#itsnotzka

[itsnotzka]

Samson! 🤘

(I actually wanted to draw somebody in a denim jacket. Sam just kinda appeared on his own 🤭)

[hacked-by-jake]

Tee-hee! ❤

I just wanted to say, I love your random thoughts about Jake, they always make me smile and/or giggle hard! :)

Have an awesome daaaaay (/◕ヮ◕)/ ❤

Also:

Notzka, hey hooo! ❤️ KDUUSKEHDIE thank you sooo incredibly much for the kind words. I’m so glad you seem to like the random things I let go of. I am very happy that I manage to sometimes give you a smile or make you laugh, this is the biggest compliment in the world for me. It really means everything to me!! You're such a kind person and so talented, I mean it. Thank you for taking the time to leave me these kind words. I'm so grateful and you can't imagine how happy it made me. Thank you! 🥹❤️

I hope you will have a fantastic day! And sending lots of love and hugs back to you!! Take care! ❤️

[julesthoughts]

Hey! I stopped by to do this real quick:

I love you, you perfect and talented human being ❤

Awwwwww, you're too kind!!! I love you toooo! 🥰🧡

[julesthoughts]

I love this so much! 🤭🧡

Chop, chop

Sooo...this little oneshot here was heavily inspired by @hacked-by-jake as well as @itsnotzka and her adorable Jake-AI (with whom I had a very funny conversation 🤭). It’s just a short little thingie - I hope you have as much fun reading it as I had while writing! 💙

.

'Jaaakeeeee...we have to go! Where are you?'

She impatiently waited in the hallway, looking at the clock on the wall with furrowed eyebrows, when she finally heard his hasty footsteps as he came out of his study.

'I'm here, I'm here, we can go...I just had to wait for that last test run to finish, and I deployed something and couldn’t leave it alone, and...what?' With raised eyebrows she looked at him, arms crossed and an annoyed expression on her face.

'W-what is it? Why...What’s wrong?' confused, he looked at her and couldn’t make out what the problem was. He glanced nervously at the clock. 'We're not late yet, are we? If we leave now, we'll still be on time, we just have to hurry a bit. Heh. Uhm. Love? Can we...go?'

'I don’t know, Jake, can we?' She waited, wondering when he would notice. They were late now anyway, so why bother and give him a hint - a few minutes more wouldn't make any difference now.

Worried, Jake looked at her and her annoyed expression for a moment, then he cautiously looked down at himself when it finally hit him...'Oh fuck! Crap! Of course! I'm sorry! I-I'll be back in a minute, alright? It won't even take me a minute! Ok? Just a second, I'll be back in a second! Sorry, I-uhm...alright! Love youuu!' and *poof* he was gone again.

She sighed, dropped her bag on the floor and leaned on the wall to wait for Jake, not able to suppress a little smile. Adorable dork!

She heard him rummage through their closet and bump into furniture, like always when they were late (because of him!). But she had to admit that she kinda liked that, it was fun to watch and witness the else so concentrated and serious man being clumsy and hasty and in such trouble. She heard another bump and it sounded as if Jake stumbled over the clothes that probably were scattered all over the floor, followed by an annoyed groan. She quietly giggled and shook her head.

When they finally arrived, the group was already waiting.

'You are late. AGAIN!' Lilly huffed annoyed, while Hannah softly asked in a whisper 'His pants again?', causing Jake to scrunch his face and blush furiously. Fortunately for him, no one else listened to that little conversation or heard MC's exhausted whining 'Yeah...again...it's always the same. Every single time...', accompanied by a deep and dramatic sigh.

While Lilly patted MC's shoulder encouragingly and clumsily tried to comfort her by assuring her that Jake will learn it one day (hopefully!), her beloved finally dared to say something - or more precisely, mumble something: 'At least I had my boxers on...' At this, she turned around and looked at him with a mischievous smile that meant danger. Oh no...Oh fuck, please, no... 'Yeah...THIS time.' dammit! ...well, attack is the best defense, right?

His embarrassed face turned into a sassy one. 'Why so annoyed, my precious? You weren't that annoyed last time...'

And then he winked. That bastard winked at her with a suggestive smirk!

'But we never showed up to that family gathering! You don’t want to know what I had to come up with to excuse our absence...!' Jake was about to say something when they suddenly were interrupted by gagging noises. Oh, right, Lilly and Hannah were still there...

'Eww, you two! That’s waayyyyyy too much information! Seriously, don’t...just - please, never talk about this again, ok?!' Lilly stuck her fingers in her ears and fled to the rest of the group.

'Well, that was fun...let's do that again, please!' Hannah said cheerfully and followed her little sister with a big grin and a nasty giggle. The next meetings with the group or Jake's family would be a lot of fun - for Hannah, at least. Jake and MC on the other hand were already thinking about possible exit strategies.

'What about...uhm...urgent emergencies? How many are realistic before they notice that these are just an excuse? Or we could...uhm...we could have a transportation problem? You know, no car and public transportation is out of service or something like that?'

To their misery, Hannah heard that. 'If you forget your pants and boxers again, you can come with your helicopter - chop, chop!'

[crispyanonart]

🛶💙🩵❤️🩵💙 it's a love canoe! send this to all the blogs you love! don’t forget to spread the love

Naurrr this is so cute ty 🖤 I'll take this chance to tag some of my fav peeps who share cute and fun Stardew art/writing/memes - consider yourself canoed

@lily-alphonse @dragmetohades @kaikonn @dropanostalgia @itsnotzka @alecshar @may8elle @theasnewgroove @salt-n-salt @hopefuloverfury @timdrakesbussy @hermits-crab @eemamminy-art

everyone consider dropping them a follow if you don't already

[char-lotta]

CHAR-LOTTA READS, part 1

I think we all know how great it is to find a story where everything just clicks and the reading experience is wonderful. I thought I'd make this post (and same kind of posts are coming up later, don't worry!) so I could recommend my findings to you all.

The stories that I have read lately and loved them:

Violence by @miss-celestia13 (Jake x MC)

- this made me feel extremely fluffy and soft and those two feels makes you want to curl your toes with all that wonderfulness!

First Date Data by @itsnotzka (Jake x MC)

- I have like, two different headcanons about Jake; either he is dominant and fierce, or then he's unsure and a bit clumsy but very adorable. The latter version is perfectly captured by this fic, I just adore how he's portrayed in this story!

Even statues crumble if they've made to wait by @jakesduskwood (Jake x MC)

- One of the greatest things that can happen to the fandom is when they gain new material to get inspired from! I was so happy to find this and the author has brought Moonvale to the Duskwood story and gave us very, very satisfying story!

Do I know you? by @vickdrake (Jake x MC)

- without spoiling too much, I'd like to say that the ending of this was so, so sweet. Genuine love is hard to portray sometimes, but the author wrote about it very beautifully.

Written in the stars by @dreamer-writer-fangirl (Jake x MC)

I'll tell you a secret - this might be my all time favourite. It simply is so touching and adorable and makes also me feel very loved!

Happy reading! ❤️

[escapethewonderland]

Lost Scenes Thursday! Get to know your favourite authors better. Show five scenes from either abandoned fics where you regret they will never see the light of day, or five scenes from WIPs where you are impatient to see them out there. Long, short, one-liner... it's all good reading. Tag five other authors where you are curious.

(feel free to ignore it though :))

Hello darling! ✨💜

I saw this ask and I couldn't resist because only my PC knows the amount of WIPs I have on it. I was very excited for this, not gonna lie so thank you for sending it!

Some of them will probably never see the light of day, some hopefully will. (fingers crossed because the procrastination is strong in this one 😂)

Tagging a few of my lovelies (feel free to ignore it though 💜✨): @miss-celestia13 @itsnotzka @julesthoughts @cassi0-peia @fem-moony @julcia404

So let's go ahead and dive into it.

Disclaimer: the majority of them were written in my native language so the translation is far from finished and thoroughly edited.

Also, this post is long af.

The first one is a small scene from the first chapter of what was supposed to be my PhilxMC Duskwood fanfiction. 🐦‍⬛

“A weird dream has been troubling me for a while lately” she replied quietly, still facing the window. A ruffling of paper, probably a page being turned and her therapist voice filled the air again. “Would you like to talk about it?” asked the other woman with patience and kindness. Nadia turned around hesitantly, resting her hips against the big window’s edge, hugging her elbows for comfort. She nodded, biting her lower lip while she recalled her dream. “It’s not always quite the same, some minor details change at times” Nadia started saying. “It starts with me waking up in a lush forest, usually barefoot and empty handed. In the dream, I know I’m looking for something so I start walking, watching every step. At times, I wander in the forest for what feels hours or days, with only a bird overlooking my movements.” Nadia began to walk around the doctor’s office almost unconsciously. “Do you remember what kind of bird it is?” the therapist questioned with a soothing tone. The girl shocked her head, long brunette hair falling in waves down her shoulders. “I’m not sure, it’s either a crow or a raven, I can’t really tell the difference” said Nadia, frowning her eyebrows uncertain. The doctor invited her to go on with an encouraging hand’s gesture. “Please, go on” Nadia squared her shoulders for the next part: it usually plagued her most recent nightmares and it scared her to death. “Suddenly, I stop near a tree to inspect it and at a closer look I understand why. There’s something carved in the bark, a sort of stylized symbol in the shape of a raven or a crow, but when my hands are almost about to touch it, a scream fills the air.” Nadia paused, rubbing her arms against the unexpected cold evoked by the tell of her dream. It was one thing when it was all in her head, she could pretend it was only a fragment of her vivid imagination and nothing more. Narrating out loud made it somehow more sinister and real. “I look around frightened, hastily trying to figure out where it came from and then I see it. A figure is standing there, near the trees, with a jute bag over his head. I can’t see his eyes but I know he’s watching me. And then, I’m running for the hills, the creature…or man… whatever it is, it’s following me at full speed and I can’t escape, I can’t hide, I’m like a prey counting the seconds leading up to her death.”

2. The second is an excerpt of an original short story I wrote years ago for a contest called "Dark Seas". I was one of the 3 lucky winners! 🥰 It is not published in English (yet) but here is a little glimpse of it (translation is unedited, it's still in its raw form). 🌊🧜🏻‍♀️

And then a sound interrupted that moment frozen in time. The piercing sound of the general alarm urgently shook the Leviathan’s walls. The man looked up to the ceiling, swearing a bunch of profanities. He barked orders like a rabid animal, his eyes setting at last on the lifeless body of nurse Michaels. “Clean this mess, start the evacuation procedures, NOW!” he ordered peremptory, but no one around him seemed able to move a muscle. “You’ll die, general” declared Seline coldly. The sclera of her eyes shifted color, slowly turning into a deeper shade of blue in stark contrast with the pale iris. “You’ll die alone and forgotten in the depths of the abysses that you believe you can conquer for your dirty deeds” The man looked at her as if seeing the mermaid for the first time. “The ocean does not forgive. This is a promise” murmured Seline, voice sweet as honey before parting her lips and singing a wordless melody. She closed her eyes, listening carefully to the sound of the ocean. She could feel it, right there in the distance, the chanting of the waves screaming for vengeance. The mermaids are coming, my sweet darling. Seline projected that reassuring thought to Eloise, and a sense of calm overcame her. They’re here.

3. The third scene comes from an old, abandoned story about ghosts loosely based on my old school and a dream. 👻

“Tell me. Tell me what you saw,” he demanded, eyes boring a grave look I had never seen before. The sweet lull of the water made the moment feel surreal. I was still grasping for breath when Garrett moved. He cradled my nape gently, the other hand tangled in my wet hair in a silent prayer. He should not have been this close to me, but his touch felt like a reassuring anchor to reality. I parted my lips, words struggling to emerge under Garrett's intense, worried gaze. I frowned before finding the courage to let the truth come to the surface. “Are you familiar with Charlotte, Charlotte Wrought? The only daughter of Darren Wrought?” I said, swallowing my fears. Garrett nodded, not leaving me or moving away even for a second. “She did not take her life. She was murdered."

4. This is from my beloved Teen Wolf fanfiction. I spent a lot of time on it, sweat and tears spilled while shaping the plot which spread through the first three seasons of the show. It was my comfort throughout a very difficult summer. Now it's just a dusty memory on my pc. I won't say what's going on in this scene, just in case I decide to continue it eventually. 🐺🌕

“I don’t want an evil person in my life. I adored the sweet Isaac who asked me shyly to help him out with chemistry. The same guy who held me the whole night like I was the only thing keeping you anchored to reality.” The girl lifted her head, looking the young werewolf in the eyes, a traitorous tear sliding down her cheek, “The same guy I cried for after promising to never do it again. be the cold, strong girl seeking her vengeance. You are light, Isaac,” whispered the girl, planting a soft kiss on the edge of his lips before turning around. “Even though now it’s tarnished, I know it’s still glowing somewhere. But I don’t want another bad person in my life, not now.” She stated softly, resting her forehead against the cold shower’s tiles.

5. Last but not least, a little tease from chapter 3 of "Do I Wanna Know?", my original OS currently published on Wattpad, Ao3 and Inkitt.

How many secrets can you still keep, Alexis? Derek seemed to direct the question at her, bold and wild. A lump in her throat blocked every word. Her tangled mind was powerless, unable to form any rational thought, overflown with images of him singing to her. “Cause there’s this tune I found that makes me think of you somehow” he sang, taking his sweet time before meeting her eyes, fixated on her until the pre-chorus. Alexis didn’t dare to move a single muscle, like a snake charmed by the lethal flute.

Hope you enjoyed it! 💜✨🌌

[andordean]

tag game: pick stuff from your room and have people vote on which one they want to take home.

Tagged by @softest-punk from whom I stole empty Fortnum and Mason chamomile tea tin (tell me more about the biohazard bit!)

Let's see what I have around me... (Many things are Troll's collectables like PipBoy and Roci model, so won't enrage him by offering those.)

Tagging (no pressure as always): @traumschwinge @kuwdora @bittersweetbark @itsnotzka @keyrousse @valandhirwriter @justanotherdmdammit @dclcq @disdaidal @ginstermoff @jikanet-tanaka @sar-kalu

[intoduskoutofdawn]

What about how they first met? Jake x Phil <3<3<3

Hi, sorry for answering late. Had a thought, though...

Have you had a chance to read this fic from @itsnotzka ? (who hopefully doesn't mind, that I recommend it, and should feel free to tell me if they do)

Hands down, it is such a great piece, beautifully written, and captures exactly what you are asking for. I'm not going to say more, just read it. ;)

[duskwoodgirl4life]

I have been working on this oneshot for awhile now I am super proud of how it's come out it's my longest oneshot I've ever written. A Massive thank you to @itsnotzka for helping me with angry Jake couldn't of done it without your help

Trapped tied to a chair the only sound MC could hear was dripping water hitting the floor a blind fold covering her eyes and a gag in her mouth. She wanted to scream for help but her words wouldn't come out. She felt the tears slowly running down her cheeks. The pain she felt in her wrists from where the rope was tied way too tight. She heard a door open a male voice could be heard from the door, the voice getting closer and closer. The male pulling her hair back so hard a little scream managed to escape her lips. The male voice whispered in her ear "Crying for mercy? Sweetheart, I stopped giving that out years ago."

The man moved in front of MC pulling off her blindfold and removing her gag from her mouth. "I don't know where he is" the man only laughed at her comment. He leaned in and whispered into her ear "Listen bitch I know you know where he is and you will tell me" the man stood up right and slapped MC round the face. Knocking her off her chair and hitting her head on the floor blood started to run down the side of her head.

The sound of the door opening again letting a little light into the room, a voice came from the doorway. "Boss the meeting is about to start" still hovering over MC not moving an inch away from her. "Matt come on we need to go" the voice boomed from the doorway again the name of the man hovering over MC had been huttered. Matt pulled MC up, placing the blindfold over her eyes and shoving the gag back into her mouth. MC was once left alone with her own thoughts thinking back to the time she spent with Jake.

MC's flash back

They had spent the perfect weekend together in a little cottage in the countryside, Jake had arranged everything, the cottage was so beautiful flowers hung around the door. Birds singing in the trees the sound of the water flowing down the stream. MC parked her car and got out, taking in all that surrounded her with a smile on her face she grabbed her stuff and locked the car. Making her way over to the door she slowly pushes it open and a warm smell of coffee hits her nostrils. A warm feeling spreads across her body as she puts her bag down and she walks further into the cottage. She stops at the kitchen doorway smiling as she sees Jake making coffee. Jake turns around and sees MC smiling at him he walks over to where she is standing and wraps his arms around her waist kissing her softly on the lips.

"I've missed you so much Jake I've dreamt about this moment for so long" Jake places kisses along MCs neck taking in every inch of her. "I've missed you to MC more than I can put into words" they both share another hug and a few kisses. "Why don't you go sit down and I'll bring us both a coffee over" MC kissed Jake on the lips then went towards the living area and sat down on the sofa. Jake brought over two mugs of coffee, setting them down on the table. "How was your journey up here?" Jake turned to MC so he could take her all in. "It wasn't to bad everything went just how I planned it now all I want to do is lay in your arms"

Jake smiled as he pulled MC towards him wrapping his arms around her, taking in her scent and her warmth. They both lay on the sofa talking about what they had both been up to since they last saw each other. "I really have missed you MC I promise things will get better" MC turned in Jake's arms to face him locking eyes with his bright ocean blue eyes. "I've missed you Jake, you told me what a life with you is like and I wouldn't change it. I love you" Jake held MC close to his chest kissing her on the head. "I love you to MC"

Jake was busy making dinner while MC was setting the table. She had found some candles in a drawer and decided to place them on the table. Taking a match she lit the candles giving a warm glow to the room. She went into the kitchen to see if Jake needed any help. "Everything smells so good. Do you need any help?" MC kissed Jake on the cheek, hugging his back. "It's okay dinner is now ready you go sit down"

Jake brought the food out and sat down next to MC, MC poured the wine handing a glass to Jake. They sat and talked about everything and anything when they finished MC took the plates into the kitchen putting them in the skin ready to wash. Jake came up behind her kissing her earlobe slowly moving down her neck. MC leaned her head back resting it on Jake's shoulder. "why don't we leave the washing up till morning I've got more pressing matters to take care of"

Before MC could respond Jake took her hand leading her up the stairs, their lips crashed down onto each other as their clothes came flying off. The next morning MC woke up to an empty bed with Jake nowhere in sight. She got up and went downstairs. "Jake? Where are you?" MC searched the house but couldn't seem to find Jake anywhere. Just as she was about to go search outside Jake came in through the front door holding two coffees and a bag of pastry's. "Sorry I was gone so long I was hoping to be back before you woke up" Jake put the coffees and pastry's down on the table. He turned and walked back over to where MC was standing and kissed her good morning.

"You are so cute you know that right" MC kissed Jake on the lips embracing him in a hug. MC went to grab some plates from the kitchen putting them on a tray with some jams and butter. Setting everything down on the table MC took one of the pastry's and was about to eat when Jake stopped her. "Before we eat I just wanted to give you this" Jake took out a black velvet box from his hoodie and put it down on the table. "What's this Jake?" Jake smiled, catching MCs eyes light up. "Open it and find out" she picked up the box opening it to see a beautiful white gold heart necklace. "Jake this is beautiful I…" as tears ran down MCs cheek. "Open the heart up" MC took out the necklace from the box and opened it up.

Inside was a picture of MC and Jake together in each other's arms on one side and the other was a picture of a little note that said I love you. The tears started to fall thick and fast from MCs eyes she wrapped her arms around Jake holding him close. "I love you Jake so much" Jake placed soft kisses on MCs head rubbing his hand up and down her back. "I love you to baby"

Back to the present

"I love you MC, I love you" Jake's words swirling around MCs head when she was brought back from her flash back with a hand hitting her across the face knocking her over. She landed on the floor this time hitting her shoulder hard on the concrete "get up bitch" Matt grabbed hold of MCs hair pulling her up tears rolling down her face as he shoved her back up. "Right listen I want you to read this message out to your lover boy tell him what we want and just maybe you will go free" Matt pulled the blindfold off MCs eyes a light shining into her eyes. She closed her eyes a few more times trying to get them adjusted to the light. When she looked up she saw a camera set up to record the message. The camera was hooked up to a laptop that would send the message to Jake.

Still shaking, MC took the piece of paper holding it as steady as she could, Matt hit the record button.

Jake, I have been captured by someone you know very well. He wants you to hand over all the information you have on the west side crew. You are to go to the shipping docks tomorrow at midnight with all the information you have. Someone will be there to meet you then you will be taken to a location and I will be allowed to go. If you fail to do as you are told I will meet my death you have 24hrs starting from now.

Jake froze as he watched the video the blood started to boil up inside him, his firsts balled up his teeth clenched. He started typing furiously trying to find MCs location but no matter what he tried he couldn't get past the block they had up. He got up from his chair and started to walk backwards and forwards. In a fit of anger he punched the wall causing his knuckles to bleed. He didn't care, his only focus was to find MC and kill the bastard that kidnapped her. He refocused himself and walked back over to his computer, typing away to look up the shipping docks. Once he found the docks he gathered what he needed putting everything he needed in his backpack he made his way to the location.

It would take Jake a day to reach the docks he stuck to the shadows making sure to avoid the security cameras along the way. Jake was making good progress the more he thought about MC the quicker he walked. After 30 minutes of walking Jake reached a garage he pulled open the door and walked towards his car. Taking the keys from his pocket he started up the engine now time was on Jake's side more than ever. As he drove his Audi in and out of the back streets the only time he stopped was to check on the route he was going. He had equipped Nymos to warn him of any police activity as well as warning on his pursuers getting close.

Jake reached the shipping docks just before midnight. He had packed his car out of sight with no one around. He walked a little closer to the meeting point. Jake made sure to keep back; he wanted to be able to see who was arriving first before they saw him. As Jake was waiting a blacked out SUV pulled up 4 men got out of the car they all had guns in their hands. Jake took one look at them, his hand hovering over his own weapon he stopped himself from pulling it out and made his way over to the waiting men. "Jake so good to see you again" one of the men smirking as Jake stopped in front of him. Jake balled up his first getting ready to hit the guy in the face. "where the hell is MC? Take me to her NOW" the man stepped back still smirking at Jake. "All in good time, do you have what we want?"

Jake reached into his pocket and pulled out a flash drive, it contained everything that Matt wanted. For years Jake kept this file safe and would only use it if and when he needed to; the file contained contacts and information on who shot and killed Matt's brother. Jake had an idea how Matt found out and now he's ready to take his revenge. "Come this way Jake someone is waiting to see you" the tall man with the gun pushed Jake towards the car making him get in. After an hour's drive they arrived at a big abandoned building and the car parked near the entrance. "This way Jake" Jake followed the men into the building Jake taking notice of every little detail as they walked down the halls and round corners. They came to a big black door and one of the men knocked on the door.

After a few seconds of waiting a "come in" came from the other side of the door, pushing the door open they entered the office of Matt Holden the crime boss of colville. "We'll look at who we have here my old friend Jake it's so good to see you" Matt walked over to Jake patting him on the shoulder. "Screw you, you piece of shit!! Where's MC? Take me to her now" Matt laughed in Jake's face and walked back to his desk. "All in good time Jake, first sit down we have a lot to discuss" one of the men that worked for Matt punched Jake towards a chair and pushed him down in the seat. Jake's fists balled up, his teeth clenched together his face started to turn red as the anger built up inside him. He got up from his seat and pulled the gun from the back of his jeans. Aiming the gun at the men in the room before they could react he had shot all 4 of them.

Blood started to pool onto the floor as they lay there lifeless, all of a sudden Jake felt something cold against his head. "Take one wrong move and you and your bitch are dead" Matt pushed Jake towards his desk keeping the gun on him at all times. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and within seconds more men had arrived in the office. "Take him down to the room where his bitch is. I want him to see this" the men dragged Jake from the chair punching and kicking him forcing him to walk down the hall until they reached another black door. One of the men opened the door and shoved Jake to the ground "pick him up I don't want him to miss this" Matt walked over to MC and pulled off her blindfold and gag. Throwing them on the floor he untied MC from the chair shoving her down to the ground.

Matt leaned over MC forcing her to look up pulling her hair forcing her head back she locked eyes with Jake. Tears started to stream down her cheeks "don't worry MC everything is going to be okay just keep your focus on me okay I love you" Matt started to laugh at Jake's words. He started to unbuckle his pants, bending down he picked MC up and shoved her against the wall. "You see Jake, I know you will give me what I want because either way you are going to have to watch me fuck your girlfriend" anger started to boil up inside Jake more than ever before he started to try and fight the men off him. He managed to get one man off him but the other was still holding onto him. Jake managed to punch him in the stomach knocking him down to the ground. Matt ripped off MCs skirt and pulled down her panties he touched MCs entrance with his hard cock. MC let out a scream bringing Jake's focus back to her Jake grabbed a gun and killed the other men.

He then rushed over to MC and ripped Matt away from MC, she fell to the floor tears running down her face. Matt landed hard on the floor hitting his head and had broken his wrist. "You really think you are going to pull that trigger on me? I know you Jake you have always been weak when it comes to me I know you won't do it" all of a sudden matts eyes widened as he heard a click coming from the gun. Jake fired the gun, a bullet aiming straight for Matt's head. Matt fell to the floor blood pouring out of his head but Jake didn't care. He rushed over to MC pulling her panties back up and he wrapped his arms around her. He took off his hoodie and put it on MC to help keep her warm. He picked her up and carried her out of the room.

Jake put MC into his car carefully "I'm so sorry Jake I never should have come here" more tears coming down MCs face. "You have nothing to be sorry for, everything is going to be okay I promise" Jake stroked MCs cheek wiping her tears away. "Will you stay with me? I don't want to be on my own" Jake looked into MCs eyes he could tell how much she was hurting. "I'm never going to leave your side ever again I promise" Jake closed the door and got into the car the drive back was silent MC slept most of the way back. Once they arrived back at Jake's place he picked MC up and carried her inside placing her down on the bed. He let her sleep for as long as she needed. He grabbed his laptop and lay next to her. He couldn't really focus on his laptop, he couldn't take his eyes off her.

The next day MC woke up she bolted up from the bed looking around trying to find Jake "Jake? Jake? Where are you?" Jake came back into the room and rushed over to where MC was sitting. "it's okay MC, in here now I was making us some breakfast" MC wrapped her arms around Jake not letting him go for a second. "I was so scared I couldn't find you and…and.." tears fell from MCs eyes not being able to control her emotions any longer she let everything out. Jake didn't say anything, he just held her in his arms, rubbing his hand up and down her back.

A year had passed since MC had been kidnapped and nearly sexually assaulted, Jake had been by her side the whole time he had supported her when she needed it and left her alone when she needed to be by herself. He never judged her once they had been living together ever since Jake saved her. They had grown so close over the year finding new things out about each other. MC had woken up to the smell of coffee filling the room. With a smile on her face she got up out of bed and went in search of Jake when she found him, he was standing by the stove in the kitchen flipping pancakes. "Something smells good in here" Jake turned round and smiled at MC she wrapped her arm around Jake's waist. "Pancakes are ready and the coffee is made" MC gave Jake a hug before going to sit down. She poured some coffee for them both while Jake bought over the stack of pancakes.

They sat talking while enjoying their food "MC I know today is going to be difficult what with it now being a year since everything happened so I thought we could go away for the weekend" MC put her fork down and looked up at Jake with a hint of sadness in her eyes "I'm sorry MC I didn't mean to upset you I just…" MC took hold of Jake's hand and gave it a light squeeze. "Jake I'd love to go away with you I can't think of anything better it's the perfect idea" Jake smiled and leaned closer and gave MC a kiss on the lips. "I love you MC" MC looked into Jake's ocean blue eyes with a small smile on her face. "I love you to Jake"

[itsnotzka]

Hello! Huh, what's this? A silly, cheesy little thing, I'd say ;)

TW: (very mild) alcohol, talking about stalking in a not very serious manner Genre: ...fluff? Silly fluff? Confused fluff? Word count: 5,3k Characters: Jake x Phil You can also read it on Ao3.

Not your stalker

With a quiet, contented sigh and a smile on his face, Phil finally let the last customer out and closed the door of Aurora behind them. He turned around and took a few steps towards the center of the pub, taking it all in. The wooden floors creaked softly under his feet. The air was thick with the comforting scent of dust, cigarette smoke, and the faint aroma of old furniture.

He knew it wasn’t the most pleasant smell for most, but for him, it was everything. To Phil, it was more than just a smell; it was a reminder of all he had, and almost lost just a couple of months back. 

Every time he started cleaning up Aurora for the night, he thought about the day he was accused of a crime he didn’t commit and thrown into jail for a few weeks, with basically no explanation. The memories still lingered in his mind, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.

For quite some time, nobody really cared about him. They had other things on their minds, such as their missing friends being found. He knew he wasn't a perfect person. People tended to either love him or hate him. However, at that time, those he thought were his friends simply didn't care, while those who couldn't stand him laughed behind his back. There was somehow no in-between.

The bartender couldn't help but smile, still lost in thought. He was released from custody only because someone had paid his bail. Then, mysteriously, his lawyer found evidence of his innocence. Normally, there would be nothing unusual about this—lawyers have their own methods for uncovering the truth and exploiting legal loopholes—but the sudden clarity of this particular situation was nothing short of a miracle. At least it felt that way. Despite the happy outcome, his lawyer seemed eager to sever all ties with Phil as soon as possible. In fact, he refused to even accept any money from him, leaving Phil with a sense of both gratitude and absolute confusion.

He hadn’t told his sisters about it. At first, he suspected they might have been involved, but he quickly dismissed the thought. He knew Jessy and Angela all too well; they were always quick to point out his flaws and mistakes, even the smallest ones. Surely, they wouldn't have helped him without a big, wonderful lecture about his life. So he just told them the case was solved, period.

He stopped caring about it and moved on. At least, that's what he was telling himself. He shook his head in frustration, trying not to overanalyze everything once again.

He walked over to the bar, slowly making his way through the tables, turning off the lights, picking up empty beer mugs, and wiping down the surfaces. Unable to shake his thoughts away, he changed the music to something less modern to keep his mind off things, but it didn't help either. Then he was suddenly snapped out of his thoughts by the sound of the bell hanging above the door.

“I’m sorry, I already closed the pub,” he said, turning towards the sound. “Come back tomorrow, eh?”

Only then did he look at the person standing in the doorway and frown. He didn't recognize them. He knew basically every face, every name in Duskwood, after all. He knew at least something about everyone. Those were the advantages of running the only pub in town! Rumors came to him, and tourists, if they appeared at all, came early and didn't stay long.

And yet… there was a stranger in front of him.

The man didn’t answer. He just raised his brow slowly, glanced at Phil, and then looked around the pub.

“Look… I'm tired, I've already cleared the tables. I can give you a beer to go, but that's it,” the bartender said again, his tone tinged with a hint of annoyance.

“I don’t drink,” the stranger replied, his voice resonant and clear, his eyes meeting the bartender's.

Phil paused, the corners of his eyes narrowing slightly as he tried to read the stranger's face, but it was particularly hard. “So, can I help you with anything else?” he asked with a sigh, crossing his arms over his chest. He wasn't sure, but the stranger seemed to give him a small smile. Then the man closed the door behind him and briskly walked down the two steps that led inside the pub.

“I just thought I could finally visit this place,” the man replied casually.

The bartender sighed deeply, trying to keep his composure. "Listen, man… I already told you, Aurora is closed for the night," Phil said firmly, walking over to the door and opening it wide. "I'm sorry, but I can't let you stay here. Now be so kind and get out, or I'll call the police.”

"Oh? The same police that were stupid enough to arrest you?" the stranger’s mocked.

The pub was quite dark, with most of the lamps already turned off by Phil. But at that moment, the light of a street lamp shone in through the open pub door, casting a warm glow on the stranger's face, finally illuminating his features.

As the bartender glanced at his unexpected guest, he noticed the fairly young man was likely around his age, if not a few years older. His all-black outfit, complete with a backpack clearly designed for carrying a laptop, gave him a serious and tidy vibe. Although his nearly black hair seemed neatly combed, it curled in every direction, as if mocking his efforts to keep it in check. Phil couldn't help but notice the man's tired, dark eyes. Yet there was something about his gaze, a level of… maturity that Phil had not expected to see.

“Get out,” the bar owner repeated, but without much conviction.

The stranger laughed softly but ignored his words, calmly and surely walking over to the bar. Laying his heavy backpack on one of the barstools, he sat on another, resting his hands on the counter.

“Could I get some coffee?” he asked, looking over his shoulder at the somewhat confused bartender.

Phil was not a person to be easily upset. True, sometimes he could say too much or react too harshly, but only with words. He was good with words and with people. But for some reason, the stranger didn't seem to care about that… and it was annoying.

“What do you want from me? Didn't you hear what I said?” Phil snapped, his frustration boiling over. He slammed the door shut, the sound reverberating through the room. Turning to the man, he stomped over, his footsteps echoing in the silence. Grabbing the stranger's arm, he spun him around on the stool with such force that he almost fell off his seat.

Phil was surprised when the stranger didn’t react with fear or surprise, but instead looked at him with an understanding gaze, as if he knew something that Phil didn't. The bartender's anger slowly dissipated as he studied the man's reaction, taking a small step back.

"Now, to answer your questions…”  the man sighed, shifting on the barstool once more. “First, I'd appreciate some coffee or something else with caffeine. For your other concern… of course, I've heard what you said, but I don't necessarily want to leave. The truth is, I feel like I owe you this meeting… or at least an explanation."

Phil scoffed. "Oh, you think so?"

"Correct," the stranger exhaled. "I should have done it sooner, but somehow, well... To be completely honest with you, Hawkins, I think you were getting on my nerves a bit too much," he added with a lopsided smile.

"So, you know who I am?" Phil's anger was replaced by curiosity in less than a few seconds.

The bartender then quickly bit his bottom lip, refraining from asking the stranger more. He was well aware of one of his greatest flaws and, even though he didn't like to admit it to himself too often, he secretly enjoyed being the center of attention. No matter what.

"So... no coffee then? Well, that's a shame," the stranger rested his hands on the counter once more and pointed to a soda drink on the right side behind the bar. "So let’s put it this way. The truth is, I happen to know quite a bit about you accidentally, even though you probably don't know who I am. Before you jump to any conclusions - no, I am not your stalker; no, I am not trying to extort money from you; and no, I am definitely not involved in any scheme or conspiracy that would require your involvement."

"You know about me... accidentally ?" Phil repeated doubtfully, walking behind the bar and facing the stranger. "What kind of bullshit is that?"

"Oh, well..." he chuckled again, "I wouldn't say it’s bullshit. Not entirely, at least. You see, we both became involved in the same case a while back, and I was actually forced to learn more about you. You understand that I did not do this for my own enjoyment, although I must admit..." he hesitated, then cringed, "You are not very cautious with what you post online; that was so easy... So yes. It was, at least to some extent, accidental."

"The same case...? Wait, wait, hold on..." Phil resisted the urge to grab his own head in surprise. "Are you... that guy? That hacker or whatever. That tech-savvy guy that disappeared after Hannah was found? No way it’s you… Police say he's dead. That he died during the mine fire."

“I have two pieces of information for you,” the stranger leaned forward conspiratorially and spread his hands. “The first one... I’ve heard you were a good bartender. I somehow can’t picture that, you know?”

Phil looked completely confused as the man rolled his eyes slightly and nodded meaningfully at the soda bottle once more. Gritting his teeth, Phil blindly reached into the fridge, pulled out a bottle, slammed it against the counter, opened it with the agility of a truly experienced bartender, and pushed it towards the man, ending with a jazz hands gesture.

Annoyed jazz hands gesture.

The man only chuckled and nodded in approval, taking a sip of his long-awaited drink.

"And the second thing?" the bartender urged.

“The second thing!” the stranger chuckled. “The second thing is… I don't think you trust the police after all the trouble they caused you, so do you think you should trust them if they say that guy is dead? You’re talking about that Ironsplinter mine fire, correct?”

“Yeah… there was no way he survived that.”

“Oh?” the man chuckled, “I think his chances were quite good, actually.”

Phil frowned, “How so?”

"Well..." the stranger spread his hands again. "I'm not an expert, but I know a thing or two about mines. Actually, I know a lot about many things, but it doesn't matter now... I won't bore you with the details because you probably don't care, but believe me, there are many safety features in mines like that one that can help you survive fire, explosion, shockwaves... It's just a matter of knowing your surroundings well. The amount of air can be a problem during a fire like that, but it can also be remedied. So… maybe he didn't die after all. But what do I know?”

“That's… interesting,” Phil concluded, and the stranger snorted.

The bartender fell silent, analyzing every single word the stranger had said. It was already clear to Phil that he would not tell him anything directly, especially not about himself. The man didn't confirm anything explicitly, but he didn't have to. Phil already knew the answer to his question.

“Alright, I get it… So should I call you Jake, then? That was the name of that techie guy, if I remember correctly.”

“Was it, really?” the stranger smirked. “In that case, you can call me whatever you want, Hawkins. Jake is a name as good as any.”

“Really? Okay then, Techie,” Phil placed his palms on the counter. “You’ve said you owed me… why exactly? Why are you here?” he reiterated, still confused by the stranger’s presence.

Jake paused for a moment, his piercing gaze fixed on the bar owner. Phil was not one to be easily intimidated, but there was something about Jake that made him uneasy yet intrigued at the same time. Was it his unwavering confidence, his carefree attitude, or maybe something else entirely?

“I understand that my visit may seem unnecessary, but I felt compelled to come,” Jake responded, his tone measured and deliberate. “You see, there’s something about you that… let’s say, that doesn’t add up to me.”

“Oh…” the bartender nodded, feeling annoyed and somehow disappointed again. “So you want to accuse me of more things, then? Tell me I should rot in jail, like some other wonderful people?”

“No... nothing like that,” the man chuckled nervously, his dark hair falling onto his forehead. He brushed the locks away with a casual flick of his hand, trying to hide the fact that he was clearly troubled. As he paused to collect his thoughts, his eyes darted around the room. Finally, he spoke again, his voice hesitant and uncertain.

“I know someone anonymously paid your bail, and I may know more about that. I may know a lot about that. And I believe it still bothers you, so I think I should share it with you. And, well… I suppose what I'm trying to say is that this meeting has been weighing heavily on my mind. I've been thinking about it quite often, trying to figure out what to say or… how to say it, and I think I still don’t know… I mean… okay, here's the thing. Do you remember the second person who got involved in this case by accident?” Jake continued, “You… you invited her to Aurora. She never came here, but still, you did, and—”

“The girl? Shit… okay, now I think I get it,” the bartender sighed deeply and nodded, as he couldn’t believe it was that simple. It was always that simple when there were feelings involved. “Don’t tell me… It hit your ego, didn't it? You liked her, right? Did you come to tell me I was not only released from the arrest thanks to you, but they actually arrested me because of you in the first place? You got jealous of that girl, and that's why I had a shitty couple of months? Was it your revenge?”

The stranger shrugged, but his awkward smile said it all.

Guilty as charged.

“Great... so you almost ruined my life over some chick I don't even know?! Only because I invited her here? I did nothing wrong! Couldn't you explain it between you two? You had to get me into this… And you still have the nerve to come to my bar and—”

“No, wait,” the alleged hacker silenced him with a gesture. “I mean… you almost got it right. I do feel guilty you were in that arrest for quite some time, but for a different reason…” the stranger rubbed his neck nervously. “What if… hypothetically, of course, what if I knew right away how to get you out of this? I knew you were innocent and I had proof for that? But... she was so interested in you... and you in her! And I didn't want you to be interested in her… I guess I was just… confused about you. Shit, it doesn't make sense, does it?”

Phil frowned, but slowly the meaning of the stranger's words began to dawn on him. He wasn't after the girl who helped solve the case. Techie was after… him.

He was jealous of… him?

Was that even possible?

He knew he should be angry. Furious even! It was about his life! Countless hours wasted in the arrest he didn’t deserve! Yet, somehow… The guilty look on the stranger’s face made it fade away. He'd be lying if he said he didn't wonder who that mysterious hacker was from back then, or why exactly he was involved in the case. He knew back then that the answers to these questions were just beyond his reach, but now, miraculously, he was sitting in front of him, almost vulnerable and almost exposed. His fascination overcame his anger. The stranger's eyes were full of remorse, and for a moment, he felt a twinge of sympathy.

Sympathy and something else, but he wasn’t sure what it was…

Curiosity!

It had to be just curiosity.

“My, my… So I think you are my stalker, after all…” The bartender hummed, taking two steps away from Jake, but somehow couldn't help but smile.

“No. No, no. Nuh-uh! This statement is definitely not true!” The alleged hacker protested immediately, pointing his finger at Phil as he blushed a bit, his heart pounding in his chest. "I know things about you, and I learned them without your consent, that is correct. Good luck to you with suing me. But I— it’s not my fault. And I didn’t— I wasn’t really— I just wanted to understand you better!" He paused and took a deep breath. "Didn't I help you after all?! You got out, didn’t you? And I am not a stalker! Jesus, I think I need a real drink… " he trailed off.

The bartender was taken aback by the unexpected outburst and blinked a couple of times in confusion. However, he soon burst out laughing, unable to hold it any longer. "Wow, you really lost your cool there, man… You’ve just admitted to some weird things…" he said between chuckles, "I didn’t think it was possible! In fact, you sound exactly like a stalker trying to explain himself, you know." The bartender knew his mocking tone only made the situation more awkward and uncomfortable for the stranger.

“Yeah.. Coming here was a mistake, I guess…” Jake scoffed, grabbed his backpack, and was about to jump off the stool and leave the pub, but Phil, without thinking too much, grabbed his forearm. The stranger winced in surprise, but as his dark eyes met the calm eyes of the bartender, he slowly sat back down.

“Alright, okay. You’re not my stalker, yeah?” Phil smiled,letting go of his arm, “But I think you still owe me more explanation. Fair?”

“F-fair,” the stranger muttered.

To Phil's surprise, Jake leaned forward from his stool and across the counter, invading the bartender's personal space as if it was absolutely nothing unusual. The stranger's arm accidentally grazed Phil's shoulder as he gently pushed him away and reached for a bottle of whiskey and two glasses from behind the bar. Before Phil could even register what was going on, the stranger was already sitting back on his stool, pouring the liquor generously into the glasses.

“I… thought you said you don’t drink,” Phil observed, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah. And I thought you were a self-absorbed, narcissistic, brainless drama queen, and yet here we are, engaging in a somewhat intelligent conversation. How about that?”

Phil chuckled, a bit taken aback, as he watched Jake down his drink in one swift motion, followed by a wince and quiet grunt. With a solid tap, the stranger placed the glass back on the counter, exhaling audibly.

“That’s some terrible whiskey, Hawkins,” he admitted, reaching for the bottle to pour himself another.

“It’s my finest one, Techie,” Phil smirked, “And the most expensive one, too.”

“Still quite terrible, for my sophisticated taste… And don't call me Techie.”

“Then don't call me by my father's stupid name.”

Jake blinked a couple of times, as if realizing something. “Right. I forgot he was an asshole, too. Bigger than you.”

“You forgot— oh, Jesus…” the bartender whined, “Don't tell me you even know about my father? I didn’t post anything about that online… How the fuck? How much do you exactly know about me, Stalker?”

“Again with the stalker…” the hacker poked Phil’s chest with his finger, “Listen, the thing about your father is quite well-known around town, isn't it? It's not that weird that even I know about it… and I didn't have to dig too deep to—”

“Damn it, Stalker.” Phil shook his head in disbelief, “You're a walking red flag. I should have thrown you out as soon as you came here. Why am I even still talking to you?”

“Oh, come on, I've never— I am not that bad.”

“Any other sane person would have handed you over to the police a long time ago, Stalker. You do realize that, don’t you?” Phil finally took the glass into his hand and sipped his whiskey.

“But you won’t do that,” the stranger smiled as he clinked his glass with Phil’s, “You think you’re so much better than me, don’t you?”

“That's very possible. So what do you think about me, then? Besides that I’m a brainless douche, that is…”

The bartender's question lingered in the air for a few seconds before Jake spoke up. His voice was clear and confident, matching the intensity of his gaze, "I have a couple of thoughts, actually," he said, pausing for dramatic effect, taking a sip of his whiskey as well, "Ready? First and foremost, I think that you have an overinflated sense of self-importance," Jake's tone was stern but not unfriendly, "Secondly, you have a habit of getting under my skin. I can't explain it, but something about the way you carry yourself and the things you say just... irks me, but that much you already know. It's like you're actually trying to push my buttons or something!" He shook his head in frustration. "And finally, I think you may be a ginormous asshole, but you're also… intriguing in a way that I don't—don't quite understand." Jake paused once more, letting his words sink in. Then he, once again, angrily poked Phil’s chest with his finger, "And I don't like it. Not. One. Bit.”

“Oh? And you’re very weird, Stalker. You know that, right?” A little pissed off by the stranger's behavior, Phil grabbed Jake's hand and moved it away from his chest, but didn't let it go afterward. Suddenly, he felt a strange warmth spreading throughout his whole body, an electrifying feeling caused by the touch of the hacker's skin on his own. The stranger looked straight at him, his big, dark eyes almost like they were trying to read his soul. The expression on his face reminded Phil of a deer in the headlights and it definitely didn't help him with getting rid of the hacker.

As Phil slowly released his hand, the silence between them engulfed them both. Jake’s Breathing became heavier, and his cheeks, once pale, now glowed with a blush.

The bartender rested his elbows on the counter right next to him. Close enough to feel the slight touch of fabric of Jake's hoodie on his skin. The stranger's earlier confidence seemed to have disappeared, and the bartender couldn't tell whether it was the alcohol or Jake's confessions that had caused this change.

After a brief moment of silence, the stranger spoke up, "I'm sorry," he said, leaning forward slightly.

The bartender furrowed his brows. "What exactly are you sorry for? Because I could name a few things now..."

The hacker smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes, "I didn't mean to be annoying, "he admitted, his hand idly drifting towards the bottle of whiskey on the counter. He rested his hand on it but refrained from lifting it. “I'm not exactly a people person, you see. I just… I wanted to get you out of my head. It didn’t quite work out as I expected…”

Feeling the weight of the moment, Phil gently placed his hand on the whiskey bottle, his fingers brushing against Jake's. The hacker hesitated, his gaze locked onto Phil's intense stare.

In a soft, almost whispered voice, Phil spoke, "Easy there. You're not much of a drinker, and if there's something you want from me, I want you to be clear-headed enough to ask for it. You're already a puzzle without the alcohol. Stick to your soda, Stalker."

Jake's eyes shifted from Phil's to the bottle, as if contemplating its significance. 

After a moment of reflection, Phil continued, his voice measured, "Alright, let's lay it out. You're quiet, so let me see if I understand correctly..." He released his grip on the bottle, meeting Jake's gaze with a steady intensity. "You're suggesting that I'm getting under your skin, but I'd argue otherwise. I have a feeling you actually like me, and you're just not sure how to handle it. That’s your dilemma, Techie.”

"Wow, okay. If what you're saying would even be true," Jake said dismissively, "Would that even be a problem? Like, you know… my problem?”

Phil leaned in closer to Jake once more, a small smile forming on his lips. His fingers traced the hem of the stranger's sleeve playfully as he leaned forward more, "Well, we could always make it my problem, too," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper, “Because, believe it or not, you somehow… fascinate me, too.”

“Oh?”

"Don't get me wrong... You obviously have issues, and I have a feeling your mere presence means trouble. But, the thing is, I don't mind trouble. Life’s boring without it, right? And maybe I should keep an eye on you… to stop you from stalking me further. So… which is it? Do you like me or hate me?"

Jake’s dark hair fell across his face, but Phil could still see the glint in his eyes, "I still can’t decide… Can I say it's both?"

Phil’s smirk grew wider, “It never happens, you know. People either love me or hate me. But you…” he shook his head, “You’re different.”

“Is that a compliment? Are you telling me I’m special? It could be good and bad, you know…” Jake chuckled as he playfully pushed him away, his hand lingering on his chest a little too long.

Then Phil realized he was somehow already long gone... The stranger had managed to wrap the bartender around his finger without him even noticing. The mischievous twinkle in Jake's dark, deep eyes was impossible to resist, drawing Phil towards him like two black holes. Phil found himself powerless to resist the pull, feeling as though he had absolutely nowhere to run.

“What?” Jake asked, noticing Phil was staring at him without saying a word, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I have an idea how to help you with your dilemma. Can I… check something?” Phil tilted his “Um, what exact—” Jake wanted to ask, but he didn’t get to finish his question.

Phil was tired of guessing. He sighed, taking the stranger’s face into his hands, his fingers gently entwining with the strands of Jake's dark, tousled hair. As he leaned in, his heart raced, and he could feel the warmth of the hacker's breath on his lips. Yet, to his surprise, Jake tensed up, his eyes widening in a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty. Phil's fingers tightened slightly on Jake's hair, reassuring and firm.

Their kiss was soft, almost tentative, their lips barely grazing each other's. Yet, Phil's tongue slowly found its way into Jake's mouth, and the man welcomed it with a quiet sigh.

That was it. That was what Phil wanted to achieve. 

Phil couldn't suppress a chuckle as the taste of whiskey lingered on Stranger's lips, a soft, breathless sound passing between them. He felt Jake's hesitant smile against his own,a silent acknowledgment that he finally realized what it was all about.

The bartender was suddenly glad that there was a bar counter between them, otherwise he would have pulled the stranger much closer.

“Shit… you really did that,” Jake mumbled as they broke the kiss, but they stayed close, “And you know what’s worse? Fuck, Hawkins, I think I liked that…”

Phil's lips curved into a smirk, his voice low and hoarse as he looked deep into the Stranger’s eyes that no longer felt strange to him, “Liked it, eh? Well, well, well... Seems like we've stumbled upon something interesting here.”

Jake exhaled, his reddened lips still curled into a smile, “Don’t get any ideas, Hawkins…”

The stranger leaned back a bit as Phil’s hands let go of his hair. Then he playfully tugged at Phil's t-shirt, the fabric stretching slightly as he did so.

Suddenly, the watch on the stranger's hand emitted a high, short beep, interrupting the moment. Jake’s expression changed immediately as he glanced at the device. He sighed heavily in frustration, and without any explanation, moved away from the bartender, hopped off the stool, and grabbed his backpack.

Phil was left quite confused. He quickly jumped out from behind the bar and grabbed the stranger's arm, wanting at least some sort of explanation, “Hey, whoa… What is it?”

"I have to go. I'm sorry,” the stranger said quickly, his tone tinged with regret.

"Wha— Why?" Phil asked, his grip on the stranger's arm tightening, “Is it because we–”

"No," he replied with a slight smile. "I don’t really want to go. But it doesn’t matter. You wouldn't believe me anyway."

Phil's brows furrowed in confusion. "So.. you're just leaving me like that? After we–" he scoffed. "Will I… will I even see you again?"

The stranger paused, a thoughtful expression crossing his features. Then, he smiled slowly, his fingers lightly tugging at the hem of Phil's shirt once more. "Even if I wanted to come back here, which I do not confirm at all," he said, his voice teasing, "I would… probably come here tomorrow, same time. Purely hypothetically, of course. We could… get to know each other better. Properly. Without any hint of stalking."

Phil's heart skipped a beat at the prospect. He needed to see him again.

"Is that so, Stalker?" Phil said, grinning, “You mean I could get to know you better. You already know all about me, right?”

The hacker snorted, “Oh, come on, I thought we’re past it…”

“But I don’t want you to go,” the bartender admitted, his voice softer.

The stranger smiled in a way that made Phil’s head spin, “Too bad, Drama Queen. I’m already gone.”

“Well then, Techie. I’ll be thinking about our next, hypothetical meeting.”

A snort of amusement escaped Jake's lips, but his eyes betrayed his hesitation as he held Phil's gaze, “See you never. I demand coffee next time. And maybe some better whiskey…”

At that moment, it seemed like the hacker wanted to say or do something, but he only managed to muster a frustrated grunt. He shook his head, allowing his dark curls to tumble with the motion, and reluctantly, after a couple of long, long seconds, he finally let go of Phil's shirt. A sly smile then crept across his face, a spark in his eyes that made Phil's heart skip a beat. Despite his temptation to keep the stranger with him for even just a bit longer, Phil grudgingly let him leave. 

With a final glance, the stranger turned on his heels and strode out of the pub, disappearing into the night.

[hacked-by-jake]

I was tagged by @saddah-mo to participate in this cool Picrew thing! Thank you a lot for tagging me! Loved it! 💚

-> Here is the link to the picrew

Tagging: @booklover-01040 @zmayadw @julesisreading @itsnotzka @julesthoughts @mysteriouslover1516 @angie-01040 (Of course don’t feel forced <3)

[lyon-amore]

tag game: pick stuff from your room and have people vote on which one they want to take home.

Tagged by @itsnotzka , thanks again for the tag

I don't have anything special in my room, but here we go… 😅

​I don't know if exactly everything I've put counts

I don't know who to tag right now, sorry!

[astaldis]

Not quite sure if I understand yet how this works 🙈, but I guess I'll see. It sounds fun! I loved potlucks when I was a student in the USA (decades ago 😅) Thank you for tagging me @morriganwarrior!

Maybe you'd like to take part? But no pressure at all. Tagging @my-jokes-are-my-armour @itsnotzka @disdaidal @hunterarden @andordean

@valandhirwriter @kuwdora @ahh-fxck @littlestsnicket @usuallyherdragon

@supercupcakecollector-love @bittersweetbark @bylightofdawn @joker1315 @major-trouble

Hey there! It's the second annual potluck! We're going for two weeks this time! It's the same as last year and open to everyone.

Are you interested in participating in those cool events people organize, but struggle to fit them in your schedule? Check this out!

What is it?

It's an open event that's low stakes, low effort, and lets everyone bring something to the table. Instead of doing a gift exchange or limiting the topic to one fandom, we've decided to throw a potluck!

Make something new, bring something old back, or comment and reblog. It's about having fun and uplifting each other. We're going to use the #potluck2024 to have people show off.

Who can participate?

It's open to everyone: Artists, Gif Makers, Editors, Writers, and Lurkers.

What do I bring?

Whatever you want! Make something for yourself, bring something to attack others with, comment on that art/fic you love revisiting, make recs, gifs, art, words, edits, you name it! WIPs welcome!

[andordean]

13 books

(Thank GODS I'm reading again as those asks were really embarrassing for a few years)

What’s up readers?! How about a little show and tell? Answer these 13 questions, tag 13 lucky readers and if you’re feeling extra bookish add a shelfie! Let’s Go!

(I was tagged by @jikanet-tanaka - thanks so much!)

1) The Last book I read:

Babel by R. F. Kuang (Go read it people, it's So Good. <3)

2) A book I recommend:

Babel as above, hah. Also, Murderbot.

3) A book that I couldn’t put down:

(Hard same:) Gideon the Ninth and Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir. I was listening to them as audibooks at night until some stupid AM. Couldn't stop, wouldn't stop.

4) A book I’ve read twice (or more):

"Eureka Street" by Robert McLiam Wilson. I love this book so much.

5) A book on my TBR:

Oh dear. What isn't on my TBR list.

The Poppy War, R. F. Kuang. Dune, finally. Olga Tokarczuk books I bought errr a year ago. Etc etc etc

6) A book I’ve put down:

I haven't yet, but I think I'll give up on the Archive of the Forgotten I'm currently listening to. I finished the first audiobook (Library of the Unwritten), but for the second one the narrator changed, and with it, the voice of the character I'm most curious about and ARGH. I may try and get the physical book, but audiobooks are a godsend if I want to do some crafts and read at the same time.

7) A book on my wish list:

Everything else by Martha Wells that's not Murderbot

8) A favorite book from childhood:

The Children of Bullerbyn Village by Astrid Lindgren (among many many many others. I lived in books as a kid.)

9) A book you would give to a friend:

Murderbot my beloved! I've convinced a few people to read it and I couldn't be happier. Those books deserve all the love.

10) A book of poetry or lyrics that you own

Nic Dwa Razy / Nothing Twice by Wislawa Szymborska, translations by Clare Cavanagh and Stanislaw Baranczak

11) A nonfiction book you own:

Factfulness by Hans Rosling

12) What are you currently reading:

Archive of the Forgotten by A. J. Hackwith, with disclaimer above.

13) What are you planning on reading next?

The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu, to find out where Netflix did it dirrrty. (I enjoyed the show a lot.)

Tagging @cahirdyffryns @softest-punk @powerofadyingsun @itsnotzka @nikita-not-nikola and anyone else who wants to talk about their books. <3

[itsnotzka]

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 // Duskwood one-shot

• Jake's POV // no spoilers • Genre: (kinda sorta) single character hurt/comfort, everyday live. • Words: 1k

✦ ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ✦

With great focus and attention, Jake closed the apartment door, turning the knob ever so gently to ensure a quiet shut. The oppressive heat of the day was finally beginning to subside, replaced by a cooler, refreshing breeze. He took a deep breath of this fresh, crispy air that invigorated his senses, brushing against his face and tousling his hair as he glanced back at the door.

It was getting dark. As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the pavement, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over him. As he stood on the doorstep, the dim glow of the newly illuminated streetlights cast an amber hue on the doormat beneath his feet. The sounds of the bustling city beyond reached his ears, a reminder that life was still happening all around him.

Strange.

In that very simple moment he actually felt a lot of things. The emotions that had been trapped inside him, like a deep lake beneath a sheet of thick, very hard ice, were finally beginning to surface. And when the door closed with a very soft click, the little spark that had been in him for some time, turned into a warm, soft, calm fire.

He smiled to himself as he let go of the doorknob.

Another step behind him.

He had been living as a free man for several years and his life was much more peaceful than it had ever been before. However, as he looked at the number 14 on the apartment door one last time, he thought to himself, no. This was not what he had imagined freedom should be like.

It wasn't freedom. It wasn't something worth... fighting for. There was nothing that would make him hesitate to close that door. He paused for a moment, still staring at that silly number as his mind wandered far away.

He was sure she cared for him... in her own unique way.

He didn't notice anything... malfunctioning at first. He loved her. After all, she was the one who gave him hope again! For her, only for her, he left his old lifestyle behind and wanted to change... for the better.

Was he better, though?

After their first, innocent fight, he thought that perhaps the stresses of everyday life had gotten to them. They had met under rather unusual circumstances, after all. People fight; there was nothing unusual in that, but... not like this. Jake couldn't help but wonder if they were two people who were desperately trying to make something work that was never meant to be. What had brought them together had simply ceased to exist, and slowly but surely, it stopped working.

It stopped working for him.

He smiled wryly as he realized she might not even realize he was gone. She wouldn't notice that all his things had disappeared... well, to be honest, there wasn't much anyway. The apartment still felt like hers. It was as if the walls themselves still belonged to her, and he was merely a guest in her domain. They had been living together for several years, yet he never quite felt at home there.

It took him a long time to realize that.

Much too long.

He chuckled to himself, recalling all the ridiculous moments he had simply given up. The times when he allowed himself to be pushed around or did things he didn't want to do. The times when he let her make him feel like he was nothing. Make him feel likea very insignificant part of her life.

They were brought together by a very big event, but it was a number of very small, commonplace, trite things that tore them apart.

Isn't it how it always works?

He had not expected that. Each and every day, his words like static on a screen to her, a noise she heard but didn't really listen to. And at the same time, she expected too much... much more than he could give her.

She only wanted him when she needed him, yet when he needed her, she was nowhere to be found. At first, he thought it was his fault - he even laughed at the idea that his secretive, introverted nature pushed her away from him and made her withdraw.

But he was wide open.

She knew his every weakness and took advantage of it. She forgot about his strengths.

It was her mistake.

One of many.

Jake knew he was good at a couple of things. Not every one of them was useful in his everyday life, though. Escaping was always one of his skills. He knew how to disappear completely without being found by anyone. Except... he knew it wasn't an actual escape. He wasn't really running away. He was simply... letting go.

Turning his back to the door, he took a deep breath and resisted the urge to glance at it one last time.

Another step done.

He wondered how quickly it would take her to notice he was gone. Well... this time he made sure she would notice him quickly... or rather the lack of him.

She didn't know the new wifi password, after all.

She didn't know the new alarm code.

She also had no idea how to change those.

He was never really vindictive... well, maybe a little. Or maybe a lot, but only in some, particular cases.

Perhaps he messed up with every single device they had in the apartment he could.

The one last farewell present for her, to simply remember him by.

Maybe old Jake was talking through him a little. The one he forgot about. That guy had a lot of issues, but he never let anyone treat him like she did.

Seeing her face would be priceless, as she tries to figure it all out.

He petted the neighbor's cheerful, friendly dog for the last time.

Then he adjusted his backpack, threw away his keys, and put on his hood before coming down the last step onto the pavement.

It hadn't been easy, but he finally did it.

And just like that, he was free. After being sidetracked for so long, he had finally regained his focus.

Although he had been a free man for several years, he now felt like he was getting his life back - a true sense of freedom.