#i cannot wait to leave this place and it’s customs and literally forget this life and everyone i used to know

[laboheme]

best friend got engaged and told literally everyone else before me

[libraford]

The short version: We had a serial thief at the flower shop. She’s retired recently and I think that due to Covid she really means it this time. 

The long version? hoooo boy, here we go.

This story, and others, are viewable on Tablo

There are rules and there are rules.

In dealing with shoplifting in retail, there are rules on how one engages with a thief. The handbook, if there were one, would consist of a single word. 

Don't. 

Don't pursue, don't interrogate, don't accuse. Let them take the merchandise, let them get away. Let them return the Cricut machine for an equivalent amount on a gift card to be exchanged once again for drugs. 

Let them. 

There is no handbook on how to handle Flower Thieves. Prior to working in a flower shop, I never thought that this was a problem. 

Life is surprising. 

 I'm sure some of you have figured that out by now. 

The Flower Thief is notorious, and she has a system. There are days when you simply know that she's going to be in. 

"Break the heads off the flowers before you throw them away," Grandpa will say. "She's going to be here tonight, I think." 

And sure enough, she would be. At 6:45, a quarter til we close- the Thief would announce her arrival. Loudly. 

"Heeeeey, baaaaaaby!" 

The very first time I encountered the Flower Thief, she came in through the back door. 

"Oh Hiiiii, Darlin'- ain't seen your face around here: you must be NEW! I'm Wren, you know- like the bird? Well, Kyle and I have an agreement that I come and work for y'all sometimes. You should take out this trash, it stinks to high heaven. Anyways, nice talkin' to ya, see ya later." 

I may only be a little bit psychic, but I've spent enough time around liars to know insincerity when I see it. Kyle, at the time, was the manager of our store and I have it on record that he's tried to throw her out of the building once or twice. 

While I was taking out the trash, her pile of purchase became so tall it towered over her. I watched Clark massively undercharge her for the sake of getting her to go away. 

She has a pattern.

She comes in during the design classes because she knows that when there's twenty people in the store, there's not enough people to watch her and make sure she's not stealing. "There's a class today," she asks as if it's not literally every Tuesday. "Don't worry I know you all wanna get out of here on time." 

The Flower Thief announces her presence in a grand way and then makes her way to the back to grab a trash bag or an empty box and then proceeds to bury any spare parts she finds in the cooler in the trash bag, hiding them under the things that she's actually buying. 

After that, she checks the garbage cans for things we might have thrown away that will last another three days and stuffs them underneath her other ill-gotten goods. 

Just when you think she's finished, she'll go through her pile of flowers and say: "You know what? I don't need this eucalyptus." And she'll go back into the cooler with it, stuff it in her purse, and walk back to the register. 

And when she's all done being sneaky, she asks one of us to come ring her out. 

This is the part that no one wants to do. Because ringing out the Flower Thief means haggling with the Flower Thief. 

"Oh baaby, you know I don't pay those prices." 

"Oh baaaby, I only pay $19 for roses." 

"Oh baaaaaaaaaby, those carnations were on special." 

She'll talk you down to under $100 with a sob story: 

"Oh baaaaby, you know I'm donating this spray to the family. It's for that woman you know- you know the one. She got herself murdered a couple nights ago? Two children and she was pregnant too! Pregnant! Can you believe it? Who murders someone with child? What's the world coming to? So I need a good discount to make sure we treat this family right because they got a looooong road ahead of them." 

"Oh baaaaaaby, you know this one's for that car crash over on Cleveland Avenue? I hear he was taking care of his dying father himself, so it's such a shame for him to go first like that." 

"Oh baaaaaaaaaaaaaaby, this is for that little boy that shot himself, isn't that sad?" 

Thank you, Sister Mary Loquacious. 

And you nod because you don't want to come off as an uncaring sociopath. And while you're nodding and adjusting the price for her sad, sad consequence and mulling over how good she is for donating to these people in their time of need, she steals some greens from the trash can and sticks them in her bag. 

She hands you crisp $100 bills. You check them and she makes jokes about how she printed them this morning. They're legit. Counterfeiting isn't why she went to prison. 

What she went to prison for was drug trafficking. 

"Do you need some help," you ask, trying to be a good citizen. 

"Oh no, I got it," she insists. "I'll make it in two trips. I'm stronger than I look!" 

And don't you dare get caught looking to see what she put in the bag or she will give you one hell of a lecture. 

By the time all of this has passed, the class will be over and there will two minutes left in the work day. She's spent thirty-seven minutes in the store. Your register is unbalanced because now you don't have enough small bills to balance it and only have one $100 bill to get you through tomorrow. 

And that's why there are rules. 

On occasion, a new person will break the rules not knowing that there's rules. One such occasion was when Clair decided to be helpful. 

"You know what? I don't need this eucalyptus," Wren said. 

"Oh! I'll put it back for you," Clair suggested. And before Wren could protest, it was out of Wren's hands and nowhere near her purse. 

It was mentioned to Sage, who only worked for us one summer, that Wren had failed to pay for something and she immediately chased her out into the street. 

Wren drives very fast. 

If you cross her too many times, she'll make sure you never forget it. One day, she stomped her way in through the front door, angry. 

"You ain't treated me better than a damn THIEF," screamed the Flower Thief. 

Grandpa, who was helping Blue make a wedding bouquet at the time, departed from the desk. "Beg pardon?"

"A thief! You been treating me like a thief ever since they made you manager and I'm sick of it! I see you bringing in your henchmen, following me in the cooler, chasing me down the street. Treat me with some damn respect." 

Words were exchanged. They were not kind. We thought we'd seen the end of her. 

But she was back one week later, doing the same damn thing. 

So now there are rules. 

If you make something and there's an excess of flowers left over from the pack, you have to make something out of the leftovers or she'll pick through them and stuff them in her bag. 

If you cannot make something out of them, you must throw them out. 

If you throw them out, you must break the heads off first. 

The trash cans must be emptied every night before 5:00. 

We do not keep trash bags in plain sight. 

Break down all empty boxes, or she will use them in place of trash bags. 

Do not leave any food or drink where she can find it. 

Do not leave any half-used rolls of floral tape where she can find it. 

Do not let her know anything about you- lest she use it against you. 

If you speak of a Thief, you summon a Thief- speak quietly, and never her name or you invite trouble. 

The basic rules one makes when dealing with pests. Or fairy-folk.

There are rules and there are rules and there are rules. 

If you want to keep a pest away, you make these sorts of rules. But if you want to get rid of a pest indefinitely, you have to remove their food source. And Wren's food source was her discount. 

You start exercising your right to say 'no' to a customer in small ways. 

She saw a bunch of carnations in the trash and said: 

"Oh baby, these are still good! I'll take them off your hands for you!" 

"They've been sitting without water for hours." 

"They're still good!" 

"They were out in the sun." 

"Oh baby, I've been working with flowers for 40 years and I know that these will still be fine for a couple of days!" She picks a bunch of them out of the trash and shoves it in my face. "See, it's still stiff- it's still good!" 

"Okay," I said. And before I could stop myself: "Full price."

Her eyes just about popped out of her skull. If it were just a little bit colder, I would have been able to see steam coming out of her ears. 

We stared at each other for about a minute, waiting for the other to flinch. She took the bunch away from my face and threw them back into the trash. While she was in the cooler, I took the liberty of snapping the heads off of them and burying them further into the garbage. 

And so began a war between the flower shop and the Flower Thief.

She came in: every single night. And each night, she got me. 

Again.

"Oh no, baby! These carns are supposed to be 39 cents a stem. I can bring up the email." 

"Sure." She brings up the email. "I see that they are 39 cents but... this was for Saturday." 

"Yea, and I bought those carns on Saturday and you charged me full price!" 

"Saturday." 

"Yeah." 

"You didn't buy these on Saturday. You bought them Friday." 

"Well I didn't know that they'd be on sale, so I need them for that price because I didn't know they'd be on sale." 

"The sales are one-day only. I can't adjust a sale from Friday to reflect Saturday's sale... on Sunday." 

She made a noise that reminds me somewhat of a cement mixer. 

 And again.

"I got a bad banner last time, can you print me a new one?" She shows me the banner in question. It's white. The 't' and the 'h' in 'mother' ran together. 

"Sure." 

"Okay, I need it to say 'Beloved Mother' and I want it in pink." 

"Sure." 

I print it. I ring her up $5. 

"Oh baaaaaaby, no, that one should be free." 

"Grandpa said- banners start at $5." 

"Oh, but you sold me a bad one last time." 

"We haven't sold you a banner in three weeks. How long have y'all had that body sitting in your cooler?" 

She grumbled, and paid. 

 And again. 

"I swear you been workin' every night this week! You must be tired," she said, nerves plain in her voice. "When do you get a day off?" 

"When the work is done." 

"That ain't what I'm askin'. When's your next day off, baby?"

"I stop working when the work is done, Wren." 

She narrows her eyes, which is a fun change from them bugging out of her skull like a fruit fly. "You don't ever get any days off?" 

"When the work stops, I rest."

 And again. 

"I'll be in and out, I know y'all want to get out of here on time," she said- announcing her presence to the entire class. She piled her stuff across the register counter and Grandpa began ringing her up. 

"Oh baby..." 

"No. We're doing away with the discounts." 

There are twenty people in the workshop for the class and Grandpa doesn't want to make a scene. She pulls her into the back, and I choose to make my instructions louder to mask the sound of them yelling. 

"So you're going to take your hypericum berries and you're going to cut the stem to about ten inches-" 

"How can you do this to me?" 

"And you're going to slowly fill the vase with these berries to kind of set the shape of the arrangement." 

"After all these years and this is how you treat me?" 

"Fun fact- you might know hypericum berries as their more common name: St John's Wort! St. John's Wort has been used as a medication for depression prior to modern medicine." You see- I, too, have taken notes from the Chattering Order.

"You can't do this to me," Wren said, stamping her feet like a toddler.

"But I wouldn't recommend eating them. However, they do smell somewhat like baked brown sugar." 

Stamp, stamp, stamp. 

Wren threw herself into the cooler and began putting a bulk of her flowers back. 

"This is robbery," I heard her say to Grandpa at the register. 

"Is it now?" 

 And again. 

She came in and immediately reached for a half-empty box of oasis bricks (the green sponge material that we use to hold flowers.) She said few words to me, few at all. She talked to Carrie about how she was going out to the country for awhile, to take care of her nephew's property. She needed to stock up. And oh- don't worry about it, she knows what she's doing. She's part of The Family.

She is in no manner of speaking, a member of The Family that owns this shop. Not even a third cousin. 

I saw her beeline for a rose I'd set in the trash. I picked it up, opened my mouth, and bit the head off of it. She stood in the middle of the workshop, absolutely stunned. 

Rose petals have the vague texture of arugula, by the way. Slightly sweeter, though. Tough to swallow in one go. 

She ran back into the cooler and didn't talk to me. 

I began taking down numbers. 

27 bricks of oasis. One pack of roses. Ten calla lilies. 1/2 pack of assorted greens. 

I punched the numbers in to the register. As if sensing something was amiss, she emerged from the cooler. 

"$54? What do I have that's $54?" 

"The oasis. They're $2 each." 

"Oh no baaaaaby, they're $1." 

"I can text Grandpa and ask her." 

"... that won't be necessary. Why are you charging me $22.50 for roses? You know my prices by now!" 

"22.50 is the price for a pack of roses." 

"22.50 is everybody prices." 

"Welcome to 'everybody.'" 

"I ain't paid a price increase in 7 years!" 

"The price of milk went up, Wren. So does everything else." 

She was seeing red, I knew it. There's a vein in her forehead that pops out when she's angry and it's the same shape as the river that runs through my home town. She sized me up, as if wondering if she could take me. 

I'm 256 pounds of 4H beef, and I have a knife. Try me. 

"I'm gonna call Kyle on this." 

"Do it." A lifetime of retail has made me immune to 'I'd like to speak to the manager.' 

She grumbled and put things back. Carrie offered to watch her, I held up my hand. 

"Can you do something for me  on these carns? They're the last pack in there and they're lookin' kinda ratty." 

"9.50." 

"9.50's the regular price." 

"Regular price is $14." 

"No it ain't." 

"Is today. You're taking our last pack and we need those for funerals." 

She put them back. 

She gave me a credit card. It seemed fake, but it ran. Every time I see here, she's got a different card. Did she print this one this morning, too? At least she stopped trying to sell me on Bitcoin. As you can see, it made her incredibly wealthy. 

She gathered her things and left. "Guess I'm getting the rest of my flowers from KROGER!" 

There are things you want to say. Like... I hope they enjoy your company just as much as we do. Or: Haven't graced them with your presence in awhile, huh? But at the time, it was better just to watch her leave with her minuscule bunch of flowers. I get a choice in where I loan my voice. 

Not here. 

Is it over? Nah. She'll be back for another round. But one day she'll finally retire in the way that she's always threatened to. And then? Then it can be as over as it ever will be. 

It is shocking to come from a history of retail, where you're not allowed to even hint at the idea of a customer being wrong, where you have to override every single price change to get the scores up, where you have to just let them steal your things and pull the wool over your eyes... 

... to flat-out telling someone 'no.' 

"No." 

It's such a great word. 

There are rules and there are rules. 

And there are thieves that the rules are made for. 

And there are words like 'no.' 

And all those things are magic in very human ways. 

[7soulstars]

Is it okay if I request a Thranduil x Reader one shot where the reader is a Selkie? Selkies are from Scottish myth - they have a magical seal fur coat that lets them turn into a seal when they go underwater, but remain human while on land.

Hey babe! Thank you so much for requesting! Of course it’s okay. I had no idea what a selkie was in the beginning but through your explaination and some research I figured it out ! Again, I wanted to make this an angst but poor bby Thranduil has already gone through enough so I made it soft. Anyways, no more spoliers! Enjoy and thank you for being so patient with me ! 

Vespertine/ The Elf and the Selkie

Pairing: Thranduil x Selkie! Reader

Warnings: Angsty/Sad start, Mentions of death,Use of Scots(language spoken by Selkies), ending might make you go aww

Summary: A father telling his children a story of the legends long forgotten.

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

 Vespertine; Occurring in the evening.

Lands lost, Kingdoms fell, Middle Earth was saved but no one could tell. The pain, people lost and the children snatched could not be reversed. Especially for the elves who left for the undying lands. 

One remained.

King Thranduil remained. Protests were made, the lords argued and urged. But he wouldn’t budge.

“There is nothing left of me...My duty is over and my family is not returning back to me...I shall stay here.....in Mirkwood”, he had simply stated to Elrond before he dismissed him. Elrond had sighed saying, “This will not end well for you....”,before leaving the former king. 

Alone.

He sat on his throne listlessly. Not a sound to be heard. No chittering crowds, no parties. Just emptiness. 14 years had passed like this and Thranduil had gotten used to it. Today marking the 14th year that is. 

Time flew by fast for elves. But not for lonely elves. No matter how beautifully maintained all of Mirkwood still was due to unbroken elven magic the gap kept growing wider in the King’s heart. He was left to his own disposition. He grew and foraged his own food, he drew his own water, he entertained himself with his own hobbies. But he never left Mirkwood. He protected the empty abandoned city.

He got used to it. He got used to being lonely until that one evening.

Thranduil killed spiders at evening. They were weaker by then and it was easier. He walked across the tangled path and froze on hearing whimpers. They were soft and pained coming from the rocks near the forest riverbank. The blone walked stealthily and carefully with sword in his hands and furrowed brows as he neared the rocks. When his eyes fell on the cause of the noise as he stopped dead in his tracks.

An injured seal.

It’s side was deeply cut into as it barely managed to keep it’s eyes open and tried to move away erratically from the said elf as if it was in danger. “Hey! Stop! I’m not going to hurt you!”, the elf yell-whispered as he struggled to keep the creature in place.Almost as if it understood it stopped still whining due to the pain inflicted by moving around before it fainted. Thranduil sighed. He hadn’t used healing for years he wasn’t sure he could do it now either. But leaving the seal injured was not an option. So he had to do it. 

He did.

Riding his loyal elk that had stayed with him he returned back to the nearest cave where he had healed and left the seal. 

It was empty.

Thranduil had frowned. Thinking it had left he turned only to stop and look back with a sword swinging back as he heard a spash and a soft voice.

“Are ye an elf ?”,voice asked. Thranduil looked down, behind the rock he had seen the seal in, peeped a woman. She was clutching onto a seal coat as she looked visibly scared at the sword drawn at her which the king immediately put back into it’s sheath. At this she came out furthermore as she pointed at the reddish scar on her side. “ye helpit me yesterday ?”, she questioned her eyes gleaming with an undefined innocence. 

Oh.

He had heard of a Selkie before but merely as myths. His mother sang him the song of the Mistress and The Selkie every night as a young ellon.It was his favourite. Thranduil looked back at the seal coat she held and then back at her. She gasps and immediately hides it behind her back as she attempts to look mad at the other. Thranduil’s heart felt weird. It fluttered at her action. 14 years without any contact with anyone made him forget the stern way of speaking that he had to maintain.

“I will not take it from you. I am here to see if you are felling better. Did you eat?”, he asked as he kneeled in front of her. She looked at him with intent in her eyes. Reaching forward she placed her wet hands on the king’s cheeks catching him off guard. “Wh-”

“Ye savit ma life from the human sailors”, she smiled softly.

Thranduil frowned in distaste he hadn’t heard the word ‘human’ in Valar knows how many years and it still leaves a sour taste in his mouth. He looked at her. Her facial features. Her blown out eyes. Her curiosity.

Her curiosity.

He was cut out of his thoughts of course a shade of pick dusting his face as he stuttered when she had moved to touch his sensitive elf ears. “A like yer ears ye are sae beautiful.” Thranduil had stilled and mentally yelled at himself because he knew she did not know elven customs but he let her do as she pleases.

The sky got darker and he knew he had to leave. But her words replayed in head over and over again

“Will ye come back tomorrow ?”

As if he could hear her speaking right as he sleeps.

Oh. She is alone too....

Thranduil did go back. Again and again and again for 30 years, every day straight. Her name was Y/N and her husband was killed by sailors and their daughter, taken away. She ran into hiding and reached Mirkwood where he saved her. They grew closer. Maybe because Thranduil liked Y/N.

Maybe because she was just like him or maybe he was in love.

He sat by the riverbank with Y/N who wore his spare clothes when she took her human form as they watched the birds and made flower crowns. Thranduil was distracted, constantly looking at the selkie’s expressions as she concentrated on making a flowercrown with water lilies from the river. On finishing she looked at him with the eyes he adored. “Look!”,she exclaimed as she put it on his elks head as it leaned towards her. It was attatched to her just the way it was attatched to Thranduil which was surprising to say the least. A smile plastered onto his face as the words slipped from his mouth. “It’s beautiful. Just like you.” There was a brief silence as Y/N slowly shifted. Her words almost going unnoticed as she stuttered. “Dinnae give me false hope.....” That moment Thranduil realized,

He was absolutely enamored by her.

He didn’t wait for even a minute more of thought before catching Y/N’s lips with his own in a searing kiss. It wasn’t too long or too less. Just right like them. But Y/N drew back and a look of panic spread Thanduil as he saw her eyes full of tears. “Please do not cry! Is it something I did Y/N ?”, he said as he tried wiping her tears frantically.

“A cannot leave the water for a long time A will aye have tae come back thon is a selkie's fate. A cannot stop lovin ye either or A will dee a selkie's fate“ (I cannot leave the sea for a long time i will always have to come back that is a selkie's fate. I cannot stop loving you either or I will die a selkie's fate”

Oh.

Thranduil knew what that meant now. He had felt it before, Y/N did too and so did Tauriel. The fear that he never wanted anyone to feel again.

“Oh darling you do not need to leave the water for us to be together. I will always be here. You could even spend time with me here”,pointed towards the forest path reaching up towards the palace, “Don’t stop loving me....please....”

For the first time ever Elrond’s prediction was wrong. 

Thranduil did not end up alone. He got a second chance.In life, in family

“Did they meet like that forever Ada?”

Well, yes,until someone with blonde long hair wearing a green tunic and with strikingly similar features as her lover gave Y/N a seal coat from a late Selkie.

“So did grand adar become like the Maiden from the song and went away with grand naneth?”

Mhmm. And the someone who gave the coat looked over them from far until he got the courage to visit for tea. And they all lived happily ever after. It’s almost Vespertine, your grandparents will be back soon.

“Legolas have you been telling her about us again ?”

Well Ada she did want to know the legend of the Elf and the Selkie who loved at Vespertine.

--The End--

I hope this is good I hope this is good please be good. I really worked so hard on this I created an entire novel worthy plot but I couldn’t put it all in a oneshot so I had to settle with this I really really hope you liked this it was soo hard to not make this sad and then I came across this song and everything just fell into thoughts like these😭. I know Thranduil is a bit ooc but pychologicaly speaking he did live alone for 14 years so I guessed it may change his behaviour especially after the battle of 5 armies. Again I really hope you like it. Please like, share and comment if you like my work to support and encourage me! Please do not plagarize my work I literally sell my soul to it.🥺🥺 Requests are always open and I love ya’ll soo much. 

~Love, Hri 🥰🥰

[neonnhoney-rec]

Min Yoongi

Here are a few yoongi recs, most of them I've read and love, some are in my TBR. Tbh most of them are smut, but some are fluff and angst mostly angst. I will keep updating this woop woop.

I hope you enjoy tehee!

revenge- @lustfuldevils

fuck boy yoongs

request: yoongi teaches you to give a bj- @kpurereactions

says it on the tin

Theres no need to be nervous around Yoongi, he’ll take care of you and make you feel good no matter what it is you’re doing.

sangria- @minstrivia

a day at the beach has yoongi hornier than he’d like to admit.

missing link- @drquinzelharleen

You catch Yoongi playing with himself before a night out and some part of you wants to join him. That’s crazy though, he’s your best friend… Right?

talk- @httpjeon​

you walk in on yoongi on the phone with a customer

act on it- @dom-joonie

You learn that the cute barista you’ve been crushing on might have an…otherworldly disposition after you accidentally cut yourself.

too sweet- @justoneday-namjoonii

you smell so sweet to them the best they’ve ever had (vampire au)

moving to a university with a few secrets, has you falling for these boys who need your help

too hot to sleep- @gamerguk

“ Umm can’t wait to get rawed in our kitchen when I’m living with the love of my life ” 

can you turn off your phone- @btssavemylifeblr

Yoongi’s alarm clock wakes you up at 6 am on a Sunday and you are not happy about it.  At least, not at first…

grey area- @blushoseoks

and just like that, your fate was sealed - because min yoongi was absolutely going to destroy you. but hell if you weren’t going to let him, or bask happily in the flames as he did so. 

and sadly, at the time, you didn’t think that your thoughts would become so literal.

dancing with the devil- @minnpd​

suga daddy suga

asphodel- @hayjeon

A series of drabbles and moments surrounding Hades, the god of death and Persephone, the goddess of nature

lifeguard yoongi- @gukgalore

who knew making eyes at a hot lifeguard would get you what you really wanted.

yoongi cums in his pants- @hobiorbit

dry humping yoongi till cums in his pants cause its hot

boy .girl- @floralseokjin

Boy. Girl. It’s as simple as that. Girl can’t get a good date—scrap that—girl can’t get a good lay, and boy is willing to help out with that… Friends with benefits seems the perfect solution, except for the fact, it’s not. It never is. Not when boy already has feelings for girl…

Evil- @littlemisskookie

Your life is pretty boring, apart from being the Alpha of your pack. But it gets a bit more exciting when you discover Yoongi wants to spend his heat with none other than you.

Bet i can make you cum without touching your cock- @cyphertrip

says it on the tin

boseong breakfast- @honeymoonjin

it may be misfortune that brings you to min yoongi’s door looking for a place to stay, but luckily holly lodge has a vacancy.

Love is for birds baby- @mininky

You refuse to believe in love. It’s a concept created by big corporations like hallmark to get sad saps like you to buy their shit. But it’s all fake. You’re convinced of that at least until a series of events with a certain tattoo artist who you loved to hate makes you question everything you’ve ever known.

Hands- @moonlightchildz

hand fetish? is that a thing?

Producer!yoongi- @matchakoo

where yoongi’s song plays over a really serene and domestic smut scene 

Please be naked- @floralseokjin 

ou find it’s easy to become addicted to a distraction…

Lonely hearts club-  @joonbird

 “In this world, currency is not money but life, and those who cannot repay their debts have no choice but to submit for the Separation - a procedure in which the soul and mind are extracted from their bodies, leaving behind nothing but an empty shell. Jeon Jungkook is an underground tattoo artist hiding from the outside world. She has been waiting her whole life to be Separated. They were never supposed to meet - let alone fall in love.”

- or -

“Two lonely hearts collide.”

Rose garden dreams- @glossgf

you, a princess not yet betrothed, and your knight, Yoongi, have fallen in love. But what happens when a prince asks for your hand in marriage? What will you and Yoongi do then…?

single parent au- @yukheii​

your daughter is very fond of yoongi

Us, plus two- @deathbyyoongi

You and Yoongi sharing a moment, relishing in the glow of your growing family when your daughter has a nightmare, and Yoongi has to take care of those pesky monsters.

When the power goes out- @inkjam-moon

When a storm causes the electricity to go out, it becomes to dark in the apartment to study, so you and Yoongi have to find another way to pass the time.

Conveniently- @baeseoul

you live above a convenience store with your daughter, owned by a rather attractive yoongi. this is the story of how u and your daughter gained another member to your little family.

Destruction of a muse- @baeseoul

you’re in your last year of uni doing literature and lose your motivation, and it’s not till you meet a talented musician you get your ambition back. a. lot. of. angust.

Long distance-  @miss-noo-na

Yoongi misses the sound of your voice.

Conjecture-  @writingsofmyimagination​

Your management refused to renew your contract unless you collaborated, so you ending up working with Min Yoongi. A guy you’d disliked from before both of your debuts. There is more to their past than meets the eye.

Photoshoot tease- @shooting-stars-library

“Min Yoongi is a sexy little shit and he knows it.”

What if-  @blameblamebts

Being in a gang wasn’t a good thing, and it never would be, always looked down upon. But it isn’t what people think it to be. It’s worse. Much worse.

Aawake at night- @softyoongiionly​

You can’t sleep. Luckily, your boyfriend can’t either. 

Clair de lune- @yoonia

You were ready to leave a part of your life to move on to the next, and he is willing to give you a chance to end it glamorously. But at what cost? And will he be a part of the life you are leaving behind or will he be there for the next part of it? 

Reflections- @yoonia

“How could I ever forget about you" parent au

Faded- @yoonia

You were his soulmate, that part he knew well. Until one day he didn’t want you anymore. He couldn’t, when all he could see from you was light and all he felt within himself was darkness. Your love has gone cold as he retreated from you, burying himself deep in the dark. But what happened when Yoongi had to watch you start over with somebody else, when Yoongi let his selfishness gain control on him of you.

Monday- @strwberrytae

It’s that special time a month that brings you great pain yet great joy. Sure, there’s cramps and absolute uncomfort but your little monthly friend makes you insanely horny. Needy and desperate for a release that only your boyfriend can provide, will he cave and give you what you want?

Makeshift chemistry- @jungblue

Fleeting lust was all you’d ever known, nothing serious or long lasting, just a temporary fix to satisfy your needs. That is until you meet Min Yoongi who is determined to put an end to your binge of makeshift relationships.

What you did last summer- @winetae

Yoongi was fine with a lot of things—you maxing out his credit cards to buy ridiculously expensive items of clothing that you never wore more than once, you taking out his newest ride for a spin without permission, you spending an extra thirty minutes on your hair and makeup when he was running late for a dinner function. 

What he was not okay with, however, was you sharing your pussy with barely-out-of-college boys who were incapable of going five seconds without creaming their pants.

No, that was where he drew the line.

Bad boys bring it to you- @yuengi​

tattoo artist yoongi

Fortuna- @readyplayerhobi

300 years ago, half the world’s population died when the experimental Fortuna virus escaped. The remaining male population has been rendered infertile with one loophole that has meant polyamorous relationships have become the norm.

Crescendo- @dreamyjoons

after hours of waiting for the grumpy pianist to leave the stage, you finally have it out with him in a way better than you could have imagined. 

Restraint-  @writingsofmyimagination​

As Jungkook’s best friend recently moved to Seoul, there is one of the boys you have yet to meet. This one has a dark secret and has to use all the restraint he can to control himself around you.

Curious- @honeymoonjin

Taehyung confides in you and your boyfriend Yoongi that he might be bi, and the two of you offer to let him experiment with you to find out. 

Gingham- @ropeseok​

There’s no place like home! At least, that’s how Yoongi felt after a long night of taking the little one trick-or-treating. He can’t wait to take his costume off - however, he seems to insist that you keep yours on.​

Somebody else- @jamaisjoons

yoongi doesn’t want you anymore. but he can’t stand watching you with someone else. post break up au.

Do you love me-  @caribbeanempressblog

Yoongi is bad at feelings

Love well done- @oraclemarie

You are the executive chef of your very own fine dining restaurant. A big company makes you the offer of a lifetime, setting you on a path straight to Min Yoongi-your drunken hook up. 

Pepero day- @kittae

Valentine’s with your best friend, yoongi

The last- @kittae

When the world’s gone to shit and you’ve taught yourself to stay alive while danger lurks around every corner, the last thing you need is another mouth to feed and extra “dead” weight. Yet you can’t bring yourself to leave another human being behind, and it might as well have been your worst decision ever… or was it the best?

Baby’s fist christmas- @hobisbeautifulass​

3 months after you give birth to your first child, you and your husband start putting together the perfect first Christmas for your new family of three.

This is just to say  – @btsiguess

To say it’s unusual to have a soulmate is an understatement, and most people desperately wish to have an elegant name scrawled upon their wrist. In reality though, you’d have to say it causes much more issues than it solves.

I like you – @iq-biased

A surprise visit from a friend leaves Yoongi with a night to remember, and something to say

Small things- @floralseokjin

you and vamp yoongi have an argument

Daddy diaries- @bts-reveries

yoongi started blogging his life on his social medias to prove everyone who thought he couldn’t raise a child alone wrong. but as his daughter’s birthday draws near, what happens when she wishes for a new mom?

Drink me- @njssi​

Your vampire boyfriend refuses to bite you in fear of not being able to stop himself. But you always get what you want.

Rule of thirst- @prolixitae

vampires were just folklore until yoongi became one. now he’s got only two emotions: you and hunger. and tonight, you let him feed off you.

A ticket to the sun- @seokeros​ (ao3)

In a world where a person's life is determined by a piece of paper on a monthly basis, love is practically impossible. But there's always an exception, and with that exception, there comes a price.

Alt: yoongo gets punched in the face by a girl who believes she is cursed, and he stupidly, helplessly, falls in love.

Wildest moments- @joonbird

“Min Yoongi is forbidden territory. And although you both know better, the two of you just can’t seem to stay apart.”

Breakfast in bed- @joonbird

“Min Yoongi, a grumpy Ikea employee, is wondering who you are and why exactly you’re sleeping in the display bed at his Ikea.”

Hyung, open the door- @gotmetalkinginmysleep

You’ve been keeping the boys awake with your moaning for months thanks to Yoongi. Tae and Jungkook want to find out why.

The singularity theory- @dovechim

in your last year of undergrad, you find out what a gloryhole is at the expense of your final year thesis. it’s a classic example of a psychology experiment that went way, way wrong. 

You look like you need a drink- @dark-muse-iris

After a bad week with the worst luck imaginable, you happen upon a local dive bar run by an attractive young bartender who livens up your evening.

The married life- @jungnoir

being married is never a bore when your husband is a vampire king + inspired by  “Stop calling me Princess!” “I apologize, my Queen.”.

Taxi- @honeyedhoseok

 ❛  Drinks at a bar + a rainy night + a single taxi to share with the bane of your existence, Min Yoongi = one interesting car ride back to your apartment.  ❜ 

First love- @writing-in-ivory

You first saw him in the multi-purpose room. Later learn his name, and on your third year, as he becomes your neighbor, you discover his lifestyle. Knowing your crush on him was nothing but that, you wanted to find the courage to look for love. Asking your friend for help, you’re pointed in the direction of the expert. Your neighbor, Min Yoongi. 

pugna- @jungwoohoos

he showed up at your doorstep one day, covered in cuts and testing your patience. you don’t know why, but you felt compelled to help him. you just don’t realize how deep that runs

Mean yoongi- @jjkpls

Min Yoongi asks you to take care of his plants when he’s gone. It doesn’t go as planned and well, he has to deal with your misbehaving ass.

Sour skittles- @softyoongiionly

WELCOME TO GLASSCLAW! The only city where you can get a homecooked meal and a hitman all on the same street! You moved to GlassClaw for a fresh start after a group of raiders invaded your previous compound. Unbeknownst to you, the city has its own collection of riff raff and, at the head of it all is your neighbor Min Yoongi. The mischevious merchant with one hell of a sailor mouth is known for swindling the rich and, serving the poor. The world has become convoluted and chaotic since the apocalypse but, two things were certain: You were so much more than pretty face and, Yoongi was so much more than just a thief.

Life’s little joys-  @littlemeowmeowschimmy

getting pregers with yoongi

Fear and dumplings-  @softyoongiionly

You’re in your final semester at University when your Abnormal Psychology professor assigns you a partnered project surrounding your greatest fears. Lucky for you, your partner just so happens to be a cute boy named Min Yoongi.

Min yoongi, library services- @kpopfanfictrash

When you accept the the offered research position at Bangtan University, you are well aware of your partner’s prestige. The only problem is - so is he.

Behind the stick-  @randombtsprincessa

Your bartender for the night and you take an interest in one another.

Mic drop- @ve1vetyoongi

when underground rapper min yoongi uncovers the dirty secret behind his biggest rival, your brother and hip hop champion kim namjoon’s success, he is determined to take home this year’s mic drop contest trophy no matter who he hurts along the way. you’re behind the camera, content with capturing namjoon’s picture perfect persona from the sidelines but when his hard-faced enemy Gloss, makes you realise you could be more than just the point and shoot, you start to feel your loyalties shifting.

Pinewood and poetry- @spicykoreantatertots

After getting closer to and developing a crush on your friend over the summer, you want nothing more than to cozy up to him as the seasons start to change. That is until your ex-boyfriend, Jung Hoseok, returns from his summer study abroad program. Will Hoseok stand in the way of your budding romance with your mutual friend, Min Yoongi?

His hands- @nahfamily

You hadn’t ever paid much attention to Min Yoongi until a stupid icebreaker at your office. Now, you can’t get him, and his hands, out of your head

Birthday boy- @btssmutgalore

Yoongi wants to give his best friend Jimin the perfect birthday gift… And it just so happens to be you.

Happy valentine’s day- @sweetwritertanya​

You have a very special idea for this Valentine’s Day, focused completely on your boyfriend Yoongi who comes home to an unexpected surprise. 

Happy birthday- @parkmuse

Your boyfriend Jimin has a bit of a surprise for you on your birthday, and he goes by the name of Yoongi.

Arranged-  @minyoongijjangjjangmanboongboong

Y/N is a struggling student in Seoul: working multiple jobs, living in a broom closet apartment, and often sacrificing her dignity for the sake of her livelihood. What happens when a handsome stranger presents her with an offer she cannot refuse at the moment she needs it most?

This tiny space-  @ubemango

Yoongi was always attractive—your sexy piece of ass, as you like to remind him often—and seeing the tight skin of his back when he undresses further makes the insides of your stomach churn in want: the kind that made you want to fall to your knees, grovel. You love having a kid, but it’s been too long.

The boa constrictor-  @tatertotthethot

You’ve always had a bad habit of drinking copious amounts of water just before going to bed every night, and for some reason, you always seem to forget that it’ll eventually lead to you having to wake up a few hours later with a dire need to pee. 

Dope- @honeymoonjin

The HSD is a branch of the South Korean government tasked with taking down the most infallible criminals in Seoul’s underbelly. Kim Namjoon, or RM, is their next target: the extremely well-spoken and careful leader of a cocaine dealing gang.

Listen closely- @avveh

Unintentionally, you stumble upon something that makes you view your coworker Min Yoongi in a whole new light.

The truth between us- @jimlingss

a book deal should be the most exciting time of your life, but there seems to be a constant and omnipresent damper on your mood in the form of a certain min yoongi, who you would just cut out from your life, if he weren’t your editor. but then, the world shifts beneath your feet, and you begin to wonder if maybe you’ve always been looking at life from the wrong angle. 

Surround me- @minflix

after a very unfair and unjust firing from his bartending job, yoongi just wants to soothe his sadness by spending some quality time with his best friend - who he is very much in love with.

Cockwarming – @gukgalore​

Ngl the thought of cockwarming Yoongi is the only thing keeping me going at this point

Havana- @inkjam-moon​

You’ve spent the last six years following in your parents footsteps all the way to Cuba, trying to make them proud by finishing their research, but when you join forces with a snarky boat owner who knows more than he lets on, will things play out the way you planned them?

The equation of  love- @kookingtae​

When you met Yoongi in a club, you thought it was fate that brought the two of you together. But after you walked into your college math class for the very first time, you weren’t so sure anymore.

Workaholic- @hobiwonder​

Yoongi needs to relax and Hoseok has many tricks up his sleeve to make him. None of them Yoongi thought included hiring a hooker to pay him a visit one stormy night. 

Different- @satisfractions​

in which tattooartist!yoongi meets floral!reader because he needs to practice drawing flowers for his job

Salud- @yukheii

ninja yoongi (Naruto au)

Toke temptation-  @strawbxxymilk​

You accidentally confess your feelings to Yoongi during a smoke sesh

Accidents- @jungxk​

dad!yoongi makes me soft and also h*rny

Fists- @badbhye​​

reader’s first time

The early shift-  @hobidreams​

your coworker yoongi is always infuriatingly late. except the one time he’s much too early.

Mixtape- @jungblue​

Two mystery students from your college run the podcast dubbed ‘mixtape.’ It’s become a sort of phenomenon around campus, listened to by almost everyone. In their most recent episode they discussed various study methods… One of them being oh so tempting.

Three squeezes-  @nomnomsik​

Yoongi is notorious for his grumpy and emotionless behavior as director of an upcoming company. Yet, it’s a mystery to everyone how manager Hoseok always seems to soften him up. The truth is that the two are actually engaged. Unknown to this fact, you happen to take an interest in Hoseok… and he does too. 

Yoongi cums in his pants- @gukgalore​

where u and yoongi are making out and u start grinding on him, and he tells u to stop bc he’s gonna cum his pants. But u don’t and he acc does cum his pants

Kitten- @yminie​

Yoongi’s focus on work has subjected your relationship to having a dry spell, and with a little prompting from your best friend, you tell him exactly what he should do. But you don’t make the rules kitten, and the game you’re choosing to play is a dangerous one.

Wine- @junghelioseok​

he makes staying after-hours absolutely worthwhile. restaurant au

Renatus- @mininky​

(y/n) finds herself in a very unusual situation where her fate seems to be woven with Hades himself, who’s too much of a jerk for her to even admit that sure okay he’s kind of really good looking.​

Cobalt and charcoal- @tayegi​

soulmate au

Touch of silk-  @floralseokjin​ 

In a world where vampires coexist with the living, there are many humans looking for a cheap thrill…you’re ashamed to admit you’re curious too, putting to good use a dating app you find…but Min Yoongi is nothing like you imagined a vampire to be…

[thefallons]

Origins --> Scotia&Charlie

Discord Transcript Timeline Points:

- Charlie finds out Scotia has a son (Charlie is 33, Scotia is 34, Jensen is 2) - Charlie confides in Dex about how to proceed - Charlie breaks up with Scotia, believing he doesn’t fit into his life - Dex confronts Charlie about how miserable he’s been - Charlie tries to win Scotia back, but first, be honest with him about wizardry - Scotia and Charlie agree to spend the night together, but in Scotia’s home - Charlie meets Jensen for the first time

It's been 10 months since they started seeing each other, Charlie is a regular at Scotia's bar and then one day Scotia’s babysitter doesn't show up. Scotia brings a two-year-old Jensen to the bar with him because his boss truly does not give a fuck. As long as the place isn't on fire the owner hardly cares and the staff basically runs it. But Scotia puts Jensen high chair at the end of the bar and lets him color some pictures. And then Charlie walks in and Scotia's heart skips a beat, his ears go red.

SCOTIA:

Scotia says nothing until Charlie notices the child and brings it up and even then, he hesitantly says, "That's uh...my son. Jensen. He- his babysitter had something come up so...he's with me today." Looking at Charlie like ...this is a bombshell...I know...think about it while I get you wine to process better. Jensen is just at the end of the bar, scribbling with some crayons, a sippy cup nearby. He's a child who isn't even fully aware he's in a bar because dad's in a rough spot.

CHARLIE: Charlie would be so confused. He would drink a glass or two, way faster than normal, and keeps throwing glances from Scotia to the boy. He thinks to himself, "Of course he has a son, he could even have a wife or a husband, who knows! You don't know him, what you have with him is just for fun, right? It's not like they're in a serious relationship so yeah, it shouldn't matter if he has one or ten kids hiding behind the bar, right. Right? So this is just an affair, I hope he isn't cheating anyone, though because I do not want to get involved with drama.”

SCOTIA: Scotia definitely notices that Charlie downs his drinks way too fast and as soon as Scotia can get away from his customers for a minute he comes up by Charlie with a third glass of wine for him. But Scotia takes a big sip of the wine before setting it down in front of Charlie and asking him, "Are you freaking out a bit?"

Charlie: Charlie literally just gives him a wide-eyed look because it's better than saying "YA THINK??"

SCOTIA: He's trying to keep his own cool and smile a little bit on the inside, he's like this is it this was good while it lasted.

"I-" he licks his lips when he sees the look like ok that was a dumb question, "There didn't seem like an appropriate time to go hey, by the way, I gotta run, I only have the babysitter till midnight. Would it have made it any better if I told you earlier?"

CHARLIE: "Yeah... That would've. Been... huh. For once I have no words."

Charlie gets up and grabs his jacket, trying very hard to remain cool and looking at the kid and then Scotia. "Listen– I think I need some time to-" gestures towards his head and sighs. "We can talk about this some other day?" he offers while asking himself the same, was that a good idea?

“For what it’s worth, he seems like a nice kid." And then he leaves.

SCOTIA: Scotia's face gets a little red at how Charlie is shutting down. He's literally already so stressed out, is at work, and now his object of feelings is making THAT face. He runs a hand through his hair and goes, "This doesn't change anything between us. You don't /have/ to go."

Charlie blasts through Dex's door and pacing from one corner to the other, trying to think about what just happened. Charlie had previously downplayed how involved he was with Scotia, only mentioning that he'd met this guy at a Muggle bar and that was where he vanished to some days of the week. And how Scotia was able to keep Charlie's attention because they both know how impersonal Charlie can be with some of his hookups, but no, this guy was actually interesting.

CHARLIE: "He has a kid, Dex." and just that throwing his arms up

DEX: Dex is wide-eyed. It takes him time to put 2 and 2 together that Charlie is talking about his hook up cause he's not sure why Charlie is so worked up about it. "O...kay? What's he, trying to get you to pay child support? Oh. Oh is he fucking married, Charlie, are you back to your homewrecking ways?"

CHARLIE: Charlie just being like this and he has to laugh, of course even when he isn't trying to do anything stupid, he still does it. "Dunno, Dex. All I know is that I walked into the bar and his son was there because the babysitter left."

"I wonder if that didn't happen, would I even find out? Who knows. Guess it really was supposed to be just a fling."

DEX: Dex's brows are still raised bc he can't believe. "Uh...what did he have to say about it?"

And then sits up suddenly and is like, "Wait, was this not a fling? Is this- did we shift gears somewhere there, Charles, do you have something to tell me?"

CHARLIE: Charlie stares at his friend for a full minute because hello can you please join my meltdown? Screw you, Dex. "Maybe. But I don't think there's any future for that now, so forget it."

DEX: "Wait, wait, wait, wait- back up. Did you want to know sooner? Did you want him to like you enough to tell you sooner?" Dex looks surprised as hell because does his friend have feelings? Charlie never has feelings this is absurd and he's not going to let it go, Charlie can hit him if he wants to. "Charlie, I am clutching my chest, I cannot believe you."

CHARLIE: "Yeah well. I can't believe some of the information I've been given tonight either so."

DEX: "What the hell's the story? What's his deal, why didn't he tell you about the kid??"

CHARLIE: "I know it's hard for you but shut up Dex. It doesn't matter anymore, okay? So pour me a drink. I've been vulnerable enough for one evening. Time to get hammered"

DEX: Dex sighs and lets it go for now. He pours Charlie a stiff drink and then pours himself one and lets loose, fully intending to circle back to this once they're plastered.

Meanwhile, Scotia types out about 7 different versions of a text to Charlie over the course of several hours but deletes all of them. It's probably late at night and Charlie is probably super drunk when his phone goes off and it's a text that just says, "Can we talk?" And Dex certainly snoops over his shoulder.H e's not subtle about the snooping, he never is, he and Charlie have so few boundaries.

CHARLIE: Charlie and Dex lie on Dex's bed but Dex is facing one way and Charlie is another. They're both drunk and Charlie feels tired, he needs the rest but he's still kinda upset. Then he sees the text Scotia sends him and oh. He lets the phone drop on his chest and finally says, "I like him. I think I have for a while but. I don't know. We don't really know each other, we fuck at a hotel and sometimes we have breakfast together before he has to go."

"And it was easy and fun, I wasn't paying attention to how long has it since we started or even how he kinda became part of my routine but today... Going to the bar and he seemed scared when I asked him about the little boy. I don't think he wanted to tell me."

"I don't think he wants more than what we have right now. And I respect that, I actually wished I felt the same, but still. Realizing there's a possibility that he actually has a whole family out there and I'm the dirty little secret– That's not. I don't want to get involved in that..."

"I've had enough of romantic drama for the rest of my life. I should break this off before it gets more complicated."

DEX: Dex is quiet for a few beats even after Charlie finishes speaking. He blinks a few times because his heart literally hurts for his friend, he'd go to the ends of the earth for Charlie and this is him in rare form. "Do you think he's this sad too?" He whispers finally. "Like right now, in this moment?"

CHARLIE: Charlie shrugs and says "Can't say, I don't think I know him as well as I thought. Perhaps he's just embarrassed to be caught in that situation where his lover and his son are in the same room."

DEX: Dex finally shifts to he can turn to his side and lean on his elbow and actually look at Charlie. "You don't want to know for sure? You'd just be content accepting your place as the dirty little secret forever? What if he has some kind of crazy story to explain and you just never know about it? Would you really just be okay drifting into the night forever and never finding out?"

CHARLIE: Charlie mirrors the movement to look at his friend, "Crazy story? That's what you're trying to convince me? I don't think I'm betting on that and even if it turns out to be true, it's better if I leave him alone. Could you imagine me being a stepdad? Because I can't."

DEX: Dex definitely talks about it with Charlie for a little while longer and tries to convince him to at least get closure for the sake of his own sanity. Tells him to not ghost Scotia solely to put a cap on his own feelings and deal with the heartbreak in a slightly more productive way. He doesn't care how convincing he is, just says his piece, and pats his friend on the shoulder like sleep it off, buddy. We can debate more in the morning if you need to.

Charlie agrees to meet Scotia again, even if he thinks he's going there to end things. He'll text him back and try to meet Scotia the following day, he wouldn't want to drag anything. He still likes Scotia enough that he wouldn't want to leave him hanging.

SCOTIA: Scotia feels lighter but also burdened all at once when Charlie texts him back. He'll want to meet at the bar because it's common ground but not when he's working because he doesn't want their conversation to get interrupted. He likes Charlie and he wants to set this right, he doesn’t feel good when they’re not talking.

Scotia probably tells Charlie to come in towards the end of his workday so he can get off the clock and give him his undivided attention. His heart literally skips a beat when he sees Charlie and it shows in his face. But when he finally gets out from behind the bar and finds a table for them to sit at, it's with a glass of wine for Charlie as a gesture of peace. "I missed you last night," he'll tell him quietly but then shakes his head a little because he knows that was stupid. He knows Charlie doesn't want to hear that right now, he just couldn't help himself. He takes a deep breath before Charlie can respond and add, "I didn't tell you I had a kid because that's not sexy. It's not sexy being a single dad who has to carve 2 hours out of the day for himself to do one thing that he enjoys. It's messy, a lot of what I have going on outside of us is messy but things are real good when it's just us and I think you think so too so I...didn't want just us to get messy too. Okay? God's honest truth. I just didn't want you to feel like you had to shoulder my burdens...." He hesitates, looks like he might say something else but he doesn't. Just licks his lips and sips at his water cause he's nervous and rambled. He didn't have to explain himself but it all just tumbled out.

CHARLIE: Charlie feels so conflicted, he understands Scotia's reason but he still stands by the idea that it's better for them to break up now. Charlie thinks their relationship ending is inevitable, also because of the whole secret wizard world he's hiding from Scotia.

"I'm a mess too, I get it. Ask anyone that knows me. Ask my brother, he'll hand you a list of all my major fuck ups so far and it would all be true." He pulls his hands back to his lap, clasps them together to keep them out of Scotia's reach, "But I don't wanna screw this up as well... I'm not ready for this, I'm sorry. I'm- I'm really sorry, Scotia."

SCOTIA: Scotia’s face falls when he realizes he’s being broken up with. This is hard and the opposite of what he wanted, the precise reason he hid his child, to begin with. His face shows his heartbreak and he can’t even hide it. Scotia has feelings for this man who is literally rejecting his child; his son is such a big part of his life. How is he supposed to beg for someone who can't handle his life in the long term?

"You're not gonna screw this up unless you do exactly the thing you're trying to do to not screw this up," Scotia tells him hoarsely. He literally cannot contain the crumbling in his eyes, "Right now, my son doesn't have a bearing on what we have. If you want it to stay that way it...it can stay that way." He says the words but they hurt because he wants more. If he didn't know it before, he knows it now that he wants more with Charlie.

CHARLIE: Charlie getting up too fast, knocking his chair behind him and moving to the other side of the table to reach Scotia. He's kissing the side of his face, his forehead, his neck and whispering he's sorry and that he hates to see Scotia crying. "I wish I was better for you."

SCOTIA: Scotia is so startled by the movement but when Charlie comes close to him he moves a hand to touch the younger man- to grip on to whatever part of him he can. It crushes him to hear the words but Charlie seems so sure and Scotia is a man of pride. He feels as though he's already begged and he's not going to grovel to someone who is determined not to be with him. He just bows his head to his chest and takes a shaky breath and takes in the closeness for as long as he can have it before Charlie leaves him.

Charlie tells Dex he went there to the bar to talk to Scotia and they're over now and it fucking sucks but Charlie believes it's better this way. So he'll just have to deal with it, it was his choice.

Dex waits for Charlie to show any signs of improvement but Dex doesn't enjoy it when Charlie acts fake with him. He calls Charlie out on his bullshit a few weeks later. He's like okay drop the act because you know this Charlie isn't for me. It's for the rest of the world. Try again.

CHARLIE: "I'm angry. I'm so angry, Dex, I don't know how to suppress this, I want- I hate feeling this, I hate how much I still think about him, I hate how attached I've gotten without noticing. I fucking hate it."

DEX: "Angry at what?" Dex looks so concerned because honestly, he wouldn't have called his friend out if he couldn't tell that he was about to blow. "Dude, you didn't even give yourself a chance," he continues the casual calling out. "If you're frustrated it's cause you quit without trying. And normally, in day to day...you're not a fuckin quitter, Charlie. You're a damn Ravenclaw, you see things through." Dex had observed how fast Charlie went from finding out something he didn't like to cutting and running and already was like uh oh, this is gonna hurt and be bad

Narrator's voice: Dexter was correct.

CHARLIE: "I fucking know, Dex, and that's why it feels so... Stupid! I am so convinced I'm not the type of person he needs I already bailed out! He doesn't need me not knowing what the fuck I want and risk getting his kid involved with someone like me." Charlie wants to punch something and given their history there's a chance he'll punch Dex just because he's the only one there. It's not the first time it happened and he knows Dex will forgive him or maybe punch him back if necessary, "He's... Just a guy I met at a bar." he tells himself, "He doesn't even know that my means of transport from here to his bar is my mind and my wand. He thinks I'm a Muggle... We don't know each other, so why is this so hard?"

DEX: "Someone like you? What the fuck does that even mean Charlie? Have you murdered someone lately? Punched a kid? Tossed someone off a building? You tried to break up with him because you thought he was married, you didn't even want to homewreck his imaginary relationships! What does someone like me even mean? You gonna talk down to Scotia's kid like your dad did to you? You gonna tell that kid he can do better no matter how hard he tries? You gonna shut him out, kick him around, break his ability to talk about literally anything?" Dex is nearly huffing at this point, he's so mad because Charlie is mad. They're just feeding off each other's energy. "Because unless that's your plan, I don't think your someone like me is valid. You're you, Charlie. You're not half fuckin bad, actually." He certainly looks and sounds angry despite his complimentary words.

CHARLIE: Charlie still looks crazy but he stays silent before saying, "You're so embarrassing, Dexter, did you just hear what you said?" Because he has to deflect, he doesn't want to admit what Dex said is true. There is a lot of self-loathing within Charlie but he wouldn't admit it or carry it as a flaw.

"Do you think- Should I call him? Will he even pick up?"

DEX: "You could sit here and wonder for another three weeks. Or you can just follow your gut and do it and see where you land. How much sadder can you possibly get at this point, right?"

Dex is still pretty hopped up on adrenaline from their level of emotions. He’s struggling to even be supportive without being aggressive.

CHARLIE: Charlie sits down and just breathes for a few minutes. He knows what he has to do, as painfully awkward as it will be. On his way out he hugs Dex from the back and tells him "What would I be without you, Dexter D'Angelo! Wish me good luck."

DEX: Dex definitely enjoys the love and tells Charlie he'd be a sad loser but not to worry because he'll never leave him so they'll never see that fate.

Charlie lands on the spot he always used to and feels like he fucked up the apparition because he feels so nauseous out of the blue. He knows it's still working hours at the bar, so he stays there thinking of what he wants to say until there are only 5 minutes until closing time. Only then does he walk in, slowly making his way to the bar and waiting for Scotia to notice him.

SCOTIA: Scotia damn near drops the three drinks in his hands when he sees Charlie's face. His mouth goes dry and he delivers the drinks. He almost tells the bartender he's working with to cover him the last few minutes but he takes a deep breath and tells himself to maintain his cool. He has the other person he's with bring Charlie a wine though while he waits. Just the dumb, cheap kind that Charlie likes.

CHARLIE: Charlie thanks the other bartender and tips but he doesn't drink any of it this time, just let it rest in front of him while he waits for Scotia

SCOTIA: Scotia's coworker is so up in his business too, like isn’t that the guy who used to just hang out during your shift all the time? Where has he been? Look at him, is he okay? And Scotia is like shut up and let me finish chasing these drunks out so I can take care of some business.

Scotia's al nerves though, he literally cannot imagine what Charlie wants with him all these weeks later. But he cleans up a little bit and then walks over to Charlie's table, face neutral but heart thundering in his chest. He literally cried in front of Charlie last time and that's so out of the ordinary for him, he's pushing himself so hard not to seem weak, not to seem like he can be taken advantage of. "Hi," he just says, sitting down across from him. He notices the untouched wine and gestures to it, "Not your brand anymore?"

CHARLIE: Charlie watches Scotia approaching him and part of him feels excited to be there, but his pessimist side reminds him there's a good chance they won't get back together.

"I wanted to make sure you knew that I was completely sober," he answers knowing Scotia didn't expect a real answer for that, but it was true, he needed Scotia to believe what he was about to say.

He pulls his wand from the inner pocket in his jacket and places on the table in front of them, taking a deep breath he speaks, "I haven't been honest with you either, Scotia. This," he nods at the piece of wood in front of them, "Is my wand. My wand that I use.... For magic." he's probably trying very hard not to come out as funny although it sounds ridiculous.

"I'm a wizard, Scotia. A real one."

SCOTIA: Scotia shrugs when Charlie turns down the drink and pulls it towards himself to take a big sip. He raises a brow at the item that's placed between them, dismissing it as a tree branch at best. "Excuse me?" He damn near chokes on the wine. "Charlie, honestly, of all the excuses to come back here after getting spooked from meeting my kid- no, you didn't really even meet him, actually. You glanced at him. From a distance. And then ran. And you never really came back. So for this to be your reasoning behind it. It- it's not amusing." He grows increasingly red in the face, leaning back in his chair to run both hands through his hair. He lets out a deep breath, eyes darting back and forth as he looks at the ceiling for a moment because he can't believe he let himself think or have hope that Charlie had really come back for him. Don't fucking cry again he tells himself. Do not

CHARLIE: Charlie isn't sure if Scotia is mad at him for not coming right out of the gate telling he wants to get back together or if he truly thinks Charlie is making a very convoluted excuse to explain why they broke up. He squints his eyes, trying to figure out if he ever made a joke so absurd that it would be possible for Scotia to believe he is lying about that.

"It's not- That's not why I walked away that day. But you heard me right? I'm a wizard, I'm really not fucking around. I'm actually a professor at a school of witchcraft," it does sound like crazy talk, "Scotia, listen, please." Charlie wants to calm him down so bad so he can just see he's telling the truth. "You're right, okay? About me getting spooked seeing your kid, I was terrified and I still am! I still... Believe it's not a good idea for you to add me to your personal life, because I am good at screwing things up and I know you'd never forgive me if I hurt your son."

"That's why it's so scary, that's why it feels like this is beyond what I can take. But I've spent the last weeks trying to move on but turns out I can't get over it. I can't get over you and I... I don't know when it happened, but I like you. I like you a lot. So. I wanted to tell you the truth of my identity as well and see if. If even with that added to the list of weird shit we'd have to deal with if you still... Wanted to be with me."

SCOTIA: "My kid, whose name you don't even know, Charlie, you didn't even bother. You-you just left. I get it, you were scared but..." Scotia narrows his eyes, "You could have at least tried to ask? You saw him and I was suddenly not good enough for you anymore and that-" He takes a deep breath, realizing he's getting louder and riled up. "Charlie, in my pants is in my fuckin person life. Too late, you were already there. You could've stayed on the other side of the bar from me forever and saved yourself the trouble of all this that way. But you already crossed that line, you were already in my personal life." Scotia clears his throat, unable to even focus on the crazy wizardry part anymore past his intense emotions related to their relationship- or lack thereof. "You cannot just walk in here and tell me that you want to be with me but that you won't be good for me if we're together. You cannot be unwilling to change to be better and stronger if you don't think you are those things now. If you don't feel like I'm worth at least trying to be good for then you have no place here tonight, Charlie."

CHARLIE: "I'm sorry for not asking your kid's name right then and there if it wasn't clear I was panicking beyond reasoning, Scotia. You say now that I was already in your personal life, but that's not how it felt. Up until a few weeks ago, I thought you still saw me as a good fuck and costumer. And I thought the same, as cruel as it sounds but it's true. For all I know, if it wasn't for your babysitter failing that day, you wouldn't have told me about your son at all. And it hit me that... I didn't know you. You could've been married with kids and having an affair with me just because.

I wouldn't even have the right to be upset, because we never talked about us. I didn't think there was an us to even talk about... So it took me all of that shit happening to see how much I wanted you, yes, is that fucked up? Maybe but that's how I realized.

And if me changing or becoming someone better suited for your life is what you need from me, then you're right, I don't think I'll have to be better, so why waste both of our times.

I guess I really have no place being here tonight."

SCOTIA: Scotia's shoulders deflate with the way Charlie comes at him. The longer the man goes on the more his desperation becomes clear and suddenly, when Charlie finishes rambling his thoughts, Scotia simply blurts out, "Thank you...for telling me all that." He licks his lips and takes a deep breath, not a panicked, and frustrated one this time. His voice is quieter when he speaks, trying to make Charlie actually listen to him instead of just hearing his words, "I didn't tell you about my son because I thought you thought this was just a good fuck, Charlie. You're right, we didn't talk about this but we should've. I don't just have breakfast in the morning with everybody- actually nobody, I haven't had breakfast the morning after with anybody since my kid was born and you can hear that whole story, plain and true if you want to. But I'm willing to bet you don't just come and sit in bars waiting for people's shifts to be over so you can get a good lay either. So...we should've talked about it."

Scotia shakes his head, his fingers fiddling with the wine glass in front of him but he doesn't take a drink, he can't bring himself to stomach a thing. "I don't want you to change to be suited for my life. I don't know who's asked you to do that in the past but it's not me. I want the exact opposite, I want you to realize you don't have to change to be with me. You keep telling me you're no good and you're gonna be bad for me but I haven't seen any of that in the last year." His last words are nearly a whisper because he can't fathom how else to make Charlie understand, "The only time you hurt me is when you tell me you're going to."

CHARLIE: Charlie hates every second of the honesty they threw at each other's face. It was necessary but it hurt and chances are it will hurt for a while before it gets better.

But he wants the other man so bad. Was it always like this? He knows he's always been attracted to Scotia from the start, but this ache of being apart... When did it become so real? Charlie didn't allow himself to get involved with anyone like this since he was young, engaged and so naive.

He also knew that like Dexter, Scotia didn't seem to be able to see all the ways Charlie was flawed beyond repair. Maybe they had a point, Charlie wanted to believe, maybe he isn't the bad guy he thinks he is.

Or maybe that's exactly who he is and that's why despite it being selfish, knowing only their determination to be together won't be enough, he wants to be with Scotia. He wants him, even if he believes it will end terribly.

"Stay with me tonight, please. We don't have to fuck or anything, I just. Don't wanna be away from you anymore."

SCOTIA: "Okay, yeah," Scotia nods instantly, "Just- let me make a few calls, I'm sure I can get a hold of someone-" He hesitates and then, "Unless...you want to come home with me?" Scotia clears his throat, "He'll be asleep by now. You don't have to talk to him, be with him unless you want to. It can still be just us."

He licks his lips and then adds as an afterthought, in the interest of them talking about things now, "This isn't a test, you can say no if you want to."

CHARLIE: Charlie doesn't hesitate, just nods and reaches out to grab Scotia's hands. "Let's go."

SCOTIA: As they walk out of the bar, Scotia tells Charlie to prove he’s a wizard, circling back to the untouched matter at hand that he certainly had not forgotten, simply prioritized under the well being of their relationship.

CHARLIE: Charlie doesn't say it out loud but he's definitely thinking "How the fuck am I supposed to apparate us safely when I feel like I can't even stand right now?"

"I... I've never been there, so I can't take us there but. Is there like ah famous monument or street near your home?"

SCOTIA: Scotia is so blown away thinking to himself, there's no way this is a thing so why not play along right? He tells Charlie the name of the main road that's a five-minute walk from his house looks at Charlie like he’s nuts.

CHARLIE: Charlie thinks hard if he's ever been there and knows the place well enough, before pulling Scotia close and saying, "Hold on and don't let go. Really. Don't let go."

SCOTIA: Scotia puts his arms around Charlie tightly and hides his face into the crook of Charlie's neck, thinking, I'm taking a leap of faith with you, you crazy son of a bitch. And a snap, crackle, and pop later, he’s doubled over on the sidewalk, throwing up all he’s got onto the street. Now he’s hoping Charlie still thinks he’s cute after this new milestone.

CHARLIE: "The first time is always rough, isn't it?" Charlie laughs when Scotia's face goes green, "You said you wanted me to prove it." He shrugs

SCOTIA: Hearing Charlie’s laughter and teasing, Scotia shoves Charlie’s side despite being kneeled over. “Don’t make fun of me, you’re the one who did this! My God...you did this…”

CHARLIE: "You look like you're about to pass out, we need to get you to your house. Which direction, honey?"

SCOTIA: Scotia does not answer him, wipes his mouth, stands up, and just goes, "What the fuck was that? Is that how you-" He steps back. "Charlie, what?"

But then has to step towards Charlie again anyway to put a hand on his shoulder because he needs to steady himself.

CHARLIE: Charlie holds back his laugh, he doesn't wanna get shoved again. "So pet names are your weakness, huh. I'd so kiss you right now if your mouth didn't smell so bad, ugh, let's go, Scosh."

SCOTIA: It's hard not to believe Charlie after that so Scotia asks a hundred questions on the five-minute walk back to his place. 

"What the hell else can you do?" "What...happened to you?? Or are there more people like this" "I'm not gonna wake up and this is going to be an elaborate prank, is it?" "Charlie, did you fucking do that every time you wanted to see me?? That's absurd."

CHARLIE: "Yep, I literally bent myself in time and space just to see your cute face."

SCOTIA: Scotia stops to grin when Charlie says that. It brings him back to earth a little bit after the wild experience of apparating but as he finally finds his legs to walk again, to lead Charlie towards his home, he slips a hand into the younger man's. They rarely hold hands outside of the bedroom, let alone in the streets so it's new but Scotia doesn't want to make Charlie nervous by drawing attention to it. "Charlie, whatever you do- magic- whatever...it's never dangerous...right?" He asks hesitantly, still feeling crazy just saying it out loud.

CHARLIE: Charlie takes a quick glance at their hands together and the image of the last time their hands were like that flashed for a moment.

Scotia on top of him with his hand tight around Charlie's, pressing him into the mattress, kissing his collarbones, making him feel amazing–

Scotia's sad expression telling him "I missed you last night–

Charlie, you didn't even bother, you just left–

If you don't feel like I'm worth at least trying to be good for then you have no place here tonight–

"Right?" he heard and came back to reality. What did Scotia ask him just now? Danger in magic, okay.

"Hm, I think it's much like your type of society. We are capable of being dangerous, but we have rules, penalties, and conscience to know we shouldn't act or have those types of desires."

Charlie holds Scotia's hand tighter in his hand, wanting to reassure him it wasn't something he should worry about. "I've got an easy life, very privileged, even by wizards' standards. So I'm safe. I'm very safe here right now actually, with you holding my hand." he says, giving Scotia a wink and a smile.

SCOTIA: It's hard for Scotia not to be soothed by Charlie's smile and his easy words, the charming demeanor he presents despite himself. "Don't be upset if I ask you all of this again in the morning," He takes a deep breath, "You'll have to forgive me for wondering if I dreamt up most of it..." He gives a dry chuckle hearing about this side of Charlie's life he never knew about. "Charlie, the fact that you're here, right now...when you can do that and whatever else you can do..." He takes a breath, "It's kind of unbelievable. What I mean is that it means a lot to me. You are safe with me. You've always been."

When they get back to his place Charlie will get to watch Scotia let his babysitter go, give her a chunk of the tips he got from the night out of his pocket because she had to watch his kid for so long. But he'll show Charlie to the bedroom and tell him to make himself comfortable while he checks on Jensen real quick. Charlie will get to look around the small room that's so different from how he lives. It's an intimate look into Scotia's life but when Scotia does come back Charlie gets cuddled so hard. He'll hold him like he used to weeks ago when they were still doing this regularly. Kiss the back of his neck and try to relax him because Scotia knows even if Charlie isn't showing it, he has to be wound up about this to some extent.

CHARLIE: Charlie definitely reciprocates, even with all the things hovering in his head, reacting to Scotia's body still wins over everything He'll kiss Scotia until their lips hurt, fit his legs between Scotia's and smell his skin and let himself do what he's wanted for weeks.

SCOTIA: He loses himself in that touch, he revels in it. He missed him so much and between their kisses, Charlie will hear it. Breathlessly candid. But Scotia can lose himself in the moment and in the way they literally hold each other all he wants. He can escape their reality for a few hours and a blissful night's sleep. But the fact of the matter is he'll have to untangle himself from Charlie early in the morning because his toddler wakes up early. He'll have to tend to obligations of his life that he wants Charlie to be a part of so bad but without overwhelming him.

CHARLIE: But for once, Charlie wakes up first because he kept waking up in the night.  And one of those times, he gets thirsty and goes to the kitchen to grab some water. He basically wakes everyone up in the neighborhood almost screaming when he feels something touch his leg… And it's just Jensen

"Oh... Hi?"

Charlie's first interaction with the kid is almost him swearing and yelling. He stands there and the kid is looking at him with a tilted head clearly confused. Charlie is so awkward and scared. He'll do a childish wave with his hand and say, "I'm Charlie. You're Jensen, right?"

They end up hanging out on the couch between the kitchen and the rooms. Jensen clearly still sleepy but he was the one that climbed that first, Charlie just followed him. Charlie grabs the remote control and almost turns the TV on but Jensen's eyes went a bit wide when he touched that so Charlie felt like maybe he should not do that.

Charlie grabs one of the books on the coffee table and it's Jensen's and has thick pages filled with animals and simple scenarios. So he brings it and starts flipping through it. Not that he's interested but he has no idea what else he can do, he can't just go back to Scotia's room and leave the kid there right?

Jensen gets closer to look at it together and sometimes points and says a word, usually the names of the animals. They make their way through that book and two others before Charlie sees that Jensen isn't pointing or babbling anything more because he's basically asleep.

And now he panics again because what does one do now? He calls Jensen’s name a few times and pokes his cheek, making the boy frown, "Don't you want to sleep on your bed?"

And instead of getting up and walking back to his room, the boy raises his arms expecting Charlie to take him. He awkwardly takes Jensen back to his room and breathes relieved. F

Charlie goes to drink another cup of water and goes back to bed, close to Scotia.

SCOTIA: When Charlie comes back to bed Scotia is a sleepy bear who puts his arms around him and just tugs him close, just assuming he went to the bathroom or something. When they do get up for good Charlie will get to watch this little boy climb into his dad's arms like they are each other's worlds and that's so obvious in the way Jensen says dad and the way Scotia literally looks at his son while brushing back his hair. The way he talks to him and holds him.

Scotia literally chokes when he's talking to Jensen, trying to make introductions, "This is my b-" before aggressively clearing his throat.  "This is daddy's really good friend, okay?" Mostly because he doesn’t want to alarm Charlie, but. But the moment Jensen lays eyes on him, he shouts “Charlie!!" And Scotia is thrown off by his son knowing the name already.

CHARLIE: Charlie makes fun of Scotia for that one, "You can call me your boyfriend, you know. I think it's better than being daddy's good friend. I'd never want to be just friends with you." He leans to give Scotia a quick kiss.

When Jensen calls his name all excited, Charlie just nods like "Yep. That is... My name." He’s still getting used to this interaction with a child thing.

SCOTIA: Scotia gets all red in the face for being called out about that. Licks his lips after the little kiss he's given and tells his little son this is his boyfriend. And Jensen doesn't care because he's tiny but it means a lot to Scotia, his heart is racing.

Honestly, Scotia is just glad that Charlie didn't freak having to interact with Jensen in the morning. He doesn't question it too much. He'll put Jensen down at one point and Jensen brings that book from the coffee table to Charlie and Scotia chuckles and tells his son, "Maybe Charlie can read to you a different time, buddy. We've gotta have breakfast so Charlie doesn't run late for the day okay?" And Jensen just looks between the two of them like ...but

Scotia tries to talk a little more over breakfast but he treads lightly because he doesn't want to overwhelm Charlie first thing in the morning.

CHARLIE: Charlie pulls him by his waist and tells him quietly, "We're okay, right? I thought I could go to the bar tonight."

SCOTIA: Scotia easily moves to Charlie and holds him. He doesn't answer the question directly, rather touches his forehead to Charlie's and tells him, "I love that you're here right now. Right here, in my shitty apartment, with my decent kid. I love that. I..." He swallows as a lump of emotions seizes his throat for a moment. "I really wanted that for a while. I just didn't know how to ask for it. It'll be so much easier for you to see me now that you've been here- now that you're okay being here. I'd love to see you at the bar tonight."

CHARLIE: Charlie wants to ask why didn't he say something sooner but knows that it will lead to a whole different discussion that doesn't matter anymore. Scotia seems happy and that's what's important to Charlie. He gives Scotia a not so innocent kiss and takes a few steps back, "See you later, honey.”

He winks and apparates right there out of Scotia's house.

-FIN

[irondadgroupie]

Bohemian Rhapsody: Chapter 4

A/N: This story is about to get good! @intoresus

As soon as Tony and Peter were both in surgery, Rhodey was left alone, pacing, waiting. He hated it. The inability to help, the assistants swirling around, asking him every two minutes if he needed something - a water, a blanket (“Waiting could take a while Sergeant Rhodes, maybe you should sit down for a second”). He turned everything down, tried to focus on the view from one of the top floors of the compound’s main building.

“Sergeant, are you sure you don’t want to sit down and have a glass of water after the shock?”

Shock. Shock was an understatement for what he’d just witnessed, but he answered firmly anyway:

“I appreciate your concern, but no.” The red-headed assistant nodded, floundering off in some pretty high heels. The sound.

The sound reminded him of an eager young woman that never failed walking astonishingly straight in high heels.

“There’s something else I’d like you to do for me, please, if you wouldn’t mind? Could you tell me how Mrs. Potts’ schedule is looking today?”

“Of course, Sir, no problem.” That woman could win an award for ‘best-customer-service smile’. A nanosecond later, Rhodey felt his phone vibrating in his pocket, receiving the digital print-out of his request’s results. He eyed it critically.

“Busy all day, it seems.” He sighed. It’d be useless to try reaching her during a meeting - the woman usually had her phone turned off or calls blocked during meetings, but at the same time, she’d behead Rhodey for every minute that passed without her knowing that Tony had been inflicted in a car accident. “Have to try it at six, probably the earliest time she might answer the phone at all.”

“Don’t worry about that, I’ve already informed Mrs. Potts about the occurrence.”

“You reached her?” Rhodey raised an eyebrow scanning the meetings again. “I assume she’s on her way back already, then.”  

Work meant nothing when Tony had been involved in a possibly life-threatening trouble. And as the day had proven, everything could turn out to be life-threatening for him.

“I don’t know Sir. It does not seem as if she’d listened to the voicemail I sent.”

Rhodey blinked, dumbfounded.  

“Pardon?”

“I cannot figure out whether Mrs. Potts has listened to -“

“A voicemail?!” Rhodey interrupted, anger crashing over him. “You sent her a voicemail telling her that her husband has been injured in a car crash?!”  

The young woman seemed shocked by his response, but Rhodey didn’t find it in him to care. How can someone be insensitive enough to leave a voicemail with such vital information?

“I’ve been trying to reach her around ten times. Since she wasn’t picking up and the information was so important, I assumed it would be for the best to have her get it as soon as possible.”

Rhodey found himself just at a loss for words. He began eagerly tapping on the screen to dial one of Pepper’s assistants. Have them tell her to cut the meeting short - and most importantly, have them discreetly delete the voicemail.

After that, he had to deal with the task of informing Peter’s aunt about the incident.

Tony woke up because his mouth was dry. It was a common situation: on busy days, he found himself forgetting to drink quite a lot, but this dryness appeared different.

He twitched his fingers and felt a hand holding them.

“Tony?” A feminine voice asked.  

He knew that voice but his brain seemed to be on vacation - or drunk.

He tried to swallow but that led to coughing. His body was aching all over. His right hand felt numb, a little wrong, too, but it was better than the pain. A part of him remembered why, the other part tried to forget.

“Shh,” the voice comforted him as he whimpered in discomfort. “It’s alright, honey.”

He could not open his eyes. He didn’t want to. Was it all a dream?

“Peter?” His voice was between a groan and whisper.  

Pepper almost shook her head. Asking for Peter before anyone or anything else had become such a typical Tony thing. She would never blame him, though. The teenager had helped changing Tony into an even better person, and after all that the man must’ve been through in the past few hours, starting with resuscitating his child, his question came as no surprise.

“Peter is resting, he is alright, you saved his life.”

Those words jostled something in his mind. Why didn’t those sentences feel good?

He didn’t feel good.

“Sick,” Tony mumbled and someone shifted beside him.

“Are you going to be sick?”

His response was a gag. Tender but firm hands helped him on his side and a bedpan was placed under his chin.

“Take deep breaths,” Pepper coaxed him as Tony spat out bile. He was soon done, thanks to his stomach being empty but the overwhelming feeling of nausea did not leave.  

Tony gently rolled onto his back and breathed harshly.

“Peter?”

The woman rubbed his arm.

“He is fine, Tony. He has not yet woken up but he is improving.”

Tony’s hand shook, improving could mean anything. Anything was an improvement to dragging the boy’s limp body across the lake and then forcing breath back to his lungs.

“I-” Tony closed his eyes for a moment as he felt dizzy. “I have to see him.”  

The request almost broke Pepper’s heart. She knew that Tony would never calm down until he could be sure that Peter was getting the best care possible. But at the moment, neither of them was in the physical condition to be moved. Pepper had been more than glad to find Tony breathing by himself and, aside of his hand, comparatively unharmed when she’d returned from her trip. The ease had vanished the moment she’d been informed the reason they’d keep Tony under more advanced care for a few days.

“You can’t yet, you are still healing. Your heart-”

“I need to see Peter,” The man’s voice was harsher. “I need to know he is here.”

“Tony, you can see Peter later but first a doctor has to come and check you up.”

“They can check me up there.”

“Tony,” Pepper’s voice was firm but her eyes held the concern she could not convey through words: “Your heart nearly gave out.”

“So did Peter’s,” Tony remembered the shore and his left hand shook. “I had to hit his chest to get him back.”  

“That explains the bruises, McKane suspected you didn’t use just mere chest compressions.”

It was sick how normally they could talk about resuscitating a 16-year-old kid.

“Still wasn’t enough to save him.”  

Pepper sighed. The agony in Tony’s face and his eyes was unbearable. She reached forward, her thumb gently stroking his cheek.

“There was nothing more you could’ve done. And what you did was crucial in getting him here alive in the first place. You did save him.”  

Tony didn’t respond, occupied with trying to blink away tears.

“Is someone with him?”

“Sure. Rhodey has been with him all the time, he was never alone. His aunt will be contacted to. We’ve taken care of everything.”

“Thank you.” Tony rasped, his tongue suddenly feeling heavy. “But I still want to -“ He took in a deep breath, trying his best to fight against sleep crawling over him. They were obviously dripping pain killers in his veins on a regular basis. “I have to see him, Pep. He needs me.”

“Yes, he does.”

Tony looked up, as best as he could, given that his neck felt awfully stiff, and found himself looking at an elderly physician. “However, I believe that he needs you in good shape. Which requires you working with our help to get you up on your feet as quickly as possible.”  

The doctor took a step forward and barely warned Tony before checking his eyes with a penlight.

“Can you tell me your full name?”  

Tony grit his teeth but relented. Once the examination was over, Pepper couldn’t say anything against seeing Peter anymore. ‘Doctor has to check you up’. That’s all she’d wanted.

“Anthony Stark.”

“Good.” The doctor let the pen vanish in the pocket of his scrubs. “Do you remember what happened?”  

Awfully detailed, even. As if every second of the day had been burned into his memory and the marks would stay forever.

“Car crash, “ He remarked dryly. “Peter was with me. How is he?”  

“I have been assigned solemnly to take care of you, Mr. Stark. My colleagues are currently taking care of Mr. Parker.”

It wasn’t the answer he’d wanted to hear, but the medic went on anyway. “Are you experiencing any pain at the moment?”

Aside of his heart aching to see Peter? Not that much.  

Mainly, Tony felt like he’d been put in cotton wool: whatever painkillers those were, they really kicked in.  

“I want to see Peter. Right now.”

“Tony, please. Just let him finish.” Pepper said softly, taking his left hand in hers. “I know you care for Peter. I do, too. But I care for you just as much, and I really want to be sure you’re alright.”  

She watched Tony sinking the last centimeter into the pillow. Her words definitely seemed to have touched the right spot. Which was enough, for now. The doctor took advantage of the moment, using a little metal stick to gently poke into each of Tony’s fingertips in his right hand. It was basically the only part easily reached, since the rest of his hand was literally covered in fixatives. Tony responded to have somewhat of a feeling in each of them, and that was all they could ask for now. The plastic - and neurosurgeons had obviously done a pretty good job.

“‘S that it, now?”

“Tony, you -“

“No.” The man used his last bits of his strength to wrestle himself free from his spouse’s grip. “He’s done and since he said nothing else, I’m good. I have to see my kid now.”  

The monitors beeped in alarm when his heart-rate made a sudden jump to 105.

“Mr. Stark, I have to ask you to take a deep breath and try to calm down. Your heart has been trough a lot to day and it - you - need some rest to recover.”

“I don’t need rest, for fuck’s sake.” Tony began coughing harshly, the anger he’d wanted to portray putting a strain on a sore throat. It didn’t exactly help with the situation.

He saw it, he heard it, felt his heart racing in his chest. It was making him feel even more dizzy and uncomfortable, but still, no one seemed to understand - or wanted to. He heard the doctor mumbling something to Pepper, but he couldn’t understand it. His world was static.

“I just want to see my kid.” He mumbled, the painkillers suddenly making it hard to focus on talking. Sleep would’ve nudged in on everyone else already, but Tony Stark’s will was stronger than any sedatives. “Can’t ask me to be calm without knowing he’s alright.”  

On a good day, he would’ve added ‘And think about whose paying your checks.’, but right now staying awake was a hard enough task as it was, so he didn’t intend to waste energy on giving cynic comments.

Pepper sighed. She had another thousand arguments on her list: Tony was tired, he wasn’t at the top of his game, he couldn’t help Peter, not in either in their current conditions. Arguments just wouldn’t matter, not right now.  

This was like the week Peter had been on a class outing and had forgotten to call Tony one night, even though they had agreed on it to ease the man’s worry of having Flash’s harassment’s going too far. Peter hadn’t picked up calls that day as the battery of his phone had died, and Tony had been awake all-night, pondering over whether or not to just take the suit and check on the kid. Pepper hadn’t gotten him to sleep that day, or the following, not until the teenager had finally answered one of the frantic calls.  

“Is there a possibility that we can make arrangements for him to see Peter-“ She saw Tony easing up a little and squeezed his hand “- without leaving the bed?”

“Yeah.” Tony still fought against the effect, but the meds were making his thoughts cloudy and muffled, he felt slightly high. “Just have us share a room, I’m good with that. Kid’s been wanting to have a real sleepover for forever anyway.”

Pepper raised an eyebrow at the doctor, who frowned, but nodded after a second.

“I’ll see what we can arrange.”

“You must promise us to rest,” Pepper walked beside Tony, keeping his hand in warm hold.

“Scout’s word,” Tony nodded.

“She is correct, Mr Stark,” His doctor affirmed as they left his room and walked through the corridor. “Your heart can’t take any shocks.”

“I have prepared myself,” The man said, his eyes fixed on the windows that saw to Peter’s room. “I have imagined the worst scenarios in my mind. I have seen him in a ventilator before.”

Pepper couldn’t help to point out: “Tony, that was different. He was being extubated after a minor surgery on his ankle.”

“It was still a breathing tube, Pep.”

He tried to look through the window but his neck was too stiff to reach his head. The lights were on and the curtains shadowed the view partly.

The door opened and Tony was calm. It was not too bad, his mind told him. Peter was hooked in monitors and dozens of wires hung from his body. Heart line showed a steady, strong pulse and BP seemed to be acceptable. The boy’s eyes were taped shut and the same material had been used to secure the breathing tube to his mouth.  

“How is he doing?” Pepper asked and left Tony for a second to run a hand through the boy’s tangled curls.

“Relatively good,” The doctor started the monologue while rolling Tony’s hospital bed next to Peter’s. “He had some minor bleeding in the abdomen but we managed to fix it.”

“He is in a coma, how can you call that good?” Tony’s voice was low and grave as he stared at the boy, like his wishes alone could force Peter to wake up. There was a distance between their beds and he couldn’t reach Peter’s hand.

“Mr. Stark, coma is not a death sentence,” The doctor was oblivious to Tony’s attempts to sit up as he focused on fixing the IV and monitors on the side. “It is body’s natural response to trauma. It is treatable and often beneficiary. It means his body is taking a time-out and focusing on repairing the damage.”

Tony cursed his weakness, the drugs were taking away his strength. The doctor raised the head of his bed and it helped him to gather his bearings.  

“I need to-” He gasped and his heart line jumped. It gave him motivation. He had to try.

Tony swung his legs over the railing and leaned on the night stand.

“Mr. Stark!” The doctor rushed to him and steadied his uncoordinated steps.

“Peter,” He reached for a chair but the lines were in the way.

“Tony, “ Pepper was by his side and tried to untangle the IV and hear monitor lines. “Lie back down, please.”

“No,” The man shook his head and took another step, this one much steadier than the previous ones. Determination was making drugs vanish from his system. “I need to see Peter. I need to check him over.”

The doctor nodded, he was used to this reaction from parents. He fetched a wheelchair and helped the man sit on the padded surface.  

Tony pulled himself closer to the bed and the moment his eyes set on Peter’s face, tears started streaming down.

“Kiddo,” He whispered and covered his mouth with his bad hand. The boy’s face was covered in tiny cuts, the deepest ones had been stitched.

“His lips are dry,” Tony noticed and looked at Pepper. “He needs water.”

“Ice chips are good for that,” The doctor took a cup and set it on the nightstand. “Just let it slide gently.”

Tony took a small chip and it immediately started melting against the boy’s lips. They were chapped and unmoving but warm and pink.

He couldn’t help a relieved chuckle.

“You did it, kid,” He whispered and kissed Peter’s brow. “My brave little boy.”

Ventilator provided the boy with air. Tony set his injured hand on Peter’s chest, careful that the weight would not hinder the movement. He could faintly feel the boy’s heart beating and imagined it, the most beautiful sight.

Peter’s hair had air-dried but was dry, rough and hopelessly tangled. Peter hated tangles and his curls.

“Is he in pain?” Tony tried to solve the problem areas but soon gave up, his fingers were not enough.

“No,” The doctor shook his head. Tony sniffled, nodded and stroked Peter’s face with his knuckles: the boy was so warm. “He is in a deep, peaceful sleep. The drugs,” Tony eyed the lines that ran to Peter’s hand, arm and under the blankets ,”are there to provide him with nutrients and help combat possible infections.”

“When do you suppose he will wake up?” Pepper’s voice was gentle and the doctor breathed out and shrugged.

“I can’t answer that. Peter went through a lot and his body needs time to heal.”

“What is usually the estimation?” Tony needed to know.

“It varies from person to person. I doubt he wakes up tomorrow. It can take a week, or two, maybe a month.”

“Isn’t it that the longer he stays in coma, the worse the prognosis is?”

“It’s not that simple,” The doctor shook his head. “I have seen patients that have been in a coma for months and recover fully. Then some are in a coma for a few days and lose most of their cognitive functions. Mr Stark, I can’t say anything for certain but I do know that Peter’s tests were promising and he improves steadily.”

Tony laughed wetly.  

“Yes,” He stroked Peter’s hair and gazed into the closed eyes. “He is stubborn as a mule, my little firecracker.”

[the-gardenofproserpine]

Exploring life

Girls' Last Tour is a slice of life anime that revolves around two girls Chito and Yuuri as they explore the remains of a war-torn city for their survival. As they ride on their motor-bike they encounter many places and and very little people, and on the way learn about the world they live in and develop perspectives on life and its essence.

Chito is a more serious and intellectual girl who makes the rationale decisions and keeps the two girls alive, while Yuuri is very carefree and strives to actually live life. Even so Chito does like to enjoy life which Yuuri makes sure she does, while Yuuri is a curious girl (about a few random things, too) and Chito helps her to understand what lays around better.

The anime asks some very thought-provoking questions in a very light-hearted manner; amidst the girls' banter and exploration as they wonder about what they experience. Every element in the story is carefully accounted for -- the art is not too grand but it perfectly fits the feel of the anime, the music is gentle or often delighting, the voice (at least in the sub) is perfect, though we mainly have the two girls as the characters. The sound of their movements of the rain or just what's around them is great, too, and it's basically sugoi. And the OST is ahhhhh.

It's basically a story of two girls who learn about life. They literally know next to nothing (not even about cheese, chocolate, God, potatoes, airplanes, nothing. Only Chito knows a little bit about whatever she's read in her books.)

I won't be saying much because this is a story you should experience and think about yourself. Come after you're done.

Recommendation: Go watch it. Now. This is an anime fit for everyone (other those who dislike a lack of plot).

Hagimemashou!

                                         Going deeper into the anime

The cheerful tone of the anime will keep you happy at almost all times - as they explore the world in ruins with their positive and curious outlook. We don't know much about them, their history - only a grandfather mentioned a few times and towards the end a few flashbacks. Still, you feel an immediate connection with them, and go with them, together, on the girls' last tour as they scout for their basic necessities while going towards the highest level.

This is all sweet, but what I really loved about the anime where the questions asked. Almost every episode delved deeper into a single thought (that was connected to many other), and perhaps the girls reached a concluding point of some pause (which wasn't necessarily positive), the story allowed the reader to think about the themes themselves while seeing the girls' perspective. These questions are what I really want to talk about, with a few additional things.

Hajimemashou!

1. War

"War means killing each other, right? Why'd they do that?" - Yuuri

"Dunno. Their interests probably didn't coincide with the other's side." - Chito

---

Now, you must be thinking, what's so special or thought-provoking about this segment? What Chito says makes sense and it probably is the truth. And you're right (assuming you're thinking along the lines of that). However, moments later we see Yuuri raise a gun on Chito as they had five ration sticks and the two girls were starving. Chito proposed to split the last stick into two halves, but Yuuri snatched it from her, raised her gun at Chito (in a rather serious manner, though her real intention was obviously humorous) and ate it. Even though this wasn't actually serious, it just makes me think. Survival of the fittest is perhaps the most popular thought on this planet amongst everything. Us humans are also animals and thus we rely largely on our instincts, along with our intelligence. Perhaps the instinct of survival, the notions of desire and that intelligence is what causes the war?

2. The Afterlife

"We're actually dead, and we're in the pure white world of the afterlife." - Yuuri

---

"Hey, did you know that the afterlife is supposed to be really warm?" - Yuuri

"If that's true, it doesn't look like we're dead yet." - Chito

---

These girls know nothing, I've already established that. But as it was in the first segment, they are human and they do have those instincts, those feelings about what's around you. But they don't even know if they're in their lives or in the afterlife? I mean really, what makes us so sure that we are in the real world? That this isn't some sort of illusion that we forget after death? That an afterlife even exists? We know so less and yet we continue to live life. We are human beings and we are 'living', thus we continue to live life.

3. Why Life?

"Why do people live?" - Chito

---

"We find it [food], save it, then go one the move again, always thinking there might be something waiting for us at our destination..." - Chito

---

"It's what I live for!" - Kanazawa

"What you live for?" - Yuuri

"If I lost this [Kanazawa's maps], I'd probably die." - Kanazawa

---

The reason we exist is a topic that has been spoken about, written about many times. But why does an individual personally want to live? What motivates them, how do they ignore the question of a meaningless existence? And in this anime, what motivates these girls to live and keep travelling around the dead world? Perhaps its the support they gain from each other, perhaps curiosity, perhaps to fulfil their temporary goals, perhaps because they are alive (because of their grandfather, maybe they respect the fact that they are alive no matter the circumstances) or perhaps simply because they aren't dead. The reason (not meaning) of life varies from person to person and is constantly changing. Perhaps we're all just trying to understand life.

4. God

"What's the point of making a big disappointment [nice, fake god or the god's statue, I'm not sure] like this? Nobody knows what life's like after death anyway." - Yuuri

"Maybe they [the people] didn't want to think that, [the afterlife is a dark world] so they made those statues and all the lights." - Chito

---

These girls never knew who or what God was and had only each other during the past, when the war was going on. They didn't believe in or found comfort in such an existence and only in each other's presence.

Who is God? Does God really exist, or are they (I use 'they' because I don't believe God has a gender, and not it because it is kinda weird) something that comforts us in our times of adversity? Will God ever really help us, even if they exist? Is God just figment of our imagination and the stories just some awe-inspiring comfort? Are we afraid of some dark truth, and why do we even 'need' God? Perhaps God exists but we have misinterpreted that existence. We know nothing.

5. Home

"What are houses for again?" - Yuuri

"Well, you couldn't live without a house." - Chito

"Yeah, but we don't have a house now." - Yuuri

---

"In the end we're back to a cycle of resupplying and travelling." - Chito

"That means the road we travel is our house."

---

This isn't too philosophical and all but it is an interesting thought. Is home a specific place where we live and feel safe, or is it something we are familiar with and feel a sense of belonging to, or something entirely different?

Also in this (the 5th) episode, the part 'The Sound of Rain' has to be one of my favourite scenes, ahh.

6. Hopelessness and failure

"But, well, once you fail, you feel so carefree." - Ishi

"She's smiling." - Yuuri

"What? Why?" - Chito

"Maybe she's getting along with it.

"The feeling of hopelessness." - Yuuri

---

They're in a world which has been destroyed but they're finding their own goals, each character. We are in a world we don't know much about, we don't know what our failures and success mean.

Maybe we're just getting along with everything.

7. Living Life

"Life would be so easy is we had arrows like this all the time." - Chito

"Aww, that'd be boring!" - Yuuri

---

"Let's go explore!" - Yuuri

"Nope. What kind of person would ignore signs that would help them get to their destination?"

---

To set a destination and easily reach their, or to just be random and go along with time? To fulfil a purpose or simply explore life, no matter the struggles? Perhaps a mix of both, or something entirely different? How should life be lived? Really, what is life?

8. Remembrance and existing

"Then one day we'll probably forget about them." - Yuuri, about Kanazawa and Ishii.

---

"I bet they left behind these names and the things they owned so someone would see it and remember them.

"But now there isn't anyone passing through like we are and everyone in the world is gone... so who would remember them?"

---

We've often thought about the meaning of life, the possibility of an afterlife or simply rebirth, but what about this life? Not everyone is like Albert Einstein or Beethoven or Vincent Van Gogh or Alan Turing or George Eliot, who will be remembered for lifetimes. Not everyone would have the wish of being remembered but most people might want to leave some mark here in the world, of their existence. Again it's a matter of personal wishes, but what do we live for? Or is it someone we live for? Do we want our stories to be known, like Anne Frank, or just pass by and live life for ourselves? (That was probably a poor analogy, though)

9. Empathy - What is living?

"Maybe 'life' is something that has an end?" - Yuuri

—-

This has to be one of my favourite lines from the anime.

In this episode we see two robots. The girls question it if it is living or not, and such questions are raised throughout the episode. Humans are living, fishes are living, but it's a doubt on the machines. The smaller machine is programmed in a way that it invoked empathy in the humans (who are their customers) but the big one cannot speak to it.

By the end of the episode the girls reach the conclusion that the big machine was also living (hence coming to the mentioned dialogue) as it did feel empathy. Perhaps life is something that has an end, and perhaps those who live are those who can feel. Do microorganisms feel? They are living, after all. Are the machines really living?

Perhaps life is defined because it ends. This is an episode that really is felt while you watch it, so there isn't much to say. But it's inconclusive and asks interesting questions.

10th episode

This one mostly talks about waves and the power of music. The rhythm in the sound (just as how it was with the rain, back in episode 5), the sound waves, the waves of the light and how everything is associated with an emotion. The emotion conveyed depends for each person but there's really something profound about it (and because it's related to music, I love it).

Also, we meet a new creature who looks like the statues present throughout the anime. Also we later learn that it is very intelligent (as a species).

11th episode

I don't know what to say about this episode. Cultural differences and war, yeah. Then we saw Yuuri use a very destructive weapon (twice) and laugh it off. You've watched it, you know it. It's thought provoking and just... sits in your head.

12. What humanity, what people mean to us. Just what holds meaning for us.

There is nothing left to say. It's an experience, this entire anime is. I'm probably gonna read the manga soon especially if there is no news for a sequence but truly, it was a delight watching this anime.

[dissonants-13]

It Lives in the Shadows

Notes: Y’all didn’t think I was going to miss ILITW appreciation week did you?? Part 1/3. 

Summary: The gang has been mysteriously disappearing one by one, until a strange carnival pops up where none was before, and always in the very towns where Dan has been tracking his friends to. Nothing is what - or who - it seems and Dan must unravel the mystery before his friends are lost forever. [A phantasmagorical american gods/night circus type AU].  

Tags: @choicesaholic @nuttatulipa @teamtomsato

01.   Ava – Marquette, Michigan

Daniel Pierce lowers his half-spent cigarette, and contemplatively exhales smoke into the cold – no, frigid – air, and burrows his other hand deeper into the pocket of his coat. Within the soft cradle, his fingertips brush against the cool, hard edge of a gun muzzle. He is leaning casually against the ring-toss booth, one foot cocked up against the wall – the right foot at the present, though he shifts his weight every few minutes. The eyes of giggling teenage girls frequently slide over him and range from boldly appreciative to blushing and overcome. There’s no doubt he cuts a striking figure; tall, well over 6-foot-3 in the old language, and with a deeply aesthetically pleasing face and eyes that are a kind of butterscotch hazel-brown. Every now and then, he smiles at a girl, just for the sheer entertainment of seeing her and her friends quite literally ‘all in a tizz’.

But for the most part, he watches. He watches the young woman – Selina Moon, she thinks her name is – as she periodically emerges from the heavily brocaded carmine-coloured tent to ply her craft. Spangled constellations in shades of gold, silver, bronze and everything in between, depending on the way the cold winter light catches them, shimmer across every inch of the lush material. The woman shimmers too; she is just as heavily adorned with jewellery of all metals. She clinks and jingles merrily as she beckons to carnival goers, and Dan’s eye is most drawn to the hammered gold coin on a chain around her neck. He can’t see the embellishment on it, but it’s almost as if the coin gives off its own heat, its own life-force.

“Fortunes told, ailments cured. Bottled luck and brewed love. Let me tell you what you need!” The woman opens her arms in a loving, inviting way to the people passing her. It’s a gesture Dan has never seen her make before – another change to go with her new name, clearly.

A young couple, clearly full to the brim with the hopeful pseudo-love of youth, stop and exchange some words with the woman Selina, before following her into the tent, and so Dan lights another cigarette to warm him as he waits. It’s maybe about 20 minutes before the couple re-emerge, and the woman Selina smiles and waves them off, all her many bracelets tinkling softly, magically.  

Dan tosses his cigarette into the half-frozen dirt beneath his feet and stubs it out with the toe of his boot. Snow has begun to fall softly, and he goes to the woman Selina before any other customer can steal her. Her plum-coloured lips curve into a smile that, while enchanting, is not familiar in any way. She doesn’t recognise him.

“Read me?” he asks, in his deep, husky voice. It’s a voice that people – mistakenly or not – instantly trust and feel at ease with.

“Come right in,” she gestures, holding back one side of the tent opening.

Inside is warm, and the air smells like spices, and it even feels a little like the inside of a simmering pot, what with the reddish-gold light emanating from several lamps around the interior. A claw-footed table sits in pride-of-place in the centre, overlaid with a gossamer silver tablecloth that looks (and feels) like spun spider webs. Two plush upholstered armchairs sit on either side of the table; one a deep, forest green and the other a midnight blue velvet.

Dan sinks into the blue chair, crossing his long legs and looking at the milky crystal ball on the table critically. Fog swirls within the glass, and every now and then, Dan can swear he sees familiar red eyes.

The woman Selina sits opposite him, in the green chair, and for a moment she clinks melodiously as she arranges her silky black skirts. Everything about her is so desperately familiar – the gothic sense of style, the black and pink dreadlocks, and the dramatic winged eyeliner – everything except the overly-warm smile.

“Tell me where the others are,” Dan says by way of opening. The woman Selina cocks her head curiously. She gestures for Dan to reach out and he complies, allowing her to guide his hands onto the crystal ball. She leaves her hands covering his, and closes her eyes. Dan remains unblinking, watching her.

“You’re searching for someone,” she begins eventually, slowly. Obviously, Dan thinks, with some derision. The fog within the crystal ball swirls more aggressively. The lamps flicker. Dan knows the tricks; a secret machine beneath the table for the crystal ball, a wiring fault for the lamps. It’s the sudden chill that he doesn’t like, and the smell of rotting undergrowth – the exact smell of the woods in Westchester. A high pitched whistle blows through the tent, accompanying a blast of icy wind and some snowflakes.

The woman Selina opens her eyes. They are milky white.

02.   Andy – Freemont, Ohio

The carnival appears in Freemont in the dead of night, but Dan manages to be there the very next evening, rolling into town on his huge black motorcycle. He has his ways – spies and informers who whisper to him about the things he needs to know. There is no fanfare preceding the arrival, but somehow most of the town seems to be turning out to the opening night. Dan joins the undulating crowd and melts into the lively carnival throng, his ears ringing with the sounds of rides and shouting children and carnival music.

He cannot forget the witch’s words, which he turns over and over in his head. ‘None can be retrieved until all are united.’ So he wasn’t going to be able to save his friends until they all turned up in this freaky carnival, not knowing who they were? Ava had been the first to go missing, and now was the first to return. He had tried to tell her who she was, but she had just laughed him off, telling him that she was Selina Moon and that she had always been a carnival witch. It was obvious then, that something larger than what Dan had originally thought was afoot.

He lights a cigarette and he walks, stalking the rows of booths and rides, his shoulders set against the cold and he searches, his eyes constantly looking for the next one. Who would it be? He didn’t dare hope it would be her.

The woman Selina is standing in front of her tent when Dan passes it, and she waves to him, her dozens of bangles chinking merrily about her wrists.

“Would you like another reading, Daniel?” she calls to him. Gold sparks shower from her fingertips as she blows him a kiss, and a group of passing children stop to gasp and cheer for her. Dan shakes his head as he continues past her, smiling a little, wryly. A moment later he stops, and backs up a little. His boots crunch in the fresh snow.

“Any new acts tonight, Selina?”

She starts to shake her head no, but then stops. “Actually, there’s a new acrobat in the main tent. Ambrosia King.” She turns frivolously on the spot. Her skirts are purple silk tonight; they whisper across the snow like a half-dozen ladies telling secrets. “Are you sure I can’t help you?”

“Not tonight, Miss Moon.”

Dan finds the main tent, and he enters with the crowd, finding his way to an empty patch of bench on the innermost ring to the central circle. Somehow, the interior roof of the tent looks like a galaxy expanding slowly; Dan feels infinitesimal in that moment. What power is he up against?

There are no nets, he realises, as the performance begins. Waif girls in shimmering, fringed dresses tumble through the air on golden rings and silk ribbons. Leanly muscled young men flip their bodies across the floor, before climbing ladders and throwing themselves above the crowd with precarious grips on their trapezes. One boy throws firesticks, his limbs moving with a blinding, eldritch kind of speed. Even Dan feels lost in the wonderment of the show, his heartbeat rising with every gasp from the crowd around him.

And then Dan sees him; the acrobat in a glittering midnight blue body suit, who descends from the ceiling among the silk ropes like an unfolding butterfly. He swings his way across to the trapeze with nothing but the strength of his upper body, and the audience gasps wildly as he releases one trapeze, his lithe body rotating in a kaleidoscope of sparkles, before he grabs the next trapeze safely and his captive spectators cheer raucously.

Dan would recognise the silken black hair, the intelligently sparking dark eyes, and the confident swagger anywhere. Ambrosia King salutes his adoring crowd, and his eyes fall on Dan amongst the crowd. On his middle finger of his right hand, gleams a golden ring with a hammered coin face, that seems to have a warmth of its own. 

Hello, Andy, Dan thinks. Two found, four to come.

Dan hears the whispers, and feels the same chill that he did in the woman Selina’s tent of fortunes. The smell of rotting undergrowth fills his senses once again, and he sees a flickering black form rise behind Ambrosia King, its eyes glowing red. When he blinks, the shade is gone, but he hears her voice calling him, and Dan can’t shake the distinct feeling that he’s running short on time.

[killmvnger]

What You Need (Part 4) / Part 3 / Part 2 / Part 1

Killmonger/Black!Reader

Warning: Sexual content, use of n-word

Summary: You didn’t go to the club to find a man, but you sure as hell leave with one.

You rolled up the oversized sweatpants on your hips, folding the waistband over a few times so the material didn't drag under your feet. The jersey hanging loosely on your body, you tucked into the sweatpants so that it wouldn't look like a dress. He had the good grace to let you shower, providing you with toiletries and hair-care products that he said you were in dire need of. You squinted at his bold use of the word dire. If your hair was fucked up, it was his fault for ruining all the time you took to install your expensive ass wig. He had stumbled through the bathroom door with an armful of random hair products, saying something about his cousin needing to stop leaving her shit everywhere.

You were just about done fixing your hair when you heard a door slamming and then a chorus of 'ayy's.

You thought he was joking about the cousin thing, at first. For ten whole minutes, you laughed at him, rolling your eyes and hitting his shoulder insisting that he stop playing with you. But the proof was in the mysterious neon blue tattoo inside his mouth, the Wakandan letters sticking out and shocking you. You remembered watching the news on the day that King T'Challa announced the real treasures that lied within Wakanda, the vibranium and money, and brilliance. Then, you started reading up on Wakanda more, desperate to learn the customs and cultures that you otherwise wouldn't usually be interested in. You wondered if any of your family had somehow survived peacefully in the country if there was a separation between anyone while the slave trade happening. You'd often be around the new resource centers that they placed in Oakland, learning and sometimes just watching.

Now you're about to meet King T'Challa, the Black Panther, in huge sweatpants and without makeup.

Hesitantly, you tip-toe out of the bathroom, looking left and right through the huge hallway, then following the distinct sound of bickering. Your heart raced faster the closer you came to the disembodied voices, the more clearly you could hear that beautiful accent that you've only heard on television. As you continued down the hallway, you came to an opening which led to the largest, most lush kitchen you've ever seen. But you couldn't appreciate it now as your hands were shaking and the beginnings of sweat began to form in the pores of your forehead.

You could see the backs of their heads from your place in the hallway, sitting on the kitchen stools talking about God knows what. He's shorter than Erik, but he radiates this undeniable power, this authority that's as gentle and kind as it is biting and firm. You're stunned at his casual wear - a denim jacket with a black v-neck and basic jeans with black Jordans.

You were so lost in your analyzation of T'Challa that you didn't hear Erik say your name. He called you again, louder, and you jumped, almost bumping your head into the wall.

"You need to learn to be more sneaky, this shit getting embarrassing," he comments off-handedly as you get yourself together and walk into the kitchen, eyes stuck to T'Challa who was already staring at you. Awkwardly, and because you don't have a single clue as to how you could address him, your arms cross over your chest. The king laughs at you, mimicking your salute before sticking his hand out for you.

"Pleased to meet you." He says. The smile on your face is so big that it hurts. You rush to put your hand in his, shaking firmly, hoping he doesn't acknowledge sweaty palms.

"Likewise, Your Highness." You gush. He chuckles more at the obvious fangirling you were doing. Distantly, you think you hear Erik suck his teeth.

"It's okay. You can call me T'Challa." He takes his hand back once realizing you weren't eager to stop holding his.

"Okay, T'Challa. I don't mean to interrupt your conversation or anything, but there's just so much I want to ask you and talk to you about, ever since I first--"

Erik clears his throat too loudly. You ignore him.

" -- Since I first saw you on the news as the Black Panther fighting against--"

Hands grip your waist and pull you away from T'Challa. You finally break and glare at Erik. He looks mildly annoyed.

"Please, ignore his silly antics, I imagine it cannot be esteeming for him that your beautiful eyes have not yet given its full attention to his whining." T'Challa jokes. You blush pitifully, purposely avoiding Erik's eyes on you as you're blatantly flustered over his cousin.

"Nigga, watch your mouth. You may be the king, but you can still catch these hands."

T'Challa turns to you, smirking. "He thinks he's intimidating because he almost threw me off a waterfall."

Your eyes widen. Okay, family issues on one thousand.

"And I could've if I wanted to! Don't forget that shit. Flip-flop wearing ass bitch."

"I'm wearing sneakers!"

"Because you know I banned yo ashy ass feet from this house. Don't even think about taking them shits off, bro."

You're standing awkwardly in the middle of their bickering, so you carefully slide away towards the refrigerator. It's stainless steel and stocked to the brim, of course. You turn back to the island where they're still arguing.

"T'Challa," you call sweetly. He turns with a smile. "Would you like a drink?" You ask, gesturing to all the options inside the fridge. T'Challa places his hand over his heart dramatically.

"You have shown me more hospitality than 'Erik' here ever has, probably in his life." He gets muffed on his head by an annoyed Erik. "No thank you, beautiful, I should be on my way now, actually. Shuri wants to visit some amusement park."

"A'ight, bro. Tell Ri-Ri to bring me back a funnel cake."

They give each other a brief side-hug, in which you hear T'Challa whisper something in Xhosa to him. His eyes flicker to yours and back again, saying something else with a smile. He may be the king and all but this switching language has you feeling targeted. You realize that you were right when you suspected him speaking in a different language in bed, he's Wakandan, of course, he knows Xhosa. Erik replies out loud, so you could hear.

"Esi si cwangciso." He winks at you and you know it's just to rile you up because you don't understand him. You eye him suspiciously because he has that look on his face, the one that screams 'I know better than you', the one that made you want to kick his ass.

"Ndiyayithanda. Musa ukuphazamisa oku." T'Challa says, then walks over to give you a hug as well. You gladly accept though you're a bit wary because they could be talking about anything. "Hopefully, I'll see you again." He says and gets another blush out of you.

"I hope so."

"Okay, damn, get the fuck out." Erik sneers, interrupting yet another moment that you wanted to have with your literal hero. T'Challa rolled his eyes at him, waving you goodbye as he left the kitchen. You stared after him in awe, never breaking from your stupor until the front door shuts closed. When you finally relax and turn around, Erik is glaring at you.

"If I had known you had this weird hero worship thing with him, I would've told his ass I wasn't home." He comments. Your mind is still reeling.

"How are you two related? He's so..." You begin, then decide to let the thought fade out of existence once you see his expression. "It's not like I'm tryna flirt with him or anything," you walk up to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. He doesn't look too convinced, which was ridiculous considering you've let him keep you at his house after what was supposed to be a one-night-stand, you're wearing his large clothes around his house, and you've held your tongue multiples times when you had the opportunity to curse him out. What kind of girl would do all of that just to flirt with his cousin a couple hours afterward? Judging by the suspicious look on his face, apparently a few girls.

"Really?"

"Of course not, Erik. I wouldn't flirt with him right in front of you, I was waiting for you to use the bathroom or something!" You joke, laughing at his betrayed face. He tries to grab you but you run out of his reach. "I'm playin', c'mon! Trust me, if I wanted T'Challa instead of you, I'd be out that door following him. You know I'm not one to waste an opportunity."

"You was smiling a lil too hard."

"He's a king!" You justify. There's no way he expected you to mindlessly accept the fact that you were in the presence of black royalty. He's lucky you didn't ask for a picture like you really wanted to do.

"So? I'm a prince. You ain't trippin' over that."

"Aww," you settle closer to him and pinch his cheeks, "T'Challa was right, you just want a little attention." He flicks your teasing hands away from him.

"Attention? You couldn't ignore me if you tried." He pulled you in for a kiss. You smiled into the kiss before pulling away. It's like you had completely forgotten about all your plans on leaving, deciding to enjoy your time with him as long as possible. "That reminds me. I left your phone on the end table in my room. It's charging."

You laugh, pulling him back to your lips. The kiss lasts a few seconds, but it's sweet and solid. "I'll let it charge then. Tell me about you and T'Challa."

"Long complicated story." He huffs, looking too put off just by the mention of it to even dig into whatever happened. You shrug and move to sit on the stool beside him.

"Give me the short uncomplicated version. You can't just parade your royal superhero cousin around and not say anything. I don't care about the weird waterfall business, gimme the good stuff."

He looks away, hiding a soft smile, then turns back. "Okay. Good stuff only."

You lock into him as he begins his story, hanging onto his every word, filling in the blanks as well as you could. He spoke of his brief American life in the slums of Oakland before being taken to a place he's only ever fantasized about, being granted his fairy tale life and moving into the royal palace of Wakanda at only seven years old. He didn't linger on specifics, like his parents or his relationship with the previous King T'Chaka. He spoke of the mutual hatred that he and T'Challa shared for his first couple of years in Wakanda, how T'Challa was this spoiled brat that knew nothing of real pain. He didn't elaborate on that pain. They eventually grew on each other, though obviously the bickering never stopped, and as the years went on in Wakanda, Erik began feeling more and more like an outsider. He left when he turned eighteen, returning to America to attend MIT. Instead of returning to Wakanda, he joined the Navy Seals - for reasons he also didn't enlighten you on.

"And, what, you just decided to link up again after all those years?" You ask. He shrugs.

"Something like that. I told him to do more for America and...well, he opened them fucking resource centers." He scoffed, looking so personally offended that you didn't even wanna open that door. "But that shit's over with. All this," he gestures around him. "It's my inheritance as the 'prince' and shit."

"It's...a lot."

"Girl, don't act like you'd know what to do with millions of dollars in ya bank account. Probably fuck around and buy the entire section at Yves Saint Laurant because you can."

Oddly specific. "Is that what you did?" You laugh at his guilty face.

"Mind ya business." He replies, but you're already standing up and pulling him towards his bedroom.

"Oh, my God! Show me your closet, I gotta see if you really this damn foolish." He reverses the directions you're going in, pulling you this time.

"Nah, my bedroom closet is my everyday clothes. I keep my good stuff upstairs." He smirks and you squeal happily.

"You rich ass motherfucker! Two closets? Fuck you, oh my God."

"Hate is an ugly emotion, baby girl." He teases, which you hit him for. He drags you to the staircase that you noticed when first walking into the house and starts rushing up.

"Nigga, ain't nobody hating on you..." you say, but even you hear the obvious lie. "Okay, maybe a little bit. But you have two closets!"

"Three." He mutters under his breath but you still catch it and kind of want to kick him. Once you reach the top of the staircase, the hall splits three ways, but he continues pulling you forward to the middle. He guides you through a wide marble tiled hallway, stopping at the third door down. This door was different than the rest, it was doubled and had frosted glass with a golden lining around it. He opens it and you stand there slack-jawed.

You could barely call it a walk-in closet. Does it even count as a walk-in closet if the entire room is a closet? Another chandelier dangled in the middle of the room, shining down on a variety of shelves, cabinets, drawers, and mirrors. You walk in after him, admiring how tidy everything was. He must have a maid around somewhere because this house seems to be spotless in every nook and cranny. He opens a random drawer, revealing a collection of watches all lined up inside, all of them either Rolex or Cartier and glittering like the inside of a treasure chest.

You squint up at him once a certain thought crosses your mind. "I bet your third closet ain't nothing but shoes." You accuse, knowing just how niggas like him think. He has a goofy smile on his face that highlights the gold caps in his bottom row of teeth as well as those dimples you like so much.

"You already know. But that baby sealed with a vibranium forcefield and it only opens to my voice." He explains and you roll your eyes. Too much, as usual.

"This whole place is ridiculous." You mention as you walk towards his shelves, inspecting the folded stacks of dress shirts and varieties of ties.

"Oh, this ain't even half of it."

"For the love of God, do not show me the rest of this house, I will never fucking leave. Seriously. You'll get sick of me." You chuckle at the idea of just up and settling in one of his many rooms.

"How you livin' now?" He asks, his voice is much closer to you than before.

"Uncomfortably cramped with my two best friends in an apartment. The ones you referred to as 'sloppy'. That's Casey and Aaliyah. We've been together since grade school." You confess. He doesn't know much about your personal life, and after hearing all about his crazy one, you doubt he'd be interested enough to ask. Just thinking of your girls made you anxious to talk to them again and tell them about your day. You had an itch for your phone again. You turn around to tell him as much only to jump back in surprise at him being right behind you. He steadies you and shakes his head in amusement.

"I'll drive you back." He offers.

"Thanks, but you don't have to."

"It wasn't a question."

He spoke to you like certain things were a given like this was normal. It seemed all too good, especially with your track record of men. You didn't want to get too real with him only knowing him for less than a day, but you needed to know why he was acting like this, allowing you to invade his personal space and hear about his otherwise disclosed life. So, in a moment of insecurity, you look up at him with curious eyes and a stone-faced gaze.

"Erik. Why are you being so nice to me?"

He recoils at the question, visibly confused.

"I'm being nice?" He says the word like he's never heard it before in his life. You cross your arms.

"Yeah. I'm not gonna cry if you kick me out if that's why you're afraid of."

"Damn, do niggas be kicking you out?"

You continue on, ignoring his question. "I know you aren't nice, I can tell. You don't have to pretend with me to uphold whatever royal image you're trying to keep." You go on.

"Okay, you've obviously dealt with some 'ain't shit' niggas. I understand that. What I don't understand is why are you questioning a good thing?"

"Because it's too good." You reply too quickly. He smirks, sliding in closer to you.

"Oh, I'm too good?" He licks his lips. You groan, silently wishing he'd stop being so cute. His arms snake around your middle and pull you into his body. "I never heard a girl complain that I'm too good."

"You know that's not what I meant." You pout, staring up at him. He leans down to kiss your pouty lips.

"You never know when to shut up and let things happen." He responds. The comment stings a little because it's true and you know he's right. You sigh and wrap your arms around him, too.

"Only when I'm drunk." You snort.

"We could fix that with one trip to the kitchen," he suggests and you slap him away from you.

"Hell no, I'm not drinking ever again...until next week." He shakes his head at you. "C'mon, take me home. I'm not paying for your premium ass gas. In fact, you owe me money for ruining my underwear."

"Mhmm. How much you want, baby?" He asks, backing you into one of his dressers. You slightly hesitate at the mention of a specific price. You've never been put in the position to ask someone for money and, in a way, it felt wrong, like you shouldn't take anything from him. But he'd only insist if you didn't answer him. He noticed your awkward inner conflict and lent down to kiss your neck. "Let things happen." He whispers before swiping his tongue against your skin.

"They were really expensive, daddy," you moan out indecently as his hands move down to grab your ass.

"Bout a hunnid?" He asks, pulling you up to sit on his dresser as he kissed your neck. You shake your head, smiling.

"Five." You state boldly, half expecting some type of uproar. He just hums in approval, pulling the large jersey out from its tucked place in the rolled sweatpants. His hands slip inside the shirt, feeling up your stomach to your chest.

"Five hunnid? A'ight, show me how much you want it." He orders you and you two quickly fall back into your cycle of sex, except this time he was fucking you on top of thousands of dollars worth of clothes and jewelry, which somehow made it even hotter.

The drive back home was faster than you would've liked. You and Erik had been having a good time rapping along to his old school rap playlist. He was even somewhat impressed with your extensive knowledge of old school rap. When the car stopped in front of your apartment complex, you huffed and turned to him.

"This is me." You state. He nods. "I guess, I'll see you later?" You ask him.

"Definitely."

He grabs you by your neck and pulls you into him across the armrest, giving you a deep, passionate kiss that leaves you breathless. You almost don't wanna pull away, but you have to get back home, so you slowly come up for air and rest your forehead against his.

"Getcho fine ass outta here before I change my mind." He threatens. You smile as you unbuckle yourself and exit the car. He waits until you're through the front door of the apartment complex before driving away and you're left with a permanent smile on your face and fresh hundred dollar bills stuffed in your purse.

Esi si cwangciso - That's the plan. Ndiyayithanda. Musa ukuphazamisa oku. - I like this girl. Do not ruin this.

(Should she trust him, though?)

@sweettea-and-honeybutter  @coldcrevices  @nakh-es  @shesfromwakanda @nyxieso  @jaaystaar95 @tiava143 @lafayettes-baguettes-1 @tenxouttanine @ashleychristina73 @panthergoddessbast @artpoetx @im-not-always-a-jellyfish @thehomierobbstark @muffytheaardvarkslayer  @k-michaelis @yung-glvdn-goddess @localtrapgod  @scrumptiouslytenaciouscrusade @pumpkinmcqueen  @lalasparkles @princessstevens @maya-leche @coldcrevices @youreadthatright @buttercup812 (sorry if I missed anyone, thanks for the love & support)

[sakura-stories]

Our world

Ok, I know that I have literally gone off the grid for quite some time. Sorry about that. I have finally got the time to edit this one and post it. Please enjoy. Do give feedbacks. I have no idea when I will post my next post. So, a sorry in advance for that.

Disclaimer: I don't own bleach.

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“That’s a lot of chocolate you have there, Toshiro-chan.” The old lady smiled as I pulled away the trolley from the ‘sweet’ section. This was the section I often visit nowadays, sometimes almost exclusively. Now that I think of it, I haven’t been to the ‘healthy’ and the ‘home’ sections lately. These were how things were arranged here, in this shop. ‘Even kids shop here, you know’ was the reply you get from the owner, when you ask for the reason why these sections are named so strangely. Michiko-san was unique in that way, I guess. What you call a free spirit. She liked to keep it personal than business. “You sure you need all this?” she enquired as she placed the last of the raspberry jam jars on the shelf.

I didn’t need her to remind me of the reality as to how stupid I looked with a trolley full of chocolates. Karin’s instructions were enough. Even the name of the brand and the flavor along with the quantity of each bar and how many of each, were neatly typed in her message. Two bars of toblerone, three packets of m&m’s, two packets of Lindt dark chocolate and two 250ml large ice cream, one chocolate and one vanilla. She had even mentioned on which aisle to search for for each of the items. Truly, her list was exhausting for the mind and the body.

“Yeah. She called me at the office a dozen times to remind me. Said that the last bar finished by morning.” I replied, not meeting eyes. No one in their right mind would buy so much, that too every week. Though she never commented on the quantity I took, I was feeling a little embarrassed. “I am sorry for sweeping off your shelves like this every week, Michiko-san.”

“Oh, it’s fine dear. Now, now, there is no need to be shy. It was just a little small talk.” she smiled, wrinkles filling in her, once beautiful, face. “Karin-chan really loves chocolates, doesn’t she? Well, just give me a call if there is anything else that you need? I will be in the bubbles-section.”

And with that, she left with her trolley, which was clearly overflowing with soaps and detergents and few other unidentifiable commodities. It was a strange site when we first saw it. The shop, the things in it, its arrangement, everything about it was wrapped in mystery. It would surprise anyone, no doubt. There was literally everything that you need, for a home, in here, the ‘Subete’ Yumiko Super Market. It was a one stop solution for all your shopping worries. Also it was the only place that was open even at midnight, which was of great help for me, since my job and Karin’s present situation, demanded most of my day time, that I had to almost always shop after 10.

I went through the rest of her list, making sure I had all that I needed. Done.

I was really late after work as well. And now that I stopped for shopping, I was way past my ‘curfew’. She was going to be pissed. I sighed. It was indeed a long day.

I checked my watch. 6:40pm. I better hurry up now.

I pushed my trolley to the billing counter. Michiko-san was waiting for me at the cashier counter.

“You got everything, dear?” she enquired as she started billing. Though she looked frail and weak, the woman had more life in her than most people. She was a former kendo master. And you could see that in the way she carried herself. She knew how to handle her customers well, no matter whether they were friend or foe. She was capable either way.

“I hope Karin-chan is doing well.” She said as she handed me the bag and my change. Michoko-san knew Karin well. She used to help her out at the shop whenever she had free time. Coaching the town’s teenage boys’ football team wasn’t an easy job. She was exhausted half of the time. I never understood how she made time for all that she did. I was totally ambushed by the end of the week that I still wonder why I took CA as my career choice. ‘It’s perfect for you. Plus you have a lot of experience’ was my wife’s reply whenever I complain about it. .

“You take good care of her, ok? Give her my best” she smiled.

“Yeah. Thanks, Michiko-san” I took my bags and turned to leave when she called out to me again.

“Toshiro-chan, please give this to Karin. I made some of her favorite riceballs.” She handed me a small red lunch box.

And with two bags full of grocery (don’t know whether you can call it that), a lunch box and my laptop bag, I left for home.

That day.

It seemed as though it was yesterday.

“It is forbidden.”

“No relationship between a Shinigami and a Human can be allowed.”

“You as a captain should know this”

“We cannot allow it.”

“It will upset the balance of the world.”

Central-46 reacted just as I thought. They would never accept it. My arrest and Karin’s detainment in the human world were all so quick that we didn’t have any choice. And they choose this time especially since her brother was away in Hueco Mundo for a mission with others. Otherwise, the orange head would have not only destroyed the Central 46, but also the entire Soul Society since his sister was at question.

They went on with their disapproval as I stood in the middle of the large room, surrounded by the members of the Central 46 in their seats. Yes, I have seen this place, but was never here as a culprit. The large hall was well furnished with seats for all the members, forming a circle. They always had their masks on that you never could know what they really thought. Always calm and calculating

But today was different. Their calm composure was broken to bits. They were not their usual self. Their reaction to the matter could be best described as outraged. Even Kyoraku and Ukitake taicho seemed surprised by their reaction.

“We will decide on our verdict in five minutes.” One of them declared as the room fell silent.

The declaration sounded like a sword above my head, ready to be released. It was not like them to give a decision so fast. And I was relying on that time to figure out my next move.

Damn it.

These bastards are hurrying up ‘cause they don’t want Ichigo to know anything about it. They want to finish up the matter before he returns. What am I gonna do? I have to do something. No matter what, I have to make sure that she is safe.

“We have reached a decision.”

Those words shattered my train of thoughts. They are ready? So soon?? What the hell are they going to do?

They can’t hurt Ichigo’s sister. They know the consequences. And they aren’t going to harm me as they see me as an asset, too valuable to loose. What are they thinking?! God damn it !! What are you people going to do?

“We have no choice but to erase both of your memories.”

WHAT!!

They can’t be serious! What the hell do they mean ‘erase our memories’?? That is just…..

NO. I CAN’T LET THAT HAPPEN.

“Yes, that is the only way.”

“The Verdict has been announced. Take the culprit to squad 12. Here are the official orders. Get the girl as well.”

“Finish it fast. We don’t want any delay.”

The shock just froze my body that I couldn’t move. My body was numb while my head filled with a silent scream as they took me outside. I couldn’t react to anything. And I was being dragged away to carry out their orders the very moment.

No. I have to do something. But with these chains draining my reiatsu and my zanpakuto locked away, there was nothing I could really do. But I had to try. I can’t give up. I can’t let them get to Karin.

“Leave me. Let me go. I demand that you release me from this right now.” I ordered the squad 2 members. My struggles were in wain. But I couldn’t give up on her. I trashed the chains against the wall like a mad man as the guards struggled to rein me in.

“LET ME GO!!!” I screamed as I tried to run away from them. But I fell as the chains on my legs were pulled.

“That’s enough, Hitsugaya-taicho.” The squad two captain spoke as she pulled up my chains. “I can’t let you escape. The punishment must be carried out.”

She pulled on my chain harder, dragging me. I struggled to get free.

No, I can’t lose.

I trashed against the floor, with all that I had left. I wasn’t as hell gonna make this easy. The anger filled my soul. No, they are not going to get away with this plan. I am not letting them take Karin to squad 12.

“LEAVE ME!!!” I screamed.

That was when I noticed ashes around me. It was enveloping the chains that bound me. I realized what it was as I hear those words. “Growl, Haineko!”

“Matsumoto. NO!!! DON’T …..” my words broke midway amidst the sound of the breaking of my chains. They laid shattered at my feet as I stood dumbfounded at the figure that now stood before me.

“Leave, Shiro-chan. Get Karin-chan to safety.” The white haired captain of squad 13 stood before me. “You have to leave now. She has been brought to Soul Society. They are heading for squad 12. Hurry.”

“Leave this to us, Taicho” my lieutenant said as she surrounded my captivators from the back. “Here, take this. NOW, GO!” she said as she threw something into my hands and lurched forward to attack.

The next thing I remember was running towards squad 12 headquarters. And I was holding something. Something heavy. Hyorinmayu. What she gave me was my zanpakuto. But how did she get it? It was supposed to be sealed off and protected. Did she fight all those guards just to get my zanpakuto?

“Matsumoto…”

Don’t you understand what you have done? What did you risk everything for me?

“She did it so that you could be with Karin.” A familiar voice. A voice that I couldn’t forget. That I couldn’t fail to recognize.

“Hyorinmaru!!”

“This is not to time to have doubts. You love her. You can’t fail. Your friends trust you. She trust you. Are you going to let them all down now?” the great dragon spoke to me.

Yes. Our love wasn’t wrong. It wasn’t something that I had to hide. It wasn’t something that I had to run away from. It wasn’t a disgrace. It was my greatest strength. Hyorinmaru was right. This no time for doubts.

I had to protect the woman I loved. It was my responsibility. My promise to her, to be by her side no matter what.

Yes. I can’t fail. I have to get through this. They are all counting on me. I have to save her.

“Thanks.” I said as I rushed to squad 12. I have already wasted my time with all this. I had to hurry up.

“Hitsygaya-taicho!” I heard my name echo from in front of me. Who was it? Friend or foe? I must be careful before I approach.

“Toshiro!!!” that voice. That was the voice that kept me strong through all this. The voice that gave me strength. That gave me hope. That voice belonged to the person for whom I live. For whom I will die.

“KARIN!!” I screamed as I ran towards it. “WHERE ARE YOU!!”

“Over here, Taicho.” The cueball of squad 11 was smiling triumphantly along with his comrade. Karin was there. With them.

“Ikkaku and Yumichika saved me before they took me to that weird squad. What the hell are these people trying to do??” she said as she walked towards me.

Relief rushed through my body as I ran to her. We weren’t really known for PDA. But I couldn’t care less. I hugged her tight, not wanting to let go of her ever again. She meant the world to me. And I couldn’t let anything, anyone touch her.

She must have felt my relief. She hugged me back, for once, not giving a damn that there are others around us. We held each other like there was no tomorrow. Neither wanting to be the one breaking this hold.

“Ahem.” The feathery eyed savior spoke to get our attention. “You two better hurry to the human world.”

His words brought us back. Yes, we weren’t safe. On the contrary we are being hunted. We had to leave. And right now, human world was our best option.

“What are they planning on doing to us?” Karin asked, her anger boiling. She was a Kurosaki. They never really liked being manhandled. And Karin was really pissed at the ‘restrain her’ plan of the Central 46.

“The Central 46 has ordered to erase our memories of each other.” I said through clenched teeth. They just couldn’t stand a change. They couldn’t let customs be broken even though the world was saved by the son of a Shinigami and a Human. “And they want to get it done before Ichigo and the others return.”

“How dare they decide what we should do!! It’s none of their business! THOSE SPINELESS BASTARDS!!” Karin was clearly enraged. It wasn’t really a good idea to make a Kurosaki angry. And now they have done it. Of course, Ichigo wouldn’t spare them if he knew that they tried something like this with his sister. Also, he would come after me after that. But right now, we didn’t have the time to wait for him. We had to make the decision.

“Well, we owe Ichigo. This is our chance to pay him back. Plus, we get to fight. That is all the motivation I need.” Ikkaku said as they both ran forward to take on the men who were heading in our direction.

“Go now. We will deal with the things here.” Yumichika waved as he went to join in as well.

“Let’s go, Karin.” I grabbed her hand as we ran forward.

If it wasn’t for Yoruichi, we would have been take that day. She not only defeated every single one of them who cornered us, but also took us back to the human world.

That was the time we had to make a decision. When we had to choose what we really wanted.

“You both can forget all about this and go back to your life. But you will have to give up your memories. About each other. And you will never be able to see the other person again.” The shady shopkeeper waved his fan as he sat before us. We were in his shop. A small room with wooden floor and a small table. Yoruichi was sitting next to us. It was just four of us.

“We don’t want that. That is the hell why we came to you, you crazy man!” Karin shouted. She wasn’t handling the situation well. Guess, I can’t blame her for that. Even I didn’t know what to do.

“What are our other options, Urahara-taicho?”I asked, keeping my voice straight. I couldn’t let her see that even I was scared. No. I had to keep it together. For both of our sake.

“Well, there is one other way.” He said as he sipped his drink. “You will have to disappear from this world. Give up your powers. Let go of all that you know.” His hat gave him huge dark circles. His words seemed more eerie as we failed to understand what he ment.

“What do you mean?” I asked. What was he talking about? Disappear? Leave?

“Well, you will have to hide your reiatsu. And live a normal human life. Give up everything. You will have to leave everything behind. Even your family, even Hyorinmaru. Are you ready for that?” he tilted his head, waiting for the words to sink in. for us to realize the price we had to pay.

We had to choose between everything we had and everything we wanted. The scale was almost equally balanced on both the sides. We had to give up something of the same value no matter what we chose.

“But Ichi-nii will definitely try to find us. Especially after he comes to know about what happened.” Karin stammered. Her face revealed how torn she was between the two ideas.

“I will take care of that. Not only will you disappear from their lives, but also from their memories. I can implant a fake memory of both of you in everyone’s mind. You will have your powers suppressed to almost zero. So that no hollow or Shinigami ever find you.” Urahara gave us the whole outline of his plan. Yes, it was possible. Possible for us to lead a normal human life. But ..

“Now, all I need to know is whether you both are ready for it.” He made it seem like such a simple task. As though we were selecting curtains for a home or choosing what flavor of ice cream we wanted.

But it wasn’t that simple. It was a choice between the past and future. And we didn’t have much time to decide. We had to make a decision. About what we want.

How can I ask her to leave her entire life, her family, her friends, for me? Can I ask her to sacrifice so much?

“What about Hyorinmaru?” it was Karin who asked that. Hyorinmaru, my soul, my world. What will happen?

“As you lose your reatsu, you won’t be able to hear him. He will most likely disappear. ” Urahara answered as he turned to me. His face was serious. His face was dark. He knew what a zanpakuto ment to a Shinigami. It was our soul. And to stay by her side forever, I had to give up on my soul. Karin’s face was filled with horror as she understood the implications. Yes, I will indeed have to give up everything for her. “But,” he went on. “There is a 0.1% chance that you might find him again after you come back to soul society. But I warn you. It is a very rare possibility.”

Our options were quiet clear cut. Either give up everything for each other or give up each other. And we had to choose now. Time was of the essence. I knew what my friends want. They made their wishes clear. Yes, they would want me to choose Karin. It would pain them that we would never meet again. They knew where my heart was. They would have asked me to choose Karin. But, It was not just my friends, but also my soul that I had to give up.

Hyorinmaru. He was my soul, my friend, my comrade. What about him? I … I don’t…know..what... to do..

“No. I can’t ask you to do that for me.” Karin’s voice was low. Tears in her voice.” I can’t ask you to sacrifice him for me. I can’t ask you to do it even if there is even 0.1% chance that he would disappear. I don’t want you to take it, Toshiro, I don’t want you to risk him for me.” Her voice broke.

“Karin” All I could say was her name. Even she had so much to lose. But she was worried about me.

“Do it.” The familiar sound in my head spoke. “She loves you. And I know you love her. Don’t worry, I will be here, waiting for you, Hitsugaya Toshiro. This woman is worth the sacrifice.”

“But? Hyorinmaru..” I didn’t know what to do. I felt as though I was lost.

“I am not that weak to fade away. I am your soul, Hisugaya Toshiro. I am stronger than that. You are simply wasting time hesitating. Keep your promise to her. You cannot go back on your word. You swore to be by her side no matter what. Now, go.” I could feel the confidence his voice. I could feel his approval.

“Hyorinmaru is fine with the arrangement.” My voice was strong, but my tears betrayed me. They poured down as I made my decision. Yes, he was right. He was strong. He will be there. He will definitely be there. I had to trust him. Karin saw my pain, my tears. She just knew me too well. She wanted to argue. Reason with me. But she knew that I made my decision.

“Karin, what about your family? Ichigo? Yuzu? Your father?” I asked her. She had a family to lose. A father, a brother, her twin sister. They had already lost their mother. Her absence would have had a greater impact the family. How can I ask her to leave everyone who loves her, everyone she loves, for me? Was I that selfish? No. I can’t. I can’t ask that from her.

“I know they would understand. Yuzu would know. And she would accept it. My father already calls you his ‘son-in-law. My family is full of rebels, Toshiro. Do you think anyone of them would have a problem, even if they knew the truth?” the crooked Kurosaki signature smile adorned her face. She was indeed torn with her decision. I had to make her understand what her decision would mean. But stubbornness filled her eyes as she made her decision clear, eliminating all my chances to reason with her. “I have made up my mind.”

Her eyes lit up with hope amidst all the pain. She was strong, yes, I knew that. But I never imagined her to be this strong. She was hiding her tears underneath all that denial and stubbornness. I was blessed to have her. Karin, the woman I loved enough to give up everything in the world. They say that you might give up everything and still not find love. But I have found it. And now, I am never letting it go.

Yes, our decision was made. No matter what challenges life throw at us, no matter how bad this path we chose will be, we will walk through it. Together. Not even death can tear us apart.

“We are ready.” We said in unison. Hand in hand, to walk together through a path we chose, forever.

“Well then, I will get the things ready.” The shady shopkeeper smiled as he left with Yoruichi, leaving us alone.

“We will get through it.” She said as we smiled at each other through the tears. “Remember, with you, I am home.”

“With you, I am, truly, home, Karin.”I smiled back. Yes she was right. She was definitely right.

That was the beginning of our new life. She was 21. And so Urahara gave me a gigai of the same age. We got married, the very same day, with Urahara and Yoruichi as our witnesses. He gave us our reiatsu suppressors, camouflaged as our wedding rings. Platinum rings, with our names engraved in the top.

It was the most beautiful day of my existence. It was the day I chose cherish for my whole life. The day Kurosaki Karin became Hitsugaya Karin. The day she became my wife.

Guess I was lost in thought for quiet sometime. The sun was setting far away into the horizon, giving way for the moon. I hope that the ice cream hasn’t melt yet. Karin was a loving wife, yes, but she didn’t like it when I brought her melted ice cream. Especially now.

The light was almost fading, darkness creeping to replace it. I was finally home. Our small, two storied home stood proudly in front of me. It was small indeed, if you compare it to the squad headquarters. Even smaller than the Kurosaki’s home. But it stood as a mark of our love and hard work. It seemed magical in the sunset. As if out of a fairytale. We never dreamt of such a possibility when we left Karakura. But now, after two years, it was our reality.

Well, I was late. Again. Third time this week. She is definitely not going to like it.

I prayed to God as I opened the door. “I am home.” I placed my luggage on the table nearby and moved on to remove my shoes. I stopped midway as my years of battlefield experience kicked in.

The room was oddly quiet. All lights off. No movement, no nothing. The hall was filled with malicious shadows, dancing to the tune of the dimming sunlight.

‘Danger.’ My instinct screamed. I entered the hall, scanning for any movement. My eyes searching for Karin. I left her with him. He was supposed to be by her side, protecting her no matter what. But even he was nowhere to be found in the darkness.

“Karin” I called out to her, only to hear my voice echo through the hall. I felt my heart racing, pounding against my chest. Numerous scenarios rushed to my mind, none of which gave me peace. I moved over the furniture to the main light panel near the refrigerator.

“Karin” I called out again as I flicked on the switch. Light filled the hall, blinding me for a second as I heard her.

“Tamotsu, now!” her voice call out as I fell back on to the wall with a 150 pound Great Dane on top of me, licking me left and right.

“Finally got ya!”My wife was on the couch, smirking. Triumphant. Her face, satisfied, as though she was an evil mastermind who succeeded on her evil conspiracy. “That was for being late.”

Fear left my body as I saw her, safe. Relief washed over me. “Karin. Thank god you’re..”. The traitor-of-a-dog’s licks cut me off midsentence. I realized that I was pinned on the wall, next to the refrigerator, by a hound, who was licking off my entire face, with my wife (whose plan this was), was sitting afar, comfortably, and watching.

“Karin! Tamotsu, get off of me now.” Well, the canine was more on her side than mine. He never gave a second thought on whom to listen to whenever he was given two orders. She came first for him as well. Matsumoto ruined cats for me. And now Karin had given me enough reason to believe that I never was or is going to be an animal person. Except for dragons, of course.

He continued to lick me as I struggled to get his weight off of me. “Come on now, Karin. Ask him to stop.” I had to hold his neck just to keep him from licking.

“Tamotsu, come on boy.” The traitor of a canine went off running to her as soon as she called, now licking her hands. He seemed pleased with himself now that he had carried out his master’s request. He was a good dog. Just that he was always her partner in crime. I should have seen that coming when she insisted on getting ‘that little dog with the red collar who kept on climbing onto my lap.’ They had a connection from the very first moment they met. And now, that is coming back and giving me a headache. Tamotsu was like Ichigo. Loved her to bits, and never cared enough about the details of her plan, as long as Karin was happy with the outcome. He would even carry me from the end of the world, back to her, if she asked him.

“Karin.” I called her name in defeat. “I’m sorry for being late. Some last minute urgent files to do.” I apologized to the lady of the house as I walked up to her.

She was a complete mess. Her hair tangled, clothes stained with chocolate and sauce. Though everything around her was stained and dirty, her favorite blanket, which was wrapped around her, was, miraculously, unstained. Plates and cups, now emptied of its delicacies, sat next to her on the table.

“Guess, you have been cooking.” I enquired as I took note of the state of the utensils in the kitchen. She smiled at my question, sheepishly. Lately, she has taken a liking towards cooking. Every now and then, she tried out some new and innovative (*cough*) recipes. Most of it were her own inventions, while some where modification (as she preferred to call it). Maybe that’s another one of the side effect of her present state.

“I made you some pasta for dinner. It’s in that pan over there.” She pointed towards an innocent looking pan on the kitchen counter. It looked clearly suspicious, with black and red blobs on the outer surface. “Try some!” her voice filled with enthusiasm, while mischief danced in her eyes.

“Later.” I replied, trying to buy some time to come up with a good enough excuse out of this. “You need to get cleaned up.” I reminded her as I moved on to our room. I grabbed a clean towel from the bathroom as I switched on the heater. “Well, it’s time for your bath anyway. I have switched on the heater. The water will be ready in a few minutes. Let’s go.” I helped her get up.

Her blanket fell onto the ground revealing the eight months completed bump in her belly. I grabbed cherry red cloth off the ground before Tamotsu could make it his new bedspread. It was the most precious thing for her. She wouldn’t even let anyone so much as touch it. It was her mother’s. Something Yuzu gave her before we left. Something to remind her of her past. Of their love for her.

Tamotsu made his little bed near the foot of the couch, as I took Karin for her bath. That was where he usually waited for Karin to return. Where they both sat, almost all day, cooking up new plans of action to ambush me. He was her bodyguard, always by her side, no matter where she went. Her protector.

We moved to our bedroom, making way for the both of us, in the middle of the whole chaos. The room was turned upside down. The entire place ransacked. Hope she found whatever it was that she was searching for. As for me, it was going to be one of those long nights again.

I took her blanket and placed it on the bed, neatly folded. She was standing in front of the mirror, caressing her baby bump.

”Our little guest is growing bigger.” I whispered in her ear as we both placed our hands on the bump. The best news we had after all that chaos was this. We were indeed euphoric. Even her little mood swings were cute. I have to thank our child for letting me see all the humanly expressions on Karin’s face, some of which I never thought I would ever get to see.

“She is kicking you know. Harder than usual.” She smiled as she caressed her little tummy.

“Ow, I didn’t get the news that it was a girl. You shouldn’t keep things like these a secret from me. Maybe she is like her mom, practicing football even before she comes out.” I teased her as I removed our wedding bands onto the bedroom drawer. “Finally I will get someone on my side. You and Tamotsu are seriously ganging up on me. Dad’s little girl will be on his side, right?” I taunted her.

Her expression was priceless when the baby kick the exact same moment. “See, daddy’s princess agrees.” I laughed as we moved on to the bathroom.

We were indeed a family. Love. Laughter. Happiness. We had a good mix of it all with our share of bickering and quarrel. And finally we would have a little guest, a little Karin, in a few months.

Though it took us some time to notice, we finally found those beautiful words engraved in the inside of our wedding rings. It was indeed a lovely gift from our friends. The words that gave us the strength to begin a life together. The words that brought us to happiness.

‘With you, I am home.’

_______________________________________________

#bleach

#hitsukarin

[jencey86]

Angels Have Wicked Schemes (Chapter 8)

Author’s Note: This was written with a friend of mine who has since deactivated her account, these are reposts so I can update my chapter list for you guys.

Summary: No one would have known if not for one slip-up. She can hide her pain well but one wrong move changed everything in her life. She’s just not sure if it’s for the better or for worse. Dantana

Rated: M for physical and emotional abuse

Warnings: Major, major trigger warnings. You’ve been warned.

Chapter Eight

The diner was ridiculously busy.  Work hadn’t slowed down since midnight.  There was a movie opening a few blocks away and apparently everyone in New York City decided to choose Spotlight Diner as their to-go place for food.  “Hurry up!  Come on!”

 Dani rolled her eyes as she looked at the teenager.  The kids had been causing problems since they came in less than five minutes ago, but she had to serve customers in the order they came in.  “I’ll get to you guys in a minute.  I have to get these people first.”

 “Come on already! I swear all the slaves we ever see in this dump are idiots.”

 Dani cringed at the words, but tried her best not to show it. “Don’t worry, Dani, I got it.” She looked up when Santana placed her hand onto the blonde’s shoulder in passing. “There a problem, ladies?” Santana threw on a smile to the table full of teenagers.

 “We’ve been sitting here for like twenty minutes, and that dumbass over there keeps walking right by our table.”

 Santana took a deep breath to calm herself. The table she jumped in to help, was one of Dani’s tables. “I do apologize for your wait, but if you look around, we’re very busy in here this evening and she’s getting to her tables as quickly as she can.”

 “Whatever.  I’ll take a number 5 with a Pepsi.  I’m thankful that you are taking my order and not that bitch over there.  You actually seem competent.  She kept ignoring us,” The blonde at the table flipped her hair.

 Santana breathed in deeply through her nose. Gunther had warned her in the past about losing her temper with customers. But he never said anything about losing her temper around people who were verbally attacking one of his staff. “Are you referring to that beautiful woman over there?” Santana motioned to Dani who was busy taking an order and laughing with customer at another table.  “Because, ma’am, I assure you… we are getting to the tables as quickly as we can.  There’s only three of us here tonight and we weren’t expecting all of these people.”

 “We were here before those people were!  That bitch ignored us!”

 “Okay.  You’re out of here,” Santana grabbed the girl by the hoodie and pushed her towards the door.

 The blonde struggled against the Latina’s grip.  Her friends got up from the table quickly, ready to pull the Latina away from their friend. “I want to talk to your supervisor!”

 “You want to talk to the supervisor?” Santana laughed.  This was gonna be great.  “Hold on a minute.  Hey, Dani!  Come over here!” She watched as Dani glanced up, then politely excused herself from the table. “This little smartass here would like to talk to the supervisor.”

 Dani glared up at Santana.  “You don’t talk to customers that way, Santana,” she said before looking at the teenager, “you wanted to talk to me?”

 “You’re the supervisor?” The girl shrugged Santana’s hand off of her hoodie when Dani nodded. “Oh forget it, we’ll just go someplace else.”

 “Wait, wait, wait,” Dani stopped them.  “What’s the problem?”

 “This woman assaulted me for having an opinion.”

 “Why don’t you tell her what your opinion is you little shit?”

 “Santana, stop or I’ll talk to Gunther about your attitude.” Dani raised her hand to the woman before looking at the girls. “Well?”

 “You clearly cannot do your job right.  We’ve been waiting for twenty minutes to be served and you kept walkin’ right by our table.  You’re incompetent,”  The girl chuckled when the blonde’s face fell. “Come on guys, we’re out of here.” She led her friends out of the diner.

 Dani turned to look at Santana, “you were escorting them out… for what they said about me?” Nobody had ever done anything like that for her before and she felt a small flutter in her chest. The words hurt, yes, but Santana’s actions over the words made up for it.

 “Well… yeah.  Of course I did,” Santana smiled.

 “T...thank you.”

 Dani sauntered off and put the smile back on her face before returning to the customers she had to leave.

 XXXXXXXX

 “Thank God!  It’s over!” Santana flopped down on one of the tables as Dani finished taking the last of the plates to the back.  “I thought I was in Hell.”

 “Technically… you were.  Openings for movies are the worst.”

 Santana groaned and took a sip of her coffee.  “It’s four in the morning.  Kurt and Tim should be here soon to take over.”

 “We don’t leave until 6,” Dani said as she started to count out her tips.

 “I know, but I want to take you some place…”

 Dani’s brows rose.  “Where?”

 “It’s a surprise.”

 “You know that I don’t really like surprises, Santana.” Dani looked back down at the counter where she had been sorting her money before folding it in half and shoving it into the front pocket of her apron.

 “I promise you, you’ll like this one,” Santana smiled and winked at her.

 Dani eyed her for a moment before relenting. “Fine.”

 “I love it when I win.” Santana stood up and made her way to the counter to grab a washcloth to finish cleaning up before the guys got there to take over.

 Dani watched her as she walked away from the counter. She was slowly realizing that Santana wasn’t that bad. Santana in public was absolutely no different than Santana at home. If anything, the taller woman was even more caring behind closed doors. A smile threatened to break onto Dani’s face as she watched her friend wipe off the tables in the corner.

 XXXXXXXX

 “Wait here.” Santana spoke to the blonde as she walked into the loft, leaving Dani in the hallway.

 Dani sighed, but listened to her. She leaned against the brick wall opposite of the door and waited. she kept replaying what that teenager had said to her at the diner. Incompetent?

 Santana popped back out of the apartment and found Dani standing there, looking down. “Don’t listen to what that little brat said to you, Dani.”

 She sighed and nodded.  “What’s that?” She asked, gesturing to the blanket.

 “It’s a blanket.” Santana smiled at the look she received. “Come on. We’re going up to the roof.”

 Dani frowned some as she noticed that Santana didn’t correct her for agreeing with that kid. Maybe Santana felt the same way. That had to be it, that’s why she denied her a few nights prior when she tried to sleep with her. She followed Santana back to the elevator to go to the top floor.

 “Are… are we even allowed on the roof?”

 Santana smirked, “no.” She moved the blanket to show Dani two bobby pins. “But we’re going up anyway.” After a few seconds, the lock popped open.  “And we’re in. After you, my lady.”

 Dani’s eyebrows shot up to her hairline, “you have a habit of breaking and entering? You picked that in like 30 seconds, Santana.”

 Santana chuckled, “what can I say?  I’m a girl of many talents.” This made Dani scoff.  “What?”

 “You’re full of it.”

 Santana grabbed a block that was near the door to wedge in between the door and the frame once they were actually on the roof. “I just know you’ll love this.” She offered her hand to Dani with a small smile.

 She wasn’t sure, at that moment if she should trust the woman or not. But, against better judgment, she allowed her hand to fall into Santana’s as they made their way closer to the edge of the roof. She watched as Santana spread out the blanket on the roof in front of one of the air conditioning unit and sat down. “Why are we up here?”

 “Just sit and find out.”

 “Alright.” She carefully sat down beside Santana and leaned back on her hands with her legs stretched out in front of her.  

 “You don’t have to sit over there, you know.  You can sit closer if you want to.”

 Dani blushed and scooted closer to Santana, only to feel the taller woman wrap one arm around her and pull her closer gently.  She didn’t want to scare Dani, so she let the woman go when they were literally side by side.  Santana leaned against the conditioning unit and Dani joined her, relaxing next to her.

 “It’s kind of nice up here.” Dani leaned back to look up at the clear sky. The sun was just starting to break the horizon when the realization dawned on her. Her head spun to look at Santana, who just had a smile on her face.

 “You should see the look on your face right now. I knew you’d like it.”

 Dani didn’t fight her own smile from taking over her face. She looked down between them for a moment before gently tracing her fingers over the back of Santana’s hand and resting her own on top of it. “Thank you.”

 “For what?”

 “For… everything you’ve done for me.”  Dani bit her lip.  “We… I don’t know what this is between us.  I don’t know why we… kissed…” Dani swallowed hard. “But all I know is that I’m feeling safer… around you guys…” She bit her lip, “around you.”

 “I’m glad you’re starting to feel that way, Dani…” Santana couldn’t stop herself from wrapping her arm around Dani’s shoulders.  “Is this okay?”

 Dani shifted some to tuck her head against Santana’s neck, “yea… I think so.”

 “Dani, you can tell me if it’s not.” Dani shook her head. “Why not?” She felt Dani shake her head again. “Dani?”

 Dani smiled and lifted her head, looking at Santana.  “I’m fine.  Really.”

 She wasn’t lying.  She was okay. She was happy with how they were seated. Santana wasn’t like Anna, expecting her to do anything she ever asked.  Santana always asked if something was okay to do.

 Santana smiled and ran her fingers against Dani’s arm when the blonde relaxed against her again.  “I really hope you believe me, Dani…”

 “I do.”  She closed her eyes and felt herself relax more into Santana’s embrace.

 “Remember what I told you?” She felt Dani lift her head to look at her. “Let me prove to you that I’m not like her.”

 “Alright.” Dani tucked her head back down and busied herself with one of the buttons on Santana’s uniform top.

 “I never have asked you… why do you like the sunrise so much?”

 “I think we did, actually…”

 “But you held what you really wanted to say inside.”

 Dani sighed.  “It meant I had a few more minutes before I had to go home…”

 Santana tightened her hold on Dani - a gesture of comfort.  “You have a new home now, Dani.”

 XXXXXXXX

 “Could you use some help out here?”

 Dani’s head shot up to smile at Kurt, she wanted to tell him no, but she remembered what Santana had told her on the rooftop. “Yea, that’s fine.”

 “So, what are we making?” He walked by her to wash his hands.

 “Just some cookies… Santana’s been talking about having a sweet tooth lately.” She blushed at her own words, and it didn’t go unnoticed by Kurt. She was just thankful that he chose not to say anything about it.  When Kurt went to reach into the cookie dough batter, she giggled.  “Stop.  That’s really bad for you.”

 “How so?”

 “Raw egg.”  He coughed and went for a bottle of water.  She giggled again.  “I was just kidding.  Rachel doesn’t eat eggs.”

 He turned to glare at her. “So not funny, Dani.” He continued drinking from the water before going back over beside her. “What did you use instead of eggs?”

 Dani shrugged, “some substitute thing I found… so I hope they turn out alright.” She smiled at him before pointing to the stove. “Can you… um… get that pre-heated for me?” She always hated asking for any kind of assistance, especially when she was in the kitchen. Anna used to always laugh at her and call her too lazy or stupid to do things on her own. But, being in the loft, they constantly reassured her that if there was any help needed, don’t be afraid to ask for it.

 “Sure thing.  What do you need it on?”

 “350.”

 The two continued to chat and banter back and forth, and neither of them noticed being watched.  Where Santana’s room was, if the curtain was opened, she had a perfect view of the kitchen. A smile crossed her face as she ignored the book she’d been reading through to watch their interactions. Dani was different around Kurt than she was around herself or Rachel. Dani seemed more… alive, and free. The more she watched, the more she found herself wishing that it could be her out there helping Dani.

 She understood though, it was starting to make sense in her mind. Dani acted differently around Rachel and her, because they were both women, and she was beaten by a woman. Whereas, she’d never had any sort of negative interactions with men, besides the perverts who tried to peek up her skirt at the diner.

 “So…” Kurt started as he started rolling a little bit of dough between his hands to put it on the cookie sheet.  “Do you want to talk about what happened…?”

 “It’s still a bit raw.”

 “I understand if you don’t want to talk about it, but everyones busy.  It’s just you and me.  And if you ever need to talk…”

 “I know, Kurt.  Thank you.” She reached into the same bowl as Kurt to start helping him roll out some cookies. She watched him for a moment. Dani had forgiven him for what he’d told Gunther. As time had passed, she realized that he did it to try to help her out. Even though she didn’t mean it.

 But now, she knew if she told him something, he wouldn’t go run to the other two. “I had this guitar…”

 Kurt turned to look at her, “you play an instrument?”

 “Piano and guitar actually,” she blushed at the look he was giving her.

 “Oh god, I wish I could play an instrument.” He practically yelled in response.

 Santana cracked up laughing from her room and called back out to him, “you can, Hummel. It’s called a skin flute.”

 Dani cracked up laughing, a real laugh, at Santana’s comment. Kurt spun around to look toward Santana’s room. “You know what, nobody asked you!”

 The blonde glanced over her shoulder with a genuine smile on her face as her eyes met Santana’s for just a brief moment before turning back to the counter. “I thought that was a legitimate instrument though?”

 Kurt groaned. “Nobody asked you either.” He couldn’t stop himself from laughing softly when he realized Dani was still laughing about what Santana had said. “Whatever.” He then nudged her to get back to their original conversation. “So where is this guitar at? I’d love to hear you play it sometime.”

 Dani looked down to focus on the movements of her own hands. “Anna… she broke it…” she bit her lip, trying to figure out the right word, “on that night.”

 He frowned.  “I’m sorry, Dani.”

 “I’d say it’s okay, but it’s not.  It was my grandfather’s.  He gave it to me before he died.  It was… sentimental to me.”

 He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.  “I’m so sorry, Dani.  I wish you didn’t have to go through that.”

 Dani sighed.  “I… I am too.  But it’s okay.  Let’s, um… let’s do these cookies.”

 “Sure,” he scooped up the last of the dough to split it into two little balls before grabbing the bowl and moving it to the sink.

 Just as Dani reached in to wash her hands, the oven beeped, telling her it was pre-heated. She didn’t think to dry her hands first as she grabbed one of the two pans of cookies to place into the oven. The metal slipped right through her damp fingers and landed on the wooden floor. Her body instantly reacted as she bent down to pick up the mess she’d created.

 “I’m so sorry…” She kept her eyes lowered as she reached for all of the little cookie dough pieces that were scattered on the floor now. “I’m so sorry, I’ll clean it up, I promise.”

 Kurt stood for a moment and just stared at her in shock, he’d only seen one, maybe two of her outbursts since she’d moved in. His eyes widened for a moment as he continued to listen to her mumble that she was sorry. Before his mind caught up to be able to help, Santana was rushing into the kitchen to kneel down and help her.

 “Hey, hey, hey.  It’s okay,” Kurt said as he and Santana both placed a hand on her shoulder.

 Santana helped Dani up and led her to her room.  Kurt heard the Latina mumble something in his direction, “could you please finish those for her?”  Once they got to her room, Santana helped Dani onto her bed.  “What happened?”

 Dani curled into a ball, preparing for the impact, that never came. “It just slipped right out of my-”

 “That’s not what I meant.” Santana cut her off. “What happened… to make you react like that? It was an accident, I drop things, Kurt drop things, even little miss perfect Rachel drops things.” Santana sat on the edge of the bed, keeping her eyes on Dani as she trembled slightly.

 Dani hugged herself, refusing to look at Santana. “I’m not allowed to drop things though.” She felt the bed shifting some and soon, Santana’s arm was wrapped around her midsection. The simplest of contacts made her a little more comfortable with talking. “I’ve… dropped things before…”

 “What happened after you dropped something?” Santana asked as gently as she possibly could.

 Dani closed her eyes as she remembered the last time she dropped something. “Anna… she’d…” she couldn’t even finish spitting out the words before she started crying.

 “Hey, hey, shh. It’s okay, I’ve got you.”  Santana ran her fingers up and down Dani’s side.  “I’m not going to hurt you.  I wish you’d believe me.” When Dani didn’t reply, she continued, “okay.  There’s something I need to get off my chest.  You’ve been brainwashed into thinking… that you’re worth nothing.  That you deserve nothing.  That you deserve to be hurt.  Truth is, Dani…  You deserve none of that.  You ARE worth something.  You deserve EVERYTHING.  You DON’T deserve to be hurt.  You are beautiful.  You’re not fat.  You have curves, honey.  That’s how I…” she stopped and reworded what she was going to say, “that’s how people like their women.”

 Dani didn’t miss Santana’s little slip up and it brought a small smile to her face. She had started to like Santana. But didn’t want to say anything on fear of her ending up exactly where she’d been just a month and a half ago. She couldn’t do that again. She didn’t want to be in that situation anymore. Whenever she was out of the apartment, she felt like she could be alive and happy, but when she returned home, she was knocked right back down to where she felt she belonged.

 Santana didn’t make her feel that way. She never had. Dani went to work and found she could relax, and then she’d come back to the loft and found she could still relax.

 “Listen, Dani… I know it’s going to take time to fix the damage she’d done to you. But we’re all here to help you.” Santana was a little surprised when Dani suddenly rolled over to face her. “I saw you out there with Kurt. I saw how much fun you were having with him.”

 Dani whispered a soft thank you and leaned in to Santana, pressing her lips on the other womans.  “Thank you,” she whispered again.

 Santana nervously placed her hand on Dani’s cheek, not wanting the blonde to move away. She found herself wanting to savor her lips even more, but knew better than to push her for anything. “You’re welcome.”

 Santana allowed her free hand to run down Dani’s side.  “I’m glad you’re here, Dani…” She whispered.

 “Me too.” Dani tucked her head against Santana’s neck and relaxed. The gentle touch on her side, the way Santana didn’t push for anything beyond just a small kiss, the way Santana took care of her… she felt at home. She wasn’t lying when she agreed with the woman holding her. And, that’s what scared her the most.

[monumentalnightmare]

Happy Hour At Shorty’s

I’ve been working on this today and it’s my first fanfiction I’ve written in a while so I don’t know if this is any good but I hope you enjoy this anyway.

Walking into Shorty’s during happy hour hadn’t been on Nicole’s agenda for today. She usually worked during it sine Nedley usually made his way over here, however, with him off due to sickness, Nicole decided to give herself an hour away from work instead. As per usual, the place was packed but it wasn’t as though she expected anything less at this time – it was lovely to see so many people in the same place for the same reason, even if it was just for alcohol.

Removing her Stratton hat, Nicole took a seat at the very end of the bar away from the rest of the customers waiting to be served. Truth be told, Nicole wasn’t fussed about being served at all – she just needed to get away from the desk at the station. Today had to be at the top of her list of being the worst day – well, one of the top anyway. Everything had been going wrong from paperwork being filed away incorrectly to the station getting calls for stupid things. Of course, all of this would happen when Nedley is sick. The amount of times she’d been called out to a house because of neighbors complaining about a family shouting and screaming at each other was now beyond her. That, however, wasn’t the main reason behind what had made the day as terrible as it had been. The icing on the cake, so to speak, happened when Nicole got a phone call from Chicago about two hours previous.

To anyone who knows her, it was never a secret that she didn’t talk to her parents – hell, their last conversation was around nine years ago when they kicked her out. There was a lot of shouting and screaming, mainly from her father, which made her wince even to this day whenever she thinks about that day. Nicole remembers being on the bed kissing a girl – her girlfriend – before her bedroom door opened with her parents stood there with a look of shock before anger took over. There were a lot of hurtful words spat out during that time which she still hates hearing to this day, but Nicole knows she has grown since then and even after everything she has been through, she still cannot forgive them. She doesn’t want to. Parents are supposed to love you no matter what and they both let her down. Nicole had done her best to try and hide her true self away from them since she expected something like that to happen due to them both being extremely Catholic but, of course, plans change. Luckily, she had an aunt that lived close by so that’s where she stayed for the last year of high school. Her aunt found out what happened and according to her, it was obvious that Nicole was gay from a young age. If she was being honest, Nicole was just glad to get away from her parents even though that did mean leaving her sister, Teegan, with them. Not something Nicole liked that was for sure.

“You look like you could use a drink.”

Looking up, Nicole is greeted by the beautiful smiling brunette who she had been crushing on for a few weeks. Waverly Earp. God damn, the last time she had been in this bar was when they first met and now, here she is again. Nicole couldn’t help but return the smile back before shaking her head looking down at the counter.

“You don’t need to worry about me, Miss Earp. Sorry – I mean, Waverly. I get used to using formalities whilst I’m working.” Nicole explained chuckling a little. Anyway, there are a lot of other people waiting to be served rather than myself. I’m literally only here to clear my head so just pretend I’m not here.”

There was a small pause before a small shot glass was placed in front of Nicole. The red head looked up and noticed Waverly holding a bottle before filling up the glass. Once filled, the brunette pushes it in front of her with no words being said. Nicole looks at the glass before raising her head with a questioning gaze.

“The perfect drink for wanting to forget and clear your head,” Waverly said motioning to the glass. “You have no idea how much my sister drinks that.”

Lifting the glass up to her nose, she sniffs it before wincing a little. Of course - it would be tequila. What other drink helps you forget things? She puts the glass down noticing Waverly is currently leaning against the counter with her arms folded on top of the bar.

“Want to know something interesting?” Waverly asked.

“I’d love to, Waves.”

The brunette blushes. “Waves – I like when you say that. Anyway, Tequila was actually first produced back in the sixteenth century near the city of Tequila, however, the city itself wasn’t established until 1666. Crazy, right?”

Nicole couldn’t believe how easily Waverly could help her feel better about what was currently going on in her own life. The fact that this woman knew so many things just made Nicole become intrigued even more – not even counting in her beauty and persona. She could literally listen to her talk about the history of things all day and not get bored. Not just history either – anything.

“Do you know that due to being a bartender?”

Waverly shakes her head standing up straight running her fingers through her hair. “Actually, no. I’m just a big fan of history which I’m sure you already know. I came across this information in a book about Mexico. I love to read so.”

“Yeah? I always find you find out something now when you read.” Nicole picks up the glass once again drinking the shot before slamming it down on the counter – she felt her face scrunching up in the process. “Damn, that’s some strong stuff.”

“The reason behind how it helps you forget,” Waverly responds with a giggle causing Nicole’s stomach to flutter instantly. “Now, are you going to tell me why you have come here today during Happy Hour? I’ve not known you very long, however, I do know you well enough to know you usually work at this time since it’s Nedley who comes here.”

Nicole raises her eyebrow in interest. “You know I work during happy hour?”

“Of course – you’re the only female officer in Purgatory,” Waverly says, refilling her glass as Nicole bites her lip moving a finger along the edge of her Stratton. “I also can’t help but notice you. We are around each other a lot since I help Wynonna with Black Badge stuff.”

“You do?” Nicole blushes when her fingers brush slightly with Waverly’s when the brunette hands her the re-filled shot glass. The red head holds the glass between her fingers. “I’m surprised and pretty sure you’re the first. Being the only female officer in this small town, I don’t exactly have any perks that come with it.”

“Oh, I can assure you, it does have its perks.”

Nicole picks up the glass drinking the liquid in one before placing it down and pushing it back in Waverly’s direction. Not one-person since she moved here has bothered to get to know her, aside from the woman in front of her. Waverly Earp is definitely something else. They have each other’s numbers and do text quite frequently which, frankly, doesn’t help her crush on her. She would usually come out and say it but she knows Waverly needs time. It’s not been long since she broke up with the boy-man Champ Hardy and she isn’t even sure if Waverly has even taken interest in other women in the past. It wasn’t something they had spoken about. Nicole slowly raised her head to look at the brunette before sighing.

“My parents died in a car accident today and I feel terrible because I don’t care.”

It was true – she got a phone call and all Nicole had felt was relief. Relief that she would no longer have to bump into them accidently or see them at family gatherings forcing her to engage in a two-minute catch up which neither of them cared for. Whilst it never happened when they were alive, it didn’t mean it wouldn’t have done if they still were. She feels awful about it and knowing she still has to go to their funeral fills her with dread. Nicole knows she will have to go back to Chicago at some point to check on Teegan, her aunt and to sort their house out, but she still had time. Nicole was just grateful Teegan had her aunt to look after her there – she wouldn’t know what would have happened otherwise.

“I’m sorry about your parents, Nicole,” Waverly asks, putting a hand on Nicole’s arm in comfort. “Why don’t you care, if you don’t mind me asking, of course.”

Nicole flashes the brunette a smile shaking her head. “Not at all. They found me kissing a girl I was dating at the time in my bedroom. Well, they are – were – extremely Catholic so, as you can imagine, it didn’t go down too well.”

“They kicked you out?” Waverly asks in conformation, causing Nicole to look at the brunette in surprise. “Sorry – it’s the first thing I thought of. I’m right, aren’t I?”

“You are indeed, Miss Earp.”

Nicole locks her fingers together looking at Waverly with a grin on her face before looking down at her fingers in front of her. She feels Waverly’s hand rest on top of hers causing a smile to form.

“It’s not just that though. They disowned me on the spot and I went to live with my aunt for the last year of high school before joining the police academy. Not seen or heard from them since I was seventeen years old and now I guess I never will.”

“I’m honestly so sorry to hear that, Officer Haught.” Waverly moves her hands down to Nicole’s arms squeezing them in comfort. She appreciated the small joke of calling her Officer instead of her actual name to try and break the tension a little bit. “I know what it’s like to not have any parents. I know it’s different for you as yours chose to not know you pretty much after finding out your sexuality. I’m not sure if it will make you feel better or help you to know someone else knows how you feel, but I lost my daddy when I was six and my mother left me and my sisters when I was four. Being an Earp definitely is a curse at times, trust me.”

“You sound like me.” Nicole laughs looking into Waverly’s eyes enjoying the glint that she sees as they look at each other. “I’m not sure that’s a good thing.”

Waverly smiles nodding her head. “I don’t mind. I’m just saying I understand what it’s like to have no parents around. I was pretty much raised by my aunt after the situation that happened with my own family, so you’re not alone. I guess that doesn’t mean a lot.”

Nicole shakes her head putting a hand over Waverly’s with a smile.

“It means everything to me. You are actually the only person who has even tried to get to know me and the fact you focused on me to find out what was going on with me does mean a lot.” Nicole explains standing up. “I just apologize that this version of me is different to the one you first met. I’m usually a lot more confident and sure of myself. I’m a private person, you know? I’m not used to opening up so this is kind of a big deal for me.”

“I’m glad you felt as though you could trust me enough to tell me about yourself and the past with your parents,” Waverly says cleaning Nicole’s glass before putting it away. “You don’t tell many people?”

Nicole shakes her head putting her hat back on. “Not really so you should feel special.”

“Oh I do, Officer. However, I have a question to ask you and I know it may totally be the wrong time to ask you, but you’ve had a terrible day and -”

“Waves, breathe.”

Waverly nods taking a breath looking at the police officer. “I finish at six so how about we go for coffee? We’ve still not gone for one and you did say some other time.”

“I did say that and lucky for you I finish at half five today so I accept your coffee request.” Nicole winks with a grin getting her wallet out. “So, thank you for listening to me and I honestly appreciate it. You’ve helped me forget about my terrible day and distracted me. How much do I owe you?”

“Come on Nicole – you don’t owe me anything. It’s on me.” Waverly insists holding a hand up. “I’m not accepting any payment today so you can forget it. I’m glad you felt comfortable enough to open up even a little bit though.”

“So, see you at six?”

Waverly bites her lip with a smile nodding. “See you at six.”

With a final look at Waverly, Nicole makes her way out of the bar towards the station with a grin upon her face. The day may have been a terrible one but Waverly Earp definitely plans to give it a good ending.

[andreaeppolitoevents]

The Beauty of an at Home Wedding - 15 Tips To Planning Your At Home Wedding

How to Plan a Wedding at Home

Home is where your story begins. It is the beginning, the middle, and the end. Home is your touchstone, the place that you can always return to and feel most like yourself. There is nothing like getting married at home! I love the fact that you will walk through the same doors that you always do, but they will feel completely different to you. The fact that many years from now, you will be sitting in the yard, looking out, and suddenly have a flashback of dancing with a parent or sharing drinks with your old college roommate. You will forever be reminded of your wedding day, and you feel everything so much more deeply because you are quite literally surrounded by the life you have built.

Over the years I have been invited into many of my client’s homes. Sometimes we are designing dinner parties, sometimes we are hosting baby showers, but my absolute favorite thing to design in-home are weddings! Not that they come without their challenges! Whether you live in a brownstone in New York or on a farm, in a modest cottage style residence or an estate, wedding planning at home requires a high level of attention and a special touch when it comes to finalizing logistics such as power, catering, design, and additional labor.

Your home will have a unique set of needs based on it’s size, layout, and the year that it was buitl. Larger homes, for example, may have many rooms but they could be segmented and spread out. Smaller homes may allow for one long table and an intimate number of guests, but you may struggle to find space for a ceremony. Outdoor areas are always amazing, and there are 101 ways to use a front and back yard, but be prepared for a tent in the event of inclement weather!

Still, no matter how challenging an at home wedding may seem, there’s no place like home…there’s no place like home….And here are my Top Tips for hosting a luxe and wholly customized wedding at home!

15 Steps to Planning an At-Home Wedding

1. Hire a Pro! Do you remember Father of the Bride with Steve Martin and Franc the wedding planner? If they taught us anything An at-home wedding is seldom quite as easy as it seems! Your wedding planner will view your home with a new perspective. As a designer, I see the world differently than you do. Little elements of your space that you walk by every day and take for granted will jump out as design elements that I can build upon. Have a fresh set of eyes survey the interior and the exterior of your space. A professional will determine not only the actual capacity and useable areas of your house but also what you will need in order to execute properly. A wedding planner will walk you through all of the details from decor and florals to the logistics and bring in other pros to help with everything from cooking and cleaning to power, tenting, lighting, and even valet services!

2. Budget Appropriately. At first blush, you may think that getting married at home will save you money. Not so! In fact, it very well may cost you more money. You will likely need to rent all of the items that are included with a traditional venue, such as tables, chairs, dinnerware, napkins, linens, place settings, etc. And don’t forget about the extra restrooms! There is nothing worse than a line, and portable restrooms are now available in luxe finishes that are beautiful and comfortable. You will also need to hire labor in terms of cleaning crews, caterers, wait staff, and bartenders. There are many logistics to be considered, and you want to be financially prepared for all of them.

3. Permits & Insurance. Requirements vary by location, but you may be required to get a special permit from your town or homeowners association in order to host an event over 50 people Some cities have noise ordinances and others require that you stop all amplified music at a certain time - hello, silent disco! Make sure that you are following the guidelines of your specific area. Once you are in compliance, reach out to your insurance agency and purchase event insurance. This should cover not only your vendors and the event itself but any damage that may occur during the event.

4. Walk the Experience. I plan from the guests’ perspective and am always walking in the shoes. The goal is to have an experience at each location that your guests come upon. For example, imagine that you have a small driveway and front yard, a side yard, a pool, and the interior of the house. Now, walk the space as if you have just arrived for the wedding. As a guest, where will you be greeted? How do you move from arrival to ceremony? Are there any “dead zones” that you absolutely can not use? Any areas that you really want to highlight?

5. Use the Unique Features of your Home as Design Elements. What makes your home unique? Are there arches and architectural features that you would like to highlight? Is there a large window you love? Take a look at your furniture and accent pieces. If you have gorgeous pillows that you would like to use, keep them out for your guests to enjoy. Highlight the arches with wireless uplights and florals. One of the greatest things about being married in your home is that you get to really enjoy the

6. Begin planning early for home repairs and upgrades. If you are planning to host your ceremony outdoors, you will want to plan what will be planted where. While some florals can we added in pots the week of the wedding other bushes, flowers, trees, and grass will require several months to grow. You may realize that a portion of the ground is not level, and I always suggest planning for a tent if you have room as a back up for potentially inclement weather. Inside, hire an electrician to make sure that you have enough power, and always plan on a generator. In fact, I recommend hiring an electrician to be on site just as a back up if you can find one available.

7. Make a Statement with your Menu. You are quite literally opening the doors and welcoming people into your home. When it comes to catering, this is a dinner party on steroids! Feed them accordingly. I always recommend mixing in much-loved family recipes with classic dishes served with a twist. For example, if you grew up barbequing in the summer, finger food off the grill is a great addition to your cocktail hour. Maybe there is a soup recipe passed down from your great grandmother that you can serve in a crazy cool saucer glass or in a crystal goblet for a twist. Modernize a classic dish like Chateaubriand by serving it alone on a plate and having family-style accompaniments passed around the table and French-served.

8. Create a Custom Kitchen. All of this food isn’t going to cook itself, and it likely cannot be prepped and prepared in your existing kitchen! Your catering team will need a dedicated space to work with that allows for power, water, a hand wash station, and a warming oven, and space to plate up the food.

9. Bring in a Cleaning Crew and a Handyman. Given that your wedding may require you to move furniture, and that can cause knicks and scratches, I always recommend that we bring in a handyman to do touch-ups, and then a cleaning crew. You can set up the space knowing that it is absolutely perfect for your rentals and for your guests. Then, after the wedding, bring in the same crew to touch up any nicks and scratches and to clean up the space that so your home is - once again - your home when you get back into it.

10. Respect Thy Neighbor. Let your neighbors know that you will be hosting your wedding at home, and give them a run of show that lets them know what to expect in terms of load in, music, etc. Perhaps they will want to get away for a night, or maybe the noise won’t bother them. Either way, they will appreciate the head’s up. And you will get bonus points for being the best neighbor ever if you surprise them with a thank you note and a Starbucks gift card or another token of your appreciation. Maybe have a bouquet of flowers delivered to them the next day made from your wedding flowers.

11. Lighting. One of the most impactful and often overlooked elements of a wedding is lighting! Properly lighting your home, your tables, and your landscaping is vital to making your wedding look and feel like a wedding! You may even find that you like certain elements (such as uplighting on trees and bistro lights overhead) so much that you decide to keep them post celebration.

12. Guide your Guests Through the Dress Code. Many guests hear “at home wedding” and think “casual backyard” - which is often times not the case. In anticipation of the confusion, clearly note “Black Tie” or “Formal Attire” on your invitation and on your wedding website. I would also consider creating a Pinterest Page with sample attire ideas and suggestions.

13. Tent, Tent, Tent. At home weddings scream tenting! If you prefer not to have a full tent for your reception, I still recommend setting up a smaller one that guests can retreat to for coffee, cocktails, and a break from the revelry inside. A tent frame dressed in twinkle lights is a romantic, whimsical touch while a fully draped space will give a more formal feel.

14. Have a Plan B. As a wedding planner, I do everything in my power to ensure that everything is set beautifully for your wedding. Even with a full tent, flooring, and sandbags, the one the one thing that I cannot change is the weather. Be it rain, snow, wind, or intense heat, you will be grateful for the backup plan if you need it. Renting a nearby venue as a backup, having a plan to bring everything indoors, and making arrangements to move everyone in terms of travel may seem excessive and unnecessary at first, but I promise you that if you need it, you will be ever so grateful that you have it.

15. Have an Exit Strategy. One of the hardest things about hosting an event at home is that some people just won’t leave! Never is this truer than at a wedding. To make certain that everyone know that the night is over, and that it’s time for them to go is to arrange for a big, splashy exit. In the past, we have arranged for sports cars, hand held sparklers, and even a horse and carriage! Have your wedding planner and banquet captain call everyone to the exit location and let them know that they will be released from the party at the scene. By pulling everyone out into one space for your exit, you will have a captive audience, and you can them load the guests onto buses or begin to collect their valet tickets.

We host weddings to celebrate our commitment and our love. We gather the people who mean the most to us, and we invite them into our lives. No other venue is more intimate that your home, and when you are ready to host yours….I am here.

Always…

[wolleymoving]

Planning Your Move Overseas

The post Planning Your Move Overseas appeared first on Wolley Movers Chicago.

If you have decided to move overseas, congratulations! You will surely dive into the new life challenge. It could be your decision to change a job, for example. In that case, you will be able to change the working atmosphere. The best is that you are coming from the United States, so every relocation should be simple. However, if you find yourself in trouble, you always could contact the US embassy and come back home.

Moving overseas can be hard work. There are a thousand information to take care of, a hundred dilemmas to avert, as well as there is a lot of arguments to work out. Do you not simply wish that you could hire a person to deal with that information for you? Actually, you could do exactly that! By working with an abroad relocating solution, you can delegate the tasks that have to be done to the people that can do them the very best. Here are some means by which an abroad relocating service can help you.

Moving overseas means changing your life

Relocation

The initial inquiry that enters your mind when moving overseas is “where am I visiting stay?” An overseas relocating company could aid you with relocating to an area of your very own. By speaking to branches in various areas, an abroad relocating service would certainly have the ability to discover an area to call your own. Often, they will certainly reveal some choices which match your requirements. From there, you could decide which ones to choose from.

You have to be cautious, nevertheless, as some could attempt to scam you by giving you all the information about the positives of a residence while not disclosing the actual offer. They may attempt to get your cash and even leave you in some dump. This is the reason why you should select an abroad moving solution that you could trust.

Six-months worth of savings

You cannot just jump into the new job, place, career. Especially if you move overseas. Make sure that you have prepared money for a transition period. You will not be able to find a job immediately. Even you find a job soon after arriving, it will not be easy to manage all the costs when moving. You should not move overseas and plan it as a last minute moving, thought. So, after you have decided to move overseas, start with savings.

Find a job

You know that you will need to find a job as soon as possible. It means that you can find a job even before you move overseas. It should not be so hard nowadays. You have the internet, online platforms, forums. If your current company has branches, things should be easier. Ask your boss for advice or a recommendation.

Contact real-estate company

You know that you should sell your current home. It also means that you should find another one after your move overseas. You should do this before moving. Check with your real estate company if they have an office in the country you are moving in. It also means that you have contacted the realtor about the house you are living in.

Organize pet relocation

Our pets are maybe the most stressed ones when moving. They do not understand what is happening. Staying calm is also hard for them. On the other hand, every country has special rules about animal traveling. It is needed to prepare a passport and veterinarian examination certification. Ask for these legislations when deciding to move long distance.

Reservations as well as other paperwork

When you are moving overseas, there are a bunch of documents that need to be dealt with. Occasionally, it is simply difficult to do all this on your own. One way that an abroad moving solution could help you is to handle the papers that are of little concern. You still make the choices; however, they can aid push the paper around so you don’t need to.

Plan your moving overseas carefully

Check documentation

As for your pet, you should prepare your documents, too. Every country in the world should have special legislation about foreigners. It is not hard to check all those legislations, though. You can ask an attorney or worker in an embassy for advice. Some countries demand visa or working visa, too. Also, ask which type of driving license you will need after you move abroad.

Contact your bank

Some countries allow you to keep the same account abroad. However, for US citizens it is not that simple. They must fulfill special tax certification. You may not be allowed to have a US bank account after moving abroad. You should check it before moving.

Visit your doctor

Not only that you will need to check your health before you move overseas. You will also need to know everything about health insurance. US has special STEP health and life insurance that is worth in every part of the world. On the other hand, you should be able to use US health insurance in every country in the world.

Setting up transport

An abroad relocating solution could help you prepare the transportation that you require for your belongings. As a matter of fact, an overseas moving business could even save you some money on the products. It is typically the case that an overseas moving company has some sort of plan with a freight company in order to get minimized rates on relocating your cargo. One worry about this, nevertheless, is the fact that a lot of overseas moving services supply the solutions of only one products business.

Research the place where you will be living in

It should not be hard when we have the internet to research the place for living. As the matter of fact, we can research every part of the world easily. Try to research the country thoroughly. Check their culture, customs, and how to behave there.

Inform your old friends and family about the address

Do not forget to leave contact before move overseas. In the era of internet and social network, we forget that people cannot find us easily. It is also important if you move a business with you. Old clients should be able to contact you as soon as you arrive in a new home.

Manage all services at the new home

Under “services”, we presume gas, electricity, and cable TV. Do not forget that you will come into a new home that is empty. Old owners have surely not left those services on their names. However, you can wait for those things for a long time. That is why it is important to manage it before you move overseas.

Book tickets, hotel

Sometimes moving does not go easy. That is a process that circumstances can delay for so many reasons. In order to prevent all troubles, book a hotel for the first few nights. However, book it before moving so it will wait for you when arriving.

Make copies of all documents

Although not so hard, people forget these things. You will prepare documents for passport, visas or driving license. However, do not forget to make copies of all documents and take it with you. Also, put every document in an empty folder or online drive.

Now is the time for a garage sale

We are sure that if you hired one of the best Edgewater movers you have properly packed everything in trucks. However, you will not take everything with you. Some piece of wardrobe, decoration or old toys you should sell. It will be a good closure before you move overseas. It could also be a backyard party.

Packing to move overseas

This is just one of the most discouraging parts of moving overseas. Packaging takes up most of the moments spent in prep work for relocating overseas. An abroad relocating service could assist you to pack your belongings and save them so that they don’t get damaged on the way. An additional benefit to having an abroad moving service pack your stuff is that you could be certain not to miss out on anything. You could additionally save a great deal of cash by having the ability to maximize the room set aside to you.

It is not easy to pack for moving overseas

Before packing you should consider these things:

Do you know how the place where you are moving in look?

What if you do not have any contact with people there, can you settle in if you are alone?

Have you prepared an emergency bag for the first few days?

If you know how much moving boxes you will need?

Are you informed about the new job you want to work in after move overseas?

Did you prepare all the documents that you may need in this process?

Packing should not be a hard job

Except in cases when you are literally running from something, you should not use emergency movers for packing unless you have to. It will be easier to make a plan and pack things slowly and carefully. Use the help from moving company. They are skilled in packing for moving overseas.

Prepare an essentials box and money

It is not simple to move overseas. You will not come in a house prepared for you. There are high chances that you will not have a bed or bathroom. Maybe you will need to go to the hotel. Prepare an essentials box and cash and take them with you. It will help you move overseas and make it simpler, just like Wolley Movers Chicago did with our useful tips.

You have to be quite careful, nonetheless. It is also important to know that you have to check your belongings correctly. Packing can be a tiresome job, however, at the very least you are truly sure that you have every little thing. Hiring an overseas moving solution can aid you a whole lot. By delegating the jobs that need to be done, you can focus on the activities that you desire.

[mollywattsjohnson]

goodbyes, hellos (05.26.15)

Goodbyes, Hellos

I leave my family and home and Canada, taking little mementos and pieces with me, a new T-shirt, blueberry muffins, my stuffed animal and a mug so that I can keep one foot there and one foot here, feel grounded and lost at the same time. I think of my grandma and how excited she is that I’m going. She handed me a red shawl as I said goodbye to her and I’ve placed it into my backpack to wrap around me on the plane. I hug my parents goodbye at 12 am in the Halifax airport. We are sad and tired and jittery. We join in one last big group hug together, and I feel a comfort I haven’t felt in a long time. Protected, safe, I feel this overwhelming want to stay nestled into them and forget the whole trip, go back to their hotel and sleep on the floor, eat pancakes in the morning and read books on their couch. But my phone buzzes telling me my gate has switched and we unfold, pack away the moment and say goodbye. I watch as they get smaller and smaller as I round the corner into the security checkpoint. I salute them as they fade from sight, something I’ve always wanted to do but never felt bold enough to. It feels silly and perfect.

The people at security are sweet and kind, they let my overpacked backpack go through and even help me repack my computer. The woman helping me tells the guy behind me that they all don’t reallyknow the rules about what knives can and cannot go on a plane and I think, oh, dear, what?! But they were nice and friendly and wished me a good flight, eh.

I slide up the escalator and am immediately stopped going through the gate by a very large, muscled border patrolman asking me if I know how much money I have to legally declare when entering the country. I stammer out a $10,000 and he nods I’m correct. I want to joke and ask if that’s how much I get for answering correctly but he looks like he could eat my head in one bite so I smile and thank him and scurry away to buy cheap Canadian chocolate. It’s midnight and I can’t stop moving and everything is happiness and sadness and my glasses keep falling off of my nose.

I buy a neck pillow because why not and I sleep all of one hour on the plane, trying to find a comfortable position but all I can do is think of landing in London and seeing my girl. I start to add and subtract arrival times and departure times and how long it takes to walk through customs and security and when and if I should grab a bite to eat before I see her. I get in three hours before she does but I could wait. I have protein bars and trail mix.

I decide I should eat and try to go back to sleep but then I’m thinking of when we should try to shower and if it’s worth spending 35 pounds on some fancy little lounge and then I remember that Frankfurt has showers for 6 euros and free towels and shampoo but what if she’s tired and feels gross after sitting on a plane for 10 hours? And on and on and on until she’s in my arms, it’s been nine hours since I left Halifax and I can finally relax. I crash and the jerky, nervous energy I’d been running on for a week dissipates and I shrivel up, I close up. We get into a tiny tension as we try to figure out where to sit and wait and I don’t talk much, I just become moody and slouch into my backpack. She thinks I’m mad about not getting to shower but I shake my head and say I’m exhausted but she pushes until I give in and the stress of the week comes out by the liter full, full of nerves and anger and kid-like complaints, frustration over grades, I’m embarrassed I even care. She listens, always, and within seconds I feel lighter like someone’s lifted a pack of bowling bags from around my shoulders. We order a beer and spend three hours munching on guacamole and chips (brought straight from California!), talking about our week at home, kissing each other’s shoulder blades.

I love this girl. Everything about her. I can’t believe I get to spend my time with her. And yes, I take for granted how full she makes my heart and my life and yeah, I’m just a kid and young and stupid but then there are those moments when time slows into a molasses drip, when I forget about everything and just am. When I look at her and know I want to live this entire life, go across the entire world with her, hand in hand, placing one foot in front of the other and never looking back. I’ll hold her up when she needs it and then from below, watch her soar, knowing she’ll do the same for me but always wondering if I’m worth it, if she really wants that. The battle goes on and on. I pull away, I dive too far in; I’m not one for balance. It’s the entire cake or none at all. But then there’s the spiced sweetness of her perfume, the veins on her hands and her smile. Both our feet on the ground, a whole life in front of us and a thermos full of coffee. We’re always changing, always wondering, always loving. I smile at her and squeeze her hand. We’re really doing this.

Once in Frankfurt, we find showers. Hidden off to the side, right next to a set of moving walkways, a sign for them appears. We hustle over and pay the 6 euros to use them. The smiling, red-haired woman behind the desk hands us two towels and two shampoos and takes us to our respective showers. She smiles away, nodding at our thank yous and we close our doors.

The shower feels like a recharge. It’s nice to shut a door and be alone, sealed off and silent. My dry, itchy skin soaks up the water like a sponge, sending energy into every pore and muscle. I could’ve traveled for another 24 hours after that. The water is on a ten second timer that fizzles out and leaves you punching the silver button fastened to the wall, trying to beat it to the clock. I can hear J’s shower running, her hand slamming into the wall to keep it going. I smile as we call out to one another, amazed at our hidden discovery, its delicate secrecy. We knew we done good.

I give up trying to beat the timer and take it as a sign for me to get out, to start moving onto the next thing. Wonderful a piece of respite as it was, I can’t help but to feel anxious about missing our plane, getting food, making sure we both have what we need. Always anticipating the next thing, I keep missing the one right in front of me.

We rush over to our gate, stopping to grab cappuccinos, a croissant, a hunk of cheese, jam and a mini baguette. We hop on a shuttle bus out to the plane and board. Our seats are split up and we split up our groceries (croissant and jam for J, bread and cheese for me) and wave to each other from across the plane. I lean my head against the cool window and jot down notes on my phone. Everyone is in a hurry to get off the ground.  

I eat the best dinner I’ve ever had. I feel like a regular old Dharma bum. Tearing off pieces of bread and cheese and dipping them in jam washed down by the strongest coffee I’ve ever had, squeezed into this shoebox of a commuter plane, feeling full of life and love, buzzing with exhaustion and anticipation, floating in a haze of caffeine and sugar, happy, I could explode. I’ve never felt so lucky. My body is exhausted but my soul feels like it could run a marathon. The man next to me is frustrated with me for eating and it seems like just for breathing in general but I want to tear him off a piece of this mini baguette and share the greatness. He doesn’t get it. A beautiful young Italian couple gets on. The girl has wild long brown hair, free and smiling and giggling. I want us to all, let’s all, why don’t we just jump up and down and sing a song. Silly silly diatribe, communal hive. I want to fall asleep in the stars that keep popping up but I can’t miss any of this.

The plane is pulling out of the runway at Frankfurt and we’re heading to Florence! Ah! I want to kiss my girl, hug her and share this with her as we start this new chapter, this crazy adventure I still can’t believe someone up there is okay with us doing. I glance behind me but I can’t see her head or catch her eye. I contemplate squeezing the hand of the grumpy man seated next to me but he’s stretched out and gone to sleep so instead I send some breadcrumb thoughts over her way, knowing she’ll pick them up and follow. It’s cloudy leaving Germany. I want to come back to this country. I’ve loved every second of this journey but it will be great to settle in one place for a little bit and not have to sit in the scent of 5 hours of contained farts.

I grab another piece of bread and the chewing makes my ears pop. I wonder if there is a limit on how much you can travel before your body implodes from the changing air pressure. I worry that I’ve missed the memo on what this limit is and I’ve gone over. I panic for a second and then breathe, tossing away the thought like an old tissue.

The clouds we’re flying over look like brains. I imagine we’re inside God’s brain and the sunset is all of his thoughts, his electricity. It’s The Truman Show. I love that movie.

I know something big is going to happen this summer, something is going to change, maybe, hopefully, could be, but I don’t know what or when. Maybe I want it to, maybe I’m expecting it to, who knows. I try to catch myself, tell myself to stay in one thing so I take another sip of cappuccino and twiddle my toes in my shoes. They’re still there. S'long as I have Converse and some coffee, I can do just about anything. I look out the window, unsure of how long we’ve been on the plane, expecting to still be in Canada.

And then there it is.

[projectsuminda]

World Building June 2017 - Day 21: Fun

Funny enough, sports are not that big a deal in either Solevaille or Orenya.  Though maybe that is just me, as I’m not too big a sports fan myself.�� Okay, onto the respective worlds...

Solevaille

The shops and food/drink establishments serve as a major outlet for fun in Solevaille.  Often times, when people want to unwind from their own work, they will seek out enjoyment in appreciating the work of others.  This, classically, was part of the artisan culture that Solevaille was founded on.  Historically, its people did not care much for travel, many of the residents having been refugees or outcasts from other countries.

Of course, with the living toys around, there are many more opportunities for fun.  For example, at the center of Marionette Square is a stage set up for various performances.  These are often very silly and spontaneous in nature, and are mainly viewed by people relaxing at the cafes or wondering about where to go next after shopping at one of the neighboring stores.  There are puppet shows with actual living puppets, Marionettes who impress tourists by dancing around without people pulling their strings, Ragdoll clowns that perform comedy acts, toy animal circuses, and even a Ceramic and Porcelain choir when they do not feel like performing in the church.

Even the royal court itself prides itself on having fun alongside the usual duties.  In fact, on a more sinister... wait, I mean, on a more cruel note, throwing extravagant tea parties is one way Queen Lucina helps keep the court under control, via showering them with affection.  Or parading them around town once in a while, healing them when they become sick, and just overall aiming to keep everyone happy.  One could easily forget about such silly things as regulations and punishments and having one’s soul eternally trapped in the Deathly Glade in an atmosphere like that.

Orenya

Here I will provide a list of ways that the people enjoy themselves, though some of these things may not seem like “fun” at first:

Traveling.  As we’ll see in a later prompt, Orenya only has a few large spots of civilization scattered throughout the planet, connected via vast expanses of wilderness.  Exploring this wilderness, or traveling to other towns, is perhaps the most important source of fun on the planet, as it is said that one can live a very sheltered and boring life if they just stay in their hometown all their life.  This also extends into riding dragons, the main transport animal.  Since they can fly, they make for extra fun to ride.  In fact, in Kyonin, one of the “Three Sisters” in Rumia, there is an agency that allows people to ride with an experienced dragon-keeper, learning all about dragons and their behavior in the process.

Playing small games.  One quirky custom that is mainly a product of the Modern Era is amusement that is shared with other nearby individuals.  One particularly important global one, practiced by all three races, is patsuni, which literally means “Create-A-Person”.  This is a game where a group of people take turns adding characteristics to a blank slate of an imaginary person.  Kind of like filling out a character sheet in a tabletop RPG, except everyone takes turns filling out one thing on the sheet.  At the end of the game, the players might talk about how the imaginary person they created might interact to situations, or how they would feel about meeting each person in a group.

Astral projection.  Where the body cannot go, the soul can.  As was mentioned in last year’s Magic prompt, the four moons are common places to astral project to, where it is believed that there are fantastical landscapes to explore.  On Eldarien is an endless forest, on Telwenthe is clouds that can be walked upon, on Parushai is an unhindered view of the cosmos, and on Kalena is a vast sea breathable even to land folk.  However, it is recommend to do this with a buddy, as astral projecting for too long can leave the body helpless, and even in danger of loss of life if left soulless for too long.

Use of psychotropic herbs.  Yes, Orenyans know how to party.  There have never been any drug wars there, and, barring some isolated cases of addiction that are dealt with by the therapists in the large prison in Zurem, people generally have a positive opinion of them, so long as they are not overused.  Especially since a lot of such herbs can lead to profound spiritual revelation, given the magical energies present in many of them (these herbs come exclusively from Zurem due to their ability to absorb moonlight).