#i eventually got those bills paid

[moneygoblin04]

I kinda feel like I'm falling apart

[batz]

-

[myth1cs]

Completing the mission (Myoui Mina x M!Reader)

Even more smut and I'm still sorry for it.

Word Count: 2067

Mina was arriving at a party and preparing to carry out the mission

Her boss Bangchan has set her on an important mission to steal important documents from Y/N the host of the party.

Mina was an agent for hire. She didn't know the specifics for why Bangchan wanted her to steal those documents but as long as she was getting paid she could care less. She just needed to complete the mission whatever the cost.

Mina was struggling in her home life. It was hard to pay the bills and buy enough food to feed herself. So she decided to become an agent for hire, selling her services for a price. An expensive price, after all she was good at her job, she couldn't sell her skills for nothing after all.

This party was her best chance to steal the documents. If she failed then she wouldn't get paid and surely would be punished, the pressure was on.

As she was arriving at the door to enter the party she pulled out the invitation Bangchan gave her. Y/N sent Bangchan an invitation but he gave it to Mina and texted Y/N he would send his secretary in his place because he felt sick and wouldn't be able to attend.

Y/N believed Bangchan as he didn't think Bangchan had a reason to lie to him.

The guard at the door accepted Mina's invitation and let her in. Her mission had officially begun. As she walked in she saw some of the biggest CEO's from the biggest companies in the country. She felt a bit tense but she composed herself and started walking around to get a basic layout of Y/N's house.

As Mina walked through the house suddenly heard someone call her name.

"Hey I don't recognize you"

Mina turned around and she saw him the host of the party Y/N.

"I'm Bangchans secretary Mina he sent you a message telling you he would send me on his behalf." as Mina said this she noticed Y/N was trying to subtly scan her body. He didn't do a good job at it as Mina quickly caught him but she decided to stay quiet about it.

"Well Mina let me show you around it would be rude not to." Y/N said as he held his hand out to Mina. She was just trying to complete her mission and get out as quickly as possible but having a good relationship with Y/N could help lower her suspicion as she wasn't sure Y/N trusted her.

"Yeah sure." Mina said as she grabbed Y/N's hand.

Y/N walked her around his house introducing her to the other guests and asking her questions about her job.

Eventually Y/N took Mina to his winery. "Do you care for a drink Mina?" Y/N asked while grabbing a bottle.

"I could go for a drink but please let me fill your drink" Mina said trying to grab the bottle from Y/N's hands.

"Oh no let me I am your host after all, I should be the one treating my guests" Y/N said as he pulled the bottle away.

Mina was getting nervous, her original plan was to put sleeping pills into Y/N's drink so she could find the code to Y/N's safe and steal the documents without worrying about getting caught. She couldn't let Y/N serve the drinks.

"No really I insist" Mina said with a little more force which slightly shocked Y/N. He didn't know Mina could be so intense.

Y/N handed Mina the bottle "Well if you insist then I guess I won't stop you." He said while being a little scared of Mina.

"Hey Y/N could you bring some ice I like having my alcohol with ice" Mina didn't actually like her alcohol with ice she just needed an excuse to get Y/N out of the room.

"Sure I don't mind" Y/N said as he left the room. As soon as Y/N was out of sight she quickly grabbed the cups and started pouring the alcohol in them. Then she grabbed the pills and crunched them up and dropped them into Y/N's cup.

She quickly went to the bathroom and flushed the bottle that the pills were held in into the toilet.

When she got back she saw Y/N was already their.

"Where did you go Mina? You weren't here when I got back."

"I was just using the restroom" Mina quickly responded.

Y/N looked at her with a hint of doubt in his eyes but he just brushed it off.

Y/N picked up a glass and handed it to Mina. "Well let's drink up Mina and say cheers on behalf of Bangchan who couldn't make it today." Y/N said while smiling at her.

Mina grabbed the drink and did a toast with Y/N.

She started drinking her cup while carefully watching Y/N waiting to see any hints of sleepiness in him. She decided to stay near Y/N until she saw any signs of him getting tired.

Some time has passed and the party is still ongoing yet. She was sitting at a table in the corner of a room with Y/N and they've been talking this whole time and yet Mina hasn't seen any signs of tiredness from Y/N. She could have sworn the pills were supposed to take effect by now so what gives?

As Mina started thinking of why Y/N hasn't shown any signs of sleepiness she suddenly had a feeling not of tiredness but of something else.

She was getting horney.

She didn't understand why even if she did accidentally drink the cup she made for Y/N she should be getting sleepy not horney. But then Mina had a thought.

Before she left for her mission she grabbed a bottle from her drawer but she didn't bother to check the label as most of the pills she keeps are ones to put people to sleep. However she does keep one that holds a different type of pills. An aphrodisiac, she had it in case she ever needed it for a mission but she never actually intended to use it.

Mina realized she grabbed the wrong bottle from her drawer and now she was in big trouble. She thought she failed the mission since she was getting to friendly with Y/N earlier he would definitely notice if she was gone for a prolonged period of time and get suspicious.

But she couldn't admit defeat that easily she had to find a different way. As she started to think of something she could do she started to rub her thighs together to get some tension. Y/N kept talking to her about ... well who knows what she wasn't listening to him after all her mind was filled with panic, lust, and thoughts of how to get out of this situation.

"Mina are you okay? I feel like my words are going in one ear and leaving the other" Y/N said slightly annoyed that Mina wasn't paying attention to him.

"Uhm~ yeah I'm just ... very deep in thought" Mina said while feeling her face getting hotter. She needed something to relieve herself she couldn't focus on her mission until she felt relief.

"Mina if you need to lay down you can-" Before Y/N could finish his sentence he was cut off.

"Y/N show me to a room" Mina said in a desperate voice.

"O-okay Mina calm down" Y/N said a little confused on why Mina sounded so needy.

Y/N grabbed Minas hand and walked her to the guest bedroom. Mina was trying her best to hold urges but she was at her limit. Eventually they got to the guest bedroom and Y/N closed the door behind them.

"Well you can stay in here unt-" Y/N was quickly cut off by Mina who latched her lips onto his.

Y/N was shocked by the sudden move by Mina and pulled her off of him. "Mina what are you-"

Mina locked the door and looked at Y/N with lust in her eyes. "Y/N I saw you checking me out earlier, please I need you right now"

Y/N pulled Mina to him and kissed her back. Y/N's hands roamed Minas body. Y/N's hands reached down and squeezed Mina's butt. Mina moaned into Y/N's mouth.

"Ahh~ Fuck" Mina kept making noise under Y/N's touch. Their hands were roaming each other's bodies while lustfully kissing each other.

Mina was getting a little needy. She needed more than Y/N's touch. "Y/N get this dress off me" Mina said with urgency in her voice.

Y/N started to quickly take Mina's dress off exposing her breasts and pussy to the cold air.

Y/N put one hand on one of Mina's breasts and another on Mina's butt. Mina squirmed and she couldn't take it. "Y/N please touch me where I most need it"

Y/N liked seeing Mina so needy and he wasn't keen on giving Mina what she wanted so quickly.

Y/N pinched Mina's nipple and kissed her more roughly. "Now now Mina were getting a little too needy." As he said this he could see slight annoyance in Mina. "Oh shut up and put your dick in me"

Y/N picked Mina up and put her on the bed. "Such a dirty mouth you have Mina, what would Bangchan think if he heard such words coming from his secretary?"

"Oh shut up Y/N" Mina said with a mix of annoyance and neediness. She grabbed Y/N's hand and put it up to her pussy.

While Y/N did want to tease Mina, when he felt the warmth of Mina's pussy he lost all his will to continue teasing her and gave in.

Y/N fingered Mina's pussy in quick manner not letting Mina adjust to his fingers. "OH SHIT" Mina yelled but she quickly covered her mouth to muffle it. "Your so loud Mina do you want everyone to know how your getting fucked?"

Mina couldn't respond as she was too focused on the mix of pain and pleasure she was receiving. Y/N curled his fingers in Mina and it sent her closer to release. "I'm close"

When Y/N heard that he immediately pulled his fingers out. Mina whined when she felt his fingers leave as she was close to cumming. "Y/N you fucking bitch" Mina said while panting.

Y/N ignored Mina and took off his pants revealing his dick which was already hard. Mina gasped, she knew what was about to happen. "Y/N wait your not wearing any-"

Y/N ignored Mina's plea and shoved his dick in Mina. Mina almost let out a loud scream but quickly covered her mouth.

For the next few minutes Y/N pumped his dick in and out of Mina. Every now and then they would engage in a lustful kiss or put their hands on each other.

Eventually Y/N was getting at his limit. "Mina I'm going to cum" Y/N said feeling exhausted.

"Let me swallow your cum" Mina said. She really didn't want to but she needed a reason to not let Y/N cum in her.

Y/N got a few final pumps in before he exited Mina's warm and tight pussy. Mina sat up and took Y/N's dick in her mouth and started sucking. Not long after Y/N came in Mina's mouth.

After coming off from such a high Y/N got exhausted and fell asleep on the bed.

Mina swallowed the thick cum. She really didn't think Y/N would have so much cum in him. She got up and got herself clean with the tissues which were next to the bed.

Mina put on her dress and put perfume on her to get the smell of sex off of her.

She took this chance to go to Y/N's room to look for the code to the safe. She eventually found the code and typed it into the safe.

Mina left the party with the documents in hand. She got her phone and called Bangchan.

"I completed the mission"

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

"Wow myth1cs you really like yapping huh?"

Yes.

Also don't expect this type of schedule this is a rare case of me actually having motivation.

[percyjacksonblog]

Wow my other post got really popular so here are some more beliefs I have about adult Percy and Annabeth.

Percy asks Athena, Frederick, and Annabeth’s stepmother for their blessing to marry Annabeth. He would have married her anyway.

I feel like Annabeth really loves coffee. Hot, iced, cold brewed, she will pretty much drink coffee in any form.

Apollo shows up at their home from time to time because he considers himself Percy’s friend. Apollo loves it and offers to give music and archery lessons to their kid(s). The first time Apollo showed up he performed a check up on their first kid.

Once a month Annabeth and Percy go to or host a dinner with their demigod friends to get life updates. They all take turns hosting.

When they find out Annabeth is pregnant they keep it secret. When Annabeth is 3 months pregnant they tell Sally who nods, smiles and says “I know.” Both are dumbfounded and ask how. Sally responds that Annabeth had not been drinking coffee on their weekly “mother-daughter” Saturday brunches. Both sit there with their jaws open while Sally just laughs. She excuses herself for a moment and comes back with a box of baby stuff for them. Percy always forgets just how perceptive his mother is.

After graduating high school Percy and Annabeth both go to college in New Rome. Annabeth gets a degree in Architecture and a certificate in interior design. Percy, to no one’s surprise, gets a degree in Marine Science, but to everyone’s surprise minors in business.

Percy and Annabeth are both terrible at making sure their bills are paid on time due to their ADHD. Eventually Annabeth takes over and just sets up a direct payment so there’s no more “Did you pay the electricity bill?” “No, I thought you did.”

Every summer Percy and Annabeth would go to Montauk for a week to just enjoy themselves before going to camp. It’s on one of those trips that Percy proposes.

Percy and Annabeth still get nightmares about Tartarus decades later. They don’t ever completely go away but the nightmares get further and further apart.

Percy makes blue pancakes every Saturday for his family.

Sunday is family movie night. They make a fort in their living room, pop popcorn and put on a movie.

Sally is always happy to watch her grandchildren whenever she is needed. She tells them watered down stories about young Percy and Annabeth. She leaves out information that she deems too violent or mature for little ears. Her favorite story to tell them is the cross country trip Percy and Annabeth took when they were 12.

Grover comes over frequently to tend to the little garden he planted for his best friends to make sure they have enough vegetables.

Percy and Annabeth always go to each school’s open house or meet the teacher to make sure no one is a monster in disguise. One time Percy swore he saw Mrs. Dodds.

[servantofthefates]

Life-Changing Money Manifestation Tip 💰

This is not a technique I learned from books, or a principle my elders taught me. It is simply something I have observed to be unfailingly effective.

I know it might seem counterintuitive, impractical, and perhaps even downright foolish. But it has been consistently true for me and the people around me.

The tip is: Never ever be frugal with money.

Even when you're afraid you won't have enough, be open-handed with your spending. Spend on your needs, spend on your wants, spend on others who deserve your generosity. Just. Keep. Spending.

The fuck, right? What if you already don't have enough to begin with?

Well, you know how they say, "Love is infinite" or "There's enough love to go around" or "Love multiplies, it doesn't divide"?

The same is true for money.

Money is energy. It just happens to have physical manifestations like coins, bills or gold.

Love too is energy. It just happens to have physical manifestations like kisses, words or gifts.

And it is common knowledge that if we wish to be loved, we must first love ourselves, and give love freely to those who are worth it. We must let love flow through us.

Same with money. If we want to have it, we must first spend it on ourselves and give it freely to those we deem worth it. We must let money flow through us.

And flow it will.

Just as it is nearly impossible for a cold-hearted person to invite love, it is also very hard for a stingy person to invite money.

I have seen this first-hand many times.

This man owned a boutique advertising agency. He gave out bonuses and free international trips to his team the way corporations give out cheap pizzas to their employees. And back then, this man's business thrived. Some months, he made more than global agencies did. And the awards were pouring in too. He was on top of the world.

Suddenly, his elderly mother got terribly sick, and he panicked. He knew he had to spend a fortune on her medical bills, and his fear got the best of him. So he cancelled the free trips. He stopped giving bonuses. Eventually, he even cut down salaries and moved to a smaller office.

One year later, his business went bankrupt. Because all his talented employees left. And with that, the trust of his clients dried out. His business — which had the potential to become an empire — ended up becoming just a TikTok trend.

Because he held on to money too tightly... money felt suffocated and walked out on him entirely.

The opposite example is me. No, I do not also own an ad agency. But I have learned to never worry about money. And since then, money has never disappointed me.

Last year, someone dear to me had been praying for a MacBook, but her parents couldn't afford it. I too couldn't afford it. Not without digging into my savings. So I did. Because I know money will always come back to me. And it did.

Two days after I placed the order, I received an email from Shareworks that my stocks were ready to be withdrawn. The amount? Double what I paid for the Mac. These stocks are released yearly, so I tend to forget about them. But they came at the right time.

And it is like this every time.

I buy a Louis Vuitton bag with money meant for my holiday. Suddenly, a friend invites me to go with them on a fully paid trip to the same country I was planning to visit.

I buy a bunch of tarot decks with a week's worth of transportation costs, and my company announces we're working from home for a week while they repair some rain damage.

I buy a box of Patchi chocolates when I'm already short on my monthly budget, and my salary gets released early because it's the holidays, and the CEO is feeling friendly.

I know life is not always as sweet as I described it to be. Sometimes, it's not about Louis Vuittons and Patchis, but about diapers and cough medicine. I am perfectly aware some people are struggling — not about holidays and tarot splurges, but about keeping the electricity on and putting food on the table. I will not pretend to know the solution to their hardships.

What I do know is there are people who are considered poor in my community who are seriously way happier than me. And I know I have had bosses who made thrice as I did who were far more miserable than me.

And that tells me that despite our different stations in life, energy is energy. And it's always best to let it flow freely.

So I repeat... never ever be frugal with money.

When it knocks on your door, say, "Hey, nice to see you!" When it leaves your house, say, "See you again soon!" And when it finally seems to be making itself at home, do not lock it in the basement. Cook dinner with it. Invite your friends over. Watch a movie. Do karaoke. Look money in the eyes and say, "I'm glad you've decided to stay."

[lunarmoves]

moon was being more irate than usual.

well... 'irate' wasn't exactly the right word. he was just... quieter and tended to grumble more to himself when he thought you weren't listening or around. at first you figured he was just going through one of those phases of his where he preferred to observe the things around him for extended periods of time. or maybe he was thinking back to his time at the plex, the memories tinged at the edges by the fire that had consumed it whole. either way, you didn't press him and decided to just... leave him be.

you thought giving him some space would help him and eventually let him snap out of whatever funk he was in. but it only seemed to make him worse, and you had no idea why.

you didn't want to invade into his space and demand him to let you know what was wrong. it would only drive him further away, and you were all too familiar with how easy it was for him to avoid you in your own home. you didn't want to ask sun what was wrong either, as moon would definitely immediately know of your prying and would probably get upset.

so you just... continued on as normal. after all, chores needed to be done and bills needed to be paid.

and maybe that was the wrong thing to do. maybe it just made things build up and up and up until moon was overflowing in whatever had plagued him all this time.

you were woken up, one night, by a bright red light that shined directly onto your face.

you squinted up, blinking slowly as the light coalesced into two eyes with white pupils that stared down at you from above. moon's face was directly over yours, hovering not too close, but not too far either. you lifted a hand to rub at your right eye, mind sluggishly trying to catch up with what had just occurred.

"moon," you sleepily mumbled, still trying to adjust to the light, "wuzz wrong? why'd you wake me up?"

he didn't say anything, just continued to stand crouched over your figure laying in bed. you could barely make out his figure, with how dark it was. his nightcap dangled from the side of his faceplate, the bell at the end brushing lightly against your cheek. you waited a few seconds, then pulled up your blanket further to bury yourself into it. "moon, c'mon, you know i have work in th'mornin'."

you had full intentions to go back to sleep, but he didn't let you get comfortable. as soon as you'd closed back your eyes, he reached out a hand and gently shook your shoulder. you jerked back awake and gave him a look that you're not sure translated well through your sleepiness. it got him to finally speak, though.

"wake up," he whispered, giving your shoulder another small shake. you groggily blinked at him, confused. "...spend time with me."

"wuh?" you eloquently asked, then slowly blinked yourself awake once you realized how unhappy he looked. you slowly sat up. he leaned away to give you some space and you turned your body so you could face him better as he crouched down by the side of your bed. "what's wrong?" you asked again softly, as though any louder might scare him away or cause him to lock up.

he didn't answer, just reached out a metallic hand so he could hold onto your much warmer one in a tight grip. you gently used your other hand to touch the edge of his faceplate, tilting it up so he could meet your gaze.

"hey," you said gently, "tell me what's wrong. i can't help you if you don't say anything."

moon watched you for a moment, then directed his gaze back to your hand and let his thumb swipe across your skin. you let your hand fall from his face to rest in your lap. you waited, and your patience was eventually rewarded.

"you go to work," he started in a low voice tinged with static from his voice box. "you come back. you hang out with sun for hours. you get ready for bed." you tilted your head as he spoke, wondering where he was going with this. he paused for a second, as though collecting his thoughts, then continued. "you take off the lights. you go to sleep after an hour. and i am alone."

you considered his words, then his expression as he focused on avoiding your gaze. the corners of your lips downturned as it slowly clicked together in your mind what he was implying.

"oh," you breathed and moved your free hand so that it rested on top of his. you clutched at it. "i haven't been spending much time with you, huh?"

he grumbled a little and closed his eyes. "sun gets all the awake time with you." his words were no louder than a whisper—an admission he'd been ruminating on for weeks.

"i'm sorry," you said, the realization making something melancholy line your voice. with you being active for most of the day and sleeping for practically all of the night, it never really occurred to you that there would be an imbalance with sun and moon's time spent with you in their individual forms. "i didn't realize... i..." you frowned, then tugged at his wrist. "come here."

you scooted over in bed and lifted up the blanket—an open invitation. he stared at you for a moment, the light of his eyes swathing your bed sheets in shades of ruby. then carefully, so very carefully, he slipped in beside you and lay there stiffly as you covered the both of you with the blanket and cozied up closer to him.

you rested your head on his metal shoulder. it was hard, but it didn't bother you for now. you let out a deep breath and wrapped one of your arms across his chest. "i promise i'll spend more time with you, okay?" you told him quietly, eyes already closed as you readied yourself to sleep again. you were tired, and there wasn't anything you could do at the moment other than reassure him. "we'll turn the lights off early and close the curtains. how's that sound?"

moon hummed and seemed to accept his fate for the night as he used one of his arms to pull you closer. "okay..." he'd been sated, it seemed, and he finally relaxed into the softness of your mattress. something cold pressed to the top of your head. "...good night, love."

you smiled. "good night, moon."

[seat-safety-switch]

I knew a tow guy once. I know what you're going to say: that class traitor only exists because the carceral state makes it extremely profitable to tow the vehicles of the poor and unemployed who need those cars to survive. And those are some big-ass words. Good job! I'm really proud of you and can't wait to bail you out of jail when you throw a Molotov cocktail at the newspaper building again. Trust me, this guy was "one of the good ones."

Let me put it this way: eventually, someone needs to get towed. People who park in the way of driveways. Folks who park in bike lanes. It's not always a good person getting towed because some dumbass parking-executive failchild needed to extract maximum revenue from the pile of cracked pavement their great-granddad bought when the city had four people living in it. Sometimes people genuinely fuck up. Cars are real big. You gotta use someone to move them.

Big Tony started out as a repo man, yanking unafforded Mercedes off of middle-class residential neighbourhoods. Once, he got to drive off with a bunch of police cars because they didn't pay their bills. That was a fun night, he assures me and everyone within earshot every time he tells the story. Gets a lot of drinks bought for him that way. Then he decided that general-purpose towing was easier on his heart. Surprisingly few people shoot at you when you move their paid-for car away from a fire hydrant.

Sometimes I'd call in badly parked shit around town. We got The Mayor's limousine towed, and I made $25 as a finder's fee. Ultimately, though, the true value of having a friend with a tow truck is that you never have to wait too long for a haul home whenever you blow a hole in your engine. All I have to do is leave its shattered husk in the middle of an intersection and hide in the trunk. Lots of parts cars in the impound lot, too. One stop shopping, really.

[hotvintagepoll]

Propaganda

Myrna Loy (The Thin Man, Manhattan Melodrama, Mr Blandings Builds his Dream House)—Started out a slinky silent screen vamp. Became a screwball lead who had a blast drinking, being married to William Powell, solving mysteries, and taking her dog everywhere in the Thin Man Movies. Broke our hearts in The Best Years of Our Lives and played a string of dream wives. Remained hot the entire time. Decades of hotness.

Gracie Allen (A Damsel in Distress, Honolulu)— The funniest woman who ever lived, she was the brains behind an absolutely brilliant radio show that she did with her husband George Burns. The radio show was later turned into a television show (which you can find on Youtube) but during the radio days, it was announced that Gracie would be running for President of the United States for the year of 1940. She was running for the Surprise Party, and refused a Vice President as, according to her, there would be no room for vice in her white house. Her slogan was "Down with common sense -Vote for Gracie Allen." [more about this beneath the cut]

This is round 1 of the tournament. All other polls in this bracket can be found here. Please reblog with further support of your beloved hot sexy vintage woman.

[additional propaganda submitted under the cut.]

Myrna Loy:

Myrna Loy excelled at playing coy women, so common in screwball comedies in the 40s. She batted her lashes, and shrugged with grace, and made her costars look like foolish heels next to her. She charmed with sneaky elegance, well-placed pouting, and repartee. Besides, she was sultry AF.

While Myrna certainly looked hot in some her earlier vampy exotic bad girl roles, I think shes hottest when her comedic chops got to be displayed. Her dry wit, comedic timing, and subtle facial expressions make her the queen of deadpan snark.

She's just very Mother

So beautiful and popular she was crowned Queen of the Movies in 1936, Myrna Loy was also an amazing actress. She's best remembered for The Thin Man and sequels, where she gets to show off her comedy skills, adding irresistible impish charm to her classic beauty and dancer's figure.

THE SASS

One of the few actresses who managed to successfully transition from silent to talkies, never won an Oscar but was at one time the highest paid woman in Hollywood. Advocated for better roles and pay for Black actors in the 1930s, so passionately anti-Nazi in the 40s she made Hitler's blacklist, spoke out against Joseph McCarthy during the Red Scare, and advocated for fair housing in the 1950s and 1960s, all while being hot as fuck opposite William Powell, Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Spencer Tracy and a whole galaxy of the Hot Vintage Men Poll all-stars.

Cute as a button with so much RIZZ! She and whatsisname in The Thin Man are relationship goals.

She was literally called the Queen of Hollywood! She is so sassy and funny in the whole Thin Man series. Absolutely hot in those, and who doesn’t love a woman who can laugh? She had the sultriest gaze and that style! Also before she was a star she sat as the model for an iconic statue for a school (representing “Fountain of Education”).

the glamour!! the banter!! the comedy!!

She's got this cute kinda scrunched up face AND shes funny AND shes got a bangin body.

Gracie Allen:

Continued from previous propaganda: "We don't want to get rid of men entirely," Allen said, according to a story in the April 22, 1940, Indianapolis Star. "All we want to do is make them unconstitutional and keep them out of circulation, but have them handy when there's no place else to go."

On the Neutrality Bill pending in Congress: "If we owe it, let's pay it." On recognizing Russia: "I don't know. I meet so many people." On which political party she was affiliated with: "I may take a drink now and then, but I never get affiliated.""

She did have to drop out eventually, with World War 2 being on and all, but thousands of people still wrote her in anyway, even if the FDR won the popular vote in the end.  (https://www.jsonline.com/story/life/green-sheet/2016/03/31/that-time-a-comedian-won-the-wisconsin-presidential-primary/84944806/)

[mrsbarnesxxx]

Bill Weasley x Malfoy!reader. Met at Hogwarts, dating since graduation. Bill brings reader home and Weasleys hate her/treat her like flour until bill snaps them they get to know her. End with fluff

Warnings: slurs/general unkind words (nothing too serious), fighting, angst, Bill being an absolute sweetheart

It wasn't easy growing up a Malfoy. Everything you did was under scrutiny. Everything was about blood status. Your parents barely spoke to you anymore now that you had "betrayed" them by dating Bill Weasley. You two had met at Hogwarts, you'd had classes together every year, and eventually, the two of you bonded about being the eldest in your family. Eventually, one summer day, Bill had asked you to marry him. Of course, you said yes, however, you were regretting saying yes to spending time with his family. You had gotten to the burrow yesterday afternoon and no one had said a word to you. Maybe they thought you'd be like your family, but they clearly weren't interested in getting to know you. They would look at you and scoff before turning away. You expected a bit of apprehension from them. Bill had told you this was the first time he had brought a girl home and your family didn't exactly help, but you hadn't expected them to be this bad. Over the last day, they had escalated from ignoring you to saying blatantly rude things. They would call you a blood supremacist, a snake, and all sorts of other things.

The second night you were there you had enough at dinner.

All of his brothers had been making subtle comments since dinner started, you'd expected one of his parents to say something, but it seemed they agreed with them.

"J'aimerais y aller, s'il te plaît." I whisper leaning over to Bill after his mother's latest jab.

"What? English is beneath you, princess?" Bill's brother Ron jeers.

"Alright, that's enough," Bill says standing up from the table. "All of you have been nothing but rude to my fiancee since we got here. None of you have bothered to get to know her or even ask her anything about her. You haven't even bothered to make polite conversation that anyone could tell was fake. What is wrong with you? You used to be the most loving people. I get the world is messed up, but that's no excuse for your behavior. Come on, let's go." He says, finally turning to me and extending a hand. I take it, offering a polite smile at his family before we leave the room.

"You have to understand that we never expected you to bring someone like her home." His mother exclaims. That seems to stop Bill in his tracks. He turns around to face his family.

"Someone like what? You don't even know her. You always said that you never cared about blood, but it seems you care about her's." He says. "Let's go."

He turns back to me, taking my hand and leading me upstairs.

"I'm so sorry, darling. I can't believe they acted like that tonight." He says pulling me into a hug.

"Bill, you can't be serious?" I ask pulling away from him. "They've been acting like that since I got here. You haven't heard your brothers' comments about my 'murderous heritage'? Or your sister asking me to pull up my sleeves to check for a snake on my left arm? Or your mother calling me 'one of those people'? The only person who has been remotely kind to me is your father and he just hasn't said anything to me."

"I'm so sorry. I should have paid better attention. I have no idea why they're acting like this." He says softly, caressing my cheek. "We'll go first thing in the morning, okay?"

"We can't go, Bill. We're supposed to be having the wedding here. In the backyard with your parents and the rest of your family." I explain.

"I don't care. If they're treating you this way, then they don't get to come to our wedding."

"Bill, they're your family!"

"And you are too." he says caressing my cheek. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you, I want you to be the mother of my children, and in 16 days, you're going to be my wife, so that makes you the most important person in the world to me, okay?"

"Okay." I smile leaning up to kiss him.

As soon as our lips meet there's a knock on the door. We pull away from each other, Bill running a hand over his face before turning to his mother in the doorway. He doesn't say anything, simply looks at her waiting to see what she has to say.

"We're so sorry, Bill. We never meant to treat her like that...we're just...we're sorry. Please come back downstairs. We can start over." His mum offers.

I smile and take Bill's hand, "Please." I whisper trying to relax him.

"Okay." He nods looking at me.

I smile, interlocking our fingers before we head downstairs.

As we reach the table, anxiety fills my chest at what his family might say or if they never like me, but I know that none of that matters because I have Bill.

[iguessthisisanewobsession]

It takes a mob part 2

part one is here.

part 3 is here.

Bill was honestly considering the store up as hostage as he glared at the isle.

30 dollars for the cheapest can of formula?? 20 for diapers??

Jesus this had to be considered gouging at this point.

Bill felt another headache begin to throb as he tried his best to decipher the difference between brands. 

‘Not a day of health class Bill,’ he grimaced as he gently shook one oof the cans. ‘Yet here you are.’

Bill never saw himself for fatherhood, he may have pondered it once or twice in his years but only in that sort of abstract way that one ponders throwing your favorite cup. It would be stupid to do, but for a moment or two tempting.

Then he got tangled up into the goon lifestyle and any notion of that pondering went out the building.

There were enough kids in Gotham without father figures, no use accidentally making another one if he slipped up.

‘And look all that thinking led yah Billy,’ his old man droned on in his head, ‘all the work, non’ of the fun. that don’t make a happy man son.’

Bill was half tempted to open that old burner phone; it sat in his breast pocket.

Even if all that would answer would be the machine.

But no, Bill had this.

‘what’s the worst that could happen?’ he pondered as he put the tin in the cart, ‘watching three kids.’

they weren’t his after all.

He found his cohorts in the next isle shaking various items at the kid.

“What in the name of Crime Alley are you two idiots doing?”

“Oh, hey Bill!”

Ken didn’t even turn to face him, what kind of etiquette were they training these guys with? 

“Again, what the fuck are you doin’? I asked you two to pick out a couple outfits for the tyke.”

“annnd we did!” Marv chuckled handing over a bundle of cloth, “We just thought that the kid deserve somethin’ cute for being so good to us is all.”

“Actually Bill, mind throwing in your two cents? which one do you think Dan would prefer the rabbit or the frog?’

Bill pinched his brow,

“I don’t know man, what difference does it make?”

“What difference?! Man, this is his first toy we’re talking about!” Ken exclaimed,

“This is a big deal! If he’s anything like my Me Mah told me I was than he’s going to be carrying it for years!’

Danny for his part blew a bubble with his mouth, great input kid.

“I- the rabbit, I guess! I dunno, maybe he’ll like Alice in wonderland or some shit.”

Marv seemed to perk up at the thought.

“Hell yeah brother! Boss likes those old books anyways, so he probably won’t notice if we borrow a copy for a bit!”

Ken snorted as he casually thew the frog back on the shelf,

“Marven, in case you forgot, Boss is very careful with those books of his. If you want to risk it, I won’t stop you but it’s your fingers on the line man.”

“Aww, anything for our lil’ Danny!”

The clerk raised an eyebrow but kept their mouth shut as the three goons went to pay. They kept their mouth shut as Bill paid in crumpled bills and let them get on their way.

“Yeah, well pass Ken wonderlad will you? This shit isn’t going to carry itself.”

Danny babbled as they tried to sort everything into a carriable position. He shook his new toy too a fro in an almost comical manner. Like he was giving orders before an ops.

Eventually they made headway and started to make their way back to crime alley. Only for Bill to raise a occupied hand to stop the others in their step.

“Wait a moment.. where are we heading? It’ll be suspicious if we head back to base. We clocked out hours ago.”

Marv shook his head,

“Can’t go back to my place, Gwen just got done with a double shift in the ER.”

“Kenny?”

Ken snorted and shook his head as well,

“We can try but we all know Me Mah is packin’ and not scared to point first if she doesn’t expect company.”

“Then where the hell are going to go?”

Bill didn’t like how the two of them were suddenly staring at him,

“No.”

“Aww come on Bill!”

“Nope. Nah ah”

Ken rolled his eyes kicked at his shin,

“It’s just for one night Bill. Tomorrow we can ask around with the other guys, but it’s not like we have many options right now.”

“My apartment is like the least kid friendly place in the neighborhood!”

Danny have a little wine as he shoved his face into Ken’s shoulder,

“Bill..”

‘Fuck…’

Bill pinched his nose as he closed his eyes, if only to block out the puppy eyes Marv was sending his way. For a big lug, it was stupid how effective they were.

“Fine… One night and you two owe me a favor after this.”

The two dumbasses actually let out a cheer loud enough to wake a nearby dog.

Leading the way Bill couldn’t help but wonder if it was too late to go to bar like they planned.

~~~~~~~~~

Hoodlums:

​@reinluna,@confused-moose-child,@mimilikey,@emeraudesfateandfandoms, @dolfay, @boredomfarie, @aconitewolfbane, @withoutcontxt, @onyxlightdragon, @satanicrutialspecialist, @phoenixdemonqueen, @vixen-uchiha, @skulld3mort-1fan, @bytheoldwillowtree, @illusionwolfwriter24r8, @thewonderoflebanon, @vipower001, @autumnwulf,

[callofdudes]

Christmas Time.

This is a very Merry Christmas to all of you guys and to my best friend @itsscromp , it's almost been a year. Thank you for being around so long, merry Christmas. Italics nods to past conversation.

Christmas time wasn't a happy thought for Simon. All his life if had been a tradition that was swept under the rug and buried. Buried with his family. A time when he would lock himself away and rather come out when it was all over.

When there wasn't snow on the ground to remind him of everything that could have been.

But this was different.

Johnny had invited you all to the MacTavish home for Christmas, that included Simon. Price, Gaz and you.

Simon hadn't wanted to go. The festivities just weren't for him. He honestly didn't...

"Merry Christmas, Simon. Will I see you there?" Johnny smiled softly up at him, so much hope in those soft blue eyes that could split a man's soul into two.

"I'll consider it."

He was packing up what little things he had for his trip back to Manchester. Ready to be alone with his thoughts and hide from the world.

Zipping up his duffle bag and seeing you in the doorway. "Will you join us at Johnny's for the holidays? I'm sure it would be less lonely." You gave him a soft, sad smile, but Simon didn't react.

"I'll think about it."

He had left base at a later date than you others had. Attempting to weasel out of another leave. But eventually headed his way home.

The whole flight back home he stared out the window. Checking his phone randomly, then rubbing his tired eyes.

Seeing the kid in the seat next to him and his dad. Going on and on about how they'll be giving presents and seeing all the cousins. How he couldn't wait to see what his uncles and aunts got him.

The smile on his face wider than the sun.

Simon tried to brush it off, seeing the gloomy weather as they landed. The clouds grey and rain drizzling down, hitting him with the usual chill.

Slinking with his bag to a cab and watching the rain fall a little harder. Floods of messages coming in from the group chat where Johnny was talking about what would happen and where you all could expect to be driving.

Simon stared at it, face resting against his palm. He dropped it again, pulling out the plane ticket Johnny had bought for him.

Johnny had paid to have him home for the holidays.

He bounced his knee in the cab lightly, seeing his already packed duffle bag. Seeing the emptiness of the streets. Feeling cold and so alone.

He clutched the ticket tightly, finally breaking his silence. "Turn around."

The cab driver looked back at him through the mirror. "What's the mate?"

"Turn around, take me back to the airport."

The cab driver was a little confused but agreed, turning the car around and driving the half an hour back to the airport.

"Here you go, want me to wait?"

Simon contemplated it, staring at the ticket.

"No." He got out, passing the man some bills and took his duffle bag. Slinging it back over his shoulder and heading into the airport.

It was busy, his head a mess, his stomach swirling sickly, but he kept pushing himself through the chaos.

Finding the flight that matched the ticket, seeing he had five minutes until they closed that terminal. His last chance to turn back. Maybe it was just a sign to go home. To never consider this again. To abandon the holidays.

His phone pinged, pulling it out and seeing Johnny's new message.

"We'll have another little one joining us this year, I can't wait for you guys to meet him 😊"

Simon stood there. Who knows how far from the terminal. Not that much time...

Johnny had gone to lengths for him to be there. His family would be there.

So he ran. He ran for that terminal without a half a thought. Ran to the terminal, seeing the woman there ushering the last passengers on. Simon passed her his ticket and she smiled. "Welcome aboard."

His heart pounded, slowly getting onto the plane, seeing all the people going to Scotland.

The adrenaline slowly wore off when he found his seat. Sat at the end in another seat that couldn't accommodate for his size. Shoving his bag under his feet instead of in the over carriage.

And he made the flight.

Enduring the distance between England and Scotland. He was nearly falling asleep and feeling cramps in his knees when the pilot called overhead they'd be landing in five minutes.

Simon felt the plane land. Waited until they were all ready to get off and stepped down into the soggy Scottish weather. He looked around, taking in the new place.

A slight fog coating the ground, drifting through the open stretch of asphalt. He swallowed, seeing flickering lights around the entrance to the airport.

He wandered around the place, looking back through all the group chat texts and finding the texts Johnny had sent about his address and where to find him.

Thank goodness because Simon did not know his way around. Calling a cab and telling him the address. He watched the sights go by as they drove. The lights flickering and the blow up Christmas ornaments in the front yard.

They made him want to crawl back into his skin and hide. Go home and forget. Forget the blood, the pain, the hurt.

It was nearly an hour drive, and Simon was exhausted. Finally they pulled into a housing group, stopping along the road at a corner street. Stairs leading up to an absolute beautiful house. Decorations, a wreath, lights and all. The large dark brown color gave rustic cabin vibes to the home.

"Here we are." The cab driver turned to look at him. "You have yourself a Merry Christmas."

Simon pulled out the money for him from his wallet. "Yeah... You too." He got out, grabbing his dufflebag.

He slowly wandered up the steps, seeing the light passing through the glass at the top of the door.

His entire world closed in on him. His body feeling rigid with ice in his veins. He looked down at his shoes, trying to calm himself before reaching up.

He knocked on the door firmly, standing there and waiting. He heard voices and then the door opened.

Johnny smiled brightly, stepping out onto the mat. "Lt! You made it!"

"Simon's here??" He hears you call excitedly from inside the house.

And suddenly Simon's entire world feels warm. Like those movie scenes where all the darkness flees and the sunlight filters down onto their face, warming their insides.

Johnny hugged Simon, kissing both his cheeks in a warm Scottish greeting, stunning Simon a little.

"Come in, come in." Johnny takes his dufflebag before he can speak and brings him inside. Simon looks around the warm place. The entry way opening up into the living room where you all were hanging out.

"Nice to see you, Simon." Price smiles from the couch next to Gaz, sipping some hot chocolate. Simon looks around, stunned.

Everything is moving so fast. But they're just... Welcoming him in. Johnny smiles. "You've met my wife once before, she's making us dinner."

"Lovely to see you Ghost." She calls with a soft smile.

Simon takes off his shoes and moves slowly into the living room. It feels... Surreal.

He notices you, holding a swaddle of blanket in your arms. You smile up at him softly. "Come say hi." You whisper, nodding to the seat beside you.

Simon slowly walks over, looking down at the small child wrapped in soft clothes, passed out for a nap.

"Whose this?" He asks, not reaching out to touch.

You give Simon a soft smile, holding the baby out for him. And after much hesitation he invites the child into his arms.

"This is Johnny's son. Joseph."

Simon's eyes flash with recognition, going completely silent for a moment. He looks back at Johnny who gives him a knowing little smile.

Simon looks down at the small child, his guard becoming more protective by the moment. The small babe waking and seeing the new person, cooed to him with a rosy soft smile.

You smiled softly, leaning over against his shoulder. "I'm really happy you came." You whispered.

Simon looked around his group. His family. Gaz, Price, Johnny, his wife and his newborn son. And you.

"Why wouldn't I?"

You smiled brighter, hugging him gently, and he wraps an arm around you, holding the both of you.

Simon eventually handed little Joseph back to Johnny, watching the newly father coo and cradle his little one.

"Whose hungry??" His wife called with a smile.

"ME!!" You and Gaz both rush to the kitchen for anything she has ready for you to devour. Price chuckles and followed along behind with Simon, patting his shoulder lightly. "Well done son, well done."

Simon sits at the table, pulling up his mask to eat, watching you all joke and talk. Johnny's wife including you in on all the conversation, making Simon feel so much more welcome.

And by the end of the night, Johnny gave Simon a room with you, knowing you'd both be ok with it.

He set down his bag, looking out the window into the dark night, sighing softly.

You also came in, getting into bed. "I'm glad you came."

He looked over at you. "Johnny didn't tell me he had a son."

"They just did, he wanted it to be a surprise for all of us." You smile softly. "Why?"

He thought of blood covered snow, lights flickering to an end. The charred remains of a family home. A young laugh. Happy eyes. A new start. Something for the Riley family to finally cling onto. The hope of this young child squashed.

He hummed and shook his head. "It's nothing, just a shock."

You nod, fluffing the blanket. "Christmas cuddles?? Come on, I know you want 'em!"

He scoffs softly, but crawls in, letting you wrap your arms around his torse. His hand spreads out between your shoulder blades, resting his chin on top of your head.

You smiled softly, squeezing him close. "Merry Christmas Simon."

"Merry Christmas y/n..."

He closed his eyes, feeling safe and comfortable to fall asleep in your arms, knowing he's here with his family.

Not everything has to stay stained. And maybe just for this Christmas, Simon could make it the best Christmas he was ever going to have.

[callipraxia]

Further Interview Analysis: the "Ford Plan," and Bill's Blind Spot

I didn’t sleep again the night after the “musical Weirdmageddon” post, and wrote a lot of loopy stuff the next day, and posted none of it. But then I slept, so yay, time for an attempt at some actual analysis! Original interview is, as before, here, with credit and thanks to @fordtato and @hkthatgffan.

"I think that Bill was trying to find Ford, but I think- I always think of Bill as like, this guy who has, like - you know, he’s stirring the pot of soup that is the Ford plan, and he’s got like 900 pots of soup across the universe of different things he’s working on, and at any given moment, he’s so cocksure that it’s all gonna work his way eventually."

Bill’s a trillion years old, so it’s like, Ford disappearing for thirty years is like- [snaps fingers] is like somebody saying they’re ghosting you and then texting you the next weekend, you know what I mean? He’s like- he’s like [handwave] “Ford’s gonna- Ford’s gonna be back. Ohh, [air quotes] we had such a big fight, Ford’s sooo mad at me,” oh, you know, “our will-they-won’t-they-take-over-the-universe relationship, like, he’s gonna- he’s gonna march off in a huff, and he’ll be back, ‘cause we’re- is Ford gonna find anyone else in the multiverse that strokes his ego as well as me?” Is there anybody else in the universe that’s gonna make Ford feel as important as Bill? No, of course not, Ford needs validation, and so Bill knows Ford’s gonna be back eventually. 

...so, Bill still had a "Ford plan," did he? Like, some active plan that involved using Ford in some way to escape the Nightmare Dimension? Interesting.

I always interpreted his cliche-villain-gloating routine when Ford confronts him about being a liar as the point where Bill was ready to discard Ford altogether. If he had wanted to - if he could have been bothered - after all, he probably would have had a very high chance of somehow manipulating Ford out of the realization that he'd been played: Ford had been literally worshiping Bill a few days earlier. He was basically a cultist, and he was not only someone who'd spent way too long talking to Bill, he was also someone who could only confront Bill on Bill's turf, so to speak. But Bill didn't even try to turn it all around, because (ran my reasoning) he'd gotten what he really needed: the Portal existed, and you can't close Pandora's box. The technology was there. It would not, from Bill's trillions-of-years perspective, have taken very long to find some way to manipulate someone else into rebuilding the Portal once it existed even given Ford's attempts to hide the plans. Bill was scribbling on the Journal in invisible ink after Ford's last entry, before he buried it but after he wrote all about his plans in some detail, even drawing a map to J2. The Journal separation plan would have been laughably easy for Bill to work around. So at that point, I assumed that the only reason Bill didn't arrange for Ford to - if I may be blunt - kill himself the first time he blacked out was because Bill was basically getting off on the psychological torture and wanted to see how long he could keep it going/enjoy himself until Ford literally died of exhaustion. Ford certainly seems to think he'd have been killed if he had lost the game of 'hide and seek' in the asteroid field. I thought the idea that "Bill used Ford until he used him up, and now he was done with him" was basically canon, and that Bill paid no more attention to him from that point onward than you would pay to a broken Solo cup in the trash until Ford did something unexpected - ie, survived the Multiverse, came back with a death ray, apparently took out a few Henchmaniacs, almost shot Bill himself, and then survived the experience.

But here we have what I suppose amounts of authorial commentary which seems to directly contradict the idea that Bill didn't even regard Ford was worth finding and/or killing. Bill was looking for Ford, all those years - not all that intently, apparently, or really very long from Bill's point of view, of course, but still - and Bill still had a plan for Ford. Bill also, if I'm reading that right, seems to have really just expected Ford to come back, of his own free will, to join him eventually, not to kill him.

Of course, it's possible I'm reading that wrong, and Bill just knew that killing him would also give Ford a massive ego boost and that Ford would have to eventually reenter his orbit in order to attempt to do so. It's also true that Bill just not being able to accept rejection in no way, by itself, implies he wasn't planning to go "hahahaha, no" and kill Ford fifteen seconds after he finished begging Bill for forgiveness. But the 'Ford plan' bit seems to undermine that. Let's assume the hesitations and half-sentences are Hirsch improvising, not Bill actually cutting off a thought he might not like the end of. So was Bill genuinely never planning to kill Ford after he bumbled into the Nightmare Realm back in '82? And if not - what in the world was he planning to do to him once one of the Henchmaniacs caught him, then? And why do I have the feeling that whatever it was would have made murder seem both a) kind and b) not at all disturbing by comparison?

Also gives us, in a way, some insight into Bill. Kinda. We've always known that there's this...level, this very deep, seldom-relevant but very important level, on which Bill doesn't quite understand how people work. We see it primarily in the mistakes that Bill makes with Stan and Mabel. Maybe there was nothing he could have said or done in the situation with Stan to save himself, Stan had reached the point of literally suicidal determination and there's really not much you can do to budge someone at that point and especially not once their consciousness has already caught fire, but with Mabel - in Sock Opera, all Bill needed to do to win was keep his mouth shut for three more seconds. He was clever enough to see how Dipper and Mabel's relationship could be exploited to get Dipper to do what he wanted, but he did the exact opposite of what he should have done to get Mabel to do what he wanted, because for one thing he underestimates Mabel and for another...it comes back to that elusive Thing that Bill can't or won't understand about the deeper levels of humans. Or maybe it's Things, plural, and a distinct one for each person, but there's something there at the bottom of the personality that Bill apparently can't jive with.

With Ford, for instance, he clearly underestimates the power of genuine self-hatred and remorse. Bill may feel bad in some way about what he did to his homeworld, but look at the actual words of the Axolotl's prophecy: he feels that way not because he has realized at some point that what he did was fundamentally wrong, but because he wants to go home and can't. Essentially, his regret is for his own inconvenience. And in a lot of ways, I can see how that could have translated into him feeling he did, in fact, know all he needed to know to push Ford's buttons, because while it's never spelled out for us, it seems, based on his habit of carrying around family photographs on his person apparently since college despite not getting on well at all with his family, that there was maybe some tiny part of Ford that also wanted to "go home," and not just to flip off the town. Ford was also someone who deeply feared the consequences of his actions, if you read between the lines in the Journal - his worries about a 'Close Encounter' with the government, his scrawling that he must not lose his nerve on some early Portal notes, his talking more and more about Fiddleford losing his nerve in a way that starts seeming kind of projection-y - and Bill could certainly understand that fear perfectly well: we see Bill panic outright in the finale when he realizes he's out of options he's going to remotely like. In the unlikely event Stan would or even could save him, Stan obviously wouldn’t have done so so on Bill's own terms: Bill would have been stuck making an honest deal for once, or else left with the options of "die" and "take a one-in-a-million shot and do his invocation of the 'Ancient Power,' possibly putting himself squarely into the hands of an enemy whose full aims he probably does not know." But then, that's Bill's flaw - the things that drove him to become what he did were revenge and the fear of Death, of the ultimate loss of control. His arrogance makes him think he can take most any situation, no matter how disadvantageous it might seem, and twist it around sooner or later, but Death - well, that's it, ain't it? Or, as Horace might say in a really old translation:

When life is o'er, and Minos has rehearsed The grand last doom, Not birth, nor eloquence, nor worth, shall burst Torquatus' tomb.

(Horace, Ode 4.7. The Odes and Carmen Saeculare of Horace. John Conington. trans. London. George Bell and Sons. 1882.)

Bit different from most translations I've read, but close enough and in the public domain I believe, so we'll go with that. It's possible that Bill's...unique...state of existence may actually make dying an even more terrifying prospect for him than it for the rest of us. He became what he was to escape limitations, including mortality - but after all that killing and burning and transformation, he found out that he might not ever die, but that he could still be destroyed. And even when he found his own 'territory', it started decaying around him, which proved that dimensions, too, can die even if nobody is apparently actively trying to destroy them. What happens to him then? That's what he's afraid of, and he cannot quite grasp that others might be able to overcome that fear in service of either another principle or another fear. That's where he keeps running into trouble in the series timeline, too. It never occurred to him that Gideon might have enough humanity to want Mabel to actually care about him, instead of just about possessing her - much less that Gideon could want that enough to risk death for it. It was inconceivable to him that Dipper and Mabel could voluntarily turn their backs on even a blatantly false paradise to willingly walk into a living hell, just because it was the right thing to do. And as for Ford and Stan....

Well, on one level, he's right about Ford. When he met Ford, they did have certain things in common: frustration, ambition, deep and secret regrets, loneliness, and fear of facing the consequences. Ford's desire for respectability and honor from those who had rejected him his whole life may have extended this even further for him than it went for Bill in some ways: he couldn't even admit to himself that what he was doing was totally self-interested, whereas Bill, like Stan, has long since come to terms with his own selfishness. And like Bill, Ford probably didn't even have the ability to see that no matter what he did, it would never be enough, and would never really satisfy him. But death? Ford doesn't fear death. Never really has, as far as I can tell, but he certainly doesn't now. The way he lives his life, the man might as well be courting death - sending it roses every week and buying all its drinks at the bar, so to speak. He and Bill both fear the consequences of their actions, but 'consequences' are a category, and it's just as possible to be afraid to live as it is to be afraid to die. And Stan...Stan is harder to be sure of. Certainly Stan's priority is always for self-preservation. He's probably depressed to some degree, and he will risk life and limb without hesitation when he perceives a threat to that which he loves, but that's something that usually happens in a crisis. He doesn't hesitate because he doesn't think about what he's doing, which is what makes the Final Deal such an incredible gesture for me - he not only had plenty of time to think about what was going to happen, but he had to actively take steps himself to enable it to happen. To me, at least, that seems the hardest thing...but then, the whole situation in the Fearamid is one that brings to mind some of my worst fears, to the point that I find the scene difficult to watch and I almost scrapped an entire 22,000-word story once just because it required me to write about a small part of it. I'm sure Bill risked death, in some fashion, to become what he is, and I'm sure he was afraid of failure every time - but he was less afraid of a bad outcome that might come from leaping at the chance for some semblance of life, any semblance of life, no matter what that might look like or how long the odds might be, than he was of doing what he knew would lead to...wherever even destructible gods go, when they go. This is why the Stans were the thing he couldn't account for, really. He couldn't conceive of having a priority higher than self-preservation, of overcoming his worst fear - and that was what destroyed him. Maybe, anyway.

It's sort of funny, actually - I started writing a completely different post yesterday about how to develop a new character based on some of Hirsch's remarks, and in the course of it, I made the remark that I found it hard to fathom how you could write any of Gravity Falls, at all, without knowing ahead of time that it is the story of (if I can make so bold as to quote my own story's dialogue) "the Faustus of New Jersey and His Knucklehead Brother and the Hazard Sign From Hell," and without at least a fairly good understanding of who those three people are and how they got there. If one looks at the story that way, I suppose you could say the events after their starting situation are also the story of these three being thrown up against the places where their real deepest fears lie, and seeing who has something he really, really will not compromise on...or at least, it did at the start of this paragraph. But did any of them, really? Bill blatantly fails that test, of course - Bill runs, just like he's been, in a way, running for his entire miserable existence. Ford comes close to what might have been a couple of breaking experiences for him - either surrendering to Bill or, had the memory wipe worked the way he thought it would, with living with whatever the fallout of essentially killing his brother would have been - but the universe was kind and stacked the deck just enough to let him cheat his way out of that one, at least for the most part. But what about Stan? He didn't want to die, but we already knew that he'd risk it for the kids, because we've seen him do that before. The way he went about it this time arguably took more courage than the others, when he just went in swinging at an immediate and obvious threat, but it was still an escalation on an established thing. Stan's real worst fear isn’t death - it’s of being alone again, of losing his family. That's the principle that overrides self-preservation for him. What would have happened if he'd been in Ford's shoes - required to take up the role not of the sacrifice, but of the one who performed it, giving up one member of the family to save the others? Could he have done that?

...though that is wandering from the topic I was originally talking about, isn't it. Which was that yeah, Bill is, in his way, as fallible as anyone else despite his immense resources - which is gonna be a fun topic to get into when I get around to the post in this series about writing higher intelligences, but that's also not the point, which was that Ford was never going to go back to Bill the way Bill thought he was, because Bill's inability to understand other people's ability to do things that he can't is a serious blind spot for him. It's the thoughts he can't have that doom him (probably...hopefully, anyway...), fortunately for the rest of us.

[canmargesimpson]

Idk just a weird story I got in the middle of the night

When Robin told Steve they were going to New York to see an old friend, the last thing on his mind was to end up in an underground queer bar with drag queens and prostitutes. I mean he’s not complaining, but why couldn’t they meet over coffee like friends, or just a regular bar, but no. It had to be a basement of a pizza restaurant where glitter and the sticky feeling was all around them. 

“Robin, are you sure this is the place?” he said as she moved through the crowd to a free table, in front of the small yet very illuminated stage “cuz i dont think… these are your type of friends?”

“Hey handsome” a transvestite placed a hand on his shoulder and let her long nail press along making him shiver “Want something to drink?”

Robin smiled, completely pleased with the situation his friend was it

“Give me a rum and coke, and for the gentleman… get him a shirley temple please”

“What?! No!” steve shook his head “ a beer is fine please”

“A rum and coke and shirley temple on their way” she laughs as she walks away

Robin laughs too as she takes her purse and places it on the table. Steve just flips her off and looks around trying to understand where they were. The drinks were eventually served, and thankfully Steve got his beer, but also a phone number.

“Wet Wendy?” Steve reads “Her name is Wet wendy…”

“I have heard worst” robin scruggs, “and come on, have fun, you’re a fresh bisexual, and you're surrounded by everything you might like, no need to stress”

Steve breathes deeply and looks around, and before he can say something a loud music starts. It's a 80s like beat that is quite slow, and the lights started to go down while the stage curtains open

“Steve, it's starting,” Robin says as she hands him a 20 dollar bill. 

On the stage there's a chair and a woman with her back to the audience. She has long, vicious hair that is curly and puffy. The person turns around and starts to sing the song. 

“We broke up on a tuesday, 

kicked me out with the rent paid

Ruined my credit

Stole my cute aesthetic”

And oh boy was Steve hooked. Other than the amazing hair, she was wearing some small yet clear devil horns. On her face was drawn a big white heart on her face, with the rest being red. The face on her though made his jeans tight, but just a bit. I'm talking bright blue eyeshadow, with some jewels and some big lashes that made the eyes pop brighter than ever he thought it was possible. There was a red lip tainted on her lips that were glossy and shiny. And the outfit was the best part of it all. She was wearing black pleather heels with red and black lingerie that fit like a glove. No to add a thigh corset that shaped the body like an hourglass. Steve was drooling.

But when the bridge started steve was pretty sure he was in heaven

It’s hot

When you have a meltdown 

In the front of your house 

And you’re getting kicked out 

It’s hot

When you’re drinking downtown

And you’re getting called out 

Cause you’re running your mouth 

Oh god

The way she crawled on the floor while lip syncing the moans of the song made Steve's ears burn like a fever. She then layed on the floor on her back, to then arch it and show the red wine bra that had black jewels like nippels. She then got on her feet and got off the stage and walked around. People started to hand her dollars and she just grabbed them, stuffed them on her bra and then painties. Steve had to blink twice to make sure he was awake. 

The girl then noticed him. He cracked. He let out a sigh like a moan as she locked eyes with her. Her dark brown almost black eyes looked like those supernovae in Dustin space books. It just got him trapped voluntarily and it made him gulp. She started to strut to him and grabbed him by the jaw to look up at her. 

Ruin your life 

You losing you mind

You dying your hair 

People say I’m jealous but my kink is watching you

crashing your car 

You breaking your heart

You thinking I care

People say I’m jealous but my kink is karma 

She sang those words as she stared at him and smirked while taking a seat on his lap. God he was in trouble now. It took everything in him to stay still and not let his third leg rise up, but sometimes things just happen and it's inevitable. He looked up at her so ashamed and sorry for what he's doing, and for making her uncomfortable. She is trying to do her job and here is Steve with his willy hard. But it was as he looked up in awe at her, as she sang to the audience while dancing on him, that she enjoyed it of sorts. She then looked down at him, smirked and kissed him, hardly leaving a bright red stain on his lips that he would rather die than to take it off. 

She climbed off him and walked back to the stage to dance where she made it very clear that not only she loves the attention but also loves the feeling on the stage. She belongs there, with her hair flowing with her moves. The way she portrays the song made it feel like she was singing to him and only him. Steve felt like he was in a world with only him and her. It was crazy.

He didn't even realize she had left until robin was snapping her finger in front of him. He looked at her and blinked again quickly and looked around

“Where did she go?” 

“Her set finished 10 minutes ago, have you just been imagining her this entire time you perv?” she laughs, but steve just stares at her

“I need to meet her” he says

“Well you will”

“What!?”

“Yeah! In a few so go to the bathroom and get yourself together men, your friend joined the party, and that not really cute when meeting new people”

Steve stood up and ran to the bathroom that thank the lord was empty at the time. He washed his face and removed the lipstick stain from his lips  and tried to calm down whatever was happening with him and his body at the moment. God he's about to meet her! He need to make a great first impression because then he’s fucked. He moved his hair from one side to another till it looked great. He smiled to the mirror and winked hyping himself up. 

“Come on harrington, you got this' ' He said before leaving the bathroom.

Robin and him walked toward the back of the so-called bar to where a room with a star on the door hung where the word “dressing room” was written. Robin knocked twice before opening the door to find a bunch of men in makeup and robes running around changing wig and shoes. But on the very end, the dark curly mane stood up clearly. Steve swallowed and inhaled deeply as they walked into the dressing room towards her. She was wearing one of those 50s womens robes with the edge being fur. It was black with red fur and it was transparent enough for Steve to see some tattoos on her back that he didn't seem to see earlier. 

“Hey!!” Robin said excitedly and she turned around.

Steve’s smiles didn’t fall… but it definitely twitched.

“Hey robs” Eddie munson said with a cig on his lips. 

He looked better than Steve remembered from high school. He looked…. Amazing actually. The way his jaw was sharp and fine, his smirk was wider and flirtier than ever. He looked…. Even better than the stage.

“How are you feeling harrington?” he smirked “didn’t know you were one for underground bars, i thought you were more of a… 3 star michelin kind of guy”

The way he smoothed talked and slithered into Steve’s head made him literally stutter with his words

“I-i-i  I mean- You- wha- li-” he then gave up trying to speak and just nodded subtly “yep”

[eruden-writes]

Strictly Pleasure - Part 18 (Jek x Heidi)

orc x human age gap 18 of ? Chapters

Summary: An awkward fresh-out-of-a-relationship woman and an orc that owns a sex store enter an adult theater together. She, intent on pushing her own boundaries. He, just looking to give her some sense of safety. Well, that and he wouldn’t complain about having a bit of fun himself.

After they inevitably get interrupted, Jek deals with the problem while Heidi flees. Resigned, he believes he’ll never see her again.

Thus begins Jek and Heidi’s sporadic interactions until, eventually, they find themselves fumbling around each other daily at the very place it started: Strictly Pleasure.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

First - Master List - Previous

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

The next hours flew by for Heidi. After eventually extricating herself from Jek, she showered, scheduled the lab appointment, researched, idly cleaned, and waited for Malachai to return home. Jek hadn’t left. He offered to stay and she jumped on the nicety, already feeling anxiety pounding through her heart at the prospect of being completely alone. He, too, showered before her son returned home from school.

Of course, Malachai got home while Heidi was in her room – freshening up after another unexpected cry – and Jek was left to fend for himself.

“Hey mom, I’m ho–“ The boy paused, spotting Jek on the couch as he clambered into the apartment. Malachai narrowed his eyes, dropping his backpack with a loud thump. “Who are you?”

Lounging on the couch, cell phone in hand and legs crossed at the knee, Jek turned a friendly smile to Malachai. He tried to ignore the sharp suspicion in the pre-teen’s words. “Jek Korgak. I work with your mom.”

Malachai narrowed his eyes. “The sex store owner.”

So she had explained her job to him. Lifting one shoulder in an awkward shrug, Jek nodded.

“Huh.” The boy grunted, before turning on his heel and shouting into the rest of the apartment, “Mom, why’s your boss here?”

Emerging from her room, face wiped clean of tears and all traces of inner turmoil, Heidi shot her son a look. “Don’t be rude, Malachai.”

“I’m just asking!” He threw his hands up in an exasperated fashion, unspoken questions obvious as he stared at his mother.

A loud ping cut through the tension in the air, both mother and child turning to Jek.

“My guy emailed back and said he can provide you some names of attorneys that he trusts. Some might be willing to go pro bono for you,” Jek relayed after quickly parsing the email. He shoved himself to his feet, approaching Heidi as he lowered his phone. “But seriously, I don’t mind footing the bill for you. My lawyer is pretty fucking good.”

He’d offered to cover her court costs a hundred times. As tempting as it was, Heidi shook her head as memories of Travis accusing her of being a gold digger echoed in her thoughts. “Jek, I can’t accept that.”

“It’d be like pro bono. Just, y’know, paid by me. Pretendo bono.” It was a struggle to keep his tone light. Something inside him wanted to push the issue, explain why he should be allowed to help her, to foot the bills, to protect her.

This had been an ongoing conversation after fucking. No matter what angle he tried to convince her, she turned down his help. Though Jek knew she wasn’t obligated to take his help and that he should stop offering, he couldn’t help himself.

Heidi crossed her arms, her features hardening after yet another repeated effort on his part. “You are my boss.”

Jek’s mouth opened, already poised to argue, when Malachai interrupted.

“Attorney? Pro bono? What’s going on?” The boy narrowed his eyes yet again, attention jumping between the two adults.

Those words cut through Heidi and Jek’s tiff. They shared a look, the argumentative tension deflating between them. Although, a new sort of tension replaced the light bickering. Silently, both weighed how best to approach Malachai. Though not Malachai’s father, Jek was a parent. He knew how to break serious topics to kids. However, he also was a stranger, which would only compound the potential upcoming life changes involving Artuk.

After a quiet beat, Jek finally relented and excused himself to the restroom. Though Heidi watched him retreat with a pang of anxiety, she knew it was for the best. Especially as she turned her attention to Malachai, whose brow furrowed with uncertainty after seeing the silent exchange between his mother and Jek.

“Let’s go sit,” Heidi sighed, offering her son a smile as she motioned toward the living room. Her heart flinched as Malachai stared, unmoving. Tears burned at the back of her eyes, emotions threatening to swallow her up again.

Swallowing down the woe, she braced herself and nodded to the living room once more. “Come on now, we have a lot to talk about, sweetheart.”

xxx

Somehow, the lab didn’t feel as daunting as Heidi thought it’d be. It helped that Jek was there with her. His notoriety helped to mask her own situation. As soon as they entered the waiting area, one of the front desk people perked up. Thanks to office gossip, a number of the relatively small staff had popped their head out to take a look at Jek after Heidi checked them in.

“Can you go anywhere without being recognized?” It wasn’t until after she muttered those words she realized how the three of them looked. A human mother with a half-orc child and a former orc rockstar? ‘Secret love child’ emblazoned over her thoughts and embarrassment flared across her cheeks as she pieced suspicions together.

As Jek shot Heidi a roguish grin, she had no doubt he’d already realized what they looked like. Which only prompted the flush to bite harder at her cheeks.

Heidi was saved by Malachai groaning and rolling his eyes. The reminder of her son’s presence cooled her mortification, but unleashed guilt across her thoughts. How could she be getting flustered when there were more important things happening?

After being told about his biological father’s legal request and explaining what they had to do next, Malachai had reacted in protest. Declarations about fairness and about not wanting to see the man who had abandoned him – them – came easily to his lips. Heidi bit her tongue, uncertain if agreeing would be seen as alienating Malachai from Artuk.

Though, frankly, the man had done it himself. Over a decade of absenteeism and now he wanted contact? Heidi could only imagine why. Maybe Artuk had a family-minded lover or maybe he was down on his luck and thought the tax breaks would be enough to help his floundering finances. Or maybe he had a change of heart and wanted to know Malachai, after all this time.

The last thought made Heidi internally flinch. If he did want to know Malachai, to know his own progeny, could she stand in his way? Her son might complain now, but what about later in life? Scenarios spun around her head, dizzying her already fragile state of mind.

While Heidi fell into deep thought, Jek glanced at the sullen pre-teen. He didn’t think the kid had uncrossed his arms since learning about Artuk’s legal actions, both blocking out the world while protecting himself. Malachai had gnashed his teeth, questioned, stomped, slammed doors, and risen his voice at the news. Once he’d had a chance to be heard, Heidi broke the news that they had an appointment to do the paternity test as well.

‘Might as well rip the band aid off,’ she had said. The withering look Malachai had shot her would have made Jek flinch. But she hadn’t. She just stared down her son calmly, though Jek had noticed a tension to her jaw and a glassiness to her gaze that betrayed her emotional turmoil.

It was clear to Jek that the kid wanted nothing to do with is absent biological father. Whether the courts saw the same, however, was a different matter.

Across the waiting area, a lab technician dressed in scrubs stepped through a doorway, looking at a clipboard. “Malachai Harris.”

“That’s us.” Heidi raised her arm as she stood, shifting gears as she shook off the potential paths the future could take. Jek surprised her by standing as well and a conflicting mash of relief and uncertainty bubbled up in her.

Wrinkling his nose, Malachai got to his feet. He brushed passed Jek, thumping his shoulder into the older orc’s side. “Why are you coming back?”

“Moral support,” Jek answered easily, not even bothered by Malachai’s obvious shoulder check.

The younger orc spun around, nose wrinkling and lip curling. “I don’t need you.”

“Your mom might,” Jek replied, gently but firmly. His tone made Heidi’s heart flutter, even as she mentally berated the organ for it’s inappropriate timing.

Malachai’s eyes bounced to his mom. His shoulders slumped and Jek thought the boy was more aware of Heidi’s emotional state than he’d given him credit for. “Fine.”

Moments later, the technician explained how the saliva swab would work, the turnaround for analysis, and how it would be reported to the court. Heidi sat beside Malachai, hands clasped tight in her lap as she nodded. Jek stood by her side, leaning against the wall.

“Alright, are we ready?” The technician smiled, patting their own knees. Their nametag read ‘Myles’ with ‘he/him’ supplied beneath.

“I don’t want to do this,” Malachai muttered, his shoulders tense and pulled to his pointed ears.

Heidi laid a hand to her son’s shoulder, guilt shooting through her when she felt how tense he was. “I’m sorry, but we have to.”

“Why?” The singular word broke over Malachai’s lips, his voice cracking with puberty and emotion.

“Your biological father has petitioned the courts, we have to do this or face legal discipline.” It had been the millionth time she said those exact words. She had practiced it, on and off, while he was at school. Calling Artuk a ‘father’ was stretching it, but tacking on ‘biological’ lessened the bitter taste.

The words still made Heidi’s throat clog with emotion and heat bit behind her eyes.

“Kid, your mom isn’t the enemy here.” Jek crouched down, catching the still-seated Malachai’s eyes. In the past, he’d have to take similar positions when Jade was upset about something. He found placing himself lower often made kids feel better, for whatever reason.

A snarl curled at the boy’s lips, showing off his adolescent tusks. “I know that!”

“You’re fighting to show the courts this Artuk fuck isn’t your dad, right?”

Heidi flinched at Jek’s words. She wasn’t sure if she should let someone else call Artuk a fuck, but the conversation was charging along without her. Part of her was just so relieved to hand the reins over to someone else, anyhow.

She was so tired and, honestly, she wasn’t sure she could keep herself from crying in the face of her son’s distress.

“Yeah.” Something in Malachai’s demeanor shifted, his eyes slightly narrowing. An adult verbally seeing his point of view and calling the enemy a fuck seemed to help.

As Jek guessed, recalibrating the kid’s thoughts toward action helped. It did in most cases for orcs. Of course, it was preferred in orcish culture to settle disputes with physicality than a bloated legal system. It was simpler. But Jek learned a long time ago that not all peoples wanted to settle problems with an orc through fisticuffs.

“First step is complying,” Jek said, even as his own instincts gnashed at the very thought.

Malachai felt the same way as a look of disgust crossed his features. “What?”

“Show you’re mature enough to take the swab then move on to the next step: answer their questions through the process, but be fierce in standing up for yourself and feelings.” Jek poked his index finger against Malachai’s chest, the physical contact making the boy sit straighter and his eyes take on a ferocity behind his glasses. “Your mom will do her best to advocate for you, I’m sure, but it’ll help hearing something well-reasoned from a mature kid.”

As Jek stood, trying not to feel like a battle chief who had just laid out a plan of attack, Malachai eyed the technician and the offensive swabs suspiciously.

When Malachai’s uncertainty looked about to win out, Jek took it a step further.

“This is the easiest step. Look.” Without warning, Jek plucked one of the DNA swabs from the cart and shoved it into his mouth. He rubbed it along the inside of both cheeks, as the technician indicated. When done, he withdrew it and – apparently eager for Theoretical Menace DNA – the technician happily took it from him.

“See? Easy peasy.” Jek grinned down at Malachai. He leaned forward a little, hands on his hips as he shot the boy a goading grin. “Or are you going to let a little cotton swab scare you?”

Malachai’s nose wrinkled as he frowned at the older orc, but his hand extended to the technician.

Heidi had to swallow a sigh of relief when her son finally jab the swab in his mouth, doing as instructed to collect the specimen.

One hurdle down. A million more to go.

[fangirlingfromdownunder]

A Sweet Mishap - Chapter 25

Pairing - Jensen Ackles x Reader 

A/N: I just want to start by thanking everyone for all the love on this story so far. Let me know if you want to be added to the tag list. Please read the TW below and only read on if you feel comfortable doing so.

Potential Trigger Warnings: mentions of rape & violence

A Sweet Mishap Masterlist | Main Masterlist

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

While I wait for the results the psychology doctor comes to talk to me. Jensen goes to pick up some breakfast for us, since we’ve been here all night. Once the psych doctor is satisfied that I’m not a risk to myself or anyone else and has a detailed account of the night’s events for the rape kit he agrees to let a nurse sign me out. I look over at the bag of clothes that they must have brought me in. I can’t bring myself to put them on. While I’m overthinking the nurse comes in and removes my IV and gets me to sign the discharge papers. She tells me that the rape kit came up positive for foreign DNA and gives me the report to take to the police if I choose to report it. She also says that the doctor prescribed me an emergency contraceptive that I can choose whether to take or not. I ask about the bill and she says it’s been charged to the card “my boyfriend provided”. I quickly swallow down the pill with the remaining water in the cup by the bed and try my best not to break down again.

When Jensen comes back he has two bags, one from the cafe and one from the hospital gift store. 

“You paid?” I ask.

“I brought you here. I know you wouldn’t have come otherwise, so yeah, I paid. You deserve to recover and move on from this nightmare without the financial burden, and I wanted you to receive adequate care.”

“Thank you.”

“I also figured you might not want to put those clothes back on,” He nods at the bag in the corner, “So I found this in the gift store.” He passes me one of the bags. “I’ll wait just outside while you get dressed and then we can go wherever you want.”

“What about-”

“Everything’s taken care of. I called Stella, I didn’t want to overstep so I just said you weren’t well and I took you to hospital. And she said she’d talk to your boss. I figured it was up to you if you want anyone else to know the truth.”

“Thanks.”

“I’ll be right outside.” He steps outside the curtain and pulls it shut to give me privacy. I untie the scratchy paper robe and slip on the fresh underwear, tracksuit pants and New York embellished hoodie from the giftshop. They’re very touristy and not clothes I would choose myself, but it’s better than putting those clothes back on with the terrible memories. I pull the curtain aside and step out. Jensen offers me his free hand and I take it. As we walk out the glass doors towards the waiting Range Rover, I can’t help but think that I should be more cautious of him, but he’s been so considerate and it makes me want to cling tighter instead. He lets me. He sits in the back with me and Clif gives me a reassuring look in the rearview mirror. 

“You talk to Bob?” Jensen asks.

“He’s not happy, but he’s moved filming schedules around. I got us a new flight for Wednesday morning. Be back in time for shoots that night.”

I look up at Jensen. “You didn’t need-”

“Yes I did. Not just for you, but also for my peace of mind. Now let’s go somewhere and eat. You can come back to my hotel or we can go somewhere else. Wherever you’re comfortable.”

I think about it for a few minutes and they’re both incredibly patient. Jensen holds me close while Clif reads something on his phone. Eventually I say, “I don’t think I can go back to my apartment…But I also don’t think I can go to yours…”

“That’s okay. I understand. Where else do you feel safe? We can take you to Stella’s if you’d prefer, you don’t have to stay with me.”

“But you-”

“It doesn’t matter. You matter. Your comfort and safety is all that matters right now. If you’d prefer to be with your friend…”

“I don’t want Anna to see me like this. I know I have to tell her, but not yet…”

“Was he-” I nod. “Shit. Okay, so where else? We can even stay in the car if you want.”

“Can we just drive around for a bit?”

“Of course.”

Clif starts the engine and pulls out of the hospital car park. He expertly navigates the busy New York streets as Jensen pulls the food out of the paper bag. He hands me a breakfast wrap. “Apart from Texas barbeque and frozen meals from the supermarket I really don’t know what you like, I hope it’s okay.”

My stomach growls at the smell but I feel sick. He urges me to just take a small bite. I manage to keep it down. We both eat in companionable silence as we watch the buildings fly past. 

After we finish eating, Clif drives us to the police station so I can provide my official statement about last night’s events and submit the rape kit. He then takes me back to my apartment. Clif stays in the lobby, but Jensen walks me up. The second I open the door, the visions of me being forced down onto the couch come flooding back. I turn around and Jensen pulls me to his chest. 

“Let’s just get what you need for a night or two and we’ll take you to my hotel. We can get you a new couch tomorrow and whatever else he touched.”

“Me…”

“Right…do you want to shower? I can wait here.”

I shake my head. “My phone…”

“It was completely broken, and the police took it for evidence. There’s a new one for you in the car. I didn’t want to overwhelm you earlier, but I had Clif get you a new one while we were in the hospital. Purely selfish, I swear. I want to be able to contact you,” he adds with a cheeky smile.

Without looking at the couch, I slowly pull away and go to my bedroom to start gathering some clothes and essentials for the night. I realize that most of the things I need are still at Stella’s. He offers for me to call her and arrange for Clif to pick it up or for her to drop it off. I acknowledge that as helpful and caring as Jensen has been, I need my best friend right now. He agrees to have her come to his hotel. He and Clif will do some sightseeing to let us have some time alone together. 

Back in his hotel room, he orders room service for lunch and sits on the couch with me. At first I’m a little hesitant but he’s patient and lets me take my time. We’re both quiet, both a little unsure of what to say. Before midnight last night I would’ve given almost anything to have this extra time with him, but now everything feels different. As I pick at the salad I asked for I look up at the TV that he turned on for a little background noise. Neither of us care about what’s on, I’m still a little numb and I can tell he’s worried about me. But then the afternoon news comes on, as they get to the celebrity segment there’s video of Jensen running back through airport security and out the doors. I look over at him and he just shakes his head and puts it on mute.

“It doesn’t matter. People can say what they want. I don’t care about that. I only care about you.”

“You looked so worried…”

“For good reason. Come’ere.” He puts down his fork and opens his arms and I slide over into his embrace. “You’re so strong, Darlin’. I’m so sorry.” We lay together quietly in this embrace for a while until he checks his watch. “You still gonna perform tonight?” I shake my head. “I think you should. Don’t let him ruin that for you. It’s your dream.”

I consider his words for a minute before I say, “I’ll see if Stella can give me a lift after she drops off my stuff. It will give us a little longer to chat.”

“Would you mind if I came again? I just want to be here for you.”

I nod. “I think I would feel better knowing you’re there.”

He lightly kisses the top of my head. “I would too.” He then pulls away briefly and reaches for the unopened phone box on the coffee table and hands it to me. “You should set it up before you go. You need to be contactable and able to contact others.”

“I swear I’ll pay you back for all of this one day.”

“Just stay safe. That’s the only payment I require.”

Once Stella arrives, Jensen leaves, but not before making sure I’m safe and promising to be in the audience tonight. Stella and I talk about everything, I explain everything that happened through tears, heavy breathing and she hugs me close. She agrees that we need to tell Anna, but wants to give me time to recover first before having to relive it all again while also trying to comfort her and stop her from going back to him out of guilt. She promises to be there for both of us every step of the way. I feel bad that this is what the start of her and Nick’s married life is, but she reassures me. She knows none of it is deliberate or by choice. 

On the way to the theater I tell her about my desire to just go home. But she disuades me, at least for now, and all of her reasoning is sound; I can’t keep running away from my problems, especially when some of my biggest dreams are also starting to come true. But we agree that it could be something to consider in a few months once Grease has had its run. It’s something that I decide to talk to my parents about when they visit later this week. She pulls a park around the back of the theater and walks with me to the door before giving me a hug and promising to be there for whatever I need. She can’t afford to buy another ticket and stay so soon, but I tell her it’s okay and that Jensen will be here and take me back to his hotel after. 

The show goes by smoothly. A welcome escape from the traumatic and painful thoughts in my mind. Aly notices something’s off with me, but just tries her best to distract me and help me get into character. I try to look for Jensen in the crowd while on stage, but the lights are too bright and there’s too many people. Unless he was in the front row I wouldn’t stand a chance, and even then it wouldn’t be easy. I’m content with just trusting that he kept his word.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

Taglist: @stoneyggirl2 @hobby27, @n-o-p-e-never, @deansimpalababy,

@winchesterwild78, @kr804573, @chriszgirl92, @smoothdogsgirl

@speakinvain, @deans-baby-momma, @1967winchesterimpala

@lmg14, @superrey

[seat-safety-switch]

If you drink, you should drink moderately. Booze is very expensive, you see, and every penny that is spent on it could be put into race car parts instead. It's for this exact reason that my ancient ancestors spent a lot of their free time figuring out how to synthesize their own alcohol at home, and giving birth to the modern-day NASCAR stock car circuit.

Like any good science experiment, the project didn't start out as an excuse to day-drink. Originally, the family story goes, they wanted to make some synthetic alcohol-based fuels to run a race car off of. And there were way too many mouldy bananas getting thrown out at the grocery store. Why not simply turn all that discarded banana waste into zingy, renewable meth-o-line?

The reason why not is that what actually comes out of the process is high-test banana liqueur. If that concept sounds good to you, perhaps you are a secret monkey, brainwashed into thinking you were a person all along. Check your closet to make sure there's no secret radio equipment made out of coconut shells, hair, and poop, reporting back to the Big Gorilla at the zoo to advise him of when the best time to begin the invasion is. For the rest of us, banana liqueur is, most generously, a weird novelty.

A weird novelty, that is, until prohibition. The nation's wet blankets got together, and collectively said "maybe do something other than drinking all day." And they had a point: auto-body repair bills were starting to skyrocket, what with all the whisky dings getting racked up on the expansive chrome bodywork of the time. Those ancient scolds did make a mistake, though: denying them their booze meant that a newly-sober and terrified country had to turn to race cars instead.

So, a classic capitalist story: needs (for banana-based high-octane race fuels) met haves (banana-based high-octane race fuels,) and there was immediate success. Not so. For one thing, Great-Great Grandpappy Switch was really bad at business. He much preferred to be out racing, in the process inventing new motorsports like "drifting" and "grocery-store shopping cart drifting." And for another thing, he didn't see the point in changing the label on the bottles. He had paid for those labels, goddammit, and they were going to say "Incredibly Illegal Banana Booze, Don't Let The Government See It" until he had used up the entire roll of stickers.

Eventually, his two loves did meet, in the form of a group of bootleggers who started to use their souped-up shitboxes for racing instead of just outrunning the morality police. That's a story for another family, though, as by then Great-Great Grandpappy Switch had moved on to inventing the world's first pinball machine.

Say, I didn't notice your friends come in while I was talking. If you don't mind me saying so, they sure look a whole lot like those gorillas that escaped from the zoo earlier. They want to hear about my family banana liqueur recipe, you say?