#maybe the gym clothes are just for the hot weather?

[myopinionisimportant]

Whole lotta hot people in gym gear wandering around town today. No idea if there's some special reason why - but no complaints!

[ennabear]

✞︎ ︎YOUR OWN PERSONAL JESUS.

SOMEONE TO HEAR YOUR PRAYERS. SOMEONE WHO CARES.

cw: religious!reader x sevika, inspo from personal jesus by depeche mode, dark themes [drinking addiction, religious crisis, trauma/ptsd, etc.], a mention of isha because i’m evil, as well as religious themes, nasty sloppy dirty sinful dyke sex [body worship + tribbing] 18+ 🧛🏿

word count: 14.1k

i. FEELING UNKNOWN AND YOU’RE ALL ALONE

sad, dull, gray, gloomy, what else could she use to describe it? constant rain, a chronic form of seasonal depression that lingered in the air no matter where she went. her therapist prescribed her some fresh air, but the air is never fresh here. it’s thick with fog, the humidity weighs down on your shoulders and makes it unbearable to trudge through. sure, the sun shines, but it never peeks out from behind the clouds, leaving the town in a dark, unsaturated gleam.

she crosses the threshold into her apartment, hair clinging to the back of her neck and the sides of her face due to a mix of humidity and sweat. her apartment might be more vapid than the outside world, it’s a small box that overlooks the parking lot and a few 24 hour diners across the street. the walls are all white, along with the ceiling and cabinets, and the carpet is scratchy and gray. she hardly has any furniture, a small couch with a tv propped up on a cardboard box facing it. no coffee table, chairs, or shelves, but she doesn’t spend much time out here anyways.

her ribs start to ache, and the growing hunger in her stomach only makes it worse. she scours her cupboards for a snack, and settles for half a bar of dark chocolate and a glass of whiskey. the couch is small and hard and it barely offers any comfort to her tired body. on the tv, the meteorologist blabbers away about the predicted weather for the week. she feels bad for him, the poor guy probably wanted a bigger and better job than this. foreseeing the same weather for 365 days straight. cold, cloudy, wet, maybe snow if we get lucky.

the dark chocolate she’s nibbling on is cheap and tastes identical to the plastic wrapper it came in, and the burn of the whiskey is only adding to the bitter taste. but at least it soothes her mind. she sighs, flicks off the television, and heads for the shower. the last thing she wants to be right now is even more wet, but the promising warmth of the water will at least soothe some of the pain in her shoulders.

a bone-chilling squeak rings out through the bathroom as she twists the faucet on, and the light flickers as if in response to the noise. sevika peels her clothes off, her sweatpants dropping to the floor and her shirt still trying to hang on to her body. her ribs are more prominent than they’ve ever been, and she can see her muscles slowly starting to wither away with how frequently she skips the gym.

steam fills the room, the foggy clouds of it wisp around her as she studies herself until she can’t see her reflection anymore. it’s all blurry— her reflection, the walls, her own hands in front of her face. her left arm has the deepest and darkest scars she’s ever seen, most of them are jagged from the way her stitches were inserted. she can hardly stand to look at herself anymore, so maybe it’s a good thing the mirror is fogged up.

in the shower she only washes herself for a quick second, rubbing a thin layer of soap all over her body and scrubbing her scalp with shampoo. she debates on adding conditioner, but she feels as if she’ll faint if she’s in the shower for another second. the hot water quickly runs out, and sevika only notices how scorching her water was when it switches over to room temperature.

as soon as she steps out of the shower, she wraps herself up in her towel, although there’s not really a point in that due to the holes and strings coming off of it. she makes a mental note to buy more towels, and just as she’s about to mope about another purchase to make, her phone blares an alarm warning her not to be late to her physical therapy appointment.

stumbling out of the bathroom, she trudges half nude to her liquor cabinet, aimlessly grabbing around for something strong. she pours herself a shot, and then another, and fuck, why not a third one? she doesn’t notice the burn as it goes down, her mind instead focusing on the ache in her left shoulder.

she pulls a shirt over her head and shoves her shoes on, finalizing her outfit with her black raincoat. she wears it nearly every day, partially because it’s always cold and rainy, and partially because it’s a good excuse to hide the thick scars that travel all the way up her body. her spine starts to ache as she walks to the clinic, but she doesn’t have money for a car, and she doesn’t know anybody in this town well enough to ask them for a ride.

the receptionist at the clinic doesn’t look up one single time as sevika checks in, and sevika wishes so badly that she could get paid to sit down and look at a computer all day. she takes a seat in the waiting room, slumping back and relaxing her muscles as she waits for her PT to invite her in. the clock on the wall ticks extremely loudly, she notices, but she decides to close her eyes and count the ticks until it’s finally her turn.

ii. FLESH AND BONE BY THE TELEPHONE

static muffles through her radio. she flicks the ashes of her cigarette out onto the pavement, watching as a pigeon across the street skitters around. another few crackles through her walkie talkie go ignored. it’s her break for fucks sake, and she’s only just starting to enjoy it.

“sevika?” her radio booms. she sighs, rolling her eyes and waiting for someone else to respond.

“sevika, we need you inside. your break is over.”

“my break is what? over.” she responds, giggling at her own smartass response.

“your break is over, god damn it. over.”

“roger.” she says, a hint of a smile still in her voice. “i’ll be inside in a second. over.”

she pulls her phone out of her pocket, double checking the new code for the security door. after punching it in, she swings the door open until it bolts shut behind her, and then makes her way to the lobby. the museum is huge, the lobby has floors that sparkle and shine no matter how many muddy shoes cross over them, and the rest of the stories are complete with floor to ceiling windows that are taller than she ever could’ve imagined.

as she crosses through a giant stone archway, her boss nods and waves her over. one of her coworkers is there too, both of them looking stern and serious. she steps into the small circle they’ve formed, lifting her eyebrows quizzically at the two of them. “well?” she asks. “what do you need?”

“what do i need? what i fuckin’ need from both of you is for you to do your fuckin’ jobs.” he spits, literally. droplets of his saliva collect in his beard as he digs into sevika and her coworker about ‘not doing their jobs.’

“what do you mean by that, sir?” her coworker asks.

“do you know how many people i’ve seen walk out of here with souvenirs stuffed into their pockets? that gift shop is gonna be desecrated by the end of the day.”

“respectfully, sir, we aren��t in charge of the gift shop. we only monitor the grounds of the museum, and you’re the one who hired us both to do that.” she says back.

“then go do ya fuckin’ job.” he growls, his thick boston accent shining through his attempt at a serious lecture.

she raises her eyebrows and turns around with her tongue in her cheek, heading up the large marble stairs. sevika can’t argue with that, and she loves her job. it’s easy— all she has to do is puff her chest to intimidate her guests, hand out lollipops to the little ones who are brave enough to wave at her, and occasionally answer a question about directions around the place. all of her coworkers love her, and she’s never felt more secure in her life before.

ascending the stairs, she eyes a beautiful young woman with blazing orange hair wandering into the gift shop and a smile on her face. that’s not the type of person who’d steal, she thinks, and she’s probably right. concealing her eyes are a pair of black sunglasses, and she’s finally thankful they’re part of her uniform now that she’s got direct sunlight hitting every corner of the second floor.

she inserts her earpiece into the side of her head, prepared although not excited to listen to her coworkers chat and complain for the rest of the day. she flicks around until she connects to the private channel, and then continues to stroll around the second floor.

people of all ages wander through the halls. kids being scolded by their parents, awkward adults grasping clammy hands on their first date, seniors leaning on their walkers and canes as they reminisce about famous painters. the community is so beautiful, so important to her, she’d do anything to protect it. this place is like her second home, and she’s made some of the best friends of her life here. not to mention the fact that it’s taken her years to memorize her way around the place, so now it’s even more special to her.

she steps toward the large windows, feeling the warm sun prickle her skin as it sparkles through the leaves of the trees. the muffled sound of laughing families combined with the sight of her people paints a smile on her face, and she closes her eyes and loses herself in this divine moment until she feels something tug on the bottom of her vest.

“yes?” she asks, turning around and smiling down at the kid. her bottom lip quivers and her eyes fill with tears, she makes a mental note that she can’t be any older than six years of age.

“i—” she starts, attempting to blink back tears and inevitably failing. “mmmph!!”

sevika crouches down and wipes the girl’s tears away with her thumbs, ruffling the kid’s fluffy blue hair. “don’t worry, kiddo.” she assures her, “what’s wrong? oh, lemme guess— lost your parents?” the kid nods and sobs some more, attempting to hide her face in her hands.

she scoops her up in her arms, letting her sob into her shoulder. “ughffff!!!!” she pouts, squirming in sevika’s hold. she takes a guess that the kid is either really shy or just mute.

“it’s okay,” she coos. “would you like a lollipop?” the kid sniffles at this, but lifts her head up and nods at her. sevika digs into the small bag on her waist, pulling out a bright blue sucker for the little one that matches her hair. she takes it in her small hands and unwraps it, eyes sparkling at the sight of the blue raspberry favored sugar. sevika just hopes her parents don’t kill her.

with the kid in her arms— who is now joyfully sucking on the lollipop instead of soaking her in tears and snot— she makes her way downstairs. sevika’s no stranger to lost children, and she’s fond of their company. it’s refreshing to hear them describe colors and patterns in the paintings instead of overanalyzing it and telling stupid facts about the artist. and she loves that she can finally give back to the world, bringing the kiddos comfort like she never received from her own parents.

“radio check.” her earpiece says, slightly catching her off guard.

“go ahead.” her teammates all say, mutually praying their boss isn’t about to go on another two hour long rant in their private channel.

“keep your eyes peeled for a little kid with a full head of bright blue hair,” her boss says into her earpiece. “apparently her names isha and she’s five. parents lost her on the second floor and they’re worried.”

sevika looks down at the kid, unnecessarily double checking that her head is painted with blue hair dye. “i’ve got her.” she says. “we’re making our way to the lobby. 10-20?”

“lobby, meet you there soon. over and out.”

“isha!!” her mother shrieks as soon as sevika lands on the bottom step. “oh my sweet ishabear! i thought we’d lost you forever.”

isha’s dad shoots sevika a look that seems to say ‘sorry about her’, but she smiles and hands the kid over. “what’s your name?” her mom asks frantically. just as she’s about to respond, her boss speaks up and whacks her on the back with a proud slap.

“this is sevika. best security in the whole building, ain’t she?” he says, reaching out to pinch her cheek. sevika tries her absolute best to hold back, but she can’t stop a harsh glare from forming on her face as her boss pokes and prods at her like she’s a doll. she clears her throat and shoves him off, but resumes a smile for the parents staring at her.

“that she is!” the mother cheers. “god bless you, sevika, seriously. i’ll never be able to repay you.”

she smiles proudly, not necessarily because she believes in a god, but she’s just glad to get the kid back and hopefully end the conversation soon. “thank you ma’am. it’s no problem, really. it’s my job.”

“it is your job!” her boss exclaims. “and she’s gonna get right back to it.”

before turning away, she gives isha a smile and an explosive fist bump, smiling at the adorable little cub and then parting. her boss is probably the only downside of her job. words can’t explain how much she hates that guy— even hate isn’t a strong enough word. but she ignores it, pushing her hatred to the back of her mind and attempting to continue with her good day.

until an ear piercing scream is let out at the front of the building, and she’s knocked out before she can turn around to investigate.

——

“shit, how many are still in the building?”

“i dunno, man! there are people fuckin’ everywhere.”

“sevika? can you hear me? … sevika, you need to get out of there now.”

groggily, she peels her heavy eyes open and looks around. the scent of pennies fills her nose, a metallic smell so strong it nearly knocks her out again. before she feels like she can hit the floor, her body jerks forward and she sucks in a gasp before she realizes she’s already laying on the marbled ground.

“sevika…?”

“leave it alone, for gods sake, we need to get people out of here!”

her left arm was laying oddly and uncomfortably behind her, and her whole body was absolutely aching. she leans forward and chokes out some blood before looking at the scene before her. windows shattered and glass glistening on the floor, reflecting the light that shines off of the mini fires lit all around. there are people everywhere— or at least the remains of them. shoes and purses and walkers left behind, the suffocating scent of blood and charred flesh, and the sound of sirens blaring all around her.

she tries to breathe, but it seems impossible. her lungs won’t fill with air no matter how many times she gasps, and that number is burgeoning with the way she’s hyperventilating. hot, salty tears prickle her eyes involuntarily, but she blinks them away, too shocked to feel any emotions yet. she groans into the floor as a sharp pain shoots through her body, and the thrashing caused by that pain only makes her feel worse.

deep red and sticky, her blood pools around her. it leaks out of her left arm, which takes her a while to recognize as hers because of the way her elbow is inverted. she recognizes cries of children and shrieks of pain, which is a harsh contrast of the peaceful atmosphere earlier. how much earlier? how long has she been knocked out? and why is she on the floor?

after an eternity, two men in heavy jackets lift her onto a stretcher. she’s facing up this time, and now she can get a good look at the walls around her. they’re crumbling and splattered with blood, world famous paintings that were once hanging from them are now completely destroyed. either torn up or burnt to a crisp.

as they approach the bottom of the stairs, she makes the tough decision to peek over the stretcher, eyes frantically searching around the spot she was only just standing in. and there she is. that little girl with her bright blue hair, now drenched in red. her lips are still blue from the lollipop, but she’s grown pale and cold. and gone. and sevika couldn’t protect her.

before she closes her eyes, she takes in the scene one more time. piles of hair tangled together and skin melted into the floor. she’s seen some pretty outrageous things as a security guard, but never this. tears pour out of her eyes, the pain in her body making her wish she would’ve been taken out too. by what, she doesn’t know. she isn’t aware of where she is or what’s going on, all she knows is the pain in the left side of her body, and it’s all she’ll feel for the rest of her life.

iii. LIFT UP THE RECEIVER, I’LL MAKE YOU A BELIEVER

“sevika…?”

she blinks awake with a gasp, eyes wide as she takes in her surroundings. children’s toys litter the floor, flyers and posters on the wall, bright white lights beaming down on her— and her physical therapist standing about 2 feet away from her. sevika grumbles in embarrassment, trying to shake off her sleepiness as quickly as possible.

her therapist offers a sympathetic smile before waving her back. sevika curses those waiting room chairs for being so comfortable, or maybe it’s just because she doesn’t get much shut eye at home. her back is so weak and achy that she feels as if she’ll snap under the weight of gravity, but she tries to play it cool in front of her poor doctor. she’s already embarrassed herself enough today, she won’t let herself collapse in pain on the floor of the office.

“nice to see you again, sevika.” her PT smiles, “how’ve you been?”

how has she been? what a long list she could go down. first of all, she’s in so much physical pain she can barely sit upright without passing out. next, she hasn’t been sleeping well due to her night terrors, and she’s waken up soaked in sweat and shivering more often than not. finally, if this list has to end anywhere, she feels jealous. of the happy families she sees every day, of the kids with friends, of the adults with well paying jobs.

“i’ve been… surviving.” she says, purposefully ignoring the plethora of problems she has. this is physical therapy, she reminds herself. not the damn loony bin. get ahold of yourself.

“well, surviving is a great start.” her therapist says with a faux smile. “how has the pain in your shoulders felt since i last saw you? better? worse?” and with that, her voice trails off into the distance with sevika zoning out.

her poor arm gets bent in every single direction you can think of, even ones it’s not supposed to. she bites back her screams of agony and replaces them with little pained growls and whimpers. every time her arm gets bent slightly behind her, a shock of pure pain shoots through her spine and leaves her a shivering mess. the pain within her feels electric, like she’s about to burst into flames or something. it’s the worst thing she’s ever felt.

the tears in her eyes threaten to spill more than ever, but by some miracle she manages to hold them back. until she gets back to her apartment, at least.

as soon as she steps through the front door, she makes a beeline for her bedroom. burying her face in her pillow, she lets it all out. her pained scream is barely muffled by the pillow, but she continues to scream until her throat feels like sandpaper and she realizes that she can’t breathe.

gasping for air, she flops over. her vision is spotted and blurry from a mix of tears, pain, and exhaustion. she stares at her ceiling and cries while she chokes on her own staggered breaths, and she barely registers that someone’s knocking on her door until she hears her name called through it.

“sevika? are you alright, hon?” is followed by another few pounds on her door. she doesn’t want her anyone to call the cops, so she slowly and reluctantly rises from bed, grabbing onto her door frame to steady herself.

it’s her neighbor. curse these walls for being too thin.

sevika groans and rolls her eyes before opening the door, trying her best to plant an indifferent look on her face although it looks more like a pout. the old woman smiles up at her, glad to see that she’s alive after that screaming, but sevika can’t return the smile.

“what’s wrong? did something happen?” her neighbor asks.

“nothing’s wrong.” sevika grumbles, lying through her teeth.

“i know that’s not true honeybun, your eyes are bright red and your cheeks are wet with tears.” her neighbor coos. sevika thinks it’s annoying. she doesn’t want anyone’s sympathy.

“i’m alright, thank you.” she says sternly, although her neighbor keeps pushing.

“may i come in?”

sevika doesn’t answer, instead watching as the old lady walks past her and plants herself on sevika’s couch. “come chat with me.” she invites with a warm, grandmotherly smile.

“i’m not in the mood for chatting.” sevika glares.

“oh, dear,” her neighbor chuckles to herself. “i’m afraid i’m too mature to have you groan at me like a teenager. come sit.”

sevika comes up with another response, but it’s not a very friendly one. the angel on her shoulder tells her not to say it, that the poor woman is just trying to help, that sevika’s already been so much of a bother that she should just shut her mouth. but the devil on her shoulder is fed up right now, and sevika always favors the devil.

“i’m afraid you’re not an ounce as mature as i am. you haven’t been through what i have, and you have no place to tell me what to do in my own fucking apartment.” but sevika does listen to the lady, because she takes a seat right next to her on the couch.

her neighbor ignores her emotional outburst and instead asks “are you hungry?”

“no.” sevika scowls.

“tired?”

“exhausted.”

“sad? lonely? you’d do good with a pet around here. or a few plants. i can grow you a—”

“no thanks. i don’t need a… plant. or an animal.” sevika spits.

“hmm. you live a sad life, don’t you. i wonder what you were like before you came here.” her neighbor sighed.

“i don’t owe you an explanation. that’s private.”

“sevika, you can talk to me if you need to. i’m only one door down the hall, retired, it’s just me and my cats. i’ll always be available if you need something.”

“i don’t need anything.” sevika rolls her eyes. “much less your pity.”

“okay, fine then. if you won’t let me help you, i’ll make someone else help you.”

she reaches into her pocket and digs through her wallet, pulling out a thin paper card and handing it over to sevika. “come with me tomorrow. it’d do you wonders.”

“to… church? no thanks, i’ll pa—”

“okay, great. i’ll see you tomorrow morning then.” her neighbor says, rising and making her way to the door.

“i didn’t say i’d come.”

“i’ll pick you up at eight. better set an alarm.”

“i didn’t agree to co—” and sevika gets cut off by the slam of her own door before she can finish her sentence. whatever, when tomorrow rolls around she’ll just ignore her neighbor, pretending to be asleep or something.

she leans back on her couch, staring at the ceiling and wishing she had a pillow to grip onto, to scream into. another thing to add to the list. she stares at the ceiling instead, balling her hands up into fists as rage turns into sadness and sadness turns back into exhaustion.

it takes everything in her not to crawl to bed, but she stands and walks herself eventually. her shoulders sag and her torso slumps forward as she takes one step at a time, her posture making her about 4 inches shorter than she really is. her bed cradles her weight though, and she sighs into her cold, wet pillow once the tension in her body is released. it’s the best feeling ever. and before she knows it, her eyes are shutting, mind going back to that deep, dark memory.

——

7:30am rolls around, and sevika curses herself for waking up this early. now she’ll have to pretend to be asleep in front of her neighbor, and she’s not a good actress. she rolls out of bed, dragging herself to the bathroom to get her day started. she tries to avoid the mirror, but it’s impossible.

she stares at herself for a while, the uncomfortable feeling of someone else looking back at her creeps up on her. she doesn’t look like herself, she doesn’t look like sevika. she looks sick, tired, hurt, starving. the thought of food makes her stomach twist, she hasn’t eaten anything real in over a full day. maybe she should go easy on her neighbor and ask for a home-cooked meal. maybe.

her hair is fluffy and frayed at the ends, and her roots feel eternally greasy. her depression is so bad, she either showers daily in an attempt to scrub the hallucinated blood off, or she won’t shower for weeks. it’s like she can never win the battle.

a knock at the door disrupts her thoughts. “sevika?”

a groan involuntarily escapes her as she silently opens the bathroom door and creeps out into the living room. “sevika, wake up, it’s almost eight.”

she freezes, praying that her movements on top of her creaky floorboards go unobserved.

“sevika, dear, i can hear you on the other side of the door. you’re not fooling anyone.”

fuck. she’s not getting out of this, is she.

with another groan, she opens the door and sighs. the old lady smiles up at her, dressed in some sort of church attire. “grab a coat,” she says. “it’s chilly out.”

what else does sevika have to do, other than follow the orders? she’s trapped now. following this sweet old woman to church on a sunday. something she never thought she’d do. but she yanks a jacket over her shoulders and shoves her shoes on, not bothering to lock the door behind her. she claims she has nothing to lose in there, but that’s just because she lost her own apartment key a while ago.

she almost smiles when her neighbor shoves her into her car. almost. but she’s not exactly capable of that anymore. it’s so luxurious. she has a heater and a radio and a seat. it’s almost like she’s in a spaceship, marveling at all of these features that would make her life so much easier.

her excitement reaches it’s end as they pull into the parking lot of the building, and that pit in her stomach returns as she climbs out of the small car. if her legs worked a fraction of how well they used to, she’d run so far away from this place.

everything about it is repelling her. the building is huge, bright, colorful, everything she’s seen in her recurring nightmares. it smells like dust and coffee, children’s art line the walls, along with some more formal paintings and portraits. the ceiling seems to be made of glass— the kind that shatters easily and can slice your hands up.

the windows are colored with stained glass that portray different scenes. people made of bright colors dance and pose and feast all around them, their dazzling figures being illuminated by the white sunlight shining through the windows. it’s the kind of beauty she was attracted to years ago, the kind that nearly got her killed.

“sevika, come sit with me.” her neighbor says, derailing her train of thought. she practically has to drag sevika over to the pews as she stares at the buildings interior, feelings of fear and comfort flooding through her veins and stunning her.

she’s too busy taking in her surroundings to realize that the service has started, and she’s quickly reminded of how much she hates places like this. a large, beautiful room full of people. a community. something bad could happen at any moment, and she’d be in no shape to help any of them.

small droplets of blood fill her mouth one at a time as she anxiously chews on her bottom lip. she knows it’s a bad habit, but it’s oddly comforting. the metallic taste is just a reminder that she’s still alive, that the blood is still inside of her body instead of splattered across the floor. gross, ugh, don’t think of that.

in an attempt to tune out the preacher’s sermon, she decides to study the people around her. it’s a harsh reminder of past events, she swears she can almost recognize the faces of the dead bodies in them. all ages, young and old. parents cradling their newborn babies, seniors admiring their lover’s white hair, kids swinging their feet out in front of them in an attempt to stay occupied.

she tries to push these morbid thoughts away from her brain, but it’s not easy. it’s her minds default, it’s why she hasn’t stepped foot in any sort of large building in years. by some miracle, she’s survived a bombing once, how on earth could she do it again?

but to her luck, the ceremony is over before she knows it, and she’s about to escape before her neighbor yanks her back by the collar of her jacket. she pouts, rolls her eyes, and turns around to face her.

“meet my neighbor, sevika. this is her first time joining us.”

“nice to meet you, sevika.” and the man sticks his arm out to sevika, awaiting a returned hand shake. she doesn’t return it though, and she doesn’t even look at him. instead she just stares at the floor and says “yeah… thanks…”

her neighbor nudges her shoulder for being rude, but she doesn’t owe anyone anything. she doesn’t know if the man who tried to shake her hand is same guy who’s been blabbering on this whole time, but if it is, she doesn’t want anything to do with him.

“sevika, what the hell was that? i didn’t bring you here to be rude, i brought you here to learn something.”

sevika scoffs with a fake laugh, “i don’t need you to parent me.”

“then stop acting like a kid, let’s go meet more people.”

how was she gonna get out of this? oh well, in only a few hours she’ll be home again, resting and recharging in bed under the covers. she follows behind her neighbor like a lost puppy, not even looking in front of her, just staring down and making sure that she’s following the correct pair of shoes.

you greet sevika’s neighbor warmly, she’s a familiar face you’re always glad to see. sevika’s figure almost startles you when you peek up, almost. but you get yourself under control, asking the sweet older woman “who’s this?”

“this is sevika, my neighbor. it’s her first time joining us today.”

“oh! nice to meet you, sevika.” you smile, keeping your hands to yourself. sevika doesn’t know what to think of you, you’re so… different from everyone else here. you’re not dressed like everyone else, you look more like sevika than you do the others. but she wouldn’t expect someone like you to work at a church, would she? god, how the world has changed.

“nice to meet you.” she says, not bothering to attempt a weak smile, but giving a cordial nod in your direction anyways.

“we hope to see you around here soon. if you need anything, you know where to find me. although, you look like you’re in good hands.” you offer, giving sevika’s neighbor a friendly pat on the shoulder. sevika watches you walk off, wishing she could dissect you a little more. but she doesn’t hesitate to exit the building when her neighbor declares that it’s time to leave.

“are you hungry?” her neighbor asks once they’re in the car.

sevika’s mouth speaks before she can stop herself, “yes. starving.”

“good, you’ll come over for brunch. that wasn’t a question, by the way.” she smiles.

sevika rolls her eyes and almost smiles back. almost. but the ache in her lower back is making it hard to be happy in this moment.

her neighbor’s apartment is quite grandmotherly, to put it nicely. she has two cats— a black ball of fluff named “fluffy” and a skinny, all white cat named “snowy”, both of which were named by her grandchildren. there are plants and paintings and handmade quilts littering her place, every one of them having a story behind it. it’s cute, sure, but a little bit too maximalist for sevika’s enjoyment. at least she has furniture. good quality furniture.

a steaming teacup is placed in front of her seat at the counter, and both of the cats jump up to check it out. in all honesty, sevika thinks it’s kinda gross to live with animals. she doesn’t know where the hell those cats paws have been, and if it were up to her they wouldn’t be on the kitchen counter.

the cats waddle over to sevika, getting too close to comfort in an attempt to investigate the strange woman sitting at their counter. once she’s deemed safe, they raise their backs and point their tails up as if to ask for pets, but sevika scowls and awkwardly scoots away from the strange animals.

“not a cat person?” her neighbor laughs.

“no… not an animal person in general, really.”

“they’re sweet. give ‘em a pet.”

“no thanks…”

“fine. but you better eat up before they eat it for you.” her neighbor says, shoving a tall stack of pancakes in front of sevika. it’s a heavenly sight, and she almost feels bad for eating it instead of staring at the masterpiece for a while longer.

but that hungry pit in her stomach only grows and shoves itself against her stomach, so she has no choice to dig in. not that she’s complaining, and they taste absolutely divine. she grows uncomfortable again, last time she felt divine was the worst day of her life. it’s almost like a curse— one that never lets her feel true enjoyment.

fluffy and snowy meow loudly at her neighbor for food too, so she grabs a small dish and starts plopping some wet food onto it. again, sevika can’t fathom why someone would do that. on the counter? where she’s eating? but it’s not her apartment, so she keeps her mouth full of pancakes to stop the complaints.

she can’t wait to get home. checking the time, she realizes that it’s now afternoon. this has been the most eventful day she’s lived through in a while, and that triggers her anxiety to tone everything down. she needs a drink and a nap, so she thanks her neighbor and heads one door up the hall to her own apartment.

her door is unlocked, just how she left it, and she realizes that the only valuable thing in her apartment might be her liquor cabinet. maybe she should get a lock after all. add that to the list.

she guzzles down some whiskey directly from the bottle before stopping to take a breath. with how much she’s been drinking lately, she barely gets drunk anymore. it’s not fair, she might just have to find something stronger. jesus christ, i’m gonna drink myself to death. before she has a chance to bury herself back in bed, her phone rings. how strange, she hasn’t gotten a call in years. but what choice does she have, other than to lift up the receiver?

“yes?” she groans.

“hello,” you greet, a bit disturbed that someone would answer the phone with just ‘yes?’ “is this sevika?”

“who are you?”

“i’m from the church, we met earlier.”

“oh… okay… so…?”

“so, i wanted to tell you that i meant it when i said i hope you join us again. it was nice to see you, we rarely get any newcomers in this small town but… i can tell that you’re different.”

“okay…” sevika says. there is no way she’s stepping foot in that building again. jesus christ himself could not drag her in there.

“so… you’ll come?”

“i still need to be convinced.”

“easy. but i’ll need you to show up for that.”

“maybe.” she says, and you feel like you can hear a hint of promise in her voice.

“okay, well, have a good rest of your day. i’ll see you soon. maybe.” you say, about to hang up.

“how did you get my number?” she questions.

“helen gave it to me.”

“…who?”

“your neighbor? helen?”

“oh… right.” how could she not know her own neighbor’s name?

“sevika, don’t worry.” you assure her. “i’ll help you believe.” and the line goes quiet.

iv. I WILL DELIVER, YOU KNOW I’M A FORGIVER

that day was the first time you saw sevika, and you wish you could live in that moment forever. she was so soft and so sharp at the same time, and it was surprisingly harmonious. her physical features were striking, she looked almost… scary. but that scariness was easily cancelled out by her gentleness.

her cheeks were thin and sunken, but her chin effortlessly faded into the smooth skin of her neck. her nose stuck straight out of her head, but there was a slight curve to it that made you wanna run a gentle fingertip over it. her eyes were bright and silver, but they were so big and so round. she was tall, sticking up higher than anyone else in the room, but her hips and thighs were so plush and thick, she took up just the right amount of space.

she was just plain gorgeous. usually you’d scold yourself for thinking about another woman this way, but you’d been slowly coming to terms with your sexuality. as long as you don’t act on it.

from the moment you laid eyes on her, you knew you had to guide her. it was like some sort of fate or destiny. here’s this immaculate woman showing up in front of you in desperate need of help, your help specifically. it was a perfect mission, you’d do anything in her power to earn her trust and to help her feel that faith.

by some miracle, she answered the phone when you rang. judging by her previous attitude, you almost expected her to storm back down to the church and smack you across the face. your conversation was unproductive, sure, but it was a good start. well, if she decides to show up, that is. you don’t doubt her, if anything you can just ask her neighbor to force her to tag along again.

the mental image of her floats around in your head all day. what are you gonna do when she does show up? give her some sort of speech? she’ll probably just tune you out like she does to the rest of the world. you wonder why she acts the way she does, there’s no way anybody with a normal life could act this guarded. you just hope she opens up eventually, you’d kill to get to know her.

sevika’s not amused. she doesn’t want anyone’s help, or to pretend to have faith in something that’s all just make believe. really, the only thing she wants is some peace and quiet, and for the pain in her shoulders to lessen. before returning to her den, she sluggishly trudges to the kitchen cupboards, yanking them open in search of some painkillers. to her luck, there are two small pills left, which she quickly downs. she chooses water over whiskey this time, shockingly, because she’s a little bit frightened by drinking herself to death. which is strange, and she wonders why she values her life so much.

no matter what you do, you can’t get this woman off of your mind. something about her makes you feel different than how other people make you feel, but you can’t tell what it is or why. you need a plan. you need to talk to her again. or at least some confidence would be handy. but instead of dwelling on it, you decide to go for a walk.

the walk doesn’t really work though, it actually does the opposite of clearing your mind. you have nothing to focus on, no work to do, so you just think. your mind runs wild the whole time. you’re so intrigued, so excited yet nervous, you feel like it’s almost a craving. almost, because you’re not really sure what a craving is. not until you meet her, at least.

after swallowing her pain meds, sevika crawls back into bed, the heavy feeling of anxiety that settled over her chest slowly but surely fades, and she’s eased into a light afternoon nap. the plain white walls of her room offer some familiar comfort, but the more she looks at them, the more she’s reminded of the hospital. fuck, maybe she should try to decorate the place. and she really does need to go shopping later.

——

she wakes up nearly three hours later feeling more exhausted than before she slept. at least she feels a bit more calm, but the looming feeling of her responsibilities made her groan. another reason why she doesn’t want pets: it’s another mouth to feed, to walk, clean up after, bathe, spend time with. she can barely do those things for herself, how on earth could she do it for something else?

rather than pouting about her responsibilities, she makes the tough decision to get out of bed and get started with her day. get started meaning that it’s almost 6:00pm and she’s only just now attempting to complete her to-do list. and so what? she lives on her own terms. she doesn’t bother brushing her messy hair after her nap, even less to keep it out of her face with a little half ponytail. it never works anyways, the wind whips it all around you until it sticks to the sides of your face with humidity.

so, that’s it then, and she shoves her shoes and her coat on and leaves. the door stays unlocked, of course, and she makes her way down the stairwell and out of the building. there’s a small grocery store on her block which is conveniently located next to a liquor store. if she has the funds after buying her necessities, she’ll stop in there for a treat. actually, she’ll probably stop in there anyways, but she likes to think that she still has some self control left when it comes to drinking.

does she remember what she needed to buy? no. and did she bother to write down her mental shopping list as it came to her? nope! but it’ll come to her. hopefully. she spends the whole walk there trying to focus on what she needs to spend her money on and what she wants to spend her money on. she needs more painkillers, more snacks, some sort of decoration for her place, and… was there something else?

she crosses into the store and she’s immediately greeted by the sound of loud pop music buzzing through the speakers. great, so she’s overstimulated already. she’ll make it quick, she decides, it’s not like she wanted to be here in the first place.

sauntering down the aisles, she picks up everything she needs. at least, everything she remembers that she needs. she grabs a large bottle of extra strength ibuprofen, more bread and butter, microwave meals, milk and eggs, and what else? before she can think of another thing to add, she decides to just leave. if she thinks of anything else, she can always just come back later.

her shoulders sag under the weight of her basket, full of stuff that’ll probably just rot in her fridge. as she approaches the register, she sighs as the man behind it attempts to strike up a conversation with her. she’s not interested, she never has been, and she has no clue why he insists on chatting with her every time she’s there.

she doesn’t respond to the man the entire time she’s there, just staring daggers past him. she doesn’t even muster out a “good evening” or “goodnight”. i mean jesus, even a “fuck you” might’ve been polite. it’s not like she cares.

but she does stop by the liquor store on the way home, as we knew she would. she decides to treat herself, picking up not only one, but two bottles off of the shelf. whiskey and vodka, not cheap but it does the job. the money will come back around anyways. the man behind the counter, this time stoned out of his mind, asks her what she’s gonna do with the alcohol.

“what am i gonna do with it?” she repeats, obviously annoyed and confused. “what the fuck do you think?”

“mannnn, i bet you could make a hundred bottles of homemade mouthwash with this stuff. fucking awesome.”

sevika rolls her eyes and collects the large glass bottles, shoving them into her bag as gently as she can. she has no idea why everyone’s so interested in talking with her tonight, it’s like she’s wearing a glowing neon sign above her head that says “TALK TO ME!”

does she look approachable? happy? friendly? welcoming? no, obviously not. she must not be part of this inside joke the world is playing on her tonight.

so you’re surprised to see sevika when you’re out for your second walk of the night. pacing around in your own house wasn’t working, and all you wanted was some fresh air. well, maybe not fresh, but the temperature definitely did shock you. you almost walked right past her until you recognized her statuesque figure. she was across the parking lot, rolling her eyes and shoving the door to the liquor shop open as she stepped back outside.

huh. sevika at a liquor shop. not necessarily unusual for a person, but forbidden for you. you wonder if this is a ritual for her, if she’s gonna go home and get drunk or something, or maybe if she’s gonna split the bottle with some friends. does she even have friends?

you turn around and head in the same direction she does, hoping your paths cross before her quick, long strides can leave you behind. and you eventually catch up to her, pretending you had no idea you’d run into her, you greet her with a “oh, sevika! hey, i didn’t expect to see you here.” except, you did expect to see her here. you already spied her storming out of the liquor store. ugh, you’re such a bad liar.

“oh… hi.” she mumbles, a little disturbed by your sudden appearance, and already burnt out from the two people who’ve made small talk with her in the past hour. while you stand in front of her, she raises her eyebrow slightly as if to signal that she’s waiting for you to say something before she walks away.

“i’ll see you next week, yeah?” you remind her, not really sure of what to say. partly because the meeting is so sudden, and partly because this woman is breathtaking.

“yeah, maybe.” she agrees halfheartedly.

“i don’t want your ‘maybe’s sevika. i want you to say yes to me.” you challenge, huffing at her indecisiveness. “if you want me to help you, i need a yes.”

“help me with what?” she asks, pretending to be shocked and offended at your words. you stutter, staring up at her with a sorry look in your eyes.

“oh, i’m sorry, i didn’t mean—”

“i’m just fucking with you.” she says, chuckling to herself and offering a small smile. and as if her face couldn’t get any more perfect, you notice a small gap between two of her top teeth. she’s so beautiful you feel like you’re gonna melt, even in this chilly autumn weather.

before you think about what you’re saying next, you blurt out a “tomorrow? can i see you tomorrow?”

she raises her eyebrows at your bluntness, the suggestion seems to come out of nowhere. but what else does she have to do? and she already feels bad for fucking with you all of the time, shouldn’t she just give in and attend whatever stupid meeting you have planned for her?

“i— i guess, yeah.”

“you guess?” you tease. “or you will show up?”

“i will. i’ll see you tomorrow.” she admits with a huff.

“good, i’ll see you tomorrow too then.” you say, and you offer her a small wave before walking past her and continuing with your walk. after seeing her, your mind automatically feels so much clearer considering the fact that she was the one occupying all of your thoughts.

sevika stands frozen in place as you walk away, holding her bag in her hand as she reflects on what she just agreed to. why the fuck would she say yes to that? she doesn’t believe in any of your religious bullshit, and she doesn’t care to try. but it’s too late, she’ll just have to let you down easy when tomorrow comes.

but when tomorrow does come, she decides to go a little bit easier on herself. it’s not like you’re trying to annoy her with all of your beliefs and jargon and whatnot, and she can tell that this actually does mean a lot to you. plus, she’s in a good mood after remembering that she bought two new bottles of alcohol. she even ate a little bit last night and managed to keep it all down, which is a rare occurrence for her. so yeah, it might be a good day.

the sun peeks out just a tiny bit from behind the clouds as she walks herself back to the church, which offers a nice, although minuscule, bit of warmth. you’re already there by the time she arrives, and you greet her with a warm smile and invite her down the long hallway to your ‘office’. it’s not technically a real office since you don’t do too much work other than filing papers and planning events, you just begged them to give you a room that you could sit alone in sometimes.

you don’t have any sort of plan on how you’re gonna convert sevika, or how to at least help her fix up her life a little bit, but you do wanna get to know her. so you start with that. you ask her where she’s from and if she’s lived here her whole life, and you’re surprised to learn that she used to work in new york. all the way across the country.

she hesitates to tell you why she left though, saying she’d rather save it for a later session when she gets more comfortable. which she regrets almost instantly, because she just solidified herself another few meetings like these. she tells you more, like how she was always close with her mother until she passed when sevika was only ten. and how she definitelty inherited some anger from her dad, even though she never liked him.

her childhood was interesting. to you at least. she was just stable enough to keep herself afloat, but unstable enough for her to be left with some sort of trauma. she moved out as soon as she reached eighteen and never looked back. she scoured for jobs that would be good for someone like her, someone broken but strong. resilient, you call it.

the two of you chat for nearly three hours, you asking questions after question and her answering nearly all of them. but the one question that you’re too scared to ask is this: what happened that turned her into… this? she said it had something to do with her job, something that just completely broke her and left her unable to snap back. but what was it? how bad could it have been? what job did she have? was it her fault? but you did agree to letting her tell you on her own terms, so you’ll just have to wait until she’s ready.

eventually your time is up, and you walk sevika back out of the double doors of the small building. she flashes you a small smile, one that you’re already obsessed with, and she turns to leave.

“wait.” you call after her, although she’s only about six feet away from you. “you don’t have a car?”

“no.”

“how did you get here?”

“i… walked…” she says, waiting for you to get to your point.

“all this way?”

“it’s only about a block and a half.”

“but— well…” now you feel bad. you didn’t know that you were forcing her to exercise her exhausted joints and muscles in this weather. sure, maybe she doesn’t mind, but if you were her you’d probably throw a tantrum. “do you want me to drive you?” you ask.

“sure, if you really want to.”

“of course i want to.” you say, and you practically drag her off of the sidewalk and shove her into the passenger side of your car. the drive is short, her building really is just about a block and a half away.

“i’ll see you next week.” you say.

“yeah, see you then.” she responds, and for once it doesn’t feel forced or awkward.

“and tell helen i say hi if you see her. assuming you know who she is?” you giggle.

“yes, i know my own neighbor.” she says, rolling her eyes and chuckling.

“just making sure…” you tease.

sevika just laughs and waves you goodbye through your front window, disappearing into the building and up the stairs. you don’t even register it— to busy with staring at her back— but eventually it hits you that she laughed. this mysterious, guarded woman laughed at something you said. and she spent the last three hours opening up to you about her life. and for the first time in quite a while, you feel like you’re finally good at your job.

——

sevika’s been following through on her promise, meeting you for exactly four weeks now. twenty eight days. you started out with just seeing her twice a week, then every other day, and now you see each other daily. she opened up to you about how much she hates the church setting, how it activates her fight or flight response and brings up old memories, so you switched to taking her to a small local cafe instead.

it’s great. you get to have real coffee, not the burnt stuff from the coffee pot in the church’s kitchen. you’ve also been forcing sevika to eat after learning that it’s been a struggle for her. nothing big, but you make sure she always has at least a muffin or a croissant in her stomach. you pick her up and driving her there too, which is good for her because she can finally relax instead of being worn out from walking everywhere.

she’s taken a liking to you, every morning she’s glad she wakes up because she knows she can see you again. it’s such a strange feeling, but she enjoys it. opening up to you wasn’t as difficult as she thought it would be either. you listen so attentively, and you’re always careful to ask appropriate questions and give her a break without her even having to ask for one.

it’s never been easy for her to talk about what happened in her past, and she wishes she had the ability to forget about it completely. but it’s easier with you. every time her eyes grow wide and teary as she pictures the bodies, you change the topic and point at a cute dog outside of the window. or when she gets choked up, stumbling over her words because the brutality of the situation is just too much for her, you let her take her time.

the most memorable moment for her was when she told you about that kid with the blue hair. everything else, sevika managed to stay under control about. sure, the mangled body parts and the melted flesh was bad, but that fucking kid. her lips were still blue. she’d been so alive only moments earlier, smiling as sevika gave her a fist bump and held her in her arms, and she was gone just like that.

when she told you, she couldn’t help but break down in heavy sobs. you could feel your heart shatter at this— the story and sevika’s reaction to it. you scrambled from your side of the booth to hers, scooting in next to her and wrapping her up in a hug as she cried. to your surprise, she hugged you back. she hooked her chin over your shoulder, grabbed you tightly in her strong arms, and just let herself go.

it’s the most tranquility she’s ever felt, and it put all of her past therapists to shame. immediately after that day, the two of you were bonded. you’d do anything for her. be a shoulder to cry on, drive her to and from her various doctors appointments, and make sure she’s eating.

she’s started to trust you, and she agreed to going back to the church with you a few times a week. instead of taking your usual spot with the rest of the staff and speakers, you sit with her every time. sevika on your left, her neighbor on your right.

today you’re feeling particularly bold for some reason, you suspect it might be because of your friendship with sevika, but this feels different. well, you know how it feels, but you’re scared to admit it. although you’ll probably be fine, you’re hesitant to say it to yourself out of the fear that you’ll be thrown out of the church. yes, you like sevika, and sure, she is a beautiful woman. but you just can’t bring yourself to say it. to say that you have a real crush on her. to admit that you want her.

so instead of saying anything, you use your actions instead. glancing over both of your shoulders, you make sure that nobody important is looking in your direction before you snake your hand forward and wrap your hand around sevika’s. this action is the farthest you’ve ever gone with anyone, and your cheeks are practically on fire with how hard you’re blushing. you wouldn’t be surprised if the whole building could hear your heartbeat right now.

sevika adjusts her fingers so that she’s gripping your hand firmly, and you feel so… dirty, almost. you know that this is nothing, but you’re scared and ashamed of what other people might think. but although it initially feels wrong, you settle down when you realize that nobody’s looking— even more that nobody cares— and it feels so right. her hands are surprisingly warm and soft, they feel so welcoming and familiar against yours.

maybe, just maybe, you’ll hold her hand more often. but for now, this is just a one-time occurrence.

she notices the panicked look in your eyes as you stare straight ahead. she tries to nudge you gently, but you’re in such a deep stupor that you don’t notice it.

“hey.” she whispers, elbowing you a bit harder than last time. “you okay?”

you realize now that she’s trying to talk to you, so you just squeeze her hand and give her a small nod, blinking your eyes a few times and trying to snap back into reality. once the ceremony is over, you stand and walk sevika and her neighbor to the door quickly.

“are you sure you’re alright?” she asks again.

“yeah, it’s nothing.”

“you know that… this works both ways, right?” she says, gesturing between both of your bodies. “if you need someone to talk to, i can listen.”

“i know, thank you.” you start. “but it’s not like that. it’s nothing… bad. i think? but i’m fine. or— i will be fine.” you say, stumbling over your words incredibly hard.

“you don’t seem fine to me.” she retorts.

“i am, thank you though. get home safely.” you choke out, missing a crucial part to your signature goodbye’s.

“…see you tomorrow?” she asks.

“oh, yes! see you tomorrow, i knew i was forgetting something.”

sevika flicks you on the forehead, before turning to leave. “get some rest, then.”

“i will.” you laugh, although it’s forced.

as soon as her and her neighbor are out of sight, you turn around and make a beeline for your office at the end of the hall. your eyes are glued to the floor, purposefully ignoring anyone’s gaze in case they try to chat with you.

the door clicks locked behind you, and you slump down in our office chair. with your head in your hands, you start to cry. the anxiety in your chest is just too much to handle, and you’re so upset with yourself. you’re upset because it felt so good to be that close to her, and you let yourself indulge in something you know you’ll never get to have. you allowed yourself to catch feelings, but you know you can’t go any further. you’ll have to stick with just thinking she’s pretty and sweet and yours, and watch her fall in love with another woman.

worst of all, she’ll probably fall in love with a woman who’s the total opposite of you. someone who’s experienced and not awkward and cool. and not you. and this really hurts to realize.

what are you supposed to do now? now that you’ve admitted how you feel to yourself, what else is there to do? you can’t ask her out on a date, that would be against everything your community believes in. but are you really supposed to just sit here and play along? it’s not fair. your adrenaline is so high right now that all you really want to do is run.

and that's just what you do. you don't even bother to use the exit door down the hallway, you just peel your window open and hop out of it. tears prickle your eyes and the frosty air nips at your skin, but it helps even out your overheating temperature. you’ve walked this route a millions times already, it’s nothing different but the gentle scenery offers a nice place to think.

you think about all of the sweet moments you’ve shared together, specifically about how much it means to you. you’ve never really had a friend like this before. sure, you’re convivial, but having someone like this was so different. she was yours. and you’d gladly be hers if she asked you to, but would she ask you to? would she ever ask someone like you to be hers?

but you also think about how much your religion means to you. you’ve been part of this for so long, working harder to have a strong sense of faith every single day. if you get with sevika, they could cut you off in an instant, and it would’ve all been for nothing. your reputation would be ruined, and if you’d ever wanna start over with another church, you’d have to leave this small town. leave your home.

it’s just not fair. why did god make you this way? for everyone else, falling in love with a man is no problem. they were made the right way, or at least know how to ignore their true feeling really well. was there some sort of secret lesson that you missed? that everyone is in on besides you?

once you get dizzy and out of breath, you find a stump to sit on and reflect. your shoes kick at the dirt underneath you, brain fuzzy as you try to decide on what to do. little bugs crawl around on the ground beneath you, each one of them having a family and a home. i wish i could have a family, you think. you can hear rain pattering on the leaves of the trees above you, but you stay dry. well, as dry as you possibly can be living this close to the ocean.

you don’t even realize how long you’ve been sitting here lost in your thoughts before the sky turns a lovely light shade of orange, and you realize you’d better leave now if you wanna get back before dark. the only thing on your mind as always is sevika.

sevika has been thinking about you all night too, wondering if you’re okay after the way you acted. she won’t push, she wants to give you time to open up to her the same way you did, but she just worries. and she misses the warmth of your hand in hers, although she could tell you were nervous. in her opinion, it was cute. she admires how gentle you are, how you always make sure others are alright before making sure you are alright. but whatever it is, she doesn’t doubt that you’ll be fine.

leaving your window open was a stupid idea, now your entire office is cold and there’s a puddle of rainwater leaking down the bottom of the window and onto the floor. but you’ve made up your mind. you need to call her. you know that she’s infinitely more experienced with these feelings than you are, so she’ll be able to help you, even if those feelings are about her.

she’s about to go to bed early when her phone rings again. she knows it’s you before she even picks up— you’re the only one with her number.

“yes?”

“…sevika.” you sob out, the small whimper of her name followed by sniffles and cries.

“holy shit, are you okay?” she asks frantically, scared that maybe you’re hurt or something.

“well… physically yes. but i just… miss you. i need to talk to you in person.”

“okay, yeah. i’m on my way.” she says, and she practically flies out of her building and down the street to get to you. it’s not late, but the sky is already pitch black due to how early the sun sets. you meet her at the door again when she arrives, and the sight of her instantly calms your nerves. she looks so worried, it makes your heart twist. you’re so in love and it’s all her fault.

she doesn’t hesitate to wrap you up in her arms as you sob into her shoulder, and this gesture only makes you sob harder. because you’re so in love and you think you know which side you’re choosing. and it breaks your heart.

“what’s going on?” she asks, and you realize you’re still standing in the doorway.

“come inside, i’ll explain.”

“okay…” she whispers. “did something happen?”

“i have a question.”

“of course. ask me anything.”

“do you ever…” you trail off, trying to find the right words. “feel like… like you can’t live without someone? and you’d give up anything to be with them?”

“yeah, i guess i’ve felt that way before.” she admits quizzically.

“what’s it called?” you ask, although you already know the answer.

“love?” she guesses.

“sevika, can i tell you something?”

“yeah, go ahead.” she says, worried that maybe you’re about to admit to killing someone.

“i think…” you start, but you get interrupted by tears dripping past your eyes and down your cheeks.

“spit it out,” she prompts. “you can trust me.”

“i think i’m in love with you.” you blurt out, biting the bullet.

“oh…” she says, and she almost steps away from you before she realizes that you’re crying again. so she wraps you in another hug and rubs your back. you grip onto her so hard you can barely breathe, and you cry in her arms for so long that you’re brought to your knees. sevika holds you even after you fall the the floor, keeling before you as your knees give out.

she’s in love with you too, but she didn’t wanna say anything in case it made you uncomfortable. plus, she’s not really into corruption or anything, so she decided to just respect your boundaries. but eventually her joints grew sore of sitting on the floor, so she rose, holding your face in her hands and wiping up all of your tears as they fall.

v. REACH OUT AND TOUCH FAITH

every little thing about her attracted you. sevika was a lost soul, mysterious above all. a woman who needed help and direction but was so strong, you swore she could hold the whole world on her shoulders, no matter how much she’d whine about the pain. she complains about people— how there are too many of them and how they’re all stupid— but she’d give her life in a heartbeat to save them.

you couldn’t crack her, no matter how hard you tried.

she looked down at you with her silver eyes sparkling in the candlelight, her hair falling over her face in a silky curtain. you gasped as her thick hands took their place on either side of your head, each one cupping your cheeks so tenderly although they have a rough exterior. you always knew she was capable of being gentle.

you looked up at her from your position on your knees, her torso looking impossibly longer than usual. something comes over you, something that warms up your stomach until you feel so dizzy you feel the need to reach for something to steady yourself. unaware of just how much trouble this would get you in, you end up grabbing for her upper thighs. they’re so thick that your hands are almost completely flat, but they’re sturdy. perfect for grabbing onto.

she chuckles at your flushed state, huffing out an amused “it’s alright, you can touch me if you want. you won’t burst into flames.”

those two sentences make your cheeks heat up involuntarily. you know what she’s implying, and it makes you feel strangely electric. if you don’t burst into flames by this act of sinning, you’ll burst into flames due to how flustered you are. she does something to you that feels so enchanting, like some sort of spell she’s casted. you’ve been frozen in place for so long that you hardly register the soft caress of her thumbs against the apples of your cheeks. if she were medusa, you’d get turned to stone in an instant.

“sevika, what are you— we should—”

“what are you thinking about right now?” she asks, tauntingly putting an end to your stuttering mess of a sentence.

“uh— medusa. and you. you remind me of her.” you choke out, reaching up and gripping onto her biceps before hauling yourself up.

“how so?”

“i always feel like you put me under some kind of spell. like when i’m with you i’m frozen in place. in a good way.” you respond, your breath tickling her face as you gaze up at her from a closer distance this time.

most of your dizziness has relented, and now you sense something softer in the way sevika gazes at you. like she’s pleading for something she doesn’t know how to ask for. she stammers back, almost hitting the wall, and you grow concerned. the roles have shifted. little do you know, you’re in power now. she feels… weak. and needy. something tingly settles in her stomach, she can’t decipher whether it’s anxiety or horniness.

“sevika?” you ask with concern, slowly walking over to where she’s pressed against the wall. her chest heaves as she breathes deeply, and she shivers when you reach out to grab her hand. “are you feeling alright?”

“i don’t think i can do this anymore.” she confesses, her big, silver eyes growing glossy with tears. “i’m— i can’t do this to you.”

“what are you talking about?” you attempt to soothe, worried that maybe she’s suddenly gotten possessed or something.

“you belong here, sevika. you’re not doing anything wrong. if anything, it’s me who should back off right now.”

“it’s not about that.” she sighs, unable to meet your gaze, her eyes instead settling for your lips. a sight she’s seen many times before in her most erotic fantasies.

“what are you feeling right now?” you ask, your therapist persona settling over you in case she’s about to reveal more of her past trauma.

“i… i can’t say it.” she whispers, now solely focused on the curve of your lips and how they’re still shining from the last time your tongue trailed over them.

“you can trust me.” you whisper back. “always.”

sevika studies your words in her mind, hoping that you’d still mean them if you could see the thoughts running wild in her mind right now. she inches closer to you and her nose almost brushes yours. the tension in the room makes her squirm, thighs pressing together in an attempt to soothe the ache between them. somehow, in some strange way, this feels better than sex. better than anything she’s ever smoked, any liquid she could get drunk on.

you are her intoxicant. her stronger substance. her higher power. her breath of fresh air in this humid town. you are what she’s been searching for.

before she makes another move, she pauses. you’re looking at her with such concern, such love, her heart feels like it’s gonna burst. she theorizes that you’re aware of exactly what she’s thinking, but she has no way to know. sevika wonders how you’d react if she leaned forward and kissed you right now.

you have a sneaking suspicion that she’s thinking of something… lustful right now. it shows in her eyes. wide with pupils big and blown out, and the silver in them is practically glittering. she looks pretty, you think, and soft. and although it’s against almost everything you believe in, you probably wouldn’t mind if she leaned in right now and just—

her lips come crashing against yours, a beautiful harmony of carnal aggression and tender care. gravity suddenly feels about twenty times stronger, and you near collapse in sevika’s strong arms. instead of that, you regain your balance after stumbling and back her against the wall. her back hits it with a thud, and she whimpers into your mouth. she whimpers.

it’s as if everything you’ve ever believed in suddenly floods out of your mind. you don’t care which god sees you kissing another woman with such animal desire. somehow it doesn’t matter to you anymore. all that matters is sevika. her safety, her trust, her pleasure.

for once, you allow yourself to feel this way. although it feels wrong, it’s so freeing. you’re an adult for god’s sake, and you’ve missed out on so much due to the strict rules of the church. you want this, you deserve this. after all, it is technically your job to guide sevika, to make her feel good. how is this any different?

as her lips part, you take the chance to slide your tongue over hers. just a gentle brush, but the warm heat of her mouth drives you crazy. her hands claw at your hips, pulling you closer until there’s no gap between the pair of you. this level of closeness isn’t something you’re used to, but fuck, it feels so right.

you can feel the way her thighs tighten when she squirms and clenches them together, feel her own tits rub against yours through your clothes. the intimacy of the moment almost feels awkward, especially because it’s completely silent other than the sounds of your lips smacking together. but before you can dwell on the embarrassment crashing over you, sevika grounds you by moaning your name into your mouth.

as if you weren’t already turned on, this flips a switch and activates something in you that’s a hundred times stronger. both of you pant when you pull back, staring into the silver pools of sevika’s irises. you need her. now. in every way possible.

“take your clothes off.” you demand. sevika nods momentarily, but she hesitates.

“are you sure? we don’t need to— if you’re not comfortable with it that’s fi—”

“now, sevika.” you huff at her attempt to be gentlemanly, but you know she’s craving this as much as you are.

without another word, she strips herself of her shirt, leaving her in just a black sports bra and jeans. you halt your own undressing to stare at her. and god. she’s fucking perfect. her abdomen carries the remnants of what you assume used to be a thick six pack of abs. and although you can’t exactly see them yet, her tits are wide and heavy looking, her ribs poking out slightly under them.

something that you didn’t expect to turn you on is her happy trail. she’s got a thick line of dark, coarse hair running from her belly button all the way down to—

her pants drop to the floor as you continue to stare at her, and your eyes trail lower and lower until they reach the ground. her thighs look impossibly thicker, and you’re surprised about how much she complains about her body. she looks so strong, like nothing could ever hurt her. and as for being insecure? impossible for someone who looks as good as she does. you’d do anything to make her aware of just how beautiful she is.

as she stands almost naked before you, she peeps out a timid “your turn.”

before you think twice, you tackle her to the floor, crushing her lips under yours and shoving your tongue back into her mouth. she whimpers when she hits the ground, albeit mostly out of pain instead of pleasure. you slightly pull away with a gasp, concerned about potentially hurting her— the opposite of your intentions.

“fuck, sorry.” you groan against her lips. “did i hurt you?”

“it’s alright.” she responds. “worth it to have a pretty thing like you on top of me.”

with that, you’re kissing her even deeper, grabbing onto the back of her head to get a better angle with your tongue. she shuffles slightly under you, bucking her hips up as she unbuttons your own pants. shit, you think to yourself, i’ve never done this before.

your bottoms are quickly discarded, sevika throws them somewhere behind you the second they’re off. you’re dying to get your hands on her tits, but you don’t know how to ask. it’s a good think she can always tell what you’re thinking, because she reaches up to hook her thumbs under her bra and yank it off. and god, you were right. her tits are wide and heavy, they’re so smooth and round with the most perfect brown nipples sitting proudly in the center of each one.

you lean forward to give each one a kiss, just a gentle brush, but it doesn’t really satisfy your craving for her. you pout, you’re so horny that it hurts. no matter what article of clothing she removes, it’s not enough. you just wanna crawl inside of her and live there.

“what’s wrong?” she asks.

“i need you.”

“have you ever had sex before?”

“no. i have no idea what i’m doing.”

“guess it’s my turn to guide you.” she laughs, and although the joke was stupid, you giggle too. you didn’t know it could be this fun.

she shuffles under you as she slides her boxers off, and you almost drool at the sight of her bush. it’s just so… beautiful. and intimate. she pats your hips as a signal to scoot off of her, and she spreads her legs before manhandling you to sit your cunt on top of hers. as soon as you connect your cunt with hers, you swear you black out.

it all feels so good. she keeps spreading her legs wider to help you get a better angle against her clit, and you can feel it throbbing against yours. you thought holding her hand was intimate, but this is so much more than you could’ve imagined.

“fuck, sevika.” you moan, tears crashing over you again and dripping onto her cheeks now. “you’re so beautiful.”

she groans at this, tears washing over her too. she hasn’t felt beautiful in so long, and here you are completely undoing her insecurities. all of the scars on her face, cheeks, neck, arms, and torso get kissed. you trail your fingers along some, your tongue along others. you want her to feel loved. you want her to feel the exact same way that she makes you feel.

“you’re beautiful too.” she admits sheepishly. “i can’t believe i haven’t fucked you sooner.”

this flusters you. it’s hard for you to believe that anyone can just be this confident saying things like that, especially because you’re not used to it. but it feels so good to be desired. to have the woman of your dreams using you to get off.

you’re both so sensitive that it doesn’t take long for either of you to cum. sevika’s catches her first after you tell her how beautiful her scars are, even though she used to believe they were the ugliest things known to mankind. she gasps as she cums, her thick cream leaking out of her cunt and down her ass.

you eventually follow after her when she readjusts, moving one of her hands down from your neck onto your hip. she grinds up into you, and your clit meets hers at such an angle that you cum with a scream. it’s dizzying. you gasp and moan and writhe as your orgasm crashes down over you. considering that it’s your first, you weren’t expecting it to be so enveloping. you were taught that sex was unholy, gross, sinful, and a plethora of other negative adjectives.

but it’s not.

you imagine that this is what heaven feels like, a shock of pleasure that runs through your body and leaves you panting and reeling. and it’s fun. as soon as you come down, sevika’s congratulating you on a good job and holding you close. you cry again, but this time not out of fear, out of certainty. you have it all figured out. you’ve just felt the best sensation of your life and here’s the love of your life smiling up from under you.

and so sevika holds you for another few minutes. yeah, you’re both naked in the middle of church, and yeah you’d be burned at the stake if anyone ever found out. but you wouldn’t mind that, as long as you have sevika with you.

“sevika?” you ask after a long while of silent kisses and tickling breaths.

“yeah?”

“i think we need to get out of here.”

“alright. where to?”

“i dunno. let’s leave the country.”

sevika laughs at this, and it’s a sound prettier than anything you’ve ever heard. something you’ll never get sick of. “fuck, i love you so much.”

but before convincing her to leave the country with you, you drive her to a small 24 hour diner down the street and have dinner together. it’s a real date, although all of those coffee shop meeting have gotta count for something too. you hold her hand across the table, this time not afraid, and share a milkshake just like they do in the movies.

so yeah, maybe things didn’t work out for you with this certain group of people, and maybe it does still take a while for you to get over your fear of societal rejection, but sevika is there for you every step of the way. as your girlfriend. officially.

OK HAIII if you made it all the way through my the treacherous jungle of my yap and you’re reading this, thank you so much!!!! i poured my entire heart and soul (and pussy) into this so i hope u enjoyed hehehe :P special thanks to pluto, rayray, eren, and lyss for allowing me to yap about this fic to them, i couldn’t have done it without you guys 🥹 my favorite people in the world right here, MWAH here’s a kiss from ennabear <3 and another thanks to the rest of my mutuals for putting up with the empty promises of “coming soon” at least it’s actually finished now!! i love all of you, let me know what you thought of this one!!! comments and reblogs are very highly appreciated 🤎🤎

[astroismypassion]

Hi there, I would like to know what are some indicators in a natal chart for where you should live specifically a country, town, or city. As I am getting older, I am thinking of moving out of my family's home and living by myself, and also having a job or career with work and life balance. Yeah, I'm curious where people including myself could live.

Honestly, I think you can't really tell specific city, town with astrology. Maybe more so with astrocartography. But the sign over your 4th house, planets and IC sign actually give a general idea where you would feel comfortable (especially after retirement or in the old age)

ARIES IC/4TH HOUSE

in a hot climate

somewhere sunny

with not a lot of rain

TAURUS IC/4TH HOUSE

sunny weather

somewhere where vegetables, fruits, herbs can grow

probably near a pond, lake, a small body of water that is looking nice

probably near a park, forest or near flowers, botanic garden

GEMINI IC/4TH HOUSE

honestly probably a small city, that is very "compact" (the stores are near, the market is close, the school, workplace is nearby)

around close friends

near a library, maybe even elementary or high school

CANCER IC/4TH HOUSE

just move next door to your family

in your family home where you grew up

near a sea or a place where you can go swimming

near a garden or a barbecue, picnic place

LEO IC/4TH HOUSE

this one is very extreme, either in the city, in the spotlight, where there is cinema, theatre, stores, lots of events or in the countryside, there is no inbetween with this one

VIRGO IC/4TH HOUSE

near your high school, elementary school friends

near your workplace, the company, near your job

near dentist's, a pharmacy, a gym

LIBRA IC/4TH HOUSE

near a bakery,

a restaurant, where there are clothing stores

as near as possible to your partner's home

SCORPIO IC/4TH HOUSE

dude, somewhere in the forest, just away from big crowds and too many people

i noticed from experience they end up living sometimes near a hospital or cemetry

SAGITTARIUS IC/4TH HOUSE

in a different region, state than your home

or a foreign country, but still the same continent

you might like to live in a multicultural, diverse area, you might have an age difference with your neighbours or they could be more or less educated than you

probably in the city as well, unless you are very adventurous, then the countryside

CAPRICORN IC/4TH HOUSE

near your parents

or even grandparents

near your job, workplace

you may live near a care home for elderly

you may also live near the mountains or the terrain has is very rocky, stone could be prominent

could do well in a colder climate

AQUARIUS IC/4TH HOUSE

again, one that does well in a colder climate

probably in the city though, you know where the people and the culture is

because you like busy, lively gatherings

PISCES IC/4TH HOUSE

probably another country or even different continent not gonna lie

you probably don't have much luck in your own hometown, because you're just too different or somewhat "exotic" in comparison

near a lake, sea, pool, even on the road, like in a van, camper

[fanficsforfun]

Just another day (or not)

Pairing: Merle Dixon x female reader

Era: pre-apocalypse/no apocalypse AU

Word count: 5k

Warnings: shooting, nudity, mild language (?)

Summary: Your boring day becomes a lot more interesting once you meet Merle. (Reader is mentioned to drive a car, having shot before, and not to know too many card games.)

Author's note: This is nothing but a fluff, which is something I have wanted to write for Merle for ages but haven't been able to

---

You were bored out of your mind. It was weekend, but you had nothing to do. Nothing. Just sitting around the house, trying to figure out some way to entertain yourself. Unfortunately, you had no success in that. You didn’t feel like reading, there wasn’t any interesting movies out there, household chores was the last thing you’d want to do. Eventually you grew tired of it, so you decided to go for a drive. It was better than nothing and besides, it was a nice weather.

You changed into clothes you’d dare wear outside the house, grabbed your keys and headed out. A gentle wind swept over your skin on your way to the car. You hopped in, started the engine and started driving. You had nowhere to go, so you just drove around aimlessly. Just here and there, around the outskirts of the city, until you needed to take a toilet break. You spotted a gas station’s sign after having driven just a couple of minutes, so you headed there. It turned out not to be the neatest place. The asphalt in the parking lot had potholes, and the dirty white wall tiles of the building were cracked in places. The big windows were dirty, the colors were faded. Inside, it smelled like a mixture of coffee, fast food and motor oil. Not too bad, if not too good either. You could live with that.

After having taken care of your business, you figured you could take a coffee or something now that you were there already. It wasn’t like you’d need to be someplace else anyways. So you did just that. A coffee and a sandwich, seven dollars. Tolerable. You settled on a table by the window, slowly drinking your coffee and taking bites of the sandwich while looking outside. The air conditioner was humming in the background, and some of the other customers chatted with each other. Nothing interesting was going on. It was all calm, with occasional drivers stopping to tank and then leaving. A passenger car. Another passenger car. A pickup truck. Yet another passenger car. Then a truck, but it didn’t come for the gas. The truck driver headed to the toilet, after which he bought a pack of cigarettes and left. Blaah. It must have been the most boring day of your life.

By the time the truck drove off the parking lot, you were nearly done with your snack. Just after a moment, however, the sound of a motorbike caught your attention. You couldn’t tell which kind it was, but that wasn’t that important. The driver though… he was something else. Or, well, he was just like any other guy around there, middle-aged, maybe a bit above average height, fit but not in a way one would look if they hit the gym. No, this was the kind of build that was the result of physical work. Maybe not farming, something lighter. But something physical for sure. He had short, brown hair and was wearing a pair of cargo pants, a white wife beater and a shabby jacket pulled over it. Just like every other guy around there. But… He didn’t look half bad. He had parked under the trees, so it took him a moment to get to the station. You had followed his way over the parking lot to the door, and let your eyes wander over him when he entered and walked over to the counter. 

“Gimme a beer an’ a hot dog or somethin'”, he said to the guy at the counter. Then he turned around, leaning into the counter and glanced around the place. There were some truckers or whatever there, and you. And you had been staring him, the whole time. He didn’t seem to mind it though. He gave you a smirk and winked when you blushed at the embarrassment of getting caught like that. You quickly turned your gaze away and tried to keep your smile under control. Wow. The day had just become a whole lot more interesting!

The man eyed you with curiosity while waiting for his hot dog. It didn’t take that long, but it felt like eternity. You could feel his eyes on you, and you had to fight the urge to look back at him. He paid, grabbed his stuff and, to your surprise, walked over to your table.

“Hey there, sugar”, he smirked and sat across from you, placing the beer bottle on the table but keeping the hot dog in his hand.

You were taken aback by his boldness. The way he just casually sat there had surprised you, so your reply came late and a bit hesitant: “Um… hi.”

“You got a name?” He asked you while taking a bite of the hot dog.

You swallowed before introducing yourself. You didn’t quite dare to look at him openly since you had just been staring at him, so you only glanced at him bashfully. You were both flattered and baffled by his attention, and a bit cautious. Not that he’d seem dangerous though, mostly he just came across friendly, if rather cocky. He seemed to find your behavior merely amusing. Unlike you, he introduced himself confidently. Merle was his name.

“So… what’s the deal with ya? Seemed like ya couldn’t take yer eyes off me”, he teased.

“Um…”, you tried. You didn’t know how to answer. True, you had been staring at him, so there was no point in denying it but you weren’t the kind of person to go admit such a thing out loud. “I just… well.”

Merle laughed. “Mhm. My stunning demeanor got ya all mixed up, huh? Can’t even find words, can ya?”

“Pfft”, you huffed, but couldn’t help but smile. Cocky indeed. You had merely been curious. Merle grinned at you and took a sip of his beer. “What’s a girl like you doin’ in a place like this anyway? Don’t look like this is quite yer element.”

“I was just driving around, and wanted to take a break, that’s all”, you replied, playing with the plastic wrapping of your sandwich while your eyes flickered over him. This guy was a mystery. Yet you’d lie if you’d say you didn’t find him interesting.

“Drivin’ around, huh? Ya seen anything interestin’ out there?”

“Not really”, you shook your head. “Just the road. Cars. Buildings. Threes. Fields. That’s what it is here.”

“Mhm…” After a moment of silence, Merle asked: “How come yer alone? Surely a pretty thing like ya has some company. Friends, boyfriend, something…”

“I do have friends, yeah”, you replied. “No one just happens to be free today, or around.”

“That’s a shame. Such a lovely day and yer all alone in some shitty gas station.”

You shrugged, the look on your face somewhere between resigned and indifferent. The gesture, the little smile and slightly raised eyebrows, was an universal way to say ‘it is what it is’.

“Call it yer lucky day then. Ya got yerself great company right here”, Merle teased, opening his arms to draw attention to him.

You smiled and huffed a bit. Okay. He wasn’t half bad. You’d accept his company. Why not? So you two kept chatting, mostly just small talk. Who are you, what’s going on in your life, how the rise of the gas price sucks, etc. You even ended up complaining to him how you had nothing to do for the whole weekend and how bored you had been. 

“Ain't got nothin’ to do? That’s easy to fix. Just come with me, and I promise ya won’t be bored no more”, Merle proposed.

That you hadn’t expected. You looked surprised, your fingers stopping to play with the wrapping. For a moment you actually were left speechless. This dude really was forthcoming, wasn’t he?

“Don’t have to if ya don’t want to”, Merle said, but then added with a grin on his face. “I just figured, since yer free and seemed to be into me…”

“I, uh… Okay”, you made the decision on a whim. You didn’t have anything to do, so what the heck? Let’s roll!

“Yeah?” He questioned, his grin widening. Then he stuffed the rest of his hot dog into his mouth, swung the beer down and then looked at you. “Alright. Let’s go have some fun.”

You stood up and followed him away from the table, dropping your trash in the trash bin on your way out. Your heart was beating fast, and your breaths had become quicker. You weren’t usually this daring, and quite frankly, you were wondering what on earth had gotten into you. Were you really leaving with some stranger?? A voice in the back of your mind reminded you with your mom’s words ‘don’t go anywhere with strangers’, but you pushed the thought away.

“Ya wanna hop on or drive yerself?” Merle asked, spinning the keys of his bike around his finger.

You glanced at him. No helmet. Plus you didn’t even know him. Not really. Your mom’s warning about never getting in a vehicle with someone you didn’t know got through to you, and so you declined that offer. “I'd rather drive.”

“Ya rather drive, huh? Ya ain't scared, are ya?"

"You don't have a helmet. And I'd rather keep my brain inside my skull, thank you very much."

"Ya think I'm that bad driver?" Merle asked, pretending to be offended.

"No, but what if someone crashes on us? In that case it doesn't matter how well you drive."

“Well, suit yerself.”

He got on his bike and waited until you got to your car. You drove towards him, but then he fired it up and drove slowly to the turnout, looking back to check if you were following. And you were.

You felt both nervous and excited over this. It wasn’t exactly your style to go along with a stranger like this, but he seemed okay. So you put the radio on and searched for a music channel, to set the mood, and to distract yourself in order to keep your nerves under control. You did know there were risks in trusting someone you didn’t know, but you had been so damn bored that you’d go with anything. Well, maybe not literally, but you really needed something to do. And besides, you had chatted with him for an hour or so before he asked you to go with him. That was long enough to figure if someone was to be trusted or not, you reasoned. He didn’t seem like trouble, after all, just bold and smug.

The drive wasn’t that long, and soon enough you found yourself from some kind of a leisure site. There was a corrugated iron shed with a table, some chairs and a grill. There also were parts of vehicles and perforated target marks all over the place, but by no means in a state of disarray. You could tell one area was for repair work, and another for shooting. And there was some guy working on his car. They greeted each other as Merle parked his bike on a spot that kinda looked like a space meant for that. Merle hopped off his bike, dropped his coat on the saddle and unbuckled one of the saddlebags to take with him. You parked your car next to his bike, killed the engine and got out. 

“Where are we?” You asked, looking around, cautiously glancing at the other guy there.

“This? Just a boys’ playground”, Merle laughed. Then he noticed your expression and added: “He’s my lil’ brother, don’t mind him.”

“Oh, okay”, you replied, and offered the other man a little smile. He replied with a little smile of his own, but seemed rather reserved. More interested in his own business than you. Not that you’d really mind.

“Ya ever shot?” Merle suddenly asked.

“A few times, yeah.”

“Nice. Ya interested? Or we can just go swim, there’s a pond down there”, Merle suggested, nodding in the other direction from the target marks.

“What? Like, skinny dipping?” You asked, but then his first idea overrode the first one. “You got a gun?”

Merle said nothing, but opened the saddlebag and took out a 1911 pistol. You raised your eyebrows. Considering the surroundings, it shouldn’t have surprised you, but it still did.

“It’s alright, I ain't some crazy murderer or somethin’”, he assured you in a teasing tone, and then added: “I’m ex-military.”

You nodded. Okay, so he knew his way around guns. Good to know. “Well, okay. Shooting’s fine.”

“Alright…”, Merle said more to himself than you while walking over to the table, placing the gun and a box of ammo there, and then picking up some clear shooting targets. You followed him to the table and sat down on its edge, watching Merle putting the targets up. Then he got back to you.

“So… gun safety. Don’t point the gun at me. Or at my brother or yerself. It’s no toy, I don’t want anyone to die here. The safety’s on, but don’t trust it, okay? And keep yer finger off the trigger until yer ready to shoot”, Merle explained. Then he grabbed a pair of earmuffs and handed them over to you. “Might wanna put these on if ya don’t wanna go deaf.”

You nodded, and did just that. Merle loaded the gun and handed it over to you. You stood up and took it a bit hesitantly. It wasn’t your first time shooting, but you were by no means an experienced shooter. You swallowed and glanced over at Merle. He noticed your grip of the gun was a bit loose, and so he corrected you: “Grab it properly, would ya? No need to hold it like a damn lead crystal, it won’t break.”

A small smile crossed your face, and you took a better hold of the gun. 

“Okay.” Merle nodded towards the closest target. “Try that one.”

You walked closer, so that you were standing at the edge of the concrete floor of the shed. Merle followed right at your heels. The target was about 15 feet away. Not that far, but you weren’t too sure if you’d manage to hit it. You took a deep breath, and held the gun up with both of your hands.

“Remember to switch off the safety”, Merle reminded you. When you hesitated, he reached out and did it on your behalf. Then, without warning, his hand landed on your waist, firm and steady. You could feel the warmth through your shirt, and suddenly you were really aware of how close he was.

“Relax", he prompted. "Keep yer both eyes open. The gun is an extension of yer arm. It don't differ much from pointing with a finger. Just like you’d be pointing the target with yer finger, point it with the gun. It ain't that hard.”

You nodded, took another deep breath, and pulled the trigger. The gun kicked and the boom of the gunshot rippled over the landscape. You had reflexively squeezed your eyes shut, albeit just for a moment. When you opened them, you saw that you hadn't even hit the target.

Merle grinned when you lowered the gun. “Don't ya worry, honey. Aim a little lower, that’ll help counter the effect of recoil.”

“Okay”, you replied, and tried again. You held out your arms, did your best to aim better and fired the gun. This time a hole appeared in the edge of the target. A smile spread across your face as you turned towards Merle. “I did it!”

Merle quickly placed his free hand on yours to keep you from pointing the gun in the wrong direction, but grinned. “Hey, watch it! I was serious with not wantin' anyone to die here.”

“I... sorry”, you replied, blushing lightly. He had just warned you about being careful with the gun, and what you did? The opposite. You were half-surprised he didn’t take the gun away from you there and then.

“No need to get yer panties twisted. Just be careful, okay?” Merle brushed off your apology, and then added. “What are ya waitin’ for? Try again.”

You nodded and bit your lip as you got ready to shoot again. This time you managed to get a shot inside the circles, although you were still far away from the bull’s eye. You kept shooting for a few more rounds, but you didn't get particularly close to the black area, let alone the bull’s eye. And besides, your hands were starting to hurt. The gun wasn't exactly light, and the kick of the shots hurt your palms and wrists.

“Ya got enough of shooting?” Merle asked with an amused tone.

“Yeah”, you replied. When he reached out to take the gun from you, you massaged your palms. “Jeez, it hurts!”

Merle laughed. “Yer just sensitive.”

He then moved there where you had been standing before and aimed at the target further away, maybe at 35 feet. He casually fired the remaining bullets, which created a nice stack of holes at the centre. You went silent with astonishment, a surprised, admiring look on your face. 

“Damn”, you let out. 

Merle turned at you with a cocky grin on his face. “That was nothin’. I can hit the bull’s eye up at 75 feet.”

You shook your head in disbelief. 

“Wanna see?” 

“Yeah”, you were quick to agree. 

So Merle placed the gun back onto the table, grabbed a clean shooting target and went to put it up. It wasn’t quite 75 feet, more like 60, but the heck did you care. You wouldn’t even be able to hit the whole cardboard at that distance. He then came back, reloaded the magazine and went standing in the same place as before. He aimed carefully, and fired. A hole in the black spot in the middle of the target emerged. Merle fired two more times, all of them hitting the black area. You were in awe.

“There ya go”, he smirked. He left the gun at the table with safety on, went to grab the shooting target and brought it to you. One hit was right at the bull’s eye, the two others close to each other on the next circle. 

“Wow. Somebody can shoot”, you commented, giving him a smile.

“I’ve had some practice”, Merle replied. Then he continued: “Ya wanna watch me shoot some more or would ya rather we’d go swim?”

“Um…” The mere thought of being nude around such a new acquaintance made you nervous, but then again, it was warm weather, and taking a little dip would actually be nice. “Let’s go swim.”

“It’s gonna be a sundry though, we ain't got any towels or shit here.”

“I can live with that”, you replied. It wasn’t like it’d be the first time you had gone swimming extempore, with no swimsuit or towel. 

“Alright.” 

Merle put his gun and the ammo back in his saddlebag, and after that, led you down a narrow path through the trees to the pond. The sun peeked through the canopy, making the path be a play of light and shadows. It was quiet there, just the soft murmur of the trees and the singing of birds. Not even the sound of Merle's brother fiddling with his car reached the shore. The ground by the water was stamped hard between the pine trees, maybe by humans, or maybe it was just naturally like that. Near the water, there was a log one could sit on. Merle stopped by it and casually started stripping. You looked at him with a hint of surprise on your face. Well, he wasn’t a shy one.

“What?” He asked with amusement. “Haven’t ya ever seen a guy nude before?”

“Pfft”, you huffed. “Of course I have!”

“What’s with the look then?”

“Nothing. It’s nothing”, you shook your head with a smile. 

Merle laughed, seeming like it bothered him none that you were looking at him. You tried not to stare, of course, but you were curious. There were notable scars spotting his skin. You couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to him. Were they war souvenirs, perhaps?

In no time he was nude, but you hadn't taken off anything yet.

“I didn’t figure ya were prude”, he teased, snapping you out of your thoughts.

“I’m not”, you protested, but when Merle gave you a sceptical look, you sat down on the log to take off your shoes. Okay, let’s get it over with then. Unlike Merle, you turned your back towards him when you started to undress. Maybe he didn’t mind doing so in front of other people, but you weren’t as self-confident.

Once you got out of your clothes, you wrapped your arms around yourself, trying to hide even some of your body. 

“Oh, come on! No need to be shy”, Merle said, his eyes traveling over you. 

“Hey..!” You warned, and so Merle’s gaze returned to your eyes, followed by an amused comment: “Oh? Ya like to admire me but don’t want me to return the favor?”

You rolled your eyes, and kept your arms wrapped around yourself when you walked to the water. The water felt cool against your skin, so you were slow moving in there. Merle watched you for a moment, before following you into the water. Not bothered by the temperature, he casually waded deeper.

“What’s the matter, girlie?” He teased. “Too cold for ya?”

“No, just takes a moment to get used to it.”

Merle grinned at that, having himself dove in the pond already. He was swimming in place, looking back at you. After a moment he called out: “Well? I’m waiting…”

“Give me a second, would you?” You asked, but your sentence ended in a shriek when Merle swam closer and splashed water on you. “Hey! That’s not funny!”

“Then why yer laughin’?” Merle questioned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. 

“God..!” You let out, shivering, but since you were wet already, you took a deep breath and leaned forward before kicking yourself off the pond’s floor and swam. “Ew, it’s so cold!”

Merle only laughed at you. He didn’t think the water was cold, and even if he would have, it wouldn’t have bothered him. Not to mention that he would have acted all wimpy over it. He wasn’t like that.

“Oh, God”, you repeated, the cool water making your chest feel tight and skin tingle.

“Yer such a softie”, Merle teased.

“So what if I am?” You said back, with amusement in your voice.

Once you got used to the temperature, however, you dove as well. The cool water actually felt good against your bare skin, now that you had had time to adjust to it. When you came back to the surface, you flinched. Merle had kept some distance before, but now he was close. Really close. Not like, inappropriately close, but still.

“Jeez, Merle!” You let out.

“Oh no, did I scare ya?” Merle mocked you, but there was no mean edge in his voice. He was just messing around. 

“Yeah??”

Merle grinned, but backed off a bit. 

“I’m so sorry”, he continued to tease. “Didn’t think ya were such a scaredy cat.”

You shook your head and splashed water on him. “There you have your scaredy cat!”

“Oh, that means war!” 

Suddenly, there was a full-scale water war, coloured by squeals and laughter. You tried to protect yourself by turning your back towards Merle, but it didn’t do much, except maybe prevent some of the water going into your eyes. Not that you’d be totally helpless though. You swam a bit away from him, turned on your back and you kicked the water like you'd been swimming in your place. It caused a real water splash and earned a yelp from Merle. He did, however, manage to stop the attack by swimming towards you, ignoring the crash of water. You had to stop splashing and swim away so he couldn't grab you. You fled, giggling, and Merle never grabbed you.

Once you got out of the pond, your lips had already turned purple and you were trembling slightly. You tried your best to swipe the water off your skin in order to warm back up. 

“Hey, ya alright there, girlie?” Merle checked on you after having noticed your struggling.

“Yeah, yeah, just a bit cold.”

“That’s no good”, he stated. “Gotta get ya dried up.”

He then grabbed his shirt and used it like a towel to wipe off as much of the water as he could.

“Merle, what-”, you tried, but didn’t avoid the touch. After all, you knew very well the reason why one gets cold when coming out of the water is that the water evaporates from the skin and cools the body. The best solution to that problem is none other than drying, and using your hands wasn’t nearly as effective as the fabric was. And Merle knew that too.

“Can’t have ya freezing up, now can I?” He teased, running the makeshift towel over your arms.

“But… your shirt is getting wet!”

“So? It’ll dry.”

You huffed out a laugh. What could you have said to that? So you just let him finish drying you up. He was firm with it, and it would have been a lie to say that it didn’t actually feel quite nice.

“Alright, there we go…” Merle said, throwing the now damp shirt back to the log. “Better?”

“Mhm”, you hummed. “Yeah. Thanks.”

Merle offered you a crooked smile and nodded towards your clothes. “Ya better dress up before ya get pneumonia or somethin’”

You just rolled your eyes, huffed a bit with a little smile on your face and went to your clothes, starting to put them back on.

“Hey, it’s serious business, alright? People die because of it!”

“It’s warm out here”, you laughed. “It’s not like the water was just above freezing or something.”

“Better safe than sorry, don’t ya think?” Merle commented, grinning. 

He was exaggerating, of course, and you knew that. So you just shook your head.

After you both had your clothes on (well, Merle didn’t put the damp shirt on, he just carried it in his hand), you walked back to the shed and sat by the table. Merle spread his shirt out to dry on the back of one of the chairs and then leaned back in his seat. You, on the other hand, sat cross-legged, one your hands on your ankle, the other sorting your hair. 

“Yer hair is just fine”, Merle commented with a teasing tone. “No need to comb it like a monkey.”

You quickly dropped your hand in your lap, giving him a playfully offended look.

He smirked and then said: “Anyway. Ya wanna play cards?”

“Uh… I’m not the best at it. Only thing I really can play is like snap”, you confessed.

“Really?” Merle raised his brows. “What did ya do in yer freetime as a kid, then?”

“Things other than playing cards”, you shrugged.

“Jeez, girl!”

You gave him a sheepish glance, and he shook his head. “Nah, it’s alright. We can play snap.”

You smiled when he got the deck, shuffled it and shared them between the two of you.

“Ya sure ya remember the rules?” Merle couldn’t resist teasing you.

“Yeah, yeah. It’s simple. Cards are dealt face up on the table, but you're not allowed to look at your own cards beforehand. The idea is to slap the deck when two cards of the same value are placed there after one another. The winner is the player who gets all the cards to themselves.”

“Good. Now go ahead, ya start.”

You did, and after just a few deals there were two eights after one another. You quickly went to slap the deck, but Merle was faster. 

“Yer slow like damn snail, sugar”, he grinned, taking the cards to his pile. 

“You just got lucky”, you shot back.

Merle laughed. “We’ll see ‘bout that.”

It turned out he didn’t ‘just get lucky.’ He actually was fast. The first round he won easily, and bragged with it, but the next round he clearly went easy on you. He didn’t let you win, but he did intentionally let you have some snaps. You didn’t point it out, but it did make you happy. It would have been boring to play if he hadn’t given you some advantage.

The afternoon turned into evening playing cards and chatting. Merle’s brother eventually joined the two of you, and you guys grilled some sausages. He didn’t match his older brother’s energy, but was fine company after he got out of his shell a bit. As the evening cooled down, you ended up in Merle's lap with his jacket on. He of course made a big deal of it and teased the heck out of you, but also held you gently. His breathing, the steady rise and fall of his chest, and his arms securely wrapped around you felt great. You could have stayed there forever.

Eventually, however, you figured it was best to go back home. Merle escorted you back to the gas station since you wouldn’t have been able to find your way back otherwise. Once there, he stopped by the driver’s side window. 

“So. Ya had fun?”

“I did”, you replied genuinely.

“Wanna do this again some day?”

“Mhm… sure, why not?”

Merle grinned. “Yeah? Let’s change contact info then. Ya can call me up next time yer bored and I’ll fix that problem in a blink of an eye.”

So you gave him your phone number, and vice versa. After a few more words, you both went on your ways. It was late and you were tired, but happy too. What had started as a mind-numbingly boring day had ended in a totally different spirit. 

[bunnygirl678]

I keep thinking about a role reversal au for pokespe, like I’ve outlined a fic and write on it when I feel like

But Gold being the one taken by the masked man, Blue not getting attached to him like she did Silver so when she escaped he got left behind. He has Aibo but that’s it.

Silver growing up with his gym leader daddy, a totally normalish life, probably overprotective if there had been an attempted kidnapping, there is no team rocket, just spoiled baby boy with his sneasel.

and maybe he goes to Johto because daddy set him up to fill out the Johto dex, and gold escaped from the mm at like 11, but instead of revenge or finding out his past he just wants to live free, but he sees Silver be given totadile and then how upset cyndaquil is so he takes exbo just to reunite the pair,

But silver who has been sheltered and doesn’t have a lot of friends sees how exbo already loves this boy and decides to invite him to help fill out the dex, silver gets picked up by a car service every afternoon and brought to his nice home, gold always meets up with him in the mornings at a prearranged spot.

So the two of them wander around Johto becoming bffs catching pokemon, somehow it comes out that Gold lives where ever, so sometimes trees, sometimes alleys, his clothes are ratty, Silver starts bringing him lunch, brings him a Viridian city gym promotional blanket (remember there is no tr so Gio is still gym leader)

A snow storm moves in and silver is freaking out, where are you staying this is dangerous, ect, gold is like idk I’ll figure it out, no worries, when silver’s ride comes he grabs gold and pulls him into the car, he’s like I can’t let you freeze to death

Silver shows up at home brining along this dirty very homeless looking boy, Giovanni is like omg wtf ew, I don’t want this street rat around my perfect baby boy, but again, blizzard, and he can’t/wont just leave him out in the cold

Gold has a hot shower, wears some of silvers clothes cause his are dirty and falling apart (and not weather appropriate poor cold baby), he has dinner with Gio and silver, Gio is polite but gold knows what he thinks, he likes hanging with silver so he ignores the judgement

Gio puts gold in a guest room as far from silvers room as he can, everyone goes to bed, due to his terrible childhood, Gold is prone to nightmares, of course he lives wherever so he has always only had himself and Aibo for comfort, he has a nightmare, wakes up crying into Aibo’s fur as his Pokemon tries to comfort him, he’s too far from Silver for him to hear buttttt sneasel hears, goes down the hall and grabs gold and Aibo and guides them to Silver’s room, the boys end up cuddling, after silver wakes up and is like omg what’s wrong

Gio goes to wake silver up and finds the dirty boy curled up with his son, he’s pissed off but again there isn’t much he can do, he ends up moving an extra bed into silvers room but again each morning gold is curled up with silver

silver starts asking about the nightmares, gold notices he doesn’t get them when he sleeps in the same bed as silver, they’re like 11 here so it is innocent just two kids cuddling and being friends, gold finally admits his past, being a child soldier, doesn’t go into the details but it’s obvious it was bad, silver is like omg we need to tell my dad! And gold is like no! He’s scared if they tell an adult somehow he’d be returned to the mm

The storm ends, silver insists that gold continues staying with them, Gio hates it but silver is spoiled af so he gets his way, it’s fine Gio makes comments about gold a lot, subtle digs (ha cause he is a ground type gym leader lmao) gold knows but ignores them, he’s used to it. Knows how people see him

He’s a smart ass and one time he gets himself and silver into trouble, except it was actually golds fault, there was a sign with warnings or something, it comes out that he never learned how to read, thinks silver will judge him, but he’s really kind about it, really cautious about ect

One day when they’re out filling the dex silver just caught a shiny gyarados, the masked man shows up, he’s like oh boy, I’m taking you back, I spent 9 years training you, you think you can leave that easy, then he notices silver, gets excited, I actually wanted you but my attempt was ruined, so I settled for that little brat, he was never that great anyway, but at least I’ve got a gym leaders son now,

Gold is like, ‘hell no you aren’t taking him, do what you want with me but you aren’t going to hurt my friend’ gold uses his new pokemon, fights hard, tells silver to run, tries to buy him time,

Silver doesn’t leave, instead calling his dad in a panic, tells him everything happening and a quick recap, Silver waits for his dad, wants to go back to help gold but gold flipped out begging him to run,

Giovanni arrives in time to see Gold being flung into a tree, he hears MM mention him being a terrible soldier, wasted his time, ect, says he’s going to take silver, gold staggers up, barely standing but says that he won’t let silver be taken, he’d rather die, mm says something about if that’s your wish, gold gets thrown into the lake of rage, as he’s falling he sees Gio, smiles as he sinks his last thought is he’s glad silver will be safe then darkness

Gio fights mm, ends up beating him, cops come, all the while as gold was sinking silver sent out his new gyarados who dives down pulling gold out. Silver tries to do cpr then an ambulance comes they try to ignore gold to help silver who has like a tiny cut,

Silver is just like no save him! They end up taking gold to the hospital, Gio takes silver to get looked at, cops end up finding out about all the kidnappings there were some bodies too (making this darker than canon lol) they go talk to Gio, silver is sitting with gold in his room, trying to help him feel better,

Gio feels like shit cause omg this poor kid and I was an asshole to him, asks cops what is going to happen to gold, is he going to a foster home? Cops are like no, unfortunately there isn’t space, kid is going to stay on the streets, goes in and tells gold he’s going to live with them now

Gold thinks he said it just to appease silver, when they leave to go home, gold is sure he will never get to see silver again, in the morning they don’t show up like promised and gold is just like, well at least I got to have a friend for a while, I’ll cherish it forever, cop comes and is super rude to him but gets his statement, gold has really high anxiety without his pokemon especially Aibo, they’re in a daycare while he’s in hospital and he is not sure how to pay to get them out, he doesn’t have money, let alone pay for the hospital

Mid afternoon the door opens, he assumes it’s the doc about to kick him out realizing he was just street trash, instead it’s silver and Gio, Gio apologizes for being late, cops wanted statements from both of them, he hands gold a bag with a stuffed version of his team, you can’t have them in your room but these guys may help you feel less lonely when visiting hours are over, it’s the first stuffie gold has ever had,

A day or two passed and he gets released, still not convinced he’s going home with Gio, but he does! And suddenly it’s spoil time, like gold has a broken foot, but he’s put in a comfy spot, gets lots of treats, his team with him, silver hangs out, finally feels like he has a home,

Time passes, Gio decides to raise them like brothers, gold gets tutors to help him learn to read and math and stuff, him and Gio end up really close, gold gets into sports with Gio being his coach, silver is happy, he’s training to take over his fathers gym, Gio sets gold up to have a daycare, thinks of him as a son

Gold and silver are besties, at least until they hit puberty, they shift into dating without ever talking about it, one day they’re cuddling like always the next minute they decide to try kissing, nothing changes except now they kiss lol,

They decided to get married really early like 18, it’s fine, gold doesn’t ever really talk about his childhood, they know things were bad but not to the extent, one day gold is walking in the living room holding a glass of water, he trips, glass shatters and he lands on the floor, Giovanni gets up to help him, but all of a sudden gold is in a ball crying begging for Aibo not to be taken away again. Totally inconsolable, silver comes running and they are both like ??

After that they get gold to start letting it out, telling them the things that happened, getting beaten, forced to train till he collapsed, having Aibo taken away as punishment, ect

He has a few more episodes through the years but for the most part he’s happy

Him and silver never split, die of old age ect ect

Idk if anyone is still reading but this is what has been spinning around in my head lately lol

[the-austrian-candidate]

Hetalia Clothing Headcanons

Germany: On a daily basis, Ludwig will wear sensible, comfortable clothes. There is this stereotype of Germans that they wear a lot of sports clothes, but not gym clothes, more like hiking. By the way, I know a lot of Germans, and the amount of North Face and Jack Wolfskin in their wardrobes is disturbing. Anyway, it makes sense since Germany has three dogs that require long walks. In the office, he likes to keep it simple: a black or dark navy suit, a white shirt, and a tie. But let's not forget that he has a hot Italian boyfriend with a great sense of fashion. Said boyfriend made sure that Ludwig's wardrobe contains well-cut designer suits, a few tight t-shirts, and jeans that do the job. Not that Ludwig wears those things often, but he does indulge Feli from time to time.

Prussia: Gilbert keeps up with trends, maybe not in the sense of wearing all fashionable clothes, but he checks what is popular—and no, he won't admit it to anyone. (Francis knows; I mean, he caught Gil with Vouge Magazine once or twice.) He would rather choose something I would call street fashion mixed with a bit of punk—you know, black, leather, band t-shirts, heavy boots. It sarted as a protest statement during Eastern Germany, but he kind of liked this style, so it stuck. He even tried to get a tatoo. I have this headcanon that tats won't last on a nation; they tend to heal and disappear, so this happened to Gill too. When he is helping Lutz with something official or has a date with Roderich, he knows how to make himself presentable and can be dashing. Secretly, he misses all those elaborate Prussian military uniforms. 

Austria: Roderich likes to play with fashion. He is not as conservative as many think; he just likes to look classy, so street fashion is out of the question. But boy, he can be flamboyant. He has a suit, smoking, or tuxedo for every occasion. All are custom-made. His collection of handkerchiefs for the breast pocket is alarming. He also likes nice coats for every weather and accessories like belts, watches, jewellery, and glasses. He makes exceptions from his usual style only if he is skiing, which he likes a lot but does very rarely. Recently, Gilbert has been making him go on hikes, which required Roderich to acquire a few sports items—still all in maching colours; buying those was a nightmare for Gilbert mostly. 

[qwertycake]

more qpr fluffy squishy platonic writing prompts! wahoo!! part two!!! :)

Same disclaimer applies as my first post - these are aro- and ace-spec centric, may only work for shortform fiction, and feel free to tweak them to be less specific/more specific to specific characters.

Specific is a weird word lol

Anyways…

“We both get caught out in the rain and wait out the weather under the same shelter, and either we’re meeting for the first time or we have a nice excuse to hang out together” AU

“You annotate a book for me and I annotate it right back for you, and we keep passing the book back and forth until its a mess of affectionate scribbles that we keep on the coffee table” AU

"It's hot outside and you love the heat but I hate it and you're being stupidly nice and sweet to me while I'm a grouchy mess" AU

"I can teach you how to play this instrument if you stop DISTRACTING ME by looking so ENDEARING AND INFATUATED" AU

"Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes" AU

"We're both too tired to take care of ourselves because of sickness/work/school/whatever but we immediately find the energy to take care of one another via making tea and grabbing blankets" AU

"We trade clothes for Halloween and do terrible impersonations of one another" AU

"We have a bunch of unfinished craft projects between the two of us and decide to just... finish them all in one day... 24 itty-bitty hours... oh boy..." AU

"We recreate a terrible low-budget movie together" AU

"On Valentine's Day, we decide to make a bunch of garlic bread and cake, and buy each other flowers in the colours of our respective aro-/ace-spec flags... and then the day after, we buy all the chocolate that's finally gone on sale" AU

“I teach you how to do make-up because for one reason or another you’re unfamiliar with it” AU

“Fake dating and having dramatic break ups over silly things in public for shits and giggles” AU

“So, the world might have just ended… so guess who has two thumbs and a bunker that desperately could use a roommate?” AU

“We’re made to play seven minutes in heaven at a party and after a few awkward minutes of silence we both decide to just order a pizza or something while we wait out the seven minutes” AU

“Hey, you can dance, and I can’t, teach me— no, I don’t care that I’ve got two left feet, teach me!” AU

“We’re both artists, maybe of different skill levels, and we decide to draw/paint/make art of each other” AU

“I’m a night owl and you’re more of a day person, so whenever we stop texting because you have to go to bed, I’m stuck laying awake thinking about you Please Enjoy Waking Up To A Bunch Of Messages” AU

“I’m a day person and you’re more of a night owl but I struggle to fall asleep because I’m stuck thinking about how lucky I am to be your friend Hey I Think I Could Stay Up For An Extra Ten Minutes” AU

“We’re both nervous about going to the gym alone so we try going together… but neither of us have the guts to get out of the car so we just go for a walk or something instead” AU

“You’re super into sports and exercise and I’m just getting into it but you hype me up so I’m less nervous about getting started” AU

“I bake a whole bunch, you cook big meals… at the same time of day - our kitchen is chaos” AU

“It’s New Year’s Eve and we’re hanging out at a party and everyone’s speculating that we’re gonna have our New Year’s Kiss together but the New Year comes and we just do a weird handshake” AU

“Non-Fatal Hanahaki Disease AU where we’re some of the few people who don’t experience it because we’re content with whatever non-romantic thing we have together… but we both have hay fever and are very annoyed by the constant barrage of flower petals around us and have to tell our friends to Please Stop Crushing On The Random Barista At Starbucks It’s The Third Time This Week You Are KILLING US” AU

“We’re both alien test subjects who’ve never met before and have to try and plan our escape - bonus points if the aliens are specifically testing for something like amatonormative like All Humans Fall In Love and we’re the black swans of the research since they apparently abducted Only Romantic Allosexuals Aside From Us Somehow” AU

“It’s midnight and you show up on my doorstep unannounced after a long while of us drifting apart, what on earth happened?” AU

“We’re both capable of granting wishes - you’re the monkey’s paw and I’m the guy who’s stuck remedying all the messed up things you have happen to people What Is Wrong With You” AU

And finally…

“I’m laying on the couch at a party drunk/high/exhausted/whatever and you’re looking after me, having only met me that night - I proceed to ramble about how embarrassed I’ll be when I’m older and think back to how I made a fool of myself in front of someone I wanted to be friends with really badly… but luckily for me, you’re flattered that I think you’re super cool” AU

[torresxpatrick]

full name:  patrick alberto torres

nicknames:  pat, patty

aesthetics:  here is his pinterest board :) 

age & dob:  35, may 15

residence:  jackson hill. he owns his home and has lived there for less than a year. 

occupation:  owner of rose’s gym

appearance:

faceclaim:  oscaar isaac (all physical traits like hair, eye color, height, etc. align with oscar isaac however patrick does have tattoos and is more muscular and broad than oscar isaac).

style:  mostly a jean, leather or work jacket thrown over a plain tshirt with jeans and boots. if he is going to the gym, he often is wearing joggers/sweaters with a big hoodie and has his gym duffle bag with him. 

personality:

positive traits:  calm, innovative, hospitable

negative traits: disorganized, forgetful, blunt

likes:  working out, his cat, restoring furniture and features in his home, building things, cooking, mixing cocktails 

dislikes: being told what to do, hot weather, the feeling of sand between his toes, hospitals, flat pillows 

fears:  hospitals, being buried alive, road rage

pet peeves:  cesaer salads that have fake parm instead of fresh grated, when people hum the music playing in their own headphones at the gym, somehow messing up his coffee in the morning even though he swears he makes it the same every, the feeling of microfiber cloths

faves:

ice cream flavor:  rocky road

time of the day / night:  dawn into sunrise

weather:  snowy, dark

breakfast food:  french toast with some kind of fruit element 

dinner food:  a homemade alfredo - simple, but classic 

colors:  he loves dark purple which is so cute but would never admit it. if asked, he’ll say blue 

songs:  better together by jack johnson

other random stuff:

a cherished item:  his mother’s rosary

usual mood: agreeable, friendly

1 thing they want to do / experience before they die:  scuba diving but he is terrified 

___

Brief history: (tw cancer, death, parental abandonment, ADD diagnosis, drug use & abuse) 

Patrick was an accidental pregnancy to a mid-twenties couple, Rosalia & Alberto. His father was in the military and his mother was a teacher. When Patrick was six, his father was offered a promotion in the Air Force that would have moved the family to D.C. However, Patrick’s mother refused to move - she knew that Alberto had been cheating on her throughout the entirety of their relationship and used the move as an opportunity to divorce Alberto and start fresh. Alberto put up no fight for custody but never missed a child support payment and often sent more than required.

Patrick and his mother thrived on their own, up until about middle school. He found himself getting frustrated in classes, wanting to talk to his friends or read his books instead. He won’t receive his diagnosis until he’s well into his 30s, but hearing ADD leave his psychiatrist’s mouth felt like putting a final piece into a puzzle. Patrick wishes he could relieve his younger days with this knowledge, he’s sure it would have made a hell of a difference. Instead, like most kids before the turn of the century, Patrick was just labeled a ‘troublemaker’, maybe a ‘class clown’ if his humor was compatible with whatever teacher was not interesting enough to keep his attention.

Due to this, he struggled throughout middle and high school. With a combination of scolding from his mother and pressure from the guidance counselor (who probably needed to increase her ratio of graduates who attended college), Patrick got through high school with a C average and managed an acceptance to a small art school in California. It was here that his impulsiveness and lack of effort was magnified - he quickly found himself with a ‘stoner’ reputation on campus and soon dropped out to sell.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t smart enough to stay out of trouble for too long. After a short stint of living it up as a ‘unemployed’ 20-something in California, Patrick made the dumb mistake of trying to sell to an undercover officer at a nightclub. He was promptly handcuffed and carted away for 2 years with possession and intent to sell charges. He didn’t change much in prison, maybe calmed down a bit (it’s never good to make waves behind bars) and refocused himself on his boxing. It wasn’t until he was in his halfway house a year or so after being released that he got a call from his mother, who he hadn’t spoken to since he told her he was dropping out of college.

Patrick’s mother had cancer, her doctors thought she had maybe 5 years left. With the permission of his probation office and under the pretense of his good behavior the past few years, he moved home, settled right back into routine with his mom. It wasn’t five years, but the few that he had with her were filled with good food and laughter. When she passed, he wrote to his father informing him of the service information. He received a short but empathetic letter back, with a check paperclipped to its corner. To this day, he has not spoken to his father and does not know if he is dead or alive.

Patrick took the check and moved to Woodside where he moved into a tiny studio apartment for a year, worked odd jobs for a few years to get the bills paid. He did a year stint at Rustic House and still has a lasting appreciation for mixing a lovely cocktail and plating a well-paired meal with it. (this has potential to turn into a wanted connection if anyone is interest!)

(if you’re reading this, this is a wanted connection!) A few years into living in Woodside, Patrick received a letter and found his quiet life disrupted. His father had indeed been cheating on his mother and there was a child to prove it. Well now into their thirties, just as he was, they wanted to let him know that Alberto had passed - it was peaceful and he had expressed a desire to know his son more. They wrote that no one in the family had known he had a son and Alberto insisted they find Patrick. When first receiving this, he had no desire to give this person any space in his life however, as time has passed and he has softened, the line of communication has been reopened. Never too wide and never for too long, but every so often Patrick checks in with them, asks about their family. After all, they’re all the family he has left.

After years and years of working and saving, Patrick finally had enough to pursue his dream since high school - opening a boxing gym. He named it Rose’s Gym, after his mother and worked tirelessly to open it. After another year of renovations, equipment purchasing, interviewing for staff, and everything else that comes along with opening a business, Patrick kept himself quite busy.

It’s been a few years now and Rose’s Gym is as successful as ever. He’s well known with high schools and therapists in town and often gets the ‘troublemakers’ referred to his after-school program called Fight the Fury - corny, he knows. He’s managed to buy a house in Jackson Hill, an older two-story that has so much character his mother would probably worry about ghosts haunting its walls.

[fictionfordays]

Modern AU! Tyelkormo HCs

CW: Just some general hc! S*x is mentioned but nothing is described. He's stubborn.

WC: <500

A/N: This was sitting in my drafts for a bit so I decided I probably won't add anything to it at this point! (Watch, I'll suddenly want to add to this after posting >.> )

Main Masterlist | Tolkien Masterlist

❀ Lives on protein shakes and lean meals, but will splurge when the occasion calls for it

❀ Definitely the kind of guy to wake up at 4 am to have a 2 hour (MINIMUM) gym sesh - AND ENJOYS IT

❀ Is probably a park ranger in a National Forest and takes his job seriously. Knows anything and everything about his forest, and a LOT about other national forests like what birds are native/introduced, their calls, other critters and their sounds, mushroom types, flower types, tree types, other shrubbery types, where clean water can be found, what the weather should be like on any given day, etc

❀ Loves kids and kids love him!!! I agree that he is high energy and has no problem matching younger kids’ energy and makes learning fun and possible for them when it comes to the great outdoors! 

❀ Runs a summer camp

❀ When he’s not wearing his ranger gear, he has a surprisingly good sense of style with a heavy blend of comfort. He likes to be able to move in his clothes without restrictions. Maybe like high-quality joggers and comfortable t-shirts, running shoes, a classy watch with a leather band

❀ Wears his hair down frequently save for work when it’s pulled into a messy bun

❀ I picture him as being a Taurus or some sort of earth-type zodiac. Very laid back and *STUBBORN* as heck. Enjoys making fun of zodiacs, however, but reads stuff about his zodiac for funsies (and because it’s usually pretty accurate)

❀ Hot stuff, knows he’s hot, takes full advantage of it. Very flirty and playful, especially if he’s interested in a potential ~mate~ hehehe

❀ With that being said, I feel like, even though he’d be very flirty and has a high sex drive, he wouldn’t actually have sex with someone unless he were serious about them. He’s not big on intimacy and vulnerability so he’d save that for someone he deemed worthy of his affections

Join the Taglist! || Ko-fi || Artistree || ArtStation

Taglist: @a-contemplation-upon-flowers @asianbutnotjapanese @kenpachisbrat @eunoiaastralwings @blackfire2013 @manjirwo @stopisa @wandererindreams

I do not own these characters. All rights to the original creators. All content—created rights are reserved to Wallabypirate©2024.

[erik-even-gayer]

How I beat the heat

The heat+humidity index is over 100 today. When I was younger -- around 50, say -- I could enjoy this weather. I'd go out to the river with a quart jug of water and sit right in the river under the shadow of a tree, doing nothing and wearing nothing. If anyone else was out in this kind of heat, they'd understand that I was dressed appropriately.

These days I wouldn't risk it. I'm concerned that my body might not be as good at regulating its temperature. So instead of a new adventure, here's a reprint from 2007.

(It's under the "Read More" for length.)

“You Look Very Comfortable, Man”

The heat index was over 100 one afternoon in July of last year, the water level was too low for canoeing, and I had my tent set up on a sandbar where I’d never seen people fishing and which was out of sight of the main trail. Besides, who would be out in this heat? So I felt safe roaming around without worrying about how far away my clothes were.

I was sitting on a log in the water in the shade of an overhanging tree when I noticed motion in the corner of my eye. Without looking directly towards them—so I could pretend I hadn’t seen them yet if it seemed prudent to do so—I saw two people casting fishing lines and slowly working their way upstream towards me. The one in front was barechested, but the one behind seemed to be wearing something on their upper body. I thought it best to cover up for a male-female couple who were going to pass right by me. Still not looking towards them, I got up and slowly ambled toward my campsite. They must have gotten a good look at my butt as I walked away from them. The idea wasn’t to conceal the fact that I’d been naked, just to be courteous to the lady.

But there must be something wrong with my peripheral vision. After pulling my gym shorts out of the tent and slipping them on, I saw as I walked back to the log that they were both hard-bodied young men.

I asked how the fishing was going.

“Not very good here, but it should be better upstream,” one of them replied as they continued walking. Now that could mean let’s get away from the pervert. But then again, casting and walking is a common way to fish in a river. And from the way both of these dudes were wearing their boardies, their tan lines (if any!) must have been far lower than mine had ever been back when I did have tan lines, so I don’t think they were afraid of the human body.

They continued on their way. Now I knew there was no good place to climb out of the river and reach the road for quite a ways, so it was likely they would return later in the afternoon. I resolved to stay naked for the next encounter with them.

But when I heard someone approaching from upstream, it turned out to be a different fisherman. This was a longhaired young man wearing shorts and a long-sleeved shirt. This garb struck me as unsuitable for the heat, but maybe it was for protection against sunburn.

I was sitting on a different log this time, half in the water, with branches hanging in front of my face.

He actually greeted me first.

I replied, “Hi. How are they biting?”

“I caught a couple of suckers earlier, but it’s pretty hot for fishing.”

“Too hot to wear clothes,” I said.

“There you go!” he smiled. “But… aren’t you worried about snapping turtles?”

I skipped the lecture about how I’d never seen snapping turtles here and anyway it is your toes and fingers that are at risk regardless of what you aren’t wearing. Instead I just said, “Nah, I’m not worried. I’m pretty relaxed. This is the only way to beat the heat on a day like this.” Then I added, much more direct that I usually get with a stranger, “You should try it sometime.”

He pondered and then with an air of finality said, “Maybe.” Then he asked whether I minded if he fished in the river near me.

Now I am always grateful when people who were at the river first don’t mind me skinnydipping, so of course I said, “Sure, no problem.” We were just two Iowans figuring out how to enjoy our natural areas in different but compatible ways.

I wished him good luck at fishing, and he replied with sincere thanks.

He continued to cast his line, slowly wading downstream and away.

After sundown I came out from under the trees and hung out on the 20-foot wide sandbar in front of my tent.

It was still very warm. The heat, together with the distance from vegetation, kept the mosquitoes away. So I was still very comfortable in my skin.

I was sitting on my towel at the river’s edge, drinking bottled water, when I heard the unmistakable sound of oars scraping on a canoe.

Anyone out on the river this late (it was about 8:45 PM and nearly dark) and in such unsuitable water was certainly male and probably under 25, and maybe they’d been drinking—all of which were good signs they probably wouldn’t object to my nudity. So I didn’t make even a token effort to be discreet but let it all hang out, ambling back from my tent to my towel with another bottle of water.

When the first canoe drew near me, one of the men (yes, they were under 25, but they weren’t drunk) asked me, “How far is it to Soper’s Mill?”

“Under a mile,” I replied. “How far have you come?”

“We put in at E-18 this afternoon, but it’s been pretty slow going.”

And indeed it was. They frequently hopped out of the canoe to slide it through stretches of water only two inches deep. They must have been out of the canoe more than in it.

As the second canoe approached, I called out, “I hope you get to Soper’s Mill while you can still see where you’re going!”

“Thanks,” one of the dudes replied. Then, seeing my tent, he asked, “Are you camping out here?”

“Yep.” I was about to say how I enjoy getting away from it all, including getting away from clothing, but the dude spoke up again before I could get to add all that.

“You look real comfortable, man.”

Now I haven’t been one to throw a spontaneous boner in a non-sexual situation since I was a teenager, but my cock started to thicken when I heard that. “I am,” I said. “This is the best way to dress in this heat.” And as they drifted past I added, “Have a good evening.”

“Thanks,” he said sincerely. “You too.”

And we all did, each doing what we like to do in a heat wave.

----

From my inactive website at erik.watercat.us.

[ka-zu-li]

Weird days. Too hot, uncomfortable, bored. Want to leave the city for vacations already. Can't wait to be in front of the sea.

Today i thought i was having a good day. Had an interview (not a very interesting one, but a job), then went to this language school to see if they needed anyone, was there for a long time talking to a brazilian who showed me the space, was excited with the possibility of working there talking to a lot of people everyday in an informal chilled way. Studied a bit of italian because that's one of my goals for this summer - to study a bit everyday (and also have a notebook where i sketch everyday from somewhere different. haven't started this one yet). maybe i will integrate the two - drawing and italian class. Read a bit on the balcony, listened to music, cooked lunch, talked to my mom on the phone, wrote a bit about boredom and the way your body has to move first and then the head will follow. But i guess that afterall it's always the head deciding or having the iniative. I guess what i was trying to say was that it's important to create movement and convince yourself by doing the tiniest (line as i was writing today, so that other lines follow and you let it unfold).

Anyway i did all that, felt a change in my mood more hopeful maybe but then i have so much time on my hands now and i guess i feel lonely and sometimes don't know what to do. Went to the gym with my bf when he got home but we were acting weird w eachother since yesterday (i think we're tired of the hot weather and being in the city), we got there and i wanted to do something different and do a workout on youtube alone but it were the wrong weights and i didn't have this step thing and i ended up leaving the gym because i was getting frustrated. I left and bought a croissant to eat at this square near home and i'm just writing this, looking at people, feeling a bit sad and alone, in my workout clothes

[quills-of-freedom]

Bertoldt Hover relationship

Aesthetic, vibe & Various

♑

💤

💨

💥

🌬️

🔥

🌋

⛅

⚡

🐻

🦟

🏀

🎟️

🛏️

🧦

💣

☢️

👥

💭

Although Bertolt is timid and reserved, when he falls for you, oh my lord is he obsessed. (Not in a creepy way)

He will steal glances at you whenever he can, his stomach fluttering if you make eye contact and a heavy blush when you smile.

With Bertoldt, every single day, no matter how long you’ve been together is like you’re his crush and acts like you have no idea how much he cares for you.

Good luck sleeping with him in bed. He snores. He tossed and turns and we all know about the weird sleeping positions he finds himself in. If you’re territorial over your bed space, maybe sleeping together isn’t the best idea.

Also is an extreme blanket hogger.

But Bertoldt gives the best hugs and cuddles. Will wrap around you like a warm blanket and hold you close until you’ve had enough. Seriously, if it were up to him, you’d be glued together.

Ideal dates

Bert is a sucker for ice cream on warm days. Would adore it if you went to an amusement park or beach during the hot weather.

He’ll hold your hand most of the time and if you got lost in a crowd, would absolutely panic.

With him being so tall, he he once tried to persuade you to get a flag to stick up and wave next time you’re swarmed.

Wether you did or not is up to you.

Gives the best piggy back rides and loves to give you them too. Feels like you’re a little back pack as he carries you around.

Picnics. Anything outdoors, really. Loves going on walks and hikes wit your around beautiful scenery. It just relaxes him and is a good setting to just get to know each other and chat.

Gifts. Will greet you at every date with flowers or chocolate or some small token of appreciation. He just feels so lucky to have you.

Modern AU

Sweatshirts and jumpers during fall - spring. He likes the feel of them and the smell of fresh cotton and wool.

Wears vests in the summer, the back of his shoulders gleaming with sweat under the scorching sun. Will ask you to put on his suncream which he has to squat down so you can reach.

Has a ridiculously small car for his size. God help whoever is sitting behind him while he drives. Hopefully it’s not a long road trip.

Is a backpack guy. Takes one to the gym, on one outings etc. Would be a perfect dad. He’d always have the baby bag ready packed with spare diapers, bottles, clothes etc.

Takes extra long showers and moisturising after, his skin is always super soft, clean and smells devine.

NSFW

Bertoldt. Oh dear sweet Bertoldt.

The first time you two do it, you think he’s going to pass out from excitement and nerves. He’s a flustered, blushing mess and at one point begins to hyperventilate.

As time goes on, his shyness with sex doesn’t really get any better - except now, when he reaches a certain point of arousal he’ll just morph into a totally different man.

Like, you’ll wonder if he’s been possessed as he slams you against a wall, picking you up and eating you out, your legs over his shoulders.

His cock is so sensitive, it’s very twitchy and receptive to your touch.

Loves it when you give him head. Like the whimpers and moans he emits are just… 👌

This beautiful man is up for anything. Anything you suggest to try and he’s down to clown with you. Anything. If he doesn’t like it, he won’t know unless you both try it.

Naturally a very tender and caring lover. But if you entice it, had no qualms about getting a little rough with you. Nothing too crazy though - hurting you would totally shut him down and turn him off

Kinks

His favourite, is cockwarming you that leads to gentle, tender sex. Really gets him going having you safe in his strong arms while being as close to you as physically possible.

Loves shower sex. The feel of your body lathered and slippery sets him on fire, even thinking about it gets him hard.

Aftercare

After love making Bertoldt is up there with the best when it comes to aftercare.

Will make you food if you’re hungry, get you a drink and ask if you’re okay.

Tells you how amazing you are and how much he cares for you.

Will change the sheets for you too.

Dates 10/10

Thoughtfulness 10/10

Affection 10/10

Sex 9/10

Aftercare 10/10

Obviously the final scores are my opinion you can make up your own mind ☺️ but all in all, Bertoldt would make an amazing partner and will always cherish you dearly.

Sweet boy ❤️

[t1gerlilly]

So I’m in Atlanta Georgia for the first time and I’ve learned a few things.

* did you know that you can can get a flight confirmation and itinerary from an airline WHEN THE TICKETING didn’t go through? This is something I found out when I went to check in at 1 am and found out the itinerary had been cancelled…for a flight I was supposed get picked up for in several hours. And they rebooked the flights - at double the price. (I’m sorry, but this has to be a scam).

* everyone talks about how skirts should have pockets. But nobody talks about jackets. I never realized how many jackets - cloth, Jean, leather, velvet and (god help me) lace that I own that have nary a pocket to be found. Which is why I arrived at my professional conference in a hot pink jacket I’m pretty sure I originally bought when I was traveling and needed something…with pockets and haven’t worn since.

* I think they have angels licking the floors in the Atlanta airport, because I don’t think it’s humanly possible to get that kind of shine.

* the weather is terrible. It’s hot and moist. Like Ireland in a broiler. You’re just clammy all over.

* the same complex holding my professional conference is also holding a furry convention. It was cool to see people in their fursonas. Some of them are really elaborate. The thing that surprised me was how colorful they were.

* people were friendly and were really considerate of older people on the train, which was nice to see

* there are a LOT of good-looking men in Atlanta. Personally I like a guy who looks like he enjoys his life. After California and Boston, which are full of reedy types and gym bods. It’s nice to see so many big guys with natural bodies. I’m not attracted to many people…like…ever. And it came as a shock to see so many guys who…well…got me thinking things I just never think. I tend to think everyone is beautiful, but maybe I have more of a type than I thought.

[cheesemanratman]

Scenario

A long warm afternoon you were sitting your couch sipping some wine trying relax after work all you wanted was to get tipsy and take nice bubble bath with your partner however they weren't home yet. At Least to your knowledge. You had been feeling hot due to the uncomfortable summer weather and began to unbutton your shirt setting the wine glass aside. Little did you know as you were undressing your boyfriend was in the kitchen drinking some wine as well enjoying the show.

After a bit of nude stretching to ease the pain leaning over to do a simple toe touch you hear and feel something. "Is this little show all for me?" h/n smirked pressing his covered groin against your body. You chuckle standing up and turning kissing him as a greeting "no just sore" he raised an eyebrow at you "oh? From our activities last night~" he chuckled a bit before kissing your neck. You pull away from his touches and give the 'what are you doing?' look before responding to his devious question. "actually no just from work. Also what do you think your doing?"

He paused for a moment a little confused "trying to please you?" he smiles dousing your cheeks in kisses and wrapping his soft arms around your waist hold you there. You walk away smirking to yourself "well i don't recall saying you could touch me" he then responded by give you the 'what are you talking about' look then pinning your hands above your head. As he kisses and nibbles at your neck you hopelessly giggle and slip from his grasp but just barely "do you think your strong or something?" he then turned his head in your new direction starting to take of his clothes not saying anything just stripping licking his lips as he eyes your curves. "i mean you have lost so much strength maybe the gym will do you soms good". He lets out a sound like a groan of frustration as his breathing gets heavier yet you continue to taunt "bet you think im all yours hah! No way~". He grabs your waist tight slamming you against the wall and lifting your legs up your hole now being right above his now uncovered cock.

(Part 1)

[liamthemarowak]

Gift for thecanadiantoony2001

It was a hot day at the pokemon village, and Liam and Jack needed to cool down because of the heat. "Gee, that weather sure is hot, just like we are going to melt like butter!" Liam said. "Yeah, but it's a good thing that we got ourselves a Cooling Ac Unit for the summer!" Jack said. Then, Liam fancy's a ice cream to keep him cool down more. "Hey Jack, want an ice cream? Because we can check if we have some." Liam said. "Oh sure, we could see if we have it, if we don't have any, maybe we could buy some from the store." Jack said as they went to the freezer to see if they got ice cream. They checked the inside, but they don't have any ice cream that they have. "Oh, Looks like we don't have any ice cream, is there any ideas that we could be able to get ice cream from?" Jack asked. Then, Liam had an idea. "I know, since it's summer, we could go to the beach, and be able to get an ice cream from the ice cream truck!" Liam said. Jack really liked that idea from Liam. "Hey, that is a good idea there Liam, let's head on to the beach! But first, We will get to get our right clothing for the beach, like our short clothes and even our beach chair so we could relax." Jack said. "Oh, don't forget those! Let's get them right now!" Liam said as they get their beach equipment and take them to their karts. "Right, is everything set so we can go?" Jack said as Liam checks that they have everything. "I think that's everything we got, so let's go to the beach and have some fun up there" Liam said as they drive to the beach to have some fun. They have arrived at the beach, and it was a relaxing just like any beach. "Ok, time to head to the beach, hopefully the sand isn't to hot to step on just like last time." Jack said. "Well hopefully the sand cools down." Liam said as they try to step on the sand to see if the sand hasn't got the heat, and the sand feels warm enough for Liam and Jack. "Hey, the sand isn't that hot for us to walk on! That means we can walk on it!" Jack said. "Now, we need to set up our beach equipment and rest on the beach for the while." Liam said as they set up their beach equipment such as their beach chairs and also their umbrella's. Just then, Hoppey came to see Liam and Jack. "Hey there mates, you two are going to have some beach fun! And I have my good muscles with me as well!" Hoppey said as he uses his muscles to amaze Liam and Jack. And then, Liam and Jack are amazed about it! "Wow Hoppey, I think you been to the Gym a lot before the summer comes!" Jack said. "Yep, I have been to the gym so many times for the summer!" Hoppey said. "So Hoppey, would you like some ice cream? Me and Jack are going to get one now." Liam said. "No thanks, I just had some good salad because it keeps my muscles going." Hoppey said. "Ok, you can wait by looking after our beach chairs so no one can sit on them." Jack said. "Sure, I always look after stuff like this!" Hoppey said. "Thanks, now let's get ourselves an ice cream!" Liam said as they went to the ice cream truck to get themselves some ice cream. They start to order their ice cream by choosing their same colour as their clothes. "Hey, what can I get for you two?" The ice cream truck owner said. "Ok, can I have a blueberry and apple flavoured ice cream please?" Liam said. "Sure, I will make you one now!" The ice cream owner said as they make the ice cream. "Here you go, One Blueberry and Apple Ice cream just for you two!" The ice cream owner said as he gives Liam an blueberry ice cream and Jack an apple ice cream. "Thank you very much, now it's back to see Hoppey to how is he doing there." Jack said as they went back to their beach chairs. Hoppey was doing his dumbbell training to make his muscles go stronger, until he sees Liam and Jack holding their ice cream. "Hey, just doing some training to make my muscles go stronger, so watch this!" Hoppey said as they shows his muscles to Liam and Jack, but even stronger. "Now that is some strong stuff there Hoppey with those good muscles of yours!" Liam said as they got more amazed about Hoppey's strong pose. "Right, I think we should get a rest on our beach chairs and rest for a while." Jack said. "Sure, let's get some sun on us, but first, let's put on some sun cream." Liam said as they put a lot of sun cream on their body. "Alright, I think we are all set, We will let you do your beach training Hoppey." Jack said. "Sure, I will go back to my training and become strong." Hoppey said as he went back to lift some dumbbells. "Ok, now it's time for us to rest!" Liam said as they went on their beach chairs and take a good rest at the beach.

Liam The Marowak and Jack The Cubone belongs to Me

Hoppey Belongs to thecanadiantoony2001

Pokemon Belongs to Nintendo and Game Freak

[quirkygoodies]

Why Disc Golf is the Ultimate Outdoor Workout (And How the Right Gear Helps You Play Longer)

If you’ve ever played a full 18-hole round of disc golf, you already know—it’s way more than just a casual walk in the park. Between navigating tricky terrain, throwing with power and precision, and clocking in thousands of steps, disc golf is a full-body workout disguised as fun.

But just like with any sport, what you wear can make or break your performance. Whether it’s scorching heat, sudden rain, or just an extra-long day on the course, the right disc golf apparel keeps you comfortable so you can focus on your throws—not on adjusting your sweaty t-shirt.

For an even deeper breakdown of how disc golf keeps you active and why quality gear matters, check out the original Quirky Goodies blog.

Disc Golf: The Sport That Keeps You Moving

Most people don’t think of disc golf as a workout, but if you’ve ever spent a day tackling an elevation-heavy course, you’ve felt it. Unlike traditional workouts that can feel repetitive or forced, disc golf offers constant variety, making it easier to stay active while actually having fun.

Here’s why disc golf is nature’s gym:

🥏 Cardio Without Feeling Like Cardio – You’re walking (or sometimes running) from hole to hole, easily racking up 2-5 miles per round. Add in hills and uneven terrain, and you’ve got yourself a killer workout.

💪 Strength Training with Every Throw – Think about the mechanics of a powerful drive—it’s a mix of core rotation, leg engagement, and upper body strength. Every throw works your shoulders, back, and arms.

🧘 Balance & Flexibility – Whether you’re stretching for a tricky putt or adjusting your stance for a low-ceiling shot, disc golf forces you to use balance and flexibility in ways that improve mobility over time.

🏆 Mental Focus & Coordination – Disc golf is just as much about strategy as it is about physical ability. From analyzing wind direction to choosing the perfect angle of release, your brain gets a workout, too.

Playing an 18-hole course burns as many calories as a light jog—but because you’re having fun, it never feels like a workout.

Why the Right Disc Golf Apparel Makes a Difference

If you’ve ever played a hot summer round in the wrong gear, you know the struggle. A heavy, sweat-soaked cotton t-shirt clings, overheats, and slows you down. The right disc golf clothing makes all the difference in comfort, movement, and performance.

What to Look for in Disc Golf Apparel:

✅ Moisture-Wicking Fabrics – Say goodbye to sticky, sweaty shirts. Breathable disc golf t-shirts pull sweat away from your skin, keeping you cool and dry.

✅ Stretch & Mobility – You need full range of motion for powerful drives and accurate putts. Flexible, lightweight materials make sure your clothing never gets in the way.

✅ Weather Adaptability – Early morning rounds? Chilly fall games? Layering with disc golf sweatshirts keeps you warm without overheating.

✅ Durability for Outdoor Play – You’ll be trekking through woods, bending under trees, and maybe even sliding in the mud. Your disc golf attire should be built to handle the elements.

If you’re going to spend hours on the course, investing in comfortable, high-quality disc golf t-shirts and clothing is a game-changer.

How Disc Golf Compares to Other Outdoor Activities

Ever tried switching up your workouts? Here’s how disc golf stacks up against other outdoor sports:

⛳ Disc Golf vs. Traditional Golf – No expensive clubs, no carts, way more walking and movement.

🏃 Disc Golf vs. Running – Same cardio benefits, less joint impact, and more strategy involved.

🚴 Disc Golf vs. Hiking – You’re still covering distance and navigating trails, but with the added challenge of throwing precision shots.

Best of all? Disc golf is free to play at most courses, so you’re getting a full-body workout without the gym membership.

The Best Gear for Long Rounds on the Course

Want to maximize comfort and stay focused on your game? Here’s what to wear for an all-day disc golf session:

👕 Performance-Ready Disc Golf T-Shirts – Lightweight, sweat-wicking, and breathable.

🎽 Flexible, Stretchy Shorts or Joggers – For unrestricted movement and comfort.

🧥 Layer with a Disc Golf Sweatshirt – Perfect for early morning or late evening rounds.

🧢 Hat or Sunglasses – Protect your eyes and stay cool.

The right disc golf apparel makes sure you’re playing at your best, staying comfortable, and looking good while doing it.

Make Disc Golf Your Gym (And Dress for It!)

Disc golf is one of the best ways to stay active without even thinking about it. Whether you’re chasing personal bests or just enjoying a casual round with friends, the sport gives you a total-body workout that never feels like work.

And just like with any sport, the gear you wear matters. Investing in comfortable, high-performance disc golf clothing ensures that nothing—heat, sweat, or restriction—gets in the way of your game.For a full deep dive into how disc golf keeps you fit and why your gear matters, check out the original Quirky Goodies blog here. 🥏💪