#i’m tired and i was bitching w a friend about this earlier but good grief.

[shorthaltsjester]

when people think delilah just completely takes over and laudna has no control. when people think jester is just an uwu child who has been manipulated by every man she’s met. when people think vex is an empty husk of daddy issues without her brother by her side. when people think fjord is an arrogant asshole who doesn’t pay attention to the party around him. when people think scanlan saying that vox machina doesn’t care about him is an accurate assessment.

[firefly464]

The Real World - Chapter 10

OH SHIT WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT SOME WHOLESOME FRIENDSHIP MOMENTS???? Hell yeah wholesome friendship moments. I love the wholesome friendship moments

enjoy it while it lasts :D

Made in collaboration with @i-have-this-now​ Thank you to @rivys​ for beta reading!

Master Post

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~~~

Tubbo was sitting next to the small pond in the middle of L’manberg, staring into the water. Fish darted through the swaying grass, creating small ripples in the otherwise still surface. He heard the grass rustle behind him and didn’t need to look to know it was his closest friend. 

Tommy sighed. “Hey Big T.” His voice was subdued, filled with a type of grief. Tubbo looked up, eyes full of concern. “Hey man, you alright?” 

“Yeah… Yeah I’m good.” Tommy plopped down in the grass next to Tubbo and stared into the water. “Look, there's something I need to tell you. Just… Just promise me you won’t freak out, ok? At least not until I’ve had a chance to explain myself.” “Ok? Whats up?” 

Tommy took a deep breath. He couldn’t help but be terrified of how Tubbo would react to the news. He didn’t want to lose his best friend… “I’m… I’m not your Tommy,” he admitted. He spoke slowly, as if each word was chosen carefully. 

Tubbo furrowed his brow. “What? What do you mean?” 

“I mean, I’m still Tommy, but just not the same Tommy. Does that make sense?”

“Kinda?”

Tommy let out a sigh, before telling his best friend the whole story. He explained how he was ripped away from his home, how he had woken up here with an arrow in his chest, how he had experienced the war through a screen. It was similar to what had happened with George, except this time he had no one to back him up. There was no one there to vouch for him, and all he could do was hope that Tubbo would trust him. 

When he was finished, there were tears in his friends' eyes. “So… You’re telling me that you’re from another world? And that my Tommy might be dead?”

“Yeah.” 

“Tommy, how long have you been hiding this from us?” 

“Two weeks maybe? It happened during the bow duel.”

“You’ve been away from your home for two weeks, and you didn’t say anything?

“I’m sorry… I should have told you what was happening. I’m really sorry. I just… I didn’t know what to say.”

“Have you been dealing with this all alone for the past two weeks?” 

“I mean, not really… The same thing happened to Dream, so I’ve been talking with him. George has been teaching us sword fighting.” he shrugged 

“Tommy…” Tubbo reached up and wiped away the tears that were starting to fall. “Tommy, why did you wait so long to tell me? Damn it, I should have noticed sooner. I should have been there to help you” 

“W-what? Tubbo I just told you that your best friend could potentially be dead because of me, and that's what you’re worried about?”

“You’re still Tommy, aren’t you? You may not be the same Tommy that tried to scare me after I first arrived, or the Tommy that broke his arm while trying to build the wall, but you’re still my friend.”

“But… But what about your Tommy…?” Tubbo shrugged “I trust that he’s still alive. I feel like I would know if something happened to him. Besides, he’s too stubborn to die in such a stupid way.”

Tommy could feel his eyes start to water. He hastily reached up and wiped away the tears “I… thank you big man. Thank you so much”

Tubbo turned and gave his friend a hug “Yeah, no problem. We’re gonna get you home, ok? We’re gonna find a way to get you back home.”

The tears flowed freely down his cheeks. How long had it been since he had last been comforted like this? Since someone had actually promised to help him get home? Suddenly, he realized just how lonely the past two weeks had been. Being forced to act as though nothing was wrong, and that he didn’t desperately want to return home had taken a toll on him. His only release was late at night while sparring with Dream and George, but that only lasted for a few hours. The rest of the time, he had felt completely and desperately alone. So finally having the chance to actually talk to someone felt so relieving. 

They sat like that for a long time. Exactly how long, Tommy wasn’t sure. By the time he finally moved, his tears had long since dried. 

“So, where are you going to go?” Tubbo asked him.

Right. He had almost forgotten about his banishment. “I’m not sure. I might go and stay with Dream for a bit. I really don’t want to live alone for now.”

“That makes sense. Do you need help gathering your stuff together?” 

“I mean, I didn’t exactly have much. But you can come along if you want. I wouldn’t mind the company.” 

As the two friends walked back to the small wooden shed, Tubbo couldn’t help but go over the past two weeks in his mind. What he could have done differently. Things that he should have noticed. Ways he could have helped. 

“Hey big T, you alright?” Tommy asked as they stepped inside the small building. 

“Yeah I’m good. Just thinking.”

“Alright… let me know if you need anything, ok?”

“Yeah. Yeah I will. Thank you.” 

~~~

About an hour later, Tommy and Tubbo found themselves knocking on the door of Dream’s base, each of them holding a chest full of items. 

“Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, I know that you trust him, but our Dream did some really messed up stuff…” Tubbo muttered, feeling extremely uneasy about Tommy’s plan of staying with Dream. He knew that it was irrational, especially if Tommy was right about this being a different Dream, but that didn’t exactly do anything to help his anxiety. 

“Yeah. I’m not sure what exactly the other Dream did to you guys, but this Dream is a really chill guy, I swear.” 

“Ok… I trust you…” he didn’t feel totally sure, but he knew that he trusted his best friend. If Tommy trusted Dream, then so did Tubbo. 

The door to the base creaked open, revealing a disheveled man behind it. Tubbo instinctively tensed, unable to shake the feeling of fear. However, a closer look at Dream made it pretty obvious that he wasn’t exactly dangerous. In fact, it looked as though he had just gotten out of bed. His blonde hair was a complete mess, as if he hadn’t been bothered to comb it. Dark circles rested underneath his eyes as he gave them a tired glare. “What do you want?” his voice was sluggish and drowsy.

“Ok I know this is- wait. Did you just wake up? Dude it’s like noon. Why the hell were you still sleeping?” Tommy asked, clearly trying to hold in a laugh.

“Oh I don’t know, maybe because I’ve been staying up until 3 am every day for the past two weeks training?” It was only then that he finally noticed Tubbo’s presence. “Uhhh I mean… Fuck. It's too early for this.” he ran a hand through his already messy hair.

“Yeah Tubbo knows by the way. Kinda the reason why we’re here.”

“Uhh, hi?” Tubbo gave a small little wave, trying to control the fear that was stirring in his gut. 

“Jesus christ… alright come on in. You have a lot of explaining to do.”

About 10 minutes later, the three of them sat inside Dream’s base. In Dream’s hands was a vial of blue liquid. As Tubbo and Tommy watched, he poured a few drops into a small bottle of water. “Are you… Are you drinking a speed pot?” Tubbo asked, his voice quiet and nervous. He still didn’t want to anger Dream, despite Tommy’s reassurance that it was fine.

“It’s about the closest thing to coffee I’ve got here,” he said with a deadpan voice. Tubbo just stared at him in confusion. 

“Coffee is something that people drink to help wake themselves up in our world. It's bitter and gross and I don’t understand how people like it,” Tommy explained. 

“You’re just an uncultured child who doesn’t understand these things,” Dream said as he took a sip of the water. 

“And you’re just a bitch,” he grumbled.

Dream rolled his eyes. “So what exactly happened? Why do you have all your stuff with you? Why does Tubbo know about what happened?” 

Tommy launched into an explanation as to what had happened earlier that day. His breath caught as he explained what Wilbur had told him, and the way that he had been banished. It hadn’t really sunk in until just then what had happened, and the weight of it all was crashing down on him hard. His eyes started to water, but he hastily brushed away the tears. No. He had already cried enough today. He needed to be focused on a solution. Tubbo placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to comfort him. Tommy gave his friend a grateful smile and pushed onwards. 

By the time he had finished his story, Dream was looking at him in shock. “Wait so he actually kicked you out?” 

“Yeah… Yeah he did.” 

“Damn. Ok… I mean, yeah sure you can stay here if you need. Is Tubbo staying here as well?” 

“Uh, n-no sir. I was just helping Tommy with his stuff…” He stammered. 

Dream let out a laugh “Did you just call me sir? Wow, ok I didn’t realize I was that old”

Tubbo looked down in embarrassment. Right. This was a different person. He needed to remember that. His eyes were fixed upon the small pile of Tommy’s tools and weapons that was in the corner. “S-sorry…” He muttered. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed. “H-hey Tommy? Why is your bow blinking?” 

“What?” Tommy’s eyes snapped to the pile. Sure enough, on the grip of his enchanted bow, was a small blinking red light. 

~~~

“Dream, I need to ask you a few questions,” Wilbur said into his mic. He had just gotten off the phone with Tommy and Tubbo, and had decided to go directly to Dream for answers. 

“Like what?” Dream said in a casual tone. 

Despite everything, Will couldn’t help but feel a small sense of relief at his friends voice. It was the first time he had actually spoken to Dream since his disappearance, so hearing his voice again was definitely a weight off his shoulders. “What did you do to Tommy?” He asked, forcing his voice to be calm and even. 

A brief pause. “What do you mean?” 

Of course Dream would try to play dumb. Wilbur had expected it to be the case. He had prepared for it. “Tommy just told me and Tubbo exactly what happened. I simply want to hear both sides of the story.” Will figured that if Dream was cornered, he would have an easier time admitting to what happened. 

Another pause, longer this time. Dream couldn’t help but chuckle to himself. A sadistic smile of excitement stretched across his face. “That little snitch…” he said quietly. “Alright, you know what? I’m feeling generous. You can tell Tommy that he’s got 48 hours before I make my move. 48 hours to try and figure out how to say goodbye.” A low, menacing laugh emerged from Wilbur’s speakers “I look forward to seeing his next course of action is”

“W-what? What the fuck are you on about?”

“The timer is ticking Wilbur. I recommend you start acting.” The call ended. 

Wilbur sat in his chair for what felt like forever, trying to figure out what had just happened. Dream had been blackmailing Tommy. He had been threatening something, and Will had very likely just made him follow through with that threat. Fuck. He needed to tell Tommy. He needed to figure out the full story. Quickly, he went in and joined the private call with Tommy and Tubbo. 

“Dream said you have 48 hours, Tommy wh- wait, why is Eret here?” He asked. Eret was quickly booted from the call by Tubbo. 

“Sorry about that. Tommy wanted to talk with him. What’s up Wilbur?” 

“I… I fucked up. I really fucked up. Tommy, I need you to tell me exactly what Dream did. And don’t you fucking dare tell me that you don’t remember.”

“What…? Wilbur what did you do? What did he say?” Tommy asked, his voice frantic. He was still shaken after the exchange with Eret, and Wilbur’s behavior wasn’t exactly helping. 

“I don’t know! All he said was that you have 48 hours until he makes his move, and then he left. I figured you would know what he meant.”

“No… No no no this can’t be happening. Fuck…! Fucking hell do you have any idea what you just did Wilbur?! You just fucking killed them all! Everyone! He’s going to fucking kill them now because of you! Tubbo, Will, Fundy, all of them! Everyone I knew and loved is now going to die because of your fucked up curiosity!” He yelled. He couldn’t believe that it was actually happening. If only he had never followed Dream in the first place. Then, none of this would be happening. He would still be at home. His friends wouldn’t be in danger. Everyone would still be safe. 

“Tommy, Tommy! Calm down!” Wilbur said, trying to keep up. 

That only made the panic worse. Those were the exact same words that Wilbur had told Tommy when he had challenged Dream to the duel. The exact same words that had only served to fuel his rage and anger. All of that rage and anger came flooding back to him. “No! No I’m not going to calm down when the people I care for are about to die because of you! My fucking home is going to be destroyed in a few days because of you!” 

“Tommy, no one is going to destroy your house. Take a deep breath”

“I’m not talking about this fucking house!! I’m talking about my world! The world that all of you treat like it’s a fucking game! Well guess what? It’s not a game. There are people living there. People who are just trying to live their lives. People who are sick of living in fear. People like me.”

A silence fell over the call as Tubbo and Wilbur processed exactly what their friend was saying. “What are you talking about…?” tubbo asked softly. His voice was filled with hurt and disbelief, as if he didn’t want to believe what his mind was telling him. 

“Do I have to spell it out for you?! I’m not from this world, Tubbo! I’m not the same Tommy that you knew a month ago. That Tommy is gone. And because of you, he’s likely going to die.” He spat out. God, what was he doing? His friends were in danger and here he was, yelling at people that had done nothing but try to help and give support. 

Wilbur gasped as the pieces clicked into place. Every strange action, each weird conversation from the past week came back to him. “You’re from the SMP, aren’t you?”

Tommy let out a cry of outrage “Don’t you fucking dare associate my name with the Dream SMP! I didn’t fight in a fucking war just to be grouped in with those bastards. I didn’t risk my fucking life for people to associate me with them!”

“Right, right. I’m sorry. You’re from L’manberg. Not the SMP. My mistake.” Will said immediately. The last thing that he needed was this other Tommy angry at him. Especially if what he said about their Tommy being in danger was true. “God, that makes sense. That makes so much sense. Oh my god that's why you freaked out over the clip of Eret!” 

Tommy felt every muscle in his body tense at the name. “What you showed me was a walk in the park compared to what actually happened. He fucking drugged us all, and then Dream came out and taunted us. I still have nightmares about it…” 

“Anyways! Maybe we shouldn’t talk about that right now!” Tubbo said hastily. He didn’t want his friend to have another PTSD episode, especially now that he knew why it was so bad. “You uh, you said that Dream was going to do something?” 

“Yeah. Yeah I did. So… in this world, my world is just a game that you run on a server, right?”

“Yeah…?”

“It was the same in my world. The entire universe was connected to a single computer that Dream found. With the right command, it could do whatever he wanted. Change memories, create objects out of thin air, hell, even teleportation.” 

“Which is how you managed to get here… right?” 

“Exactly. Apparently the computer was connected with another computer that he found here. I think it belonged to the other Dream?”

“That makes sense… Dream hosted the server…” 

Tommy took a deep breath. “He told me that if I… If I told anyone what had happened he would delete the server. And considering how everything else about my world and this server is connected, I’m about 99% sure that doing so would destroy my world, and kill everyone in it.”

~~~

Master Post

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[eerythingisshaka]

Some Weeks Are Better Than Others Pt. 6

(”...Y’all want communication but here you go doing the exact opposite.”)

*Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3* *Part 4* *Part 5*

M’Baku x Reader

Word Count: 4k

Plot:  You and M’Baku have to be apart for a business trip you are taking.  Leaving him sucks for you both, but career is important and he supports.  But the trip is a lot more than a test of your value to your job, but to your relationship as well.  

*Previously*

“You definitely need to let her chill until either tomorrow or when she gets back.  She won’t hear a damn thing from you when she can’t see you, eh?  She won’t listen for sincerity, so let her chill.”

M’Baku nods, “You’re probably right.  I just can’t believe all the shit I been through today.”

You start to walk, fast and hard.

“Wait, (Y/N)!  What did you say!  What are you talking about!” Niecy calls after you, jogging to keep up.

You push open the exit door to a vacant hallway and raise your hands above your head to keep yourself from fainting out of breath.  Niecy comes in after you.

“(Y/N) talk to me, what happened?”  Niecy comes behind you to tap your shoulder.

“No!  Niecy, please, I don’t want to do this right now!”  You exclaim, tears starting to fall.

“Oh honey, please.  I want to help you.  I can’t leave you looking like this.”  

You lean against the wall, sliding down the cold glossy paint, sitting on the floor.

Niecy takes the opposite wall in front of you to sit.   “I’ll stay here as long as you need to get your emotions out.”

You look down the hall away from Niecy, tears keep coming though you’re stone faced.  Your heartbeat feels weak as the call keeps playing over and over in your head.  He said he was doing something with her while you would be gone.  What excuse could he have for that?  

You swallow hard to clear your voice, trying to control the trembling.

“He….had another girl…”  you say.

“What do you mean?  How do you know?”  Niecy asks softly.

“....pick up the phone…” you say.

Niecy asks, “A girl answered?”  You nod.  “Ok, uh, you sure it wasn’t family?”

You chuckle at the question, “None of his family is that soft spoken.”

Niecy sighs, “Ok, did she say anything?”

“I think she apologized?  Playing dumb maybe?”  you say trying to remember.  Your phone rings as M’Baku’s name appears on your screen.  You swipe to decline it, picking it up to send him a cease and desist message.

“Is he calling back?”  You nod.  “You need to pick up!  Talk to him so you can get his story of what the hell is going on!”

You stop typing to think on this.  “There’s nothing to say right now, man.  I don’t need to be the bigger person here!  I’m away and he has bitches picking up his gotdamn phone!”  Your voice fills the hallway like it was God’s.  You catch emotion in your throat again as your eyes well over again.  Covering your mouth to choke back your sobs, your phone starts to ring again.   You feel nauseous at the thought of talking to him now, but you close your eyes, take a deep breath and answer the call.

“M’Baku?” You say.

“Yeah, hello love, you forget about me?” he sounds disgustingly chipper.

“Oh, no, who could?  Did you forget me?”  You say, wiping a stray tear away, voice quivering.

“No, never.  What’s wrong?”  he can tell you’re upset.  Anyone could tell at this point.

You clear your throat chuckling to sound light, “Nah, it’s all good.  You got company, I’ll talk to you later.”

“How did you know I had any company?”  He asks suspiciously.  There he goes questioning you instead of explaining himself.

You laugh at his question, anger builds up as you think about what secrets he is hiding, “Why didn’t you tell me your had any?!  But let me fall back, you showed me not to question who you drag up in our damn house, so let me think of YOUR feelings and not ask who the FUCK was the BITCH that picked up your FUCKING PHONE!”  The echo of the hallway gives your fury extra hellfire.

M’Baku starts on you, “Who are you screamin-”

“FUCK OFF!”  you bellow, tossing your phone to the side.  

Niecy looks at you wide eyed without  a word.

You feel an avalanche of grief come over you as you hug your knees, ugly crying it out.  Every time your phone rings you jump, feeling him near and wanting to be so far away.  You text him a message to leave you alone and the calls finally cease.  You calm yourself too as you feel your breakfast starting to work up and the heat in your face starts up some sweat to make for the epitome of a salty mix.

“Hun, did you see any of this coming before now?”  Niecy asks.

You speaky between gasps. “I told him...about training….instagram hoes….now look,”

“Ah, right, he is a personal trainer?  So does he play dumb with you or try to reason with you about who he trains?”

“He just tells me…..no one compares,” your puffy eyes well up again, “That it’s just business and he only loves me.”

“Oh come on, now.  It’s gonna be alright.  Don’t upset yourself more.”

You go on, upset, “He said he loved this fat ass, and now look at this shit!  I’m so fucking tired or lies and secrets and bullshit from him.”  

“Has he lied to you about things before?  Been unfaithful before?”

“I never suspected him.  I just watch people he interacts with.  His friends are all playboys, he works with a lotta models, he gets hit on incessantly and right in front of me!”  You say, feeling sicker by the moment.   He had so many damn opportunities.  “I just don’t know what I should do.”

Niecy nods, “Ok.  Now I don’t know him from Adam right?  So I won’t give a definitive ‘toot it or boot it’.  But I know you gushed about this guy earlier so much, I know he is a great catch.”

You sit playing with your nails.

Niecy continues, “And you talked to me about how you demand a lot of him to a fault.  You are quick to judge and bite, slow to communicate in a careful manner?  So, just remember the good he has, who he is and dissect the truth with that.  And mind you, you haven’t heard his full side of the story yet so, this space is probably the best time for something like this to pop up cuz you have time to cool off.”

You think over what Niecy had to say.  M’Baku has been one in a million to you.  He praises you for your looks, personality, and credits you for his drive and maturity.  Plus he never lets up on piping you down so you honestly couldn’t see him having the stamina to pass it around elsewhere.  You still couldn’t bring yourself to call him back due to timing and pride.  

You say with a drag, “Yeaaaah, I see you,  Niecy, I just can’t do this now though,  I’ll deal with it when I get back home.  I am spent emotionally and physically and I have nothing kind to think about saying right now.”

“And when you have nothing nice to say, don't say nothing at all!  Plus you could dig a deeper hole for yourselves,”  Niecy says.

You point at her, “Bingo!”  You get up swiping any dust off your behind.  “Thanks for listening.  God, you are the best thing to happen to me on this trip.”

Niecy smiles, “Oh girl, you puttin up with me is the blessing.  I’m just trash with a little professional leverage.  But you are a great person and friend.”

You all hug as a door opens to the hallway and a loud mouth person is talking on the phone.

“Uh-huh, no I got that cleared up at the clinic real quick so I’m telling you, that one ain’t one of the bad ones.”  

You and Niecy break from your hug and look up to see Shay, whose laugh fills the hall around you like Wicked Witch of the East.  

“Oh, I gotta call you back.  So y’all up in here huh?  Are y’all janitorial?  Cafeteria?  Cuz I'm getting you fired today.”

You step to Shay, “Fuck outta here.  The we are participants in the conference apparently just like your raggedy ass.”

Niecy grabs your arm, “Shay is it?  What region do you work in?”

“Eastern bitch.  Crackneck County to be exact and your Dexter’s Lab looking ass is the FIRST to be mine for fucking up my hair with that water you sprayed.”  Shay says venomously.

Shay smiles unphased, “Well what won’t go over well is if I, an HR exec, reports of an employee targeting another employee with homophobic epithets.”

Shay screws her face up, “W-what did you s-”

Niecy steps up to her.  What she lacked in stature, she made up for in attitude and power.  “I said what I said.  The disgusting language you used to describe me and my friend based on your prejudice assumptions were shameful and threatening.  So, it’s your word against mine and thank God I have truth on my side.  And if you want to keep harassing (Y/N)”  she says pointing back at you.  “....all she has to do is say a word and your ass is better count on a plan B for employment, understand?”

Shay looks down at Niecy, fuming but calming down for her own sake.  “Ok then.”  Shay looks at you and says with a neck roll,  “We good, then.”

You stomp towards her, Niecy promptly cutting you off.  “You take your ass on, you dirty ass, Maury guest lookin, cousin fucker ass bitch!”  

Shay’s mouth goes agape before she huffs and walks on out.

“Getchu some new dick in ya life witcho salty unsatisfied broken pussy havin hoe!”  you yell after her at the very to of your lungs.  Your heartbeat reaches your forehead as you are filled with anger.  

Niecy rubs your back, “Ok, ok.  I couldn’t protect you from an assault charge but you gave her a good tongue lashing.  That was good.”

You heave, breath heavy from the spew of insults you delve out.  The heaves turned into sobs once again as you cover your mouth to suffocate the feelings of rejection, pain, mistrust that fell heavy on your mind.  You didn’t know what M’Baku was into, but the way he made you feel at this moment was something you couldn’t take and the thought of seeing him for the first time ever filled you’re with dread.  

The rest of the conference day is a blur.  You got through it in a haze; your body on autopilot as your mind ran wild.  Mostly of him being in bed with another woman, you and his bed.  He smiles lovingly in the face of someone more beautiful, capable of appreciating all of him.  You did love him, so damn much.  But not all relationships last forever and maybe this was just a ‘lesson learned’ one.  

You go back to your room jaded and exhausted.  Kicking your shoes off you fall to our bed.  You feel thirsty, dehydrated from the lack of fluids replacing your tears but you found the suffering to be of comfort, succumbing to the gloom.  Your phone vibrates once: a text came in.  Your heartbeat picks up on cue.  Your state of sulking would not allow your heart to open up for apologies, explanations, or at worse: blame.  You don’t want to look at it, but the curiosity was too much to bear.  You didn’t want to spark a read receipt so you check who it is.  A wave of relief falls over you as you see Niecy’s name flash across the screen.

Hey girl.  I’m finished for the day, so I could use a drink and I think you could too.  Meet me at the hotel bar?

Drinking definitely fit your depressive state right now so you were eager.  Sure, just let me get a nap in and I’ll see you around 9.

You turn over closing your eyes, red and puffy from the days events.  You sigh deeply but your lungs feel congested.  You have an ache in your shoulders from hunching over.  You feel hollow more than human, taking on all of your sorrow inside with little relief inside.  That drink couldn’t come soon enough.

You wake up hours later.  Stretching makes your joints crack uncomfortably and your feel more exhausted than when you went down.  Every bit of you wanted to cancel on Niecy but you needed a drink and a good time to get your mind off of things.  You get up slowly and walk to the sink in the bathroom. Taking a paper cup, you fill it with water and drink it hastiy.  You feel it absorb into your tired body, energy picking up within you.  

Looking in the mirror, you spray a leave in to awaken your curls, clean your face to add a little makeup for a natural look.  Staring at yourself you look over your features, loving every blemish, crease, melanated hue that covers your face.  You grow defiant at how stupid someone could be to choose someone else over you, sneaking around on THIS for what?  Throwing away three years with this good good on demand for some second hand snatch?  No.  Digging through your clothes, you decide tonight you’re dressing to the nines.  You wanna nothing but a penile standing ovation when you walk into the room.  Putting your best assets on display, if M’Baku wasn’t going to enjoy this, someone will.

You make it to the lobby seeing Niecy sitting there chatting up the bartender as they were ld pals by now.  The bartender must’ve signaled your arrival as Niecy turned to see you, jaw dropping.

“Girl!  Did you visit the House of Heaux Couture before getting here??  Where did this dress come from?”  she says shooketh.

You sit down, looking unphased.  “I don’t even know why I packed this but I needed it now.”  You ask the bartender for a drink.

Niecy nods as she knocks back another sip of her drink. “Ahh, so this is the revenge dress.  Ok girl, I see you!  So does that mean you’re-”

You cut her off, “It means I am not worried about nothing but a good time tonight.”  The bartender slides your drink to you.  “Here’s to loving life, looking good, and bitches staying out of my damn way.”  You and Niecy clink glasses

A couple doubles in, you start slurring you appreciation to Niecy.  “Girl.  I have gotta say, you are the baddest bitch I ever met.  I hope you don’t mind me calling you a bitch.”

Niecy leans on her hand looking at you, “Mm-mm.  We reclaimed bitch, bitch.  Don’t even worry.”

You nod vigorously, “I have sooooo much respeck for ya.  I can’t wait to grow up and be you someday.”

Niecy caps a hand on your knee, “No, you can be so much better than me.”

“No I can’t.”  

Niecy shakes her head, “Nah, nah, none of that.  You have an ass load of potential in you.  I can see that drive, the gumption to get shit done.  You just have to make that energy into something you really care about.”

You look at your drink sullen faced.  “I used to care about a lot but then it goes and fucks an Instagram bitch.  And I mean bitch in the traditional way.”

Niecy points at you, “Ah yes, the female dog.  Attracting all the non-neutered dogs and shotgunning there kids in right and left.”

You face goes long, “Oh God, what if she’s pregnant?”

Niecy chokes, “What??”

“The girl he fucking around with.  What if he got her pregnant?  That’s why he comfortable having her in my house.  If he’s having her baby, he definitely through with me.”  You say as you take down your drink at the thought.  The once smooth drink, felt like shards going down.

“Ok, we’re done here.”  Niecy slaps some money on the bar.  “Smitty, my man!  Always a pleasure.”

“It’s Joseph, ma’am.”  The bartender says.

“Well give that tip to Smitty then, he was more fun.  But WE are going to the club to dance this out.  No more conspiracy theories, relationship talk, none of that.”  Niecy says, dragging your arm to pull you off your stool.

The club was hopping today as the playlist had some Megan thee Stallion on rotation.  Turned into exactly what you needed as the lyrics of taking niggas and fucking up bitches fit your current mindset of not giving a fuck.  Niecy hyped you up as you confidently dropped some impromptu choreography as you mouthed the words in your personal one woman show.  

As the song ends, some KOD by J. Cole begins to bump.  You start to feel it but before you can get into it, the crowd begins to move.  You and Niecy look around the people as you see why space is being made.  You feel the ground bump before you see them.  Some guys are stepping in the middle of the floor, using the dancefloor like its a probate.  They move their shoulders and hips with such fluidity before switching it up to some hard hitting stomps, jerking their bodies in coordination with strength and grace.  One of the men catch your eye as the gu you dance with the night before.  His locs flop on top of his head, gold flashing as he growls on cue with his brothers.  You point this out to Niecy who nods knowingly.  The song ends and the crowd erupts at their showmanship.  As the crowd congregates again, Niecy pulls you to her.

“So, you tryna go and talk to him or what?”

“Him?  Uhhh…”

Niecy waves, jumping and shouting to get his attention.  Your liquid courage drains as you sober up at the thought of him noticing you.  You make your way to the bar before she succeeds.  Requesting a drink from the bartender was hellish compared to the hotel bar.  So many people gone out there mind, crowding the bar with their nonsense.

“Whatchu drinkin?”  a voice asks.

You look and see the guy from earlier.  Dammit, Niecy.

“Hey, uh I would love to get a rum and coke but that’s not happening any time soon from the looks of things.”  You say patting the bar impatiently.

He looks down the bar, “Yeah, it looks that way.  You really want that drink?”

You look at him suspiciously, “I mean I want one, but I don’t need it that bad.”

He scratches his beard looking at you cooly, “I can get you something, but you just gotta trust me a little bit.”

You scoff at his suggestion.

He smiles licking his lips.  “If you can trust a complete stranger to get you a drink at a bar, I promise it’ll be good.”

You smile shaking your head.  What would you be getting into if you said yes.  

You shrug, “Aight.”

He raises his eyebrows, “For real?”

You nod, “Mhm.”

“Ok, when I put you on this bar, I need you to show out.”

You look at him skeptical, “What?”

“One, two, three.”  He grabs you up to sit you in the bar.  On cue you get up and strut across the bar.  Trina was playing and luckily you could act up to the song properly as Killin You Hoes blasted and the crowd cheered at your performance.  You gave the full gambit: pointing at the crowd, touching hands, dropping it low as you click clacked across the soaked wood.  The bartender was yelling at you to get down and you look for your guy.  He was a few feet ahead of you, waving for you to come down.  You go over to him reaching out as he lifts you down.

“Ok, come on!”  He takes your hand and leads you through the hoards of people and out the club.  

You trot behind him until y’all find a quiet corner with a bus stop bench.  You plop down to catch your breath and rest your feet.

“Oh my God.  What the fuck was that about?  I thought you were getting the drink.”

He reaches into his pants to pull out a half bottle of white rum.

“You stole?!”  You exclaim.

He chuckles,”Nah princess.  This here is reparations.”  He twists the top off and takes a swig, passing it off to you.

You take it, wiping the mouth off with the hem of your dress before drinking.  The liquid warms your gut as you fill it.

“Woo, girl.  Taking it to the head.  Here, give me that back.”  He takes it and sets it under the bench.  “So nobody pulls over questioning us.”

You nod feeling the cloudy drunkenness taking over.  “Ahh, you smart.”

He leans back with an arm over the bench.  “I know.  So what’s your story?”

You squint at him, “What you talkin bout, Willis?”   You pull your heels off, rubbing the soles of your feet, making you groan with relief.  He sees you do this and takes one foot on your lap.

“Hey hey!  Ask me before you do some shit like that.  Bout to display my whole crotch to the damn city.

He’s rubbing your foot unbothered.  “Well shiet, my bad.”  He smirks at you, “What’s a pretty thing like you up in the club doing bar dances for drinks for?  You got a day gig?”

You cover your face ugly laughing, “First of all, that was your damn idea.  Second, I do, but that’s none of your concern.”

“You got a man though, right?”  He asks.

You scoff, “Yeeup.”  

“You don’t sound happy bout it though.”  he says massaging your other foot.

You moan at the new sensation, fresh blood working through your feet.  “Yeah, well I ain’t been happy right now.  I think he cheated on me.”

“Oh shit!  You catch him or he tell you?”

“Caught him.  Not in an act but a girl picked up the phone.”  you say scratching your scalp.

“You sure it wasn’t a cousin or somethin?”

“No, I know it wasn’t.  He didn’t say who it was but that’s enough for me.”

“It is?” he asks.

You snatch your feet from him adjusting your dress down.  “Yeah, it is.  He shouldn’t have a girl in my house without explanation.”

He leans back nodding thoughtfully.  “I agree.  But you have no explanation from him yet?”

You shake your head.  “So he ain’t answering your calls?”

“I’m not answering his.”

He cocks his head to the side in thought, “Females always be like, ‘he never talk to me’ and shit.  Y’all want communication but here you go doing the opposite.”  he says smirking and pointing at you.

“Well your lesson for today is not all women are alike.  I don’t need to reach to him, he can do that.  He is wrong.”

He nods, “If he cheatin, I agree.  You are the baddest woman I’ve seen in a while and if you didn’t have a man, I’d be pulling out all the stops to get you.”

“Like the foot rubbing?”  you ask.

He guffaws, “Uh yeah, that’s a sure thing too.  Felt good right?”  He says pushing your shoulder gently.

You look at him intently.  “It really did.  This is probably the best interaction I’ve had all week, with a guy.  And looking as good as you? Nigga!”  You say throwing your hands up.

“Well you just tell me when you want me gone, and I’m out.  But you’re getting a happy ending tonight, no doubt.”

You giggle, “You’d like that huh?”

“He stares at you, leaning in, “I really would though.”

You feel something you haven’t felt in what seemed like an eternity.  Something reserved for M’Baku, only achieved by him.  But here you are, in heat with someone else.

“Pass me that bottle then.”  you say.

The next morning you wake up in a daze in your hotel room.  The sun's rays blind you as they seep in greeting you.  You sit up as the sheets wrap around your bare skin, cool and calming.  A note is on the pillow next to you.  You pick it up and read:

Thanks for the good time last night. A phone number followed.

Your heart dropped as you thought over last night.  Bar, club, and then that guy.  Oh shit, you thought as you looked at your nakedness underneath the covers.

Part 7

Other Works

King Kil’mawalls  

T’akia

N’Jadaka’s Helpful Hands

Song of Stevens

The Coffee Prince

Commencement Day

The Ragtag

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