#i hope you'll like this jenn <3< /div>
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athousandbyeol · 1 year ago
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topmew | hands.
[dedicated to @topmewera <3]
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bookwyrminspiration · 1 month ago
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Hey quil, I trust your book taste, can you give me some reccs perchance? I’m not picky, whatever your faves are
of course! you'll have seen some of these before in my dragon recs list, but I'll throw in some other ones too :)
A Chorus of Dragons by Jenn Lyons; My favorite book series of all time. I can't tell you what it's about because discovering that is part of the plot. Genuinely changed how I think about fantasy and writing. This post goes into a tiny bit more detail but I cannot stress enough it only covers like 2% of the story it makes me FERAL you just need to trust me and stick it out through the confusion (trigger warnings)
Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution by RF Kuang; young Robin is taken from his home in Canton to England when his family dies, his knowledge of Cantonese invaluable in a world where language, via silver bars, can literally become magic. The British Empire is working to collect all it can for its own gain, but as Robin grows up and learns more of how the world works, how it wants to use him, the more he finds it shouldn't be this way. A beautiful story on loss, oppression, imperialism, injustice, and language's role in identity. I cried.
The Memoirs of Lady Trent by Marie Brennan; Isabella, now an old woman, recounts how she became the most renowned dragon naturalist in the world--overcoming misogyny, maneuvering through politics, and more. Follow her from childhood to present day around the world, studying dragons in the field. This story has wonderful characters, critiques the "not like other girls" trope, has beautiful relationships (including platonic!), a lot of action and intrigue alongside the fascinating science, animalistic dragons, and!! SO many pictures! the artwork it's seriously incredible. Love this series
The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd Jones; around Colbren, the dead don't stay dead. Ryn, a young gravedigger, agrees to take the mysterious visiting mapmaker, Ellis, to the abandoned castle, because she needs the money to support her two siblings and in hopes of stopping the worsening curse. Ellis, found near the woods as a babe, hopes to find some remnant or clue to who his family was, who he was. together, they must face the walking dead, find the abandoned castell where this all started, find the answers, and find themselves. I adored it's tone, characters, how it handled death and grief, everything. it reads like a fairytale in the best way
The Martian by Andy Weir; Mark Wattney's an astronaut on Mars when a storm hits, forcing the mission to return to earth prematurely--but he doesn't make it to the shuttle in time, they presume him dead, and leave devastated. now alone on Mars, Wattney's got to figure out how to survive--and how to get in contact with earth and let them know, hey, uh, I'm still here guys. one of my favorite hard sci-fi books of all time. Wattney is such an entertaining, intelligent guy; he'll have you laughing, then on the edge of your seat as Mars tries its best to kill him. this one also comes with a movie :)
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn; Bree's in an early-college program, grappling with the very recent death of her mother. when she stumbles into creatures that shouldn't exist, magic, it starts to look like her mom's death might not have been an accident. she finds a secret society of the descendants of king arthur + the round table, inheriting their powers to defend the world from a different plane--and Bree needs to find out what they know. but getting in is difficult as a Black girl, especially when their guard dog is convinced she's a demon. a beautiful story on grief, Black generational trauma, racism, identity, and more. we're eagerly awaiting book three this spring <3
The Locked Tomb by Tamsyn Muir; of course I had to include this one--tonally similar to ACOD in that you WILL be confused <3. The Emperor Undying needs necromancers; Gideon doesn't give a shit, but the girl she's been raised alongside, Harrowhark, the heir of the house on their far away planet, doesn't give a shit that Gideon doesn't give a shit. She contracts Gideon to serve as her guard, her cavalier, as Harrowhark travels to the Emperor's planet to compete to become one of his right hands. Except as the competition progresses, something's...wrong. fatally, lethally wrong. people keep turning up dead, and if they don't figure this out, they could be next.
I'll stop there, but I hope you find something you like on that list! If you (or anyone else) have any more specific requests or guidelines for recs, feel free to send them :)
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youvebeenlivingfictional · 2 years ago
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Proposal
Part One of Three Years
Masterlist | Year One
Pairing: Nathan Bateman x Reader
Rating: Explicit - 18+ Only.
Length: 4.3K
Notes: ....Hi! This is the first of 2-3 fic drops. I'm hoping to push all five chapters of this fic out this weekend. Also I started writing this before the current AI market explosion. Not beta-read. Never beta-read.
Warnings: Cursing; angst; enemies to enemies who fuck; tech-talk; angst (I know I said it before but really); Nathan being Nathan
Summary: He’s shorter than you thought he’d be.
Nathan Bateman isn’t unattractive, or short, even, he’s just…Shorter. 
Of all of the things that you thought you’d feel about Nathan Bateman’s visit, surprised wasn’t what you thought would be first. Shit-scared, sure. Insanely nervous, absolutely. Surprised by his height? Not on your list.
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“This could be huge for us.” 
Jenn looks at once desperate and wild-eyed as she paces in her office. You watch her closely, taking in the dark circles under her dark eyes. Her typically California-tan skin is pallid from her recent late nights, and her days spent indoors. The company is running her ragged—and this potential seed money from Nathan Bateman is throwing her into the craziest tizzy you’ve ever seen. She sweeps her hands through her frizzed auburn hair before she raises her nails to her mouth.
“I mean,” She mutters, continuing to pace, voice muffled as she chews her nails, “If we get Bateman’s backing, that’d be great, but if I can get him on the board.” She stops finally, turning to face you, lowering her chewed nails from her mouth. “That would send us into the fucking stratosphere.” 
“...Okay,” You sit up a touch. You don’t want to be a buzzkill, but you need to bring Jenn down from the fucking stratosphere. “Nathan Bateman has scheduled a meeting. Okay? A meeting. One,” You raise your finger. 
“He’s having his team go over our numbers—” 
“I know that. He’s doing the due diligence that anyone coming in would be expected to do. Just, don’t put all of your eggs in one basket when we haven’t even gotten the basket yet.” 
“Come on,” Jenn groans. “I could be the next Steve Jobs!” 
“Yes, you absolutely could. But if you keep putting your focus on the idea stuff and not on the structure and application stuff, you’re going to be the next Elizabeth Holmes. And honey, I love you, but you do not look good in orange.” 
Jenn deflates just a little, slouching back against the windows that stretch from the floor to the ceiling. 
“...It clashes with my hair,” She grumbles. 
“I’m not saying don’t be excited at all," You insist, "I’m just saying…We’re bringing him in to talk about financing. How freaked out would you be if you went on a first date with someone and instead of asking for a second date, they said, Hey this was fun, let’s get married.”
“...Pretty freaked.” 
“Right. And asking someone to join the board is like a business-y 3.5 carat pear cut diamond on an infinity band. So. Let's schedule an All Hands, give the team a heads up, get them prepped. Before that, though, we need to get you some fucking lunch and some sunshine.” 
“You’re my sunshine.” 
“Awww,” You coo before you get up, adding, “Seriously. Get your phone and your sunglasses, we’re going out.” 
“But I have an email from prod—” 
“Production about the user profile settings set to drop at the end of the week. I know, I answered it already. Phone. Sunglasses. Lunch. Let’s go.” 
"You'll be here, right?"
You frown, shaking your head in slight confusion, and Jenn clarifies: "For his tour. You'll be here?"
You consider, glancing at your phone. If you can get the time off—but that's no guarantee.
"I'll try."
--  
When Jenn started Sc(ai)le three years ago, you’d had no idea that it would take off the way it would. You knew that Jenn was brilliant, you’d never had a doubt about that. But you couldn’t have anticipated how quickly varying industries moved to scale AI. Jenn had assembled a team of engineers, scientists, and sales reps. She trusts her teams, and they work hard to keep the company in motion.
But Jenn still insists in being very much hands-on everywhere she possibly can, sometimes to hers and the company’s detriment. She needs a Chief Knowledge officer, a Chief Information officer, and a Chief Marketing officer. She has a Chief Tech officer, a Chief Financial officer, a Chief Compliance officer, a Chief Data officer—all incredibly knowledgeable in their fields. She wants a board, too, but you’re worried that the company may still be too young for it. 
You work with the SVP of Marketing now and again, helping her to manage the way marketing materials are created, where they’re stored, and how they’re distributed. You’re working with Sc(ai)le part-time, on a temporary basis (though it’s technically been ‘temporary’ since the company started). Jenn needs an official team, with people that can work with her full-fucking-time. You have a full-time job at a separate tech company, one that’s well away from the AI space. You’d been worried their hackles would be raised when you informed them that you’d be taking a part-time position elsewhere, but they hadn’t even flinched. 
Hell, your manager had asked you if you’d be able to get them an employee discount. You may just have to take a few days off for Bateman’s visit.
You don’t blame Jenn for being so excited, or so nervous. 
Nathan fucking Bateman? This is huge. 
But if both of you have your heads in the fucking clouds, neither of you are gonna make it out of orbit. So you’ll keep yourself grounded, and bring Jenn back down to Earth if you absolutely have to. 
-- 
He’s shorter than you thought he’d be.
Nathan Bateman isn’t unattractive, or short, even, he’s just…Shorter. 
Of all of the things that you thought you’d feel about Nathan Bateman’s visit, surprised wasn’t what you thought would be first. Shit-scared, sure. Insanely nervous, absolutely. Surprised by his height? Not on your list.
You glance over at Jenn to find her tipping her chin up, slapping on her I Should Be On the Cover of Forbes smile. It’s the smile that’s brought every other investor on board. It’s the smile that’s brought on every single team member in the company. Now, you can only hope that it’ll bring Nathan Bateman into her coffers.
Where you’d typically leave Jenn to finesse any other investor, you stick close by. You trail Bateman and Jenn by a few steps as she directs him around the offices, and the facility. 
He asks a fair number of questions. A few are unexpected, but for the most part, they’re things that you and Jenn had anticipated. The three of you come to a stop overlooking a row of engineers. You don’t want to appear nonchalant, but with Bateman and Jenn focused elsewhere, you allow yourself to lean back against the wall, eyeing the room. It’s then that you see an engineer flagging you down, a harried look on her face. You glance toward Bateman and Jenn’s heads and make sure they’re distracted before you push yourself off of the wall, skirting around the two and walking over to her as calmly as possible. 
“What’s up?” You ask, crouching down beside the engineer’s desk. 
“The marketing team sent through a brief about the user profiles—” 
“Uh-huh—” 
“And there’s an error regarding the, uh—The functionality.” 
“Okay. Where’s the problem, what’s the fix?” 
“Our systems are starting at Mac- or Blue-OS compatible.” 
“But not Windows?” 
“Most of the companies we use don’t touch Windows OS anymore.” 
“But we have got a few clients that do.” 
“Yes, we’re—We’re working on it. But this can’t go out like this, it’s not correct.” 
“Okay,” You nod, mind racing through the possible, necessary fixes. “Okay. Could I use your laptop for a second?” 
“Sure.” 
The engineer starts to stand, but you wave her back into her seat, just turn the laptop toward yourself. You hurriedly log into your email on a web page, and tap out an email to the marketing SVP. 
“Mac and Blue only,” You reiterate as you type. 
“—But not Windows, yep.” 
“Do we have an expected date on Windows functionality?” 
“Q2 of next year—Maybe Q1, but—” 
“We don’t wanna over-promise and underdeliver,” You shoot the engineer a smile. “I appreciate the honesty.” 
The engineer nods hurriedly. You feel her casting a glance behind you, but you’re already turning back to the laptop, practically hammering the keys as you send out the message. You lean back, reading and rereading the message before you CC your work email, Jenn’s, and the engineer in question. Then you send it, straighten up, and sign out of the email. 
“I’ve put myself and Jenn on the email, we will take it from here. Thank you so much for flagging that—And if anything comes up, please text, email, slack me. Anything.” 
“Thank you!” 
“No, thank you,” You insist, patting her shoulder. You straighten and turn, and freeze immediately at the sight of Jenn and Bateman standing just behind you. You swallow thickly, fighting to keep a straight face. 
“I didn’t mean to hold up the tour,” You apologize. “You guys could’ve moved on, I would’ve caught up.” 
“Everything alright?” Bateman asks, nodding toward the engineer. 
“Yes. Just a little communications update.” You give them both a reassured smile. “Why don’t we continue?” You add, nodding down the hall. 
--  
“What are you doing for dinner tomorrow?” 
It’s a question that he should be asking Jenn, and that’s why your mouth works wordlessly, your brow furrowing heavily. It’s a bad look—Nathan Bateman has asked you a simple question, and you’re floundering like a landed fish. 
“Uh—Shoving something in the microwave, probably?” You manage with a shaky laugh as you put your laptop into your bag. You haven't been able to take the time off as much time as you’d hoped, and you’ll have to make up what time you have taken to keep yourself on track. “I’m working a double, so, I’ll get off shift around one in the morning.” 
“A double.” 
“...Yes? It’s when you work two shifts at—” 
“I know what a double is.” 
Jeez, of course he does. 
“Right. Sorry. You seemed—...Anyway.” 
“I seemed what?” 
Confused is the wrong word to use with this man. 
“Inquisitive?” You offer. Nathan’s brows tip impossibly higher, his chin angling down to gaze at you over the tops of his glasses. 
“One,” He finally confirms. “How’s 1:30 for you?” 
“For what?” 
“For dinner.” 
“I—I don’t think I’ve ever eaten dinner that late in my life. I don’t even go out that late anymore.” 
“But you’ll make an exception?” 
“Do I have to?” 
When he smiles, you know that you will have to. 
“I’ll send you the details.” 
That’s it. He breezes away from your desk space. He doesn’t offer to walk you to your car; he doesn’t ask you any questions about what you want to eat, or what you like to eat. He just walks away. You look after him for a moment before you look down, taking up your laptop chord and wrapping it with a mutter of, 
“Dinner at 1:30 in the morning? Not in fucking college anymore…What’s even gonna be open that late for fucking dinner?” 
You think, and then giggle. 
Maybe Nathan Bateman is going to take you to McDonald’s. 
--  
“You ever been here before?” 
“Uhh…” You peer down at the menu. It’s timeworn, and splattered with what look like gravy stains. At least—well, you hope it’s gravy. “Nope, can’t say I have.” 
The diner has a vintage bent to it. The seats are all coated in robin’s egg blue vinyl; the floor is tiled like a checkerboard; the walls are pepto-pink. There’s a jukebox in the corner, but the oldies being played in the diner are coming from a few recessed speakers in the ceiling. You glance up again as you hear Bateman shifting in his seat. He’s lounging back in his seat like he owns the damn place. 
…Maybe he does own the damn place. 
It could explain why they’re open so late, at least. There are a few other people in the diner, a ways away. Now and again, an explosive swell of cackling laughter will pass over your way before one of their party hurries to hush them. You glance back curiously as you hear one of them add, 
“Dude, you’re gonna get us kicked out again.” 
“So how long have you known Jenn?” Bateman asks. 
“Oh, gosh,” You turn back to him. “Since Kindergarten. She’s my oldest friend.” 
“You two seemed pretty close during the tour yesterday.” 
“Did we?” 
“Insomuch as you were her shadow.” 
You close your mouth, reaching for your water. You had shadowed because Jenn had asked—but you’re in no position to quibble with this man. You’ve no need, either; he goes on: 
“How was your double?” 
“It was fine.” 
“What are you working on?” 
“I work at a company that produces technical books and longform guides for—” 
“I know where you work, that wasn’t my question. What are you working on.” 
The bored, irritated tone in his voice raises your hackles, and it leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. But you swallow your annoyance in favor of giving a straightforward answer: “Right now, a quantum software engineering roadmap.” 
“Are you enjoying it?” 
“The writing can be a little dry, but the subject matter is interesting.” 
“Hm…” Bateman nods, his eyes sweeping your face curiously. You fight the urge to shift or fidget under the scrutiny of his gaze. 
Can you ask questions? Are you allowed? Why does this man make you feel like you’re in a damn interview? Your gazes break as a waitress comes over, a pad in hand and an expectant smile on her face. You instinctively offer her one in return as you order. You don’t really hear what Bateman orders; you’re too busy wracking your mind for things that came up on yesterday’s tour—pain points, questions that Jenn promised she’d get back to him on. 
“So,” Bateman’s voice snaps your focus back to him, and you arch your brows as you meet his eyes again. “In your opinion, what’s the company lacking?” 
It’s a slap of a question. Your brows manage to inch higher. Oh…God. No wonder he didn’t want to do this with Jenn around.
“Uh…” Is your initial succinct answer. You clear your throat, taking your glass up for another sip, gathering yourself. You could say that Jenn has everything she needs, save for capital. You could say that the team is rowing as one one, your little unsinkable ship, the Sc(ai)le. 
But Nathan Bateman is a genius, and a billionaire, and a man with a low tolerance for bullshit. 
“She needs a complete C-Suite,” You admit firmly as you set your glass aside. “She needs a solid, knowledgeable team behind her. We’re doing the best that we can now, and the Chief positions that she has filled are pushing the company in the right direction, but the ones that she doesn’t are slowing down growth. We need a CMO and a CKO and a CIO, like...Yesterday. We have a lot of data, and we have a lot of marketing materials—and the seniors VPs in those positions are doing the best they can, but you can only fill a leaky bucket so many times before the handle breaks. The company doesn’t have the capital to bring those positions on, and until it does, the company’s going to continue to grow at half-speed because the plane’s being flown while it's still being built."
Bateman doesn’t react for a moment. His silence makes your stomach twist with nerves; your palms are sweating. 
“I didn’t think you’d say that,” He finally says. You can’t help but laugh a little. 
“Look—I could tell you that we’re all one happy family, and that the only thing wrong is the fact that bluebirds don’t land on our shoulders and code for us—” Your stomach flips as Bateman’s lips twitch with a smile, “But you’ve already been inside. You’ve looked through our books, you’ve seen the facility. And if you’re going to go in on investment, you’re going to see the dirty laundry anyway. I may as well show you where the hamper is.” 
“You like your metaphors.” 
“It’s the writer in me.” 
Bateman’s brow quirks a touch as he nods. 
“...Why aren’t you full time?” He asks. That question throws you for a loop. You shake your head a little—like it’ll knock an answer loose. But the answer—the truth—is that you and Jenn haven’t worked well together in the past. Sure, you’re part-time now, but you hardly ever interfere with her day-to-day unless it’s to coax her out of her office to get some air or a meal. You prefer to take your time with a project, and Sc(ai)le is in a growth period where time is of the essence. 
“...It’s not…” You start, brow furrowing as you grapple for a reasonable answer, “What Sc(ai)le does, it isn’t what I do.” 
“The company has technical writers.” 
“...Yeah—” 
“It needs someone that knows how to compile the information, translate it for the average consumer—” 
“But—” 
“Just tell me they can’t afford you.”  
Your chest twinges with indignation. 
“That’s not true,” You insist. 
“So they can afford you.” 
“That’s not what I—” 
“Which one is it?” 
“You’re twisting my words, and I don’t appreciate that.” It leaves you more harshly than it should, and you damn your tone immediately. There’s no way scolding this man is gonna bring him on board. You realize that your shoulders have scrunched defensively and risen toward your ears, and you force yourself to relax them. But Nathan’s lips just twitch again, his eyes bright with amusement. 
“...Why aren’t you full-time?” He repeats. 
“I told you. This isn’t what I do.” 
“It could be.” 
You don’t want to make the concession, but the look on Bateman’s face tells you that he’s got you pinned. So you give a small, begrudging nod. 
“Hypothetically.” 
His smile widens at your confirmation. You want to smack him. 
But that really won’t bring him on board. 
--  
You expect Jenn to grill you for your time with Nathan the second you get in, but she’s grabbing your hand and hissing, “He’s here, and he’s waiting.” 
“What?” You ask dazedly, pulling your sleeve back to eye the watch face where it rests on the inside of your wrist. “He’s not supposed to be here for another two hours! I didn’t see an email—”
“He didn’t send one! He just showed up!”
You pull Jenn to a stop in the hall, slowing her with a gentle, “Whoa, whoa—Okay. Look at me.” 
Jenn stops, eyes wide, head shaking minutely as she tries to continue walking toward the conference room, insisting, “We’re already late—” 
“Slow down!” You urge. She looks stricken, and you immediately feel guilty. You take her hand in yours, giving it a squeeze before drawing in a deep breath. Jenn hesitantly does the same, pushing it out when you do. You draw in another, and are relieved as she copies you, some of the tension melting from her face as she closes her eyes. You watch her pull in and push out one more deep breath before she opens her eyes slowly, nodding. 
“Thank you,” She breathes, patting your hand before she tugs down the hall again. 
--  
“I like what I’m seeing.” 
Bateman’s assertion shouldn’t surprise you, but it does. Sc(ai)le is a good company, something that would make sense in his portfolio. But he’s so steady and calm as he peers out of the office of Jenn’s window. 
You don’t like how he’s commandeered the space behind her desk. She shouldn’t be sitting on the other side of it with you; she should be behind it, with him—or he should be on your side. 
Still, Nathan pushes himself off of the window, turning to face Jenn. His gaze flickers to you before he looks down at something laid out on the desk. 
“Your initial proposal was…Whadda we got here…” Bateman tuts as he turns a page. You think he must be dragging it out for suspense—there’s no way he doesn’t have those numbers memorized. Sure, it must be chump change to him, but it’s still a big fucking number. “One million for a fifteen percent stake in the company.” 
“That’s right,” Jenn nods. 
“I’ll give you four.” 
“...Four?” Jenn repeats dazedly. 
“Four million for what percent?” You ask before she can leap up, kiss the man on the lips, and accept. 
“Fifteen,” Bateman affirms. Your eyes narrow at him. This doesn’t feel right. He adds, “I have one condition, though.” 
“Name it,” Jenn nods. You glance at her nervously. You’re certain that if he told her to strip naked and run through the office covered in spray cheese, she’d do it right this second. 
“You come on as CKO, CIO, and CMO.”
Your brow furrows as Jenn turns to you. Who comes on? Jenn? She’s already CEO for fuckssake—
And then Jenn turns to you, eyes wide and insistent as she nods toward Bateman. Your head snaps to him, stunned. He’s waiting with that same patient, bored expression that he'd given you with all throughout dinner. 
“You want me to take on three C-Suite positions?” You ask, brows raising. “Are you that strapped for cash that you won’t spring for two more people?” 
Jenn hisses your name in warning. You know it’s the wrong thing to say, but to your surprise, Bateman just smiles and leans against Jenn’s desk. 
“Hear me out,” He waves your irritation off. “I want to roll the positions of CKO and CIO into one. Chief Knowledge and Information officer.” 
“And add Chief Marketing officer on top of them.” 
“That’s right. You’re much quicker on the uptake than you were the other night. No, it’s alright—I’m sure the double shift and the late dinner had you off your game.” 
You want to argue, but Nathan is already turning his attention to Jenn. 
“Four mill for a fifteen percent stake,” He reiterates before nodding toward you. “And her.” 
What would Jenn get if you didn’t come on? One million at fifteen? Two million at thirty? Nothing at all? You can’t bring yourself to look at Jenn just now—you know you’re getting a pleading expression. So you keep your eyes on Bateman, and his expectant expression. He knows he’s got you backed into a corner. 
“...Does this condition have a term limit?” You ask. Bateman purses his lips, seeming to think for a moment. Then he levels you with an ungodly answer:
“Three years.” 
You feel like you’ve been punched in the gut. You only just manage not to double over with it. Three years. Three years inhabiting two positions that you never wanted or asked for. Three years working with your oldest friend on her passion project, knowing that you will lock horns on approach. Three years of Nathan Bateman hanging over your head. 
You can’t face Jenn. One look at those hopeful, doe-like eyes and you’re going to fold like a house of cards. You can’t look at Bateman. One look at him and you’re going to lunge in, slap him silly, and ask what the fuck is wrong with him. 
You look down at your lap. 
Three years. Three years or what? Nathan pulls his backing? Asks for repayment? That could level the company, and everything that Jenn has worked for would disappear overnight. 
Three years. 
You don’t ask about the pay. You don’t care about that. You’re not doing badly as it is. Two C-Suite positions (well, three) would surely pay you more than you make now, but still. 
Three years. 
You’ve been considering leaving your current job. You’ve been chugging along happily, though you’ve started to get too settled, too bored. Too complacent. But you've been ducking away from management positions at job after job because you just don't want to be in charge of people. You want to be fully in the action, working on the words, not floating above them and giving them a thumbs up or a thumbs down. This isn’t like anything you’d consider throwing yourself into. 
Three years. 
This is bigger than you and Jenn. Pumping more money into this company would give Sc(ai)le the chance to expand its staff, upgrade it's tech, bring on a more comprehensive QA team.
You draw in a deep breath, giving a small hesitant nod. 
“Alright,” Leaves your mouth before you can talk yourself out of it. 
“You’ve got yourself a deal,” Bateman bats back without missing a beat. You can hear a note of triumph there, one that makes you want to reach into his throat and rip out his layrnx. Jenn is springing out of her seat, pumping Bateman’s hand enthusiastically and telling him that he won’t regret it. You’re staring down at your hands, your head and chest feeling hollow, like you’ve just been jailed for three consecutive life sentences. 
Three years. 
Bateman’s hand enters your field of vision, outstretched and patient. You eye it for a moment. 
You could still tell him to go fuck himself. But you glance up at Jenn, and find her beaming down at you. Her eyes are bright with joyful tears; her hands are clasped to keep from visibly shaking. 
You can’t tell him to go fuck himself, and he knows it.
So you suck in a deep breath and raise your hand, shaking Bateman’s without meeting his gaze. 
“We should grab a drink to celebrate,” He insists. You let go of his hand and push yourself up shakily. 
“I—Have some things I need to sort out. You two go on,” You add, slapping on an encouraging smile and turning to Jenn. 
“Sure,” Bateman concedes. “You have a letter of resignation to write.” 
You pat Jenn’s shoulder on the way out, hardly meeting Bateman's eye as you go. You get into your car, and drive back to your apartment. You mechanically unlock your door, drop your keys in the bowl by the entryway, kick your door shut. You don’t bother to turn the lights on. The sun is streaming in through your front window with a vengeance. You walk over to your bar cart and take up a bottle of whiskey. You don’t bother with a glass. You just plop into your favorite armchair and curl up. You don’t cry. You don’t scream. You just stare blankly at the wall. 
Three years. 
Next Part: Year One
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bornangelauthor · 1 year ago
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TLDR: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy books from Indie Author On SALE
TLDR:
If you like Good Omens, Harry Dresden, Anita Blake, Sookie Stackhouse, Vampire Academy, Mortal Instruments, Dark/Dream Hunters, House of Night, Mercy Thompson, and other Paranormal/Urban Fantasy books:
Please, go visit my website!
I'm running the preorder of the Next Kalista Chronicles book and 25-30% off book bundles. 25% off series and 30% when you buy all 7 of ANY FORMAT. (eBooks are DRM FREE)
Long version:
KALISTA CHRONICLES, book 4: AN ANGEL'S ADVENT (aka "the Christmas Book") is currently up for preorder UNTIL DEC 1ST over on my website linked above. It releases on my birthday, December 17th.
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All formats are available and all physical copies will be signed. For this book (and possibly others to come): I am going to be giving an eBook for every physical book order as it can sometimes take up to a month for me to get the books and ship them out after release date (mostly for hardcovers).
This series is Paranormal Fantasy and "closed door" Paranormal Romance with some crime thriller undertones. Book 4 is a lot heavier on the romance, than the crime and trauma.
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THE KALISTA CHRONICLES is about Kalista Angelic, who is a Born Angel, which basically means her dad is an Angel and her mom is partly human. She is the prophesied heir of her father and the next ruler/leader of all Preternaturals. It is a "grow with me" series and started out as "Young Adult" with A Born Angel and became "New Adult" with the last book "A BROKEN REDEEMER."
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I'm currently running a "book Bundle" sale over on my website until January 1st.
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You can get all 4 books of the KALISTA CHRONICLES for 25% off (basically buy 3 get 1 free) in ALL FORMATS (Ebook, paperback, and hardcover). You can also get my adult series, THE CREATED ANGEL CHRONICLES, which intertwines with Kalista's books around book 15-16 (ish).
THE CREATED ANGEL CHRONICLES does bring the spice in book 3 and YES, it is on the page and to quote my editor who is an AVID reader:
"It's classy not raunchy spice."
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They are both set in an Alternate Universe where Angels and Demons (the broader term for anything non-human yet not an Angel) live semi-harmoniously alongside humans.
You can find a list of triggers and content warnings for each book over on my website as well:
Also, if you'd like to read a sample of the books you can find them on my website too! Their are five chapters of the first book of both series there.
If you've actually scrolled down this far:
~ THANK YOU!~
& I hope you have a great holiday season (better than I'm having as my Uncle died last Thursday and we had the funeral today) but for your patience, and time, here is a picture of some of the characters you'll meet in the Born Angel Universe:
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eureka-its-zico · 1 year ago
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Once again, I'm passing by to leave two songs I associate with CITB for some reason. I'm not sure if you'll share my sentiments, but I'm waiting for your opinion <333
So, the first one is "Eye of the Storm" by Ivy & Gold. It really hits close to how deep Zoro and Doc's connection is, despite not spending a lifetime together. And "don't let me fall" feels like something both of them would say to each other. (Zoro's "and what about me?" RUINED me)
Then, we've got "Moment" by Roses & Revolutions. It makes me think of Doc's downfall because she's definitely going through it at the moment. And nothing is working for her and the fact that she's being tortured still makes me rage (I could compete with Zoro by this point cause I'm ANGRY). She's constantly trying to remind herself to stay sane, not to get lost in her own anger, but it's getting harder and harder to believe there's a way out of that shit show (even of I'm sure deep down she knows they'll save her and Nami). I'm not entirely sure about this song's vibe fitting your fic, but I still wanted to let you know about it <3
By the way, how are you feeling? How have you been, Jenn? I genuinely hope you're taking care of yourself <333 Sending you lots of hugs.
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Naoooomi!
Have you somehow found a way to know what I’m writing 👀👀👀 because Eye of the Storm goes so perfectly with a few scenes I was working on and Moment just feels like a good ending song? Like when they’re all on the boat getting ready to sail towards the grand line (before future madness ensues).
Honestly, your song choices are somehow always spot on to what is going on in the chapters, or close to it, and it is both incredible and scary all at the same time lol. I appreciate you sending me such great songs to add to this playlist for the chapter!!
What I love the most is that you heard these and thought of the characters and what they are going through and that says a lot. It means a lot, and I love where it took you and into what scenes.
As for me, I started to get sick again, but I’m trying to take care of it. How are you, darling?? I hope you are doing well and taking care of yourself 🖤 sending you lots of love and hugs 🥰
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