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nyarumie · 3 months ago

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Ruined Flowers, Beautiful Flowers.

hoshina soshiro x f!reader — 3.6k words. Mentions of stabbing, reader had an outburst, attempt at angst, established friendship, extreme fluff at the end because i cant stand making my characters suffer. Not proofread!

Author's Note: It's my first time writing something involving drama, feedbacks are highly appreciated! I tried my best and got carried away with the length. 💔

Author's Reply: A request from anon here. Kinda hit way too close to home when you said reader is afraid of falling in love 😭 (also guys pls send me Narumi stuff too I want to make more content for my guy)

Ask box is open! Also cross-posted on ao3.

Cheers erupted from your platoon, exhausted strength from the fight seemingly replenished as you dealt the final blow to the Honju once again. Their eyes sparkled with victory, anticipation filling the air as they immediately chatter to plan another celebration for your win. Familiar words of praise reach your ears, but none of them truly reach your heart. What's there to praise about when you're just doing work as expected?

You offer a soft smile to your platoon who is now approaching you, finally engaging yourself in chatter. You were never one for loud occasions, but you have a reputation to keep. They went on about your elegant strikes in battle, your speed and agility that beats even the fastest of lightning, and the reputable “silent, but deadly” strides you have.

“Man, I sure would always keep my distance from our platoon leader! Might get caught up in her Kaiju kill with how silent she attacks, y'know?” one of them joked, a series of awed agreements emerging from the others.

That's right, keep your distance. Getting too close… might just kill anyone.

You close your eyes as you listen, basking in the enthusiasm exuding from your officers. To them, the hushed strides you've perfected in battle is nothing more than a technique. To you, it's just the one thing that keeps your peace, and no one will be able to understand it the way you do.

Except, there's this one person—too persistent for your liking, so much more than your comrades asking you to mentor them. Scratch that, he's not persistent; he's simply way too highly attentive, it scares you just how much about you he already had figured out.

From a distance stands Hoshina Soshiro, the esteemed Vice Captain of the division you belong to. His watchful eyes never miss anything. You fail to ignore his all too familiar peering gaze even as you try to indulge yourself in the antics of your platoon. You don't understand, you never will. Why does he desperately want to unravel you? Closing your eyes really was the best option. That way, you'll avoid making eye contact with him lest he sees through you again, as if he's starting to pick up the puzzle pieces bit by bit. Curiosity getting the best of you, you peeked one eye open to see what he's up to.

Ah, he's now making his way to you. Well, damn him.

Concluding that you have no escape from what's about to come, you sighed and bid your platoon a (short) farewell, leaving them the promise of a celebratory feast tonight. You walked and met him halfway.

Vice Captain Hoshina was already grinning from ear to ear when you neared him, as if he wasn't mentally piercing through your own mind moments ago. You pouted. In an instant, his arm is heavily draped over your shoulder, his other hand playfully ruffling your hair.

A series of complaints were heard from you, only causing him to let out devilish laughs and made an even more mess of your hair.

“Vice Captain! It took me almost an hour to fix and style my hair, and we have a celebration to attend later!” you complained, begging him to stop.

“Fine, fine! Ya did another excellent job today. No wonder Captain Ashiro always trusts you a hella bunch.” he said, satisfied with today's operation. “However…”

And there he goes.

He stood too near you, still hearing clearly enough despite how hushed his voice became. “You're a lot worse today. Still not spillin' the beans? I'm your closest friend here, ya know?”

You looked away from him, finding a car ruined to smithereens apparently far more interesting than whatever this is right now. “Must be your imagination. The Honju just so happened to be tougher today.”

Lie. Today's Honju had a lower fortitude compared to last time. You both know that. And you both know there's no fooling him from what he saw.

You stood atop the Kaiju's corpse after neutralizing it. Back facing everyone, holding your head up high. To the rest of the Division, you were basking in your victory, trying to keep your breath steady after all the action that took place. But there was no fooling Soshiro's eyes.

His keen gaze traveled over your entire figure. Breath ragged, chest heaving as if deprived of oxygen, a clenched grip on your thin, sharp sword forged akin to that of a rapier—in contrast with your lax hand holding your pistol, careful to not fire a shot. You looked like you were in complete agony and exasperation. Soshiro knows that you were heavily sobbing. Silently. Alone. Exactly how you do things your way.

You were only snapped out of your unrest when cheers finally erupted from your platoon. The smile you offer, to a stranger's eyes, is soft and gentle. To him, it's sad—as if it was a struggle for you to smile wide without hesitancy. Your deadly silence in battle wasn't so silent today at all. He can hear it far too well, that each slash of your blade and each shot of your pistol is accompanied with restlessness, each attack heavier than the last.

The Honju has been reported to have no vitals detected, but you kept slashing and shooting, ‘just in case’. Outrageous. You were literally taking out whatever storm is in your head to the Honju's corpse. Not that he minded the Honju, but he cared for you. He is your friend, you can pour your heart and mind out on him instead of a corpse of a monster. Why won't you? Why is the inside of your mind much more different from what you show others? How do you do it?

He doesn't understand. Or maybe he does, but you won't let him in. He wants to be with you, even at your lowest. And he's already failing.

“I see. If the Honju is indeed tougher today,” he started, “then report to me later, Platoon Leader. Post-celebratory report will do. Take it easy for now.”

Was he upset? He rarely addresses you by your position. You carefully turned your head back to him, afraid that he's finally fed up with your bullshit. You're insufferable. Maybe one day he'll ask you to serve another Division. But instead, you see him grace you with a real, soft smile. It makes you want to cry.

'Take it easy for now.' You wish you could unhear it. You hate how easy his words always go through you. How can you take it easy when you try so hard to not be a burden? You don't want him to know any more than he already does.

“...I've no need for rest. But thank you.” You finally feel the tiredness creeping its way through your system.

Post-neutralization banquets are rare, happening annually at most. Somehow, your platoon members managed to smooth talk their way in securing an approval for tonight's celebration. For what, you don't know.

Everyone had their eyes on you when you entered the hall, bright smiles and expectant faces greeting you. This unnerved you, knowing full well what they're requesting with their doe, puppy eyes.

“Ahem. If you're expecting a heartwarming speech, I'm not the person for the job. You all should wait for the Vice Captain for that.” you said, earning a handful of groans from your members.

A hand suddenly lightly ruffled your hair, an action you’ve grown quite accustomed to. “Wait no more! Allow me to handle things, then!” the Vice Captain cheerfully said. Taking this as your cue to sit down, you excused yourself from him, feeling his slightly disappointed gaze trailing you as you sit.

Cheers echoed from the team as he finished his short spiel, everyone’s hunger evident as they hurriedly fill their plates with food. Your tablemates are no different, they're rushing here and there to get the best pieces of meat and pour each other some drinks. You decided to wait, not wanting to contribute to the mess the hall has become.

A plate filled with juicy meat and a bowl of your favorite stew was placed in front of you. Now someone is also taking up your space? About to reprimand whoever placed them in your eating area, you looked up to see that it was just the Vice Captain.

“Eat up. Keep waitin’ for the chaos to calm down and ya will be left with nothin’ to munch on.” He sat beside you, carrying his own set of food.

“Thanks. But I can grab my own fill just fine.” That's what you said, but still started eating what he gave you.

“Mhm… Just accept it in earnest. You never happily accepted any help I offered ya.”

“That’s because no one can give me the help I need.” you absentmindedly said, almost mumbling to yourself. Soshiro remained silent, now looking at you instead of his food. Maybe you shouldn't have said that. “... Let's just eat.”

As the end of the celebration approached, he wanted to test the waters; he got up and collected the plastic flowers adorning the tables, wrapping them around a ribbon he miraculously spotted somewhere—his own version of a small, makeshift bouquet.

He sat down beside you again, earning your attention. You raised your brow at him upon seeing the makeshift bouquet in his hand, a silent question about what he's up to.

“Ta-da! They aren't the real deal, but I did a pretty good job, won't ya say? This one's yours, ya look good with it.” He made a gesture for you to take the flowers, which you did, studying it closely for a while.

“Vice Captain, you shouldn't be taking the establishment’s props.” you said, frowning. “We should get back to your office. Let's get today's report over with.”

Internally sighing, he doesn't know if you're purposely acting dense or just straight up ignoring his subtle advances. Maybe he needs to tell you outright. You once told him that words and actions come hand-in-hand.

It's surprisingly cold tonight even through the heat of the celebrations. He went outside the hall, leaning against the corridor’s wall to wait for you. You told him you have unfinished business to take care of, which is scolding your far too drunk officers who took their drinking competition to another level. Groans and wails from the inside resounded through the door, probably from officers begging you to lighten their punishment.

Finally, he saw you stepping out of the hall. No makeshift bouquet in hand spotted. “Where’d ya put it?” he asked, already knowing the answer.

“Oh, the flowers? I told you we’re not supposed to take them. So I kinda dismantled the ribbon and put them back in place…” you said, looking away guiltily.

That surprisingly stung, despite knowing you didn't want to intentionally hurt him. He knows you’d leave it there, but dismantling them is another. He struggled putting it all together, after all.

“Makes sense. Let's get the report done.” he smiled, ruffling your hair again. This time, it's his way of saying ‘it’s okay, don't feel guilty about it’.

You threw him a look of concern, the playfulness absent from his smile. “I didn't—”

“Are ya cold?” he suddenly asked. Before you can even answer, he removed his work jacket and draped it over your shoulders. “Please put the sleeves on. Yer hands are shakin’ so bad.”

Oh, you didn't even notice. Silently, you put them on as he asked. It's so… large. And oddly comforting. You hated it, somehow. The sleeves extend way beyond your hands and it would look like a mini dress if zipped up.

Satisfied with this, the Vice Captain started walking, pace slow. You followed suit, opting to walk behind him. You looked confused. You feel overwhelmed. Why is he always doing so much? You prefer your friendly banters, the idiotic laughter you share with each other after stupid musings; you dislike the foreign feeling and lingering intention in each action he does towards you. You don't understand.

He once gave you a poetry book about flowers, saying it was like a reflection of yourself. It wasn't. You told him to stop mocking you.

You never asked for company on boring work days, but he was somehow finding his way towards you, offering an invitation to train new recruits. He knew you loved helping others, imparting your knowledge and watching them grow. You turned him down, saying he's more than capable of mentoring them himself.

Once, you were feeling a bit too competitive. Your platoon urged you on, daring you to make a bet with the Vice Captain. The losing platoon must prepare a banquet according to the winning platoon’s wishes. He can hit you in your sword sparring as many times as he can, but hit him once in the given time limit and you win. But you just so happen to miraculously strike him at the last second. He lost on purpose. But you didn't attend the banquet.

Then a tragedy occured. A citizen hiding from the Honju was left undetected, causing you to accidentally inflict a fatal wound on them as you attacked the Honju. Had you known, you would've prioritized their safety. He didn't have to cover this up. He was there. He should be reprimanding you. You were at a loss then.

You bump into his figure, letting out a sound of surprise. You were already inside his office? Perhaps your mind has been too occupied all the way here, you don't even know if he said something on the way here or when he opened the door for you.

Soshiro looked too serious at the moment. You shouldn't have agreed to report to him, because the Honju being tougher today is bullshit. This leaves you with nothing to report, and god you want to miraculously vanish into thin air at this instant.

“What's goin’ on in that li’l head of yours? It's unlike ya to get so out of focus.” he asked, crossing his arms.

“Vice Captain. I’d like to proceed with the report, please.”

“But ya don't have anything to report. I saw it well with my own two eyes.”

He can barely hear you, your voice only a mere whisper. “...Then report to me instead, Soshiro.”

He walked closer to you, your breath almost stopping. Why is it like this?

"What do ya want to know? I'll give you everything."

Your fists clenched in frustration at his words. He's doing this on purpose, saying something that totally means another.

“Why… Why do you insist on staying by my side? Why do you care so much? I don't understand. You're my friend, but you're doing so much for just a friend. Why do you do these things? The book—the poetry book you once gave me, saying it reminded you of me—it doesn't make sense! It's full of flowery words, it speaks of beauty, but none of those are me. You’ve seen what mess of a person I am. You say you’d give me everything, but I can't even give you a single thing, Soshiro!”

You grabbed the front of his shirt, lowering your head as you failed to stop the tears from flowing.

“You should've let me rot in bed when you found me in a sickly state. Should've reported me to the higher ups for making a careless mistake. Should've distanced yourself from me, I did nothing but unintentionally hurt you when all you wanted was to look out for me.”

You bit your lip, not wanting to spill more than you should've. A warm pair of arms went around you, causing you to cry harder, your body relaxing against your wishes.

“I see. Do my actions confuse you?” he softly asked.

“...I can't accept them.”

“That doesn't answer my question.”

Still sobbing, you answered, “I don't know. You confuse me. I don't want to rely on anyone. I don't know what to make of them. I hate the lingering, unspoken intentions. I hate not understanding. I hate pushing you away, but it feels overwhelming when you're too close. I hate the comforting feeling you give me. Please don't waste your energy on me. I’m filled with dirt, my hands are covered in more blood than you know about.”

You’ve never spilled this much before, Soshiro noted. He thinks that's a lot to unpack, but he has all the time in his hands to walk you through it. You were a ticking time bomb, the impending explosion only delayed by taking out your anguish on all the Kaiju you’ve slayed.

Soshiro caressed the back of your head, speaking. “Then I’ll help ya understand. I like you and I like bein’ with ya, even if you think otherwise. If you don't wanna rely on me, then don't. But I’ll be here when ya need me. I’ll walk you through everythin’ slowly if you’ll allow me. And I still think you're as beautiful as the flowers I keep tellin’ you about.”

He tried holding your hand. You pulled it away when you felt his, but he insisted. “And these bloodied hands ya speak of, tell me more, please? The stains might be impossible for you to wash away, but I’ll gladly hold ‘em still.”

He isn't the type to deliberately fool others, even if he humors himself with being a menace to others. You looked at him and was met with surprise as you were met with the soft pair of red eyes and gentle smile you’ve deniably always found comfort in. Were you deserving of this, even after unintentionally turning him away?

You let out a shaky breath, bracing yourself to recall a scenario that has haunted your mind for years.

“A Kaiju attack. Was a yonju. It was small, but I can tell it's dangerous. Grabbed anything sharp, anything heavy I can get my hands on. I closed my eyes and kept swaying my makeshift weapon around, in hopes of defending myself. I know my sister was hiding somewhere, but it all happened too fast. I heard a piercing scream right in front of me. The yonju had found her somewhere and used her as its shield. I didn't know that even a yonju could think of that. I… accidentally stabbed my sister. She died. I should’ve kept my eyes open. I was weak and was only 14 then. Today's neutralization location is the exact same spot where it happened.”

Tears filled your eyes again. “The day… when I accidentally hit a hiding civilian. I felt my mind shut down. The same scenario replayed over and over again. Had it not been for you, both I and the civilian would've been long gone now. I was only able to take a breath when they got stabilized by the medical team.”

“I’m sorry. I understand if you don't want to involve yourself with me anymore. But thank you for… being my friend.”

Instead of letting you go, you felt his arm wrap even tighter. “I told ya, didn't I? I’ll walk with ya through everythin'. What happened then doesn't make you any less of a person in my eyes. You’ve saved more lives than any of us can count. I’m sure yer sister will be immensely proud of ya.”

"And! I haven't kept my end of the deal for our bet. Ya didn't attend the banquet for it."

How persistent. But he's always been like this. It comforts you, how he's still being Soshiro even after your heavy outburst.

You cleared your throat. “You said you like me.”

“Mhm? And what about it?”

“...I’m sorry for unintentionally pushing you away, or if I was rude sometimes. I didn't know how to handle it.”

He let out a laugh of relief. “Dear, that was nothin’ at all! Ya don't have to reciprocate, I only wanted to do what I can for ya. That won't change anytime soon.”

Back to his playful self, he let you go and squished your tear-stained cheeks. “I’ll go with ya anywhere, even if it's straight to hell.”

What a fast turnaround of mood. You don't mind it, though. There's no use drowning in your anguish. You wanted to get better.

You frowned. “Don't want you to go to hell, ‘Shiro.”

“Was kiddin’. Get some rest?”

You tiredly nodded at him, eyes heavy. “Vice Captain. I’m officially giving you a chance. At the same time, I’ll start getting better.”

He shot you an incredulous look. “My title? Really now? Fine then, Platoon Leader, as a reward for taking your first step, let me bestow this upon ya. Close your eyes.”

What is he up to now? You’ll punch him with no hesitation if he kisses you on your lips.

You felt something cold wrap around your wrist, his own hand gripping the back of yours.

“Open up.” He held up your hand to your face level. It's a floral bracelet. He always loves associating you with flowers. You don't understand why, but someday you know you will.

“Perfect match, ain’t it? Now, for the cherry on top…”

His next move took you by surprise. With no hesitation, he kissed your palm. “There. I hope that wasn't too much?”

Receiving no reply, his eyes snapped to your face, worried if he overstepped his newly established boundary.

The sight that greeted him was something to behold. You were looking at anything but him, unable to control the redness of your face. Ah, so that was quite the shot to your heart then?

“Hello? Earth to you?”

“I’m fine! It's okay! Just… not used to it. Do give me a warning next time for my sake, please. And we're not yet in a relationship, mind you.” you said, shyness still evident.

He heartily laughed, still not letting go of your hand. “I’ll walk ya back to your room now. The princess needs her long needed quality sleep.”

And sure enough, it was indeed the most peaceful night you’ve ever had.

#kaiju no. 8 #axia writes for fun #kn8 x reader #kn8 writing #kaiju number 8 #soshiro hoshina #hoshina soshiro x reader #hoshina x reader #hoshina #hoshina soshiro #hoshina fluff #hoshina angst

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keeksandgigz · 1 year ago

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roll for initiative (part two of lessons in alchemy)

barista!eddie munson x fem!barista!reader AU

summary: You venture into your new position at Eddie's cafe, but you seem to be having a hard time. Eddie gives you hell for refusing to be trained. The confrontation comes to a head after you say something you shouldn't have. A heated game of DnD leaves you wondering about the purpose of this place. Things heat up after you and Eddie close the store alone.

cw: 6.8k words, swearing, modern setting, Eddie and reader being mean to each other, shitty description of a DnD game, teeny bit of angst (sorry), horny sexual tension, smut, spanking, choking, not quite piv yet, fingering, denial this is 18+ minors dni!!

a/n: Surprise! One day early because I'm an impatient little shit. i dunno how to play DnD i'm going off whatever my boyfriend tells me. also kill em all IS the best metallica album, argue with the wall. Debated on making it a two- parter but i wanted to get to the smut <3 pls like and reblog! feedback always appreciated and my ask box is always open if u wanna talk!!!

baby taglist: @corrodedcoffincumslut, @sleepy-bunnie,, @crybabyddl (let me know if you want to be added!)

Eddie's right.

You're indeed crashing and burning as you make those stupidly named lattes, but the rest of the crew is nice enough to help you along the way. Virginia really is coming into her own, quickly mastering every drink that is thrown her way.

Yet you can't shake off the feeling of Eddie stalking towards you, his hot breath on your face. How it didn’t scare you, rather, it excited you. You enjoy picking fights with him, ripping him apart and him doing the same to you. It's not healthy, but it helps with your anger.

“Those were three pumps of elderflower. I believe you need four for a large, sweetheart. Crashing and burning so soon?” he comes up behind you, startling you.

“Get the fuck off of me before I throw this scalding hot drink at you” not when you're working. You cannot take his taunts while working.

“Just checking up on you” he shrugs “maybe you might have changed your mind about me training you. I know these are not the dumb little detox drinks you do at your cafe. Which is really what makes the store much more interesting and attractive, doesn’t it?”

“Eddie I swear to God” it becomes more than taunts. He seriously wants to fuck with your brain.

“Jeff” he snaps his fingers towards the guy “I’m gonna go take my lunch, you’re in charge ‘til I’m back” his attention diverts away from you for a second, then back to you. “Could you be a dear and make me an extra hot flat white with almond milk? Add a couple pumps of Irish cream syrup in there. I’m expecting a white dot, after all if you’re so perfect you don’t need training that’s gonna be a walk in the park for ya, huh?” he leans against the counter and he’s so condescending it makes your knees tremble.

“Yeah, duh. I’ll spit in it for ya too. Sounds good?” you panic a bit. Flat whites are not your forte.

“I knew you’ve been spitting in my drinks, sweetheart. Kinda hot, to be honest. But that’s a violation, wouldn’t wanna get Jim involved, do we?” he raises his eyebrows at you, looking down at you, making you feel like a coffee bean on the ground. Kinda hot.

“I was just joking, dickhead”

“Hm. Better be. Another filthy word from you and I’m sending you home.” he whispers. “Alright, going on my lunch. Virginia, you’re off you can go home, Chrissy, take your last break in thirty minutes” and with that, he disappears to one of the tables, watching you make his drink.

That should be a form of cruel and unusual punishment. Just him staring at you, making sure you get his drink right. Pull two ristretto shots.

You aren't buzzing anymore, rather, your brain begins shutting off, drained by all the tension that has been building between you and Eddie. Two pumps of Irish cream. Maybe you actually aren't good enough to be here. Froth the almond milk. Maybe he's right, maybe you are meant to work in a mediocre cafe, making shitty drinks. Espresso first, then milk. You aren't good enough for this level of mastery.

Fuck. No white dot.

You tremble as you walk towards Eddie, sitting at his table, watching you bring him a cup of mediocre coffee.

“No white dot” he says, looking at you with displeasure.

“I’m sorry, I-”he interrupts you.

“You wanna get trained or are you gonna be a little know-it-all and then deliver me this?” he sips on his flat white.

“Ok, fine. Train me, whatever.”Embarrassment overtakes you, wanting a hole to form under your feet and engulf you.

He's right, he has been right all along. Tears begin to prick at your eyes.

“You okay there? Y’know I was joking, right? It doesn’t matter I just-” a spark of guilt lights itself in his throat, you look like you're about to cry.

“Can I take a second?” you say, the knot in your throat threatening to snap any second.

“Yeah, um go- go take your break” he breathes. Fuck, he's made you cry.

You run off towards the back, wanting to disappear. Everything that has happened within those past two days begin to wash over you.

Your cafe is gone, the project you had worked on with your dad before he got sick, gone for the next year. And he’d likely not see it reopen.

Eddie being an asshole, holding a grudge on you because you took his customers, making your life a living hell.

You sit in the back as you wipe some tears that fell from your eyes. Across the room, there's a door that you have not seen before, and it's ajar.

Curiosity gets the best of you, as you walk into a small, secluded room. It's full of beakers and jars of ingredients, really selling the whole alchemist thing. You look through the ingredients elderflower, rose, peppermint, honey, basil. Basil syrup sounds disgusting.

You turn towards the work bench, noticing a bottle full of clear liquid labeled lavender syrup. You open it and immediately smell the astringent flavor coming from the bottle. You pour some on your finger and take a taste. Ew.

He needs a better lavender syrup recipe.

“The fuck are you doing in here?” Eddie’s voice makes you drop the bottle to the floor, shattering and spilling the astringent liquid on the floor.

“Oh- shit sorry! I was just- i just got curious”

“You can’t just come in here and act like you own the place. Curious my ass, you were trying to steal” he accuses, and that hurts you.

“You know I won’t fucking do that, I take my work seriously. Also your lavender syrup tastes like ass, and basil syrup? That sounds foul” you wince, stepping over the broken glass, to make your way back to the front.

He grabs your arm and stops you. “Aren’t you gonna clean that up? Broom’s in the closet” he says, offering you a smug smile.

“Get the fuck away from me, asshole” you reply, jerking away from his grip.

“Alright that’s it” is all he says before he slams you against the wall.

He's close. He's so fucking close.

Your back slams against the brick, hitting a random canvas panel. You can feel his breath on your face, the smell of coffee and cologne inundating your senses.

“You have been a fucking pain in my ass since you opened your dumb little cafe. You’ve been rude, unruly, untidy and down right mean towards me, and I’m fucking over it” he seethes, he has you caged in between his tattooed arms and all you can think of is tracing every line of his tattoos with the tips of your fingers.

“It’s been four fucking hours, y’hear me? Four hours and I’m sick of you. Y’think you’re cute? You’re a fucking brat, sweetheart, and I don’t like dealing with brats like you.” Your stomach feels funny, like you're taking on a challenge rather than a scolding.

“Clean your shit up and go home, I don’t wanna see your fucking face today. Come back when you have gained some common sense in that empty fucking head” he lowers his arms, but you aren't done.

“Or what? You think you’re so scary, Eddie, with your stupid tattoos, your fucking stupid hair and your stupid satanic shirts. I don’t give a shit who you are, I’m employed to work here and you can’t fucking send me home because you don’t like me. I’ll fucking report you, freak”

Freak. His breath hitches at that, years of high school bullying getting under his skin again, making him swallow hard at the unwelcome memory of being slammed against a locker on Monday mornings before class. He stiffens up.

“Alright” he swallows “clean this up and get back to work, I don’t wanna see you right now” you notice that his demeanor has changed, you visibly hit a nerve. Guilt pools at your chest.

“But what about- about the training?” you ask, voice hitching.

“I’ll get Gareth to train you, Virginia should have gone home already. That way we’re both happy. Take tomorrow off, I’ll see you Tuesday” and with that he leaves.

He keeps himself buried in his office until the end of your shift. He can't bear to stand the sight of you, not after you had called him a freak. That stung more than whatever stupid insult you could have flung his way.

When you turn up on Tuesday, Eddie is nowhere to be found.

“He took the day off,” Steve says. And you feel real fucking bad. You're scheduled for a mid- shift from three to seven.

“Hey” Jeff says “we’re closing early today ‘cause we’re doing a DnD campaign after. Since Eddie’s not here, would you mind taking over for me so I can start setting up? We close at six-thirty, so after that you can, like, sweep, do dishes and then you can go home”

You aren't in the mood for a snide remark or a witty comment, so you just agree. “Is Eddie gonna be here tonight?” you ask. You’ve been trying to hound him to apologize for whatever happened the day before, it's clear he's avoiding you.

He was supposed to be on the schedule.

“Yeah uh” he replies “he’s our DM, so we kinda need him” he shrugs.

“DM?” you froth a cup of oatmilk, turning towards him while he's making his drinks.

“Yeah. Dungeon Master?” he gives you a Isn’t that obvious? expression and goes back to his iced hazelnut macchiato.

“Kinky” you retort, he laughs a bit.

At six-thirty you lock up the store and you confine yourself to the back for dishes. Keeping an ear out for Eddie’s voice, hoping he’d show up before 7.

Colette left with Steve to work on the Halloween menu and “I don’t fuck with that nerd stuff” said Steve, fixing his glasses after putting his coat on.

“…no Henderson you don’t get it “Kill ‘Em All” is definitely Metallica’s best album, are you shitting me? …No don’t come at me with that “Enter Sandman” bullshit you’re so basic for that, you fucking poser” your ears perk up at that. It's definitely Eddie.

You peek your head out of the back door to see him set up a big table, followed by a bunch of what look like high school students as they sit down, with their spiral notebooks and pens.

A bunch of small figurines scattered on the cardboard mat as Eddie sits at the head of the table, pulling out a leather bound folder covered in stickers and a cardboard screen.

They're serious about this.

You're too busy staring at the crowded table to notice Eddie running towards you.

"Daddy didn't teach you it's rude to stare?"

You press yourself against the green tile wall to let him pass, words caught in your throat as you follow him into his office.

"Apparently daddy didn't teach you that stalking is bad either. What is it? Need somethin'?" he spits out and you can feel the venom in his words.

"Yeah, I just" you clear your throat. Talking was hard. He cocks an eyebrow at you as he begins rummaging through his desk drawers.

"Well?"

"I just wanted to apologize for-"

"For being a bitch the other day? Took you long enough" he scoffs as he retrieves a small tin box containing what you assume are dice.

"Um- yeah. I guess that" you shrug and turn your feet to leave the door.

"I need to hear you say it, sweetheart. It's not a real apology otherwise, is it?" he has this ability to make you feel so incredibly small with only the power of his words. Like he's talking to a toddler.

"I don't think that's necessary, Eddie, I mean um- I have to get back to work" you protest.

"You can go back to work when you give me a full apology" he's ticking you off, gloating in his victory of you admitting defeat. The white banner you're waving slowly turning red.

"You're being a cunt, take the apology and go play your stupid nerd game" you snap, and you can see his lips curling in a wicked grin. Challenge accepted.

"All this talk of me kicking you to the curb for your filthy mouth really isn't sticking huh? Sorry sweetheart, can't accept an apology you don't mean" he shrugs, heading out of his office, you follow him suit.

"Eddie what the fuck?! Are you actually mental?" you want to strangle him, shove those dice so far down his throat he chokes and dies.

"I'd recommend you scrub those dishes really hard, I can still see the grime on the blenders. If you'll excuse me, I gotta lead my party through the rivers of Bagodan" he winks and then he walks over to his table, leaving you mortified.

You do a once- over with the dishes, while hearing Eddie's shrill voice screech and laugh every time one of his players miss. What's so fucking funny about a couple kids rolling dice?

"Looks like you've made it to the last river" he narrates in a solemn voice, deeper, hotter "Oh, but what is that? You hear shrieking from a distance. It's a sphynx. To cross the river you have to behead the sphynx and bring it to the king of Bagodan. Only then he will grant you access to the wings of Saurion the Elder, and you... will be... free" he says in a whispered tone.

"What do you do, my brave adventurers?"

"Shit" you hear one of the kids swear, he's tall with black hair. "We don't have enough hit points to kill the sphynx AND get through the king's palace guards"

"You’re astute dipshit, congrats!" says another, a girl, looking much younger than the rest.

"We would have had enough points if Dustin here, hadn't fucking sold his to the market for a stupid cloak" says Gareth, shoving the kid who you assume is Dustin

"it was aN INVISIBILITY CLOAK" Dustin yells. The room booms in laughter at the kid's tantrum.

It makes you think. About how you've never had a group of friends like that. Someone to share a common interest with. Sure, you have Colette, but you've moved to town just fairly recently, and you have lived and breathed work for the first two years. No friends to make when you're cooped up home buried in projects among projects. No friends to make when your dad is sick and you have to take him to the hospital on Saturdays for his treatment. You sigh a bit at that. Maybe your cafe exploding is the catalyst that is gonna bring you a new life, a new perspective.

Coming to a store that has unity as a top value really makes you reflect on how lonely your life has been so far.

"Alright children, let's take a break and you can talk strategy. Anyone want a drink?" He stands up from his chair and walks towards the bar. Startled, you go back to the sink and begin scrubbing.

"Y'know you can join us, right?" he leans against the green tile wall, looking at you.

"Join in on that nerd shit? No, thanks. My shift is over" you say putting the last blender on the drying rack and heading to the back.

He follows you "Okay, whatever. I just wanted to tell you it's gonna be me and you tomorrow. Chrissy said she can't make it. Something about midterms" and you roll your eyes.

"Fucking perfect. Tell me in what world does this shit always happen to me" you say exasperated, taking off your apron, which allows your shirt to rise just enough that it gives Eddie a peek of your tummy. Enough to make him gulp a little. Enough to distract him for ten seconds.

He shakes his head. "Listen, I'm not happy about it either, but let's keep it civil, okay? I do my thing, you do yours, we're outta here by 9 pm" he offers, leaning over the metal lockers.

You're not sure if it was the Dungeon Master demeanor he keeps on for the sake of his game or what, but he feels so tall. The thought of it makes you shiver. You put on your jacket.

"How you gettin' home?" he asks.

"Driving" you lie, your car broke down the day before, but you don't want him offering you a ride.

"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow for closing, then" he says, giving you a tight smile.

"Yeah, bye" you respond hastily, heading out towards the bus stop. Eddie keeps an eye on you through the store window the whole time.

Wednesday night at the "Mad Alchemist" is busier than you expected. Steve left for the evening, leaving you and Eddie to man the fort by yourselves.

Meaning you have to watch him flirt with every fucking customer. Young, old, boy, girl. His self assured demeanor is like a magnet to those coffee- hungry teens, the older women just blush and deliver him a meek "aw, stop it, Eddie" swatting the air and giggling.

Because you both have been so busy, it has not given you time to run your mouth and deliver him some snarky comment.

By 8pm, the store is closed. You have an hour to sweep, clean the counters, mop and do the dishes while Eddie counts the money at the register.

There is a tense quietness in the cafe. Almost as if you know that if one opened their mouths the world would explode. Or you’d start fucking, whichever one comes first. There is no noise aside from the register opening, the broom dragging across the floor and Eddie whistling.

After a day of talking, listening, screaming, shouting, the last thing you want to do is hear Eddie whistle. You let him do it, one minute, two minutes, five minutes in hopes he would get tired.

“Eddie, please” you whine.

“Helps me count money better,” he shrugs, beginning his atrocious whistling again.

You wait one, two, five minutes again. The noise of the sweep and the whistling and the money become too much for you, so in an exasperated rage, you kick the chair in front of you.

“Eddie shUT THE FUCK UP!”

The noise of the chair is the only sound in the building. Eddie stops counting, and stops whistling.

He's just staring at you. At the fallen chair. At the broom next to your feet. You find the floor to be really interesting.

“Pick it up.” Eddie’s voice is distant. A few seconds go by, and your eyes are still on the floor.

The sound of paper being put down and the stomping of heavy boots follow, until his boots arrive in your line of sight. You can't help but raise your head.

“What part of ‘pick it up’ does not register in that head? Hm? Do you kick chairs at home?”

Defeated, you shake your head.

“Do you call your daddy names?”

Another head shake.

“Do you spit in your daddy’s coffee in the morning?” his voice becomes a whisper, so, so close to your face. So close to your lips.

“I didn’t-” he cuts you off.

“I don’t appreciate liars, sweetheart. Did you spit in my drink?” he's cornering you, making you feel small.

You nod. “Only once, though” you defend yourself.

“Only once” he mocks, chuckling to himself “sixteen.” he mutters.

“Sixteen is the number of times, from the first time i stepped foot in your goddamn cafe, I’ve seen you spit in my fuckin’ drink” he seethes, no, growls.

“Now you’re fucking lying” you interject, finding a small crumb of courage within you.

“Don’t act cute, I’ve seen you. Pick the chair up” he says, his chin tilting towards the chair on the floor.

“I can’t pick it up if your stupid arm’s in the way, can I?” he grunts and moves his arm. You bend over and picked the chair up, breathing through your teeth. You're furious.

“Watch your attitude, here we don’t-”

You snap your neck around “You’re a fucking control freak, that’s what you are” you mutter. There's that word again. Freak.

“Don’t you fucking dare call me that word again” he's furious.

You turn around to face him. It's your turn to be close “Or what? You gonna spank me?” it's barely a whisper, looking at him through your lashes. A challenge.

He exhales, crossing his arms “You know what? That’s the best idea you’ve had since you’ve stepped foot in this place. Bend over the table” He whispers, and you freeze.

If there is a definition to fuck around and find out, you're it.

“Seems you might be a bit hard of hearing, sweetheart. I said bend over.” he says, more gently, yet keeping that domineering aura to him. He nudges your arm.

You quietly follow through.

“Now you’re following orders. Before I start I need to know you’re okay with this” he whispers, caressing your back in an almost soothing manner.

You nod.

He tuts “None of that shit. I’m not doing anything until I have your green light. With words”

“I-” words suddenly become hard. You swallow and breathe through your nose “I’m- I’m okay with this”

There is no denying you're extremely turned on, in addition to being revved up by your previous fight. It feels like wildfire spreading itself from every tip of your body, finding a home right between your legs.

“Alright, good. If you want me to stop we can stop at any time, just say ‘chainmail’” he says, looking around to check if the blinds had been lowered. He has a safeword. He knows what he's doing.

“O-okay” you say with all the power you can muster.

“You wanna act like a toddler, sweetheart? I’ll treat ya like a fuckin’ toddler” he says, before delivering the first smack right on the meat of your left butt cheek.

You’ve tried spanking before, with previous partners, but this is different. The smacks are calculated, like he knows where to hit. A yelp escapes you.

“Need ya to count” he says, caressing the area he just hit.

“‘Kay, fuck. One” you exhale, still feeling his handprint on your ass. The red hot sting from the impact leaving tiny pinpricks through the fabric of your jeans.

Smack. Two.

“How ‘bout this?” he stops, speaking to no one, really. “How ‘bout I give you one spank for every time you’ve spit in my coffee, hm?”

That makes you tremble a bit. Sixteen slaps.

“I dunno if I can, I mean I-”

“Then you know what to say if it gets too much, right? Say ‘Yes, Eddie, I do’” his voice makes your knees give out as his other hand, the one that isn't squeezing and groping your ass, makes its way into your hair and pulls.

“Ow- Fuck, Jesus Christ Eddie!” you yell, but the pull at your scalp makes you wish he’d drop the antics, pull your pants down and fuck you immediately.

“Not what I wanna hear, sweetheart. Try that again” He smacks your ass again, pulling his hand out of your hair to hold your back down from the waist.

“Three, fuck. Yes, Eddie, I-I do” you exhale and prop yourself up on your elbows.

“Good girl,” he says. Good girl. He could easily smack you in the face and that is would shock you less. Where the fuck did he learn all this shit?

By the time you’ve reached spank number ten you think you're ready to tap out. Tears welling in your eyes, making your vision go blurry. You're turned on, but Eddie’s heavy hand is becoming too painful.

He notices you trying to squirm away from him with every hit of his hand, all he says is “You know what to say, don’t you, sweetheart?”

But you let him keep going. Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen.

The last slap feels like the roughest, leaving in its wake the phantom of a heavy hand. His hand rubbing circles on your ass, almost like he doesn't feel ready to stop touching you.

You turn your head around, so you're able to see his face.

“Mmmm, so what now?” you ask, still hazy “Gonna take me home, Eddie? Finish the job?”it's like your brain has forgotten who you are talking to.

“C’mere” he says, sitting you down on the table, your ass rough and sore under the fabric of your pants.

You can feel the slick feeling between your legs through the seam of your black jeans, hoping he’d move you to keep going, take you home, his office, his van, anywhere.

His body settles between your legs as his hands run through the expanse of your stomach, your back. Your hands make their way to the buckle of his belt, trying to quickly undo his jeans. Eddie inhales as if to convince himself to stop you as he grabs your wrists and pushes them to your chest, his belt left unbuckled “Not tonight,” he murmurs.

You pout in protest.

“Aww, you’re pouting” he mocks, a dry laugh escapes his lips. It brings a twang of embarrassment "pouting 'cause I'm not letting you take my dick in your mouth, sweetheart?" he taunts.

“I‘m not pouting” you mutter, looking at the floor. His hands grab your chin, lifting your eyes to make you look up at him. He looks so tall standing over you like that, eyes still glossed over, pupils blown from the spanking he’s just given you.

“You look at me when I speak to you, yeah?” Oh fuck. You know better this time.

“Yeah” you croak out, nodding your head in case he doesn't get the message.

“Yeah? You liked getting spanked? Being put in your place?” his demeanor never fails in making you feel impossibly small.

The hand that holds your chin travels down your neck and you lean into his touch, in the way his hand wraps itself around your throat, warm and rough. Who are you to say he isn't gonna strangle you and kill you?

But the feeling of his hand around the column of your neck, covering its whole surface area feels too intoxicating, like you want him to make you stop thinking. Your breath hitches.

“You’re lucky I didn’t have my rings on. With the way you’ve been running your mouth you would’ve more than deserved it” his grip on your neck going from resting to actually applying pressure to the sides of your throat. You gasp.

He just watches you, eyes glossy and desperate while you try to press your thighs together to relieve some pressure. Poor thing. He almost feels bad for you. The way he sees you keen into his touch, labored breath, watching your chest rise and fall slowly.

“We can’t do this here, Eddie. The health violations” you say, barely a whisper, mustering whatever breath and thought you can. Your brain feels foggy and fuzzy with the slight pressure of air being constricted. He chuckles.

“Didn’t you go to UCLA or something? Aren’t you supposed to be really smart?” his tone is mocking, you swallow at the embarrassment, hand letting up on your throat to grab your hand. He isn't here to be soft with you. He is here to make a point.

“Me choking you got you actin’ all dumb already?’M impressed. C’mon get off the table, we can’t be here” he says, making you stand up.

“Where- where are we going?” you feel winded, and you haven't even done anything. He leads you through the cafe, the bar, the back of house, where the drying dishes sit abandoned on the rack. Right at the threshold to his back office, the cold green tile arch pressing against your back.

“I don’t know, but I really wanna kiss you right now.” and you feel like your breath has just gotten knocked out of you. He wants to kiss you?

"You wanna- huh?" he slams you against the wall, just t prove a point "Shut the fuck up" he says as he puts his lips on yours. Famished, animalistic.

There is no room for gentleness. No room for sweet caresses and soft praises. His hands groping and feeling your hips, grinding into him. The friction against his tattered jeans make a whine escape you. Too much and not enough.

His teeth clash with yours as you both open your mouths, the way he tastes made you dizzy. His mint gum and cigarettes inundate your senses as you pull at the hair tie that is keeping Eddie's unruly hair in place.

Reaching under the mane of hair, you pull at his nape, where his curls are smaller, more defined. He groans.

His nose skims your jaw and licks at the hinge between the bone and your neck, making you yelp. A small oh escapes you when his hands work to untuck your shirt out of your jeans, his cold hands sneaking past the barrier of clothing to touch at the skin of your stomach, the sides of your breasts.

His mouth is warm against your neck, tracing every ridge, every line, every mole, 'til he reaches the juncture between your neck and your shoulder and he bites.

"Eddie, you fucking freak don't bite me" you hiss, head thrown back as he lifts your shirt up, leaving it completely abandoned on the floor.

He moves you off the wall and into his office, mouth not stopping his assault on your neck, stumbling towards his cluttered desk. With one move, a space big enough for you to sit is created. His shirt comes off in the process. His pale chest, skinny, but toned and littered with tattoos, is the only thing you are able to pay attention to.

"I hear that fucking word come outta your mouth again I'll-" he begins.

"You what? More spanking? Consider me terrified" you interrupt, all an evil plan to egg him on. Blinking your eyes up at him. He is seething.

"God, do you ever shut up?" he asks, a groan leaving his lips continuing to kiss you, teeth and tongue and spit, his hands coming out from under your shirt to grab your chin.

You look up at him, hair wild and unruly, eyes blown out, a wicked glint in his eye, almost like he's plotting something.

“Open your mouth” he says, and you looked at him, a puzzled look on your face. He squeezes your cheeks in response, forcing your mouth open. “You fucking brat” he mutters.

You keep your mouth open, expecting his finger, something. Instead, a glob of spit makes its way onto your tongue. He spit in your mouth. You throb.

“Eddie what the fuck-” you begin, but he interrupts you.

“You didn’t seem to mind spitting in my coffee, did you? Consider this a payback. Swallow it.” he smirks against your lips, lightly tapping his fingers on your cheek, not quite a slap. You obey immediately for the first time that night.

His hand travels down to the seam of your jeans, your breath becoming more labored with all the building tension from the night.

“Eddie…please” you whine, arching into his hand, not wanting to pull back anymore. You want release, brain hazy with the feeling of being under him, the way his rough hands are touching you, exploring you, grabbing and groping at the curves of your body as you arch into him.

His hand begins moving back and forth, the heel of his palm making direct contact with the seam of your pants, forcing a strangled whine out of you.

You grind your hips in sync with his hand, as the other sits on your cheek, cupping it, moaning in his mouth at the small amount of friction he's giving you. “Can I take your pants off?” he asks, soft against your mouth. You’ve never nodded so fast in your life.

He quickly makes work of taking your shoes and jeans off, pooled at his feet while his hands caress and grope their way up your thighs.

“You’re cute when you’re not being a cunt, you know that?” he whispers against your mouth, hand ghosting over your panties, practically feeling the heat radiating off of you.

“Fuck you, Eddie,” you say through gritted teeth, motioning to hit him in the chest. He stops you, grabbing your wrists with his hands.

“I suggest keeping that filthy mouth at bay if you really want me to do something about that big, wet patch on your panties, hm?” he whispers, licking your bottom lip, his hand still keeping an iron grip on your wrists.

“How ‘bout you stop being a cunt and fuck me?” you’ve had enough of his teasing and taunting.

“Who said anything about fucking?” he chuckles, his hand moving down to grope at your ass. “No, see, that would be improper, don’t you think? Fucking your boss in his office. You kinky bitch” he delivers a sharp smack down to your ass, reviving the dull sting from the spanking earlier.

“You’re not my fucking boss, Eddie. Stop talking and- ohmygod”

His other hand begins massaging over the crotch of your panties, making direct contact with your clit over the fabric. “Made you this wet from spanking you? Think you might have actually been the freak this whole time, sweetheart.” He hooks his fingers on the sides of your panties “Lift.” He taps your thigh, you immediately lift your hips to let him take your panties off.

He laughs when he sees the mess that he’s made of your pussy.

“Fuck stop- stop laughing” you whisper out while his hands begin to spread your legs further.

“I think you secretly love me laughing at you. You think you’re so tough, bein’ all mean, callin’ me a freak like it doesn’t turn you on just imagining how much of a fucking freak I really am, huh sweetheart?” he skims your jaw with his nose, his words making you shiver as you clench around nothing.

His free hand sneaking its way around your neck, squeezing just enough to make you squeak.

Your hips lift off the desk, looking to find some kind of stimulation aside from Eddie’s cruel teasing touches.

He looks at you through his dark lashes “What is it, baby?” baby. baby. baby. The nickname makes your head spin.

“Eddie, I- fuck- please! I need-” your hips arch off the wooden surface as you feel his fingers prod your entrance.

“You need my fingers? Can you ask me nicely?” you want to kill him. He's reveling in the torture that he's putting you through.

“I f-ucking ah hate you” but you aren't really sure if you believe that yourself.

“You hate me sweetheart? I’m hurt. You won’t mind then if I just leave you here, do you?” he caresses over your inner thigh, the tips of his fingers coated in slick, clear arousal.

“No!” your hips lift once again “your fingers…please” His smile is pleased as one of his fingers enter you.

“That wasn’t so hard, was it? Good girl.” He's making your head spin, a choked noise leaves your lips as he pumps his finger in and out, finally getting the stimulation you need.

“More” you whisper, his other hand still on your throat.

“So greedy. Y’gonna thank me? Say ‘thank you, Eddie’”

At that point you can't even think about acting up. “F-fuck. Thank- thank you Eddie” and with that, he adds another finger.

God, you already feel so full and teetering the edge.

“Good girl. Now that I think about it, I believe you owe me an apology” he begins, his fingers working mercilessly inside you, while a string of breathy ah ah ahs are all the sounds you could muster.

“You were so mean to me the other day, I didn’t appreciate your tone while you were trying to apologize” he taunts, his fingers prodding deeper inside you. A small yelp escapes you.

“You were- you were ah” his fingers curl on your g-spot and your vision goes white.

“What was that? I was what, baby?” he begins to thumb at your clit, smiling like a maniac at the state he's reducing you in.

“Oh yes there” no idea how you're gonna finish your sentence.

“Feels good huh? Needa finish what you were saying, sweetheart, can’t have you going stupid on me just yet” his hand on your throat moves up to your cheek, delivering a couple light smacks to your face. You clench.

“Fuck, uh, you we-were being a oh god cunt” you say, mustering all the mental strength you can.

“Is that right? Funny how my fingers are in yours right now and you don’t seem to complain.” He laughs to himself, his thumb speeding up its assault on your clit.

“C’mon, sweetheart. I just need you to say ‘Sorry Eddie, I won’t be a bitch to you again.’ Can you say that or is your brain too fucking far gone to understand a single word i’m saying?” he teases, which briefly brings you back from the ecstasy of Eddie’s fingers working wonders on you.

“Fuck you, Eddie” you hiss through your teeth, immediately regretting it at the feeling of the coil in your belly beginning to tighten.

“Oh. It’s like that then. Alright” he simply says as he picks up his pace. Head thrown back as you revel in the feeling of nearing the edge of your release.

“Oh shit, get-getting close” you breathe.

“Apologize and I’ll let you cum” he smiles, a wicked show of bared teeth that only makes you both want to punch him and fuck him.

“Fuck n- Oh God- ‘m not apologizing for- for shit” you arch your back, trying to make yourself cum before he changes his mind.

“Fucking apologize” he insists.

“Fuck you” you say, followed by the unwelcome feeling of emptiness as he takes his fingers out. You really thought he was bluffing.

An empty ache grows in your stomach, feeling unfulfilled and disappointed. You sit there in disbelief, as he cleans his fingers off with a tissue.

“Pity” he shrugs “Get dressed, I’m taking you home” he turns around, heading towards the front.

You throw the box of kleenex at his head. You miss.

“You’re a real asshole, you know that?” you jump off his desk, ignoring the dull throb between your legs as you put your panties and jeans back on, following the trail of your clothes he left in his wake.

“Could’ve said sorry” he just says, closing up the register, while you put on your shirt and shoes “C’mon my van is around the back” he offers, grabbing his keys.

“I’m not fucking getting in your car. I can drive” you protest.

“Yeah, uh huh, you and what car, you fucking liar? Saw you at the bus stop the other day, and your car isn’t in the parking lot. You either let me drive or you can sleep in here tonight.”

You let him drive you home. The sound of Judas Priest blaring through the speaker only makes the stubborn silence between you two louder.

The ten minute drive to your house feels like an hour, as you itch to get off the dingy van and take care of what he left unfinished.

He finally parks up in front of your house, you quickly book it towards your door as he shouts “You’re welcome sweetheart” before you fumble with the keys and enter inside. He stays there until you do.

Your dad was asleep already, so you crack his bedroom door to check up on him. You sigh. Everything seems to be alright.

Once all the lights are off, you run towards your room. Still in disbelief of what happened with Eddie, you strip off your coffee- smelling clothes, wincing at the thought of Eddie’s hands sneaking under your shirt, his fingers hooking on the sides of your panties.

The feeling of hatred and arousal battling each other off while you recall his stupid smiling face as he removed his fingers from inside you. The dull empty ache as you came down from the euphoria of his touch and words.

That night, you kick yourself for not saying sorry to him.

#eddie munson #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson smut #eddie munson fanfiction #eddie munson imagine #eddie munson x you #stranger things #eddie munson fan fiction #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson x reader fluff #stranger things fan fiction #eddie munson au #barista!eddie munson

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mysteriouslyrainypatrol · 1 year ago

Text

late night talking (newt x gn!reader)

(Reader is the only med-jack in the Glade and is working themselves to exhaustion)

CW: none i dont think! if i have missed any pls let me know!

Word Count: 1.4k

(hi! this is my first ever drabble/fanfic, please feel free to leave any feedback!)

The cool night air is a welcome relief on your warm face. It’s night in the Glade, and all the other Gladers are asleep, well, except for you. You’re the only proper med-jack in the Glade, the only one who actually cared enough to read the textbooks that came up in the box long before your arrival, and due to this you’re the only one who is able to treat more severe issues.

This means that when it comes to the overnight shift, it’s usually you who takes it. Whilst the other Gladers get to rest and recover you’re stuck watching over the patients who have winded up in your care for one reason or another. Tonight is another one of those nights, you have three patients, each in for different issues. They’re soundly asleep while you’re sitting at your desk, begging yourself to stay awake. It usually wouldn’t be an issue taking the overnight shift, you would usually use the time to tidy up the med-hut, but it’s the third night in a row that you’ve taken the shift. You felt bad for the other boys, and after all you are the newest to the Glade out of them, so shouldn’t you do what they tell you to?

It’s nearing 3:30 in the morning, and you’re desperately trying to rub the sleep from your eyes when you hear the door to the med-hut open.

“Hello?” you call out, voice quiet so as to not disturb the three sleeping patients.

A familiar blonde-haired boy makes his way into the dim light of the med-hut. Newt, the Glades second-in-command, and one of your closest friends.

“Hey..” he says quietly, with a small smile on his face “What are you doing up?”

“I could ask you the same question” you respond with a cheeky grin.

Newt rolls his eyes and sits down next to you, smile never faltering.

“You know tonight is my turn to do the night watch” he says, watching you intently, seeming to realise the sheer exhaustion in your eyes.

“You never answered my question (y/n), what are you doing up?” he asks again gently, waiting for your response.

You sigh and run your hands on your face “it’s my turn to do the night shift tonight” you say, knowing fully well that by now it had to be one of the other boys’ turns. You simply don’t want to worry Newt, afterall he has a really important job in the Glade, and if he found out what the boys were making you do he would be livid.

Newt sighs and carefully moves closer to you, eyes never leaving your face “(y/n), I know that you took a night shift last night too, Alby told me. What are you still doing up, darling? Don’t lie to me”

You freeze, forgetting that Alby had in fact come to visit you last night. You realise there’s no point in trying to lie to him, you’ve never been able to lie to Newt, that’s why you guys are such close friends, he can always tell when something’s bothering you.

“I took tonight's shift too..” you say quietly, busying yourself with organising your desk so you wouldn’t have to see his face “it’s okay though-”

Before you can say anything else Newt gently grabs your hand. The action makes you confused, and you turn to face him. His face is hard, clearly not liking what you’ve said.

“So you’ve worked the last 2 nights?” he asks quietly, before adding “How long has it been since you slept?”

You pause “three days i think” you say almost sheepishly “it sounds worse than it is though Newt-”

Again you’re cut off by the boy in front of you. He looks incredibly mad now, not at you however.

“(y/n), darling, you cannot do this to yourself, okay? You need to rest, you’ll end up sick if you keep working yourself like this” he says gently, using a hand to gently caress your cheek

“Please, get some sleep for me”

You shake your head gently “I can’t Newt, the patients need someone to watch them..”

“So I’ll wake one of the other boys” Newt says with a shrug “they’ve been making you do their jobs, and that’s not on, okay? You deserve to rest, especially after a night shift. I’m going to tell Alby, and I promise you darling this will never happen again, alright?” he says, leaving no room for argument.

You nod your head, the tiredness now hitting you in waves.

“C’mon” Newt says, gently pulling you to your feet “your hammock or mine?”

It was a thing between the two of you to share hammocks some nights. Usually it was when one of you was having a tough day, or simply when it got too cold at night. Tonight seemed to be no exception.

“Yours please” you mutter, standing up. Newt smiles and begins to lead you out of the med-hut to where the hammocks are set up. The moon is full tonight, the light from it illuminating the tops of the trees in the Glade. It looked so peaceful like this, if you could ignore the sounds of the Grievers lurking in the maze. As you walk Newt turns around to look at you, making sure you're okay. His eyes are filled with concern. Soon enough, you both reach his hammock. You sit down and take off your shoes and then climb into the hammock, Newt following straight after. You settle into the hammock, your head resting on Newt's chest. He gently runs a hand up and down your back comfortingly.

"Is this okay?" he whispers, not wanting to ruin the moment.

You snuggle into him more "This is perfect. Thank you Newt" you say, lifting your head to place a soft kiss to his cheek. Newt freezes, not anticipating that. Before you can rest your head back on his chest he gently cups your face, looking down at you with soft eyes

“What was that for? Not that I’m complaining, darling” he says quietly, voice so soft and quiet.

You blush softly at his touch, leaning into his hand slightly.

“I just- you didn’t have to do this ... .just wanted to say thank you” you say softly, trying to avoid his gaze. You didn’t want him to see the blush on your face, knowing he’d tease you or worse, would figure out your feelings for him. By the way he’s looking at you it’s too late, he already knows just how much you like him.

“Hey” Newt says, gently turning your head so you guys are face-to-face “I would do anything for you…okay?” he says softly, the words almost flying away in the soft wind. If you weren’t looking at him you wouldn’t know he’d even uttered them.

Your breath catches in your throat slightly. Is he saying what you think he’s saying?

“..you like me?” you ask after a beat.

Newt chuckles, the sound deep and comforting beneath your body

“(y/n), I like you. I adore you...you didn't know?” He chuckles again, seemingly amused at your obliviousness. “Is that okay?” he asks after a brief pause.

You feel like someone’s dumped a bucket of cold water on you. He likes you? Unbeknownst to him, you’ve been in love with Newt ever since you came to the Glade. He was the first person who showed you kindness, gently talking to you while showing you around the Glade. Before he can do or say anything else you press your lips to his. He’s taken aback for a second, before moving a hand to the side of your jaw and deepening the kiss. You can feel him smiling into the kiss, and you feel your lips involuntarily turn up. Eventually you have to break the kiss for air, but you don’t go far from each other, resting your forehead against his.

“I really, really like you Newt..” you whisper. The smile Newt gives you is blinding, filled with love and sweetness and hope.

“That’s more than okay darling” he whispers back, a wide smile on his face.

You smile back, tiredness pulling at your eyes. Newt seems to notice this, and beckons you to lie down again.

“Go to sleep” he says quietly, smiling softly at you and wrapping an arm around you, hooking his chin over your head. You can hear his heartbeat, slow and unhurried. Safe. He places a soft kiss on the top of your head. The last thing you register before slumber pulls you in is Newt’s voice.

“Sleep well (y/n)...words cannot describe how much I love you my darling”

You fall asleep with a happy heart and a smile on your face, looking forward to waking up next to the man you love.

#newt x reader #newt tmr #the maze runner #tmr #comfort #fanfic #drabble #romance

173 notes · View notes

crystaldivination · 2 years ago

Text

“𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑓”

“𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑠， 𝑦𝑜𝑢， 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑒”

𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒚 𝑬𝒏𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝑫𝒐𝒐𝒓. 𝒍 𝒂𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒆, 𝑪𝒓𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒍 ❦

A intuitive psychic reader who possesses a heightened sixth sense with clairsentience & clairvoyant abilities.

♡︎ {𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍.} 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲! ☪︎·̩͙ ♡︎

You will be able to find all kinds of magical potions, love spells, enlightenments and multiple other enchantments here. Just like the wishing ticket, Divine miracles, Panacea’s self-love potion, soul capsule, and so much more below here!

I hope to provide you with memorable and life-changing experiences. Enjoy your stay here, beautiful souls ♡︎

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𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒅𝒐:

celebrities, pregnancy, health, death, legal matters, specific time questions, deity (except guidance or messages from your angels/spirit guides) & other topics that i consider to be sensitive or outside of my reach.

:¨ ·.· ¨:

➻ 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 ⊂🍸⊃ ➻

`· . ꔫ

𝑩𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔:

read the following below to ensure you agree with the terms and policy of my services

𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐑

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♥︎ kindness & politeness are extremely important to me so pls pay attention to this when interacting & booking a personal reading with me ♥︎

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𝐏𝐀𝐘𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒

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I can redo your reading if it does not help you in any way or offer you another reading for the same price or above.

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𓋜 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𓋜

[customizable: pls specify preferred person]

𝐅𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐮𝐭 - 𝟐𝟒€

Your [person] in a nutshell. This include their current energy, personality, overall vibe, physical appearance, background, lifestyle & general messages about you as a couple

𝐂𝐮𝐩𝐢𝐝 - 𝟏𝟐€

Oh who is this? Curious about how you and your [person] are going to meet? This reading shows that and what you both would think of each other the first moment you saw each other

𝐖𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 - 𝟓€

Not sure how things are going between you & your [person]? This reading can help to know how they feel about you at the moment.

𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐥 - 𝟖€

just like a spell they can only see you now. In this reading the secret will be revealed to how you bewitched them and make them fall in love with you.

𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 - 𝟐𝟎€

The knight in shining armor or a friend turning lover? Anything else? This reading provides you with information about how your [person] would conquer your heart + what kind of love trope you’ll be experiencing with them.

𝐔𝐧𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞 - 𝟕€

Keep getting glances and growing interest from your specific person? Let us find out what they find attractive about you & what drew them to you to begin with.

𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮 - 𝟖€

Types of love that makes one remember. How does yours look like? Let me describe how it feels like to be loved by you.

𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 - 𝟑𝟎€

Everyone wants to have a love they can mark as their perfect story. This reading will give you a glimpse of your love story with your person

𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐚𝐲 - 𝟖€

feeling is what determined how we know someone means something to us. How about a look at how your [person] would make you feel?

𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞’𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐢𝐫 - 𝟗€

How can someone be so perfect in every way? This reading shows what they love about you and what sets you apart in their eyes

𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 - 𝟔€

Want to know how your [person] show or express their feelings to you? This reading will provide a look at their love languages

𝐂𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 - 𝟏𝟎€

A peek at how your first date with your [person] will be like and all the emotions involved

𝐀 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐦 - 𝟏𝟐€

The moment that decides and creates everything. This reading tells what makes them realized you’re the one for them and that they’re in love with you forever and ever

𝐁𝐚𝐛𝐲 𝐈’𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 - 𝟗€

Decided. Claimed. They’re yours. Absolutely loyal. This reading shows how they will devote themself and show devotion to you.

𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 - 𝟓€

I do this. Can you do that? This reading gives a clue on what your role and their role is in the relationship

𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫 - 𝟏𝟕€

All the whispers saying just how good you two look together but have you ever thought of the "why"? In this reading you’ll know what makes you the perfect pair + a look at your compatibility with each other

𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 - 𝟐𝟎€

Have you ever wondered why you meet certain people that can change your heart in a certain way? This reading may give you a clue on the meaning for knowing each other. A look at what this relationship will bring you and the purpose behind this connection.

𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐯 - 𝟏𝟎€

How about a take from someone who sees things from another perspective? In this reading I’ll tell you how I would describe you to your [person] as a psychic

𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - 𝟏𝟒€

In reverse how would your [person] describe you if they were honest? A look at what you are like in their eyes + a song showing how they imagine their future life with you.

𝐀𝐯𝐞𝐜 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐫 - 𝟏𝟎€

Isn’t it romantic? Communicating in the old way. Here is a sweet love letter from your person

𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 - 𝟕€

Love can blind but don’t let it be too late for you to return back. This reading provides a look at what red flags you didn’t see and what you are ignorant about in your relationship

𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 - 𝟕€

Hidden feelings for you. From whom could it be? Let’s see who is secretly having feelings for you and how do they feel about you now.

𝐋𝐨𝐯�� 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 - 𝟕€

you are single and want to manifest some love into your life? let's take a look at what you can do to attract love in order to meet a partner

𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 - 𝟓€

16 facts about your [person’s] good and bad qualities

𝐌𝐢𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫, 𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐥 - 𝟒€

Do you want to know what’s being kept hidden in them? But don’t tell nobody! This reading tells you about 2 random secrets of your [person]

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ᥫ᭡ 18+ 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 ᥫ᭡

[customizable: pls specify preferred person]

DISCLAIMER HERE ⊂ 🍸 ⊃

NO MINORS ALLOWED! You’re responsible for your own choice. I do not take any responsibility if an Age fabrication were to take place. In this case you’ll be blocked from further interaction and using my services.

𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 - 𝟐𝟕€

nsfw reading that covers aspects such as your first time together, their fantasies and their late night thoughts about you

𝐏𝐘𝐋𝐌 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐮𝐱𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - 𝟏𝟓€

Their sexual style, possible kinks & favorite things

𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰… - 𝟖€

You little thing. You make me blush. What could this be about? This reading shows you what are the things that will make your [person] shy about you and what will make you shy about them

𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞 - 𝟗€

It’s your aura. It’s the energy that’s coming from you. This reading describes what your sexual aura & energy is like.

𝐈’𝐦 𝐬𝐨 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐞 - 𝟏𝟎€

What is your power to wrap them around your finger that easily? This reading talks about your sexual power

𝐀 𝐠𝐨𝐝/𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐬 - 𝟔€

Can’t look away. There is a reason for that. Here you’ll know what your sexual appeal is like and how it's perceived by those around you

𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐲 - 𝟏𝟎€

Sweet or sour? What does it feel like to have s*x with you

𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧 - 𝟏𝟓€

nsfw reading about what they love about you. This can range from your characteristics, skills, appearance to a combination of how you make them feel and what they feel about you sexually.

𝐌𝐲 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 & 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 - 𝟏𝟐€

Obsessed with you! What turns them on & what drives them crazy about you? Here’s the answer.

𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐬 - 𝟐𝟎€

We’re all lead by our senses. Touch is one way to open the gate of feelings. This reading tells what do they feel when they touch you & how do you feel when you touch them.

𝐓𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐤𝐲 - 𝟏𝟓€

"It’s the feeling when your hands running down my body". This reading gives a look at your intimacy with each other. How does your sexual dynamic work together?

𝐋𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 - 𝟕€

It’s getting hot in here! This reading shows your sexual chemistry with each other

𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 - 𝟖€

Can I show you how it’s supposed to feel? This reading shows how they like to make love with you

𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 - 𝟔€

Lust or love? Here are 20 sexy love messages from your [person]

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⌑ 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 ⌑

𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 - 𝟔€

Ever wondered what type of career you can or should do? Let’s take a look at your skills and abilities to see what type of career would suit you best.

𝐌𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 - 𝟗€

You know what you want to do but still have doubts about it? I got you. This reading gives a look on what skills will be required of you in your career & what steps you must take in order to achieve this career.

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤, 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤, 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 - 𝟓€

Busy days, busy nights. A look at your current energy in your job and work. What needs improvement?

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｡ ⟡ 𝑺𝒆𝒍𝒇-𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 ｡ ⟡

𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐝 - 𝟓 €

Did you realize how we always search for love in everyone and everything other than us? Why not give love to yourself? You’re the cause of your existence. The cause of all. A message to yourself in a loving, most sincere and beautiful way. This is a love letter to yourself.

𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐞𝐚'𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - 𝟕€

A remedy for all ills; cure-all. A solution for all difficulties. Self love is the best thing in the world and the answer to everything. Do you want to know how? This reading will show you ways to love yourself more.

𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐚’𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐮𝐱𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 • 𝐢𝐧-𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐡) - 𝟏𝟓€

Take a look at what makes you happy and how to open your heart and promotes feelings of unconditional love, compassion, forgiveness, peace, balance and harmony.

𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 - 𝟔€

Life is beautiful in many ways. We just don’t see it because we’re so focused on the negative things that makes our life only harder. This reading shows how and in what aspect you are blessed with in your life.

𝐆𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐯𝐢𝐛𝐞 - 𝟓€

It’s your vibe but how do I explain this? This reading tells you what your energy is like

𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 - 𝟔€

Cold, hot, warm? This reading points out how you come across to others at first meeting

𝐎𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 - 𝟓€

Those eyes that can kill or melt one’s heart. This reading tells what people think when they look in your eyes

𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐰 - 𝟏𝟓€

A take on how you see yourself vs how others see you + a bonus of how you would describe yourself in your own words vs how others would describe you from their pov

𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 - 𝟕€

A look at some of your unique traits and qualities to know why you should and can be proud of them

𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮! - 𝟔€

Do you know that we’re actually the one who’s constantly judging ourselves and not others? This reading gives a view on why you shouldn’t be insecure

𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 - 𝟕€

Ever thought of why people admire you? This will give the answer to what’s so special about you that others look up to.

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 - 𝟏𝟓€

What is the (secret) power that you hold and how to channel it + your hidden talents

𝐌𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲 - 𝟓€

What do you keep to yourself? This reading shows what people find mysterious about you

𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐜𝐚𝐭 - 𝟓€

Trendsetter. Not everyone can be and do that. This reading tells you what others copy from you

𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 - 𝟕€

How do you look? This reading describes what type of beauty you have

𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑 - 𝟕€

Star quality but do you know what makes it? This reading tells you just what makes you a star

𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐫 - 𝟕€

What distorted picture do you have of yourself?

𝐆𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡- 𝟓€

Ever wondered why some people react strongly to you? This reading gives you the reason to why and in what way you trigger others

𝐈𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞 - 𝟓€

Do you want to know how you are perceived online? This reading will tell how you are viewed online

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 - 𝟖€

So beautiful inside and outside. A reading that tells what makes you beautiful in general and in the eyes of other people

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐦 - 𝟓€

We’re not perfect. This reading reveals both your strengths and weaknessess

𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥 - 𝟏𝟎€

Beauty exists in us even if it’s not the perfect image of what we think or even if it’s not visible to our eyes yet. This reading gives ways to how you can enhance your beauty even more. This will include physical, emotional and personality characteristics.

𝐌𝐞, 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 - 𝟕€

How are you feeling? Do you also sometimes feel like you don’t know what you’re feeling and how confusing it all is but at the same time all feels empty? It’s because you don’t have a clue or know the answer to yourself. This reading provides a look at your current energy and how to improve it for better.

𝐏𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 - 𝟔 €

Peace of mind is the essential part for human to function well and prevent health issues to take a toll on us so this reading lets you figure out what’s stressing you and what you can focus on right now to ease and release that stress.

𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 & 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 𝟏𝟎€

We’ve been though a lot. This is all we need, don’t you think? This reading shows where you are on the path to healing and what’s still left to heal.

𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥 - 𝟏𝟓€

What does your soul tell you? This reading shows ways that you're healing and suggest more ways for you to heal your soul.

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 - 𝟖€

We are all energy living in this universe and experiencing life but you know what keeps us alive… is our soul. This reading shows you how to nurture your soul to experience life whole-fully.

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 - 𝟗€

You said you don’t wanna be sad anymore so what are the things that you can do to be happier and focus on your growth? You can find that out in this option.

𝐌𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 - 𝟏𝟓€

Have you ever thought about what’s the only thing that would and can last forever if we were gone? It’s love. Here you might find the light that will guide you back to your capacity to give love.

𝐒𝐲𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐞 - 𝟗€

"I want to be me but better!". This reading helps you to know how to and find ways for you to evolve into a better version of yourself.

𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨 𝐦𝐞! - 𝟖€

Like a different person! This reading provides a look at your old version vs your best version. What has changed?

𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞 - 𝟏𝟎€

Hidden in you. Is it fulfilled? A look at your inner child. How does it look like and what are the things that your inner child is missing and craving from you?

𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞 - 𝟏𝟐€

We sometimes forget or even don’t see how far we’ve come. It’s time to celebrate yourself. In this reading you’ll be reminded of your achievements, growth, transformation and development so far.

𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐞 - 𝟑𝟎€

The purpose to your existence. This reading gives you an insight to what your soul mission is in this lifetime

𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 - 𝟏𝟓€

Some of the lessons you need to learn

𝐎𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐲 - 𝟐𝟎€

This reading provides a look at how you can find your way to your purpose

𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐬 - 𝟓€

The feeling of the unknown. This reading might give a clue on what secrets are being kept from you

𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐞 - 𝟓€

Danger and ill intentions are lurking around the corner. This reading advices you on what you should keep hidden from others

𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 - 𝟓€

"Can’t bring myself to say it but in case you forget…". This reading tells you what people wish they could say to you

────────────────────────

☾. 𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 ☾.

𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐬 - 𝟕€

This reading shows what miracles and blessing the universe has for you and will bring you

𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭 - 𝟗€

This reading will tell what wish of yours might come into fruition and what to do to make it happen

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 - 𝟏𝟏€

This reading looks up on which spirit guide(s) has visited you and will pass you their messages

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐬 - 𝟕€

Comforting messages and advices from your higher self

────────────────────────

✼ 𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒉𝒍𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒕 ✼

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 - 𝟔€

What does this [month] has in store for you including what is coming towards you and what you can do to make the best out of it

𝐃𝐨 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 - 𝟕€

How would your life look like in the next few months and what are you attracting at the moment?

────────────────────────

ㅤஂ 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔ㅤஂ

[customizable: pls specify preferred person]

𝐲𝐞𝐬/𝐧𝐨 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 - 𝟏€ 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 (Note that your question shouldn’t be topics that I don’t do)

𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐤 - 𝟏𝟒€

Vibe; aesthetic of your [person]/ your relationship with them/ your dream life/ your dream career/ aesthetic; style based on your energy

𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 - 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝟑€

𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - 𝟏𝟎€

do you need a quick answer? choose this option and receive your answer within 48h (Your question should not fit the description of another reading option. Note that your question shouldn’t be topics that I don’t do)

𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 - 𝟕€

do you want a reading but want it to be your own question? You can! (Your question should not fit the description of another reading option. Note that your question shouldn’t be topics that I don’t do)

"𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬" 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐮𝐱𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - 𝟏𝟓€

This reading consists of your own three questions related to anything (Your question should not fit the description of another reading option. Note that your question shouldn’t be topics that I don’t do)

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 - 𝟓€

This reading tells you what you need to hear right now.

𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐬 - 𝟑€

30 Keywords hinting at what you’re attracting at the moment

𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 - 𝟑€

Random messages related to your love life telling how it’ll look like in the next few months

𝐃𝐨𝐨𝐫 - 𝟒€

short honest messages to how to open a new chapter in your life and what you need to leave behind to start a new cycle

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 - 𝟒€

30 Keywords about what your life might look like in 5 years

𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 - 𝟒€

short letter from your inner child that shows what your younger self thinks about you now

𝐌𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐡é𝐫𝐢𝐞 - 𝟒€

Message from your future self

𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 𝟒€

some sweet hidden thoughts from your person. Messages that their soul keeps vibrating towards you.

𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 - 𝟑€

What’s their taste? Here are 5 random things your [person] likes & dislike about

𝐖𝐡𝐨’𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠? - 𝟑€

Random messages for you. It could be anything and from anyone

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐖 𝐢𝐧 [𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫] - 𝟓€

This reading tells about your breakthrough

──────────────────────── Thank you for reading and checking out my services. I’d love to take on your order!

࣪ .ㅤ۪ ּ ۪ ࣪ .ㅤ۪ ּ ۪ ࣪ .ㅤ۪ ּ ۪ ࣪ .ㅤ۪ ּ ۪ ࣪ .ㅤ۪ ּ ۪ ࣪ . ㅤ۪

𓊆 Crystal’s sphere: "where stars align" 𓊇 ࣪ .ㅤ۪ ּ ۪ ࣪ .ㅤ۪ ּ ۪ ࣪ .ㅤ۪ ּ ۪ ࣪ .ㅤ۪ ּ ۪ ࣪ .ㅤ۪ ּ ۪ ࣪ . ㅤ۪

➜ back to navigation I rules & guidelines new pac

#crystaldivination #❦ Crystal paid services #divination services #personal readings #pac #intuitive readings #free readings #tarotcommunity #tarotblr #© to me for my dividers

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vantaesfairie · 2 years ago

Text

𝔳𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔞𝔢𝔰𝔣𝔞𝔦𝔯𝔦𝔢 𝔪𝔞𝔰𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔩𝔦𝔰𝔱

hello! i am atlty. my dms are always open if you want to purchase anything. welcome to my blog!

my reader feedback from previous readings [ ongoing ]

my free readings [ closed ]

my exchanges [ closed, you answer my question first, length for length ]

my tarot reader collabs [ open, dm, must be following me ]

my spell ritual services [ open, dm ]

my digital art commission services [ open, dm ]

my tarot, spell, and sigil services [ open, dm ] and HERE

i offer tarot, spell, and sigil services. see here. we will discuss through tumblr dm. i only accept paypal upfront, and will send you your tarot reading through email. i get the final say. i expect FEEDBACK from you.

here are a few of my testimonials: 1 2 3. i collect testimonials for my paid readings, so for any testimonials please send them directly to my inbox!

my pick a card readings [temp. hiatus] :

what is hot and appealing about you (w/ cadecastelis)

what about you will attract your future spouse (w/hongjoongsmuse)

when will you meet your next lover (valentine's special)

the first impression of the next person you will date

what mythical creature would you be

signs that things are going your way

what is your attractive point

clear yes or no for your question in mind

messages from your inner child

your dream sp (partner) vs. your fated one

what unseen challenges will you be facing

what do people think of you when you leave the room

what are you not seeing (or deliberately ignoring)

what does your heart truly want

about the karma on your desired person

what is your next upcoming blessing

let me describe your vibe to me

their late night thoughts about you (romantic)

all about your next relationship

what vibe do you give off

what’s the gossip about you

random things about your next 3 months

what type of people do you truly attract

who should you look out for

pls comment / reblog a link to my pac if i miss one in my masterlist

my tarot games:

tarot game 1 [5/5] - CLOSED

tarot game 2 [5/5] - CLOSED

tarot game 3 [3/5] - CLOSED

tarot game 4 [unlimited until i get tired] - CLOSED

tarot game 5 [10/10] - CLOSED

free pendulum reading game 1 - CLOSED

please leave feedback in my ask box for any tarot game entries!!!

𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔫𝔨 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔣𝔬𝔯 𝔳𝔦𝔰𝔦𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔪𝔶 𝔟𝔩𝔬𝔤! 𝔠𝔬𝔪𝔢 𝔞𝔫𝔬𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯 𝔱𝔦𝔪𝔢 ;)

ᴅɪꜱᴄʟᴀɪᴍᴇʀ: © vantaesfairie — please do not plagiarize, translate, or repost any of my work on other social media platforms without my permission. if you see my work being posted anywhere else, please kindly report them to me.

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milaisbored · 8 months ago

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Between Blades of Sweetgrass-Chapter 1

a/n: this is my first chapter ever written so PLS PLS PLS give feedback it would be greatly appreciated. hope you enjoy!!

tw: all themes discussed in true detective s1, but heavy on alcohol abuse.

........

Lucia tapped the edge of her ballpoint pen against her notepad, the soft thump barely audible through the bumbling noise of the office. She was staring at her paperwork, struggling to find the proper wording to finish the report from her most recent case. Cops bustled around her, answering calls from their desks, speaking lowly with one another over cold coffee held in flimsy paper cups.

She was working on a homicide, the kind of case she could tell was open and shut from the moment the file had landed on her desk. A woman, found on the floor of her apartment, two gunshot wounds to her head, the scene almost reminiscent of an execution. It had taken Lucia and her partner, Andy, only a few rounds of questioning and some brief background checks to stumble across her recently divorced, and notably violent ex-husband.

He was a military veteran, hence the precision of the wounds, and had lost custody of their children, something which the court files seemed to express was a point of great friction between the two. Less than an hour in the box and Lucia had him singing like a bird. It was almost too easy.

Open and shut.

Now, Lucia was just finishing the details of the evidence logs before she could give the documents to the state prosecutor. She’d likely not have to appear in court because of his admission to the crime, just give the necessary papers over and continue on with her life. The woman would be buried, and so would her file, lost amongst a sea of manilla folders piling in the records department.

“Flint-” her partner said, interrupting her train of thought, “Captain wants to see us in his office now.”.

Lucia looked up from her desk, her pen suspended in the air between her fingers.

“I’m almost done with this Andy.” she gestured to her papers, “Tell him I’ll be right in.”.

Scribbling down the last sentences of her report, Lucia stood up from her chair, walking towards her captain's office.

The room was large and airy, a light wood paneling spanning up and down the walls, covered in a variety of accolades and certifications. Lucia’s captain, Ken Quesada, was sitting in his leather padded rolly chair, the nicest in the office, swiveling from the side to face Lucia as she entered through the door. She pulled out one of the cheap chairs from in front of his desk, sitting herself down next to Andy and draping her right leg over her left.

“Bowman, Flint; you got the Bennet case all wrapped up?” he asked, glancing between the two of them.

Lucia straightened her back against the seat.

“Yes sir, I finished the last of the paperwork just now. I’ll make sure to send it over to the DA’s office before I leave today.”.

“Good, that’s some nice work from y’all.” he praised, quirking his mouth into a slight smile.

Lucia felt a rush of satisfaction run through her body from the praise; the captain didn’t often give out compliments like that. Quesada was a straight-laced, no business type of captain with an equally by-the-books appearance. He had gray hair that spanned around the base of his head, with a bald patch that had a few strands whitening around the roots. His face was worn, deep wrinkle lines etched across his face, a result of his age as well as stress; the job had a knack for wearing people down.

“Good timin’ too, Bowman’s gonna leave this place a free man.” he puffed jovially, leaning back in his chair, “You go relax now Andy, enjoy your last few hours ��round here. Just make sure your desk is packed up, okay?”.

“Got it.” Andy responded, pushing back his chair as he stood up, peering back at Lucia as he exited.

Andy had been the first person she had met at the Louisiana CID, welcoming her immediately into the office. He was quite a lot older than she was, a fatherlike quality to him that turned his gruffness into something a bit more inviting, making him a person Lucia felt not only comfortable, but enjoyed working with. She was unsure how things would be once he was gone, in well, less than two hours.

After hearing the door close with a soft click, Quesada returned his eyes to Lucia, giving her a quick appraisal.

“Look Flint, you’ve done some great work here so far, and are workin’ pretty well with the boys. But with Bowman gone…” he paused, wincing slightly before continuing, “Well, I don’t really know where to put you.”.

Lucia exhaled nervously, her crossed foot beginning to bounce against her leg. There were many guys in the department who worked solo, some good, and others who bordered on incompetent. She prayed to herself she wouldn’t get stuck with a dud, she didn’t know if she had the strength to deal with that.

“Think I’m gonna keep you as a floater.”.

“Floater?”. She quirked her eyebrow, unfamiliar with the term.

“Mhm. '' he nodded his head, “To help out with casework for some of the guys when they need it.”. He said it as though it were completely self-explanatory. “As you know, we’re pretty understaffed ‘round here, and well, you could help relieve some of the stress.”.

Lucia's eyes widened slightly at the proposition, before narrowing as she realized what he was truly expecting of her. She was being asked to take others’ scrap work, do the stuff no one else felt inclined to do. She clenched her fists on the arms of the chair, nails pressing roughly into her skin.

“And if a big one comes in, you’ll work with a detective or two to help manage the workload I s’pose. How does that sound?” he finished, looking at her to gauge her reaction.

It seemed less like a question and more like a confirmation that she wasn’t going to fight him on the decision.

Lucia’s face remained entirely neutral, forcing her mouth to press into a flat line. She had worked so hard to get to her position as a lead detective in homicide, and he was going to just take that away, simply because her partner was a goddamn retiree?

She took a deep inhale, letting herself feel the anger bubble inside of her before breathing it all out into the now oppressively stuffy office air. Her hands released from their clenched position, half-moon indents scattered across her smooth palms.

“Sounds good sir, thank you.” Lucia responded, straining to make her voice appreciative.

Her words sounded artificial, like she was some corporate salesman, vigorously trying to sell someone a car they didn’t need to reach their daily quota. Lucia hoped he didn’t notice.

“Great.” Quesada looked at her, before swiftly turning around to flutter through his filing cabinets, papers crinkling as he searched it.

Taking his silence and now diverted attention as her queue to leave, Lucia exited the office, trying her hardest not to slam the door behind her on the way out.

Asshole, she thought to herself, looking around at the rest of the detectives who were littered around the office, each continuing on their days as usual. No one had seen or heard what had happened in the office, however Lucia couldn’t stop the intense rush of blood to her cheeks, reddening in humiliation and anger. She had walked into that office expecting a promotion or some kind of step up in responsibility, but had walked out with little more than calloused palms and a position that was embarrassingly meritless.

When Lucia returned to her desk, Andy’s eyes trained on her, watching her carefully as she hastily began to shut the vast array of files cluttering the surface. Each one she closed only reminded her more of all the work she had been doing for the department, forms meticulously organized and thoroughly completed in her loopy handwriting.

Andy continued to examine her, a concerned expression blooming across his tanned face. Lucia couldn’t meet his eyes, worried the water pooling in the wells of her eyes would pour out onto the papers below. She refused to draw attention to herself, biting the inside of her cheek aggressively to prevent the flow of her tears.

The next two hours, Lucia and Andy worked on the last of their casework together, organizing forms and evidence into neat piles on the borders of their desks. All she could think of as she scrawled in the black boxes of her forms was how she had ended up in this position. Neither of the two detectives spoke, the events of the day hanging heavily in the air, a mutual agreement to not address the captain’s ruling.

Andy didn’t need to ask Lucia what the captain said, they both knew what happened in that office: a demotion.

She was grateful for his silence.

………

Lucia was now sipping on a glass of whiskey, cold cubes of ice bobbing in the center of the golden liquid. She was tired, her eyes twitching every few minutes, begging her to just drive home and flop into her warm, cozy bed.

She was at a bar, some sort of country get-up that she had been to once or twice before, on the rare occasion she was invited to after-work drinks. Resting in the seat of a long cherry-wood table, Lucia coddled her drink in her lap, allowing the chilled condensation to drip onto her pants.

Since she had received the news from her captain, Lucia decided that she would need one, or possibly five drinks to dull her mind's racing. She would drink a whole bottle if it meant the day would fade away into the distance of her subconscious memory, hazy and unfocused.

A floater. Even the word left a foul taste in her mouth.

It was almost funny how easy it was for Lucia to throw away her attempts at going clean when things got hard. She had barely lasted a week, and now here she was, hoofing back whiskey like it was water.

It didn't help her efforts to lighten her spirits that surrounding her were almost all of her work colleagues, yelling and laughing rowdily without regard for anyone else residing in the bar for the night. They were all there for Andy’s retirement party, something which Lucia wouldn’t have minded to attend as much if the good news didn’t also prelude irrevocably negative consequences for her career.

“So Andy, you got any big plans for your first day off the job?” she slurred, a feeble attempt to veer herself away from more sulking. He was nursing a beer of his own, though evidently more sober than most of the cops around them.

“Nope.” he replied, popping the ‘p’ sound in his mouth, “I’m gonna sleep in, and have a nice cup of fresh coffee in my bed, catch up on some reading I s’pose.”.

“Coffee in bed; Bowman you’re one lucky bastard.”.

He gave Lucia a wistful look. “This’ll be you Flint, don’t wish for it all too soon. Before you know it you’ll be pushin’ sixty and wondering when the hell your skin started sagging away”.

Lucia panned around the table, eyes passing over her coworkers who each were intoxicated to varying degrees. Some of the men were sipping their drinks slowly, surely playing the facade of a good, responsible detective, while others relished the opportunity to return to debauchery, chugging one drink after the next. It was difficult to watch them all, cheering and hollering as each round of drinks arrived at the table, shooting back beers and bourbon without a care in the world.

“Bowman, heard you solved that Bennet murder. What’s that, three in your last month?”. Marty's voice startled Lucia out of her haze, his praise for Andy catching her attention.

A lighthearted man with an equally warm complexion, Marty had the sort of Louisiana charm she had come to expect from a lot of men around the area. He had golden hair that shone in any weather, a cheap grin, and slight twang in his voice that made everything he said sound friendlier than intended.

“Yeah, well I couldn’t have done it without Flint here.” Andy nudged Lucia with his cold glass, “She got the confession out of that sucker without breakin’ a sweat.”.

She gave him a small smile, appreciative of the recognition. Marty looked at her for a moment, raising his eyebrows slightly with a grin, his eyes glimmering with artificial warmth.

“Ah, well yall’re a great team, shame he’s leavin’. Hey, being a floater ain’t too bad now.” he said, tone callous as he picked up his beer, taking a grotesquely large mouthful. Lucia’s eyes sharpened subtly at the remark, the casualty of his tone intensifying her irritation. Of course Marty knew about her new job title, everyone probably had been made aware by now. News traveled fast around the department, not even the sleek wood walling of the captain's office preventing her reduced position from being the talk of her colleagues.

It still stung her though, to be reminded once again of her own disposability.

Lucia swiftly corrected her eyes and nodded in agreement, “It is, don’t know what I’m going to do without him.”.

The clinking of a glass rang out in the bar, drawing the attention of the detectives at the table. Lucia turned away from Geraci, to the center of the table where Detective Geraci was holding a spoon to his cup.

“To Andy,” Geraci raised his glass, “the best goddamn detective I’ve ever worked with.”.

The other men around the table brought their drinks up in unison, cheering for their colleague before taking large gulps of their liquor. Andy smiled, lifting his glass and pointing gently towards Lucia.

“Thank you guys, for allowin’ me to retire in peace. I promise to play lot’s of golf, and sit on my ass as much as possible.” he finished, the table erupting in deep chuckles and here here’s.

Lucia took a long sip of her whiskey to this, letting the smooth liquid burn as it slid down her throat. She was happy for Andy, she truly was. He was a nice man, and had been the only friendly face in the office for months, something which she appreciated more than he knew. Even she could admit it was isolating, being the only woman in the department. Apart from the secretary Cathleen, and the occasional prosecutor who dropped by, female companionship was something Lucia was not often privy to, a fact which made her companionship with Andy all the more comforting.

Chucking the last of her drink down with a grand swig, Lucia stood up from the table, desperate to distance herself from all of the cheerfulness. She was in the mood to wallow, and being around the bunch of drunken middle-aged cops was not her idea of a good time. As she neared the bar, she could see the hunched over figure of another detective, waiting as the bartender scurried behind the counter to pour his beer. She observed the man for a moment while he sat in front of the bar, barely moving a muscle despite the frenzied atmosphere around him.

Rust Cohle.

Lucia didn’t know him all too well; he was Marty’s partner, and seemed to be somewhat of a recluse within the office, almost participating in fewer work gatherings than her. His light brown hair shone golden from the overhead lighting of the bar, almost making him look like a spirit, a soft aura floating around him.

Lucia reached the bar counter, leaning herself slightly over the counter beside the still man. The bartender noticed her arrival, and made his way over to her with a smile. He was older, at least older than Lucia, and had a big beard that cascaded almost past his shoulders, curling at the ends. He had a towel flipped over his shoulder, laying delicately on the white and blue plaid shirt he wore.

“Now what can I get for you miss?” he asked her amicably, hands resting on his hips.

Lucia didn’t even have to think about it.

“Another whiskey please-on the rocks. Heaven Hill if you still have it.” she returned, sliding her glass along the counter towards the bartender's hand. “Actually make that two.”.

“Yes ma'am.” he said, picking up her glass and stepping away from the counter to retrieve the liquor bottle from one of the higher shelves.

Lucia tilted her head down towards the marble wood surface, a quick sigh escaping her lips. She was exhausted, frustrated, and in desperate need of a cigarette. She was heavily regretting her less than a week stint of trying to go cold-turkey; she had flushed all her packs down the toilet. She would have to stop for some on the way home.

“You normally drink this much on a work night?” a voice drawled from beside her, causing her to turn her head in surprise towards the speaker.

Rust was tall, though it was hard to tell as he sat with his back curved over the counter top, sharp features etched deeply into his face. There was a sense of hardness in his appearance that preceded him even before he opened his mouth.

“Depends on whether I’m celebrating or not.” she replied, threading a piece of her hair between her fingers, letting the strands glide along her skin.

“And what’re you doing right now?”. He wasn’t looking at her, instead staring into the distance behind her, his eyes denying to make contact with hers.

Lucia thought about the question for a moment, his words echoing in her head. She had drunk a lot, more than she had in the past few weeks combined, with her semi-consistent sobriety streak and fruitless endeavors into self-improvement. All while her coworkers cheered over their stable, nuclear lives and got drunk over rounds of cheap, flavorless beer.

“Trying to forget.” she answered coolly.

As she said this, the bartender returned with her drinks, placing them in front of her on the counter. Lucia said a quick thank you to him, immediately sipping more of the velvety alcohol, letting it rest in her mouth, relishing in the richness of it. Swallowing the large sip, Lucia took one last glance at Cohle, her eyes tracing up his toned, ragged figure, stopping at his eyes.

He finally looked at her, his pupils dilated, the only sign of his intoxication apart from the beer loosely held in his hands. His eyes were intense, a silvery blue that bore straight into Lucia’s sole, daring her to keep looking as she was. She felt a shiver run down her spine, warning her, urging her to avert her eyes from his, but her mind refused to back down from the challenge.

He looked at her curiously, as if her cryptic response had surprised him a bit. She wasn’t sure why, Lucia assumed Marty and all of her other colleagues had become aware of her new work position, though none but the former had dared to bring it up to her face.

Deciding the quiet lingering between them was arguably more unsettling than the group table, Lucia pushed herself off the counter with her hands, grabbing her two drinks. She turned away from Cohle and his inquisitive gaze, striding back towards the table where most of the detectives were still sitting and chatting loudly. As she returned to her seat amongst the others, she could hear Marty starting to share an anecdote about some woman he had dated back in his high school years. His voice rang in Lucia’s ears, details of awkward sex and comically exaggerated arguments filling the air around her.

She tuned his voice out, her eyes moving helplessly across the bar to Cohle again, who was still sitting down, back towards her, now talking to another detective. He had barely sat at the table since they had arrived, though she couldn’t blame him for his disinterest in the festivity around her. It could be dull to listen to different renditions of the same stories, each one leading to the same point of humor.

It was all quite exhausting.

A thunderous round of laughter shook Lucia out of her alcohol induced daze, her head pounding from the sudden noise. Though she didn’t know what Marty could have possibly said to make them laugh so hard, Lucia split her mouth into a grin, heaving her chest to imitate the deep bellied chuckle of amusement she had perfected over time. As she sat there, eyes crinkled in perfectly replicated contentedness, she wondered whether this is how people would remember her.

Would they refer to their own memories of Lucia, when she revealed her gleaming teeth for a picturesque smile and a starkly normal giggle, and say how much they loved her? So much of her time in the CID she had pretended; to love room temperature beer and ball games and sex jokes that always bordered on being too far for her comfort. Maybe in a way, she had become that person to her colleagues. Lucia’s mother had always reminded her that getting ahead in life meant being able to understand the individual expectations people had for her, and by result, how to use them to her advantage. She would chastise Lucia after she bombed her first job interview, and again after she failed to get a call after her first date, the same phrase each time.

“No person wants true honesty, they want the illusion of who they think you truly are.”.

She hadn’t really understood what her mother had meant until now.

When the laughter faded into the vacantly musty air of the bar, Lucia closed her mouth too, expression returning to neutrality, muscles slack from the alcohol.

“Flint?” Andy’s voice snapped Lucia out of her daze.

“Yeah?”. Her voice was croaky and uneven, tainted by the hours she had been drinking. She wondered if she looked as disheveled as she felt. Her first drink was empty now, the second a quarter full.

A look of concern fell over his face, "You okay?”.

The question was simple enough, however when Lucia reached her hand up to brush her hair out of the way she was greeted with droplets of water pooling at the crevices of her eyes. She bit back her tears, forcing her face into neutrality.

“I’ll be fine.”. She just needed to get out of here, to be away from the claustrophobic atmosphere of the bar, and the other detectives, who were now obnoxiously singing along to old Willy Nelson songs. “I better get going, work tomorrow and all.” she excused herself, standing up in her chair abruptly. She picked up her keys, taking a final sip of her drink.

Before leaving the table, Lucia paused for a moment, resting her hand lightly on Andy’s shoulder before looking at him once more.

“You have a nice night Andy.”.

Andy didn’t respond, simply patting her hand lightly with two taps, before letting Lucia remove it from his arm, an affectionate smile blooming across his face.

“Bowman! Geraci thinks he can be you in pool, you gonna fight him on that?” another voice interjected, Andy returning his focus to the men in front of him.

Lucia made her way outside the dimly-lit bar, trying her best to keep steady on her feet. When she opened the door of the bar to the Louisiana night sky, a rush of warm sticky air ran over her, goosebumps forming along her skin. Her head was fuzzy, muscles loosening with each step she took into the gravel covered parking lot.

This reminded her of the time in eleventh grade when Lucia had gotten so miserably drunk at a friends party that she decided to try and crawl home, legs refusing to perform a walking motion. For what felt like eternity, Lucia scratched her hands along rough, stony roads, willing her body to keep moving. Her brother had found her, straggling on the side of a street like an injured buck, and drove her home to her very unhappy parents.

The drive to her home was quiet, a welcome intervention from the noisiness of the bar, giving Lucia’s head a moment to recenter itself and deliberate whether she was going to stop by the corner store on the way home. The lights along the highway melted into one another, creating strings of white along the dark skyline.

The decision making didn’t last too long, and ten minutes later, Lucia was buying herself a pack of Camels and a fluorescent pink lighter at the convenience store counter, barely stumbling out the door before placing the cigarette in her mouth and holding up a shaky flame to it.

Inhaling severely, Lucia felt the smoke enter into her mouth, the bitter taste filling her lungs before puffing it out with a great sigh.

God I missed this, she tilted her head back in satisfaction.

She was drunk, her head light and airy upon her shoulders. Tapping her foot gently against the concrete ground, Lucia thought about New York, the apartment she used to call home, her old friends, the job she had loved, and all else that she had left behind for Louisiana. She had moved from the city back to Louisiana a few months earlier. It had been worth it at the time; duty calls, and so did a mother bed-ridden with a cancer so insidious it had crept its way all the way down to her pancreas. She never had a chance against the disease.

Lucia remembered standing in a brown, rusting phone booth outside of her old office, tears streaming down her face as they told her the diagnosis. Stage four, she only had a few weeks to live. Lucia had hung up before they could tell her how sorry they were for her loss.

As she stood outside the store smoking, Lucia’s body itched for more alcohol, a need for release spreading throughout her body. When she hobbled back into her car, she pulled out an unopened bottle of gin from the passenger compartment, wrapped in a sparkly silver film. It had been a gift from the people in the apartment neighboring her own, housewarming they had told her happily.

Lucia opened the cap with a firm snap, bringing the bottle up to her lips roughly and letting the clear liquid flow along her tongue, swallowing it with a gulp. She felt the warmth of the gin invade her senses, everything becoming softer, more fluid.

She got restless with alcohol, a desire to do something that she’d probably regret in the morning becoming more appealing by each sip of the gin she took.

She turned the keys in the ignition, the engine growling to a start. The last thing Lucia remembered was the harsh glow of neon lights in the distance, rays of fuchsia beaming into the barren black sky.

#true detective season 1 #rust cohle #writing #rustin cohle #martin hart #woody harrelson #true detective #first chapter

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