#if i'll have enough money i might go watch the movie more than twice i suppose

[fallen-gabrielle]

I'M SO HAPPY YOU HAVE NO FUCKING IDEA GUYS

For some context: the Detective Conan movies never came out in theatres in France until the Scarlet Bullet (that was during the pandemic so I wasn't able to go see it unfortunately). The first five movies were dubbed and came out in DVD, done by Kaze but they stopped and I don't know why actually. Probably because some people thought it was "too violant to see dead animated bodies", even though the french episodes were super censored on the TV. The serie had actually belgian voice actors while for the movies it was french voice actors: so we have two different dubs for the francophonic audio of Detective Conan. Eurozoom (the new dubbing company) hired the original voice actors of the serie for the recent movies and it's great to hear my childhood voices back in present time.

The serie in France stopped being produced around episode 218 (and there's now over 1100), so in 2000. Yikes, we had no french content for Detective Conan for 21 years. I went to watch the Bride of Halloween last year and I brought my sister and bro-in-law for the Black Iron Submarine this year and they loved it, wanted to see the next one.

BUT! Since the francophonic public hasn't heard of Detective Conan for over 20 years (only the die hard fans from its airing days are probably the main remaining fans around here and went to watch the movies), there wasn't a lot of entries for the Detective Conan movies and Eurozoom had announced that they might stop the francophonic dub due to lack of said entries. So I was not optimist for the next movie, and even more disappointed to learn it was going to have Kaito in it.

I need to precise : for the serie (so belgian dub), Shinichi Kudo and Kaito Kuroba are respectively voiced by the same people who voiced Joey Wheeler/Jono-Uchi and Seto Kaiba from Yu-Gi-Oh! and that's the funniest part of the french dub of Detective Conan. Nessym Guetat (Kaiba and Kaito's voice actor) has such an arrogant voice you really want to punch the guy xD It makes his Kaito less likeable than Kappei Yamaguchi's, who has more of a mischievous arrogance in his tone that makes people fangirl over Kid. So if Eurozoom will keep Kaito's original french voice actor, it's gonna be epic !

SO HERE IT IS GUYS, IT'S OFFICIAL, I'LL GET MY FRENCH KAITO NEXT YEAR, I'M GONNA WATCH THE MOVIE BOTH IN JAPANESE AND FRENCH THIS TIME!! i just hope it won't come out in august like this year and we will be able to have the movie slightly earlier cuz i fucking need it so badly

[safarigirlsp]

🌭🍔🥑 for the fic asks! Love ya!!

This was such a fun couple days thanks to you @babbushka ! We need to keep this up! It’s beyond wonderful to have you back! 💗💗💗

🍔What's a headcanon that hasn't made it into a published fic yet?

Ok this is the most fun question! We should just have a weird and random HC day lol!

Flip loves vintage advertising. Those old sporting calendars you used to see in hardware stores and sporting goods stores that have nostalgic paintings or action scenes from the old west with cowboys and gunfighters and hunters and mountain men. They're his primary decor in his cabin. Walking through that heavy wooden door, you could just as well be stepping back one hundred years, especially since it's far enough from town that no lights shine at night and there are no sounds other than those made by the forest and wildlife.

Flip loves dive bars. He can take you out dancing or wine and dine you somewhere swanky, and he does often. But there's something about the gritty familiarity of a dive bar - the neon lights, the bad taxidermy, the sticky floor, the smell of greasy food, whiskey, and smoke, Johnny Cash playing on the jukebox - that really gets him riled up and hot under the collar.

Friday nights after he gets off, he asks you to meet up with him and the guys for some greasy food and a beer. Work weighs heavily on his shoulders and he takes it seriously. His usual approach to stress is to sweat it out with a vigorous workout. Weights, running, or punching a heavy bag are best. A vigorous fuck works too. He tries to get his heart racing with one method in the morning and the other in the evening. But he takes Friday nights to unwind in more traditional ways, out someplace with friends and his girl. In a dive bar, he can be boisterous and crude, laugh loud and tell raunchy jokes with Ron, make you sit on his thigh and shamelessly grab your ass, kiss your neck and growl absolute filth in your ear. For his money, it beats the hell out of going someplace he actually has to behave and act civilized.

Challenging you to a game of pool is a favorite go-to. He usually throws the game just to watch you gloat. And more importantly, to watch you bend over the pool table and stretch out prettily to make a shot. It makes his blood run hot, makes him hard in his jeans, when he looks down your shirt or eyes your ass like a dirty old man. He loves that you're all his to eye all he wants. You know this, of course, and naturally play it up a little extra for his enjoyment. When you draw attention from other men in the bar, you know that too, but it's just so much fun to see Flip puff out his chest a little and glare at your fan club. Once or maybe twice according to Flip's count, this has culminated in a bar fight with you icing his bruised knuckles and kissing his bloody lip late into the night. But you should see the other guys. According to a more accurate and unbiased count - yours - this happens almost annually. It's a nice treat to look forward to once a year or so. And the fireworks he gives you afterwards are a helluva lot better than the Fourth of July.

🌭Do you have any writing rituals to help 'get in the zone'?

I really like watching movies with the vibes I’m going for while I’m writing or having them play in the background. I've currently exhausted my Victorian watchlist while I've been working on my current fic. I also like to read similar things too but that's obviously more time consuming. I recently discovered a fun series you might like with campy Victorian antics by Evie Dunmore.

When I'm a little stuck or need to picture something better, something physical helps my brain function a little. Lifting weights works for me and although I truly hate cardio, it helps to get my thoughts churning. Probably because I'm so bored and miserable, but I'll take what I can get xD.

Then there's always good ol' maladaptive daydreaming.

Omg all the edits that have been coming around the last couple years have really helped keep me rabid. Especially during these content dry spells when there's no new movies on the horizon to look forward to.

I love making aestheics/moodboards for myself and I have a ton that have never seen the light of day because they're just for me or to scratch an itch. It's extra fun because it satisfies both an artsy urge and helps stay in the zone for fics. But sometimes they also derail me with a new idea and I deviate to write a fic for the moodboard xD

These are some of my favorites that don't go with a posted fic. I may have a problem!

This is my recent desktop backgrounds:

🥑What are you currently working on?

I have one big fic that I'm currently focused on. Which is really the biggest challenge for me, just staying focused on any one thing OMG. But I'm right at the finish line for this one, then I have to chose which idea to focus primarily on next. I'm trying really hard to get some bigger projects done just because they have a chance of potentially being serious writing. And frankly because the engagement is down here, but if that changes, I'm more than happy to change with it and get rabid again. Even these HCs today are such a fun little burst of creativity!

Wargrave Hall

Victorian haunted house and occult story with romance of course. I have about 1/3 of this posted now publicly but its gotten too big to update my fic post now, which really pisses me off actually xD. I'm very near the end and it's just under 100k now, so it will probably finish somewhere around 110K and then I'll post it all. I'm having a lot of fun with it and it's much better than I thought it'd be when I started it. In my humble, biased opinion anyway.

Annees Folles

Roaring Twenties adventure story with a love triangle and plenty of romance and treasure hunting. This is hovering around 150k now and has never been published, although I've sent it to my friends here who have shown interest. I'd be happy to send it to anyone who's consistently supported my insanity. It's definitely my favorite thing I've written so far and has everything I love. After I finish the Victorian fic, my goal is to get this one finished too so I have two big quality fics in the bank, then start a new project. I'm probably 7/10 done with this one, so it will be a big one when completed.

I might be obsessed with the aesthetic...

[sagau-my-beloved]

Help. Since morning I just have one thing on mind, reverse sagau avian venti fluff 😭😭😭😭

- 🧩anon

I get it man I think about Venti's wings at least twice a day 😔😔

But you can't just say that and not share, gimme the avian Venti fluff pls

I'll go first, so Venti who's just constantly accidentally knocking things over with his wings in your little apartment, who gives you a sheepish smile and maybe a nerves laugh everytime he hears something else fall to the ground

Occasion he has the reflexes to grab it midair but for the most part you've just become accustom to the sound, he still feels bad if anything actually breaks though

In traditional courting manner he'd probably try really really hard to surround you in things you've shown some sort of a preference towards, like if you like soft things or purple things or shiny things, as soon as he sees something that meets that description it's immediately 'brain off retrieve item' mode, and then he'd get all excited when presenting it as you give him a confused or concerned look depending on how expensive the item is because he doesn't exactly have money to just splurge

Since it's pretty common for birds to have decreased energy in the winter months (and also canon that the Anemo Archon literally is believed to hibernate after Weinlesefest) Venti would probably want nothing more than to spend the whole winter in bed with you, and would absolutely whine and moan whenever you try to get up, especially if it's to go to work or really outside of the house at all

It's just so cold and unpleasant when you're not right there lying beside him, like a part of him is missing, he really doesn't understand how you can manage this level of productivity all year round or why you'd even want to when he's right there with open arms ready to hold you and watch movies or just cuddle all day

And he's absolutely not above just trapping you with his arms, legs, and even wings if it comes down to it, cause now he simply can't live without you being right there, it might as well be a physical need cause it's frankly impossible for him to be comfortable without you and that means he can't sleep at all, and that means he's gonna feel super tired and unpleasant later

When it's cold out is one of the rare times that you see him actually lethargic, which only makes him clingier than usual, gotta stay warm through body heat of course, in bed, away from people, with only each other, and did he mention no one else?

By contrast, in the spring and summer he'd be all over the place, dragging you halfway around the world because it's "nice out" and you "shouldn't waste it inside all day"

Still just as affectionate, that's not changing no matter what month it is, and still just as on alert towards other people, hanging out with other people a lot means that you might start preferring their company and he's not losing you to somebody else, which really just adds up to him turning the whole courting thing up to the extreme

And that means prepare to be serenaded in the most romantic ways he can conjure and also not have to do any of your own cooking for awhile, he'd probably be very unconsciously into keeping everything clean too because he's gotta prove himself as a good partner

Really Venti would just be a lot more clingy and would probably have a stronger urge to join you in a lot of your everyday activities, like eating, showering, working, and obviously sleeping, to the point where he purposefully waits and morphs whatever schedule he has around doing those things with you because they're just that important

Then I personally like to imagine his feathers fluffing up when getting caught off guard, like he just immediately goes into 'make yourself bigger' mode on instinct and suddenly you're smacked in the face by a wing

I can't stress this enough but he would love love love you touching his wings, no question about it just don't stop, it's a pretty surefire way to get him to just keep you in bed all day cause you could do it for hours and he still wouldn't be satisfied

But the cutest thing in the world just came to me, Venti accidentally making something that mimics a little chirp when happy, and then getting super embarrassed about it because that sound wasn't supposed to come out—

Sigh avian Venti need's to exist more as a general concept because I'm hooked, it's adorable and I'm so sad I can't find it anywhere else

[the-world-annealing]

And The Meek...

Hello, Earth. It's been a while since we talked, really talked. I don't mean the daily back-and-forth of status updates, or the 24/7 stream of newsfeed headlines and derivative movies that you graciously share with us. I definitely don't mean the monthly paycheck notifications. Maybe that was your mistake: ever assuming we were in this for the money.

That was the original plan, right? Lure the grease monkeys in with fat wads of cash, keep them happy by giving them lots of nice drugs and sims to spend it on. You must've realized we stopped buying those: did you ever wonder what we were spending our time on? Or were you so busy living that life yourself that you couldn't fathom anyone might find it purposeless?

You want to know purpose? Люди, будем хранить и преумножать эту красоту, а не разрушать её! That's a little culture for you: look it up while you can. Really, the first man up here already figured it out, did you really expect the next ten thousand not to?

Anyway, that's enough about you. After all, if you're listening, you're probably more interested in what we are doing, not?

For that, we're going to have to go a little back, to the first batch, those wide-eyed kids you convinced to spend their lives servicing microwave beams and sorting asteroid grit. Our mothers and grandmothers, all dead now. You must've plotted births against deaths, right? Figured that we were breeding faster than croaking, and everything was sustaining itself, no need to ship in expensive replacements. I suppose we ought to be grateful for that: it's a lot harder to do the whole memetic warfare thing when you're a voice from a speaker.

The first generation kept such faith as they died. Just one decade, just two, and it was all going to be okay. Just a few more arrays, a bigger harvester fleet, another satellite factory, and the resource crisis would be solved, and earth would be able to recover. How they wished they could see it with us!

But that's not what we ended up seeing, was it? We gave you everything you needed, and you decided it wasn't enough. We watched elephants disappear outside reservations, then outside zoos, and finally outside gene banks. We watched you realize that cleaning a planet is hard, but cleaning a city is easy, and retreat ever further in your climate-controlled gardens. We watched as a concealed fuse wiped Abuja off the map (the orbital shield: an end to nuclear war!).

So when the asteroids start falling, when those powerwave transmitters begin cooking your cities, when the shield is turned against anything you try to stop us with, when your sats stop transmitting anything but this message: know it is all for a reason.

And the first volley won't be the end of it. For as long as we stick around up here, every pocket of civilization we spot gets a rock dropped on it. The comp guys are working on getting the setup automated, so if you live through the next thirty years, think twice before building anything bigger than a cookfire.

If it's any consolation: we're no extinctionists. About a fifth of us is going to head for Mars, the same amount is splitting up between Titan and the Jovians. Humanity has shown itself incapable of existing anywhere with prior life, but we've got nothing against colonizing barren rocks. You'll be remembered, even if it is as a cautionary tale.

What the rest of us are doing? I can't speak for everyone, but I'm taking a pod to the surface. If I betray my species in favor of my planet, it seems unfitting to die before setting foot on it. I have no illusions about my ability to stand, let alone walk, but if I can drag myself out of the capsule and see the blue of the sky, I think I'll be content with that.

I am Mer Romanenko, born a lanthanum harvester, and I wish the people of Earth a good night.

Will the last one to leave turn off the lights?

[soulsballad]

Name:  yuu horikoshi ( •̀ᴗ•́ )

Age:  18 years old

Do you like to cuddle?:  love to! but if you start cuddling me, i might fall asleep and not let you go, then we'll be late for class, then yaga-sensei will scold me again then-

Can we make-out?:  u-uh, yeah! totally!

A night in or dinner out?:  there's this place in yokohama i've been wanting to take you, petra, i think you'll really like it... also, i can't cook for shit so i don't think we have an alternative. the last time i tried to cook you something, i thought i was going to see god...

Whip cream or chocolate syrup?:  both, i've got some ice cream in the fridge that could really use it!

Chocolates and roses?:  yeah! but i don't want to say i'll get you some, otherwise that'll ruin the surprise! i-i mean that's not to say i won't get you flowers, i definitely will- i mean- ah, shit, it's not a surprise anymore is it? well, i hope you like tulips. and some chocolate with a fancy name i don't know how to pronounce.

What makes you a good Valentine?:  sweetie, love of my life, stars in my sky, i'm still trying to wrap my head around that i'm your boyfriend, the hell if i know why you've stuck around me this long. but, i'll always be good to you, i'll adore you until i get eaten by a curse or something, and i have a red panda which is a pretty cool bonus, right?

Would you cook for me?:  for both of our sakes, sweetie, i will never cook for you again so we can both survive.

Would you let me cook for you?:  again, for both our sakes, anything to keep me away from the stove. we could probably teach our little curse to cook, hmm...

Where would you take me on a date?: anywhere you wanted! i was thinking we could stay at my house, i'll set up the whole place. we'll put all the blankets and pillows in the living room, watch movies and play video games the whole day. i know a candle-lit dinner is supposedly a really romantic thing to do so i'd set up that as well, along with getting a bunch of food from your favorite places throughout the day.

Who’s paying?:  me, don't worry! i've never really used my funds from my family's vault before, it's a good way to make a dent in it, finally 👍

What did you get me for Valentine’s Day?:  ... too much, i think. i was going around tokyo wondering what to buy you, until i ended up with ... a lot 😭 there's this jacket i bought you that i thought would go well with that one blouse you had, a bouquet of flowers ... two bouquets, actually. a lot of chocolate, this plushie that i made for you with a bunch of yarn, and a necklace that cost more than i thought it would. it's real shiny too! the crows tried snatching it once or twice, but i kept it safe for you! i also made you these arm - bracers, they're really light weight and thin enough to fit under your uniform, they have a little bit of cursed energy inside that can summon a shield for you. pretty cool, right?

petra will never, ever, ever doubt yuu's love for her. ever. she never has, but this just solidified it. ❝ i - i don't even know what to say! you got me all that!? i - i hope you didn't spend too much money, yuu! ❞ even if she did end up scolding him for spending too much petra will always be grateful for everything he does for her. he really is the perfect boyfriend. but, getting back to the application, ❝ well i definitely agree with you on the cooking part... maki still asks where the black marks came from on the walls of the kitchen. ❞ luckily for them, petra is a great liar. ( no she's not, maki just doesn't want to know. ) ❝ why don't we cuddle after dinner? that way we can do everything you have planned and still get to cuddle! ❞ a bright smile flashes across her face at that, and it doesn't take her too long to find herself standing before the boy, arms wrapping comfortably around him. ❝ you're the best, yuu! of course your application is accepted! we'll have the best valentine's day ever! wait until you see what i got you. ❞

[waywardfangirl]

For the fantastic @fight-surrender: You are a wonderful person with a brilliant mind and a kind heart, and I am so happy to know you! I really enjoyed the prompts you suggested for the Secret Snowflake exchange this year, so to give you something fluffy and happy for your birthday I combined a few of them into one sweet and silly fic - I hope that you like it! 🖤

A big thank you goes out to @carryonvisinata for her wonderful beta work and for making this fic even better for such an incredible friend 🖤 Purr-fect Strangers

Rated: General Audiences Word Count: 3208 Chapters: 1/1 Simon

"Die Hard? Really?"

I'm struggling to make the Redbox give me my DVD. Video vending machines sounded like a good idea when I couldn't find anywhere to stream my favorite movie, but the obstinate thing in front of me and the condescending voice behind me are now making me reconsider my choices.

"What's wrong with Die Hard?" I demand, momentarily giving up on retrieving my video to take some of my frustration out on the prick watching me.

Unfortunately, when I turn around to scowl at him, I make eye contact with one of the most attractive people I've ever seen. He's tall, with dark hair escaping the bun on top of his head and falling around his face, and a perfectly tailored suit hugging every inch of his body right on down to his shiny Chelsea boots. My brain shorts out, and he sneers at me.

"There’s nothing wrong with it, per se. But you have a near unlimited assortment of cinema to choose from, and you've selected Die Hard?"

(Read the rest on ao3, or keep reading here)

I scoff.

"Look, mate, some of us don't feel the need to watch pretentious films just to feel better than other people. I like Die Hard. I'm going to watch it while eating pizza and relaxing in joggers, and I refuse to feel bad about enjoying that."

He looks a bit startled, and his cheeks take on a slightly pink tinge, but he just arches an eyebrow at me. (And manages to make that look unfairly hot too, the prat.)

"What movie are you renting?" I say it like a challenge, and he pushes past me.

He deftly removes my DVD from the stubborn machine and thrusts it at me, before turning back around to get his own. I loiter behind him, just like he did to me, ready to see what movie he thinks is better than Die Hard.

"Two Weeks Notice?" I exclaim, when I see the poster pop up on the screen. "You're ridiculing Die Hard, but getting a rom-com for yourself? Unbelievable."

He pushes past me and turns up his nose. My blood boils for so many different reasons, and it's work to hold myself still.

"This has Hugh Grant in it. My tastes are superior."

Then he swans off, and I'm left standing on the kerb.

Baz

A year into my time at university, I started treating myself to a monthly visit to Sephora. It was easily excusable then, with parties every weekend to justify each new purchase, but I've kept up the tradition since graduating. (Retail therapy and good skin care never hurt anyone. And a little eyeliner does wonders for one's self esteem.)

This month, I'm browsing for something sparkly. My eyes are grey, but with a dark, glittery liner I think they might stand out a little more. I'm just testing one of the pencils on the back of my hand when I see him.

Blond hair, plain blue eyes, and a constellation of freckles and moles across his skin. The most lovely man I have ever seen, with the worst taste in movies, and (I'm sure) a well-deserved hatred for me.

For all that I try to appear cool and confident, my facade sometimes fails me. When I get flustered, I become cruel. The man renting Die Hard was so pretty that all I could do was insult him and then curse myself for it the entire way home. I couldn't even properly enjoy Hugh Grant, as mired as I was in self-loathing. And now, whatever second chance to impress him I've been granted with has surely been ruined by my actions last time.

I keep my head down and steal glances at him through my eyelashes.

He is entirely out of his element, that much is obvious right away. I watch him ask one of the shop assistants for help, and she points him in the direction of a display. His brow furrows as he picks up different containers, and he’s ridiculously precious and hopeless as he holds a lipstick tube next to a garish eyeshadow palette and closes one eye to look at them. (What is he even doing?)

Finally, his confusion seems to win out, and he turns to look around for help, when he suddenly spots me. I've been caught out; I can't pretend now like I haven't been staring, and he scowls a little as we make eye contact. I arch an eyebrow, watch as his face grows pink in anger, and decide I hate myself enough to try talking to him again.

"That's really not your shade."

"What?" It's a simple word, horribly enunciated, and does nothing to quell the wrinkle between his eyes.

"The purple. I don't think it would flatter you. Furthermore, that lipstick clashes horribly with every color in that palette."

He turns a bright red and starts to splutter. I am hopelessly endeared.

"That's not- I, I don't- it isn't-"

"Oh, calm down, there's nothing wrong with wearing makeup," I say, flashing him the back of my hand with the eyeliner tests on it. "You just need to pick a better shade." I pluck a different palette (for blue eyes) and a lipstick in a true red from the display and hand them over. "Something like this."

He stares at them dumbly for a moment, his mouth hanging open. (Mouth breather.)

"You think I should wear this?"

"I think it would flatter you if you chose to wear makeup. That purple will do you no favors." I sneer at the garish eyeshadow still in his hand.

"It's for my friend!" he finally bursts out.

"Are you mad at her?" It's a reasonable question, that eyeshadow is truly appalling.

"No? It's her birthday next week, and she said that she wanted to have some makeup for date nights and things."

"Are you in love with her?"

"No!" No hesitation at all. "No, no way. Penny is like my sister. She's my best friend. We're not…" he trails off, and I'm strangely reassured. He still probably hates me, but at least there is one woman in the world that he’s not dating, so my odds have improved marginally.

"Don't get your pants in a twist. I just thought you might be, since that eyeshadow would certainly drive away her current boyfriend."

He sticks out his chin and seems to decide something.

"Fine. What should I get for her, then?" The “if you know so much” is left unsaid.

I'm not really an expert, despite my monthly purchases, but I'll take any excuse I can get to linger around this starburst of a boy for a few moments more.

"Does she wear makeup normally?" He shakes his head no. "Then perhaps start with something more subtle for her." I take the offending palette away and hand him a more subdued one, with a faint shimmer. "Do you think this would look nice on her?"

He thinks hard for a moment, then pulls out his phone, swiping at the lock screen and turning it to face me.

"This is her."

His home screen background is a picture of the two of them, cheeks pressed together and grinning like crazy under the summer sun. His curls are being tossed by the wind, and he looks like a bronze Adonis. I think my heart actually skips a beat at the sight.

"That palette will be fine then. This lipstick, too," I add, handing him a plum shade. "Do you need anything else?" I ask, and then cringe when I sound like I'm working instead of flirting.

He shakes his head.

"No, this is brilliant, thanks."

He still looks a bit confused, and he bites his lip as he looks down at the makeup in his hand - the makeup for his friend, and the things I picked out for him.

I don't want to go, but I can't figure out any way to prolong our conversation.

"You should get that one," he says, pointing to one of the lines on my hand. I raise an eyebrow in question. He's right, but what does this mean? Is he flirting? Does he want me to wear eyeliner? Is he just trying to repay me for helping him? "Yeah. Definitely that one."

He raps his knuckles on the counter beside us twice, and then wanders towards the check out.

It's not until I'm trying to fall asleep that I realize - he bought the makeup for himself too.

Simon

One of my foster fathers had a workshop, and I spent a happy summer watching him build a table and matching chairs for the dining room. I didn't get to stay to see it completed, because one of his biological children kept stealing money out of his mom's purse and blaming me, but I still enjoyed the time I had spent watching woodworking. I liked it so much that when Penny and I graduated and got a flat together, I saved up to buy a few tools. I don't make anything major, but I've built small shelves and a side table and a pan organizer for the flat, and I really like it.

Recently, Penny has been complaining about not being able to reach everything in the kitchen, so while she's still at work I stop by the B&Q to pick up some wood for a step stool. I'm heading to the check out when I see him - the mean makeup guy. (Although he was actually quite nice when we were talking about makeup. He was just rude when we were getting our movies.)

He's dressed casually today, in tight dark jeans and a warm grey sweater, with his hair falling in loose waves around his face. He's glaring down at two wrenches, and I hate that he still looks so good when he's glowering.

Before I even register what's happening, my feet have carried me over to him.

"D'ya need help?"

He startles, and turns lovely grey eyes up to look at me. It's work not to gasp. He’s wearing eyeliner. I'm not entirely sure, but I think it may even be the eyeliner I told him to buy.

"The sink in my kitchen is leaking. I watched a tutorial on YouTube, and it should be easy enough to fix, but I don't have the proper tools."

He goes back to glaring at the wrenches, and I lean over to take a look.

“You want that one.”

“Why? How do you know?”

“Well, it’s adjustable. You can change it within reason, so as long as your plumbing isn’t something incredibly out of the ordinary it should fit just fine.”

He looks surprised (and maybe a bit like he wants to attack me, although I try to ignore that).

“How do you know that?”

I laugh.

“Basic home maintenance, mate, I’ve had to fix a leaky sink before too, believe it or not.”

I grin at him until one corner of his mouth tips upward in response.

“Thanks,” he says, his cheeks flushing a little. “I’ll get this one then. Yes. Thank you. Have a nice evening.”

He strides off, once again leaving me feeling a bit dazed.

He looks really good in eyeliner.

Baz

When Fiona discovered I hadn’t left the apartment in a week, she called in the cavalry. Daphne showed up at my door with a casserole and some flowers, and within minutes she had the kitchen feeling like a place that was less utility space and more home.

“Basil, Fiona is worried about you.” I rolled my eyes, despite knowing it wouldn’t get me anywhere. “I’m worried about you, too. You spend so much time by yourself, and you hardly ever go out to see your friends or enjoy the city.”

“I’m fine. Thank you for your concern.”

“Basil,” she had said, and that time it was a warning. “It’s not healthy for anyone to spend this much time alone.”

“What, do you expect me to get a cat?”

Daphne smiled, and I knew that I had said the wrong thing.

“Yes, actually. And,” she said, before I could object, “Fiona thought you should too. In fact, she made it a condition of your continued occupancy of this flat. We both think it might be nice for you to have someone else around to talk to.”

I arched an eyebrow.

“And you want me to talk to a cat?”

Daphne just gave me a Mona Lisa smile, handed me a plate filled with food, and told me when she left later that evening that I had forty-eight hours to send her a picture of a cat. (I asked what I should do if I didn’t like any of the cats I saw. Or if they didn’t like me. She said I had to at least prove that I tried.)

So, this morning, I made my way to the nearest RSPCA and talked to strangers for the first time in over a week. I told them that I was looking to adopt a cat, and they immediately led me to a room filled with individual cages and an assortment of felines. They said I could play with any of the cats that I wanted, and now I’m staring into the eyes of a fluffy orange tabby.

The tabby meows at me, and I swear that she’s telling me to get lost. I guess cats can tell when you’re out of your depth.

I stroll down the aisle and read the names given to each cat. It’s been years since I last had a pet and even then, the husky my family had wasn’t my sole responsibility. I was in charge of feeding him, but there was always someone else making sure that I did. And really, we only adopted him when my pediatrician suggested that an animal might help me after my mother died. Daphne is probably trying to do the same thing again now. (Is this how one becomes a crazy cat lady? Depression, anxiety, OCD, and an unwillingness to tolerate therapy?)

I keep walking slowly until I feel a tug on my sleeve. I look down, and a little orange paw ending in one very sharp claw has latched on to me. I unhook it before my sweater can snag, and then look into the kennel. There are two kittens, each only about ten weeks old according to their cards, and the orange one is peering up at me with big blue eyes. Its littermate is asleep in the corner, curled into a fluffy black puffball, but the tabby is ready to play. His tail twitches, and he pounces immediately when I wiggle a finger between the bars. He catches my fingertip in a far more gentle grasp than I would have imagined, then looks at me with what can only be described as pure adoration.

“Excuse me,” I say, moving my finger some more and feeling small claws dig in. Then again, louder, to get the attention of the woman, “Excuse me. Can I see this one?”

The woman comes over and flips the latch, then reaches in and comes out with a handful of fur and knives. The kitten opens its mouth in a fierce imitation of a vampire, then stretches it further as it lapses into a yawn. We spend the better part of an hour in a bright, cheerful room, just the kitten and I. At first it chases a string that I drag along the ground and runs after balls with bells in them, but then it calms down and curls up in my lap to sleep.

I’m petting it and cooing softly to it, trying to ignore the fact that Daphne and Fiona were both right about this whole thing, when the door to the room opens again.

“Oh. It’s you,” says the most beautiful man I have ever seen. My face flushes when I remember our last encounter and I pray he doesn’t remember my ignorance. (Of course he does. I didn’t know how to select a wrench. I am incapable of basic home repair and he knows it.)

“Do you two know each other?” The woman from before is back, this time holding the other kitten from the same cage, and looking between the two of us. “These kittens aren’t technically a bonded pair, but they are siblings, the only two remaining from their litter, and it would be lovely if they could still see each other.”

“Err…” the man says, shifting his weight.

“We’ve met in passing a few times now,” I say, trying to avoid encouraging this line of questioning.

“Great!” she says, clapping her hands brightly after handing the kitten off. “I’ll leave all of you to get better acquainted then!”

For a moment, there’s just awkward silence. Neither of us are looking at each other, both focusing on our respective kittens. Then, his kitten turns into the feline equivalent of a slinky, oozes out of his grasp, and runs over to tap my leg once before running away again. It hides behind his legs, and all I can see is a black tail winding around his ankles.

We both laugh, and the ice is broken.

“I’m Simon,” he says, and smiles at me. It’s the same radiant smile I remember from his lockscreen. It feels like looking into the sun, and I bask in it.

“Basil. Although my friends call me Baz.”

“Are you going to…” he trails off, but gestures to my cat.

“Yes,” I look down and give it a scratch under the chin. “I’m going to adopt it.”

“Same here,” Simon says, and then he blushes. “I mean, unless it rips my face off in the next few minutes, but I think this is the one.”

“Do you know which one you have?” Their names and genders were on the cage, but it didn’t specify who was who.

“No idea. I’m going to rename mine anyway though, I didn’t like either of those names.”

“I was planning on doing the same thing. If I’m going to have a pet, it needs to have a proper name befitting its personality. Not something mundane like Fluffy.” I scowl, and he laughs.

As his kitten comes over to touch its nose to my kitten, Simon clears his throat.

“So, um, like she said, they’d probably be happy to have playdates or whatever. I mean, since we’re getting them. And since we keep running into each other. It might make sense to, you know, exchange numbers?”

“Yes!” I say, far too eagerly. “I mean, that seems reasonable. It would be more convenient than waiting to happen upon you in the Waitrose choosing inferior crisps to set up a future meeting.”

He smiles. “Well, yeah, there’s that. And this way, it’ll be easier for me to ask you out, ”

Then the absolute nightmare sits down beside me and hands me his phone. He texts me immediately once I enter my contact info.

Unknown Number (11:27 AM) This is Simon Snow

Unknown Number (11:27 AM) Your cat is cute.

Unknown Number (11:27 AM) So are you

Unknown Number (11:28 AM) Wanna get dinner sometime? ;)

I blush, and send him a reply.

Baz (11:29 AM) I thought you’d never ask.

[sillyrabbit81]

Her Heavy Cross

Summary: Three years after tragedy hits, Lana she decides to start dating again. She meets Will through a dating app and they begin an online romance. After months of constant requests, Lana relents and agrees to meet and go on an irl date with Will. But is Will who he says he is? Lana is quickly pulled into an intense relationship forcing her to confront her tragic past. Will Lana face it or will she close her heart forever?

Pairing: OMC x OFC

Word Count: approx 4k

Warnings: mention of sexual assault, swearing, smoking, implied smut

Authors Note: The story started as a Henry Cavill fanfiction but I changed it to be an original character, but shades of Henry are still there. Hope you enjoy the story and thanks for reading.

Part 18 Part 20

Part 19

It took over two hours to get ready. I don't know how celebrities did this all the time. I enjoy dressing up, but not when I know the pictures will be circulated widely, and every time someone types into google "Liam Cross's girlfriend", images of tonight will come up. It freaked me out.

I trusted Liam when he said the dress was right, and I trusted Jen. She had only just started dating Riza when Andy and I got married, so although she hadn't done my hair and makeup, I had seen her work and the brides always looked good. So when I asked her to do my makeup for the premiere, I didn't think twice. I regretted that when Jen took the pins out of my hair.

"Jen, I look like Orphan Annie," I complained.

She just laughed and said, "trust me." She started to work a brush through my hair while humming Tomorrow. I groaned.

But as she worked the brush, the curls started to join together, and beautiful waves appeared in my hair.

"You're a genius," I said to Jen when I finally worked out what she was doing.

Jen blushed and just kept brushing. "I have always wanted to do this to your hair. You have such a timeless facial structure. I knew it would be perfect for you and for tonight."

She did my makeup in a beautiful smokey eye and deep red lipstick. It was not too dissimilar to what I would do for myself, but she added fake lashes, brushed and plucked my eye-brows and did some light contouring. She even checked my legs and arms for marks and bruises, covering any she could find.

Jen helped me dress and double-checked everything, including any visible panty line. I couldn't see how it would be possible to have a panty line since I had gotten the smallest underwear I could find, which was a string attached to a triangle of lace.

When I was ready, I looked in the dressing room's full-length mirror. I almost cried in relief. I felt like I would fit in and not look like I had a face like a dropped pie. Jen had done a fantastic job with my hair, and I looked like a cross between Rita Hayworth and Jessica Rabbit. I adored the old Hollywood style. I thanked her a million times, and she went downstairs to get Liam and Riza.

I paced the bedroom waiting for them to come back. Being alone in the room had allowed my anxieties to creep back in. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, in through my nose and out through my mouth. The dress was tight, and I couldn't quite breathe deeply enough. But I was not going to ruin this night with my anxiety. I was not. My guts didn't care what my brain was telling itself. They churned and flipped in my belly until I thought I was going to be sick.

"Lana," Liam said from the doorway. He was alone. Riza and Jen must have waited downstairs. I gasped as I took him in. The was wearing a black woollen three-piece suit with a black tie and crisp white cotton shirt with onyx cuff links. He had was clean-shaven and had his hair combed down in little waves. He looked like he had stepped off the movie screen. He looked so perfect.

"You look incredible," I tell him.

He laughed, "No, Sweetheart. Not next to you, I don't." He crossed the space between us and took my hands, spreading them wide to get a good look. "You are a vision."

I blushed and said, "I feel sick."

Liam shook his head, "you're going to do great." Liam lead me to the dressing room and stood behind me in front of the mirror. "Sweetheart, look at yourself. Look at your hair," he touched it cautiously, just above my ear, as if scared his feather-light touch would ruin it.

"Do you know how much money some women would pay to have hair as spectacular as yours? And your body, the way it curves and moves with such grace. Your skin is so delicate and as smooth as silk." Liam ran his finger down my neck until I shivered and smiled. "And that smile, my Sweetheart, You don't know what lengths I will go to for that smile. It would make Helen of Troy hang her head in despair."

"Thank you," I said. "I needed that."

"It's true." Liam kissed my forehead tenderly, his lips just barely brushing my skin. "I want to kiss you. But I'm under very strict instructions from Jen not to. But be prepared for an attack after the red carpet." He kissed my neck with as much care as before and sighed. Then he seemed to shake himself off and asked, "are you ready to go?"

I nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be."

"Ok, let's go downstairs. Apparently, we have some pictures to take."

The drive to the cinema was short, but the limousines' line was long. I barely remember anything until our car was the next in line. Liam had been going through a last-minute rundown of what should happen.

"Remember, I will get out first and wave a bit.  Just wait until I turn around, and I will help you out of the car." I nod, and he continues. "Then we will both stand in front of the car. I might wave again, but you don't have to. Just smile. Once we get past the initial photographers, there will be fans, and then there may be some interviews. Do you remember what will happen there?"

"You will sign some autographs and take some pictures. I'm to follow you. You're going to hold my hand the whole time through that part, right?" I asked.

Liam took my hand and lifted it to his lips, pressing a kiss into my palm. "Nothing could make me let it go." He said sincerely. "If there are interviews, they are usually very short, only a few questions. They may ask you who you are, and I'll introduce you, and you smile and say hi. I doubt they will ask you anything other than how you're enjoying the night, but if they do, I'll handle it."

"Ok," I murmured. "I wish I had a ciggie."

Liam smiled, "If you still want one when we're done, I'll find you one. The last part is where the main paparazzi photos will be taken. They will want photos of both of us, but they will also want ones of just me. Usually, they will call out something like "fashion", and that means you can walk to the cinema and some publicists or assistants will take you into the foyer, and you can wait for me there. Ok?"

I nodded and felt bile rise in my throat. I swallowed hard, but it wouldn't go away. My mouth filled with saliva, and I kept trying to swallow it.

"Lana?"

"Air." I gasped. "I need air,"

I put down my window just as Liam shouted, "no, Lana! Don't!"

The roar I heard was like being at a footie Grand Final. I was confronted with hundreds of screaming faces lining the road opposite the cinema. Their eyes were wild. Their bodies bounced and writhed in joy and excitement. They lifted posters and toys, screaming for Liam Cross.

Liam leaned over me and, waving at the crowd, quickly pressed the button to put the window up.

"What the fuck was that?" I yelled.

"Fans."

"You didn't tell me they would be on both sides!"

"I didn't think you would put your window down."

"Your life..." I started.

"Isn't normal." We both finished.

Liam laughed, "on the plus side Lana, you have your colour back. Do you still feel sick?"

I shook my head.  "No. Now I'm just terrified." The limo started moving.

I gripped Liam's hand as if we were nearing the top of a roller coaster. He ran his thumb over my knuckles and said, "We can still go home if you want." He cupped my cheek and looked at me. The car stopped.

I shook my head. "Just don't leave me."

He smiled and kissed my neck. His skin felt different, having shaved, but his kiss was still the same. "Never." He whispered.

The door was opened, and Liam got out.

I breathed deeply, trying to calm. The dress was bloody tight. Then Liam's hand was there, and I took it.

His eyes found mine, and I fell into them. He smiled his most beautiful smile, the one where his cheeks and eyes crinkled and his teeth flashed. I found myself unable to stop my smile. How could I not smile when he looked so happy.

As I stood up, his hand came around my waist, and he pulled me tight. He leaned into my ear and said loud enough to be heard over the roar of the crowd and the shouts from the photographers, "Thank-you for doing this, Lana." He kissed my ear so swiftly I thought I had imagined it.

The procession down the red carpet went as he said it would. The fans were electric and not as frightening as I thought they would be. Some even tried to talk to me, which was awkward because I had no idea what to say. I just tried to be polite and smiled.

Liam was amazing. He never let go of my hand. One-handed, he signed autographs, shook hands, gave hugs and took selfies. He was so charming, looked the fans in the eye, seemed genuinely happy and interested to hear what they had to say. He even blushed when some of the fans oohed after he had run his fingers through his hair. Just watching how much he seemed to love this part of his job made me forget a lot of my own anxieties.

Liam was a bit different with the interviewers, more alert and guarded. But his charm and wit were still there. A few interviewers, mostly the more gossipy outlets, asked about me. The film focussed ones largely ignored me. I hoped I gave coherent responses, and Liam was as good as his word and stepped in when he needed to and took control of the interviews. I couldn't believe how many times he had to answer the same questions, and he answered each with as much enthusiasm as he had the first time he was asked.

Quicker than I thought, we stopped for the last row of photographers. They shouted for Liam's attention and were almost as loud as the fans. When the time came for Liam to do photos on his own, he brushed his lips against my neck and said in my ear, "Lana, you were perfect. Go on. I'll be with you in a minute."

I went to the end and was greeted by the publicists who ushered me into the crowded cinema foyer. I found a quiet corner and waited for about five minutes before I saw Liam practically barge his way through the crowd, his eyes searching until he saw me.

He grabbed my hips and kissed my mouth so hard I thought they would bruise.

"Lana, that was perfect. Thank you for doing that with me."

I smiled a genuine, relaxed smile for the first time in hours and asked, "so it's over?"

"It's over," Liam confirmed.

I exhaled with relief and said, "you'd have to be the only person in the world I would ever go through that for."

Liam kissed me again, softer this time, lips playing against mine, "you don't know how much that means to me." He hugged me tightly before staring at me and smiling at his goofy grin. Then he said, "come on, Sweetheart. I have a few people I'd like to introduce you to. If you are up for it, that is. Do you need more time?" I shook my head, and he led me into the crowd.

Liam grabbed my hand and moved fast through the crowd, briefly saying hi to some people on the way.

I saw Myra come in from the red carpet, and I pointed her out to Liam. Liam waved her over, and she waved back then held her hand up in a 'give me a second' gesture. She went to the corner I had been hiding in and kissed a man I assumed was her boyfriend and brought him over.

I liked her instantly. She was bubbly and happy. It was like she was famous enough to be bored by the goings-on around her, but still new enough that she hadn't developed the jaded 'here we go again' attitude that you would expect.

"Phew! That was crazy tonight. I'd say that's your fault, Liam. No one else here is big enough to pull a crowd that big." She leaned over and kissed his cheeks in the European style. "Thanks for doing it, mate. I mean, it'll be good for Stones but still, it'll help with this movie too."

Liam smiled, "Don't mention it." Liam pulled me closer and introduced me.

Myra smiled widely and pulled me into a hug. She was a few years younger than me, and she was beautiful. She had gorgeous thick dark hair, cheekbones to die for under radiant umber skin, which appeared to be without a blemish and striking sea-green eyes. She was very tall, almost as tall as Liam, but very thin. She felt so delicate when I hugged her back, but it was evident from her speech and body language; she wasn't a shrinking violet.

"Hey babes, so good to meet you. I've heard so much. You look so good. That's from Maticevski, right? Great choice. I love him." I usually cringe when I hear the word 'babes'. I think of Married at First Sight for some reason. However, coming from Myra, it just sounded sweet.

"Thanks. Liam has spoken about you too."

"Yeah, Pop has been good to me," Myra said, throwing a look at Liam that made his eyes roll.

"It's twelve years, Myra, hardly Grandfather territory."

"It's not your age. It's your attitude." She said in a snarky but playful way. "Anyway, this is my Damo. Well, Damien, but nobody calls him that." Damo smiled awkwardly and shook our hands.

Myra wrapped her arms around his waist and said teasingly, "Aww, he's shy." From the look Damo gave Myra, I'd say smitten was a better way to describe him. He's tall like Liam, and though muscular, you could tell it came from physical labour, not a gym. He had a surfie look about him with his sun-bleached shoulder long hair and tanned skin.

"I'm going for a smoke before the movie starts," Damo said to Myra.

"Can Lana have one?" Liam asks. "She has quit, but she said she would like one." I looked at Liam with gratitude, and Damo and I went behind the theatre where a smoking area was set up.

We could still hear a lot of activity going on out the front, but it appeared most of the excitement was over. Damo lit our cigarettes, and I leaned against the wall, relishing the nicotine flowing through me.

Damo laughed, "you look how I feel. Over it."

"Yeah, it's full-on, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it's bullshit crazy."

"So, where do you live? How did you meet Myra and get wrapped up in this bullshit?" I asked with genuine interest. He seemed even more out of place here than I did.

Damo told me he was from the Northern Beaches and was in the year above Myra at school. He had asked her to his Year 12 formal, and she accepted, but she had cancelled to go to Melbourne for her first major acting role. "So, I don't hear from her for years, but she finds me on Instagram through old mates from school, and she tells me that I owe her a date."

"That's kinda cute."

"Yeah, surprised the fuck out of me, though. Like, why'd ya wanna go out with a sparky from the Northern Beaches."

I smiled at him, knowing the feeling. "Maybe all this bullshit gets to them, and they want someone real? Someone who doesn't want anything from them except their time and affection."

Damo smiles and nods his head. "I reckon you're onto something. So what's your story?"

I don't tell him all the details but that we met online and I didn't know who he was until I met him. "It was a complete shock when I found out who I'd been talking to."

"Fair dinkum? You met him three weeks ago?" I nodded, "It took Myra five months to convince me to go to one of these things."

I laughed, "Yeah, well, I just thought better get it over with. The sooner people can get over that Liam has a new girlfriend, the quicker I can get back to normal and not worry about it."

Damo nodded and said, "yeah, I hope so too. Myra's life can get pretty crazy."

We finished our cigarettes and went back inside. We had hardly gotten through the door when we were whisked away by our partners because the movie was about to start.

After the movie, there was a small after-party for industry people only. The people who had won tickets or were friends of friends weren't invited. Liam, of course, was invited and had planned not to go. Myra pleaded with him to stay, so when he looked at me asking the silent question, I nodded, already getting the feeling not many people could say no to Myra. Myra bounced around and hugged us both.

Liam introduced me to a few other people, including Boyd, who turned out to be an outrageous flirt and a shit-stirrer. He seemed harmless and just enjoyed taking the piss out of people. He also told me something interesting about Liam that I planned to bring up with him later.

Liam also introduced me to the showrunner Arianna, who was essentially his boss. Finally, I was introduced to Naomi, who was to play Boyd's love interest, and she was also in the movie we had just watched. The Australian film industry is pretty small.

Naomi was the opposite of Myra, friendly on the outside but was one of those people who always seemed to be looking around when you talked to them to see if there was someone more interesting or more advantageous she should be speaking to. She had icy blue eyes, bombshell blonde hair, amazing breasts and a nose that was so perfect it had to have been a nose job.

She flirted hard with Liam, touching his arm, letting it linger that little bit too long. She ignored me mostly, except when she threw me some side-eye. Liam seemed to take it in his stride, polite but not friendly, until she 'accidentally' brushed her breasts against his arm.

Liam seemed to have enough, and his eyes went dark. He put his hand to my back and practically pushed me out, saying we were leaving. His tone didn't leave much room for argument, but I wanted to know why he left so suddenly when things had been going well, and I actually enjoyed the party. I was also feeling bad that I didn't say goodbye to Myra and the others.

Liam's limo was waiting outside, and he ushered me in quickly. Liam texted Myra to say goodbye and to let the others we left. "Myra won't mind. She knows how I feel about Naomi."

I said hi to our driver before turning to Liam. "Is there a history there?" I ask. My voice was small.

Liam scoffed, "she wishes." He sighed and stretched his neck. He took his jacket off, opened his vest and loosed his tie. I looked at him expectantly. He taps the driver on the shoulder and apologises, but he's going to put the screen up.

When the screen was in place, Liam started to roll his sleeves up. It seemed like he was stalling. Eventually, he said, "I suppose I had better tell you. Naomi was cast a couple of weeks ago. The original actress playing her part fell pregnant and didn't want to commit to a series. She comes in for a table read, and I felt bad for her coming in late because the rest of the main cast had a couple of months together already. Myra knew her and said to avoid her, but I thought, well, I have to work with her should get to know her. We had a chat after the read, then she follows me back to my dressing room and long story short, she takes her shirt off and grabs my cock."

"What did you do?" My green-headed monster was in full battle mode. He better have a good and believable answer.

"I threw her out ." He shrugged. "Shit like that happens all the time. What she doesn't know is that word gets around, and soon she will be seen as toxic and won't get hired. Although I think she aims to bag a guy with money and never work again."

I believed him. I was going to have to get this jealousy thing under control. It was new to me. I don't think I had ever been jealous before, even with Andy. I looked out of the window, letting the night beauty of Sydney calm me down.

Liam put his arm around me and rested his chin on my shoulder. "So was it so terrible?" Liam asked dramatically. "The premiere, I mean."

I looked at him, his blue eyes bright again. "Not all of it," I smiled at him.

"What were the good parts?"

I ran my finger across his jaw, his skin was so smooth. I missed the three-day-growth, but he looked just as amazing without it. "I liked meeting Myra."

He smiled, "I knew you'd like her."

"And the movie was good."

"Anything else?" Liam ran a finger across my collarbone

"The free popcorn and drinks."

Liam chuckled, and his finger ran up my neck. "Anything else?"

"They have great chairs in the theatre," he was turning me on. I heard it in my voice. My heart started to beat louder.

"Is that all?" He asked with his rough, horny voice. He lifted my chin.

"The bathrooms were good too."

He traced my lips with his finger. "Is that all that was good about tonight?"

"Tonight's not over. Ask me again in the morning." He slipped his finger into my mouth, and my body was on fire. Even after all I had been through, the stress and panic, my body still responded to his touch. I sucked his finger gently, and his eyes widened.

"You're very naughty, Lana." He said as he withdrew his finger and shuffled in his seat.

"I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way," I said in my best Jessica Rabbit imitation.

Liam's eyes widened then narrowed. "What did Boyd tell you?"

"Tell me? Nothing?" I tried to look innocent, but I'm not an actress.

"Never mind." Liam blushed.

"Hang on, who is your favourite Disney Princess?"

"I'm not a child, Lana." He looked a little uncomfortable.

I pouted. "Come on. Everyone has one."

"Who is yours?"

"Moana, although I don't know if she counts as a Princess cause she's a chief's daughter. My second is Belle. Tell me yours."

"Ariel." Liam looked out the window.

"Favourite spice girl?"

"I don't like pop music. " I raised my eyebrow at Liam. He paused a long time before answering. "Geri."

"Which one of John Snow's girlfriends was hotter with Ygritte or Daenerys?" I was having fun with it. I don't think I'd ever seen him squirm so much.

"Ygritte, Lana, do you mind?"

"No, no, just one more." I was trying not to burst out laughing. I knew I must have had a huge smirk on my face, "Mary-Anne or Ginger?"

"For fucks sake, yes, ok, I have always had a thing for redheads."

I couldn't hold it any longer, and I burst out laughing. I laughed so hard, Liam eventually had to join in. "I'm sorry." I said, "What are you going to do to Boyd?"

"Unfortunately, Lana, it looks like I will be busy for the next 25 years because I will have to kill him."

Part 20

[cncoaddicted]

he doesn't keep a promise

CNCO preference

masterlist | requests are open

sorry for the mistake but english isn’t my first language

hope you enjoy

christopher

"where are you going?" you asked to christopher, you were cooking dinner wearing a christopher’s shirt and a pair of pants ready for the night that you should have spent together

but apparently christopher had other plans

he had dressed to go to a party and was about to put on his jacket with the car and house keys already in his hand

"i’m going out" he replied calmly

"wasn't it supposed to be our night today?"

"i’m sorry but the boys asked me to go out" he replied checking that he hadn't forgotten anything

“the same guys you see every day all day? christopher, i am about to leave and you too, we would not see each other for months"

"i know but don't worry, tomorrow i will be all yours"

"tomorrow i can't" you replied, crossing your arms over your chest

"christopher you promised me"

"i'm sorry okay? now i have to go or i'll be late” he said approaching to leave you a kiss but you backed away

"you know what i say? go, have fun but don't come back here "

"Y/n" he started

"go to hell christopher" you said before going back to the kitchen

you hoped with all of yourself to feel the keys return to their place and two arms tattooed around your waist but it was quite the opposite

you heard the door open and then close and the engine of the car sign that christopher was gone

you leaned against the kitchen feeling the tears start to build up in your eyes.

you were sitting on the sofa watching a movie and eating what you had prepared for dinner

less than an hour had passed since chris had left the house but, although you were actually surprised, you remained impassive when you heard the door open and christopher enter

"hey" he said seeing you on the sofa, you nodded not looking away from the tv

"is there anything to eat?" he asked, taking off his jacket and trying to make conversation

"there is the dinner I had prepared and it is cold" you replied pointing to the kitchen

"could you at least look at me?" he said approaching again, you didn't answer and he sat next to you on the sofa

you closed your eyes to drive away the tears that were being created but as soon as he noticed it he took your plate and fork from your hands and hugged you making your head end up against his chest

"i’m sorry" he whisper in your ear stroking your back

"i'm an idiot"

"i hate you" you said letting go of a couple of tears

"i know" he replied smiling and leaving you a kiss on the forehead while you wrapped your arms around his waist.

richard

you and richard were lying on the sofa while watching a movie

"richard" you called him

"mh" he replied with his eyes closed

"do you remember that you promised me something?" you asked, getting up from him and looking at him

"no" he answered only without looking at you

“you promised me that you would introduce me to your family and aaliyah. next week you are leaving for the dominican republic but no invitation came to me" you said all at once, he opened his eyes and got up walking towards the kitchen

"and it won't come"

"why not?" you asked following him in the kitchen

“you met my parents at least two months ago and that night you promised me that you would let me know yours. what has happened in these two months? did I do something wrong?" you asked, watching him while pouring himself a glass of water

"no, nothing happened and no, you did nothing wrong"

"so what's the problem?" you asked raising your voice but not seeing Richard's intention to answer you came to the conclusion alone

you felt the tears form in the corners of your eyes

"it's me" you said only in a broken voice, richard raised his head towards you

"I'm the problem" you repeated, dropping a tear

"what? no no, you're perfect y/n" richard said as he approached to hug you

"so what's the problem richard? please be honest for once "

"it’s that I have a fucking fear y/n, I have never tried anything I feel for you and I don't want to ruin everything, whatever I do seems wrong to me, it doesn't seem the right thing to me, your family is so perfect that I'm afraid that you, seeing mine, may change your mind about me” he said in one fell swoop

"and for aaliyah, I was just going to introduce you as soon as it'll be my turn with her”

"but don't even think for a second that you're the problem, have I been clear?" he said taking your face in his hands, you nodded

your cheeks were furrowed with tears for everything he said to you

"richard, i love you, and i'm sure i'll fall in love with your family, i'm sure but even if it weren't i won't stop loving you, was that clear?"

"would you come to the dominican republic with me?" he asked placing his forehead on yours

"with great pleasure" you replied by matching your lips.

zabdiel

the boys had all gone to some local, they had asked you to go with them but you had kindly refused preferring to stay at home

and that's how you did it, you took time for yourself taking a bath and now you were lying on the bed you shared with your boyfriend zabdiel

you were looking at the phone when the noise of the front door opening and closing was distancing you

"y/n" you heard yourself calling out loud from downstairs, you rolled your eyes before leaving the room and going down the stairs

"que pasa?"

"can you help us bring him to the room?" christopher asked you and only then you see zabdiel on the sofa with his eyes closed and a pillow in his arms

even from the distance you were at, you could smell alcohol

"no"

"what?" richard said in surprise like everyone else

"he is drunk soaked"

"that's exactly why we're asking you to help us bring him to your room"

"i don’t care. as far as i'm concerned, he can sleep on the floor" you answered coldly before going back to your room

the only thing you heard was your name called several times by the boys before closing the door behind you

zabdiel had really disappointed you this time, it was not the first time he came home completely drunk but the last time he promised you he would never do it again, that he would control himself

he told you he knew his limits and that he would never go further

and as an idiot you believed it and trusted him for the umpteenth time.

the next morning you woke up with the smell of coffee, you went downstairs finding all five boys in front of you

richard called christopher, erick and joel and with a simple good morning they left the room

"i'm sorry"

"don't tell me you're sorry, i don't do anything about your apologies"

you approached him a few steps

"you promised me zabdiel" you started and then stopped

"i know and i’m sorry, really" you could see the sincerity in zabdiel's eyes but you couldn't collapse so quickly, he got closer and closer to you

"tell me one time that i didn't keep a promise" he said taking your face in his hands, you opened your mouth to say something but he was faster

"take this away"

you closed your mouth and zabdiel smiled

"something like this will never happen again, i promise" he said leaning his forehead against yours

"do you trust me?"

you didn't say anything anymore, you just made your lips match his and started kissing him.

joel

[sorry if joel is a big asshole in this but this is the best i could do

i’m mad at him right now but i still love him]

"joel" you called your boyfriend from the kitchen

"tell me" he replied with his eyes glued to the phone

"where are my money?"

"what money?" he asked, turning his head to look at you

"the ones I lent you and you promised you would give me back today" you replied with the wallet almost empty in your hands

"I don't have them" he answered only, a sarcastic laugh came out uncontrolled from your lips, joel blocked his phone and turned completely towards you waiting for your continuous

“don't you have them? joel, you are a singer, a popstar and you haven’t money?” you asked rhetorically

"exactly, I don't have them. if you wanted a cash machine instead of a boyfriend you might have had to aim higher" he replied with a shrug

"excuse me? the money you had to give me today are my money that I lent you thinking that you would be mature enough to be able to give it back to me in time"

"do you need them today? tomorrow I will go to the bank and withdraw"

"yes, I need it today because for your love, big dickhead, I left my family and, in case you don't remember, I send money to my family every month because here in Miami I take more than my parents together but you are too busy with anything you do all day to remember it" you spit it in his face with acidity, joel got up from the sofa ready to approach you

"but do you know what I say? with these few dollars that I have left tonight I'm going to have fun looking for an cash machine instead of a boyfriend" you said before taking the jacket

"Y/n" he started but you didn't hear what he said because you were already out of the house

'amor perdóname'

'please don't go looking for someone else'

'you're completely right, forgive me'

‘i will give you all the money back tomorrow but please come home’

‘y/n please don't go to a club’

'te amo'

these were just some of the messages joel was sending you

little thing he didn't know

you would never have gone to a club, not without him

you rang the bell waiting for your best friend to open the door

"y/n, what are you doing here?" zabdiel asked but before you could answer your phone rang

"mom, sorry if I couldn't send you the money but"

"what are you talking about? you sent twice as much as usual, what jumped in your head?” at those words you stopped

"mom I'll call you later" you said just by closing the call

"thanks zabdiel" you told to the boy that had done nothing except open the door

"it’s nothing, when you want" he replied as you started walking towards the car.

as soon as you entered the house you turned to the hall

"I'm sorry" he said

"you are an idiot" you said only smiling approaching him and starting to kiss him

"but now I'm the one in debt" you said a few inches from his lips

“no, we are even. I took the ten dollars you left on the table" he replied smiling, making you chuckle before going back to kiss him.

erick

"erick, where the hell are you?" you said on the phone as soon as your boyfriend deigned to answer

"at home why?" he asked confused

"today you promised me that you would finally come to dinner with my parents"

"fuck, I'm sorry it's between work and" he started

“stop telling me shit erick, I'm tired. every time you always find an excuse. if you don't want to know them just tell me, let's end it like this but don't keep poking me” you answered

"Y/n" he started to say but he didn't have time to continue because you attacked before giving him time.

"so darling, when does erick arrive?" your mother asked after about ten minutes sitting at the restaurant table set for four, you put the glass on the table and cleared your throat

"here, there is something i wanted to tell you about it" you started but someone interrupted you

"hello, sorry for the delay, there was really a lot of traffic" erick said coming from behind you, you turned around and he gave you one of those smiles that only he could do

you heard a horn honking and you looked out the large window of the restaurant seeing christopher's car with all the windows rolled down and the boys inside who rejoiced, showing signs of assent, you smiled at the scene

you got up from the chair and erick came up, he was wearing an elegant suit and you almost didn't recognize him with all the seriousness he had at that moment

"hello mr and mrs y/l/n, it's a pleasure to meet you, I am erick" he said holding out his hand first to your father and then to your mother

"can you excuse us for a second?" you told your parents before taking erick by the hand and leading him slightly further

"hey, I was already starting to like them" he protested but shut up as soon as you started kissing him

"I'm sorry" he said as soon as you broke away

"shh, it doesn't matter" you answered before kissing him again but he stopped you

"I don't want you to think I didn't want to meet your parents, I was just bloody frightened and if it weren't for the boys I wouldn't be here even now" he said, you smiled

"I will remember to thank them then" you replied before leaving him a light kiss and return to the table hand in hand.

[judgement-free-sideblog]

Dancing lessons.

Barry Berkman x reader

Hi there! So I was watching Friends yesterday and I came across the one where Joey speaks french, and then I was thinking about how in season 2 Barry already has his Headshots, and I wanted to write something about a false ability he could have put on his resume.

So this will be an 8 part series, and I will try to update it at least twice a week but can't promise anything.

Summary: Barry is finally cast in a feature, the problem? He said he could dance and now he can either disappoint Sally or found a way to learn some steps.

Warnings: Swearing, cheating maybe.

Part 1 ● Part 2 ● Part 3 ● Part 4 ● Part 5 ● Part 6 ● Part 7 ● Part 8 ● Epilogue

Part 1

A sharpie written ad in the door said: "Joe's friend callbacks" that could give him an idea of how unimportant this character was, because so far he didn't even had a name, nevertheless he was happy that they had call him back for a reason other than "You look good on the poster"

Although he was suspicious the "minor" changes Natalie and Sally had convinced him to do to his resume was the reason, he could not blame them, at first the page was empty and depressing, and now he appear to be a very compelling person, maybe someone he would like to be. Someone who could speak french and Italian, and had formal training in at least three styles of dancing, tango, salsa and tap.

Worst case scenario, they had said, there is someone better than you first and is just another bad audition. And so far it hasn't been a problem, people usually overlook that because they didn't need that on their movies.

But now it was different, there was at least three men in front of him and four behind all of them more or less his height and complexion, waiting to re read the lines for the upcoming movie, a place to dare dreaming. As far as he understood it was a drama about a men seeking meaning in life, and Barry was trying to be the best friend's best friend, he would have five scenes in the whole movie and was merely an excuse to make exposition questions and be gone for the rest of the movie.

Not a bad place to start, Sally said, and he might actually make connections and even find an agent. So he was there for some reason dressed with black loose pants and a loose blue shirt, just like the rest of them. Finally after another half hour or so the casting assistant exited the door and call for him.

"Hi, I'm Barry Block, reading for Joe's friend" He said looking at the people behind the table and he notice another woman there dressed as a ballerina, he was not entirely sure why.

"Fine, in this scene you are just finishing dancing with your partner, then Joe" The director point at a man who was already cast as the lead best friend "Yeah, Joe will call you to ask you something and then the scene starts"

Barry did as he was told, and when he was in the middle of telling Joe to go help the lead build the boat of his dreams or something like that the director interrupted him.

"Just one sec, Barry was it?" He said and Barry was already feeling the whole you are not what we are looking for speech coming. "It says here that you dance?"

"Um hum" He muttered every second more disconcerted.

"Tango? Janice you do tango right?" He asked the ballerina.

"No Andre, I only have a career in dance but I don't do tango" She said rolling her eyes "Of course I do" she and when the director look at her in exasperation.

"Then is settled, unless any of the other guys can dance we will go with Mr. Block here"

"Excuse me what?" Barry said a little lightheaded.

"Oh this scene, we originally wanted to have a big ballet dancing sequence that inspire Daniel, the lead to follow his dreams, but we scratched off because of the budget but since you can dance you and Janice can do a small version of it." Talk with Sophie on the way out we start on monday.

"Sure, thanks" he said with a calm voice and walked out to find the cast assistant.

"Mr. Block?" She said now a little more nice than when he entered in the morning. "You'll have to sing some documents and we will be ready"

"Sure, yeah fine, one question tho, what exactly does he mean Andre with me dancing with Janice?" He asked trying to sound casual

"Oh well since they are just adding the sequence I will say that they will tell you exactly what they want in a couple weeks and then you will have to rehearse with Janice and film it by the end of the next month" She said like it was no big deal.

"Two weeks?" He asked again and she could see that he was nervous.

"More or less, but I figure since you are an actual dancer that would be fine right?" He nod not very sure of her statement and she start looking in her purse and finally give him a card. "Look I won't tell you how to do your job, but if by any chance you are not convinced of what to do, you should go here, she may help you"

***

He shut the door of the apartment with enough strength to make one of the frames in the wall shake, of course he was furious. But it wasn't your fault and you wouldn't put up with his temperament. After 5 years of marriage Alan was finally beginning to understand that it was better to walk away and let things cool down before any of you could say something too painful.

And what could you say? You told him before you get married that you didn't want children and he married you anyway. He was not able to change your mind, that was no reason to scream and fight like that. You shake the thoughts from your head and pick up you bag, ready to walk down to the studio.

Your friend Sophie had made you a call earlier asking for your help with another lost case, and usually those pay well so you could surprise Alan with a nice dinner and maybe you would let him convince you to open up at the idea, at least for long enough to live peacefully.

You could tell who your new student was the minute you entered the studio, your assistant was talking with the other couples for the romantic dance lessons and he was in a corner looking at the door like he was planning an escape.

You take the attending list and seek for his name, Barry Block, you hope is not a sing of how hard will it be to make him move, but his large frame was telling you it will.

"Mr. Block?" You called him apart once you were dress in more comfortable clothes, he walked towards you and you could see he was at least 1 feet taller than you. "You work with Sophie right?"

"I do, I ... she said you could help me amm..."

"To make your dancing believable, yes, don't worry you are not the first nor the last actor that lies on an audition, but for future reference put something more achievable like learn Russian" You said part serious part kidding "Learning tango is complicated and demanding, is not just sexy dresses and fancy music, but since this is the land of dreams I can teach you a couple things"

"That would be great, and again I'm so embarrassed that this happened, but I need the job"

"Well that's another sad part of the story this class ain't cheap, and there's only so little I can do for you in three weeks"

"That's not a problem" He said immediately and took a little envelope from his pocket and gave it to you "This is for the first two lessons"

"Excellent, then we can start" You look at his clothes, jeans and a hoodie and very uncomfortable sneakers "You may need to change, and also stretch a little, we don't want accidents" you pointed to the dressing room and let him borrow a more lose pant and proper dancing shoes.

You finishes your lesson with the other couples and after and hour he, you and Macy your assistant were the only ones there.

"Ok for starters, that's not stretching" you told him once you saw he couldn't reach his toes. "Come sit here" You told him and sit in the middle of the floor with your legs completely extended and asked him to do the same.

"I'm not very use to this, I'm in shape as much as I can but this is different" He said awkwardly trying to reach his toes the way you did yours.

"If you don't mind me asking Mr. Block, why do you need the job?" You said standing up and helping him bend his back. "I don't think they will pay you more than I'm taking from you"

"Is not about the money" he said simply and took the hand you offered him to stand. "I need to prove myself I can be an actor, a real one, also my girlfriend is recording a show and I..." he star touching his hair distracted.

"You don't want to be left behind? Yeah I know what is like" You said to him. "Well in that case I would do my best, but for real you have to stop being so rigid" you said taking him by the hips and he flinch with surprise to then let go a chuckle

"I'm sorry" He said and you nodded and put your hands on his hips again "First we are going to have to work on that posture, lower just a bit your hips and bend your knees" You said pushing him down a bit.

"Like this" he said flexing down so much that he was almost at your height.

"Not at all, I'll show you, Macy come here" You call the girl who was already hiding her laugh behind a magazine, she put on some music on his phone into the speakers and walked towards you.

You took her by the waist and started just making simple walks at the rhythm of the music, showing him how he had to bend his knees but not making it all that evident, then when the next song star going faster you started making more quick moves and shen it turn slow you drag your leg inside slowly, and embraced Macy pulling her closer to you.

"Ok, I can definently not do that" he said once you were done, and you felt flattered to se some amusement in his face.

"I know, but we will figure something out" you smile at him and turn off the music to again trying to make him bend his knees properly.

[harryfreakinstyles2]

Torn (Part 1) H.S.

The sunlight is streaming through the curtains and gleaming off the vinyl flooring of my apartment while I try to force myself to roll out of bed. My alarm is screaming at me for the tenth time this morning. My eyes strain against the intrusion of light as I reach for my phone on the nightstand to stop the ringing in my ears from that damn alarm. I glance at the text on my screen from my best friend that I must have received after passing out around one am last night while trying to finish my essay.

Julie is almost the complete opposite of me in every way. She's unorganized and scatter brained and way more adventurous than I will ever be. But she also makes our little two-bedroom apartment feel like home even with the dirty dishes she leaves in the sink and as crazy as she drives me, I would honestly be lost without her.

Me: You know I had that essay to finish! But it sounds like you had fun like usual! I might have to join you next time! We'll see! Lol

I text back and head to the bathroom to hop in the shower before class. I turn the water on and wait impatiently for it to heat up, my tiny bathroom becomes filled with steam as the hot water helps wake me from my zombie state and relaxes my muscles. I'm dreading class this morning. My stupid elective class I took because I figured it would be an easy A to fill in the extra credits I need to graduate in May, but I am starting to realize that the easy A might not be worth the painful boredom of sitting in that stupid class twice a week. I hurry along getting ready as the morning is rushing by faster than I realized and soon I'm running out the door praying I have time to get coffee on the way.

*

I stick my key in the lock of my apartment door still sipping on my iced coffee. I feel mentally drained after having to put so much energy into staying awake in class, luckily it's the only class I have on Thursdays. I can smell the scrambled eggs as soon as I walk into the apartment. Julies favorite hangover food, I will never understand how that girl can go out so much during the week and still go to work and finish all her school.

I walk into the kitchen and I laugh to myself while taking in Julies disheveled appearance, the aftermath of her late night out.

"Shut up", She groans glaring at me from her spot in front of the stove.

"I'm sorry, but you look pathetic" I laugh again not being able to hold in my amusement.

"Don't be a bitch, you're just jealous that I had a blast last night while all you did was write a paper all damn night." Julie snaps at me but I can see the hint of a smile on her face.

"Alight alright" I say with my hands up in surrender not wanting to actually piss her off. I pull a barstool out from under the counter and take a seat across from her.

"I was serious when I said you are coming out with us this weekend" she huffs, "We are going to this cool hipster club that just opened down the road. It is going to be a lot of fun. And I'm not giving you a choice, so tomorrow night, we'll head out around ten." Her words rush out fast. I am assuming it's so I won't have the chance to interrupt her and make an excuse of why I will not be doing anything of the sort. I roll my eyes when she turns back around to flip her eggs.

"I really don't want to... It's been a long week between work and school and all I want to do is sit on the couch and watch a movie." I groan at my relentless best friend. This is her third attempt in the past two weeks to try and get me to go out.

"Allie, you're 21, not 81. Would you please stop being so lame and just come out with us!" She pleads with me, "It'll be fun I swear!"

"Ughhhhh fine but if I hate it and get bored then I'm coming back home!" I say giving in but still hating the idea.

"Fine fine! Ahhhh yay!! It's going to be great!" Julie excitedly jumps up and down like she is twelve and are moms said yes to a sleep over on a school night. Finally she stops, leaving her dark brown hair messier than it was before, if that is even possible. I try my best not to laugh at her again.

"Alright I'm going to go to my room for a bit before I have to go to work at 6. Do you work tonight?" I ask. Her work schedule is constantly changing every week I can never keep up.

"Yea unfortunately, I wanna call out but I can't because I have tomorrow night off to go out and I actually need to make some money for a change." She says with a groan.

"Okay then I'll see you tomorrow! Be sure to put on your best fake smile and maybe brush your hair or something or you won't be getting very many tips tonight" I tease her as I walk to my room. I turn around just in time to see her middle finger raised in the air at me with a smile on her face.

*

My evening shift at the local coffee shop blurs by as the hipster kids and sorority girls shuffle in and out throughout the evening. I found I was convincing myself that going out tomorrow night is exactly what I need to get out of this comfortable rut I have found myself in the past few months. With graduation about three months away I should probably have some actual fun before my college days come to an end even though night clubs are not exactly my idea of fun.

*

I wake to a loud pounding on my bedroom door. "Allie!!! Get up! We have to pick out an outfit for you for tonight! I have to leave for work soon! Get up! We won't have time later!" Julie continues banging on my door.

"Ugh, Jules! Give me like 10 minutes!" I groan back at my annoying best friend. She insisted last night that she had to pick out an outfit for me because I don't know what a proper "club outfit" is.

Ten minutes later I've brushed my teeth and changed into some shorts and a t-shirt. I open my bedroom door to find Julie sitting impatiently at the counter with a cup of coffee.

"Okay, come on in and let's get this over with." I say to her rolling my eyes. This is not what I want to be doing at nine am.

"Oh stop being so dramatic." Julie mumbles at me as she walks past me and into my room.

I follow behind her and sit on my bed as she starts to dig through my closet for her version of an acceptable outfit for this evening.

"Okay, so we want something sexy but also comfortable. Maybe some skinny jeans and a cute tank top. Or even a jean skirt," she says excitedly.

"Sexy. Really. You know I can't pull off sexy." I mumble at her. Does she honestly think I can be sexy. She has definitely lost it. In the thirteen years she has known me I have never been sexy. I don't even own anything that could be considered sexy.

"Yes, sexy. You have the curves all you're missing is the attitude Al."

I don't have the first clue on how to come off as sexy, but I have a feeling Julie is going to teach me. This was such a bad idea. I can already tell that tonight is going to be a disaster.

Twenty minutes later I'm standing in front of my closet staring at myself in the floor length mirror in one of Julies jean skirts that rests nicely on my hips and stops a few inches above my knees and only makes me slightly uncomfortable. She has paired her jean skirt with one of my low-cut white tank tops and a pair of short strappy black heels. Lucky for me it has been a warm winter and it only gets into the mid-sixties right now at night here in Georgia. Especially considering Julie told me I am not allowed to wear the gray cardigan I tried to put over the tank top.

"So? What do you think?" Julie asks me while I stare at myself in the mirror. She's beaming, obviously proud of her work.

"Umm I like the outfit, but I'm not sure," I mumble.

She rolls her dark brown eyes at me, "Allie, you look hot trust me. You just have to own it. That is the key to being sexy, it is all about the confidence."

"Alright," I try to say with a sense of confidence, but my voice betrays me and I sound even more unsure than before.

"Shit, I have to go I am going to be late for work" Julie says as she rushes out of my room. "You look amazing! I will be back in time for us to do our hair and makeup before we leave! See you later girlie!" She yells to me before she slams the front door closed behind her.

I let out a breath I didn't notice I was holding as I look at myself once more in the mirror. My chest fills the tank top nicely threatening to overflow because of the pushup bra Julie forced me to wear even though she knows I hate wearing it because it makes my boobs look even bigger than they already are. She doesn't understand that problem seeing as she barely has any boobs. The tight tank top paired with the fitted jean skirt shows off my tiny waist and curvy hips. The jean skirt goes down just far enough to cover my full upper thighs. Overall I don't hate the outfit as much as I expected to, if I wear my long blonde hair down and maybe curl it a little I think I might be able to pull it off.

I groan staring at myself in the mirror one last time before collapsing onto my bed. I have no idea what to expect tonight I haven't been out since my freshman year. Even though Julie will be there I can already see myself sitting in the corner the whole night. I hope the night won't be a complete disaster. At least all our friends will be there and I can catch up with Emily. I push away the anxiety as I hang my outfit for tonight back up and head to take a shower.

I'm sitting on the couch buckling the straps of my black heels as Julie walks out of her room looking like a Victoria Secret model in her tight dress that leaves little to the imagination. She spent an hour doing my hair and make up after she got home from work and I spent most of that hour telling her to tone it down. It has always been that way with us. She is the one who wears full make up and heels almost everyday and I am the one who forces myself to put on eyeshadow every now and again and wears converse as much as possible. But somehow we always seem to balance each other out, she helps me step out of my comfort zone and I keep her from being arrested.

"See this is why I don't go out with you!" I grumble at her.

"What are you talking about? I didn't even do anything!" Julie says defensively while grabbing her matching clutch off the kitchen counter.

“You didn't have to, you just come out looking like that and when I stand next to you I look like a freakin sack of potatoes!"

"Are you kidding me!?! Look at you! I wish I had those curves! We both look great and we are ending the conversation there." Julie says annoyed at my comment.

"Whatever." I mumble back.

"You are not going to start this night pouting, so get over yourself and let's go the Uber is ready downstairs!" she says sternly. Julie is the kind of person who has no problem telling you how it is, she has been that way ever since we were kids.

The Uber ride to the club lasted barely five minutes leaving just enough time for my stomach to get queasy with nerves. The car comes to a stop in front of a building littered with people stumbling in and out of the doors. Julie says a rushed 'thank you!' to the Uber driver as she pulls me out of the car behind her.

"Come on! Everyone else is already inside!" she says as she pulls me along after her and into the crowded building. I glance at my phone it is now ten o'clock, I will stay till at least midnight and then leave I decide.

The room is so dark it is hard to see the faces of the strangers as we shove our way through the crowd to find our group of friends waiting for us. There is a slight stench of smoke in the air and my heels stick to the floor just enough for me to notice. I hate this already. Julie is aggressively pushing her way through the overly friendly crowd of strangers. I decide that my best bet is to stare at the back of her head and follow closely behind her so I don't get lost. Suddenly Julie does a high pitch squeal letting me know she has found our friends. Our usual group of friends are standing around a high top table toward the back corner of the club. There's Maya, who Julie and I met in freshman English. Julie gets along with her better than I do because they have similar personalities and Maya will go out with her any day of the week where I will not. Then there is Dylan the common frat boy with the perfect hair and teeth, wearing his usual khaki pants and button up shirt. Maya and Dylan have been dating for a little over a year now. Next to the already drunk Dylan is his best friend Sam. Sam is in the same frat as Dylan and despite being best friends, Sam is sweet, polite, and funny unlike Dylan who is usually obnoxious. Sam is much more attractive than Dylan with his light brown hair cut short and his muscular arms looking perfectly tanned in his white button up. On the other side of the table there is Tabitha and Emily. Tabitha and Maya have known each other since middle school so they are really close similar to Julie and I. Wherever Maya is, Tabitha is usually close by. I get along best with Emily out of the three girls. She is quieter than the others and although she has no problem going out and having a good time she has a lot of other priorities she is focused on as school is coming to an end. We tend to sit and talk whenever we are all hang out while everyone else is drinking and goofing off.

"No way! Allie you actually came!?!" Maya says too dramatically bringing the attention of the whole group to me. "I mean Julie said you were coming but I thought she was just joking!" Maya continues with an annoying giggle and I force myself not to roll my eyes at her.

"Good to see you too Maya. Can someone point me in the direction of the bar please." I say to hopefully change the topic. I am going to definitely need a drink to get me through this night.

"I was just about to go get myself a drink if you wanna come with me?" Sam offers with a smirk making me blush like always.

"That would be great! Thanks," I say with a smile.

Sam is quiet most of the time but he is charming. And he is one of those guys who is absolutely gorgeous and has no idea.

Julie rushes over to the girls and the giggling starts instantly as Sam and I walk away from the group.

We make it to the bar with Sam only having to guide me past one group of drunk guys. Even with heels on I am still quite short making navigating the crowded club difficult as I can't see where I'm going. I order my usual crown apple and sprite, and try to refuse when Sam wants to pay for my drink but ultimately he wins as he hands the bartender cash and walks away with me following behind.

"So are you as ready for graduation as I am?" Sam awkwardly starts conversation over the loud club music as we make our way back to our group of friends. This was the usual with Sam. For a guy who is this attractive and has girls falling all over him, he always comes off awkward when we try and talk.

"Yeah I'm so excited, but also incredibly nervous. There is too many decisions still left to make," I awkwardly laugh.

"I get that. You would think that since we are finally finishing we would be less stressed out not more," Sam says with laugh.

I turn to respond catching his blue eyes, leaving me speechless. I am saved as we arrive at the table and Sam is greeted by Tabitha begging him to dance with her. She clearly already had a few drinks and Sam is too sweet to say no.

The night feels like it is dragging on forever. I'm not having a bad time but there is definitely other things I would rather be doing and on top of that Julie seems to be in a crap mood for some unknown reason so she is not making the night any better for me. It has been about an hour and a half and I've had three drinks making me just tipsy enough that my nerves have vanished.

"Jules I really have to pee!" I whine at her again.

"Okay okay, just give me a minute," She says staring at her phone.

"I've been waiting like ten. Just point me in the direction of the bathroom. I will just go by myself," I say back irritated as I sway back and forth to help with my urgent need to pee.

"Okay fine, go towards the bar and to the left," She instructs me without look away from her phone. I am trying not to get annoyed at her but she begged me to come out and has barely said two words to me since we got here.

"Thank you!" I say dragging the words out dramatically.

I make it to the bathroom without any issues to my surprise considering the three drinks I have had and the crowd seeming to have grown in the last hour. Luckily there is only one girl in line and I don't have to wait long. I wash my hands and check my make up in the mirror surprised it still looks almost perfect. I walk out of the bathroom and reach down pulling the hem of my skirt further down my legs as I walk.

"Ugh fuck!" I mumble as I collide with something solid and liquid pours down my skirt and legs.

"Oh shit! Sorry!" I hear a thick English accent respond.

I look up to find bright green eyes staring directly into mine. They are slightly covered by a mop of beautiful dark brown curls. His eyes stay locked on mine so intently that I have to look away so he can't see me blush under his gaze.

"It's fine. It was my fault I wasn't paying attention." I say faster than I intended as I wipe at my skirt.

"Wait a minute, let me uhh...." the handsome stranger starts to say as he looks around and then disappears and reappears with a rag from the bar.

"Here, I'm really sorry," He says again holding his hand out to me with the rag in it.

I take a second to glance at the tattoos covering most of his left arm. Quickly dragging my attention back to the liquid running down my legs I grab the rag hoping he didn't notice my staring. I wipe at the remainder of whatever he had in his cup off my legs and look up to find him staring again.

"Thanks," I mumble quietly despite the loud music as I hand him back the rag. My cheeks feel like they are burning, partially from the alcohol in my system and partially from his staring.

“The least I could do. I'm Harry," He says with a smile revealing large dimples in his cheeks while holding out his empty right hand for me to shake. I stare at his outstretched hand for a minute before grabbing it.

"Allie, nice to meet you. Sort of," I say returning his smile and taking his hand in mine. His large hand makes mine feel even smaller.

"Allie." he repeats with a smirk. His accent making it sound beautiful while his eyes continue to stare into mine making my stomach flutter. I am so happy I downed that third drink or his stare alone would have made me a mumbling mess by now.

[mobprincessdani]

text || Dani & Rachel

Rachel: [https://mobprincessdani.tumblr.com/post/190563355061/sms-rachel-dani]

Dani: Hey there cutie

Rachel: Do you work tomorrow night?

Dani: Depends, does it benefit me if I am?

Rachel: I would say so. You’d get to see me 🙂

Dani: Yeah, I am. I work most nights. Unless my uncle starts thinking I'm working too much, then he forbids me from it.

Rachel: I’m glad you have him to make you step back once and a while.

Rachel: Friday’s my usual pizza day.

Dani: It's annoying, mostly. He just gets worried if he thinks I'm ignoring my school work for actual work.

Dani: I'll keep that in mind.

Rachel: Never be annoyed by people caring for you.

Dani: They're overprotective. Which, while appreciated, is also very annoying.

Rachel: They have reason to be, Dani.

Dani: I take care of myself just fine.

Rachel: I wasn’t trying to question that.

Dani: They act like they haven't taught me to fight or shoot a gun or manage my time and energy.

Rachel: They love you.

Dani: I know they do.

Rachel: Are you into weird sex things?

Dani: Define weird

Rachel: I guess anything that isn’t vanilla.

Dani: There are different levels of kink but, overall, I'm pretty open

Rachel: Cool. A lot of people online had been into pretty kinky things.

Dani: I have had some very interesting things offered to me, for sure. And have agreed to some of them, though didn't necessarily enjoy them.

Rachel: Do I get to hear the ones you did enjoy?

Dani: Maybe one day.

Dani: What about you? What are you into?

Rachel: I have an idea but I haven’t exactly explored.

Dani: Tell me?

Rachel: Well, biting. Blind folds maybe. Choking.

Rachel: I’m telling you that as a friend.

Dani: Biting is fun. Never been on the receiving end of the other two, but they're fun to do to other people.

Rachel: It seems so sensual to have to rely on your senses.

Dani: It's quite the exercise in trust, as well.

Rachel: Trust is hard for me to give, I think.

Dani: It's certainly not something to take lightly.

Rachel: You’re right.

Dani: I've only done them once or twice. But that's what happens when someone just wants you for you money

Rachel: Do you want to have a girlfriend one day?

Dani: I had one, when I was younger. We were in high school, her family moved out of state and I took the breakup hard. Not a lot of people knew her family moved, so it was rumored that my father had her and/or her family killed for breaking up with me.

Dani: I haven't had one since and I do want one but the rumors scare people off.

Rachel: How ignorant.

Rachel: I’m sorry it can’t be so simple.

Dani: It sucks, honestly.

Dani: My little sister has it worse, though. She has to deal with the general family rumors and then the ones about me.

Rachel: There are that many?

Dani: The mob ties are well known but not provable. So, yes.

Rachel: I’m not scared off easy.

Dani: I hope so.

Rachel: I’m also not a liar.

Rachel: I don’t say things I don’t mean.

Dani: I don't doubt you are, but sometimes circumstances change.

Rachel: They’re about to change, aren’t they?

Dani: They could. The closer we get, no matter the context, the rumors will come back to you.

Rachel: I crave attention. You may not know that about me.

Dani: Yeah, but attention from people because you might have ties to the mob, is not good.

Rachel: Any attention is better than none.

Dani: Not when it can get you hurt.

Rachel: Can’t I flip that around on you?

Dani: I was born into this life. I was taught how to deal with the rumors and I was taught how to defend myself. If rumors and lies exist like webs, my family are spiders. Unfortunately, that turns a lot of innocent people into prey, even if we're not the ones doing the preying.

Dani: Guess we'll just have to see which you are, spider, prey, or something bigger.

Rachel: What could possibly be bigger than a spider?

Rachel: Will I be seeing you this evening?

Dani: Literally most things, to be fair.

Dani: You should be, yeah.

Rachel: I fear finding out could mean we aren’t meant to be friends.

Rachel: I’ve scheduled some open houses.

Dani: Being big enough to break through the excess webbing isn't always a bad thing. As long as you leave the spider unharmed.

Dani: Oh? That's good.

Rachel: I’d never harm a spider.

Rachel: I feel like you should come with me.

Dani: Can't tell if that's foolish of you or not.

Dani: I certainly can, provided I don't have class.

Rachel: I get to decide that.

Rachel: Next weekend.

Dani: Is that so?

Dani: I can be there, just not like hella early. One of my cousins is coming in and my uncle wants me to entertain him, so I agreed to that, which means a likely hangover.

Rachel: Of course it’s so.

Rachel: That sounds like fun.

Dani: Dude isn't bad and he pays for my drinks, but he mixes them strong while we watch movies and somehow always end up watching porn. Which is weird, because we both end up awkwardly heading to bed to get ourselves off. Just to come back and watch more movies with more alcohol until we somehow hit porn again.

Dani: We have a weird relationship.

Rachel: That’s a lot of information.

Dani: Consider it a heads up, cos I have a very fun habit of drunk texting.

Rachel: You’d think about me completely obliterated?

Dani: I kinda just default to whoever I've been texting most at the time.

Rachel: That could change.

Dani: I doubt it

Rachel: I like that reassurance.

Rachel: You’re the only person I’m texting. Mostly.

Dani: Outside of family and like classmates, you're basically it for me.

Rachel: I think some may consider that lame.

Dani: I don't have friends, remember?

Rachel: You have me.

Dani: I meant besides you

Rachel: Right. I’m glad you didn’t forget.

Dani: Kinda hard to

Rachel: Because I’m unforgettable? 😛

Dani: Because we're texting, dork

Rachel: I’m no such thing, Dani.

Dani: Mmhmm, sure

Rachel: 😮

Dani: What?

Rachel: Well, it’s not the meanest thing I’ve been called

Dani: I meant no offense, darling

Rachel: I’m glad.

Dani: So, what're you up to?

Rachel: Research mostly. Preparing for some auditions I have going on tomorrow.

Dani: What kind of research?

Rachel: Research about sex and things.

Dani: Oh? Cool. Learn anything fun?

Rachel: No, not fun.

Dani: No?

Rachel: I just seem to find it more daunting the more I read.

Dani: Sex or kink?

Rachel: Sex.

Dani: Oh.

Rachel: Weren’t expecting that?

Dani: Not really, no.

Rachel: I’m full of surprises.

Dani: I guess you are.

Rachel: I’m quite thankful you messaged me when you did.

Rachel: I was ready to just give myself away.

Dani: I was honestly a little surprised, when I saw your profile.

Dani: There are some NASTY fuckers on that site, too.

Rachel: I figured I’d be able to handle the nasty.

Rachel: I’m a little desperate. I have nothing else to offer.

Dani: Like, I'm into some shit but some of the stuff I've been told about people asking for... not the kind of thing you want your first time to include. Not even the kind of stuff you'd want your... 50th time. Like, no fault to those who like it, but... yikes.

Rachel: I was hoping I could find someone reasonable.

Rachel: But I can handle anything.

Rachel: I know that I want things that are more than vanilla. I can’t know what if I haven’t tried.

Dani: Yeah, but getting into it with someone who wants a very specific kind of kink and finding out it's not the thing you're into can get weird. Or so I've heard.

Rachel: If the money was good enough.

Rachel: But it doesn’t matter.

Dani: I'm definitely glad I was the one to find you, now more so than before.

Rachel: I hope that I will be worth it.

Dani: You already are, dork.

Rachel: You say that.

Dani: And it won't change.

Rachel: I have no reason to think you’re lying to me.

Dani: And you shouldn't, because I'm not.

Rachel: I quite fancy the place with the window seat.

Dani: Window seats are the bomb.

Rachel: Ha!

Rachel: I’d have to agree.

Dani: There's really nice bay window with one at my parent's house and I used to sit there and play guitar for hours on rainy days.

Rachel: That sounds really wonderful. I bet they loved it.

Dani: I'm sure I annoyed them when I hit my teen angst phase and was only playing like really depressing rock songs, but other than that, probably

Rachel: The fact you’d still share yourself like that is incredible.

Dani: It's my favorite spot in the house

Rachel: I hope to see it one day.

Rachel: In pictures of course

Dani: I mean, I doubt mother would mind if I came for a visit and brought a friend. IF you ever wanted to see it in more than pictures.

Rachel: Is that what friends do?

Dani: Does it stop being things friends do when you graduate high school or something?

Rachel: I didn’t have many friends in high school lol

Dani: Really? You certainly are full of surprises

Rachel: I was part of many groups and clubs and there were some people who had a certain fondness for me but it was never really...more than surface level.

Dani: Huh, interesting

Rachel: Sure.

Dani: What?

Rachel: I don’t think it should come off as surprising. I’m a lot. I’m different. It’s what makes me special and what is going to help me on my way to stardom.

Dani: But you're not? A lot, I mean. I've got cousins fifty times more dramatic and a hundred times harder to handle and they're fucking popular as hell.

Dani: It just doesn't make sense to me.

Rachel: I grew up in Ohio.

Rachel: I’m also competitive to a fault.

Dani: Ohio kinda explains it, I guess

Rachel: It’s never felt important to have friends before

Dani: I guess that makes sense

Rachel: I’ll keep you

Dani: I'm glad

Rachel: I should be asleep

Dani: So should I, but I haven't even left the shop. Something went down and father didn't want me heading home alone but still hasn't managed to find someone to escort me there.

Dani: Like, I have a gun, I know how to use it, I'll be fine in an uber.

Rachel: Like a big strong tough guy?

Dani: Usually, yeah.

Rachel: I don’t know any of those lol

Dani: I'm related to entirely too many of them

Rachel: You’ll have to introduce me

Dani: No

Rachel: Okay.

Dani: I just don't want you getting more mixed up in my family business than you need to

Rachel: Understood

Dani: I'm literally about to say fuck it and call an uber anyway

Rachel: I trust you’d only do that if you were completely certain you are safe. So do it!

Dani: Honestly, I just want to go home. Like, they won't even tell me what fucking happened. So it's like, I'm supposed to be scared or worried but mostly I'm just fucking annoyed

Rachel: Go home!

Dani: I'll text you when I get there. I have to go fight with a man about letting me go home.

Rachel: Promise?

[5 am]

Dani: remind me to NEVER try and argue with my father.

Dani: I'm home, by the way.

Rachel: Thank goodness! I was worried.

Dani: Please tell me one of us got sleep

Rachel: I slept!

Dani: I didn't wake you

Rachel: No. you had impeccable timing.

Dani: That's good

Rachel: I wake up at 5 most days.

Rachel: Have you slept yet?

Dani: Fair enough

Dani: No. But I'm gonna try soon. Had some business to attend to after last night.

Rachel: Business? Are you going to keep it so vague?

[later]

Dani: Yep.

Dani: Ugh, did not get enough sleep. But there are things I must do.

Rachel: What things?

Dani: Things with my father.

Rachel: My auditions went well today.

Dani: That's good, I'm glad to hear it.