#it's like a family because even the nurses are on a first name basis with you after your 2nd stay

[kayjaywrites]

Ink & Beans (Azriel x Reader Oneshot)

D20 Dice Roll Prompt: 11. “You’re definitely the only person I would do this for.” Fluff/Humor/SFW

Summary: You ask Azriel to spy on someone for gossip and he does it.

Word Count: ~2,100

Content Warning: None really, Az gets a little horned up but it's not explicit.

Authors Notes: I have a prompt list going for when I have writer's block. I’m gonna start rolling a d20 dice and do the prompt it lands on, replacing the finished prompt with a new one. I’d love to add requests and ideas from you guys to the list!

XxXx

Azriel arrived at your favorite coffee shop three hours before you. Ink & Beans was a small business within The Rainbow, founded by a family of Fae known for their writing prowess. The youngest daughter of the family, Raychelle, did not inherit the family’s writing talent, but loved creative writing all the same. Instead of stewing on her back to back publication rejections, she threw herself into creating a safe creative space for herself, and anyone else like her. The result was a questionably named cafe with workshops, peer editors, late hours, and caffeine. It was a fool proof business model really. Even before Azriel got close to you, he enjoyed visiting the cafe.

Everything about the place oozed comfort. The lights, warm and dim, were soothing and complimented the rustic cottage theme well. The booths were cozy, yet supportive, and although Azriel had been nursing his tea for 2 and half hours he did not feel sore for sitting so long.

Now, it wasn’t unusual for him to loiter around alone. People watching and eavesdropping were a huge part of his job after all. However if anyone had asked him yesterday if he’d ever spy within Ink & Bean he would have said no. There was never a reason to investigate the cafe, he was on a first name basis with the owner and most of the regulars.

Yet, here he was, deploying his shadows and listening in to customer and staff conversations. All because he was a sucker.

He loved listening to you talk. It didn’t matter what you were hyper focusing on, he couldn’t get enough of your passion. So when you dove into an elaborate breakdown of the relationships among those that frequent Ink & Beans he was all too happy to listen. He didn’t like drama that involved him, but hearing other people’s drama was one of his favorite things about being a spymaster. He never got mad at unintentional gossip while on missions, it was often a highlight for him.

So yeah, he was a little invested in your theory that one of the regulars, a quiet male named Fin, was flirting with Raychelle, and that Raychelle was flirting back. He’d been going there with you for almost a decade now, and he’d never seen Raychelle show interest in anyone. If anything he’d witnessed her curb potential suitors with efficient politeness.

And you were talking with such conviction, eyes fiery and excited when he shared your curiosity. You swept him up in that magnitude of yours, the same pull that made you a best selling romance author he supposed. Your enthusiasm became his, and suddenly he was sharing his own theories.

He’d noticed Fin blushing at Raychelle on occasion when she took his order, but never saw him flustered when another employee was at the register. You’d noticed that too, and somehow by the end of the gossip session he had agreed to working on his day off. 

Like a sucker.

Just like you said, Fin came by on his lunch break and spent it chatting with Raychelle in between rushes. You were willing to bet money that if he listened in on the conversation, he would learn the true nature of their relationship, and before he knew what he was doing he was agreeing to stake out the place for three hours for you.

Only for you to be so wrong. He was a regular enough that he figured his presence wouldn’t be anything of note. Apparently his presence without you was fuel for the gossip train.

Jennifer, a young local artist who came in on her daily coffee run for her office had made an offhand comment to the new girl on the register, Heather, “It was rare to see Azriel here without Ms. Reader.” 

Two of the regular weekday afternoon dishwashers in the back were wondering if you were standing Azriel up, and if they thought they had a chance with you. This update from the shadows had left him fuming, because no, they did not have a chance with you if he had anything to say about it.

A good looking female came in, evidentantly a first time customer as she asked Raychelle what she would recommend, and then subtly but not subtle enough gestured to Azriel and asked if he was single. In which Raychelle said that he wasn’t.

Which wasn’t true, and he was sure Raychelle knew he was unattached.

Then Fin finally showed up for his lunch break, and Raychelle almost caught Azriel watching them as she followed Fin to a secluded booth on the opposite side of the cafe than him. They were just out of earshot so his shadows did the listening for him.

And boy oh boy. The gossip they overheard was juicy.

Raychelle and Fin spent the entire lunch hour talking about how obvious it was that you were in love with Azriel. Raychelle was furious at him for being so oblivious to “what was right in front of him”. Fin was starting to think that you were secretly dating Azriel already, because there was no way the spymaster of the Night Court didn’t notice your feelings. According to them, you looked at him like he’d hung the stars in the sky. You checked him out all the time. When he wasn’t around, you talked about how much you missed him, and were here more often while he was on missions.

Azriel’s head was spinning from the new intel by the time you sat yourself in the booth across from him. For nearly three hours the most popular topic of gossip within Ink & Beans was you.

“So did you learn anything interesting?” You dove right into it, foregoing a greeting as you leaned across the small table, studying him with eager excitement.

“Yes.” Azriel took in how oblivious you were, so focused on him you didn’t notice the way surrounding conversations quieted down around you. Was this how it always was when you guys met up here? If so, Azriel understood Raychelle’s annoyance. How had he not noticed?

You shifted in your seat, your hand drumming on the wooden tabletop in impatience. “And?”

“You know you are the only person I’d ever do something like this for, right?” Azriel said instead.

Perplexed, you cocked your head to the side. “Uh, I guess. So?”

“So: I don’t typically just take jobs without some sort of payment. Especially on my day off.” Azriel leaned back, crossing his arms casually over his chest as an amused smile found his lips.

“Are you trying to charge me, spymaster?” Your voice rose in pitch, incredulous.

He merely shrugged. “The intel was…valuable. Figured I should at least get something out of it.”

You laughed, the type of twinkling delight that had a similar joy rising in his own chest. “Alright, alright you’ve sold me, whatever you want, but I’ve got to know what you’ve learned this instant it’s killing me.”

Azriel could hear a pin drop in the room. He clocked movement behind the counter, the two male dishwashers had come upfront, likely curious, they did fancy you after all. Their presence had his easygoing smile falling as he fixed you with a serious stare.

Whatever he wanted, right? That was a deal he couldn’t pass up.

“I arrived at 10am. From 10am-12:02pm no one spoke about Raychelle and Fin. There is no evidence of anyone else suspecting Raychelle and Fin to fancy each other. You were correct in noting that Fin would come for his 1hr lunch break. From 12:02pm-1:49pm Fin and Raychelle talked in a booth away from the crowded part of the cafe, but not about their feelings for each other or their relationship.”

Your lips parted, confusion creasing your brow. “Well that doesn’t seem to pass as ‘valuable intel’ to me.” You snarked.

“Hmm,” He nodded, unable to keep the mischief out of his voice as he spoke, “the valuable intel is in who they were actually gossiping about.”

Your jaw dropped open, falling for his set up hook, line, and sinker, “Ohhhhh, and who were they gossiping about?”

Pausing for dramatic effect, he studied you long enough for you to visibly grow nervous. “You.” Azriel revealed.

Your nostrils flared, your breath hitching as you averted your gaze. It was rare for him to see you rendered speechless. “No guesses on what they were saying about you?” He inquired.

You barely managed to meet his gaze for a second before your eyes shifted to a spot on the wall beside his head. “I have a theory,” you confessed, bashful, “but would prefer to keep it to myself until you finish your report.”

Azriel hummed in response, enjoying the way your gaze would dart back to his face, like you couldn’t stop yourself from looking at him. He knew that he looked at you in much the same way.

“Everyone here either thinks we're secretly dating, or going to be dating soon. Raychelle and Fin spent Fin’s lunch break commiserating on how frustrating it was to watch us. The people of Ink & Beans think you are in love with me.”

It was so quiet in the room he could hear your heartbeat pickup. He wouldn’t be surprised if it felt like it was in your throat instead of your chest, so Azriel continued his debrief to spare you having to find a response. “And I think they’re right, because they were right about the other person they were gossiping about too. I also was a popular topic of conversation these last three hours, they were right about what they thought about me too. I think you are in love with me–I hope you are in love with me, because I am in love with you.”

“Azriel,” His name was whispered like a prayer on an exhale, “maybe we should have this conversation in a more private location.” Your face was beat red, and you looked like you were about to pass out.

You were never one for making a scene in public. Honestly, this was all probably mortifying for you. Normally, it would be for him too, but he remembered the dishwashing males plotting ways to woo you.

“Of course,” Azriel stood, stretching his wings out as he reached for your hand and guided you to stand next to him, “but first I want my payment. Whatever I want, right? That’s what you said.”

You looked utterly lost, unable to look him in the eye for too long, but too confused to not search for his intentions in his facial expression. “Okay, sure, what would you like, I don’t have much with me right now so I don’t know why this has to happen this moment, but I’ll do my best–”

Azriel always found your nervous rambling cute. He knew you’d be upset with him if he let you go on for much longer in front of everyone at Ink & Beans. “I’m sure you can provide me with a kiss, unless you have a specific lipstick in mind for our first kiss?”

You gaped at him, and he cupped your cheek with one of his hands, his scars rough against your soft skin. Gently, he closed your mouth, leaning in slowly just in case you wanted to pull away. But you didn’t, his lips touched yours, and you melted into him. Your smaller, curvier body pressed tight against his front as the kiss deepened and found rhythm.

Too soon, reality seemed to find the both of you again, and Azriel was aware that he was starting to get aroused very publically in your favorite coffee shop. One look at you, and it seemed you were no better off than him, the gleam in your eyes sending thrills down his spine. 

“I’ve changed my mind,” Azriel bent down to whisper in your ear, and you shivered, “I think I do want to continue this conversation in a more private location.”

You turned your face, lips brushing against his pulse point in his neck as you spoke. “Me too.”

XxXx

Upon returning to Ink & Beans after the mating frenzy subsided, you and Azriel were greeted by tarps, workers, and piles of building supplies outside of the storefront. Raychelle had been signing something on a clipboard when she caught sight of you, and hurried to embrace you, clipboard forgotten on the ground where she dropped it.

She’d used the winnings from a store wide bet to expand the shop. She and Fin had split the winnings, the only two fae to predict your and Azriel’s mating bond.

XxXx

My inbox is open, drop requests to be added to my prompt list! My other work can be found here!

[velvetvexations]

Can confirm I've been on here for years now and before Gamer Gate and then the rebirth of Terfism happened the widely accepted feminist talking point was that men suffer under the patriarchy and how we need to talk about that because one of the fastest ways to get cis men on our side was to show them we were already on their side!

I remeber posts with hundreds of thousands of notes talking about how men are assumed to be worse caregivers than women to the point that in custody battles even if the mother is beyond a shadow of a doubt the worst abusive mess ever and the dad is the embodiment of a perfect parent the kids will end up with the mom. It doesn't even matter if the dad says he wants the kids and the mom says she doesn't, the women still gets assumed to be the better caretaker!! This is misogyny effecting men!!

And I know MRAs are terrible but I remember a video going around talking about their recruitment points, like how more men die doing dangerous jobs and the draft or men getting no help when they've been abused by women and being assumed to be violent predators even when they haven't done anything and like yeah, they 100% came to the wrong conclusions about what causes the problems and what the solutions are bcs it's easier to act like women are the problem, but those problems as they were introduced in the early 2010s were actual problems feminism is trying to address, and if these men could see that we are fighting the same fights and join US we'd be stronger. There was a prominent internet feminist who got full on red pilled just by listening to men tell her about their real actual problems, and the time they pulled the rug out on blaming women it was too late, she was convinced, because yeah women aren't the real problem at the root of men's issues they do HAVE ISSUES. The trick is that they just need to tackle the patriarchy, not women. I also saw stuff that legit talked about how to recruit men by pointing out how badly the patriarchy "serves" them!! (GamerGate quickly ruined any and all salient points that existed in the MRA movement bcs the internet is a feedback loop and anger is easy/fun sadly but yeah I feel like it's weird to act like they were always wrong no matter what when they at least did point out real problems.)

And like RBG partially made her name in the courts defending a CIS MAN on the basis that he was being discriminated in a way a CIS WOMAN would not have been, and the ruling allowed for insane amounts of progress for women. A man not being allowed a tax credit to hire a nurse for his bedridden mother is one of the first things that challenged discrimination on the basis of sex in America. But sure men ONLY gain benefits from the patriarchy. It NEVER hurts them too!! And helping them won't benefit us!!! Making them our allies is silly they should all shut up 🙄

Hell back in the 2010s I still remember seeing trans men talk about how horrible and alienating it was for all of their female friends and family to suddenly start acting like they were a threat, and not just pointing out the inherent transphobia, the guy went on to talk about that they finally get why cis men are the way they are, they suffer from systemic emotional neglect. And yeah that obviously does not mean women owe them emotional avaliablity and sex, but maybe the patriarchy telling men to be big tuff guys who never hug or cry or like anything even a little girly HURTS THEM and is a direct cause of a LOT of the problems we're dealing with rn!!! There was a whole study about how widows tend to live a lot longer after their husbands because they have friends and family to lean on and weren't taught to suppress their emotions, meanwhile widowers tend to die VERY quickly after their wives because they no longer have someone who it's okay for them to be open and emotional around, and not having someone you can do that with KILLS PEOPLE. People were saying again, this does not mean women HAVE to take on all their problems, but maybe that we need to stop assuming men don't need emotional support and teach our sons to not be afraid of being ulnerable, honest people because systemic emotional neglect IS BAD FOR YOU ACTUALLY.

These were ACTUAL conversations that swept this damn site. This was the direction feminism was going in. We were on the cusp of a beautiful age of 4th wave feminism with the knowledge that the patriarchy seves no one well and free the nipple and no gender segregated bathrooms and sports, and now just pointing out that we need to maybe understand the ways men struggle under the patriarchy if we've ever going to have them join and help us build a better world gets my inbox flooded with both terfs and so called progressive feminists calling me a gender traitor for being willing to admit men arent the source of all the world's ills and WE NEED THEM ON OUR FUCKING SIDE. I used to proudly call myself a 4th wave feminist back when people still claimed to be of the 3rd, and now idk what I even am. A bell hooks and leslie finberg feminist I guess, since they actually seemed to get it.

Yeesh. Anyway sorry that got heated. This has just ruined my brain. I do not understand where tf we went wrong, bcs hell back in the day we also pointed out how TERFs were wrong to want men and people they perceive as men and those "tainted" by men put to death for existing so they could build their stupid white supremacist wombyn utopia. We KNEW hating men just for being men was wrong and regressive and hurt maringalized men and did NOTHONG to push feminism forward. We talked about the issues that men face and how to raise our sons to be better. But idk I guess Gamer Gate and the Incel movement took off right as TREFs figured out the whole ace and truscum discourse thing wasn't working and they just needed to doctor their arguments against men better and radical feminism took off and this entire site regressed 1000 years and thinks trans men of all people are just as bad as cis men and trans women have a monopoly on an entire axis of oppression like?????

And I'm not putting the blame squarely on anyone aside from the radfems who started this shit but it does NOT surprise me that we are seeing a massive resurgence of biphobic, transmedicalism, and aphobia since half the queer discourse I see these days is anti-transandrophpbia assholes just word for word repeating the kind of blatant aphobia and truscumery that would have gotten you suplexed off the face of the earth in the 2010s with the identities swapped. Just word for word monosexist aphobic shit. Legit is giving me flashbacks, it's insane.

I have never in my life been more disappointed in my community of queer feminists. This is masks all over again. Like is this how kids who grew up evangelical feel when they realized actually the adults didn't mean literally love all your neighbors silly just the Correct ones?? I feel like I'm in the twilight zone. What the hell happened to us.

Thank you for writing all this anon, you put enough work in it I'm gonna toss it in the tags, I think it deserves to be seen. <3

The problem with MRAs was never that they believed men had problems too, but that they used certain things - like their disadvantage in custody hearings, for instance - as a cudgel in a malicious crusade against a target they hated anyway for not fucking them. Now with as quick as people are to say things like "what, are you saying androphobia exists too?????" it feels as though we've completely forgotten the actual reason we ever hated MRAs to begin with.

It's the same with the dating article where the most basic possible interactions between two adults mutually seeking a hook-up were taken to be pick-up artistry.

[cavinginhisfvce]

'William Orchard Hopper"

Pairing: Harringrove.

Tw: child abuse, mentions of infidelity.

This started out as a headcanon of Jim being Billy biological dad and quickly spiraled into this??? Sorry. <3

Not many people know that Jim Hopper spent a considerable amount of time in California in his twenties.

Jim and Billy's mom, Bria Hargrove met and had an affair that led to Billy being born.

Neil knows Billy isn't his son, and becomes abusive towards Bria and Billy until she can no longer take it. 

When Billy is ten, she leaves and hides a note in Billy's room for him to find. 

The note tells him that Neil isn't his real father, it tells him his real father lives in Indiana. Hawkins, specifically but that he had once lived in California. She tells him that the man is named Jim Hopper. She doesn't give him any other details. Not that it truly matters, Neil is whose on his birth certificate. Neil is who is raising Billy into the man he's destined to be.

Confused, Billy tucks the note away. He can almost forget about it, but the knowledge that Neil isn't his dad stays with him. Even when Neil married Susan, and he gained a step-sister in her daughter, Max. 

It doesn't become a problem for Billy until Neil announces that their new, fragile thing of a family is moving to Hawkins, Indiana. 

He doesn't know if Neil knows he'll be dropping them in the town of the very man his mother cheated on him with.

A week after the move, Billy makes the mistake of getting high after Neil's latest lesson in Respect and Responsibility that ended with Billy nursing bruised ribs and what's definitely a mild concussion. 

The mistake isn't smoking weed, per say. No, Billy's mistake was forgetting just how loose lipped he gets when high. Because, now he's shown Max the letter his mom left all those years ago, he tells her that Neil isn't his biological father.

Max doesn't say anything, she just stands up and hugs her step-brother. 

The blond tenses briefly, before he's sinking into the hug; his own arms winding around her small frame. 

She's gotten taller, so with Billy sitting, his head is pressed into her stomach.

She doesn't comment on the warmth of his tears, she just hugs him tighter.

What does someone say to their step-brother who's father beats him on a regular basis? What do you say when that same boy knows the man who lords his parental status over him, isn't actually his dad? 

Max decides you say nothing. Billy doesn't seem put off by the lack of response. 

It isn't until after Halloween, after Max has plunged a syringe into Billy's neck to sedate him when a panic attack had led to a violent fit, that they're both forced to confront the very thing Billy has tried so hard to forget.

It wasn't the first time Billy lashed out like this, but it was one of the worst times. Her new friends had gotten permission from Neil and her mother to come over, but something set Billy off when she introduced him to Jane.

To his credit, Billy had fled the house when he noticed his breathing picking up. It hadn't helped much, because Max followed behind him, leading her friends to do the same.

When Jane met his gaze, her eyes were soft but unreadable, like she knew she held the last name of the man his mother confessed was actually his father.

It could've been a coincidence, but his mom had also told him the mystery man was training to become a police officer. 

That was too many coincidences, if you asked Billy.

He doesn't remember much after that, not that ever does. 

He knows her friends had been afraid, but for some weird fucking reason they tried to comfort him.

The curly-haired one even called Steve Harrington, declaring that the elder was good in situations like this. 

Billy seriously doubted that, but he'd never pass up a chance to see Steve. Their relationship was still new. New as in they'd only been official for the past week.

Once Steve had arrived, the kids all seemed to lose interest in everything, and retreated into the living room to play video games. Max took some convincing, but eventually, they were able to pry her away from the place she'd refused to leave at Billy's side.

The couple quickly toed off to Billy's room, and Steve wasted no time in pulling Billy into his arms.

Billy felt bone-tired, the sedative given to him never knocks him out, it mostly tires him out. Makes the world fuzzy, and like it's covered in a foggy film.

But, this felt different. This felt like a tiredness that wouldn't be quelled by resting for the remainder of the day. 

The younger boy hadn't told Steve about Jim, so when he asked what triggered this episode, Billy quickly spilled. He spoke until his throat felt raw, and his hands were shaking. 

He spoke until the room felt as if all the air was quickly evaporating. 

Steve waited until Billy's word vomit came to an end, before gently responding, "It's okay, B. If Hop is your dad, he's a good man. A little grumpy, but he's not like…" he trails off, but Billy can fill in the blanks just fine.

"H-how am I even supposed to broach this subject with him, Steve? What if...what if he doesn't want me just like her, and I'm stuck with Neil until I'm 18, or dead?" 

The brunet quickly reaches out to cup Billy's cheek, his thumb grazing the smooth skin. "That won't happen. Even if it did, you've got me. You're never gonna be stuck with him forever so long as I'm alive and breathing, baby."

There's more the boy wants to say, but he just feels so tired. The sounds of the kids all yelling in the other room serve as nothing more than background noise.

It's about an hour later, and Billy's only been fighting his sleep because Steve is showing him various tiktoks and clips of random gamers he enjoys.

Soon though, he's starting to doze on Steve's shoulder, when there's a knock at his door, then a head of brown curls are peaking into his room.

Jane.

His breath hitches, but Steve's hand finds his back and begins to soothingly rub his stress away. 

Metaphorically, of course. Because in reality, Billy is still freaking out.

"Jim is here to pick me up, but he wanted to meet you."

This causes him to bristle, "Me? Why?"

Jane merely shrugs, before turning away. 

Billy has an inkling she does know, but he swallows it down and climbs off his bed to make the short trek to the living room.

When he lays eyes on Hopper, the man is dressed in his uniform, a small grimace on his lips as he observes the sparsely decorated room.

His eyes eventually land on Billy and he offers something that could be considered a smile.

"So you're the owner of that Camaro out front, or is that your dad's?"

Billy wants to laugh out loud at the question, but instead he shakes his head. "No, sir. She's all mine, fixed her from the ground up myself." 

It was true, Billy spent months fixing her up, she'd been all but totaled when he found her body at the junkyard in California. 

He immediately fell in love with the car, despite the appearance and the rest was history.

The chief let out a long whistle, along with an approving nod.

"Damn kid. You lookin' for work? I know the mechanic in town could use someone like you on weekends."

Billy only nods, unsure of what to say. 

"Yeah, yeah that'd be great, actually! Thanks."

Jim nods, his eyes never leaving their place of observing the blond. 

"I'll set it up, just come by my office on Monday and we'll work out all the kinks."

Soon after, Jim leaves with Jane, who promises Max that they'll hang out soon.

Much to Billy's chargin, Steve leaves with the rest of the kids, sans Max, around forty-five minutes later.

Neil and Susan return after Billy has finished cleaning up the dishes from his and Max's dinner. 

His dad seems pissed by something, something Billy can't figure out.

Not that it matters. All that matters is that his bad mood means a repeat of last night. 

As it plays out, Billy doesn't have to wait until Monday, because the man in question all but busts the Hargrove's front door down, catching Neil in the act of wailing on the defenseless blond.

There's a whirlwind of activity that ends with his father in cuffs, and Hopper escorting Billy to the hospital with Max glued to his side while Susan tails the Chief's car.

On the drive there, Billy doesn't expect the chief to blurt out, "Jane heard what you told Steve." Billy wants to play dumb, he wants to pretend he has no clue what Hopper is referring to; but instead he just shrugs and glances back at Max, the red-head at least looks apologetic. 

"Does she always ear hustle that hard?" The large man huffs out a laugh, "you have no clue kid," he pauses, chewing at his lip before he carefully continues, "I knew the last name was familiar, just chalked up to a coincidence. But your ma...you look just like her…"

"Why didn't you say something earlier?" 

"I didn't want to assume, I was gonna do some digging. You know? I didn't know Bria was pregnant when we broke things off. All she said was Neil was getting suspicious. She didn't tell me, if she had…" he trails off, pulling up to the entrance of the hospital. 

"I'm gonna make this right, Billy. I promise."

Billy wants to scoff, but one glance at Max's hopeful face in the mirror has Billy nodding instead. 

"Yeah, okay." His words are soft, lacking any bite. 

It turns out that the police chief busting down your front door to find your "father" beating you bloody, is more than enough evidence to send said man to prison. 

It also turns out that one nicely worded threat is enough to have Neil Hargrove give up parental rights that never rightly belonged to him.

A DNA test for confirmation later Billy was getting a new birth certificate in the mail with the name William Orchard Hopper.

Below it read Bria Hargrove and James Hopper.

Billy was in the middle of decorating his new room in Hopper's place when Max barged in, Steve trailing behind her with a sweet grin on his lips.

"Billy, can you take me and Jane to the arcade?" Jane, who Billy hadn't noticed initially just smiled up at him.

The boy shook his head, turning to Steve, "aren't these your charges? Why am I the chaperone?"

Max rolls his eyes, "you're our brother, so you have to! You love us!"

Jane quickly nods her head, a sparkle in her eyes, "Yeah! You love us."

Steve hums his agreement, which has Billy shaking his head again, "okay, whatever shitbirds. Let me change, at least."

They seem to accept that, and slip out the room, leaving Billy and Steve alone.

The latter smiles at him, before crossing the room to plant a light kiss to his lips.

"Alright, now hurry up, Blondie! We can't let the boys get too cocky, Jonathan dropped them off already and I just know Dustin is trying to beat Max's highscores already. They're gonna fight all day."

Once Billy is dressed, he drags Steve out his bedroom, only to run into Hopper. Literally. 

Billy's head bounces against his chest and everything.

The man just grunts and steadies the smaller boy, his lips parting to speak before Billy is wrapping his arms around his midsection, "see you for dinner, Pops!" before he's grabbing Steve's hand and ushering Max and Jane out the door.

Jim doesn't miss the smile that graces his son's lips before he calls out, "be safe!"

He can almost see the way Jane and Billy roll their eyes before responding without missing a beat, 

"Us? Always!" Jim doesn't mention the time he had to put out a small fire from when Billy tried to teach Jane tricks with his zippo.

Yeah, always my ass, he thinks.

[stellar-constellations]

        Depressed! GN! (Y/N) x Aged up! Muchiro

        (Y/N) is suffering from survivors guilt.

        (F/c) is favorite color! Or choose any color you like.

        I’m tired, I’m always tired. Despite that, I have many sleepless nights. I can’t sleep at night, never at night. There’s demons to kill; and I’m afraid of them.

        I’m afraid of what I work with on a daily basis; it hurts seeing the things that killed my family. They took away my happiness and I feel numb without them. Despite feeling like this, I feel that I want to help others, to help avoid the same thing that happened to me despite the exhaustion and pain it brings me. Even then, I want to help everyone but myself. I don’t quite deserve happiness. I shouldn’t even be alive right now. I should’ve died in that attack. 

        But he saved me. The Mist Hashira, Muichiro Tokito. He took me to the Butterfly Mansion and after I got healed by the nurses and he made sure I was alive. He didn’t have to, but he did. I asked many questions about him, his nichirin, his life. Many answers he did not remember, but the ones he did know, I paid extra attention listening to.

        When I found out he had terrible memory and forgot stuff a lot, I was shocked to find him at my healing room. If nobody reminded him of me, than he remembered someone as unimportant as me. It warmed my heart to see someone care for me, even if they were probably doing it out of pity. Despite that, after I finished healing and taking a test to make sure I was good to go, I couldn’t leave. 

        I didn’t know what I wanted to do in life until I met him. I know I wanted to save people, but I didn't know who I wanted to be. Now that I did, I realized I wanted to see him all the time. I confessed to him that I wanted to become his Tsugoku, to undergo excessively difficult training to become a Hashira. I didn’t want to become a Hashira nor did I care about it, I just wanted to become a stronger demon slayer and see him everyday. 

        When I told him that I wanted to be his Tsugoku, he was…confused. I had to explain to him what a Tsugoku was because he forgot, but once he understood, he thought about it then decided to accept. My first day of training began immediately after he accepted as he drew out his Nichirin and swung down at me. I ducked and drew mine out. 

        “Your nichirin is f/c?” he asked, almost out of thought yet dull. Despite him seeming out of it, I knew he was focused and in a battle-state mind.

        “Yes! It is my favorite color.” I responded. When you get your Nichirin (having another alias as the Color-Changing Katana), you unsheathe your weapon from its holster; it’ll change color based on the owner. 

        “Okay." He simply pushed it aside, ready to give another swing.

        That day I ended up with many bruises and scars. He didn’t have the energy or time to go easy on me at all. I couldn’t even land a single hit on him. He never went easy on me, because the enemy wouldn’t show me mercy.

        For months, it was me being brutally defeated. He was untouchable, unattainable, but I’m stubborn. I would reach for the stars if I really wanted to. And one day, I was able to graze his cheek with my Nichirin.

        “O-oh!” I stammered. “I’m sorry! Are you hurt?” I immediately questioned, throwing my Nichirin on the ground (only for him to get right back up and attack me).

        Yeah, that bruise still hurts even though it's long healed...

        I cared for Muichiro deeply, to the point where I started recognizing my feelings as love, an emotion I didn’t know I was capable of after my family’s death. Even though I was aware of my feelings, I kept them quiet from everyone. Muichiro couldn’t even remember my name, and he finally started remembering that I was his Tsugoku. 

        I remembered having to tell him months and months, everyday in the morning as he sat under that big tree, staring up at the clouds and mumbling an occasional “what shape was that cloud again?” or “did I say hi to the Master today?” 

        Once I finally nailed in that in the mornings to dusk I would train with him as his Tsugoku, he made sure I wouldn’t give up on training. There were times where I thought it was impossible, but when I would look into his beautiful, crystal clear, sky blue eyes, I would find a new found hope to push on. I wanted to make him proud of me. I wanted him to see as more than a Tsugoku. I didn’t just want to see him everyday—I wanted to see him every night as well, go to sleep next to him and wake up in his arms. 

        It hurt having these kinds of unattainable dreams. I expected too much. Muichiro didn’t seem capable of loving a person, let alone his Tsugoku. So I hid my feelings. I hid them very well. It wasn’t like Muichiro could figure out my feelings, he forgot his own emotions quite often, asking me to help him understand them.

        We could be in the middle of a battle and he’d tell me his heart raced incredibly fast when we got closer together. My heart would burst into flames when he tells me that. I would think that for a second—only a second—that only I had that effect on him (that same effect he has on me), but I would brush it off and tell him that it was from sparring so much, that moving around and summoning energy like this can weakened people and make the heart work overtime. 

        He would suggest breaks and right when he did, I would collapse on my knees and look up at the clouds panting heavily. He would lean over me, his hair almost reaching over my face as I gaze upon him and smile. He would return the smile softly and his eyes would warm up. It was always a sight to see and I could never get enough of it. I was the person to make him smile, something so out of his character, that I couldn't even breathe when I first saw him smile at me like that.

        ”Hi.” I would giggle softly.

        “Hello.” He’d respond with before laying down on the grass next to me.

        Only recently he started to softly place his hand on mine when we stared up at the dusky clouds. The first time he did that my face exploded red, to which Muichiro noticed and asked if I needed water. I would shake my head, afraid that my voice would betray me, and I would wrap my pinkie with his, in a silent attempt to convince him to stay. It would work every time and I would smile to myself in accomplishment. 

        “There’s a dragon.” I would point up into the sky.

        “Yeah…” he would softly say, almost whispering before asking, “What’s a dragon again?”

        I would giggle and look at him with a soft expression on my face.

        I loved his cluelessness; it made me want to protect him. I loved his questions, how he would turn to me out of everyone for answers. It made me feel that he relied on me as I did to him, that I was his rock, his safe haven as he was to me. I loved answering his questions, how his eyes would light up slightly before he would close them and respond with “interesting…”.

        It made my heart explode every time he would bless me with his voice. His soft, firm, authoritative voice whenever he would grace me with a word or sentence. I didn’t care if it was a simple “hello” to a “your stance needs work”. 

        When I learned about Total Concentration by Tanjirou (a fellow demon slayer I was really good friends with since I saw him at the Butterfly Mansion often tending to our injuries. His injuries originated from fighting demons while I would battle the unmerciful Muichiro. He’s currently the only person who knows of my crush, his sense of smell ratting me out).

        I asked Muichiro when he was gonna teach me about it and he avoided my gaze. He laid down on the grass, his long black hair with teal ends framing his face perfectly, like an angel. He looked at me and closed his eyes.

        “I didn’t want you to leave.” He responded.

        I sat down next to him, silently encouraging him to carry on.

        ”If you left me, my chest would feel like snow.”

        I fell my heart ache at his choice of wording. He would be sad and empty... all because of me?

        “If I taught you that, your training would improve greatly. Even then, you’ve surpassed my expectations and improved in combat. You would leave me once you find no use of me.” He confessed.

        My heart felt even worse—did I unintentionally make him feel that way?

        I leaned down and carefully wrapped my arms around his body. “I won't leave you; it'd hurt me too.” I admitted as I carefully rested my head on his chest.

        "I don't understand." He stated. "If you left, I wouldn't bleed, so I wouldn't be hurt?" Muichiro spoke.

        "Sometimes, you don't need an injury for a scar to form." I hummed. “You know, I could’ve left you once I finished healing at the Butterfly Mansion years ago.”

        Right…it’s been two years already and I’m still under his guidance—and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

        ”But I didn’t want to leave you. After my family died, maybe even before that, I felt that I was empty, trying to find the will to live. But you helped me out of that dark space and suddenly, I started to see things and feel things I thought I forgot.” I admitted, feeling tears well up in my eyes. 

        Don’t cry, don’t cry.

        ”Like me?” He asked. Then the dam I tried to push back overfilled.

        “Mm-hm. Like you…” I silently cried, doing my best to make sure he didn’t see or hear my tears. “Yeah... I don’t want to leave you at all. I want to see you everyday and every night. I want to be there for you. I want to be someone you can rely on. I want to be someone you can always trust.”

        “What would you call that?” he questioned.

        “Many names: family, friend, lover—“

        “I want that.” He spoke, cutting me off.

        “Lover?” I questioned.

        “Tanjirou told me about how we loved each other; he could smell the scent on us. He told me about what lovers feel and what they do. I liked his idea, but I want yours more.”

        I felt more tears roll down my face, it wasn’t from sadness, no, it was happiness. 

        He lifted my head and wiped the tears from my eyes.

        “You're crying? Did I hurt you too bad while training? Was it something I said?" he questioned

        "No, no. It's not that." I chuckled.

        "Oh. How can I help make you happy?" he questioned, his eyebrows furrowing down in confusion.

        I smiled, grabbing his hand and softly holding it. “I am happy. You make me happy everyday. You’re everything I want and more.” He smiled softly at me as he slowly started to comb his fingers through my hair. “Yes, I want you to be the person to make me happy, and I want to be the person to make you happy.”

        “You have, ever since I met you, (Y/N).” Muichiro confessed.

        That was the first time he remembered my name...

        Have any requests? Check my masterlist to see the characters I write for: Masterlist

[andydrysdalerogers]

Presley ~ A Curtis Everett Au ~ Part Three

Curtis Everett x OFC Presley Adams

Synopsis:

Curtis Everett is a hard working man. As the head of the mob of Concord, he does everything he can to provide for his wife and children. His life is perfect. Until it's not.

After a devastating accident, Curtis is alone with his children and needs some serious help.

Presley Adams needs to find work and fast. Running from her past she just wants to lay low and earn enough to get her out of town. Until she starts working for Curtis as his live in nanny.

As she falls in love with this family, can she stop her past from finding her? Or will her past be the end of the Everett reign in Concord?

Book two of the Five Kings of Boston series

Warning: themes of a mafia lifestyle; SMUT; possessive tendencies; murder; death; age gap;

A/N: taglist is open!

Banners by me! Dividers by @firefly-graphics

I do NOT give permission for my work to be translated or reposted on here or any other site, even if you give me credit. DO NOT REPOST MY FICS. Reblogs, comments, likes, and feedback ALWAYS appreciated

Previous: Part Two

Series Masterlist // Main Masterlist

Part Three – What's His 

Curtis 

I went to the gala with only one thing on my mind.  

Presley 

As people danced and mingled, I stayed in my seat, thinking of her.  The little kitten in my house, taking care of my children.  As the days passed, she avoided me.  I knew it was because of my aloof demeanor.  I wanted to stay away from her.  Presley was everything I didn’t look for but absolutely wanted.  How could I do this to my Anna? Lust after a woman, the nanny caring for Anna’s children, in the house that Anna and I had built? 

I thought back to a few nights before.  I had been sitting in the dark, nursing a scotch in the family room when I heard steps on the stairs.  I looked at my watch and it was nearing midnight.  I got ready to scold one of my children when I saw her.  Her hair was down, cascading over her shoulders.  She was in a camisole and sleep pants, slippers on her feet.  She moved quietly to the kitchen.  I could see her grab a glass of milk and a couple of cookies that Adam had made.  She was sure to take a napkin and she turned to face me.  But she couldn’t see me, not in the dark.  No makeup, with the moonlight highlighting her features and she was even more beautiful.   

I wanted her.  

I wanted her innocence, her beauty, her body underneath mine.  

Her heart.  

Ma had said it was ok to move on.  That Anna wouldn’t want me to be sad, alone.  So I made a move. I always felt that tension between us.  The line of attraction that went straight to my cock had always been there but now, it was thousands of strings that wanted to hold on to every inch of her.   

I wanted to care for her, cover her, protect her.  

Love her.  

So, I did it. Watching Adam wink at her that first day set me on edge. The idea of Clint getting her alone pissed me the fuck off.  I wanted her alone.  It was irrational, obviously.  Adam stated he had a girlfriend and a child. Clint was happily married; they don’t want Presley, but the idea that they were friendly enough to be on first name basis made me green with jealousy and seeing red. My suggestion shocked her but her next statement, “why” threw me for a loop and I answered honestly.  

“Because I couldn’t protect her. I can still protect you.” 

Why I said it, I have no idea.  But just the thought of something happening to my Kitten, to my Presley, put my mood in a rage.  

When I came back from the gala, I checked on my children. They slept peacefully, happy in their dreams.  I moved to walk away but then decided to check on Presley.  I opened her door gently and peered in. Presley still had her lamp on, book on her chest, fast asleep.  The innocence, the beauty that sat on her face was devastating. She had no idea that she had the power to shatter me. I moved quietly into the room, took her book and marked her page before setting it on the table.  I kneeled beside the bed to be closer to her.  

“You have no idea what you do to me, kitten.” I brushed my lips over her forehead, flicked off the lamp and closed the door. I would make it my mission to make my intentions known.  She wasn’t Anna, I understood that.  But, for the first time in four years, I slept better knowing that the kitten down the hall was here, safe and sound.  

Dawn broke over the manor.  Even though I only slept a few hours, I felt rejuvenated. The kids were heading to Clint’s house to play with his kids, leaving me alone with Presley. I felt like a fucking teenager, giddy with excitement over the idea of being closer to her.  I needed to remember to go slow.  I had no idea what her experience in life was like. But I would be patient and let her open up to me.  

I sat by the fire, drinking a coffee when Presley came down the stairs.  She was beautiful in a fitted cream-colored knit sweater, jeans and knee-high boots.  She had pulled her hair half up, showcasing those beautiful curls. I took a sip just to wet my mouth; it had gone dry from seeing her look so natural yet so beautiful.  “Good morning, Presley.”  

She was startled for a second.  “Good morning, Mr. Everett.” She kept her eyes down.  

No, I needed to see her eyes.  

“It's Curtis, Presley. You can call me Curtis.”  I stood up. “Did you want some coffee before we leave?” 

“No, thank you. I’m meeting my friend at the coffee shop.” She played with her necklace.  A nervous tick she had that I had picked up on.  I stood in front of her and placed a finger under her chin to lift her head gently.  

“You should hold your head up, Kitten.” I felt a tremble float through her body. She liked it; she liked that I called her Kitten.  I filed that in my brain and kept talking. “I’m not angry, I just wanted to make sure you’re comfortable.”  

“Thank you,” she whispered. “I just need to grab my coat.” I followed her to the entry but grabbed her coat before her.  I held it up to let her slide it on. My fingers grazed her neck and she shivered. Her hair moved and the soft scent of strawberries floated into my face. Fuck, I want to run my nose over her neck, taste the delicate flesh behind her ear, leave my mark for all to see. “You smell nice, Kitten.” I go for it.   

Fuck it, I’m Curtis Everett, I can have whatever I want.  

And I want her. 

I place a feather light kiss on her neck, and she jumps.  “Mr. Everett...” she starts.  

I correct her. “Curtis, Kitten.”  

“Curtis,” fuck, does my name sound good from her lips. She been with us for two weeks and I’ve imagined how my name would sound on her lips. “What are you doing?” 

I took a step back. I didn’t say anything. Fuck, did I blow this? 

“Curtis, I don’t think this is a good idea.” I looked into her beautiful blue-green eyes, and it had a hint of sadness to them. 

“Tell me why Kitten. You’re a beautiful woman. I’ve seen the way you are with my children. I’ve seen the way you look at me.” I tucked her hair behind her ear. “Tell me.”  

She searched my face. What was she looking for? She must have found it because she said, “Because I’m not a safe option. I’m your children’s nanny. You don’t know anything about me.”  

“So let me get to know you.”  

She smiled a little.  “You are a man who never hears no, do you?” 

“Not if that person wants to remain alive, Kitten.” She took an involuntary step back and I panicked. “No, Kitten, I would never hurt you.”   

A phone beeped and Presley looked down at her phone.  “Cat is at the shop.”  

I sighed. “Let’s get you to your friend.”  

On the drive, Presley played with a necklace she had on.  A locket of some kind.  It was her tell; she is nervous. Why wasn’t she a safe option?  The last couple of weeks had seen a change in the manor.  My kids were happy, thriving. When I sat at dinner with them before, it was quiet, sullen.  Like Anna had taken all of the sunlight in their lives. But since Presley arrived, they have been little balls of sunshine. If anything, I needed to keep Presley so my children could continue to smile.  

I pulled up to the café and turned to Presley.  “How long will you be?” 

“Umm, a couple of hours.  Just coffee and maybe a trip to a couple of shops.”  She smiled weakly, as if ashamed. “I can walk back...” 

“No, it's perfectly fine, Kitten.  I’ll be back in three hours?” She nodded and got out.  But before she could close the door, I stopped her.  “Call me, if you need me, Kitten.” A bigger smile caressed her face, and it made my cold, dead heart beat a little faster now.  I watched her walk into the café before I took off. Three hours was plenty of time to make it to Newton and back.  I needed the services of a man that only one other man had access to: Jake Jensen.  

Presley 

I walked into the café, determined not to look back at the fine as fuck man that drove me. I was dizzy from breathing him in while he drove.  He smelled like cedarwood, sex and man. There was just no other way to describe him. When he helped me into my coat, his fingertips grazed my skin and it felt like lighting through my blood.  But I’m pretty sure I died for a second when he kissed my neck. His lips were soft, warm... perfect. God, I wanted to keep him there, kissing my skin, setting me ablaze with desire.  

But it would be impossible.  

I’m his nanny.   

I’m a runaway.  

I’m a wanted woman on the run.  

A lost princess in his world.  

I’m only here for a year.  That’s the timeline I'm giving myself.  Then I have to keep moving. I tried to keep my face neutral as I approached Cat.  “Hey!” 

“Oh my god, you’re alive!” Cat pulls me into a long hug. I missed her.  

“Me alive?  You’re the one that’s cancelled twice.  I was starting to think that you were happy to get rid of me.”  I smiled as I sat at the table. “How are you?” 

“I’m good.” She gives a Chesher cat like grin. “Met a guy.” 

“Really?”  I smiled for her.  Her last boyfriend was such a douche that I don’t miss at all. “Who is he?” 

“His name is Eric.  Works in business. Handsome AF and he spoils me.  Its why I bailed the last couple of weeks.  He had to work on Saturdays and took me out to make it up to me on Sunday.” She had a goofy smile on her face. “I really like him.”  

“Aww, that’s so awesome.” I really was so happy for her. She deserved it after that douchewaffle had put her through the ringer. Talking about her love life would distract me from my own. Until she says... 

“So, who was that guy who dropped you off?”  She took a sip of her coffee and waited for my answer.  

Well fuck.  

“Oh, umm...” what do I say? My hot as fuck, sex walking employer dropped me off after he set my skin ablaze with the softest sweetest kiss on my neck that wanted me to just jump into his arms and have him carry me to his bed. I took a sip to stall and think what to say.  I needed my best friend because I’m not sure what the fuck I’m doing. “Mr. Everett dropped me off,” I finally tell her.  

Now Cat looks like a fish.  Her mouth popped open at my statement.  I popped a piece of my muffin in her mouth to get her to shut it.  She took the bite and swallowed.  “Curtis Everett.  The Curtis Everett, King of Concord.  Mafia boss.  He dropped you off?” 

“Clint and his wife had the kids at their house and his other man was busy with something, so he offered.” I shrugged. God, please don’t let her read me like she usually does.  

“How is he?” I choked for a second, misunderstanding her question.  

“He’s, uhh, he’s nice. Great dad. Very respectful.”  

Cat studied me. Dammit. I closed my eyes for just a second.  “What happened?” 

“Nothing.” I said that too quickly. She just gave me a pointed look.  “Ok, let’s talk about it at the store, ok?  Too many ears here.”  She nodded and we finished up before walking to the store down the street. I needed some more clothes for the house since I didn’t have much.  As we browsed, Cat decided to corner me.  

“So, what is going on, girl?” 

I look at the dress in my hand.  It’s a black lace skater dress, longer sleeves with crystals.  Then I look at the price tag and put it back.  “I honestly have no idea, Cat. At first, Mr. Everett was nice, welcoming.  Then as the time went on, he became surly and distant.  I don’t even know what I did.  I started to avoid dinner with the family.” I took a breath. “Do you know how hard it is to say no to a little girl with big blue eyes?” 

“I would imagine it would be very difficult.” Cat giggled. “Ok, but why are you flustered? If Mr. Everett is upset with you, why did he drive you?” 

“That’s the question of the day,” I mumbled.  “When he offered to drive me, I told him it wasn’t necessary, and he said it would make him feel better if he could drive.”  I sighed. “That he couldn’t protect her but he could protect me.” 

“Oh shit!” Cat screeched.  

I smacked a hand over her mouth. “Shut. Up.” I huffed as I let go. “Then, before we left, he helped me into my coat and his finger brushed my neck and it felt like lighting.” I smiled a little at the memory. “He kissed my neck.” 

“Oh, Pres.” She frowned. “You can’t fall for a mafia boss.”  

“I’m not,” I protested. I wasn’t falling for Curtis Everett, was I? “He’s my boss and I love his kids. And I’m leaving in a year. I can’t stay.”  A tear you didn’t feel was forming fell. “I can’t love anyone, and I can’t be loved.  I have to go, you know that.”  

“But of all the people that you could love, its someone who can also protect you.”  Cat wrapped her arm around my waist and put her head on my shoulder. “Not all love is like your parents or like that asshole. It could be great.”  

“I can’t,” I whisper. It was breaking my heart. I just wanted to be safe and happy.  

Curtis 

Driving through Newton, I knew I would need to speak to Jensen’s boss before I could get any answers. I headed for the Barber house.  

Andy Barber was the king of Newton. A few years prior, he had trouble with his twin brother when his now wife was kidnapped due to a debt owed. I knew that Andy would understand my hesitancy. I didn’t want to alarm Presley because I wanted to gain her trust. But when Clint ran her name, her history only went back five years. What was she hiding? The only person who could find out was Jensen. 

At the gate, security stopped me before directing me to the driveway in front of the door. Andy came out. “Curtis! Hey!” 

“Hey Andy.” I shook the man’s hand.  Dark hair, thick beard, eyes twinkling, the man was happy and in love and it showed.  

“Come on in. Aurora just made some cinnamon bread and fresh coffee.” He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and directed me into the house.   

We went into his office, and I took off my coat before taking a seat. “How are you, Barber?  You look disgustingly happy.”  

“I am,” he said.  A soft knock came and Aurora walking in carrying a tray with coffee and the delicious smelling bread.  Aurora owned a bakery in town and was opening a second location in Concord. Andy had been by a few months ago to make sure it was ok with me, respect between all the kings. As Aurora placed the tray down, I noticed a slight swell around her middle.  I looked up at Andy, who had the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on his face. “I so fucking happy.” He kissed her cheek.  “Thank you, sweetheart.” 

“Congratulations Rory,” I said to her. She just smiled and walked out. She’s always been shy but still sweet.  I reached for a piece of bread and moaned. “I’m gonna need some to go Andy. Christ, that’s good.”  

Andy chuckled.  “I don’t think she’s ever made anything bad.”  

I laughed because he’s probably right. “Congratulations.”  

“Thank you.  Just passed the 15 week.” Andy took a sip of coffee.  “What can I do for you?” 

“I need some help from Jensen.” Andy quirked a brow but didn’t interrupt. “I have a young woman working for me as a nanny, Presley.  She’s been great with the kids but when Clint ran our normal background check, her history only goes back for the last five years.”  

Andy frowned.  “How old is she?”  

My ears began to burn slightly. “She’s twenty-three.” I rubbed the back of my head.  “For some reason, she reminds me of Anna.”  

Andy signed. “Curtis...” 

“No, I know. Don’t fuck the help but Andy, she’s everything that I didn’t know I wanted. She’s perfect, except for her history.  I have a feeling she’s hiding something big in her past.”  

“It sounds like it.”  Andy picked up his phone and placed a call.  “Jensen, I need you to run a deep background on someone for Curtis Everett... No, I’ll have him send you the file... we’ll discuss that later.” He hung up and wrote something down.  He handed me a slip of paper.  “This is Jensen’s contact info. You have him for the next week.”  

“I appreciate it, Andy.”  I looked at my watch. “I need to get back to Concord.” 

Andy walked me out where Aurora had a small plate for me. I thanked her and kissed her cheek. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing, Everett?” Andy asked.  

“No, but the first step is to know who Presley is and why she is running.” I shook his hand and I got into my car and started driving back to town.  I thought of her, my Kitten.  What was she hiding?  Her statement had disturbed me. ‘Because I’m not a safe option.’  What did she mean by that?  As I pulled into town near the shop Presley had pointed out, I parked and sent the file Clint sent me to Jensen.  

To Jake Jenson  From Curtis Everett  RE: Presley Adams  Hey Jake, can you run a deep background please? Her name may have been changed about five years ago. Run missing persons to see if she has been reported as well.  Curtis Everett 

I watched my Kitten come out with a couple of bags, so I went to help. “Hello, Miss Adams.” I turned to her friend.  “Miss.” It was cute that her friend gawked.  I was used to it.  But Presley blushed at the attention. I took the bags from her hands.  

“Thank you, Mr. Everett.”  She turned to her friend. “Thanks Cat, I’ll call you later.”  

“Bye Pres. Mr. Everett.” Cat stood watching as I walked my Kitten back to the car, my hand on her lower back.  I opened the door for her to get her in, away from the harsh November wind that had kicked up.  After getting her bags into the trunk, I made my way back into the car and on our way home.  

“Did you have a nice time, Kitten?” I didn’t take my eyes off the road, but I could still see her in my peripherals.  She was playing with her necklace again.  Why was she so nervous?  She has to know I wouldn’t let anything happen to her.  

“It was nice to have some girl time,” she said, rather timidly.  “Cat’s the first person I met in Concord. She gave me a place to stay.”  A small smile graced her beautiful face and I had to force myself to concentrate on the road.  

“She sounds like a good person.”  

“She is.” Presley sighed. She looked out the window, still playing with her necklace.  

“What’s wrong Kitten?” 

She took a moment; I think she was deciding what to say.  “Mr. Everest...” 

“Curtis.” 

“I can’t call you that,” she retorted.  “You’re my boss and I have to respect you.”  

“Kitten...” 

“I’m not your Kitten!” I recoiled slightly at the outburst.  “I can’t be, you don’t know me, and I work for you.  You’re always mad at me. You’re always cautious or pull away.  Now all of a sudden, I’m your Kitten?  No, I can’t do this.”  

I stayed quiet until we reached the house. I barely put the car in park, and Presley was out of the car and into the house.  Fuck me, this was going all wrong.  I grabbed her bags before heading in.  I went straight to her room, but I couldn’t find her. Until I noticed the closet ajar. “Presley?” 

“Please just leave me alone,” the muffled reply came.  

“I can’t do that, sweetheart.  Talk to me.” I opened the door to see her clutching herself. “Oh Kitten.” 

“Stop! Curtis, stop saying that,” she cried. “Why are you doing this?” 

“Because you brought joy back to my children.  Because you brought happiness back to me.”  

“You’ve ignored me.”  

“I know. I was fighting it, Kitten.  I was fighting this pull I have to you. Fuck, I’m sorry.”  

Presley 

He was sorry.  Sorry for acting like an ass and ignoring me? He was an enigma. “What are you trying to say Mr. Everett?” I couldn’t even look at him. 

“No, don’t call me that, Kitten.” I went to protest again but he crowded me. I lost my voice as I looked up to his beautiful ocean blue. “All I want to do is touch you, feel you, taste you. You have been in my dreams for the last two weeks. Presley, look at me. Sweetheart, please?”  I moved my head to look at him. “Tell me you don’t feel it and I’ll walk away right now.”  

I searched his eyes for... what? Sincerity, lust, honesty? But really, all I saw was adoration and love. And it scares me, but it scares me more that I know my eyes show the same thing.  This man, this wonderful, powerful, gorgeous man was drawn to me just like I was drawn to him. “I can’t Curtis.”  His face crumbled slightly.  “I can’t tell you that I don’t feel this.  I’ve felt it since the day I met you but...” 

“No, don’t find an excuse.” He took my hands. “Let me show you, Kitten, how much I want you.” He cupped my face with a hand, the other took my hand and pressed it to his chest. “My heart is racing at the thought of me missing my chance to show you how much I want you. Please kitten, just one chance.” 

I closed my eyes and leaned into the warmth of his hand. His hands were rough, I could feel the callouses, but they were gentle as he thumbed my cheek. “You don’t know me,” I whispered.  

“I’ll get to know you,” he insisted. “When you’re ready.” He let go of my hand to cup my other cheek. “You can trust me, Kitten. I’ll protect you.”  He moved slowly, like time was stopping. But he gently cradled my face as he leaned down and pressed his lips to mine.  

Ever heard the phrase, seeing fireworks? 

Yeah, I know what they mean now.  

Curtis’s lips were soft, his kiss was sweet. Oh fuck, its perfect. Don’t moan, don’t moan, don’t moan, I chant in my head. A soft moan escapes my throat.  

Fuck me.  

Curtis smiles against my lips before moving to deepen it. He runs his tongue against the seam of my lips, asking for permission. I don’t want to give in, but I do.  And I am lost.  

Curtis 

Holy fuck, she tastes amazing.  Like sugar or honey.  I’ve never tasted something so sweet. I kiss the life out of her, taking what I can get.  When I needed to breathe, I slowed down and pulled away.  Kissing her gently again, I pulled back and saw her eyes were still closed. “Open them for me Kitten.” Her eyes flutter open, and her blue green eyes are wide with lust. “Perfect,” I whisper, and she blushes. “Will you let me take you on a date, Kitten?” She nodded and a single tear fall. “Presley?” 

“I want to explain but I can’t. Not right now.  Is that ok?” Her lip trembled in fear.  

“Of course, Kitten. I’ll be here when you’re ready.”  

Unknown POV 

A cigarette lights in the dark.  A man looks at Everett Manor with a sneer.  She’s been so close this whole time.  Her father said that she had been lost for five years. She had been promised to me and then she ran after her mother had died.  It was a shame he had to orchestrate her murder, but he couldn’t let it get out what he had done.  

He had barely escaped with his life while he had been waiting.  Fucking Lloyd Hansen almost got him killed.  But he left before the maylay of Barber infiltrating the house.  Now he wanted to take his place at the head of a family.    

And she is the key.  

Curtis 

After I left Presley’s room, I went to my office to catch up on emails before the kids got home. Wanted to spend some time with them before we started the week again.  I flagged any important emails and sent some to Clint for Monday when I saw one from Jensen.  

From: Jake Jensen   To: Curtis Everett  RE: Presley Adams  Hey Mr. Everett,   I did the deep dive as requested and your man was right, her history only goes back five years.  With the photo you sent, I was able to do facial recognition and got a hit.  See the file attached.  Let me know if I can help with anything else.   Jenson 

I hovered over the attachment and stopped.  If I really wanted to pursue a relationship with Presley, going behind her back and reading her past would ruin that.  She knows she needs to be honest with me and she’s going to.  She was scared but I promised her I would be a safe place to fall.  I move the email into a secure file on my computer for safe keeping. If I wanted her to trust me, I had to trust her, for now.  A timid knock came from the door.  “Yes?” My beautiful kitten’s face appeared. “Hi Kitten.”  

“Hi,” she smiled softly. “Clint said the kids are eating at their house before he brings them back. I’m making breakfast for dinner. Would you like to join me?” 

I smile. “I would love to.” I closed down my computer and followed her to the kitchen. Adam was also off on Sundays and usually we either went out to eat or we ate with Clint’s family. But Presley hadn’t joined either time, probably because of me.  She knew her way around the kitchen.  When she bent to get a pan, her delectable ass was now up in the air.  I suppressed a groan but walked over to her. When she stood, I placed my hands on her hips and kissed her neck softly. “Beautiful,” I whispered.  She turned her head, and I captured her lips once more.  

“Curtis,” she moaned as I deepened it. I lifted her to the counter and wrapped her legs around me.  She pulled back. “Can we take it slow?” 

“Of course, Kitten.”  

I moved to step back but she held on to me. “I don’t mind this I just don’t want you to expect more when I’m not there yet.”  

I smiled and tucked some hair behind her ear. “I can do that.”  

I’d wait forever for her.  

My Kitten.  

NEXT

Taglist:

@patzammit

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@slutforchrisjamalevans

@firephotogrl74

@tinkerbelle67

@before-we-get-started

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@peaceinourtime82

[prcdo]

have you heard from NICOLAS PRADO yet? back home they’re said to work as a REAL ESTATE COPYWRITER.  before this trip to blackwood pines, i’ve heard that they’re known to be ACTIVE, JOCULAR, AND ADAPTABLE. but on the downside, they’re known to be BRASH, COMPETITIVE AND BLUNT. when you think about them, you’ll probably see JERSEY NUMBERS WORN LIKE MILITARY MEDALS, BURST BOXING BAGS, CRUSHED SODA CANS, TARNISHED TROPHIES, AND KNUCKLES BRUISED TO THE HUE OF BUSINESS SUITS. and because of that, i would say that they’re known to be THE JOCK.

STATS. 

full name.  nicolas meza prado. 

nicknames.  nick is, in fact, his preferred name. nods at variations thereof with the notable exception of nicky.

date of birth.  13 october. 

place of birth.  odessa, texas, usa.  

current residence.  detroit, michigan, usa. 

languages.  fluent in english and spanish.

education.  has an mba from michigan state. paid for by a sports scholarship, of course.

occupation.  real estate copywriter. 

gender.  cisgender male. he/him. 

orientation.  bisexual. 

marital status.  dating, more often than not.

family.  a father, a mother, and two siblings sandwiching him into a suffocating space stuffed with birth order stereotypes.

PERSONALITY. 

the brief.  in one word, nick is winning. not a moment in his life has been spent without incredible drive, nor with any consideration as to local speed limits. he holds his head high and, in the process, can lose track of the bigger picture as easily as he can paint a new landscape of goals with loaded words and laborious action. whether this is concerning or endearing depends on a lot of factors, but he’s not dead yet, so he can’t be too insufferable. or maybe the team just needs some muscle. that’s probably it.

the good.  nick wants to help people. although he’s a primary proponent of self-love, he leads by example and is eager to learn whatever he can from whoever he can – the dumb jock stereotype didn’t pop up without any strict basis in reality, after all – and he’d sooner exile himself to an athlete’s foot locker than force someone to take a risk he wouldn’t seize first. 

the bad.  nick wants to help people with the absolute outlier of himself. he builds his plans around others, if he has any plans at all, yet has shoved his expectations for everyone above the stratosphere to the point where he feels personally degraded should anyone reject his get-pushed-in-the-pool-to-learn-how-to-swim teaching techniques. he does not deal well with having his opinions ignored in any capacity and nurses grudges as well as anyone with a doctorate in self-centredness would.

the ugly.  nick needs to be needed. being disliked macerates his mind into this mush of desperate people-pleasing, even if he knows the only path to justice is the one paved with potholes. if a friend asked him to jump off a cliff, he’d only ask if they wanted to film him doing a flip on the way down.

APPEARANCE. 

height.   5’9. good posture and a gleaming smile had most intramural coaches thinking otherwise.

build.  athletic, with a mean leanness that puts both his obsessive gym-going in adolescence and overwhelmingly green diet in adulthood on full blast. you know, as if he’s not enthusiastic enough about divulging all the sordid, sweaty

style.  comfort over couture. everything in his closet but his collection of immaculate basketball sneakers is best described as devil-may-care. colours stay neutral and t-shirt graphics stay slightly crude. sleeves must be rolled up regardless of weather and whether he’s even wearing something with long sleeves.

notable features.  jet black hair styled with water and confidence. the uncertain beginnings of a bristly moustache. a tattoo of the number one in a compact collegiate font on his right shoulder blade.

BIOGRAPHY.  content warnings for brief mentions of hazing and injury.

tl;dr.  annoyingly smirky middle child stomps his way into acquiring eldest child syndrome + a humiliating defeat to cap off his last collegiate basketball season, and proceeds to do everything in his power to not become the guy who peaked in school. which actually amounts to just throwing himself into work with little regard for sleep schedule or personal relationships, but a quick winter getaway could help him unwind a little, right? right.

first quarter.  nick’s a good kid, but good isn’t always good enough. his parents drill that lesson into his skull as soon as he’s out the hospital and in the prado household’s singular bedroom. they do it unintentionally, which is how they do a lot of things, but however much he wants to play hercules by hurling his weight around the run-down playground, every time he slices one head off the hydra of approval by joining this club or scoring that letter, another two pop up in its place, born of his brothers’ very existence. the one who came before him is their meal ticket making his way through med school, the one who came after him is already on track to become an accountant, and he’s… good at throwing things in hoops. things being homework, hoops being over trash bins. but he’s always been a good-natured kid, so when he secures a spot on the jv basketball team after trying out as a total joke, he soaks up the sugared electrolytes, the electric sound of applause, and the endless opportunities to sink his energy into something until the end of time. or until 6pm. you know, whenever practice ends.

second quarter.  nick’s a good guy. his parents call him the fun one, which might not be a compliment, but warping any and all descriptors into compliments is how nick’s become something of a casanova and kept his name relatively clear of any scandals. that is, until he semi-consciously continues a secret hazing ritual that results in the severe incapacitation of his fraternity brothers and a wicked hangover that, gasp, results in him ruining the next week’s championship game. then he blows his birthday money on veneers of all kinds to coast through police interviews and changes his course from sports officiating to business administration. then he realises that being impressive is way more important to the status of being good than making a squeaky-clean good impression.

third quarter.  nick’s living the good life. sure, he’s got little to no time for recreation, but he’s strongarmed his way up the corporate ladder and isn’t coming down at any cost. also, he can still toss his assignments in the trash can. he’s got a photocopier now. his friends tell him there’s no place better than blackwood pines, and if only to prove them wrong (and maybe prevent himself from getting hypertension at thirty) nick brings himself and a basketball along for the ride to the rockies.

fourth quarter.  nick’s story may or may not have a good ending. aka this is the part where i’ll put summaries of all super important life-changing in-character events so i don’t lose track of them <3

MISCELLANEOUS. 

radio.  beastie boys. no doubt. oasis. rage against the machine. red hot chili peppers.

potential relationships.

childhood friends.  people who witnessed his evolution from tryhard to hard-ass and has, by some miracle, decided to stick around. nick’s definitely drafted up at least one microsoft word nda regarding his tragic past and its secrecy for these folks. whether or not they unblocked him long enough to read the final document is trivial.

college classmates.  nick may or may not be the reason the general public does not desire a 5’9 brown-eyed man in finance. while not as egoistic as he was in his younger years, his enthusiasm for extra credit was well recorded.

former teammates.  while he never went pro, nick’s played basketball for as long as he’s been alive and was a volunteer coach at a couple of summer camps in his must-join-every-extracurricular-ever-or-perish days. whether you knew him as the point guard of your dreams or the gatorade purist of your nightmares, nick was sure to make games interesting.

gym sibs.  they stay hungry, they devour, put in the work, put in the hours, et cetera.

former coworkers/clients/employers.  nick’s had a host of less-than-dignified jobs with less-than-humane pay, including but not limited to arcade janitor, junior assistant dishwasher at a fast food joint, and human directional.

current coworkers/clients/employers.  being a real estate agent isn’t much more dignified when you get to the cold calling, door-slamming phase, but at least nick gets to do it in a fancy suit! and maybe you want to do things in a fancy suit too. or own a beautiful home in the suburbs with so much fluorescent lighting you’ll never think of going to the hospital again.

flings.  nick commits to everything except for relationships. go figure. he’s never lied about what he wants out of a night or two, but he has driven off way more than two dates by insulting their interior decorating skills during pillow talk.

assorted headcanons.  has a southern twang to his voice that gets exponentially stronger on the rare occasion he experiences an emotion aside from pride. says that he bikes everywhere for health reasons but has actually been banned from several buses for playing his super hype playlists without headphones. also hates cars because the smell and sight of exhaust pipe smoke reminds him of his older brother lolol. doesn’t curse much in general but absolutely refuses to do so in the presence of a lady thanks to mami, even if she has a sailor’s mouth of her own. very physically, if not emotionally, protective; will not hesitate to be someone’s meat shield in any given situation.

[kingluffy5]

Playing Detectives Pt 5 (Wednesday x Male Reader)

When Wednesday went to the school dance with Tyler, Y/N realized how he truly felt about his partner, meanwhile he and Eugene staked out the cave and caught someone burning and evidence there was something inside, and Eugene got attacked by the monster.

I had been spending the last couple of nights hanging around Eugene’s hospital bed, he’s going to make it, but he’s still really badly hurt. I usually stay until the nurses kick me out, I’m on a first name basis with most of the hospital staff at this point. Me and Wends talked for a little bit, she offered me her deepest sympathies over Eugene since we are roommates which is her way of hugging me and telling me everything will be all right.

However this weekend I wouldn’t be able to hang out in Eugene’s room because I have to deal with another one of this school’s annoying functions, Parent’s Weekend, don’t get me wrong I love my family, it’s just that some of them are a bit on the weirder side, plus my cousin Gojo will just flirt with all the girls and my cousin Oliver will just flirt with all the guys.

The run down on the family tree is that there is my grandfather Tim Barron, he had my dad Oscar, my uncle Austin, my uncle Eddie, my uncle Francis, my uncle Richard, my uncle Joseph, my aunt Jane, and my uncle Toji. Tim’s brother is Issac Barron. My dad married my mom Maxine, they had my oldest brother Arthur, the dead one, my oldest sister Ruby, my sister Elizabeth, then there’s my brothers Jason and Jack and my sister Amelia. My uncle Francis had my cousins Skyler, Oliver and Gwen. Then my uncle Toji had my cousins Maki and Gojo.

Other than my parents none of my uncles or my aunt really had successful marriages but aunt Jane is dating someone she thinks is nice right now.

Now even though it is called Parent’s Weekend all of them are coming. So this weekend I have to deal with the stress of my entire family being in one school, Eugene’s injuries, my emerging feelings for Wednesday, her family being in the same school, and solving a murder investigation that also involves our destiny to determine the fate of the school involving a clash with a murderous four hundred year old pilgrim. There is also something I’ve been wondering about, the night Rowan died when Wednesday touched my hand she had a vision, then the night of the Rave’N she was worried about me going out and running the risk of dealing with the monster, so now I just want to know what she saw in her vision of me.

— — —

Me, Jack, Jason, Ameila are all standing out by the gates waiting for our various family members to arrive. Most of them arrive in various limos but uncle Francis, Skyler, and Oliver all pull up on motorcycles doing their best to make in entrance. We greet our various family members and before I know it I’m face to face with my parents.

“Son.” My dad says deadpan.

“Father, Mother.” I return.

We stand there a few seconds before breaking out into laughter and hugging.

“How have you been?” My mom asks me.

“Fantastic, solving a murder investigation that involves a monster and Jericho’s founder Joseph Crackstone.” I reply.

“That’s my boy.” Dad says proudly wrapping and arm around my shoulder before turning to my siblings.

“Hey, assface.” I hear and as I turn I’m met with my sister Ruby.

“Shit brains.” I greet before once again laughing and hugging my relatives.

“Hey Y/N.” My sister Elizabeth greets.

“Hi.” Hi say hugging her.

We all start to head into the quad to hear Weems’ speech. Nevermore’s a haven blah blah blah. Stuff like that. The only part I paid attention to was when she said that Eugene is on the mend.

“That’s your roommate right?” My cousin Maki asked me.

“Yeah.” I say before walking off the second the speech is done.

I head over to Wednesday and Enid, I know Enid’s got it rough with her mother since she isn’t able to wolf out like the rest of her family so I try to be there for her when I can, but the fact that my family has contributed this much to overpopulation means I don’t have a lot of free time during Parent’s Weekend to comfort her about her situation.

“That is not your fault okay, the monster hasn’t attacked anyone in the past week, maybe you finally scared it off.” Enid said to Wends.

“Yeah it’s not your fault Wends, it’s mine.” I say trying to comfort her.

“Maybe the monster went into hiding to avoid this weekend.”

“Y/N, are you really choosing to talk up a couple of girls rather than be with your own family, I know you’ve always been popular with them but still.” My uncle Francis asks me walking over with my grandpa.

“Where are my manners, Wednesday and Enid, this is my uncle Francis Barron and my grandfather Tim Barron, grandpa, uncle, this is Wednesday Addams and Enid Sinclair.” I introduce

“Addams, are you Gomez’s kid?” Francis asks her.

“Yes, speaking of which I knew I should’ve worn my plague mask.”

“Well look at my family talk about toxic pack mentality, I give my mom thirty seconds before judgey claws come out, let’s get this over with.”

We all walk over to each of our respective families.

— — —

What is one of the arguably weirdest moments of the weekend so far is when my dad and Wednesday’s dad reunited.

“Oscar!”

“Gomez!”

The two ran up to each other, hugged, then did a secret handshake that only belongs in bad teen movies from the 80s. I talked with my family about the case and Eugene, leaving out anything about my feelings for Wednesday, but of course leave it up to Jack and Jason to ruin a good thing.

“Did he tell you guys about his hot goth girlfriend yet?”

“You know he’s got a girlfriend now right?”

“It can’t have been just me who thought he was aroace right?”

That kind of stuff.

Some of my family is talking with Wednesday’s, my brothers are talking with her’s, my dad and some of my uncles are talking with her dad, and my mom and aunt are talking with her mom.

“Would you look at that, our families is getting along so well” I point out.

“I know, it’s awful.” She replies.

— — —

Wednesday’s family went to go to family therapy while I continued to hang out with mine, some of us went into Jericho to hang out, we went into the Weathervane to grab some coffee and I noticed the Sheriff sitting down. He looks up and notices all of us, he had particular trouble dealing with my cousins Gojo and Oliver, they were the ones who most often broke the law.

“No, no, you two can not be back again, not again.”

“Well hello Sheriff Galpin, what can we do for you?” Gojo greeted him.

“Hey, it’s alright I’m helping him with the murder investigation, he’s cool, Sheriff you don’t have to worry my family is only in town for the weekend.” I defuse.

“That’s still one weekend longer than I have the patience for.”

“So do you have the DNA test back yet?” I ask.

“No, hold on this might be it, hello, you got the test?” He says answering a phone call. “Ah shit.” He says before walking out.

“Woah, dad what happened?” Tyler asked him.

“You know the local coroner? He just blew his brains out.”

Later we see Wednesday and her family storming out of Kinbott’s office and Bianca and her mom come in and start talking, I feel like they both want their privacy so I stay with my family while we hang out.

— — —

I manage to get some alone time when I head to the bee hives. It’s there that me and Wednesday run into each other.

“So, how was family therapy?”

“Awful, my mother still refuses to tell me the truth about Garret Gates, the man my father is accused of murdering.” She vents.

“That sucks, I sorry you have to deal with that.”

“Are we going to beat around the bush forever or are we going to finally talk about what happened last weekend?” She asked me.

“Which part, a lot happened?” I asked for clarification.

She then pulled me into the shed for some reason.

“You know even if someone was watching they probably only started getting suspicious now.”

“How could you not tell me you’re having panic attacks?”

“I didn’t know my mental health is any of your concern, what does it matter anyway?”

“If you have a panic attack in the middle of us dealing with the monster then it could put you at risk, and I don’t want to lose one of the only bearable people in this place.”

“As touching as that was, you don’t need to worry I’ll be fine.” I say before leaving the shed.

We gather some honey and head over to Eugene’s room to talk to him, this is Wends’ first time seeing him after the attack. Turns out she had Thing keep an eye on him.

“He didn’t deserve this, I should be in that bed.”

“Don’t say that Wends, it’s not your fault.” I say trying to comfort her.

We then feel hands on our shoulders and we turn around quickly to be met by Eugene’s parents, Sue and Janet, turns out he was talking about us all the time. We decided to leave as they deserved to have time with their son.

— — —

We’re now at lunch in Nevermore sitting with our families. Apparently Wednesday saw her mom visit Garret Gates’ grave earlier. My family and Wednesday’s are still joking around with each other. Enid and Ajax have seemed to patch things up since the Rave’N, Enid is still dealing with her mom’s disappointment in her lack of wolfness.

Suddenly the Sheriff is bursting in avoiding principal Weems’ questions and heading straight for Mr. Addams.

“You’re under arrest for the murder of Garret Gates, you have the right to remain silent anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law, you have the right to an attorney, if you cannot afford an attorney one will appointed for you.”

Everyone sits there shocked at the scene unfolding before us.

— — —

Enid vented to me about how her mom wants to send her to lycanthropy camps to help her wolf out which is beyond messed up, Wednesday visited her father and is now convinced of his innocence, of course I believe her, she’s usually right about these sorts of things.

Later that night I’m woken up by the sound of my phone ringing. “Hello.”

“Y/N.” I hear the familiar deadpan voice on the other end.

“Wends, what’s up, I thought you didn’t have a phone.”

“I don’t, I need you to come down to the police station.”

“Why?”

“I’ll tell you when you get here.”

I sneak out and head to the station where I find Wednesday, and her parents in a couple of cells, she explains the story of how they got arrested to me and to say I was shocked and disturbed would be an understatement.

“To prove your fathers innocence you dug up a grave and stole the corpse’s finger to prove they had died before your father killed him?” I ask just to check.

“That is correct.” Wednesday confirms.

“And you didn’t invite me!” I shout, this could’ve been a very fun night of digging up graves and foiling conspiracies.

We end up going over our plan and the next morning Me and Wednesday’s brother Pugsley, bailed them out, it was then that me Wednesday, and Mrs. Addams go to Mayor Walkers office to talk to him about our theory.

He confirms that Garrett died of nightshade poisoning after his father gave him some to spike the punch at the Rave’N 30 years ago but he accidentally got some in his system. I swear that dance is cursed.

We manage to blackmail him into dropping all charges against Wednesday’s father. While we were at it I wanted to ask for a pet camel provided by the town but Wednesday said that was stupid.

— — —

Wednesday finally managed to start opening up to her mother about her powers and Mrs. Addams explains some of the aspects of their powers and their ancestors. Mr. Addams and the Sheriff managed to work things out as well. Enid finally stood up to her mom and her dad praised her, I always liked that guy. I have no idea what was going on with Bianca and her mom. My family congratulated me on freeing Mr. Addams and all of our families left, after they left Wednesday realized something shocking. Which is why we are barging into Weems’ office right now.

“You’re a shape shifter.”

“That’s a fascinating theory.”

“I curious to find out how Sheriff Galpin feels when I tell him.”

This causes Weems to admit to impersonating Rowan after he died and lying to the Sheriff, and that she had Rowan’s family support, that Rowan was driven insane and that his death managed to allow them to stop him or the school from being in hot water.

“I’m doing what I did to protect the school and shield the students from harm.”

“Tell that to Eugene, how are you protecting him?” I ask her.

We then hear shouting outside and look out the window to see fire burning on the lawn saying fire will rain.

— — —

I asked Wednesday to meet me in my dorm before we head to bed.

“Nice pets.” she compliments.

“Thanks, so there’s something I wanted to talk to you about.” I tell her.

“Go on.”

“With everything going on, the chances of either of us getting hurt or dying is only getting higher so there’s something I should probably tell you.”

Wednesday looks a little nervous when I say that but manages to speak up. “Spit it out then, what is it?”

“I like you Wednesday, as in more than friends or partners.” I say, a look of shock spreads across her face. “I know you probably don’t feel the same way and that you’d probably think of this as a distraction from the case but I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if you never knew and I-” Before I can ramble on any more Wednesday closes the distance between us by kissing me.

We stay that way for a few seconds before she pulls back.

“I can’t deny my own personal feelings for you, we seem to be compatible in many different ways, we understand each other and are able to be around each other without vomiting, which can’t be said for most of the school.” She says, I laugh at the last part. “As annoying as your brothers are, I … care about you enough to look past them.”

We then kiss again for a few more seconds before Wednesday leaves and I spend the entire night wondering what just happened.

[coolertheory]

anyone want my curious family headcanons. yes you do come here. long post warning

VIDCUND

post-psp he becomes the estranged relative that fucks off and disappears. he comes back about 10 years later like… surprise 

in those 10 years i like to think he lived in some apartment in belladonna cove as a horticulturist or something to do with plants

his natural hair is dark brown due to recessive genes or however genetics work idk man

he started dying his hair blonde sometime before he started college to “reinvent himself” but oops! once a loser always a loser. also to fit in more with his family

besides circe and his brothers his only friend in school was the librarian. they were on first name basis

everything about his life is just profoundly Sad and Pathetic. look up the price is right losing horn sound effect his whole life can be summed up with that

his wardrobe is stuck in the 1970s and only wears warm tones

had a really close relationship with his mom. slight daddy issues

extreeeeme perfectionism. probably wont even do anything if he know the outcome isn’t going to turn out well

secretly jealous of his siblings for various reasons but will he ever admit that? fuck no

JENNY

jenny is actually just a nickname, her full name is genevieve! i feel it fits in more with how her other brothers are named 

also her green eyes are actually eye contacts, her natural eye color is brown. all the curiouses have shitty vision

was good friends with lyla grunt in high school

dropped out of college after finding out she was gonna have johnny

had him without the rest of the family knowing, they just assumed she was busy with her nursing degree and only had time to call instead of visit

her favorite song is our house (the one by graham nash) she hums it a lot!

oh trust me shes a huge fucking nerd just like the rest of her family. was very apparent when she was in school but after college you’d have to really get to know her to know that

puzzle enthusiast of all kinds. (crosswords, jigsaw, sudoku etc)

was the photographer/spread designer for the yearbook committee

adds a smiley face at the end of all her messages :-) just like me fr

PASCAL

he had a pet lizard that he got when he was 8. her name was eunice and he took her everywhere. to the dismay of literally everyone

his childhood dream? to become a mailman. 

sparkling water enjoyer…

most definitely becomes a pta parent when tycho starts going to school. also chaperones for all of his field trips

proud member of the neighborhood watch. which contains literally only 2 other people 

favorite genre of music is songs that sound like if you just spammed the auto predicted words on the keyboard over and over again (stuff is way by they might be giants, once in a lifetime by talking heads, yaknow)

in his free time hes always on some forums about obscure topics. sorry to say this but he’d probably be a redditor

somehow ended up on a gameshow once. didn’t win anything though. he thinks being on it is the crowning achievement of his lifetime 

his car looks like this 

LAZLO

his favorite movie is bill and ted’s excellent adventure (i promise my profile+pinned has no influence on this what do you mean guys hahahaah) and the other quintessential stoner movies 

because of his high cooking skill and scientist career, his career ends up being in the field of molecular gastronomy. food science, baby!

shared a room with vidcund before jenny moved out for college

oh in middle school he absolutely had that like, that gelled spiky porcupine looking hair that boys had in the 90s-early 2000s

i feel like he’d be the perpetrator of some in-universe version of an early 2000s meme in the same vein as none pizza with left beef or operation baja blast

speaking of baja blast. his favorite fast food chain is taco bell. 

favorite mode of transportation? rollerblading. 

collects novelty mugs

one of those guys that can solve a rubix cube in under 10 seconds

MISC

the smith family house is actually the curious family’s childhood home

they all have matching “C” middle names:  jenny celeste curious, pascal calliope curious, vidcund cecil curious, & lazlo caelum curious. vaguely space related except for cecil i just liked how it sounded

they’re mixed white/filipino from kitty and glarn respectively ;-)

okok this is a general headcanon but. i like to strangetown “takes place” in 2008, because my timeline is:

base game [2008] -> psp [2008-2009] -> strangerville [2018-2019]

anyways this is relevant because birthday headcanons! i havent come up with actual dates but... jenny (1968), chloe & lola (1972), pascal (1974), vidcund (1976), lazlo (1980)

yes chloe & lola are 3 years younger than jenny but i like to think aliens age really slowly so they still look like they’re young adults  

[sayheykid]

WAIT CHARLIES BOSTONIAN!! i need to know more bro what neighborhood did he grow up in! did he have an idol on the red sox growing up?

YES i'm so pumped to answer this, thank you for asking!! you're gonna get more than you bargained for, hang on

it's extremely integral that you know he's from boston. even though he spent a few years in california for college he is an east coast guy through and through and it's obvious from everything about him. he's from charlestown, which i know has changed a lot in recent years, but still has a very rich blue-collar/working class background, and that in and of itself is important to charlie's story and personality.

i also thought charlestown was a good choice for charlie's family because while it is actually part of the city, a theme that i liked playing with a lot, especially earlier in the storyline, is that of class divide. Charlie's family is unabashedly working class - his mom is an ER nurse and his dad is a longshoreman, and there's a ton of union connection as well. This contrasts with Ellie's family - her parents are both successful professionals, her dad went to harvard, and they live in Cambridge - so even though geographically it's quite close, i wanted to emphasize that the backgrounds ellie and charlie come from are very different (and how even though ellie was never wanting for anything material or resource wise, she never got the love from her own family the way she did with charlie's as they were growing up together)

with that said, charlie's very very proud of who he is and where he comes from, and makes it a point to specify that he's from charlestown in particular, as opposed to just leaving it at boston. because he's so proud of where he's from and the city that raised him, it's especially sweet that he gets to represent his town on such a big platform, and he does not take that lightly. here's an excerpt from his character sheet but i have many more thoughts on the topic:

Because he’s a hometown kid there’s a really unique sense of familiarity. The city raised him, they’re all as proud of him as if he were their own. What i'm saying is that everyone is on a first name basis with him, and that’s more fulfilling than any title he’s won

All the old guys in dunks wearing their scally caps like ‘yeah chahlie, that’s a good kid right theah’

“A combination of he loves the city the city loves him and also a the city sees the best parts of itself in him” like i think there's so much fondness and familiarity there, someone transcends sports idolhood to become an icon of a city itself

it's about being so beloved and so respected that a city adopts you and it's even sweeter when it was your city to begin with

One of the most emotional moments of his career was the first time that he saw a stranger wearing his jersey because even though he knows he worked hard, it’s different to see proof that other people care about him and are proud

(also. he does occasionally get charlie from charlestown jokes and it's just something he has to live with.)

As for who he idolized as a kid, I don't even know where to start. I staunchly refuse to assign specific years to this story, but you can safely assume that he was most likely in elementary/middle school for most if not all of the red sox's 2000s run, and i feel that what you're into at that era really does shape you forever, to a certain extent. charlie's always been a scholar of the game, so there were a lot of different guys that he really looked up to for a variety of reasons.

he really admired tek for his leadership ability and respect that he built, as well as for the fact that he spent his whole career with one team, which is becoming harder and harder to do.

similarly, tim wakefield's longevity made him a legend in the game, and he set/came close to a lot of records that charlie aspired to reach, because while i would never say that charlie is egotistical, he's nothing if not extremely driven and understands his own ability pretty well.

i made a joke a few days ago about charlie being jonathan papelbon junior, but i don't think they're particularly similar - notably, charlie has been a starter his entire career and i think papelbon has a more out-there personality than charlie, but just the idea of being so ingrained in the culture of a city is something charlie really admired.

as a bonus! patrice bergeron is also someone he looked up to significantly, not only as a supremely talented athlete but as a person who engendered so much genuine respect, both amongst his teammates and opponents and with fans at large. it's hard to break into an atmosphere that takes sports as seriously as boston does, but if you do, they'll love you forever (if i think too hard i'll get emotional over the saint patrice narrative). charlie never set out to be that person, and is honestly pretty shy about accepting praise, but it means a lot to him that the city he loves so much loves him back.

[unfoldingmoments]

Waiting on God

God's timing: 1. God has schedule in every area 2. God's timing is his sovereignty You don't get to know the time, timing is the Father's business. 3. God's timing is always on time 4. If it's God's time, God can do anything in instant. 2 reason God asks us to wait: 1. To test the purity of our faith 2. Working on our character What can we do while we wait God's timing? 1. Maintaining our Faith We call Abraham “father” not because he got God’s attention by living like a saint, but because God made something out of Abraham when he was a nobody. Isn’t that what we’ve always read in Scripture, God saying to Abraham, “I set you up as father of many peoples”? Abraham was first named “father” and then became a father because he dared to trust God to do what only God could do: raise the dead to life, with a word make something out of nothing. When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn’t do but on what God said he would do. And so he was made father of a multitude of peoples. God himself said to him, “You’re going to have a big family, Abraham!” - Rome 4:18 The Message 2. Be Patient Never compare to others answered prayers/ success story. And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. - Hebrew 6:15 ESV And so, having patiently waited, he realized the promise [in the miraculous birth of Isaac, as a pledge of what was to come from God] - Hebrew 6:15 AMP 3. Hold on to God's promises My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, Which I love, And I will meditate on Your statutes - Psalms 119: 48 NIV 4. Keep perseverance Stay diligent and consistent in reading God's word, prayers, working as if you work for the Lord. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. - Hebrew 10:36

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:9

Point to remember: 1. The first stress releaser/ medicine for free from stress is to believe in God. But I trust in you, LORD; I say, “You are my God.” 15 My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me. - Psalms 31:14-15 2. Change the worry/ anxiety/ fear energies to prayers.

3. Never give up on God's promises for your life. [The Lord answered] “Can a woman forget her nursing child And have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. “Indeed, I have inscribed [a picture of] you on the [a]palms of My hands; Your city walls [Zion] are continually before Me.

Footnotes

Isaiah 49:16 In Jewish tradition there is a story representing Israel as God’s daughter, who asks Him to stamp a seal of her on His heart and arm (Song 8:6). God replies that such a seal cannot always be seen, so He has instead inscribed her upon His palms.

Isaiah 49:15-16 AMP Other version:

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, [a]And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.

Footnotes

Isaiah 49:15 Lit. From having compassion

Reference Notes from IBADAH UMUM GMS JABODETABEK 04 JUNI 2023 By PS. MAGDALENA CHRISTINA (BAHASA INDONESIA ONLY) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpYE-DqmxY4

[whoneedsapublisher]

Through Maki's Eyes

The answer will come, the answer will come to he who tries, to look at his life through Maki's eyes. NozoNico.

Words: ~1750

Summary: Maki Nishikino is a doctor who, unfortunately, has ascended to a position that involving managing people. And that includes a certain unruly nurse.

Also on Ao3

********************************************************

All in all, Maki thought she was a pretty good doctor. On top of that, she was also punctual and motivated, since she liked being a doctor. Unfortunately, she wasn’t born into a family of any old doctors. She was born into a family of hospital owners. And so she was not just a random resident, who spent their whole day actually practising medicine. She was cursed with the additional duties of management, something Maki did not think she was as good at, more important, utterly despised.

Especially when it came to managing the nurses. And a few select nurses in particular.

And one nurse even more in particular.

It wasn’t even a full hour into her shift yet, and already Maki was having to deal with new bullshit.

“Why,” she asked, as Nico Yazawa, her nemesis, busied herself with stacking a pile of charts. “Are you wearing the wrong size of scrubs?”

It was not exactly hard to notice. Yazawa was practically swimming in the damn things. They were multiple sizes too big for her.

“My normal ones weren’t available,” Yazawa said. “It won’t be a problem. They’re hemmed in so that they won’t get in the way, see?”

It was true. Yet another one of Yazawa’s baffling array of skills, it seemed, was sewing. As obviously oversized as the scrubs were, they were expertly pinned back with an assortment of neat stitches keeping them from covering her hands or risking tripping her. Yazawa always seemed to have some random piece of knowledge when she needed it, and it made her a big hit with patients. Of the nurses, she was easily the best at calming people down and cheering people up, especially children.

“Why did you not have your normal scrubs?” Maki demanded.

“That’s outside of work, and therefore is absolutely none of your business,” Yazawa said primly. “All you need to know is that I could not reasonable prepare them in time for work, and so I made do.”

“Why do you even have scrubs that aren’t your size?”

“Wow, that sounds like another thing that’s outside of work, now doesn’t it? I wonder what I’m going to tell you next. Can you guess, Doctor Nishikino? Go on, try to guess for me.”

Maki glared at her.

“You’re lucky there’s there’s lax rules on insubordination here,” she growled.

“Oh, yes, I’m so fortunate to work under the benevolent Nishikinos who deign not to fire talented staff just because they’re not sufficiently servile. What a blessing has been bestowed upon me.”

She picked up her basket of charts and tucked into her hip before turning to Maki. “Do you have any work related questions or orders, doctor, or can I go deliver these charts?

Maki let out a displeased exhale noise.

“Fine, go.”

Yazawa gave her a fake little smile, but before she could leave, another voice piped up behind Maki.

“Oh, good morning, Doctor Nishikino.”

One headache after another.

Nozomi Tojo, unlike Yazawa, did not openly bicker with Maki. She was generally friendly to everyone, and Maki wasn’t an exception. She did, however, love to tease, and was extremely sly. She was frighteningly perceptive and observant, which made her an excellent nurse, but also very good at zoning in on things to tease people about.

“Good morning, Tojo,” Maki said.

“Hey Nozomi,” Yazawa said.

Wait, since when were they on a first name basis?

“Are you heading back to yours after work?” Tojo said.

“Yeah,” Yazawa said. “To get my spare scrubs, if nothing else.” She lifted her arm meaningfully, and Tojo chuckled.

“Right, of course,” she said. “Quiet night in after that, I suppose?”

“Well, I was thinking I might have a visitor,” Yazawa said. “I have some clothing they were going to bring me. And then they’ll probably stay for a while after that.”

“Ooh, sounds fun,” Tojo said. “See you later, Niccochi.”

“Sure thing,” Yazawa said. “And thanks.”

“No problem, Niccochi.”

With that, Yazawa finally left, but she left Maki utterly confused.

“What was that about?” she asked. “What was she thanking you for?”

“Hmm? Oh, my, are you curious, Doctor?” Tojo said, putting on a look of mild surprise and raising her hand to her mouth. “I didn’t think you were the kind to fuss about your nurses. I’ve always heard people say you’re not interested in gossiping or chit-chat.”

“I’m not interested in gossip,” Maki said.

“Then… why do you care about me and Niccochi?” Tojo asked, tilting her head quizzically. “If you’re worried there’s a work issue, I can assure you there isn’t.”

“That’s not-” Maki said, feeling cornered all of a sudden. “It’s just natural to ask when I was right here for the conversation, isn’t it?”

“Oh, so you’re just the curious type, are you?” Tojo said. “You don’t look for gossip but you can’t help but dig into it when it’s right in front of you?”

“No!” Maki said. “Forget it. I’m going to start my rounds.”

“Alright, Doctor. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Right…” Maki said, rubbing her temples as she walked away. This was what she needed. Just some nice, normal medical work. No nurse supervision. No dealing with Yazawa. Just working with patients.

********************************************************

A few hours later, Maki was feeling better.

She wouldn’t say anything as morbid as dealing with sick people made her happy, but helping people was satisfying, and she felt most in her element when she was trying to work on diagnosis or figure out a treatment. Doing the rounds felt much better than trying to wrestle with management.

It couldn’t last forever, though.

As Maki reluctantly started walking towards her office, already dreading the administrative paperwork she was going to have to wade through, she saw an unusual sight.

Yazawa opened the door of a storage closet and walked out of it, closing it behind her.

“Yazawa?” Maki asked sceptically. “What are you doing?”

“My break just ended,” Yazawa said. “I’m heading back to the nurse’s station.”

“You spent your break in a closet?”

“Sorry I didn’t have a reservation at a high class restaurant, miss fancy pants,” Yazawa said, rolling her eye and walking off.

Maki rubbed her temples, counting to ten in her head.

Normally, she would have just walked off as well. But she was eager to put off the paperwork, so she loitered a little bit, wandering over to the vending machine to peer at the snack selection, as if it had changed since last time. Maybe she’d get herself some chocolate as a motivator. Or maybe one of those granola bars…

A few minutes later, she heard a door open and turned to see Tojo emerging from the same closet Yazawa had.

“...What were you doing in there?” Maki said.

“Oh, I was on my break,” Tojo said. “There’s not many quiet places in a hospital, you know. I wanted somewhere to read where no one would bother me.”

“Is that why Yazawa was in there too?”

Tojo stiffened for a second, but her smile didn’t waver. “Of course. She was on her phone, but it’s the same concept. Anyway, I need to make my way back to the nurse’s station. Speak to you later, doctor.”

She hurried away. Weird. Normally she’d be a little more laid back. Maybe she needed to use the bathroom and just didn’t want to be crude.

…More importantly, Maki really couldn’t justify wasting any more time dawdling. She could get a snack after she did her paperwork, as a reward. For now, it was time to go to her office.

********************************************************

It was not a particularly long day, thankfully. Maki still remembered the twenty plus hour shifts she’d suffered through as a resident. Maybe there were perks to seniority after all.

Still, even though she’d only been working for nine or so hours, she was pretty worn out. It was late, too, since she’d started a little later in the day than normal. So she decided that she could afford to go pick up some nice food for dinner instead of cooking, and got on a different train than usual to go to a restaurant in Ginza that she’d really enjoyed when a friend had taken her there. They didn’t deliver, but she was fairly sure they let you take food away in take-out containers. To her surprise, once she settled down in her seat and glanced around, she saw Yazawa and Tojo.

“Oh, hello,” she said, waving to them.

Yazawa stared at her disbelievingly.

“Hello, doctor,” Tojo said, smiling politely, but she seemed a little tense.

“I didn’t know you lived in this direction.”

Yazawa shrugged noncommittally.

“Oh, I don’t,” Tojo said. “I just have, um, somewhere I need to go today.”

“Me too,” Maki said.

“I see,” Tojo said. “Well, I suppose that’s a fun coincidence.”

“Mmm,” Maki said.

There was a bit of an awkward silence after that. Maki remembered it being a little easier to talk to Tojo. In fact, she recalled that it was sometimes hard to break off a conversation with Tojo when a nurse was needed elsewhere. Why, all of a sudden, was everything so tense? Maybe she just had caught Yazawa’s fervent convictions about keeping work separate from the rest of her life… but if that was the case, why was she sitting right next to Yazawa?

Whatever. It wasn’t worth worrying about. Giving Tojo a final nod of acknowledgement, she pulled out her phone and checked her email. Mostly just for the sake of having something to do, rather than any real desire to deal with her inbox, but, well, she’d have to do it eventually.

A few stops later, Yazawa got up and hurried out, and Tojo followed after, giving Maki a nod as she did. Maki nodded back. Yazawa, of course, didn’t bother with any kind of greeting like that. Frankly, Maki was almost surprised that she hadn’t switched train cars to get away from her or something equally dramatic.

Still, it was weird, on reflection. Yazawa and Tojo were on not just the same train, but got off at the same stop. Coincidences really could be funny.

Well, it wasn’t Maki’s problem anymore. She was out of the hospital and now, thankfully, free from the awkwardness of encountering co-workers. Settling down in her seat, she turned to watch out of the window of the train as she headed towards her restaurant in Ginza.

Absolutely none the wiser.

[neurosky]

bit of a vent ahead about disability/chronic illness stuff

i talk about how my disabilities and illnesses affect me now, and what's going on in the moment, but i've been thinking about the past a lot recently.

although to anyone who knows me in real life (aside from my immediate family) it might seem like everything started in 2020, it dates back so far.

i remember missing so much stuff in elementary because i either couldn't stay in class for the full day or i was in the hospital/doctor's office. my OCD, anxiety, and emetophobia were so bad that i couldn't really function like a normal kid. i'd end up in the nurses office so often that we were on a first name basis. my emetophobia fueled my OCD, so i'd often think i was going to be sick, and as a result, have to do my OCD compulsions. there were times i'd end up laying on the floor or unable to speak because of them. i couldn't talk to others properly because of selective mutism. i was in the hospital for a week (maybe a little over a week), and i missed so much information. my class sent me a get well soon card, but even back then, i had a feeling i wasn't going to get better any time soon.

middle school was equally upsetting. i started getting diagnoses; anxiety and depression came first. i still couldn't communicate properly. my mental state was so bad that i barely ever really knew what was going on, i don't remember a lot very clearly. i wasn't healthy physically, either. i won't go into details as they could be triggering, but i was severely anemic, weak, and tired. i barely got 4 hours of sleep, on a good night. i was failing classes. i had headaches constantly, and lights were always 10 times brighter than they should've been.

2019 is where things started getting more dramatic and obvious to close friends and family, though. my tics started, i got into some really bad habits, my behavior started becoming an urgent issue.

shortly after, in early 2020, is when everyone started noticing. it was hard not to notice. hospitalizations, ER visits, dangerous behavior, severe tics, seizures.

now, almost in 2023, i'm really realizing how much i missed out on because of my illnesses. i couldn't go to regular public school for half of 9th grade because it was dangerous for my mental health for me to be in one. i couldn't go to a regular public school for the first have of 10th grade either, because i was put into a recovery program that took up most of my day. i missed out on school dances, field trips, etc. i was in the hospital a couple days after halloween in 2020. i was in that program for thanksgiving 2021, and got out the week before christmas the same year. i was in the ER on valentine's day this year, and was in the hospital on easter.

i've missed out on holidays, on hangouts with friends, dances, events, so much. i just want to be able to go back and experience the things teens and kids without chronic illnesses do. i want that so bad. but i can't. and i'm grieving the loss of my childhood now, at only 16 years old.

i have a friend with chronic illnesses, and i see them have such a positive attitude about it, they stand up for themself in public, and sometimes i just wonder, why can't i be like that? why can't i have that positive attitude, or stand up for myself?

it just hurts. it really does.

[shadowsong26fic]

Quick TOB snippet

((for context: The Other Battlestar is an AU where Baltar ends up on Pegasus instead of Galactica. Daphne Reed is an OC, and the senior medical officer on Pegasus, meaning she's Cottle's Pegasus counterpart. This is, obviously, a very rough draft/sketch but I'm fond of it and trying to boost my activity/other people's interest in this AU which will hopefully get me to actually posting it like I've been planning for like. two/three years now? Lol))

Reed was unsurprised by the substance of the orders she'd been passed. The civilian ships they'd stumbled upon were to be stripped, both for supplies and parts and to replace personnel Pegasus had lost since the attack.

Being forwarded a list of the seven people on those ships in any kind of medical profession was a little less unsurprising, until she thought about it. The implication was clear--the ship needed more people, with useful skills, and there were few people more useful in wartime than competent medics. But there were only so many resources to go around. And Cain and Fisk didn't have the knowledge or experience to whittle down the list to the absolute necessities.

Which made it Reed's problem.

All right. Let's get this over with.

Maryam Adair; nurse Leona Fox; nurse Alexis Hunter; oncologist Lucas Nyall; nurse Simon O'Neill; pediatrician Tobias Richter; nurse Elina Wey; dentist

The nurses, she'd take. All four of them. Even at the best of times, a good nurse was worth their weight in gold. True, Reed had no way of knowing if these four were good nurses, but she was willing to take that chance.

As for the others...

No surgeons, no emergency medicine specialists, no anesthetists--gods, she would [universe-appropriate 'sell her soul' metaphor] for a halfway-decent anesthetist.

Beggars can't be choosers, I suppose.

Dr. Hunter was a name she knew. Brilliant, by all accounts, but focused entirely on research and first-stage clinical trials for the past decade or more. Reed had read the journal articles, and Hunter's work was solid.

But it also meant at least a decade since Hunter had done any real patient work.

On the other hand, an MD was an MD, and even if it had been a while, Hunter did have applicable training.

...I don't know.

The pediatrician, at least, was an easy call to make. He was actively practicing medicine, with direct patient contact--even if his patient population was pretty far removed from the crew of an active battlestar in wartime--and based on his age, only a few years out from his residency. It wouldn't take too much to get him up to speed. Hopefully.

As for the dentist...

On the one hand, depending on what exactly her practice looked like, there was a decent chance she knew her way around needles and scalpels and moderately-invasive procedures at least as well as O'Neill would. Just on a highly specialized basis. And serious facial wounds were messy. Having some kind of expert in that area of the body on hand wasn't a bad idea. Besides, despite what the civilian medical establishment seemed to think, treatment for dental issues was not a luxury; they could have serious complications.

On the other hand, how much of that was Reed trying to talk herself into finding a dentist useful in an active war zone? Because, yes, all of that was true, but given the situation and the implied priorities in Cain's orders, how much did any of that actually matter?

Of course, Reed thought, once we strip those ships, I know what will happen to the people we leave behind. A quick and violent death, if they're lucky. Slow starvation or suffocation if they're not. If I take Wey and Hunter, I can spare them that.

Then again--if either of them was travelling with family, Cain sure as hell wouldn't take any non-useful civilians onto her ship. If she took Wey and Hunter, if they had spouses or children with them, they might well prefer the certain death.

Frak. How the hell am I supposed to choose?

[apart from the Obvious; the actual names on the list are subject to change, lol.]

[myandrewstest]

'Music makes you feel good'

Music and music therapy an important part of life at Andrews Senior Care and ProTem Memory Care

Amanda Shea has seen first-hand the benefits music can have on seniors and people living with dementia.

Amanda, a program coordinator with ProTem Memory Care, a dementia care home in Moncton, N.B., has been incorporating music therapy, an umbrella term for all music-related activities at ProTem, into residents’ daily routines since she joined three years ago.

“A lot of time with dementia and cognitive impairment, people are in a state of worry,” she said. “Even something as simple as putting on headphones with a playlist of favourite music a family member has put together…that can bring them from a very heightened state (of agitation) to a very calm state.”

She added the benefits aren’t limited to calming distressed residents. Amanda’s seen people’s entire personality shift upon hearing a song they recognize.

“You can see a whole different glow come across their face,” she said.

In other cases, she’s seen residents who had been stand-offish, become engaged through playing music. She recounted one woman who, after watching Amanda tinker with the home’s piano, began playing without the aid of sheet music.

“I didn’t know she was capable,” said Amanda. “But it was like riding a bike for her.”

‘First things in, last things out’

Evidence of the small but significant positive impact music has on people with mild cognitive impairment has been growing in recent years. According to a 2021 University of Pittsburgh study, active music making improved cognition, mood and overall quality of life.

“We are excited to see these results because participating in music, like singing in a choir or playing in a drum circle, is a safe, engaging activity that our research demonstrates can support cognition at a critical time for older adults facing cognitive decline,” said Jennie Dorris, the study’s lead author.

While the reason behind this is still under study, one possible explanation is behaviours learned early in development, like music, are more resistant to decline. They fall under what neuroscientists term procedural-memory, a concept people like Amanda, who work with dementia patients on a daily basis, are familiar with.

“I try to remind everyone ‘first things in, last things out,’” said Amanda. “It’s amazing to see how at times some individuals may not remember their loved one’s names but know every lyric to any song we play. You can always reach them through music.

Good for everyone

While the positive impact of music therapy is most pronounced in people living with dementia, seniors at all stages can benefit.

Sharon Woods-Bryenton, a program coordinator at Andrews of Stratford, makes sure to include music either directly or indirectly in her weekly activity schedule.

“It just enhances their quality of life so much,” she said. “I’ve never had anyone say they hate music.”

Sharon hosts a regular ukulele jam-session, books live performers and holds sing-alongs. She’s even added music to her fitness classes, when possible.

Her efforts have not gone unnoticed.

“I think (music) is one of the most important aspects of living in a retirement home,” said Marion Boyce, a resident at Andrews of Stratford. “Music makes you feel good, it makes you feel alive.”

Marion, a retired nurse, has been playing the violin for 88 years. A social person, she’s found the recent lockdowns and restrictions challenging. Music has been a refuge.

“Anything to do with music is an enjoyment for me,” she said. “If I couldn’t play the violin, I’d just as soon turn my up toes.”

For Sharon, that sentiment comes as no surprise.

“It just picks (the residents’) spirits up incredibly, especially right now (with COVID),” she said. “It promotes mental health, encourages them to come out and socialize and it improves their quality of life.”

[amyjacob]

i just read that today is the “international day of persons with disabilities” so i just wanna say i’m glad i’m disabled. i hate it but i have made so many great friends and experiences and i wouldn’t be the person i am today without my disability

[mysticalrambling]

Baby Boy (T.H)

(I)

My Main Masterlist is here.

My 400 Follower Masterlist is here.

Tom Holland Masterlist is here.

Summary: dad!Tom x reader. Tom gets jealous when you solely focus on your six month old son, Oliver. You both then cuddle and afterwards spend time together as a whole family. It’s just a blurb with Tom acting like a big baby.

Warnings: None. Fluff all the way.

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Tom Holland was never the one to get jealous but from the moment you entered his life, this was the one emotion that made itself known on regular basis. He always told you that you were too good for him and he didn’t deserve you. You disagreed him with every time because it was other way around. However, you gave up on it after sometime and just kissed him whenever he spoke regarding the subject.

An ‘I love you’ was your answer for situation like these and it never went away even after three years of marriage.

Your husband never left your side for even a second whenever you both went out with friends or family. It was not that he didn’t trust you or that he didn’t trust the people around you. He just wanted to be near you and wanted your sole attention. Your Tommy was a needy little baby. Hence, it was safe to assume that he was jealous when your baby boy took all of your love and time.

You both had been trying for almost two years after your marriage and every negative test took away a little bit of hope until the lucky day came. It was one of the best day of your lives and Ollie was a mumma’s boy from day one. Of course, Tommy was jealous but his heart also beamed with adoration whenever he saw the both of you together. The only man Tom could ever afford to share you with was your son. The little boy was really stealing hearts from the moment he entered this world and Tom wouldn’t want it any other way.

“I’ll go pick him up. You sleep, ‘kay?” Getting out of the bed, you tried to coax your husband back to bed. Tom had a full day at the set and he helped you with Ollie as soon as he came back. He really needed to rest.

“No, I’ll get him.” He tried to protest but the red, swollen eyes were a dead giveaway.

“He likes me better anyways so I’ll do it. Night, love.”

“That’s mean!”

You stood up without listening to another word and made your way towards your baby’s neutral themed nursery. You both wanted to keep the gender a secret till the very end. It was truly a surprise for Tom when the doctors announced that you were parents to a beautiful baby boy because he believed that his first born would be a girl. Nevertheless, he got into his daddy mode as soon as Oliver was placed in his hands by the nurse and has never let up since then.

“Hey baby! What happened? Why you crying, bubba?” You had to admit that you were getting pretty good at the baby talk. It has been six months of practicing so you better hope you were.

“Mmmmm.”

“Say mumma. Mumma. Yes, you can do it. You’re such a good boy. Yes, you are.” From the past week, Ollie has been trying to say words and you just really want his first word to be your name.

Cooing at you, he placed his head on your shoulder with his thumb stuck in his mouth. He was teething so he was in a phase where he put everything and anything in his mouth. It has been tiring to watching after the eager toddler but you wouldn’t trade it for the world. Four hours had passed by since his last bottle so you made him one while carrying him in the other hand.

“Let’s drink your milk and then we can play with your toys. Mumma’s not sleepy anymore.” The chocolate brown eyes that stared back at you with wonder reminded you of the man sleeping peacefully in the master room. It was only five in the morning and your day had already started.

“Morning, darling.” Rubbing his eyes, he walked downstairs to the source of all the commotion.

You looked up from your position on the carpet to see your husband approaching the both of you. He had just leaned into kiss you when you diverted your attention back to the toddler.

“Hey, mister! You can’t put that in your mouth.” Crying was the only thing heard after you took away the train from Oliver’s hands. You always sterlise his toys but you still don’t allow him to put them in his mouth. His tantrums were much like his dad; only you could console them. “Shhh. I got yeh, darling. Let’s go look at the plants, okay?”

“Wha- What?” Tom’s mouth opened and closed like a fish because he couldn’t believe what just happened. His son stole away his wife.

You always loved telling your son about Nature. Studies always showed that nature helps develop a child’s sensory organs so you made it a point to come to the garden with Ollie every morning. It was your little routine.

“(Y/N)! I can’t find my pink t-shirt. Please help me!”

“Just wear something else.” You hollered back while going inside the house.

“I want the pick one. Come up and help me.”

Rolling your eyes, you replied, “I’m feedin’ your son so just wear anything else.” Tom and his pink t-shirt.

A sad ‘okay’ echoed through the house and you chuckled slightly at his childish behavior. You sometimes really didn’t know who the baby was in this house. Feeding your son his mashed banana, you bathed him while Tom sullenly took out Oliver’s clothes.

When he was dressed up in his unicorn onesie, you gently laid him in his crib. Tom moved around the room to switch off the lights and turn the mobile on. It was time for his mid day nap so that meant you could finally take a shower and eat a proper meal.

“Come with me!” Your husband whispered right in your ears before dragging you out with your wrist.

“What happe-” You were cut off by his lips as he pinned you against the wall. It was shocking but you soon responded back. “What was that for?”

“That was my morning kiss that my son interrupted.”

“Awww. Is someone jealous?”

“I also need you, darlin’.” Hugging you tightly, Tom stuffed his face in your neck.

“You are my big baby and nothing will change that, Tommy.”

Pecking you on the cheeks, he started pulling you downstairs. “Let’s cuddle.”

“But I am all sweaty and covered in mashed bananas.”

“No!”

“At least, let me change my clothes.” It was like bargaining with a kid and he was sometimes more difficult than your actual child.

“Okay but no more than five minutes.”

You quickly went upstairs and pulled on the first shirt that you got your hands on. After adjusting your hair in the mirror, you realised that it was Tom’s pink t-shirt. He was going to be so mad when he finds out that you put it in your closet again. However, you didn’t care about that. The shirt was so soft that your husband would have to just suck it up.

“I knew it!” You laughed loudly at his exclamation and just laid on top of him on the couch.

“Keep quiet or you won’t get any cuddles.”

“Sorry, darling.”

The silence was weird after such a hectic morning but you enjoyed every second of it. Your son was sleeping and you could finally have some quality time with Tom. You both started talking about Tom’s new movie and before you knew it, you were asleep. Oliver really tired you out sometimes and Tom felt guilty for not helping out that much. He always wanted to do more but the little boy was attached to your hip and would scream bloody murder if he didn’t see you.

“Love, Ollie’s awake. Let me get up, please.” A gentle voice reached your eyes and you just slightly shifted on the couch. You were too tired to comprehend what he was saying.

“Hey, buddy. It’s just you and I for sometime. We should let mumma sleep for sometime.”

Seems like luck was on his side because Oliver wanted to snuggle up with his father for a change. You woke up after two hours of a very satisfying nap and instantly panicked when you saw it was three in the noon. However, you relaxed when you heard your husband and son’s voice from upstairs. They were both watching cartoons.

“Hey.” You first gave your husband a peck and then picked up your baby boy. He instantly snuggled into your chest.

“Don’t deserve you, darling.” When you looked into his eyes, there were slight tears. He always got emotional when he witnessed moments like these. It was truly an enchanting sight.

“I love you.”

“Love you too.” He hugged you both closer and you all watched as Tom kept running in circles chasing Jerry.

Hope you guys liked it!!

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400 FOLLOWER CELEBRATION!!

A/N: This is my first blurb to celebrate my 400 followers and there are more to come. I really love you guys and I really appreciate you all. Couldn’t have gotten here without you all especially my tumblr buddy, @peculiarpenman. Tell me what you guys think about it and I’m open to requests. Also, if you want to be added to my tag list, do let me know.

Tag list: @peculiarpenman, @kalopsia-flaneur, @agnesk 

Like, comment and reblog.

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