#it’s been so long since I posted a full work :(

[urperfectcinnamonroll07]

Days Free

requested?: no pairing(s): choi seungcheol x afab!reader genre: smut, fluff warning(s): soft sex, unprotected sex (mentions of asking for a condom first, wrap it before you tap it), counter sex (then they go to the bed), overstimulation, vanlilla sex, slight breeding kink, praise, oral (f recieving), squirting, summary: 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 ����𝘩𝘦𝘰𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘢 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳, 𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵 word count: 2k a/n: jesus mother of christ i havent written for cheol in fucking ages. anyways, i have been posting a lot, maybe too much for my own liking, BUT, i may continue to post regularly depending on how busy i am. remember to eat and drink something, love yas, mwah! -Cilla

it was always hard to find a day where both you and cheol were off due to busy schedules. you had a shit ton of work always piled on you due to toxic co-workers. but cheol was an idol and therefore busy almost 24/7. but there was one day almost every three months where your schedules matched and you both had the day off.

that day was today, and you were excited because you had the whole day planned. you had a full day of fun activities, starting off with eating breakfast together, which was very rare in your house, then you would both get dressed and watch a movie, then you would go out to a restaurant (which you would pay for) and go for a walk. then the both of you would go to a museum and then go to another restaurant (which cheol would pay for). then last but not least you would both do skin care together and then go to bed.  

cheol was obviously against the idea of you paying for something for dinner, but you did it anyways since he was going to be paying for dinner.

you woke up this morning to cheol leaving soft kisses on your face. you smiled softly as you came eye-to-eye with cheol who smiled back at you, leaving a lingering kiss on your lips before pulling away.

“good morning my gorgeous girl” he smiles softly, burying his face into the crook of your neck and kissing softly. you squirmed slightly as his breath tickled you it was mornings like these that made you fall even more in love with cheol, if that was even possible.

he pulled his face back, his eyes lidded as you looked up at him. he smiled before leaning down slightly and planting a deeper kiss on your lips, you happily returned it before climbing on top of him, straddling his waist. you pulled away.

“what do you want for breakfast?” you ask softly.

“we have stuff for pancakes don’t we?” he asks, sitting up. you nodded before climbing off of him and standing up, cheol follows not far behind you.

you both walk downstairs to the kitchen, first emptying the dishwasher that was put on the previous night and putting the stuff away on the draining board. this was something you both did together quite frequently because you were both usually up early together. you finished putting the dishes away and put the glasses in that you had both used to drink during the night.

you smiled softly as you felt his eyes on you before getting out pans and the ingredients for pancake mix.

“you’re always so gorgeous in the morning” he says, almost dreamily. you scoffed.

“i haven’t brushed my hair yet” you say, not even looking at him while putting the pan on the stove. it wasn’t long before you felt him wrap his arms around you.

he spins you around with his hands on your hips and presses kisses all over your face, you giggle slightly, pressing your hands on his chest to push him away slightly. he stopped kissing your face and instead stared at you dead in the eyes with a small smile on his face.

“you’re always so gorgeous anyways, i love you so much” he whispered softly, this made you smile, cheol starts leaning in to kiss you, and so do you. your lips then connect in a passionate kiss. your hands slide up from his chest to around his neck, managing to pull him closer if you possibly could.

it was funny to you how even the littlest touches from cheol could ignite such a fire in you that left you needing more and more from him, even after you had gotten your fill (quite literally). but your lips collided in such a way that left you absolutely soaked and bothered. it was also funny to you how he touched you in such a way that left you needing more even after you were completely spent and overstimulated, so when he reached his hand down from your waist to press on your pussy in-between your legs.

cheol chuckled against your lips at how wet you were. you were soaked to the point that you were soaking through your pyjama shorts. the kiss was deepened as you were pressed against the counter, your wetness getting impossibly more wet as he did so. cheol smirked as he felt this and moved his hands to your hips and picked you up, placing you on the counter without breaking the kiss.

soon, the kiss was broken and cheol began to pepper kisses down your neck to the top of your tank top, his hands beginning to wander from your hips to under your tank top until he got to your tits, pinching and tugging at your nipples. you whimpered and moaned, tugging at his hair as he latched and sucked on your skin of your neck down to your collarbone, leaving marks as he did so. he unattached his lips from your collarbone before tugging your tank top over your head, tossing it to the side on the floor of the kitchen. he then held your hips up as he slipped off your pj shorts, tugging them down and throwing them god knows where along with your shirt.

cheol moved you over to the kitchen island and made you move to lie back against the marble, the coldness hitting your bare back made you gasp. cheol moved your legs as wide as they could possibly go before diving into your pussy like a man starved, slurping and sucking for all you’re worth, making you moan and squirm against him. your back arched and cheol had to keep you still as he kept devouring your pussy whole as though he was a man starved, your hands tugging his hair as he did so, but he didn’t let up and continued sucking on your clit, sticking a few fingers into your hole and curling them into your sweet spot, making your toes curl and back arch more than it already had.

cheol knew you were beginning to get close as he kept slurping you with reckless abandon, trying to get you as close as he could, continuing to curl his fingers in you repeatedly as you moaned and writhed, trying to close your legs as much as you could as you felt something stirring in your lower stomach. cheol had to remove his fingers from your throbbing hole and hooked his arms around your thighs, pulling you closer to his face. you felt the knot forming int your stomach as you began to get closer to your high. you were getting closer and closer by the second.

cheol kept going until eventually you were sent over the edge in a wave of pleasure. you felt your juices spurt out of you, spraying all over his face. he rides you out of your high, slurping and rubbing his face in your pussy.

once you were back to your normal state, cheol stood back up to his full height and looked down at you on the counter, rubbing his mouth with the back of his hand in order to rid your juices. the fingers that were in your cunt dipped into his mouth and he sucked. your mouth slightly opened as you watched him, practically mesmerised by his actions. you could have moaned.

he smirked as he saw your reaction, but he then removed his fingers from his mouth and put his hands on your hips.

“wanna take this to the bedroom? need to fuck you now, baby” he mutters, his face in your hair. you hummed in response, wrapping your arms around his neck and your legs around his waist.

he pulled you up, his arms on your waist as he walked with you upstairs back to your unmade bed. he gently laid you down on it and pulled his joggers down. his hard cock immediately sprung out, his tip red and leaking with pre-cum. you licked your lips at the sight, he only smirked.

“don’t worry, baby, that’s for after dinner” he hums before he crawls over you, hovering above you before he presses a knee in-between your legs and opens them wide enough for him to kneel in-between them. “do you want me to put a condom on baby?” he asks softly, you knew he didn’t mind whether he did or not, he wanted to be inside of you either way.

“no, please just fuck me” you say after a few minutes of thinking, you didn’t care at this point, you just wanted him inside of you.

“are you sure?” your heart melted when he made sure it was what you really wanted.

“i’m sure” you say softly, cupping and stroking his cheek.

he nodded and lined himself up with your entrance.

he waited for a few seconds to tease you, you squeeze his bicep as a kind of warning and glare at him. he laughs lightly before pushing inside of you slowly. his elbows were now caging your head as he pushed himself in to the hilt.

you whimpered and dug your nails into his back as he stopped and waited for you to adjust, no matter how much he stretched you out, you could never be stretched out enough for his length to fit inside of you without you having to adjust first.

you eventually adjusted to his length, you tapped his arm twice as you could barely form words. the tip of his cock was pressing into your sweet spot so well. you moaned and it finally clicked to cheol that he could move. he slowly pulled out while your pussy squelched until only his tip remained.

at first, he set up a slow and sensual pace as cheol rutted softly into you. you were whimpering and moaning into his shoulder with every thrust. even though his thrusts were slow, they were still hard and somewhat rough. the bed frame was rattling and hitting against the wall with every thrust and movement.

though you both didn’t care.

cheol moved his hand away from the back of your head. you laid your head back into the pillows and looked up at him. his hair was stuck to his forehead, and the necklace with a plaque that had both of your initials with a heart dangled from his neck.

“doing so good for me baby, so good” he groaned out, throwing his head back before he looked back into your eyes, when you tried to hide your head back into his shoulder he pulled it back so he was laying back on the pillows. “eyes on me, baby, need to see your gorgeous face” he mumbles before leaning down and kissing you deeply.

you moaned as your pussy clenched around his tight length, the sound of you and him meeting was oddly calming to you. you both pulled away and cheol looked deeply into your eyes, as did you with his.

you felt a knot forming in your stomach, you were getting dangerously close to your high. your nails dug into cheol’s back once again as a warning.

“’m gonna come, cheol” you whimper softly to him, he groans at the sound of your voice.

“come for me baby, wanna see your beautiful face when you come all over my cock like the good girl you are” he mumbles, his eyes were darting all over your face to watch your face as it unfolded in pure pleasure.

his husky voice was all it took for you to come all over his cock, juices spurting out as your orgasm felt like it was going on for pure decades. you almost felt as though you were going to black out at the intensity of your orgasm.

you were still coming down from your high that cheol was trying to ride you out of that you almost missed his groan and stuttering hips that betrayed he had came not long after you. he kept thrusting into you, making sure his cum would stay deep inside of you.

you could already tell this was going to be the best day ever.

[ladylooch]

Bones - Part 18 [Mack x David]

A/N: I love so much about this, but the way the opening part of this one lives rent free in my head at all times, since I wrote it. Mack, get it girl 👏🏻 I want all that David is packing in this one.

Word Count: 4.6k

June

Outside the window in front of her, Mack watches as her husband rolls back up to the barn with his truck. A cold mist drizzles down from the sky, coating everything in dampness. The dirt is mud beneath his boots as he starts to unload posts and extra fencing from the back of his truck. He wears his worn leather work gloves to protect his hands. A local mechanic shop’s hoodie is on his big upper body. His hood is up, cover his black hair from the rainy morning.

Mack takes another long sip of her coffee, tilting her head to the side. She takes in his full ass in his blue, Carhartt jeans. The bulge from his can of tobacco has worn a white circle into the denim on his left side. His muscles scrunch and bulge as he gathers the remaining materials in his hands before disappearing into the barn. 

Farmer David has her heart and mind this morning. 

The coffee pot beeps beside of her and hisses out hot steam as it ends a brewing cycle. Mack grabs David’s thermos, pouring in the black liquid to prepare to bring it to him. He snuck out this morning while she was still sleeping, but she is dying to have coffee with him on this rainy, cold Saturday.

With the thermos in hand, Mack heads over to the closet, getting out her leather boots so her socks stay dry from the rain. She skips a rain jacket, instead grabbing a Rangers hoodie, and tossing it over her shoulders. On her head, she places a Budweiser hat David got her as a joke. She double checks Nicky is still sleeping on her monitor app, then quietly exits the house. David is still hidden inside the barn. She walks in with her hands stuffed into her sweatshirt pocket, thermos pinched against her ribs. 

Clanking of metal and tools sounds close to the front of the green tractor he is now working on. He’s been up for hours, fixing fence, feeding animals, and now instead of being done with the mandatory things and calling it a day, her hard working man is on to the next task. She gets closer, seeing him bent inside. His huge shoulder muscles strain against the blue fabric on them. One foot is slightly lifted off the ground, mud hanging off of it, while a worn, oil rag is tucked into his back pocket by his tobacco tin. 

Mack walks to the front, setting his thermos on the work bench and taking in the view. He starts muttering to himself, grunting as he twists a tool harder around a bolt… or maybe it’s a nut. Mack doesn’t really know. But the angle and force tightens his muscles further and suddenly she has to check her lips for drool. 

“That should do it.” He murmurs to himself. He puts a few fingers on it, wiggling, then tightens it a smidge more before backing out from under the hood. “Hi honey.” He says without looking over at her.

“How do you know I’m here?”

“I can smell your perfume.” He responds, not taking his eyes off the engine. “Otherwise, you would have surprised me.” He licks his lips, then does one last small twist with his tool on another bolt. “You up already eh?” He steps towards her as he wipes his hands on the towel in his back pocket. “It’s barely 7.”

“Yeah I know. And it’s a Saturday.”

He raises his eyebrows at her. 

“Why does it matter that it’s the weekend?” He tosses the used towel onto the work bench, then wraps his arms around her hips. He pulls her into his chest. It’s slightly damp from the misty rain but Mack doesn’t mind. Beneath that dampness is the furnace she was missing when she awoke this morning. She runs her hands up his chest to his shoulders, anchoring herself there for a kiss. His tongue curves over her bottom lip, eating her up in a way that makes Mack spacey.

“It’s a problem that you’re out here working so hard and not in bed with me.”

“What would I be doing in there that’s better than this?” He asks cheekily.

“Working hard on something else.” Mack smirks up at him, accepting his next kiss with more enthusiasm, bringing up the heat between them.

The rain starts to pick up outside, hitting the metal roof with heavier pings. Mack looks up at the new roof David replaced with the farm hands last summer. It used to leak like crazy during storms but the new steel shields them. A soft roll of thunder sounds out and Mack grins.

“Hmm?” He asks her about her look. She hooks her hands around his neck and pulls his face down to hers.

“Tell me you’re going to make all my rom-com dreams come true right now.”

“Mrs. Mackenzie, did you come out here to get laid?”

“Yes.” He laughs, head tilted back as his stomach tightens and shoulders shake from the effort.

“I can’t stop thinking about the story you, Cody, and Felix were talking about earlier this summer. About how despite what they think, you’ve never had sex in this barn.”

Felix and Cody hadn’t been able to believe it. Apparently David and his high school girlfriend were known for sneaking off to get busy. David had been adamant it never happened. 

“My dad would have whooped my ass if he caught me doing anything by his John Deere.” David had said at the time, rubbing at his mustache and smirking a little too hard.

“Yeah? What about it?”

“I think you’re a liar.” She confesses, rolling her hand down his chest to cup him over the zipper of his jeans. He protrudes stiffly as he presses his hips into her palm.

“Mmmm, I’m not lying, honey. No one in here. Ever.” 

“Not even a titty grab?”

“Well…” He trails off, then brings a hand under her breast. He makes a C with his fingers, cupping the right one. His thumb strokes across the center where her nipple protrudes from the cold. “Now I have.” He whispers against her lips. His tongue plays with hers as he urges her head fully back so he can consume her mouth better.

“No head?”

David scoffs, eyes closing as if in torment.

“No, but I fucking tried. I’ll admit that.” Mack giggles, smiling broadly. 

“Should I make your dreams come true?” She whispers seductively. 

“I love you too much to let you get on your knees in this barn, honey.” He chuckles. He smoothes her fly away hairs back from her forehead, then looks over at the work bench. He cocks an eyebrow at her. She gives him a look of approval back. His arms fall back to her waist, scooping her up into his arms.

David brings Mack over to the work bench. To her left, he begins to clear a better spot off, then leaves the barn, murmuring that he will be back. He returns with a blanket in his hands, the one he had used to cover her when she gave birth to Nicky almost a year ago.  He lays it down for a different purpose now, then he lifts her up onto it.

“I’ve always imagined this with you….” He jokes, pretending to be bashful like it really is a movie. Bashful isn’t something David can play convincingly. Instead he comes across confident in his pursuit. Mack falls a bit back onto the blanket, giggling as her hands support her weight. David unbuttons her jeans, then works them down her thighs and off her legs completely.

“Oh Farmer Davey. This night has been so special to me. Please… make love to me.” She bats her lashes at him.

“You’re better than a movie, honey.” He whispers, cupping her face. It’s so sincere, Mack actually blushes.

David steps between her open legs. Mack watches him undo his jeans, bottom lip tucked between her teeth. It’s a sight to behold. Strong fingers working at the metal enclosures. The way he tucks his thumbs into the waistband of his clothes to work them off his hips. How he widens his stance to keep them at mid thigh, then gathers his cock confidently into his hand. Mack can feel her eyes melt like chocolate. His big palm wraps around his shaft, stroking twice before he steps forward to run his swollen head through her wet folds. 

“C’mere.” He murmurs, reaching for her neck. He pulls her to kiss him as he pushes in that first, tight inch. Mack gasps into his mouth, then bites down on his bottom lip as he keeps going. 

“Mmm.” She moans, turning the bite into a nibble. Goosebumps cover her body, tightening her nipples beneath her shirt. Her fingers grip his neck, then thread through his hair, scratching at his scalp.

“So good, honey.” He whispers into her mouth. 

His hips pump in and out slowly, working her up into a pace that they both want to be at. The coil in Mack’s core begins to tighten. She rolls her hips down into him, chasing for more until he gives it to her. The fronts of his thighs hit the work bench, jiggling tools and metal cans of nuts, nails, and screws. It’s loud and echos each of his thrusts through the barn. The rain picks up, another roll of thunder washes over the farm, and then a low, growly groan rocks from David’s chest. 

“Look so pretty with my cock inside you, baby. Spread out just for me…” David tugs her closer to the edge of the work bench, switching up the angle to brush against her velvet button. Mack whimpers. David holds her hips down to stop her helping. Her head lists backwards, rolling off her shoulder so her throat is exposed for him. He brings a hand up, stroking down the thick column as it expands and shrinks from each breath into her lungs. 

Mack feels electrically alive as her orgasm rocks through her. David works her through it, gritting his teeth together to save his for their next position. 

“You gonna bend over for me now? Let me really give you what you came out here for, hmm?” He requests as he pulls her off the work bench.

He lets her feet drop back to the ground, then eats her up with his gaze as she turns seductively. She bucks her bare ass back into his wet cock. She leans forward, crossing her arms, then laying her cheek on them like the good girl he wants her to be. Her bottom lip rolls into her mouth again as he pushes in. Her eyelashes flutter, and a squeaky exhale falls from her parted lips. 

She loves this feeling, like he’s going to fuck his way through her body. It’s so deep and intense, even when he’s going slow, letting her adjust to the new depth he is reaching. David glides an arm across her hips, leaning more forward. His chest stays connect to her back, only his hips working in and out of her. He presses all the way forward, getting as deep as he can, balls rubbing against her clit. He works his hips in a circular motion that has Mack holding her breath. 

“Fuck.” She finally exhales in a gasp. “Th-that’s good. Really good.” She inhales deeply, then lets it out in a fast moan. 

“Yeah? You love this cock, huh honey?” He holds her there, letting her savor it, turning her face to the side so he can devour her mouth. Then he begins to build back up into slow but powerful thrusts. He takes his time with her now, really pushing the limits of her with their bodies pressing together. One of his hands glides from her waist to her shoulder where her neck meets it. His fingers fold over towards her chest, thumb brushing at the curled hairs at the back of her neck, rubbing circles. 

“Your pussy’s s’good. So wet. All for me. Got her trained so well.” He praises.

Sharp staccato breaths begin spilling from Mack. She drops her head back to her crossed arms, trying to resist the buckling her knees want to do. David can sense it, holding her tighter across her hips. The hand on her neck circles around to her throat, easing her head back to his shoulder. His grip tightens on her throat, then he pounds into her with no holding back. Mack grips his forearm, fingernails digging in as he gives her everything he’s got left. The demanding thrusts take her under fast. Her whole body spasms through her orgasm. Mack yells out his name, groaning before the intensity steals her voice completely.

“Fuck yes.” David moans spilling his load into her with four final bucks. Mack feels his cum pooling together, then dripping out of her immediately as he pulls out. His cock spasms against her ass as he gathers her in his arms to kiss her deeply over her shoulder. His mustache tickles her nose as sweet, soft pecks work their way along her entire mouth. “Mmm, this with you, anytime, honey.” 

A chill moves through Mack as David steps back. He works himself back into his clothes, then grabs hers. Delicately, he threads her feet back into both items of clothing, then slides them up her legs. Mack falls back against his shoulder as he works the zipper and button back into place. Her eyes are closed, complete mush on his chest.

“My baby is tired.” He murmurs, ghosting a hand over her hair. He kisses her temple tenderly. 

“Yeah. But our baby is about to wake up. Come have breakfast with us?”

“Okay.” He agrees quietly. 

With both of them fully clothed again, Mack and David head out of the barn, holding hands. Felix is pulling back into the driveway, which makes Mack realize how close they were to getting caught. Like teenagers. She hides her giggle in David’s arm as Felix rolls the window down.

“Hey, you need help?”

“No I’m heading in. Might be back out later, but everything that needs to get done is done for the day.” 

“Alright. See you tomorrow.” He waves then continues on to his house. 

“Five minutes earlier and damn would he have had a show.”

“We can never do that again.” Mack shakes her head. David gasps as they walk up the front porch steps.

“Honey, no. You can’t give barn sex and then take it away.” He extends his hand out towards the barn. Mack shakes her head at him again. His hand drops to his thigh in a dramatic slap. Mack kisses his cheek in reassurance. He grabs the door, holding it open for her. He watches her ass as she walks into the entry way, kicking off her boots. David keeps his out on the front porch then jumps into the house to avoid his socks getting wet. 

A soft cry sounds from their son’s room. David looks towards it, beaming with joy that his baby is up.

“I got him.” He tells her.

Mack goes to the kitchen to start working on breakfast for their little man. Today is a single egg, some banana and a bottle of whole milk. 

“I know, I miss her too when I sleep.” She hears her husband murmur as he comes down the hall. “But then I get to see her every morning and it’s the best part of the day.” 

Mack look over her shoulder, smiling at her boys. Nicky’s black hair is wild and staticky, which makes her laugh. The little boy lights up like a summer sunrise when he sees his mama. He reaches for Mack who gathers him into her chest, smooching all over his cheeks. She pays extra attention to his huge dimples. 

“Good morning!!!” She coos to their happy baby. “Aren’t you just the most handsome boy in the whole world? Look at you!” She pokes his belly, making him break out into giggles. David pinches at his sides, escalating the giggles until the three of them are laughing so hard their cheeks hurt. 

David’s hand glides across Mack’s shoulders, holding her close. His face turns into her hair and he kisses her.

“Thank you, honey. You made us the perfect baby.” 

Mack grins.

He gives her way too much credit for that. 

But he is right. Their baby is perfect.

She can’t wait to celebrate one year of him soon.

- - - & - - -

July

“Honey?” Mack hears her husband call into the house where she is at the kitchen counter. Her and her mom are just finishing cutting up a ton of fruit for Nicky’s first birthday party.

“Yeah, babe?” She calls back to him.

“Can you come look at this to make sure it’s what you’re thinking before Cody leaves to wash up?”

“Sure.” Mack wipes her hands on a hand towel, then looks at her mom. “Are you good?”

“Yes. Go.” She nods, continuing to cube the watermelon.

“I’ll help mom finish.” Lucie says as they pass each other in the doorway.

“Thank you.” Mack smiles, then heads towards her husband. He holds the door open for her as Mack slides her feet into her Birkenstocks. She steps onto the porch then gasps in excitement. “Oh my gosh! Ah!” Mack claps excitedly. “It looks so good!”

For their son’s first birthday, the theme had to be farm animals. After the barn got a fresh coat of vibrant red paint a few weeks ago, Mack knew they should have the barn as the center of the party. With that, she had an idea of getting a ton of balloons and dotting them in an arch all over the entrance of the barn. The balloons have reds, blues, and cow print patterns on them, creating a fun and festive glow. They won’t have any food inside the barn, but the gathering tables are set out in front of it while Nicky’s high chair is sitting in the shaded area by the arch.

“It looks great.” She brings her clasped hands in front of her mouth. “I’m so in love with it.” 

“Good.” David smirks, squeezing her shoulder. He brushes her neck with a few thumb swipes then steps forward. “We are good, Code.” 

“Thank you!” Mack yells to him. He tosses her a wave, then heads towards his truck after speaking to David briefly.

“Ooooo, that looks great!” Sophie pops her head out, inspecting the work. “Nicky is going to be so excited when he wakes up from his nap.”

“Hopefully not for another hour though.” Mack insists. Any earlier and they will have a cranky birthday boy on their hands.

In that hour, the food is stationed all throughout the kitchen, dining room and part of the living room area. With the bugs and wind, putting it outside was not an option. Instead, the porch is lined with coolers filled with drinks. People start arriving as Nicky is waking up from his nap. David goes into his room, waking him up in a quiet space and changing him into his farmer outfit. 

“Look who’s up, mama.” David says as he comes into the kitchen with Nicky. He is dressed in little Oshkosh overalls and a plain white shirt. On his upper lip is the stick on mustache Connor brought last year. Mack laughs, clapping her hands and then leaning forward to smooch her husband. 

“That’s cute, babe.” 

“He doesn’t like the straw hat, but is okay with this one.” David rubs at the denim bucket hat on their son’s head.

“That’s okay! He looks so adorable.”

“Gimme.” Sophie demands, taking her nephew from David. “Let’s go see your party, Nicky!” 

Mack and David trail after Sophie as she brings their baby around all the different stations. She ooos and awes over the food with him including the rice Krispy treats that she calls hay bales. His smash cake is also on the dessert table and he tries to reach for it.

“No, no. Not yet!” She chuckles. “We need everyone to be around for that.” Instead, Sophie gives him a bite of watermelon to gum on. 

Sophie wanders outside, showing him the tables with various colored table clothes, the different games for the various kids who are coming to celebrate, and of course, the balloon arch.

“Now say thank you uncle Cody for the balloon arch!” Sophie cheers, holding up Nicky’s fist so he can fist bump. Cody does, careful of the condensation covered beer bottle in his fist. 

“Anything for you, little dude.”

“Hey, does he need sunscreen?” Mack asks her husband, covering her eyes as the cloud moves past the sun.

“No, I put it on.”

“Okay.” Mack nods.

“There is nothing else to do but have fun, honey.” David says into her hair. Mack nods. He is right; it’s time to enjoy the celebration. 

For the next few hours, Mack’s hands feel weirdly empty, even with the High Noon in her grasp. Everything is taken care of by her husband, her sisters, her parents, or Lorena. It’s weird to be sitting down, socializing and not up hustling after the baby or cleaning something. Weird, but not bad at all. 

Mack brings the can of her drink up, rolling her eyes as her brother in law talks about her birth story like he was there.

“I feel like you don’t talk about this enough.” Connor shakes his head, opening up a juice box for Winnie. “Like that was so bad *he mouths* ass. Like… Nicky will be a legend for years to come.”

“I’m just glad I survived.” Mack chuckles, shaking her head. Although that’s actually valid and maybe not as funny as she is brushing it off to be. 

“I offered to recreate the drive early this morning with her.” David says pointing to the East where they barely made it a few miles last year. Everyone laughs. 

“Maybe next year.” Mack shrugs. 

It would be fun to recreate that drive with her husband some day. To reflect and have appreciation for everything they did that night to safely bring their son into the world together. But it’s only been a year and the birth trauma is a little fresh for Mack still. With that in mind, she changes the subject.

“Are we ready for some cake?” 

“Yes!!!!!!!!!!” Winnie yells. Mack chuckles.

“What, the five hay bales you had weren’t enough?”

“No. It’s not the same as cake. It’s just cereal and marshmallows. I could have that for breakfast.”

“True.” Mack nods. “Do you want to help me? I need a helper for plates and napkins and forks.”

“Yeah!” Winnie takes off towards the house.

“Daddy, can you help me with the big cake?” Mack asks her husband.

“Mhm.” He stands up immediately and they walk hand in hand to the porch.

Once inside, Winnie gathers up all the items from the bags on the table and hauls them outside. Mack smiles, watching Lucie help her get everything settled outside. In his grandpa’s arms, Nicky tries to reach for a balloon on the arch. Large hands come to Mack’s hips at the dessert table as she carefully picks up Nicky’s cake. 

“The other cake is in the fridge.” Mack tells her husband. He doesn’t listen. Instead, he winds his hands along her stomach, pulling her back until they press together.

“I’m so in love with you, honey.” Mack whimpers and leans deeper into his chest. His arms tighten, one going across her chest to hold her shoulder. He is careful of the cake as he kisses her cheek. “Seriously. So obsessed with you and our boy.” 

“I love you.” She sighs to him. He steps back, then his boots thump against the floor as he heads to grab the cake from the fridge. Together, they walk back outside. Kids of various ages run around their legs, so excited for a piece of sugar. 

“I want that piece! That one!” Winnie yells, putting her fingers into it to mark it.

“Hey, hey!” Connor grabs her hand, bringing it out of the cake. “We don’t put our fingers in people’s food. Or by knives.” He holds Winnie in place while David cuts the rest of the pieces. Everyone is given a piece and then Mack brings the smash cake over to their baby. 

“Are you ready?” She asks, laughing at literally everyone with their phones up.

“Y’all are more than welcome to take videos and pictures, but please help us protect our boy and keep them off social media.” David reminds everyone of their parental rule. He nods at Mack once he feels people understand how serious he is and she sets it down. David wraps an arm around her waist, smiling as Nicky carefully inspects the cake. He brings the white, butter cream frosting to his lips then starts to bounce excitedly in his high chair at the taste.

The crowd giggles and cheers as he pulls out a fist full of cake and frosting. Mack can’t help but tear up. Her bottom lip quivers between her teeth and she exhales heavily in her husband’s arms. She is so in love with that baby. What a gift it’s been the last year to be his mom and raise a baby with the love of her life. 

Mack sniffs, reaching up to wipe the tears off her cheeks. She can remember everything about a year ago today. The discomfort. The contractions building quickly. The panic in her voice when she asked David if they were going to make it to the hospital. Then the way her husband came through as a real life super hero for them. He was calm, steady, unwavering as he did what had to be done. Mack squeezes his forearm in recognition, so thankful for the man she made that little boy with.

After the festivities die down, Mack and David take advantage of numerous baby sitters in the house and head out to the sunflower patch they have replanted year after year to keep their proposal site fresh. They each have a beer with them, David brings a blanket, and they curl up on the bench he made years ago now. 

“I can’t believe how fast this year has gone.” Mack sighs, looking at the streaks of the sunset across the sky.

“I know. He is so big. How is he already cruising on those legs so fast?”

“I don’t know. We need to do better baby proofing here.”

“Yeah.” David agrees. “It’s hard cause there is so much more stuff he can get into now. I feel like we need those alerts on the door for next summer that ding when the door opens.”

“Oh for sure.” Mack nods enthusiastically. “When you were out with Cody, before his nap, he was grabbing all the pictures from the tables and throwing them. Literally, throwing them.”

“He is gonna be a little terror and I love it.” 

“The next one better be a girl.”

“Next one, eh?” He grins at her. 

“I would do this again with you, babe.” She says quietly, pressing her smile into his bicep.

“Soon?”

“Let’s get through this season. Next summer we can talk. When we have a two year old.” Mack instantly tears up. “I hate that it goes as fast as they say.”

“Me too, baby. That’s why we will just have to keep adding to this pack.”

“That’s not the solution.” She rolls her eyes. 

“I know. I just want a ton of babies with you. Our life is so full and incredible.”

Mack smiles. 

She could do 100 more years of this life with him.

Read more Mack and David here.

[eternalbuckley]

Dance with Tensions. — mattheo riddle

SUMMARY: Mr Riddle asks you to dance even though you two don't get along, only to end up in a heated conversation afterwards.

word count: 2,308

genre: angst | fem!reader, queer!reader, bipoc!reader and plus-size!reader friendly

warnings/tropes: lots of tension, an argument, a part of my lady!reader au, it‘s probably not time accurate but who cares!, english is not my first language, briefly proofread — if I forgot something, please let me know!

a/n: i am very much excited to finally share this with you all, enjoy reading my loves 💓 also BIG BIG thank you to @leona-hawthorne and @riddleswhcre for pre-reading one of the parts of the fanfic, you truly helped me out <33

reblogs, feedback and comments are highly appreciated and welcomed! ♡

disclaimer: please do not repost or try and take ownership of my work or post this anywhere without my consent. i don’t give you my permission to use my writing for any ai related things, don’t do it. do not translate my work and post it anywhere — i give you no permission to do that. i only post my stories here, so if you find my work anywhere else please let me know!

divider by cafekitsune

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The highly anticipated first ball of the season was set to take place this evening. You were full of excitement as you walked into the hall with your older brother hooked on one arm and your parents behind you. Many eyes followed each of your movements. Some of them were filled with admiration and some with envy. You let your gaze wander through the hall and noticed a few men whispering to each other as they sipped on their glasses of champagne and watched you and many of the other people who had already arrived that night. The lookout for possible marriage partners was already happening even if the social season only started a few days ago.

You weren’t quite eager to find someone suitable that night, but you wanted to have a good time with your best friend Miss Pansy Parkinson. She was one of your closest friends ever since you were young children.

The night had been long – you spent your time with Pansy and laughed with her about different jokes. Some words were exchanged with Lords, other Ladies and others that attended the ball as well. Most of them complimented you on your choice of gown but no conversation went deeper. You’ve danced twice with two men, but it was clear that they weren’t interested in you as a person. The conversations revolved solely on how fortunate it must be to be the daughter of a duke and duchess. Talking and dancing with them was exhausting; they stole your energy.

But there was one handsome but infuriating gentleman who seemed to have his eyes on you all night – Mr Mattheo Riddle, the second eldest son of Viscount Riddle. A gentleman you had met before and were not very fond of. You only knew each other because your mothers were friends but you two couldn’t get along.

In your eyes, he was just an arrogant man who clearly didn’t care about being kind to you or any other human being unless he wanted something. And in his eyes, you were an uptight woman who couldn’t care to have fun in her life – which wasn’t the truth.

Your opinions about each other were filled with prejudices and nothing else. Your friend, Pansy, enjoyed teasing you about it and was almost sure that you and Mr Riddle clearly shared a sort of affection for one another. You, of course, didn’t want to admit it or you weren’t able to realise it yet.

Mr Riddle had watched you all night without daring to step forward and take a chance to speak with you. Until you were eventually freed from your current dance partner and could take a breath.

“Ohhh,” Pansy whispered with a devilish grin and slightly covered her mouth with her gloved hand, “Mr Riddle is making his way towards us.”

“Lady Y/N?” Mr Riddle walked up to you with a mischievous and confident smile and kept his brown eyes on you. You turned your head in his direction to meet his eye and shared a tight, polite smile with the man in front of you, “Yes?”

“May I have this next dance?” He extended his hand to you. You quickly turned your head to Pansy who slightly nodded and smiled friendly at Mr Riddle. You inhaled and cleared your throat. “You may, Mr Riddle,” you placed your hand in his extended one and let him lead you to the dance floor. You didn’t want to cause a scene in front of everyone else – so you only had the chance to agree to the dance.

As you walked to the dance floor, you turned your head back to Pansy and wished your look could kill her in that moment. She briefly wiggled her eyebrows and smirked at you. You rolled your eyes at her and turned back to focus on the upcoming dance with Mr Riddle.

As the musicians began playing the next song, some of the ladies and gentlemen started to watch you closely. The song was slow yet moving. Every lady curtsied, and every gentleman bowed in front of their dance partner, most of them shared fond smiles, while you and Mr Riddle exchanged only tight smiles and stared intensely at each other. Your body was quite tense as you stepped closer to him. The warmth of his palm brushed against yours, sending a subtle shiver through your hand, while you both moved in two circles – your palms continued to touch each other. You both kept your eyes locked on each other in intense stares and tried to stay calm, but those who knew you couldn’t help but notice the tension between you. It was impossible to ignore.

After you made two turns, you repeated the same dance move, this time in the opposite direction. “Is everything okay with you, my Lady?” Mr Riddle asked you quietly, though he didn’t expect an honest answer from you.

“What would you expect, Mr Riddle?” you replied calmly, “I’m having the time of my life.” You didn’t truly mean it, but dancing with him was far more enjoyable than with any other Lord you had danced with that night.

Once the two turns were completed, both of you took a step back but your eyes remained on each other. After a brief pause, you slowly approached one another, your palms hovering just inches apart as the air between you was thick with tension. As you closed the distance, your wrists were slightly wrapped around each other. The slight contact sent a light spark of warmth through your bodies. You stepped away from each other and repeated the same moves – your gazes continued to burn into each other, although they seemed to get a little softer. You placed your hands in his as he held them out to you. You then raised your arm and moved it over his head while keeping your hands together. Thereafter, you turned slightly in his arms and repeated the same dance move, only that he made a small turn instead of you this time. As you repeated this movement for the third time and turned slightly, you remained in his arms wrapped around you while your hands remained connected.

Your skin prickled as you felt his hot breath on your skin. You had expected to entirely hate to be so close to him, but surprisingly, it wasn’t as unbearable as you thought. However, these feelings quickly passed as you noticed his small smirk – you wished you could just slap it out of his face. Together you walked in a few small circles while his arms remained around you. The proximity caused your breath to falter for a brief moment, but you suppressed it – at least tried to.

After your turns with him, you stepped away from each other and locked eyes for a moment. Your lips parted lightly as you felt his gaze on you. Then, you moved closer again and placed your hands on his shoulders while he gently placed his hands on the upper part of your back. He touched you with a gentleness you had never seen of him before – it frightened you because you weren’t familiar with such a side of him. You remained in this position for a few brief moments and danced in small circles, before his hands slid down your arms to take your hands and spin you back into his embrace.

You swallowed as you felt his breath on your skin again. The warmth of his body so close to yours was overwhelming. A mixture of tension and something else you couldn’t name stirred within you. The music slowly faded into the background while your faces were close, and your breaths were one. For a brief moment, you lost yourself in each other’s eyes as you continued to sway to the music.

“I wonder how many dances it would require before you finally can stand my company without the desire to do me harm,” he whispered into your ear with a hoarse voice before he let you go after the music stopped. Your breath slightly hitched in response, but you rolled your eyes and inhaled as you decided not to reply any further.

When the music ended, you and he stepped apart to exchange a curtsy and a bow. You then walked back to Pansy and your brother, who were talking to one another. You were sure that you wouldn’t be able to stop thinking about this dance and the words Mr Riddle whispered into your ear before the dance ended.

“Ohh, there she is!” Pansy clapped her hands and grinned. You saw your brother turn towards you – his lips were in a grin as well, but it was filled with his ever-so-brotherly protectiveness. At the sight of both of them, you rolled your eyes and sighed annoyed.

“Oh, come on, Y/N. Shall we truly believe that you have not at least found the slightest enjoyment in dancing with Mr Riddle?” Pansy sighed and grabbed your hands to squeeze them.

“I did not enjoy it entirely, but it was better than with the Lords I’ve danced with tonight,” you admitted.

Pansy smiled at you and then proudly turned her head to your brother. “See, I told you, my Lord. It is only a matter of time,” she whispered, but you clearly heard every word and furrowed your eyebrows.

“For what precisely, Pansy?”

She sighed and looked back to you, “Until you and Mr Riddle are willing to confess that your hatred is not as deep as you so often claim. Everyone that knows you can see it. And I believe that even strangers can sense it.”

You shook your head and looked away from her. “Stop with these jests. In no world, could I ever not hate Mr Riddle. He…” You groaned and pulled your hands away from your best friend. “Just stop with it, Pansy. And you,” you pointed to your brother with your index finger – your voice was calm but hid a tone of annoyance, “Don’t even think about joining her, brother.” You turned around and walked outside to take a deep breath after your brother nodded.

Your tense shoulders relaxed as soon as you felt the cold and fresh air on your skin, a much-needed change of environment. Near you, you could see a small group of fellow citizens and a few servants – what you didn't notice was that Mr Riddle came towards you and stopped next to you. A respectful and allowed distance was between you but in the eyes of the wrong people it could be seen as improper to even stand alone with one another.

“What a pleasant night, is it not, my Lady?” Mr Riddle cut the silence with a soft-spoken voice, but there was a hidden arrogance in it.

You sighed and kept your gaze to the front. “It was,” you then turned your head towards him – your lips pressed together in a thin line. “Until you asked me to dance.”

He chuckled and turned completely around to face you, and so did you. “I saw how draining it was for you to waste your time with these Lords, Lady Y/N. You can be honest; I’ve saved your night with me asking you to dance.” His cocky smile infuriated you even more than you already were. “Who else could you have been spending your time instead? Mayhap a Lord who has far outlived the finest hours of his life?”

You hated that he was right. He sorts of saved you from all the lords you didn’t want to spend any energy or time on. You would have agreed with Mr Riddle, if it wasn’t him.

“Will you ever stop being so insufferable?” You argued back while you clenched your hands into fists out of anger. How could be a single human being so annoying? “It is truly beyond me how you manage to be so…” You groaned and stopped yourself mid-sentence, knowing that he’d just use it to tease you. You turned your head away and inhaled deeply, hoping he would just leave you alone.

Mr Riddle raised an eyebrow and stepped closer, the closeness was risky, but you didn’t step away. “You may finish your sentence, my Lady.” He wanted to know your true opinion about him, although he already assumed how it might be – though he wished it would be the opposite. Something he’d not even dream about to admit in front of you.

You felt the cold air and his breath mixed on your skin and you deeply inhaled as you looked into each other’s eyes. There was a brief pause between you as you stared at one another. Your heartbeat slightly increased – you weren’t sure of the exact reason. Was it the hatred you claimed to feel for him or was it something entirely else?

You cleared your throat. “I’d rather not, Mr Riddle,” you scoffed, your voice full of contempt and turned around to walk back into the house but stopped after taking a few steps. May he use your next words against you, you couldn’t care less in that very moment. Your anger was too much. “You are the most vexing human being that came across me in all my life. It is truly beyond me how you manage to be so tiresome, Mr Riddle,” you spoke quickly but he heard everything clearly. “I shall wish you a good night,” you finished your sentence after taking another deep breath and turned around to walk back inside.

You left him standing alone in the middle of the porch. With his smirk rubbed off his face as he wondered if he had gone too far this time. Perhaps, your hatred went deeper than he thought. Something he never intended to happen. But what if it could all be something else? Something he couldn’t imagine?

[dancethroughthethunder]

Bobby from High School Chapter 1: Of all the Gin Joints

Pairing: Bob Floyd x Reader

Word Count: 2.4k

Summary: On a night out at the Hard Deck, a familiar face spots Bob from across the bar. Years after high school, somehow you and Bob have ended up in the same Navy bar and are working at the same base.

Author’s Note: So, despite also working on a sequel for hiccups & pens, I decided to full send this idea on a new Bobby x reader series. This is my first time posting chapter 1 of a series without having the majority of the rest written so this is a little nerve wracking but I'm excited. Right now I think we're going to land somewhere around 3-5 more chapters, but we'll have to see. This work can also be found here at my ao3. I hope you enjoy!

Bob feels out of place without his glasses on. As someone who wears them all the time, it feels like a part of him is missing without them, it feels weirdly vulnerable. Sure, it’s only been a few minutes since Fanboy ran off with them to clean off the beer that got splashed on them, but he’s really looking forward to putting them back on.

Frankly, he’s still not entirely sure how he ended up with beer-covered glasses. One minute he was talking to Nat next to the pool table and the next thing he knew, his glasses were coated in beer and Fanboy was apologizing profusely, grabbing the glasses right off his face and running off to clean them. 

Bob has the feeling that someone keeps looking at him from across the bar, but every time he looks up, he seems to miss them. Besides, without his glasses on, he doesn’t know that he’d really be able to recognize them anyways. Who knows, maybe it’s someone from a past deployment or a friend of a friend. Maybe they’re not even looking at him. Instead of worrying about it, Bob turns his attention back to Phoenix and the conversation she’s having with Payback and Coyote. 

Payback is recreating Fanboy’s disastrous beer spill when Bob feels a light tap on his shoulder.

“Hi, I’m so sorry this sounds like such a cheap pick up line but do we know each other? You look so familiar.” 

Bob turns around and finds a beautiful woman with a drink in her hand, standing there talking to him. He can’t see her features as well as he’d like without his glasses, but from what he can see, she’s beautiful. Thankfully, right then Fanboy comes running back over.

“Sorry again, Bob. Penny let me go clean them in the back, they should be spotless.” Fanboy hands Bob his glasses, which to his credit, are perfectly clean.

“No worries, thanks Mickey.” Bob says as he slides his glasses back on.

“Holy shit, Bobby Floyd! I can’t believe I didn’t recognize you with your glasses.” While Nat mutters something to Coyote about Clark Kent, Bob looks back at the woman standing in front of him and is shocked to see you.

“Hey, how have you been? It’s been a while, huh?” Bob asks as you pull him into a hug, noticing how careful not to spill your drink on him. Bob’s back is to his team, so he doesn’t see the amused and intrigued glances that they’re all giving each other, or the way that Nat pulls Coyote, Fanboy, and Payback a few steps to the side to continue their conversation and give you and Bob some privacy. 

“God, I know. It’s been, what, years? I think the last time we ran into each other, you were still at the Academy, right?”

“Something like that.” Bob smiles and agrees, even though he thinks he could probably tell you every detail about the last time you two saw each other, down to what you were wearing.

“So what are you doing here? Where have you been? I mean, obviously with the Navy, but have you been here long?” You ask, gesturing to his uniform and the Navy atmosphere around you.

Bob gives you a quick, abridged rundown of his time since the Academy before briefly explaining his time here in San Diego. Bob knows he’s biased, and maybe he’s reading too much into things but you look truly interested by everything he’s saying, even though he knows he’s not giving a lot of detail on his previous missions and detachments. 

“But what about you? Are you here visiting?” He really hopes that somehow you’re local.

“Actually, no. I’ve just moved here for work. Maybe I’ll run into you on base, I’m actually a contractor.” 

Bob must be dreaming. There’s no way that out of all the bars, in all the cities, his high school friend (and longtime crush) walked into the same one as him and is going to be working at the same base. You were always pretty in school, but looking at you now (with his glasses firmly on his face), Bob knows you’re gorgeous. There’s some small, possessive part of him that wants to firmly plant an arm around you, and tell the rest of the Hard Deck to get lost, that you were his first. But even if you were together, that’s not Bob’s style, and that would probably be a surefire way to freak you out given that this is your first time seeing each other in years. 

“Aren’t you gonna introduce us to your friend, Bob?” Hangman asks, setting down the pool cue as he and Rooster walk over towards the two of you. 

Ugh , Bob thinks. This is it. He’s seen how women turn their attention to his teammates, especially these two. You were always sweet in high school but it’s been years, he wouldn’t blame you if you ditch your plan to catch up in favor of getting to know one of the other Dagger Squad members. It was so nice getting to talk to you and have it just be the two of you, but now that his team stepped into it they’re either going to embarrass him, hit on you, or more likely both. 

Phoenix sees Hangman and Rooster make their way over towards you and notices the apprehensive look on Bob’s face. It was brief, blink and you miss it, but she knows him well enough to be able to guess what he’s thinking. Hoping to head off some of Hangman’s worst impulses around pretty women, she leads the guys back over too. It’s not like the presence of the whole team is a guarantee to make Hangman behave, but at least she’ll be within striking range to knock some sense back into him if necessary. 

“Hi,” you say, giving your name as you smile and wave at everyone, “Bobby and I went to high school together.” 

“Oh, this is my team.” Bob says as he walks you through introductions to the entire team. You greet everyone with a friendly smile, and Bob can hear you repeating everyone’s callsigns under your breath, trying to commit them to memory. 

“So is our Bob the same as he was in high school?” Hangman asks, trying to capture your attention.

“Well, my expert opinion based on the last 10 or so minutes? Yeah, he’s still Bobby.” You say with a sweet smile. 

Then, in a move Bob almost can’t believe, you physically turn your body away from Hangman and the team, to focus all of your attention right on him. 

“Want to sit?” You ask, gesturing to two of the nearby stools that he and Nat normally occupy. He nods and the two of you sit down, and continue catching up. You tell him more about work, and the two of you start reminiscing on high school.

“Okay, I know I’m going to sound like the world’s most incredible gossip but you’ll never guess what I saw on Twitter the other day.” You say, as you start leading into a story about one of your classmates who apparently went full right-wing grifter and tried to have her local councilman boyfriend talk the cops out of giving her a (very deserved) DUI. 

You two are so focused on each other, you don’t even notice how much time has passed until Phoenix comes over, jumping in at a break in your conversation.”

“Hey, Bob, sorry to interrupt, do either of you want anything else to drink? Next round’s on Bagman.” She says, smirking. 

Bob watches as you look down in surprise at your own, now empty glass and hop up off your stool. Without thinking, Bob stands up with you.

“Oh shit, I’m so sorry Bobby! I totally monopolized your time, I didn’t even realize how long we’ve been sitting here. You’re here with your friends, and my friends probably think I’m lost.” You say with a laugh that Bob suddenly realizes how much he's missed hearing. “Okay, I’m going to find my friends and let you get back to it, but you should text me sometime. I still have the same number, or I can give it to you.” You say, a little apprehensive over the idea of Bob deleting your number.

“I still have it.” Bob says with a smile, without even needing to check his phone. Bob’s the type of guy who never deletes a contact from his phone, because who knows when it might come in handy. Even if he was, he doesn’t think he ever would have deleted yours, just in case. 

“Okay great. I’m so glad we ran into each other.” Turning to wave at the rest of the team, you add, “it was great meeting y’all! Thanks for letting me steal Bobby away for a bit!” 

Bob stands there, smiling, watching you make your way through the crowd of people as you head back to your friends. He feels a little bad having pulled you away from them for so long, but he could have kept talking to you for the rest of the night. 

“So, Bobby, huh.” Nat says, with a mischievous smile.

“Yeah. She’s the only one who’s ever called me that.”

“Did you always have a crush on her?”

“Yeah.” He says, much to Phoenix’s surprise who was expecting more resistance. He’s still watching as you chat excitedly with your friends, hoping that some of that excitement is about him. (It is.)

“Can I see your phone?”

“Oh, sure.” Bob doesn’t bother asking why. He doesn’t have anything to hide, and he trusts Nat. 

“Perfect.” She says, handing his phone back with a new text thread open with your name at the top. 

Bob: Hi, it was great to see you. You look great, by the way. 

“Nat, come on.” He groans. Maybe he shouldn’t have blindly trusted her. Now he’s worried he’ll come off too strong but he doesn’t want to follow up on the text and say his friend sent it. He’ll sound like an embarrassed middle schooler, and you do look great and if he tries to walk back Nat’s text, he worries it would come off like he doesn’t think you look good. So he sighs, and leaves it. 

The crowd has shuffled a little so he doesn’t get to see you pull your phone out of your pocket or the way your face lights up when you see the text.

You: Thank you. I’m glad to hear the Navy’s treated you well. It looks good on you, Bobby :) 

Bob blushes and doesn’t bother fighting it as Nat grabs his phone again. Thankfully, Hangman comes back with drinks and Natasha has enough sense not to make a big deal of your text in front of the rest of the team. Bob grabs his phone back and sends you a text taking a little bit of a risk, without any help from Nat this time.

Bob: It’s nice to have a familiar face in the area. Maybe we could grab coffee sometime?

Your response comes in almost immediately, to Bob’s delight.

You: I’d love that. I don’t know anywhere in the area yet, so you’ll have to pick a place.

Bob smiles as he puts his phone back in his pocket, and turns to pay attention to his team for the first time since you walked over. 

Eventually, he decides that he does want another drink. He was so busy talking with you that he didn’t take Phoenix up on her offer to send Hangman to the bar. He doesn’t mind going to get his own drink, so he lets Phoenix know he’ll be right back and makes his way through the other patrons to get to the bar.

“Hey, Bob. Who’s the girl?” Penny asks as he walks up.

“You really do see everything that happens here don’t you?” Bob jokes, wondering how she can keep an eye on when to ring the bell, pour drinks, cash folks out, and know everything going on all at the same time. 

“Nah, she came up here and mentioned you. What’re you having? She said your next drink is on her, paid for it, and left you a note.” Penny slides a napkin across the bar with your handwriting on it. 

“Oh.” Bob can’t remember the last time a woman bought him a drink without doing it to try to impress one of the guys. “That’s nice of her. I’ll have an ale.” He says, and Penny nods and starts pouring while Bob looks down at the napkin in front of him.

It’s been a long time since high school, but Bob laughs at the sight of your handwriting. You never did have the slow, methodical, flowery handwriting that some of your other classmates had, and you were always complaining that your mom thought your handwriting needed to be more ladylike. Bob liked your handwriting, it was legible (unless you were in a real hurry), and it just seemed fitting for you in a way he doesn't think he could explain, it's just something he knows.

Of all the gin joints, yeah? This one’s on me for interrupting you and your friends. Have a good night, Lieutenant Floyd. 

Clearly, you either asked around or paid enough attention to his uniform to discern his rank. Either way, Bob feels honored. He can’t help but trace over where you signed your name, a messy heart looping over the last letter. Suddenly, he’s flashing back to yearbook signing days, watching you add that same messy heart next to every signature. 

“What, it’s classic? Sorry I love my friends, jackass.” You’d said with an eye roll as another friend complained that it looked too romantic. 

Sitting here in the Hard Deck, looking at that little heart, Bob wonders how he got lucky enough for the universe to put you back in his path. He doesn’t know if anything will come of it romantically, but even just having you around as a friend is more than enough for him. 

He doesn’t see the way that Penny watches with a smile as he delicately folds your note and puts it in his pocket for safekeeping. Thanking Penny for his drink, he heads back over towards the corner where his friends are laughing, with his mind wandering to what coffee shops in the area you might enjoy visiting with him.

[girl-mercury]

ukraine aid post

I'm not able to fully express how furious and how saddened I am by all that has happened with regard to Ukraine this week. I will choose only to say that I wish an enormous transformative change of heart in everyone who this week chose cruelty and bullying to people barely surviving instead of offering security and allyship.

This war began in 2014 as Russia began occupying Crimea and the Donbas and disregarded Ukrainians' right to make decisions for themselves, just as Russia has disregarded the sovereignty of other nations in Putin's expansionist, maximalist goals to make something of a new Russian empire; the full-scale invasion began in 2022, and immediately started doing an encyclopedia's worth of war crimes. Russia-favoring corruption drained Ukraine of the funds it needed to defend itself and so this war has been fought largely on crowdfunding and aid. Just imagine, having to protect your home and right to make decisions for your country based on on a GoFundMe.

I know people working in the Ukraine security space and so a lot of requests for help come through my inbox, and I'm going to share some of what I've received. For the more direct requests for aid, they have been verified by someone I know who is not just an online activist but working with Ukrainians, and I can probably get you connected with them if you need that and want to reach out to me.

Razom - Obviously, this is probably the most well-known org and I regularly donate to them. Razom initiates short and long-term projects, or collaborates on existing projects with partner organizations, which help Ukraine stay on the path of fostering democracy and prosperity. I personally believe that strong institutions are overwhelmingly critical in ensuring that people don't fall through the cracks and that predatory organizations don't take advantage of power vacuums, and Ukraine will need to rebuilt its capacity to have a society once the war ends, along with delivering immediate medical and tactical items now.

Global Response Medicine - GRM travels anywhere in the world providing emergency medical care for people displaced by conflict or disaster. GRM is currently raising funds to kick off the Invisible Wounds program in Ukraine to support those with PTSD and TBIs. (If you have larger-scale resources to get involved with this initiative, I can probably put you in touch with the executive director.)

Insulate Ukraine - Since the full-scale invasion, millions of windows have been shattered by bomb blasts. During winter, temperatures can plummet to -20C or below, putting people's lives at risk. Thousands of Ukrainians remain in frontline towns with nowhere else to go. Insulate Ukraine has developed an innovative and affordable solution to the urgent need for warmth: a $20 triple-layer shatterproof window made from polyethylene. The organization helps those most in need: low-income families, the elderly, and disabled.

Dzyga's Paw - A well-known charity that buys Starlinks, drones, and de-mining equipment for front-line defenders. I think my friend can get individual messages of support to some of the defenders if you feel motivated to do so.

Ukraine's Women's Battalion - Not a battalion but a group that works to support and fundraise for the military as well as provide things like care packages.

PDMSh - For a decade, The Pirogov First Volunteer Mobile Hospital (PDMSh) volunteers have been rescuing and treating wounded on the front lines. Hundreds of PDMSh volunteer medics have cared for and saved thousands of military and civilian lives.

Dignitas - Dignitas has several initiatives supporting Ukrainian fighting and post-war development. They currently are focused a lot on raising money to build drones, which are highly needed for surveillance to find out where civilians and injured combatants may be.

Protez Foundation - Provides prosthetics for those who lose limbs.

Weatherman Foundation - Provide medical transportation and supplies to Ukrainians, repatriation of those KIA, support for orphans and elderly.

Superhumans Center - Rehabilitation for Ukrainians suffering major injury.

Prevail Together - They do the very importnat work of bomb disposal. They also do trauma care and humanitarian aid.

Osprey Relief Foundation - A US veteran-led, global disaster relief, and medical & humanitarian aid non-profit organization. Their mobile "Train the Trainer" course is focused on Search and Rescue operations and lifesaving capabilities in support of civilians on the battlefield.

Liberty Ukraine - Direct donation to Ukraine projects; currently quadcopters, evacuation vehicles, generators, children's hospital renovations, thermal clothing production, therapy camp for children of killed soldiers. *This org has no salaried employees and 100% of funds go to projects

Ukraine Front Line - Currently raising money for lifesaving medical aid in the form of Hyfin vent chest seals that are immediate needs for people with penetrative chest wounds.

Invictus Global Response - Working in conflict zones around the world, their mission is focused on the clearance of landmines and explosives, teaching civilians to identify explosive risks, and providing capacity-building support in the areas of mine action, stockpile reduction, and humanitarian assistance. Our vision is to empower local organizations, partner forces, and affected communities through impactful, cost-effective, and sustainable support.

Ukraine Front Line - President of this org, Robin, highlights needs that have no social media presence. Looks like they're taking individual donations right now for tourniquets, hospital care packages, first aid supplies, and more.

Protect a Volunteer - Get signed up to directly connect with a volunteer fighter through a donor matching platform. I personally know someone who is connected and donates though this partnership.

Safe Passage 4 Ukraine - Assists people in gaining safe passage in, around, and out of Ukraine. This war has turned millions of people into refugees both inside of and outside of their country. Many of them have complex medical needs. Safe Passage ensures transportation, lodging, and other needs as they leave for safety.

Other things:

Friend of a friend of a friend - Eddy, a volunteer fighter, got hit by drones while doing a civilian evacuation January 2025 and lost an arm and a leg, donation page and his instagram via reddit

Ukrainian artists to support: RainbowOnThePipe Lebid Ceramics

A note for those, like me, who hate war and will work as much as possible to use every other pathway to avoid it:

Look, I know some of you are not comfortable directly supporting front-line warfighters, and there are a lot of orgs up there where you don't have to do that. But I would beg you to consider that sometimes you don't have a choice when war comes to you, and more than that, when it comes to you from a country that does not believe your society should exist, that everyone with your culture should be destroyed and forgotten. Every success Putin wins, in 2008 in Georgia, in 2015 in Syria, in 2014 in Ukraine, even in the 90s in Chechnya, persuades his ruling gang that they can opportunistically keep conquering. If they are not stopped in Ukraine, they will look at more of Europe, more of the Caucasus, more of central Asia. Hell, even Alaska was part of the Russian Empire at one time. They will keep sending their mercenary groups to disrupt peace and self-determination in African nations. They will keep trying to disrupt democracy in every country that doesn't give them what they want. They are bullies, and the people of Russia deserve better leaders than ones that will send 800,000 of them to be killed or injured and then consider that not to be not that much of a loss.

Sometimes the price of ensuring human security is working with military organizations. I wish that it were not. But I don't value abstaining from that reality and keeping my hands perfectly spotless if it comes at the cost of denying rescue to civilians in a highly populated war zone they could never have consented to live in.

Please help.

[ganondoodle]

id probably have more success as an elden ring/fromsoft artist but alas, my heart still belongs to the legend of zeldas most unpopular villain, oh well..

chapter 2 rough draft is approaching 70 pages, im confident i can start painting it this week :3

[andromeda3116]

i feel like a lot of Discourse (read: fandom wank) happens in places that have forgotten or never learned the death of the author theory

(which i know is not sacrosanct but it is very useful for handling fandom spaces, particularly fraught ones)

for those who don't know, the death of the author theory goes like this: as far as the work is concerned, the author dropped dead the second that the final word was published, and thus cannot comment, object to, clarify, or expand on anything that is not on the page.

my understanding is that it's most strictly used to mean that that the author's interpretation of the work doesn't matter, but can be expanded to state that nothing which is not on the page matters. imo, the expanded definition is particularly useful for fandoms and needs to be adopted on a larger scale.

because what it means is this:

it doesn't matter what the creator(s) intended. it doesn't matter what they said in an interview. it doesn't matter what the actors think, it doesn't matter what supplemental materials say or imply, even if they're signed off on by the creator(s). it doesn't matter if everyone involved in making it hates your interpretation and says that it's wrong.

they don't get to say that it's wrong. they dropped dead the second the last episode/book ended. their interpretation is simply one more in a vast sea of others.

listen to me, fandom spaces. i am taking your face in both of my hands. embrace the death of the author. you will no longer be bound to the (possibly fickle) words of the creator(s), your interpretation can no longer be the wrong one. if the text can be used to support it in any way, even twisty ways, it's valid. you don't have to jump through hoops to defend it against haters who say you're wrong.

the death of the author. open your heart to it. live it. be free.

[likesdoodling]

This is a piece I did for a university art competition a few weeks ago :)

[icewindandboringhorror]

It's always interesting to hear about people's weird/unexpected "alternate life paths". Like, something that you could have done with your life, a job you almost took, a school you almost went to, etc - that was still actually realistic enough that it could have happened, but NOW it seems to not suit your current personality.

Like for example, I currently hate advertising (how manipulative it is, brands trying to be 'relatable', social media amplifying it to an obnoxious extreme, etc.) so much that even seeing a little ad before a youtube video is grating to even witness, but there was a point in time where I was genuinely seriously considering going into marketing/making commercials as a career lol. Or like, I have a relative who was very inclined to be a pastor when they were younger, even though today they're a super strong atheist, etc. etc.

[coridallasmultipass]

Nikke: Goddess of Victory event Beauty Full Shot minigame spoilers: (LONG POST)

So yesterday, I managed to catch the last couple fish in the fishing minigame!!

Check it:

I'm surprised there wasn't the great white shark?? I guess that's just gonna happen in the story instead? Unless it's like a 1 in a million chance of getting it in secret or something? But the fucking whale lmao, that mf was SO HARD to get.

In general, it was super fucking hard to catch them all, but I really grinded for the first couple days to keep getting all the fishing rods (the blue one at the max 60k price level is the best for catching the large fish because it does the most damage), and then all the equipment, too.

Hot tip: Don't bother with the red puddles until you've gotten the highest fishing rod and practised on the blue and gold puddles (unless you're already like a god at rhythm games, but I'm sure NOT especially on a touch screen).

OH also, I don't think the game explained it, but the casting animation before the rhythm game is for choosing which size of fish you want to get, NOT for the starting percentage of the rhythm game. (I mean, yeah it affects the percentage, but ALL blue catches start at like 50%. All of the legendary ones start at 80% regardless of the fishing rod or equipment.) Took me a while to notice that and I would've saved myself a lot of attempts if I'd have just aimed for the easy blue section on the meter in the beginning (I was clicking the gold one every time and suffering because it went too fast every time, and was confused why gold wasn't giving me an easier starting percentage).

Here's my union ranking for the minigame lmao (I'm Vi):

You can see how much I've been playing the game compared with everyone else. It's fucking addicting and I gotta catch 'em all. Almost at 1mil earned lol.

The fucking Spongebob easter eggs were hilarious. I caught Spongebob and didn't realize that's who it was supposed to be until I caught Patrick next. RIP Sandy.

((EDIT: I FORGOT TO ADD PLANKTON. HE'S THE BAIT FOR FISHING LOL.))

Anyway, yeah, that's my post. Just wanted to share bc I love Nikke and the event and the mini games. I even went and got the Dave the Diver full game on PC bc I'm OBSESSED with the Aegis minigame and it's so chill and cool from the few minutes I played (just got it so haven't had time to do more yet). It was also on sale! (Probably still on sale?)

So yeah. Really loving this event, they really went all out. OH and the music, too? Love it.

[izzy-b-hands]

Just submitted a new patient request to Anchor Health. Cross your fingers for me, so I can get set up w/a doc I can stick with who can handle my T and PCP stuff and maybe even mental health stuff? (their website let me mark all three as things I wanted them to provide care for at least)

and the poor local PP can get back to trying to help others without me taking up any more of their scarce resources and staff

[orcelito]

Just finished rereading ITNL chapter 2 again

Yknow, it's long felt like a weaker chapter to me, especially compared to chapter 1. It's a Necessary chapter, but it's basically an entire chapter of introspection. Add in the fact that I wrote it in a single day and was half falling asleep by the end of editing it, but pressing onwards anyways bc I wanted So Badly to get it out that night...

The Legato part was the weakest for that. I remember staring at it and breaking my brain just trying to make it sound better before just giving up and posting. But when I worked on my full-fic re-edits about.. a year ago now? A year and a bit. I think it was October ish of 2023. But I focused on that part again, trying to get it up to my standards to be satisfied with it.

Coming back to it after some number of months, my brain relatively fresh, I think I actually did a pretty decent job. Despite being an introspective chapter, it really drives home how Wrecked vash is about it all. I like to say that chapter 1 is like a thesis to the fic, where you get vash's goals laid out pretty clearly (him picturing the things he wants to fix + him picturing his dream of having all the people he loves around a table with him, including Knives. It serves as motivation for him jumping back in time in the first place and it remains his driving force throughout the fic). In contrast, chapter 2 is... almost a secondary thesis. We see his doubt, his fears, his panic. We see the things that he's going to be struggling with throughout the whole fic. His wish to handle it all on his own, as well as how overwhelming it all is to him. Chapter 2 is the necessary second side to chapter 1's thesis, showing the weakness in his own strength and drive.

The cracks in his own unstoppable force.

Idk it's just interesting to me. Having been away from it long enough, I think I really do appreciate chapter 2 after all.

[arolesbianism]

Finallly got around to properly designing Demonstrator! She’s silly

[glacialdeath]

;;Clarification on verses and how I generally handle Post-TYBW:

In my opinion, Rukia being settled and having a family is nearly a prerequisite for Rukia assuming captaincy. That or some other significant event for her, which I don't know the shape of at the moment. In canon, it's only when her child is more grown that she actually takes the title(10 years after the end of the war), so she remains acting captain for a long time even if fully compliant. I would suggest by default that you assume she's lieutenant but fully assuming the responsibilities of an acting captain of the thirteenth if wanting to do something post TYBW. If you say post-TYBW I'm usually picturing this length of time.

OR if you want full captain Rukia, just remember that you are adding at least a 10 year gap for her to take up the rank... >3> I'm open to other ideas on discussion as well, just talk to me on them so we're on the same page.

Not noting this because I want to avoid the verse where she's captain. it's the opposite really. I think this point is very interesting, and want to get into the headspace of her here and what leads up to this more so. It's really more of an invite because I want to detail out before she makes captaincy and her headpiece and ten years is lot to fill in for my brain and I know there are significant things that happen before that point I want to fill in.

Some headcanons on her and captaincy:

She will actively respond to Captain Rukia, and or Kuchiki-taichou even while just acting captain, but make fun of you on getting your eyes checked or something.

With the passing of her captain, she's very reflective and actively refuses the title or pressure to take the rank. In her heart is some uncertainty in her life's direction, and some thoughts on making the most of life, where that takes her is open though. I don't think it specifically needs to take the shape of canon, but it is some kind of journey or change in focus for her. She's stops just looking at what's in front of her and maybe even looks back and beyond.

Her absolute first priority after thousand year blood war is looking after what remains of her squad. She knows she's now the highest officer that remains for them to look towards after they've lost someone who has been there so long and was important to so many. More than herself, she puts her squadmates first and will shut down and hide her own grieving or emotions to look after them and be the sign of strength that they can lean on.

She attends meetings in place of a captain for the thirteenth while acting captain.

Rukia still thinks she has a lot to learn, on leadership, and particularly on her bankai before taking on the full role of captain.

You could change my mind with a good thread on it or maybe have the right person talk to her, but this is my current mindset, until something makes me think different ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[the-brainrot-central]

Guys my birthday is tomorrow…..please end me

[chaoswillcalmusdown]

operation "how much estrogen leeway do we have" has commenced and it's only been 2 days but i'm so frustrated my muscles are still acting like they've been through a marathon