#if anybody looks at this post please come find me in the woods with a rifle

[mlentertainment]

i'm definitely fucking ovulating bc i got off the phone with my girlfriend and checked my notes to see the juggling video get a couple likes and thought to myself "i should learn to juggle so we have something in common..." @ my uterus YOU THINK KYLE IS GONNA PUT A BABY IN YOU IF I CAN JUGGLE???????? WHAT?????????????????

[yellowbunnydreams]

Mechanised Devotion (Part 1) ~Steve Raglan/William Afton x Female Reader~

~ Please be nice to me, this is my first time writing fanfiction in a while and honestly have just been experiencing the phenomena that is Matthew Lillard as William Afton. Also, first time posting on tumblr! Also thinking of making this a multi-part series, so feedback is really appreciated!~

CW: Minors DNI, (18+ ONLY), afab reader, legal age gap (Reader- 20's, William - 40's), mention of crimes and violence, blood, mentions of child death (it's FNAF, what did you expect?), past trauma; abusive relationships.

When it had been suggested by your previous manager that you should see a career counsellor, you had thought it was a funny joke. You had laughed at the idea of something such as going to see another human being who's job was solely to tell you what jobs you were good and qualified for.

Until the paperwork had been handed over in an unsealed manila envelope letting you know that you had been terminated.

Unemployment had hit you like a truck, but without the pay-out that might have come from the trucking company. Filing paperwork to try and get even a few dollars a week to survive and contribute towards your house-share whilst already struggling to try and push through college had fallen by the wayside and you had been hitting the pavement both physically and online to try and find your next job.

That perfect one that was sure to turn up the next day, or maybe the next week.

But as somewhat expected, that moment had never arrived and neither did that job. So it was with great reluctance that you found yourself in a drab beige building with the occasional sound of human misery making the area feel like anybody was left alive in the room despite the faint clicking of the keyboard from the receptionist.

'Would it have killed them to put a small plant or something in the room?' You found yourself thinking as you looked around, almost missing the gesture from the receptionist lady who scowled over her glasses at you and handed you a slip of paper.

"Your councillor will see you down the hall, third door on the left."

"Thanks ma'am." your voice was quiet, and the woman scoffed before shooing you away with her somewhat ridiculously long nails. You wondered how she managed to do anything with them, but your thoughts quickly turned to the office you were supposed to find as you set off quickly down the hall.

The walls were beige, the floors were beige and you were minorly impressed that they had found somewhat beige doors as you moved down the hall cautiously. But the door you needed seemed almost comically like an old episode of Scooby-Doo where it was easy to tell what object was going to be interacted with due to the significantly different colours and quality of drawing. For some reason, the one door you needed was a nice deep wooden colour, although you seriously doubted it was real wood in a place like this. It took you a moment to breathe deeply, steeling your nerves and running your hand through your hair to tidy it up a bit, hand smoothing down your skirt before reaching up and knocking.

There was sound of shuffling from inside before a smooth, warm voice that came from inside though slightly muffled. "Come on in!"

Entering slowly, you blinked as you spotted a man sat at the desk infront of you, his hair peppered with greys despite being a cool brown colour and his slightly gaunt face adorned with greying stubble. Glasses perched on the end of his nose, which he looked over the rim of to see you before reaching up and pushing them back onto his face with his index finger, standing up with a warm, lopsided smile. What surprised you next was how tall he was. The guy was easily over six feet tall, and you felt dwarfed by his sheer size, broad shoulders accentuated by a neat by rumpled beige plaid shirt and a neatly knotted tie.

"You're my new client right? Come on in! Sit, sit!" he gestured to the cracked plastic chair opposite the desk with a large hand before extending it to shake your own, hand engulfing yours and allowing you to feel how rough and calloused they were compared to your own.

'How does an office worker get such rough hands?' you wondered as you took a seat, hands automatically tucking your skirt underneath you as you sat in the hard plastic chair. Blushing as you felt the man's grey eyes wandering over your appearance with something akin to disinterested amusement before he opened a folder and made a humming noise as he scanned it.

It allowed you to look around his office, noticing several framed diplomas on the walls, surprised by the amount of colour in the room with the warm wooden bookcase and even the occasional muted purplish-blue folder dotted amongst the shelves. You noted his room smelt like coffee, both freshly brewed and stale grounds somehow, a faint smell of smoke and cologne. Sniffing quietly, you wondered if perhaps the person who had sat there before you had been a smoker and worn some cologne to try and impress. But you supposed that you had gotten dressed up yourself despite your scuffed up converse ruining the somewhat ill-fitting blouse and skirt giving some illusion of professionalism.

"So, what are we going to do with you?" His voice made you jump as you suddenly snapped your attention back to him. Heart pounding as you blushed, realising as he tilted his head slightly to one side that he had caught you off-guard and slightly snooping.

"Pardon sir?" You asked, swallowing softly as you met his gaze for a moment before you looked down at your hands again. Picking slightly at your nails and more specifically the pale blush nail polish you had hastily tried to apply yourself that morning to hide the fact that you bit your nails. He paused before sighing and leaning forwards onto his elbows, chin resting on his hands as he gave you a somewhat lazy smile.

"I asked, miss..." he glanced at the paperwork before letting your name roll off his tongue in a way that made your heart pound slightly. You weren't sure why it did, but some tiny part of your brain was eager to hear him say it again. "what I was going to do with you. You have a clean employment record...aside from all the dismissals due to.." He paused and pulled his glasses down to peer over them to stare the text, his lips moving silently as he read before putting his attention back onto you. "it says here 'staffing issues and personal life interferance'?" Raising a quizzical eyebrow

"I um... I had some issues at home at that time Mr..." Glancing down at the nameplate on his desk, you realised he had never formally introduced himself to you apart from the handshake. "Raglan. I'd rather not talk about it."

"Well, I can't help you find a job if you don't help me help you." The man you now knew as Steve Raglan sighed, giving you another one of those lopsided smiles that made you feel like you were talking to a sweet, disappointed but supportive dad and gave you a pang in your chest that you might be letting this total stranger down.

"You don't have to tell me today, but I want to see you next week and I want you try to open up, tell me about what was going on and I might be able to offer something." Steve offered, gesturing to his pile of potential job prospects. You weren't aware that he was looking at you again, wondering if you purposely had chosen something that obscured your body-type and meant you weren't confident in yourself, or whether financially you had chosen what option was available.

The way you sat there meekly and picking at your nails was somewhat infuriating as he wanted to demand you looked at him when he spoke, but he remained calm. You were probably his most interesting client to date, hunching in on yourself and avoidant of filling in the blanks that your open ended statement had left. He decided he would lay on the charm slightly, see what got you to cave in and perhaps provide some amusement as his mind whirled with too many ideas and desire to move, do something and be far more active than his life as Steve Raglan allowed.

"I guess I'll see you next week then, thank you having me Mr. Raglan." you spoke softly and stood up. Watching as the hulking man stood too and opened the door with a somewhat sad smile, like he was watching a bright student walk down the wrong path in life.

"Of course, please, take this and give me a call if you would like to talk about this matter sooner. I hate to see a young woman like yourself go to waste because of one little hiccup." Another pang went through your chest as he spoke. He really did seem dissapointed in you, and some how, you found that you wanted to please the man you had met barely half an hour before.

As you walked down the corridoor, his eyes lingered on your smaller retreating form and tilted his head to one side, licking his lips to wet them for a moment in thought. He hoped whatever you were hiding from his was worth his time, and would perhaps find him another fun thing to play with.

[rosesnink]

Five Stages of Grief Series: Denial

Author's Notes

During the release of Bk2's early chapters, I wondered if anyone would be up for a fix-it fic of each reunions wit actually canon reactions. So here I am, after the b3 cover fiasco. This series will include Imtura, Tyril, Mal, Nia, Aerin and Valax's reactions. I've got taglist for everyone save Valax, since she was a LI later in the book. If you wanna be tagged in Valax's piece, let me know!

English isn't my first language, so please forgive any typo/grammar mistakes I may make

No beta, we die like men and all that jazz

If you wish to read more of my Blades writing, let me know!

If you want to read instead my TRR, COP, D&D or ACOR writing, check out my masterlist!

Likes are nice, but reblogs keep a post alive!

Summary: Nia deals with the aftermath of Brienne's disappearance

Word Count: 1.3k

Category: Angst, heartbreak, group fallout

Pairing: Nia Ellarious x F!Orc!MC (Brienne Nagoni, mentioned)

Rating: PG-13

TW: Alcohol abuse, religion

Book: Blades of Light and Shadow

The party was abuzz, and Nia observed bemused how, again, Mal and Tyril teased one another as Imtura and Brienne observed, chuckling. Threep was on her shoulder, eating treats as he and Loola commented on the scene.

Then, the purple vortex opened, and before she could properly react, Brienne had been snatched away. As the group argued loudly how to rescue her, Nia dropped on her knees, sniffling in silence “Brienne…?”

Mal helped her up, rubbing her shoulders “Don’t worry, Priestess, we’ll get her back. We won’t give up on her.”

Everyone silently agreed to sleep this off and come back stronger tomorrow, after processing what just happened. For one moment, everything she ever dreamed of was at her fingertips: a woman she adored in the most delicious blasphemy that made the Gods jealous, a future, a sense of owning herself for the first time, and a world of possibilities at her fingertips.

But now, Brienne wasn’t there.

“She’ll come back,” Nia declared. “This is Brienne. She never gives up on anybody. She fights for her own. That is how we came to be. Because she loved Kade so much, she put herself through all of this for you, Kade. She’ll find a way back to us. To… to me.”

Silence rippled the room. Kade seemed convinced. She had crossed the entire continent once for him. Because that was Brienne. She loved with her whole self until the end.

Even if it meant ripping out her heart and throw it into a dark, bottomless pit.

Like she did when she stabbed Nia with the Sword of Light.

Because Brienne’s love for Nia was such, that she’d rather mourn the lamb she was than to condemn her to losing her entire self to greed and vengeance.

Three months flew by. Nia and her crew had gone to many places in the kingdom, on the quest for Brienne. Despite some moments, she knew that Brienne lived. She knew it deep into her soul. She kept praying, kept fighting despite wanting to lie down and cry. Because she knew Brienne would do the same. Because Brienne lived still, and she needed her. And because she wanted to breathe the same air again.

To smell her fragrance of jasmine, pine wood and poppies. Feel her warmth in her large, soft skin. Lie her head on her belly, that felt like the fluffiest of pillows. Hear her body work. Stroke her long, dark curly hair, always down with small braids. She had always wanted to braid it, feel the silky touch on her fingertips, to make her see herself as beautiful as Nia saw her.

And she would. Because Brienne was alive, and waiting for her to return the favor of saving her like she did when she was most alone and desperate.

“Nia?” Imtura called.

“Yes, Imtura?”

“…What if she’s dead?”

Nia shook her head “She’s not.”

“How would you even know?”

She clutched the bracelet Brienne retrieved in that forest for her, so she’d feel even the faintest ghost of her touch “A part of my soul would die, and my heart would be no more.”

Imtura looked down “Let us hope it doesn’t come to that.”

“It won’t. We’ll find her.”

Four months flew by, and the group was starting to lose hope. They had decided to rest on a tavern, where a very obviously drunk Imtura and a dejected Tyril fidgeted with themselves. Then, Imtura slurred “Alright, elephant in the room, I’ll say it: Brienne’s likely dead. Gone. Left to rot in a ditch and we’re just running circles.”

Tyril glared at her “If the Hero of Morella had died, Imtura, we would’ve known. Tragic news travel fast. Someone would’ve found her.”

“She’s not dead, Imtura, we just haven’t found her yet. These things take time.”

“And how come nobody in the continent have heard, hmm? Easy, she’s dead and all of this for nothing.”

Mal got up abruptly “I know you’re losing hope, but you don’t get to disregard Brienne’s life being at stake just like that.”

Imtura sized him up easily, being four heads taller than him “Brienne wouldn’t want us to waste our time with her death. So why delay it?”

Nia once again swallowed her anger and shook her head “She’s not dead.”

Imtura pointed a finger at her “You don’t know that, because, flash news, the heart and soul thing is bullshit! She’s dead, she’s not coming back and it’s time we own it.”

Tyril finally reacted, slamming his large hands so hard he broke the table and got up, eyes blazing fury “If you’re so keen on burying her alive, then do it away from us. Her true friends won’t give up on her and the search and will carry on.”

“Fine!” Imtura bellowed.

Then, got up and left, leaving behind shocked patrons and gossiping owners. Nia sighed.

She was alive. And the answer was back in

“Whitetower.”

Mal and Tyril looked at her like she had just turned green “Pardon?”

“A purple speck abducted her. Maybe Kade wasn’t far off when another possible realm abducted her for Gods knows what. We must investigate at once!”

Tyril looked at Nia sympathetically “I get where you come from, but we mustn’t leave any stone unturned.”

“We shouldn’t leave any page unturned either!” She cried, determined.

Mal, defeated, spoke “If you must, then go. Books and I have never been friends, and I’d be a burden there.”

“B-but we do everything together!”

“When Brienne was here, maybe. But she is not here, and without her…”

Nia nodded bitterly, then declared “I do hope your reasonings are enough not to break her heart when she hears of this.”

Mal looked away. Tyril flinched, like he had been punched in the heart. Perhaps she wasn’t the only one who had been charmed by Brienne after all.

“Especially you, Tyril. I hope not being there when she returns is worth all those stones turned.”

Then, she turned away and left.

On the ninth month, a soft knock woke Nia from her prayers. Adjusting her sleeping robe, she opened the door to a devastated but determined Mal.

“May I come in?”

“I’d never turn down a friend. Come. Do you want something? Tea? Pastries?”

“My stomach’s closed, but thank you.”

He sat at her chair, and she in the edge of her bed. Nia looked up and broke the silence “What brings you here? Where is Tyril?”

“Elf boy and I quarreled nonstop when you left. Couldn’t agree on anything. He left for Undermount, and I…”

“Gave up on her too.”

“Came to honor her memory. She may be alive, but I don’t think she’ll be back. And… I’m tired of being useless. I want to do something with my life than chase empty quests and even emptier coins. Brienne would want me to have a legacy on my own, even if she may never see it.”

Craving to talk of her, she leaned towards him and asked “And what legacy is that she’d want you to pursue?”

That night, a dream and a new hope was born.

Even if Mal spoke of her as if she’d died, Nia knew that Brienne was fighting with all of her might to come back home. To her arms. To their bed. To the future they had whispered to one another beneath the covers.

The moment her errands with Mal were done, she strid towards the room and raised her chin to the robed woman before her “I have thought about your offer. It’d be my honor to accept being the new High Priestess.”

She’d make the world a better place when Brienne came back. Because she would. Because that was Brienne. And because she knew the Gods were not done with her yet. Because they were meant to be each other’s faith. And they would. Because her Brienne lived.

[livvyofthelake]

post season 2 lost character ranking let's goooo

jack clearly. nothing to say he's my favorite he's never getting knocked off the top spot. there is nothing he could do to make me love him less <3

sayid my close friend sayid! i love how he’s always right even when everyone is like woah category five sayid moment 🙄 literally believe him… he didn’t believe that man so he went out in the pouring rain to look for a hot air balloon and then dug up a grave to prove himself right all with the woman who shot his girlfriend like two weeks ago but he doesn’t blame her because he’s a) a feminist and b) knows who the Real Enemy is… that shit was crazy. they dug up a grave. in the pouring rain. and he was right.

ana lucia for the final time.... she was giving me everything in two for the road... ana lucia i would have kept you alive forever baby... when her and sayid went looking for that damn balloon that was like. one of the craziest things to happen all season. they could have become such a crazy good duo if she hadn’t been murdered. rest in peace forever babygirl i love youuuuuu 🩷

eko… literally when locke was obsessed with the button is was SO annoying but when eko was doing it i was like well let’s hear him out! and he WAS right. maybe the dynamite was a little extreme but well apparently that button needs to be pressed it would seem…

hurley <3 my buddy hurley! he’s just my buddy hurley!! and his girlfriend just died and hardly anyone gives a fuck…. he and sayid need to form a club.

kate.... girl you're flopping so crazy please come back to us... this is the highest i can put her right now it’s crazy how far she’s fallen. we need to stop the sawyer romance shit before i kill myself seriously.

claire! she’s claire!

charlie. getting a huge bump this time yay for charlie's redemption <3 things were very bleak there for a bit but i have faith he's coming back in a big way this season. um. for reasons i'm not supposed to know about but do

libby's also here for her final time rest in peace girl… my girl who did not ever get to do very much… but we loved her anyway rip to the libby backstory episode that never got to happen… love how she gave desmond a boat just because in the finale flashbacks she’s just so lovely and nice…

sun. imagine how this pregnancy storyline is about to go. i can’t even think about it. they’re gonna kill that thing aren’t they. like knock on wood hope that doesn’t happen to my friend sun it’s just. wow things are looking bleak. you know

desmond that freak! he crashed their plane! what the hell!!!!

alex is getting included this time because i am so interested by her... what's her deal.... cannot wait to find out!

locke kind of slaying lately. kinda dig his crisis of faith. i hope he starts getting haunted by the ghost of that gay man he let die. and i hope it's weird and fucked up

rose and bernard ranking low because well they do not do very much but rest assured i love them so dearly... they're always giving true love realness they're just lovely idk. we literally rank them as a pair it's beautiful...

danielle rousseau <3 literally her freak werido hermit hag realness. you wouldn't understand

jin. still giving your girl friend's shitty husband you wish she would leave but like he's better now i guess. but still.

ben. also known as henry. or that random new guy who’s name we don’t know. first of all how dare he be named ben that's a beloved book character to me. and also my cousin but that's not important if i liked every character with the same name as one of my damn cousins i'd hardly be allowed to hate anybody these bitches are irish catholic get serious. secondly i do think he's kind of a cunty antagonist... love how he's like the main guy of the others and sent himself in undercover to freak all these guys out. but well we also hate him obviously

sawyer in his classic spot at or near the bottom! classic! can always count on sawyer to be the worst huh...

michael. kill yourselfffffff oh my god. imagine getting ranked below SAWYER. that shit was DIABOLICAL work i’m never forgiving him i hope he suffers horribly

[babacontainsmultitudes]

Taylor Playlist :]

Cause if you haven't noticed I've been a bit fixated on my little guy recently and I meant to share this one forever ago anyways. I'll be real, I really didn't bother to figure out the song order for this one.

Track list below the cut + annotations and relevant lyrics :)

(slightly long post you've been warned!)

>> Here you go bestie <<

Seeya (by deadmau5 feat. Colleen D'Agostino)

“Don't wake me up, I'm winning wars inside my head

And maybe I'm weak, but not beneath the covers of this bed

Asleep, I'm undefeated in this world of mine

So, let me stay inside this dream and keep me from the light

(…)

I've built this place, behind my eyes, you'll never see

And you can move my body, but please keep my mind asleep

Beyond the galaxies, where there's no space or time

I will transform, I am reborn to rule over the skies

(…)

Escape the world I know, it's all in my control

I, I just wanna stay this way

(…)

Don't try to save me when my mind is finally free

'Cause I'd rather run my own world, than face your reality”

The Main Character (by Will Wood)

I don’t think I have to explain this one.

World Is Mine (by Hatsune Miku)

Lol

Life Is Fun (by Boyinaband feat. TheOdd1sOut)

Well this one for me is basically an interaction between Taylor and Scary haha.

Cloudbusting (by Kate Bush)

Largely about Nicky! But in a way that is like… From Taylor’s perspective? Maybe also the reverse. A bit hard to explain exactly but maybe I’ll just share what sticks out to me and you can come to your own conclusions.

“You're like my yo-yo

That glowed in the dark

What made it special

Made it dangerous

So I bury it

And forget

(…)

On top of the world, looking over the edge

You could see them coming

You looked too small

In their big black car

To be a threat to the men in power

(…)

I hid my yo-yo

In the garden

I can't hide you

From the government

Oh, God, Daddy

I won't forget

(…)

And every time it rains

You're here in my head

Like the sun coming out

Look, your son's coming out

Ooh, I just know that something good is going to happen

I don't know when

But just saying it could even make it happen, oh

Ooh, just saying it could even make it happen”

Chosen (by The Living Tombstone)

Hm how to put this… It’s like, one part “Taylor seeing himself as some kind of chosen one”, one part “Taylor unlocking his inner demon” and one part “Taylor being along for the ride- potentially at his own expense/risk”

“A mind without a home

Leaving behind, the comfort that I've known

Where do I roam? A stranger to myself

Born to be here, but living somewhere else

And I'm searching for the reasons I've been

Chosen by a force beyond control

Beyond remorse and I don't know

If I will make it through this

Losing who I am

(…)

Losing everything I called "human"

Free will is miles away

I heard you play

In the digital cabaret

But I'm okay

I won't disobey

If you take me by the hand and make me

Chosen by a force beyond control

I'll play a part, you'll make me whole

You'll be my voice, I'll be your soul

You'll take my choice and I don't know

How you will make me new but

This is who I am”

Open Up Your Eyes (by Tempest Shadow)

Like this could have gone in a Nicky playlist cause this is literally just Nicky talking to Taylor and warning him of betrayal but it’s a MLP song so ultimately Taylor won out lol. Also someone please make an animatic of this I want it so so bad.

“It's time you learned a lesson

It's time that you understand

Don't ever count on anybody else

In this or any other land

(…)

I once hoped for friendship

To find a place among my kind

But those were the childish wishes

Of someone who was blind

Open up your eyes

(…)

Give up your sweet fantasyland

It's time to grow up and get wise

Come now little one

Open up your eyes

(…)

We all start out the same

With simple naïve trust

Shielded from the many ways

That life's not fair or just

(…)

But then there comes a moment

A simple truth that you must face

If you depend on others

You'll never find your place

(…)

And as you take that first step

Upon a path that's all your own

You see it all so clearly

The best way to survive is all alone”

Pretty Little Head (by Eliza Rickman)

It’s mostly:

“Boy, where's your mother? Fall down dead

Dirty mind, dirty mouth, pretty little head

I wish you were here, I wish you'd make my bed

Dirty mind, dirty mouth, pretty little head”

Mama (My Chemical Romance)

Heheh.

“Mama, we all go to Hell

I'm writing this letter and wishing you well

Mama, we all go to Hell

Oh well, now, Mama, we're all gonna die

Mama, we're all gonna die

Stop asking me questions, I'd hate to see you cry

Mama, we're all gonna die”

In light of recent episodes maybe even

“Mama, we all go to Hell

It's really quite pleasant except for the smell

Mama, we all go to Hell”

Takes on a funny little meaning now.

Holding Out For A Hero (by Frou Frou cause I really like this cover)

Partially an antihero goof, but there’s also a bunch of lyrics that are funny/interesting to me if you remove the intended context and think about Nicky instead. Perhaps especially:

“Up where the mountains meet the heavens above

Out where the lightning splits the sea

I could swear there is someone somewhere watching me

Through the wind and the chill and the rain

And the storm and the flood

I can feel his approach like a fire in my blood”

Heads Will Roll – A-Track Remix (by Yeah Yeah Yeahs)

Because it makes me laugh and I couldn’t resist.

Special (by Shinedown)

“Stop waitin' on your fifteen minutes of fame, 'cause you're not special

I'm not tryin' to rain on your parade, but you're not special

I'm not tryin' to bring you down, I'm not tryin' to sound so ineffectual

But you're not special

(…)

We all live to love, we all fall apart

We'd all go to war for the faint of heart

Instead we're condescending

There are no happy endings

I won't hold my breath, I won't cast a doubt

I'd never sell you out

But I'll give you one last chance to own it

'Cause you're not a god or a poet, so...

(…)

Stop waitin' on your fifteen minutes of fame, 'cause you're not special

I'm not tryin' to rain on your parade, but you're not special

I'm not tryin' to bring you down, I'm not tryin' to sound so ineffectual

But you're not special”

^ Anthony probably lol.

:) Okay that's it thank you for entertaining this besties!

[darylsonlylove]

Hii sweeties! I decided to write some smut for Daryl cause I'm so in LOVE with him, so here we go. Hope you enjoy. I thought about this a lot, that should I start writing but I decided why not. ( For notice this is my first smut. Be gentle.)

Warnings: Smut, 18+, MDNI, p in v (unprotected sex), spanking, overstimulating, lightly age gap ( reader is 25 and Daryl is 33), begging, Dom!Daryl, lightly sir kink, nicknames (pet names).

Season 5. Alexandria.

I woke up early that day, I decided to go on a run in the woods as an exercise. Daryl was still asleep so I moved like I'm not even there. I didn't wanted to wake up him 'cause he was so peaceful like that. I got dressed and went out the front door of the house and left. I didn't saw anybody else so I think they are still asleep. I opened the gate and went out. First I was just walking being cautious. Of course I had weapon on me. After a while I started running. I was deep in the woods when I remembered that the only thing I forgot is that I should've write a post-it to Daryl. God I was in trouble for this, but it was too late I was way too out to go back.

I was walking back to Alexandria and saw someone at the guards tower. It was Maggie. She signed someone and they opened the gate. She came down and she just said that he's worried and that I'm gonna regret leaving like that. I signed and went home, for my god he wasn't home yet so I took a shower real quick and went out to see if I can help.

I helped where I could and when I felt like I've had enough, went home to do somethings there too. I took shower again than changed into some more comfortable clothes like a crop top and shorts. I was in the kitchen cleaning the table when someone's body was behind me, I immediately knew who it was, Daryl.

"Hey sweetheart." He said with his raspy voice, holy shit how I loved it.

"Hey baby." I said as I turned around to face him but he captured my hips hard blocking my movements.

"You know when I woke up this morning you were no where to be find darling, how is that?" He asked and moving his hands to my ass and he gave it a squeeze.

"Daryl, please just let me explain." I tried to plead with but he didn't listen.

"Yeah you can explain later after I spanked that fine ass of yours. How about that?" I felt his hands weren't that hard anymore and I took the opportunity and turned around real fast. He was surprised and I slipped out of his hands, taking a few steps back.

"Daryl, baby I'm so sorry l- I just forgot the note, baby please." I looked at him with my puppy eyes or atleast I tried.

"Okay, come here. Go on darling." I took a step forward towards him and hugged him. But he had other plans.

"Now babygirl, you will bend over our table and you will stay still, understood?" He asked, as he pulled down my shorts along with my panties.

I knew I was soaking wet for him. He slapped my ass first gentle.

"I asked a question baby." He said then he slapped again harder this time.

"Yes, Sir." I said. He slapped for a few more times then he turned me around and told me to sit on the table.

He got on his knees and started kissing my inner thigh, I throwed my head back as I whipered.

"Daryl please, don't be such a tease. Please." I begged.

"I like hearing you beg. But anything my baby wants." He then started eating my pussy like he's last meal. Then he added two fingers.

I was a moaning mess.

"Yes Daryl please, I have to cum please Sir."

"Cum my girl let go." And with that I let go and moaned his name until I ride out my high. I thought that this was it but no, oh boy I thought wrong. He started pushing his fingers in and out faster, I arched my back as he's finger circled on my clit.

"Daryl, baby I can't." I moaned louder this time.

"Of course you can babygirl just one more for me." He went faster and faster if it even possible and I felt the knock in my stomach and came again.

"Okay baby, I got the message, I'll never leave like that again just please stop." I said sitting up. I leaned in to kiss him, he kissed back then I heard him unbuckle his belt.

He grabbed my ass and lifted me then he put me down and turned me around.

"Bend over darling, let me see that dripping cunt." He just stared at me but I didn't do anything.

"Now babygirl. Do as you told. I'm not gonna slap your ass just turn around I wanna see what a mess you are down there. You understand?"

"Yes Sir."

"Good."

I turned around and bend down, he moved his hands on my ass and I winced. I trusted him with my life. All of a sudden he slammed into me without a warning and started pumping in and out fast.

"D-Daryl please, I can't anymore please." I pleaded even though I didn't wanted him to stop. And he knew it.

"You want me stop baby, 'cause I can. That's what you want?"

"No, Sir."

"Then be a good girl and take it and give me another one."

As he speaked to me the way he was speaking out of breath, I was ready to give in.

"I'm gonna cum Daryl please, let me."

"Not yet baby, wait for me. I want you to feel me fill you up." He was doing it faster and harder and rougher than usual but I loved it. I was already a moaning mess, moaning his name as he moaned mine.

"Now baby, cum for me." I was waiting for that sentence and when it left his mouth I came harder than ever. He came too, filling me up. We were out of breath so we stayed like that for while. Then Daryl pulled out watching his cum flows out of me.

"Next time you do something like that I won't let you cum." He said turning me around kissing my forehead.

"Next time I do something like that, you should fuck me harder." I whispered against his lips.

"Don't threaten me with a good time babygirl." He said and kissed me. Then we took a shower and went to sleep.

@catt-leya @quicksilversg1rl (curious for your reactions)❤️

[clarktooncrossing]

HEY THERE PEOPLE OF TODAY AND ROBOTS OF TOMORROW! IT'S ME, CLARK! There is a madness deep in the dark catacombs of Castle Clarkenstein. For years these claustrophobic corridors have been the home of the ghoulish giraffe himself, watching as the world passes by. He prefers it this way. It gives him more time alone with the voices. The voices tell him many strange things. Yet they always come back to one: make more monsters! Everyday they tell him this. Everyday he is unable to comply. Hey, being a mad scientist on a budget means he can’t afford the fancy scientific equipment needed to breathe life into newborn abominations. Guy’s gotta afford pizza somehow. Luckily, he has discovered a way of sorts to please the voices. During all those years of watching, Dr. Clarkenstein noticed a particular pattern. Every night during October saw artists posting new pictures based on peculiar prompts. Many of them based on children of the night. While the spotted specter might not be able to craft new zombies, he can sure as heck sketch’m! As such, I provide this friendly warning to you all now: Be afraid. Few people can survive the horrors that are DUDELZ of the Damned!

By that I mean I decided to do my own take on Sketchtober this year just minus the prompts. Anybody gotta problem with that? Tough, cuz I already drew this crap so you might as well check it out.

Deep in the forests of France is the home of the fae folk or fairies. Many travelers have wandered through the woods to find them, few have ever found it. Save for a visiting Italian pizza maker searching the forest for fresh ingredients. He knew for sure that Escargot Pizza was gonna drive folks wild! What he didn’t know was that he was being watched. After days of being stalked he finally met his follower, Villa, the Queen of the Faes. In no time at all the two had built up a rapport, enough for the pink fairy to show this yellow stranger the hidden gateway to her world. Sadly, it was this show of affection that led both lovers to their doom. Discovering that the pizza maker discovered the secret to finding the Faes, they kidnapped him and used him as leverage against the Queen. Either he forfeit her friend’s life or show them where her kingdom lied. In the end it was for not. Once the hidden world was revealed, the Italian was butchered along with all the fairies, their magic siphoned off for various elixirs and tonics. Now the Queen was truly alone. And angry. She set out to find the poachers in order to give them a taste of their own medicine. To this day it’s said you can hear their screams echoing throughout the forest, their killer still mourning the loss of her beloved.

My, what a dark story. Especially since Fairy Villa originated in a humorous little follow up to 10 Minutes on Halloween. Not wanting Pizza Monster’s girlfriend to be left out of the fun, my friend Fantasynarium quickly made a comic where the ice cream monster had a surprise for her boyfriend waiting at her creamery. Said surprise being this awesome costume that nearly gave PM an aneurysm. Despite the awesome design developed by my friend, I only drew Villa in the ensemble once afterwards. As such I knew I had to bring the Ice Cream Fairy back for this year’s DUDEL event. My goal was to tweak as little as possible given how lovely the original outfit was. In the end it turned out great, especially with the choice in colors. Like the other DUDELZ the rule is only one color allowed, meaning everything else had to be grayscale. Doing so here gave the character a kind of goth look that I oddly dig. I may have to draw more goth Villa in the future. For now though, I hope you all enjoy this long awaited return of Villa!

MAY THE GLASSES BE WITH YOU!

[lonelywretchjervistetch]

The State Bird Initiative: Pennsylvania (#2) - Results

Poll #2 in the books! Cutting this one short, since I think we've got all we're gonna get from this one for now. But, it's still open for the next couple of days, if anybody sees this by then and hasn't voted. That said! I'm gonna call it for now and show you the results as they stand, as well as my personal choice, just like last time. So, what does a small group of Tumblr contributors think the State Bird of Pennsylvania should be?

A sincere apology to the Ruffed Grouse, but it looks like we have a new State Bird of Pennsylvania!

SBI Elected State Bird of Pennsylvania: Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

The popular choice for State Bird of Pennsylvania is the Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), and it's a pretty good choice in my opinion!

Somebody referred to this as a meme pick, and while it's possible the joke's on me here...I actually think this is a great choice for Pennsylvania. As I outlined in my original post, it's a favored bird of Benjamin Franklin, it's a popular bird for hunting and preservation in Pennsylvania already, and they're a major symbol of the country in general. Plus, Turkey Day in Pennsylvania will now take on a whole new meaning! That said, it's true that the distribution of the species is in nearly every state in the Union, but that actually makes the point more prominent. The Constitutional Capitol of the country has a State Bird found all over it! It works.

With that, I'll launch into my personal opinions for State Bird choices, but I will say: the Wild Turkey is the State Bird Initiative's personal choice for State Bird of Pennsylvania. Yeah, I agree with the masses on this one. So that's one down...but we're not done yet. But if you're satisfied with this, see you next time in the Garden State!

The State Birds Initiative Personal Pick - Pennsylvania (#2)

State Game Bird of Pennsylvania (SBI): Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)

Y'know, I actually misspoke up there. The Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) hasn't been dethroned, because it was never the State Bird in the first place; it was the State Game Bird, and I say it should stay that way! The Ruffed Grouse is a great game bird for the state, even if it's not dependent on it for its breeding population, so why not leave it in this position. I do still love that sound of drumming in the woods, and more people should experience that. OK. Now that that's done, time for the next pick!

State Raptor of Pennsylvania (SBI): American Goshawk (Accipiter atricapillus)

Man oh man, did I want the goshawk to win this one. But, instead, I'll settle for SBI's State Raptor. After all, the history of Hawk Mountain and conservation initiatives is dependent on this species. Now, that said, there is a point to be made: New York is a better fit here. Yeah, the American Goshawk (Accipiter atricapillus) barely has a foothold in the state of Pennsylvania, which is sort of the point of its inclusion here. But, at the same time, New York has MUCH better candidates for State Raptor, so I think we can give Pennsylvania this one. If you're stumbling on this post before seeing the original poll, please check that out first for more context here. In the meantime, let's keep going! We have some more to throw onto the pile here.

SBI's Big Fifty - Pennsylvania: Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica)

This one is...controversial. Of the previous choice presented, which bird is a notable find for birdwatchers within Pennsylvania? That's the logic for the Big Fifty list, but...this one isn't as cut-and-dry. Honestly, Pennsylvania isn't terribly unique when it comes to the NE USA in terms of bird diversity (sorry, Keystoners), so there aren't as many reliable and unique species to be found here as opposed to other states that haven't been mentioned (a la the American Goshawk up there). And the Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) isn't unique to PA, that's for sure. I've seen them in NY, NH, and MA, personally. Still, it's a cool bird to see wherever it pops up. But why this bird for the Big Fifty?

Well, the fact that it breeds in the state is a pretty big bonus. I realize that the Red Knot doesn't breed in Delaware, but it's a notable enough species to make this list for birdwatchers. Likewise, the Chestnut-sided Warbler is a BIG highlight for amateur birdwatchers, and a nice sight-to-see for experienced birders. And the other candidates? Well, turkey, grouse, and goshawk are taken by other categories. Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) and the Mourning Warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia) are great, but are only included because of their species name, and barely breed in the state, making them an unreliable choice comparatively. And as much as I wanted to make this category the Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus), it doesn't breed in the state at all, making it the most poor candidate. So, Chestnut-sided is left standing. I am more than happy to take other suggestions for this category for PA, but that's the choice for the time being!

But wait...I forgot someone.

State Conservation Focus (SBI): Pileated Woodpecker (Dyrocopus pileatus)

...OK, hear me out. I was actually bummed that the Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) didn't get the trophy of State Bird of Pennsylvania. Sure, a huge part of that was the whole Keystone's keystone thing, but another part is the fact that the Pileated Woodpecker deserves more attention in this country. In fact woodpeckers deserve quite a bit of recognition, for a number of reasons. But in this instance, I think the Pileated Woodpecker should be a State Conservation Focus for Pennsylvania, to help promote conservation of Pennsylvania's forests and forest industry.

Now, there are two pieces of this to be discussed. First, we've got Pennsylvania's forest. Pennsylvania is both a bastion of conservation, as well as a bastion of historical deforestation. Originally, PA severely deforested the state forests in order to settle it. By the end of the 1800s, nearly two-thirds of the forests in PA were destroyed due to overharvesting, forest fires, and soil erosion, all anthropogenic in nature. The Department of Forestry described Pennsylvania as "a landscape of stumps and ashes. Charcoal was a major export for the state, which required the harvesting and burning of wood, and that involved clear-cutting. But with the trees disappearing, forestry moved west...and Pennsylvania was left empty.

But then, the environmental movements began in the USA in the 1900s. The Department of Forestry was created in 1895, and just over the years afterwards, replanting initiatives began. The Civilian Conservation Corps took over the state initiative to replant Pennsylvania's forests, and much of the state became reforested. Not all of it, of course; Pennsylvania still only has about half of the trees and forested acres that it started with, with mostly privately owned land, BUT...17 million acres ain't nothing to sneeze at. It's a conservation success story! And, uh...and yet...we're not done.

The problem now is that climate change, invasive species, and continuing development continue to endanger Pennsylvania's forests. The reasons are definitely different than they used to be. Deer have overpopulated, causing damage to the undergrowth, and allowing invasive species like Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimeneum) and others to take over. But oh-ho-HO...that's not the biggest problem facing PA's forests. Sure, logging still exists, and climate change is being made worse as a result, but there's an even bigger threat to the forests of PA, and the USA as a whole.

GAH!!! KILL IT! KILLITKILLITKILLITKILLITKILLIT!!!

The Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is an invasive species, a true bug (planthopper, to be specific) from China and Vietnam that's spread to multiple countries, including the United States. And the first state in which it was supported? Pennsylvania. Combined with another major invasive species, the Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis), Pennsylvania suffers $243.8 million in damages due to these guys annually, meaning that this should be a MAJOR concern to PA citizens. And what's worse, they've now spread at least to 16 states. I saw some in NYC a month ago, and I tried to go Starship Troopers on those goddamn bugs. But they were behind a fence on private property, GODDAMMIT.

Anyway, what does this have to do with the Pileated Woodpecker? Well, a few things. Firstly, while the Pileated Woodpecker focus mostly on ants as prey items, they certainly eat tree-boring insects and larvae like the ash-borer, and other woodpecker species are known to eat the lanternfly. It definitely stands to reason that the Pileated Woodpecker eats them as well, and their populations alone would likely contribute positively to the species. Plus, if trees are taken down to stop the spread of these guys, the woodpecker and others suffer. But even more prominently, as I've said before...it's a keystone species. A LOT of species depend on the Pileated for homes and tree hollows, and a MASSIVE amount of those animals eat spotted lanternflies. So, what I'm actually proposing as a conservation focus for PA is a large, iconic, and easily identifiable bird species that acts as both a cornerstone for the forest communities of PA, a protector for the forests from invasive insects, and therefore a symbol the forests of PA.

...Wait a minute. WHY DIDN'T I USE THIS ARGUMENT IN THE FIRST PLACE?!?

Well, uh...to be frank with you, I actually didn't know. This isn't an angle I'd considered until...well, getting ready to write this post. This actually is a great symbol for the state, but specifically for conservation purposes. So, I'm making up for it by making this a Conservation Focus for the state, giving it status as a major state symbol for the SBI. Protection of the Pileated Woodpecker means protection of the forests of Pennsylvania. Mission accomplished (in the alternate universe where the United States federal and state governments are reading this post series and taking it seriously).

The other point I'd like to make is in calling this a Conservation Focus. I don't think there needs to be one fixated species in this position; this should be a species of focus decided on during election cycles, with the capacity to be changed based on new candidates for the position. So, this is a focus, not the only one possible. Why not make the lanternfly the focus? Because they need to be squashed, literally squashed, not made into a federally recognized symbol. If there was a most wanted list for invasive species, these would be near the top. That might be the focus of another post series, now that I think about it. or maybe an art project to make Most Wanted posters, OH GOD MY OVERAMBITIOUS NATURE IS BEING ACTIVATED HELP

With that, though, that's the end of our story in Pennsylvania. We're gonna move on to a state with a...questionable reputation. Is it deserved? Will that be reflected in the State Bird choices? Who knows? We'll see that in the next poll, coming very soon! See you in New Jersey??

See you next time, and happy birding!

Introduction to the State Birds Initiative

1. Delaware - Poll | Results 2. Pennsylvania - Poll | Results 3. New Jersey - Poll | Results 4. Georgia - Poll | Results 5. Connecticut - Poll | Results 6. Massachusetts - Poll | Results

[crimeronan]

shoutout to this post i made almost three years ago. i wish i could go back in time and tell my slightly-younger self what a Time we were about to have. scrolling through the early days of my autoimmune tag is wild because past me is oversharing about my diagnoses and the fact that i might be dying and the fact that i keep finding eulogies instead of support groups when i look for community online, but i am...... not sick yet.

like. i definitely Think i'm sick, at the time. i am definitely tired and fevered and feel like shit, i'm using organ transplant reject drugs and having biopsies done and doctor's faces keep going gray when they see my skin and pharmacists keep giving me Terrible Pitying Looks when i fill my new scripts,

but i am not sick yet.

we have not yet explored the true event horizon of what it means to be sick. i am sick like most chronically fatigued spoonies online but.... i am going to learn a Lot more about how sick a body can really get.

anyway. i wish i could tell my slightly-younger self that we're about to lose the Entirety of our mid-twenties to illness. and we'll come out the other side blinking and confused and stumbling like a newborn lamb, feeling like we just went through a dark subway tunnel that folded us from one shore to the other, there's a void in the middle that's only accessible through the posts somebody made for all those years. someone made those posts with our hands. we sure don't remember them, though!

we won't feel any different than we did at 24 not just because we were inside for years due to a pandemic, but also because our brain was shutting down. we'll also feel like an entirely separate person from the 24-year-old self who didn't know yet what being sick was.

wish i could tell my slightly-younger self that now, as of writing this, when we're nearly 28, we'll be on the highest possible therapeutic dose of hydroxychloroquine, and that as long as we escape any rare medical complications from that, we'll be taking it for the rest of our life. wish i could tell them we're about to sacrifice three full years for the chance to live a whole, self-actualized life at the other end of hell.

wish i could tell her things are going to get way way way worse and then they're going to get a lot better. knocking on wood about it of course because there's always the chance of climate catastrophe or natural disasters or new illnesses or other calamities interfering with life plans. but if i don't jinx myself, i could tell her we've got the rest of 28 and 29 and then our 30s and 40s and beyond to be awake and happy and alive. we are still Young. losing a handful of years and having strange new lines around our eyes doesn't change that.

dunno what else to say here. i found this post a few weeks back in the "related posts" suggestions when looking at my own blog and it made me laugh aloud bc i was like. oh honey. ohhh honey. you don't even Know yet. you are going to be so different in three years and you're also going to be exactly the same.

i guess the conclusion here is that i can't tell my three-years-ago self what's coming but i can tell the chronically ill ppl following me: please for the love of GOD pursue diagnosis and treatment for your weird physical bullshit. sorry i know it sucks and hurts and is bad i know. doctors and the healthcare system are a nightmare to navigate, especially now w/ the medical sector collapsing in the wake of post-COVID problems, but you never know when your baseline of "i feel sick" is going to deteriorate Beyond Reckoning.

be kind to your future self. be kind to your past self. i don't want anybody else to learn what this kind of sickness feels like if they can avoid it.

anyone else ever have that chronic illness feel of like. yes i know people can get sick at any time and there are plenty of diseases you’re more likely to get if you’re UNDER 40 and many many many of the people in my social circle have chronic illnesses while being around my age but also. bro i am 24 come on

[hufflepuffwritingstuff2]

This or That Gothic Snippet 5- Tower

Inspired by my answers for this post by @blackrosesandwhump!

Whumpee ran through the pounding rain, desperate to find some form of shelter. Their soaked clothes stuck to their skin, and they were chilled to the bone. Whumpee was just about to give in to exhaustion when they saw it. A light bleeding through the deluge. Whumpee, now with renewed strength, stumbled through the last stretch of the woods to the light. When they got closer, they could see that the light was coming from a tower. They ran to the tower and banged on the door. The door swung open, with no one on the other side. Whumpee shuddered but stepped inside. Once they were inside, the door slammed closed, causing Whumpee to yelp. They looked around cautiously; the place looked empty, save for the books lying askew on the table and the candles lit everywhere.

“Hello?” Whumpee called, “is anybody home?”

“Hello,” a voice echoed.

Whumpee looked around for the source of the voice. They stopped when they saw a figure descending a long, spiraling staircase. They were dressed in midnight blue robes and carrying a thick book with them.

“Can I help you?” the stranger asked.

“I-I’m sorry,” Whumpee started, “I was just passing through, but it’s pouring outside, and-”

“Ah, you needed shelter of some kind,” the stranger smiled, “please, make yourself at home. It’s been so long since I’ve had guests.”

The stranger put an arm behind Whumpee’s back and led them to a chair by the hearth. With a snap of their fingers, the stranger produced a flame and started a roaring fire in the fireplace. A blanket floated over to Whumpee and wrapped itself around their shoulders.

“I hope you don’t mind magic in the house,” the stranger said, “it keeps things… efficient.”

“Oh, uh, not at all,” Whumpee said.

“Do you want something warm to drink?” The stranger asked.

“Oh, um, no thank you,” Whumpee said, “I wouldn’t want to be a bother.”

“I insist,” the stranger said, “you’re not a bother at all.”

A cup filled with hot liquid hovered into Whumpee’s hands. Whumpee took a small sip. Hot chocolate. And it was surprisingly sweet.

“Do you know, it’s been about a few centuries since someone has visited me,” the stranger said, “I haven’t gotten to use my fine china in so long.”

Whumpee was finding it hard to listen. For some reason, they were feeling incredibly tired. Maybe it was just from all the running they had been doing. Whumpee took another sip of their hot chocolate, but that only seemed to make things worse. Whumpee’s eyelids drooped and their shoulders slumped. Whumpee fought to stay awake. They were faintly aware of the stranger laughing.

“Don’t fight it, little one, just go to sleep. That’s it.”

“Wh-who are you?” Whumpee slurred.

“My name is Whumper, and thanks to you, I’m not going to be alone anymore.”

The cup in Whumpee’s hands fell to the floor with a clatter. Whumpee knew they should be panicking, but they were just so tired. They fell asleep with Whumper standing over them, who was all too eager to get to know their new companion.

part 2

[notstilinski]

The Blair Witch Project Starters !

Taken from the 1999 movie, The Blair Witch Project! Some of these have already been edited. You can change them however you see fit!

“Which means we're already going to be behind schedule, but it's important to have juice.”

“Don't we get to meet your mama?”

“The woods around Halloween time is a creepy enough phenomenon.”

“l don't want to go cheesy. l want to really avoid any cheese.”

“Should we all, like, cut our fingers open and bleed on it?”

“That's kind of an omen, isn't it?”

“He could feel the eyes watching him.”

“l mean, anybody worth their salt around here knows that this area's been haunted by that old woman for years.”

“Look at that. We've got our very own leaning post.”

“No, I never gave (Name) any fart allowance.”

“Would that be a full-of-shit statement?”

“So, l'm just putting my trust in you that you know where it is.”

“Although I got to tell you, l don't fully trust you.”

“Just breathe and don't look down, maybe?”

“Fuck, I wasn't listening to them ‘cause I thought they was a lunatic.”

“Flames are licking you like the devil there, (Name).”

“lt was, you know, the same thing, only darker.”

“What bugs me out is that we're so damn deep in the woods and people are going to try and... And come out here and mess with us, then they got to have something wrong with them. And l'm not going to play with that.”

“Well, even if it wasn't, l'm not going to play with that, either.”

“l don't fucking think it's deer, though, man. lt sounds exactly like the shit last night.”

“This is way fucking weird, but it really doesn't matter at this point because all I want to do is get to the goddamn car.”

“No, l'm not fucking scared. l'm just tired, l'm hungry, l'm fucking, like... l'm just fucking done, man.”

“That is... That... l mean, that's the fucking, like, least responsible thing you could have possibly done.”

“All l'm saying is, we can move as fast as we want, but if we have no fucking clue where we're moving to, then it really doesn't matter, does it?”

“We are gone. We are fucked, we are done, we are dead, we're fucked.”

“We're doing a pretty goddamn good job of being lost.”

“l'm really happy you find it very amusing that l'm going to be incredibly uncomfortable for the rest of the day.”

“lf we get hurt or we die out here, it's your fucking fault! lt is your fucking fault! Do you understand?”

“This is no redneck. No redneck is this creative.”

“Turn the lights off. Turn the lights off. Turn that light off. Turn it off, (Name). All lights off. All lights off.”

“Did you hear that baby screaming?”

“l haven't heard anything since we ran away.”

“Let's go! Let's go. Are you not scared enough?”

“lf you bite me one more time, l will throw you in the fucking woods.”

“No, but it's totally like a filtered reality, man. lt's like you can pretend everything's not quite the way it is.”

“l know that, but we're all on the brink of losing it.”

“Whatever it is, is going to come back. We know that for a fact.”

“lt came three nights in a row, and it's getting worse every night.”

“Fuck you. Fuck you. Really. Fuck you.”

“Come on, I can't. I can't listen to fighting. l can't fight.”

“We're screwed and that's it. Please stop fighting. Both of you.”

“Okay, here's your motivation. You're lost, you're angry in the woods, and no one here is here to help you.”

“lt's all I fucking have left, okay? Just please stop. Please stop. Just please stop yelling at me, please.”

“You going to write us a happy ending, (Name)?”

“Doesn't it just seem absurd, though, at this point?”

“We can't even find the car! How the fuck are we going to find (Name)?”

“Which wicked witch was worse, The Wicked Witch of the East or The Wicked Witch of the West?”

“(Name), where are you? Tell me where you are!”

“l don't know if it's really them. l don't know if it's really them.”

“Whatever it was, sounded like (Name).”

“Tell me you're not eating a dry leaf.”

“l just want to apologize to (Name)’s mom and (Name)'s mom and my mom...”

“And it's all because of me that we're here now, hungry and cold and hunted.”

“l'm scared to close my eyes. l'm scared to open them.”

“I’m going to die out here.”

“It’s okay. It can’t be him.”

“Where are they? Where are you?”

[paisley-print]

Near The Water’s Edge:  Chapter One

After fleeing your abusive husband, you find yourself in the small coastal town of July, North Carolina. Soon you meet Frankie Morales, Air Force Veteran and single dad. As the two of you grow closer, you begin to let go of your past and learn to love again. That is until a strange man shows up in town, and you 're forced to choose between your safety or the safety of the people that you love.

Inspired by the novel “Safe Haven” written by Nicolas Sparks. 

Frankie Morales x Female Reader 

Rating: 18+ / Heavy adult themes eventual smut.

Trigger Warnings: Domestic Abuse, Drowning, Dark Water. 

Word Count: 1744

Note: I tagged everyone who liked the original posts. To stay on the permanent list please either send me a message or write it on the post. Enjoy <3 

Series Master List

Chapter One 

Aggressively American, that was the only fitting description of the place you found yourself in. July was a coastal town located in the southern part of North Carolina. It was pronounced like ‘Julie’ but nobody ever called it that. It had been the farthest place your two hundred dollars in cash could take you; and as the greyhound pulled away, you wondered if you should have chosen Nebraska instead. 

It wasn’t that the town was dirty, quite the opposite actually...it just felt manufactured. Too perfect to be real. The streets were named things like Liberty and Independence. The shop fronts were brick and all along the main street there were American flags and flower pots holding red, white and blue geraniums.

The name Norman Rockwell came to mind. 

As you walked along the main street, you surveyed the many shopfronts. To a passerby it seemed as though you were looking to buy something - in your mind, however, your thoughts were racing.

‘I made a mistake, I know I did.’ You analyzed the last few hours, replaying the memories over and over again as if on VHS; scrutinizing every last detail. ‘He would track me down, find me - by morning. Should I go back? No- it was too late for that.’

It was still early in the afternoon, but finding a place to sleep tonight was paramount. The trip had taken eleven hours straight through. Only ever stopping to change buses and refuel - you were exhausted and your muscles ached. 

‘Food,’ you thought ‘I should eat…’ 

But did you have enough? Depending on how much a motel cost around here, you figured you would only have enough to cover a room for one night. So food would have to wait. 

As you rounded a corner, you were met with the sight of the bay. It wasn’t anything like the brown water in New Jersey, the water here was a deep green. The boats created little swells along the surface, and the sun’s glint off the peaks made it look like the water was filled with emeralds. 

On the left side of the street stood a marina and dockside restaurant. The smell of food made your stomach grumble. On the right side was a series of Victorian style houses, stone pillars and large porches dominated the structures. 

A sign in front of one had caught your attention: American Dreams B&B.

‘Jesus’ you thought ‘they’re really leaning into this whole aesthetic aren’t they?’

A bell on the front door chimed as you entered. The decor of the place looked dated; as if it hadn’t been touched since the 80s. Lots of wood tones and floral patterns. You didn’t mind it though…. it made you feel at home. 

An older woman was sitting at the front desk watching a soap opera on a little TV perched on the counter. She looked up and smiled as you approached. 

“Hello there. How can I help you today?”

“Do you have any rooms open?”

“Sure do, we have three vacancies right now.”

Relief washed over you, “what’s the nightly rate for the smallest?”

“That would be the pink room at $175 a night.”

More than you had anticipated…. “All take it, thank you.”

The woman turned to the computer. The monitor was old and heavy- it looked bigger than the TV. “Driver’s license?”

You hadn’t even thought of that… “I don’t have one, would a birth certificate work?” 

You cringed at the sound of it. Who carries around a birth certificate as identification? It was all you had, so you gave it to her, however you knew that the odd request made you stick out in the woman’s mind. Surely she would remember you if someone came asking…

The woman hesitated but took the certificate, reading it out loud “Summer Emma Sparks.”

You swallowed hard and shifted on your feet, feeling sick. The circumstances surrounding how you secured the certificate flooding your mind...

‘I needed it,’ you remind yourself.

The woman, whose name you found out to be Mae, handed you a key and sent you on your way. Now the plan would be to look for a job, something that worked off of tips. Having as much cash available to take with you at a moment’s notice was important. First, though, you would sleep. 

And as the tide lapped against the boat dock across the street, you slipped into the darkest, soundest slumber you had in years. You were safe for the time being. 

-

There was something to be said about the little joys surrounding small town life. In New Jersey neighbors barely knew each other, and would even go so far as to avert their eyes or turn their backs when passing them on the street. Here though, people were kind. 

Too kind sometimes, always pressing you with questions...you couldn’t fault them for it though. If you were here under normal circumstances, you would have welcomed such friendly chatter. It almost pained you to be so dismissive, but you needed to be, for your safety and theirs. The less anybody knows about you, the better. 

You set down a tray of empty cups and looked at the clock on the wall, debating whether to take another table. Even though your shift technically didn’t end for another twenty minutes, most of the night servers were already here and the day had been long.

You managed to get a job at the restaurant next to the marina on your second day in town. The owner suggested you start the following weekend, but you persuaded him to let you train that day just so you could get the free meal that they provided with every shift. The tips weren’t enough to buy a hotel room though, and so you had to sleep on the beach that night.

Thankfully, the tips for the last few days had been good, allowing you to buy a week in the bed-and-breakfast. Most of the servers at the restaurant were teenagers who could only work the evenings, allowing you to take as many morning and afternoon shifts as you wanted. Sometimes there would be another server with you, but most days you were alone. You didn’t mind one bit, the dining room was small and easy for you to handle by yourself. 

You had your eye on a few rental properties on the far side of town. A mobile home community offering one bedroom complexes for dirt cheap prices. You were suspicious at first, but after taking a walk through the neighborhood you realized most of the people who lived there were snowbirds or weekend warriors. 

Those residents who did live their full time seemed like you, friendly people who had fallen on bad times. They weren’t the confederate flag wielding, dip spitting, rednecks you first thought they would be; and for that you were thankful. 

“Summer….. Summer.” 

You turned suddenly, remembering that was your name. “Yeah?”

Your boss was holding two containers of soup “do me a favor and put these in the fridge before you go?”

“Of course,” you said, allowing him to pass the containers off to you. 

The fridge was a separate unit out back; it looked like a little shed. From where you were, you could see a full view of the marina. It was set a little farther back than the restaurant. To the left, lines of boats bobbed up and down with the tide. There was a parking lot next to that, then at the very end was a house... or what you assumed was a house. 

Elevated about six feet on stilts and spanning two stories high. It wasn’t anything like the grand Victorians that stood opposite of it. It was unassuming, modern and clean. Your eyes fixed on movement off to the side. Below the house to the right, you noticed a little girl. She had to be no more than three years of age, reaching for something over the bulkhead. A feeling of dread clutched at your stomach. 

‘She’s going to fall’ you thought suddenly. 

Both containers of soup hit the ground and exploded - painting the side of the building. You didn’t even notice as you sprinted down the shelled driveway towards the house. The splash came as soon as you threw open the gate and without even a moment of hesitation; you jumped into the water. 

It was freezing, like little needles pricking your skin from all sides. The salt water stung your eyes like something wicked, but you forced yourself to keep them open. You scanned what was around you, murky green darkness and foliage that reached up from the sand like the tendrils of a kraken. Threatening to grab you and pull you down into its watery depths. 

Your eyes landed on a flash of pink below. With all of your strength you pushed yourself forward, hooking an arm around the girl and bringing you both to the surface. Just as you broke through the world above, you saw a man skid to a stop and reach for the girl in your arms. 

You gasped, and the little girl coughed and hiccuped... then started to cry. It was music to your ears; it meant that she was breathing. You held the girl up as far as possible; the man took her and moved away from the bulkhead. 

“Make sure she’s okay,” you choked, the water assaulting your senses. You tread for a moment longer before the man reappeared and offered you his hand. You took it and he pulled you from the water easily. 

Bracing yourself on the bulkhead you brought your weight over the rest of the way. The man immediately turned his attention back to the little girl, bringing her to his chest and clutching her as she wailed. 

You blinked, hands coming up to rub the salt from your eyes, the world coming back into focus. The man was older, wearing a navy blue baseball cap and a grey flannel. 

His brown eyes still held a spark of panic in them as he looked at you. “I don’t know how I could ever thank you enough….she was right there, then I turned around and….” He held onto her a little tighter and sighed, closing his eyes. The little girl was settling into a mess of sniffles and whimpers. “Don’t ever do that again, baby,” he breathed. 

-

-

-

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[dadsbongos]

good heart

Movie/Game/Show: The Devil All the Time Dynamic: Arvin Russell/Reader Warnings: use of the daddy word but it’s purely platonic, sacrilege, post-canon, proofread but i am illiterate, fem pronouns Summary: Arvin knows he wants more, but he won’t let himself run for it. ~~~

Arvin slides onto the nearest stool he can find at the counter without looking around too much, peeling off his hat and holding it tight to the shiny surface with both fists. He keeps his head low and waits for a waitress to approach him.

“You want anything or you just getting out of the sun?” a voice teases from behind the counter.

His head lifts and he offers a fracture of a polite smile and nod, “Just a black coffee, ma’am. Please.”

“‘Ma’am’” you repeat as you write down the order, “You’re awful formal, don’t you think?”

“Sorry, ma’am.”

“Oh, no, you don’t gotta apologize for anything,” you awkwardly offer a smile, “I just tease sometimes, sorry ‘bout that.”

“Now, how many times have I told you to stop that,” an older man chides from the kitchen, “Bring that poor boy’s order over and stop messin’ with people.”

“Sorry, daddy,” you mutter, turning to hand over the ticket with Arvin’s measly order.

The man takes the paper and squints to read it, shaking his head before turning to the brunette boy at the counter, “Sorry ‘bout her. Gets bored around here.”

Arvin finally glances around the whole room and sees that the diner is empty of customers except for him.

He shakes his head and gives a slight grin, “Don’t worry none, sir. Just a rough few days, is all - nothin’ wrong with your daughter havin’ fun.”

He’s waved off by the older man and you soon return to Arvin’s front with a bounce in your step at his words, “Thanks for backin’ me up, stranger.”

“Just the truth,” Arvin murmurs, looking around the barren diner once again, “Slow day, huh?”

He internally cringes at the awkward starter but resolves to let it slide when you light up at the branch.

“Yeah, it’s Sunday service hours, ya know. Don’t get too many people willing to skip a meetin’ with the Lord for scrambled eggs and coffee.”

Lenora and Emma would be at service by now. Lenora would be praying with her neighbors and family by now. She loved services.

A bell dings before Arvin can claw out a subpar response and you’re making a trip to the little window between the kitchen and sitting area before carrying back a breakfast of toast, eggs, and coffee.

“Oh, I can’t- “

“On the house,” you wink, pushing the plate towards Arvin, “Don’t gotta eat it if you don’t want, but Daddy likes makin’ the effort to feed people,” leaning over and whispering so your father can’t hear, you let him in on a secret, “He looks mean but he’s got a real soft spot for people like you.”

He quirks a brow, picking up a fork to poke at his eggs, “Strays?”

You roll your eyes at the suggestion, “People who look like they need a good meal. He’s old but he reads people real well. I can take it back, if you don’t want it.”

“No!” he recoils and his face sours at the volume of his own voice, “Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize,” you shrug, “Gotten a lot worse from customers for a lot less.”

Arvin finishes off a bite of toast before asking, “People yell at you often?”

Again, you merely shrug, “Polite young men like you ain’t exactly common around here.”

“Who could do that? You seem mighty fine,” Arvin shakes his head, “I don’t know you real well, ma’am, but somethin’ ‘bout that don’t rub me the right way.”

“Not much I can do ‘bout it. Daddy kicks ‘em out fast as he can but it ain’t like he’s always listenin’ out for people who don’t like his daughter.”

“What if I could get ‘em out?”

“What? You plan on sittin’ in a slow diner just waitin’ for people to get rough with little ol’ me?”

“Sad as it may sound, ma’am, I don’t got a lot goin’ on. ‘Sides,” Arvin shovels up more eggs on his fork, “your daddy ain’t a bad cook.”

You weren’t actually expecting Arvin to come back the next day. Or the one after that. Or the one after that. Or even the week later. But he did, just like he said he would - he came back and made sure nobody gave you a hard time. He wasn’t the tallest or the most muscular, but nobody could deny the intimidation Arvin could give out. He seemed like he’d seen more than most men his age. Seemed like he’d done a lot more than a lot of men his age. After a day you asked his name, he panicked and said Eugene just in case either of you knew of the sins living in Arvin Russell.

After a mere week of him coming around, your father offered him a job at the diner. He’d take the floor while you had the counter, and if the floor wasn’t busy he’d be on call for anything else needed. After a month, you asked where he was staying and found out he had nowhere to really go and he felt guilt claw at his chest that night when he wound up sleeping in your father’s bed with your father on the couch.

But he seemed sweet on you, calling you darlin’ in that backwoods drawl of his - offering to carry dishes when he saw you struggling. Offering to take over your position if you seemed overwhelmed. Helped your father around the diner and in the house, kept you company, kept out people who threw fits in the diner. Never made a fuss, never made himself difficult.

He didn’t give out his real name until a few months into his staying. His legs bouncing under the counter with nerves and hands gripping the surface for any sort of purchase. By now he figured you and your father would have some sort of attachment to him, maybe he wouldn’t have to explain his past - maybe both of you already knew. Maybe you’d turn him in. Maybe you’d understand. Maybe he could stay.

Please, Lord, let him stay.

It was after closing hours, leaving just the three of you as he spilled all the weight looming over his guilt-wracked mind. Telling you both - he wasn’t born as Eugene. He was born as Arvin.

“Russell, ain’t that right?”

He wants to dig himself a hole and die in it with how your father looks at him. Judging and waiting. Spying and predatory. It reminds him of those woods. It reminds him of the sheriff.

“How many people have you told?” he’s surprised by how you reach across the table so quickly to grab his hands and hold them in your own.

“Just you two…”

“You shot that reverend. Suspected on a sheriff. We heard about you,” your father’s voice is cold and he wishes he could go back by mere seconds and never tell either of you who he was.

He didn’t want to go to prison. He wasn’t a bad person, he had good reason. He knows he had good reason but the bodies piled up and he felt his chances at getting out of this diner in anything but handcuffs slip away. He knows any chance he had at companionship with anyone other than his own head were burnt to ash.

“Why’d you do it?”

His attention is brought back to you at your shockingly soft tone when asking the question, he purses his lips, “It’s gonna sound like a lie, but I swear that none of those people were any good.”

“Arvin,” you lean towards him slightly to make eye contact, “I wanna believe that, I do. But you’ve gotta explain yourself more than that.”

He lets himself find comfort in your sincere expression for a few seconds longer before looking to your father and then back to you, “That preacher - he, he - he hurt my sister. Real bad. She… she killed herself cuz a’ him. And the sheriff chased me ‘round after I…” he shook his head, clenching his eyes shut at how ridiculous he sounded, “They weren’t no good, I promise you. I swear it.”

“Arvin, why’d you kill the sheriff?” you pat his cheek gently, “Why was he chasin’ you? Was it over the preacher?”

“No, I- I shot his sister. And her husband,” he opens his eyes in time to see that your father has come closer and he wishes he never opened his mouth, “They were tryin’ to kill me. I swear it. They took me into their car, said they’d give me a ride but they- they stopped and I saw him pull out a gun and I knew they were up to no good and I had to protect myself. I didn’t wanna do it, I didn’t want- I didn’t want any a’ this,” he looks away from your father and back to you, tears now springing in his eyes, “I didn’t wanna hurt anybody… I didn’t wanna kill them… I’m not a bad person, I swear.”

You wipe away his tears, “Arvin, I wanna believe you, I do. But I also know you know this is a lot to take in, right?” you look back at your father as if silently asking where to go next.

He pulls you away from Arvin and stares down at the young man as if he could physically read whether he was lying or not. Arvin wishes he was looking at you again, he felt more comfortable when he was looking at you. He felt more comfortable with his hands in yours. He wants his hands in yours.

“If I was you,” he begins, “If my sister was hurt however bad yours was, I know that I’d kill that man. If anyone did what that man did to make your sister take her own life to my sister or, God forbid, my daughter, I know that I’d kill that man. I know that if someone tried taking me outta this world, I’d kill them too,” he nodded to himself, weathered and wrinkled hands splaying out on the table, “I’ve never killed anybody with these hands, Arvin. But if I think you’re lying for a second, they just might have to.”

“Daddy,” you pitch in over your father’s shoulder nervously, “what’re you sayin’?”

“I believe you, Arvin. I believe you’re a good kid, I believe you wouldn’t hurt someone without a damn good reason. You’re good to us and you do good work here. I believe you’re tellin’ the truth,” he looks into the young man’s eyes, “If you ain’t, and you’re lying to me, then I hope the Lord makes you see our faces every time you close those eyes.”

“I ain’t lyin’, sir, I promise,” Arvin shakes his head, growing desperate as tears pool at his waterline, he just wants one of you to say it - just say he’s okay. Say he can stay. He can stay here with you. Say he’s okay.

He just wants to be okay.

Your father leaves wordlessly, retreating to the kitchen, lights flickering as he began the routine clean-up for the night and preparation for an early tomorrow. Arvin turns to you in the growing silence, you’re a blotchy outline with the tears gathering in his eyes.

“D’you believe me?”

You come around the counter and reach out, taking Arvin’s head and pressing it to your chest, just over your heart. Gently removing his hat and placing it on the counter, your fingers begin carding through Arvin’s messy hair, “I believe you, Arvin. The man you’ve been to me is not somebody who’d go around hurtin’ people, I believe you.”

He swallows at the lump in his throat, eyes falling closed and hands grounding themselves in your work uniform, “Thank you, darlin’. Thank you, thank you, thank you...”

“You’re safe here, Arvin. We won’t tell nobody, I promise.”

Your voice is more comforting to him than the thought of any eternal bliss waiting outside this life. He wants to protect it - protect you. He wants to stay.

“Can I stay…” he turns his head to press his face into the cloth of your uniform as if that’d prevent any upcoming rejection, “Can I stay, darlin’?”

“You can stay, Arvin,” you murmur, continuing to run your fingers through his hair, “I want you to stay.”

Arvin kept himself wound around you for as long as you’d let him hold on, and you were content enough to keep him in your arms until your father was finished with his routine in the kitchen.

“Ready to head home now?”

“I’m goin’ too?” Arvin pulled away from you just enough to not muffle his reply, eyebrows furrowed, “I’m still stayin’ with you both?”

“Arvin,” you cupped his cheeks to direct his eyes with yours, a small smile just peeking at your lips, “We believe you’re good. Of course, you’re comin’ home with us. We love you, Arvin.”

Your father nodded quietly, patting the boy’s shoulder before walking past you both, “I’ll start up the car, so hurry up. We got an early mornin’ tomorrow.”

It was in the dead of night later on that Arvin found himself still unable to relax. His eyes wide open and fingers nervously tapping at his stomach through the comforter on what used to be your father’s bed. What if you both were tricking him at the diner and there’ll be a police officer out in the front lawn by morning? What if you were at the station turning him in right now and he’s actually all alone in this house?

That thought has him springing up from the bed and down the small hall to where your bedroom door is shut. He feels guilty doubting the sincerity you’d shown but his brain won’t rest and his heart refuses to calm down. He knows he could never blame you for giving him up but he needs you in his life now that he has you.

He curls around the doorknob and pushes open until he’s fully inside. He can just make out your figure in bed within the darkness, his eyes hurrying to adjust to the night.

Creeping to the side of your bed, Arvin hesitates but ultimately shakes you awake anyway, “Darlin’?”

You hum and groan and rub your eyes until you’re fully awake with Arvin at your side, “What’re you doin’ up? Didn’t you hear daddy? We gotta be up early tomorrow.”

“I can’t sleep, I- I keep worryin’.”

At the admission, you’re sitting up and bringing a hand over Arvin’s, “‘Bout what?”

“D’you really trust me, or was that just an act back at the diner?”

“I believe you,” you make room on the bed and drag Arvin into it, coddling him to your body, “I know you’re good. I’ve known you for a long while now. It’ll take a bit to get used to, but I know you’re a good man. I love that you’re a good man.”

You’ve gotten so close to saying what he wants to hear, he could almost pretend it’s what you’d said. He could almost pretend he heard you say you love him - he likes to pretend that’s what he heard. But he knows he doesn’t deserve that love - he just needs to protect what he has now rather than strive for more.

“Thank you for believin’ me, darlin’.”

“I’ll believe you ‘til the end, Arvin. I know you’re good.”

He feels comforted, once again, by those words - by your words. He feels comforted by your hold and he hopes that this is a safe place to lie until his bones give out - if you’ll let him. He knows what he wants is to have and hold and cherish this home you’ve given him both in the form of a roof over his head and the spot between your arms but he has to remind himself that what he needs is to just protect you. At least until you decide his sinful heart is worthy of loving with yours.

[morganeuk]

I’m a bit stuck currently, so I am going back to my usual: romcom lol The Notting Hill AU nobody asked for :-)  

In all the Notting Hill AU I’ve read, John is the bookstore owner and Sherlock the elusive star,  I’ve decided to do it the other way around.

A first short draft of the first chapter, what do you think? Is anybody interested?

Chapter 1: 

Walking slowly in Nothing Hill, John was at ease for the first time in a long time. Can’t believe how relax it is, so early in the morning. Before the crowd… before all the noise. The only movement was coming from the shopkeepers. He smiled as he smelled the coffee from a trendy little coffee house, followed by the sweet odours coming from a quaint bakery. He sighed, knowing that such a break was rare in today’s hectic life. Stopping at a corner, he hesitated between going left or right when a promising window catches his eyes. Hmmm, a doughnuts shop, that is worth a visit. He gingerly crossed the road, chuckling at the neon sign stating that “It’s always a good time!”. My body is not a temple this morning, Hell no! A free day is definitively a good time for a breakfast exclusively composes of a few doughnuts!

To his dismay, the tempting establishment was closed.

He looked at his watch, frowning, and to the little sign on the door. 7h22… but the sign said that it is opening at 7h on weekdays. Disappointed, he was about to leave to find something else to eat when he saw a post-it. “I am next door, please come and get me!” He chuckled at the abondance of little hearts and flowers penned on the note and looked at his right – a bar, presently closed, - and his left. A light glow was coming from the window and wood and glass door, with a number of books in the display it was evidently a bookshop. Stepping back, John read the gold letters, The Notting Hill Bookshop, before he cautiously opened the door.

As the faint sound of the doorbell dissipated, he watched around looking for someone. It was… not was he was expected. The small space was filled to the rim in books (of course) but also with a plethora of scientific equipment, vintage anatomic charts, naturalized bats. Turning on himself in awes, John felt suddenly overwhelmed but surprisingly at home for the first-time in years. What is happening to me… and… is it a real skull?

A warm (annoyed) voice shouted from the back of the room. getting him out of his daydreaming, “MS HUDSON, you’ve got another one!”

(John thinking about doughnuts or... ;-)

[jessiebanethedragon]

White Sands Warm the Cold Sea (pt 6)

Summary: the reader, betrothed to a disgusting Coruscanti Lord flees her home world and lands herself in a plethora of trouble, a ship of clones, and one pirate captain whose cold exterior needs much more than the tropical seaside sun.

Chapter one

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter four

Chapter five

Warnings: Swearing, takes place in time periods where women have dowery's and suchlike. The readers dad and betrothed are asses.

Chapter Six: The Argument

You right yourself quickly, even if it is just to save yourself from your own embarrassment of smashing into the hull for what seems like the millionth time today. Surprisingly, the raised voices above you can still be heard. Whether that means your lock picking skills are levels higher than you guessed or the men can bicker for longer than you thought possible, you cannot be sure. But what it does mean is that with all of them occupied and all in one place, you can now move around the ship with autonomy. You take one step before stopping.

All the crew are in one place…. So could you not just lock them in? It is not the worst idea you’ve had today. And so when you step onto the deck you follow the sounds to the source of the yelling, to find all four crew members in what looks to be the captain's quarters. The heavy wooden door is held open by a piece of stone and so you hide behind the door itself and lean your way around to remain unspotted as you snatch up the stone and watch as the door slams shut.

You stand surprised that so far this has all worked before thinking of putting the stone down in front of the door itself as a meager counter weight before sliding the thick bolts into place to lock the door into the captain's quarters. You hear four versions of many different curse words as you step back to admire your work. Perhaps you weren't such a bad stowaway after all!

“Why does it lock from the outside?” You think aloud, and the triumphant smile you’d been wearing falls. Why does it lock from the outside?

“Open the door.” The captain says sternly but you make no intention to even think about moving toward the bolts.

“Perhaps- perhaps I shall open the door when we, when we…” you start off with confidence that's quickly lost.

“Not to worry, vod. Sounds like an airtight plan to me.” You’ve heard Crosshair ramble enough now to recognize his voice and if not that, you’re fairly certain now he would be the only member of crew to make such a comment.

“Here’s what's going to happen.” You tell them, you’re tired of asking, of being tame. “I’m not opening that door until I have full confidence that we are not going back to Coruscant.”

“We’re going to die in this room.”

“Crosshair, would it kill you to shut your mouth for five minutes?” That’s the voice you’ve heard the least so you assume it belongs to the captain.

“Just take me to the closest inhabited land, and you’ll never have to see me again.” You bargain.

“And get gutted by Nython, no thanks sweetheart.” He sounds like he's leaning against the door, and in your bravery you stand in front of it as well. Letting one of your hands trail over the bolts.

“He likes to lock doors from the outside as well.” You murmur to yourself, reliving the tour of his grounds given to you by one of the workers. You repeat the explanation you were given. There's a long pause and you’re thinking you’ve reached a stalemate when you hear his mysterious voice again:

“Alderaan is a few days away from us.” Chills run through you at the possibility of escape, real escape with a ship and a plan. You try to think of some way to match his offer, to convince him to take you there.

“Please…” your forehead presses against the cooler wood for comfort.

“Unlock the door.” He’s not asking this time, and with hands shaking with excitement and perhaps too much trust, you release the bolts.

The man standing in front of you is a very different one from the first time you saw him. The black tunic is loose but tucked into tactical pants that look decades too old for anybody to still be wearing them. His sleeves are rolled up and you get a glimpse of scars, and a large burn mark of a symbol you do not recognize in his inner arm. And when your eyes meet his, you properly see them for the first time. In here they look almost yellow, but you think perhaps they’re a rich light brown. The red bandana keeps longer hair out of his warm coloured face.

Suddenly you’re self conscious about your ruined dress and tousled hair. He clears his throat.

“Chart a course to Alderaan.” He orders stepping out of the small room, regarding you awkwardly.

“Nice to have ya aboard little miss!” You jump out of your skin when a hand meets your shoulder.

“Wrecker.” The captain chides, this clone is bigger than his twins and is sporting more scars than any of them evident by the large one on his face (complimented with a gnarly eye patch) and with his low cut tunic you can see the hundreds of them leading down.

“Nice to meet you Wrecker.” You say without thinking, having spent years learning poise and politeness.

“Nice to meet you as well, little miss. Over there is Tech who ya met already and that’s Crosshair who swooped ya from earlier,” you smile at Tech and Crosshair who look confused and annoyed perspectively.

“I should probably thank you for earlier.” You say to Crosshair, who huffs, and stomps out of the room with a:

“Don’t mention it.”

“Oh and of course we need to introduce you to our captain-” He starts again pointing to the man with the face tattoo.

“Wrecker get to your post.” He barks before you get his name. Wrecker gives a casual salute before taking off in the same direction Crosshair had, already yelling at his brother, something about having told him so.

“Told you we’d help.” Tech says with a smile, extending his hand. You carefully shake it, eased by his smile.

“Thank you, and I - uh, I'm sorry about the knife.” you add awkwardly watching as the captain crosses his arms and raises an eyebrow.

“I don’t think you could have done damage with that if you tried.” Tech laughs

“She was trying.” The captain adds - not laughing. You apologize again before offering your first name only and with a final shake you let go of Tech’s hand.

“Come on Aaray.” He says “I'll show you around.” you start to correct him, wondering how someone who is clearly as smart as Tech is has managed to butcher your name so badly.

“No, no, I know.” He admits before smirking at the captain. “Hunter was just adamant that you’re an Aaray.” You catch Tech’s smile and the captain’s less serious glare, before he turns away to head out onto the bulk of the deck.

“What is an Aaray?” You ask the following Tech as he sets off.

“Mando’a. Maybe one day he’ll tell you what it means.” Tech says, seeming to enjoy being a shit disturber as much as his taller brother.

Hunter you think to yourself. It’s a nice name.

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comment to be added! oxox Jessie

[the-modernmary]

my best habit || aaron hotchner x reader (ch. 6)

Chapter summary: Your weekend at Aaron’s place continues, and he reflects on your relationship and what it all means. The team finds out.

Warnings: morning sex, thigh riding, little bit of dirty talk? allusions to office sex. pretty tame tbh. minors DNI

A/N: Posting these on tumblr is so much fun because I forgot that this is one of my favorite chapters in this whole story. This chapter is pretty long, but it has Hotch’s pov and team shenanigans, and pining!! Thank you all so much for your likes and reblogs and just all of the sweet things everybody has said so far about this story!!! As always, my ask box is always open if anybody wants to talk about this story or CM/hotch in general, or just wants somebody to talk to!!

masterlist || read on ao3

“You call the shots babe

I just wanna be yours

Secrets I have held in my heart

Are harder to hide than I thought

Maybe I just wanna be yours

I wanna be yours, I wanna be yours”

- Arctic Monkeys, “I Wanna Be Yours”

 ~~~~~~~

If there was one thing you liked more than sleeping with Aaron, you decided, it was waking up next to him. That was probably in part because it just didn’t happen very often. Most mornings were a frantic rush to get to work or school, and too often Aaron was up, showered, and dressed before you even got out of bed. It worked, though, and you didn’t have to worry about your respective morning routines being thrown off. 

  It was also the same reason the two of you kept clothes at each other’s places. One of the first times Aaron had spent the night at your apartment, he got called into the BAU early for a case and couldn’t go home to change, which meant he had spent an entire week in some tiny Montana town avoiding the questioning stares of everybody on his team, trying to figure out where he had spent the night.

  Or there was the time when you decided to tease Aaron a little too much and he ended up tearing the buttons off your blouse, meaning you had to find a way to style one of his oversized button ups to wear to court. Having a drawer at each other’s places wasn’t some big declaration of feelings or taking things to the next step, it was just being smart and proactive.

  And as a bonus, the efficiency of the morning routines plus already having clothes meant plenty of time for morning sex.

Aaron’s arm was draped lazily over your waist, not exactly pulling you in towards him, and keeping you at a distance. But it was comforting all the same knowing that, even in his sleep, he still wanted you. At the beginning of your fling, you had teased Aaron for being a cuddler, and he had just said it was because he liked knowing that you were safe and with him and that it grounded him. It didn’t take much longer for you to realize that Aaron Hotchner was a lot lonelier than he let on.

  You could feel Aaron’s breath on the back of your neck as you stretched languidly, every muscle in your body happily sore. It would be so easy to just fall back asleep and let the morning pass both of you by. You had all weekend, and you were sure that you and Aaron would need your rest whenever you could get it. You pulled the covers closer to your frame and curled up even more, savoring the warmth of the bed and letting out a content sigh.

  “If you keep stealing the covers,” came Aaron’s raspy mumble, “We’re going to have to start using two separate blankets.”

  A small smile tugged on the corners of your lips as you turned around so you could face Aaron. He must have been up for a while if he was already using full sentences, which meant that he had made the somewhat conscious decision to stay in bed with you. Those stupid butterflies from the night before came back in full force. His eyes were still closed, but he had a smug smirk gracing his face as he pulled you closer to him, your legs quickly tangling with his.

  Another good thing about waking up next to Aaron was that he looked downright sinful in the mornings, especially when he had just the faintest hint of stubble on his chin like he did then. The lines of his perpetually furrowed brows all but disappeared and his hair was much messier than usual, although you were more than likely the cause of that last night. You could see the faint scratches on his shoulders and bruises on his collarbone, also your doing. 

  You were sure you had just as many marks on your body, if not more. Aaron was patient and he knew how to read every little reaction you gave him in order to make you a whimpering mess. You probably would have been annoyed at how easily he could read you if it didn’t feel so good.

  You let out a soft “humph” as you buried your face into his bare chest, breathing him in. “Maybe if you didn’t insist on making your house an icebox…”

  Your words trailed off as Aaron slipped his hand that was on your back under your - his - shirt so that he could run his fingers up and down your spine. He propped his head up on his other hand, finally letting his eyes open to look at you. The sunlight filtering through the window brought out the tiny flecks of gold in his eyes.

  “Wanted to make sure you stayed in bed,” he admitted, his eyes shamelessly tracing you up and down and you could feel his growing morning wood pressed against you.

  You squeezed your thighs together as you traced small patterns over his bare chest with your fingertips. “By making it too cold for me to even grab a jacket?” you teased.

  Aaron just shrugged, still mindlessly rubbing the bare skin of your back. “It worked, didn’t it? Besides…” His hand moved to rest on your waist, his thumb teasing the underside of your breast. “I can think of a few ways to warm up.”

  You smirked and lifted your head to bring a kiss up to his neck, leaving a small bruise in its wake. “Oh?” you asked with a lifted eyebrow. “I wouldn’t mind going for round two.”

  A giggle slipped past your lips as Aaron rolled over, pulling you on top of him so that you were straddling his hips. “By the end of this weekend, we’ll definitely get to round two,” he mumbled in between kisses. “Or round three..” Another kiss. “Maybe four…” Another kiss. “Five if we’re feeling especially ambitious.” His fingers hooked on the waistband of your underwear, pulling them down swiftly.

  You smiled into the kisses and you let your fingers run through Aaron’s hair, your nails lightly scratching at his scalp. You could feel his erection pressing against you and you grinded down on him. Aaron rewarded you with one of his delicious moans. His hands slid up your sides and pulled off the shirt you were wearing in one fluid motion, his mouth immediately attaching to your nipple, his tongue moving in circles as his lips pulled and tugged until you cried out his name.

  His hands moved back down to grip your hips, slowly rocking your hips back and forth on him. “Aaron,” you breathed out, your senses completely overwhelmed. He was sitting up now and kissing his way up to your neck, determined to leave you with as many marks as possible.

  “Do you wanna cum like this?” he practically growled, his scruff brushing against your sensitive skin. “Grinding on my thigh, greedy and desperate? Was three orgasms not enough last night?”

  You gripped his shoulders, moving your hips faster now, dizzy with want. “Yes, fuck ,” you moaned, pressing down with as much force as you could muster, only the thin fabric of his pajamas pants keeping you from what you wanted. Nothing would be close enough to him, but you could certainly try. Aaron lifted his thigh and his grip on your hips got tighter, already forming bruises.

  Aaron watched you intently as you felt your orgasm build up, his lips parted ever so slightly. He loved to watch you fall apart, loved the power it gave him. And you loved to watch him watch you come apart, because the open-mouth smile he gave you made it look like he worshiped the ground you walked on. You were all too willing to give him a show.

  You threw your head back as you panted, desperate for your release. “Please, I’m so close,” you begged, speeding up your hips even more.

  He released one hand from your hips and dragged his nails up your body, leaving little pink lines in his wake, until his hand could rest comfortably on your throat. Aaron didn’t put any pressure, but you were wound so tightly that any touch would have set you off.

  “Cum for me ,” Aaron demanded, and your body immediately listened

  Your whole body shook as your orgasm slammed into you, but you managed to keep your eyes locked with his, giving him a primal smile, which only made his eyes darken even more with lust. Aaron took the hand on your throat and moved it up to cup your cheek, pulling you in for a kiss. It was needy and desperate, maybe even a little clumsy as you lifted off his lap just enough to finally pull his pajama pants down. 

  You reached your hand down to pump him lazily a few times, your thumb swiping over the tip of his cock teasingly. Part of you wanted to tease Aaron, to see if you could make him whine and beg for you to fuck him. A larger, needier part of you just wanted to ride Aaron so that you could hear more praises from him.

  Aaron made that decision for you. “Do you think you’re going to ride me?” he asked condescendingly, as if to say you’re cute if you think you’re in charge.

  You continued to stroke Aaron’s erection, twisting your wrist in just the right way to get Aaron to moan for you. “I will if you ask nicely,” you mused, your voice even, but even as you said it, you were already slowly sinking down on his cock, moaning at the feeling of him stretching you. You were still a little sore from last night, but it quickly turned into pleasure. 

  Before you could fully take all of him into you, Aaron snapped his hips up, hitting you in all the right places. You gasped out, your pussy clenching involuntarily around him.

  That just made Aaron smirk and thrust up into you again. “I don’t need to ask to take what’s mine,” he hissed, but his voice was strained, like it was taking all of his energy to keep a steady tone. “And you, my dear, are mine.”

  Every word was just encouragement for you to ride him faster, wanting to hear him moan some more. “I’m yours,” you agreed, burying your face in his neck.

  He took one of your hands that was clinging onto his shoulder for dear life and guided it down to your clit. “Touch yourself,” he ordered, leaning back just enough so that he could get a good look at you. “I want to watch you.”

  You immediately started to circle your swollen clit, and the stimulation was almost too much. Almost. But the look on Aaron’s face as he watched you work yourself over, so full of lust and want, was more than enough encouragement for you.

  “Like this?” you asked innocently, and you could feel his dick throb inside you.

  Aaron let your name fall from his lips, coming out as a sigh. “Fuck, that’s hot,” he groaned before capturing your lips in a kiss. 

  It didn’t take long for you to cum again, moaning his name into his lips as your walls fluttered around him. You didn’t dare stop kissing him, though, and you especially didn’t dare stop riding Aaron. You wanted to feel him deeper in you. Your legs were shaking and a thin sheen of sweat covered you, but you wanted him to come apart, lose control.

  When he came, he held you in place and pressed his forehead against yours, wanting to watch every little reaction you made. You whimpered as he filled you, his dick twitching inside of you. You were exhausted in the best way and your skin was warm to the touch. The two of you stayed like that for a few appreciative moments, heavy breathing being the only sound in the room.

  It really was easy to imagine that this was your life, to pretend that you would be able to wake up next to Aaron and have two orgasms before breakfast as much as you wanted. But reality came back all too harshly in the form of Aaron’s phone ringing. Both of you let out groans of annoyance as you pulled yourself off of him. Aaron technically had weekends off, but he was always on call, which meant no phone call could go unanswered.

  “I’m sorry,” he muttered, reaching over to the nightstand to grab his cell.

  You chuckled and placed a quick kiss on his lips. “So much for round two, hm?” you teased. “You answer that. I’m going to go shower.” You winced as you climbed out of bed, feeling the soreness spread across your body. You were going to get absolutely wrecked this weekend, and you honestly couldn’t wait. You looked back at Aaron as he answered the phone, and you were surprised to see him staring right at you, looking at you with a softness that nobody had ever looked at you with before. It terrified you.

  ~~~~~~~

  Sometimes, Aaron wondered what Y/N was getting out of this… whatever this was. Companionship, maybe, but he couldn’t imagine she had any problems in that area. She was young, pretty, and charming, and he had seen her turn down a handful of numbers that were thrown her way by men much more suitable for her.

  At the very beginning, he thought that maybe she was just trying to get an extra foot in the door of her career. He wondered if she was just overly ambitious and calculating, and used his lust for her to get exactly what she wanted. But that theory was tossed to the side almost as quickly as he thought about it when she had announced proudly that she was doing her project in her Torts class on a case that he had overseen at the beginning of his prosecuting career.

“The other cases were more interesting,” she had told him teasingly, “But it’s going to be so much fun to see your face when I rip your argument to shreds.”

  Yeah, she didn’t need him to succeed in her career. She was going to do just fine.

  So the only other reason he could think of was that she just genuinely enjoyed his company and wanted to be around him. That would certainly explain why she snuck around with him for almost an entire year, rendezvousing at unpredictable times and keeping their knowledge of each other a secret. It would also explain why she was so willing to let him back into her life as if nothing had changed. She was smart enough to know that Aaron was a changed man and that there would be a lot more baggage this time around, but none of that seemed to bother her.

  Although he couldn’t quite figure out why she stuck around, he couldn’t deny that it made him happy. He liked having somebody around who genuinely wanted to spend time with him, instead of just being around because they worked together, like an obligation. Aaron liked to think that he had gotten pretty good at predicting the things she might ask for, and he was more than happy to keep giving them to her if it meant she would stick around for a while longer.

  After the phone call that was entirely too long and completely unnecessary, Aaron grabbed some clothes and went to rinse off in the shower quickly. He heard Y/N get out of the shower and start to raid his kitchen minutes before, which he had already planned for. On a whim during his bi-weekly grocery store run, he grabbed a few things for when she inevitably stayed over - caramel syrup for coffee, an extra toothbrush, a pack of hair ties to keep in his bathroom, and a bag of her favorite salt-and-vinegar chips.

  Once he got dressed and ready for the day, he walked out into the kitchen, where she was talking on her phone, leaning on the counter and laughing, a cup of iced coffee right next to her. “Yeah, no,” he heard her say. “I think it’s going really well and- I know. I learned my lesson about the melatonin thing.”

  At the sound of his footsteps, she turned her head and smiled at Aaron, noticing his presence. She kept her eyes locked with his as she continued her phone conversation. “Hey, I have to go, but I’ll-” she paused, obviously cut off by the person on the other side of the line. A blush spread across her cheeks and she laughed again. “Oh my god, shut the fuck up. I will talk to you later. Goodbye, my love.”

  Aaron watched the interaction with curiosity. Every once in awhile, he would catch glimpses of the college student version of her that he rarely saw. She always held herself with such an air of confidence and intelligence around him, and she was so quick-witted that it was easy to forget that she was still just a law student, still finding her way in the world. She seemed to carefully plan the version of herself that she would be in front of Aaron, and even more carefully hid the versions of herself that she didn’t want to be.

  It had intrigued him when she was helping with the case, hearing her in a professional setting. He knew she was smart and good at what she did, but seeing it in practice was an entirely different thing.

  However, the case also brought another facet of who Y/N was. Hearing her conversations with her friends, listening to her gossip and being more carefree, was different. There was a girlish quality to her that he had never really seen, and it confused him. He wanted to fuck her until she was screaming out his name, crying and begging for him. He wanted to see her smile up at him while she was on her knees. Hell, he even wanted to just lay on the couch and listen to her talk about her classes, let her tell him all about the weird guy who wears a full three-piece suit to class, and share take out with her.

  But now, he also wanted to protect her, but he wasn’t quite sure from what. The reality of the profession she was going into? The many corporate men who were bound to just see her as a pretty thing? The world? Himself, maybe?

  She slipped the phone into her back pocket, blissfully unaware of the thoughts swirling in Aaron’s brains. “Sorry, that was Aly, my friend,” she explained before he even had a chance to ask.

  Aaron gave a soft hum of acknowledgment. “Aly... That’s the one you lived with in high school after your mom-”

  “Yeah,” she cut him off firmly, signifying the end of that conversation. “That’s her. Do you have to go to work?”

  Aaron could have sworn he heard the slightest bit of disappointment in her question, and it tugged at his heart, because he had heard that exact question with that exact hidden disappointment too many times.

  It was unfair to compare her to Haley, and he knew that. She didn’t want to be his “New Haley” something she had made very clear two years ago. Neither of them expected this to lead to wedding bells, a white picket fence, and a dog, and they weren’t going to make major sacrifices to be with each other, especially in regards to their respective careers. The disappointment was more than likely him projecting.

  That didn’t stop the twinge of guilt that threatened to consume him.

  “No, I don’t,” he finally said. “Metro PD had a question about some of the files that were sent over about the case, which could and should have been handled by the agents actually working today instead of going straight to me.” Aaron had a hard time hiding the growing annoyance in his words. It wasn’t the officers’ fault they got shit training.

  She shot an amused smirk Aaron’s way, bringing her coffee up to her lips. “Aw, that’s cute,” she teased. “Maybe they just wanted answers from the big boss man?”

  Aaron scoffed as he made his way towards his Keurig, which was already loaded with his brew of choice and a mug readily placed, no doubt Y/N’s doing. All he needed to do was press a button. She was pretty good at anticipating his wants, too, and even better at knowing what he needed before he even knew.

  “Yeah, well, arresting a group of prolific lawyers isn’t going to be anything short of a pain in the ass.”

  Once his coffee was poured, he turned back to face Y/N, whose eyes were now unfocused and deep in thought. “Right, yeah,” she murmured, more to herself than to Aaron. “They’re all going to jail…”

  Aaron’s eyebrows furrowed as he watched her mouth to herself. She did that when she was trying to work out a problem, like she was presenting the arguments and counter-arguments to herself. “Penny for your thoughts?” he asked.

  Her eyes snapped back up to Aaron, as if she just remembered he was there. “I just- You can’t have a law firm without the partners and I just realized that I don’t have an internship anymore, which I’m going to have to try and explain to my professors because I need those credits to graduate. And I don’t have a job offer either, which means I am back at the bottom.”

  “I’m sorry,” Aaron said, unable to think of anything better to say. Truth be told, he hadn’t considered the collateral damage to the rest of the employees who had no clue what was going on behind closed doors.

  She shrugged, but her eyes were still distant. “Oh, it’s fine. I didn’t even want to work in the private sector long term. Prosecutors all work for the government, anyway. The private sector only has the specialized training programs, flexible hours, ability to choose your own clients, and the crazy high salaries…” She trailed off almost dreamily before taking an audible breath.

  “Well…” Aaron started, choosing every word carefully. He knew that he was walking a tightrope and that his next offer could very easily come back and bite him in the ass, but it wasn’t the first time Aaron had bent the rules, and it wasn’t going to be his last. “I can’t do much in the way of a job offer, but the FBI does hire interns for our in house legal team. It’s not exactly prosecuting, but it would be closer to your career goals. You would still need to apply, but I know the head of the division and I’m sure we could expedite your application.”

  Her knuckles turned white as she gripped her coffee cup so tight that Aaron was sure it was going to shatter. “I don’t need to sleep my way to an internship,” she said sharply.

  Aaron nodded in agreement. “I know that, and you’re not,” he promised. “This is an offer from the BAU Unit chief as an official thank you from the FBI for your help in the investigation.” Noticing her hesitation, he decided to continue. “My reputation is on the line, too. I wouldn’t be suggesting this if I didn’t think you deserved it. You’re top of your class and the head of law review. I can show them the audio files of the work you’ve done this past week at the other internship. It’s still merit based, and you would still have to beat out other candidates, but I would ensure your application gets looked at immediately. Can you get me a copy of your transcript and resume?”

  The tension from her shoulders released slightly, but she was still staring at Aaron cautiously, weighing her options. “Yes,” she whispered finally, before repeating it louder and with more confidence. “I can email them to you right now. Thank you, Aaron. Really.”

  Aaron smiled down at her. “It’s no problem. The FBI would be lucky to have you. And Y/N…” he added, making a lighthearted attempt at breaking through the tension. “I have a direct line to the director. If you wanted to sleep your way to the top, I would hope you would be more ambitious to shoot for something a little more prestigious than a temporary internship.”

  Y/N laughed, her entire demeanor switching back to the more playful version of herself. “So does this mean I don’t get to give you a thank you?” she asked, bringing her bottom lip in between her teeth.

  Aaron raised his eyebrows and smirked, using one of his fingers to lift her chin up to him. “What did you have in mind?”

  She raised herself on her toes just high enough to give him a quick peck on the lips before bouncing away from him. It would be cute if he didn’t see the smug grin that erupted across her face. “I make the best breakfast burritos you’ll ever have,” she told him matter-of-factly, throwing a cheeky smile his way.

  Aaron chuckled, ignoring the way his chest tightened. “Do you make a habit of making breakfast for all the people who offer you jobs?”

  She clicked her tongue as she rifled through his fridge, pulling out all the ingredients she would need. “Only the ones I really like,” she mused. “And I figure we’re both going to need the nutrition if we’re going to get to those five rounds this weekend that you promised.”

  Aaron’s chest tightened even more, and for the first time since he met Y/N, he wondered if he was in way over his head.

  ~~~~~~~

  It had become almost a tradition of sorts in the BAU, guessing why Hotch had his office door closed. It started as nervous chatter - Was somebody after them? Was Strauss making another plan to rip apart the team? - but the team realized that the more ridiculous the guess, the easier it was to wait for an actual answer. So the BAU team, minus Rossi and Hotch, all sat around their desks, only half paying attention to their work as they talked amongst themselves. 

  This morning, the prevailing theory was that, since Hotch got into work early, he decided to fall back asleep. His office was completely closed off to the rest of the bullpen, even going as far as shutting the blinds. They couldn’t blame him - he probably wasn’t getting much sleep at home being a single dad, and they knew that the brass gave him way more paperwork than one man should ever have to handle. Him taking a quick power nap in his offer was, in their eyes, completely deserved.

  Which is why they were surprised when a familiar figure emerged from his office, shaking his hand quickly before making her way towards the glass doors, combing her fingers through her hair.

  “Why was Y/N Y/L/N talking to Hotch?” Reid asked, sitting up slightly in his chair.

  Garcia, who was sitting on the edge of Morgan’s desk, had a confused look on her face. “Who?” she asked, pouting only slightly. She didn’t like to be out of the loop.

  Emily repeated the name back to her. “She’s the one who helped us on that hitman case, but I thought we closed that two weeks ago?”

  Garcia’s confusion only increased. “If she’s talking to Hotch, does that mean it’s not closed? Why wouldn’t he tell all of us?”

  Morgan shrugged, watching Y/N as she made her way across the bullpen. “I guess we’ll find out now, won’t we?” Morgan waved her over, and if she was surprised by it, she hid it well.

  “Hey, Y/N,” JJ greeted, and the younger woman waved at the group. “It’s good to see you again. Is everything okay? You were in there for a while.”

  Y/N nodded enthusiastically, a small blush rising onto her cheeks. “Yeah, everything’s great! That internship was required for me to be able to graduate this year, and since I helped with the investigation, the FBI was kind enough to offer me an intern position here. Unfortunately, the legal team director got swept up in meetings this morning, so Agent Hotchner went over the intake paperwork with me,” she explained, almost too casually. The words rolled off her tongue like they had been rehearsed.

  “Well then, congrats and welcome to the FBI,” Emily said. “If you ever need anything, you know where to find us.”

  “I am always looking for a lunch buddy,” Garcia interjected, “Especially when the rest of them are off on a case. Oh, and you should come out to drinks with us one night!”

  Y/N chuckled and shoved her hands into her pockets. “Thank you, that sounds like fun. Oh, Dr. Reid, maybe I can take you up on that offer of a tour?” Spencer nodded, a little shocked that she had remembered that conversation. “Well, I should head down to the 3rd floor. Don’t want to be late on my first day. I’ll see you all around though.”

  The team watched Y/N walk out the glass doors to the elevator, and as soon as she was out of earshot, the girls erupted in a fit of giggles.

  Morgan and Reid shared a look of confusion. “Okay, Babygirl,” Morgan groaned. “What was that about? Inviting her out with us? You just met her.”

  That only served to make Garcia laugh harder. “Some profiler you are,” she teased, before turning her attention back to Emily and JJ. “Okay, don’t worry, I will not do any sort of unethical digging, just normal social media snooping. I promise.” With that, Garcia made her way quickly back to her Bat Cave, an extra pep in her step.

  Morgan shot the remaining two girls a questioning look. “Why is she snooping on some random intern?” he pressed.

  Emily chuckled in disbelief. “Seriously? You couldn’t see it?”

  “See what?” Morgan asked, frustration evident in his voice.

  JJ looked back up at Hotch’s office, a knowing smile on her face. “Because that random intern, who, remember, spent an entire interrogation flirting with Hotch, just left his office with smudged lipstick and a missing button on her shirt.”

  Recognition flashed in Morgan’s eyes as he chuckled to himself, tapping his fingers on his desk. “Huh. Who knew Hotch still had it in him? My man, good for him.”

  Reid looked at the rest of the profilers, his eyebrows scrunched together. “Wait, what happened?” he asked, still unable to put the pieces together. “Did I miss something?”

  Morgan smirked and ruffled Reid’s hair. “We’ll explain it later, Pretty Boy. I promise.”