his smokes and to keep the bank away from their doorstep, but not enough for childcare. When Jesse grew out of his infant cuteness and the neighborhood ladies would no longer watch him for free, Paul started bringing him to work with him. He’d sit the boy on a chair in the foyer with strict instructions not to move, and shake him awake hours later when it was time to go home.

Jesse listened, at first. The funeral home was scary in the dark, the proprietor looked old and mean, and there were probably ghosts. He’d huddle in whatever chair his father plunked him down in, refusing to even let his feet touch the floor. But as time passed, he got older, braver, and more bored, and started to explore the shadowy depths of the building. One night, venturing deeper than he’d dared before, he’d stumbled upon the proprietor working over one of the deceased. It was a young woman, grey-skinned and nude on the metal table. Jesse froze in the doorway.

It was the first dead human he’d seen, and the first naked woman. He was eight years old.

He must have made some sort of noise, because the proprietor looked up from his work and beckoned Jesse inside. The boy obeyed, more afraid of angering the old man than he was of the corpse.

“Go on, then,” the proprietor ordered in his smoker’s rasp. “Touch her.” Jesse didn’t move. The proprietor scoffed at the boy’s hesitation and grabbed his hand, forcing him to touch the dead woman’s foot. Jesse cringed, half-expecting the body to move, but it remained as cold and still as the dead animals he sometimes found on the side of the road.

“See?” the proprietor said. “Ain’t nothing to be afraid of. She’s just meat.”

Shortly after that, Paul started leaving Jesse home alone when he went to work. Jesse didn’t think it had anything to do with the body, but he was too scared to ask.

***

School was hard. Not because Jesse was stupid - he wasn’t - but because he was smart and no one else knew it. His classmates pushed him around and called him names because his clothes were shabby and his daddy had punched Mark’s daddy at the bar last weekend and he physically couldn’t tell them to stop. Teachers ignored him because he couldn’t talk. When he did well on tests, they accused him of cheating, so he stopped trying. He still listened to their lessons, because they were interesting, but he sat in the back of the classroom and doodled skulls and broken stick figures in the margins of his worksheets.

His only friend was the old, kindly school librarian who let him eat lunch among the shelves. She had managed to dig up a book about sign language, and sat with him patiently as he signed the alphabet over and over with clumsy fingers. But she died of a heart attack when Jesse was ten, and her replacement wasn’t anywhere as sympathetic, and he was forced to return to the cruel company of his peers. He stole the sign language book from the library out of spite and practiced signing in the dirty mirror at home.

***

Jesse’s relationship with his father was rocky. Paul was often too drunk to read the notes Jesse wrote, and he refused to waste his time learning how to wave his hands around like a “fuckin’ fairy.” This communicative gap made even the most basic interactions more difficult than they should have been.

Their only common ground was hunting, where Jesse proved to be a natural. When Paul was in a rare good mood, he’d brag to the other men at the bar about how his boy could sneak close enough to a deer to slap it on the rump if he had half a mind to. And if Jesse seemed to prefer gutting the carcasses over shooting, well. Every man should know how to butcher his own kill.

***

Jesse had his first major growth spurt when he was fourteen, and entered high school a lanky, gangling giant of a boy. The physical bullying stopped, his sheer size enough to deter most people, but the name-calling grew worse, more targeted. The teachers saw his size and his silence and assumed he was some kind of idiot. He started walking with a hunch, wishing he could shrink down and disappear into the crowd.

High school was also where Jesse first noticed Lindsey Forrester. She had hair like corn silk, a smile like a movie star’s, and the bluest eyes you ever did see. Compared to the dead woman from the funeral home and the crinkled pictures in Paul’s Playboys, Lindsey was like a ray of sunshine. Jesse was pretty sure that even if he could talk, he’d never be able to form a sentence around her. Even though he was pushing 6’4”, she made him feel three inches tall. She didn’t make fun of him, but she didn’t talk to him, either. She was the only one whose attention he would have welcomed, and she didn’t even notice him.

So it was something of a shock when she asked him out in 11th grade. He said yes, naturally, and was even able to make her laugh through the awkwardness after she asked for his phone number out of habit. (It was the only time his muteness ever came in handy; he would’ve been mortified to admit his house didn’t have a phone.) He skipped class on Friday to scrub his father’s dirty old car to spotlessness, and stole Paul’s only nice shirt from the closet after he passed out drunk.

Jesse waited outside the diner for three hours before he accepted that Lindsey wasn’t going to show up. Come Monday, everyone was sneaking glances at him and snickering behind their hands. On Tuesday, Lindsey announced that she and Mark were dating.

He started to understand why his father spoke so harshly about his mother.

***

Paul’s liver gave up the ghost the summer after Jesse graduated high school, dragging the rest of Paul along with it. The coroner didn’t even bother with an autopsy; everyone knew Paul Cromeans would drink himself to death one day. No one expected Jesse to mourn, and he didn’t. He chose the cheapest burial option, turned the ramshackle house over to the bank, and left town with nothing but his hunting knife and his father’s beat up car.

It was fortunate they hadn’t run a toxicology panel on Paul.

***

Jesse returned to town only once, the year he turned 21.

No one knew where he’d gotten the money from. Rumor had it he was running drugs for the cartel in Miami. Other folks said that was stupid, that he’d just gotten lucky or maybe found a job with one of the new tech companies that were popping up everywhere. Whatever the method, Jesse Cromeans rolled into town with a new car, new tattoos, and a pair of designer sunglasses, and bought his childhood home back from the bank. Cash.

He’d filled out, too, his muscles drawing admiring looks from the girls who wouldn’t give him the time of day at school. Including Lindsey Forrester.

“I never got to tell you how sorry I was about your dad,” she murmured as she straddled him in the backseat. “You left town so fast, I didn’t even get to say goodbye.” She and Mark were set to be married the following spring. Her engagement ring was currently somewhere under Jesse’s passenger seat.

“I was such an idiot for standing you up in high school,” she sighed as they shared a cigarette afterwards. “It was a bet, but I totally would’ve shown up if I’d known this was how things would turn out.”

“How much did you win?” Jesse asked.

“Nothing,” she said. “It was just a stupid dare between stupid kids.”

“Now that’s a damn shame.”

“Why?” Lindsey giggled, trying and failing to blow a smoke ring.

“Because that means you died for nothing.”

***

The last thing Jesse did was burn his old house to the ground. He didn’t add Lindsey to the growing collection in his glove box. She wasn’t worth the tape.