#it's pretty cool to have a new social security number

[octuscle]

Hello, support? I think I need your help. I am opening a new nightclub in a couple of nights, but I am having a lot of problems finding a bouncer for the door! It seems it is a troubled neighborhood so almost no one wants to work as security here! And the few who are willing are asking for a fortune! And I don't have the skills to do it myself either! Can you help, please? I have invested a fortune and I really need to open ,and safely!

Your mother asks you if you have a job for the son of your hairdresser's neighbor's friend. For whom, please? You ask for the name. You look for a profile in the social networks. The only thing you find is the homepage of the local high school's debate club. He's obviously the president there. Holy shit! What's he going to do as a bouncer if there's a problem? Argue the people who cause trouble to death? Your mom sent a phone number. You give him a call and ask if you can meet up, you might have something for him. He says he's at the mall right now. That works for you, you're close by. You arrange to meet …. In the bookstore!!!

His name is Hank. And he looks like a Hank. You didn't expect anything else with that name. Actually, you can end the conversation right away. Hank looks at you… A book about Siegmund Freud and the Vienna School in his hand. He says that you don't look like you could have an intellectually challenging job for him.

You reply that you're looking for someone who can deal with people. For someone with a C- grade point average, that should be challenging enough.

Hank puts the book about the 2022 football season back on the shelf. He thinks that doesn't sound so bad now. He wants you to tell more.

You say it's cool that he's interested in football. He's looking for someone who has the qualities of a good linebacker. Someone who can take a beating and still remain a wall.

Hank rolls his shoulders and stretches his neck muscles. Pretty impressive neck muscles. He says he's not averse to a good brawl. On the football field. But not off it either.

"Lit" you reply. And you tell Hank that you like his haircut. It looks brutal. Fits the job you're looking for. Hank strokes the back of his shaved head and neck. He does his best to flex his biceps to the max. His hair on top is fixed with so much gel that it almost looks like a helmet.

"Yo dude, I'm always grinding at the gym till 10pm. Can't make it earlier. Cool with that?" asks Hank. "No sweat," you reply. "The club doesn't pop off till 11 p.m. anyway, so if you roll in later, I'll be the bouncer till then. Deal, bro?" Hank gives you a fist bump that almost breaks your ankles.

You couldn't ask for a better bouncer than Hank. An impressive figure who attracts guests like moths to a flame. But who also doesn't talk back. Hank has his door under control. And all he wants is for you to organize some steroids for him and that he doesn't get stressed when he fucks a guest in the staff bathroom during his breaks. Sometimes, if you're lucky, you are his object of desire.

[meadow-of-daisies-and-lavender]

Chapter 2 -------The Sergeant

Summary: He’s the sergeant. Tall, dark, and handsome, even if he is broody, he may not have anything to lose, but she does.

Warnings: Canon typical violence, language, and abuse.

Clone Force 99 was a squadron of four troopers who were more than irregular—they were spectacularly astonishing. The squadron’s file had no pictures, no names, only CT numbers, and their cadet training statistics—the best cadet training statistics Bright Eyes had ever seen, and she had seen a lot of those over the years, as evidenced by the pictures of graduated cadets littering her office walls.

“Clone Force 99 is a special operations squad that works missions so covert that it is said only Cody knows of them,” Shem grinned as she wiggled her fingers in Bright’s face. Bright giggled and swatted Shem away, returning to the datapad in hand. The two SWs sat on Bright’s bed, drinking their morning caff as they went over Clone Force’s file.

“Have you spoken to Cody about them? Their previous SWs left very few case notes about them. And 90% of the file is redacted,” Bright questioned.

Shem shrugged it off, sipping her caff, “I sent him a message when I realized he was their direct mission report officer. I’m waiting for his response. I also put in a medical inquiry about the big guy. After you mentioned the scarring on his ear in the hanger yesterday, I tried to cross-reference existing medical files, but I don’t have security clearance for that.”

“We never have clearance for anything when it matters,” Bright muttered, shaking her head.

“Wanna read about the Sergeant? He is quite handsome and I saw the way you two were looking at each other in the hangar yesterday,” Shem teased, waving the datapad at Bright Eyes.

“As handsome as he might be,” Bright Eyes swatted away the datapad, “He is off limits for us both. Need I remind you if we are caught having affairs, we can lose our license, the troopers can die and we can be imprisoned!” If the Kaminoans, or anybody else, caught a whiff of unethical practice, Bright Eyes would lose her job and her license to work as an SW in any capacity- and Shem knew that. Being an SW gave Bright Eyes something to live for. If she decided it wasn’t working for the GAR, she’d find others to help- communities to better- that is if she had a license to work. She wasn’t sure what she was without her work.

“Life is more than threats. Someday the war will be over and our paths will diverge from Kamino. Let yourself have a little fun in the meantime,” Shem slipped her hand over Bright Eyes’ knee, and gave her a gentle smile, “Yeah?”

Hunter sighed as he washed off the last streaks of shaving cream, the warm water an idyllic luxury against his skin. After a year in blistering tundra and sweltering deserts, the cooling water washed away the bone-deep grime a sonic could never. He had stood under the spray until his fingers pruned, selfishly using as much hot water as he wanted- simply because he could. He then wrapped his hair up in an old shirt and shaved. He karkin’ hated Kamino, but at least it had guaranteed hot showers. The barracks door faintly slid open just as he took down his hair, squeezing the dripping water out with the shirt.

“Ah, that would be the stench. We can’t quite seem to get rid of it. I’m Tech. You must be our new SW.”

Tech’s voice came muffled through the fresher door, no doubt setting his tools down to give his full attention to their guest.

“No, Shem’s your assigned social worker. I’m running an errand for Commander Cody. You can call me Bright Eyes.”

Bright Eyes- the pretty woman from the hangar, told by her voice's matching sound. Hunter smirked as he tied a clean bandana around his forehead to keep his curly locks out of his face. It was nice to know Bright Eyes, a beautiful woman, thought he was attractive. Knowing a pretty woman thought he was handsome was enough to boost his ego for the day, if not a week. However, the SWs had a higher turnover rate than the Shinies. Like every other SW the Batch had interacted with, she would be gone by the end of the standard month.

“You changed the HVAC system? Isn’t that illegal or something?” Bright Eyes’ chuckled lightly. Hunter leaned against the sink, staring at his waiting stack of armor.

Cody was expecting the Sergeant. Despite now being clean, Hunter had no choice but to don his dirty kit that refused to get clean. The GAR waited for nobody and did not care to give precious resources for dress uniforms. Theirs was the black body suit and armor kit, and no more. It was all Hunter had aside from his bandana.

“You gonna tell?” Wrecker threatened.

Hunter rolled his eyes. Clones had no real power over staff on Kamino, no control over anyone except themselves. Hunter reached for his kit. Even control between ranks seemed like a façade most of the time.

“Nah, that’s unnecessary paperwork and trouble. Is this how you changed the lighting? Impressive.” Bright Eyes seemed sweet, but from a distance, so did street cats.

“According to your file, you have an impressive list of accomplishments yourself-”

“And repercussions. How did a sweet little SW end up on the Kaminoan watch list?” Crosshair interrupted, mocking her slightly.

Hunter lifted his bucket into his hands, furrowing his brow. How was she alive? Nobody stayed on Kamino once they made the watch list. They either left or… disappeared. He inhaled deeply as he clipped his bucket to his belt before exiting the fresher. 

“I’m… I’m on the watch list?” Bright Eyes muttered.

Hunter leaned on the dark chrome wall beside the door, crossing his arms. None except Crosshair had noticed his entrance, giving him the luxury of watching her shoulders stiffen and brow furrow.

A quick pulse thumped through the air from Bright’s chest, and the distinct sweet scent of her body’s chemistry wafted through his nose with the GAR soap he had showered with. Hunter decided it would be the last thing he would want to sense before he died if he had to choose between that or the Marauder’s stench. Then again, bleach was preferable to the lingering stench of month’s long campaigns.

“Who cares! That’s pretty badass!” Wrecker complemented from across the room, standing up. The SW blinked slowly, eyelashes fluttering like a curtain over the shifting color in her eyes, making Hunter knit his eyebrows together. What had this woman done to catch the attention of Lama Su?

“Badass until the Kaminoans try her for treason,” Hunter spoke from his wall. Her eyes jolted to him, making his breath shudder at the sudden intensity behind them. Her teeth ground briefly.

Karking hells, Hunter hated that sound.

“They’ll have to find substantial proof first. Completely- irrefutable- proof.” Her eyes flicked over Hunter’s face, carefully examining him like prey, waiting to see if their predator was dead.

“You already have a list of infractions if you are on the watch list. The Kaminoans don’t need substantial proof,” Hunter advised, narrowing his eyes at her. A little scrunch between her eyebrows appeared, making Bright Eyes look equal parts endearing and terrifying.

Her chin tilted up slightly as she widened her stance. Her scent started to tinge sour with a bitter musk. Crosshair squinted his left eye at Hunter, sliding smoothly between the woman and Hunter, enjoying the verbal volley. Few people aside from Crosshair challenged Hunter, and Crosshair ate it up like one of his toothpicks.

“Not if the person citing the infractions is proven… incompetent in their work.” She tucked her hands behind her back and gave a coy smile. Hunter glanced at Crosshair, who tried to hide his amusement. “Cody is asking for you, Sergeant. You’ll meet with him in my office.”

“Your office?” Tech questioned. “Seems unlikely for a superior officer to meet in a social worker’s office, and, if I may add, out of Commander Cody’s character.”

“You would understand if you sat on my couch. Most comfortable seat on this slughole.” Bright Eyes shrugged, waving it off. Wrecker tilted his head backward and wildly laughed, making Hunter smile lightly.

“Tech, when I come back, I want a status report on the state of the Marauder,” he pushed off the wall as he made his way to the door. “Are you coming, SW?”

“On your six, Sarge.” She muttered, following him into the hall. He slowed his steps, allowing her to catch up.

Now that they were out of the room, he could pinpoint the lavender and vanilla fragrance she wore, tinged with a bare alcohol base. Importing non-military goods on Kamino, like the perfume she wore, was illegal. Smuggling did happen; everyone knew that, but no one could pinpoint how to request specific goods. They just showed up. That’s how Crosshair got his toothpicks. He knew a guy who knew a guy who knew someone else. They rounded the corner and stepped into the elevator before Bright Eyes spoke.

“Do you make it a habit of keeping your appearance in regs except for your hair?” Her lip curled as she tilted her chin back to look at him. “Not that I care or anything.”

Hunter shrugged and tucked his thumbs in his belt as she referenced his clean-shaven face. “Nobody has said anything to me yet, sweetheart. Why? Going to write me up for it?” Bright’s steady pulse jumped and quickened slightly. Her eyes darted to the floor before stubbornly lifting upwards. Hunter smirked at her attempts to hide her flustered state. It was… cute. He couldn’t remember when he met a woman who elicited that thought. The only women he ever considered cute were women who lived in holofilms and news clips.

“Did you want me to?” Bright glanced up at him, her teasing smile returning.

“Be my guest. Make sure to note I, ‘just liked the look’, ma’am.” The door opened, but he didn’t miss the intoxicating waft of her scent as she passed him. Bright Eyes laughed, tilting her head back with glittering eyes. His eyes slid over her shoulders, traveling down to the bend of her waist. His eyes jolted back up to the back of her head before they could slide lower to the enticing bend at the base of her spine. 

Stopping at the door in a hall of duplicate doors, Bright Eyes slid a badge over a sensor after typing in an access code.

“Welcome to my office. Make yourself comfortable, Sergeant Hunter.”

Her office held a wooden desk with a cramped and messy shelf full of books, tablets, and binders stacked left to right and up and down. Several pictures of her surrounded by groups of shinnies and cadets alike scattered over the walls like oily fingerprints on a dark datapad screen. Bright Eyes had been on Kamino for a while. What had she done in that time to warrant the Kaminoan’s attention? 

Bright Eyes slid behind the desk to sit while Hunter sat on the couch. She was correct; he thought as he sunk into the cushions—best karkin’ seat in this shithole.

“While you wait for Cody, will you fill out some paperwork for Shem? She needed you to fill in some gaps for her,” She bent down to pull a datapad from her shelf and slid it open. “SW Poth’s case notes were, to be honest, grossly optimistic and short-sighted. Shem wanted to know how accurate some of the statements were.”

“That’s putting it lightly,” Hunter grumbled, stretching his legs. Her couch was comfortable. Bright glanced across the small room at him, smirking from under her lashes.

“Told you it was comfortable. What happened with Poth?” She asked, leaning forward in her seat. She gave him her full attention, eyes soaking in every little detail of his face. His whole life’s goal was to get in and out with as minimal attraction from the Republic as possible. Her attention, he could soak up like a sponge and get high off without consequence.

“Crosshair and Wrecker got to her. She couldn’t stand Wrecker’s need to destroy shit and Crosshair’s piss poor attitude.”

Her comm unexpectedly buzzed, making Bright Eyes frown, glancing down at it. She stood and gently smiled, dimpling her left cheek as she offered him the datapad.

“Feel free to take off your boots and kick your feet up. Cody should be here any second. I have to meet with a cadet.”

Hunter thanked her and took the pad from her hand. Her nails, painted a bright coral color, had chipped and flaked chiefly away. Did she smuggle nail polish, too? Why would she flaunt something illegal under the Kaminoans' noses? She could die for it.

“How long have you been stationed on Kamino?” Hunter asked carefully, trying to gauge her.

“Too long,” Bright chuckled, her sweet scent returning. “I was first assigned just after the attack on Kamino. There was a mass exodus of SWs after it. I was one of the lucky few to get assigned to fill the void.” She reached into a drawer and pulled her hair back. The Batch wasn’t on Kamino during the attack, but he remembered when the news came to them years ago. He didn’t know a single trooper who didn’t remember the attack.

“That was a long time ago. How many cycles have you graduated over the years?” Hunter asked.

“All but, um… one kid,” She trailed off, reminding him of that look Crosshair got after a night's terror. Her breath caught as she carefully pressed a hand against her side, clenching the fabric of her shirt. Hunter leaned forward as her heart rate picked up, and a bitter smell radiated from her. Her hand trembled slightly, and her eyes were dark and dim.

“That’s remarkable for being stationed on Kamino as long as you have been,” He offered, focusing on the positive as he might have done for Wrecker. Bright Eyes inhaled sharply and forced a smile. The door opened, and Commander Cody strolled in, prompting Hunter to stand at attention.

“As you were, Sergeant.” Hunter nodded and sat back down as Bright Eyes gathered her things. Commander Cody removed his bucket and set it on a hook by the door, watching her momentarily.

“Is everything okay, Ad’ika?”

“Yeah, it's been a long day.” She flashed that same forced smile at the Commander, who raised an eyebrow at her.

“Make sure you get some rest tonight. I don’t want to see you before 0800 tomorrow.” Commander Cody groaned as he sat down in the other plush chair beside Hunter.

“Maybe you should be the one to worry about getting rest,” she teased, pushing in her chair. Her eyes flitted around her desk before glancing at her shelf. Hunter smirked, watching her stand to her full height. “Let me know when you’re done here, Cody,” she turned to Hunter, flashing her teeth. “See you around, Sergeant.”

“Ma’am,” He tilted his head down only to catch a whiff of headiness. It made his eyes widen slightly, and his breath caught. He refused to move his eyes from the back of her head as she exited with a quiet hiss of the doors. Hunter blinked and sat down, taking a deep breath, begging his mind to refocus on the mission details and the Commander.

“What did you two talk about?” The Commander accused Hunter, narrowing his eyes. Hunter furrowed his brow at his superior and shook his head, not used to the hiss directed at him.

“Her graduation rate, sir?” Hunter sat up taller in his chair, internally preparing for a reaming. The Commander sighed deeply, glancing up at the ceiling.

“If you see her again, do not mention it. A general rule of thumb with that one is not to mention the last cycle, her graduation rate, or her politics. It will get her into more trouble than she is prepared to handle.” Cody glanced at a frame on her wall of a cadet squadron, and Hunter’s eyes widened.

There, surrounded by recently graduated cadets, was Bright Eyes on a medical bed, wrapped in bandages, weakly smiling. If he ever saw the pretty SW again, he hoped to find some answers, but something in his gut told him that was as unlikely as the odds of ever seeing Bright Eyes again.

Paperwork- the bane of her existence. Bright Eyes rubbed at her tired eyes, propping her chin on her hand. She had been awake with Delta Group Cadets the last three nights, supervising their training. None of their trainers or handlers wanted to do so, leaving the kids to ask her for supervision. They were in danger of failing if they didn’t receive the extra training. They couldn’t fail another simulation.

Bright Eyes exhaled sharply as her scars burned. Her side ached deeply, the scars feeling as if they were pulling the skin apart. Lifting her shirt, she lifted the bottom edge of her breast band. Closing her eyes, she leaned back in her seat, trying to breathe through the phantom pains.

It had been a brutal three nights for her and the boys. But they had figured it out independently, only with a bit of guidance from her. While she knew nothing about military tactics or strategy, she did know about communication and group dynamics.

“Do you have bacta cream?” Rex’s voice gently spoke from the threshold of her office. She cracked her eye open to see him propped up against the wall. He regarded her gently, eyes taking in the sight of her scars. He, most likely, had seen worse in battle. “Looks irritated.”

“No. The med team thought it wasn’t bad enough to warrant a prescription,” Bright grumbled, using her feet to swivel her chair from left to right. “You can come in, you know. My couch is always open.” Rex chuckled and shook his head.

“As tempting as that is, I cannot. I have a meeting with General Skywalker and Commander Asoka,” He paused, glancing around her office. “Why did they think it was not bad enough? It looks irritated.”

“Aside from Outer Rim rations?” Bright shrugged, gesturing to her body. “I’m a woman. I can’t even get mild painkillers for my periods. They think I’m being dramatic.” She wiggled her fingers and lifted her eyebrow. Rex shook his head and reached to unclip his bucket.

“They have not spent much time with the 501st if they think you are dramatic.” Bright gave a full belly laugh and shook her head.

“No, they haven’t.” she giggled. Rex cracked a smirk and glanced at the hall.

“I came to let you know Cody and I are shipping out this afternoon. We won’t be able to see you before then,” Rex muttered. “Are you going to be okay, ad’ika?”

“I’ve been shot, not killed,” Bright scoffed. “Besides, I’ve got a lot more to get done before I can think about death.”

“Like your project with Shem?” Rex raised an eyebrow at her. The Testimonial Project was central to her work on Kamino. With Shem, they collected testimonies of abuse at the hands of the Kaminoans and the Republic. They would smuggle them off the planet and hope they got into the right senator’s hands. If not, they indeed were published in the media.

“Yeah. I haven’t been participating much since my injury. Thankfully, the only thing I’ve been accused of so far is smuggling nail polish. There was a slap on the wrist for that last standard month, but the Kaminoans don’t suspect anything else,” Bright paused and sighed. “I was informed that I am on the watch list. I can’t leave Kamino if I want to return now.”

“On what grounds?” Rex questioned, crossing his arms. “You have not violated any laws aside from smuggling.”

Bright laughed bitterly. “Rex,” she sighed. I am the second-senior social worker on Kamino. We don’t last long. They’ll find a way to get rid of me like they find ways to get rid of all of us. I’m surprised they haven’t found a reason to oust Shem.”

“Well, we are only as good as we are useful to the Republic,” Rex commented. “I am sorry we have to leave. Cody and I were hoping to be here for another week.”

“Don’t apologize. The Republic needs you and so does your jedi,” Bright Eyes winked at Rex before breaking into giggles.

“You think you are so funny, don’t you, ad’ika?”

“I’m hilarious, thank you.” Bright snorted. Rex gave her a little salute and left, leaving her office quiet once again. She glanced over at her wall of photos, some in frames but most taped to the wall. She hoped she would be allowed to take the pictures with her when it was time for her to leave Kamino.

[literaticat]

Hi Jenn, Recently I’ve noticed many special editions even for debuts, like new books coming out with multiple different covers, sprayed edges etc. and authors on socials trying to get readers to buy more than one copy. Previously I thought books only did special editions on occasions like a 10 year anniversary. Is this a trend for new books and how common is it really? How do they come about, are they included in contracts? And how do publishers decide which books/authors get them?

I don't really rep the kinds of books that get that "special edition" treatment. (No shade to my books at all -- my books are terrific! I just don't rep a lot of books in the YA/Adult Fantasy/Romantasy space!) -- so, I asked some of my colleagues who do, and this answer is cribbed from that conversation:

Those cool editions with sprayed edges and alternate covers, etc, are definitely trending right now for certain kinds of books, likely in no small part because of BookTok and Bookstagram. People love posting and boosting pretty book packages and I think publishers are leaning into that--especially with books they think will do well on social media.

These are the "buckets" a special edition might fit into:

-- As you mentioned, it's a special edition of an already very popular book created by the publisher. Perhaps to celebrate something like an anniversary, or a big award, or just because there are enough fans that there might also be collectors out there! For example, the HUNGER GAMES Illustrated Edition, or the recent WICKED Collector's Edition with sprayed edges and a new cover that, not-so-coincidentally, came out just in time for the movie.

-- It's a “deluxe first edition” created in a limited quantity by the publisher, who wants to signal this as a splashy book and to boost pre-orders. I think the thought is that when something is a limited edition it can spur folks to buy before they run out. There are a lot of factors that go into deciding if a special edition can happen, including cost and deadlines because printing takes longer. And, they would only do it if they thought there was a good chance that it would REALLY move the needle and get the audience interested. (A "special deluxe edition" of a random middle grade book or adult litarary fiction book is simply not going to attract Book Tokkers the same way a Special Deluxe Edition of a new "Fourth Wing" type book might, you know?)

-- It's a special edition created by a third party, such as a Book Box or a specific retailer, in order to bring buyers to their platforms. For example, a B&N special edition, a Waterstone's special edition, or a subscription box like Owlcrate or Fairyloot. Usually, it is the publisher pitching to these accounts to secure those special editions, and they commit to buying x-number of copies and get their own print run with their special cover or edges or whatever it is.

Because the publisher can’t guarantee years in advance that the book will have a special first edition or be accepted into a subscription box, etc, it is never specified in the contract that there WILL be one. What is outlined in the contract is what the royalties from those special sales, subscription boxes, etc, will be, should they happen.

[todayinmagicalgirlhistory]

Hello I am a black electric witch and I was wondering how do you in particular enter the fae?

If you're talking about how to enter Faerie itself:

There are various methods. I personally use astral travel, but there's lucid dreaming, meditation, ecstatic dance, etc. that you can also use as methods for entering this realm. Some may rely on a faerie to take them there and I can only stress that if you are going to rely on that particular method, this faerie needs to be someone you'd trust with your social security number and your credit card details. Don't trust a random person with that information and don't trust a random faerie to take you to Faerie without stipulations.

But if you meant specifically how to begin interacting and working with the fae:

Methods can vary depending on the fae local to your area and/or the faeries you're trying to attract to your space. A close non-practicing friend of mine accidentally invited a brownie into her home when she got really into baking and would leave her freshly baked goods out to cool overnight. Then stopped doing it when she lost the time for baking and subsequently, accidentally pissed that brownie off.

If you're interested in sea-faring fae, then leaving out coral, sea glass, pearls, etc. will be appealing to them. Or if you're interested in death fae like banshee or dullahan, then the best things you can leave out are grave dirt, apples (Irish symbol of the dead), bones and things of that nature.

If you're interested in a specific kind of faerie but you're sincerely doubtful that you live in an area where those kinds of faeries would frequent, then I'd recommend a spirit attraction spell that essentially acts as a 'HEY, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED COME OVER TO MY PLACE' beacon. A good one I know of, not made by me, is to get a white candle, carve a sigil into it that's something along the lines of 'attract (insert kind of spirit) to my home' and then let the candle burn through the sigil.

The creator of that spell does have a major disclaimer though that this doesn't control how many will stop by your place so they recommended to immediately blow out the candle the moment it burns through the sigil.

If you're not interested in the specifics, then leaving fae-favored gifts out in a spot for local fae to take interest as a sign that you are hoping to establish a relationship with them. In one particular case, I left a dried rose petal filled with honey and cinnamon under a flower bush and that was how I met the faerie from my Hair Toucher story.

In all my advice to attract faeries to your home though, I of course stress that your home is well-warded and you have very set and established house rules that won't have any chance of getting loopholed.

I will also advise that, if you establish a relationship with a faerie where they will expect regular gifts then make it one that you know you can manage. If you're like my friend I mentioned who was pretty much baking every night, that brownie built up the expectation that they would be receiving new baked goods in exchange for looking after my friend's home every night. Then that stopped because my friend didn't even notice she had a brownie in her home and she started losing things around her house and having nightmares on the regular.

Not all relationships with the fae are that... transactional, for lack of a better word. It all completely depends on the standards you set for the relationship. For instance, with my selkie and banshee friends, there's no regular gifts at all. Just pure companionship.

If the way you attracted fae to your home was by leaving cream out every Friday, the fae you invited into your life will be expecting cream left out every Friday. So if you go that route, I would recommend setting a schedule that is easier for you to work with and if something comes up to let the fae know you'll have to skip your usual day.

[kennys-shinyforehead]

First Glance - Chunkz 💚

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Summary: It’s your first time at an influencer event and whilst you’re there, someone catches your eye.

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“Ugh, I need to get going.”

You say to yourself whilst looking at your watch.

Today you were going to be attending your first ever influencer event which was actually being hosted by youtube. For anyone else, this would be a very exciting opportunity and you really were greatful but you were also super socially awkward and therefore weren’t really looking forward to attending.

You quickly put on your shoes and your lanyard which will allow you to actually enter the event, grab your bag and head off. You get an uber to the venue so you’re there just on time.

You flash your lanyard at one of the security guards at the door and walk inside. You look around and already see so many different types of people, almost all of them have their cameras out, filming this event for their fans.

You walk over to the corner of the venue which has a little coffee van, you decide to just get a drink and sit down.

Whilst sitting your eyes begin to wander, looking around once more at all the people. Suddenly you stop, your eyes landing on one man in particular. He looks to be about your age, he’s pretty tall and good looking too. But that wasn’t all you noticed, he was smiling and laughing with the other people around him. He looked welcoming and kind, like someone you could trust. You usually wouldn’t do this but you felt a strong urge to walk over and strike up a conversation.

So that’s exactly what you did. In all honesty you don’t really know what came over you in that moment. You usually didn’t like talking to new people, you never knew what to say and felt as though you always made things super awkward but you really wanted to try, you just felt things would be different this time.

You walk over to the group of people all talking, and tap this man on the shoulder, causing him to quickly turn around to face you, he flashes you a smile before saying,

“Hey, did you need something?”

Your quick to respond,

“Uh hi! I’m Y/N. I just wanted to get to know a few more people at this event considering we’re all youtubers.”

Am I rambling? I feel like I’m rambling.

You think to yourself, already realising maybe this wasn’t as good of an idea as you originally thought. The man replies, bringing your back to reality.

“That’s a good idea, I should probably be doing the same, I’m Chunkz!”

He says happily. His voice immediately made you feel comfortable and calmed all your worries.

“So what kind of videos do you post?”

You ask him curiously,

“I make videos in a youtube group, The Beta Squad. In all honesty, our content is all over the place.”

He says, laughing a little bit towards the end.

“Oh cool! I think I’ve heard of you guys before.”

This conversation continues for a while, in fact, the event is almost over and you’ve been talking to Chunkz this whole time.

“It’s getting late, I should probably get going.”

You say, readjusting your bag on your shoulder and tuning to walk away,

“Wait! Before you go, could I get your number?”

Chunkz says quickly, causing to you spin back around to face him.

“Yeah sure!”

You say, before taking a piece of paper to write down your number. You hand it to him with a smile.

“Well, uh text me!”

You say turning away, getting ready to actually leave this time.

“Will do!”

He says, waving as you walk away.

As you leave the venue you can’t help but grin. Chunkz seems really nice and he’s cute too! Maybe these events aren’t so bad after all…

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GUYSS I KINDA LOVE THIS ONE??

though maybe it’s a little too watpad coded IDKK

I hope you all enjoy! xx

Requests are open 💚

[iammistressofmyfate]

Lingerie for Jordeclan for the spicy/kinky prompts, pretty please? Cover that boy in lace!!!!!! 😍

Oh heck yeah! Haven't done much Jordeclan so lets jump right in! Thanks for the request, friend! 🔥

25. Lingerie/Dress-Up

(This is the first time in a long time I've written het sex and it's long lmao not my best but I tried)

Declan Lynch had never considered himself to be particularly sexually adventurous. He’d had plenty of sex in general, an unhealthy coping skill he’d taken on after becoming de facto head of his family. One night stands with forgettable women. Literally in and out. 

But since Jordan, his view of and experience of sex had been turned upside down. 

There were things Declan had done with Jordan that would have never entered his mind in a million years. She’d opened up his mind (and his heart) to a whole new world of pleasure and he honestly felt like a completely different person. 

There were a lot of reasons for that, but the expansion of his sex life was certainly a part of it. 

It was their first anniversary. Declan had booked a suite for them at the Four Seasons in Boston. He’d finished work and was now sitting across the table from his gorgeous wife as they enjoyed a delicious dinner with a bottle of champagne. 

Jordan was dressed in dark green silk, her tattoos on display, her kinky hair arranged in a faux hawk. She was wearing all of the jewelry that Declan had bought her, including the enormous diamond engagement ring he’d given her (after the social security number). 

She glanced up at him, curious, and stretched a leg out to tap his shin under the table. 

“You alright, Pozzi?” she asked. 

Declan smiled and nodded. “Yeah. Just distracted.” 

“Mmm,” Jordan hummed, sipping her champagne, leaving behind a smear of red lipstick. “I can tell.” 

“You look beautiful.”

“So you’ve said. Several times.” 

Declan shrugged, not even ashamed. Jordan deserved to know how beautiful she was as often as possible. 

“You do, too,” she told him. “You pull off a suit so well.”

Declan chuckled, squeezing Jordan’s hand as her fingers found their way to his. 

They finished dinner and split dessert. Declan paid and offered his arm to his wife as they headed back to their hotel. They chatted idly, as they had been throughout dinner. About Declan’s work, Jordan’s latest project, making sure that they RSVP’d to Ronan and Adam’s wedding, where Hennessy and Carmen were in the world. 

They walked through the hotel lobby and Declan rested his hand on Jordan’s lower back as they waited for the elevator to take them upstairs. Jordan leaned into him, one hand sliding under his jacket. Her nails were painted a cool pink color that complemented her dress. 

They arrived at their floor and Jordan took Declan’s hand. He keyed them into their suite and they stepped inside. 

“Well this is posh,” Jordan said, walking through the entryway, Declan’s hands in hers. The suite was like a studio apartment. It was spacious, modern, and elegant. There was a beautiful bouquet of flowers on one of the tables and another bottle of champagne. 

Jordan kissed Declan’s cheek and pulled away to sit on an ottoman and take off her heels. Declan took off his shoes and met Jordan’s eyes across the room. She smiled, winked, slid the thin straps of her dress off her shoulders. 

“You’ll have to help me with this,” she said and Declan obliged. He kissed her shoulder, her neck, breathing in the spicy-sweet scent of her perfume, gently unzipping the dress. Jordan slid her arms from the straps and let the silk fall to the floor.

She turned her head and Declan kissed her, open mouthed and eager. Jordan reached up a hand, curling her fingers into Declan’s hair, his arms around her, palms sliding over her stomach. 

They pulled apart when the angle got to be a little too much. Jordan pulled off the pasties she was wearing, laughing, dropping them to the floor, and turned, wearing absolutely nothing but her jewelry and tattoos. Declan’s eyes wandered from her head to her toes. He couldn’t wrap his mind around the fact that this woman was married to him. It seemed impossible. 

“You’re wearing far too many clothes,” Jordan stated, hands sliding into Declan’s jacket, peeling it from his shoulders. “You look delectable in the fitted suits, my love, but honestly.”

Declan chuckled and Jordan giggled, working the perfectly-fitting jacket from Declan’s broad shoulders, dropping it to the floor. Declan’s heart rate increased as Jordan worked at the buttons of his shirt, taking off his cufflinks first, making sure they didn’t get lost, then the buttons at the front. Jordan’s nimble fingers slid the buttons free and Declan watched her face. 

Her dark eyes met his as her warm fingers delicately pulled the shirt apart. 

“Declan Tadhg Lynch,” she said, licking her red, red lips. “Lingerie? For me?”

“Happy anniversary,” he replied. “I thought you’d like it.”

Declan had been wearing it all day, which had been a rather interesting, transgressive sort of experience. It was all blue lace, the same color as his eyes, that did nothing to hide anything at all. 

“I love it,” Jordan replied. “Now I have to get you undressed faster.”

They both laughed, Declan sliding out of his shirt as Jordan worked on his pants. He stepped out of them, in nothing but the lingerie, Jordan’s eyes were very dark as she looked at him, appreciating. Declan’s cheeks heated and heat pooled in his stomach. 

Jordan held up a finger and twirled it and Declan stepped in a slow circle. 

“Stop,” she said, Declan’s back to her. He felt Jordan come up behind him, her hands curling around his ass, squeezing. 

“Blimey,” she hummed. “Aren’t you a delicious piece of Irish ass?”

Declan shrugged one shoulder and Jordan laughed, kissing the back of his neck, hands on his hips, tugging him around to face her. “Come here.” 

They kissed deeply, Declan backing them up to the bed, both of them falling into it. They moved into the middle of the bed, Jordan straddling Declan’s hips. He reached up, cupping her breasts, thumbs sliding over nipples, tugging at the piercings. 

Jordan’s head fell back, lips falling open, her hands pressed to Declan’s chest. She leaned down, kissing him, sliding her hands under the lace brassiere he wore, her fingers teasing his nipples, too. 

“Two can play at this game,” Jordan hummed against Declan’s ear, biting his earlobe, making him shiver. Declan ran his hands over Jordan’s sides, to her ass, squeezing, as she slid the straps of the lace from his shoulders. 

“You went all out,” she said. “Down to the garter belt.” 

Jordan slid a finger under the lacey belt, letting it snap back against Declan’s skin. He hissed and she purred in response. “You’re gorgeous.” 

“Look who’s talking,” Declan replied, flipping their positions. He kissed Jordan, deep and dirty. He worked his way down her body, dragging his hand over her clit, rubbing in slow, firm circles with the flat of his fingers, running his tongue over one of her nipples. 

“God, Declan,” she breathed, arching up into him, arms around his neck. He slid two fingers inside her, sucking a nipple into his mouth. She was warm and wet and tight around him, which was incredibly satisfying. He slid his fingers carefully in and out, crooking them, just at the right spot. 

Jordan gasped, her grip tightening around his shoulders. Declan kissed her sternum, burrowing his face in her cleavage, before moving on to her other nipple, fingering her until Jordan was pushing at his shoulders demandingly. 

“Mouth or cock, Pozzi,” she breathed. “Get a move on.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Declan replied, laughing as Jordan pushed at the lacy underwear he wore. Apparently she was choosing cock. She pushed Declan onto his back, straddling him. She reached behind herself, fingers against his dick. 

“Good?” Declan asked, hands on her hips. 

“Yeah,” Jordan replied, guiding Declan into her. Declan watched, awed and amazed, as Jordan sank onto his dick. She was impossibly beautiful, head back, accentuating her elegant neck. She was warm and tight around him, his attention on her face. 

Jordan picked her pace and Declan held on, letting her guide them, until he could tell she was close. He sat up, face buried in her chest, her hands in his hair, his hips thrusting up to meet her halfway. 

Jordan came first, long and loud, and Declan was right behind her, face pressed to her neck. Jordan curled her arms around Declan’s head, kissing his scalp. He wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close. 

“I think you should wear lingerie more often,” she hummed. Declan smiled. 

“Alright.”

[Kink Prompts]

[the-firebird69]

There a couple things to think about here:

Our son does not have any money to spare at all. And he's trying to be cost savings on every corner it's pretty tough and these won't leave alone and he's trying to decide what to do about the e-bike situation he needs one with a little bit more range he feels we do too so he's looking and looking and they keep doing things about it wrong and we need them out of here

-on top of that there is a huge amount of depth last night huge it was massive and pretty much all the Macklemore lock lost a lot out of Charlotte county they were down from 3.7 million to 3.2 million and our estimate held a lot of that is from radiation and it's going up again right now it's at 3.95 RADS we expect by midday to be 4.1 RADS it's going up and increasing and it's rate of increase. Later on the day and sundown it might reach 4.25 RADS. At this rate the death number account tomorrow morning will be higher than this morning. Are those numbers it's about $185,000 trumps and he started off with about 700,000 so it's down to about 500,000

--there's a few other things happening this guy Charles Manson is such an idiot that he deserves not to be here one of the things happening they are looking at them and trying to figure out what to do I know there are people who have figured out what to do they are not good for this area they're not good for the program and they are getting kicked out Terry cheesman gets in and tries his program and cja then gets into the social security position and they want to use their money and they're fighting over other sources at this time one of them would be the lawsuits and bja wants to do that it's an indicator that things are not so kosher and might want to be like Trump true the other indicator is that he is going after the opposition companies which is not true but he might try to take them over and that's not true either so we have another winner and we will use it.

--among these things there are certain plans in projects that will proceed one of them starts with Cool hand Luke and the fleet offshore pummeled the max warlock flat and is sitting there threatening Florida and moving in clones it's not a huge group that's moved in but there's fighting on the ground and they're trying to move more the size of the group that they moved in it's probably 125th of what they had here but the movie it in you see so they're trying to get more in and they're threatening and the more luck are trying to get something here to stop it they have several chips on the way it can stop those ships and they're moving out it's about 3 million from Australia and too many from New Zealand and they have very large ships with them and it's going to turn into a big battle it's going to be intense here as well in the in-fight will spread and it's going to be very huge these ships from the islands will be here it probably 4 hours that's not very long so it's at noon and they'll have a big battle usually the Mac morlock are not as good I always think they're getting beaten and it's psychological we think that Tommy f targets Trump and Mar-A-Lago and other places like that here in globally and finally Trump targets St Augustine probably from Jacksonville because he doesn't have anything and traps in there and then loses I'm coming up pretty quick and Trump doesn't a lot of running around up to New England and back and he gets hit these things are true now the other problem is that there are other groups here and they don't want these ships offshore and he's threatening them for stuff too and a lot of stuff and plenty of threats and it's getting to be terrible people said so they are getting up this morning one of those groups what is the pseudo empire firepower here and they have a lot of personnel and they are going to eat that boy alive they said it too you made the wrong choice and they're saying he'll be upset and they're moving into position and one of the side effects that this will have is it will show a lot of people that you can actually fight the empire because they'll be able to defeat Tommy f without huge forces they're already doing it and they're saying it what are we afraid of this guy is some sort of close facsimile and they are starting to get to it no but they're gathering information on the Mac proper that will shoot into the stratosphere really soon and it will be because of this battle coming up so we're going to print

Thor Freya

Olympus

ZUES HERA God great we like it

[cleverhottubmiracle]

Looking for a job can be a grueling marathon of resumes, cover letters, and HR acronyms—and that’s before you ever get into the room with your would-be future employer. Once you’ve managed to secure an interview, the finish line may feel tantalizingly close, but the race is far from over. Before you get the chance to wow them with your articulate and highly considered insights into your personal strengths, weaknesses, career goals, and salary expectations, however, you’ve got to make a good first impression, and that starts with what you wear. So what, exactly, should one wear to a job interview in 2024? Aside from “probably not pajama pants,” the right answer depends on the job. Despite the loosening of office dress codes across the board in recent years and the rise of remote work in the post-pandemic era, every industry has its own answer to that question, from the traditional suit and tie to “whatever makes you feel the most creative.” For advice on getting the right look for the job, we consulted a bunch of folks who ought to know.“The interview and the job are very different things,” explains Atlanta-based personal stylist Joshua Davis. “A tech founder might wear a T-shirt to a meeting with a VC, but even if all your research says the office is pretty casual, you should still go more conservative for the interview.” Davis suggests researching the company on LinkedIn to see how employees present themselves and even perusing their individual social media accounts for further insights into their style and presentation. “People expect that a lawyer will arrive in an E-Class and wear a black suit. A trial attorney might, but an attorney who specializes in tech IP will usually dress more like their client,” he adds. “The same is true for most bankers, consultants, and accountants who are client-facing – they have learned to research their client and make sure their image is usually only slightly more conservative than the person they are trying to sell to.���Whether you’re applying at a disruptive startup or a firm with centuries of history, your clothes are an important means of determining how well you’ll fit into the corporate culture and represent the company to the world. “We get a fair number of calls from HR departments that have found a great candidate but they don’t feel like they can fully recommend that person because of their wardrobe,” Davis says. “The most common reason is that a candidate is dressing too casually or they don’t dress for their body. To translate, that means too sloppy or too sexy.LawAt the most formal end of the spectrum are law firms, and the longer a firm has been around the more traditional its dress code is likely to be. “Law firms in New York are still conservative workplaces and interviewees hoping to land a position as an attorney should still wear a suit with leather shoes,” says Jessica Chin Somers, Esq., a managing director at Kinney Recruiting, an NYC-based legal recruiter. “For men, the uniform of a blue suit with brown shoes or a gray suit with black shoes exists for a reason, but more important than color is the fit.” Aside from that, Chin says, there’s only one big rule to remember: “Lawyers do not show up to interviews wearing sneakers, no matter how “cool” you think the firm is or how expensive the shoes.”Todd SnyderItalian Flannel Sutton JacketTodd SnyderItalian Flannel Sutton TrouserTodd SnyderHamilton Wrinkle Free Cotton Dress ShirtDries Van NotenHerringbone Slub Wool and Silk-Blend TieMontblancSartorial Laptop CaseBeckett SimononDean OxfordsFinanceUnless it’s a firm specializing in crypto, the finance field’s dress code remains similarly conservative. “First impressions are important, especially for a job interview in the finance industry, and the candidate needs to convey a sense of seriousness, competence, and trustworthiness,” explains J. Daniel Chi, Ph.D., the chair of the finance department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. “The dress code has relaxed quite a bit over recent years, however, as a job candidate, unless the firm gives clear instructions on dressing casually, dressing formally is a safer bet.”Buck MasonItalian Three-Season Wool Graduate BlazerBuck MasonItalian Three-Season Wool Graduate PantSid MashburnCotton Royal Oxford ShirtVinny'sTownee Leather Penny LoafersSeikoPresage Automatic WatchTechThe tech world’s reputation for preferring hoodies and sneakers over suits and brogues turns out to be well deserved. “What I see with a lot of different [tech] companies is a more casual approach to being at the office,” says Sam Fricker, the head of recruiting at Philo, a streaming service with offices in the Bay Area. “Because our company is bi-coastal, employees who are based on the East Coast sometimes are sometimes dressed more formally,” adds Maryland-based Philo Recruiter Alexis Fagin. “Departments may differ as well, like finance teams might require a little bit more of a buttoned-up look for meetings, for example.”At Toast, a tech company serving the restaurant industry, things are similarly relaxed. “We encourage employees to wear whatever makes them feel most comfortable and confident to do their jobs, and the same goes for those interviewing,” says Toast's chief people officer Mike Gutner. “That said, our recruiters will suggest something in the realm of business casual. The bulk of our interviews are virtual at this point, so I’m sure I’ve talked to more than a couple of applicants in formal tops who are also wearing sweatpants and slippers below the camera. I won’t blame them; I do the same from time to time.”Banana RepublicMerino Sweater VestJ.CrewClassic 10-Wale Corduroy PantR.M. WilliamsChelsea BootsCreative AgenciesAt the other end of the spectrum are creative agencies, whose commitment to out-of-the-box thinking extends to personal presentation. “[Your] experience and portfolio far outweigh [your] presentation,” says Matt Johnson, the founder and chief strategy officer of LA-based creative agency Haymaker. “At the end of the day, we’re investing in the person and their abilities, not their appearance, so I’d say dress to represent your best and most true self. The more authentic you can be, the better.”John SmedleyAlston Merino Wool Zip-UpAbercrombie & FitchPremium Heavyweight Cropped TeeOur LegacyVast Straight-Leg Jeans Source link

[norajworld]

Looking for a job can be a grueling marathon of resumes, cover letters, and HR acronyms—and that’s before you ever get into the room with your would-be future employer. Once you’ve managed to secure an interview, the finish line may feel tantalizingly close, but the race is far from over. Before you get the chance to wow them with your articulate and highly considered insights into your personal strengths, weaknesses, career goals, and salary expectations, however, you’ve got to make a good first impression, and that starts with what you wear. So what, exactly, should one wear to a job interview in 2024? Aside from “probably not pajama pants,” the right answer depends on the job. Despite the loosening of office dress codes across the board in recent years and the rise of remote work in the post-pandemic era, every industry has its own answer to that question, from the traditional suit and tie to “whatever makes you feel the most creative.” For advice on getting the right look for the job, we consulted a bunch of folks who ought to know.“The interview and the job are very different things,” explains Atlanta-based personal stylist Joshua Davis. “A tech founder might wear a T-shirt to a meeting with a VC, but even if all your research says the office is pretty casual, you should still go more conservative for the interview.” Davis suggests researching the company on LinkedIn to see how employees present themselves and even perusing their individual social media accounts for further insights into their style and presentation. “People expect that a lawyer will arrive in an E-Class and wear a black suit. A trial attorney might, but an attorney who specializes in tech IP will usually dress more like their client,” he adds. “The same is true for most bankers, consultants, and accountants who are client-facing – they have learned to research their client and make sure their image is usually only slightly more conservative than the person they are trying to sell to.”Whether you’re applying at a disruptive startup or a firm with centuries of history, your clothes are an important means of determining how well you’ll fit into the corporate culture and represent the company to the world. “We get a fair number of calls from HR departments that have found a great candidate but they don’t feel like they can fully recommend that person because of their wardrobe,” Davis says. “The most common reason is that a candidate is dressing too casually or they don’t dress for their body. To translate, that means too sloppy or too sexy.LawAt the most formal end of the spectrum are law firms, and the longer a firm has been around the more traditional its dress code is likely to be. “Law firms in New York are still conservative workplaces and interviewees hoping to land a position as an attorney should still wear a suit with leather shoes,” says Jessica Chin Somers, Esq., a managing director at Kinney Recruiting, an NYC-based legal recruiter. “For men, the uniform of a blue suit with brown shoes or a gray suit with black shoes exists for a reason, but more important than color is the fit.” Aside from that, Chin says, there’s only one big rule to remember: “Lawyers do not show up to interviews wearing sneakers, no matter how “cool” you think the firm is or how expensive the shoes.”Todd SnyderItalian Flannel Sutton JacketTodd SnyderItalian Flannel Sutton TrouserTodd SnyderHamilton Wrinkle Free Cotton Dress ShirtDries Van NotenHerringbone Slub Wool and Silk-Blend TieMontblancSartorial Laptop CaseBeckett SimononDean OxfordsFinanceUnless it’s a firm specializing in crypto, the finance field’s dress code remains similarly conservative. “First impressions are important, especially for a job interview in the finance industry, and the candidate needs to convey a sense of seriousness, competence, and trustworthiness,” explains J. Daniel Chi, Ph.D., the chair of the finance department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. “The dress code has relaxed quite a bit over recent years, however, as a job candidate, unless the firm gives clear instructions on dressing casually, dressing formally is a safer bet.”Buck MasonItalian Three-Season Wool Graduate BlazerBuck MasonItalian Three-Season Wool Graduate PantSid MashburnCotton Royal Oxford ShirtVinny'sTownee Leather Penny LoafersSeikoPresage Automatic WatchTechThe tech world’s reputation for preferring hoodies and sneakers over suits and brogues turns out to be well deserved. “What I see with a lot of different [tech] companies is a more casual approach to being at the office,” says Sam Fricker, the head of recruiting at Philo, a streaming service with offices in the Bay Area. “Because our company is bi-coastal, employees who are based on the East Coast sometimes are sometimes dressed more formally,” adds Maryland-based Philo Recruiter Alexis Fagin. “Departments may differ as well, like finance teams might require a little bit more of a buttoned-up look for meetings, for example.”At Toast, a tech company serving the restaurant industry, things are similarly relaxed. “We encourage employees to wear whatever makes them feel most comfortable and confident to do their jobs, and the same goes for those interviewing,” says Toast's chief people officer Mike Gutner. “That said, our recruiters will suggest something in the realm of business casual. The bulk of our interviews are virtual at this point, so I’m sure I’ve talked to more than a couple of applicants in formal tops who are also wearing sweatpants and slippers below the camera. I won’t blame them; I do the same from time to time.”Banana RepublicMerino Sweater VestJ.CrewClassic 10-Wale Corduroy PantR.M. WilliamsChelsea BootsCreative AgenciesAt the other end of the spectrum are creative agencies, whose commitment to out-of-the-box thinking extends to personal presentation. “[Your] experience and portfolio far outweigh [your] presentation,” says Matt Johnson, the founder and chief strategy officer of LA-based creative agency Haymaker. “At the end of the day, we’re investing in the person and their abilities, not their appearance, so I’d say dress to represent your best and most true self. The more authentic you can be, the better.”John SmedleyAlston Merino Wool Zip-UpAbercrombie & FitchPremium Heavyweight Cropped TeeOur LegacyVast Straight-Leg Jeans Source link

[chilimili212]

Looking for a job can be a grueling marathon of resumes, cover letters, and HR acronyms—and that’s before you ever get into the room with your would-be future employer. Once you’ve managed to secure an interview, the finish line may feel tantalizingly close, but the race is far from over. Before you get the chance to wow them with your articulate and highly considered insights into your personal strengths, weaknesses, career goals, and salary expectations, however, you’ve got to make a good first impression, and that starts with what you wear. So what, exactly, should one wear to a job interview in 2024? Aside from “probably not pajama pants,” the right answer depends on the job. Despite the loosening of office dress codes across the board in recent years and the rise of remote work in the post-pandemic era, every industry has its own answer to that question, from the traditional suit and tie to “whatever makes you feel the most creative.” For advice on getting the right look for the job, we consulted a bunch of folks who ought to know.“The interview and the job are very different things,” explains Atlanta-based personal stylist Joshua Davis. “A tech founder might wear a T-shirt to a meeting with a VC, but even if all your research says the office is pretty casual, you should still go more conservative for the interview.” Davis suggests researching the company on LinkedIn to see how employees present themselves and even perusing their individual social media accounts for further insights into their style and presentation. “People expect that a lawyer will arrive in an E-Class and wear a black suit. A trial attorney might, but an attorney who specializes in tech IP will usually dress more like their client,” he adds. “The same is true for most bankers, consultants, and accountants who are client-facing – they have learned to research their client and make sure their image is usually only slightly more conservative than the person they are trying to sell to.”Whether you’re applying at a disruptive startup or a firm with centuries of history, your clothes are an important means of determining how well you’ll fit into the corporate culture and represent the company to the world. “We get a fair number of calls from HR departments that have found a great candidate but they don’t feel like they can fully recommend that person because of their wardrobe,” Davis says. “The most common reason is that a candidate is dressing too casually or they don’t dress for their body. To translate, that means too sloppy or too sexy.LawAt the most formal end of the spectrum are law firms, and the longer a firm has been around the more traditional its dress code is likely to be. “Law firms in New York are still conservative workplaces and interviewees hoping to land a position as an attorney should still wear a suit with leather shoes,” says Jessica Chin Somers, Esq., a managing director at Kinney Recruiting, an NYC-based legal recruiter. “For men, the uniform of a blue suit with brown shoes or a gray suit with black shoes exists for a reason, but more important than color is the fit.” Aside from that, Chin says, there’s only one big rule to remember: “Lawyers do not show up to interviews wearing sneakers, no matter how “cool” you think the firm is or how expensive the shoes.”Todd SnyderItalian Flannel Sutton JacketTodd SnyderItalian Flannel Sutton TrouserTodd SnyderHamilton Wrinkle Free Cotton Dress ShirtDries Van NotenHerringbone Slub Wool and Silk-Blend TieMontblancSartorial Laptop CaseBeckett SimononDean OxfordsFinanceUnless it’s a firm specializing in crypto, the finance field’s dress code remains similarly conservative. “First impressions are important, especially for a job interview in the finance industry, and the candidate needs to convey a sense of seriousness, competence, and trustworthiness,” explains J. Daniel Chi, Ph.D., the chair of the finance department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. “The dress code has relaxed quite a bit over recent years, however, as a job candidate, unless the firm gives clear instructions on dressing casually, dressing formally is a safer bet.”Buck MasonItalian Three-Season Wool Graduate BlazerBuck MasonItalian Three-Season Wool Graduate PantSid MashburnCotton Royal Oxford ShirtVinny'sTownee Leather Penny LoafersSeikoPresage Automatic WatchTechThe tech world’s reputation for preferring hoodies and sneakers over suits and brogues turns out to be well deserved. “What I see with a lot of different [tech] companies is a more casual approach to being at the office,” says Sam Fricker, the head of recruiting at Philo, a streaming service with offices in the Bay Area. “Because our company is bi-coastal, employees who are based on the East Coast sometimes are sometimes dressed more formally,” adds Maryland-based Philo Recruiter Alexis Fagin. “Departments may differ as well, like finance teams might require a little bit more of a buttoned-up look for meetings, for example.”At Toast, a tech company serving the restaurant industry, things are similarly relaxed. “We encourage employees to wear whatever makes them feel most comfortable and confident to do their jobs, and the same goes for those interviewing,” says Toast's chief people officer Mike Gutner. “That said, our recruiters will suggest something in the realm of business casual. The bulk of our interviews are virtual at this point, so I’m sure I’ve talked to more than a couple of applicants in formal tops who are also wearing sweatpants and slippers below the camera. I won’t blame them; I do the same from time to time.”Banana RepublicMerino Sweater VestJ.CrewClassic 10-Wale Corduroy PantR.M. WilliamsChelsea BootsCreative AgenciesAt the other end of the spectrum are creative agencies, whose commitment to out-of-the-box thinking extends to personal presentation. “[Your] experience and portfolio far outweigh [your] presentation,” says Matt Johnson, the founder and chief strategy officer of LA-based creative agency Haymaker. “At the end of the day, we’re investing in the person and their abilities, not their appearance, so I’d say dress to represent your best and most true self. The more authentic you can be, the better.”John SmedleyAlston Merino Wool Zip-UpAbercrombie & FitchPremium Heavyweight Cropped TeeOur LegacyVast Straight-Leg Jeans Source link

[librarianayda]

Kaity rewatches/Liveblogs Ratfish! (Part 1)

Spoilers under the cut!

Okay, I guess also non-spoilers slash rambling under the cut. Have to do a few after work things first, then it's time for a Game Changer re-watch (part 1) and NEW Game Changer (part 2)! Woo!

♡ the immediate chaos of ally omg

♡ oh yeah. I've already seen Katie's billboard (pictures of), so I guess we know she won something 😂

♡ GranNma sWeetie right out the door. I love it

♡ is Katie's just a long dig at Sam? Omg

♡ did I just break my glasses? Fucking grant

♡ "He's a bad guy." "I'm describing the person I'd like to be." Grant! Grant.

♡ okay, yeah. After the smartypants episode, Jess's is not surprising at all.

♡ omg, Katie talking to her computer and expecting it to talk back 🤣

♡ A BUG WITH A BIG ASS

♡ okay, but the strategy here is 1000000% Brennan! Brennnan is trying to not be Brennan and ends up being more Brennan what a journey, truly

♡ damn, even Rekha thinks this is Rekha

♡ who's a little goober?

♡ the fucking editing on this is fucking brilliant

♡ why do they all sound like fucking Beardsly? Good question, Zac

♡ the complete and utter chaos that is ally fucking beardsly pretending to be Brennan is just... chef's kiss

♡ OH! They were trying to figure out if the public knew about IsaBaby Roland! That's why there's a weird pause with the twooooo? Cats?

♡ still a fucking work of genius god I love ally

♡ oh yeah. There's the person I don't know. The bio is pretty fucking cool though.

♡ IT DOES SOUND LIKE VIC OR BRENNAN

♡ ally was so on their game and then choco taco fucking broke them

♡ the juxtaposition of ally being SO FUCKING SURE that Bug with a Big Ass is Rekha while playing Brennan Lee Mulligan who is actually playing Bug with a Big Ass is just something really special, actually

♡ that tells me that Jackson Alberta is being played by a gay man and I'm trying to isolate which one Ohmigod ally

♡ so is real life ally also just nat 20's mixed with nat 1's?

♡ moose

♡ omg grant and katie

♡ AllyBrennan calling out BrennanBrennan

♡ I fucking love GraNma sWeetie

♡ maybe they're all ally

♡ the Rekha Brennan storyline is hilarious

♡ grant... maybe I'm Steven?

♡ that does feel like Tao!

♡ omg ally got grant right but thought it was wrong hahaha

♡ woo go Rekha and Katie!

♡ aw zac :(

♡ okay but GraNma sWeetie is the best character!

♡ "I mean I guess someone has chosen to come out and mock me all day."

♡ sleepover starter pack!

♡ ally and zac omg

♡ graNma sWeetie won't give out her real name, but she will give out her social security number 🤣

♡ I'm the belle of the ball omg I love you zac

♡ oh my god grant.

♡ okay, but if it were me I would say uh... oh wait fuck I don't have a character nevermind

♡ but also Brennan's answer is 10000% a Brennan answer because it's no answer so therefore it's winning

♡ jfc grant

♡ IT REALLY DOES FEEL LIKE VIC

♡ this is a huge moment for everyone but me

♡ grant's here? I thought he had covid?

♡ okay! but this comment presents two REALLY interesting points! Because we know from BingoCeption and the Time Loop episodes that Grant DID have covid, and they had to rush to find replacements for him. Which is why Zac's social card and Brennan's stamp were both made for Grant. SO! This episode presumably takes place filming wise AFTER those two beginning of the season episodes did. BUT! everyone is currently in their own hotel room, which means possibly grant was still testing positive for covid but was asymptomatic and able to play this particular game? Idk. I'm just.... ahh!

♡ the fuck is the ratfish?

♡ they show a person, but my question hasn't changed. Who and what is the ratfish??????????

Okay, time for part two!!! Gonna do a separate post for that one and just share a bunch of my favorite screenshots from part 1 below.

... can you tell I've been watching a lot of dimension 20?

[gt-games]

GTGAMES and the Future of Online Tambola: What to Expect

The future is looking bright and exciting, especially if you're a fan of online Tambola, thanks to the innovative strides being made by GTGAMES. As we dive deeper into what the future holds for online Tambola enthusiasts, let's break it down into simpler terms so everyone can get on board with the excitement.

GTGAMES: Pioneering a New Era of Online Tambola

Fundamentally, GTGAMES is a pioneer in the realm of online Tambola and other digital games. For those who may not know, Tambola is a game of chance and skills. It is also known as Housie in various regions of the country. As a caller draws numbers at random, players can check off numbers on their tickets by Play Online Tambola. Whoever crosses out every number first wins. It's easy, enjoyable, and now even more accessible because of GTGAMES.

GTGAMES is like the cool new kid on the block in the world of online games. They've taken Tambola, a game loved by people all over the world, and made it digital. This means you can play it on your phone without having to leave your cozy spot at home. Plus, GTGAMES has made sure the game runs smoothly, so all you need to worry about is mark off those numbers and having a great time. It's the same old game of chance, but with GTGAMES, it's got a fresh, new twist that's accessible to everyone.

What Makes GTGAMES Stand Out?

Innovative Technology: GTGAMES uses cutting-edge technology to bring you a seamless and engaging online Tambola experience. This means smoother gameplay, less lag, and more fun for everyone.

Accessibility: You may play Tambola at any time and from any location with GTGAMES. The game is easily accessible whether you're using your laptop at home or your phone when you're waiting for a bus.

Community Building: One of the coolest aspects of GTGAMES is its focus on community. You're not just playing against anonymous players; you're becoming part of a vibrant community of Tambola lovers from around the world.

Security: In today's digital age, security is paramount. GTGAMES has put in place robust security measures to ensure your personal information and winnings are safe.

Variety: GTGAMES isn't just sticking to the traditional way of playing Tambola. They're introducing different variations and modes to keep things interesting. This means there's always something new to try.

The Future of Online Tambola with GTGAMES

As we look ahead, the future of online Tambola through GTGAMES is shaping up to be pretty exciting. Here's what to expect:

More Social Features: Expect GTGAMES to amp up the social aspect of online Tambola. This could mean more ways to interact with other players, form clubs, or even compete in team-based competitions.

Personalized Gameplay: Thanks to AI developments, GTGAMES may be able to provide a more customized gaming experience by adjusting the themes, calling patterns, and even the degree of difficulty to suit your tastes.

Global Tournaments: The future could see the introduction of Tambola party mode games with big prizes on the line. This would not only increase the stakes but also bring together the best players and freinds  from across the country.

Eco-friendly Gaming: As the world becomes more conscious of environmental issues, GTGAMES could lead the way in sustainable gaming practices, perhaps by offsetting carbon emissions or supporting green initiatives.

Wrapping It Up: A World of Possibilities

In simple terms, GTGAMES is not just changing the way we Playing Tambola Online; it's redefining it. With a focus on technology, community, and innovation, the future looks not just fun but also inclusive, immersive, and responsible. As we move forward, it's clear that GTGAMES isn't just following the trends in online gaming—they're setting them.

There has never been a more exciting moment to start playing Tambola, regardless of your experience level. Prepare to mark your numbers and join GTGAMES on this exciting voyage into the future of online Tambola. Who knows? The options are countless. Maybe the next big thing in online gaming is already here, waiting for you to jump into the fray.

FAQ

1. How does GTGAMES plan to enhance the online Tambola experience in the future?

GTGAMES is committed to revolutionizing the way you play online Tambola.  Expect more social features too, allowing you to connect, chat, and play with fellow Tambola enthusiasts from around the country. And that's not all; we're also working on introducing personalized gameplay, global tournaments, and even educational spin-offs to make your experience not just fun but enriching.

2. Can I play GTGAMES Tambola on any device?

Yes! One of our main goals is to make online Tambola as accessible as possible. Whether you're on a smartphone waiting for your coffee, taking a break on your tablet, you can jump right into a game. Our platform is designed to be fully responsive and compatible with a wide range of devices, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience for everyone.

3. Is my personal information and winnings secure with GTGAMES?

Absolutely. We take your security and privacy very seriously at GTGAMES. Our platform employs state-of-the-art encryption and security protocols to protect your personal information and financial transactions. Rest assured, your winnings are safe with us, and you can enjoy playing online Tambola without any worries. We're constantly updating our systems to combat any new threats, so you can focus on having a great time.

[karanan]

Hello I’m now officially and legally considered a man in the eyes of the state

Oh boy I’ve been waiting patiently for my legal stuff to go through and I did finally get my papers this Monday. However, I’m almost 2 weeks past my shot window. I’ve never gone this long without a dose of T before which is a little scary but I should be fine according to my research. The reason I’m waiting is because if my legal stuff is processed and the hormone clinic informs the social insurance institution of my new ID number, the cost for my HRT will be covered 100%. Which in less words means I’m pretty poor so I’ve opted to wait a few weeks for the insurance stuff to be processed rather than pay 80-120€ out of my own pocket for my medicine.

Now what I found out the hard way is that when you change your social security number, some things become a bit messy. Like how I can’t log into any government accounts because the ID system I use uses my bank account to identify me and my bank doesn’t have my new info... So I can’t apply for my monthly income on the social insurance institution’s website which means I can’t pay rent and other general life things you need money for.

Also now that my legal gender marker has changed, I physically cannot go buy my meds even if I wanted to opt for spending the money because my social insurance card no longer matches the information in the citizens’ registry. I have no valid identification to show the pharmacists rn haha. I’ve called the hormone clinic so they’ll deal with the insurance stuff but until then, I can only wait. The nurse I talked to knows it’s urgent so hopefully I’ll at least receive the new insurance card asap so I can go get my T from the pharmacy. And hopefully by then my bank has fixed the login issues as well since I also messaged them about this stuff.

I’m hoping everything will be sorted in time for me to get my dose next week pretty please

[ramp-it-up]

It Takes Two

Pairing: Soft Dark!Chris Evans x Reader

Warnings:  18+, Minors DNI. Curate your own experience. Cursing, drinking, cheating, breakups, rehab, recovery, deception, lies, celibacy, manipulation, wedding planning, semi-public explicit, rough, sex, oral sex (m receiving), degradation kink, breeding kink, choking, dubiuous con (b/c of deception). Darkish! Scott Evans. This is not proofread!

A/N: @lovebittenbyevans gave me a great idea about still dealing with Chris when commenting on The One.  I thought that the Chris in that fic could really go left and get pretty Dark and dirty. And then.... 

Anonymous asked:

Imagine Chris cheating on Y/N …

That made me think up this fic. It is a sequel to The One. I hope you like it!

-----

You left him.

You flew to Montreal to surprise him on set, trench coat and lingerie and everything, and when you opened the door to his trailer, you saw Heidi on her knees giving Chris a blowjob.

You cussed him out, threw the ring back in his face and turned around and left. 

You blocked his number, moved out of his house and cut off all contact.  You were done.

The audacity of Chris being indignant about your warnings about Heidi when he was boning her all along.

You loved Scott, but you had to cut him off too after he tried to explain that Chris was drunk when you found him, and was going to rehab to deal with his issues. 

 It was classic celebrity bullshit and you didn’t have time for it.

You decided to center yourself, and swear off all relationships and sex. You wanted to purge your mind of all that weighed you down. 

You concluded that love, sex, and Chris Evans made you feel heavy as fuck. 

You moved to New York City. It was far enough away from Chris and your folks in Houston to give you some peace. 

You could still run your business and even think about a storefront.  It was the perfect location to live your best life, eat healthy, exercise, socialize and network. 

You fell in love with yourself, and you didn’t think much about Christopher Robert Evans at all.

Only every time you went on IG or Twitter, even though you blocked him and his hashtags.  And every time you went to Target, because his fucking movies and merchandise were everywhere. 

But you were cool, because you were doing you. You weren’t looking for love.

Of course, that’s when it found you.

Six months after you left Boston, you were at a natural beauty products expo in Brooklyn hawking your wares.  

Your business had taken off, with almost a half million dollars in sales, and you were being interviewed by a major news outlet of color when one of the correspondents caught your eye. 

You flirted, exchanged numbers and ended up going on a date. In another three months you were engaged to him.  

Kevin Watts made you feel safe, protected and loved. And he wasn’t just after sex. He was well off, and secure in himself and you.  It just felt right. 

When Kevin proposed, it was just you and him at your favorite restaurant. So romantic. 

Not like the rowdy family 4th of July party at which Chris asked you to marry him last year, in front of both your parents.

The laughter and the joy was just a little much. 

This was perfect. You didn’t miss Chris at all. You set about planning your wedding with a profound sense of peace and safety.  

You and Kevin were meant to be.

----

Chris was nothing without you.

Nothing but an award winning actor and producer, a multi-millionaire and founder of a major organization dedicated to bringing opposing political viewpoints together. 

All of that was cool, and it kept him going, but when he lost you, he lost his motivation.

Chris didn’t take any more roles after the sequel with Heidi, and he dumped her post haste. He did enter rehab and realized that he depended way too much on alcohol to dull his emotions. 

He got drunk off his ass when he was away from you because he missed you so much, and that led to him letting Heidi think that she could have him.

She’d had him physically, but never his heart. Or his mind. You owned those.

Chris followed your business closely, and was proud of your success. 

Of course he followed your social media on burner accounts and saw that you were doing well. 

You looked like you enjoyed being single and seemed healthy and happy.

He couldn’t ask for anything more for you.

Except to be his again. 

Chris was just biding his time for your reunion, deciding to give you a year before he made his move. 

Now he felt every emotion, and he knew that you must still love him too.

You just needed to realize that your life would be even better with him back in it.

The year apart would be just punishment for what he’d done to you, and when you came back together, it would be better than before.

Everyone speculated on his bachelorhood, wondering if he would settle down, speculating and gossiping about who he was with, but he just played coy and kept quiet.

No one would know that he was yours and yours alone, and that you were still his.  

You just didn’t know it.

But you weren’t going along with the plan that you didn’t know about. 

About seven months into his self-imposed purgatory, a complication started popping up on Chris’s feed. 

Kevin. 

And a couple of months after that, a post of a proposal, in a restaurant.

The asshole probably didn’t even ask or involve your folks.  Chris was in a rage for a week. 

He almost started drinking again, but as he got ready to drive to the liquor store, Kevin’s face flashed on his screen doing a report on the election.

Instead of making him even more angry, he smiled, elated at the thought that came to him.

Chris had a new plan, and it was going to be even better than before.

-----

The last three months had been a whirlwind, and you never thought it would turn out this way.  

You were planning your wedding with your mother, discussing the seating at the reception, and you deciding where Chris Evans and his date would sit.

What a time to be alive.

Your mother only let it slip a couple of times that you should be marrying Chris, but for the most part, she kept it cute.

You explained to her that everything was squashed between you and Chris, and that he and Kevin had a great relationship, were friends, even.  

They’d bonded over politics when Kevin interviewed him, and became buds before Chris even realized that you and he were together.

Kevin knew, but he wasn’t the jealous type, and he didn’t want to make things awkward. Surprisingly, Kevin insisted that he be at the wedding. 

You thought about it and decided it would be the ultimate closure for Chris to watch you marry someone else. 

You were pleasantly surprised at Chris. He was handling this very well. He never tried to contact you, and according to Kevin, never even mentioned you. That was growth. 

Maybe you too could be friends. 

You felt good about it. So much so that you unblocked him and started a dialogue.

-----

Hi.

Chris saw your number come across his apple watch and he practically did a dance. It was 9:24 pm.  He picked up his phone and stared at the word, forcing himself to wait and not respond.  He went to work out.

47 minutes later, he responded.

Hello?

This time, he sat and waited for your response, which came 7 minutes later. 

I just wanted to say, I appreciate the way you're handling this.

Chris bit his lip, imagining you sitting there, thinking of what to say and staring down at your phone.

I’m sorry, I don't know who this is. You may have reached a wrong number?

He grinned at the play. 

----- 

Your heart dropped. Did he no longer have your contact?  

Why would he do that?

You don’t know why you felt some kinda way; you’d blocked him. 

Maybe he had changed his number and this was no longer his. Your heart was beating fast when you texted back.

Is this Chris?  This is Y/N.  I was just texting about Kevin Watts.

You anxiously watched the thought bubbles on imessage.

----

Even though you’d texted back almost immediately, Chris kept you hanging for just a couple of minutes. His dick was hard at the thought of communicating with you. 

Fuck, you were such an aphrodesiac.

Oh shit! Y/N I’m sorry.  I got a new phone.. You know how it is…

He knew you wouldn’t believe that. That’s why he said it.

You just stared at the phone. That was bullshit. You can easily port your contacts into a new phone.  You just never believed that Chris would really move on.  And you didn’t know why. 

You had.

You took a deep breath and continued.

Lol, No worries!  Just wanna say thank you for being cool with my Boo. I’m gonna turn in now. Check you later.

You tried to keep it light.

Chris ignored the ‘my Boo’ comment and focused on the thought of you in bed. 

You usually slept in a tank top or t-shirt and panties, and the top would invariably come off because you got hot. 

And then things would invariably get hotter if he was in bed with you….

Cool! Sweet dreams. Check you later. 😉

Chris made sure to exit your message thread and come back so that you wouldn’t see the thought bubbles that he saw when you kept staring at the text.

You  were lost in the times that Chris always used to say that to you, and when he whispered “Sweet Dreams” in your ear when he was far away, you always had wet dreams about him. 

And that wink. 

How could a fucking yellow emoji turn you the fuck on?

You reached for your bullet vibrator as you continued to stare at the interaction.

Chis had already started stroking himself when you told him you were going to bed. 

Knowing that you were thinking exactly what he wanted you to got him close, and he didn’t even have to pull up your old videos to get off. 

Not tonight.

-----

Over the next few weeks. you’d texted a few times, Chris ‘made amends’ and you accepted his apology. 

Then, you started texting more regularly, mainly joking around about sports, your Celtics/Rockets rivalry ever raging. 

From your perspective, Chris was always appropriate and respected your relationship with Kevin.  You were glad because you’d missed your friendship with him.

You felt giddy that your life was working out so well, and you traveled to your weekend getaway in the mountains for your bridal shower with a light heart.

Chris attended Kevin’s bachelor festivities with only a week to go until the wedding.

——

From Chris’s perspective, things were working out better than he’d hoped. 

Scoring an invite to the wedding was more than he’d imagined, and Kevin inviting him out to his Bachelor party was just icing on the cake.  

Maybe he could make Kevin slip up enough so that you would dump him before the wedding. Chris was hopeful.

If not, Plan B was the nuclear option. 

-------

Kevin was following the stripper’s ass like a puppy. He was lit on booze and pills (that Chris provided) and his guard was down.

Kevin considered Chris a friend. 

Chris just wanted to keep Kevin close because he was the enemy.

They were talking about you.

“She’s so fucking innocent. A sweeter angel there never was. I’ll have to teach her how to fuck.”

Chris almost choked on his water.

“I'm sorry. What now?”

Kevin just barreled on, ignoring the question.

“That's how I know I need to wife her.” He was talking to Chris, but still staring at the stripper.

“She would never chase the D. Hell, she won’t even touch mine. You know, her being celibate and all.”

Chris raised his eyebrow and smiled, which Kevin never noticed. Chris shook his head at your antics.  His little beautiful love.

“That’s why I was never pressed that you are her ex. I mean, I’m impressed you were with her as long as you were.”  

Chris just smiled and nodded, curious as to where this was leading.

“A man like you don’t have to put up with that. You must have punani lined up for days, bro.”

Chris’s heart lept. This dullard did not have access to your pussy. HIS pussy.  Never has.

Chris could fuck a lot of people a million ways from Sunday with one text. Except for you. And you were all that mattered. 

“I don’t know about all that.” Chris put on his best, ‘aw shucks’ act.

Chris was over the moon. You were still his. In every way.

Kevin kept tipping the stripper and was trying to call her over. He asked her about a private lap dance.  Chris’s eyes lit up. This asshole was making it too easy.

The stripper nodded and went back to finish up her set.  Chris walked over to the bar.

“Aye!” Chris summoned tha bartender over. 

“What can I get you, Sir.” 

“I don’t need a drink.  I wanna take care of my friend over there. He’s gonna have a lap dance with Star. It’s his bachelor party.  I need it to be extra special.”  

Chris started peeling off hundreds so the barkeep could see. 

“And I need him to have some keepsakes, so he’ll remember it always.” 

More hundreds came off. The bartender’s eyes got bigger and bigger. “That’s no problem.”

Chris flashed his famous smile.  

“Great, let me tell you where to send them. Wanna make them a wedding present.” He wrote down an address on a napkin. 

He was now on Plan C. And it was perfect.

------

A week later and the rehearsal at the church was more fun than you thought it would be.  You weren’t allowed to participate, just watch, as the result of an old wives tale.

The church secretary found you in the pews. She handed you a manila envelope.

“This was mailed here yesterday, probably an invoice of something for the wedding, I put it aside for you, sweetie.”

You smiled back at her and tucked it into your purse, not wanting to distract yourself with more wedding bills. 

Later, when you and Kevin were in the back of the car to the restaurant for the Rehearsal Dinner, you pulled it out and opened it. You couldn’t believe your eyes.

“What the ENTIRE FUCK KEVIN!”  

You threw the pictures of him fucking a stripper in his face, startling him out of staring at his phone.

He picked one up, his mouth dropped open and started talking. 

“Look, Baby, Baby! I can explain!...”

“DO NOT FUCKING LIE TO ME KEVIN!  WE HAVE OVER 300 PEOPLE HERE FOR OUR WEDDING TOMORROW MORNING.” 

Kevin was on his knees in the back of the suburban. 

“Listen to me.. Listen.  I’m a man. I have needs…”

“Kevin, I swear to god….”

“Okay, okay… I admit it…”

You listened to him and your heart went silent.  You couldn’t even absorb what he said.

When you pulled up to the restaurant, you straightened your dress and looked at him coolly.

“I am NOT going to deal with this tonight. Tonight was supposed to be a fun celebration of our wedding. I will decide later if it's still going to happen.”

Kevin was terrified.

“Right now, you and I will go into this place, greet our friends arm in arm and pretend that you are not a fucking narcissitic asshole who just ripped my heart to shreds. Got it?”

“Yes, but I-”

“Do NOT speak to me unless I speak to you first. Or it's automatically off.”

Kevin just nodded and cleared his throat.

You raised your chin and said, “Let’s go.”

-----

Two hours later, dinner was over, and you were lit on your way to TURNT.

Chris observed you, from the moment you entered holding hands with Kevin to the second you dropped his hand in disgust, to the way you held yourself away from him at dinner, but then put on a sweet face when everyone spoke, to Kevin, who was an absolute mess.

He figured you got the pictures. He suppressed the glee that was coursing through him.

But he couldn’t figure out why you were still going on with the charade.

Chris didn’t make a beeline for you like he wanted to, he just let the natural flow of the party lead you to him.  He was talking to your cousin when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around.

“Hey you.”  

You cocked your head at him in that way and looked up at him, your smile brightening your face.  Damn, he had to plant his feet. You smiling at him like that made him feel faint.

You both heard your cousin say something, but you didn’t pay attention, caught up in your own orbit.

“Hey.”  

Chris crossed his arms, and you swore that he was recalling the time when you told him your forearms made you horny. Fuck. Chris made you wet and you were fresh out of fucks tonight.

“So, I can’t have a hug?”  

Chris shook his head at your line and opened his arms to embrace you, keeping a respectable pressure and distance until you hugged him tight and pressed close.  

He couldn’t help but pick you up, but he put you down immediately, cleared his throat and backed up, looking uncomfortable.

That wouldn’t do. You wanted more of his scent, his warmth, his HIM. You pouted unconsciously in your buzzed state.

Chris’s cock stirred.  That fucking mouth had haunted his dreams for almost a year. He was pleased that you were flirting, but he had to work the plan.  Couldn’t go too fast.

“You look… great.  I can’t wait to see you tomorrow in your wedding dress. You will be a beautiful bride.”  

Chris broke his voice in just the right place to convey a wistfulness, making you think that he thought he lost you.

You felt bad.  Chris was so sweet.  You thought about him and you thought about Kevin. 

What was the difference between what Chris did and what Kevin did?  

And who did you have more chemistry with? Chris.  

Why were you even marrying Kevin?

You looked over at him looking at you and Chris like a lost dog.

You had no idea why you were marrying him.

“You look… Like Chris fucking Evans.” You two laughed.  

“I bet you’re fighting them off with a stick.”  You sideyed him.

Chris reveled in your interest in his sex life.

“Well, you know. After rehab, I’ve laid off the... physical part of my life. It only brought chaos, you know. I’m trying to be more… zen. Haven’t really had… that  for the better part of a year.”

He watched your eyes get big.  

“Word?”  You smirked. “So you…”

Chris held up his hand.  The one you knew he jacked off with.  You grabbed it and started drawing on his palm.  Chis pulled it back and cleared his throat again. 

You pouted again. Him being hard to get made you wet.

And Chris knew that.

“So… you ready to marry the love of your life?”

 Chris’s sea blues looked you deep into your cocoa browns. You were transported back in time.

“Yes.” 

 Then you snapped out of it.  

“I mean… the church is set up, the dress is bought, everyone’s here. I guess so.”

Chris laughed as if you were telling a joke.  

“I miss your sense of humor.”

You all made small talk and you caught up a little before you asked what you wanted to know.

“So what are you up to tonight?”

Chris looked at his watch.

“I’m actually about to go to my condo an turn in. I get up early to work out.” He felt your eyes sweep up and down his body, and he flexed even though he was fully dressed. It was true. Working out was a regimen. He wanted you drooling for him. 

“It’s the Marvel condo in Brooklyn?”

You nodded, remembering good times.

“So you have a car picking you up?”  Your mind was whirring.

“I actually have a rental.” 

You gulped your drink down, not daring to look in his eyes. Now, not only was your pussy wet, your nipples were hard as hell. 

“It’s in the parking garage down the block.”

“Well, I need to clear my head. I’ll walk you there, and you can drop me back?”

Chris looked down at your cute face, and then around the room, spotted Kevin and gave him a nod.

“You sure that’s a good idea?”  

You looked at Kevin, too.  You wanted to stick your tongue out, but you just took Chris by the arm and headed toward the door.

“I’m a big girl. Nobody owns me.” 

You looked up into Chris’s eyes and instantly regretted that statement. You played it off and pulled him through the door.

You didn’t talk at all the entire way, both of your heads deep in the clouds of you and him.  The chemistry was crackling the air between you.

You held on to his arm, and he let you, reveling in your touch.

When you reached the parking garage, Chris pressed the button with his knuckle and you got in, headed for the top deck.

You just stared at each other, both thinking the same thing. Chris chuckled.

“You’re dangerous, night before your wedding, you probably have cold feet, I’m here. Maybe you want to be sure that you’re sure…”

You cocked your head. “Who said I wanted to fuck you, Chris Evans?”

Chris cocked his head too, mirroring you.  “Who said ‘fuck?’ I was thinking you wanted to talk.”

He smirked and you scowled as the door opened.

Chris left you in the elevator stewing as he walked over to the black Tesla he’d rented. There was no other car on the deck.

You scoffed, and followed him out.

He was about to walk around to the driver's side door when you grabbed his arm before he made it. He stopped directly in front of the car.

“Do you mean to tell me that you don’t want me?”  You were hot, in more ways than one.

Chris leaned back against the hood.

“That’s not what we’re talking about, y/n. You’re getting married tomorrow. To someone else.”

You smiled and reached up, fingers grazing his neck and playing with the hair at his nape. You ran your fingers through his beard.  Kevin’s couldn’t compare.

“That’s tomorrow. Tonight I’m single as fuck.” 

You stood on your tip toes and brushed your lips against his, reveling in the moan that came from his throat.

Chris fought to control his urge and continued with his act. His fingers tightened around your waist and you thought this was it.  He turned you around in front of the car and then let you go, stepping back to pace back and forth.

“What? What is this? You’ve had almost a year. Kevin’s my friend. What do you want from me?”  

He advanced on you, and you had to remember to breathe.  He knew what you wanted.

“You. I want you, Chris.”

Chris attacked your lips with his own.  He took two seconds to savor them before he ravaged your mouth with his tongue.  You moaned and he broke from your mouth to re-discover your face, your neck, your cleavage.  He had to control himself not to rip the bodice of your blush pink chiffon dress.

He had a raging hard on, which you were feeling up, remembering how you always struggled to take him.  You wanted him to hurt you with it now.

“Give me this Chris… please…”

You were reaching into his pants, thumb caressing his wet, thick tip. He was leaking for you.

“Remember when you told me that I would meet you in a parking lot, and let you fuck me over the hood of your rental car? Even if I was with someone else?”  

You pulled your hand out and started sucking your thumb, closing your eyes at the taste of Chris after so long.  You pulled it out with a pop.  

“You were so right.”

Chris practically growled, grabbed your arm and spun you, pushing your back until your chest hit the hood of the Model X.  He leaned over you, pushing his covered crotch into the back of your dress, you moaned, wanting more.  His mouth was at your ear.

“Oh, so you want to be my cock whore on the eve of your wedding to someone else.”  You moaned because it was true.

“It’s been so long, Chris…”

He reached down in between you and flipped the flouncy skirt of your dress up, exposing you to the wind of New York City.  He looked at it for a minute, your ass always his favorite.

He caressed it with both hands, pressing into you with his thumbs.  

“So you want me to feel you up?”  He pulled his hand back and sucked one of them, practically jumping for joy when he tasted you. 

“You want me to pull your panties to the side….” and he did so, seeing your slick shine in the moonlight, and playing in it for a minute, tracing your lips and making you quiver around nothing.

The way you were moaning his name was everything right now.

Your face was pressed against the cool metal of the car, and it was the only thing tying you to the earth.

“Oh yes, Chris…. Please please yesss...fuck me… damn...stretch me out…”

Chris’s dick pulsed and he needed you around him. He moved close again and unzipped his pants, the sound making your knees weak.

He teased your cunt with his tip, collecting your arousal and smearing it not only around your pussy, but around your asshole.

“I know you’ve fucked him, but have you let him have your ass?  Am I still the only one…?”

Chris was still playing the game. 

“No, no, no… I haven’t let him… I haven’t given him anything. I’ve been celibate, too.  It’s still yours Chris. All of me is still yours.”

Chris almost came just hearing you say it out loud. He already knew, but hearing you say it was the shit.

He pushed into you with a grunt, and it was difficult.  He didn’t make it. Your cunt squeezed him out.

“Ffffuck, y/n. You’re practically closed down.  Is it true?”  

He started rocking his tip into your pussy slowly, both regretting and reveling in the fact that he didn’t stretch you out with his fingers beforehand.  Then he decided that he wanted you to feel this fully.

You couldn’t answer, only responding with moans has he painfully breached you. You welcomed it, though.

“Ah, ah, ah, ah… yes Chris.  Only you.. Since you and I….”  Talking about it and the fact that you were taking him again made you wetter, and eased Chris’s way, although your pussy was already stinging with his girth. Your eyes rolled back in your head.

You would never get over this and were so grateful for the feeling again.  

Chris watched you and had to grit his teeth to hold back from the reality that he was taking you again. 

He leaned over you, hot breath huffing in your ear, puffing and groaning as he fucked you slowly.  He was trying to feel every sensation. He wanted you to know that each and every millimeter of your glorious wet, tight pussy was his.

‘Ohhhh. Fuck Chris… YESSSS!”  Your voice echoed off the concrete walls, and Chris wanted you louder.

“This what you wanted?  You wanted your thick cock inside you again. Hunh?  You wanted me to stretch your walls and fuck you raw, hunh?”  He started speeding up in time with your moans.

“Such a fucking filthy cockslut for me, baby.”  Chris grabbed your neck from the back. “Why didn’t you let Kevin hit, hunh?”  

You didn’t answer, you just moaned and Chris smacked your ass, hard.

“Chris! Fuck!”  

You screamed. You missed his ruthlessness when you fucked, you missed him making sure that you knew that he knew that you knew. You belonged to him. 

 “Please!”

“I know why.” 

Chris stopped fucking you and pressed down harder on your back, reaching around to find your clit.  He swirled around it once, then started to press down slowly. 

“Because you would never beg him for that subpar dick that he has. You’re MY whore. You belong to me.”

He pressed down roughly, and you detonated around his dick.  He didn’t have to move.  Chris pulled out, leaving you cold and bereft.

You turned around and leaned up against the hood, panting and still desperate for him.  He stood there in front of you, dick sticking out of his pants, which were ruined, and still rock hard and ready. He was in a quiet rage.

“Why did you leave me?” 

You searched his face.  He sounded like he was about to cry.  You couldn’t quite see his entire face, but his eyes shone, bright with liquid.  You went toward him.

“You hurt me Chris.  I couldn’t stay. But let me take care of you now.”

You got on your knees in front of him, the hard concrete of the parking structure digging into your knees.  

Again, you welcomed the physical pain, distracting you from what you were doing to Kevin, to Chris, and to yourself.

Chris felt like he could fly.  You on your knees for him again was a dream. 

He took his cock in his hand, stroking it, while moving close to you. In no time, the back of your head was in his palm, and you opened wide to accept him, hand coming up to stroke what you couldn’t fit.

“Ah, ah. Let me.”  

You looked up at him to see an evil grin shine down on you. 

Chris looked down on an angel trying to swallow him whole. He brushed the tears away from your eyes as you struggled to breathe. You were perfection.

Moaning around him, you relaxed your mouth and throat and let him use you.  It was difficult, because you were out of practice, but you welcomed the letting go of all thought. 

You dripped down your thighs as Chris pumped into you, ready to accept what he had to give. 

After a few minutes, he stopped, and pulled out, grabbing you up to your feet. 

Then he bent down and grabbed you by the back of your thighs and you wrapped your legs around his waist, kissing him and trying to grind down on his still-erect cock as he backed you to the car.

Your ass hit the hood, and Chris reached between you to first tear your panties off. He put them in his pocket as he swiped his dick up and down your dripping wet folds.  

He looked back up to watch your face as he pushed inside you, now, an easier path to nirvana.

He pulsed as he watched the pleasure take over your face, with your mouth slack and your eyes glassed over. This was his main purpose in life and he almost lost it.

He brought his hand up to bring you closer, breathed into your mouth as he squeezed your throat. You were high instantly, and clamped down on his cock as your body was wracked with waves of pleasure.

Chris let your body descend back down to the car as he pumped his seed into you, his mind fantasizing that he was impregnating you. 

He shook your body as the last ropes of cum spurted out of him. He ran his hand down your body as he pulled out, zipping up his pants as you came back to your senses on the hood of the car.

You stared at the stars as you realized what you had done.  You sat up and adjusted your dress, gingerly climbing back down to the ground.  

Chris kissed you on the forehead, and this time you let him get into the driver’s seat. You got in the passenger side and Chris reached into the glovebox and handed you some wet wipes.

“Fix your face. And your knees.” 

He nodded down to your legs, which were dirty from the parking structure floor.  He watched you wipe your knees off, but stopped you as you went higher.

“No. I want you to feel me all night long.”  

You wanted to be a brat, but you didn’t feel like sass right about now. You felt kinda terrible.

You got another wet wipe and fixed your makeup as best you could as Chris drove you back to the restaurant.

“Chris, I…”

“I know.  None of that meant that we’re back together.  That was for some kind of something, I dunno, something Kevin might have done?” 

You looked down, ashamed. Chris lifted your chin up with his hand.

“I want you to come to me on your own.  You’ve gotten that out of your system, and I’m glad to be of service.”  You looked up into his eyes and at his wry smile.

“But remember, you still have a choice. I’m here if you choose me.”  

He leaned over and gave you a tender kiss in front of the restaurant.

You smiled at him and climbed out of the car, watching as he drove off.

Chris’s heart was beating out of his chest as he watched you turn and go back inside. He fought the urge to turn around. It was better this way.

----

You walked in the restaurant, and pulled Kevin over to the side of the restaurant in dark alcove. 

“Listen. Do you still want to marry me?”

He looked you up and down, taking in your state, from the faint marks on your neck to your scuffed knees.  He knew exactly what was up.

You raised an eyebrow at him.  

-----

Three hours later, a sleepy Chris answered the doorbell in Brooklyn.

He smiled at you, in the Captain America t-shirt and jeans that you’d stolen from him after a photoshoot, looking like his favorite Disney princess. You.

You took him in, clad in grey sweatpants that hung off his magnificently cut body.  He blinked at you sleepily.

“The wedding is off. Chris, I….”

He reached out and grabbed you, pulling you in the brownstone and shutting the door behind you.  He had you pinned up against the wall as you tried to speak.

“Shut up and let me taste you.”  

You grinned and wrapped your legs around his waist as he carried you upstairs.

--- 

The next morning, Chris was on the phone with Scott.

“Yes, tell the workers at the warehouse to dump all the products….I don’t care, the river, the landfill…. Y/N can’t find out that I bought up all her stock…. We’re going to be married..... I know what the fuck I’m doing Scott. We leave for Aruba this afternoon. Listen, I’ll call you later.”

Chris hung up and turned to find you in the doorway, frowning and rubbing your eyes.  

“We’re going to Aruba?”  

You smiled and yawned, sleepily stretching.  That was all that you’d heard of the conversation.

Chris gave you his stunner smile.  

“Yes. It was going to be a surprise.” 

He reached down and swung you up in his arms, carrying you into the bathroom bridal style.

“Now let’s get in the shower.  You’ve been very naughty, gotta get you clean for your wedding day.”

You giggled as you relaxed in Chris’s arms. “It takes two to be naughty, Chris.”

He winked at you as he turned on the shower. “Don’t I know it.”

-----

I know it’s different. Let me know if you like it. Like, comment, reblog! 

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[darkomoth]

Grief and Longing 3/4

TASM!Peter Parker x reader

Summary: Your and Peter's relationship takes a turn, the two of you are figuring it out together

Notes: Shorter than the last two chapters, I know, but we're nearing the end here! :)

Word Count: 3.5k

Warnings: Angst

Part 1 Part 2 Part 4

You wake up with your head resting against something warm and hard. Slowly, you look around yourself and realize you’d fallen asleep quite literally on top of Peter. You’re both on the couch still and Peter's arms are secured around you. You feel that familiar heat creeping up your neck and into your cheeks and try to remove yourself. He must’ve felt you stir because soon Peter was shifting and opening his eyes.

“Good morning.” He says with that little smile of his that you can’t help but return.

“Morning.” You reply. “Do you mind if I uh- well, I need to use the restroom.”

Peter realizes he’s still holding on to you and reluctantly starts to pull away. “Oh, yeah, sorry ‘bout that.” He laughs awkwardly which you join in on.

“No problem. Sorry I fell asleep and sorta trapped you.” You say, removing the blanket and getting up. You feel the cool air of the apartment as goosebumps bloom over your arms and legs.

“I didn’t mind.” Peter says, still laying down. He’s smirking and you don’t know how to respond so you just nod and leave the room as quick as you can. You swear you can hear him chuckling under his breath as you’re walking away.

You splash some cold water on your face in the bathroom to wake yourself up more. Well, that, and to cool down a bit before you go back out there. Peter just… does something to you. Something that nobody really has before. You’ve had childhood crushes before, small ones that you forgot about in a week, but this wasn’t like that. This was different, that’s for sure. You try to just focus on brushing your teeth and getting dressed, but your mind still wanders. Peter’s eyes, his lips, the way he holds your hand. You shake your head, ‘pull yourself together’ you think.

When you do finally get back to the living room, Peter’s disappeared. You’re sure he wasn’t in his room, the door was open and you could see that it was empty. “Peter?” You call out, making your way to the kitchen. On the fridge, you see a small note held up by a magnet. It reads in messy writing “getting breakfast, be back soon!” He drew a little spider on it, because of course he did, the dork. You catch yourself smiling at it.

Well, since he’s gone, you may as well be productive. You found today’s paper on the coffee table with a few other pieces of Peter’s mail. Picking it up as well as a nearby pen, you get to work on looking for suitable jobs in the area.

“Waitressing… I could do that.” You mumble to yourself, though you’re not thrilled at the idea. You’d done waitressing before, it’s not very fun. But you have experience and you were pretty good at it, if you do say so yourself. “Bartender, receptionist, hostess…” You list off, circling each one and jotting down the contact information so that you could call later and set up some interviews. Starting from scratch in a brand new world was gonna be difficult. Was your social security number the same? Did a version of you even exist in this universe?

That thought stopped you in your tracks. You hadn’t even considered that idea before now. What if a Y/N Y/L/N is out there right now living her life, looking exactly like you. What if you ran into her? Or one of her friends? What would you say, that you two were long lost sisters, separated at birth?

Before you could think on it any longer, you heard a window slide open. You turned your head to see Peter, in full Spider-Man attire, climbing through it with a brown bag in hand.

“Hey stranger.” He says, placing the bag on the island countertop and then removing his mask. His hair is messy and you suddenly wonder how soft it would feel between your fingers.

“Hey.” You reply, making your way over to him. “You get dressed in your superhero outfit to grab…” You look into the bag, “breakfast burritos and hashbrowns?”

“Why, don’t you?” Peter asks, his head quirked to the side making you laugh.

You take a seat at the counter next to him. “Oh yeah, all the time. In fact, I don’t even go to the bathroom without it on.” Peter joins in your laughter before handing you your food. “Thanks.”

“My pleasure. So what’s the plan for today? Cuz I was thinking we could take a look around, get you familiar with the area, see what’s different, what’s the same.” He says excitedly.

“Oh yeah, that sounds great, but I was actually uh- well I was looking through the paper for some jobs nearby. I mean, they’re all minimum wage and sorta not-fun but I’ll take what I can get.” You explain in between bites of your burrito.

“Mmm.” Peter hums, “You know, I could see if there’s an opening at the Bugle- the place I work at. They could use a good comic artist since ours quit a while back.”

“Really? That would be great, thanks.”

“Of course, but that can wait until tomorrow. Today is exploring day!” He jumps up, pulling you with him. “Get your suit on, we’re going swinging.”

-

You’d never enjoyed doing your job as much as you did right now. Technically, you and Peter weren’t trying to look for any crime to meddle in, but you and him were always on the lookout. Swinging about New York with someone else instead of alone was a totally new experience for you. Sharing in this indescribable feeling of flying through the air, relying solely on your own strength and instincts. Peter looked like a trained acrobat, doing flips and twirls. It was a sight to behold, for sure.

“Let’s stop here!” You hear Peter yell out to you as you approach a tall glass building you weren’t familiar with. You nod and pull yourself up to the roof before landing in a somersault. He’s panting and so are you, but the adrenaline rush has you smiling wide beneath your mask. Wordlessly, you both make your way to the edge where you sit, legs dangling in the air far above the rest of the city. The sun is high in the sky, there’s a warm breeze and it’s so peaceful. Peter removes his mask and you follow suit.

“Pretty.” You say, looking out at the view before you. The sunlight’s hitting the windows of the skyscrapers in such a way that makes the city glow with warm light. Pretty doesn’t even cover it.

“Yeah.” Peter sighs, but he’s not looking out at the skyline. His head’s tilted in your direction and he’s eyeing your expression. He loves this. Having someone again to share in his secret. Ever since Gwen, he’s been almost completely alone. Of course he has Aunt May, and he doesn’t know what he’d do without her, but it wasn’t the same. Not even close. He follows the curve of your lips, how your eyes crinkle with a smile, it’s hard to look away from.

“So, what do you think?” He asks as nonchalant as possible.

“It’s very similar. Really, it’s almost an exact replica. Like, okay, you see that building over there?” You lean over Peter to point to a smaller concrete building with a big red sign out front that reads “Anthony’s Pizzeria.” The left side of your body is fully touching his right and it’s hard for him to think for a second.

“Ahem- yeah, yeah I see it.”

“Back home, that’s where I’d go out to eat almost every weekend. It was called “Tony’s Pizzeria” though. Weird. The owner always gave me a discount.” You smile fondly before it dawns on you that you’d never go there again. Well, you could, but it wouldn’t be the same. A wave of homesickness came over you suddenly.

Peter noticed the change in your demeanor. Not sure what to say, he just reaches an arm around your shoulders and brings you closer to his side. Your head rested on his shoulder now, the silence not uncomfortable. You didn’t think you’d feel like this about leaving your world. What was there to be sad about? Nothing was left for you back there, no family, no friends, no… Peter. Your Peter was gone.

Another couple minutes passed before Peter spoke up. “I know that this can’t be easy, but I want you to know that I’m glad you’re here.” You look up at him then and his breath gets caught in his throat. Your eyes are glossy but there’s an upward turn to your lips and you’re just so beautiful, he thinks.

“Thank you.” Your heart’s racing. It’s making it difficult to focus. You and Peter haven’t stopped looking into each other's eyes until he breaks contact to glimpse at your lips. Then you’re licking them and he’s getting closer to you. He hovers there, his nose brushing yours.

“Really, really glad.” Peter whispers and leans in more. You meet him halfway, impatient now. Finally your lips connect and you just melt into him completely. It’s perfect. The way he caresses your head with one hand while the other grips your waist. His lips are soft and you sigh into him, tangling your hands in his hair. It is soft, you think.

Slowly, you both break apart. Peter leans his forehead on yours, his eyes are closed and he has the most beautiful smile on his face. “I’ve been wanting to do that again.”

“Again?” You ask, brow furrowed.

He looks at you then like he was caught in some awful lie. “Oh, right, sorry. You don’t remember the um…” Peter fumbles with his words, his hands still resting in your hair and on your waist, unwilling to let go now that he has you. “Before the spell that made you forget, like literally right before…”

You blush and look down, letting out a weak breathy laugh. “Oh… I’m sorry I don’t remember.”

“Hey,” Peter rests his hand under your chin and lifts your head a little so you have to look at him. “It’s not your fault. I’m just glad we got a do-over.” You laugh and lean your head on his chest.

“Yeah, me too. I promise not to forget it this time.” He chuckles and holds you to him.

“Better not.”

Peter and you sat there for a while longer, hours it seemed. It was a relatively quiet day for New York. The warm breeze soon became chilly, the afternoon sun lowered in the sky, settling a beautiful array of pinks and oranges in the clouds. You could stay here with Peter forever, you thought. This was perfect.

-

The two of you came across a few petty criminals on the way home. They were hijacking a car and it took all of ten minutes for you and Peter to deal with them. One spider-man against a group of criminals was hardly a fair fight, but two? They might as well have not put up any fight at all.

It’s dusk now back at the apartment and you and Peter have changed into comfier clothing. You’re in a tank top and shorts, Peter in his white T-shirt and sweatpants. The plan was to order take-out and watch another movie. But it feels different now. The energy between you two has changed, you both notice it. You’re both so aware of one another. Peter looks at you and runs a hand down the length of your arm. Goosebumps rise on the skin he lingers over. He’s so gentle, you think. It’s endearing and simultaneously frustrating because all you want is for him to grab you and kiss you again. Like he’s read your mind, Peter dips down to catch your mouth with his. It’s faster this time, almost desperate.

He’s pushing you back, more, more until you trip and fall horizontally onto the couch. You don’t get the chance to catch your breath because Peter’s on top of you, hands roaming the length of your body and god you just feel amazing and it’s all so… familiar. You know you haven’t done this before, but what if you had? With your Peter back in your universe? Is that why being with this Peter is so easy and comforting? Was that the only reason?

Peter can’t believe any of this was happening. He was hoping for it, of course. But he didn’t know if you would reciprocate any of these feelings, especially since you had no memory of ever liking him before now. It was a slight ego boost, he admits, to have you here like this after only a few days of knowing you. You’re under him, hands caressing his neck and back while he nips at your jaw, then neck, then lower.

A knock at the door stops the both of you in your tracks. “That’ll be our chinese food.” Peter says, voice hoarse. You can only nod up at him, flustered. “We could just leave it out there.” He jokes with a smirk.

You exhale a breathy laugh, “That certainly is an option, but I think I heard your stomach growling just a minute ago.”

Peter looks offended, “If anyone’s stomach was growling, it was yours. I have control over my body.”

“Oh do you?” You ask with a smirk of your own. He just inhales sharply, shakes his head and steals one last kiss before getting off of you and heading for the door. He comes back, bag of food in hand and gestures for you to scoot over so he can sit down next to you.

“I had a thought earlier today.” You say while unpacking the styrofoam boxes. Peter only hums in response. “Well… there was a Peter Parker in my universe, right? So logically, that means there’s a possibility that there would be a Y/N Y/L/N here, maybe.”

Peter has a mouthful of food that he stops chewing on for a second. He shrugs and swallows, “Hm, yeah, maybe.”

“You never met her or anything?” You ask.

“No, I never had the pleasure.” He smirks and you smack him lightly on the shoulder, but you can’t help but to smile back at him.

“I’m serious. What if I run into her one day? Or someone mistakes me for her? I have no idea what her life is like here.”

“Hey, New York’s a big city, alright? It’s very unlikely you’ll ever run into that issue.”

“But not impossible.”

“Has anyone ever told you you’re a worrier?”

“It’s come up.”

Peter laughs then groans. “Okay, okay, well, how bout we look her up? Shouldn’t be too hard to find an address. Maybe even a criminal record.” He side-eyes you, “Maybe she’s your evil twin!”

You laugh and shove at him, “That’s not even funny.”

“Says the girl who's laughing.” He snarks while standing up to retrieve his laptop from his room.

Peter returns with laptop in hand. He plops back down on the couch and shoves his half-eaten food to the side of the coffee table to make room for his computer. He opens up a google tab and types in your name after confirming with you for spelling.

“Okay, let’s see.” He mutters, scrolling down a bit and clicking on the first site that includes your name. It’s a link to a facebook page- a memorial page. “Oh…” Peter isn’t sure what to say. There’s a photo of you, younger and smiling wide. Your hair’s slightly different but it’s unmistakably you.

You’re looking over his shoulder at the screen and you’re also at a loss for words. You clear your throat, “Uh 2015, that was what… seven years ago? I would’ve been eighteen years old. Wow, she died so young…” Your brows were furrowed as you thought about it. What are you supposed to be feeling? It’s not grief, really, can you grieve your own death?

Peter’s looking at you a little worriedly, not sure how you’re going to react. You’ve already been hit with a lot of heavy information the past couple days and this didn’t seem like it was going to help. “It says here she went to Midtown high, graduated the same year as me… I can’t believe I never met her. Or at least, don’t remember meeting her.” He says, feeling guilty all of a sudden. How could he have possibly not noticed her? You’re very difficult to miss, he thought.

“Does it uh- does it say anything about how she died?” You ask, more curious than anything.

“Mmm…” Peter scrolls a bit. “Yeah, it seems like it was some sorta accident. Oh.” He felt his blood run cold.

“What?” You ask, holding onto Peter’s arm. “What is it?”

“She died in the uh- the crossfire of a fight between Spi- uh- me and Electro.” His heart feels ten pounds heavier and suddenly your presence is feeling very surreal. He dares to glance over at you, but you aren’t looking at him. Your eyes are glued to the screen, but you seem far away. “Y/N?”

You snap out of it and turn to Peter. He has watery eyes and your heart aches for him. “Oh, Peter, you don’t think this is your fault, do you? Because it isn’t. At all.” You say, snaking your arms around his torso, trying your best to comfort him. “Sometimes people are just at the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“I feel like I should be the one comforting you here.” Peter lets out a shaky laugh that you join in on.

“It’s strange, I don’t know what I should be feeling… I’m sorry that she’s gone and at such a young age, but I had no idea who she was. I mean, was she even anything like me? It doesn’t seem like she became Spider-Woman here…” You’re rambling on, not sure what else to do.

“No, I think I’d have known if she was.” Peter says. “You told me that you and your Peter were bitten at the same time by the same spider and that you worked together. I was always alone in this.”

“I wish I remembered. I wish I knew… I can only remember being alone too.”

Peter grabs your hand, interlocks his fingers with yours. “Not anymore.”

“No, not anymore.” You’re both smiling those sad smiles and Peter can’t help but to lean over and give you a kiss on your cheek. Your smile widens and you lean into the contact. “Thank you.” You say suddenly.

“For what?” Peter asks with that cute tilt of his head.

“Convincing me to come here and stay with you. I’ve always had a… difficult time accepting help.”

“Me too. But if I’m being a hundred percent honest with you, I didn’t do it completely altruistically…”

“What do you mean?”

“I wanted to stay with you. You made me feel… I don’t know- hope? That I could actually, maybe, be happy again. I never thought that I could feel like this again, not after Gwen.”

Your heart hurts for the boy in front of you. He’s been through so much pain, that much you had in common. You didn’t know what Gwen he was referring to, but you made it a note in your head to bring it up later. Right now, you just wanted to sit here next to Peter, holding each other contentedly.

-

That night you and Peter fell asleep together in his room, in his bed. You didn’t feel any pressure around him, just happy. It felt good to even be near him, but to have him like this? In your arms, quiet and warm, wrapped in a comforter while you drift off, was something entirely indescribable. He would place small, sweet kisses on your forehead and you would sigh happily before returning the favor.

When you closed your eyes and finally drifted off, your dreams were plagued with images of Peter. You saw him in the halls of Midtown High. It was filled with hundreds of other kids, but all you focused on was Peter. The way he skated through the crowd so he could get to you faster. And when he reached you, he’d hold out his hand for you to take. The way he smiled and laughed was music to your ears. He looked young and full of energy as he dragged you along all the way to the roof of your school. The air was crisp and cold when you reached the top and Peter was quick to steal a kiss from you, his hands caressing your face. You closed your eyes, but started smiling into it so wide that you had to break apart. Your foreheads touched and you just stood there, not sure for how long. Eventually you looked back up at him, seeing a dismal expression on his face. Your happiness was replaced with worry and before you could ask him what was wrong, Peter spoke.

“Wake up.”

[actonrpt]

how to name a character: a quick guide.

one of the best--and hardest--parts of making a new character is choosing their name. over the years, i have a few methods i use, so i thought i’d throw together a quick rundown.

first, the obvious: consider whether you want their name to be meaningful in some way. this is a classic, and you can be straightforward, subtle, or ironic. (gloomy goths named sunshine, anyone?)

also consider what names were popular in the year they would’ve been born, or popular names from their culture.

the name someone has often says more about their parents than the character themselves, so consider. maybe the character’s mom is a politician who named her son after abraham lincoln, or maybe their family immigrated from russia, so she gave her daughter a popular russian girls’ name. are the parents the type to do a ton of research before choosing a name, or was it spur-of-the-moment? would they choose something trendy or go out of their way to make sure the name was uncommon? is there a relative or friend they might’ve named their kid after?

similarly, for last names, consider, would their parents have their kid take only one of their names? whose? would they hyphenate it or make one the middle name?

nicknames! does your character use one? did their parents choose a name specifically because it could easily be given a nickname... or specifically because it can’t?

avoid choosing a name that’s irrevocably associated with a popular piece of media, unless their parents are the sort to name their kid after their favorite character. names like “harry” or “claudia” are common and “normal” enough that you’re probably in the clear (unless harry is a wizard or claudia is a vampire), but don’t name a character “hermione” or “lestat” unless their parent is a harry potter or vampire chronicles superfan.

if i’m stuck between a few choices, i’ll often write down a list of first names i like, then list of last names i like, and try out every possible combination until i find one that feels right. process of elimination will take you a very long way.

avoid giving two characters names that sounds too similar, even if they’re relatives. you’re just asking for some confusion.

resources:

nameberry. easily my favorite name website. not only do they have thousands of names from all over the world, they have an amazing advanced search. you can filter names by meaning, origin, number of syllables, and scarcity! they also have a TON of lists of themed names.

magic baby names. this is a cool one! enter some names that you like, and it’ll recommend names that have the same vibe. this is VERY useful for naming siblings. can’t figure out what to name emily’s six younger sisters? pop her name into the generator and see what comes up.

nymbler. their “explore” feature works similarly to magic baby names, but their “choose” feature is essentially tinder for baby names. they show you a name, along with its origin and meaning. you tell them whether you like or dislike it, and it modifies what names it shows you based on your answers. can be a VERY big timesuck if you go down a rabbithole.

random lists. sometimes you just need a big list. their female name generator is here, and their male name generator is here.

fantasy name generator. for all your dnd and supernatural thread needs.

social security. no, seriously. they keep a record of the most common names each year, which can be very handy if you think your character’s parents would’ve chosen something that was popular at the time.

and that’s pretty much it! go forth and name your characters! (and apologies if those resources makes google think you’re pregnant.)