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frostedsugarcookiehearts · 4 months ago

Text

² it's a friday, (i'm in love)

୨ৎ

as chappell roan said, "your favorite artists' favorite artist"— but for you, it was more like your celebrity crushes celebrity crush!

you'd been on youtube for a long time now, flying under the radar of the algorithm for a good while. there were pluses and minuses to this arrangement, of course— you didn't live in a multi-billion-jillion dollar mansion, but also, your fanbase was small and dedicated, and you still lit up every time when you saw a fan edit or fan art.

out of sheer luck, a friend of a friend of a friend of a... well, you get the jist, but you knew ted through mutual friends. you'd met at a party once, and you geeked out upon meeting him, chatting his ear off. he had more subscribers than people you've ever met! by a million.

clearly, you had left some kind of impression on little ol' ted, because he invited you onto chuckle sandwich (rip), and right on the dot you were squished in the booth, trying to prepare for the inevitable being-squeezed-between-two-over-six-feet-men, wide eyed and a little nervous as you adjusted your hair for what felt like the hundredth time.

then you felt the booth dip beside you, and you whip your head around (then up) to see a huge brick wall of a man. "you must be schlatt! it's nice to meet you!" you chirp, offering out a hand.

maybe you weren't the best at first impressions, because schlatt took one look at you— and maybe he was feeling under the weather... or something?— he turned bright red and ran out. like, quite literally got up out of the booth, and ran, muttering about going to the bathroom.

you and ted ended up chatting politely about how you got into streaming, what your favorite thing to stream is— the kind of questions anyone who had a podcast would ask. but then you felt the familiar dip in the booth, you turned around again to face the big man again. gracious and charming, he blurted—

"so... woman. got uh," he cleared his voice. "got a boyfriend?"

it takes a second for that question to load in your brain, and then you blink. realizing you're on a podcast and not an awkward first date— (could've fooled you)— you try to come up with a charming response of, "the only man in my life is the twitch grind, schlatt," and offer him a grin.

the mic picks up the grumble under schlatt's breath; "there room for one more?"

ted snickers, but attempts to save you from an awkward situation by steering the interview back to questions they have for you. schlatt gets a little less awkward after his whole "unlimited games or unlimited bacon" spiel, but he goes right back to his antics after he leans in a little closer and chirps,

"wanna play a game that we always play with the podcast guests?"

looking around suspiciously, ted raises a brow, because there is definitely not a 'game' or whatever the hell schlatt's spouting right now. "schlatt, what the fuck are you—"

"it's, uh, you basically turn the digits of your phone number into a number and tell me how much money you'd have." schlatt stutters out, offering a dorky smile to you.

you blink. "one? i only have one phone number. i'm not richie rich like you!— i watched that one video of yours when you went to that hotel room that was so much money, it made my head spin."

"ah, that's nothin', toots. i can take ya sometime." he winks at you, and for some reason, your heart flutters. "like uh, a part two."

ted, always the instigator; "would you two sleep in the same be—"

"al—right!" schlatt claps loudly. "let's move on."

the interview ran smoothly enough, but it was nothing compared to the comments. they exploded about the chemistry between you two, the banter, and schlatt's pathetic attempt at flirting. it made all the fans go insane, it was clipped a hundred times over and posted everywhere.

and then the pièce de résistance? an offhand comment schlatt made on stream, joking that if people started donating a thousand dollars, he'd ask you out on a video game date.

boy, did the fans deliver for you two! they insisted that schlatt raid your stream, which he did, peppering comments like "what's your favorite flower" or "how are you doing today beautiful?" fans of yours even left sneaky little comments in schlatt's chat about what kind of things you liked, and a few clips of you talking about your type in men and your ideal dates were sent directly into schlatt's dms. and he watched them. analyzed them, actually. if he put this much energy into homework back in school, he'd be on track to get his masters right now!

after doing his research, he felt ready to ask.

↓

jschlatt donated $1,500!

↳ hey toots. you free @ 7pm EST?

and that sealed the deal. like clockwork, at 7pm EST, you actually got dressed up all nice, did your hair and put on a nice dress, sat down at your gaming chair and booted up discord, hovering over the call button under schlatt's tag. but he called you first, and you twirled your hair one more time before answering.

"hi," you smiled, a dumb cheshire cat grin on your face. fortunately, schlatt's was even bigger.

in the background, you made a few clicks and booted up your stream as he did his. "so where do you want to go, on our date?"

"this is a date?" you quirk a brow, smirking, and schlatt turns just as red as the first time he met you.

he stammers, "well, like, in the sense of the word, y'know. date. hangout. uh, shindig. whatever the hell you want it to be. ma'am."

schlatt turned on the facecam to show he was wearing a black turtleneck, and you turned on yours to show off your outfit. "i'm not your mom, you don't have to call me ma'am." you giggled, wiping off the bit of lipstick on the corner of your lip.

he grumbled something under his breath, his chat clearly hearing something you didn't as he comically widened his eyes, looking around the room as chat exploded.

but besides that little blip, it all went great! always the gentleman, schlatt booted up his pc to minecraft, but you shook your head and insisted on playing stardew valley instead. the two of you started on a farm together where schlatt had put your beds suspiciously close to each other and jokingly started trying to fight the townspeople— specifically sam— for 'getting all over you'. he was even about to fight robin for 'hitting on you', since he quipped, "equal rights, equal fights. and i support women liking women. but not if they're trying to steal ya from me, alright?" and promptly tried to hit her in game with an axe. lovely!

you ended up laughing so hard you felt like you had a six-pack. schlatt was genuinely a good time, and when the two of you met shane in-game, it was whirlwind. you compared him to schlatt, and he vehemently denied it. "maybe i should get married to shane," you quip, and schlatt scoffs. "what? he's like, the walmart— jojamart— version of me! you could get the real deal, right here!" he practically whined, rolling his eyes petulantly.

after hours of laughing and cracking jokes, running around pelican town and flirting, you two decided to end stream. he hummed a soft, "we should do this again sometime."

"oh, we will." you grin. "my dms are open."

he smiled, looking straight into the screen— it felt more like right into your soul, though. "good to know."

୨ৎ

dividers credit: @omi-resources

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abitsourthenspicy · 1 month ago

Note

more on sugar daddy nanami and my life is yours 😞‼️

more than a sugar daddy

thank u for your request anon <3 i love writing domestic stuff.

my masterlist!

"are you sure i can do anything i want with this?" you ask, tilting your head to the side, looking like a doe- innocent and wide eyed.

"that's what our arrangement says, no?"

"but what if i spend too much money?"

"that's what i want," nanami counters. "spend it like my money is yours."

"i'd rather save mine." when he hears that, he laughs and ruffles your hair.

"be reckless with it. i no longer find any joy in spending money." he says while tucking his black card into your hands once again.

what has started as a simple sugar relationship was slowly getting out of hand- at least for him.

first, you agreed on a set weekly allowance as his sugar baby. then he insisted on giving you more, raising your allowance slowly. he claimed it was for both of you- you were helping him deal with everyone and everything.but tell me, which sugar daddy hands their sugar baby their black card, home and car keys, tells them to spend all their money. is he out of his mind?

not really.

he's just in love and it was frustrating. you turned a blind eye to his obvious flirtations, the way he treated you. but you can't be blamed either. maybe you didn't want to be emotionally attached to him. maybe at first. but he could tell, the way you looked at him, the way your eyes lingered on him, the little kisses you gave him. they changed over time. they got softer, more gentle, more intimate and heartfelt.

he is a fool in love.

as foolish as you- his silly sugar baby, who tries not to notice his growing fondess for you.

if you won't pick on the obvious clues, then he'll do what he does the best- earn more money for you to spend.

...but where does all his money go? this was an important question. he was expecting you to spend his money on luxury brands, jewelry, houses, yachts, parties. but what does he get? you asking him a million times before paying for something.

and when you get his permission with the addition of his reassurance you spend his money on the most ridiculous things. at least, that's what they are to him. (not really)

a new tie in his favorite muted color. a plush toy from your favourite cartoon merchandise. a leather-bound planner, monogrammed with his initials. three box of your favourite chocolates. a single expensive bottle of cologne that smells like bergamot and devotion. matching cute phone charms. a limited edition hardback of a novel he once mentioned liking. useless things and small trinkets from the dollar store. a massage gun for his tense shoulders. takeout food from a small family-run restaurant. organic tea blends he prefers but never bothers to buy himself.

you even remembered his birthday before he could bring it up and planned a quiet evening, just the two of you- his favorite foods home-cooked by you, a candle that smells like cedarwood and lavender, jazz music playing softly in the background as you give a monologue about how lucky you are to meet him and got to know him in this way. everything about this celebration felt intimate.

not only he was you make him feel like he's the richest man in the world, not because of his bank account, but because of you. the amount of money he has doesn't compare next to your kindness and gentleness toward him.

you used his money to buy groceries to make him dinner. you even insisted on cooking it yourself.

he finds you in the kitchen, chopping vegetables while singing a familiar tune. you are wearing one of his shirts, sleeves rolled up. two grocery bags sitting on the counter with the receipt poking out. the total not not even being enough for him to care about.

he quietly walks up to you, leaning against the counter. "you used my card to buy groceries? eggs, floor, bacon and tomatoes?" he tilts his head, a rare hearty smile on his lips.

you add the pasta to the boiling water and wipe your hands. "you told me to spend your money like it's mine."

he crosses his arms. he narrows his eyes and analyzes you. "i meant... spend it on jewelry, bags... shoes. expensive things."

"excuse you. groceries are expensive," you scoff. he laughs and gives you a hug. you reciprocate it and bury your head in the crook of his neck. "...and i would rather feed you." you mutter against his skin.

he's doomed, he thinks. completely and utterly doomed. you're not reckless with his money, but you're reckless with your kindness and thoughtfulness.

and nanami kento, a man who built walls around his heart, finds himself handing you the keys of his heart. he's not your sugar daddy anymore, he thinks at this moment. he's just yours. just as much as you are his.

please do not copy, translate or feed my work to ai.

#jjk #jjk nanami #jujustsu kaisen x reader #jujutsu kaisen #jujutsu kaisen nanami #jujutsu nanami #nanami kento #nanami x reader #nanami x you #jjk drabbles #drabble #jjk fluff #nanami fluff #fluff #jjk x reader #nanami fanfic #x reader

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darkficsyouneveraskedfor · 7 months ago

Text

Meet the Family 5

No tag lists. Do not send asks or DMs about updates. Review my pinned post for guidelines, masterlist, etc.

Warnings: this fic will include dark content such as dubcon/noncon and other possible triggers. My warnings are not exhaustive, enter at your own risk.

This is a dark!fic and explicit. 18+ only. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Summary: Your boss needs a last-minute favour for the holidays.(petite!reader)

Characters: Lloyd Hansen

Note: Today is my friday bc I booked time off to go see my grammy!

As per usual, I humbly request your thoughts! Reblogs are always appreciated and welcomed, not only do I see them easier but it lets other people see my work. I will do my best to answer all I can. I’m trying to get better at keeping up so thanks everyone for staying with me <3

Your feedback will help in this and future works (and WiPs, I haven’t forgotten those!) Asking for more or putting ‘part 2?’ is not feedback.

Love you all. You are appreciated and your are worthy. Treat yourself with care. 💖

You don’t dare enter the suite again until you hear snoring. You’re cautious as you move around in the low rhythm of Lloyd’s slumber. It begins to dawn on you slowly what you’ve agreed to. You’re used to controlled doses of him. You go to work, do his bidding, then clock out. There might be a few late nights but this is too much.

One million dollars. You repeat it to yourself like a mantra. With that money you can but your way free of this man once and for all. Hell, you might go back to school so you can be an insufferable boss one day. That might actually make your mother proud.

You shut yourself in the bathroom and try to wake yourself with a shower. It’s nice but your fatigue is even more obvious as you emerge. Your coffee sits cold and forgotten next to scraps of bacon and an empty cup.

You go back down to the dining hall and sit to enjoy your coffee without the threat of another awkward moment. You rub your forehead as you lean your elbow on the table and sip. Not bad for hotel brand.

You return to the room and knock before you let yourself in. You hear stirring in the bed as you do but nothing as lewd as last time. Lloyd groans and whimpers.

“My head,” he moans.

“It’s almost ten,” you say. “What time is this brunch at?”

He whines again and drags a pillow over his head. You open your carry-on and pull out your travel tube of pain killers. You cross to him and grab his hand, shoving the capsules into his palm.

“Get up,” you say, “what time?”

He clasps onto your fist and rips the pillow off. He tugs on you as he sits up. His eyes are blood shot and his forehead creased with agony. You want to laugh in his face. Serves him right.

“Twelve,” he pouts.

You wrench your hand free and go to the mini fridge. You grab him a bottle of water and toss it onto his lap. He catches it with a flinch.

“Woah, watch the gems,” he warns.

“I gotta go get my luggage. Find something appropriate,” you look down at the grey sweatshirt and leggings meant for the flight home. “Get yourself together.”

You turn and grab your jacket. You’re really not looking forward to this. You agreed to it, though, and you won’t be Lloyd. You’re not going to gripe about a decision you made. One million, one million, one million...

You go out to your car and grab your bag. You haul it back up and after another cautious tap on the door, you push your way into the room. The bathroom door is open as the shower thrums and Lloyd’s groans underline the hum. You shut it and prop your bag up on the chair.

You pick out the cashmere cream blouse with the twisted neckline and a pair of soft beige wool trousers. Presentable but not high effort. These people are not going to stress, not any more than he already has.

You change and search your toiletry bag. You use the wall mirror to get ready as you hear the shower crank off. Lloyd’s clumsy steps slap the tile and he crashes into the door from the inside. You make no effort to check on his as you blend in your blush.

“Urghhhhh,” he appears like a yeti from a snow drift, staggering with his head nearly beneath his shoulders. “I feel like a sorority girl after rush week.”

“That’s gross,” you reprimand as you put the blush stick away. “I think maybe this is a good lesson. Take it easy on the mimosas at brunch, huh?”

“Hair of the dog,” he insists as he clutches the top of the towel and stumbles to the bed. “You wanna get out my Gucci suit. You can iron the jacket--”

“Excuse me?” You turn.

“Please, my beloved,” he whines.

“N. O.” You say.

“I’m paying you--”

“That wasn’t what we discussed.”

“Wives iron suits,” he retorts.

“In 1952.” You bounce back. “Lloyd. This is business. We sell this thing to your family so you can get your money, and I can get mine, and that’s that. This is a shell. Okay?”

“Hmph,” he grunts. He sucks his teeth as he thinks and you turn back to the mirror. You see his reflection. You don’t like that twinkle in his eyes. “Well, if we really want to sell this thing, we gotta make it seem natural.” He stands up and wobbles as he braces his forehead. He takes a breath and lumbers towards you, “you gotta act like you’re into me.”

He brings his hand down and squeezes your ass. It’s more painful than you expect. You’re reminded of that unceremonious pinch issued by another of his bloodline.

You spin to face him and slap his hand down, “ow. Don’t do that.”

“Like I said, you’re not going to be engaged to guy you can’t stand. Okay? So you gotta get into it,” he reaches around you with both arms and cups your ass, pulling you flush to him. You drop your mascara and smack his upper stomach.

“Lloyd,” you growl.

“Put a little honey in it,” he kneads your ass as you squirm.

“Let go--”

“You know I’m right,” he wiggles his hips and the towel slips off.

“Oh, god!” You push on him harder.

“Mm, you know, I never realised how tiny you are. I could just...” He bends his knees as he slides one hand down your thigh and the other up your back. He angles to scoop you up. You squeal in surprise. “Ah, easy as pie. Just like me, Pixie stick.

“Lloyd, put me down,” you writhe in his grasp. “This isn’t okay!”

“Should we consummate now--”

“Ew, oh, no.”

“Ew?” He echoes. “What’s ew about it? I’m rich, I’m attractive--” He pauses as he turns and tosses you toward the bed. You land in a heap with a yelp. “And I’m strong.”

You don’t have a chance to recover before he’s on top of you. He catches your hands before you can swipe at his face and he pins them above your head. He straddles you, shamelessly naked, and snickers.

“Trust me, my thrust game is on point,” he rolls his hips and you close your eyes.

“Lloyd, off. Now.”

“I’m tryna get off, Pixie, trust,” he leans over you until you feel his breath. “We could have lots of fun. After three years of tension, you know it’s inevitable.”

“Tension?” You hiss, “oh, I don’t think it’s the kind you think.”

“You’re stressed. I’m offering you relief. A little extra bang for your buck, here.”

“No,” you grit out between your teeth, twisting your wrists in his grip and you kick your legs. You don’t like the way it makes the whole bed jostle. “Just get off of me. Please.”

“I’m trying to get in you,” he snarls.

Your eyes snap open as his nose comes down next to yours. He leers down at you as his irises no longer sparkle. His features are sinister as he puffs down at you like a wild beast. Your heart jumps into your throat. He’s no longer just a nuisance, he’s a danger.

You open and close your fingers, “we’ll be late if you don’t.”

He stares down at you. You feel him breathing, shallow and rabid, as your own heartbeat thumps in your chest. He doesn’t have to stop and there’s really nothing you can do to make him.

“Mom’s already mad at me,” he grumbles and pushes himself up. He slowly drags himself off and turns his back to you. You watch the muscles tauten and bring yourself up on your elbows.

“I’ll iron your suit,” you relent. “Just put some underwear one.”

He scoffs as you carefully roll away from him. You move as if any sudden motion might antagonize him. He gets up and grabs his phone from the night stand. He huffs as he lights up the screen.

“This licks ass,” he growls.

You go to his suitcase and open it. You search out the label with the G on it and hold up the red blazer. “Is this the one?”

He looks at you as he chews his cheek. He nods and quickly goes back to his phone, tapping on it with his thumb. You roll your eyes and find a pair of black slacks to match. You take it all out and unfold the ironing board from the wall.

You nearly wince as he approaches. He passes you and goes to his bag, bending to sift through it. “You know, I usually like to hang free.” He rips something from the suitcase, “but for you, I’ll tie the hog down.” He stands and steps into the briefs one leg at a time. He snaps the band and puts his hands on his hips. “Happy?”

“Not really,” you mutter.

“Yeah, me neither,” he sighs.

❄️

In the daylight, the Hansen’s mansion appears even more pristine. As you come up the long walk with the elaborate set stone, Lloyd neatens his mustache with a small mother of pearl comb. You give him a side glance but say nothing. He hasn’t stopped fidgeting since you got in the car.

You get to the front door and prepare yourself for another encounter with the worst people you’ve met. For all your time working for the man next to you, you should be perfectly honed for the task. Still, you’re not sure you can be ready for that bunch.

Lloyd lets himself in and you follow. As you unzip your booties, he clears his throat. “Hey, mom, we’re here.”

He receives no answer but you can hear the din humming from another room. He takes off his jacket and hangs it. You put yours next to his. His cheek ticks with dread and he forces his chin up.

You follow him to the dining room and as he enters, he receives no welcome. A few stray looks are aimed at you but no one acknowledges your arrival. Lloyd clears his throat and sits. You claim the seat next to him and peer around. How jolly of a holiday.

As your boss shifts beside you, you hold back a yawn. You haven’t got enough sleep for this nonsense. Lloyd sits forward and reaches for the jug of orange juice. Another hand reaches out to catch the crystal decanter.

“Let us get the formalities out of the way, son,” William snarls. “You owe your mother an apology.”

Lloyd rescinds his reach and flinches, “an apology?”

“Yes, you humiliated her last night, storming off like that.”

Lloyd blinks, as genuinely confused as you’ve ever seen him. His throat bobs and his eyes brows arch, “Mom,” he looks at Gwenyth as she puts her posture as straight as she can. “I’m sorry.”

“Are you? And what about this one? I’d say she started all this trouble,” she accuses as she points at you with a red acrylic.

You nearly scoff. Instead, you match her energy. “I have nothing to apologise for.”

“Pixie,” Lloyd hisses.

“No, why should I apologise? Tell me exactly what I did and I’ll let you know if I’m sorry.”

“Pix, what are you doing?” Lloyd murmurs.

“Well, you...” Gwenyth begins. “You said—You--”

“You accused me of being out for money. I’m not. You insulted him,” you gesture carelessly to Lloyd, “repeatedly. So, I’m not entirely sure what I did that offended you so much. I’ve been pleasant but it doesn’t mean you can walk all over me.”

“You are defiant,” she yaps shrilly.

“I’m being honest. And to apologise wouldn’t be honest,” you shrug. “Now, if you would rather we leave, I’m more than happy to pack up. Obviously, I can’t meet your high standards.”

“Pixie,” Lloyd whispers.

The table is silent as you stare across it. You feel the fire burning under your skin. You’re not sure where that came from. Maybe it’s because none of this really matters. You don’t need to impress them. You just need to get that courthouse contract signed and you can be on your merry way. This is all just pretense.

“Hm,” William pushes the jug toward Lloyd, “you hold onto that one. She’s clever.”

“William,” Gwenyth yowls and swats her husband’s arm.

“She has a point,” he says.

“But--”

“Suppose we are a bit hard on the boy,” he argues.

“Or maybe he’s just a disappointment,” Lillian preens. “Daddy, please. He waited forty-three years to meet expectations.”

“Better late than never,” Benson snorts. “I’d prefer never.”

There’s a bit of laughter, though Gwenyth and Lillian continue to glare across at you. You would be intimidated if you were concerned about their opinions. But they are nothing compared to your grandmother’s eternal glower or your mother’s grim sighs. You might be better prepared for this than you thought.

“Exactly what she said,” Lloyd swipes up the jug and stops himself, reaching for your glass instead of his. He fills it and presents it to you with a smirk. “We didn’t do anything wrong.”

“All this waiting and for what,” Gwenyth fans herself and sniffles. “And he chooses this prissy little--”

“Gwen,” William warns curtly. “Please, do not spoil another meal.”

“Me? Spoil? I never.” She whines.

“Hm, yes, we will not mention Easter then,” William tuts. “Let us just enjoy today. After all, I’m sure she could be at home with her own family.”

You could and you would rather be. Yet, that is one thing you can blame on Lloyd. The more you think of it, you can blame every single snipe and jab on him. After all, he snared you into this. You might have been easily bought but that doesn’t excuse his machinations.

You look at him with no effort to conceal the revelation. He meets your eye and his brows twitch. He bares his teeth sheepishly. Your eyes narrow as you center every ounce of exhaustion, chagrin, and general distaste in his direction.

“You okay, honey pie?” He asks softly.

You reach for your glass and examine it, “is there prosecco in this? If not, could I request some?” You turn back to the table. You hear Lloyd gulp and feel him shift before he reaches to touch your arm. It’s your turn to indulge.

#lloyd hansen #dark lloyd hansen #dark!lloyd hansen #lloyd hansen x reader #the gray man #series #fic #dark fic #dark!fic #meet the family

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barnesbabes · 1 month ago

Text

early bird gets the worm

pairing: Joel Miller x gender neutral reader

summary: Joel was always an early riser, but on the rare occasion that he slept in, you had to take advantage of the moment.

warnings: fluff! tooth rotting fluff!

You could feel the sunlight creeping over your face. You stretched your arms out and above you, trying to shake the sleep from your muscles. You reached next to you, expecting to feel the empty pillow but you were met with Joel's muscled back. You sat up, but not to abrupt, not wanting to let the slightest move wake him. It was extremely unlikely for him to sleep past you, but you knew you had to take advantage of this moment.

As quietly as you could slither out without alerting Joel, you made your way down to the kitchen. You pulled out the ingredients, eggs, bread, and veggies. You had planned in your head to make him an omelet, something he would never make time to make for himself. Thats just who he was, a selfless guy who constantly put others before himself. That's probably why he had had been tired enough to sleep in. Maria had been working him constantly, trying to figure out new housing settlements for the people Jackson was taking in. Not to mention also going on patrols when he could manage it. You always told him, "You need to learn when to say no" or "You're not getting any younger!". But that is one of many reasons why you had fallen for him, the way he cared for those around him. It was your turn to repay him for all of those breakfasts in bed he had served you.

You knelt down and reached in a cabinet where you had been hiding a surprise just for a day like this. You knew that because of Joel's old man knees, he would have never looked down here. You pulled out the brown paper bag filled with the freshest coffee beans that could've been found. You ground them up in a mortar and pestle and placed them into the coffee filter before turning the machine on.

As the room had slowly become enclosed with the morning glow, the smell of sizzling bacon and brewing coffee filled the air. It had wafted through the house and slithering into the bedroom, finally hitting Joel's nose. He had immediately reached over for you, surprised to not find you in bed next to him. He sat himself up and slipped on the t-shirt he had been wearing the night before.

You heard the stairs creaking as Joel made his way down the stairs to meet you. You pretended like you weren't smiling ear to ear, waiting for his reaction to the beautiful spread in front of him. You kept working at the dishes, despite hearing his footsteps against the wood floors. You felt his arms snake around your waist as he buried his face into the crook of your neck.

"You weren't in bed this morning, darlin'."

"Well, good morning to you too, sleepy head."

Despite being pressed against the sink, you turned around to look up at him. His sleepy eyes and sly smile pulled you right in. Before he could even respond, you had pulled him in for a soft kiss. He pulled you closer, grabbing at your hips to pull you in. Before the omelet could become cold, you pulled away from him, patting his chest.

"Cool it cowboy, I have something for you."

You smirked and slipped from his arms as you had pulled him to the dining room table, where his plated omelet was awaiting. You pulled his chair out for him; a smile tugged on your lips as he grinned like you just gave him a million dollars. He looked at you with such adoration and surprise, your hard work paid off.

"Thank you, darlin' this looks delicious."

You had almost forgot the most important part of the meal, his beloved coffee.

"Don't thank me yet!"

You called as you slid to grab his favorite mug, the one with an owl on it, and fill it with his second true love, fresh coffee. You called for him to close his eyes, as if the smell wasn't tickling his nose as you placed it down in front of him. He opened his eyes and could only help but look at you. He took a small sip from it, ignoring its hot sensation against his lips. It looked like he simply crumbled in his seat.

"So.. is it as good as you remember?"

"Darlin', it is better than I ever could have imagined. I love you."

"I love you, Joel."

You reached for his hand as you sat next to him. You both began to eat, Joel continuously complimenting your cooking skills. Food really was the way to this man's stomach.

"If you cook like this, maybe I should sleep in more often."

"In your dreams, cowboy."

#joel miller #joel miller x reader #the last of us #tlou #tlou x reader #x reader #joel miller x male reader #pedro pascal

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amuseoffirebane · 8 days ago

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[ID: 24 digitally sketched panels featuring a human man, Riker, and a male robot, Taps.]

[Panel 1: Riker sits in an armchair tuning a guitar while Taps lies on a bed next to him, leaning his head back on his arms and pillows with a porkpie hat tilted over his eyes.]

[Panel 2: Riker looks up questioningly as Taps asks from off panel, "You take requests?"]

[Panel 3: Riker raises his eyebrows and replies, "If you got something you're eager to hear butchered, sure." Taps opens an eye and glances at Riker from under his hat, saying, "I think the chords are pretty straightforward."]

[Panel 4: Riker sighs and starts scrolling on his phone. He says, "Alright, I'll look it up, but I won't sing. What song is it?"]

[Panel 5: Taps says, "If I Had a Million Dollars."]

More comic after the break!

[Panel 6: Riker points across Taps and asks after a pause, "Hey, pass me that other pillow real quick?" Taps sits up and passes the pillow over, saying, "Sure." Riker replies, "Thanks."]

[Panel 7: The pillow is thrown back at Taps, hitting him square in the face and knocking his hat backward. SFX: PAMF. Riker says from off panel, "That song is so corny. I'll do it, but Jesus Christ."]

[Panel 8: Riker begins strumming the guitar and producing music, looking down at a chord chart on his phone resting on his knee.]

[Panel 9: Taps lies back down in his original position, eyes mostly closed, and starts singing, "If I had a million dollars (ellipses)"]

[Panel 10: Taps glances at Riker and continues, "(ellipses) I would buy you a house." Riker says nothing, just furrows his brow a bit. Taps continues, "And if I had a million dollars (ellipses)"]

[Panel 11: Taps says from off panel, "You can whistle, if you want. Or just riff on the lyrics." Riker huffs without looking at him, "Hmph."]

[Panel 12: Same shot. Taps continues singing, "And if I had a million dollars, I'd buy your love." Riker glances at him thoughtfully, not saying anything.]

[Panel 13: Riker begins to whistle. Taps sings, "If I had a million dollars," twice, with Riker whistling the echoed lyrics.]

[Panel 14: Simplified drawings. Taps sings, "If I had a million dollars--" but is cut off by Riker scrolling on his phone and says, "Then blah blah blah, treehouse, something about bacon--" Taps asks, "Is bacon really all it's cracked up to be?" Riker replies, "Usually, yeah." Taps says, "Huh."]

[Panel 15: Taps and Riker are floating heads between the lyrics as Riker starts to smile and play along. Taps sings, "If I had a million dollars... I'd buy you a fur coat." Riker responds, "... Heh, I could use one." Taps sings, "If I had a million dollars... I'd buy you an exotic pet." Riker says, "God, can you imagine?" Taps sings, "If I had a million dollars... I'd buy you John Merrick's remains." Riker says, "That's fucked up. We agree that's fucked up?"]

[Panel 16: Riker stops playing and grins, brow quirked, gesturing with an open palm. He says, "Wait wait wait, now I've got a question. The hell is a 'Kraft dinner' anyway?" Taps, in a tiny smiling drawing, says, "It's mac n' cheese." Riker asks, "Who calls it that?" Taps replies, "Canadians." Riker exclaims, "Why?!" Taps says, "Marketing laws." Riker says, in smaller font, "Oh."]

[Panel 17: Riker looks away, embarrassed and blushing, and picks the guitar back up. He clears his throat and says, "Anyway, uh," then mumbles, "where the hell were we (ellipses)" Taps sings from off panel, "If I had a million dollars," and Riker mutters, "yeah, yeah."]

[Panel 18: Taps opens one eye and unfolds his arms from behind his head. He sings, "If I had a million dollars," while Riker mutters, "ah, shit. Something, green dress, Picasso..." Taps sings again, "If I had a million dollars," and Riker grumbles incoherently.]

[Panel 19: Taps sits up and swings his legs off the bed, singing, "If I had a million dollars, I'd buy your love."]

[Panel 20: Taps starts to stand, still singing, "If I had a million dollars." Riker grimaces and mutters under his breath, "Not even a lot of money, really."]

[Panel 21: Taps approaches Riker, eyelids lowered sentimentally and head tilted to the side. He sings, "If I had a million dollars." Riker looks up, still grim, and muttering, "Life changing, sure 'til it runs (ellipses) out (ellipses)"]

[Panel 22: Taps leans down toward Riker, and sings (the text arrangement stressing the way it's sung), "If I had a million doll-oll-lers"]

[Panel 23: They kiss, Taps cupping Riker's cheek with his hand.]

[Panel 24: Taps and Riker in profile, foreheads touching, each looking content. Taps' eyes are closed and he puts a hand on Riker's chest, while Riker looks up at him and gently puts his hand to Taps' chin. Taps sings, "I'd be rich." End ID]

#the five bright stars #my art #riker venczel #taps bettencourt #happy pride 🌈#robot #android #comic #queer artwork

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justinspoliticalcorner · 2 months ago

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Arthur Delaney at HuffPost:

WASHINGTON — Republicans have a strategy for moving Medicaid cuts through Congress when many of their own members say they can’t support cuts: Don’t call them cuts. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Tuesday that nobody will miss the hundreds of billions of dollars Republicans want to chop from the program, which covers health care costs for more than 70 million Americans. “We’re not gutting Medicaid. We’re going to reduce fraud, waste and abuse, which every single American should be applauding,” Johnson said. The meaning of “fraud, waste and abuse” in this context includes regular Medicaid benefits for unemployed adults without children or disabilities, who have received coverage in most states thanks to the health care reform signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010. The money spent covering their health costs, in Republicans’ view, is a waste. Even among the Republicans who’ve said they won’t vote for Medicaid cuts, a “work requirement” policy banning certain unemployed adults does not count as a cut. “They should be seeking the skill sets for better jobs,” Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) told HuffPost on Tuesday. “I think most Americans support this. If you’re an able-bodied adult with no children, you should be seeking the skills or seeking a better job.” Bacon was one of a dozen moderate House Republicans who said in a letter to party leaders this month they wouldn’t support legislation with “any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations.” Medicaid cuts are a crucial part of the “big beautiful bill” Republicans hope to send to President Donald Trump’s desk this year, with the savings intended to offset part of the cost of $5 trillion or more in tax cuts. Spending reductions in Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could reduce the cost of the bill by more than $1 trillion.

[...] When the first Trump administration granted Arkansas a waiver to deny Medicaid benefits to able-bodied adults in 2018, more than 18,000 people lost coverage — about 25% of the population subject to the requirement, thanks in part to the difficulties people had in fulfilling the state’s paperwork requirements. Federal survey data show that, in general, most non-elderly adults on Medicaid already work full or part time, with a significant number of those not working engaged in caregiving or attending school. Republicans included a work requirement for childless Medicaid recipients aged 19 to 55 in a piece of legislation that failed to pass in 2023. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the policy would save $109 billion over 10 years by canceling federal funding for Medicaid benefits for 1.5 million people, with states using their own funds to cover 60% of those affected while another 600,000 people were expected to wind up uninsured. Another estimate, by the Urban Institute, said around 5 million would lose coverage under the policy.

[...] Republicans are also looking to require more frequent eligibility checks for Medicaid recipients, and they’re considering reducing the percentage of Medicaid spending covered by the federal government. The latter policy, which would likely lead states to drop their own Medicaid spending, could result in as many as 20 million people losing coverage if Republicans pursue it in an aggressive form and states don’t increase spending to fill the void.

More lies from the Republicans: They claim that imposing Medicaid work requirements don’t count as “cuts.” They are cuts, no matter how you spin it.

#Medicaid Work Requirements #Medicaid #Taxes #Health Care #119th Congress #Mike Johnson #Health Insurance

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pa-pa-patato · 2 days ago

Note

Heard you were asking questions to your mooties..

I guess it's my turn to ask you a few 😈

Have you ever looked at a character and questioned if they could fit in a oven?

if you had to pick one facial expression to draw for the rest of your life what would it be?

What is the worst food you've ever eaten?

If you had to cut off one toe which one would you pick?

Does your cat also lick the most random things? [Walls, shoes etc cuz mine licks random stuff from time to time]

If you could give up your favorite thing ever for two years for 5 million dollars would you do it?

What is the dumbest thing someone has said to you with full confidence?

What's the dumbest thing you've said to someone with full confidence?

Least favorite thing to draw and why?

What were the dinosaurs like, gramps?

•no. But the amount of time I wanted to put a character in the oven is a bit concerning

• ^ • <- this

•bacon wrapped liver..

•the pinky, cause it’s so small you can’t even see it when I wear sandals. Used to get made fun of. Both pinkies on my head and foot are weird…

•no. But she does climb walls! Somehow…

•I wanna say I wouldn’t be able to go two years without music, but honestly I’ll do most things if it means my momma can stop working.

• “I’m not a workaholic” my mom said with her full chest even tho she started fixing a chair while on vacation cause she had nothing else to work in.

• “Asia is not a continent”… I have no excuse I am very dumb.

• wings and ears. Do I need to explain!? That shits hard and there’s 30 million different ways to do it and I can’t stick to one and since I can’t stick to one it’s almost impossible to improve!

•LISTEN HERE YOU LITTLE—/j

Me when I got this ask:

#patato core #the third one isn’t exactly what I said but that’s basically what I meant

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yourreddancer · 5 days ago

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Today in Politics, Bulletin 162. 6/30/25

Ron Filipkowski

Jun 30

… Elon Musk declared war on the Republican Party today and trashed Trump’s budget again: “Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame! And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth.”

… He then posted another: “It is obvious with the insane spending of this bill, which increases the debt ceiling by a record FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS that we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!! Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people.”

… Can’t wait for Trump’s reaction to Musk’s latest attacks.

… Politico: “Philip Low, an award-winning neuroscientist learned that the hard way in 2021 when he fired Musk, one of his early investors, from the advisory board of the Silicon Valley startup he founded. Low has known him for 14 years but doesn’t believe Musk has matured over time, and he’s convinced he never will. Though the two continued to speak for years after Low fired him, Low felt that Musk carried a grudge and their bond was permanently altered.”

… Low: “I’ve had my share of blowouts with Elon over the years. Knowing Elon the way I know him, I do think he’s going to do everything he can to damage the president. He has been humiliated. Deep down, it’s over.”

… After announcing that he is leaving the Senate after his spat with Trump, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) gave a fiery speech denouncing his budget: “What do I tell 663,000 people in two years, three years, when President Trump breaks his promise by pushing them off of Medicaid because the funding's not there anymore? The people in the WH advising the president, they're not telling him that the effect of this bill is to break a promise he made.”

… WSJ Editorial Board: “A common feature of Donald Trump’s two terms as President is that he can’t stand political prosperity. When events are going in his direction, he has an uncanny habit of handing his opponents a sword. Even if Tillis had already been contemplating retirement, his withdrawal opens a seat that is another pickup opportunity for Democrats next year.”

… “The GOP has a 53-47 majority now, but Susan Collins always has a tough race in ME if she decides to run again. Dems are targeting Joni Ernst in IA. In the suicide-isn’t-painless department, TX AG Ken Paxton is challenging GOP incumbent Sen. John Cornyn. 00000

… “The GOP pickup opportunities are few, so with Tillis’s departure the Senate is in play for 2026. Oh, and on Saturday GOP Rep. Don Bacon said he won’t run for re-election in his swing Omaha seat. That’s a likely gain for Democrats in the House. GOP legislative reforms will have no chance if Dems take the House in 2026. And if they also take the Senate, forget about confirming another Supreme Court nominee. The Trump Presidency will be dead in the water.”

… Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who is also on his way out: “Sen. Tillis is one of the most effective and collegial members that I have ever served with in the Senate. His announcement is a big setback for the Senate and the Republican Conference. I want to thank him for his service in this institution representing the people of NC and our nation.”

… WRAL (NC): “Former Dem Gov. Roy Cooper, who has not lost an election since entering politics in 1987, was reported to have been considering challenging Tillis for the seat. Dem Wiley Nickel, a former congressman from Wake County, is in the race and has raised more than $2.4 million: “No matter which MAGA loyalist Trump hand-picks to run in NC, I’m the Democrat who’s ready to take them on and win. I’ve flipped a tough seat before and we’re going to do it again.”

… Sahil Kapur, NBC: “Senate votes 53-47 to adopt ‘current policy baseline’ to treat $3.8 trillion in Trump tax cut extensions as costing $0. Every Republican votes YES. This hasn’t been used before in filibuster-proof process to meet targets, and will change how future Senate majorities use it. If ‘current policy’ becomes the norm in reconciliation, one (very) hypothetical example of how Democrats could wield it: Pass a $10 trillion Medicare For All bill for 1 yr at a $1T sticker price and extend it permanently the next year at a $0 cost. All without nuking the filibuster.”

… WSJ’s Richard Rubin: “Republicans are waving a $3.8 trillion magic wand over their tax-and-spending megabill, declaring that their extensions of expiring tax cuts have no effect on the federal budget. Congress could create huge new programs, schedule them to expire and then declare any extensions to be free.”

… Congressional reporter Jamie Dupree: “If the new way to do things in the Senate is to just 'not ask the Parliamentarian' if it's legit under the rules, then what's to stop Democrats from adding everything from a ban on assault weapons to abortion rights to (fill in the blank) on a reconciliation bill?”

… Bobby Kogan, Center for American Progress: “For the first time, reconciliation will be used to enact huge permanent deficits, in violation of the Byrd rule. The method was the presiding officer just asserted there was no point of order, without consulting the parliamentarian, to pretend Republicans weren’t ignoring her. There is no going back from this.”

… Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA): “Republicans are nuking Senate rules to pass their disastrous, billionaire-first tax bill. The filibuster can’t only apply to Democrats and not to Republicans. We won’t forget.”

… Jordan Weissmann, Yahoo Finance: “Judging by Trump’s rhetoric and the bill’s wind and solar tax, stopping renewable development is now actually the core of the GOP’s energy policy. There’s very little of consequence otherwise, given the unlikelihood of serious permitting reforms.”

… Former Rep. Tom Malinowski: “Just absolute suicidal ideological insanity. 24% of our electricity comes from renewables. The fastest growing occupations in the US are solar and wind turbine technicians. Yet the Senate GOP slipped a tax into their bill designed to kill this industry, while subsidizing coal!”

… Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) on CNN: "In order to grow the American economy, we have to grow the electric grid. The best, cheapest and fastest way to do that is solar energy. In 2024, 90% of new electricity generation in the US was clean energy. 60% of it is solar. And Republicans are proposing to defund solar and battery storage and wind, which are the leading sources of new electricity generations in the US. It is an act of strategic self-sabotage."

… Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI) warned that we could all die in a nuclear war if the bill isn’t passed: “Failing to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act means no Golden Dome to protect the homeland.”

… Punchbowl: “The House will filter back into town tomorrow and Wednesday. The Freedom Caucus is already up in arms. The spending-cut-to-tax-cut ratio (from the Senate) is not what Speaker Johnson promised. Medicaid cuts harsher than House. SALT in tact. All sorts of problems that will make passing the bill this week very hard — albeit not impossible.”

… Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) to CBS: “Oh my God, I just want to go home. I've already my I've missed our entire trip to to the beach ... There's no drama that we know the votes are going to go. And I don't think it's really helpful to put people here till some ungodly hour.”

… Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) was asked by CNN about Fetterman’s comments: “I disagree. We should be here fighting for the American people. I don't care if it takes a month—if we have to stay straight through. So, I disagree with my colleague from Pennsylvania.”

… Former Fetterman aid Joe Calvello: “This bill is the biggest transfer of wealth from the working class to the 1% in history and Fetterman’s message to voters is that he just wants to go home.”

… One Democratic Senate aide to HuffPost reporter Igor Bobic: “Does Fetterman think his job is beach like Ken from Barbie?! He’s a United States Senator! You’re expected to work long hours and take hard votes."

… House Freedom Caucus posted: “The House budget framework was clear: no new deficit spending in the Bill. The Senate’s version adds $651 billion to the deficit — and that’s before interest costs, which nearly double the total. That’s not fiscal responsibility. It’s not what we agreed to. The Senate must make major changes and should at least be in the ballpark of compliance with the agreed upon House budget framework. Republicans must do better.”

… Freedom Caucus: “HERE ARE THE FACTS: The House bill added $72 billion to the deficit with interest costs included. The Senate version adds $1.3 trillion to the deficit. That’s 1,705% more. Even without interest costs, it is $651 billion over our agreed budget framework.”

… Musk then responded to Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris: “How can you call yourself the Freedom Caucus if you vote for a DEBT SLAVERY bill with the biggest debt ceiling increase in history?”

… But Trump posted that the Freedom Caucus members should learn to love massive debt because magically massive economic growth numbers in the future caused by his genius will take care of everything: “For all cost cutting Republicans, of which I am one, REMEMBER, you still have to get reelected. Don’t go too crazy! We will make it all up, times 10, with GROWTH, more than ever before.”

… Sen. Jim Justice (R-WV) to HuffPost: “We cannot cut into the bone. You're going to awaken to minority and at that point in time, a lot of great stuff that we put together is going to go up in smoke.”

… Former Treasury Sec Lawrence Summers: “We are making a debt sustainability crisis more likely with this bill. There is a surprising pattern that is remarkably robust in the data, it's one that I first noted almost 40 years ago, that the economy performed better when we have Democratic presidents than when we have Republican presidents. This kind of idea pushed by a Republican president is an important part of the reason why it's true.”

… Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) on Fox: “Two-thirds of the people in nursing homes are paid for with Medicaid. One-tenth of the veterans in the US are on Medicaid. There are 70 million Americans on Medicaid. The cuts have been reckless. You have to have a plan. You can’t just cut, cut, cut without having a plan.”

… Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) on Democrats striking the deal Thune made to get Murkowski’s vote to advance the bill by exempting AK from cuts: “Democrats challenged and successfully stripped a provision that would have significantly increased Medicaid funding to AK and HI. Someone needs to ask Sens. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) why they worked to cut billions in Medicaid funds not only for AK, but for HI also.”

… HuffPost’s Igor Bobic: “I did ask Hirono about this. She said it wasn't fair to other states that only Alaska and Hawaii got a carve out.”

… Right answer. That is the REAL ‘America First’.

… Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) to MSNBC: "The only people that matter to Republicans right now are corporate CEOs and billionaires. Everybody else doesn't matter. If you don't belong to Mar-a-Lago, you aren't a human being according to this version of the Republican Party. And that is deeply sad. This is the most deeply immoral piece of legislation I have ever voted on in my entire time in Congress.”

… Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA): "We are engaged in Robin Hood in reverse - this is socialism for the rich.”

… Mike Madrid of The Latino Vote podcast: “There’s little evidence that Latino voters are becoming more conservative or progressive BUT there’s plenty of evidence Latinos are becoming more populist. From Bernie Sanders to Donald Trump, Latinos are responding to anti-establishment populism against the system AND the parties. Latinos are the moderate voters in both parties. But what does that mean when the right-left spectrum is broken? It means Latino politics is more top vs bottom, outsider vs insider and have vs have not. That’s the future of American politics.”

… Financial Times: “The US dollar is headed for its worst first half of the year since 1973, as Trump’s trade and economic policies prompt global investors to rethink their exposure to the world’s dominant currency. The dollar index, which measures the currency’s strength against a basket of 6 others including the pound, euro and yen, has slumped more than 10% so far in 2025, the worst start to the year since the end of the gold-backed Bretton Woods system.”

… Francesco Pesole, strategist at multinational banking firm ING: “The dollar has become the whipping boy of Trump 2.0’s erratic policies. The president’s stop-start tariff war, the US’s vast borrowing needs and worries about the independence of the Federal Reserve had undermined the appeal of the dollar as a safe haven for investors.”

… Trump blamed AT&T today for his inability to get his phone to work on a conference call. He posted on Truth Social: ”I’m doing a major Conference Call with Faith Leaders from all over the Country, and AT&T is totally unable to make their equipment work properly. This is the second time it’s happened. If the Boss of AT&T, whoever that may be, could get involved - It would be good. There are tens of thousands of people on the line!”

… I don’t understand why they all couldn’t just pray about it. Or maybe speak in tongues.

… Also, imagine if Joe Biden said something like that after being unable to get the phone to work.

… Gallup: A record-low 58% of US adults say they are proud to be an American, down 9% from last year and 5% below the prior record-low in 2020.

… Fox host Maria Bartiromo: “Big news on the border from my interview President Trump. The WH is working on a ‘temporary pass’ for workers on farms and in hotels where they pay taxes but it's up to the farmer for a temporary pass even if they came into the country ‘incorrectly'.”

… In other words, Trump wants to let rich Republican-owned companies keep their migrant workers while also allowing employers to control whether workers get deported or not. Sounds like indentured servitude. Oh, and he also doesn’t call these migrants “illegal aliens” either. The people working for Republican businesses apparently just came here “incorrectly” and aren’t “criminals” like the rest.

… The last time he floated this, Stephen Miller and the MAGA faithful had a fit. We will see how this plays out when details are released.

… Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) doesn’t like it: “If we can have sanctuary farms, why not sanctuary factories? Bad policy begets more bad policy.”

… Deportation Czar Tom Homan outside the WH: “Q - A 75 year old Cuban national just died in ICE custody. He had lived in the US for 60 years. Is there anything you can tell us about that? HOMAN: "People die in ICE custody. People die in county jails. People die in state prisons."

… Lisa Tate, a 6th-generation farmer in Ventura County, CA to Reuters: “In the fields, I would say 70% of the workers are gone. If 70% of your workforce doesn’t show up, 70% of your crop doesn’t get picked and can go bad in one day. Most Americans don’t want to do this work. Most farmers here are barely breaking even. I fear this has created a tipping point where many will go bust.”

… “In the vast agricultural lands north of LA, 2 farmers, 2 field supervisors and 4 immigrant farmworkers told Reuters this month that the ICE raids have led a majority of workers to stop showing up. That means crops are not being picked and fruit and vegetables are rotting at peak harvest time. One farm supervisor was overseeing a field being prepared for planting strawberries last week. Usually he would have 300 workers, he said. On this day he had just 80. Another supervisor at a different farm said he usually has 80 workers in a field, but today just 17.”

… Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a Republican and former director of the CBO, said an estimated 80% of farmworkers in the US were foreign-born, with nearly half of them in the country illegally: “This is bad for supply chains, bad for the agricultural industry.”

… One farmworker: “If they show up to work, they don’t know if they will ever see their family again.”

… Another: “Basically, we wake up in the morning scared. We worry about the sun, the heat, and now a much bigger problem – many not returning home. I try not to get into trouble on the street. Now, whoever gets arrested for any reason gets deported.”

… NBC reporter Jacob Soboroff posted this photo today that was taken of ICE following a raid at a Home Depot in LA.

… Reuters: “President Trump is expected to attend the opening on Tuesday of a temporary migrant detention center in southern Florida dubbed ‘Alligator Alcatraz’. The step comes as Trump has sought to ramp up the detention and deportation of migrants. Trump will be accompanied by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who asked him to visit.”

… Immigration lawyer Aaron Reichlin-Melnick: “In his first term, Trump wanted to build an alligator-filled moat at the southern border and have migrants shot in the legs if they tried to cross, so it's no surprise he's excited to visit an alligator-themed detention tent camp.”

… Kviv Insider: “Donald Trump lifts some sanctions on Russia, allowing US transactions with sanctioned Russian banks — including Sberbank, VTB, and even the Central Bank. The Russia-backed Trump regime in the US lifted sanctions on several banks beneficially owned by the Putin-Kremlin crime syndicate. This will help Russia better finance its genocidal war of aggression against Ukraine.”

… GeoInsider: “US lifts several sanctions on Russia tied to civil nuclear energy. A new Treasury license issued June 27 allows transactions with major Russian banks including Gazprombank, Sberbank, and VTB to support foreign nuclear projects started before Nov 2024. Hungary’s €12B Paks-2 plant with Rosatom is expected to benefit directly.”

… NPR reported that Trump dropped his frivolous lawsuit against Iowa pollster Ann Seltzer. He claimed in the lawsuit that she rigged her poll days before the 2024 election in an attempt to suppress turnout by Republicans. Then he just meekly and quietly surrendered and dropped it today.

… Punchbowl reported that Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) looks like he is about to jump into the race against Sen. Jon Ossoff: “Last week,Collins met with James Blair, the WH deputy chief of staff. Collins said that while he made the trip to the WH to discuss a variety of topics, the GA Senate race did come up. Currently,the only two major contenders in the race are Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) and insurance commissioner John King.But neither of them is gaining much traction or building support.”

… Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA) announced today that he will not seek re-election. Evans is 71 years old and had a stroke last year.

… STAT News published a lengthy editorial on RFK Jr’s recent testimony before Congress. This is part of it:

“RFK Jr. is going after the publications that disseminate medical research. In a recent podcast, he warned that he might bar National Institutes of Health scientists from publishing their research in top medical journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of the AMA, and the Lancet. He claimed that these journals are ‘corrupt’ because the studies they publish are often funded by the pharmaceutical industry.

Kennedy is right that the dependence of medical research on pharmaceutical funding is a problem. But Kennedy’s actions as head of HHS - including his deep cuts to the NIH, and targeting of our best medical journals - will make that problem worse. Researchers must wean themselves almost entirely from drug company money. And they can do this only if they have a reliable alternative source of funding. If we want US scientists to rely less on pharmaceutical dollars, we must make more NIH or other governmental dollars available.

Rather than strengthening the NIH, however, Kennedy is dismantling it. Between Feb. 28 and March 28, the NIH terminated 780 grants or parts of grants. The Trump admin has fired 1,300 NIH employees and plans to cut about 40% of its budget. In 2023, Kennedy suggested that the NIH should stop funding research on infectious diseases altogether for 8 years, a statement he still has not disavowed. The result of these cuts will be unnecessary illness and death. They will also drive even more scientists into the arms of the pharmaceutical industry, further eroding the integrity of medical research.

Given the entirely predictable result of shifting research funding from the NIH to the private sector, Kennedy’s stated concerns about drug company-funded research ring hollow. Moreover, his solution - to require NIH scientists to publish their studies in newly created “in-house” journals - is nonsensical. What perverts the research isn’t the journal where it’s published; it’s the funding and other financial associations between researchers and industry. Indeed, the financial conflicts of interest permeating medical research make evaluation by skilled editors, such as those employed by the NEJM, and independent reviewers even more essential: Their job is to ferret out bad science. Readers rely on their expertise.”

… ProPublica: “In 2023, while Kristi Noem was governor of SD, she supplemented her income by secretly accepting a cut of the money she raised for a nonprofit that promotes her political career. In what experts described as a highly unusual arrangement, the nonprofit routed funds to a personal company of Noem’s that had recently been established in DE. The payment totaled $80,000 that year, a significant boost to her roughly $130,000 govt salary. Since the nonprofit is a so-called dark money group - one that’s not required to disclose the names of its donors - the original source of the money remains unknown.”

… “Noem then failed to disclose the $80,000 payment to the public. After Trump selected Noem to be his DHS secretary, she had to release a detailed accounting of her assets and sources of income from 2023 on. She did not include the income from the dark money group on her disclosure form, which experts called a likely violation of federal ethics requirements.”

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beardedmrbean · 19 days ago

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EXCLUSIVE: Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts is leading the charge with Democrat Sen. John Fetterman to codify oversight on foreign countries buying American farmland.

The bipartisan Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure (AFIDA) Improvements Act seeks to implement recommendations published by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in January 2024, which found the AFIDA was ill-equipped to combat foreign ownership of American agricultural land.

"Communist China is our greatest geopolitical threat," Ricketts told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview, adding, "This is a way for us to improve the disclosure that's going on with regard to the purchase of this agricultural land, so we can take other action if necessary to make sure we're not giving Communist China the opportunity to buy agricultural land."

The bill's proposal comes as two Chinese nationals – a University of Michigan post-doctoral research fellow, Yunqing Jian, and Huazhong University of Science and Technology student Chengxuan Han – were held in federal custody after they were accused of smuggling biological materials into the United States.

RICKETTS, FETTERMAN TEAM UP FOR CRACKDOWN ON CHINA'S ATTEMPTS TO PURCHASE US FARMLAND

The suspects have been charged with "smuggling a fungus that has been described as a "potential agroterrorism weapon" into the heartland of America, where they apparently intended to use a University of Michigan laboratory to further their scheme," interm U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Jerome Gorgon said in a statement.

The fungus causes a "head blight," described as a disease of wheat, maize, rice and barley, and is responsible for billions of dollars of economic losses throughout the world each year, according to the Department of Justice. If ingested by humans, the substance can cause vomiting, liver damage and "reproductive defects in humans and livestock."

Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News Digital that the Trump administration is focused on "keeping our homeland secure" through enhanced border screenings.

"Protecting America’s food supply and national security remains a top priority. Last week’s smuggling attempt by Chinese nationals of Fusarium graminearum, a dangerous crop-destroying fungus, posing a significant bioterrorism threat, only highlights this imperative to combat this threat," McLaughlin said.

"That could potentially be very damaging to agriculture," Ricketts told Fox News Digital. "We also know that Chinese nationals have been trying to steal our biotechnology with regard to agriculture. They've also been crashing gates of bases. Supposed Chinese tourists have been flying drones around bases. Of course, the Chinese flew a surveillance balloon over our country when the Biden administration just let that happen."

Ricketts said China has been aggressively buying American agriculture, "which is why we need to have a heightened sense of vigilance around protecting our homeland."

Foreign investors own over 40 million acres of agricultural land in the United States, and between 2010 and 2021, Chinese ownership of American agricultural land increased from 13,720 acres to 383,935 acres, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

"It's not just about the number of acres that they own, but the fact that they own it around Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota or Fort Liberty in North Carolina. They're buying it around sensitive military installations," Ricketts said.

The bill, also co-sponsored by Sens. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, John Cornyn of Texas, Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, requires AFIDA reporting for foreign persons holding more than 1% interest in American agricultural land.

The AFIDA Improvements Act aims to increase information-sharing between the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States and the USDA. It also requires updates to the AFIDA's handbook and establishes a deadline for USDA to set up an online AFIDA system.

Based on the GAO's recommendations, the bill seeks to update the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 to better equip the USDA to combat foreign adversaries’ ownership of American agricultural land.

"We are at the most dangerous point in our history right now since World War II," Ricketts said. "We have to be investing in our military. We have to be supporting our friends around the world that are pushing back on these dictators. Communist China is one of them."

Additionally, the bill comes as conflict in the Middle East reaches a boiling point between Iran and Israel, reigniting concerns about national security. Israel successfully coordinated attacks against Iran from inside the country, and Ricketts pointed to Ukraine's success in targeting a Russian air base.

"What Ukraine was able to do against Russia with their operation that destroyed some of their strategic bombers, and they placed trucks with drones close to an air base and had those drones attack their squadrons. We could be vulnerable to the same thing if China did that here. They've owned farmland close enough to our air bases to be able to launch a drone strike. That should be very concerning to us," Ricketts said.

Ricketts added that American farmland should not be a "tool that our adversaries, like Communist China, can use to attack us from inside our own country."

There has been little movement on the bill since it was just recently introduced. That is largely because Senate Republicans are narrowly focused on advancing Trump's "big, beautiful bill" ahead of a self-imposed July 4 deadline.

#nunyas news #fetterman continues to impress

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hornetstabber · 1 year ago

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the wendys thing is so funny because im fairly confident the only reason uber/lyft/whatever can get away with surge pricing is because if someone needs to get somewhere they can't just say fuck it and not get a ride, but if someone is just grabbing food there are already 10 million other options available almost everywhere at any time. like i very much can say "oh the baconator is 3 dollars more expensive than usual right now, fuck that i'll just eat somewhere else"

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januishstory · 4 months ago

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If you didn’t grow up in a family with a cook who taught you how to store bacon grease, it might seem like a foreign concept. We clean off all other pan drippings after cooking, so why save these? You're probably well aware of the superpowers of bacon fat, though. Many of our most popular dishes of 2024 feature bacon, and several of our fan-favorite million dollar recipes—named because they taste so rich and delicious—start by cooking bacon, reserving the meat for later, then employing some of the bacon grease to infuse even more flavor into the recipe’s next step. (Want to give this a try? Don’t miss our Million Dollar Tater Tot Casserole, Million Dollar Mashed Potatoes, or Million Dollar Dip.) Even if a portion of the bacon fat is utilized later in the recipe, all of it rarely is. And many times, we’re just cooking bacon for the strips themselves and don’t have any use for the grease immediately. Rather than discarding the extra grease that’s left in the pan, our Test Kitchen and the chefs we spoke to suggest tucking it away for later. Here’s how to store bacon grease, including one essential step that will make your bacon grease stay fresh for as long as possible. Then discover the best (and worst) ways to use bacon grease in brand-new creations. How to Cook Bacon to Be Able to Capture Its Grease Although some folks on social media demonstrate it, we don’t advise air-frying bacon, since the fat can splatter and build up on the interior of the appliance and may lead the machine to smoke. You can also hit the “easy” button and cook bacon in the microwave. However, we recommend doing so between two sheets of paper towel to keep the strips crispy and from splattering—and those towels soak up the fat. Our Test Kitchen has two preferred methods for how to cook bacon in a way that allows you to keep the grease: on the stovetop or in the oven. To cook bacon on the stove: Line a sheet pan foil and place the wire rack over the foil. Arrange bacon strips on the rack, being careful not to crowd the strips.Bake at 400° F for about 18 to 21 minutes, or until the bacon reaches your desired level of crispiness.Remove the rack and bacon from the pan, and allow the grease to cool for 3 minutes. To cook bacon in the oven: Line a plate with paper towels.Arrange bacon slices in an unheated skillet, being careful not to crowd the strips.Turn on a burner to medium, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until your desired doneness, using tongs to turn occasionally.Transfer the bacon to the prepared plate, and allow the grease to cool for 3 minutes. Use your crispy strips in your favorite bacon recipes (might we recommend Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole or Alice’s Spring Chicken?) and turn your attention to the liquid gold: our grease. Getty Images / VladK213 The No. 1 Step to Help Your Bacon Grease Stay Fresh For As Long As Possible While the bacon grease is warm, but not scorching hot, transfer it to a liquid measuring cup. Into your storage vessel of choice, pour the grease through a fine mesh strainer lined with a coffee filter or cheesecloth to capture any extra bacon bits. “If you don’t strain your bacon grease, it will cause the fat to turn rancid quicker than normal,” says Justin Harry, executive chef at TradeWinds Resort in St. Pete’s Beach, Florida. How to Store Bacon Grease The best place to store bacon grease is in a wide-mouthed mason jar or a glass food storage container with a lid, because “glass helps reduce the flavor absorption. Plus, it’s safer and easier to heat the bacon grease in the microwave later on, if you like,” says Sarah Brekke, M.S., Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen brand manager. Once you have your strained bacon grease in your glass storage container or jar, allow it to cool to room temperature, then press a layer of plastic wrap on top of the grease. Add the lid. While you can keep it on your counter, bacon grease will last much longer if you store your bacon grease in a fridge set to USDA’s safe refrigerator temp range of 32° to 40° F. “When you're using your grease, remove what you need for your recipe, then put it back into the fridge quickly. There is no need to let it soften first, just scoop it out,” suggests Jason Morse, the Highlands Ranch, Colorado-based chef-owner of Chef J BBQ Provisions and national spokesperson for Ace Hardware. “The more you soften and chill it again and again, the shorter the shelf life will be.” Can You Freeze Bacon Grease? You bet. Instead of straining your grease into a glass vessel, Harry recommends pouring it into a silicone ice cube tray. Freeze the grease until it is solid, then pop out the cubes and place them in a freezer-safe zip-top storage bag. Label with the name and date, and keep at or below 0° F, the USDA advises. How Long Does Bacon Grease Last When stored according to the recommendations above, bacon grease will last: On the counter: About 1 week In the refrigerator: About 3 monthsIn the freezer: 6 to 12 months How to Use Bacon Grease in Cooking (Plus a Few Recipes to Avoid) Think of bacon grease like lard’s smokier, statement-making cousin. Technically, you can use bacon grease in any recipe that calls for butter, oil, or shortening, Harry says. But it can be helpful to brainstorm dishes in which the rich flavor and smoky quality will be a delight rather than a drawback. “Avoid recipes where the bacon flavor would not mesh well,” Brekke notes. “Many desserts [like pastries or vanilla cake], seafood, stir-fries, or lighter-flavored items could get overpowered by the bacon flavor.” On the flip side, our chefs agree that these are some of the best uses for bacon grease: Use it to fry or scramble eggs Add it to biscuit dough or cornbread Try it to kick off a fried rice recipe Use it to fry chicken Melt it as the cooking fat for popcorn Employ it in soups like Copycat Zuppa Toscana Soup or Cheesy Beer and Bacon Soup Toss it with roasted potatoes Scoop some into a skillet to set the tone for sautéed vegetables Use it instead of butter to crisp up the exterior of your next grilled cheese Add it to refried beans Try it instead of butter or oil in roux Get adventurous and use it to replace a small portion of the butter in your next brownie or chocolate chip cookie recipe Source link

#HOME_DECOR #BACON #CHEFS #GREASE #STORE

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destinygoldenstar · 2 years ago

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(Context: Zane has died for the dozenth time, but this time he wrote a will and testament for his family)

Wu: As the master of Zane’s estate, I have been empowered to read Zane’s last will and testament.

Kai: Well get on with it, the bars open soon.

Jay: Oh poor Zane! 😭

Nya: There there Jay…

Lloyd: FSM, how predictably boring.

Cole: I’ve never worked for a kinder ninjroid.

Wu: If we are all seated, I shall proceed with the reading.

Lloyd: I knew it.

Kai: *snicker*

Wu: “I, Zane Julien, being of sound, mind, and body-“

Kai: That’s a laugh! 😆

Wu: “Do hereby divide up my considerable estate as follows: To my overly emotional brother Jay-“

Jay: 😭

Nya: Jay dear, he’s talking about us.

Jay: Oh.

Wu: “Who grubbed with his girlfriend Nya, grubbed for everything they could get from me and then cried crocodile tears when I needed sympathy…”

Jay: What?

Wu: “To Jay, I leave… A BOOT TO THE HEAD.”

Jay: A WHAT-?!

🥾

Jay: OW!!

Nya: Jay, are you okay?!

Wu: “And another boot to his wimpy girlfriend Nya.”

🥾

Nya: OW!

Kai: 😂

Jay: This is an outrage!

Wu: “Ah, but still, you are my friend. You’ve both admired my veichle collection and since I no longer need it-“

Jay: Oh, Zane! He’s too kind!

Wu: “I bequeath, ANOTHER boot to the head.”

Jay: Wha-?!

🥾

Kai: 😂

Wu: “And one more for the girl.”

🥾

Nya: OW!

Wu: “Next to my hot headed brother…”

Kai: Hey I don’t want no boot to the head!

Wu: “To dear Kai whose never chilled a day in his depressing life-“

Kai: I’m covering up my head!

Wu: “I leave my wine cellar and three crates of the finest bacon.”

Kai: …really?

Wu: “And a boot to the head.”

🥾

Wu: “And another for Jay and the girl.”

🥾

Wu: “Next, to my know it all brother Lloyd-“

Lloyd: This is so predictable.

Wu: "-I leave a boot to the head."

🥾

Lloyd: I knew it...

Wu: "And one for Jay and the girl."

🥾

Wu: "And now to Cole..."

Cole: Wha-?! I-I don't want nothing...

Wu: "Who took care of me faithfully these many, many years, who cared, made me laugh, shared some cake..."

Cole: Aw! I didn't mind!

Wu: "To Cole, I bequeath... a boot to the head."

🥾

Wu: "And one for Jay and the girl."

🥾

Wu: "And so, to my falcon companion, I leave my entire vast-boot to the head."

🥾

Wu: "And finally, to my sensei who has helped me on this will, I leave not a boot to the head, but a rabid ice devil to be placed in his trousers-?!"

❄️

Wu: 🥶UGH OH HAH HAH HAH And-and-"And I leave my entire estate of ten million dollars to the Formlings so they can afford to live somewhere warmer!"

Nya: ...is that it?

Lloyd: That's it?

Kai: That's disgraceful!

Wu: There's one last thing for everyone... 😓

Kai: Cover your heads everybody!

Wu: "I leave everyone a lifetime supply of ice cream."

Nya: ...ice cream?

Kai: Ice cream?

Lloyd: Ice cream? That's all?

Wu: That's all.

Cole: But what flavor is it?

Wu: BOOT TO THE HEAD!

🥾

Based on The Frantic's "Boot To The Head" skit. I replaced some of the dialogue to make sense for the Ninjago world and characters. Look up the original skit, it's one of my favorites.

I have to wonder, if you've died multiple times and always came back, what would do to take advantage of that? Would you too troll your family?

#ninjago #ninjago zane #zane julien #ninjago wu #ninjago jay #jay walker #ninjago nya #nya smith #nya jiang #ninjago kai #kai jiang #kai smith #ninjago lloyd #lloyd garmadon #ninjago cole #cole brookstone #boot to the head

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dearabby1990 · 9 months ago

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Chapter 48: Friendly Free day

The sound of the alarm is what wakes you from your peaceful sleep after you smack the snooze button all you’re met with is the sound of the beautiful birds & ocean outside but notice you feel something missing. Rolling over you notice your husband isn’t in bed so sitting up & slipping into your fuzzy slippers you start to poke your head around to see where he could’ve went off to. Nowhere to be found you start to worry just as your getting ready to get dressed & look for him you hear the door unlocking & in enters your gorgeous husband with a few platters of food & that million dollar smile “mornin sunshine got us some breakfast I was hoping you get back before you got up but seeing your gorgeous face waiting at the door is way better anyway” you smile “you scared me you ass hat I rolled over & looked around & poof gone I should beat you but you have food so that’s a start” he chuckles “you love me too much to hurt me princess besides I have your favorite”. Both of you sitting down in the kitchen area opening your containers to see French toast & bacon you haven’t felt so hungry in your life Eddie seems to have ordered the same you both dig into your food enjoying every bite “I’m surprised you haven’t been getting sick or anything or have you?” Shaking your head “nah just get sleepy sometimes & really hungry other then that I’ve been fine” “hmm maybe that’s a good thing” “maybe we’ll check on everything when we get home”. You both are getting ready & you’ve handed Eddie the passes him & the guys need to go do their water activities. “You’re gonna have so much fun baby I want you to have a ball I know we will in our own way im taking them down to the beach I got the three of them boogie boards & when they’re all done we’re gonna go get dinner & ice cream you guys don’t forget your reservation at the pub is at 7pm don’t be late the address is in the envelope I gave you I love you so much have fun & we’ll meet at the arcade at 10” “thank you princess you’re amazing I love you too & okay 10 sharp you got it” a swat to your ass & wink as he finishes getting dressed & you pack a beach bag for you & the boys Eddie’s out the door & you have a little time to kill. Deciding on just going to check on the boys you grab all your beach gear & head out the door. Heading to Gareth’s room you hear the sound of muffled bickering upon approaching the door you could hear more clearly it was your three favorite knuckleheads having some sort of discussion. Dustin is who you hear first with your arrival outside their door “It’s not stupid!! She could really use this I didn’t see you two idiots have anything bright to say when it came time to pick something besides do you have something better?!” Mike buts in “No but I can guarantee you whatever I do get them is better then whatever the hell that’s even supposed to be!” “Yeah what the hell even is that?! It looked like a dyed potato sack” Lucas added you’re full on laughing while knocking on the door “let me in boys I need to go to the bathroom already!” You hear them all bumbling over each other to the door as it swings open and all three of them are smiling at you helping you in. “What the heck are you all arguing about? Hold that thought I’ll be right back”. Dustin looks at Mike & Lucas “she must’ve heard us” “no way we’re weren’t that loud were we?” You come out of the restroom “you are all extremely loud but that’s okay” you chuckle “now what’s the dilemma?” Dustin steps forward with his head low & face red “uh we all kinda want to get the baby something but they were saying what I picked was stupid” you furrow your brows “I doubt it’s stupid dustin you’re one of the most thoughtful people I know” you Pat his shoulder giving him some reassurance before he hands you a small yellow gift bag looking inside you pull out the fabric to inspect your gift he’s so sweet a baby carrier tie dyed in pastel colors with straps to adjust to your chest your heart warms at the gesture “thank you i love it it’s definitely going to come in handy when I’m busy & my hands are full” you give him a hug.

“what exactly is it?” Mike asks “it’s a baby carrier see these two little holes they’re for the babies legs & I strap it to my chest so the baby is secure & I have my hands free to do other stuff i need to get done” Mike & Lucas stare at each other & shake their heads in understanding as you finish packing up the wagon full of beach supplies & lunch for you all. “Okay guys we have sandwiches chips sodas & mini brownies packed for lunch we’ll figure dinner out later after we come back & change now let’s get going one of you please pull the wagon & I got you guys boogie boards to go out and play in the water & a beach ball & football just in case now let’s get movin” Lucas runs to grab the wagon as dustin & Mike take turns opening doors on your way outside. Traveling down to your cabana rental you set up everyone’s towels & begin setting up lunch for everyone “okay guys we’re gonna eat but no water for at least 30 minutes so you guys can play on the sand or something for awhile after that go wild but not before I apply sunblock “Yes Mom” Mike says while snickering “Hey watch it wheeler I may be pregnant but I’ll still put you in a headlock & kick your butt I’m not that damn old I’m only 21” they all giggle as you set up lunch on a picnic blanket & set up everyone’s towels in the cabana on their chairs “okay guys let’s dig in me & the baby are starving” you all enjoy playful conversation picking on each other & laughing until Mike & Lucas offer to clean up the lunch mess leaving you sitting with Dustin relaxing in the sun “so???.. how’s everything been? I feel like we don’t get a lot of brother sister time I wanted to check in” “just worried about what high school is gonna be like with half of hellfire gone we’re probably gonna end up in the trash can or a locker since Eddie’s gone now” your eyes soften at his statement “dustin if I tell you a secret do you promise not to tell a soul?” He nods “yeah I swear!” “Eddie is passing his torch to you in the realm that is Hawkins high so it’s up to you to carry the legacy & find someone that has what it takes to keep it going of course when you guys play at my place he’s got his old position but it’s all up to you now & you’re gonna have an amazing experience dustin I promise you & anyone who messes with my little brother has to go through me & you know they’d have to get through Eddie first” you both laugh “you really are the best you know that?” You shake your head “ nah I just protect the ones I love & care about & always will” “that’s what makes you the best” with that he pulls you into a side hug & you squeeze him back just as the boys get back from throwing out the trash. “Okay boys go have fun no water for 25 minutes got it?! I’ve been counting!!” You yell as they take off with the beach ball playing with it at the volleyball net making you chuckle as you put on your sunglasses & noticed you forgot something “hey sunblock now get back here you three!” The whine & complain the entire time especially when you get to their faces “oh come on the nose really I’m gonna look like a ducks dork” “come down dweeb you’ll live now go have fun gilligan” Mike huffs as they walk off back to where they previously were while you pull out your book & lay back relaxing & getting lost in the story. After about an hour of the boys playing at the volleyball net they ran back to the cabana to get something to drink & grab their boogie boards Lucas turns to you “hey Jamie wanna goto the water with us?” “Sure bud just give me a second I’ll catch up go ahead” they nod walking across the hot sand your just in your bathing suit now really seeing your belly in your two piece now that there isn’t a shirt covering it you start to feel gross trying to hide it as you walk up to the boys & Mike notices how uncomfortable you look & his face softens at your body language “hey you okay?” “Uh yeah I think?” He comes over to you wrapping you in a hug as you get a bit emotional

“I’m sorry guys I’m a party pooper” “no you’re not” says Lucas Mike squeezes a little tighter “& you don’t have to cover yourself pregnant or not you’re absolutely gorgeous even when you don’t try I wouldn’t lie to you now come on let’s go have fun yeah?” You nod & all walk dipping your toes in the crystal blue water “it’s so beautiful here” as you finish you see something off in the distance & when you realize what it is you start to lose it full belly laughing “what the hell are you alright?” You pointed upwards & when they turn to see what you’re looking at in the distance is a small white boat gliding across the ocean pulling Eddie & gareth on a parasail & you all laugh together & wave trying to get their attention eventually they see you all & wave back “that looks crazy I don’t know if I’d do that I’m scared of sharks” “yeah me too” says dustin & Lucas “maybe next time guys when I’m not with child” you giggle the boys go off playing burning up all their energy against the waves until you all head back to pack up & get changed “that was so fun I hope we can do another beach day before we leave” mikes still a bit hyper tugging the wagon along “oh most definitely we’re gonna do that our last day here but let’s get back get changed & figure out what we’re doing for dinner” the boys nodded while you all made your way back to the hotel. Entering your room you throw your wet bathing suit in the dirty laundry & step into the shower to rid yourself of any sand or salt water left behind from today’s activities stepping out into a fluffy towel & going through your luggage pulling out one of the sundresses Eddie picked out for you all black with silver straps & a pair of black wedges leaving your hair down opting out to just blow drying it & putting a beautiful Cherokee rose hair clip in your hair. Spraying on a bit of perfume as you her a quiet knock at the door. Grabbing your bag you open the door to all three boys dressed very nicely is button up short sleeve shirts & nice slacks their hair neatly done & noticing that they all put on cologne of some sort Lucas is the first to speak “Good evening mam we’re here to escort you to dinner” you giggle “why thank you gentlemen lead the way” heading out you decided to let the boys pick little did you know they went ahead & made a surprise reservation Mike walks to the waitstaff “Excuse me we have a reservation for wheeler/Sinclair/Henderson” you’re laughing & dustin turns to you “what? We couldn’t decide what name to leave it under so we just all did” “it’s fine I think it’s adorable” leading to the table mike pulls out your chair & helps push you to the table “well we did one of those present 5 course things” your were extremely thankful beings you’re starving again already “thank you boys this is very sweet of you” “no thank you for bringing us with & letting us all have an adventure together” Lucas adds drinks come to the table & dustin raises his glass “to family no matter how close or how far the bonds we forged are unbreakable & the love we have for each other is infinite” “here here” the boys along with you raised your glasses with Dustin’s as you begin to get emotional “to family”.

#eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x you #joseph quinn #joseph quinn x reader #eddie munson #stranger things fanfic

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