#i've known the kiss was coming for over a month and it still wasn't possible to brace myself for it

[eugeniedanglars]

when true love’s kiss fails. when it doesn’t mean anything. when it means everything but it’s too late anyway. when it’s not enough. when it can’t change what you've already set in motion. i forgive you. don't bother. neil gaiman i am in your WALLS

[peppermintquartz]

Hondo calls Deacon after dinner. "Hey. Kinda need to talk with you?"

"If it's about what you were asking me in HQ earlier this week, I'm not talking about it with you, Hondo."

"I saw you with Rocker today."

Hondo can't believe what he is saying even as the words spill out. The image of Deacon kissing Rocker's hand is seared in his mind and he still feels thrown by it. The sheer concept of Deacon divorcing Annie is already so far beyond what Hondo thinks is possible, and he's currently awash in disbelief that Deacon is actually cheating on his wife. He won't be able to work with Deacon until they have a proper conversation.

Deacon inhales sharply. Then he says, "Text me a location, I'll see you there."

---

Deacon arrives ten minutes late.

"You and Rocker?" Hondo says as an opener.

"Yes," Deacon says.

Hondo rubs a hand over the top of his head. "Hell... Deac, why? How and why?"

Deacon tilts his head and studies Hondo coolly. Then he says, "I'm gonna need a drink to get through this." Standing, he goes to the bar and grabs a beer, bringing one along for Hondo as well.

When he sits down again, he doesn't look at Hondo for a long moment. It's uncomfortable. Hondo can't recall the last time he was uncomfortable in Deacon's company. Finally, Deacon exhales, low and resigned.

"Listen, Hondo. Me and Donovan... It's not something either of us expected, but it is how it is. If you're gonna tell me to break it off, that it'll hurt our careers - his more than mine, let's be honest - and all of that... We've already gone over it."

"Donovan," Hondo echoes flatly.

"Yes, Donovan." Deacon's gaze is as steadfast as it has always been.

"Wow." The beer is cold in his hand and he sets it on the table, cocking his head to look at the beads of condensation roll down the side of the bottle.

Deacon takes a long swig of his beer. Then he leans forward on his elbows. "Hondo. How long have you known me? Hmm? Do you think I would do anything this serious without having considered alternatives? That I haven't tried any other avenue?"

"That's not what I am trying to say, man. I'm just... I'm just shocked. You and Annie have been together ages, and-and I always thought of you two as, I don't know, the ideal."

For the first time since Hondo confronted him almost a week ago, Deacon looks tired. "i thought so too. It happened so suddenly and I wasn't prepared for... for this storm. I've prayed, fasted, gone to confession. Therapy. Hell, Donovan kept telling me to go back to Annie, and every damned time, when I was hurting or scared or upset or just... pissed off, I think of him. I think of him. And I feel better."

That's not something Hondo expected to hear. "But you love Annie," he says, hoping that means something. "Don't you?"

"I do," Deacon says. Resignation colors his expression and his tone. "I will always love her. She's the mother of my kids, and she has been my staunchest supporter and I have been happy to support her in her career too. And honestly? I would've forced myself to remain in the marriage, for the kids if nothing else, but it's come to the point I dread going home. I dread it."

"So you hooked up with Rocker? Deac, it's a crisis in the marriage, that's not worth cheating on Annie."

A strange expression flits over Deacon's face. He narrows his eyes and asks, "How long do you think I've been with him?"

"Two months? Ten weeks?"

"Over a year and a half."

"Almost two years?" How has he missed the signs? Or did Deacon and Rocker really manage to pull the wool over everyone's eyes? It has to be the latter because there was no way, no way, that gossip of the two of them in an affair wouldn't set HQ on fire. "Since when?"

"Since Sydney. You know, the one Hicks said you weren't allowed to attend after all that drama in Thailand?" Deacon leans back in his seat and he traces patterns in the condensation on the table.

"Did he seduce you? Did he, uh, I don't know. Did he get you drunk, or-or something?"

Deacon chuckles. "Wow. You're really trying to paint him as the bad guy, huh." He sighs. "Sorry, but, uh, I was the one who jumped him. The only thing he did wrong was not to punch me in the mouth after I kissed him." Deacon blows out a breath and laughs quietly again. Then his expression grows pensive as he regards Hondo. "He's not the one to blame. Every time he pulled away, I went after him. Hell, at some point he could've torpedoed my career by arresting me as a stalker. I chased after him. Couldn't stop thinking about him and couldn't cut ties with him. I don't know how to explain it."

There's a lot Deacon isn't saying. Hondo drinks his beer in silence for a while, trying to digest the information. "You said he pulled away."

"Yes, several times." With a small shrug, Deacon adds, "He went out of his way to schedule opposite shifts from 20-Squad. We fought about it. At one point I wanted to quit SWAT because I couldn't bear it. He talked sense into me, and then he made me promise to go our separate ways, told me to really work on my marriage."

Hondo raises his eyebrows. His eyes fall on the empty space on Deacon's ring finger.

"I tried. But every time I held Annie or kissed her or, heck, even just holding her hand... It didn't feel right, not anymore. Sleeping next to her while thinking of another was a special kind of torture." Deacon takes a long gulp of his beer and shuts his eyes. "I feel like such a failure admitting that out loud."

What can Hondo say to that? He doesn't have the right words for this. Nichelle would know how to approach the matter with more tact.

"I tried to focus on giving Annie what she needed, what she wanted. Focused on the kids. But I soon realized it was too late for that. The the affair was over for more than three months - a hundred and eleven days - when I finally decided that I was done lying to myself. I can't live a lie for the rest of my life... so I decided on divorce."

Hondo shakes his head in disbelief. "Really? You'd give up on your marriage and your family for him?"

"Hey. What's that tone? 'For him'?"

"Deac. It's Rocker. He's always been, like, mini-Mumford. He's competitive and cocksure and he snipes at us whenever he can."

"And he always shows up for us when we need him. And don't act like we don't like poking him in his sore spots either, okay? We're no angels." Deacon scratches the tip of his nose. "You only see him at work, Hondo. I'm not gonna go into details, but he's a completely different guy out of the uniform."

"I'm taking your word for it," says Hondo, slightly chastened, and then adds with a little smirk, "And I am not interested in hearing about him out of his uniform."

"Shut - You know I didn't mean it that way." Deacon's laughing now, shaking his head. Then he shrugs and rolls his eyes. "Okay, I did mean it that way. A little bit."

"Ah, no, I don't need to hear any of that."

That weak joke cracks the ice that was growing between them, and somehow Hondo breathes a little easier.

"But... is divorce really what you want?"

"It wasn't an easy decision to make. When I decided I had to tell Annie, I sat in my car and cried. I was a wreck. All I wanted was to go home to Donovan and I couldn't. So I cleaned myself up, got back to my house, kissed my kids as they slept, thinking that maybe, maybe looking at them, I could change my mind. And then I saw Annie in our bedroom and I knew I'd passed that point. You've no idea..." Deacon's stoic mask slips a little and the heartbreak is evident. "I love her. I do. But I can no longer bear to be with her. So I told her I wanted a divorce."

Hondo can't wrap his head around it. He loves Nichelle and he means to keep loving her as his wife for as long as he can. He can't picture walking away from Vivienne either.

Deacon clears his throat. "And the next day, she asked me again, if I meant it. And I still did. I still do. I wish... I wish it had never come to this." His lips twitch. "I fled the house and I went straight to Donovan's and for the first time in months, I felt like I could breathe." He scoffs and shakes his head. "All those times when I judged people for not upholding their marriage vows, for infidelity... And now I'm an adulterer, about to live in sin with my boyfriend."

Hondo hissed in a breath. "Divorce is one thing, but... Deacon, your faith means so much to you. The church - annulment of marriage is a really difficult thing for Catholics, right? And the kids. They're gonna be so confused," he says. "My father walked out on my mom and us for someone else, and we hated him for decades. I don't want that for you."

"I don't want them watching me grow increasingly resentful of their mother and of my marriage, Hondo." Deacon sighs. "As for the church, well. There are ways. I'll try to find the best way to give Annie the best chance at love in the future, with someone who'll love her the way she deserves, the way the kids deserve. As for my faith? Well, God will decide. If He says that I'm to be damned for my sins of loving Donovan, then let it be so."

From anyone else, it may sound melodramatic. But Hondo knows that Deacon genuinely means it. His friend has devoted himself to his faith for decades, and his roots in his belief are strong; for him to make this decision must have been harrowing.

"Custody?"

"I'll let Annie decide if she wants full or partial custody. I don't plan to fight her on anything, as long as I still have visitation rights at the very least." Deacon smiles bitterly. "It's a relief, being able to talk openly about all this." He clinks the neck of his beer bottle against Hondo's. "Thanks for, I don't know. This."

Hondo chews on the inside of his cheek. "So today, at the cafe with Rocker... You plan on coming out with him."

"We're talking about it. And he's..." A smile that's light and tender spreads over Deacon's face. "He tried to talk me out of the divorce, like you. But he's also happy about me choosing him. He's not exactly sure how to feel." He sighs. "I've put him in a tough spot for almost two years. I hate that so much. He's not meant to hide in the shadows and I selfishly forced him there."

"Does Annie know it's Rocker?"

"Not yet. She knows it's a man I'm involved with. But she will, soon, once Donovan and I decide how to proceed from here." Deacon looks at Hondo. "Or do you plan to tell her?"

For a moment, Hondo deliberated the choice. Eventually, he shakes his head. "I think that's something you need to tell her in person."

"Yeah. Yes I do." Deacon sighs. "I know I'm destroying something I've built for over ten years. I know Annie and the kids are gonna hate me and Donovan for a long, long time, if they ever forgive me." His mouth twists.

"So why do it?"

"Because I know that it's not a mistake. Nothing inside me - my mind, my heart, my conscience - says it's a mistake to see it through." The older man sighs. "I'm not trying to convince you. I'm not trying to convince anyone. I just know this is what I'm supposed to do. What I do regret is putting them through all of this. I feel guilty that I am choosing my own happiness over theirs, and ashamed I waited until I could no longer bear it to force this upon them."

Hondo finishes his beer. "I don't know if I can support you through this, Deac. I really don't."

"You don't have to." Deacon pauses and considers his words. "Support Annie and the kids. Especially the kids. I don't know if Annie will let me talk to them once I start the paperwork, but I need them to understand that I will love them with every fiber of my being till the end of my days." He reaches across the table and wraps his hands around Hondo's wrist. "Please."

"I can do that. Nichelle and I can both do that."

Deacon tightens his grip and smiles. "Thank you."

[dreamescapeswriting]

Stray Kids Reaction || Finding Out He's A Vampire

⤜Copyright: © DreamEscapesWriting - August 2023

⤜MASTERLIST

CHAN: It was official tonight, your engagement to Chan was announced to all of your friends and family and right now you were cooking a wonderful meal to serve to his friends and your family. They were all waiting for you inside the living room while you finished preparing the final pieces of the meal, all that was really left to do was chop up some carrots and you'd put yourself in charge of that.

"I was thinking once they all go, we could go and celebrate upstairs," Chan whispered in your ear, slowly biting down on your earlobe as you let out a small whimper of his name. Your hands shake with the knife as you accidentally let it drop, cutting your finger in the process,

"Shit," You hissed out as you felt warm blood pooling down your finger, Chan was instantly away from you and on the other side of the room. You knew he'd always been squeamish around blood but you never knew why, you just knew that whenever blood was involved he'd be away from you in a flash.

"You okay?" You questioned, staring at him as he stared down at the floor refusing to meet your eyes.

"I should ask you that," He seemed to get out through gritted teeth, You slowly walked over to him turning his head to look at you and you almost let out a yelp. Staring back at you were two blackened eyes with veins going down his face,

"Vampire..." You whispered to yourself, you'd known about the supernatural for a long time and who didn't? This world was full of different things and you'd seen your fair share of them but you'd never come face to face with a vampire before.

"I was going to tell you...I-I just...I didn't know how," He admitted as his eyes began to return to their usual colour and the veins began to retreat.

"How old are you?" You questioned as you cleaned up the blood from your finger, applying a band-aid while Chan came over and stood behind you again.

"Does that matter?" He bit down on his lip, he knew deep down that it was something he was eventually going to have to tell you about but he was holding off for a while.

"If I'm sleeping with someone who's over 100, then yes." You teased before he chuckled, wrapping his arms around you and holding onto you tightly. There was the all-important question about how this was ever going to work if you were to get married since he was going to live for an eternity.

"I'm only 55," He smirked, kissing your cheek, his hands holding onto your waist as you looked up at him.

"Were you going to tell me...C-Cause, marriage is forever and being like you...forever is a very...very long time," You teased him softly as you ran your hands over his chest and he smiled down at you.

"I was going to tell you in a better way than this but...Forever with you sounds like heaven, even if I am destined for hell eventually," He winks before you kiss him deeply.

MINHO: Minho liked to think that he was pretty good at hiding his secret, after all, he had been hiding it for the last 107 years of his life and he intended to keep it for the rest of it too. But there was something Minho didn't know and that was that you knew WHAT he was, it had taken you about three months of dating him to figure it out. The constant need to be away from you whenever you'd injured yourself to the point of bleeding and then there was his pale complexion and just how cold he was to the touch. It wasn't news to you that he was a vampire,

"I have to tell you something," Minho said one night as you watched vampire diaries for the 100th time, you paused it and slowly turned to look at your boyfriend.

"What's up?" You questioned with a small smile,

"I need to tell you something and you can't freak out because it's something that I've been hiding for a while." He told you as he looked at you nervously if his heart still worked he was sure it would have been beating faster than he ever thought possible.

"Is it that you're a vampire? Cause it's not new news," You told him before placing some popcorn into your mouth and smirking at him.

"What? How-"

"Baby, you're pale...Paler than someone who could ever be human, you run away whenever I'm bleeding and not to mention I've found photos of you from years ago," You giggled a little as you watched your boyfriend slump into the seat feeling completely relaxed. For weeks he'd been stressing out about everything and here you were putting him at ease.

"It doesn't scare you?"

"You've never bit me...I assume you didn't tell me so you could kill me?" He shook his head and you smirked, kissing his lips quickly pressing play on the TV again,

"You know they got most of this show wrong," He told you as he snaked his arm around your waist and pulled you tighter to him as he began to point out all of the wrong facts in the show.

CHANGBIN: Things were starting to worry you with Changbin, he was being quiet and moody lately and you were beginning to think that maybe you'd done something to upset him. Or maybe even pissed him off somehow but you'd been wracking your mind for weeks and nothing came to mind of what you could have done to upset him so much.

"Did I do something?" You asked Changbin as he continued to drive into the night without barely speaking a word to you. He'd come to pick you up for a date but he'd barely looked in your direction much less utter a hello to you as you'd gotten into his car. Was this it? Was he about to take you somewhere he could break up with you?

"If you're going to end things you could do it at my place, that way when I need to cry I can do it in the comfort of my own home," You told him, instantly feeling bad for the tone you were speaking to him in but you couldn't help it. 

"End things?" He questioned as he pulled into a dimly lit lay in the road, switching off the engine and turning to look at you. The two of you had spent many nights like this on the side of the road, some steamy nights just like this but somehow this didn't feel the same.

"You've been avoiding me for weeks, you're acting like you don't even know me." You told him as he sighed a little looking out into the field in front of the car and then back at you.

"I'm in love with you," Your heart practically jumped into your throat as he admitted this to you, it was the first time either of you had even bought it up.

"I love you too..." You whispered, still not seeing anything wrong with this but he turned to look at you and his fangs began to grow and his eyes turned dark.

"I'm a monster...You can't love me," You stared at him for a second, your heart thumping rapidly but none of it scared you. It was supposed to, you'd read about this online but it didn't scare you. Not when you knew Changbin would never do anything to hurt you.

"I do, and nothing will stop that." You told him as you ran your hand over his cheek and smiled as he snuggled into your touch. 

HYUNJIN: You'd finally taken the plunge and moved in with your husband-to-be, you'd finally finished unpacking your things and decided to help Hyunjin out while he was at work. Only you'd stumbled onto something you weren't sure you could understand, You knew Hyunjin loved art but some of the pieces in his collection dated back hundreds of centuries ago and you were confused about how he'd gotten his hands on them. Then there were the journals you'd found, all written by Hyunjin, but that couldn't be possible. 

"I bought food back! I thought we could eat and watch..." Hyunjin stopped talking slowly as he walked into the living room to see you surrounded by paintings and journals. You hadn't meant to snoop but once you started you just couldn't stop.

"What are you?" You questioned as you slowly got up from the floor, the more you'd read the journals the more you realised your husband couldn't have been human. Unless he was some kind of timelord that never aged but even then that was an alien

"I can explain." He stuttered a little. It was something he was always supposed to talk to you about but he always put it off. Decided that he didn't want to tell you in case it ruined everything between you, he just needed more time with you before he said anything.

"You're a vampire...Right? That would make sense, you hardly eat around me, you're always sneaking off...Working in a hospital..." Hyunjin swallowed the lump in his throat,

"I was going to tell you."

"You proposed to me...Asked me to move in...Don't you think you should have told me before we got to this point?" You placed your hands on your hips, if Hyunjin had been around for centuries at this point that meant he was going to continue to live while you slowly died,

"I'm going to die while you continue living, isn't that...a little sick?" You didn't even want to think of leaving Hyunjin, this man was the man for you and you knew that deep down. But how was it ever going to work?

"You don't have to die." He quickly added as you stared back at him, 

"What?" The thought had occured to you but you weren't sure he'd ever go for it. In his journals in earlier years, he'd written about wanting to die but it seemed to have changed in the last two years since he'd started seeing you.

"If you want me forever...I-I can change you," He reached his hands out for yours and you squeezed him a little.

"Forever with you seems like a hell of a life," You whispered as he smirked at you, his fangs showing a little as you bit down on your lip excited with what the new life was going to bring you both.

JISUNG: You'd had a secret suspicion about Jisung for months now and today was the day you were going to put it to the test and see if your theory about him was correct.

"Did we have to come here first?" Jisung licked his lips as his eyes darted around the room you were both standing inside. It was the annual blood drive of your town and you'd signed yourself up, asking your boyfriend to accompany you.

"I know you're scared of needles but I need you here to hold my hand," It was a lie, you didn't NEED him there but you wanted to see if you were right about him. When you first started dating one another you'd believed most of his lies, he couldn't donate blood because he had a rare type that made it impossible to do, the running away whenever you'd hurt yourself because he was squeamish but as the years passed you knew there was something wrong. The man didn't sleep, you were sure of that for a fact. You'd wake up and he'd be awake, claiming he'd just gone to the toilet but then he'd always be awake whenever you woke up and it was starting to put some doubts into your head. So you did what any normal person would and took to the Internet to find out.

"yn..." He stuttered a little before you caught it, his eyes darkening and fangs starting to come through and you smiled.

"Let go," You whispered quickly rushing him out of the room but as soon as you were out of sight of anyone that could see him, he held you tighter and you were suddenly in a locked room.

"How did you figure it out?" He stares at you and you shrug your shoulders, it wasn't exactly hard when you were noticing everything. 

"It all started to come together...Why did you hide it from me?" You whispered, reaching out and holding onto him as he let out a small sigh. This wasn't how he wanted to tell you about his secret,

"How could you want to spend your life with a monster?" He looked away from you and your heart broke for him, how could he ever see himself that way?

"Because I love him and I don't see him as a monster," You forced him to look at you and he smiled weakly.

"No more secrets, we share everything with each other," You warn him as he nods at you, leaning down and kissing you softly.

FELIX: It was well-known knowledge that the woods in your town were a place where no one should be caught inside, alone at least. But you were sick of waiting around for your fiancé to take you on a hike through the area, you'd been dying to see the mountains inside and you wanted to get some photographs of everything so that's what you'd planned to do today. Only it hadn't exactly gone to plan, you'd woken up at 4 in the morning so you could into the woods but hours into your hike you'd fallen and hurt yourself a little. Which wasn't a big deal, the big deal was that you had no cell service and you could barely move to get back out of the woods.

"I'm going to die alone and scared," You grumbled to yourself as you dragged yourself toward the edge of the trees trying to take shelter from the rain that suddenly started to hammer down. You were about to reach for your phone again when you heard something snap from behind you, Your head spun around and you let out a loud scream. 

"Yn?!" Felix's voice filled the air and you stared at him as he made his way over to you, blood dripping down his chin as you stared at him.

"I'm dreaming...I hit my head and I'm dreaming." You told yourself as Felix stared down at your leg, It was clear your ankle was broken and clearly you were in a massive amount of pain.

"Shit, Yn...Your ankle,"

"I'm going to wake up any second. There's no way my fiancé is a vampire," You whispered as he shook his head at you, you were suddenly in his arms.

"I told you, the woods aren't a good place for you." He smirked knowing it was neither the time nor the place for an "I told you so" speech but he was trying to take your mind off things.

"You were hiding me from seeing you, right?" Felix nodded his head as he walked you through the woods and back to civilisation.

"Do you drink human blood?" You quizzed as you looked at him, swallowing the nervous lump in your throat.

"Animal." He told you as he carefully began to run with you in his arms using his vampiric speed to get you home faster.

"I hunt in the woods so I don't hurt anyone when I'm hungry...I would never hurt someone." He told you as he gently placed you down on the sofa in your living room, sitting beside you as he bit into his own wrist,

"Drink. It'll help with the broken bone," You stared at his wrist before drinking his blood slowly, whimpering a little at the taste.

"We have a lot of talking to do." He told you as he let out a small sigh, both of you smiling at one another your ankle already starting to feel better. 

SEUNGMIN: Seungmin watched you in amusement from the other side of the room, You had no idea he was home yet and you were putting the finishing touches on your costume. All without touching the item of clothing, since you were a witch you could pretty much do anything you put your mind to. Seungmin had been thinking of a way to approach telling you what he was and he knew Halloween was probably the best time. If it went wrong he could always tell you he was playing the role of his costume - a vampire... Original...of course, he did it every single year. It was the one day he didn't have to hide what he truly was and it seemed you didn't either.

"Need a hand?" He questioned, the clothes dropping to the floor as your concentration failed and you spuing around to face your fiancé,

"You're back early." You hissed, looking at the clothes and then back to Seungmin who was smirking at you.

"You don't have to hide from me you know." He told you as he moved closer to you, your heart began to race as you stared at him.

"I can explain..." You trailed off, trying to come up with some kind of explanation for it, you could tell him there was a hidden string or something but you weren't sure.

"Yn, we both know there are many things in this world." He told you as you looked at him, a tingle running up and down your spine, as you narrowed your eyes at him.

"And what other things are there?" You quizzed, you knew the answer but you could already sense there was something he wasn't telling you. Something he hadn't told you about for a while now but you've always had a feeling he wasn't human either.

"It seems we're both going to the party as what we really are." He suggested and your eyes widened a fraction, You'd never met a vampire in real life and yet you were engaged to one?!

"Oh, we're not going to any party." You laughed a little, patting the sofa as you got ready to quiz him on every single thing you had on your mind about vampires

JEONGIN:

Jeongin stared at you with widened eyes and you stared back at him with the same look of shock. The two of you were out shopping for some new plants for your garden when suddenly you were on the floor.

"How?" You stared at him, looking over at the spot of the garden centre you knew he'd been standing in seconds ago. It was impossible for him to be next to you right now,

"I was right beside you," He told you, he knew it was wrong of him to lie to you but it was the only way he was going to be able to get you to drop this. The last thing he needed was YOU of all people finding out exactly what he was. He wasn't ready for that secret to come out to you yet,

"Don't gaslight me," You groaned at him, looking at the plant pot that had been seconds away from crushing you and then back at your fiance.

"How did you get here that fast?" You stared at him as you swallowed the lump in your throat, you already knew the answer to it but you needed to hear it come from his lips.

"Yn now is neither the time nor the place."

"I think it is, you just saved me from dying despite being halfway across the garden centre." You stared at him, letting him know you weren't going to drop this until the truth came to light.

"You already know what I am, I know what you are." He whispered as you looked down at the tattoo that was on your lower arm, you were a vampire hunter. Raised to hate and kill any vampire that you came into contact with, he was supposed to hate you too and yet he wanted to marry you? You'd grown up to believe vampires had no feelings, that they were cold and heartless and could never see past their own hunger.

"You knew what I was but still wanted me?" You stared at him, did he have a death wish? 

"I fell in love with a vampire hunter." He chuckled, he saw the irony in it and he needed to laugh or he'd cry. 

"And I, a vampire." You whispered as you looked around you, biting down on your lip it wasn't going to be long until people started to come over. 

"We need to get out of here before people ask questions," You told him as he quickly pulled you up, winking as he used his vampire speed to get you both out of there

tagline: @chiisaiblog @hanasonmi @sw33tnight @taestannie @acciocriativity @scarletemeterio @halesandy @aerastus @laylasbunbunny @critssq @lenfilms @btsiguess-kpop @meowmeowisdaname @imafivestarkpopstan @lost-leopard-beanie @djeniryuu @backintomykpopphaseagain @choisoorin

[companionjones]

Secret Spot

Pairing: John B Routledge x Fem!Reader

Fandom: Outer Banks

Summary: John B finds an awesome beach spot and wants to show you. What will you two get up to in this secret spot?

Warnings: SMUT, Cursing

*******

"Johnny!" you whisper-yelled as you witnessed John B climb out of your second-story window and down the tree in the backyard.

He smiled up at you once his feet hit the ground. "Come on, Y/n. It's not that hard. I'll catch you if you fall," he promised.

"This secret beach spot better be all it's cracked up to be," you complained as you joined John B on the ground. You brushed off your legs.

John B smiled. "Oh, it is. Now, come on!" He took off in the direction he'd parked the Twinkie.

It took an hour to drive out there, but it was definitely worth it once you made it.

"Okay. I'll give it to you, John B. I'm impressed," you conceded taking in the landscape.

You caught John B looking at you. "Told you," he smirked.

The two of you spent hours on that beach, just talking. At one point, John B went quiet in the middle of a conversation. He was staring out at the ocean.

"You okay?"

He glanced at you. "Yeah. I just can't get my dad out of my head. He's been gone for six months now, and-and I'm starting to think tha-that he'll never come home." He started to get choked up.

"Oh, John."

The two of you had been laying next to each other on your towels. You rolled over so you could cuddle him. You hoped that would bring him some comfort.

John B gladly took you in his arms. He hugged you close. "I don't know where I'd be without you, Y/n."

"You'd be just fine without me." You hoped your words sounded comforting.

John B wasn't having it. "I'm serious. You've been a rock for me for as long as I've known you. No one understands me the way I feel like you do." He hugged you closer. "I really needed this. Can we just stay right here for the afternoon? I just want to be here and hold you."

You would've done anything for that boy. "'Course we can, Johnny."

The next part he said quietly. “You're everything to me."

"What?" You looked up at him.

"You are. You know that, right? There isn't a day that goes by that I'm not thinking 'Hey, what's Y/n doing?' or 'I need Y/n with me right now.' You're the center of my universe, Y/n."

Obviously, you were taken aback. "I...I had no idea you felt that way."

"I know. I've tried to hide my feelings for you. I was afraid of rejection. But I realized that as long as I have you in my life, no matter what, everything will be okay."

You didn't know if he did it purposefully or not, but John B brought his face closer to yours.

With that action, you said the only thing that made sense to you in that moment. "Can I kiss you?"

He didn't say anything, but John B nodded. He brought his head forward a little more, and kissed you.

You had thought getting the feeling of fireworks when kissing someone was a myth. It hadn't been. Your eyebrows raised and you felt your heart beating out of your chest.

Apparently, John B felt the same way. He held the back of your head as he kissed you, and he kept you as close as possible.

You rolled on top of him.

"You sure about this?" he parted from the kiss to look into your eyes and ask.

You nodded. "I want this. Do you?"

John B furrowed his brow. "No, baby. I need this." He kissed you again. "I've never wanted anything so badly."

With that, you and John B got lost in each other. He unclipped your bathing suit top to feel up your breasts, and the two of you helped each other out of your bottoms.

John was in awe of you. "God, you are so beautiful." He leaned up to kiss you.

As your lips were connected, you let yourself down on his hard length. Both of you moaned at the sensation, and you leaning back on your heels.

Without realizing it, you'd given John B a full view of you. Your eyes were still closed, so it surprised you when Johnny leaned forward to kiss between your breasts, intentionally flipping the two of you over so he was on top.

He kissed up your chest and neck, and gave you one kiss on your lips before bracing his arm above you so he could thrust in and out of you, slowly and sensually.

"Oh, John..." Your jaw fell slack.

His forehead met yours. "I know, baby. Just feel me. Let me do all the work."

Despite his words, you put a hand on his hip and started meeting his thrusts. "Fuck me..." you whispered.

John B told you, "I-I don't know how much longer I can last. You feel so good..." He sped up his movements a little.

"God yes, Johnny! Fuck me!" Your voice cried out when he hit a good spot within you. You yanked him closer to you and tangled your fingers in the hair on the back of his head.

John B kissed you again as his face screwed up in pleasure.

For some time, all you could hear was your bodies meeting, the waves crashing, and yours and John's ragged moaning and breathing. Then, your fingernails dug into John B's side as you came. He was right with you. John B thrusted twice as he came and once more to make sure it was all inside you.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he said as he pulled out of you. "I-I meant to pull out before..."

"I'm on the pill, and I have Plan B at the house," you assured him. "It's alright. I promise."

John B had been kneeling above you, but he then tackled you in a loving kiss.

Once he parted from you, the two of you gazed into each others' eyes.

"I love you, John B," you admitted.

He released a breath. A smile appeared on his face. "I love you too, Y/n. I'll do anything for you, okay? I mean it."

"I'd do anything for you too, baby." You brushed some hair out of his face, then glanced around. "How long have we been out here? It's getting dark. Let's get cleaned up, and head back to your place, yeah?"

The ride back to John B's house was quiet and intimate. John couldn't seem to let go of your hand.

As he threw the Twinkie into park, he asked you, "You're staying the night with me, right?"

"Of course."

John B grinned.

*******

Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading! Fill up that heart and reblog if you liked it. I would also really appreciate a comment, if you have the time. If you would like to read more, check out my masterlist. Have a nice day, night, or whatever time it is for you! <3 <3 <3

[amethystina]

hey i hope you're doing fine <3 i just wanted to drop by and scream over the recent WHTD chapter, you blew me away with the perfectly written gut wrenching yearning like i. was. on. the. floor. yohan literally being unable to ignore a distressed gaon even tho he is literally dying himself we love to see it!! and gaon with the hoodie??? oh my sweet boy, i feel bad for you (even tho you bought this upon yourself lol) anyways i can't wait to see where we go from here, i can't express enough just how excited i am for their journey...

while we're on that topic, i was recently re-reading 'it is mine to avenge' and as we know, they are established in that fic and it got me so curious on how that happened like what led to that first kiss and who initiated it? would you be so kind to entertain me cuz i cannot stop thinking ab it lol (also im going to absolutely lose it when they finally kiss in WHTD like im scared for myself)

ok i'll shut up now, thank you for your beautiful stories they bring me so much comfort and joy, you and your works are so so loved so thank you <33 i hope you're feeling better now and please take care of yourself!! <3

I'm so glad you enjoyed the latest chapter! That last scene with Ga On and Yo Han was so very heartbreaking to write because they both yearn so incredibly much but have their reasons for trying to hold back. And it has reached the point where not even Yo Han is in full control anymore, his desire to help and protect Ga On overruling his iron will. I think that says a lot.

And yeah, the hoodie scene made me feel bad for Ga On but also made me want to shake my head at him. Ga On, my sweet baby deer — you are a disaster.

But a disaster I adore, so he's got that going for him, at least.

I hope the rest of the journey will be enjoyable as well! The coming chapters are going to be full of scenes I've been dying to write for ages — and I mean that literally since I've been writing this fic for three years now. Hopefully, you will find them as exciting as I do!

As for It Is Mine to Avenge, it was Ga On who initiated their first kiss, which Yo Han points out in the story itself:

"And Yo Han knew — had known, from the very first time Ga On had kissed him, bold and unafraid — that he would never find that anywhere else."

Aside from that, the only detail I've decided on is that they didn't get together until after the drama. But I can't say if it was days, weeks, or months after. Or exactly what the scene looked like. Mainly because it wasn't relevant to the main story and, in some ways, I want to leave it as open as possible for my readers to decide for themselves.

I mean, some might even want to put It Is Mine to Avenge in the same universe as Who Holds the Devil, which is totally fine by me.

Like, we're not even at the one-year mark after the drama in Who Holds the Devil and It Is Mine to Avenge is set two years after Yo Han faked his death. So it's possible 😉 And Yo Han never mentions exactly what it is that Ga On does to bring change and fight for equality. It could be the Justice Project. But it could also be something else entirely. It's your choice!

... and I guess that means I just spoiled who will kiss who first in Who Holds the Devil but I think that's pretty obvious by now considering Yo Han's desire to be chosen. He's not going to be the one to kiss Ga On because he wants Ga On to pick him and show how much he wants to be with him — even if it means Yo Han is going to be waiting for a while still.

(Also: No, I'm not saying that It Is Mine to Avenge and Who Holds the Devil are in the same universe, but I'm not going to stop anyone from having that as their headcanon)

So yeah! I've intentionally left things vague in It Is Mine to Avenge because I didn't want to ruin anyone's theories. Which I guess is the boring answer since you wanted to be entertained? Sorry about that 😂

I know I say I have a plan for almost everything and that's still true, it just so happens that my plan this time was to not have an answer because I thought it would be more interesting for people to come up with their own theories and ideas.

So, really, a better question would be what YOU think led to that first kiss 😉

Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement. I admit I really need them right now because things are, unfortunately, not getting any better. I still haven't recovered from my burnout but there's a risk I have to go back to working full-time anyway because of bureaucracy. And I'm kind of scared of what that will do to my overall health, both mental and physical. And having to deal with that anxiety is exhausting all on its own, never mind the strain of working full-time.

Plus, my former stepdad (my mum and he broke up about two years ago but were together for twenty years so he's been there for more than half of my life) is in the hospital with sepsis. They found bacteria in his heart and he's currently getting antibiotics every sixth hour in an attempt to keep it from killing him 🙃

So, uh, life is kind of shit? I've barely had time to deal with the previous loss and now I'm terrified I'll be hit with another.

(It probably won't happen since he's being carefully monitored and he sounds surprisingly cheerful for someone who's going to be pumped full of antibiotics for four weeks straight, but yeah. Tell that to my brain)

So thank you, truly, for caring about me and for all the kindness. It means a lot to me 💜

[lolahasmoxie]

For a Little While (e.m. x reader)

PAIRING: Rockstar!Eddie x Reader

WORD: 1.6k

WARNING: Some angst, no happy ending, fluff, feelings

I've been in a mood recently. This popped into my head today, and I'm rolling with the angst. A second part will be coming.

Divider by @firefly-graphics

Eddie remembers the day his friend Robin told him he simply had to meet her new neighbor. It's seared into his permanent memory.

Initially, he felt that it was a setup, and he told her in no uncertain terms he wasn't ready to meet her neighbor and that he could smell this thinly veiled setup for what it was.

Robin nodded and reassured him that while yes she was his type, her neighbor was cool and someone Eddie would genuinely enjoy talking to. So in late July, while Corroded Coffin took a little break before putting the finishing touches on their latest album, Eddie ventured to Brooklyn and a small rooftop terrace where an overeager Robin introduced Eddie to you.

Eddie could have started preparing ten years ago, and it still wouldn't have readied him for you. It felt like he'd known you for a lifetime, several even, if you believed in that sort of thing. You were smart, funny, and what his uncle would have called a real livewire. When Robin told you that they were almost out of the dessert you made, Eddie found himself bounding down the stairs to help you bring more.

The two of you sat and talked until the wee hours of the morning, and when the sun began rising over the city, Eddie walked you back to your front door with a promise to see you later.

He was in town for a week and spent as much of it as possible with you. He went out of his way to make you laugh, the sound intoxicating him to the point where he would do anything to hear it again. He was blown away by your music knowledge, a byproduct of working at a record store to earn money through college. Eddie couldn't help but flirt, and it shocked him when you seemed to flirt back.

The last night he was in town, Eddie was in a small bar with Robin and a few other friends, you included, before he headed to the airport for a red eye that would take him back to the city of angels. He was sitting in a booth beside you, where the feel of your thigh right next to his made his skin tingle and his blood boil. All night, glances and lingering touches made Eddie feel like he was back in high school again. His bravado returned when he asked you to follow him outside when his cab arrived. Robin watched the whole scene with a smug smile on her face.

Once outside, you asked Eddie if everything was okay but were silenced when two of the softest lips you'd ever felt pressed against yours. Eddie's ring-laden hand reached to cup your cheek, his thumb sweeping over your cheekbone as your hands eventually found purchase in his hair. When he pulled back, he tried to read your face for a reaction. He was prepared for you to run around inside or yell at him; he was not ready for a punch to his shoulder.

"Asshole, you kiss me like that right before you head across the country? You wasted so much time!" When Eddie climbs into the backseat of the cab, he's holding your phone number and wearing a stupid grin that reaches ear to ear, counting down the minutes until he can call you.

You talk almost every single day. Sometimes, the conversations are short; sometimes, you talk for hours. He spends the in-between wondering how you're doing and if your job treats you okay. And at night, when it's just him, he wonders what your body would feel like under him. Does your skin feel as soft as it looks? What would you taste like under his tongue?

In December, when he travels back to Brooklyn for the holidays, he takes a taxi straight to your apartment. You greet him with open arms and a warm smile, and that night, he discovers the answers to the questions he's spent months asking himself.

This goes on for almost a year. He comes to see you when he can, spending as much time in your company as possible before he has to leave again. One spring evening, as you're wrapped in each other's arms, he poses the possibility of more. You kiss him gently while shaking your head no.

"I like what we have," you counter, turning your body to sit in his naked lap. When you lean in to kiss him, Eddie decides he can accept that as an answer for now.

When July comes around, he comes out for a whole month. Corroded Coffin begins their tour prep on August 1st for their first international tour. The plans were to travel for a year, but if the ticket sales were good, it could extend the time. He was excited, thrilled to see the world he had been aching to see. But then he would think of being unable to see you, and it made him want to walk away from the whole thing.

Since you had a whole month together, Eddie let you plan out things to do. There were trips to museums and galleries and day trips out of the city. Nights were spent with friends at boozy dive bars that led to whiskey-flavored kisses which led to even longer nights, bringing each other to ecstasy again and again.

It was three days before he had to leave. You'd spent the day with Robin and Vicki before returning to yours for a homemade dinner. After you'd finished, you had asked Eddie if there was anything special he wanted to do the following day. While you rambled, Eddie wiped his mouth with his napkin and stood from his seat. You stopped talking when you felt him take your hand in his, letting him lead you to your bedroom.

You both had yet to talk about what would happen once Eddie was on the road. You gave it no thought as he laid you on your bed and devoured you like a last meal. You let him love you like he would never get a chance to do so again.

The hour is late, just after midnight. He's sitting on your stoop smoking a cigarette. He left you sleeping, no doubt exhausted. He's shirtless and wearing pajama pants, the summer breeze chilling him slightly. It always surprises him how quiet your street is at night, like there's no one else in the world.

He turns when he hears the turn of your doorknob. He takes a long drag as you take a seat next to him. You're wearing a sleeveless black maxi dress, the hem fluttering around your ankles. He looks straight ahead as you rest your head on his shoulder.

"It's nice out," you say. Eddie hums in agreement. He feels your gaze on him, and after he puts out his cigarette, he turns to face you. You raise an eyebrow, your silent signal for him to tell you what is on his mind.

"Come with us," he says quietly. You sigh before lacing your fingers into his hand.

"I can't"

"You said before you could do your job anywhere," he says, trying not to sound like a petulant child. You take his hand, kissing the tattooed knuckles before squeezing it tight.

"The last guy did a number on me," you say quietly, not looking at Eddie. He's looking at you, though. He remembers you telling him about this guy, the one you had dated after college. His brown eyes watch every emotion you try to hide dance across your face. "I don't think I'm ready to be loved the way you want to love me."

"That only gives us two days, then," he counters. You chuckle lightly. as you place your head back on his shoulder.

"So pessimistic. But that is one way of looking at it," you reply as Eddie lays his head on top of yours.

"How do you see it?" he asks. You lift your head and look Eddie in the eye. You breathe deeply, trying to commit as much as possible to memory. The warmth of his skin, the smell of his cigarettes, the way the moon makes his eyes seem to glow.

"We have two whole days together to do whatever the hell we want," you say confidently, and Eddie can't help but lean in and kiss you. This time, you're the one who stands first. You don't say a word; simply reach out a hand to him, an invitation. Eddie accepts, letting you lead him back to your bed, where you spend the next two days soaking in each other.

Eddie sits quietly on the plane, inwardly thrilled that he was granted a window seat. He reaches into his carry-on for his book, a parting gift from you, when he finds it. It's an envelope with your handwriting clear as day. He waits until they're at cruising altitude before he opens it.

When the woman beside him asks if he's alright, he plays it off as allergies. She knows better; he knows that she does. He rereads your words, telling him to enjoy everything on tour. That if he happens to meet someone, you won't be mad. It's the ending he reads over and over again.

"I hope that if we're ever lucky enough to meet again, I'll be ready to be loved by you. Until then, I wish you all the happiness your heart and hand can hold. Go knock 'em dead, rockstar."

Eddie sighs, placing the letter back in its envelope. He shoves the book back in his bag and reaches for the notebook and pen, which are always nearby. It's littered with DND ideas, song lyrics, and thoughts. He opens a blank page and clicks his pen as he conjures up an image of you in his mind's eye.

He begins to write.

[cabotwife]

Hii i saw that u do SVU imagines could you possibly do a Barba imagine like season 16/17 ish, she is about to join the team and the night before she meets Barba at a bar and the hook up and next morning she leaves before he wakes up and walks into the office and boom he is there <3 endings up to you but something cute heheh

A Night With Barba

thanks for requesting anon! I’m sorry this took a bit to do . warnings: poorly written fluff, ooc Barba and Benson (???) word count: 700ish a/n: sorry if this is bad, i've never written for a male character before, and i originally wasn't going to, but i decided why not... not sure how i feel about this..

You're nervous as you walk into the bar. It's not your usual scene, but your friends convinced you to come out with them tonight. You take a deep breath and scan the room, trying to find your friends. That's when you see him. The man sitting at the bar catches your eye, and you can't help but stare.

He's tall, with dark hair and piercing brown eyes. He's dressed in a sharp suit, and he looks like he belongs in a courtroom. You can't help but wonder what he's doing at this bar. You're surprised when he looks up and catches your eye. He smirks and raises his glass to you, and you feel your cheeks blush.

Before you know it, he's walking over to you. "Can I buy you a drink?" he asks, and you nod, still feeling a little starstruck.

The two of you chat for hours, and you can't believe how easy it is to talk to him. He's charming and funny, and you find yourself laughing more than you have in months. When he offers to walk you home, you don't hesitate to say yes.

You wake up the next morning, feeling a little disoriented. You look down and realize you're still wearing your dress from last night. You turn to your side and see him sleeping next to you. You're surprised that you don't feel embarrassed or regretful. Instead, you feel content.

You get dressed and quietly leave the apartment, not wanting to wake him up. You stop at a coffee shop and order a latte, trying to process what happened last night. You're not sure what it means, but you know that you don't regret it.

As you walk into the SVU precinct, you feel a sense of excitement and nervousness. This is your first day as a detective for the Special Victims Unit, and you're not sure what to expect. You're startled when Sergeant Olivia Benson approaches you.

"You must be the new detective," she says, and you nod. "I'm Sergeant Benson. Welcome to the team."

She fills you in on an ongoing rape case, and you're surprised at how much she trusts you already. You work hard throughout the day, and you're proud of the work you're doing. When the case finally wraps up, you're exhausted but satisfied.

As you're packing up your things, you hear a voice behind you. "Hey, do you want to grab a drink?"

You turn around and see him. Rafael Barba. You're surprised to see him here, but you can't help but feel a sense of excitement.

You agree to go out with him, and the two of you spend the night talking and laughing. You tell him about your day, and he listens intently. You feel a connection with him that you've never felt before.

As the night wears on, you start to feel a little uneasy. You're not sure if you're ready for a relationship, especially with someone like him. He's a lawyer, and you're a detective. You're not sure how it could work.

But then he takes your hand, and you feel a sense of warmth spread through your body. "I know we just met," he says, "but I feel like I've known you forever."

You're not sure if it's the alcohol or something more, but you feel yourself leaning in to kiss him. The kiss is soft and gentle, but it sends sparks through your body. You pull away, feeling breathless.

"I don't want this to end," he says, and you nod in agreement.

The two of you spend the night together, and you can't help but feel like you've found something special. You're not sure where it will go, but you know that you're willing to find out.

As you fall asleep in his arms, you can't help but feel like you've found your place in the world. With Rafael Barba by your side, you feel like you can take on anything.

[snarlesofthesewers]

Messing with the wrong kind of snake part 1 (sorry tumblr you aren't getting part 2 when its done that's for the real freaks who know me)

It had been approximately 5 months since you landed in Subcon.. or at least you think it had been, the flow of time in Subcon seemed to act differently from the rest of the world as if it were interrupted by something but alas that was none of your concern as you unfortunately had plenty of chores to get done… but at least the spirits had started to warm up to you and the one known as The Snatcher who took your soul and put you under contract had started giving you little "rewards" whenever you finished his tasks usually in the form of small gifts but this time a small kiss on the forehead, perhaps he was growing a little attached? but as far as you knew it was still "supposed" to be a working relationship and you were still just his "errand boy" or rather "mail delivery boy" as his latest contract was to deliver a letter down into the sewers to a "friend" of his which sounded easy enough but when you went down into the sewers you still had his smell on you from that little forehead kiss.. BIG MISTAKE

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

"Snaaaatcher" you called out as you stomped up the vine that wrapped around snatcher's house

"I've finished delivering all the mail to your minions"

you cautiously looked down at the forest's treeline to make sure nothing from deeper in the woods had followed you before climbing into the brightly lit treehouse

"Snaaaatcher?" you call out one last time "he doesn't seem to be home… maybe he's out hunting?"

you feel the air behind you chill for a moment and a breeze brush past you causing you to turn around..

"nothing there..? whew"

wiping sweat off your forehead you turn back towards the back of the treehouse only to be scared off your feet by a familiar shadowy figure only illuminated by pair bright yellow eyes and a smile like a jack-o-lantern

"BOO!~"

"EEeek" you squeal as you fall to the hard wooden floor backing up against the wall before realizing

"oh.. its.. just you"

you come to your feet leaning against a chair as you were still quite shaken up by snatcher's sudden entrance

"do you really need to do this everytime I finish one of your contracts… snatcher?"

the purple spirit gave you a side eye and grinned smugly before exclaiming

"well of course I have to~ didn't you know scaring that little soul of yours enough to make it fly out of your body was part of the deal? somebody should have read the fine print~"

snatcher sat on the couch loosely positioning his tail around the side of your legs

"now have you finished that little contract of yours already?~ let me have a look"

as you pull out the completed contract he uses his tail to push you a little closer to him before swiftly snatching it out of your hands and looking over everything

"WELL DONE~ I'm quite curious on how you managed to deliver mail to every single one of my minions in less then ten minutes but I'm guessing it had something to do with getting covered head to toe in mud?"

snatcher chuckles at your condition

"if I wasn't smart I would have thought you were one of my own.. now I think you deserve a little reward for completing your contract so efficiently"

your eyes widen and you feel your face warm as you tried to think about what he could possibly mean by this you feel snatchers arms wrap around you waist as he picked you up and placed you comfortably on his lap

"snatcher.. what are you-"

you are quickly interrupted by snatcher snapping his fingers and magically clearing all the mud off your clothes before giving you a big kiss on the forehead

"i think that will do for now~"

he ruffles your hair and gives you a pat on the head before picking you up and bringing you back to your feet once more

"it seems I've neglected to give you the full details of your previous contract…I actually have one more letter for you to give to lets just say a friend of mine.. however they live deep in the subcon sewers so….I hope you have a spare change of clothes lying around somewhere"

snatcher snapped his clawed fingers once more causing one of his oh so familiar contracts to appear directly in front of you, the paper was fresh and warm to the touch as usual though there was something strange about this one… usually snatcher has pictures attached relating to the task but for some reason this contract seemed to lack that.. was he hiding something?

"i think you know the deal by now dear just sign with your name right at the bottom here"

he gestures to the line at the bottom of the paper and before you even notice, a purple feather dripped in jet black ink appears between your fingers, you try not to think too much about the details or rather the lack of details this contract has and signed the paper like you always do, snatcher then hands you a letter written in cursive

"hey snatcher what's this scratched out at the-"

"oh nothing for you to worry about"

snatcher quickly snatches the letter back out of your hand and places it neatly in an envelope and sealing it with some kind of magic before handing it back to you

"this isn't for you" he said with a growl and a blank expression on his face

"now then how about you get back to work.. I have some errands of my own that need to get done and they wont run themselves~"

snatcher gently guides you out the front of his house and points in the direction of subcon village

"you've probably already been there before just in case… the entrance to the sewers is down that little ravine that you would usually cross to get to my alchemy station, impossible to miss but if I were you I would watch your step on the way down~"

you turn to him with a confused and concerned look in your eyes

"but snatcher… one thing, how am I supposed to get back up? the last time I checked there wasn't a way back up… or was there? I don't quite remember how I got out last time I was down there"

"oh don't you worry your little head about it~ I had recently sent some of my MOST competent minions down to construct a latter, it should be safe … now then get back to work~"

you stare into the trees feeling the cold air surround you as you walk out out of snatcher's treehouse

"well guess I have a job to do I should get going now"

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

[cryptidsurveys]

Wednesday, November 27th, 2024.

New tats in your near future? No.

How about piercings or re-piercings? Also no.

Are there any rooms in your house that you don’t go into every day? The third bedroom, the downstairs bathroom, the living room, and the basement.

Who else do you know who has the same favorite color as you do? I'm not sure, but I probably know someone with similar favorite colors/color schemes.

Have you ever had a tattoo covered up or added to? No.

Have you ever kissed someone who has previously kissed someone you hated? No.

Do you have any relatives with red hair? Not that I'm aware of.

What is tomorrow’s weather forecasted to be like? It's supposed to be sunny with a high of 39*F. Also, we got that rain / snow last night and into this morning<3.

Have you ever known anyone who committed suicide? The father of one of my past partners was thought to have taken his own life.

What’s some of the worst pain you’ve ever felt? Migraines.

What’s your favorite kind of pasta? Like an actual dish? Maybe Italian shell casserole or mac & cheese. If we're just talking shapes, then shells, elbows, and spirals.

Would you rather a friend come over to your house or you go over there? Go over there. Even though it would mean traveling all the way to California.

Have you ever had rabies? No.

Do you know anyone who ever had to get a rabies shot? I don't think so.

Ever eaten deer? Duck? Squirrel? How about lamb? I've eaten deer and possibly lamb (my memory isn't clear on that one), and I would be willing to try duck or squirrel.

What is your favorite parody movie? I don't have a favorite, but I'm suddenly reminded of this Lord of the Rings parody that Jenni and I rented for a weekend cabin stay when we were tweens. We didn't realize it wasn't a very PG parody…

What is your least favorite ice cream flavor? I'm not a huge fan of plain vanilla. I like it in things like shakes and ice cream bars and such, but by itself it's kind of eh.

Does your car have heated seats? No, but my dad's does.

Have you ever been tempted to steal? Yeah, when I was young and dumb. Teenagers are legitimately stupid. <- This.

Would you rather travel to Ireland or Japan? I wouldn't mind going to Ireland, but Japan is at the top of my list of places to visit.

Does tickling turn you on? Maybe under the right circumstances…?

If you could go over to someone’s house right now, whose and why? I'd rather not. I'm in the midst of baking a pumpkin pie and will be seeing Wicked with my mom later this morning.

What is the age gap between you and your parents?

How many bathrooms does your house have? Is this enough? Three. Except the one in the master bedroom is no longer functional. It's just me and my dad living here, so it's plenty.

Have you ever video-chatted with someone you met online? No.

Do you collect anything, or have you ever? I used to collect Beanie Babies, as well as Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh cards.

When was the last time you used Facebook? The last time I had an active account was about a decade ago.

How many siblings does your best friend have? Zero.

Have you ever dated someone who was emotionally or mentally unstable? Yeah.

Be honest: are you clingy? I definitely used to be. I have more going on in my own life now, though, so I probably wouldn't be as suffocating as I was in the past.

Have you ever had bronchitis? No.

Have you ever had a reptile for a pet? No.

Are you afraid of the dentist? Not really, but I've still put off going for a long, long time.

Did you attend Sunday School as a child? Rarely.

Who was the last person you cuddled with? A past partner.

How would you feel if your significant other (or possible partner) told you they dislike having sex, but do so with you to make you happy, even though they personally think it’s a chore? I would prefer a partner who enjoyed intimacy as well.

Your boyfriend/girlfriend isn’t around but their phone is. Do you look through it? No.

Do you think you will be in a relationship 3 months from now? No.

Have you ever liked anyone that was in a relationship with someone else? Yeah. I've explained the situation before.

Do people ever compliment your eyes? Not very often, but it's probably happened at some point.

Have any of your exes ever given you roses? I think Michael did.

Do you think your last ex ever thinks about you? I have no idea. If they do, then it's probably not very often because that relationship ended years ago.

Would you rather have salad or french fries for a side dish? Depends on what I'm in the mood for at the time.

Which one of your relationships was the shortest? Michael or my most recent ex (we were very on again / off again, so even though the relationship "spanned" the longest stretch of time, the time we were actually together wasn't very long.)

Which was the longest? Nick.

Have any of your exes told you they regret breaking up with you? Not those exact words.

Would you feel hurt if your last ex is in a relationship? Last I knew, they were in a relationship. They were the last time we dated, too. It was a poly situation.

Are you going to be getting any new pets soon? No.

Do you like BBQ sauce? Yeah.

What do you like to do when you’re home alone? Make art, watch YouTube, take surveys. Pretty much the same things I would do if someone else was there.

Should the guy always pay for the date? No.

What kind of music calms you down? Meditation or soft classical music.

Do you know anyone who has autism? My best friend is on the spectrum.

What is your favorite way to eat eggs? Scrambled or over easy.

Do you like Frozen? I never saw it.

Who is one of your heroes? My dad.

Do you enjoy hot chocolate? Yes.

Do you use Instagram often? Yeah.

If you got a kitten, what would you name it? I'd have to actually see and interact with the kitten in order to name it.

Do you have a Pinterest account? No.

Do you prefer a quiet or noisy environment? A balance. The animal shelter can be a bit chaotic at times and it can be energizing to a point, but I also need quiet time to rejuvenate.

What is one question you don’t like being asked? Ugh.

Who is someone you know who is talkative? Liv.

When was the last time you saw one of your uncles? Probably childhood.

Do you know anyone who plays the violin? Riley used to. Idk if she still does.

Do your parents enjoy any of the things that you enjoy? Do you bond over these things? Yeah. My dad and I both enjoy hiking/camping. I also enjoy going to movies with my mom, but that's more of me tagging along for her interest than something we both enjoy independently. I wouldn't be much of a movie person at all if not for her.

Out of all your usernames for websites, which one is your favorite? Do you use it for more than one site? Idk.

Have you ever spent the whole day (or multiple days) just looking up one thing on the internet (e.g., videos of your favorite band, how-to videos, quizzes, etc.)? Oh sure.

If someone told you that we live in a society that hates women, how would you respond? I really don’t give a fuck to participate in bullshit like that, sorry. 🙃 <-Same. Except I'm not very outspoken, so I would pretend to agree while maintaining my own stance internally. :')

Can you remember the last thing you thought and subsequently thought, “wow, I really shouldn’t be thinking that”? Last night on the drive home. Almost sunk into the suicidal stew. Was weirdly sad / sensitive all day. Chocked it up to the fact that time of the month is approaching. Guess I have to amend a previous statement that my mood swings aren't that bad. ;D

[starshineandhappythoughts]

10 First Lines

Tagged by by own desire to do this.

Rules: Post the first lines of your last 10 fics posted to AO3. (Sort by date posted.) If you have less than 10 fics posted, post what you have!

I've included some of my current WIP fics because I like them better then the really old ones to make 10.

if i ever got the chance KimChay

Kim was at the studio when Korn called a mandatory, immediate,  family meeting. He contemplated not going, of course he did. He'd  only gone to a handful of these mandatory family meetings in the  last half dozen years.

2. chances KimChay

"You can't be here."

The house had been silent all afternoon, Chay diligently sitting at the kitchen table he'd turned into his study desk. There was no point  staying in his room when he had the whole house to himself after all. Besides, being in the kitchen let him feel more at rest, like he wasn't  actually alone, like Porsche could come home at any time and hang  out with him.

But it wasn't Porsche's footsteps he heard when the kitchen door  opened. It wasn't Porsche's body wash that Chay could suddenly  smell; but it was a familiar scent that spiked his heart rate both in  excitement and misery.

3. kiss me like it means something MaxNat

"I'm just completely out of ideas," Nat groaned. He was feeling pitiful, put out, and, frankly, not in the mood for NuNew’s delighted  laughter. It was an unexpected night spent with just the two of them, something he relished in and cherished for the rarity of it. But  NuNew’s endeared and patient smile had turned more love sick than Nat was in the mood for when NuNew had picked up his phone to  read Zee’s latest text. It was probably something sappy and  disgustingly so given how pink NuNew’s face went and Nat could  almost hate them both for it.

4. For Porchay KimChay

It’s another night, another show, and Kim’s not upset about it,  technically speaking. This is what he’d wanted to do; it’s what he’d  wanted to do strong enough that he left home at 18 and hadn’t  looked back for over 2 years. Even still, another three years later, he  rarely went back home. If he was meeting his brothers he preferred it somewhere not directly under their father’s thumb. That was never  easy to find with the world they live in. Most people owed his father, or their family, one favor or another and those that didn’t were likely connected to someone that did.

5. Fuck, I love you MaxNat

Nat laughed, blissful and fucked out as he stretched out over Max’s  bed, arching his back and stretching his shoulders before he  burrowed back into the pillow under his head. 

6. Home Taegihope

The itch under Taehyung’s skin was unfortunately familiar at this  point. He’d been expecting it, and had planned for it as best as  possible given the circumstances. But there is only so much planning a person could do when you haven’t seen your soulmate in three  months. Soul bonds were pesky, peculiar things and no matter how many informative documentaries he watched with Yoongi, or how  long he lived with one, Taehyung was never going to properly  understand them. 

Missing Jimin was already a terrible feeling.

7. PrapaiSky Post Canon WIP

Prapai heard the whispering before he even reached the main floor of his family house. His sister’s laughter and his brother’s aggressive flirting with Sky were a backdrop he’d gotten used to over the two weeks. Prapai’s siblings hadn’t asked any questions, for which Prapai was grateful. They had just made an off hand comment to Prapai about Sky being at the house, eyebrows high and smiles mischievous, and moved on. It was well known that Prapai didn’t bring anyone home. The fact that there had never been anyone important enough went unsaid. He knew that this peace with his siblings wouldn't last long but he was going to embrace it while he could.

8. OffGun FWB WIP

“Wait wait wait,” Gun laughed as he said it, rolling off of Off to lay sprawled out on the floor of his living room. He had one hand pressed in approximation of where his heart was, the other mock fanning himself. Off reached over, idly stroking Gun’s arm, and felt the racing of his heartbeat in Gun’s wrist. 

9. KimChay Win A Date With Kim WIP

It was an accident, really. Kim hadn't been looking, but sometimes when he's on Twitter, he looks at his mentions, and it's not his fault the display name caught his eye

"C 😒 Wik" was rather peculiar for a fan page. No blushing emojis and hearts that Kim had become accustomed to. And Wik wasn't nearly popular enough to have Anti's (well, besides for that one classmate who hated him for winning their music competition in 7th grade). So Kim clicked on it, and scrolled through the obvious RTs (the latest things he'd been up to, his plans for the future that had just been announced, the user had also applied for the Win A Valentines Date with Wik that had absolutely been Vetoed by Kim himself but his management had overruled him.

10. Taegimin Magic AU WIP

The bonfire glowing brightly in the distance was the only real sign Yoongi had that he was in the right place. It was too dark for him to truly see the trees that surrounded him, or the barely there non-existent path that they had trampled into the forest floors after years of making the same trip. It didn't matter, really, because he knew the path as well as everyone he was expecting to meet. He knew which tree branches pointed him left and which ones right. He knew to skip over the second log on the left and duck under the swinging tree branches a few miles in. He knew it in the light of day and the dark of night when the only thing illuminating the forest was the far off bonfire. He didn't need to see the path, not anymore, after all this time, not after he had helped put those magical wards in place and had very carefully memorized the plans as he did so.

[the-nettle-knight]

More British stuff:

Truck stop - motorway services or just services

Bathroom - loo or bog occasionally

Going to the bathroom - older people sometimes say they're going to spend a penny

Toilet roll - loo roll or bog roll

Faucet - tap

Hand towels - paper towels

Condoms are just condoms, we don't use rubber

On that note eraser - rubber

School additional notes - the first year of primary school is called reception or year R. Then we have years 1-13 (year 12/13 are also known as sixth form)

SATs - gcses (age 16) and a levels (18)

School in the past (Dead Boy Detectives fandom) - they did used to have infants, middle and upper schools. Year naming wasn't hugely consistent but in secondary schools it was first form - sixth form (split into upper and lower sixth). Some bigger private schools had upper/lower fourth, fifth and sixth forms

During that time period you had o levels in place of gcses, earlier than that you had the general certification or the cert

Old uniform stuff - the straw hats private school kids wear are called boaters, in the winter terms you'd wear a cap instead. You didn't wear trousers to school until you were about 9/10, before that you wore shorts all year round (where we get the term "since I was in short trousers). Girls would wear an over dress called a pinafore or a pinny (these are still common in primary schools). School summer dresses are usually gingham

Gym shoes - plimsolls

Health class - we have a neboulously named PSHCE /PSHE /PSD, which stands for personal, social, health and citizenship education or personal social development. Acronym changes constantly

Freshmen at college - freshers for the first couple of months. Freshers week happens a week before uni starts, there are fairs with free stuff where all the clubs go to tempt you to join them. You also get freshers flu, which is the flu/cold everyone gets about a month into term after everyone spends the first month going wild and everyone subsequently gets ill

We tend to be given dedicated notebooks by the school for each subject

Bodega - corner shop

As mentioned above liquor store - off licence (ie they had a licence to serve alcohol to people but not for it to be consumed on the premises), it's often referred to as the offie

Fire truck - fire engine

911- 999 and the non emergency number is 111

Medication is often known by it's generic name

Tylenol - paracetamol

Advil - ibuprofen (both of which come in packs of 30 maximum but usually about 12)

Nyquil - calpol

Stove - hob

Stove hood - extractor fan/fan

Underwear/ panties - pants. We will sometimes refer to the type - boxers, thong, trunks, tighty whities, really tight pants are budgie smughlers

Swim wear - swimming costume/ cozzie, swimming trunks or just trunks, speedos

First floor - ground floor, as mentioned above. This is because in the Georgian period there would be a floor that was partially sunk into the ground/ the ceiling would be just above ground level outside. This wasn't a basement in the traditional sense, it was where the severnts had their quarters and the kitchen etc. The first floor would be the one above it, you'd have to go up some stairs to reach the front door

Veranda - porch

Sun room/garden room - conservatory. I've heard these aren't hugely common in the US but lots of houses have them here. This is sometimes where people will have their washing machine and tumble dryer (although fewer people have them, we normally use a clothes airer)

Windows - open outwards not upwards, unless it's a very old building which then is possibly listed, which is why window a units aren't a thing

Listed buildings are buildings of historic importance, they have grades (grade I, grade ii etc). It's not uncommon for these to be normal houses. You're very restricted with what changes you can make to them, painting the inside if it's already painted is normally OK. But you can't do stuff like rip out historic details and make it greige

French kiss - snogging

Sex - normally is just sex but you can also say shagging if you're being crude

Fart - Trump. Yes this does get made fun of a lot

Cup of tea - cuppa. Teabag wise, we never use Liptons. Pgs tips or Yorkshire (this has and will start fights)

The order of milk is important. Tea bag, water and then milk is the correct way. Milk in first is very posh, comes from having bone china, which is incredibly thin. If you put the hot water in first the cup will break

Buiscuts- scones (rhymes with gone, fight me). Whether you put clotted cream and then jam or vice versa will also start fights. This one I have no opinion on because I don't like cream

Pop overs (which is just wrong) - Yorkshire pudding or just yorkies

Bread roll - area dependant but will often be a bap, a barm or a cob. There are others but those are the ones I've heard more frequently

Common traditional British food - bangers and mash (sausages and mash potatoes), bubble and squeak (fried cabbage and potatoes - normally roast dinner leftovers), shepherd's pie (mash potato and lamb mince), cottage pie (mash potato and beef mince), full English/Scottish/Irish, fish and chips, toad in the hole (sausages in Yorkshire pudding batter) blood pudding (blood sausage), haggis (offal and barley in a sausage like casing),

Dessert - pudding. These are some traditional ones - bread and butter pudding (leftover stale bread baked with custard, raisins or chocolate chips), spotted dick, Eaton mess, sticky toffee pudding, mince pies (Christmas), Christmas cake which is different from Christmas pudding. Christmas pudding is traditionally a steamed and ball /upside down bowl shaped cake. It's normally aged from months - years and used to have a lucky six pence in. We drench it in brandy then set it on fire before serving it. If you don't do the fire thing it can be quite dry. We also eat it with brandy butter which is exactly what it sounds like

Final thing - there are no raccoons or chipmunks in the UK, I've seen so many American based cartoons supposedly set in the UK having raccoons and chipmunks. The Disney Winnie the Poo also introduced a couple of American animals that don't exist over here

I could go on but I think that covers a lot!

American to English translation for fic

So I read and write fanfic, as do lots of others, and I've noticed that when it comes to British shows or movies, Americanisms or American terms crop up often. It's mostly because most don't know we have specific terms for things in the UK, and I've seen references here and there before, but I've decided to write one of my own. Feel free to add to it tho! I'm gonna put it up on Ao3 too and any additions, I'll reference the tumblr and link them on Ao3 too.

Anyway, here we go I guess.

Some Americanisms to English-isms

Gas = fuel/petrol/diesel (we tend to specify the type of fuel the vehicle uses, diesel vehicle or petrol vehicle for example)

Gas station = petrol/fuel station

Gas court = petrol/fuel court, or sometimes forecourt (not often with this one tho)

License plate = registration plate/reg

Diner = cafe

Fast-food = takeaway (this is sort of interchangeable. McDonald's is called fast food, a meal from a pizza place that delivers is takeaway)

Motel = hotel

Side-note: We tend to use specific named hotel chains like Premier Inn (or Prem-Inn for short) or Holiday Inn or Travelodge. We also have Britannia Hotels and several others. If the fic is based in a specific place, local hotels or famous ones may be better options. For example, in Liverpool, we have The Shankly or Adelphi.

Cab = taxi or black hac for a specific type of taxi.

Side-note: These are what you see in BBC Sherlock, for example, and are a UK staple. They're less popular or common-place nowadays but there are dedicated taxi companies that use them. There's on in my town that operates until 4pm each day. They are also usually more expensive than a car taxi but they have oodles of space and you can have a pram/buggy kept upright rather than folded-down in them which is brilliant.

Cop = police officer

Side note: more informal, colloquial terms include "copper", "the fuzz", "tit-head" (because of the nipple hat okay, just look up the hat, it's hilarious), "bobby", "rozzer" (pronounced r-o-z-er not Row-zer), and "the bill" (there's an actual show called this btw. It can be a good reference for anyone writing crime fic in UK). There's more but those are the most common. Older terms do include "peelers" and "old bill".

Second side-note: the police have a whole host of terms, colloquial and slang that can be a great thing to include in fic, which I'll link a glossary of here. It's not all UK centric but cross-country policing is a thing so that may just be a boon imho. Also the short-hand acroynmns used are useful so here's a link to the Metropolitan Police glossary of those too!

Patrolman = constable or police constable

Antenna = aerial or TV aerial

Fall (season) = autumn

Bill = banknote or specifically "tenner", "fiver", "twenny" (not "twenty"). We don't have single banknotes like a dollar bill. We have pound coins

Dimes, nickels, etc = pound coin, two-pound coin, fifty-pence, penny, two-pence, five-pence, ten-pence, twenty-pence (link here about the coin currency)

Drug store = chemist or pharmacy

Optometrist = optician

Primary care physician = GP (general practitioner) here's a link about UK medical terms for doctors etc

Side-note: here's a link about medical terminologies etc between American and UK

Social security number = national insurance number

Liquor store = off-license or, specifically, Bargain Booze™

Liquor = spirits (usually)

Store = shop

Target, Walmart, etc = honestly, it's probably gonna be Tesco, ASDA, Morrisons, ALDI or Lidl

Superstore = supermarket

Shopping cart = shopping trolley or just "trolley"

Yard-sale = car-boot/car-bootie/car-boot sale

Attorney = barrister or solicitor (solicitors you go to for legal help, barristers tend to be involved in actual court matters, like a the Crown Prosecution Service), here's a link that explains it better

Janitor = caretaker

French-fries = chips (although McDonald's French-fries are just that, French-fries)

Intersection = crossroad

Highway/freeway = motorway

Interstate = usually an A-road or a motorway, we don't really have interstates here)

Overpass = flyover

Turnpike = toll motorway

Windshield = windscreen

Trunk of a car = boot or car boot

Hood of a car = bonnet or car bonnet

Truck = lorry

Sedan = saloon car

Blowout = puncture or flat tyre

Pavement = road

Sidewalk = path

Subway = underground (like the London Underground)

Drapes = curtains (though we do use "drapes" we tend to say "curtains" more)

Pacifier = dummy or "dodo" or "dodi"

Diaper = nappie or a pull-up (if its like underwear for toddlers)

Baby crib = baby cot (though we do use "crib", we tend to say "cot" more)

Baby carriage/pushchair/stroller = pram or buggy (more specific type tho, here's a link about the differences)

Trash/garbage can = bin, dustbin, rubbish bin

Garbage/trash collector = binman/binmen

Mail = post

Mailman = postman

Mailbox = postbox

The movies = cinema or pictures

Movie = film (less common nowadays with influence of Americanisms but I still use "film" and a lot of people my age and older do too (25+)

First floor = ground floor okay, it's the ground floor because it's on ground level

Sneakers = unless they're Converse, it's probably just "trainers"

Baggage = luggage

Purse (as in the bag) = handbag, or "purse" but that tends to be the thing you put your money and cards in then put in your handbag

Vacuum cleaner = hoover or a specific brand like Henry Hoover™, which you'll find we tend to just call Henry (though I have a John Lewis hoover I got from George, ASDA that I've named 'George' and yes, I do say "I need to use George in a bit to hoover" regularly)

Sweater = jumper or, if it buttons up it's a cardigan or cardi

Closet = wardrobe

Elevator = lift

Call collect = reverse charges

Schools = we have primary/infants (11yrs)and secondary/high school (11-16yo) with some high schools have sixth-form college (16-18yo) or actual independent colleges for the same ages

College = university

Semester = term

Vacation = holiday

Kindergarten = nursey/reception

Flashlight = torch

Wrench = spanner

Backyard = garden

Cookie = biscuits

Chips = crisps (like Walkers™ or Lays™ in the States)

Pants = trousers

Cottoncandy = candyfloss

Dude = bloke/fella/mate

John Doe = John Smith

Exhausted (tired) = knackered

Cell phone = mobile

Cell data = mobile data/4G/5G

Bathroom/restroom = loo/toilet (informal term "bog")

Thanks = cheers

Soccer = football

Y'all = "you lot"

Fuck off/hit the road/go away = bugger off

Some slang phrases too

Bits and bobs = stuff, usually random

Take the mick/mickey = making fun of someone or over-exaggerating

Bob's your uncle = there you go, basically

Bog standard = typical, run of the mill kind of deal

Gutted = feel upset, disappointed

Dull as dishwater = basically really, really fuckin boring

Chinwag = basically "shooting the breeze" or just having a talk/chat

.

If you have any others that you think of or want added, reblog and add em! Tags too if you'd prefer but reblogs would be easier ☺️

[loveforpreserumsteve]

Love Grows (demon!Bucky and pre-serum!Steve omegaverse au)

7

MONDAY MORNING Steve was rushing around the kitchen attempting Sarah Rogers' egg, biscuit, and sausage breakfast casserole. Figuring that the Sousas were probably already getting tons of dinner casseroles. Assuming that they had even informed the rest of their family and Sharon's friends.

"Whatcha makin'?" Hodge joined him in the kitchen.

"Something for Mr. and Mrs. Sousa."

"Oh?" Hodge quirked a brow.

Steve shrugged, "It's the least I can do, y'know? I can only imagine how rough this weekend has been for them."

"This –" Hodge wrapped his arms around Steve's waist "– is why I married you."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yup," Hodge kissed his nose. "You've got the sweetest heart of anyone I've ever met."

Steve smiled up at the blond, "So, does that mean that you'll join me in 12A?"

"Not a chance," Hodge chuckled. Kissing Steve's nose once more before pulling back, "Gotta meet up with MJD."

"Tell Duff I say, 'hi.'"

"I will," Hodge assured, making his way towards the door.

"Hey," Steve rushed towards him. Blocking the door with his petite frame, "Forget somethin'?"

As Steve pursed his lips, Hodge playfully rolled his eyes, then leaned down to kiss him on the lips. Satisfied, Steve moved out of the way and watched his husband leave. Feeling a tug at his heart, Steve closed the door and returned to the kitchen. He didn't want to go by himself to the Sousas, but he knew that Hodge was as good of an actor as he was because of his acting coach. And no matter what, Steve was going to encourage and support his spouse, no matter what Steve's dad said when it came to the duties of an alpha – or beta – spouse.

Covering the finished casserole with tinfoil, Steve left for 12A. Heading down the hallway, Steve spotted Laura and Conner Barton from 12B. The pregnant beta smiled and waved while she tried to get the toddler to stand up so they could go wherever they were going. Steve couldn't help but be envious and wonder when he'd have to struggle with a headstrong toddler of his own.

Arriving at 12A, Steve took a deep breath to ease himself before knocking. After all, he hadn't met them before and now he was going to give them his condolences of someone that he hadn't even known for a full month? He really wished that Hodge was there with him.

Slowly, Mrs. Sousa opened the door. With the little space allowed by the security chain, she peeked her head, "Yes?"

"Hi, I'm Steve Hodge. I'm in 12E," Steve politely smiled. Holding the casserole, he lifted it higher, "I just wanted to offer my condolences."

"Oh," she sniffled, closing the door. Undoing the chain, she opened the door and gestured, "How sweet of you. Please, come in."

"Thank you," Steve entered the apartment. Instead of the off-white that his apartment was, the Sousas' was dark, accentuating the molding, and looking practically gothic in its design. He couldn't help but be fascinated.

Coming to his senses, Steve asked, "How are you doing? Do you need anything?"

"Oh goodness, aren't you sweet," she sniffled again, bringing an embroidered handkerchief to dab at the corner of her eyes. Still so sophisticated even when grieving. "We'll manage. How are you? It seemed to have hit you... hard... last night outside."

"I only wish that I had known her better. Longer. She was sweet."

Mrs. Sousa nodded and led the way over to the kitchen. It was smaller than 12E, but then he remembered what Sharon said about the two being halves of an original one. He assumed that his half got the original kitchen.

"Coffee?" The elderly omega asked, heading for the maker.

"Oh, I don't want to be a bother, Mrs. Sou–"

Cutting himself off, Steve physically paused when he saw him. His dream with Peter Pan coming back to him as he took in that strong jaw, high cheekbones, and stormy eyes. But it didn't make sense. Who was he? How was he here? How was any of this possible?

"Nonsense," Mrs. Sousa started, as though Steve wasn't frozen in her kitchen, straining to keep himself from dropping the breakfast casserole. "It's no bother at all. We – I – wouldn't mind the company."

The man gave him a small smile and stood from the table. Tall and muscular and so damn attractive that he was a dream. And he had been. Three nights ago, in fact. And it didn't make sense for him to exist.

He held out his hand to Steve, "I'm Bucky."

Glancing at the hand offered to him, Steve's mind seemed to be moving in slow motion. Would the man disappear if he touched him? Would he turn Steve to stone? Would Steve wake up to realize that he was still dreaming? Staring at the hand all the while before he finally accepted it, "Steve."

As soon as Steve's hand was grasped in the larger one, a shock ran down his spine. Almost as though this was one of those omroms that his parents loved to watch so much. Or those omega targeted books that Sam was always reading. It was ridiculous, Steve knew that, but in that moment, it felt like this man, this stranger, knew him better than anyone else on Earth.

"Want me to take that?" Bucky asked.

Brows furrowing, he followed the alpha's gaze until it landed on the casserole dish in his hands. Then, he snapped out of his stupor and accepted, "Yes, okay. Please. Thank you."

"You're welcome," he smiled, being mindful not to touch Steve again.

"Where are my manners?" Mrs. Sousa giggled. "I'm Peggy. My husband is Daniel, and this is Bucky... Sharon's friend."

"I'm sorry for your loss," Steve immediately offered.

"Um," Bucky paused, standing awkwardly near the counter, "I'm not sure what to say to that."

"Oh," taken aback for a moment. But then again, dreams didn't usually follow social norms, did they?

Mrs. Sousa – Peggy – told the brunet, "Usually, people say, 'thank you.'"

"Oh," Bucky nodded. "Thank you." Only briefly pausing, "I'm sorry for your loss. You were Sharon's friend too. Or so I heard."

"Thank you." Steve fidgeted, not sure what to do now that his hands were empty and he was standing in a surreal bubble of unreality.

"Well, please, make yourself at home," Peggy encouraged, gesturing to the table.

Still a little surprised to see this, "Bucky," in his awake world, Steve didn't attempt to leave or even make an excuse to do so. Instead, he took a seat at the sturdy oak table. Peggy brought over mugs for coffee. First, in front of the chair that Bucky had been sitting in, then Steve's, and then her own.

"Now you," Peggy took a hold of Bucky's arm so she could lead him back over to the table. "You sit and let me serve. You're the guest, after all."

With no other choice, Bucky sat. Across from Steve. The two men stared at each other before Steve dropped his gaze to look at anything and everything other than Bucky. Even if he could feel the brunet's eyes glued to him.

"So, Steve," Peggy started, bringing over plates and then the cut casserole. "What do you do?"

Looking at the elderly woman – instead of the brunet – he answered, "I'm an artist."

Peggy grinned, appraising his petite frame. "What kind of art do you do?"

"I've done a little of this and a little of that," Steve shifted in his seat, briefly glancing at Bucky. Watching as Peggy served Bucky first, him next, and her last. He continued, "Mainly I paint, but I've done sculptures."

"You sound very creative," Peggy complimented, pouring the coffee.

Steve hummed noncommittally. Not wanting to make the older woman stand, Steve stood from the table. Only, Bucky stood too. Looking to Peggy, he asked, "Where do you keep your sugar?"

"Oh, I'll get it," Peggy went to stand, her knees audibly popping as she did so.

"No, I can get it," Steve assured.

Peggy looked from him to Bucky. Which caused Steve to return his gaze to Bucky. The brunet nodded, causing Peggy to relax once again in her chair while also causing Steve's brows to furrow. Instead of questioning it though, Steve crossed towards the cabinets as Peggy instructed, "Right of the stove, dear."

Bringing the sugar over to the table, Steve sat back down, and then Bucky did too. Perhaps it's chivalry, Steve reasoned, adding some sugar to his mug of dark roast coffee, and then Bucky added some to his too. Peggy asked, "Are you married?"

"I am." Tasting the bitter coffee, Steve hid his disgust. Wondering what kind it is so he can avoid ever purchasing it. Adding some more sugar, "I'm married to your neighbor, Arnold Hodge's nephew, Gilmore."

"How sweet," Peggy smiled. Patting Steve's hand, "Arnold is a dear friend of ours, so please, feel free to come to us for anything."

Although Steve doubted that he would, he still appeased the old woman, "We will. Thank you."

"In fact," Peggy glanced at Bucky – which made Steve look at the brunet too – he nodded and she offered, "Why don't you and your hubby come over for dinner?"

Steve started, "I don't want to put you out or anything."

"Don't you worry," Peggy grinned, "You won't be any trouble at all. And I won't take no for an answer."

"Well," Steve smiled, accepting the piece of the breakfast casserole that Peggy dished onto his plate. "How can I refuse now?"

"You can't," Peggy giggled, "I simply won't let you."

[dawndelion-winery]

Take A Hint

Please just notice their advances

Ft. Diluc, Dottore, Itto, Zhongli

Diluc:

It's not you, it's him

Truly, he could not be any more vague

Why? You might ask?

Simply put, he's trying his best to romance you without letting you know it's him who's romancing you

Something something anxious you'll reject him something

So yeah, flowers, subtle gifts in the form of things you happen to need, everything is handed to you on a silver platter of convenience

And the sender himself is nowhere to be found or even heard of

Throw in how he's not exactly known for being amorous, as popular as he is, how could you possibly have suspected it was from him?

Of course you'd ask around, sparking a whole new chain of talk about your mysterious admirer

And lots of unwanted advice from the well-meaning citizens of Mond

"You should try asking around at the Angel's Share. Master Diluc always seems to know a little about everything, maybe he has something for ya."

Having no other leads, you went ahead with it

As with every other evening, the place was packed, drunkards exchanging tales over their liquor

There was nothing of value to be gotten from them, so you made a beeline for the redhead behind the counter

"Good evening, what can I get for you this time?"

"You wouldn't happen to have information, would you? On umm, the person who's been sending me all these presents."

He stiffens up, though not enough to be distinctly noticeable

He was going to say no, continue to lay low for a bit more, but when you looked at him so expectantly, it was hard for him to turn you down

It was even worse when you pressed further, prying for details to push your luck

Still, he caved and answered, fumbling as he did, because there was only so vague he could be the more you questioned

"You seem to know this person really well, it's almost like- Wait, Diluc, are you??"

In your excitement, you had gotten up, kneeling on the barstool and leaning across the counter to come face to face with him

"I've thought of something else you can get me, bartender~"

"Y-yes, and...what might that be?"

"You<3"

_____

"Just like that?" Kaeya confirmed, throwing his head back and laughing as he turned to his brother. "Yeah, just like that," you echoed, smiling at your lover who glowered at the blue haired captain. Diluc sat himself between the two of you as he wrapped an arm around you. "I told you it'd be easier to just ask them," Kaeya quipped, only to be silenced with a glare. "I recall," Diluc said. "But it worked out fine all the same." And fine it was, as he pressed a kiss to your temple, content that he no longer had to fret over hiding from you.

Dottore:

For someone who's all about the enjoying the experimental process, even he was growing tired of the lack of results

Were his hints (link to past post) too difficult to notice even for you? Had he overestimated your abilities?

Perhaps that was the case, so he'd have no choice but to resort to a more tried and true method

But of course even then he'd twist it in his own way to suit himself

It's not like there was any point in conforming to a standard the complete opposite of his own lest you fall for anything short of who he truly was

So he approaches you under the guise of a personal experiment, a little something that had piqued his interest

"You can be my lover for a... how's a month sound?"

You choked on your drink

As if being approached by the harbinger you worked for during your lunch break wasn't nerve wracking enough, that was what he wanted to talk to you about?

Despite his offhanded demeanor, seeming to not care about whether you agreed to it or not, you had a feeling it would be in your best interests to go along with it

It's not like you weren't at least somewhat into him anyway

His smile from under the mask did seem very ominous to any sane person though

Perhaps you weren't entirely sane, because the doctor's low chuckle didn't send you running for the hills in spite of you having no idea what he was planning

But really, how hard could it be to play the part of Il Dottore's lover for a month?

The answer was not at all

The position came with a number of privilege you were sure you'd miss once you lost them

Free access to anything under Dottore's command? Almost the same level of authority?

Really, it was insane just how much you were getting out of something that stemmed from his curiosity

And it really had you wondering just how he could afford to spare you all this luxury without batting an eye

Your colleagues, while understandably jealous, had been surprisingly supportive as well, giggling in your ear about how soft the doctor seemed to be for you

But all you could think of was how it was all a lie

You had to keep reminding yourself how quickly it would be over, and that you'd soon return to your old post

Even in the doctor's presence, which was often, you were doing mental gymnastics to stay calm at his every doting gesture

How was it even possible for him to hold you so gently? You'd never know

His duality was such that he could snap at the Regrator in a tone you're sure was icy enough to make the Tsaritsa proud all while holding you in his lap with the warmest possible embrace

And every moment felt like it'd last forever

Could he freeze time? You sort of hoped he would experiment with that and inevitably extend the time you had with him

You, ever the fool, had gotten comfortable with the arrangement even when you'd repeatedly reminded yourself not to

Although one could say you were an even bigger fool for not realising how he set you up to fall for him

Did you really think he was capable of looking at anyone he didn't consider special to him with enough warmth to melt a room when you can't even see his eyes?

On the final day of your agreement, you were finally starting to worry about how you were supposed to go about your old job after all you'd experienced with Dottore

Could you even function without remembering how nice it was to have his reassuring hand on your back?

"Oh my, anyone would think you were upset by the thought of leaving me if you pulled that face."

"Lord Dottore! I didn't notice- I'm sorry I-"

"No, this has been...a very successful experiment, if I do conclude. It has definitely helped me to confirm something important, I was just thinking of how to reward you for your help."

"I'm honoured I was able to assist, my lord. I'd be happy to accept any gift you might grace me with."

He frowned a little, and you were worried you had misspoken

Well, technically, you had, because he was hoping you'd have gotten comfortable enough with him over the month to drop the formalities

"Any gift? Then it's decided. We'll just have to make this a permanent arrangement, wouldn't you agree, my dear? In which case I think it only fitting that...when we're alone like this, you should call me Zandik."

The last part was softer, like the utterance of his name was for no one but you (it was)

Dottore might have been the feared harbinger, but Zandik was your affectionate maniac, and yours alone

_____

"Zandik, I never really did get to ask...why did you choose me for that experiment anyway? It just all seems far too fortunate for everything to fall into place so easily," you asked. You hadn't expected him to grin - more to himself than anyone else. "Yes, very fortunate indeed, you must be quite the lucky one then, favoured by the goddess of love herself, no?" he chuckled. He wondered if you would ever figure out he schemed it all, or if you'd remain blissfully ignorant. Gingerly, he took off his mask and set it on your face. "Would you look at that, it suits you too," he mused. "So why don't we just take it, that we were bound to end up like this one way or another, my precious?"

Itto:

You'd think it's obvious since he's such an outspoken guy

But he's fairly prideful too, so chances are, he's gonna try get you to ask him out

Unfortunately for him, he very much does want to cut the chase and ask you out so he doesn't have to wait

It's really a dilemma, and it doesn't help that no one in the gang apart from Shinobu gives sound advice

Just ask you out? Yeah right, Shinobu, he's gonna go with what the other guys say and just make himself seem so cool you'll be dying to go out with him

So he hangs around you a lot, dragging you with him and talking about how the Arataki Gang is doing stupendously

And who's leading the gang? None other than him, of course!!

Surely you'll think he's awesome, right?

Of course, credit where credit's due, he does end up talking about Shinobu a lot, praising her and how well she helps manage things

In part, that's supposed to help you see how humble he is despite his awesomeness

Too bad it gave the impression that he liked Shinobu, leading to you trying to set them up

Did you kinda like Itto? Yeah, sure, what wasn't there to like about him?

But that was also why you thought you should put your own feelings aside and help him out

And Itto, the sweet dumbass, not knowing any better, went along with all your ideas thinking you just wanted to spend time with him

You were taking him shopping for stuff!! That seems like a date, right? He was counting as a date

Yes, you were trying to dress him up and "coincidentally" bump into Shinobu and abandon them to have dinner together, but Itto didn't know the second half of that

He was absolutely memorising every detail to tell the rest of the gang after about how it worked and you slyly tried to go on a date with him

He was planning up how to tell them already

And you were dressing him up too? Look at you, acting like you're already married, he's very head empty

My guy is so ready to call you out on it when you bump into Shinobu a little earlier than expected

"Oh, what are you two up to? No offence, y/n, it's just that Itto typically doesn't come around town without some sort of mayhem following."

"Hey, you know that's not true, people love me, I-"

Red alert: he was looking stupid in front of his crush

And when you were quick to defend him? Boy, he looked like he wanted to kiss you then and there

You thought you were salvaging his reputation, but really, it just made you look like you were taking his side unconditionally

At least that's how it seemed in the moment

"How about that, boss. You actually got them to fall for you hard enough to overlook your idiocy. Who'd have thought?"

"Well, of course no one can resist the one and Oni Arataki Itto, y/n included, right my bug?"

You couldn't even be offended at his awful petname for you because there was so much to process

Were you dating now? Was that how it went?

Honestly, you could roll with that, as funny of a way as it was to get together

You didn't even have the heart to tell him about the misunderstanding because he seemed so proud to show off to everyone how you finally got together

_____

The members of the Arataki Gang gathered around with gathered sakura blooms as they scattered the petals around to congratulate the two of you. For the most part, Itto was just recounting the tale from his perspective, which was pretty funny to hear since you knew how it all actually went down. Had you really looked at him with the love the ocean had for the moon? It was almost embarrassing to hear how he described you, the poetic brilliance so unlike his typical crude speech. Certainly, it was a simple as comparing you to fresh grass in the summer, but it was very him to do so. And you supposed that was the magnetic charm of his after all.

Zhongli:

He can't think of a time when he's ever been so desperate to reach out to someone and yet so hesitant

But that had to be all the more reason for him to keep his distance because imagine if he lost you once he'd gotten attached?

Absolute devastation

But a small part of him insists you're worth the risk

Sadly, not enough to convince him because what if one day you realise you're just wasting your time with him? If you didn't actually like him any more than as a dear friend?

So you end up in this awful push and pull, hot and cold situation where one day he's inviting you out, eager to spend time with you

And the next day he's nowhere to be found, uncontactable as though he was never a part of your life

It got tiring really fast, so you roped in Hu Tao, since as his boss, she probably had his schedule

That and Hu Tao very much seems to be aware of something you aren't (aka the fact that Zhongli is immortal)

She wants to fill you in so badly because she's pretty done with watching Zhongli pine and then act like he never did

Still, she respects his boundaries (mostly) so she just helps drag him out of hiding

And by that, I mean calling him to work for something really important so he'll rush over

So you can imagine how his eyes widened when he saw you waiting with the director

"Director...and y/n, did I miss something?"

He knew he was being played the moment he saw Hu Tao's close-eyed smile but it was too late to run

Even then, Hu Tao wasn't one to break character, so she sent the two of you on some errands for her

So off you go, wandering Liyue on tasks you're certain have no relevance to whatever Hu Tao actually needs

Part 1: Scouring mountains for qingxin

At some point, Zhongli decided it'd be so much easier to just boost you up with his geo structures and catching you when you jumped/slid back down

No, he's definitely not the geo archon he's just very proficient at using his vision, he assures you

With the way he talks about Liyue as you search for flowers, even you end up piecing it all together

"What's it like to no longer be worshipped?"

"It's definitely more peaceful."

He pauses and slowly turns towards you

"I seem to be slipping up a lot today. This is exactly why I can't be around you. Still, what were the chances you'd figure this out before picking up on my feelings for you?"

Look at him turning the tables on you, it was now your turn to be flustered

How dare he

With a gentle tenderness only the passage of time could train, he picked out one particular flower from the bunch and held it beside your cheek

"Would it be inappropriate for me to comment on how you put even the loveliest of flowers to shame? Or should I find an equally appealing piece of jade or cor lapis to match the shine of your eyes?"

"What's with this sudden flattery?"

"You do bring out the worst in me sometimes. Even centuries of solitude couldn't grant me the patience to wait for you to choose me."

_____

You'd returned to the funeral parlour with Zhongli, both of you hauling massive bouquets in your arms. "We've found the-" Zhongli began, only to be cut off by his boss chiding him. "Aiya, I gave you the perfect opportunity and you still have no game!"

"No, but I did-" He turned to you with pleading eyes, but it was a sight too funny to pass up on. You'd make it up to him later, of course. But for the time being, you'd let yourself be amused with his suffering as payback for ghosting you all those times.

Commissioned by @monstersealclubber

Taglist: @myluvkeiji @aqui-soba @favonius-captain @tiredsleep @raincxtter @gensimping-for-all @irethepotato @almond-adeptus @mx-kamisato @yuzuricebun @chaosinanutshell @heizours @haliyamori @callmemeelah @sadlonelybagel @plinkuro @thevictoriousmoon @mastering-procrastinating @missesclaus @cxlrosii @miss-fantazmagoria @astrequa @kokomist @lemonswriting @eowinthetraveller @ajaxstar @boundedbyfate @the-lost-anime-dad @ash-astrophel @moonbyunniee @greyrain23

[avastyetwats]

It wasn't the first time Stede had been called a drama queen, but at least coming from Izzy, it wasn't really meant as an insult. He said it with affection and with the intent to make the Captain laugh which it did, because now he was smiling again even though he still felt awful for thinking such a thing and far more because of how it made Izzy feel. He'd done nothing wrong and everything right. Loving Stede more than anyone else ever had, showering him in affection and appreciation in ways no one else ever has, and just giving him a sense of belonging, along with the crew. This was the life he'd always wanted - being a pirate - and never did he expect to find such a fulfilling, passionate and beautiful love in the process.

But Israel Hands gave him that and so much more.

"I did." He confirms, excited at the thought of giving it to him, though a little nervous. "It doesn't compare to the remarkable painting you've gifted me, but.." He gently swats at his lover's hand before sliding off of his lap and making his into the nearby closet. A few minutes later, he emerges holding a wrapped, rectangular gift box with a rolled piece of parchment paper, all held together with a string, finished into a bow. He walks it over to Izzy and holds it out to him, anxiously waiting. "That first, if you will." He nods to the rolled paper.

Upon opening it, Izzy would find several words written. A letter.

"Dearest Israel,

It was a month ago today that I kissed you. It was a month ago today that you kissed me back and we put into words what we've felt for each other for so long. It was a month ago today that we made love during what was truly the most wonderful night of my life. My life was changed in ways I never expected, in ways I never thought possible, for I never knew what true love was until you. Every day since, with you, has been filled with unbridled joy and a love so blissfully consuming and powerful that it isn't even the sun that fills my life with light and warmth, but you. It isn't the moon that fills me with a sense of calm and peace, but you. Having you near, having you with me, being with you.

It's only been a month and yet it feels like far longer, which is what I hope for. Far longer with you. Even perhaps, a lifetime. The ocean has no end, and nor does the love I have for you, I'm sure of it. I've never been more sure of anything.

I love you. I love all of you. I could list every thing I love about you in this letter, but I'd need several pages. If there's even enough in the world. But just know, I love you. You're worth everything, Israel, and I want you to see yourself the way that I do because I see you.

I love you.

I will never tire of saying that nor will I ever stop.

I love you.

I eagerly await our next anniversary for I truly believe they will be never ending. Just like us.

Always, faithfully and very happily yours,

Stede Bonnet."

Signed with a little heart at the end of his name.

Inside of the box was a sketchpad, some pencils and even some colored pencils. He's known of Izzy's love to draw and doodle even before they got together. Because he's seen him doodle on maps and papers and he's even told Stede about his love of art and how he used to express himself with it when he was young, but for reasons, he stopped. But Stede wanted to encourage him to do so again. To let him do what he loved and to be comfortable with it, to know it was okay. Okay to love what he wanted and to do what he loved. To just be himself. Including his love of color which was really made evident during the night of Calypso's birthday.

On the first page of the sketchbook, under the cover, was yet another little note from Stede that read, 'don't be afraid to be yourself. be you. i love you'.

So, there stood Stede, waiting anxiously for Izzy's reaction. Did he go too far? Was this too much? Too... sentimental? Oh, gods, he hoped it wasn't. But he waited... holding his breath.

Even though Izzy was still hurt by the fact Stede could ever even think such a thing, he also wanted to move forward. This was their anniversary. It was supposed to be happy. If it meant that he had to suck up feelings to push it forward for his lover’s sake he would. But besides that, he just wanted to feel happy again. He’d gotten used to being content so when he dipped back into something else, it was a painful reminder of the man he used to be. He wasn’t that man anymore. He was trying not to be anyway.

“ You’re such a bloody drama queen. “ He teased again in hopes of bringing his spirits up as he lowered hands from his face and simply embraced him again. “ We’ve apologized. Time to move forward, don’t you think? “ Honestly those words sounded like something Stede would have said if he wasn’t so upset. It just proved that Izzy was an ever evolving, adaptable man, and that he took things the man said to heart.

“ You got me something? “ Interest was piqued. He lightly gave him a spank, as if ushering him to crawl off his lap. What in the world could he have gotten? Izzy wasn’t exactly used to gifts of any kind. “ Show me. “

[eddieloverr]

Forbidden Love ( Eddie Munson x Female Reader)

Series summary; You need to prove you can dump a guy in 10 days, Eddie needs to prove he can make a girl fall in love with him in 10 days. The clock is ticking, what could possibly go wrong?

Authors note; This is my first fan-fic series so I'm pretty excited to publish this & please ignore any errors if you spot any, I've tried my best to revise and edit any errors I saw. If you couldn't tell by the summary, this series is heavily inspired/based off the movie 'How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days'. I will be adding my own scenes and this will have smut in the later chapters so please, 18+ only. I really do enjoy feedback so if you'd like to say something, please do! :) On that note, enjoy this little series! - Jess <3

Chapter word count; 6.2k

Chapter warnings; Mentions of sex, mentions of death ( believe that's all, only read if you're 18+)

Comments, feedback, and reblogs are very appreciated!

"God, Nancy, I busted my ass in grad school to be this magazines "How to" girl and write articles like, 'How to know what color looks best on you' or 'How to use the best pickup lines.'"

"I want to write about things that actually matter, like politics and the environment, the earth - things I'm interested in, things I want to write."

It's true, you worked hard to get into a magazine like this. More to get a name for yourself, to get more offers and opportunities for your writing career. You wanted to write about stuff that mattered, stuff that you cared about, not about shoes or clothes.

"Keep busting your ass, you'll get there." Nancy replied as she gave you a tight lip smile. "Hey, I've got something to help cheer you up.. you know that guy from sports illustrated that you've been recklessly flirting with on the phone for like whooo, a month now? He made a very special delivery this morning." She said, holding up and waving what seemed to be a piece of paper while smirking at you.

"Oh, ha ha, let me see." You then replied, trying to snatch whatever she was waving in the air.

"Don't- no!" She practically yelled, attempting to hide the piece of paper in her hand.

"Hey!" You eventually got it and looked at your now tickets for a basketball game you always end up watching on tv. "Whoooo! Tomorrow night" This was exciting. Guess your 'reckless flirting' paid off.

"What happens tomorrow night?" Nancy said while smirking even more now.

"Only the most exhilarating and artistic display of athletic competition known to mankind."

"The lce Capades are in town?" She questioned.

"No, the NBA Finals are in town, and l got tickets!" You said loudly for your other coworkers to hear. "Nance, come with me?"

"All right, i'll go. But l am not putting out." She said, eying you up and down.

"Oh, please nance two stale jumbo dogs and a couple of beers, you'll be whistling a different tune." You said seductively while walking to your office right next to hers. Only a couple of little grey walls separating your small workplaces apart.

"You know what l like." she smiled.

"Ohhh mmmmwah" you sent a kiss her way.

"Good morning, ladies. Don't forget, staff meeting in 30 minutes." Your very nosy and slightly annoying coworker, Michelle, says as she walks by. Only a couple offices down and you can still hear her loud gossiping.

You and Nancy exchange a look as she walks away. Yep, Michelle was definitely made for this business.

"Robin, I haven't seen her all morning. Have you?" you asked. Robin, your best friend, going all the way back to college. She was your assigned roommate, who knew all it took was for her to spill soda all over your white rug and start rapidly apologizing to form an unbreakable friendship. Ever since then you'd bonded, especially since you both had a passion for writing and were pursuing a degree in that field. Obviously a magazine wasn't a first choice - hell not even a choice at all but this would open many opportunities for you and Robin and you both just couldn't pass up on it.

"Ten to one she's wallowing."

"l'll get her, you get the coffee and meet me in the corner in 20." You said rushing towards the door.

"Wait, Wait, Wait." Nancy shouted as she reached below her desk and pulled out a black bag and stuffed it with samples scattered all over her space.

"Take some samples." She said as she handed them to you.

"Samples! Great idea." You smiled at her, rushing out of there.

"Oh boy. Drama, drama, drama." Nancy said to herself as she stood up, grabbed her purse and also made her way out of the office area.

You rushed down the stairs, grabbed a shirt off a clothing rack that Robin would definitely like and made your way out towards the apartment you shared with Robin.

─────────────────────────

Arriving at his designated workplace. Of course this wasn't even a choice for him, if you asked the old Eddie where he'd see himself in a couple years he'd most likely reply with "Traveling the world with my band" or "Living out the rockstar dream". He'd never thought he'd be an advertising executive. It was either this in the big city of Indianapolis or a cashier at a local gas station back in Hawkins.

How could he turn down this job though? Steve, his best friend, who also happens to be one of his coworkers, talked to his dad, basically begging to let Eddie have a job given Steve's dad owns the business.

Luckily, although it took a lot of convincing, Steve's dad finally gave in and offered Eddie a job to work alongside Steve.

Eddie's grateful towards Steve for the opportunity, it helped him get enough cash to stop dealing, move out of his uncle's trailer, and move to Indianapolis to his own apartment.

Life was great for Eddie, he has a decent job, great friends, he even traded his rusty old van for a much better motorcycle. Everything was going well but yet he longed for something more.

"Hello Eddie." Chrissy, Eddie's coworker said as she walked past him parking his motorcycle not even sparing him a second glance

"Hey, hey, good morning, Cunningham" Eddie replied, now getting off his motorcycle and walking towards Chrissy. Who's now reading a magazine.

"What are you reading, girl? You catching up on your current events? ''Turn-On Tricks: How to Make Him Hot.'' You know, if you want to try those out sometime, we should get together." he said jokingly.

"Victoria and l have an appointment at Composure, the fastest growing magazine in the country, and seeing as how our clients run a lot of our campaigns in their nationally-syndicated little girlie magazine, it wouldn't hurt you to do a little reading."

As if on cue, "Hey Eddie" Victoria said as she walked out the building towards Chrissy and himself.

"Good morning, Victoria"

"You finally decided to show up today?" She asked.

"Yes I did."

"You ready?" Victoria asked Chrissy.

"Ready. Later Eddie." Chrissy said as both of Eddie's coworkers walked towards a taxi.

"Have a nice day, ladies." He said walking into the building.

─────────────────────────

You knocked on your apartment door, since you knew Robin was home there was no need to search for your key.

"Hi!" Robin said, laughing nervously as she opened the door. You could tell Robin was holding back her tears. You knew her better than yourself and it hurt seeing her like this.

"Oh.." She said as she started sobbing the closer you walked in.

"Good morning, sunshine. Don't cry, go get dressed. Staff meeting, 15 minutes. Let's go" You said as you walked by her to open the living room curtains. As much as you wanted to comfort her you knew she would turn into a sobbing mess if you started asking questions. You only had 15 minutes and getting her ready for her job seemed better than for her to be heartbroken and jobless.

"l'm going back to bed. l have no reason to live." Robin said as she jumped on her bed pulling the covers up.

"Sun's out. Oh..." You said as you walked towards the table and grabbed the little black bag that Nancy handed you.

"Okay, just..." She stopped talking as she harshly blew on her nose with a handkerchief.

"Okay, now..." you said as you sat down on her bed and tossed her the shirt you grabbed on your way home.

"Cashmere?" She asked with a slight smile on her face. You knew she'd like it.

"Put it on. It'll make your eyes look fiercely blue." You smiled at her.

"Oh!" She said as she clutched the shirt tighter to her chest.

"Get up Robin. l'm not going to let you lose your job on top of everything else."

"Oh." she said as if she was on the verge of tears.

"Come here." you extended your arms to pull her in for a hug.

"Oh, Y/N." she got up and pulled you into a tight hug.

"Okay." you said.

"Okay." she replied.

"You only dated the girl for a week."

"It was the best week of my life." She said as she bursted into tears.

"Sweetheart." you squeezed her tighter.

─────────────────────────

"Good morning, Ladies! What's up, Jonathan." Eddie greeted as he walked by his coworkers' offices, making his way towards his own office he shared with Steve.

"What's up, kitty cat?" Eddie said to Steve as he walked into their shared office, towards his side of the room.

"What's up, daddy? Big night?" Steve asked as he removed his headphones.

"Not bad." Eddie said as he placed down his helmet on the side of his desk.

"Orgy?" Steve asked.

"Where were you man?" Eddie snorted.

"Not at an orgy." Steve said as he walked to Eddie's desk.

"Did you hear?" Jonathan asked as he suddenly walked into the room.

"What, that my Knickerbockers are now in the championship series and Jonny 'the bone' here owes me 20 bucks?" Eddie said as he removed his leather jacket.

"Pay him." Steve said to Jonathan.

"Oh, man. Well, you were right. DeLauer Diamonds is looking for a new ad agency. Mr. Harrington wants to move on it aggressively." Jonathan said as he pulled out a 20 and gave it to Eddie.

"Yes! Oh, this is a good day. This is a good day! Guys, did you know that diamonds are about as common as taxis on Fifth avenue?" Eddie said as he pulled off his black Metallica shirt to put on a more work appropriate shirt. He felt eyes on him outside his office, probably his other female coworkers he always catches staring at him. It still surprises him that he somehow turned his title from "Freak" to "Ladies man."

"The value is entirely sentimental, maintained by a supply, demand and advertising." Eddie said as Jonathan showed him two shirts to choose from.

"Stripes." Eddie said, pointing to a striped shirt and catching it as Jonathan threw it at him.

"Now, DeLauer dominates the world diamond market. Meaning if l represent them, l basically represent the entire industry." Eddie said as he flicked a little ad of Mrs. DeLauer.

Steve and Jonathan then gave each other a look and muttered something only for them to hear.

"What?" Eddie asked.

"My dad gave it to the judys." Steve said.

"Chrissy and Victoria, they're already on it." Jonathan added.

"No way!" Eddie said disappointed.

"Yeah, well, you know, Mr. Harrington is kind of partial to hot leggy chicks, for some reason." Jonathan said as he looked towards Eddie who was now looking out the glass window at the three girls who were staring this whole time. They quickly looked away as Eddie gave them a glance.

"Yeah, we're the, you know, the sneakers and beer division. Precious gems aren't exactly our forte." Jonathan added.

Eddie, who was now fully clothed, pointed to the window as he made his way towards the door "Lips and Hips are over at a chick's magazine right now. I gotta get to Mr. Harrington before they sink-"

Jonathan got in the way of the door before Eddie could walk out "You can't. You can't. He's on a plane."

"Easy pal, my dads at a Chicago meeting." Steve said as he patted Eddie's shoulder and slightly pushed him back.

"And it's too late anyway 'cause Mr. Harrington's meeting them for drinks at Mullin's tonight to discuss their idea-"

"This isn't happening. You know why?" Eddie said, interrupting Jonathan.

"This was my tip. It's gonna be my pitch, my account, my campaign. This is my baby." Eddie said with determination.

"That's what I'm talking about." Said Steve.

"They will not ace me outta this." Eddie said as he fist pumped Steve and Jonathan.

"I heard that!" Jonathan added.

"Okay.. Mullins tonight." Eddie confirmed as he walked back towards his desk.

"I heard that!!" Steve mocked Jonathan.

─────────────────────────

You walked out the taxi and walked towards the other side to Robin blowing her nose and Nancy running towards you both with coffees in her hand.

"Hi!" Nancy greeted Robin as she handed her a coffee.

"Hi. I don't really wanna talk about it okay?" Robin replied as she discarded the handkerchief in her purse and closed the taxi door.

"Okay." Nancy replied, handing you your coffee.

"Okay." Robin replied as you three walked towards the entrance of your work before stopping abruptly.

"Why does this always happen to me?" Robin said as she started tearing up again. "Things are going great for like a week and a half, and then all of a sudden it's over and I am mystified. Seriously, I am mystified because it always starts out so well." She rambled as she walked away from you both and towards the entrance.

"Poor baby." Nancy said as you both tried to catch up with Robin.

"Let's just roll with this" You said.

"Vickie and I had such a connection." Robin said as she stopped again in front of the entrance and turned to face you both.

"The first time that we had sex... it was so beautiful, I cried." She smiled and walked away into the building.

"You cried?" Nancy asked as you both tried to catch up with her again.

"Yeah."

"You mean like one glistening year on your cheek, right?" You asked now side by side with your best friend walking towards an elevator.

"No, I was really emotional. I even told her that I loved her." She said.

"After how many days?" You asked.

"Five.. Two. It was how I felt. I just wanted to express myself. You know how my brain and mouth work."

"Okay. Well, what did she say?" You asked.

"Oh, Vickie didn't have to say anything. I know that she felt the same. But then she started getting really busy and I didn't know where she was. I kept calling her, and calling her but she was never home."

"You kept calling her?" You asked looking into her eyes with a "Really robin?" look.

"I didn't leave a message. She didn't know it was me.. my numbers blocked."

The elevator dinged and you all walked toward the opening doors.

"Oh. I'm.. I'm sure she thought it was one of her friends." Nancy said as you all walked into the elevator.

"Anyway I know why she dumped me. I'm too fat."

"You're not fat!"

"You're not fat!" You and Nancy said in sync as the elevator doors closed.

─────────────────────────

Arriving at your floor, the three of you walked into the doors and towards the staff meeting in your bosses office.

"Robin, if the most beautiful woman in the world acted the way you did, any normal partner would still go running in the other direction." You said.

"Oh, no. Nobody would go running from you, Y/N. You could barf all over them and they would say 'Do it again.'" Robin replied.

"That is both incredibly disgusting and categorically untrue. If I did the things you did, I'd get dumped too." You said as you three entered your bosses office and sat in the main area's couch, joining all your other coworkers.

"Okay, family, shoes off..." Your boss Linda entered the room and sat in a chair that faced everybody. Your coworkers, including yourself, proceeded to remove their shoes. "And breathe." She said as everybody inhaled.

"And out." Everybody exhaled.

"Okay Michelle let's start with you." Linda said.

"Well, the "Botox For Beginners" piece is done. Now, it's a little scary, but mostly upbeat. Now I'm on "What your Gyno Won't Tell You," which is also pretty scary but you know, upbeat. I finished my research on "deadly pedicures," about the woman who contracted that fungus from the unsterilized tools. It's a terrible story.. although surprisingly..." Michelle looked towards her boss and noticed her "terrible story" mistake.

"Upbeat." Nancy finished.

"Marvelous. What's next for "How-To with Y/N?" Linda asked. Now all eyes were on you.

"Well, I've been working on something that's kind of different." You said as your boss nodded confused.

"It's.. it's a political piece and it's-"

"No. Y/N. you work at Composure magazine. We are fashion, trends, diets, cosmetic surgeries, salacious gossip, that's Composure." Linda said.

"Okay, but-"

"Look, Y/N, okay. The column is new for you. When you turn it into a must read then you can write about whatever you want. Until then you can write about what I want. Understood?"

"Yeah." You said dissatisfied. You saw this coming. Your boss wouldn't let you write about what you wanted but hearing that once your column gets popular she'd let you write about whatever you wanted certainly catches your attention.

"Robin, what have you got?"

Nancy turned to Robin and gave her an encouraging nod. But there was an awkward silence waiting for Robin to answer.

"Um. I'm sorry, Linda. I wasn't feeling very well" Robin said as she looked at the ground not wanting to see the looks shared amongst others and the disappointed look on Linda's face.

"She got dumped." Nancy quickly added.

"Oh, no, Robin. What a hellish ordeal for you. But I gotta say, you are looking fabulous. Are we loving the way she looks?" Linda said, turning to the others trying to lift up the mood.

"We love the way she looks."

"Oh, you are so right."

"She looks great."

"She looks so great!"

Everyone said as they talked over one another.

"I haven't eaten since the split." Robin said.

"Good for you! Write about it."

You looked at your boss very judgmental. Obviously Robin feels uncomfortable throughout this entire conversation.

"I can't use my personal life for a story." Robin said as she lifted her head and was now looking at Linda.

"I understand completely... who will use Robin's personal life for a story?" Linda ignored Robin's protest and looked at the other workers.

"Oh I will." Michelle said proudly as she raised her hand.

"No, no, no! Linda, with all due respect, Michelle has no business mucking around in my personal life, and I can't... I can't let her. I'm-"

"I'll do it." You suddenly interrupted a rambling, distressed Robin. Of course you wouldn't actually put the heartbreak of your best friend's life in a magazine for the whole world to see but knowing Michelle and Linda, they obviously won't respect Robin's boundaries anytime soon.

Nancy and Robin both turned to you. "What?" Robin blurted out.

"I'll... I will sort of do it. It's- You will be my inspiration." You said looking at Robin.

"For?" Linda asked.

"Look at robin. She's a great girl, right?" You pointed towards Robin looking straight at your boss.

"Yes." Linda replied.

"An amazing woman." You said now looking at Robin. "But.. she has a problem hanging onto relationships and she doesn't really know what she's doing wrong, which is a lot like our readers."

"Uh-huh" Linda nodded for you to proceed.

"So, I was thinking that.. I could start dating a guy, and then drive him away, but only using the classic mistakes most women, like Robin.." You gave her a sincere look and turned back to your boss "make.. all the time. I'll keep a diary of it and.. it will be sort of a dating how-to in reverse." You said looking at Robin and Nancy who were now chuckling.

"What not to do." Your boss says smiling.

"Yeah." You smiled back.

"How to lose a guy in Ten Days." Linda said, looking at the wall, probably envisioning it in her head. "Yes. Go. Alice, what's new in the shoe?"

"Wait, wait, Linda. I'm sorry. Why ten days?" You asked.

"Five days is too short and we go to press at 11. Yes?" Linda turned her attention to Alice.

"Ten." You whispered to yourself. It's a lot longer than what you had hoped for given you only did this to save Robin from humiliation and to stop her from actually hiding under her covers for the rest of her life but then you remembered what Linda had said about you being able to write about whatever you wanted if your column made it big. Could this possibly be a ticket there?

You looked back at Robin and Nancy who nodded in approval and Robin mouthed the words "Thank you". You smiled at them with the big question flying around in your head. You were in for a long ride.

─────────────────────────

"Maybe toss in something spiritual as well." Linda said to Nancy walking towards the lobby with you and Robin right behind them.

"Ah, here's my ten o' clock. Welcome." Linda said as you all followed her as she walked towards a blonde and a brunette who seemed to be waiting for her.

"Hi." The blonde said with a smile.

"Ladies, Chrissy Cunningham and Victoria Green from Warren Advertising. We're going to cook up some fabulous tie-ins for the fall." Linda said, turning to you, Nancy, and Robin.

"Nancy Wheeler, Fashion and Trends. Robin Buckley, Fitness and Health." She said as Robin loudly blew her nose.

"Excuse me. Hi." Robin interrupted.

"And Y/N L/N our resident How-To girl." Linda continued.

"Oh, I've seen your column, Y/N. What are you working on now?" Chrissy said as she pointed at you.

"Oh-" You began but you were quickly interrupted by Linda.

"How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days. She's actually going to start dating a guy and then drive him away in a week and a half." Linda said proudly as her, Chrissy, and Victoria started laughing.

"Sounds needlessly vicious." Victoria added.

"It's going to be fabulous. Now all she has to do is run along and find the lucky guy." She said turning to you. "Go, go, go." She pointed towards the exit and turned back to the two girls.

You, Nancy, and Robin both started walking towards the exit.

"Nice to meet you." You said to the two girls.

"Ladies come." Linda said as all three of their footsteps started to reside.

You grabbed Robin's shoulder from behind. "Find the guy. Find the guy." You said distressed.

"Okay." you whispered to yourself.

─────────────────────────

"Oh you are never going to pull this off." Robin said as you, Nancy, and Robin walked across the street towards a bar, arms linked with Robin. Moonlight reflecting on your dresses and Robin’s suit.

You put on a cute grey dress with enough cleavage to be shown but to still keep the guys wondering what you looked like with your top off. Matched with high heels and a cute purse. Normally you wouldn't wear this out especially to a bar but tonight, you were on a man hunt.

"Watch me. Tonight I'll hook a guy. Tomorrow, pull the switch. Before the ten days are up, I'm gonna have this guy running for his life." You replied as all three of you laughed.

"You're not gonna burn his apartment down or bite him or anything, are you?" Nancy asked.

"No. I'm gonna limit myself to doing everything girls do wrong in relationships. Basically, everything we know guys hate. I'll be clingy, needy."

"Be touchy-feely." Nancy added.

"Yeah." You said walking towards the bar's entrance.

"Ooh. Call him in the middle of the night and tell him everything you had to eat that day." Nancy said as you both chuckled.

"What's wrong with that?" Robin asked, looking at you both. You both looked at her with concern.

"I'm.. kidding" She then said.

─────────────────────────

A waitress escorted Chrissy, Victoria, and Mr. Harrington towards a table.

"There we are. He's waiting." The kind waitress pointed at Eddie waiting for them at a table.

"Hello, Eddie. What are you doing here" Mr. Harrington asked.

"Tom, I'm here for the meeting. Ladies." Eddie replied as stood up, shaking Tom's hand and nodded towards the girls.

"But you weren't invited." Victoria said.

"Yeah, but I should have been. I mean, It was my tip that DeLauer was shopping for a new firm." Eddie said as he passed by Chrissy standing in front of Tom.

"Yes, it was, but I have to think in terms of who's best suited within the company." Tom said, looking at both Chrissy and Victoria.

"Yes, sir, and that's me. I wanna handle this pitch." Eddie replied as Chrissy chuckled.

"Eddie, you sell Joe Blow better than anyone else in my shop, including Steve, but these girls sell luxury better than anyone else in the business." Tom said proudly as he gestured towards both the girls.

All four of them sat down as Tom proceeded.

"We have to put our best foot forward on this pitch. DeLauer would be our biggest account."

"Yes, sir, they would. Annual advertising billings of 50 to 60 million dollars. And I am the man that's gonna bring this home for you, Tom." Eddie said as he poured himself a glass of champagne.

─────────────────────────

"Why this place?" Robin asked as you three entered the bar.

"Because it's perfect." You said grabbing onto Robin's shoulders and giving her a squeeze and walking further into the bar.

"Mullins is the apres-work watering hole for the upwardly mobile." Nancy added with her smart ass vocabulary.

─────────────────────────

"Now, to date, the diamond industry has always targeted men..." Eddie said as he poured champagne for Chrissy, Victoria, and Tom as he continued. "Sending the message that the woman needs the man to buy her the rock. All right, they say 'A diamond is forever.' We say, 'A diamond is for everyone.'"

"I like that." Tom said grinning towards Eddie.

"Yes." Eddie says confidently.

"Uh. We don't." Chrissy said laughingly. "'A diamond is for everyone?' It sends the message that diamonds are everywhere. Which means that they're not rare, and if they're not rare, they lose their status." Chrissy said while looking directly at Eddie.

Eddie rolled his eyes as Chrissy continued. "Status is the reason to buy them in the first place, which Edward would know if he understood women, which you don't." Chrissy finished as they all laughed at Eddie, including himself. Not because of what she said, but the fact that she's so confident with her words.

"You can't feel bad about that, Eddie. No man does." Tom said grinning.

─────────────────────────

"Here. Here." Robin said as she handed both you and Nancy a Martini.

"Dum, dum, dum, dum." Nancy mimicked a clock ticking while looking around the bar. You honestly forgot the real reason you were here for a second.

"Don't pressure her. She's perusing." Robin said, looking directly at Nancy.

"Yes, exactly." You said as all three of you scanned the room.

─────────────────────────

"Selling a diamond to a woman is like making her fall in love." Victoria said to Tom while dragging her fingers along her long diamond necklace starting from her neck to her cleavage.

Eddie scoffed but smiled at this knowing exactly what game Victoria was trying to play at.

"She has to feel giddy, desirous, adventurous and desperate." Victoria continued.

"Take a look around this room Tom. Most women in this bar are looking for just that." Chrissy added.

"Exactly. The skills required to market diamonds are the same as those needed to make a woman fall in love, yes." Eddie said, interrupting Chrissy.

"I'm not talking about lust Eddie. A woman in lust just wants chocolate. A woman in love wants diamonds."

"Yeah, I'm not talking about lust either, ladies. I'm talking about deep.. meaningful, head-over-heels, his-and-her towels, let's grow old together L-O-V-E. Look, I love women. I do. Whether they're four or 40."

Chrissy sighed at his little speech. Looking around the room she spots you.

"I respect women. All right. And I also listen to women." Eddie continued.

Chrissy's still staring at you. You're laughing at something your short hair friend said and she slowly gets an idea.

"And that's why I can sell myself to any woman.. anywhere, anytime." Eddie finished.

"Make a woman fall in love with diamonds, Edward.. or with you?" Chrissy asked, moving her attention from you to Eddie.

"Uh. Either one." Eddie replied slightly hesitating looking at Tom.

"That's cocky, Eddie." Tom said while drinking his champagne.

"No, not cocky. Confident."

Chrissy laughs at this. "I'd like to see you prove that." Chrissy said, raising her eyebrows at him.

"You would?" Eddie questioned looking at Chrissy then at Tom.

"The agency's co hosting a party for the DeLauers at the Astro museum. The party's a week from Sunday. Do you think you can make a woman fall in love with you by then?" Chrissy challenged Eddie.

"Ten days?" Eddie asked.

"Any woman, anywhere, anytime?" Victoria added mocking him from before.

"Any single, available, straight woman, yes." Eddie said.

"Yes. I'm not trying to trick you, Eddie. In fact, we'll choose a woman right here, right now in this bar. And then you'll decide." Chrissy said as Her, Victoria, and Tom laughed.

"So who's the lucky girl?" Eddie said as he adjusted himself in his seat to face the rest of the bar.

"Okay. Let's see here." Victoria began. "Ooh there's that blonde babe in the leopard print." Victoria said as she laughed and pointed to a woman with a messy pointy tail in a leopard dress that was worn out and way too tight on her.

Tom and Chrissy joined in on her laughter. "She looks like fun." Victoria added.

"Be nice, ladies." Eddie said as a little chuckle escaped his lips.

"Or, well, Miss Babylon 5. Now she's on the prowl." Victoria said talking about a curl headed curl with colored hair and mean stare.

"No. Her." Chrissy said.

"Her who?" Eddie asked as he turned to look at Chrissy.

"Her in the grey dress, cute hair, pretty smile." Chrissy added.

Eddie turned away from her looking around the bar for Chrissy's description, then he saw you. Laughing at something a curly headed girl next to you said. Eddie smiled as he saw you laughing.

"Her?" Victoria asked as she removed her gaze from you to Chrissy. Chrissy only held a finger to her mouth not sparing her a word.

Eddie was still staring at you, you're now laughing at something else another short haired girl says.

"Done." Eddie says not removing his gaze from you.

"What?" Chrissy asked.

"Done." He confirmed again, finally looking away from you and now looking at Tom.

"Done." Tom said as he nodded.

─────────────────────────

"See the guy next to the horrible guy in the green shirt that I would never even consider?" You said pointing at a guy with short curly hair, wearing a blue button up shirt with a black blazer over it.

"Very cute." Nancy said.

"Right? Good." You chuckled and squealed, making you way over to the cute stranger leaving Robin and Nancy together.

"Oh." Robin said as her and Nancy chuckled at your cute excitement.

─────────────────────────

"Okay, you're on. But here are the stakes. After I win this bet, this pitch is mine." Eddie said, looking at all three of them.

"Agreed." Chrissy added.

"Tom?" Questioned Eddie.

"Agreed." Tom said as he nodded. "You come to that party with a girl that's really in love with you, Eddie, you can make the pitch to the DeLauers."

"But, Tom, you can't-" Victoria was cut off by Tom.

"Nope. I've made up my mind." Tom said, raising his glass. "To the DeLauers."

"To the DeLauers." Eddie said, clinking his beer bottle to Tom's glass.

"Cheers" Chrissy and Victoria said, raising their own glasses towards Eddie's bottle and Tom's glass.

─────────────────────────

Nancy and Robin are laughing at how adorable you look laughing at whatever bad joke the guy next to you said.

"I was just wondering if you found..." You said talking to the cute stranger next to you making eye contact with your friends.

"She doesn't seem that interested." Robin said to Nancy who only hummed in reply.

"Exciting." You said looking at the guy in front of you.

"Yes. My wife and I love Indianapolis, especially this time of year." Oh shit, he has a wife. How did you not notice the ring on his finger? What do you do? What do you do?

"She'd been here before and I-" He'd been cut-off by a brunette wearing a pink and white dress grabbing onto his shoulder giving you the smile.

"Hi. Hi." She said, now showing her pearly whites.

You felt so awkward and wanted to leave.

"This is Y/N" The guy introduced you to his wife.

"Hi. Um." You said standing up while grabbing your martini. While his wife took the spot you were just leaning on. "You guys enjoy Indianapolis." You said slowly backing away.

"Okay." The guy said chuckling

"Thanks" The wife said straightforwardly.

"Nice meeting you." The guy said as you walked away, not even passing them a second glance.

Walking away, you glanced at your friends who were already staring at you, presumably the entire time, you mouthed "he's married" holding up your hand.

─────────────────────────

"Good luck." Tom said, patting Eddie's shoulder as he walked by him.

"Thank you, Tom." Eddie said as he left, leaving him with Chrissy and Victoria. Eddie took out a 50 and put it on the table paying for their drinks. "Now if you'll excuse me, ladies.. I have a bet to win." Eddie said, turning around and immediately looking for you.

"Ta-ta" Chrissy said as Eddie walked away.

"Now do you wanna tell me what's going on?" Victoria asked Chrissy.

"You don't recognize her?" Chrissy asked as they both stared at you.

─────────────────────────

Eddie pushed himself through the sea filled with people and began walking towards you. He smiled when he could finally reach you.

─────────────────────────

"Hi!" A man with long black curly hair walked up to you, stopping you in your tracks. He had bangs that framed his face perfectly and was wearing black jeans with a black blazer to pair it.

"Hi." You replied back with a slight smile.

"Hi." He said looking at the top of your head to your eyes. He had the biggest pair of brown eyes you'd ever seen.

You chuckled and waited for him to say something but he only chuckled back. He was obviously nervous so you tried to make it less awkward. You extended your hand with the little space that was between you both.

"Y/N L/N"

"Eddie Munson" He said as he gently took his hand in yours and shook it.

"Cute."

"Thank you." Eddie replied.

"Mm I meant your name." You said, offering him a closed smile. He looked away and smiled when he looked at you again.

"Thank you two times."

"Unattached?" You asked.

"Currently." He answered.

"Likewise."

"Surprising."

"Psycho?" You questioned.

"Rarely."

"Hmm."

"Interested?" Eddie asked.

"Perhaps." You looked away but then looked back at him.

"Hungry?"

"Starving." You said looking deep in his chocolate eyes.

"Leaving?"

"Now?" You asked.

"Mm-hmm."

"Okay."

"Okay." He replied.

"One second." You said pointing a finger and walked past him.

"I'll meet you at the door." He said loudly.

─────────────────────────

"Hey, guys." You said now standing in front of Nancy and Robin

"I think I got one."

"He was married!" Robin said.

"No, not him. It's the guy by the door. But don't look!" It was already too late, their eyes were scanning the door. "No, guys!"

Eddie smiled at your friends who were both staring right at him.

"He is really cute." Nancy said as they both looked at you again.

"I'm gonna check this one out and see if he's the keeper." You said as you handed Nancy your martini.

"Okay." Nancy replied.

"And if he is?" Robin questioned.

"Tomorrow night I'll.."

"Flip the switch" Nancy finished your sentence as she took a sip of your martini.

"I'm doing this for you." You said directly to Robin handing her your apartment keys

"Well, good luck. Be safe. Call me!" Robin said as you walked towards Eddie.

"Mm. Drama, drama, drama." Nancy said as her and Robin watched Eddie gently hold you by the waist and open the door for you.

Chrissy and Victoria, on the other side of the bar, were also watching the entire interaction and smirking at one another, clinking their glasses together knowing that you and Eddie were both secretly playing each other and how badly this was bound to end.

Authors note; If you enjoyed this please leave some feedback and consider reblogging! It would meant a lot. Thank you so much for reading! <3

[littlegodzilla]

Request for Part 2 of My Big Girl.

You and Norman have been dating for almost a year. He really wants to ask you to move in with him. He has a romantic dinner planned at his place. However, a few minutes before, he gets a phone call offering him a new part. Problem is he will have to relocate to [non-American country of your choice].

Norman decides that the director has to give you a part in the movie too. (You've made quite the career out of being a character actress). He decides to tell you the good news over dinner, and asking you to live with him in [country of your choice].

if you want to end the story there. that's cool. if you want to write more...

During the filming of the movie, a handsome costar (Andrew Lincoln? Joe Bernthal? Or your choice?) keeps trying to get you alone. You don't think this costar is attracted to you, so you are a little naive. However, he is very attracted to you and wants you all to himself.

It takes a while before Norman notices, but once he does, he is pissed off. How he handles the situation is up to you.

Feel free to do whatever amounts of fluff and smut you want. Only one requirement is a happy ending!

==

you know i love your stories! If you want to do this, I'll be so happy to read it. If not, there are no hard feelings!

Hiii!!

Someone asked me for more Norman's fanfics? Well here I am with the second part of My Big Girl.

Thanks sweetie for this wonderful idea! Count on me everytime you have new ideas, I'd love write them!!

I hope you all will like it!

Enjoy!!

*********

My Big Girl 2.

Norman Reedus x Plus Size Reader./ John Bernthal x Plus Siz Reader (Platonic)

Requested by: @minervadashwood

Warnings: Jealous. Fluff. Blonde Norman Reedus. Happy Ending.

Words: 3400.

Taglist: @phoenixblack89 @browneyes528 @lilythemadqueen @darylsgarden @thefemininemystiquee @green-eyedladywrites @hail-yourselves @ruinedbythehobbit @xxtinasxxblog @ravenwings73 @spenciepoo338 @b-tchymoon @minervadashwood @darylssluttt @let-love-bleeds-red @ravendixon @livingdeadblondequeen

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

He's nervous, for the first time since you've known each other, Norman is nervous to face you.

It's been a year since you started your relationship, a little over a year since you finished the movie where you met and since then he hasn't left your side. Without being dependent you have become a couple that spends as much time as possible together, when work doesn't overflow you always have a plan, whether enjoying the day in the city, or taking the bike and going out on the road, or lying on the couch watching a movie or in bed, where Norman enjoys for hours running through your body, tasting every sinful sound that comes out of your mouth.

A year and now he wants your relationship to be more stable, you're always going from one's house to the other's house, with no fixed place, no place to come back to or belong and it's mortifying him, a little. He's been thinking about how to tell you, how to propose this new step, but all his plans have gone down the drain with a phone call from his agent telling him that he has a new job for a new movie.

It was fantastic, the only problem was that he had to travel out of the country, for several months or maybe a whole year. He insisted that you could go, his rep promised him that he would see what he could do, but that he should talk to you.

He bites his fingernail anxiously before taking a deep breath and knocking on your door. A few minutes later you appear behind the door in surprise, but then you smile letting him in, share a long, sweet kiss before closing and escorting him into your living room.

"What are you doing here? I wasn't expecting you today, why didn't you use your key?" you ask with a chuckle, you both have each other's house key, which gives you total freedom to pop in whenever you feel like it. Still for Norman it's not enough.

"I had to talk to you, I have good news." He smiles and curiosity is drawn on your face. "I've been cast in a new movie."

"Really? Oh God Norman, I'm so happy for you." You hug him and he lets go.

"Yes, but there's some bad news... I have to travel away for quite some time..."

"What do you mean away, how long?"

"We're going to Berlin, a few months, maybe a year." He informs you and bites his lip nervously. He sees at once how your face changes to a grimace of doubt and sadness.

"Oh, that's a long time and... wait, did you say 'we'?" You look at him confused but he quickly nods his head.

"Yes, I've managed to get them to be able to give you a part too, I want us to go together, I want us to find a nice house or an apartment where we can live together, no hotel like last time, I..."

"Norman, stop, stop." You stop him as you see him start to get excited with new ideas and plans. Your heart breaks, but you have to stop him. "Honey, I can't go with you..."

"W-what? Why not?" He looks at you worriedly, feeling his anxiety rising. "Has something happened?"

"Yes, but it's nothing bad, I got a part in a movie too, here in New York... and I accepted..." You whisper lowering your head, playing nervously with your hands.

Norman feels the air locking in his lungs. His eyes dart up and down you, surprise and disbelief shaking him, yet his stomach cringes as he sees that you are worried about his reaction and it kills him. He sighs long and a smile creeps across his face before he wraps his arms around you, kissing the top of your head.

"I'm so happy for you, honey." He tells you with full sincerity. "You deserve it, you love this profession more than anyone." He encourages you and when you break the embrace, he kisses you.

"I'd love to go with you, Norman..."

"It's okay, it's not that long either and we're going to keep in touch, right?" he shrugs downplaying it. "Nothing has to change."

Your smile grows bigger and you nod, excited and thrilled, hugging him again, sharing an intimate, love-filled kiss, however, you remember he's talked about living together, and you need to clarify that.

"About our house..." You start to speak, and you see the tips of his ears turn bright red.

**

You've left the move for when you're both back in the city, you haven't decided exactly where you want to live either, the city is New York, that's not in dispute, Norman is in love with that huge place, you don't care, you have to admit that thanks to living there your life has completely changed in a year.

And you love it.

Saying goodbye to Norman was harder than you thought at first. Everything was fine until the week was coming, every night you felt agitated, sleep left you awake for hours. Norman noticed your restlessness, he was worried too, he didn't want to leave you alone for so long, but he also knew that you were an adult, that you could take care of yourself. He made love to you every day, every night before you had to say goodbye.

"Norman..."

"I want you to remember me, sweetheart, every day, every moment." He would whisper in your ear as his body melted into yours making you moan with pleasure.

The first few weeks you talked every day, the moment you were unoccupied, despite the time difference, you talked until you fell asleep or had to go back to work. Your heart squeezed whenever you saw her name on the screen.

As the days went by, the work became more intense, harder, the calls became shorter, tiredness your worst enemy left you exhausted in the middle of conversations.

The calls started to turn into voice messages that you listened to whenever you could, then they turned into written messages, short sentences without much meaning.

And finally nothing. Both of you too busy. Things cooling down in front of you, unable to do anything to stop it.

***********

It's been over a year since Norman left for Europe to make that movie. Now he's back home, or rather, back at his new place of work. He's landed a new role for a TV show, he's anxious to get started, but mostly he's anxious to get there.

Because he knows you're there too.

When the plane arrives in Georgia, Norman can't stop bouncing in his seat, in the car driving him to the set he's biting his lip so hard he's afraid he'll end up tearing his skin off if he doesn't stop.

He knows it's been a long time since you last spoke properly, that you stopped to really know how you were doing. He doesn't blame you, nor does he blame himself, things have simply come up this way. The distance has made things rarefied, it's become a little awkward to talk, but when he gets out of the car and sees you.

Norman knows nothing has changed.

His stomach flips when he hears your laughter, you're not far from where the car has left him, you're talking to a group who must be part of the cast, your back is to him, you haven't even noticed anything has arrived. He bites his lip suppressing a smile as he moves forward slowly and as quietly as he can until he stands at your back.

"Hi, I'm Norman Reedus, I'm new around here." He introduces himself and perfectly sees how your body jumps and tenses.

You turn around quickly and on your face there is a gesture full of surprise and excitement. You gasp unable to say anything, your hands cover your mouth as you take a few steps back. The small group wants to introduce themselves, but they quickly detect that there is something else there and walk away leaving you alone.

"Norman!" you shout excitedly and your arms go around his neck.

He hugs you tightly, wraps his arms around your waist and lifts you a few inches off the ground making you scream and laugh. He drops you again, but doesn't let go at any time, his face hidden in the hollow of your neck, he feels you keep shaking, sobbing softly as you repeat his name. He too has tears in his eyes and tries to suppress them, but they are stronger than he is.

"I'm back, baby." He whispers and your tears are mixed with an amused, nervous giggle.

"S-sorry, I..." Not quite sure what to say, he shakes his head.

"Stop, there's nothing to be sorry for." He smiles and kisses your forehead.

It's true, at the end of the day the estrangement has been on both of your parts, neither intending nor wanting to end the relationship, but work has absorbed you both.

"W-what are you doing here?" you dare to ask when the initial surprise dissipates.

"I'm on the show, they gave me a recurring role, Daryl Dixon, they're not quite sure what they're going to do with him." He explains with a shrug. "At the moment I'm only signed on for the first season."

"Like almost everyone else, it seems to me." You joke and you both laugh.

It's different, Norman notices right away, there's something holding you both back, holding you back unconsciously. He'd love to be able to kiss you, hold you again and not let go, whisper how much he's missed you, but his feet are still firmly on the ground, it's as if all that time apart, a wall has been built between you. It's natural to want to kiss you, after all you are still a couple, but he doesn't want to force the situation, he doesn't want to make you feel uncomfortable.

"Do you think we could talk later?" You ask him and his attention turns back to you.

"Sure, I'd love to, there's a lot of things I'd like us to talk about."

"Me too." You smile and reach over to give him a kiss on the cheek.

It's soft and shy, almost reminds you of the first time you two met, those first nights when you'd get together to practice your script, eating pizza and watching TV in his hotel room or your own.

*********

The day has been longer than you'd like to admit. You're exhausted, mentally and physically, you've spent much of the day practicing the script, getting to know each other, preparing some of the first scenes and the Georgia heat has come down on you like boiling lava. You need a shower and sleep until everything stops hurting.

"I didn't think filming for a show would be this intense." You hear next to you and startle.

Norman is leaning against the door of your trailer and for a second you mentally curse. You had completely forgotten about him. Not intentionally, just your brain is either off or out of coverage.

"Yeah... I admit they got to me."

"Why don't you take a shower while I fix you some dinner?" he offers and you can't refuse his proposal.

The two of you walk into your trailer, barely giving you time to unpack and arrange things to your liking. Norman behind you, hugs your waist and kisses you on the top of your head. It's almost like when you were in New York, some days when you came home late from the theater, Norman would be waiting for you with dinner ready, while you showered he would heat the dishes and you would have a quiet dinner telling each other how the day had gone.

"Go to the shower." He says against your ear. "I'll take care of this."

You purr quietly nodding your head, grab something from one of your suitcases so you can change your clothes and step into the bathroom you have there. You close your eyes letting the warm water run through your body, you hear music coming from the main room while Norman fiddles in the kitchen, your smile widens feeling how your body relaxes little by little, the tiredness and fatigue seems to dissipate a little, your tense muscles give you a truce and you sigh as you get out of the shower and change your clothes.

As you step out the smell of food hits your nostrils making your stomach growl. Norman is waiting for you leaning on the table with an amused smile, chewing his lip nervously. Your eyes devour you and you feel your cheeks redden. It's been a long time since you've been together intimately and his gaze is so intense that you feel as if he's undressing you right there.

"You're tense." Norman says when you've finished dinner, he's made you sit on the couch and massages your shoulders gently.

"It's been a long day..." You excuse yourself.

"I know... H-how was it in New York?" He aventures to ask.

"Fun, it wasn't a great movie, but I loved participating" You laugh softly at the memory. "And you?"

"A little overwhelming, sometimes it was hard to communicate, but it was also fun." You remember his hands slide from your neck to your shoulders down your arms. He leans forward slightly kissing your neck.

"Norman..." You sigh pulling away from him slightly. "I'm tired..."

"Sure, okay." He nods tensing up, feeling a little stupid, maybe he has gone too fast. "S-sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"I-it's not that, it's just..."

"I get it, I get it." He nods again and gets up from the couch. "I'd better go and let you get some rest...it's going to be a long day tomorrow."

You'd like to stop him, but you feel some relief when he wants to leave, so you let him do it and just sit there, hugging your knees, trying to control the rapid beating of your heart.

************

But something is not right. Norman can't say for sure, but he can feel it. He tries to think of the distance, that it's been maybe too long away, but when he sees you on set things are different.

You're calm, you're giggly, you're immersed in your role, you love to perform on stage, to improvise sometimes. But when you are together, things change, the conversation becomes bland, dry, with hardly any information. A rope has been pulled until it finally breaks.

And worst of all is when he sees you with Bernthal. He feels every muscle in his body tense, a bitter taste rises from his stomach to his mouth, clawing at his throat.

Jealousy.

God how he hates feeling this way.

************

"We need to talk." Norman appears in the doorway of your trailer and you freeze.

"N-now is not a good time..."

"Not a good time? Why?" he frowns leaning his hand on the door. "Is it that you're busy?"

"No... well yes, but it's nothing, I mean... We can talk another day..."

"But I want to talk now..."he growl pushing the door slightly.

"Norman, wait..."

But he can't wait. He knows he's acting irrationally and stupidly, but he needs to talk to you, he needs to set things straight. If it's time to say goodbye or to take new cards in your relationship, he needs you to talk about it, this uncomfortable and tense feeling is getting on his nerves.

Norman enters your caravan despite you insisting to him that this is not a good time, his eyes quickly look around for some evidence that you are not alone, but he only finds it messy, there is a book on the table with a pile of papers, but he pays no attention to it, the kitchen cluttered, pots and plate unwashed, maybe it was what you were ashamed for him to see, he can't help a feeling of relief in his chest, but still he remains alert.

"Are you calm yet?" you growl annoyed by his attitude.

"No, not really..." He turns to look at you and his fingers play with his short hair. Suddenly you feel an itch on your fingertips wanting to do the same. "What's happening to us?"

"What do you mean?" you fidget nervously crossing your arms.

"To us... I know we've been estranged, but..."

"Norman, we don't..." You bite your lip, moving closer to him.

"Is it over already?" he asks in a whisper and you feel your heart break.

"Of course not... Where do you get that from?"

"From these past few days? We've barely talked, and when we have it's been stupid things, and when I touch you I feel like I'm doing something wrong..."

"No, God no." You slow him down and cover your face with both hands, dead embarrassed. "It's nothing like that, it's just... it's been so long and... the other day when you touched me I felt like..." Your cheeks turn bright red. "I didn't want you to think that the only thing I had missed about you was your penis..." You confess in a very low voice, so low that Norman has to twist his head to hear what you're saying.

"What about John?" he asks you feeling his heart racing.

"John? What...are you jealous?" You look at him in disbelief and he shrugs.

"Is it that you haven't seen him? Even I'd be unfaithful if he'd listen to me." He jokes and you laugh with a loud laugh shaking your head.

"We're just co-workers, Norman, nothing more. Come, I want to show you something." You take his hand and guide him to the couch where you make him sit down.

Norman follows your movements without knowing what you want to tell him. He watches as you pick up all the papers on the side table and then take the notebook and close it, handing it to him. Norman frowns slightly, and you smile sheepishly.

"Open it..." You ask.

"If it's divorce papers, I'm not going to sign it." He jokes making you laugh, your cheeks red again.

"You'll have to ask me to marry you first." You humor him, but Norman's gaze falls heavily on you. "J-just open it..." You insist still with red cheeks.

"Okay." He nods opening the file. Before your eyes a first page where it says 'New York' as you turn the next page, you discover several photographs of apartments and houses, with small descriptions under them, the street they were on, the alternative routes to get to them either by car or motorcycle. "What is...?"

"It's a little guide, nothing formal, if you don't like it we can look at something else, but I wanted to... a year ago we talked about moving in together and... And I know New York is your city, that you love it, I've been looking for some apartment, or house, there, but..." You let him turn a few more pages until he comes to another section with the name of the town where the set is located. "I noticed that you're falling in love with this place too and I thought that if the program was successful, we could look for a place to get lost... ours, here too..."

"You've been looking all this up for us?"

"Y-yes, you caught me setting it up, that's why I didn't want you to come in..... I've noticed things have been a little weird too, I wanted us to reconnect, for you to understand that you're still important to me, that I still want to be with you, to move in together..."

"God you're going to kill me..." You hear him gasp and Norman closes the notebook to look at you. "Why are you so perfect?" he whispers moving a little closer to you. "My beautiful girl..." His thumbs brush your cheeks and he leans in kissing you slowly.

Goosebumps rise on your skin and you sigh against his lips, you had both missed that feeling, the swirling in your stomachs, the heat intensifying in your bodies, the need becoming almost painful. You break the kiss slowly and look at each other with intensity.

"So... what do you think?"

"So... I'll tell you what we're going to do." His voice sounds husky, he closes the notebook and puts it down on the table. "I'm going to keep kissing you, then I'm going to take you to your bed." He whispers, his mouth kisses your cheek, your neck, his hands wrap around your waist. "I'm going to make love to you until you forget what your name is." He promises you and a giggle escapes you. "And when we're able to get out of bed..."

"We'll have to go to work..." You laugh softly and feel him bite your neck.

"Don't provoke me, girl." He jokes. "We'll look for that house, our house, our home... and I'm never going to let you escape..."

Your smile grows wider and you wrap your arms around his neck and kiss each other again with intensity.

"And what are you waiting for?"

*******

The End.

******

I hope you liked it!!

See you in the next stories!!