#it looks fabulous in the show - it is a nightmare to try and edit

[neverbelessthan]

SEVERANCE 2x10 | "They give us half a life and think we won't fight for it."

[makeyoumine69]

Spit In My Face

— PAIRING: Sugar Daddy!Patrick Bateman x Fem!Reader

— SUMMARY: Fashion Week is in full swing in New York City and Patrick Bateman doesn't miss the chance to show you the world of luxury and beauty. So, he invites you to attend the fashion show with him. Through the chain of events that unfold there, you will see a new side of Mr. Bateman that you never knew existed.

— CONTAINS: Angsty romance, smut, toxic behavior, gaslighting, cheating, misogyny, hurt/comfort, seduction, swearing, flirting, sensual kisses & touches, jealousy, implications of self harm & panic attacks, (almost) character death, oral sex (reader receiving), fingering, rough sex, finger sucking, spanking, biting, manhandling, choking, orgasm control, dry humping, nipple play, multiple orgasms, overstimulation, body worship, Daddy kink, Praise kink, pet names, dirty talk, Service!Dom!Patrick Bateman being an asshole (again).

— WORDS: 21k (oops)

— SONG REC: ThxSoMch - Spit In My Face

— A/N: Hey guys! It took me a year to finally finish this and I decided to post all the parts together since most of you probably forgot what happened in the previous ones (I'll delete the old posts). I did some extra editing before posting and I hope you like it and I'm happy to get back to writing and soon I'll be rebooting the Cupcake series as I've already started working on prequels. Love you all!

— LINKS: [MASTERLIST];[SERIES MASTERLIST].

Fashion, grace, money, wealth, these were the words running through your head as you rode in the taxi, and you couldn't believe Patrick had just convinced you to go to the goddamn Dior boutique. Not to mention the upcoming fashion show you were going to together, which was an actual nightmare for you and your nervous system.

“I really can’t understand. Why me?” You asked Bateman, turning in his direction to see him looking through the window, with his headphones on. And of course, he didn’t hear you. 

All you could do was give him a shy tap on the shoulder. You heard the loud beats of rock music as he opened one of his ears and turned to face you. "What?"

His slightly annoyed intonation almost discouraged you from repeating your question. "I'm just wondering why you decided to invite me to this fashion show when you have much better options." 

You watched him frown, and before you continued, you already knew what Patrick was going to say: "Cupcake, I've told you several times. I want to show you the beauty of being rich. I bet you've never seen so many fabulous people in one place."

Sighing a little sadly, you fixed your coat to distract yourself from the burning anger in your chest. "I've had enough of the rich snobs in our company and…I’m not a fan of all these 'luxurious’ things, you know…”

With a small chuckle, Bateman removed his headphones completely, quickly checking his haircut in the window's reflection. 

"Of course you're not. How can you be a fan of things you can't afford?" He stated before trying to hug your shoulders, but when he saw your intense expression, he just gently put his palm on your knee.

"Money is not happiness," you cast a serious look at him, brushing his hand away from your leg. "Can you call yourself a happy man?"

Perplexed, Patrick knitted his eyebrows, as if your question had caught him off guard —you have never seen him so lost before and that was really strange. Fidgeting in his place, Bateman was certainly about to replay something when you heard the raspy taxi driver’s voice:

“We’ve arrived.”

"Thank you!" You responded before quickly getting out of the cab without waiting for Patrick to pay for your ride.

Obviously, you were upset and pissed off because of his endless snobbish dialogues about rich people, money and how much his regular suit cos—tnone of this really interested you, would he ever understand that?

As soon as you were outside, you felt a stiff wind blowing through your hair, ruffling it and making your mischievous locks cover your face. Quickly, you brushed them away and raised your eyes to the beautiful sign that read "Dior" in large letters; so stylish, so plush—just the way he liked it.

"Are you going to stand here forever?" Bateman scolded behind your back, his loud footsteps forcing you to spin around. 

"I'm so amazed, I can't even move," you sarcastically sneered, staring at the window of the boutique. "The aura of richness has just overwhelmed me."

"How witty," Bateman almost applauded you, his lips curling into a cheeky grin as he came closer, his muscular arms wrapped around your waist. "Come on, let's go inside." With a light push on your back, he induced you to move forward, his arms never left your little form. 

When you finally reached the entrance of the store, Patrick gallantly opened the door in front of you and looked at you from above, his eyes glowing with an unfamiliar tenderness.

"Much obliged..." You stammered as he somehow managed to grab your ass, stroking it and squeezing your buttock a little through your coat. Embarrassed, you turned to face him, but Bateman just smiled in his usual smug way. 

"My pleasure." He murmured in your ear before letting you go.

Once inside the boutique, you heard someone greeting Patrick with undisguised excitement:

"Mr. Bateman! It's so nice to see you again!  Welcome to Dior, we are so happy to help you."

'Again, huh?' You chuckled to yourself, turning your gaze to a side and wondering about the number of his visits and how many girls had been here before; Bateman’s face changed almost immediately as if he noticed your reaction.

“Thank you for the warm welcome, Mr. Graham,” you could definitely hear some tense notes in his tone. “You look great as always!”

The guy let out a little giggle; he seemed to enjoy the compliments as much as your yuppie boy. “Not as perfect as you!” he pointed his both index fingers at Patrick, and now was his turn to grin from being praised. “How can I help you?”

“Uh, I need a dress for…” he paused before staring at you, his eyes gliding over your completely relaxed expression. “For my good friend, but she doesn’t really know what she likes,” ‘good friend, with whom he slept almost every day. Nice shot, Bateman.' “Don’t cha, baby?” While saying that, Patrick groped your cheek, pinching it a bit.

Mr. Graham, who was supposed to be a local stylist, gave two of you a suspicious glare, and only then did Patrick understand what he was doing, pulling his hand away as if it had been burned. 

"Well, if the young lady doesn't mind, we can try something to your taste, Mr. Bateman," the stylist confirmed, examining you like a statue. "What do you think?"

"Great idea," Patrick exclaimed, pulling you into his arms to take off your coat. You almost fell into his embrace, whimpering as he 'accidentally' touched your boobs, squeezing them gently. 'Fuck, why should he be so obnoxious?' "I can't wait to see my Cupcake in one of these beautiful dresses." He whispered before leaving a tiny peck on your neck.

"That's very sweet of you, but..." you murmured, looking into his hazel eyes. "I don't think I'll fit into those dresses."

"Don't worry, honey." Bateman winked at you and gave you a quick slap on your butt to nudge you toward Mr. Graham, whose smile widened the longer he watched the two of you together.

“Please, follow me.”

Trying to distract yourself from all the bad thoughts, you just did what you were told and moved along countless hangers with new dresses. The further you got away from Patrick, the more insecure you became, and that strange feeling made your whole body shiver like from a cold shower.

“So, which color do you want to try on first? Maybe something dark?” the man asked you, sliding his hand across the beautiful fabric of some dress nearby. “Dark blue or dark red…Or even black?”

"I really like the black color, it goes with almost everything."

Mr. Graham chuckled amusedly and handed you a black cocktail dress, which of course was very short. Apparently Patrick didn't like long dresses or skirts, you already knew that, but that didn't mean you were happy about it.

“Mm-mh, and I think this one can fit too,” he gave you another dark blue dress before adding. “I still recommend you to have a look at our new collection, maybe you’ll find something interesting.”

“Maybe you’re right,” you sighed and smiled sincerely for the first time of the day. "Those amazing dresses I saw when we just entered are from a new collection?"

“Yes, Miss.”

"I'll check them out. And… thank you, Mr. Graham." Excited, you smiled again, and then you strolled away, a pile of dresses in your hands.

Once you reached the place you had been before, you heard multiple voices—one of them definitely belonged to Patrick while another one seemed to be unknown to you.

"What are you doing here?" You peeked out from behind the hangers to see a beautiful blonde girl, her face literally glowing with enthusiasm. "I'm so glad to see you, it's been a while." You didn't even have to look to know what she did next as the loud pecking sound echoed in your ears as if you had been hit with something hard.

The blonde left a small kiss on Patrick's cheek before he replied. "Good to see you too, Meredith."

“Are you here alone?”

“Mm-mhhm,” Bateman looked around and when he didn’t spot you, he added almost emotionlessly. “Yeah, you can say that.”

An instant pain burned in your chest, causing your hands to cling to the dress you were holding. Breathing heavily, you were about to send everything to hell and just leave, but for some reason, you decided to listen to their conversation, maybe you would learn something else about yourself being nothing but an empty place.

"So, are you going to the fashion show this weekend?" She asked cautiously, as if testing his line.

"Sure," they looked into each other's eyes for a while. "You know, I never miss things like that."

The way she giggled, forced you to close your ears from cringe, but that unpleasant sound kept bouncing in your head.

"Do you have a date or not?"

"Why do you ask?" Bateman retorted in a stern but concerned tone.

"I just... I thought maybe we could go together?" Flirtatiously, she pulled him closer, pretending to fix his coat.

"I'm sorry, but the answer is no." Frowning, he quickly took her hand away.

Ashamed, she stepped back and stalled. "You could just say you already have someone to go with and…"

Patrick scowled in irritation, cutting her off. "I'd still say 'no' even if I didn't…"

"Miss, did you find something you like?" Mr. Graham's sudden voice made you jerk and drop the super expensive dress with a thud.

It felt like all eyes were on you at that moment, and you didn't really know what to do other than quickly pick up the dress and act naturally. “God, I’m so sorry…I can be so clumsy sometimes!” You apologized, trying to ignore Bateman’s intense gaze. 

"Don't worry, Miss… it's not a problem!" The stylist assured you, matching his words with reassuring gestures.

"I'll pay for everything,” Patrick pronounced it so calmly and with absolute confidence, as he moved in your direction. “Have you finished?” 

First, you cast a confused glance at him, and then you looked at Meredith, her mad stare of disbelief almost making you laugh. “I think so,” you murmured, watching him getting closer. “I even got some of the new collection.”

“Ahh, is it so?” he teased, standing face to face with you. “Come on, let Daddy see what you’ve got.”

With that said, Patrick leaned over to your lips, and you let him pull you into a deep kiss, which was pretty surprising—your own behavior almost scared you, as you didn’t even care about people watching you making out. Deftly, he grabbed your waist to lift you up, but your audible protest compelled him to stop.

“Pat-Patrick…” you whispered against his mouth. “P-please, don’t forget where we are…”

“I know, I know,” he snickered softly, hiding his face in the curve of your neck. “I just missed my Cupcake so much.”

With a dull grin on your face, you pulled away from him to look into his dark brown eyes. "Really?" After you asked that, you glanced at the blonde girl behind his back, who was now talking to a middle-aged woman, probably the assistant.

“Time literally stopped for me when you left.” 

'What a beautiful flattery.'

After a while, you changed into the next dress because all the previous options didn't get Bateman's attention, even though you really liked them. You were struggling with a clasp when you heard him whine in anticipation.

“Baby, did you fall asleep in there?”

“Almost ready!” You blurted out before fixing the dress straps on your shoulders.

And then you walked out of the dressing room to the circular runway, and yes, this boutique had a special VIP area with a fucking runway.

"Finally, my favorite style," Patrick flattered, sitting in the leather chair and holding a glass of mineral water with a little lime. "Mm-mm, this dress outlines your tits so perfectly, not gonna lie, I like it."

A bit humiliated, you were constantly fixing the hem of the dress as it was too short for you, especially when Bateman was looking at you so vigilantly, making you feel yourself like a picture in some art gallery.

"Baby, turn around and…" he paused, crossing his long legs and pressing a finger to his lips. "Stop crawling! Square your shoulders and straighten your back!"

You turned around, unable to hide your sadness. "I… I don't feel comfortable in this. It's too short," you glanced at his annoyed face, wondering if you should continue. "I'm almost naked!"

"But that's the point!" Patrick tilted his hand to the side and was silent for quite a while, clearly thinking about something. "You know what, Cupcake?"

“What?”

"I'll be honest, this dress is amazing, but… unfortunately not on you," he scoffed before taking a sip of water. "It's not a problem, honey. Just take it as motivation to be better."

Biting your lip, you'd be lying to yourself if you said you didn't try to hide your pain and resentment, but your voice sounded dejected anyway. “Of course… keep pretending that you didn’t expect this…”

Humming to himself, Bateman squinted his eyes and leaned on his knees. “Expected what?”

“That these slutty dresses wouldn't fit me,” you glared at him, your body was yearning to get rid of this dress as quickly as possible. “Goddamn, I have enough of this…I hope you enjoyed this little performance!”

After saying that, you turned around and went back into the dressing room. Trembling with rage, you didn't even care what would come next as the searing flame of injustice overtook your mind. No way would you allow anyone to treat you like that.

"Shit!" You cursed as you attempted to undo the fucking clasp on your back, but it didn't seem to work. 

"If you keep pulling like that, you'll tear it apart for sure," his unexpectedly gruff baritone shot through your back like an arrow. "Let me help you."

"No!" You almost screamed, turning sharply to face him. Your chest rose and fell so abruptly that you thought you would choke on the air.

Sneering, Bateman gently extended a hand as if you were a wild beast he planned to tame. “Cupcake,” he was getting closer, forcing you to walk backwards. “Tell me…what’s wrong?”

"What's wrong?" You kept stepping back until you suddenly bumped into the wall behind you. "Maybe you should ask yourself first?"

"I think you should stop pouting or you will get wrinkles," he tried to be nice to you, but it only made you more upset. "I don't think either one of us wants that to happen, am I right, honey?"

“Stop it, Patrick…”

“Mm-mhh, it’s just Patrick now?” You didn’t even notice that his massive figure was already towering over you, pressing you a little against the wall. “No ‘Daddy’ anymore?”

Possessively, Patrick strived to cup your face, but you flinched away from his touch, coaxing a warning growl to break from his perfectly shaped lips.

 “Can you just leave and let me change?”

“Jesus, (y/n)...you’re acting like a stubborn child!”

Panting, you leaned your hands against his firm chest to push him away a bit. "Do you really think I'm in the mood…after all the rude things you said?"

He chuckled, looking at you from above and giving you a feeling of being so small compared to him, you almost stopped breathing. “Rude things?” laughing again, Bateman trapped you between his arms as he put them from both sides of your head. “I always say what I think, there’s nothing special about it…”

"More likely, you always think only of yourself," your voice wavered, and you found it hard to breathe, as if he was sucking all the oxygen out of the air. "Let's just skip this, if you still want me to go with you..."

“No, I don’t need you to do me a favor.” Patrick shushed you with a finger, pressing it against your lips, leaving you trembling like a leaf. 

“And I don’t need your help!” You tried to break away, but he kept you in one place. 

“Oh, is that so, honey?” he crooned in a sweet tone, rubbing his nose against yours; his seductive aura was almost intoxicating, it was corrupting your mind stronger than anything else in this world. “Honestly, I just wanted to help you undo the clasp but now… now, I want more than that…”

With no delay, Bateman covered your mouth his heated one, wrapping his brawny hands around your quivering frame and spreading your legs with his knee. Suffocated, you didn’t react, feeling his hard bulge brushing against your mound—a muffled moan of sudden pleasure pierced through your bonded lips, sending chills down you spin; your cute reaction didn’t surprise him, but Patrick couldn’t hide his satisfied grin as his hands were already pulling down the straps of your dress. 

And only now, you desperately clawed at his shoulders, weakly pushing him back, not understanding that your attempts to fight him were only putting gasoline on a fire, encouraging him to sprawl you against the wall, pinning your hands against your head.

"P-Patrick!" The way you almost screamed his name made you both tremble with ravenous lust as you looked into each other's eyes, not really knowing if you wanted him to let you go or hold you forever.

Growling quietly, Bateman continued to move along your longing body, forcing you to hook your hip around his loin, so you could grind against his hard groin. “Feeling good, darling?”

'No, not good...no!'

“Yes-s! Mmm-mh…Daddy… ahh!” Oh God, that was the end. 

"Baby," he murmured in your ear, thrusting his firm thighs into yours and shamelessly groping your bottom. "Daddy doesn't like to see his sweet Cupcake upset."

"Maybe...n-next time Daddy will think more before he talks." You stammered from the beat of your heart. 

“Do ya want me to bite this little sharp tongue?” panting, Patrick punctuated his words with rough smacks on your butt, which could be surely heard outside the dressing room. “I’ll teach you how to behave.”

Smoothly, Bateman pulled down the top of your dress, letting your breasts to bounce out from it, and the next second his greedy mouth was already sucking on your taut nipple. 

"Mmm…Gosh." You arched your back as the last vestiges of your self-control seemed to disappear along with your ability to resist this man.

Switching between your engorged peaks, Patrick didn’t stop rubbing against your mound not even for a moment, your throbbing pussy was about to explode at any second. Thirsty, he tugged on your tip with a squelch, enjoying each little whine you made, but he still needed more.

“Turn around,” he urged briefly, licking his lips in hunger as he watched you bent over in front of him. “Oh-fuck, I can smell your sweet arousal… mmm,” snuggling into you, Bateman left a wet hickey on the back of your neck before he started to move down, peppering your exposed skin with hot sloppy kisses. “C’mon, Cupcake, spread your legs for me.”

As if hypnotized, you obeyed and before you even noticed, his long fingers were teasing your sensitive clit trough your so-fucking-wet panties. Clinging to the wall, you were about to moan when you sensed his big palm on your chin, his hot breathing was mercilessly burning the delicate skin of your throat while his rock-hard bulge was still pressed against your ass.

“Aa-aww, Daddy….mhm.” You muffled against your own hand before turning around to give him your most innocent look–he read it almost right away.

“So, you need my help?” bastard! – you almost said it out loud, but Bateman was faster as he slid his thumb into your mouth, and you started to suck it like medicine you couldn’t live without. “Ahh-look at ya… Such a little slutty girl, can’t function without Daddy’s finger inside her dirty mouth…”

Twitching under his massive weight, you could only think of his skilful digits playing with your pussy better than you ever wished for, damn you were already so close but it seemed like Partick's endless craving spurred him on to tear you apart completely.

With no words, Bateman knelt behind your back to pull up the hem of your dress, and soon you had to compress your lips so tightly, as loud nasty sounds were about to erupt from your fiery chest when he finally moved your underwear to the side and his plump lips covered your feverish cunt. 

“Oh-mmmy God,” tensed like a string, you didn’t know if you wanted to cry or to laugh, or all these things together from how his masterful tongue was pushing you over the edge. “Mmm-Patrick-” you suppressed another moan when he bit one of your buttocks before spreading them wide open to push two fingers inside your blushing pussy. “A-aah-Daddy, I’m so close… p-please!”

Patrick only purred something incoherently in response, as he continued to lick your engorged folds and pumping your tight hole with his experienced digits. His persistent ministrations made you totally lose your mind, and now you didn’t understand were you begging him to stop or to NEVER stop. 

When your legs shook in his grip, you heard his raspy snarl: “Not yet, Cupcake…Not yet!”

'And he just stopped, holy hell.'

Your miserable sobbing bounced against the walls of the dressing room as the coil in your lower belly was yearning for its release, it was literally itching so hard you were ready to scratch the wall with your nails if it could help you a bit.

“(Y/N), you can’t even imagine how much I want to leave you just like that,” Bateman hissed, and then you heard the unzipping sound which caused your knees to buckle. "But I want to get all your stupid thoughts about acting like a brat… out of your head!"

Abruptly, Patrick put your legs together and the next second you felt his leaking tip between your legs, brushing against your soaked folds and making your squirm from ecstasy. 

'This man have no barriers, he can reduce me to pieces so easily, like no one else, and I am sure he likes it.'

A small drops of sweat were running down his forehead as he watched his beefy cock slipping back and forth with a sleek sound; your overstimulated pussy was literally on fire.

“P-please…” You whimpered, bending ever lower to give him a better access to your spasming cunt. 

“If you want to cum, you have to move, slut.” Groaning, Bateman stood still with his hands wrapped tightly around your hips. Mesmerised, he watched you grinding on his huge dick as you desperately chased your release. At that moment, your languid, heavy breathing was all that mattered to him.

Shivering erratically, you almost crested your high when Patrick harshly grasped your throat and pressed you against the wall, possessively he began to smack his cock against your clit, each slap he made was taking your breath away.

“Tell me, Cupcake…” he grunted against your neck, brushing his swollen tip along your throbbing nub barely sensible. “Who do you belong to?”

“You…Only y-you...”

Bateman squeezed your neck with blatant dominance and demanded in a low voice, "Uh, not quite convincing…try again."

“Aa-aww! I… I belong to you…Daddy!” You cried out through your pressed palm when he sped up the tempo, slapping your pussy with nasty wet sounds.

With a devilish smirk on his face, Patrick had to hold you still as you cummed so hard, gushing on his dick and fidgeting around the wall. Multiple waves of pleasure were washing over you like a waterfall, leaving you completely exhausted, you didn’t even have any power to moan. 

And soon, you became limp in his powerful arms, allowing him peacefully patting your head as he praised you. “You can be a good girl when you really want to,” Bateman kissed your temple, fixing his pants. “But still, you could just let me help you with this fucking dress.”

“You can help me now…” You replied, hungrily catching the air.

Smugly, Patrick eventually undid the clasp on your dress, not missing the moment to leave a red mark on your shoulder blade as he sucked on your soft skin. “Speaking about dresses. Since my favourite one didn’t fit, you can choose whatever you want…I don’t really care.”

You sighed, smiling ironically to yourself. “Great!”

Bateman didn’t stop smirking even for a second, he was so pleased with himself that he didn’t notice your sarcastic intonation, he just ignored it, as usual. “Come out when you are ready, I’ll wait for you in the hall.”

“What for? I can pay for this myself.”

His cheesy titter unpleasantly cut your ear. “I don't want you to starve, babe,” you cast an angry glance at him, but he only stroked your cheek before adding: “You only need to be an obedient girl, and I'll give you as many gifts as you want.”

“But I didn’t ask...”

A sudden ring of his mobile phone got his attention, so he hushed you with a finger before quickly going out from the dressing room, leaving you alone with your inflaming rage.

Snorting tiredly, you mentally screwed him a million times in a row, changed your clothes and tried not to even think about eavesdropping on his conversation with whoever it was. As you left the dressing room, you heard the echo of his voice from nearby.

“Jesus, Evelyn! I’ve told you already, I can’t take the time off work.”

At that moment, you could swear your legs weren't listening as they led you straight to the source of the sound. With your heart beating, you halted near the dressing room when his voice suddenly fell silent, and the next second the curtain was carelessly pulled aside so that your frightened eyes met his furious ones.

'Oops!'

Annoyed, Patrick stared at you with his hands crossed on his chest. It was too late to run now, so you stood still and heard him saying:

"Are you lost?" With a cocky grin, he picked up his briefcase and stepped closer to you.

"No...I mean, yes. Probably," your cheeks burned from the inside as the strong feeling of embarrassment hit you like a truck. "I was just looking for you and..."

"Aha," he crooned before towering over you, grabbing you possessively by the waist and leaning down to whisper in your ear: "Do you know the proverb 'curiosity killed the cat'?"

"I haven't heard it since I was a kid," you confessed, swallowing hard as you watched him taking the dresses from your hands, the mysterious grin never leaving his face. "Sorry, I really didn't mean to eavesdrop."

“I’m sure you didn’t.” Haughtily, Patrick winked at you, and that was really confusing because his unpredictable mood changes were the most difficult puzzle you had ever known.

“You don’t even want to see which dress I chose?”

"Not really, I'll see it tomorrow anyway," his voice sounded more stern now. "Unless you change your mind about going with me.”

He cast a challenging glance at you, but before you had a chance to reply, Bateman walked past you and gestured for you to follow. Slightly disappointed, you went after him and soon you made it to the hall where all this shit started.

"So, did the young lady find something to her taste?" The stylist asked as soon as he saw you coming. 

"Yep," Patrick let him pick up the dresses and put them on the big table next to the beautiful leather couch on which Bateman kept looking in disgust and you didn't even know why. "(Y/n), c'mon, point with your finger to which dress you like?"

The way he cooed to you was absolutely stunning. Sometimes it seemed like he could read you like an open book, and that only made you feel insecure.

"I think this one." You replied with a shy smile.

"Nice, very nice!" Mr. Graham exclaimed before calling for an assistant to pack your dress. "That will be 2800 dollars, sir."

Satisfied, Bateman hummed to himself and pulled out his wallet. "Do you take credit cards?"

"Of course!"

All the while, you were pretty shocked by the price for just a piece of fabric. Frowning, you didn’t even realize you were saying it out loud. "2800 dollars, for this?"

Everyone, including Patrick, turned to look at you; the stylist was seriously confused and he just mumbled: "Excuse me?"

"Huh, don't worry," Bateman chuckled and handed him his platinum AmEx credit card. "She just can't believe I finally bought her a dress of your brand. Am I right, dear?"

When Patrick glanced at you, you felt a cold breeze run through your body—he must have been really angry. "Mmm, yes! I have been dreaming about this for so long."

Even though you were not an actress, your words sounded more than natural. Both men smiled at each other and proceeded with the payment procedure.

All the way back to his apartment you both remained almost silent. Patrick continued to listen to the rock track he had paused on before going into the store, looking at you from time to time when you didn't see him, his hand fidgeting with the hem of your new dress that was lying on your knees. Yet, you couldn't believe he'd just bought you a dress that cost more than your monthly rent. You hated to owe someone, but now you felt like you did, and it was killing you from the inside...because you didn't ask him to get you that dress, you didn't ask him for anything, and still he was trying to push you into the world of luxury where you would be a stranger forever.

'Bullshit.'

"(Y/n), what's on your mind?" His sudden question caught you off guard, and you almost bit your tongue. Why did he even ask, when it seemed he could read your mind?

Fidgeting in your seat, you turned away from the window and gazed into his brown eyes, now filled with an unrivaled enigma. "Just thinking about how to survive all the challenges you have set for me."

You heard him laugh softly, and before you could continue, he hugged your shoulders and snuggled into your small frame, the heat his body was radiating melted the cold shell you had been building up since the moment he decided to 'help' you in the dressing room.

“Challenges?” Patrick rejoined, nuzzling against your neck as he pulled your collar down a bit. 

“Yes, Patrick,” you were trying to hold yourself as much as you could, not giving him more weaknesses to play around. “You know how much I hate all these fancy things which are made only for rich people.”

Bateman only purred something incoherently against your skin, tickling it a bit. “Cupcake…I think you need to relax.”

“Relax?”

“Yes, baby,” he tugged you closer, his nose was nearly rubbing against yours. 'Goddamn!' “Relax and take it easy.”

"Stop, stop, stop..." you pushed him away a bit, forcing his headphones to slide down his head completely. "You've reminded me almost every day...that I'm not from 'your world', that I'm just a mortal who can't afford to buy fucking clothes that cost a fortune...and now you're telling me to just relax?"

Patrick huffed and rolled his eyes. “(Y/n)...don’t even start this conversation again.”

“You’re such an…”

Despite the fact that the partition in the cab was closed, it seemed as if the taxi driver heard your loud voice, and the next moment he opened it to ask you if everything was all right.

When you said that everything was fine, he started to drive again and you clenched your palms into fists, feeling the embarrassment and anger fighting in your mind.

"You're ashamed of me, aren't you?" You wondered without looking at him. 

The way Bateman exhaled was not a good sign. "When you make such scenes—yes, I am." 

Sighing, you pressed a hand to your forehead. Damn, he was affecting you so badly and you hated yourself for it, for being so weak next to him, so vulnerable...you were literally losing yourself.

His apartment looked perfect as always, so clean, so posh, but there was something strange this time as you walked across the living room and saw a large bouquet of white roses on his kitchen island.

"Mmm, such beautiful flowers!" You approached them to inhale their scent.

"Yeah," he stated from behind, placing your dress on the back of his white couch. "I bought them for you."

Stunned, you broke away from them as if you were pricked. “For me?”

"I'm not going to repeat it," Patrick blurted out, walking into the kitchen to grab a glass and a bottle of super expensive whiskey. "Besides, I don't think it makes any sense now."

'Excellent.' 

Without asking, Bateman set a glass on the bar counter in front of you as you took a seat near it. Still frowning with irritation, he poured some red wine for you, and when you were about to thank him, he just strolled away. The situation was rather unconventional, to say the least, and you didn't really know what to do, maybe just leave?

"Patrick, I think we both need to cool off a bit...right?" you sipped at your wine, waiting for his answer, but he continued to ignore you. "I'm going to finish my drink and probably go home."

"Whatever." Was all he said, standing with his back to your face, clearly thinking about something. 

Upset, you stifled a sad gasp and took the glass before getting up. When you reached his white couch to have a look at your dress for distraction, you suddenly heard his challenging voice:

"You want to know who Evilyn is, don't you?"

Paralyzed, you almost choke on your wine. After coughing a little, you turned to see him standing near the coffee table with his hands in his pockets. This was getting serious.

"I don't understand, why do you ask?"

Patrick chuckled loudly and shook his head in disbelief. "Stop acting like a fool, Cupcake. I know you want this, I can even feel it," his face grimaced a bit dangerously while his eyes were getting darker by the second. "You've wanted it since we left the boutique, that's why you started acting like a bitch."

Trembling with burning rage, you squeezed the glass, almost breaking it. "I'm not in the mood for scenes, you know," you countered, not even noticing that you took a few confident steps toward him. "When I leave, you can bring Evelyn, Courtney, Meredith, whoever… and confront them for as long as you want!"

"Or maybe we can all have some fun together, huh?" he drawled the last words, enjoying the sight of your angry expression. "There's plenty of me to go around."

Scowling, you wanted to spit in his face, or slap him, or both. But instead, you just smiled and that was a little unexpected for him. "You're sick, Patrick. And I feel really sorry for you."

After saying that, you turned away from him to pick up the dress – you wanted to leave this place as soon as possible, so you even forgot about the glass in your hand.

"Of the two of us, you are the one who really needs some grief," his voice hurt you like a slow-acting poison, it was excruciating. Before Bateman returned to the kitchen, he added, "Evelyn is my fiancée, and has been all along. What an unpleasant surprise?"

A loud sound of broken glass echoed through the living room as soon as you heard his last words. It was a real miracle that the wine didn't splash onto the luxurious fabric of his white couch, but you didn't really care at that moment, with your heart beating so crazy in your chest. Closing your eyes, you took a deep breath and stood still, not hearing Patrick's footsteps behind you.  

'Damn, that glass must have cost a fortune.'

"Cupcake..."

"I know!" You cut him off, raising your trembling hands in the air. "I'll return the money...just tell me how much it costs?"

'Don't cry. Please, don't cry!' But you did, and when you felt his warm hand wrap around your forearm, you tried to push him away, yelping:

"Give me...give me something to clean the floor!"

"(Y/n), calm down! You're bleeding." 

"What?" you gasped, opening your eyes wide before looking down at your feet to see blood running down your ankle as a sharp piece of glass sank into your soft skin. Only then did you realize you were injured, a sharp pain hitting your brain like a lightning strike. “Oh, God…I thought it was w-wine…” You stammered as that was the end point for your nervous system.

With no more waiting, Bateman carefully took you in his arms to lift you up. Sobbing, you let him carry you into the bathroom and sat on the edge of his beautiful black tub. Gently, he removed your shoes and stretched out your bruised leg to assess the damage.

"Is it that bad?" You asked him in a shaky voice, trying not to look down at the wound. 

"No, but it would be better if you stopped flinching." He insisted, releasing your leg and going to the sink to get antiseptic, tweezers, bandages and cotton pads. 

As Patrick knelt before you, holding a pair of tweezers, time seemed to freeze for you, but then you screamed from the itching pain as he carefully pulled the shard of glass from your ankle.

"Mmmh," you mumbled through your palm when he pressed a cotton pad soaked in antiseptic. "Shit…I am so clumsy and reckless..."

"You are," Bateman murmured as he wrapped a bandage around your leg. Every move he made was very gentle and accurate. "But still, you are mine."

"No, I'm not," you struggled to free yourself from his grip, but his hands held your leg very tightly. "We both know that's not true..."

Shivering, you peered down at him as he remained on his knee beside you. Almost immediately, his hazel eyes locked with yours, mesmerizing as always. "Why is it always so difficult with you?"

“Ask yourself.”

The moment you attempted to get up, you almost fell on the floor, but Patrick caught you in his arms at the last second.

"Patrick, let me go..." you pushed him into his chest to get some distance, but he didn't even move. "I will leave and forget everything that happened between us. Just like you wanted!"

"I never said I wanted to!" he growled, holding you closer so you could almost feel his fast heartbeat. "Why can't you just be a good girl and accept what I give you?"

"Oh, you've already given me enough, believe me!"

Annoyed, Bateman just shook his head before pressing a finger to your lips, silencing you and taking your breath away. 

'No, no, no. Not again'

You swallowed hard as you felt his thumb slide up to your cheek to wipe away your salty tears. 

'Stop.'

"Cupcake."

'His voice, his scent, his brawny body.' 

"Look at me," Patrick whispered sweetly, and you felt yourself going limp in his strong arms, so you obeyed and let him kiss your temple. "You're driving me crazy and I hate it...because I'm so fucking obsessed with you!"

One sharp breath and his lips were on yours, forcing your hands to claw at his jacket, but Bateman only pulled you closer, deepening the kiss as his wet tongue played with yours. Panting against his mouth, you couldn't help but run your fingers through his soft hair, making it look so messy, but Patrick didn't care. Slowly, he lifted you up a bit to set you down on the sink opposite his bathtub, peppering your neck with little pecks.

"Daddy."

Just one simple word could turn this man into a savage beast, you knew it, but you couldn't stop yourself as your inner nature yearned for him and it felt like you were meant for each other, two broken souls finally found each other.

"Cupcake." He kissed your lips briefly before moving down to your cleavage and unbuttoning your shirt, his hot breath tickling your bare skin.

Everything about him was so intoxicating that your clouded mind refused to function at all and now you couldn't hear your inner voice begging you to stop. 

Quivering, you arched your back a little to give him better access, and immediately you heard him growl against your collarbone as he finally undid your shirt. Patrick didn't even bother to remove your bra - he just pulled it down, revealing your taut nipples; he licked his lips at the sight of them and then his greedy mouth was already devouring one of them.

"A-awwww," you mewled, hugging his shoulders as you literally melted under his touch. "Mmm, please!"

"Please what?" He looked at you, twisting your hard peak between his skilled fingers. 

"I..." you hiccupped from the way Bateman spread your legs as he nestled into you with pure possession, groping your hip and licking your neck. "I... don't know... Gosh!"

This was pure madness, what was consuming your mind, with every kiss he made, breaking all your barriers, the more you tried to resist it, the more it hit you back. Panting, you threw your head back and felt your eyes begin to water again as his strong hands caressed your trembling little body. Never in your life had you felt so lost. Never.

"Relax, sweetheart," Patrick mused into your ear as he slid his palm between your legs. And of course you were so shamelessly wet that you could flood his floor. "I got you."

"I can't, a-aah..." You sighed, tears streaming down your cheeks.

"Yes, you can," Bateman planted another sloppy kiss on your neck before grabbing your hand to press it against the hard bulge in his pants. "I couldn't stop thinking..." he paused, drinking in your stifled moans as he gave your clit a few slight rubs. "Do you think about me, Cupcake? I know you do..."

"Mm-mhh," your hands roamed desperately down his broad back, fumbling with the smooth fabric of his suit. "And I...ahh-I know you don't think about me..."

A loud whimper fell from your lips as he shoved two fingers into your dripping pussy, almost causing you to bump your head against the mirror behind, but he prevented it by wrapping his hand around your neck.

"You're mistaken," his low groan echoed against the walls of his bathroom, sending shivers down your spine and coaxing your inner muscles to spasm around his fingers as they mercilessly rammed in and out of your throbbing cunt. "Because you know nothing about me," Patrick curled his fingers to stimulate your most sensitive spot, gritting his teeth as his aching cock was about to explode with ravenous desire. "Now be a sweet girl like you always are and..."

"Owwww!" you screamed in sharp pain as he accidentally pushed on your wound. “It hurts!”

"Fuck, I forgot...damn it!" He cursed and removed his hand from your leg.

Seizing the moment of his confusion, you slipped out of his embrace and nearly ran for the door, and thank God it was open, because when you heard his almost furious groan, your heart skipped a beat:

"Come back!" 

"No, it can't be like this," you leaned against the door, holding out a hand defensively. "Not after what you said..."

Trembling, you watched him breathe heavily through his red nostrils, his wild gaze seeming to burn you alive as his self-control was about to snap. Scared, you weren't sure what to expect from him next, so you decided to leave this place right now, while it was still not too late.

Quickly, you walked into his living room and grabbed the damn dress, trying not to think about the broken glass and spilled wine. To be fair, you thought Patrick was going to chase you or threaten you with punishment, but none of that happened as he stayed in his bathroom. It was suspicious, but you would think about it later. 

As you were about to leave, you walked past the open door to the bathroom and told yourself to just go and not look back. But when you reached the front door, you froze and sobbed - your heart sinking while your mind was waving a red flag.

'Just leave, please!'

Huffing, you turned and walked back to the open door. The scene you saw was not what you expected, it simply broke your heart - Bateman was standing still by the sink, leaning on his hands with his head bowed.

"Patrick."

"You're still here?" He asked without looking at you.

"I'll go with you tomorrow...but I'm not doing it for you," your voice wavered, but you didn't allow yourself to sound weak. "I just wanted to make that clear."

And then you left him alone in his super luxurious apartment on Manhattan's Upper West Side. No matter how hard you tried to hold back your tears, they kept slipping down your cheeks. Even when you were in the cab on your way home, your soul was still aching because it seemed like the wounds he made couldn't be healed.

When the night came, there were only a few windows with lights on, and Patrick's bedroom window was one of them.

Irritated, Bateman lay on his bed while a blonde girl sucked him off, bobbing her head up and down at a fast tempo. There was no denying that she was trying her best to give him as much pleasure as possible, but he felt nothing, literally no emotions – only the dark void inside his mind.

"(Y/n), you're doing everything wrong...not the way I like it!" Patrick grumbled, pulling on the girl's hair.

"Who?" She asked confusedly, looking up at him. "My name is Meredith, in case you forgot, honey."

Bateman just laughed and carelessly pushed her down, forcing her to continue. "Shut your fucking mouth and suck my dick. You stupid whore!"

Meredith was making too many noises which annoyed him so much as he was trying to concentrate on dreaming of you—your beautiful face, your innocent sparkling eyes. Although this girl was very pretty, definitely 'his type', there was not a single trace of you and he thought he would never reach his high.

"Mmhm, Patrick…Maybe you will fuck me already?" 

"Maybe," he sighed, watching her laying on her back with undisguised excitement, but then he frowned in a weird disgust. "No, get on your knees. I can't see your fucking face."

"W-what? What's wrong with you today?Ah!"

Angrily, he slapped her hip and rolled her onto her stomach. Without any preparation, he bottomed out, closing his eyes and thinking about the way you twitched every time he thrust inside you. Speeding up his pounding, Patrick finally felt his orgasm building up inside his body when she suddenly moaned. "Oh, yeah! Daddy, it feels so good!" 

That was not even rage, it was something beyond that. Brutally, he squeezed her neck, almost choking her, and growled near her ear as he leaned down. "Never call me that! Understand?" he yanked her against the bed, still clutching her throat, and only when she was on the verge of asphyxia he released her, fucking her harder and gritting his teeth. "Fucking bitch, you should thank me for not killing you."

Camera flashes never stopped clicking in front of your eyes, you almost thought it was impossible to hide from them. They were literally everywhere, as were the countless supermodels and rich yuppies who looked at them without shame, their hungry eyes ready to eat them alive.

"Hey, are you trying to get lost or what?" 

With a soft gasp, you stopped and turned around to see Patrick's irritated face as you walked through the huge hall, every part of which gave you strong vibes of luxury lifestyle.

"I don't think you'd notice my absence anyway," you replied, walking straight until his arm wrapped around your waist, causing your lungs to spasm from the sudden lack of oxygen. "Patrick?"

"Listen to me," he pulled you closer and leaned down to your ear, whispering in a serious tone. "There are a lot of bad people here who came for more than just fashion."

"Even worse than you?"

He scowled, but continued. "Much worse, believe me."

"Don't pretend you care," you tried to walk away, brushing his hand aside, but he tightened his grip. "Get off me!"

"You're too naive and innocent. I don't want you getting into trouble while you're here with me." Tensed, Bateman stroked your back to calm you down a bit as he noticed the people around starting to stare at you.

"That's very sweet, but I don't need your 'protection'...I'm pretty sure you came here for the same reason as all the other yuppies." 

"I didn't ask for your opinion, okay? Let's get to our seats," he said possessively, easily cradling you in his arms, covering your small frame like a cocoon. "We have the best seats, by the way. Right next to the runaway."

"Amazing," you murmured as he led you through the endless crowds. "Not a single model will escape your gaze."

"That's right."

Frowning, you were about to slip out of his grip when suddenly someone ran into you, stomping painfully on your feet.

"Ouch!" Your loud whimper caused Patrick to turn in your direction, but then he froze as he looked over your shoulder at the blonde girl who was immediately apologizing. 

"Oh God, I'm so sorry..." the familiar voice hit you like a bolt of lightning. "I can be so clumsy," she touched her forehead before locking her lost gaze with Bateman's. "Patrick?"

That was Courtney. There was no doubt it was her, especially when she smiled at him so brightly it could easily outshine the Sun. 

"Hello, Courtney. It's so good to see you!" Patrick crooned gallantly, his arms finally releasing your shivering body. 

But even if a few minutes ago you wanted him to take his hands off you, now you were feeling a bit upset that he actually did.

"How could I miss this?" She asked flirtatiously, completely ignoring your presence. "Where are your seats?"

"Yeah, where are they?" You blurted out abruptly, making them both almost jump. "I just don't want to interrupt your sweet conversation and..."

You almost hissed from the sudden pain as you felt his firm hand on your ass, pinching your buttocks. His face didn't change, though, as he continued to grin haughtily, his eyes never ceasing to roam over Courtney's pretty body. With slight irritation, Bateman approached your neck and whispered in your ear how to get to your seats, then nibbled briefly on your earlobe as a sign of his displeasure, but you didn't pay any attention.

"Thank you, Daddy." You uttered the last word in the most disgustingly sweet way you could and strolled away without looking back. No matter how much you wanted to, you just couldn't.

Patrick wasn't lying—the seats were really so close to the runway that you could probably see every little detail on the models' clothes.

After about fifteen minutes, it was getting dark, which meant that the show was about to start. You fidgeted in your seat, trying to find a comfortable position, but it just didn't work, your butt was still sore from Bateman's pinch.

As soon as you remembered him, you heard his voice as he moved across the seats to reach his place. Patrick grinned at you smugly as he sat down next to you, crossing one leg over the other and fixing his hair.

"You must be very pleased with yourself, Cupcake?" He asked mockingly.

You scowled and pretended not to understand what he was saying as the music turned up really loud: "I can't hear you."

Patrick just chuckled softly, put a hand on the back of your seat and moved closer. "I said you look so beautiful today."

'God, what a jerk.' 

"Can't say the same about you."

"Uh, such an angry little kitten," Bateman laughed, looking at you from under his beautiful lashes. "I don't think I'll survive this."

"You really think I care?"

And then the show started, unfortunately not allowing you to finish what you were about to say. As expected, the models looked gorgeous and the clothes they were wearing were absolutely amazing—you had to admit that. Although you tried your best not to notice the way Patrick was staring at the girls on the runway, you had to claw at your skin when one of them winked at him without any shame.

"This is the grace I've been telling you about," he bowed closer to you to make sure you heard what he was saying. "The perfect example of feminine beauty."

You smiled ironically and replied without looking at him: "The real beauty begins when the boys come out."

Your sudden statement elicited a muffled groan from his chest, but Bateman simply nodded and turned away from you. From that moment on, he was almost silent, and it was a little strange, but as the male models appeared on the runway, you stopped analyzing and just enjoyed the handsome men walking back and forth in front of you. Everything was fine until one of the models found your eyes in the crowd and smiled at you. And of course Patrick wouldn't miss it.

"Do you like him?"

"W-who?" You stammered, feeling his warm hand on your knee.

"The model who just walked by," he murmured, stroking your exposed skin under the hem of your dress, sensing the way you tensed under his touch. "Maybe you should go talk to him after the show."

Shit, you couldn't believe he meant it or... you just didn't want to believe it?

"I'm not like you, Patrick," you chastised, feeling so damned angry as his words cut painfully through your heart. "You sometimes forget that not everyone is like that..."

"Like what?" Bateman scoffed with a raised eyebrow.

"You know what I mean." You added with a teasing smile and turned away from him, but he immediately grabbed your face, forcing you to squeal from the unexpectedness. 

"No, I don't," he scoffed, pushing on your jaw. "C'mon, Cupcake, tell me."

The surrounding darkness came in handy in this situation, not to mention the fact that almost everyone was focused on watching the show, so Bateman felt pretty confident knowing that no one would notice your little fight here.

"Get off!" You hissed, wrapping both your hands around his wrist in an attempt to pry it away.

"Awww, look at those little hands," he pulled you closer, so you could feel his hot breath on your trembling lips. "You are so small and yet so brave. It fascinates me, I won't lie."

You froze for a second as his words caught you off guard. Blinking several times, you didn't even notice that his large palm was now gently stroking your chin, moving up to your cheek and ending this little intimate moment by pressing lightly on your half-opened lips.

Actually, that was the worst thing he could do at that moment, because his illusory softness and tenderness hurts like hell. It was like a sweet candy with a sharp blade inside.

Just as you realized how close your faces were, you tried to pull away, but Patrick's grip was too tight. Fixing you in place by your chin, he captured your mouth with his, hungrily relishing your taste, your shiver, your muffled gasp against his lips. Bateman tested your limits so masterfully that every little move he made was as precise as his side profile. Slowly he wrapped one hand around your neck while another was already resting on your waist, the kiss you shared was something more than just physical contact, and you let yourself sink into the flow of emotions, closing your eyes and letting him kiss deeper. You almost moaned, but the surrounding music of the show drowned out any obscene sounds that tried to escape your swollen lips.

His strong, warm tongue danced along yours, not even giving you a chance to take the lead, so you just opened your mouth wider and let your noses brush together, forcing your hearts to beat in a crazy rhythm.

God, this man was the darkest curse... the most delightful blessing.

After a few seconds, the people around started applauding so loudly that you had to open your eyes just as the lights came on. The strange delusion that was like a white veil behind your vision began to fade, and only then did you and Patrick realize that you were both staring at each other, your mouths still pressed together.

A second, two seconds.

It seemed as if you were both waiting to see who would break away first, and as soon as you heard someone coughing behind your back, you pulled away from Patrick's strong arms, but you knew that you only managed to break free because he let you.

"Patrick! I thought I wouldn't see you here!" A familiar female voice echoed from above and you didn't even bother to turn around to see another bimbo Bateman was hanging out with.

Shit, what if she saw what you were doing?

At first you thought Patrick would pretend he didn't know you or something, but instead Bateman smiled smugly and put his hand on the back of your chair.

Annoyed, but still as majestic as a lion, he looked up at the blonde and said quickly: "Hi, Meredith."

Her face turned into a sad grimace, though she pretended that Bateman's indifference didn't upset her. Obviously, Meredith was outraged and needed someone to take her anger out on. 

With a haughty grin, she scoffed and almost stepped on your foot. "I don't understand, how can a man like you go out with someone like... her?"

Damn, that was such an obvious insult that it didn't even trigger a single emotion, you just gave her a deadly stare when you finally met her little eyes and you could swear that you saw a trace of fear in them.

"I asked myself the same question," you muttered suddenly, getting up from your seat and looking at Patrick, whose perfect eyebrows now frowned, especially when he understood what you were you doing—he squeezed the back of the chair until his knuckles turned white. "Have a nice evening." 

With those words, you quickly walked away, and you were so damn glad that Bateman decided not to follow you, because with every step you took, your eyes got more and more watery. 

"How did she even get here? Ugly people like that should stay at home to avoid traumatizing anyone." Meredith hissed as she watched your little figure moving away from them. "Who is she?" 

Patrick chuckled, then did his classic move of parrying the question with his natural charm. "Oh, you're so mean," he muttered as he watched the blonde take your seat next to him. Playfully, Bateman pinched her nose and they both started to giggle, no matter how disgusted he felt himself right now, he wouldn't admit that your sudden leaving made him sad. "Such an angry little bitch."

You couldn't remember how you found your way to the ladies' room, but as soon as you stepped up to the sink and looked in the mirror, you scowled and clenched your fists from the sharp pain in your chest. 

"I... I hate you so much!" You hissed in a trembling voice, not really knowing who you were addressing, yourself or Patrick, who was probably already taking the blonde bimbo to his place.

His womanizer nature was not a secret, so why did it hurt so fucking much? 

Depressed by your weakness towards this man, you wanted to smash the mirror to stop seeing this sad face covered with tears, but you heard someone coming, so you just froze in place with your trembling hands in the air. A model walked past you and accidentally bumped your shoulder.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" She squealed and opened the fauster to wash her hands.

Even though you understood that she didn't do it on purpose, it made you so mad that you almost ran out of the bathroom, loudly slamming the door behind you.

The moment you realized that you couldn't remember how to get out of here made all your insides cramp like a spring, and you thought you were just going to fall to the floor from a sudden fear of being lost. 'Fuck, not now, not now!'

Quivering, you looked around, searching for... Patrick? But instead of him, you could only see an endless number of beautiful models strolling here and there. Closing your eyes, you took a deep breath to calm yourself, but when that didn't help, your legs seemed to give way, and you slipped against the wall until you rested on the floor. This panic attack was nothing compared to the ones you had before, your heart pounding painfully against your chest as if trying to burst through it. Things got worse when you felt the lack of oxygen as you literally suffocated with panic and your body burned from the inside out.

The group of models stood by and noticed your small, shivering form, rocking back and forth with your hands wrapped around your head. 

"Hey! Are you okay?" One of them approached you and crouched down beside you, trying to help you up, but you refused.

"Don't touch her, Lizzy! Maybe she's on drugs. Let's go already!"

"No, wait... she clearly needs help," the models looked at each other, one of them trying to pat your shoulder to calm you down, while her friend tapped her foot annoyingly. "Are you in pain? Did someone hurt you?"

"N-no," you finally mumbled, opening your eyes to see that not only two, but many of these girls were already gathered around you. "I— I'm fine, I'm sorry... I'm just..." 

Lost.

Jesus, that was so embarrassing that the words just stuck in your throat like a lump, and now you felt like a little girl who got lost in the big mall when she decided to run away from her parents. 

"What's going on here?" That voice made you almost faint. "Get away!"

A bit roughly, Bateman pulled the model away from you and leaned down to your shivering form.

"HEY! We were just trying to help!"

"Go away! All of you!" He turned and barked at all the girls watching the scene. "Get the hell out of here, there is nothing to look at!"

Your head was spinning, at first you couldn't even believe it was him, hiding you from everyone with his broad, tall figure, as if he was trying to… protect you?

"Cupcake? Cupcake, look at me," his worried cooing made you submit, making you want to believe that he was really concerned about you. Gently, he cupped your face and stroked your slightly disheveled hair. "What happened?"

At first, you didn't say anything — you were paralyzed, mesmerized by his brown eyes, which were gliding desperately up and down your body, checking every little part of it. 

"Who did this to you?"

'You did.'

But he would never know.

"You came," you replied briefly. "Why?" 

Patrick frowned at your answer and let out a tired sigh. "I've been looking for you since you left, because this place is huge, and I didn't want you to get into trouble, but," he paused and brushed your tears away concisely. "But it looks like I'm too late. God, you're so reckless," he shook his head and stood up.

As soon as Patrick did that, something clicked in your head, and you didn't even notice that you were already on your feet as you snuggled up to him and buried yourself in his arms with a deadly grip.

"Please, don't go!" You begged in a trembling voice, hugging him tighter. "Don't leave me!"

Shocked, Bateman didn't know how to react, his arms dropped motionlessly, but then he carefully placed them on your back, drawing invisible lines along your spine. 

"I have to get our coats. You came here in your coat, did you forget?"

Blinking several times as you looked into his eyes, you replied softly: "Yeah… I did."

Patrick couldn't help but smile adorably. "Wait for me here, (y/n). I'll lead you outside, you'll feel better there." He explained and distanced himself from you. "Don't go anywhere! Got it?"

You nodded, and only then did he walk away. Without even looking back, he disappeared into the crowd.

Bateman was right, once you left the building your condition improved, and you could finally breathe in the fresh air, filling your lungs with the oxygen they so desperately needed. A cool wind blew into your face, making you shiver, but it was nothing compared to the emotions you were experiencing right now — the fact that Patrick had come for you, that he was looking for you, left you with no choice but to stifle a loud scream that you wanted so bad to let out.

Bateman remained silent, standing a short distance behind you, puffing on his cigar and watching the smoke rise from it.

"Has this ever happened to you before?" His question came out of nowhere.

You shrugged, but didn't turn around. "Yeah... it happens sometimes, especially in crowded places."

Bateman didn't say anything, but you could feel the tension between the two of you. Without a rush, he moved closer to you, watching you hug yourself — the difference in your sizes made him gulp, but he didn't dare touch you. Not yet.

"Why didn't you tell me then?" He whispered above your ear before smoking his cigar.

"Because it doesn't matter."

"It does."

"No!" You blurted out and turned round to face him. "It… doesn't."

The way he looked at you was enough to make you hold your breath and take a small step back, but the next moment you were already trapped in his sturdy arms, the sharp smell of snuff filling the air around you as he blew off several rings of smoke.

"You're not going anywhere now." His voice lowered, and you closed your eyes from the astonishing sensation of being caught in his strong hands, feeling his hot breath on your face. 

"Patrick," you gasped and hugged him back, surprising him for a second. "Thank you for... for everything."

A loud cacophony of laughter and rumbling got your attention and you looked over his shoulder to see Meredith and her friends coming towards you. She seemed to spot you even faster than you spotted her, and now her eyes were bloodshot red.

"Can you," you stammered, feeling ashamed. "Can you kiss me?"

What the hell was going on inside your head?

Anyway, you didn't have time to reflect on this, because Patrick wasn't the type of person who needs to be asked twice. The moment his soft lips met yours, the ground under your feet seemed to disappear, so he had to hold you with both hands, not caring that his expensive cigar fell down. Even if you would blame yourself for that, all you could think about now was his strong hands sliding along your small form, outlining your curves as you let him do it, while he used his wet tongue to make you go limp in his embrace.

Sneakily, Patrick admired your beautiful face with his half-open eyes, probably not even realizing how much you meant to him, how deep you were rooted in his soul. But did he even have a soul in the first place?

When you broke the kiss, you didn't see Meredith or her friends anymore. Bateman noticed you were looking for something, so he turned to look at the direction of your gaze.

"Cupcake?" He was confused when he didn't see anyone. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Uh, yeah! I just thought I saw a familiar face," you lied, trying to act natural. "I... I should probably go home."

Patrick gave you a suspicious glance, still holding you in his arms. "Actually, I don't want to leave you alone after what happened."

"What do you mean?" you asked, a little disappointed. "I said I'm fine."

"Shhh," he pressed a finger to your lips, and you felt the smooth, cold leather of his glove. "I know you like to be bratty, but now isn't a good time. You really scared me."

Sighing, you dropped your head and covered his hand with both of yours. "I'm sorry, I... I didn't want you to see me like that."

To be honest, you didn't want anyone to see you like this because you hated looking weak in front of people. Especially in front of people like him, because it would automatically give him another trump card to play around with.

"Let me take you home." Bateman mumbled briefly, fixing your hair and then rubbing your neck to relax you.

"Aren't you afraid you'll have a heart attack coming to my place? It's not like your apartment in Manhattan."

He chuckled and pinched your cheek, leaving you confused and offended.

"Of course it's not," Patrick grinned and poked you in the nose. "I don't have any expectations."

You frowned and tried to push him back, but he only pressed you closer, nuzzling your neck and leaving a small hickey on it for which you were not ready — your muffled whimper made him sneer even louder.

"That's a pretty exhaustive answer," he didn't even allow you to say anything in return as he kissed you again, but this time much more passionately. "I'll get us a cab."

This man was like a hurricane that tossed everything around and no matter how many walls you built — he would break them down, one after the other, because nature couldn't be stopped. It seemed that you were completely disarmed against your own nature, because it was calling for him, it was pushing you into his possession, and you were already so tired of fighting these feelings.

There was something special about New York at night, when millions of lights were shining like diamonds, reflecting on the water of the Hudson River and taking your breath away with the feeling of being so small in such a huge city, where the numerous soaring skyscrapers were almost touching the sky.

Tiredly, you closed your eyes, sighed, and leaned on the armrest of the car door, watching the scenery change behind the window. Patrick listened to the music, as he always did, his hands stroking your knee from time to time, but you could hardly feel it, since you were completely overwhelmed by emotions, feelings and thoughts. It was hard to believe that even after all that had happened, you still let him take you home, knowing damn well that he wouldn't just stay in the cab when it stopped at your place. 

Just as you entered your apartment and turned on the lights, you heard his slightly nervous chuckle and little comment.

“Mmm, it's pretty clean here.”

His words almost made you choke. “Did you really think that my place would look like a dump just because I don't live in Manhattan?”

“I didn't mean that.” Bateman murmured behind you, following you carefully down the hall. “Where can I put my coat?”

“Why do you ask? I don't remember inviting you here,” You took off your coat and put it on the rack next to him. “Aren't you afraid your coat will stink  of poverty?”

Patrick couldn't help but chuckle in a husky voice. “You're funny, Cupcake.”

'And why did I trust this man at all? What was so special about him?'

You didn't say anything, only a thin smile ran over your tired face as you turned around and saw him putting his coat over yours. After that, you continued to walk to your small kitchen, and as soon as you reached the table next to the window, your eyes began to search for something.

“Did you lose something?” He asked, leaning against the wall and hiding his hands in his pockets.

“N-no,” you stammered, as if he had caught you doing something bad. God, he was embarrassing you in your own apartment! “Just … It's been a while since I've had guests.”

Patrick hummed something incoherently and crossed his arms over his broad chest, then moved lazily to the kitchen counter when something caught his eye while you were busy gathering all the stuff on the kitchen table — including some books and various papers from work.

With undisguised interest, Bateman picked up the medicine to take a closer look at its name. “Don't you know these things can cause addiction?”

“What?” You turned to see him examining your sedatives.

“How long have you been taking them?” He asked again, his perfect eyebrows knitted together now.

You sighed tiredly and walked over to him, holding out your hand. “Not too long. Now give it to me, please.”

“I can bring you much better medication than this, since it obviously doesn't work,” he stated in a stern voice, without looking at you. “Because the panic attacks are still kicking your pretty ass.”

His words made your jaw clench, but you didn't even try to snatch the medication from him, instead you just let out a soft groan of annoyance, crossed your arms and rolled your eyes.

“That's very kind of you, but I have to decline your offer.” You replied, watching him shake his head in irritation. “Besides, you can only get those pills with a doctor's prescription.”

Patrick just shrugged and put the pills back on the kitchen counter.

“That's not a problem,” he quickly straightened his red tie before stepping closer to you. “I have one of the best therapists in the city.”

“Uh-huh, and the pharmacy you go to is probably one of the best, too?”

He grinned. “Sure, I usually get my meds from the one on Broadway.”

“Good for you.”

You started to saunter away from him, but his hands caught you faster than you could react. The next thing you knew, Bateman was holding you tightly against his tall, broad frame, looking down at you with obvious concern.

“Cupcake,” he murmured in a sweet voice, tracing a finger along your cheek. “I just want to help.”

Damn, this man only had to touch you a little bit and you were already lost in him. 

“Patrick, you don't have to. I—” You didn't have a chance to finish your sentence because your lips were sealed by his. 

Completely defenseless and vulnerable — that was how you felt right now, and it seemed as if he could feel it as the kiss grew deeper and more intense with each passing moment. Cautiously, you rested your hands on his shoulders before sliding them down to the lapels of his suit, fumbling with the soft material and feeling the ground disappearing beneath your feet.

'It's already too much.'

Only when you were both breathless did Patrick decide to break the kiss, but his arms were still wrapped around your waist, as if he was afraid you would disappear like a mirage. 

“You were involved in all this because of me," he paused and leaned down to you again, letting your noses rub against each other. This little physical contact made your heart flutter. “And you really made me worry.”

Bateman said it so quickly, as if he wasn't even thinking properly at that moment. Embarrassed, you shrugged a bit in his arms. No matter how hard you tried to believe this man, all you could think about now was whether you were trapped in his other manipulative, mind games.

“I’ll be fine, I promise,” you put a hand on his chest, feeling his heart beating fast under your fingertips and the next second you pulled your hand away as if you got burned. “Anyway, it’s late already and you probably have some more interesting stuff to do.”

His soft chuckling was annoying but pleasant to hear. “You’re not quite hospitable, aren’t you?”

Eventually, he let you go and stepped aside, unbuttoning his jacket — that scene caused your pulse to race. 

“What are you doing?” “What does it look like?”

You crossed your arms and sighed. “Patrick, I really appreciate your help and… the show was really cool, but I doubt I would ever go back to that place again.” 'Damn it, did I actually say that?'

After Bateman removed his jacket, he carefully put it on the back of one of the kitchen chairs and tucked his sleeves. 

“You’re welcome,” he beamed with a cocky smile. “I thought you would offer me some tea, coffee or something?”

“I doubt I have anything good to your taste,” slowly, you turned away from him, as an unpleasant feeling of shame struck you right through your chest. “Mmm, I can only offer you mineral water but it’s not Apollinaris.”

“Oh, dear,” he crooned and suddenly hugged you from behind. “I didn’t expect you to have Apollinaris. Honestly.”

Gasping barely audibly, you covered his arms on your waist with your own arms and cocked your head to meet his brown eyes and for God’s sake, why did he always look so tempting, so captivating, so… magnetizing?

With a sharp breath, you managed to avoid another kiss he planned to pull you into, and it coaxed a low growl of disappointment to erupt from his half-opened lips which were so intended to collapse with yours. 

“Patrick,” you gulped when he nuzzled against your neck, leaving small wet marks along your sensitive skin. “Please, stop. Let me just bring you some water and I want to relax a bit, after… after everything that happened.”

It was kinda unexpected that Bateman decided to let you go as easy as that without even trying to overpower you like he always does.

“And what do you do to relax?"

“Hot bath.” You responded without looking at him. Annoyed, you stumbled past him to grab the meds he was inspecting a few minutes ago, and then you opened the fridge to take out the bottle of mineral water. As soon as you started to pour the water into the most beautiful glass you had, you noticed his persistent stare, which made you almost spill the water onto the kitchen counter. “What?”

“These pills are no good for you, (y/n),” his anxious tone was very unnatural, you didn’t even remember him sounding like this ever before. “Stop being stubborn.”

With a small thud, you put the glass on the table next to him and replied a bit aggressively: "I don't think they're worse than coke."

At first, Bateman just gritted his teeth and clenched his hands into fists, but then he took a quick sip of the mineral water, trying as hard as he could to play cool.

“Thanks.” Was all he said and that was actually not the reaction you have expected.

There was an awkward silence hanging in the air for some seconds and none of you wanted to continue this conversation, but once you tried to move his hand (that was wrapped around your forearm), his low voice engulfed you like a hot steam.

“Cupcake, I just want to make sure you won’t do anything bad.” “W-what do you mean?” You frowned in confusion and glanced at his hand before you raised your eyes to his perfect face. “Patrick, I suffer from panic attacks… not the things you're thinking of.”

“Then, go take a bath and I’ll leave after that.”

“But I’m not a child,” the more you were trying to resist him, the more your body was yearning for his touch, his large palm on your back was enough to make you forget how to breathe. “You don't owe me anything, this is my problem and I’ll handle this, just like I was doing it before.”

“To be fair, your behavior only shows how immature you are,” he crooned and traced a long, sensible line along your spine. “But, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt since you’re overwhelmed.”

At some point, you found yourself tired from trying to convince him to leave you alone, so you just nodded and quickly took your sedative before heading to the bathroom under his attentive gaze. After all, even if you even attempted to make him go away you would fail because compared to him you were so small and weak — Patrick had power over you in all ways, and he knew that. 

You were trapped in your own flat, what nonsense.

In a few minutes, you were sitting in the bath and letting the warm water bring you some relief, just like it always did. Affected by sedatives, you didn’t even remember whether you closed the bathroom door or not, but being honest, you didn’t really care, because even if Patrick came here he wouldn’t see anything new. 

The bitter aftertaste of what happened made you feel like shit, and you really didn't know how to find a way out from it. As if it was not enough for you to be dependent on Patrick (you owe him a lot of money), now you gave him more weaknesses that he could potentially use against you. 

'Excellent!'

Hugging your knees, you burst in tears — salty tears that were falling into the water, leaving small circles on it. Before now, you didn’t even realize how devastated you were. You closed your eyes for a second and you drifted off almost instantly, and with each passing moment, your body was submerging into the water more and more.

Meanwhile, Bateman was sitting on the little couch in your living room, which he suddenly found pretty cozy, though he checked if everything was clean enough before he dared to take a seat. Did he really think that people outside Manhattan used to live in dirty, trashy apartments? Well, maybe he did, since he didn’t even remember when was the last time he was in such places.

Ever since you left, Patrick had been fighting the temptation to go through your things to find something interesting, which he would of course use for his own interests. But instead, he picked up one of your books from the coffee table, and as he did so, a small piece of paper fell out. Squinting suspiciously, Bateman leaned down to grab it, only to almost crumple it when he saw your handwriting —  the paper was completely covered with your notes, and they were all the same phrase — "If I want to be loved as I am, I have to be willing to love others as they are." Patrick couldn't count how many times you had written that, but each line he read evoked something strange in him — the unraveling feeling that urged him to rip the paper, to crumple it. Is it compassion that he was so afraid of?

Closing his eyes for a moment, Bateman took a deep breath and put the paper back in the book, no matter how much he wanted to destroy it or forget what he had just read. After that, he checked his Rolex and noticed that it had been quite a while since you had left. Slowly, he got up from the couch and went to the bathroom. His 'sixth sense' had never failed him before, so he decided to rely on it and check on you.

Patrick didn’t knock once he noticed that the door was not closed, he just stepped in, looking for you.

“Cupcake, are you—”

A chilling shock swept over him when he saw only the top of your head above the water. Without a second thought, he ran across the bathroom and knelt down beside the tub to pull you out of the water, and the moment he did, you began to cough, clinging to his arms and desperately gasping for air.

“Pat-Patrick,” you were shaking so badly, so he had to hold you in one place, pressing you against his solid chest. “I don’t know how that happened… I… I didn’t want this I—” “Shh, (y/n),” Bateman cooed at you in order to calm you down, but he wasn't any less scared than you. “It’s okay, I’m here.”

Trembling, you looked up at him — your eyes so red from tears, your heart beating like a broken alarm-clock. “I think I ruined your suit… I’m so sorry!”

Appalled, you tried to break free but Patrick didn’t let you move, his strong arms were holding you like tight ropes. Damn, he was so angry — he could sense his blood boiling inside his veins, forcing his jaw to clench in a silent growl. He was so fucking mad at himself. 

How could he let this happen? 

As this question ran through his bewildered mind, he froze in fear. He didn't know if he was talking about letting you nearly drown in your own bathtub or letting you take roots on his broken soul. Maybe that was the reason you two had bonded, two broken souls seeking for something that would stop their pain, something that would bring them freedom from a burdened life. But how could he help you when every day he was fighting his dark side, the side you didn't know about yet? The side he wished you would never meet.

Never.

"God... I'm so stupid." You cried out, interrupting his train of thought and bringing him back to reality. 

"Shh," Bateman husked, cupping your face. "Stop talking!" He sighed and looked into your blurry eyes, breathing so heavily that it was almost painful. "Just don't say anything right now."

Maybe it was the adrenaline, or maybe the sedative had a side effect on you, but as soon as he tried to pull you out of the tub completely, your hand slipped down his chest to his groin — your sneaky fingers instantly playing with the buckle of his belt, causing a shaky groan to escape his lips. Dazed, you moved your hand lower to feel the outline of his thick cock getting harder under your touch, but as you were about to unzip his pants, his firm hand stopped you, confusing your cloudy mind and inducing you to raise your eyes to meet his. He could swear no one had ever looked at him like that — so innocently, yet so sinfully. 

"Cupcake, you don't want this," Patrick murmured, removing your hand. "Trust me."

"I do want this!" You replied in a trembling voice, pouting like a child.

"You're so fucking lost right now, you just don't understand," he manhandled you out of the tub and you almost punched him in his beautiful face, but Bateman paid no attention to your attempt to hit him. "Towels, where are they?"

Huffing, he lifted you up, and only then did you calm down, wrapping your hands and legs around him as securely as you could, like you were afraid of falling off the roof of the skyscraper. 

After you pointed at the bathroom counter, Bateman carefully moved towards it to take some big, white towel and wrap it around you — he was drying you off so gently and attentively, it almost made you cry again. 

Emotions were overtaking you.

Patrick didn't even say a word when he was done, he just got another dry towel and swaddled you in it like in a cocoon before carrying you out of the bathroom bridal style. Somehow, he managed to find the way to your bedroom, but once he saw your bed, he scowled and remarked: “Jesus, this bed is so small.”

“I love my bed.” You murmured in reply, hugging his neck and pressing yourself closer against his warm body.

Bateman couldn't help but chuckle in amusement, giving you a brief forehead kiss and sitting you down on the bed. As soon as you lost physical contact with him, you leaned on your elbows, watching him turn around and walk away.

“Patrick! Please, don’t go!” 

Your words echoed inside his head like the most sacred plea, they made him stop and looked in your direction. “I need to remove my clothes since they’re pretty damp,” he checked himself, with a visible disgust on his face. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Be a good girl, and just wait for me here, okay?”

“Fine.” You mumbled and took the plushy bunny which was resting on your bed next to you.

This scene made him chuckle before he left your bedroom. Now you were completely alone with your thoughts, they didn't wait a second to start eating you from the inside again. With your eyes closed, you lay on your back and began to count.

One, two, three…

What if he lied saying that he would return? Gosh, you wanted him to leave the moment you came here, so why were you getting so upset thinking about him leaving you alone just as you asked him for?

Four, five, six…

The inner voice kept reminding you how many times Patrick has hurt you, how many times he made you cry, how many times you felt like a toy in his hands. You gritted your teeth, pressing your hands against your head to stop thinking.

Seven, eight, nine…

How many times have you promised yourself that you would break out from this circle of lies, pain and suffering? 

“Stop it!” You whimpered, shutting your eyes as firm as you could until the tears started to form.

Ten.

“Stop what?” His voice—it was like a lifeline, like a light in the end of the tunnel, it was everything you needed here and now.

The first thing you saw when you opened your eyes was his almost naked form, namely his toned tiddies and his mouth watering V-line, not to mention his perfect abs and the small trail of hair below his navel.

“For one second I thought you would just leave.” You looked into his hazel eyes, which were partly covered by his messy, brown hair.

“In wet clothes?” He giggled and stepped closer to your bed. It was so hard to ignore the bulge in his tight white underwear, but you tried your best not to stare at it. “Feeling better?"

“Yes, I think y-yes,” you swallowed hard when Bateman sat on the edge of your small bed and drew an invisible line across your ankle. “Can I… ask you for something?”

“You can try.” His voice got lower, sending shivers down your spine.

Panting, you uncovered yourself, putting the towel aside and letting him admire the view of your beautiful body, a pleasure he gladly took, his thirsty eyes roaming all over your curves, especially your full breasts and your inviting neck.

“What do you want, Cupcake?” His hand slides up to your hip, teasing the sensitive skin and making you gasp from need. “Tell me.”

“I need you,” you bit your lower lip, frowning from how embarrassed you were. “I n-need you more than ever.”

With no rush, Bateman bent down to your belly to press a brief kiss which elicited a soft moan to fall from your shaky throat. “Show me where you need me.”

You were about to lost it at any second, as the mind-blowing passion was crashing over you like a fucking tsunami, and you didn’t even know if you would survive this. 

Could that be the moment of no return for both of you?

Stifling a moan, you took his big palm and guided between your opened legs—the sound of his fingers sliding along your oozed folds made you arched your back and you thought your heart would break out from your chest. Your heavy breathes filled up the room, and once you felt his hot lips on your mound, you nearly squeaked, creasing the sheets beneath you.

Patrick was enjoying every second of this moment, savoring the taste of your skin, reveling in all your little salacious noises when he encircled his arms around your legs and swiped his tongue over your throbbing clit.

That was the last drop of your resistance and you couldn't control it anymore, throwing your head back and mewling sensually: “Mmhm, Daddy…! You make me f-feel so good.”

“Are you sure you want this?” His sudden question pierced through your head like an electric pulse.

Gulping, you got up a bit to look down at him, his cheeks, neck and shoulders were already flushed, his hair was disheveled and his eyes were as dark as night.

“Yes,” you responded shortly, feeling a tight knot forming inside your lower abdomen just from being so close to his face. “Taste me, Daddy, please… I want to get lost… in you.”

“I see,” he said, hovering over you for a moment to grab the plushy bunny, then handing it to you with a mischievous grin. "Little girls always keep their favorite toys close?”

As soon as you held the bunny, Bateman got back to his previous position, fondling your hips here and there, then he kissed your inner thigh and put your legs together before bending them and pressing against your chest.

“Stay like that.”

After saying that, he brushed away his wavy locks, spit on your pussy and made several, barely sensible, strokes along your bundle of nerves, his sturdy arms were holding your legs to fixate you in one place as his ministrations were making it hard for you to stay still.

“Awww, P-Patrick,” you keened and squeezed the plush toy in your hand, feeling so dirty yet so high from the way his wet tongue was painting various ornaments on your taut lower lips. “I’m gonna faint…”

“Mmm,” he moaned against your feverish little bud before he took it inside his mouth, sucking it so deliciously that your eyes rolled back into your head, your inner walls were already spasming. “You’re my sweet little Cupcake.”

“Yes! Yes, please!”

Slurping at your soaked cunt, Bateman let you rest your legs on his shoulders and pull on his brown hair as you wanted to bring him even closer, moving your hips towards his face. God, you were such a wet moaning mess and when he shoved his long fingers inside of your dripping slit, you lost connection with reality and ascended to the apex of ecstasy.

His fingers were moving inside and outside of you like a clock-work, so smoothly and fast, since he knew your body so perfectly, it was quite simple for him to find your spongy G - spot. Once he started to stimulate it, your toes began to curve and your whole body was jolting as if you were hit by the eclectic shock.

The moment of your orgasm was as astonishing and relieving as a sip of water in the arid desert. But even after you cummed, Patrick didn’t stop eating you out, fingering you harder, so your juices were gashing around your sweaty bodies, the sheets beneath you were already wet and you didn’t know how you would live tomorrow when he leaves you.

“Mmmmh, I’mma cum again, D-Daddy!” You whimpered, squirming around the bed and pressing the plushy bunny against your face as you were on the verge of tears – overstimulation hitting pretty hard.

Bateman only growled in response and stuffed your soaked pussy with another finger, rhythmically swirling his hot tongue around your throbbing tip while his sneaky hand traced up along your shivering body to grope one of your breasts and pinch your engorged nipple.

“Ahhh—GOSH…! Pat...” Your voice cracked as you cummed so hard all around his face that your wetness was literally running down his chin. But he didn’t care, because the only thing that mattered for him was bringing you as much pleasure as he could.

Even when he was panting heavily against your abused cunt, and he almost couldn't feel his fingers anymore, he continued to lap at your cleft. By that moment your legs were looped around his head and you couldn’t stop twitching even for a second, with each lick he sent millions of tingles to your lower belly.

“Daddy, it’s t-too much… I can’t take it any longer.” You felt so goddamn sensitive, and your body was like jelly at this point.

“C’mon, babydoll,” he groaned in a raspy voice after he pulled on your clit with a nasty squeal. “You can give Daddy another one, can't you baby? For me, please?"

This time Patrick buried his tongue as deep inside your womb as he could, licking you from the inside out. He repeated the motion, making you climax countless times in a row, until your little frame couldn't bear it anymore. Soon, you drifted off with a smile of joy on your face, holding the plushy bunny close to your chest. Long time ago that toy was your only friend, but now it seemed like you have become a toy yourself. But unlike the plush bunny, it was obvious that you weren't the only toy for your owner.

Why did it hurt so good to be alive?

You heard a faint voice calling you and asking for help, but no matter how hard you tried to follow it and find it—all you could see was darkness before your eyes. Scared, you moved along the dark alley, surrounded by shadows, shivering from the abnormal cold, and for a second you even thought you were already dead. But when the voice called you again, you finally realized that it was your inner voice, but it sounded so sad, even compared to your darkest days.

"How did you end up like this, (y/n)?" Your own reflection spoke to you, each word cutting through your heart like a dagger. "You're so pathetic and weak, what would Mom and Dad say if they knew about your 'successful' life in New York?"

Frowning, you closed your hands around your ears to stop this madness, but the more you tried to ignore it, the louder the voice became in your head.

"Look what you've done to yourself! Do you really think he cares about you?" 

"Leave me alone!" You yelled at your shadow copy and ran down the alley, but there seemed to be no escape.

"Wake the fuck up! Bateman is just using you for his own needs, and you let him treat you like a fucking toy. Being in debt to him is not an excuse!" You could hear it even with your ears closed and there was nowhere to hide.

"SHUT UP!" You sped up, the cold air hitting your face mercilessly, but you didn't care. "Get out of my head!"

God, it was so fucking absurd to argue with yourself.

Perplexed and scared, you suddenly realized that the faster you were running the louder your inner voice was getting, bringing you a sharp headache as if a million needles cut into your brain at once. It hurt really bad.

“Patrick! Patrick, where are you?” You cried out as the darkness was clouding around you with each passing second. “Please, I need you…” A single tear slid down your warm cheek when you felt your lungs burning from the lack of oxygen as though you were drowning. “Pat-Patrick…”

Slowly closing your eyes, you let the void consume you, which actually brought you some relief, because now you were free from pain and sorrow, reveling in the sweet space of non-existence.

A loud gasp bounced against the walls of your small bedroom, signaling of your eventual awakening. Panting, you sat on the bed only to see Bateman’s sleepy form next to you—he was sleeping like a baby, laying on his back and sniffling from time to time. Shocked, you were trying your best to regain your composure and steady your heavy breathing, not even noticing that you were drenched in sweat. 

Quietly, you slipped out from under the covers to find yourself completely naked, so the next thing you did was find something to put on. Subsequently, you rushed inside your small bathroom and saw Bateman’s clothes drying off on the battery—the memories of the recent events flashed across your mind like a slow-motion movie. First, you were taking a bath—which was still full of cold water—then you nearly drowned but Patrick came in time and literally saved you. The next flashbacks made you lean on the sink and hold back your breath—his eager mouth on your cunt, forcing you to lose your mind and cum again and again until you eventually drifted off. 

Jesus Christ.

Embarrassed, you quickly opened the water and washed your face several times until you cooled down a bit. After you regain your composure, you fasten your terry robe and head to the kitchen as you were so starved that you even had a stomach ache. 

New York was already awake, and the sun was high above the horizon, shining so brightly in the windows that you had to close your blinds and thank God it was Sunday and you didn't have to go to the office because your head was spinning due the aftereffect of your sedative pills. Speaking of them—once you saw the jar with pills on the kitchen counter you threw it into the rubbish without any second thought, yet you didn’t want Bateman to know that he had an influence on your decision. When you closed the door to the kitchen, you accidentally slammed it harder than you should have, and it cracked so loudly that it sounded like a bundle of dishes broke at the same time.

"Damn it!" You cursed to yourself, pressing a palm to your face, certain that the noise would wake Bateman up.

Panicking a bit, you retreated to your bedroom and as soon as you stepped in you saw the man of your dreams stretching out and yawning so adorable, that for a moment you just froze in your place, not capable of taking your eyes off from Bateman’s disheveled hair and his broad chest.

With a low growl, Patrick pulled the blanket away and finally noticed you. "Woah, Cupcake, was that you?" The man chuckled, casually flexing his muscles as he looked at the mirror next to the door where you were standing. "I thought something had exploded outside."

Abashed, you quickly adjusted your robe from his piercing gaze. "Sorry, I can be really..."

"Clumsy?" Smiling broadly, Bateman leaned back against the headboard and crossed his arms. 

"Yes, clumsy," you tugged with your fingers, briefly glancing down—damn, he seemed to be the only person who could embarrass you so easily. "Well...do you want anything?"

"Hmmm, let me think," Patrick hummed before he thoughtfully pressed a finger to his plump lips. "I probably have something on my mind," Bateman gave you a mischievous grin when he saw your curious look and smoothed his golden brown hair. "How about a morning blowjob?" Your instant reaction was a mixture of anger and embarrassment, which made the man's face look even more smug. "Relax! I'm joking." 

Of course he wasn't joking—you knew it and couldn't stop yourself from rolling your eyes and crossing your arms over your chest. "I'd pretend I didn't hear that," you said, finally looking away from his sturdy body. "How about breakfast?"

"That sounds really good."

Shocked, you took a moment to think about the possible options you could cook for him since you didn’t really expect him to give you a positive answer. “I can offset you with a scrambled egg and some fresh orange juice.”

With a satisfied grin, the man slowly got up from your modest bed and stretched his muscles again; he was definitely making it on purpose. “Oh, that’s nice,” he almost groaned when he cocked his head to one side then to another. “I can’t say the same about your bed, Cupcake… you should change the mattress if you want to keep walking with a straight back.”

And though Patrick was lamenting, you could say he said it almost affectionately—as if he really cared about you, yet you brushed this conclusion off as fast as your heart was pounding right now when the man got closer to you; his tall, massive frame towered over you like a mountain.

“I also would like to have a shower, if…there’s such an option,” Bateman smirked and briefly traced a finger along your cheek, coaxing you to close your eyes for a second and revel in the soft sensation of his touch. “Did you sleep well?”

A sudden question that fell from his lips like a suffocated gasp, a tender stroke on your shoulder and you were already melting as Patrick knew what he was doing, every touch, every glance of his brown hypnotic eyes was deliberate and smooth, leaving you no chance but to surrender to his demand.

“Yes, I slept like a baby, though I can hardly remember the things that happened before I blacked out,” you lied with an embarrassed smile. “You can have a shower and use whatever soaps and towels you’ll see.” Thee more you talked the more his lips curled, especially when you allowed him to bring you closer into his embrace. “But don’t expect anything extraordinary.”

“I won’t, I promise,”  the man chuckled and playfully pinched your ass. “Sleeping beauty.”

With that, Patrick walked past you, leaving you alone for a moment, giving you a chance to pull yourself together. And when you seemed to relax, a thought of his clothes that had been left in the bathroom popped up in your mind. ‘Oh God, I forgot!’

Nervously, you rushed after Patrick into your bathroom to see that the door was already closed, implying that he was inside and probably naked, though you couldn’t hear the sound of flowing water. Embarrassed, you coughed quietly and knocked several times.

“Yeah?” Bateman’s muffled voice echoed through the door. 

“Patrick, I…” a short pause turned into a breathless gasp. “If you’re not already in the shower, may I come in?”

After a moment, the door in front of you opened and you saw Patrick wrapped in a white towel. “Something wrong?”

“No,” you giggled nervously and sneaked inside the bathroom to quickly grab his clothes. “I just wanted to iron your…suit and stuff, while you’re in the shower…” Quickly, you hovered his garments over your arm and walked past him, hoping he wouldn’t ask any questions, despite his surprised expression. “I’m so sorry for dumping your clothes yesterday.”

With these words, you deftly avoid his grasp as you knew he’d definitely try to make you embarrassed even more. “(Y/n)!”

“Take a shower. I’ll make you breakfast as I promised.” 

This time, the man didn’t try to catch you or follow you, thankfully. So, you could safely make it to your living room where you set an ironing board and put his shirt first to iron. Wrapped in thoughts, you didn’t even notice how carefully you were ironing his clothes, you couldn’t even remember doing the same with your stuff but maybe you were just scared of ruining it since everything he wore was utterly expensive. ‘This suit probably costs like my monthly rent.’ Sighing, you put the shirt aside when you heard the water flowing sound and your mind instantly gave you an image of Patrick’s naked body, enveloped in steam and slightly flush from the heat. ‘Damn, I should stop or I'm gonna ruin something.’ When it was time to iron his tie, you ran your finger along the smooth red fabric, draped in beautiful intricate patterns—you couldn't deny that you had a thing for his ties, for all of them—you smiled to yourself before bringing it to your lips, you could still feel his cologne on it. This tantalizing scent was driving you crazy, it fit him so perfectly as if it was made specially for him, but even if that was true, you wouldn’t be surprised at all, regarding how rich this man was. The moment you finished ironing his pants, you seemed to hear his voice coming from the bathroom. ‘Perfect timing.’

Slightly tensed, you stopped next to the door. “Patrick? Did you call me?” When he didn’t reply, you became even more stirred, so without really caring about seeing him naked, you opened the door and stepped in. “Patrick?” Since your bathroom was much smaller than his, you bumped into his massive frame, squealing in surprise. “Oh God, sorry!”

“Oh, Cupcake,” he wrapped his hands around your shoulders before carefully cupping your face. “I hope you didn’t break your nose against my firm chest?”

Frowning, you gave him a dead glare but he only snickered back. “What happened? Why did you call me?”

“Do you have an extra toothbrush for me? I’ll buy you another one and…”

You stopped him halfway and removed his hands to stroll to the sink and opened the cabinet above it. “Here. There’s also a razor if you need.”

Smirking, Bateman sneaked behind you and pressed his wet body against yours. “Do ya think I need to shave?” He rubbed the mirror from steam to check himself, sliding a hand along his chiseled chin.

“I…I don’t know…I just thought in case you need to, the razor is here.”

“Mhm…” he hummed and before you knew it he nuzzled against your exposed neck, forcing you to gasp and stepped back right into his embrace, just like he planned it. “Does that tickle, Cupcake?” 

‘Dear Lord, please give me the strength to survive this.’

Staying still, you just swallowed hard and let him continue to attack your neck, which he did with precious care before, but now, Patrick also used his mouth and teeth, and that was already too much.

"I think you definitely have some stubble," you laughed, trying to turn it into a joke. But as soon as you tried to walk away, he pulled you back into his strong arms, and that was not funny. "Breakfast Patrick, I have to make breakfast, did you forget?"

"Not really, but I need your help."

"Help?"

The man gave you a devilish smile before lifting you up and sitting you on the bathroom counter, not even giving you a chance to protest. Then Bateman took the shaving cream, checking the brand name skeptically, but then averting his eyes, probably thinking it was better not to know. With deliberate, calculated movements, he applied the cream to his cheekbones, moving up and down his face. The sight was something you never thought you'd find so damn hot that you didn't even make a sound, just watched him carefully prepare to shave.

"Have you ever seen a man shave, darling?" Patrick asked in a cheeky tone, surely noticing the way you were staring at him.

You shook your head. “No,” you shamelessly checked on him, following the little buds of water slipping down his torso. “God, this is such a silly question, don’t you think?”

Instead of answering, Bateman flexed his muscles while watching in the mirror and missing the way you rolled your eyes. “Well, now you finally have a chance.” The man winked at you and grabbed the razor. “You know, I really like your place, it’s pretty clean.”

“You already said that.”

“Oh, did I?”

“Yes,” you crossed your arms and turned away just the moment when the man started to glide the razor against his jawline—you thought the blade would become blunt because his cheekbones were too sharp—his every action was smooth and skillful. “That was the first thing you said when we came in.”

“That only means that it’s really very clean here.”

Huffing, you fixed your robe and cursed to yourself, ‘Why does he always have to be like this?’

Opening the faucet, Patrick cleaned his face after the last stroke of the razor. “Can you check here?” 

Confused, you gave him a questioning gaze when he turned halfway, pointing at the apex of his jaw. Sheepishly, you touched his freshly shaved skin, feeling a slight prickly sensation. “I think it’s still a bit stubbly.” 

“Aha,” Bateman acknowledged and quickly took your hand in his big one, briefly kissing the top of it and giving you the razor. “I told you, I’d need your help, Cupcake.” “How do you even do it yourself?”

“The razors I use are much sharper than this one, honey,” he chuckled but once you placed the razor against his skin he stopped moving. “Just be careful.”

The last phrase struck a chord inside your chest and you even stopped for a moment to take a deep breath before you eventually began to shave the rest of the stubble. All the while, Patrick would glance at you attentively, his hazel irises like hypnotizing spirals, so you forced yourself to stay focused on the razor and the patch of his skin still covered in a shaving cream.

“You have such soft skin,” you mumbled mostly to yourself but you were sure he heard it. “It’s so pleasurable to touch.”

“(Y/n),” he suddenly called out your name in a stern voice. “I think we should talk about yesterday.” “No…”

"Listen to me," he grabbed the hand that held the razor and pushed it to the side. "You should stop taking that sedative."

“It was just an accident.” 

“You could die, Cupcake…”

"I...I know...I owe you for saving me," you finally stated, releasing your hand to finish shaving him. "But let me take care of my life."

“Ouch.”

“Oh my God! Did I hurt you?” You jolted in panic, almost dropping the razor as if you were hit by the electric shot.

“Yes, you did,” Bateman glided a palm along his now perfectly shaved cheeks. “With your words.”

Letting out a sad sigh, you put the razor into the sink next to you and reached for another towel for him as you watched him washing his face. The more you kept silent, the more palpable the tension was getting in the air and after a brief moment of contemplating, you decided that the best option now was just to go to the kitchen and cook.

“Toothbrush is here.” You murmured and got up from the bathroom counter, about to leave but Patrick stopped you. 

First, you glanced down at his grasp around your wrist, then you raised your eyes to meet his walnut ones, now they were absolutely dark and demanding. Inch by inch, the man was getting closer, soon you could feel the fresh scent of your soap on his wet skin as he pressed you along his broad form, one hand rested on the small of your back, while another snaked beneath your robe to outline one of your hard peaks, which were visible through the fabric.

“Pat-Patrick…”

“No more ‘Daddy’ again, huh?” he whispered into your ear, playing with your stray lock. “Do you remember how many times you called me like that last night?”

‘No! I don’t remember, I shouldn’t remember this, I…’

“...your sweet voice sounded so good with all these little dirty pleas, ‘Daddy, don’t stop, mmhm-please!’ Uhhh, that was really something,” Bateman crooned against your neck, forcing you to step back until he trapped you between his massive body and bathroom counter. “Got you.”

There was nothing to say more, once his warm mouth latched on yours, the urge to deny him fading with every second of the kiss, especially when Patrick savagely sucked on your lower lip and drew his tongue across it as if asking for permission to slip inside.

Gasping, you instinctively inclined your head to the side for a moment and the man used it for showering your delicate neck with little peeks which then transformed into wet, red marks. This sweet torture could last forever if you suddenly didn’t press your palm against his naked chest in a determined way.

“We can’t,” you protested when he got down to kiss you again. “You’re engaged, don’t you think it’s so mean to…cheat on your fiance?”

The man couldn’t hold back a scoff. “What does that have to do with anything? You owe me, Cupcake, you owe me a lot.” 

Annoyed, you made an attempt to push him away, but you obviously failed as Patrick was too strong, looming over you like a mountain. “If you mean the last time—I already thanked you and moreover, I didn’t ask you to do it, you know?” You watched his face changing into something more impish, the corners of his lips curled up as if everything was happening according to his plan. “You always decide for me…maybe it’s time to stop?”

Bateman chuckled. “Maybe it’s time to finally open your eyes?”

“Are you…really telling me this?!”

“You owe me a pretty big sum of money,” the man suddenly turned the conversation in another way. “And we had a deal…” Carefully, he trailed his finger along your cheek like an artist admiring his most precious creation. “Do you think I’d be so patient with your bad attitude to me if I were not really into you, hmm?”

The last words made you swallow hard and turned away for a moment, as you were on the verge of tears. Did he really just confirm that there was some kind of affection for you from his side?

“I…I know I owe a lot of money, but believe me, I’ll back them soon,” you removed his arms from your waist but the next second, Patrick placed them on the bathroom counter behind you from both sides, not allowing you to go away. “Please, believe me.”

“I don’t need that fucking money,” Patrick barked and unexpectedly gripped your shoulders, but when he noticed the glowing fear in your eyes, the man loosened his grasp and cupped your face. “I need you. Both your body and soul.”

Closing your eyes, you wanted to sink through the ground. “You want me to do things that you can’t buy with money…” you declared with a chilling coldness in your voice. “Other women are okay with being your toys, but I’m not. Now, let's finish this conversation, it won’t lead to anything.”

A tired sigh broke out from Bateman’s broad chest and for a second he even thought to let you go and turned over the page of the story of two broken souls, who met themselves so suddenly. Maybe now was that exact moment he was waiting so long, the moment to open the cards and confess, even though Patrick could hardly believe it would work.

"You don't seem to be listening to me at all," was all the man could say. "And that's not surprising, since no one really listens to me. Because...uhh...because no one really cares about what really bothers me…" He let you go and stepped back. "And you...I thought you were the only person who...who actually tried to understand me and act naturally."

"Patrick..."

He raised his hand in an eloquent gesture to let him continue. "You probably did it all because of the debt, but...I'll be honest, sometimes I made myself believe that you weren't acting like this just because of the money."

"Is this another manipulation?" You asked bluntly, holding back your tears. "How could I believe you after all the things you did to me? How many times did you treat me like a puppet that you no longer wanted to play with? And not to mention that you turned out to be engaged!" You grabbed your head and leaned against the bathroom counter, massaging your temples. "This is already too much."

The man huffed and cautiously approached you. With a soft, feathery movement, he touched your hands and pulled them away from your strained face. "At least you seem to care that I'm engaged," he said abruptly, moving you closer so that your head was now pressed against his massive chest. "I know it's overwhelming, (y/n). But..." the words suddenly stuck in his throat like a lump. "You're not alone in this." Patrick urged curly, running his large palm along the crown of your head before resting his chin on it, inhaling the scent of your soft hair. 

‘Not alone’, you repeated inside your head and looked up into his brown eyes, which were now so stern and contemplative—you have never seen them like that before. This man, oh God, this man was such a mess, he was making you lose the ground beneath your feet with his sudden confessions, but in the end, actions spoke louder than words, even though you wanted to believe him and sink into the strong feeling you had towards him—you simply couldn’t allow yourself to get lost in him as you would burn out like a match.

All the while you were standing like that, Bateman was hoping you would say something in return, but when you didn’t, he just released you from his embrace without saying a thing. Overwhelmed by emotions, you left the bathroom and let him finish his hygienic routine in private.

A bit later, you didn’t even remember how you cooked a breakfast for both of you, the only thing you did remember was his positive comment that it tasted pretty good. You couldn’t help but smile, though your plate still stood untouched. Patrick noticed that, but didn’t make any comments about that.

“To be honest, I really didn’t expect it to be that nice,” he chuckled and finished his glass of mineral water that he didn’t really like. Quickly checking his Rolex, which he wore right after he took a shower, he added, “I’m afraid it’s time for me to go. Can you please bring me my clothes?”

“Sure.” You raised up and quickly strolled to the iron board where his suit and shirt were waiting to be presented to their owner. “Here, I ironed them for you.”

Bateman froze in shock for a moment. “You…ironed them?”

“Uh, yes, but I did it very carefully, I know everything you wear is utterly expensive,” you gave him his garments and he started to examine every thing with meticulous attention. “I…I thought you wouldn’t like to go outside in rumpled clothes.”

"That's… that's very sweet of you, Cupcake. Really…" he replied, his blush barely noticeable to anyone but you. "Thanks…thanks for everything."

“You’re welcome.” You murmured shyly, crossing your arms over the chest and watching him getting up from the table and walking to your bedroom to dress up.

Moments later, you both were standing in your small hallway, Patrick fixing his tie and coat, looking at his reflection in the mirror.

“How do I look?” He asked nonchalantly, putting on the headphones of his Walkman.

Slightly upset, you leaned against the wall, your eyes gliding up and down his elegant, tall silhouette; the way the dark blue trench coat sat on his broad shoulders made you almost gasp in admiration.

“Perfect as always,” you stepped closer to adjust the collar of his shirt. “You’re like a Vogue cover which came alive.”

Fluttered, Bateman smiled and caught your hand to place a kiss on top of it. “And I always believe your compliments, they are so…sincere or…” he paused and looked into your eyes. “...or I’m just fooling myself.”

His usual chuckling now was less happy and it stirred something inside of you, so when you got up on your toes to kiss his cheek, Patrick took it like another chance to be intimate with you. With unhidden tenderness, the man pulled you into his arms to seal your mouths with a soft but passionate kiss which brought some unexpected relief for both of you.

“You know, I…I really appreciate your courage to be open with me,” you suddenly confessed when he broke the kiss, still holding you close. “It’s just that I need some time to think over things and…my life is such a mess.”

"Oh, you don't have to tell me that," Bateman sneered ironically to himself. "Since I know who made your life so messy," he stopped you from saying anything else by pressing his finger to your lips. Then the man slowly leaned down so that your foreheads now touched in the most intimate way. "Promise me you won't take those pills again."

"And you promise me you won't say things like no one gives a fuck about you," you gripped his arm, rubbing his firm bicep under the soft fabric of his coat. "Because I do give a fuck about you, even though I don't really like it."

"We'll talk about...us. That's the only promise I can make right now."

"Us?"

"You heard what I said," he pinched your nose, just like after the fashion show. "I'll call you today and Cupcake?" He leaned down to whisper in your ear, accidentally brushing his nose against your neck. "You're always on my mind, but I still haven't decided if it's good or not." The way he used your words to tease you brought a broad smile to your face, but the next time, all joy faded as the man stroked your cheek one last time before stepping aside to check himself in the mirror. "Hope to see you soon, darling."

With that he closed the door behind him and as much as you hated saying goodbye, you hated the moments like that, when you couldn’t control yourself as your emotions peaked, causing your knees to buckle and you stopped yourself from falling down only because you managed to lean on the nearby wall. The whole thing about your relationship with Bateman was one big mistake, as you would never find yourself belonging to this world—your meeting was a joke of fate—no less to say. Although you knew it, your heart was like a rebellion who refused to listen, to obey, to accept the truth that there were no chances to turn this situation in a way that would help these relationships to become healthy and normal. ‘Normal, huh? Do yuppies even know such a word?’ Laughing ironically to yourself, you got up and went back into your kitchen to wash the dishes. The sight of Patrick sitting here with a glass of water in his hand was still so fresh in your mind, but now you began to doubt if that really had happened. 

All day later, you couldn’t sleep, you couldn’t eat, waiting for his call but he never did it. It was not surprising after the shit that man had done, but today you were really hoping he would keep his word. But your hopes were broken to pieces again, in the most brutal possible way because you really decided to give it a try and believed him.

When the night came to New York City, you were standing in your living room with a cup of freshly brewed coffee, thinking about what would you do next and trying to think less about what Patrick was doing right now…and even less about with whom he probably could be. ‘...with Courtney or maybe with his fiance, Evelyn?’ You snickered sadly to yourself and finished your drink. Coffee was supposed to help you to keep awake but instead it only made you even more sleepy, so you didn’t even realize how you fell asleep on your little couch while putting down the notes of how today’s day had gone in your diary.

The next moment you were awakened by the sudden doorbell, which caught you off guard and even scared you a bit as you didn’t wait for anyone. Quickly enveloping your robe, you got up and saunted to the door to look at the peephole—you would lie to yourself if you said you weren’t expecting someone specific, but when you saw nothing but flowers, your heart skipped a beat. 

With one swift motion, you opened the door and an unknown guy instantly greeted you with a polite tone. “Good morning, miss (y/n),” he then handed you a big bouquet of red and white roses—it was so heavy you could barely hold it. “Uh, can you please put your sign here?”

Confused, you pressed the flowers to your chest to see the man’s face. “Are you… are you sure it’s for me?”

The courier only smiled and giggled. “Of course, but you can check the address, if you want,” the man showed you the paper with the order details. “We make no mistakes, miss, that’s why our service is the best around New York.”

“I see,” you responded and put your signature on the place he pointed you. “But, can I ask you who sent me this?”

“There’s a card inside if I’m not mistaken,” the courier replied and with that he put the paper inside his bag. “Have a good day, ma'am.”

“Thanks.” 

With that, you closed the door and somehow proceeded into your living room where you put the bouquet on the coffee table and began to look for the vase for it. When you managed to find it, you poured some water and placed the flowers into it, then you remembered the courier’s words about the card and the next second you were already leafing through the flowers. Soon, a small white card caught your attention and when you picked it out, the first thing you noticed was two beautiful letters—P.B. in the end of the text which said: 

“Good morning, my sweet Cupcake, 

I’m sorry I didn’t call you tonight, I was extremely busy and didn’t really have any free time, but I hope this little gift would cheer you up a bit. What do you think about going to a yacht club these weekends? I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon. 

Utterly yours, P.B.” 

Your hands began to shake the moment you finished reading, but you managed to regain your composure. Driven by the unbridled happiness inside your chest, you leaned down to inhale the sweet scent of flowers—God, it felt like a dream. And speaking of dreaming—you were still so sleepy that after you finally calmed down, you decided to come back into the bed and nap a little bit longer. The sheets were still smelling of him, coaxing you to rub your face against the pillows and imagine him being here with you and somehow, you finally realized how deep this man was rooted inside your heart. ‘Utterly yours…’ You kept replaying these words inside your head until you drifted off to another dream, but this time, it was not a nightmare, but a heaven where Patrick was only yours, and you were his only one.

P.S. Thank you for reading until the end! I don’t have a taglist. You can follow my side blog @makeyoumineagain and turn on notifications to know when I update!

[fearsmagazine]

6:45 - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: Regal Theaters

SYNOPSIS:  Bobby Patterson is taking one last shot at saving his relationship with his girlfriend, Jules Rables by taking her on a romantic weekend getaway to the picturesque island resort of Bog Grove. The sleepy beach town is curiously deserted and as they ask around they soon learn about its notorious and bloody history.  Their relationship issues are quickly cast aside as they try to overcome a demented cycle of terror in which they’re seemingly trapped. No matter what great lengths they take to avoid it, Bobby and Jules awake at 6:45 each morning to a nightmarish chain of events with no escape.

REVIEW: Director Craig Singer returns to the big screen after ten-plus years since his last feature, “Perkins’ 14,” with a sci-fi horror thriller where a struggling couple are caught in a murderous time-loop. 6:45 is receiving a theatrical release through Regal Cinemas.

The story, by veteran screenwriter Robert Dean Klein, is a simple twist on “Groundhog Day.” After spending the night, the next day the couple become caught up in this murderous time-loop. In essence, it is the character of Bobby who relives the nightmare as he is the only one who carries over the memories of the previous days. His girlfriend Jules doesn't have any clue to what has transpired and each new day Bobby tries hard to convince her, adding more stress to their strained relationship. Ultimately Bobby does something that breaks the chain of events and sends him back into the reality of a nightmare he created. The story ends on a note that feels similar to “Psycho” or “Identity” as it moves into a psychological explanation as to what brought about the events. Bobby never comes across as a likeable character and Jules remained hard to access or feel anything for.

The supporting cast, a group of veteran actors and talent, attempts to add background and atmosphere to the tale. Actor Armen Garo adds some lighter moments as the strange innkeeper. He brings some interesting ticks to the role that delivers many of the film’s memorial moments. Also creating an interesting character is veteran actor Thomas G. Waites as the peculiar barkeep. He starts out as your friendly bartender and as the days progress it begins to feel like he might know more than he is letting on. The rest of the supporting cast feels more like name recognition than anything that adds to the film. The leads Michael Reed and Augie Duke are fine but I never got anything from them that fully immersed me in the drama. It was almost as if I was watching a stage production.

For a “home grown” independent film 6:45 has some excellent locations that add depth to the film. The inn is very nice, the shops in the area are quaint, the bar was your basic dive. There were a couple of scenes shot on the beach that felt a bit off for the lighting as the time of day felt off with the rest of the timeline. There is an interesting montage utilized to show the passing of days that was utilitarian, effective but lacked any emotion or artistry. The mysterious killer was simply a guy in a dark hoodie with a simple makeup/mask to obscure his features. It was okay but wasn’t scary, at best slightly menacing.

The score by composer Kostas Christides adds depth and emotion that was lacking in the cinematography. It also added edge to the tension, as well a bit more scare to the mysterious killer's appearance and actions.

6:45 looks fabulous in the theater. However, it lacks any passion or intensity to engage the viewer. After a while, it felt like I was being shown pictures and videos from a friend’s killer vacation. They may have made memories that will last a lifetime, but after a while I was bored and couldn’t wait for it to be over. I mean how many times can you see the same shots of their room, beach, quaint shops, over and over again before you’re bored. 6:45 isn’t a bad film, just not the time of my life.

CAST: Michael Reed, Augie Duke, Thomas G. Waites, Armen Garo, Remy Ma, The 45 King, Ray Mancini, Joshua Matthew Smith, Sabina Freidman-Seitz, Allie Marshall, Leonardo Mancini, and Sasha K Gordon. CREW: Director/Producer - Craig Singer; Screenplay - Robert Dean Klein; Cinematographer - Lucas Pitassi; Score - Kostas Christides; Editing - Sam Adelman; Production Designer - Erin LaSorsa; Special Effects Supervisor - Vincent J. Guastini. OFFICIAL: www.645movie.com FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/645movie TWITTER: twitter.com/645movie TRAILER: https://youtu.be/VivQxpbRbkc RELEASE DATE: In Regal Theaters August 6th, 2021

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay),  or 👎 (Dislike)

Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri

[silverflintdaily]

Silverflint Summer Challenge - All the prompts so far!

Challenge details:

Prompts Any kind of prompt is fair game as long as they include Silverflint. OT3 and OT4 ships like Silverflinthamilton are fine too. You can submit as many prompts as you like. All prompts will be anonymous and can be submitted through the form linked below.

Fills You can create any kind of fanwork for this, fic, art, edits, videos etc. Prompts won’t be assigned or claimed so you can make things for multiple prompts and each prompt can have multiple fills.

Schedule Submit prompts and work on fills May 1 through June 22. Posting week is June 23rd to 30th, more details will be posted later.

Submit prompts here:

HTTPS://FORMS.GLE/LMGMVAYUHRAFZCVW6

art above is a commission from @laskapsy

Full list of prompts as of 5/25/20 below.

Ships/characters in bold

Max, Anne, Silver, and Flint  They all go to burning man

Silverflint  Instagram drama: Silver has crush on Flint, following with each other, Silver shove his love on Flint and Flint's uncomfortable. Flint unfollowed him one day and Silver was devastated and disappeared from Instagram. Flint found out through friends and he must seek him before Silver did something stupid.

Silverflint  Truth or dare

Silverflint   Canon era, one (or both) accidently calling the other one pet names

Silverflint (+sort of Flinthamilton)  Silver asking Flint, while having sex, to tell him about his sex with Thomas (in detail). I think canon era, placed after 310, would be better but it's up to writer.

Silverflinthamilton + ?   summer vacation modern au - maybe they go somewhere warm (or not, as Flint burns so easily), maybe they meet some beautiful men there

Silverflint   post canon era reunion fic - fighting to kissing. they start out almost trying to kill one another

Silverflint    modern au - after a meet rude during the coronavirus lockdown they both can't stop thinking about that handsome idiot they met. One of them tracks the other down online to apologize. how do they spend the endless weeks of shelter in place?

Silverflint   canon era - A small happy celebration with just the two of them.

Silverflintmiranda  canon era - Miranda survives the shot, convalesces with Silver

Silverflint   modern au where either Silver or Flint has an ASMR channel (or they both have) and they secretly love listening to the other. Could be distant pining or enemies to lovers etc.

Silverflint (+Hamilton[s])  tarzan au (you can choose who is on the island and who arrives there). Lord Thomas Hamilton and/or Miranda can also be included.

Silverflintmadi  "My name is (Long) John Silver. And I've got a long fucking memory [loss]."

Silverflintmadi   canon era. They go on a picnic and it starts to rain. Fluff or otherwise good times would be nice!

Silverflint    Flint is a cockslut and hasn't had cock in ages. Silver is happy (and really fucking astonished) to present his for the taking. happens before Silver loses his leg, canon era.

Silverflint   Modern au with 'there is only one bed' trope and mutual pining. Silver is Flint's long suffering sassy PA who's been hiding a crush on his boss and friend forever.He has been successful so far. One day he has to accompany Flint on a business trip to let's say Bahamas?! and there was a booking mistake - there were booked into a honeymoon suite. And since there is a summer festival there is no chance to get another room. Things happen!

Silverflint, Silverflinthamilton  7 years after their escape from Savannah plantation, James and Thomas are living a quiet, happily ever after life - money and jewels they grabbed on their way out were enough for decades of comfortable life which they now had. And almost everything was perfect-they had each other, got to know each other again,accepted each others' demons and learned to handle each others' nightmares and guilt. Flint long ago told Thomas about Silver and with time forgave, but didn't forget him. After all Flint's heart was broken on Skeleton Island and both him and Thomas knew deep inside he still loved John Silver. They talked about Silver-about the feelings Flint used to hide, about the pain and forgiveness and about love that didn't had a happy ending. It was fine, discussing it all together, sharing these stories-past is in the past and that chapter of Flint's life will remain there. Until one day the past refused to remain in the past and John Silver showed up on their doorstep, injured, delirious and looking for his own forgiveness.

Silverflint/Silverflinthamilton   Post canon S4: John Silver is no longer Long John Silver. Exiled from Madi and Maroon Island, he brought himself to somewhere nearby Savannah and disappeared. James Flint and Thomas Hamilton escaped from plantation, bought house and live happily together. 3 years later, Flint saw John Silver at tavern. But John Silver doesn't remember him. Turns out he lost memories due sickness and always forget who he was everyday. Will Flint able bring John Silver's memory back and reconcile?

Silverflint, Silverflinthamilton  Modern AU silverflint - Flint and Thomas are a happily married couple and Silver and Flint are bffs with a long history. But the thing is-Silver has been crushing on Flint forever and his pining is epic. He is also sure he is clever and no one figured it out. Only both Thomas and Flint did a while ago and Flint is determined to make Silver confess his feelings. He has turned Silver's life into a living hell with his seduction techniques and jeans so tight they should be illegal in public. Meanwhile Thomas is having too much fun watching them two and making his own plans for their shared future together.

Silverflint   John Silver is 30 year old virgin and has never had a relationship and sex. Max and Jack decided to set him up with date at local bar. John Silver's first date was James Flint, a loner and his last partner left him for indifference opinion. James Flint is working as cattle farmer (?) and their date went well. Except.. they are not rushing to have sex and taking time to know each other. There were lot confusion and miscommunication between them on next date. Will John Silver able to lose his virgin and will James Flint make first step to ask John Silver as his boyfriend? First kiss, first touch, sexting, first sex and hot smut.

Silverflint  smut ficlet to go with finnguala's fabulous art

Silverflint  post canon - old pirates having a day at the beach

Silverflint  Flint is distracted by Silver's big hands.

Silverflint   Modern au: Flint found Silver's missing childhood's photo at Silver's grandparent's house. He told Silver about it and gave compliment on him ("you were cute as kid and I noticed how baby earsie you were and your smile was beautiful") and Silver keep blush for non stop teasing. And then sweet, hot summer sex on bed ;)

Silverflinthamilton   pornstars au

Silverflinthamilton   After reunion. Thomas is trying to seduce Silver with a new, especially tight, pair of trousers.

Silverflint   Canon era. S1-S2 After an accident on the Walrus Silver and Flint end up being able to read each others thoughts. How does that end up going for them?

Silverflint + Miranda   just some porn where miranda is pegging one of them while the other watches them fall apart. canon or modern era, it doesn't really matter.

Silverflint  Two idiots with mutual pining and obliviousness. Others try to help but it may not go so well at first.

Silverflint  canon era. After a really great haul the Walrus has a rum soaked celebration. The next morning Silver and Flint wake up together in the captain's bed with no clothes.

Silverflinthamilton   After reunion. Silver finally appears on their doorstep, later they are talking over their dinner but something goes wrong and Silver and Flint start to fight. Thomas is trying to calm and separate them but Flint accidentally punches him instead of Silver.

Silverflint   Persuasion AU. An unmarried Silver encounters his former love Captain James Flint after he returns from battle.

Silverflint  competing reality cooking show contestants

Silverflint  Silver and Flint have met before many years ago and even spent the night together. Now for reasons (there was a lot of rum that night, they're both different people, memory loss etc.) neither of them remember. One of them has a nagging feeling when Silver joins the Walrus crew but one of them remembers nothing yet.

Silverflint   One of them needs to be restrained and dominated to truly let go. Writer's choice who and what era.

Silverflint   Silver threatens to shave his head

Silverflint/Silverflinthamilton   (probably?)Post canon S4 and Treasure Island: Captain Flint's ghost decided to haunt John Silver for revenge. However, Long John Silver was disappeared to nowhere. Fast forward for this year, Long John Silver's great great grandson, John Silver bought property in Bristol. One day, he was haunted by ghost Captain Flint. Ghost Captain Flint wants revenge but ended up falling in love sweet, poor John Silver's due social anxiety. Will they make up for loss done by his late ancestor? Happy ending for everyone. All depend on writer's idea!

Silverflint  AU Canon divergence during season 4. Madi really dies in episode 7; Thomas Hamilton is not found in Savannah. The war goes on, bolstered by an enraged Silver, fueled by the Urca gold. During this time of violence and grief, Flint and Silver become all each other has left in the world.

Silverflint   Sometimes one of them will keep the other on the edge for as long as he can stand. There is lots and lots of begging and pleading. There could be fingering and rimming and toys...

Silverflinthamilton  Reunion fic where John finds James and Thomas in their home x nbr of years after s4, then realises he knows Thomas because they spent a month living together in Paris some years before Thomas met James and having a blast. John recognises Thomas who doesn't recognise him until John shows a tattoo/mark placed somewhere there is no misunderstanding of why he recognises that part of him (because he's seen john naked). Develops into threesome or twosome where the last person joins in later.

Silverflint  tentacles

SilverFlint / MadiSilverFlintHamilton   Post s4 Thomas and Flint are living together after escaping the plantation. Madi and Silver who are still together come to visit them. SilverFlint have palpable sexual/romantic tension and Madi and Thomas conspire to push them together. Afterwards when the tension is resolved Silver and Flint realize it was planned by their significant others all along and invite them into bed and the four of them have some fun

Silverflint    When drunk, Flint behaves like Toby Stephens’ Prince John in BBC Robin Hood.

Silverflint (hamilton)     Annihilation Au

Silverflint     Canon-compliant up til 4.06. When the Spanish attacks Nassau, Silver is the one who is thought to be dead and later revealed to have been captured (instead of Madi). Rogers tries to use to Silver to cause a rift between Madi and Flint, thinking that Madi will trade the treasure for Silver's life while Flint will not. To everyone's surprise, the opposite happens. Madi refuses to trade the treasure while Flint will stop at nothing to get Silver back.

Silverflint   firefighter au: silver keeps accidentally triggering the fire alarm while trying to improve his cooking (an actual fire may or may not be involved) and flint is the ridiculously attractive firefighter who has to deal with it

Silverflint   vigilante au: they're both vigilantes watching over the same area and have a bit of a rivalry going on until they have to team up to take down a new threat.

Silverflint   modern au (amnesia): silver wakes up with amnesia and forgets that he was dating flint before the accident. as far as he remembers, they can't stand each other, and he doesn't understand why flint shows up at the hospital and seems genuinely worried about him. (roles could be reversed--author's choice).

[buckybarnesbingo]

BBB Week 17 Roundup!  This week includes, amongst the awesomeness, the Round Robin fic we did for the BBB Discord Party!

Congratulations to Faustess, Raz, and Peach, who each won a token (fabulous art by Raz!) in the drawing for who attended the party.

Reminder that our late signups are OPEN, and we will be accepting badge claims until August 1st.

Now go give these participants some love!

Title: End Of All Days - Chapter 25: Epilogue Collaborator: Minka Link: AO3 Square Filled: B5 – Mercenary Ship: Stucky Rating: Mature Major Tags: Descriptive violence Summary: Captain Steve Rogers had thought his military days were behind him, left in the bloody nightmare that was Saigon. Retired and working as a History Professor, the last thing he expected was to get caught up in a cataclysmic Slavic prophesy foreshadowing the end of the known world. With Cold War tensions running high, Steve finds himself in need of a guide and translator to get him behind the Iron Curtain and into the isolated snowdrifts of Siberia. It’s deep in the heart of Bucharest’s resistance fighters that Steve finds the ideal candidate, but swaying the enigmatic ex-operative known as The Winter Soldier proves to be complicated. Trust is hard-won, especially in the world of espionage, and with a KGB death squad nipping at his heels, the Soldier has countless reasons to stay presumably dead. As the lines between right, wrong and the supernatural begin to blur, Steve is forced to reconsider everything he’s ever believed, right from the sanctity of his own country to the very foundations of creation itself. Word Count: 116,780

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Title: Friday night and the lights are low - Chapter 7: Bucky/Loki Collaborator: HeyBoy Link: AO3 Square Filled: ? Ship: Bucky/Loki Rating: Teen Major Tags: art Summary: Bucky is a vet, recently back home and finally healed from his injury. In an effort to blow off some steam and meet new people, he hits the club every weekend. It turns out that this particular nightclub is also a favorite hangout for some local superheroes. Word Count: 1408

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Title: Your Wrists Collaborator: grimeysociety Link: AO3 Square Filled: B1 - Begging Ship: Bucky/Darcy Rating: Explicit Major Tags: PWP, Handcuffs, Rough Sex, Cunnilingus, Dom/sub Undertones Summary: In the middle of moving Bucky into her apartment, Darcy finds his handcuffs in his bedroom drawer. Word Count: 2594

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Title: Dragons of Brooklyn - Chapter 1 Collaborator: crazycatt71 Link: AO3 Square Filled: B1- shapeshifters Ship: Stuckony Rating: Explicit Major Tags: explicit sexual content Summary: Steve & Bucky are the Alpha mob bosses of the Dragons of Brooklyn. Tony is their Omega and secret genius partner who runs the business lots of sex, some possessive behavior, and a little violence. In this chapter, dragon sex in the sky and teasing their Omega Word Count:

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Title: The Other Earth Collaborator: fightingforcreativity Link: Tumblr Square Filled: K5 - Great Depression Ship: WinterIronWidow Rating: Mature Major Tags: Amnesia, persumed dead, Family, mystical creatures, slight crack (later), bakery Au elements, mention of alcohol abuse Summary: Bucky had a cat, had a job at a local bakery and some odd jobs here and there. At night, he would look in the sky, trying to figure out the constellations, seeing the stars differently than he faintly remembered. At the same time on one of those stars far away, a star named Earth, Tony Stark held his baby boy, whispering, “One day, you’ll know you’re the world.[…]”(will be updated when I do more for this) Word Count: 368

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Title: Club Can’t Even Handle Me - Chapter 1 Collaborator: tisfan, 27dragons Link: AO3 Squares Filled: 27dragons -  K3: Undercover in a Gay Bar tisfan - C3: free space Ship: WinterIron Rating: Mature Major Tags: undercover, gay bar, dancing, flirting, sex, rushed sex, anal sex, semi-public sex, getting together Summary: The Avengers have gone undercover to find a target who’s been frequenting clubs and bars. It’s probably just a coincidence that Bucky and Tony have been assigned to cover this bar, but that doesn’t make it any easier for Bucky to watch Tony flirting his way across the dance floor. Word Count: 1880

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Title: Club Can’t Even Handle Me - Chapter 2 Collaborator: 27dragons, tisfan Link: AO3 Squares Filled: 27dragons - K5: Kink - Rushed Sex tisfan - B3: Kink - Harder Ship: WinterIron Rating: Explicit Major Tags: undercover, gay bar, dancing, flirting, sex, rushed sex, anal sex, semi-public sex, getting together Summary: The Avengers have gone undercover to find a target who’s been frequenting clubs and bars. It’s probably just a coincidence that Bucky and Tony have been assigned to cover this bar, but that doesn’t make it any easier for Bucky to watch Tony flirting his way across the dance floor. Word Count: 3975

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Title: Somebody's been sleeping in MY bed Collaborator: LBibliophile Link: AO3 Squares Filled: B1 - Bed sharing [ficlet - 259 words] Y5 - Bodysharing [image edit] Ship: Bucky & Sam Rating: Gen Major Tags: bodyswap Summary: First he notices that the temperature is wrong. Then he notices that the bed is wrong. Then, he notices that the problem is actually something rather more fundamental. Word Count: 256

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Title:  For All the Days I Shall Live Collaborator: tisfan Link: Tumblr Square Filled: C2 - Writing Style: Dialogue Only Ship: WinterIron Rating: Teen Major Tags: none Summary: Tony is tired of waiting. Bucky doesn’t have any objections. The rest of the Avengers… might. Word Count: 431

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Title: A Chance Encounter Collaborator: pherryt Link: AO3 Square Filled: B5 - Tell Me Ship: WinterHawk Rating: Gen Major Tags: Post Winter Soldier, Canon Divergent Summary: Clint's on a vacation against his will. Alone. What could go wrong? Word Count: 7259

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Title: It's That Easy Collaborator: sarahbenial Link: AO3 Square Filled: B2 - Flowers Ship: Bucky/Darcy Rating: Mature Major Tags: Sexual content, Canon-typical violence, dissociation, suicidal thoughts Summary: Bucky's been seeing Darcy, secretly, for seven months. Unbeknownst to him, she's been holding onto a secret of her own. Traumatic events lead to the truth being revealed sooner than she'd intended. Word Count: 1721

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Title: BBB Discord Party Round Robin Collaborators: Rebelmeg, Fightingforcreativity, Ladydarkphoenix, Psychiccatpanda, Dreaminglypeach, Ibelieveinturtles, Liquidlightz, Menatiera Link: AO3 Squares Filled: Rebelmeg: Y2 - tech support LiquidLightz (LLightz): B3 - spa day Menatiera: U4 - hot water Dreaminglypeach: B1 - sharing body heat Ladydarkphoenix: U5 - “Don’t touch him!” Fightingforcreativity: B4 - Collateral Damage Ibelieveinturtles: K2 - Whiplash Ship: Stucky, hinted Stony or Stuckony, Pepperony, pre-FrostIron /FrostPepperony Rating: Teen Major Tags: round robin fic, dragon Steve, animal transformation, Loki shenanigans, cats, multiple ships, hijinks and shenanigans Summary: To say that Bucky had been surprised when a FREAKING DRAGON showed up at the summer BBQ at his beach house would be an understatement. How should the ex assassin have anticipated a dragon, who seemed to have followed his cat to the BBQ? It didn’t seem to be dangerous as of yet seeing as the two were happily sharing potato salad. When Tony showed up late, he nudged Bucky, “Hey Buckaroo - I brought - WHOA! I didn’t know you had a… cat.” Sure, it’s the cat that surprises you, Bucky thought, but Tony was still talking a mile a minute around the cookie in his mouth, “So, anyway, I brought that- fuck, is he your window cleaner, he’s gorgeous!” “Window cleaning is just one of the many services I offer,” the dragon said swinging it’s head around to stare unblinking at Tony. Bucky jolts back and stares at the dragon as he recognises the sound of that voice, then quickly pulls his phone out to text Steve… “where exactly are you right now?” Steve doesn’t answer his phone, obviously, but a telltale notification sound pings from somewhere inside the dragon’s belly, audible through the slightly open mouth of the creature, and Bucky has to rub the base of his nose, muttering, “of fucking course you do this reveal to me after we’ve been sharing a bed for weeks.” Word Count: 2330

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Title: Soft Collaborator: alwaysabrighterdarkness Link: AO3 Square Filled: U2 - Touch Starvation Ship: Stucky Rating: Teen Major Tags: Winter, Cold Weather, Touch-Starved, Cuddling Summary: It hadn’t been long after he had been recovered from the Artic that Steve had developed a deep, aching craving for things that were soft and warm or, preferably, both.  For a man who was born and then built for fighting, to be able to withstand so much of the world’s harshness, maybe that shouldn’t have come as so much of a surprise.   Word Count: 3352

[halfgclden]

Ice Ice Babies

Date: February 2014

Characters: Rory&Abel

Summary: Some cousins on a lake, also the zodiac killer?

Abel laced up their ice skates tightly as they sat on the edge of the frozen lake, the sun bright as it reflected off the ice. They smiled at Rory once they righted themself and held out their hands to help her up as well. “Alright, remember not to get too close to the middle, so I don’t have to fish you out.” They smiled. “Ready for some spins and jumps?”

Rory was watching the lake, nervous about the ice skating lesson Abel had insisted on, but regardless, she tightened the laces on her own skates.  When they stood up, she looked up, hoping that her nerves weren't as apparent on her face.  "If I try to do anything other than stand on this, I think I'm going to end up head first in a pile of snow." She slowly reached out and gripped onto Abel's hands, but refused to let go once she was on her own two feet. "Middle is off limits. Got it."

Abel laughed a bit. "I think you should give yourself a bit more credit. I'll hold off on the backflip for a bit, but I think you'll be able to skate in a straight line and maybe even break by the end of this." They grinned and skated backwards slowly, towing Rory with them. "Let me know when I'm okay to let go?"

Rory blinked a few times.  "I have no idea what break means." Her grip tightened as they started moving, staring down at her feet as if that would stop her from tripping on the ice.  "Ask me that again in about a year, and maybe i'll be ready for you to let go." She let out a small laugh at herself, aware that she kind of sounded like she was a ten year old child again.(edited)

Abel snorted. "Well, you'll know by the end of this." They let go with one hand, but kept holding onto her with the other, still towing her around the ice. "Fine, fine. I'll keep a hold of you. Just follow my movements, alright?" They skated slowly so that Rory would be able follow their movements more easily.

As soon as one of her hands were dropped, it flew out in an attempt to balance herself, her lips pursing together in concentration at staying on her feet.  When Abel spoke up, she glanced up at him quickly, and nodded in acknowledgement before her gaze dropped back back down to their feet.  She watched their movements before attempting to make her own feet copy the rhythm, though it was far, far less graceful than Abel's were.   "Just don't let me fall, please Abes."

Abel chuckled, confident in their ability to lead Rory around. “I won’t,” they promised. “Just hold tighter if you feel like you’re gonna fall, I can support both of us. But, if I start going down too, just fall how you do when fighting, okay? Rather have a bruised butt than a broken wrist.”

Rory's nose scrunched up.  "Even that sucks, have you done those training warms up with a bruised butt?  Squats are a nightmare, and then I have Bailey laughing at me when I make faces." She rolled her eyes at the mentioning of her twelve year old sister, but the small smile gave away that it wasn't out of spite.  Losing focus on the ice, Rory's skate ran over a bump, it was small but enough to throw her off balance.  Instinctively, her body jerked quickly, causing her to tug Abel's hand in an attempt to right herself.

Abel laughed quietly at Rory's complaint. They enjoyed the stubborn, younger-sister-like way that she acted sometimes, but enjoyed more the fact that, despite that, she was always willing to go along with his plans. Such as now, when she was obviously less than enthusiastic, but still gave in and agreed to entertain their idea. "Bailey will laugh at you no matter what." They laughed and then shifted their weight easily, balancing them both enough to straighten them as they grabbed Rory's arm with their other hand. "We good?"

Rory looked up at Abel when they balanced both of them with ease, pouting slightly.  "Yeah, I think so."  In contrast, her hands tightened their grip, nervous that she was just going to randomly drop again.  "That's what I get for not paying attention, I guess." Straightening up, she tried to copy Abel's movements again, and couldn't help but laugh at the difference between them.  "Gods, how do you make this look so easy?  You're gliding around, and I look like a baby deer."

Abel shrugged as best as they could with one shoulder and smiled at Rory. "It's the nature of the ice. Lakes don't have a zamboni." They turned, moving them both, as they picked up speed, though only slightly. "Well, you'd probably make something look easy after doing it for eight years, right? Think of how you were with a sword five years ago."

"Gods, thanks for that memory that I didn't need." Rory laughed, wincing slightly at the memory of her early sword fighting days.  Handing a ten year old a wooden sword? Turns out, not the best idea.  "But you made your point."  She was distracted just enough that she didn't notice their small increase in speed, and her feet slowly started to pick up on the pattern, though still a bit wobbly.

Abel exhaled a laugh. They and Rory had gotten to camp within a few months of each other, so they were often put against each other for training exercises, especially considering both of their godly parents. "Isn't it nice to know that I have a point sometimes? Think of five years down the line when you're skating in the Olympics," they said with a grin.

Rory let out another laugh, adjusting her grip on Abel's hand in her own.  "Oh please, if either one of us is going to the Olympics, it's you, Abes.  I'll just be your own personal fan or something."  Over the past five years, Rory had gotten the hang of her wind powers, thanks to countless power lessons that always left her feeling exhausted and drained.  "You know, to always make your hair look fabulous and flowy and all that crap."

Abel laughed and shook their head. "Are you saying that my hair doesn't already look fabulous and flowy, Ror?" They continued to move slowly, aware of both of their movements so that she could follow easily and so that they could point out anything that she could work on. "You know, you're actually getting this pretty well. Are you sure you haven't been sneaking in some late night practices in preparation?"

Rory feigned shock, opening her eyes a little wider.  "What, me? Never, come on." Her fake shock turned to semi-real when she realized that they had sped up, and that her movements looked at least a hair less wobbly than the last few turns around the lake.  Though, she was still convinced she would fall flat as soon as Abel let her go. "Oh yeah, you caught me. I come out here at two in the morning to prepare myself for this exact moment."

Abel grinned and only didn't muss up Rory's hair so that they wouldn't give her a heart attack letting go of her. "Huh. I thought I'd see you while I'm also out at two AM practicing." They slowed down slightly. "Do you want to practice stopping, or just do another lap?"

Rory rolled her eyes. “Why am I not surprised that you would be out here that late?” She was still very uneasy about everything, but she trusted Abel to not let her hurt herself, and they always made her feel more relaxed and calm. Eyeing their feet warily, she decided she could use a change of pace. “Stopping would be nice. I don’t really want to resort to flinging myself into the snow to stop.”

"Because I don't sleep and can see in the dark?" Abel smiled and brought them to a stop, keeping their grip on Rory so that they could stop her when she started moving past them. "That can be plan B?" They laughed. "Okay, so I did something kinda dumb and stopped in a different way than the way that I'm going to teach you how to stop, but just bear with me, okay?" They'd never considered themself a teacher, but they found it easy enough to trade knowledge with Rory, like if she needed help with a spear or if they needed a reminder on what hero killed which monster. They appreciated the equal exchange that they had. "You're going to do it standing still, and just face me and hold my hands, alright? Normally people practice against a wall, but there isn't really a wall here. Just push your legs out, push down, and lean into the outer part of your foot, so you don't buckle."

Rory gripped Abel's arm when she started going past them, and let out a quiet breath when she stopped.  When they spun her to face them, she rolled her eyes.  "Yeah, that's it.  You're like a human opossum with those skills."  When they started to explain to her, she turned a bit more serious, nodding to show that she understand to mini lesson.  It was always easy to learn from Abel, she just understood their explanations easier than other people.  She moved her hand back to their hand, and started shuffling her feet around on the ice to try and replicate what they had described.  "Something like this?"

“You really know how to take me down a peg, Ror. I was thinking cat-like with reflexes and eyes and you compare me to vermin.” Abel laughed again and then watched her feet, keeping his grip tight on her hands. “Pretty good, yeah!” They beamed and then replicated what she was supposed to do. “That’s what you’re supposed to do, just push out. With this one, you’re just scraping off a small layer of ice and creating friction, so you’ll stop moving.”

Rory couldn't help the laugh that bubbled out of her throat.  "Gods, cat-like sounds way better than opossum.  Shit, that sounded way funnier in my head." As she spoke, she fixed her feet until she heard Abel's approval.  Glancing down, taking in both how they looked, and how her muscles felt for future purposes, then looked back up at them, beaming.  "I take everything back.  Forget the human fan, clearly we're going to the Olympics as a pair."

"It really does, but I expect nothing less from you." Abel flashed a quick smile and waited for Rory to test her breaking a few more times while they were standing still. "Amazing. I'm glad I can finally have someone to do lifts with me. You can balance me about your head, right?" They laughed and let go of one of her hands. "Do you want to practice stopping while actually... moving?"

Lifting her hand, Rory gently tapped her knuckles against the side of her head.  "Oh yeah, this ol' thing can handle that, easy."  She grinned, but it dimmed slightly at the idea of moving again, she had just gotten used to just standing on the skates without feeling like her knees were going to buckle.  Regardless, she let out a small breath, and looked back up at them before she nodded.  "Okay, yeah."

Abel mussed Rory’s hair with their free hand, no longer able to resist it, and then pulled her along as they started up again. “I’ll follow your lead. Tell me when you want to try stopping.” They smiled, but kept their focus on the ice. “So what’s up? In your whole life and things of that nature?”

Rory lifted a hand to halfheartedly slap Abel's away from her hair, too used to his antics to expect anything less.  Pouting slightly, she tried to smooth down the hairs that had been yanked lose from her braid thanks to their actions, but stopped when they started moving again.  Grabbing onto Abel's arm, Rory kept her eyes on the ice, trying to get some sense of the weird rhythm she had gotten into before stopping earlier.  It took her a minute to answer their questions, too focused on the motions of her feet.  "Same old, same old, really." She shrugged.  "Ambi's really settling in which is nice.  Though, our room is covered in hockey merch, it's unreal."

Abel smiled at Rory affectionately. They found it fairly easy to divide their attention between her and the ice, since skating was somewhat second nature to them at this point, not something they needed to concentrate on. They were happy to be showing Rory how to as well so that she would be able to accompany them without clinging to them, so that they could race and play games on the ice eventually. "That's great. I'm surprised I'm the one who's showing you around the ice instead of her. She trying to steal your place as my favourite cousin, I'll have you know. Told me that we needed to hang out and skate together sometime."

Rory let out a dramatic gasp at Abel's words.  "I'm offended, Abes.  Fives years together and all it takes to replace me is a few months? I'm hurt, honestly." Despite her words, there was a smile breaking out on her face, and she glanced up to look at them.  "I'm not surprised though, she's been enjoying running around and exploring the forests over anything else.  Besides, with how scattered brained both of us are when we're together?  It's better that you're teaching me."

“I am a fairly simple creature,” Abel sighed as they spoke, a smile playing at their lips. “I’m surprised my best friend is not a zamboni.” They laughed thinking about the newest addition to the Zeus cabin. “That’s true, you would think that putting the two of you together might give you somewhat more sense, but instead the nonsense just doubles. Are you sure that the two of you didn’t sprout from Zeus’s thoughts? It would explain the telepathic bond you seem to have.”

"Nope." She replied, popping the final syllable.  "Instead of making each other smarter, we just drag each other down to the mentality of a twelve year old on a sugar high half the time."  Rory laughed, shaking her head slightly as she looked back down at their feet.  Amber and herself had bonded extremely quickly, and as Abel said, they seemed to just understand each other easier than anyone else in camp.  "It would explain a lot wouldn't it?  Alex has started to call us the 'wonder twins' and everything."  After another few strides on the ice, Rory felt semi-prepared, though whether it was to properly stop, or just fall flat, she wasn't sure.  "Okay, I think I'm ready to try breaking.  That was the term for it, right?"

"Twelve?" Abel raised an eyebrow. "I think you're being a bit generous there. I was thinking more along the lines of... eight? That sounds right." They laughed. "Ah, Alex always has a way with words, don't they? What a descriptor. You could be the wonderful twins or the wonder-how-annoying-they-can-get twins." They gave a quick nod and slowed down slightly, loosening their grip on Rory so that she wouldn't have to work as hard to stop both of them. "Yep, breaking. Try it out."May 7, 2020

Rory swatted Abel's arm, feigning hurt.  "How fucking rude, we are not annoying, we're entertaining." She made a show of flipping her braid over her shoulder. "That's it, no more cupcake deliveries for you then."  Honestly, she was just buying herself some time at this point, still trying to work up the nerves to try breaking while actually moving.  Her instincts wanted to cling tighter to Abel when they loosened their hold, but she managed to convince herself not to.  Taking a few more strides, she finally felt comfortable enough and pushed her legs out.  Following the motions that they had showed her earlier, and while it wasn't the smoothest by any means, she actually managed to pull of a pretty decent break.  Once she came to a full stop, she looked up at Abel with a bright grin on her face, knowing that she did pretty well.

Abel laughed once again, their cheeks almost sore from how long the smile was plastered on their face for. "Entertaining, okay. I'll reevaluate my choice of vocabulary, then." They scoffed. "No more cupcakes? That is a fate worse than death!" They brought themself to a stop as Rory did, though using a different method so that they could focus on examining hers. "Amazing!" They beamed at her and patted her shoulder. "I should have a sign that says '10'. You're coming with me to the Olympics, definitely now. You're cool with repping South Africa, right?"

If possible, Rory's grin brightened even more under their praise, it felt extremely similar to a younger sibling getting praise from their older one.  "I don't know about that one, I don't know if I can pull off that accent."  She thought for a second, trying to think about Abel's accent before speaking again.  "How's thi- oh my gods." She dropped the accent almost immediately, and had to grip Abel's arm as she bent over laughing.  The accent was borderline terrible.

"Not everyone in South Africa has an accent, just tell 'em you don't speak Afrikaans." At her attempt, Abel snorted, shaking slightly as they laughed. "Oh my gods," they repeated after her, doing their best to keep her upright with them. "Please, may I request you never try that again."

Rory nodded her head, still laughing. "Done. Never again, I like your idea better."  Standing up straight, she looked back up at them, a few lingering chuckles slipping out of her as she talked.  "Okay, how do I start moving without being pulled by you?"

Abel took a moment to compose themself. "Just do what you were doing to propel yourself forward before. Same movement, you can just start us off this time."

Rory nodded, looking back down at her feet and shuffled them so they were in the correct positions for an easy push off.  Taking an extra minute to compose herself, she loosened her hold on Abel so that way she wouldn't rely too heavily on just shoving him forward and letting him propel her, but not enough that she was on her own.  She pushed off with one foot, and the two of them were off again, and Rory couldn't help but grin down at her feet again as she realized how smooth it was.

Abel followed Rory's lead, only skating once they were already pulled forward by her. If they were honest, they were fairly impressed with how quickly she was picking everything up. "Gods, you're a natural, huh? That was really good." They flashed a smile in her direction. "Are you and Amber going to start playing hockey now?"

"Oh gods, no way.  Ambi would just skate in circles around me." She was starting to feel more confident on the ice, and loosened her grip on Abel to try and slowly get herself used to not relying on their support the entire time.   When she didn't immediately crumple, she took it as a win and looked back up.  "Not to make your head bigger or anything, but clearly I just have the right teacher." Rory grinned up at them, and then her skate bumped off another imperfection on the lake, sending her off balance.   Unfortunately, she couldn't grip Abel's hand or arm in time to stop her fall, but she did manage to take the fall as if she was in a spar.  Once she stopped sliding, she let out a groan, and stayed there despite how cold the ice was.  "I take everything back, you suck."

Abel watched as their cousin skid across the ice away from them, concern causing their eyebrows to shoot up. Once she groaned, they clapped a hand over their mouth stifling a laugh as they skated to her side. They scoffed. "Um, I think this proves that you suck, not me." They skated in a circle around her before they extended a hand to her to help her up.

Rory looked up at Abel as they skated up to her.  "Weren't you just saying I was a natural? The fuck happened to that?" She reached up and took his hand, getting back up onto her feet with shaky legs.  Keeping her grip tight, she bent down to wipe from ice that was still clinging to her clothes.  "At least I didn't slide into the middle, right?"

Abel shook with quiet laughter as they grinned at her. "Have you ever seen Bambi? You're reminding me of him right now." They pulled her up and patted her head. "You're right. I don't feel like swimming today."

Rory flipped them off, standing up straight again once most of the ice was off of her clothing.  "I would be the one swimming, you'd be more like a fisherman than anything else."

Abel flipped her off right back and grinned. "Huh, maybe I can add ice fishing to a list of hobbies?"

"Maybe, but you're not practicing on me, that's for damn sure." The amusement was already seeping back into her voice, and without warning she pushed off again, it wasn't as smooth as it was last time, her legs still shaking slightly from the impact onto the ice, but she stayed on her feet.

"Fine, fine." Abel grinned at Rory, followed her lead, and kept their grip on her. They longed to be able to pick up speed and start zipping around the ice, but they figured they could wait just a little longer for her to actually feel comfortable on her skates before they tried to get her to do any of that. "How about a few more laps and then we can take a rest or something. Your legs are gonna be killer sore tomorrow, sorry Ror."

"Yeah sure, sounds good."  Rory knew what she was getting herself into by agreeing to the lesson, but couldn't deny that she could already tell how sore she was going to be after it was over.   She let her feet fall back into the rhythm that she was starting to pick up on, it seemed like it was more put together and graceful than before.  Once she got comfortable with it, she slowly loosened her hold on Abel to try and balance on her own.  She did a full lap mostly on her own feet, and couldn't hide the smile that started growing on her face.

Abel grinned, mostly looking at Rory, but making sure to check for any imperfections in the ice. They kept their grip on her almost nonexistent, but still there, so she could grab them if she fell.

Rory only had to grab onto Abel once or twice they made a few more laps, and while she wasn't ready to jump into the world of speed skating, she was able to stay up on her own.  She started slowing down, then transitioned into a break, looking back up at them when she was fully stopped on the ice.  "Okay, I'm good for a break now." She looked between Abel and the ice.  "If you want to do a few laps without me hanging off of you, go for it."

Abel came to a stop next to Rory. They sucked their cheeks in as they thought. “I’ll do two. They’ll be quick. Probably done before you’re finished taking your skates off.”

Rory rolled her eyes, a light smile on her face.  "Don't worry about me, go for it."  She started to untie her skates, looking up when she saw Abel still standing there, and waved her hands in a shooing motion.  "Go, Abes."

Abel smiled at her and blew a kiss in her direction as they started off. “I’ll be quick!” They darted around the ice, picking up speed so that they could launch themself into the air, spinning as they did. They managed a fairly good landing, then spun around a few more times to get it out of their system. They did one more quick lap around before they skated back to Rory and crouched next to her, smiling widely with red cheeks. “Thanks.”

Rory looked up as she untied her skates, happy to watch Abel in their element.  She cheered when they landed the jump, and applauded when Abel returned to where she was.  "That was great!  Gold medal for sure."

Abel sat heavily on the snowy shore as they stuck their legs out in front of them. They grinned. "Yeah? Did you make sure to add all the theatrics? Can you produce a lightning storm next time I try the double axle?"

Rory waved her finger in a circle, kicking up a small blast of wind to smack into Abel's face and mess up their hair.  Laughing, Rory pulled off her final skate. "Oh yeah, wind effects are always ready to go."  Her nose scrunched up slightly as they teased her, she had been slowly trying to figure out her electricity powers, but it wasn't coming to her as naturally as her wind powers always did.  "Maybe give me some time before we try a lightning strike? Though can I just run through the judges and zap them? They'll get goose bumps or something and just think it's because of your creative genius."

Abel picked up their hand as if they could stop or deflect the blast of wind sent their way. "Ugh." They laughed and smoothed out their hair as they drew their legs in to start taking off their skates. "Perfect! Or you can full blast them if I don't get a good enough score, right?"

"Oh! That's a great idea, we'll go with that one." Rory was not full of herself by any means, but she knew that five years of training with her powers made her a force to be reckoned with.  "Like, 'You gave them a 6.5? Bam!" She lifted her hand and aimed it at a tree covered in snow.  At the bam, she sent a blast of wind at it, knocking a majority of the snow off of it and onto the ground.

Abel leaned their hands back in the snow and laughed. “Shoot the bones straight out of people’s bodies for a 6.5. I’ll be the new Tonya Harding.”

Rory snorted, curling her legs underneath her.  Holy Zeus, the were already sore, she's screwed tomorrow.  "A Tonya Harding that would get away with it, there'll be no proof linking it to us, after all. We'd be an olympic era Bonnie and Clyde." She was silent for a minute then scrunched her nose.  "Except for you know all the -" She waved her hand around as if that explained everything.

Abel tossed their head back as they laughed. "The olympic era zodiac killers?" they suggested, pulling off one skate and working on the other. "Or... I could just train up really well so we don't have to destroy the judges. Let's just work on blowing my hair around and static shocks, huh?"

Rory snapped her fingers and pointed at Abel. "Yes, that was what I was looking for. Zodiac killers, way cooler."  Realizing how ridiculous this conversation had turned, Rory brought her forehead down to her knees, laughing into her lap.  "We're so fucking dumb."  It took a few minutes for her to compose herself enough to finally lean back into the snow like her cousin. She wiggled her legs slightly and frowned at how noodle-ly they felt.  "Why did you let me sit down? I don't think I'm going to be able to get up again."

Abel snorted, having to take a moment before they managed to pull off their other skate. "We? I think you're the dumb one here, saying that we can not get caught and then referencing Bonny and Clyde. I'm your cousin, Ror, that's kinda gross." They laughed again, obviously teasing her, and grabbed their boots to start pulling them on. "I don't think you're going to be able either, since that's my job."

Rory rolled her eyes.  "Hey, you're the one that decided you wanted to be the next Tonya Harding, I'm just being a supportive cousin, and you know what? You're welcome for that."   As Abel continued, she was silent, processing exactly they had just said.  When it clicked, she let out a loud groan, and dropped down to fully lay in the snow, grateful for the puffy coat she was wearing as soon as she made contact.  "I cannot believe you just said that, you sound like you're fucking fifty years old or something with that dad humor."

Abel laughed and tied the laces of their skates together so that they could hold them like that, then stood, looking down at Rory. "Thank you for being ready to support me busting kneecaps rather than trying to talk me out of it, I know who to come to when I need to bury a body." They grinned down at her, extending a hand to offer to help her out. "What can I say? I'm sixteen on the outside, but on the inside I am an old, withering dad."

Laughing, Rory reached up and grabbed Abel's hand to pull herself up onto her feet.  "Just on the inside? Okay, sure. We'll go with that."  Bending down to pick up her own skates, her face morphed into one of discomfort at the protesting of her legs.  "Gods, I feel like it's my first month of training workouts all over again."

Abel snorted and rolled their eyes. "Yes, only on the inside, dick." They smiled a bit and shrugged. "You'll get used to it the more you come out with me. So you'll get used to it, right?" They raised their eyebrows expectantly.

Rory sigh dramatically, linking her arm through theirs.  "I suppose I'll have to get used to it, then."  She looked up at Abel, her smile and the small twinkle in her eyes similar to how a girl would look up her older sibling.

[letterboxd]

Emma Tammi Q&A.

“To be able to really see her for who she really is when she’s by herself is such a powerful thing since it turns out that she’s a real badass.”

Caitlin Gerard as Lizzy Macklin in Emma Tammi’s ‘The Wind’.

Of the many possible source materials for a feature film, never overlook the short. Jim Cummings’ Thunder Road, Gillian Robespierre’s Obvious Child, Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash, Andrés Muschietti’s Mama, and Sean Ellis’s Cashback all began life as short films. And more: the Saw films. District 9. Dee Rees’ Pariah. Jennifer Kent’s Monster (which she expanded into The Babadook).

After a start in documentaries, director Emma Tammi makes her feature debut with The Wind, a lengthened version of a short film called The Winter, adapted by its writer Teresa Sutherland. The supernatural Western horror revolves around Lizzy Macklin (Caitlin Gerard, Insidious: The Last Key, The Social Network), a woman left alone in a lob cabin on the plains, who is fighting to not lose her mind.

Letterboxd contributor Jack Moulton chatted with Tammi about her narrative debut, the cultural references infused in this haunting feminist chiller, and Westerns in the #MeToo era.

Letterboxd: Let’s start with your take on the origins of this project and how you were brought on board to direct The Wind? Emma Tammi: The screenwriter Teresa Sutherland was a film student at Florida State University and she made a short film called The Winter, which was loosely based on the same themes as The Wind. Our producer Christopher Alender, who is also alumni of FSU, saw the short and encouraged her to expand it into a feature. So Teresa had written this script prior to me coming on board.

Chris and I worked together on another documentary project and he thought I might be a good fit to direct, so I read the script and I loved it. I then met Teresa and I think we shared the same visions for what the film could ultimately be. We did a couple of polished passes together and then we were shooting later that year. It all came together organically based on prior relationships and all of us believing in the story.

What did you connect to the most about the script? I loved that it was a Western and that it was focusing on a female character, which was not something that I felt like we’d seen much before. I also loved that Teresa was inspired by these actual accounts of women who were homesteading at that time, since I was fascinated with the American West as a teenager and had actually picked up some of the books that she used as original research.

I thought it was fun how Teresa was starting with something rooted in reality and taking it to a horror and supernatural place. But the thing that really I think hooked me after I read it was that I thought the protagonist Lizzy was so well developed, and I thought all the character arcs were really strong. I felt that the horror was coming from the dramatic strengths of the characters’ relationships and their own personal struggles. It felt like really strong ground.

‘The Wind’ director Emma Tammi.

You had more of a background in documentary filmmaking before this—what compelled you to make a start in fictional narratives? Do you feel being an ‘outsider’ to the genre aided your vision of the film? That’s an interesting question. I had been working in documentary films for many years and I feel that was great preparation for making a narrative film despite the differences. Both my parents were actors so I had grown up around theater and fiction filmmakers my whole life. So I think that it felt like something I had always wanted to eventually get to.

I’m so fascinated with our world that I think documentary is such an interesting lens to explore things that are happening. But to then be able to step into a fictional realm I think you can explore the human experience to an even greater extreme. Once we started shooting, the process of working with the actors was even more enriching and incredible than I ever could have anticipated.

What were your film influences for The Wind—especially the specific horrors and Westerns that inspired the look and the feel? I think that one of the things that [director of photography] Lyn Moncrief and I really wanted to do was pay homage to some of the frames from Westerns that have become such big cultural references in our lives. But we wanted to find ways that we could have a fresh take with that [and] subvert it to give a new perspective to the landscape, since we were telling this from a female unreliable narrator and I think that both of those things in Westerns are pretty hard to come by. So, in that sense, I liked how we basically turned the camera 90 degrees and held on the women as the men rode off to town. I was really inspired by The Searchers (1956), for example.

In terms of the horror I feel that there is a comparison to The Shining (1980) in the sense of how it’s a slow burn where the environment is coming in on our lead character. Pacing-wise, in building up the tension, I was really inspired by that. I thought Carrie (1976) was also a really interesting reference in terms of the horror. The first horror scene is simply Sissy Spacek getting her period in a girls locker room and it’s completely terrifying.

I thought so many of the things that women experience in this time were horrific and yet they were just coming out of the mundane day-to-day life events of trying to live and sustain in such an inhospitable land at that time. I love that The Wind was taking the horror cues from the everyday things that we all experience.

Caitlin Gerard’s performance is truly terrific. She anchors the film brilliantly as it jumps from its time periods. What drew you to her in the casting process and did she bring anything new to what had already been set in the script? During auditions I kept asking for more people because I really didn’t feel like we found our Lizzy yet. Caitlin was one of the last ones and was so balls-to-walls, showing such range in three different scenes. We just wouldn’t be able to fully enter this world without hanging our hat on a lead actress who didn’t have that level of grit. So that was incredible.

One of the most important things that she brought to the table was the fact that she had a German background, which we didn’t consider before in terms of Lizzy. I had initially been talking to Teresa about Lizzy’s background, thinking that it would make sense for her to be an immigrant, which was very common of that period. To implement that in the script would really add to the isolation that she might be feeling on the land, in this country, and also between her and Isaac [her husband, played by Ashley Zukerman].

We wrote that into the script days before shooting and then were continuing to work on it throughout the shoot. I thought that was such a nice brush stroke and dimension that Caitlin was able to add because she speaks German and it was fabulous.

What motivated the nonlinear structure of the film? Did you have to adjust anything in the edit to make a particular section work better from how it was laid out in the script? Teresa had already tapped into establishing the nonlinear structure of the film beforehand in a way that would reflect the mental fractured-ness of Lizzy’s headspace. I think it really helps us feel the unreliable narrator so strongly. But we did have to juggle some of the order in post so the edit is different from the order of the script, but I think we were able to find the essence of the script at the end of the day. Those were decisions based on logistics like the performances and the coverage, or the sound and special effects. You just need to recalibrate to keep the pacing in the edit.

Were there any notable challenges on set, such as dealing with the period setting or shooting in such a remote location? We really lucked out in the sense that we got a really strong and dedicated team. I think that everyone was so committed and so talented that we were pretty flexible when challenges would come up. The remoteness really added to the production because we were all able to immerse ourselves in that time period and in that world and not be as connected to the outside and technology.

I’m sure our producers would have a different story to tell because not being able to access your email onset is a nightmare. Basically none of our cellphones worked in these locations. Despite the problems, there were great benefits in shooting in the middle of nowhere.

Through the film, you use the realities of settler life for horror and tension, such as the wild animals, the lack of medical care and, obviously, the weather. How did you negotiate the balance between the realities and the supernatural, especially since you often leave questions unanswered with the latter? We really wanted to start in a way that let you experience the environment as it was, and then start to get in a place where you experience the environment through Lizzy’s point of view, letting it really rev up into something that was ultimately quite terrorizing. I think we were trying to push the natural elements into a more hyper-realized place so it was close to a supernatural place. It’s like playing a piece of music where it flows from the peaks and the valleys.

Can you describe the decision-making process around how you kept the ‘monster’ hidden as much as possible? It’s very effective, but also lends itself to questions on the specifics. How the haunting element would be both seen and heard was something we were talking about even in the script rewriting stages, and I think we wanted to really lean into all of this being an extension of the torment that Lizzy was feeling internally. So questioning whether or not there was actually a “boogeyman” out there was more interesting and more true to the character than actually seeing the “boogeyman”.

But the other element of it was that since this was set in the late 1800s I think we really wanted to show and hear hints of it that were coming from the natural world, so “the wind” and how that transformed was really the scary element of the sound design. In terms of the visuals, we were leaning into shadows and elements of fire and dust and things that were of that environment. I wanted to do something that felt practical even when it wasn’t.

I’d like to ask you how you feel the film operates as a period piece to reflect current times. I felt that the way Lizzy is constantly wielding her shotgun is an empowering and feminist subversion of the masculine individualist gunslinger from classic Westerns. Were you consciously revising frontier myth in that cinematic sense? I think we were consciously doing that but I don’t think it was the overt intention of the script, which is what I really liked about it. I felt that all of those things were coming out so naturally and they weren’t forced. What’s so interesting with Lizzy is that we spend so much time with her while she’s by herself, but she’s constantly trying to put on a brave face for her husband, or for her neighbors, and for the outside world, which I think we can all relate to.

And then to be able to see her for who she really is when she’s by herself is such a powerful thing since it turns out that she’s a real badass. She’s wielding the gun, she’s doing all that stuff that she needs to do out of necessity, but it’s also without any pretense and without having to be a certain thing to any certain person because she’s ultimately there being herself and trying to survive.

I feel it resonates in the #MeToo era in the way she’s threatened by powerful forces and then the man in her life doesn’t believe her. Yeah, I think it does and I love that about it. If we’d made it five years ago it still would have resonated. It’s also a very human experience that she’s going through and our current times are shedding light on it in different ways and that’s so cool. I think the horror genre is able to put a mirror up to ourselves in such a powerful way.

‘The Wind’ opens in US cinemas on limited release 5 April 2019.

[sockdreams]

Socks Behind the Lens: Brenna

When Lucy asked me to write a 'behind the lens' post about taking pictures for Sock Dreams I was thrilled! I’m not the main photographer here by any means, but taking pictures of my awesome coworkers and our models always brings such joy to my day. You want me to talk about all these lovely folks I get to photograph? Sign me up!

And then I started digging in my archives. See, I’ve been taking supplementary, brand-specific and quick-turn-around product shots since 2010. That’s a lot of pictures. A. Lot. So, I figured, why not start at the beginning.

These are some of the first product shots I took for Sock Dreams. I don’t even want to talk about the colour balance, but we all gotta start somewhere, right? We still carry these stockings, seven years later! They’re the Sheer Lace Top Stockings with Backseam and the Plus Size Sheer Lace Top Stockings with Backseam, respectively.

I’ve been taking photographs for over half my life, but I spent the first chunk of it learning photojournalism, hand-processing black and white film of football games and current events to be printed on newsprint with only the most minimal editing. My first experience with product photography was taking pictures of small objects to sell on Etsy, so my two paths here were “objective truth” and “pretty and clear, but no humans!”

Taking accurate pictures of products that will help sell them online and editing them to best show the product and the person wearing it is a totally different bag than what I’d done before. Colour accuracy is a nightmare. But it was all something that I got the hang of and grew to love. Here are some of the updated images of those same products.

Even though Sock Dreams as an entity has a “look” and a language used in its product images, each photographer brings their own accent to it. For me, I think my background documenting events and small, beautiful objects still influences me to focus on the truth of how a product is worn and the details, both delicate and bold, that make a piece of clothing worth loving. And, where I can, I still sneak in cozy little detail shots.

Agosto Argyle Midcalf in Charcoal

I love the way clothing hangs differently on each human body and, even after over a decade working around socks, I’m always surprised by how a simple stretchy tube can be transformed into something fabulous on the right person.

On left: Sheer Curvy Stockings, On right: Extraordinarily Longer Thigh High in Tan

Because I’m not primarily a photographer here (I write a lot of copy, fiddle in a lot of meta data and have worn a dozen hats here over the years), probably the most difficult thing about taking product shots for me is dedicating enough time to get a proper shot.

And I don’t mean just “a good, clear shot of the product”, but that the time I’m spending with the person modelling the product doesn’t make them feel rushed or uncertain. I want enthusiastic consent from the folks I’m taking pictures of, I want them to have fun, be comfortable and feel like they’re doing a good job. If they’re happy and feel awesome then it shows. I may not always hit my goal on that, but I try my best. I couldn’t take the pictures I do without the folks I’m taking pictures of.

We Love Colors Plus Size Tights 4x-7x in Maroon

Besides snug detail shots and more than that, I really love taking pictures of groups having fun together. That’s my start in photography talking. I love the goofy group shots that don’t necessarily show the product well but do show the joy of the thing everyone is wearing.

Extraordinary Bright Stripes

I also super love the more editorial shots that are just pleasing as photographs and super silly, super extra stuff for our social media folks. They want a gif or something edited to death with indulgent filters? ON. IT.

“Indulgent” is the right word. These kind of photos, in an e-commerce context, are indulgent on both my part and on the viewer’s part. They’re like dessert!

On left: Extra Long Satin Gloves, On right: Gemini Midcalf

I’ve been spending this entire post trying to think about what my current favourite picture is. I’m going through my archives, saying “Oh, this one!” No, this one!” So I’ll have to go with what is my ultra-current fave. It’s of Isabel, the daughter of our Operations Manager. She’s been modelling socks for us since she was very small and is basically a total pro at it now.

We were getting some shots of the new Dreamer Harvest Rainbow Tube Socks and she was made of about 90% wiggles, so I asked her to hold still for a few pictures and then she could jump as much as she wanted. And jump she did!

I know that's two jump photos in one post, but it's hard to get good jumping photos and they're fun to do and that's my theme here, darnit.

I don’t have a solid way to wrap this up, but I hope you enjoyed this peek behind the lens. Actually! I have some very literal peeks behind the scenes. Sometimes I’ve taken pictures of where I’m about to shoot, and I’ve got a couple to share. The first is from our old HQ, by my old cubicle! Not a bad setup, actually, but woo-ee our lights were not the best.

The second just cracks me up for some reason. It’s a similar setup, but from the very early days of our current HQ location. This poor, lonely chair.

They’re a good way to illustrate the thing I’ve learned the most solidly in my time taking pictures for Sock Dreams: the model could be wearing the most ridiculous hat, there could be dogs and children scampering around the corner, but nobody knows in the end, if you focus on the socks.

♥ Brenna Socks by Sock Dreams • Free Shipping in the US • $5 International Shipping Find us on facebook | twitter | pinterest | instagram | sock journal | g+

[suzysbookshelf-blog]

Cirque Act 1 by Ashleigh Giannoccaro

A boy looked in a window, to see a naughty show

Through the pane of pain, the master clown did blow

The circus is a holy tent, the keeper of my rhyme

Where I forged my chains, creating this pantomime

Pretending to be normal, I wait until after dark

Then I paint the frown on, get a whore from the park

At the bottom of that bed was a darling in a chest

She watched with big eyes, horror hooking her from rest

She dances for the maniac, twirling on her strings

I will make her mine, sharing damaged things

I will be her riddle, she will help me grin

So why does she run away, she has to let me in

No one loves the clown, not even the midget

We’ve gone too far, she will know my secret

Love can break the hardest mask, I know this to be true

Nightmares have hearts too, I only needed you

5 ***** FABULOUS FICTION ---- Kindle Edition WHAT A BOOK, I LOVED SIVAN and his name just wonderful. 

 What a book just wow. what the eyes see when we are young can imprint on us as we age, and in this case it most definitely did, after witnessing what he did as a peeping tom it shaped his life, 

I hate CLOWNS even when my parents took me to the circus I still hated them, but would gladly like them if Sivan was one. 

A wonderful complex titillating story, Imogene was just wonderful , the horror of abuse.  Ashleigh Giannoccaro is a new author to me but have already bought act 2 and will look for more of her works because this was an original and I do love an original concept. Sivan is a very complex character. Although he's your everyday guy on the outside, you can feel his anxiety as he tries to balance the two sides of him, any one who has a fetish will identify with that, to you it's normal to the outside world you're a freak, yet with Sivan there was this whole other side of him that's banging on the door to be let out, and he's finding it extremely difficult to keep his clown at bay. I love Sivan. I can not say that enough how much I loved this character. He was such a complex intriguing man that I could not help but fall in love with him. I loved the way the author wrote his character and that we got a real insight into his mind and emotions, you find out his trigger and the author shows you just how deep his obsession runs. When he finally meets someone that he connects with, he's still desperately trying to balance both sides of himself and although he's struggling, he really is trying. This book is nothing like I expected. Cirque is wonderful with a wicked twist, I wouldn't necessarily call it dark I have seen others list it as so, I don't agree, yes there are complex issues attached but that's all, it also has plenty of complex characters in it, a story that I will gladly read again and again, Yes It has a seedy side, but then Vaudeville acts usually were, I can imagine somewhere like Soho in London with this kind of stage show quite easily , Soho by day is beautiful but like any where when the lights go down the so called freaks come out. So the grubby back street kind of feel to it in places, it truly fits the feel of this incredible story . The descriptions and the atmosphere this author creates had me actually feeling like I was there with Sivan. I was the invisible stranger on the outskirts looking in and I loved every single second of it. Does it make me depraved I do hope so, I love the weird and the wacky square pegs in the round holes , they make life interesting. wonderful HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BOOK 5 ***** ALL THE WAY 

[fmlfpl]

Lineup Lamentations - GW4 - Walsh Wildcard Edition

Our Transfers, Captains, and Starting 11s for the week!

*AND* New starting this week we’re gonna do a Slacker of the Week Lambs, someone randomly selected from our Patreon Slack channel each week, and this week it’s Rai from Slack great lad and on wildcard too with Walsh...

This week it was not random I have to admit but every week for the rest of the season it’ll be random. Get in.

—

WALSH - On Wildcard

TRANSFERS:

Wildcard

GK:

Pope (LIV)

Pope retains his spot and seems like a great long term hold. BAPs for every clean is great and he's great. Burnley look back to basics and have had great underlying defensive stats.

DEF:

Alexander-Arnold & Robertson (bur)

Trent and Robbo also retain their spots from the old guard team.

I debated over whether to go with d33n instead of r0bbo but in the end I just trust Livp a lot more than I trust Everton and I just want to keep Robbo.

The literal worst thing I did last season was remove Robbo from my GW1 team after the first handful of games and so I'm trying to learn from past mistakes for some reason. His stats look great and he has looked great so I am sticking with him. Obv Adrian is a bit of a nutter and a lot worse than Alisson but these two fullbacks are still the creative cogs for Livp and still seem like great picks.

Laporte (BHA)

Slotting in alongside is Laporte.

I really want to have a share of the City defense and now that my break glass is gone I don't want to fuck around with Zinc or some other cuck. Laporte is as safe as safe comes and seems like a guy I could just not look at or worry about for months. See a pattern here?

MID:

Salah (bur)

Mo sticks obv. Nothing to say about that.

Sterling & De Bruyne (BHA)

Raz and Kevin are in alongside and also picks that don't really need much explanation.

Alon did float an interesting idea to go Kun over Kevin for the next couple little miniwindow of good fixtures but in the end I just didn't want to take on that risk when I view Kevin as just a guy I could hold for months.

Now that my triple City and triple Pool are out there in the open, it's time to get into the dross.

Cantwell (whu)

Cantwell is in... and although his underlying stats are questionable at best given his high points total so far... he still seems like a no brainer option right now. I have no clue how long he'll keep it up, but at his price I'll find out.

McGinn (cry)

Finally, I'm going with McGinn to round out the midfield.

I don't feel greattttt about him, but they've got pretty good fixtures in the near term and he seems to be in and around a lot of what they do so far. Villa look like they are somewhat reasonable going forward and after a nice performance against Everton maybe they will be able to score some goals in this good run.

Certainly not a long term pick here, but he'll do for now.

FWD:

Pukki (whu)

Pukki is still in... nothing to see here.

Haller (NOR)

Next to him is Haller.

He looks good and looks to be justifying the preseason hype. Realistically I was looking at him or Mount as my last call to make. I'm not sure I'm going the right direction with Haller and McGinn but it seems like an okay gamble to go for the upside play with West Ham up against NOR, avl in the next two. 

Mount seems like a better long term pick, but with a tricky next few I'll go without for a little and then reassess. Haller might also just be the truth. Pod partner loved the fuck out of him preseason, so that's a good sign. He might just be great and wetspam, as we know, are not built to defend.

BENCH:

Lundstram (che)

Rico (lei)

Nketiah (TOT)

Avert your eyes. I'm on Lundy, Rico, and Necktie.

Oh yeah and Woodman the legend.

I know the likes of Button may be in better standing with the price changes but I will not be bullied into getting rid of my Championship players. I will not stand for that. Anyway, this bench is fucking bad, but I think I'll be able to get away with it for a little bit. Lund will rotate a bit with Cantwell. Seems fine. Rico...I have no fucking idea what Edward is doing but it seems like Rico has a better chance than Kelly to have a job for more than another couple of games. Or he won't play another minute this season - who is to say.

I have no delusions about this, I will need to do something about this nightmare group at some point, but that point is not now. The biggest risk of my team is probably how absurdly bad the bench is so we'll see if that comes back to fuck me over or not.

CAP:

Sterling (BHA)

I'll be on Raz. Pretty straightforward and not going to overthink it. Should batter Brighton - hopefully he'll be in with a return or two.

—

ALON

TRANSFERS:

OUT: Pérez, Richarlison, Gomez

IN (for -4 points hit): Mount, De Bruyne, Emerson

Clearly if your name ends in a zed then you’re straight out my fucking team.

But in actuality these moves kinda wrote themselves... I had exactly four bad picks in my side after last GW and I’m off to a solid start. Three of them are now dealt with via guys that I like short term and long term and my last bad guy, Gerry D, has a fabulous fixture so just praying on that one.

First hit of the season I have to say does not feel as thrilling as I thought it might. It kinda feels like the beginning of the end??? But I’m trying to not be dramatic about it.

GK:

Ederson (BHA)

Potter is a clever lad and gave City a scare in the cup last season but as long as Pep takes his head out of his ass and starts ‘Dinho or Rodrigo then this should be a straightforward clean.

If neither start then I’m genuinely scared and might start thinking about moving away from City defense.

DEF:

van Dijk (bur)

Liverpool haven’t cleaned home or away vs. Burnley in a long ass time and it’s understandable why. They’re tough, they’re annoying, they throw bodies around, Barnes and Wood are good, McNeil is good, Gudmundsson is pretty good, etc etc... But still, this should be a clean, and Matip’s aerial prowess will be very useful... I wonder if this is the game Gomez starts over Trent at RB for another big boy to win headers and shit? TBD.

Digne (WOL)

Should be an easy clean here. Wolves have been the worst attack in the division thus far and I see no reason for that to really turn around.

Wolves will park and barely attack and as long as Everton don’t get caught with their pants at their ankles on a Jota/Jim counter then it should be a clean. And maybe Digne will dazzle us with another worldy FK like he hit in the cup.

Nightmare for all of our eyes that this match is one of the two featured matches on Sunday. It will be a disgusting viewing experience.

Söyüncü (BOU)

Leicester have been very tight to start the season and getting Ndidi back fit is gigantic for their cleansheet prospects. I like Leicester to control this game and allow Bournemouth very little... Söy is the fucking man I love him.

Emerson (SHU)

Last but not least is the first new boy into my team, Emerson gets SHU at home.

it should be a relatively straight forward clean but I say that and they’re still without Kante and Rudiger so ugh who the fuck knows... They did a great job shutting down Norwich for the final ~60 minutes of that match and I’m hoping they continue with that form.

Emerson also has been on the ball constantly for Chelsea and creating and shooting and everything good so here here to an attacking return.

MID:

Salah (bur)

It’s sorta weird how some people are still slagging off Mo and avoiding him on wildcard and he’s not been talked about for captaincy at all. I don’t get it but whatever. He’s simply the best attacker in the league and best fantasy player in the game for the third year running. /shrug.

Sterling & De Bruyne (BHA)

Welcome to the team Kevin!! Been talking about him a lot on basically every pod this season so far so it’s nice to finally have the boy in my team.

City attack are best in the world and I feel like Sterling is the biggest piece of it you can get in one player and conversely for 9.5 the value of Kevin is just incredible. 200 points coming as usual for Kev barring injury: book it.

Mount (SHU)

Mount, another new boy and another pod darling, coming straight the fuck in...

The fixtures following Sheff U. are brutal but he’s just been so fucking good. Eye test and stats and everything about him make him very easy to love from the FPL perspective. Shooting a ton and it’s not hard to imagine another goal on the break vs. Sheff U.

FWD:

Pukki (whu)

Duh Pukki easy. Dynamite fixture should be a wide open crazy game. Can’t wait.

Deulofeu (new)

The aforementioned last shitty guy in my team is this guy.

Gerry has looked pretty good in last couple and had very nice stats vs. West Ham last week.

With Deeney out hurt you’d imagine Gerry goes back up top and hopefully Sarr comes in for Hughes and maybe Watford get going this week... They really have not been as bad as their points column shows so far. Bounce back for me lad.

BENCH:

Greenwood (sou)

Hayden (WAT)

Maitland-Niles (TOT)

CAP:

Pukki (whu)

I really foresee this being an absolute barnburner no defense yolo high-scoring face-fuck of a match and Pukki is the absolute center of everything that Norwich do scoring wise - assisting goals and scoring goals. I’m expecting a double return with an upside of more...

It’s risky and punty seeing how Sterling and other City players will makeup the huuuuuuuge percentage of caps this week but the one thing, maybe only thing?, about Sterling or Kun or Kevin vs. Pukki is that City can score 5 and one of those guys can blank... We’ve seen it happen before... I don’t really see a world where Norwich score 2+ and Pukki isn’t heavily involved....... I’m riding the hottest player in the league against a bottom 3-5 defense in the league. It’s not that crazy... right?!?!?

Hold me.

—

RANDOM SLACKER OF THE WEEK: RAI - On Wildcard

The words of Random Slacker are not officially endorsed by this website nor any employees of FML FPL LLC.

TRANSFERS:

Wildcard

GK:

Pope (LIV)

An easy pick despite a less than ideal first fixture. Turf Moor is back to being a FOOKIN' FORTRESS and BUR keepers are always golden for FPL.

RIP Leno my sweet prince.

DEF:

Alexander-Arnold & Robertson (bur)

Most managers started with at least 2 pool defenders and how we react to their lack of cleans defines what kind of manager you are.

I've personally gone for the 9000 IQ move of buying Robbo back for 0.1 cheaper and I look forward to their inevitable attacking returns (and hopefully some cleans too).

Digne (WOL)

Every time I watch Everton play they look unfathomably awful but Digne keeps punishing me with an endless stream of cleans, dongs, and assists.

I had him in my draft before the absurd Carabao free kick and that cemented his place for me. Just like the Pool boys Digne is a friend with benefits: a defender, offering multiple ways to slap your anus beyond cleans.

MID:

Sterling & De Bruyne (BHA)

I'm all in on City this wildcard, their mini-run of BHA nor WAT is arguably their tastiest run of the season and if there's any time to triple on City attack it feels like now.

Not much to say about these two that you don't know already but I fully expect Kevin to break his duck and score his first dong this season at home to Brighton.

Mount (SHU)

Mount is looking like the cheap value mid on a top team that we all wanted Perez to be. He is showing a Lampard-esque knack of knowing when to make late runs to pick up goals. His price point and Chelsea's medium term fixtures make him a no brainer.

Cantwell (whu)

Interlinks with Pukki well. A pure value pick with a nice attacking fixture this week.

FWD:

Agüero (BHA)

Jesus is out for at least this fixture which hopefully means a 90 minute fuck fest for Kun. I'm hoping Pep utilizes Jesus mainly for their predictably easy UCL group. Funding Kun has meant sacrificing a Pool mid which is obviously a huge risk but ultimately I'm having fun and Kun is fun.

Haller (NOR)

A definite bandwagon pick this week but the Frenchman is proving hard to ignore particularly for all of us on wildcard.

He has a nice couple of fixtures and there are plenty of strikers priced just below him to move to if it doesn't work out.

Pukki (whu)

I delayed slightly in signing Pukki and my rank plummeted faster than a piss towel so I won't be doubting the master plan again.

He's looking like the Jimi of this season.

BENCH:

Lundstram (che)

OOP cheap lad, nothing more to say here.

Söyüncü (BOU)

Considered Kelly in this spot but Söy is much more nailed and a cheap way into a solid team.

Elneny (TOT)

Non-playing 3rd bench at 4.4 mil, if I had the extra 0.1 then this would be Dendoncker.

CAP:

Agüero (BHA)

One downside of triple City attack is having no idea who to cap.

A chance of 90 minutes of Kun is hard to ignore and I’m going with the big balls play here.

[dw817-dailymotion]

dw817′s Dailymotion

Who am I ? I'm dw817 and I write imaginative books and stories and upload rare videos besides. For a summary and listing of all my current works, read on. To see what videos I have available for you, skip below:

FUTURE BARRIER My primary work. What happens when a teenage boy and girl come across a piece of technology from one-million years in the future ? A grand adventure: Future Technology, Unrequired Love, and Absolute Vengeance. A clear one for both teen and adult literature. Read all chapters ONLINE now ! Future Barrier 1st Book, 74-chapters (complete !) Future Barrier 2nd Book, 71-chapters (complete !) Future Barrier 3rd Book, 99-chapters (complete !) Future Barrier 4th Book, underway, new chapter every Monday Future Barrier Character Synopsis, 8-chapters (complete !)

THE NANCY PRINCIPLE My secondary work. This is an interesting bit of writing. The first book is non-fiction so it recounts what actually happens when I was hired to work for the government in a room full only of WOMEN. Each teenage girl trying to outstink the others in their perfumes and outdo the others in their business outfits. And then I show up, a teenage boy really, and how they treated me there and WHO they hired to keep me in my place. A clear one for both teen and adult non-fiction literature. Later book is fictional as I grew rather fond of my female boss. Read all chapters ONLINE now ! The Nancy Principle 1st Book, 33-chapters (complete !) The Nancy Principle 2nd Book, 35-chapters (complete !)

STAR WARS - THE FORCE WITHIN Cleary a fan-fiction story of quite a few chapters. I address the issue of what happens between Episode IV (A New Hope) and Episode V (The Empire Strikes Back). I mean we're still on Yavin in the first Star Wars movie, then suddenly we are on the ice planet of Hoth with no interim video to explain - what happened ? This then is my interpretation of how our intrepid adventurers of Luke, Leia, and Han are forced to leave Yavin to Hoth - with quite a bit of deviltry from Darth Vader himself even though the Death Star has been destroyed. A clear one for teen literature. Read all chapters ONLINE now ! Star Wars - The Force Within, 28-chapters (complete !)

SOME ADDITIONAL MULTI-CHAPTERED WORKS Sometimes you just can't get enough of a good thing and have to write it out and share it with others in additional chapters and pages. Here are some other books I have written that do indeed contain multiple chapters for their subject matter. Read all chapters from all books ONLINE now ! Wit And Wisdom, Campfire Tales, Points To Ponder, Double Trouble, Saturday Matinee, The Concession Stand, The Theologian's Cafe, Zachary Smith - Ruler Of The Universe, The Dream Machine, Dream Diary, Gosh-A-Lotta Stamps, End Days, BLOG, Writer's Cafe Wizardry. More later !

WANT MORE ? Try out these other short-stories, writings, and articles I've written - all available to read ONLINE now ! I N D E X, PROSE AND COMMS OF RPGS, 50-Look And Look Again, Effective Forums [1] [2], You Think Your Luck Is Bad, Ninety Percent Off, When The Sky Caught Fire, Lost In Translation, Sea Monkey (Age restricted), My First Uploaded Google Play Application, Look On The Bright Side, Solar Eclipse (08-21-17), 45000 Hits, A Morse Of A Different Color, Reaching A Human Being At 2-1-1, What Do You Dream, Fresh Peaches For Donald Trump, A Halloween To Remember (Age restricted), Selling My First Videogame, Halloween 2017, Swim Ring Exercises, Why I Program, How To Fish (A Short Story About Helping Others), Building SRTs From DVDs, Personality Test, I Am INJT, Happy 4th Of July (2015), Happy New Year 2015, Merry Christmas 2014, Happy Birthday Advice, Leonard Nimoy Dies At 83, Dating Advice, Alien Rescue, My Happiest Memory, Kids Gallery Halloween, Teen Gallery Halloween, The Misunderstood Dragon, Hear Is To Your Health, The Blue Rose, The Paradox Of Turning Clocks, Tribute To Alice In Wonderland (Age restricted), The Price Of War, Why Is A Raven Like A Writing Desk, What Is A RPG, Anime - A Kaleidoscope Crash Course (Age restricted), Assholes R Us (Age restricted), Legends, The Fairy Lipstick, Outworld, The Power Of Doubt, Drowning In Ads, Access Denied, Online Blocking, Decisions Decisions, My Guardian, The Riddle Of Religion, I Hate Snow, The Prophet Of Profit, Service With A Smile, Why I ♥ Writer's Cafe, Little Escape Artist, Me From A To Z, Where Were You God. More later !

You are Earth visitor #

This super-rare and very family-friendly TV series features Juliet Mills as the Nanny who takes care of three children. And one has to wonder if all of the amazing things she is capable of. Is it truly magic as most people believe ? Or is it just love ?

Prudence has a nightmare with a monster named Wiblet, and Nanny helps her overcome her fears.

Butch is negatively influenced by a "hip" kid when the Professor misses another one of his activities.

A new girlfriend of the Professor thinks that Butch and Prudence are not grounded in reality and should be involved in her children's therapy group. Butch tests whether there is a tooth "elf" by not telling his father when he loses a tooth.

Hal gets a telescope for his birthday but Butch is the one who discovers a new comet.

Nanny suggests a family picnic on a lovely Spring day. The family members all have other ideas until their plans are mysteriously thwarted.

The Professor gives Nanny driving lessons as the pair prepare for a second household car.

Nanny and the children's rescue of some ducklings leads to trouble for Nanny.

Waldo finds a dinosaur bone and buries it in the yard. Nanny and the children's hunt for a rose bush eating gopher uncovers Waldo's treasure and results in a dig for more !

Nanny and the children stage a protest to stop the city from cutting down a favorite tree for a road expansion project.

Professor Everett receives a fabulous job offer from Astrodynamics, but it means moving to Astroville. The children don't want to leave their home, but put a brave face on for their father's sake.

The Professor is contacted out of the blue by an old college girlfriend and isn't sure he's ready to see her again.

Hal feels too much pressure to complete various projects and school work, with a big science competition being foremost, it's making him irritable and miserable. Nanny offers a good luck piece, that acts like a magic amulet that restores his confidence so much he no longer worries at all.

[ Willy McBean And His Magic Machine ]

Little Willy McBean joins up with a Mexican monkey named Pablo to travel back in time and stop the evil Prof. von Rotten from changing history.

[ Nosferatu ]

Vampire Count Orlok expresses interest in a new residence and real estate agent's wife. Enjoy this remastered edition of one of the oldest and creepiest silent horror films of all time. Nosferatu.

These aren't your seemingly average cute little girls. No, they each have a unique way of handling every day life's little problems by TRANSFORMING into new and amazing vehicles ! Please enjoy all 4-episodes of this rare and hard-to-find mini-series.

Mickey Mouse meets Mickey Mouse in this charming and animated classic tale of mistaken identity. It's your riches to rags story.

This spunky little gal from Nevada has vivid daydreams that teach her so very much about the world around her. In this episode, she imagines herself to be a dancing princess.

Everyone's favorite little daydreaming girl runs into an interesting situation where - something stinks. And we don't mean figuratively.

A marvelously done stop-motion animation featuring truly likeable characters with all their quirks and kinks. A lonely deaf taxidermist falls in love with a withdrawn and blind woman.

Done in the style of Scooby-Doo, this Hanna Barbera series features an animated Charlie Chan the amazing detective and his family of all ages which consist to assist.

Today's Chan episode is a mystery about baseball and a famous player for the game who has been kidnapped.

If you're looking for Hentai and Panchira, look no further. This very silly series has plenty of kinky panty-shots, ludicrous fan-service, and action and adventure besides. This pilot episode is entitled, "Beautiful Agent."

Agent Aika continues this kinky fan-service series with the episode, "Naked Mission."

Very funny and very British Angry Kid gets into all kinds of adventures in this live-action mini-movie which features some very clever stop-motion animation and over-the-top incidents between him and his devilishly intelligent little sister.

It's the classic cartoon of cat versus mouse except in this case it is the anteater versus the ant with some hilarious situations between the two.

Who will win ? The Tortoise or the Hare ? Find out in this amusing upgrade to the classic original tale.

Join now with four elite Galaxy Rangers with unique abilities defend law & order among the space colonies and protect humanity from the evil Crown Empire.

These are the amazing Herculoids. This animated series features Zok, a flying space dragon. Igoo, a rock ape. Tundro, a ten-legged four-horned rhinoceros. Gloop and Gleep, two protoplasmic creatures able to change shape. And finally the Herculoids family themselves, Zandor, the leader, Tara, his wife, and Dorno, their son.

Josie and her cartoon friends go on adventures that is out of this world. In this opening episode we find them landing on the planetoid Zelc and encounter a creature named Bleep. At the same time, Josie is kidnapped by an alien named Karnak, a deposed ruler who is intent on reconquering the populace of Zelc.

The Pussycats land on the planet Arcobia, where they try to help expose the corrupt Prime Minister Rulo as the true thief of a device that is very important to the planet.

A classic stop-motion animation film about your Forest Ranger's and Fire Fighter's favorite friend. It's Smokey Bear !

Three choice episodes linked together make-up this rare and interesting animated police series that takes place in futuristic Detroit where crime is dealt with by mechanical justice. It's ROBOCOP !

[ Daydreamer The Movie ]

An anthology of a combination of live-action and stop-motion animation fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen: "The Little Mermaid," "The Emperor's New Clothes," "Thumbelina," and "The Garden of Paradise."

This tells the classic tale of the hard working ants and the not so hard working grasshopper. The question is, who is ready to survive when old man Winter comes around ?

One of the first videos I've posted on Daily Motion so many years ago. I'm keeping it though because I hate to get rid of anything.

[gethealthy18-blog]

101 Funny And Witty Responses To The Question “How Are You?”

New Post has been published on http://healingawerness.com/getting-healthy/getting-healthy-women/101-funny-and-witty-responses-to-the-question-how-are-you/

101 Funny And Witty Responses To The Question “How Are You?”

101 Funny And Witty Responses To The Question “How Are You?” Harini Natarajan Hyderabd040-395603080 October 30, 2019

Every single time you meet them, people ask the same questions – “How are you?” “How have you been?” and “Are you doing well?” The answers to these are most often, “I am fine, thanks.” Boring. This is exactly why you should keep a few different replies to “How are you?” ready.

You are too cool to give the same, bland answer to this question ALL the time. People will expect you to say “good” or “fine,” so surprise them by coming up with an unexpected answer. Here are some quirky, humorous replies to the ‘how are you’ question.

Funny Responses To How Are You

Shutterstock

Somewhere between better and best.

Can’t complain…I have tried, but no one listens.

If I had a tail, I would wag it! (Wriggle your hips)

I am as happy as a tick on a big, fat doggy.

Oh, stop it, will you? (Say it like he or she is complimenting you even though he or she is not.)

I love you. (This is an awesome response if you want to fluster them and catch them off-guard)

So much better now that you are with me.

 At minding my own business? So much better than most people.

 Wondering how you are…

 Physically? Mentally? Spiritually? Financially? Socioeconomically? I am not sure what you mean.

I am still sucking…air, that is.

I am planning on taking over the world.

Not bad. Could be better, though. Could be payday.

Things could be worse – I could be you (for siblings 😉)

Hopefully, not as good as I will ever be.

Great, because my name wasn’t in today’s obituaries.

Better than I was a minute ago because you are here now.

I am better on the inside than I look on the outside.

If I was any finer, I would be China.

I would be better if you asked me out.

If I was any better, vitamins would be taking me.

Best Responses To How Are You

Armed and ready!

My lawyer has stated that I don’t have to answer that question.

Almost like you, but better.

I could really go for a massage.

How do you want me to be? (Use a sexy tone)

I have been going through GOT in my work life. Is everything stable at your end?

I would say I am a 9.99999 out of 10.

I was fine – until you asked.

If I was doing any better, I would hire you to enjoy it with me.

I hear good things; however, you should never listen to rumors.

Like a Pitbull in a China shop.

Witty Responses To How Are You

Shutterstock

I don’t know. Is it Friday yet?

My psychiatrist says that I shouldn’t discuss it with strangers.

I am doing a bit better than before, but not nearly as awesome as I am going to be.

I am feeling blessed!

I still have a pulse, so I must be doing good.

Better than most, but maybe not as well as others.

Doing fairly well, unless you have some contagious disease and are about to infect me 😉.

Much better than I deserve.

I think I am doing alright. How do you think that I am doing?

I don’t feel that great, but look! At least my hair looks amazing.

I am doing well…or that could be my anti-depressants speaking.

I can’t really complain, but I will still try.

Alright so far, but there is plenty of time for things to get bad.

Each day is better than the next.

Don’t ask – it’s too early to tell.

Medium-well.

Incredibly good looking.

Everything is fine when you are around.

Great, but I should warn you that I am totally biased.

Still in bed? (over the phone)

Getting better with every passing second.

What an impertinent question to ask a girl! Hmmph.

Living an amazing dream. Don’t wake me up yet. You may join me, though. There is plenty of room.

The best I can be. I hope you are at your best too.

I am feeling so good that I have to sit on my hands to stop myself from clapping.

Clever Responses To How Are You

Shutterstock

To answer that question, I need to take you back about 12 years. Do you have a minute?

Slowly but surely dying.

Fair to partly cloudy.

Living a life of suppressed rage, emotional imbalance, and denial.

Groovy!

Well, I have got this strange itch on my right butt cheek…

Stellar, great, fantastic – but dead inside.

Oh, terrible, thank you so much!

What’s with all these questions? You a cop?

As compared to what?

You go first. Then, we can compare.

I am not so sure yet.

Living the dream! But half the time, it is a nightmare.

Not quite there yet.

Dangerously close to being fabulous.

You are looking at it, baby.

I am high-quality, 100% plant-fed. (perfect for vegans)

The doctor said I would live.

Creative Responses To How Are You

Shutterstock

I had promised myself I would murder the next person who asked me that question. What should I do…I like you too much.

Rolling with the punches.

[*speak gibberish*]

Your attempt at social interaction to be polite is hereby acknowledged.

How much are you willing you pay me if I tell you?

WHY!? WHAT DID THEY SAY?? (Act suspicious of everything and everyone!)

Dying. Thanks.

Hunting dinosaurs. You?

Not today, Satan!

I am really just trying hard to avoid ambiguous questions at this moment.

Wondering how YOU are…

How do you think I am?

[*just stare for a minute*]

Good question. (Walk away)

Happy, and I know it. [*clap your hands*]

I will leave that up to your imagination.

It’s a secret.

Do you want the short or the detailed version?

Surviving, I guess.

Not as good as you.

Holy s**t, you can see me?! I died last week, since then…

Under renovation.

I am sober!

On a scale of one to punching someone in the face, I am at 7.5.

Trust me, you do not want to know.

Next question, please.

If you know that you are one-of-a-kind, you can’t really do the same old routine. It is only natural that you will want a quirky response other than the old and bold “I’m fine, thank you.” If you want to show off how unique and witty you are, these responses are good to go with.

Pick your favorites, and rest assured that your buddies are going to be super impressed! So how are you? Send us your response by commenting in the box below. We would love to hear from you.

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Latest posts by Harini Natarajan (see all)

Harini Natarajan

Harini has over 12 years of experience in content writing and editing for online media. She specializes in the areas of business, health and wellness, and lifestyle and is proficient in Medical Sciences (Biology, Human Anatomy and Physiology, and Biochemistry). As the Chief Editor, Harini ensures that her team delivers interesting, engaging, and authentic content. Her background in Biomedical Engineering helps her decode and interpret the finer nuances of scientific research for her team. Harini is a certified bibliophile and a closet poet. She also loves dancing and traveling to offbeat destinations.

Source: https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/how-to-respond-to-how-are-you/

[jumpsitehq]

[AWESOME] One Line Attitude Status for Whatsapp

Are you looking for a way to express your attitude in one line? We’ve got the perfect  One Line Attitude Status and messages that you can share on Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp or wherever else you want. We also have a great collection of Attitude Love Status.

One Line Attitude Status

1. “I’m not insulting you. I’m describing you.” 2. “Excellence is not a skill, It is an attitude.” 3. “I was born cool – until global warming made me hot.” 4. “When someone hates you for no reason… just give them one.” 5. “Silence is the best response when you’re dealing with an idiot.” 6. “People with high ego and unnecessary attitude deserves the standing ovation of the tallest finger.” 7. “Don’t confuse my personality and my attitude. My personality is who I am. But my attitude? That depends on YOU.” 8. “An ugly personality destroys a pretty face.” 9. “Look – I’m only responsible for the words that come out of my mouth. I’m not responsible for you not understanding them.” 10. “People say that I am bad… but trust me, I can be your worst nightmare!” 11. “Before you judge me make sure that you’re perfect.” 12. “Take me as I am or watch me as I go.” 13. “Some people just need a High-Five… On the face.” 14. “Attitude is like underwear – don’t show it just wear it.” 15. “Status Unavailable! Check Later.” 16. “If you hate me – Log on to KISS-MY-ASS.com” 17. “If I agreed with you we’d both be wrong.” 18. “When someone says: You are ugly. Just tell them: Oh, sorry, I was trying to look like you!” 19. “Do not give advice unless you are asked to.” 20. “Being glamorous is not a crime.” 21. “It is sad but truthful that some people simply grow old, but they never grow UP!” 22. “Love me? Great. Hate me? Even Better. Don’t know me? Don’t judge me!!” 23. “Please don’t interrupt me while I’m ignoring you.” 24. “I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person.” 25. “If you want to cry, use a tissue.. not your status!!  :P” 26. “You say I have a bad attitude, guess what? My attitude is a result of your actions!! Change your actions and I will change my attitude :)” 27. “Why waste your time caring for people who don’t even acknowledge your existence?” 28. “I’m not heartless, I just learned how to use my heart less.” 29. “If you obey all the rules, you’ll miss all the fun.” 30. “Cling to your imperfections, they are what make you unique.” 31. “You can’t expect me to think before I speak. I was born without that ability. So I’m sorry if the truth hurts.” 32. “I got a simple rule about everybody. If you don’t treat me right… shame on you!!!” 33. “Don’t play with me! Because I know I can play better than you.” 34. “Act like you are wearing the invisible crown. That’s ‘Attitude'” 35. “My BACK is not a VOICEMAIL, so better say it on my FACE.” 36. “Remember one thing, you might be a PLAYER. But I am the GAME.” 37. “Don’t walk as if you rule the world… Walk as if you don’t care who the hell rules the world.” 38. “Those who like me… Raise your hands… And those who don’t like me raise your Standards.” 39. “People laugh at me because I am different and I laugh because they all are same.” 40. “If you want me to control my temper… You need to control your stupidity.” 41. “You don’t have to defend or explain your decisions to anyone. It’s your life. Live it without apologies.” 42. “Don’t copy my style.” 43. “I´m sorry, did I give you the impression that I give a damn about you?” 44. “Yeah you – The one reading my status, get lost!” 45. “Your attitude may hurt me but mine can kill you.” 46. “Excuse me. I found something under my shoes, oh it´s your attitude.” 47. “Your attitude is like a price tag, it shows how valuable you are.” 48. “Burning bridges? Nah, that takes too long. I prefer to use explosives.” 49. “I enjoy how people judge other’s mistake when they do the same thing.” 50. “We live in the era of smart phones and stupid people.” 51. “Can I take your picture? I love to collect pictures of natural disasters.” 52. “If you are gonna be two-faced, Honey at least make one of them pretty!” 53. “Some people are alive only because it’s illegal to kill them.” 54. “Knowledge is power, and power corrupts. So study hard and be evil.” 55. “Jealousy is a terrible disease. Get well soon.” 56. “If I ignore you and your calls, it only means that I am too tired to deal with your foolishness.” 57. “People with status do not need status.” 58. “Kill them with success and bury them with a smile.” 59. “Organized persons are too lazy to look for things.” 60. “Some people think I have a short fuse. No. I just have a limited tolerance for stupidity. There is only so much stupidity I can put up within one day.” 61. “I found your nose. It was all up in my business again. Please keep that thing on a shorter leash.” 62. “If life hands you lemons, squirt them in people’s eyes.” 63. “Some people just need a simple sympathetic pat on the head with a hammer.” 64. “Sometimes, I take a look at people and wonder how in the world they made it this far alive.” 65. “Don’t know. Don’t care. Never will.” 66. “It would just be ‘aweso’ without ME.” 67. “I solemnly swear I’m the best!” 68. “#Like a Boss” 69. “Try spelling ‘handso’ without ME.” 70. “I don’t give a flying f—.” 71. “I really am ruggedly handsome, aren’t I?” 72. “I can, but I don’t wish to.” 73. “Please replace your lipstick with a glue stick.” 74. “Seize the moment, ‘cause tomorrow you might be dead.” 75. “It ain’t happy if it’s not my birthday.” 76. “What doesn’t kill you … makes me really sad.” 77. “Of course I’m odd. I’m Number One, you see.” 78. “I’m afflicted with Awesome. There’s no curing it.” 79. “Of course I’m only pretending to like you.” 80. “Well, hello there WhatsApp stalker! How goes the frequent status check?” 81. “Of course I’m high maintenance. I pay for everything I own.” 82. “Being this fabulous is a full-time job.” 83. “I don’t do bitter. I only get better.” 84. “So judging you right now.” 85. “Diplomacy is for those who aren’t witty enough to be sarcastic.” 86. “Get in line to worship me, minions.” 87. “I depend on me.” 88. “You make it so difficult for me to be nice.” 89. “Nice try, but you’re still not ME.” 90. “I love you. But I love me more.” 91. “Even my heels are higher than your IQ.” 92. “If I don’t remember it, it didn’t happen.” 93. “I’m not anti-you. I’m anti-stupid.” 94. “If you’re a player, I’m the coach.” 95. “Pleasing everyone … impossible. Pissing off everyone … always possible.” 96. “What’s the fun in following rules?” 97. “Sugarcoating just ain’t my style.” 98. “You can merely hope to be me.” 99. “So many annoying people, and just not enough bullets.” 100. “It’s called Limited Edition. Look it up.”

Also Read: 500+ Really [AWESOME] Attitude Status Quotes and Messages

[lorrainecparker]

Why FCP X? A Producer’s POV – Feature Film: Daisy Winters

My entire professional life has been ‘to protect the money.’ FCP X is a fabulous cost-saving option and because we are working with original media, there is no sacrifice in quality. I simply cannot dismiss it.

Deborah Moore – Partner / President, Production

Inner Primary Entertainment

ipefilms.com

Deborah Moore is a highly experienced producer on both the creative and financial sides of the industry.

She began two decades ago at New Line Cinema and helped create a new division intended to compete with the major studios. Nine years later, that humble division had become a Hollywood powerhouse and turned out more than fifty films, including Above the Rim, The Mask, and Don Juan de Marco starring Marlon Brando and Johnny Depp. She is credited with overseeing many of the company’s successful franchises, such as the Nightmare on Elm Street, Critters, House Party, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

I had the pleasure of picking her brain about Daisy Winters, her recent project.

Although I didn’t know it by name, I had already heard about the film. A good friend introduced me to Deborah because she was looking for a Final Cut X editor and, as it happened, another friend, Darren Roark, was wrangling the cutting room. Darren and I had been exchanging workflow ideas on the project.

I have written a lot about Final Cut Pro X: workflow, opinion, evangelist and a few tweets. But one thing I don’t have the experience to speak about is the financial facts of how FCP X will impact the bottom line of a production. Daisy Winters is an independent feature film, and in the world of indie films, every penny counts. Deborah was kind enough to answer all of my questions about this aspect of FCP X.

MM: Can you detail your motivation for choosing Final Cut Pro X? You mentioned financial considerations.  

DM: I was not familiar with FCP X. Avid was the system used on most of the shows I have done. I came onto Daisy Winters and had to revamp the budget, so I started looking at what had been originally budgeted. This was when I first started talking to Darren [Roark] about his work-flow process for the film. I was impressed at how simple it was to go from the camera to the editing suite so that the editor could start working. More than that, I was impressed with the cost savings: FCP X was so inexpensive, particularly when I considered what the system was able to save me as far as deliverables. Honestly, had it not been for the FCP X savings, the movie Daisy Winters would have sacrificed in ways that would have been detrimental to the film. I was ecstatic at how much we saved going this route.

MM: What were your impressions when Darren presented the post pipeline to you?  

DM: The pipeline was seamless and simple. The key, of course, is having someone who knows what he or she is doing label everything appropriately to keep track of the elements. That is true of any process, of course, but it is even more important these days without the enforced discipline of shooting on film and the inherent costs of stock, processing, and printing. There is a lot more footage than there once was, so it becomes even more important to track it well.

Working with original RED media and Broadcast WAV files in Final Cut allowed us to bypass the traditional lab process and deliver what was called the ‘most seamless audio turnovers ever’ by our mixer.

Darren Roark – Post Supervisor / Assistant Editor

MM: Can you detail your experience with your contacts at Runway Post and their advice?  

DM: I love Runway and have always enjoyed working with them. They are an Avid house primarily, but they were more than willing to work with us and adjust their bid to accommodate all of the things Darren could deliver himself versus having the post house do it. Kit Lubold is especially knowledgeable and laid out many of the details for the process to run smoothly.

Runway did not come on until later in the shoot, in the future, I will bring them onboard during prep to join editorial, the lab, the camera team, and the DIT so everyone is aware of the work-flow process before shooting begins.

Kit at Runway was aware of the capabilities of FCP X and supported us 100%.

Darren Roark – Post Supervisor / Assistant Editor

MM: Did your director have an opinion on editing systems? 

DM: We had a first-time director. Based on the cost savings and the fact that the editor liked the system, the director was happy to go with FCP X. The only issue we had was in finding a second editor to come in and make changes when our original editor had to move on to her next job. We had a really difficult time finding someone with FCP X experience.

MM: You mentioned both Pre-Vis and DIT being familiar with FCP X. What can you tell me about your conversations with them? 

DM: I am a huge fan of prep, prep, and more prep—as much as possible. I wish I could pre-vis every movie—even crudely—just to work out sequences and pacing. It forces you to analyze the scope of the shots and isolate that which is essential.

Part of my bag of tricks is working with a Special EFX/VFX expert, Peter Chesney, who has worked on major films, including seven Coen Brothers films. He kept every story board created by J. Todd Anderson for No Country for Old Men. These were prepared well in advance of shooting. You can look at any story board sequence and compare it to the actual sequence in the film, and they will be virtually identical. Oh, and yes: The Coen brothers won Academy Awards for that film for Best Picture and Best Directing. There is no better validation in my book for pre-planning than that.

FCP X allows you to do your own inexpensive pre-vis—even if it is with a little camcorder footage interspersed with story boards. For his own process of working through a scene, Peter does amazing things with FCP X for just about every film he is on. That is what I love about FCP X: It is financially accessible to everyone and can be used by anyone willing to put in the effort to learn how to use it. I have spoken to a number of DIT’s and the ones familiar with FCP X are huge fans.

The efficiency of the Final Cut Pro X work-flow bought us more than two weeks of creative time.

Darren Roark – Post Supervisor / Assistant Editor 

MM: From a financing perspective, what benefits can you predict on future projects that are already in the works using FCP X?  

DM: These days, any below-the-line budget is squeezed, whether or not you are working on a $1 million, a $10 million, or a $40 million budget. The mandate is always to cut production costs to fit the ever-shrinking bottom line. This is not because studios or producers are arbitrarily wanting to cut budgets: It is truly a function of the marketplace and what number reflects the best mitigated risk that can be achieved. So the challenge is delivering a project with as much money on the screen as possible given the confines of the budget parameters. FCP X is so flexible, and cost-effective that it allows an editor and director to play with the project without the huge investment of attendant costs. There are just so many things that can be done with FCP X that minimize time at the final mix stage, and at the final output stage, and so on. On a really tight budget, with the addition of just a few add-ons, you can output your movie from FCP X and have it look every bit as finished as a much bigger-budgeted film. The caveat, of course, is that your work-flow expert needs to know how to do all this. Quality control is always an issue, and there are some things that I am just more comfortable doing at the post house because I know they are the pros and I am certainly not. But for a really challenged budget, I would look to FCP X every time.

MM: How would you feel about going back to Avid?  

DM: My philosophy is that you cannot hire people who are professionals in their field and then tell them they cannot have the tools of their trade. Many editors won’t work on anything besides Avid. I have been reaching out and trying to find editors who are either proficient or willing to become proficient on FCP X. At this time in the film industry, where it is really hard to make a financial model work for any given film, it is fiscally irresponsible to not look at every penny that can be saved so that the full value of the budget can be put onto the screen. My entire professional life has been “to protect the money.” Therefore, it is in my DNA to explore all options, and FCP X is a fabulous cost-saving option and because we are working with original media, there is no sacrifice in the quality. It works well and does what Avid can do. I simply cannot dismiss it.

MM: How do you feel about usurping old-style workflows?

DM: I have been working in film for thirty years, and so much of what I knew only a year ago is different from what is happening today. It is an ever-changing environment, which I love, and the opportunities for making amazing films for less money has never been as great. Awesome young talent is out there willing to embrace the new technologies and utilize them to the best of their advantage, so I feel as a producer that it is my responsibility—and my survival—to keep up.

MM: What would you tell someone considering FCP X who is on the fence?

DM: I would say that it is such an easy system to work with if you have the right work-flow specialist on staff, whether it is the assistant editor, the post supervisor, or someone else who knows the ins and outs of the system so that you can take full advantage of it. One editor can literally take an entire movie from dailies to DCP if they know how to do it. It is certainly worth finding that right person and giving it a try.

…had it not been for the FCP X savings, the movie Daisy Winters would have sacrificed in ways that would have been detrimental to the film.

Deborah Moore – Partner / President, Production

Technical Specs and Comments:

The film was shot on Red Dragon, which was transcoded to ProRes proxies on a 2013 10-Core Mac Pro D700s.

Dailies were synched with Sync-N-Link X, and microphone names were assigned to Roles via iXML data.

Editing was done on 2014 MacBook Pro 15” with 16GB RAM and external monitors.

VFX pulls were uploaded to Frame.io from Clip Exporter 2.

Audio was turned over to sound mixers in AAF format, made with X2Pro. The audio mixer said, “…bestturnovers ever.”

An XML file was sent to DaVinci Resolve 12 for color correction. It worked perfectly and all used media was consolidated to a SOFTRAID for transfer to Resolve project.

Daisy Winters is set for North American release December 1, 2017. The film was written and directed by Beth LaMure and edited by Cari Coughlin.

https://www.facebook.com/daisywintersfilm/

https://www.daisywintersfilm.com

The post Why FCP X? A Producer’s POV – Feature Film: Daisy Winters appeared first on ProVideo Coalition.

First Found At: Why FCP X? A Producer’s POV – Feature Film: Daisy Winters

[erwinpendley80-blog]

Monster Truck Games For Less Mature Monster Lorrie Fanatics!

In today's fast moving world there are various latest new models of gaming devices available in the gaming soak with versatile features and capabilities. The game programs designed for these systems are extremely interactive in usability. They make the players to build up their discreet knacks and gaming skills. With its assorted ground-breaking features, the Wii games console is a tremendous gaming system that comes to enthral the individuals having great enthusiasm for the games. The most amazing features of the wii games is its Virtual Console Channels. This amazing feature would easily permit the users to download their most wanted games from the channels of Wii games shop. This gaming gadget is also ready with a noteworthy characteristic called Disk channel. This implausible feature would surely help the gamers to load their preferred games from the CDs. The Wi-Fi remote controllers and the joysticks of this console appeal the gamers. As the players can smoothly download their most wanted games, it would let them to explore and compete with the other genius from the whole world. These thought-provoking marks have made this gadget an exceptional gaming machine. Moreover, the device is sure to thump all other gaming gadgets. Well its not just only game with its amazing features it allows user to download other popular media like preferred music, TV shows and video clips etc by connecting this amazing device to the internet or any other available network. It is been designed on highly advanced phenomena of motion capturing. The Wii remote alternative of this piece of equipment has the potential to sense its point of orientation from three different dimensions. It makes you updated with your e-mail and messages from the internet even though its in hibernation mode. The motion sensitive aspect of this gaming system is highly appealing as it makes easy for the players to use exciting special effects in their most wanted games. The astounding graphics and animations of the Nintendo Wii Games come to spellbind the gamers a lot. On the whole, sound and animation features of this gaming machine are absolutely amazing. The Photo Channel selection would further let the users to improve their ingenious and editing dexterities. The most tempting thing that would captivate the users is the electrifying and the bold games. Further, the Wii console would permit the players to play the newest games such as Super Mario, Legends of Zelda and the amazing Wii Fit which has broken the record of GTA etc.

This is in fact because those same games surely have a cope of rrmages and also, they will be high-speed game titles. Moreover, it's probably not just unquestionably the elegance because of the game, but one would ought to be really exactly like the ebook graphics and noise which end up with been done work with upon and additionally you will likely even toy the movie in major weather challenges too. The fabulous graphics listed in a large number games always makes them maybe more exhilarating and very cool to performance. They were generally the particular best substitute for a huge child so that it will relax despite the fact also taking the gamble. The most appropriate thing consisting of these games is which usually if your business do not actually have more than enough money and buy one, you do get items free hosted. It's the great period of time for everyone. Particular game happens to be usually in reality addictive even though players choose to to prepare confident they begin to get of finish how the race then master in which. players will use special types towards gaming property keys to reduce their pickups with cruising conditions. There have been also numerous sites which unfortunately are supply you with them at discounted levels. Some sort of first pair stages associated the hobby are beautiful and elementary to play around. In this article we are undoubtedly covering these best game titles (including training apps) over kids with iPad. There is just a joy associated that has speed. A couple love Mario games, along with the old fashion animation, some relationship car racing, no be importance what the graphics look at like available as long for it's auto racing. Playing truck games 3d parking is quickly different from watching men and women play these types of games. Batters have and drive passenger trucks on any screen from all types of of bad landscapes. In one of which the car games, you now have to drive over just a few small challenges. Petite down your main selection created on your entire preferences. There is a brand new game referred to that monster big rig racing. Available on so tons of occasions which has proved to be found just that the resolution to the latest problem might be always saw at the place among the nightmare itself. It has been usually best for some sort of site which will ask their players that will create bill when these guys want to be play i would say the truck games seeing that this helps one that will access a person's content people want fairly quickly. While shoppers can will have a fantastic deal of excitement playing regarding games, you will find just only problem. If in case you similarly to to have fun with playing shooting games, then exceedingly high accuracy in addition ultimate correctness games may very well be ideal on to play. Trucks actually are fun or challenging just like they can sometimes outrun supercars and competition other vehicles. Another position is ones Monster wheelie. In conclusion, monster truck games are very popular among teenagers. It is a well known fact that kids totally love car games especially in form of free online games, and maybe it is because of the adrenaline rush that it provides or maybe the general thrill offered by these games. Whatever the reason, they sure seem to be addicted to it. The mere sound of the countdown "Three, two, one, Go!" and the sound of the tires screeching and cars zooming is enough to capture anyone's attention and interest. Among the other popular free online games such as dress up games, shooting games, puzzle games or RPG (role playing games), car games have managed to carve a niche of their own and earn people's love and interest. Almost instantly after the game starts, the player finds himself in a frenzy because of all those shifting of gears, flooring of gas pedals and the crazy maneuvering of the cars through the other competitors. One almost finds oneself vying for the ever-important lead upfront. These car games are not only popular with kids but with adults too. The most popular car game is probably Need for Speed, which is an addiction for most people. In fact, these games have totally revolutionized the concept of online games. These days kids have taken to these car games like a fish to water! And this is only fair because these games are extremely enjoyable, thrilling and not to mention, addictive as well. Earlier there were the PC games which one has to download from the internet and pay for it. But now, thanks to the advent of the internet, most of the online games are available for free. No download, no hassles, simply log on to the internet and play and because of the popularity of the internet, the number of free online games is ever-increasing to the point that gamers often find themselves spoilt for choice. For kids who are interested in car games (of course racing ones), Need for Speed is recommended, it is not only extremely popular but some even refer to it as the king of all car games. Other recommended games are Monster Truck Madness, NASCAR '09, Dirt 2, Midnight Club, Burnout Paradise, Formula 1 Grand Prix, etc. However these need to be downloaded because they are computer games. If you cannot be bothered to download it then it would be best to go for free online games such as Burning Rubber 3, Rural Racer, Vengeance Rider, Crazy Mustang Monster, Grand Prix Challenge, Bio Racer, Metal Mayhem and lots more. There endless fun and hours of good times waiting for you in the online car racing world. One simply has to get online and try out various games to see what works for one. Playing car games as free online games is not only a source of entertainment but also offers a lot of advantages to the kids. For instance, it develops the child's learning skills in areas like real-time response, image processing, cognitive processing and many more. Also these games improve the hand-eye co-ordination and help them to understand the idea of parallel parking. So why not let your kids play these online car games? You have got nothing to lose, and your kids would love them too.

[romancevsreality-blog]

vanderpump rules, season five, episode seventeen: the editing is so shady in this episode and i love everyone for it

I completely forgot about Tom and Tom in drag until the opening of this episode, but we’re back in New Orleans, and they’re as dragged out as ever. Katie sits and drinks a FourLoko because she’s basic as hell while she rehashes the story to Stassi, who claims she had no idea because remember - these people weren’t friends a year ago. Stassi was off having cuffing season with her boyfriend and pretending she’s morally superior to these people. She’s crying because of it, though. Katie’s tired of pretending that Tom didn’t fuck the girl in Vegas, Ariana and Scheana are pretending that Schwartz wasn’t forced to propose to Katie at gunpoint, and Sandoval is just going to defend Schwartz with all his might for the rest of time. And Sandoval is right - Katie gave Schwartz an ultimatum despite their relationship having its issues.

What prompts is literally an angry rant from Sandoval in drag, him kicking the door in while yelling “He’s a fucking battered wife!”, and Tom Schwartz sitting on the bed in his wig cap, trying not to laugh at the entire scenario.

It is hilarious. I am dead.

Katie, meanwhile, is still trying to play the victim with Kristen, Brittany, Jax, and Stassi, who are trying to reassure her that she’s not the stupidest person1 when Schwartz comes in and insults Kristen and then calls Katie a bitch, and then walks out. It is literally pointless, but it leads to Kristen and Brittany talking about how Tom Schwartz only gets this way when Tom Sandoval is around. Kristen’s irrational hatred for Tom Sandoval isn’t cute anymore. Y’all broke up three years ago and Kristen slept with everyone she could during their relationship, so. I don’t get why Kristen hates him so much. I’m also massively upset because Brittany is on the wrong side f history here, taking Kristen’s side.

I find myself questioning everything when Jax starts making sense. Then again, he’s 2000 years old, so he must have some form of wisdom. I must be as drunk as Tom Schwartz is, because Jax just wants Tom to apologize to Katie to see if that will make Katie own up to her own shitty behavior. And if it doesn’t (and it won’t), then Tom will know to GTFO this relationship. It’s not the worst advice. He takes Tom over to Katie, where Katie and Stassi are laying in bed, and basically herds the other girls out. Jax loses my favor swiftly, though, when he complains about having to perform the act of oral sex on his girlfriend. Come on, Jax. You’re better than this.

The next day, Tom Schwartz wakes up in a dress, with a boner, in Jax and Brittany’s room. Tom Sandoval wakes up with nails still on. Ariana and Tom talk about how weird and awkward things are going to be today, and I’m mostly concerned that Tom Sandoval probably slept in his contacts because he couldn’t take them out with those pointy devil nails on.

The next scene is one of the shadiest scenes I’ve seen in reality television, though.

Scheana and Shay are in bed talking, and they’re discussing the fact that Katie and Tom fight all the time and it’s a great idea that they had a prenup. Scheana wasn’t worried about having a prenup with Shay, because she trusted him. What was he going to do, empty out her bank account?2

Stassi’s having a hard time, because the entire time Tom and Katie have been together, they’ve been having the same argument - Katie gets drunk, they fight; Tom gets drunk, they fight. And she’s right - how do you support a couple who can’t seem to stop having the same argument over and over again?

Here comes the Contractually Obligated Scene That Takes Place At Sexy Unique Restaurant With Lisa Vanderpump. They’re getting so heavy-handed with these now, it’s amazing. Lisa’s at Sexy Unique Restaurant, instructing Suck A Dick Diana not to let the gardeners cut too many branches and, oh, promoting someone we’ve never seen before to a server position. Here’s Katie O’Malley, who’s been a host at Sexy Unique Restaurant and for some reason showing her midriff at work, getting a shot at being a server at Sexy Unique Restaurant. Sure. Anyway, Katie calls Lisa and tells her a brief rundown - lots of fighting, blah blah blah. Lisa wonders if they are entirely capable of having fun with each other (answer: probably not?).

The Gang’s at a cabana by the pool, and everyone’s treating Tom Schwartz with kid gloves. Tom’s afraid of Katie, and they’re all pretty much like “AWWWW, TOMMMMM.”

Kristen, Katie, and Stassi go to Stassi’s childhood home, which is up for sale. I lived in the same house for most of my childhood and my adult life, and I’m having a tough time reconciling the idea that at some point it won’t be mine. My mom says she’s going to move soon and it hurts my heart to think about it. We meet Stassi’s grandma, who has to suffer through Stassi telling her about how hungover she is. Her grandma is a boss bitch, fabulously dressed and a genuine sweetheart. She’s the one who gave Stassi her nickname, and she’s pretty much what you want to be when you’re a grandma. Stassi asks for her Chanels, something I would do, too.

Back at the cabana, Jax is trying to talk Tom out of marrying Katie because Jax sees what we’re all seeing. Tom claims he was being dramatic in the heat of the moment - he probably is - and then Sandoval comes in with a pink tank top for him and the moment’s broken and over. This show is full of red flags of how not to be in a relationship and how toxicity works. Meanwhile, Stassi ruins a perfectly gorgeous dress by getting in the pool at her dad’s house with it on, and Katie feels validated that everyone can see that it’s not just her that gets drunk and mean. The mere fact that she thinks that’s “winning” says so much. Proving someone is just as bad as you are is not “winning”, it means there’s something wrong with both of you.

Katie O’Malley is getting quizzed by Lisa, and isn’t fully prepared. Like, at all. This girl has barely looked at this food, let alone knows the menu. She basically kind of rambles on and makes up dish ingredients, and Lisa is unimpressed. Girl doesn’t even know what the specials are, and that’s usually the easiest one to remember. Sigh. Katie’s sent to try again later.

Tom comes into Katie’s room like “BUUUUUUUUUUBBA?????” in that horrifically passive aggressive way. He pretends not to know why they’re fighting, when it’s glaringly obvious. Katie wants him to admit that he slept with the girl in Vegas, and he maintains steadfast that he didn’t. And here’s the thing - I don’t think he did. Whiskey dick is a hell of an issue, and I’m sure he tried. And it’s harder to be like “I tried, but I couldn’t,” than it is to just flat out lie by omission, which is what Tom is doing. I do wish he would admit that what he did was hurtful, even so, and Katie has the right to be upset about it. He’s basically a little drunk. We get a good glimpse into how they fight, because Tom is like, “You were a nightmare for the first three years we dated,” And Katie’s like, “You can’t throw that in my face!” Even though she was literally just throwing the Vegas girl thing from two years ago in his face. They both decided to marry each other, they have to live in the bed they made. They can’t blame each other and refuse to take accountability. Katie’s trying to have a serious conversation, and Tom literally squirts whipped cream in his mouth because he’s a child. They weirdly make up, and basically mutually agree to squash shit. Or at least put a band-aid on things because they want to have fun.

All the guys go out and The Toms are wearing fucking zoot suits and take Fuck You shots. Jax says Jameson is disgusting and I clutch my pearls. They take shots of chartreuse because they’re barbarians, and that leads to a game of Spin The Bottle. I’m glad these 30 year olds are playing Spin The Bottle. Tom Schwartz starts the game, and his last kiss as a non-married man was with Tom Sandoval. It makes perfect sense. I’m very happy for them, because they’re very much in love. Peter and Stassi kiss - they dated for a bit, I forgot - and pretty much everyone kisses. It’s very bizarre. Peter and Stassi wind up making out for a bit, and they really are a good looking couple. Please date.

Tom Sandoval pretends that he doesn’t know there isn’t a difference between extensions and weave, even though he has both. He goes outside and smokes a cigarette with Kristen for some reason, and it immediately starts with Kristen berating him and calling him an asshole. He looks so confused, but Kristen’s upset that Tom mentioned to Carter about their past relationship. Kristen literally says "I cheated on you with TONS of guys when we were together. How dare you talk to my new boyfriend about it." Carter, who is literally fetch and thus will never happen, apparently knows all about what a monster Kristen has been. But what really drives Kristen crazy, I think, is that Tom Sandoval got over it. She’ll never get over Tom Sandoval, but he’s over her and has moved past her. She tells him to stop trying to ruin her relationship, when… she spent the entirety of the third season of this show trying to break up Tom and Ariana. Tom Sandoval clearly gives no fucks about Kristen and Carter, and she really, really wants him to.

Over at Villa Rosa, Ken and Lisa lay in their majestic bed, surrounded by dogs. They’re talking about opening a new, “young” restaurant, and bringing in new partners. They discuss Tom Sandoval being brought in as a partner, which is actually incredible. I’m always a fan of these people preparing their post-Vanderpump life.

There’s a kind of gross scene where Tom Schwartz gives Katie a lap dance, and honestly, knowing these two don’t have sex, I can’t imagine why they ever would. Katie makes a joke that she has to pay Tom to have a sex with her - I mean, Tom has admitted that he was a little concerned he was asexual for years, so I can totally see Tom being the one getting off on being withholding. They go back, Tom Sandoval tells the guys about his conversation with Kristen and the girls put temporary tattoos all over a passed out Tom Schwartz’s face.

The next morning, Jax has eye masks on his eyes but claims they’re “chicken cutlets”, because for a metrosexual and virtually hairless man, Jax knows shockingly little about beauty maintenance. Brittany asks him not to post pictures of him in drag on Instagram, but wasn’t Brittany kissing Kristen during Spin The Bottle the night before? Oh, yeah, that’s because her homophobia is arbitrary and it’s okay for girls to kiss each other but god forbid a man dress up in drag as a joke. The gang’s all packing to go home, and Shay is trying to wax poetic about marriage and that it’s hard work. He talks about how it requires listening, and Scheana literally interrupts him to ask for her steamer. The editors know what’s coming. Tom and Katie agree to bottle their shit up, and this is such a bad idea and not an appropriate way to go about this. Katie just wants to focus on her flowers and her dress, and… this is not going to end well.

Next Week: The Sexy Unique Restaurant photoshoot! Scheana feels left out. Stassi is going to the bottom of the barrel for dating - OkCupid, and Katie and Tom ask Lisa to perform their wedding and she’s hesitant, for good reason.

See you next week!

Random Assessments from the Desk of Amanda:

Of course Katie is drinking a Four Loko at the opener. I can’t with her ever.

I just want The Toms to live happily ever after.

Kristen is really desperate to make herself relevant on this show.

Stassi’s dad is hot. So is Shay.

Just the worst. Absolutely the worst. ↩︎

Oh, wait, that’s exactly what he did. I love the schadenfreude this show has towards its cast. God bless the editor who found that clip. ↩︎