#not a very good way to add to a day where i alr nearly had a panic attack

[failure--girl]

hii!! unfortunately, i got my old failure girl blog removed (not my sideblogs thankfully) so im gonna tag as many moots as i can remember rn in hopes of being able to reach you all again!!

@the-real-loser-otaku-girl @tenshidere @femkel @whiteandorangered @oshidorifuufu @strawb-bong @devoted--angel @fishii28 @toxetta @tenshi-net @imsooooooootired @angelchiko @aeolitaire @b3stg0r3b3stg1rl

soo sorry if this is considered annoying (⁠╥⁠﹏⁠╥⁠)

[winterwhisperz-blog]

Hey me again ☾ ! Hope you're still up for asks cause I really like your writing & I got some ideas >:) (the obsession with this game is real yo). Do you think you could write something with a MC who enjoys cooking and testing recipes + making the LI taste their dish please ? 👀👉🏽👈🏽

We know Vere likes cooking too so maybe some interactions with him would be cute (Him and MC being an absolute menace in the kitchen but still managing to make a tasty meal bwahaha).

Thanks & have a great day <3

This came exactly at the right time— BRO THE WRITING SLUMP IVE BEEN IN?? Siiigh, it’s been tragic. (Also I get the brain rot, the hold this game has is crazy) also i’m so happy you like my writing 😭 and I hope you have a great day too !!

NOW

this did take me awhile because uHHHHH I don’t know anything about food. When I do remember to eat it’s usually cottage cheese and chocolate (not together, obviously- I’m not crazy 🥺)

SO

Here was my plan okay

I have a huge map in my room and I stared at it like this: 🧍🏻‍♀️ and picked about 17? Countries and put them in a spinning wheel. I chose a TS LI and then span said wheel—and whatever it lands on, MC a makes a dish inspired by the meals there (does that make sense ??)

I might’ve made it too complicated but it was fun-

Warnings: None, vere is just vere. Very possibly ooc, creative liberty.

Notes: Fluff, GN mc. Not proofread and finished at 1 am.

LES START WITH AIS

Ais(Boeuf bourguignon (Beef burgundy)

ALR SO, this was originally Vere’s, but I was having creative difficulties—so I changed this to Ais’. This dish is from France!

So, this one, I think Ais is already hanging out with you (he’s lonely ): )

He’s been having a ROUGH time okay, and so you decide to try out a new recipe on him

One you think he’d like.

Instantly, this man is sauntering into your kitchen, hugging you from the back as he watches what you’re doing. He’s quiet for the most part, just curious as you mix and add ingredients.

He snatches a few as well, and you let him until you’re going to be short on ingredients.

As you stop his hand from picking a chopped carrot, he looks nearly comparable to a scolded dog that was caught counter-surfing.

“Wait just a moment, I’m making this for you, you know.”

Smirking, he reaches for the carrot again. “Ah, should be allowed this then,”

As you swat you wooden spoon at his knuckles, he quickly steals one last carrot before offering his hands up in surrender.

You banish him to the counter, where he returns to watching, (he’s the pretty girlfriend that sits on the counter as you cook omg)

Once you’ve finished, you serve the red stew along with some boiled potatoes, placing it in front of the ever so patient Ais (who definitely didn’t find a way to sneak a bit more snacking in)

You eat in silence for awhile, before you notice how Ais’ eyes keep flickering to you. A brow furrowed.

“Something wrong? Does it taste funny? I thought I followed the recipe—“

He lightly shakes his head, swallowing a mouthful of the stew.

“No, not that. It’s…good, really good.”

“Then what’s the matter?”

He draws a hand over his chin, pondering his words. Or, deciding whether or not to say something. “There a reason you made it for me?”

You didn’t expect him to catch on. You commonly make things for him, for everyone, really. But today was different. Special. You had been noticing the drop in Ais’ mood, the added weight to his steps and the tiredness in his eyes. You made this in hopes to cheer him up, but also to see if it’d get him to talk about what was bothering him.

“You’ve just…you look like you’ve been having a bad day.”

He lapses back into silence, chewing on another spoonful. “I don’t want you to think you need to take care of me.”

You freeze, readying a retort before he continues.

“But…thank you.”

You stir your stew, swallowing. “You’re welcome.”

Another silence, before Ais chuckles. “Stew could’ve used more carrots though.”

WEEEEEEEEEE

He’s such a brat, I love him.

ALR, Now unto Leander !

Leander/Kjøttkaker (Meatballs) sided with Brunost(Brown cheese)

Alright, Leander got Norway. I was originally just going to go for meatballs, but then I saw this brown cheese ?? And though it’s not cheese cheese, I thought it’d be fun since Leander likes cheese platters.

You’ve been feeling rather ambitious lately, and decide to take on your biggest task yet: cooking for all the bloodhounds.

It didn’t seem like a bad idea, since you’ve always loved cooking for people. But it’s already proving to be a harder task than anticipated, as Eridia certainly doesn’t seem to be the home of the freshest ingredients.

One morning searching through rotten vegetables was enough to get you discouraged. You managed to find scraps of fresh-enough spices, but if you wanted more, it would come down to stealing from one of the richer streets. And you definitely weren’t in the mood for that today.

All you really wanted to do was take a bath and get that rotten smell off you.

Popping your back, you sigh before stepping into the bar, avoiding the bustle of the bloodhounds as you make for the stairs.

“MC!”

Turning around, you spot Leander, waving at you from the bar-counter. And that’s when you see crates of crates of vegetables, milk, cheese, and meat. Stunned, you walk over, fingers picking through the vegetables—they’re fresh, fresher than you expected from this place. And the meat, milk, cheese—

“How did you?—“

You had told Leander you wanted to make dinner tonight, before you left- you didn’t expect him to go looking for ingredients.

“—how did you get all these?” You finish, picking up a jar of pearly white milk.

Leander only smiles, leaning forward on the counter. “I know somebody. Will these be enough?”

Avoiding the truth, you had grown to expect that from him. If you had more energy you would’ve prodded. Instead, you put down the milk and run a bandaged hand across your face. “Yeah, I think so—well,” you glance around at the full tables of bloodhounds, all probably starved from work and life down in low-town. At your furrowing brows, Leander straightens, looking ready to March back out the door and come back with another crate.

“No, never mind. This is perfect, thank you.”

Thankfully, it was enough to manage. And with Leander’s help, you were able to go up to bathe as he watched over the food. To reward him, you decide to also make brown cheese. And though it’s not cheese cheese, it was enough to get Leander’s face to light up. Especially when he managed to convince you to unwrap your bandages and feed him a slice or two.

Though, you’re still rather confused on where he got everything 🤨 and why he didn’t get you earlier so you could’ve avoided searching through rotten veggies. Thankfully, your hard work also came with the entire bloodhounds seeing you as some holy entity after finishing dinner.

Kuras: Cōng yóubǐng (Scallion Pancake)

Kuras got China, and with this one—I was able to find a few videos on it. And now I want to eat it—though I cannot cook whatsoever <333

So so so so, with this one, I imagine you get the idea because like…people have brought this up before—but does Kuras even like…eat? Do angels…need to eat?

And maybe you notice how very little, or not at all he seems to eat. And how much he just -works- and goes off into places you can’t follow and comes back from the wastelands. Does he even sleep either?

So one day, you decide to make something for him. You’ve made things for others before, your friends, maybe family, before things went wrong. You don’t really know why you hadn’t made him anything before. But hey! Now’s better than never.

You settle on something not too filling, and something he could snack on during the day. Something he could take out to eat in between patients and with him wherever he goes and refuses to tell you.

Scallion pancakes. You wake up earlier than usual to make them, once finished, instantly rushing over to his clinic so they’re still warm when he eats them. The early morning sends a chill down your cheeks—shivering, you wrap the swathe of cloth holding the pancakes into your cloak, praying it doesn’t get cold.

You narrowly miss a patient exiting the door, looking dull and tired. You nod your head in acknowledgment before rushing inside. “Kuras?”

You find him in the process on shutting the door, golden eyes widening slightly in shock before softening. “MC, are you well?”

You nod, unraveling your cloak to reveal the swathe of cloth. “I…uh, made you breakfast.” Holding it out to him, you watch as his expression turns mildly perplexed. Warm hands closing over yours as he slowly takes it from you.

Like it’s some kind of curious artifact, he unwraps the cloth and stares at the stack of flakey pancakes. He lifts it to his nose, taking a few sniffs. Humming, he then gives you a small smile.

“It smells delicious.”

He then doesn’t eat it, instead, the silence stretches on as the two of you stand there. After a few moments, you awkwardly shift on your feet.

“Is there something the matter?” Kuras asks, tilting his head.

“I didn’t poison it, or anything,” You say, gesturing to the stack.

He lets out a small, quiet chuckle. “I would hope not.”

“So uhm…you can eat it.”

blinking, Kuras raises a brow, golden eyes piercing the dim light of morning. “Eat it?”

You nod, feeling more confused. He recovers quickly, slowly putting it to his mouth. Then someone sneezes behind you and you whip around to see a patient, red-eyed and sniffling.

By the time you turn back, Kuras is wrapping the pancakes back up. “I’ll be right with you,” he says, giving you a nod as his hand comes to your shoulder. “Thank you for bringing me Breakfast—are you in need of anything else?”

You blink, feeling a little frustrated. “No, that was all.”

Though it didn’t go as planned, later that day when hanging out with Ais, you hear about how when he was helping around the clinic, Kuras would take a few bites of a stack of some kind of garlic-smelling pastries.

You would receive a thank you note also requesting another stack the following day.

Mhin: Vitumbua (coconut rice pancakes)

Mhin, got Tanzania :D and with this, I wanted to find something still sweet since they like desserts! Thus, Vitumbua! Also these look so good, I want them so bad )): (I also wanted to add that there’s different kinds of these !! Made in different countries with different names and such, these are just specifically Tanzanian coconut rice pancakes.)

Also I apologize if this time around I seem more scattered-this writing slump is eating me alive 🤗

Okay okay, this one actually makes me so happy cause I think it’s cute- these are also kinda pancakes—and you made them for Mhin to take with them on their patrols.

Every moment making you think of them more.

How they’re doing, if they got enough sleep, if they’re even sleeping and not out killing soulless. You hope that somehow, these make things easier for them. And remind them how much you care. Especially since you’re losing sleep baking for them.

Once the heavy dark night is lifted into a sulking grey, you stack the rice pancakes into a box and head for outside.

Before Mhin can leave, you catch them, offering the cute little box, wrapped with bow and all. You had been up all night baking them, along with a caramel sauce to top it all off.

“What is this?” They ask, tentatively reaching for the box.

You scrub at your eyes, trying not to yawn. “Just a little something warm to remind you of me~” You sing-song, wiggling your brows at them. Chuckling as a blush skates across their pale face.

“I don’t…need anything,” they mutter, glancing away. Shy rays of morning light casting shadows over their features.

“Of course you don’t, but I thought you’d like it anyway.”

Grumbling, they hide the box in their cloak. “…Thanks.”

You cup a hand over your ear, humming. “Huh, what was that?”

“I said…thanks.”

“Hmm, sorry, seems something is plugging my ears!”

They clear their throat, “I said—“ they stop, eyes narrowing. “Don’t press your luck.”

Laughing, you fold your arms, trying to ignore the chill. “Alright, alright. If you end up wanting more, come get me okay? I can show you how to make them.”

They open their mouth, evidently going to ask what ‘them’ are, but you’re already heading back, stretching your arms over your head in a loud yawn. “Have fun on your patrol, say hi to the kitties for me!”

Once you’ve left, Mhin gives the box one more curious look before peeling open the lid. Inside, are ten golden, round pastries resting alongside a jar of bronze sauce.

Gingerly lifting one with their fingers, they take a slow bite. The chilly air of the dreary morning melting in a blooming sweetness. Swallowing, they feel a blush creep over their neck.

You were right, they really were warm.

Somehow, even when killing soulless, or after an annoying, unwanted conversation with Vere, one bite of the rice pancakes made them feel a bit lighter.

And, though they would never admit it, it reminded them of you.

Vere(Spaghetti/Caprese Salad)

So like I said with Ais, this was originally his— but I switched them. These dishes are from Italy!

Okay okay, so something I think would be really cute is Vere not only tasting your new recipes, but helping you to prepare it

Like for spaghetti sauce, maybe you prefer to peel your tomatoes first, and Vere, who was on his way to annoy you, caught the curious smell of fresh vegetables, (or fruit, since uhhh tomatoes) and spots you carefully peeling the ruby skin

Your face is locked in concentration, unknowingly sticking out your tongue as you gingerly avoid cutting your fingers.

It’s such a goofy expression Vere can’t help but stare at you with a hand covering his chuckles—until of course, he can’t resist the urge to scare the crap out of u 😇

Too caught in your work to notice anything amiss, Vere skulks closer until peering over your shoulder, lightly grazing his jaw over the side of your neck. He opens his mouth to whisper something in your ear but—

Taken by surprise, you yelp, squeezing the life out of the tomato you were peeling. It explodes over the both of you, shooting it’s guts very impolitely across your faces.

Vere reels back, a hiss of disgust escaping his lips as he blindly searches for something to clean the tomato remains off his face. He reaches for you and you swat him away.

“Idiot,” He seethes, finding an abandoned wash cloth.

“You were the one that scared me!”

“Still jumpy, hmm? I don’t know how you’ve lasted so long in this pig sty.”

Flicking tomato off your face, you snatch the wash cloth from his fingers. “With you constantly breathing down my neck? It’s a mystery to me too.”

Though you sound irritated, your hands still carefully reach for his face, gently wiping away the spots he missed. When he flinches, you soften your expression. “I forgive you. Come on, you got some on your neck.”

Slowly, but softly, Vere relaxes, though he still watches you with that same confused look he gives every time you offer affection.

It doesn’t take long for his fingers to caress your cheeks, sweeping off the tomato juice and then licking it off his fingers. Eyes taking on a devilish glint.

Hand it to Vere for making cleaning tomato guts off your face seem sensual

Eventually though, you do return to cooking. Vere helping you with peeling, chopping up basil, (sneaking extra spices into the sauce) and stirring the noodles.

Once everything is made, including an extra salad, you find a secluded spot to eat everything. Vere’s eyes watching your face the entire time.

“Do I still have tomato guts somewhere?” You ask, lifting a hand to check your cheeks.

Vere props his chin on his palm. “Did you know you stick your tongue out when you’re focusing?”

“I do not.”

“It’s so cute,”

“You’re just making stuff up so you can make fun of me.”

“I don’t have to make things up to do that, sweetheart.”

You toss your napkin at his face.

————-

Alr, we have reached the end. I am, so so sorry for taking two thousand centuries. Again, thank you so so much for the ask <3 though I took forever, these were fun !!

I hope you take a really good nap, eat your favorite snack, and try something new !! (Also you should totally search these dishes up, they all look so good !!)

[beautifulpersonpeach]

Repost: Ask on What I Think About Jimin

Anonymous: What do you actually think about Jimin? You know the things his fans say and his antis say but is there truth to that for you? IMO his fans worship him too much and every single anti I've seen of him is just plain stupid. I mean actually unintelligent even that SP and Y-S account on Tumblr.

*

Hi anon, I promised I’d get to your Jimin question so here we go.

For a long time I actually didn’t like Jimin. I mean, I didn’t hate him, but there was a period where people would talk about him all. the. time. I’m Hobi-biased and J-Hope was known as the dancer before BTS, but whenever they performed, everybody would be talking about Jimin. I know how this sounds and I get it, I think Jimin’s a really strong dancer and I truly prefer the way he interprets music, but it just got so much, you know? Jimin would be interviewed separate from the group during the Blood, Sweat & Tears mania because he was so good, when he mentioned during one Festa (I think 2015, ‘16, or ‘17) that he wanted to work more with the rapline cause he’s eager to try out something solo, I didn’t really react but I noted some people didn’t like that. Now he never really talks about solo work but I’m not sure if he’s not considering it at all. There were times he gave off this ‘proud gay’ energy that was too conspicuous to not be deliberate and I couldn’t tell if it was genuine, and something about that ticked me off at first. Basically I didn’t hate him, but just in terms of trending he was breaking records almost every month on Twitter at one point. I kinda saw what the hype was about but didn’t see the need to add to it, especially as I felt the rapline are the bedrock for BTS’s music anyways. Also this was the time taekookers were getting more and more unhinged with their theories, and because they are the biggest shippers in the fandom, a lot of their theories for the boys’ personalities and motivations sort of bled into the fandom and people started repeating it almost blindly. When Jungkook published GCF in Tokyo, one of the biggest anti accounts on Youtube for Jimin, Taekook Lives, started her channel literally 2 days later and every single video from that channel for about six months was about trying to debunk the video, about Jimin’s “weird” personality, about Jungkook’s dependency and mistreatment of Taehyung, about Big Hit using jikook to both hurt and protect Taehyung. I noticed these ideas in one form or the other flow into even non-shippers opinions of the boys and while I didn’t really ‘believe’ any of it, I didn’t really question it or call it out either.

To be very honest, that was me.

Now, I think Jimin is the most interesting person in BTS. I don’t always feel inclined to figure out why or how (I’ve got my hands full with three rappers), but I do think he’s far more calculating than people give him credit for, but I don’t get the sense it’s in a malicious or nefarious way. Just like he knows how to read people, makes mental notes and then acts a certain way that gets the point across to people who need to get it. I’m nearly certain Yoongi respects him and that was one of the first things that made me do a double take. For RM to straight up say Jimin is the person who most understands him, was another one, especially because I think Jimin had to sort of win him over (they all had very big egos at the beginning). In that group, J-HOPE is a classic Type A and he actually has very strong opinions and can be pretty severe. But Hobi would keep bringing up Jimin’s name unprompted, more than a few times it was clear Hobi would rely often on Yoongi and Jimin - I think this was due to their positions (the other two rappers and main dancers but I think there was a personal element to this too). While Taehyung has basically had a man-crush on Hobi since debut, with Jimin their friendship just seemed like a given.

Basically, 

when you consider how Jimin was the last to join the group, after the other six had already spent at least a year together bonding and engaging in the sort of skinship that typically helps lower barriers and create some sense of intimacy, and Jimin joined only some months before they had to debut and somehow gained their confidence such that at least half of the members advocated for him to debut; 

that he had to assert himself many times because at first they were very young, they had egos swinging around in a notoriously hierarchal system, what people then called attention-seeking, I now see it as him asserting himself and actively participating where he wanted to

that he situated himself so intimately in the group that all his ships are some of the most dominant, 

and that his artistic contributions can stand on their own. 

I have a more positive view of him now and know he’s deliberate about how and what he communicates. There are things he says about himself that I dismissed before as insecurity or self-destructive tendencies, I see in a very different way now, partly because I started paying more attention to him (not because I’m looking for something to criticize) and because I grew up and became more educated on how some things are expressed in different people. I recognize a lot of what he says especially when you hear how he says it in Korean. There’s another artist I really like and I’ve mentioned here before: Tyler Joseph, who makes a lot of music about it. Most people are put off by it, but the fact Jimin is able to communicate it so well, is something I unequivocally respect. What his antis perceive to be weakness, I see as something else entirely.

Many things he does or says when I go back to them and consider what else is happening at that time, it seems more interesting. I do have some opinions on what he’s like right now i.e. his social media habits, etc, but I’ll hold off on that for now. 

This is all I’d like to say about Jimin now.

Originally posted: January 22nd, 2022 3:01am

[ikenbar]

Mr. Love: Ike’s Choice CH4 PT8

aaaand we back in the angst. Don’t worry about sitting pretty in it tho. expect those fluffy moments to hit soon B)

Warnings: Angst, heated arguments, talk of death; explosions; and harsh flashbacks, big swear for the swear jar, mad twists, Adri being an OG, the thickening of some epic plot, and a cliffhanger leaving you begging for more >:D

(Chapter Four (Victor and Gavin) Prologue, and part one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven can be found here!)

Please read the author’s note (and the beginning of the story) on chapter one part one if you’re new here :D

And an additional note in a previous part of chapter four part three here! (I promise these notes are important)

Chapter four:

Part eight:

Victor leaned back, clearly thrown off guard by my words. I sat up straight and pulled my hands from Victor’s. “I need to get back to work.” I said, moving to stand. Victor, coming to his senses, quickly stood and pushed me back down.

“No, you’re not.” He boomed, standing over me, giving me no space to try and stand again, “And we are going to the police after work.”

“No, I’m not!” I said with the same determination before. I pushed Victor roughly away from me. He stumbled back enough to give me space to get back onto my feet. I threw my plate of food onto the coffee table half-hazardly as I glared at Victor with determination, “That guy is mine! I will be the one who takes him down. So no, I’m not going to the police. And neither are you.”

“Is that a threat?” Victor growled and he walked back up to me. He towered over me, obviously trying to intimidate me. I merely looked up at him, a cocky grin slinking onto my face. 

“Nope!” I chimed, folding my arms proudly, “It’s your word against mine, Victor, and all you know is what I’ve told you. Sure you can go to the police with speculation, but you have no evidence to support your claim. I’d know. I also have no evidence.”

“You have got to be kidding me!” Victor rolled his eyes, “Ike, this is way over your head!! Do you have one good reason to keep this to yourself?!”

“Yes.”

“Oh really?! What is it then?!”

“… it is my business. Not your own."

"Ike-"

"Now if you'll excuse me," I moved to walk away but Victor stopped me. He grabbed my arms and held me steady in front of him, forcing me to face him. I looked up and glared at him.

"One reason, Ikamara." Victor's tone had changed dramatically. I relaxed my glare, "Tell me one reason we shouldn't go to the police and I'll drop it." I froze. Every part of me screamed to keep pushing Victor away, to protect him from getting too close and knowing too much. But, after one last look in his pleading eyes, I knew that he wouldn’t let me get away with pushing him off any longer.

I closed my eyes and sighed, "... he killed my friend.”

Victor's fingers twitched around my arms. 

I twisted myself from his grip as I recalled the events of that horrible day. “... We were following a lead into a warehouse. There was a secret room… a bomb… an explosion… I had to bring him back to life… with my own bare hands." My voice cracked. That image of Gavin’s lifeless body held form in front of my eyes, "It’s only a matter of time until it happens again… and…” I paused. Then, without hesitation, I looked unfalteringly up at Victor, locking eyes with him, “It’s not going to be you. Not if I can help it.” Victor looked down at me, eyes flooded with those familiar undecipherable emotions. 

Before he could say anything, my eyes flickered next to him, where they landed on a fourteen year old boy staring at his phone. My face suddenly felt like it had been set on fire. It was then that I became very aware how very not alone Victor and I were.

I jumped back from Victor and looked around the room, preparing rounds of lies and explanations in my head… 

but I stopped.

No one was moving. They were all posed in one motion, all looking over at Bart, who hadn’t moved an inch from his position on the floor. Not even Lola had wavered from where I had seen her last, with her small hand posed over Bart's knee. 

No one was moving. No one was breathing. Everyone was frozen. 

Almost like they were stuck in time.

I looked back at Victor in disbelief. He was watching me, eyebrow arched and hands in his pants pockets. He looked as calm and stoic as ever… 

… As if he knew exactly what was happening. 

My disbelief sunk into curiosity was I studied him, questions posed on my tongue. Victor merely sighed as a small smirk pushed up his cheeks. “Dummy.” He muttered, moving to sit back down on the floor. I opened my mouth. 

Just then the room snapped back to life. Bart groaned as he reached over and rubbed the baby Lola’s head. She giggled and fell onto his knee, slobbering on his suit pants. “Ah that’s probably how that anonymous tip got out.” Bart lamented, as if he was continuing where he had left off, “The reporters coming here is my fault.”

“Oh, Bartholomew.” Chris sighed, making me snap my head to face him, “You’ve got to learn how to keep your mouth shut! It’s gonna be the death of you! Or more, in this case, Ikie!... Ike?” Chris finally looked up at me. His perfect smile wavered slightly, “Something wrong?” I hesitated. Had they not heard a word of what Victor and I talked about? I literally said I was being targeted! Did… no one care?

I stole a quick glance at Victor. He was sitting casually at the end of the coffee table, eating his food once again as if nothing happened. I narrowed my eyes.

“... No.” I said, straightening my expression and posture, “I… Bart, what did you mean by anonymous tip?” Bart looked up at me through the gaps in his fingers.

“Hm? Oh I called our inside in the media.” Bart replied, sitting up, “She said that she got a call telling her about what happened. All the way down to the place your office was. It was because of my big mouth, Ike. I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it.” I waved Bart off limply, slightly lost in thought, “Did she say whether or not this person was male or female?”

“No. She said that they used a voice modulator.” Bart said, intrigue and blind curiosity dripping from his tongue, “One that made their voice seem lower and more mechanic. Whoever it was, they really didn’t want to be found out.” I hummed and furrowed my brows. 

Who would modulate their voice for an anonymous tip?

“Evie, dear.” Maria said from behind me, making me turn to face her, "Are you sure everything is alright? You look worried.”

“Yeah.” I said slowly, “I need to get back to work. Thank you for the meal.”

“But, you’ve still got some food left!” Sam chuckled gesturing to my half empty plate.

“I’ll heat it up during my next break.” I moved past the couch and away from the group, “Besides, I have a lot I need to do before I go home today.”

“Wait, Ike!” Bart quickly scooped up Lola and stood up from the floor, “I wanted to talk to you about that. I don’t think you should take your bike home today.”

“What?” I snapped my head around.

“At least not until this whole thing blows over.” He said, throwing his free hand up defensively as he walked over to me, “I don’t want anything happening to you while on the road. That thing is a death wish as it is. Then you throw in some reckless reporters-”

“And someone will aggressively write a story about my driving? ” I arched my eyebrow, “I’ve been driving that bike for years, Bart. I’ll be alright.”

“You could still get hurt!” Maria spoke up from the couch, “You never know what these people would do to get a story.”

“Maria, I’ll be fine.” I rolled my eyes and turned back to my desk, “I can take care of myse-”

“Oh. my. GOSH!!” Adri shouted from her place on the couch, causing everyone to jump. She glared at me sinisterly. “You drive a two wheel drive that has had more accidents than the average vehicle! Not only that but you just got out of the hospital! Do you really want to go back in?!?” Everyone in the room was frozen in place, speechless because of Adri’s sudden outburst. Adri, reading the room, breathed a loaded sigh, “All they are asking you to do is get another ride.” She continued, arching her eyebrow and glaring at me, “That’s all! Is that really too much to fucking ask?”

“Swear jar.” Ashton spoke up for the first time that day. Adri whipped her head around and glared at him. I hesitated, looking around the room. Nearly everyone’s eyes were on me, waiting for my answer. I could read the same emotion on each of their faces. 

It was an emotion I was tired of seeing.

I sighed. “I need to ride the bike home-but,” I said quickly before anyone could interrupt me, “I'll get someone to pick me up and drop me off at work starting tomorrow. Minor, would you-”

“I’ll take you.” A cool voice came from the coffee table, making all of us turn to face it. Victor stood up, empty plate in hand and determination on his face. I looked at him in disbelief. 

“N-no. You’ve done enough alre-”

“It wouldn’t be out of my way.” Victor said simply, walking to the trash can beside his desk to dispose of his plate, “I drive by your complex on the way home anyway.” I opened my mouth to argue more but Victor held up a hand, “If you are really concerned about the trouble, I’ll add the gas money to your investment fund.” I shut my mouth and glared at him. There it is again. The investment.

“Yes!” Bart pointed at Victor happily, “Let’s do that!”

“Bart-” I started, trying to regain control of the situation.

“It’s settled then!” Maria said, standing from the couch and clapping her hands, “Ike will ride with Victor from now on!”

“Hold on!” I tried again, but was interrupted once again.

“Wait does this mean Victor has to pick me up from school too?!” Sam asked with both excitement and worry.

“I’ll send a driver to pick you up.” Victor said, walking back to his desk.

“Sweet! My own personal driver!” Sam beamed, looking at me for approval. I arched my eyebrow. Sam’s smile plummeted. “...I-I mean,” He quickly said, throwing his hands up, “Not that you aren’t a better personal driver! I mean one outside of the family! I-I bet this driver has nothing on you, Ike!... Evie?” Sam smiled at me innocently. I rolled my eyes and looked over to Victor. He was also looking at Sam with a complacent expression. Sensing my stare, he turned to face me.

“There’s no getting out of this, is there?” I asked dully.

“No.” Victor, Bart, Maria, Adri, and Sam said at once. I sighed and turned back to my desk, where I sat in the chair and ran my face through my hands. 

“I still don’t like the idea of you going out alone tonight.” Bart said uneasily. I pulled my hands down my face and looked over to him.

“I can go with her!” Adri said, raising her hand from the couch. Maria glared at her.

“You have school.” She said in her menacing motherly tone.

“Didn’t you hear?” Adri said, flashing a devious grin, “Today is a half day! I was going to hang out with friends after school but I’ll just spend the night with my favorite sister instead!” Bart and Maria glared at their newest foster daughter in silence.

“...I’m too worried for Ike’s safety to double check that.” Bart finally said, keeping his squinty eyes on Adri. Maria turned to me.

“Would you be ok with Adri spending the night?” She asked sweetly. I looked back at Adri. She grinned at me and winked. I hesitated. She obviously had something planned. But what? What could I have for her? Maybe she planned on ditching me to hang out with her friends? But then why would she be so persistent in getting me a ride home? And why was she so angry before? What caused her attitude to change so quickly like that… There really was only one way to find out.

“Sure.” I said, turning to face my computer, “but I warn you, Adri, my life at home isn’t very exciting.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.” Adri chimed.

“I’ll follow Ike home and be sure she is safe.” Victor said, standing from his place at his desk. He put his hands in his pockets and looked over to me. I looked away disgruntledly. 

“Can I come?!” Sam asked hopefully, looking between Bart and Maria.

“You have soccer practice today, mister.” Maria scrubbed his head roughly. Sam whined but didn’t say anymore. Maria smiled and looked over to Victor. “I’ll give you a copy of the kids’ schedules. Be sure to send me the bill.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Victor waved his hand dismissively, “I’ve got it handled.” I rolled my eyes. He sure was wasting a lot of money just to prove a point.

“Then it’s settled!” Bart clapped, “Adri will go home with Evie today and Victor will follow. Then he will take her to and from work until everything is cleared up! Great! Now! Let’s finish eating in my office and let Ike and Victor get back to work. Say goodbye to Ike kids!” Bart jogged happily to the coffee table and started packing the food back into the bags. Everyone complied to his demands and scattered thank yous and goodbyes came from various voices in the room. I stood up as Sam came running up to me. He jumped up and gave me a big hug.

“Don’t worry.” He whispered in my ear, “I told Adri I called dibs on the next sleepover.”

“Noted.” I said as I ruffled his hair. Sam laughed and pulled away from me, just in time for Chris to replace him. He lifted me up in the air and rocked me back and forth, all while squeezing the life out of me.

“Be safe, Ikie!” He said in between the swings. 

“You too.” I coughed, giving him a few pats on the back, for it was all I could do in that situation. Chris dropped me and walked away. I just barely had time to breathe as Adri approached me.

“Sister!” She said, holding her arms out wide. I winced slightly but that didn’t stop Adri from wrapping her arms around my neck. She pulled me close to her, letting her head rest next to my ear. I hugged her back, patting her lightly on the shoulder.

"I can't wait for tonight!” Adri whispered into my ear as she rubbed my back slightly, “Especially since you're gonna tell me all about that pretty little target on your back.”

All my blood pooled to my feet.

“H-how…” I stammered.

“What, you think your little conversation with Victor was left unheard?” Adri chimed, “‘Do you really think it will stop the man who will do anything to see me dead?!’ ‘He sent a bomb through my ceiling!’ ‘It’s my word against yours!’ Really, Ike, it’s like you’re trying not to hide it. Though it does surprise me that I was seemingly the last person to know.” I tightened my arms around Adri’s body.

“This stays between us.” I spoke seriously and coldly, “Understand? Not a word to Bart and Maria.”

“Geez, alright!” Adri gasped as she tapped my back, “I promise I won’t say anything!” I eased my grip and pulled away from Adri. She keeled over, rubbing her stomach and breathing deeply. I ignored her show as I looked over to Bart and Maria.

They were talking merrily to Victor as if there was absolutely nothing to worry about. I furrowed my eyebrows. I had said I was being targeted when I was with Victor so, why aren’t they talking about it? Why aren’t they worried? If Adri heard the conversation then shouldn’t they have as well? Just what happened when Victor and I were talking?

“Hey,” Adri patted my head, forcing my attention to her, “You can’t keep your thoughts to yourself anymore. You’ve gotta tell me what you are thinking or I will just be someone with valuable information! You wouldn’t want that just walking around willy nilly, right?” Adri grinned mischievously.

“Well” My voice fell an octave as I folded my arms and arched my brows, “there is another way I could make sure that information doesn’t leak…” Adri’s grin quickly fell from her face. I rolled my eyes. “Don’t worry, kid.” I said, patting Adri on her shoulder, “After all, I’m your favorite sister.”

“How can you make that sound so menacing and kind at the same time?” Adri chuckled nervously. I winked at her before ushering her forward, leaving room for the rest of our family to say their goodbyes.

>>>

Once everyone had left, Victor and I sat quietly at our desks. I tapped my pen on my desk, lost in thought.

“So,” Victor said without looking up from his computer, “You’re an evolver.”

My pen fell from my hand.

I tried to speak but my words had gotten lodged in my throat. How could he have known?! Was it the way I pushed him to the ground?! I didn’t use that much power. Maybe I miss judge my evol more than I’d like to admit.

“I had my assumptions but,” Victor continued in between my silence, “I wasn’t completely certain. But now, it’s quite clear why you insist on taking care of yourself.”

“H-how?” I managed to stutter, turning to look at Victor. Victor scoffed as he turned to me

“Are you that slow? You really didn’t notice anything strange during our conversation earlier?”

My eyes widened, “So I wasn’t imagining that!... That was you?” Victor gave me a look that I received far too often. 

“What do you think?”

“So you’re an evolver too? Wait, so your evol is to freeze people in place?”

“Dummy.” Victor sighed as he turned back to his work, “I can control time.”

“Can people still hear us when you do that?”

“No.”

“...what?”

“Do you really think I would start that kind of a conversation in front of your parents?” Victor retorted, turning back to me, “Let alone your siblings?”

“Wait.” I shook my head and held up my hands, “You’re saying no one else could have heard our conversation?”

“No.” Victor turned back to his computer, “Not unless they were also evolvers.”

“... what?”

“They had to have been an evolver to have heard our conversation.”

My heart stopped.

Victor, noticing my change in attitude, turned back to me. “What is it?” He asked, seriousness easing back into his tone. I opened my mouth.

 A knock came from the door. “Sorry, ignore me.” Adri came into the room, looking down at her phone, “Maria forgot her diaper bag so I… came… to” Adri looked up from her phone to see Victor and me staring at her, “... Unless you guys have some sort of emotional connection to it. Then I can tell her it wasn’t there-”

“N-no.” I cleared my throat and gestured to the sitting area, “Go ahead.” After a moment of confused silence, Adri did as I said and continued walking into the room. I started mindlessly tapping my pen on the desk as I watched Adri, thinking over everything Victor had just said.

“...Oh, and Adri?”

“Hm?” Adri hummed.

“I’m excited to have you over tonight.”

“Oh really?” Adri sang, picking up the bag and turning to look at me.

“Yeah.” I nodded and stopped tapping my pen, “I get the feeling we have a lot of bonding to do.”

(Next)

[spooky-scary-imagines]

heyo! could you write something for michael / billy / stu / and any other slasher you think would be good - about their s/o who has a really bad stutter (and who possibly might be bullied or something of the nature) your work is really good and ahh!! i needed to see a stuttering mess in a work to make me happy about my own stutter

((Totally! I hope these lil drabbles help cheer you up some! And remember, never feel bad about your voice. It’s not the way you talk that matters, it’s the words and the feelings behind them. I’d write for all of them if I could but I decided to add Bubba, Norman, and Chop-Top for this one cause two of them have a stutter (though Chop-Top’s ain’t as strong and Norman’s is more due to anxiety and therefore written different) and the other is just always v good. They’re also some of my favorites so I’ll always love writing them lol. Btw I tried my best to write a stutter accurately but, like always, I want to make sure I didn’t write anything offensive or inaccurate so let me know if there’s anything along those lines. Also, this is long af so I added a read-more.

Various slashers s/o with a stutter:

Michael:

“M-M-Michael d-d-don’t do this,” you pleaded. He stared at you emotionless, as he plunged the knife back in.

“P-P-please! You-You pr-promised!” He ignored you and pulled the knife in and out of the now-mutilated flesh.

”Y-Y-You sa-said you would w-w-wait! It’s n-n-n-not e-even  H-Halloween!” He reached in and pulled out a mass of slimy guts and pulp, then gestured to you to take it. You held out your hand and took his offering, mildly disgusted.

You went to a kitchen drawer and pulled out a gallon Ziploc bag, dumping the handful inside. “H-Here. We-we’ll j-j-j-just save s-some and I’ll m-make something w-w-w-with it l-later.” Michael set the knife off to the side and lifted up his current “project” as if presenting it for your approval. You rolled your eyes, but smiled anyway.

“Yes, i-it’s a b-b-b-b-beautiful J-Jack O’Lantern, M-Michael. B-B-But it’s gon-gonna r-rot if we p-p-put it out n-now!” But even as you say it you know you might as well break out the tea candles.

Billy:

Once the bell rang, you nearly ran out of the classroom to your locker. You glowered as you replaced the books from your previous class with the ones for your next. You slammed the door shut to see your boyfriend standing behind it, a wicked, yet charming smirk on his face.

“Boo.” You just rolled your eyes.

“N-Not in the m-m-mood.”

His brow furrowed at that, usually you were more happy to see him. “What’s up babe?” his eyes looked around defensively at your fellow classmates wandering the halls, “Some punks giving you shit again?”

“N-No…” you sighed, “The t-teacher c-c-c-called on me in c-c-class today to r-r-read. Asshole kn-knows I d-d-don’t w-wanna t-talk in front of ev-everyone.”

Billy scowled at that, “What a fucking prick. Want me to teach him something?”

You hesitated for a moment, he was a jerk, but no. “D-D-Don’t w-worry ab-b-bout it B-Billy…He’s-he’s j-j-just doing hi-his job…”

“Hey,” Billy gripped you reassuringly by the shoulders, getting you to look him in the eyes, “Never let nothings like that make you think less of yourself baby. You’re amazing just the way you are.”

You almost felt yourself well up at his thoughtful words. Sometimes he shocked you with how sweet he could be. You nodded, and leaned into hug him.

He returned the embrace, and you felt him lean down to whisper into your ear, “You wanna just ditch and watch movies at my place?” A very tempting offer you may just take him up on.

Stu:

“H-H-Hello? Wh-Who’s this?”

“Do you like scary movies?”

“Ha Ha, very f-f-funny. Wh-Who’s th-th-th-this? F-for real.”

“I’m the scary killer outside your window…”

“Oh s-s-sure. I b-bet,” sarcasm and annoyance dripping from your words, “Quit b-being a creep R-R-Randy.”

“It’s not Randy. That your boyfriend?”

At that comment, you started to get an idea of who your mysterious caller was, but decided to play along. “N-Nah, b-b-but I d-do h-have one.”

“Oh yeah,” the voice giggled, “And what’s he like? Bet he wouldn’t like you talkin’ to lil ole me.”

“P-p-probably n-not, b-b-but he’s not h-here. And you h-h-haven’t h-hung up.”

There was a pause on the other end, then a huff. “You never answered my first question.”

“Oh? Th-that th-thing ab-b-bout s-scary movies? Yeah, I l-l-like ‘em”

“What’s your favorite scary movie?”

You hesitate for a second, while it would be fun to keep this going, you feel like upping the ante a bit. “I d-d-don’t know. H-How ab-b-bout you c-come up h-here and w-w-watch o-one w-with me?”

“What about your boyfriend?”

“C-C-Come on M-Mister K-K-Killer, h-he c-can join. I th-th-think you kn-know w-where t-to find h-him.”

You heard a shuffling on the other end and then the call abruptly ended. You sat in silence for a moment, curious about what would happen next. A familiar rapping sound came from outside your window. You pulled back the curtain, revealing your boyfriend standing there with his signature goofy grin plastered across his face. Through the glass you hear the voice you’d missed, “Wanna let me in?”

Bubba:

The Sawyer home was unusually quiet right now. With Drayton out at the gas station and his other brother doing god-knows-what, just you Bubba and Grandpa were left at the house. With Bubba working downstairs, you had been left to your own devices. Though you didn’t mind some alone time, it was odd that you hadn’t really seem hide-nor-hair of your beau lately. Though that seemed like it would be changing pretty soon, as you heard the large metal door to the kitchen slam. You turned to see Bubba coming towards you, happily clutching something in his hands.

“W-W-What’ve you g-got there B-Bubba?” He excitedly shoved the object, which you know could tell was a book, into your hands. “Where the Sidewalk Ends” the cover read, with a drawing of two children looking over what looked like the edge of a cliff. You flipped through it, and it appeared to be a collection of poems cute illustrations to go with them. You turned back at your love, who was watching you eagerly, seemingly trying to figure out your reaction.

“It s-seems like a v-very n-nice b-b-book H-Honey. Th-th-thank you.”  His brow seemed to furrow underneath his mask and he poked the book more insistently. You cocked your head in confusion, “I’m af-f-fraid I d-don’t get w-what your s-s-saying.” He opened the book and a warbling hum came from him as he pointed from the words to you.

“You w-w-want m-me to r-r-read it? Out l-loud?” He squealed happily and nodded. “ Are y-you s-s-sure? B-B-But W-what ab-bout th-the way I t-talk?” He nodded again and pulled you into his lap on the couch. He hugged you tightly around the waist, resting his head on your shoulder as he looked down at the book. You laughed softly about his enthusiasm, “Alr-right…I-Invitation…If y-you are a dreamer c-c-come in. If y-you are a dreamer, a w-wisher, a liar. C-Come in….

Chop-Top:

The whole Sawyer house was very much relieved today. It had been awhile since anyone had driven by and food was running kinda low, making everyone a bit on edge and touchy. Luckily, a whole van of people stopped by last night and were quickly dispatched, meaning everyone would get to eat. Your boyfriend’s brothers were currently preparing and cooking the meat, while your boyfriend looted and organized the belongings of the now-cattle.

“Y/N! C-Come in here and take a look at this!” your boyfriend hollered from the other side of the house. This was somewhat ominous as you never could tell what he was going to show you when he got excited like this. His tone of voice when showing you a neat bug was the same when he was propping up and goofing off with a corpse. You walked in and he was standing in the middle of the room, surrounded by a mess of objects scattered around him. On him was the ugliest shirt you had ever seen. It looked like bowling alley carpet had a love child with a kid’s drawing of what a Hawaiian shirt was supposed to look like. It physically hurt your eyes a bit to look at it. “Check out th-these digs babe!” he crowed.

“W-Wow…th-that s-sure is…c-c-copacetic.”

“I know r-right!” He turned back to admire himself in the dirty wall mirror, “T-Totally far-r out!

You hid a grin behind your hand, “You’re one sh-shagad-d-delic c-cat.”

He whipped back around to face you, beaming ear to ear, “Awww sh-shucks,” he wadded his way through the mess over to you, throwing his boney arms around you waist. “You’re pretty b-bitchin’ your-yourself,” he crooned, pressing a sloppy and slightly gross kiss on your cheek. Maybe you could get used to the shirt…

Norman Bates:

There was a record playing in the main lobby of the motel when your returned from tidying one of the cabins. As you stepped in farther, you could make out your sweetheart’s voice singing along softly. Curiosity drew you closer and you watched from the doorway as he folded laundry. His voice was as sweet and smooth as honey and the melody seemed to drip into you, wrapping around and warming your heart.

“It takes a lot of sunshine…To make a s-summer day…But just a little love…Can go a long, long way…”

You wolf-whistled, and he whipped around to face you, dropping the shirt he was holding. “Oh dear, I, um, well, you, w-weren’t supposed, to, er, see t-that.”

You moved towards him, picking up the shirt from the floor and returning it to him. “Y-You s-s-sing b-beautifully you kn-know.”

His eyes flicked back to meet your’s, “R-Really, I, well, I just never, s-sing in front of anyone…”

You smiled, looking up at him with faux innocence, “H-How does th-this one g-g-go again? So i-i-i-incid-dentally…”

He gulped, “Um, Treat love g-gently…”

“W-When it c-c-comes in view…”

“It-It could even, even happen to…”

You both joined in for the last line, “S-someone l-l-like you…”

As the song played on in the background you realized how close the two of you had gotten. You both blushed and turned away slightly, but neither of you could hide the blush or grins painted across your faces.

[crimsonslytherin]

I’ll Be Your Reason - Chapter 11

(First) - (Previous)  

Words:   3962

A/N: Please note I used some deleted scenes/parts from the book

“Is it true you can talk to snakes?” Fiona looked up from the book she was reading at the Gryffindor table to see a familiar blond standing in front of her.

“Yes,” she replied before looking back down at the book.

“If I brought you a snake you could tell me what it said?”

“I can already tell you ‘put me down’ would be what it would tell you,” she said as she closed the book. “What do you want?” Draco sat down beside her, facing the aisle, and leaned against the table.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Tell you…? We’re not friends, you realize this right?”

“Right.” He cleared his throat. “Just Potion’s partners,” he added with a nod. “We got the highest marks on the essay.”

“Good to know. Was there something you needed besides to complain about not knowing I could talk to snakes?”

“You staying for the holidays?” he asked.

“I’m supposed to, yes. Why?” She narrowed her eyes slightly.

“Just wondering.” He stood up, unnecessarily adjusting his robes. Fiona opened her book and continued to read. Draco hesitated but soon walked away.

____________________

That night during study hall Harry couldn’t help but feel eyes on his back. He turned to see a group of students look at him. They looked away once he looked at them. He turned back to his work only to turn to see another group look at him. When he looked at Ginny and she looked away he let out a sigh. He closed his books and gathered his things.

“I’ll see you back in the common room,” Harry said. Fiona started to gather her books too. “You don’t have to come with me, Fee.”

“I know,” she said as she stood. Harry gave her a small smile and stood. They two left the hall, everyone turning to watch them go. As soon as they were out of sight Harry stopped. Fiona turned to him and tilted her head. He stepped back towards the other room and listened as a few students spoke about them. Some thought he was the heir while others were convinced that Fiona had to be it. Fiona’s face was stern and she started to walk back towards the room. Harry grabbed her hand and shook his head.

“Don’t listen to them,” he whispered. She nodded but frowned as they started to walk away.

The two had walked only a few yards away from the hall and up a small set of stairs when they bumped into Hagrid.

“Hello you two. You alright?” Hagrid asked.

“Hagrid, what’s with the… dead chicken?” Fiona asked.

“Second one killed this term,” Hagrid told them as he held up the dead rooster in his hand. “I reckon it’s either a fox or a blood sucking blood-bear. So I’ve just been up at Dumbledore’s getting permission to put a little charm round the ol’ hen coop.” Harry looked around. “You sure you’re all right? You’re awful hot and bothered?

“It’s nothing. Look we better get going. We’ve got a lot of studying,” Harry excused them before the two headed up the grand staircase. They were about halfway to the common room when they suddenly heard the voice.

“Blood...I want blood...” They looked at each other before following the wall. “they all must die. Kill... Kill... Kill! Time to kill.” They saw a lot of water on the floor and turned the corner to see Nearly Headless Nick floating in midair and spinning slowly.

“Harry… it’s Justin.” They looked down to see the boy on the ground. Harry kneeled down beside him while Fiona stood next to him.

“Caught in the act!” The two turned around to see Filch standing at the end of the hall. “I’ll have you two out this time.  Mark my words.”

“No! Mr. Filch! Y-you- you don’t understand!” Harry called after him.

“Oh!” Fiona jumped seeing a line of spiders retreating near the body. Harry stood and he and Fiona walked to the window where they were leaving by. They heard footsteps and saw Filch return with McGonagall. She gasped seeing Justin and hurried over.

“Professor... I swear I-we didn’t!”

“This is out of my hands, Potter,” she said.

…

She led the two to a statue of a griffin and motioned them to it.

“Professor Dumbledore will be waiting for you.” The two walked up to it. “Sherbet lemon.” The griffin started to spin and stairs came up. The two stepped on them and rode them up.  They reached the top and Harry pushed open the only door.

“Professor Dumbledore?” he asked before the two walked in. They walked up some stairs and Harry noticed the sorting hat up on a shelf.

“Bee in your bonnet, Potter?” it asked.

“I... I-I was- I was just wondering if you’d put me in the right house,” Harry said.

“Yes, you were particularly difficult to place. But, I stand by what I said last year-- you would have done well in Slytherin,” it said. “Both of you…”

“You’re wrong,” Harry said. The hat hummed. There was a low chirping sound.

“Harry, look,” Fiona said as she pointed. Harry turned to see an old phoenix. The two walked over to it. Harry smiled up at it and then it burst into flames.

“Harry?” Dumbledore asked. The two looked up to see the headmaster up on a balcony.

“Professor! Sir, your bird- there was nothing we could do- he- he just caught fire!” Harry tried to explain.

“Oh, and about time, too.” The two looked confused. “He’s been looking dreadful for days.  Pity you two had to see him on a burning day.” Dumbledore headed down the stairs. “Fawkes is a phoenix. They burst into flame when it is time for them to die, and then they are reborn from the ashes.” Suddenly a baby phoenix poked its head out of the ashes. “Ah, fascinating creatures, phoenixes. They can carry immensely heavy loads, and their- their tears have healing powers.”

“It’s beautiful,” Fiona said. Dumbledore smiled at her. Suddenly the door burst open and the three turned to see Hagrid.

“Professor Dumbledore, sir! Wait! Listen!” He approached them. “Professor Dumbledore, sir, it wasn’t Harry or Fiona!”

“Hagrid-“

“In fact, I’d be prepared ter swear it in front o’ the Ministry of Magic!”

“Hagrid! Relax. I do not believe that either of them attacked anyone,” Dumbledore said putting his hand on Harry’s shoulder.

“Well, of course you don’t, and... Oh... Oh, right. Well, I’ll, um- hum. I’ll just wait outside, then.”

“Yes.” Hagrid left the room.

“You don’t think it was us, Professor?” Harry asked.

“No, Harry. I do not think it was you... or Fiona. But I must ask you, is there something you wish to tell me? Either of you?”

“No, sir. Nothing,” Harry said even though Fiona was giving him a look. When Dumbledore looked at her she shook her head.

“No, sir,” she said.

“Very well, then. Off you go.”

The two left Dumbledore’s office and started back to the Gryffindor common room. They were silent about half the way until Fiona suddenly stopped walking. Harry turned to her to see her hugging herself.

“Fiona?”

“Maybe you should’ve told him,” Fiona said. “About the voice and how after we hear it we keep finding people...”

“You could’ve told him too,” Harry pointed out.

“I know but… coming from me…”

“It wouldn’t mean any less coming from you,” Harry said.

“No, it’s not that…”

“Fiona? What’s wrong?” He took a step towards her, tilting his head to the side in concern.

“You know I didn’t open the chamber, right?”

“Of course you didn’t,” Harry said.

“But… I am related to Salazar… if people find out I hear something before people are getting attack they might think-“

“No one thinks it’s you,” Harry said. She gave him a look.

“You heard them, Harry. People do.”

“You’re a Gryffindor, not Slytherin.”

“You’re a Gryffindor too and people are suspicious about you,” she pointed out.

“That’s only because no one expected me to sneak Parselmouth.”

“And they do expect it of me. Given the choice between Harry Potter, the boy who defeated the dark lord or Fiona Gaunt the girl who’s related to Salazar Slytherin… who do you think people will-“

“Stop.” Harry put his hand on her shoulder. “Fiona, I know you, Gryffindor house knows you. You’re nothing like a Slytherin no matter your family name.” Fiona bit her lip as tears came to her eyes and Harry pulled her into a tight hug.

____________________

The great hall was decorated for Christmas night, the ceiling was snowing and the trees were all decorated. Most of the students had left for the holidays but a handful from each house decided to stay, including Draco and his lackeys. Ron, Harry and Fiona were sitting at the Gryffindor table in a section that was almost empty as Hermione brought over her plate of sweets.

“Everything’s set. We just need a bit of who you’re changing into,” Hermione said quietly.

“Crabbe and Goyle,” Harry said.

“We also need to make sure that the real Crabbe and Goyle can’t burst in on us while we’re interrogating Malfoy.”

“How?” Ron asked.

“I’ve got it all worked out.” She pulled out two cupcakes. “I filled these with a simple Sleeping Draught. Simple, but powerful.” She put them down. “Now, once they’re asleep hide them in the broomstick cupboard and pull out a few of their hairs, and put on their uniforms.”

“Whose hair are you ripping out then?” Ron asked.

“I’ve already got mine. Millicent Bulstrode– Slytherin- I got this off her robes,” she said holding up a small container with hair in it. “I’m going to go check on the Polyjuice Potion. Make sure that Crabbe and Goyle find these.”

“Fiona, are you changing too?” Ron asked. Fiona shook her head.

“I… I can’t go in there. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Harry said giving her a smile. “I understand.” She smiled back.

“I’ll go help Hermione,” she said before getting up and following after her.

…

“We’ll have exactly one hour before we change back into ourselves,” Hermione said as she put the potion into three glasses. She handed one to each boy. “Add the hairs.”

“Ugh- essence of Crabbe,” Ron said.

“Cheers!” Hermione said.  The three took their drinks, Fiona grimacing when she saw their faces.

“I think I’m gonna be sick!” Ron groaned. He dropped his glass. It shattered on the ground as he ran into one of the stalls.

“Me too,” Hermione said also dropping her glass before running into another stall. Harry dropped his glass with a groan.

“Ughh!”

“Are you alright?” Fiona asked. Harry leaned over the sink. Then he started to notice the skin of his hand bubbling then his face until he looked like Goyle. “Woah…” Fiona turned to see Ron come out of the stall looking like Crabbe. “Wow…that is…” Fiona let out a breath.

“Uh... Harry?” Ron asked. Harry turned to see him.

“Ron!”

“Bloody hell!”

“We still sound like ourselves. You need to sound more like Crabbe,” Harry said. Ron lowered his voice a bit.

“Uh... Bloody hell.”

“Excellent.” Harry grinned.

“But where’s Hermione?” Ron asked.

“I- I don’t think I’m going. You go on without me!” Hermione called from one of the stalls.

“Hermione, are you okay?” Harry asked.

“Just go. You’re wasting time!”

“Come on,” Harry said and the two left.

“Hermione, what’s wrong?” Fiona asked.

“N-Nothing.”

“Hermione, you can trust me.”

“Okay… come in,” she said.

…

Harry and Ron followed behind Draco to the Slytherin common room through the dungeons after running into Percy then him.

“So I was thinking maybe a rose,” Draco said. “Or maybe the jewelry…”

“What?” Harry asked. He and Ron exchanged confused looks.

“For Gaunt,” Draco said as he looked back at them. The two looked shocked and Draco rolled his eyes. “I told you yesterday. I need to pick which one to give her for Christmas. Then the other I can give to her for her birthday once I find out when it is… a rose might be a bit much though,” he mused.

“Why would she take a gift from you?” Ron asked.

“Did all those sweets rot your brain?” Draco hissed as he glanced back at him. “I’m not going to tell her it’s from me. Not right away, anyway.”

“Why are you getting her anything?” Harry asked, resisting the urge to glare. Draco frowned and looked back at the two suspiciously.

“I told you,” he said.

“I forgot,” Ron said.

“She’s…” he rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ve finally got her to talk to me besides just defending Potter. I’m trying to get her to… be my friend.”

“Since when do friends give each other roses?” Harry asked. Draco looked around to make sure no one was around.

“Uh…My father suggested I… put more of an effort into befriending her by giving her a present.”

“So you don’t actually like her?” Ron asked.

“I-I already told you two,” he hissed, his cheeks turning pink. “I guess it’s a good thing you forget things so easily. Can’t go around telling anyone.” Harry and Ron exchanged wide-eyed looks. Draco said the password to the Slytherin common room and the three went in. Draco sat down on a couch. He looked at the two. “Well, sit down,” Draco said. The two sat on a couch across from him. “You’d never know the Weasley’s were pure-bloods, the way they behave. They’re an embarrassment to the wizarding world. All of them.” Ron’s fist clenched, his knuckles cracked. “What’s wrong with you, Crabbe? “ Harry nudged him.

“Ahem...Stomachache,” Ron said.

“You know, I’m surprised that the Daily Prophet hasn’t done a report on all these attacks. I suppose Dumbledore is trying to hush it all up. Father always said Dumbledore was the worst thing that ever happened to this place,” Draco said.

“You’re wrong!” Harry couldn’t help himself from shouting. Draco stood.

“What? You think there’s someone here who’s worse than Dumbledore? Well? Do you?”

“Harry Potter?” he offered with a gulp.

“Good one, Goyle. You’re absolutely right. Saint Potter,” he spat. “And people actually think that he’s the Heir of Slytherin!”

“But then you must have some idea who’s behind it all.”

“You know I don’t Goyle. I told you yesterday. How many times do I have to tell you?” he walked over to a table and sat on it. “I don’t think Gaunt would tell me if she was but… she can be kinda scary sometimes,” he admitted quietly. He picked up a small present and shook it by his ear. “Is this yours?” he asked. Harry shook his head. Draco put it in his robe pocket. “But my father did say this: It’s been fifty years since the Chamber was opened. He wouldn’t tell me who opened it-- only that they were expelled. The last time the Chamber of Secrets was opened, a Mudblood died. So, it’s only a matter of time before one of them is killed this time. As for me, I hope it’s Granger.” Ron stood and Harry quickly stood to hold him back. “What’s the matter with you two? You’re acting very...odd.”

“It’s his... stomachache,” Harry said. Ron nodded. “Calm down.” Draco took out the present he’d pocketed and opened it.

“S- scar,” Ron whispered.

“Hair!” Harry whisper-shouted. Ron covered his head and the two ran from the room.

“Hey! Where are you going?” Draco called after them.

…

“That was close!” Ron exclaimed as he and Harry ran back into the bathroom.

“Hermione, come out. We’ve got loads to tell you!” Harry called out.

“Go away!” Hermione called out from inside the stall. The two looked at Fiona who bit her bottom lip. Myrtle floated out into view.

“Ahh! Wait till you see. It’s awful! He- ha, ha, he- hee!” she giggled.

“Hermione? A- are you OK?” Harry asked as he pushed open the door. Ron grimaced. Myrtle continued to giggle.

“Do you remember me telling you that the Polyjuice Potion was only for human transformations?” Hermione asked.  Harry put on his glasses. “It was cat’s hair I plucked off Millicent Bulstrode’s robes. Look at my face.”

“Hee, ha, ha!” Myrtle giggled before floating away.

“Look at your tail!” Ron exclaimed with a grin. Fiona smacked his arm. “Sorry.”

“Let’s get you to the hospital wing,” Harry said.

  ____________________

“Have you spoken to Hermione?” Ron asked as he, Harry and Fiona walked up the stairs to the grand staircase after dinner that same night.

“She should be out of hospital in a few days, when she stops coughing up fur balls,” Harry said with a slight chuckle. “Speaking of… have you found Grimm?” he asked as he turned to Fiona.

“He was in the dorms this morning but I couldn’t find him after lunch,” Fiona said. “I think I’m gunna look a bit more…” The three stopped seeing a lot of water on the ground.

“What’s this?” They ran down the flooded corridor.

“Yuck!”

“Looks like Moaning Myrtle’s flooded the bathroom,” Harry said. The three ran in to see the sinks running and they could hear Myrtle crying.

“Oooh, oooh, ooooh, huh– huh.” Harry pointed to where she was up by the window. “Come to throw something else at me?” she asked.

“Why would I throw something at you?” Harry asked.  

“Don’t ask me! Here I am, minding my own business, and someone thinks it’s funny to throw a book at me.”

“But, it can’t hurt if someone throws something at you. I mean, it’ll just go right through you,” Ron pointed out. Myrtle flew down so she was right in front of him.

“Oh sure! Let’s all throw books at Myrtle because she can’t feel it! Ten points if you get through her stomach!” She punched through his stomach. “Fifty points if it goes through her head!” She punched through his head.

“But, who threw it at you, anyway?” Harry asked.

“I don’t know, I didn’t see them. I was just sitting in the U-bend thinking about death - aah - and it fell through the top of my head. Uh-huh. Whoo-oooh-whoooo...” she moaned as she floated away. Harry noticed a book on the ground and picked it up. He shook it a bit to get the water off before looking to Ron and Fiona.

“Guess we’d better turn the taps off,” Fiona said. “Someone could slip.” The boys nodded. They moved to the large set of sinks and turned all the taps. One of the sinks wasn’t running but none of them took any notice.

…

“Grimm!” Fiona called about an hour before curfew that night. She let out a sigh as she stood at the bottom of the grand staircase.  “Where is he?” she asked aloud. Suddenly she heard a meow and looked down to see the cat looking up at her from the entrance to the dungeons. “Grimm!” She quickly headed down as the cat walked down a corridor. “Come back!” She looked down and saw a little black box on the floor with a green ribbon where Grimm had been sitting. She picked it up and looked up to see Grimm rounding the corner at the end of the corridor. She ran after him and turned the corner to see Draco standing there with his arms crossed.

“Lost something?” he asked with a smirk.

“No.”

“Then what are you doing all the way down here?”

“None of your business,” Fiona said crossing her arms.

“You're outside the Slytherin common room, Gaunt,” he pointed out. “It is my business. What’s that you’ve got there?” He nodded to the box she’d picked up.

“Uh… I found it. Is it yours?” She held it out to him.

“Nope.” He shook his head. “Guess it’s yours now,” he said making her frown, if he was trying to be subtle he was failing horribly. “So what are you doing down here? Unless you came looking for me?” he asked with a smug smirk. Fiona let out a sigh.

“I lost Grimm,” she admitted looking down.

“Your cat? You lost him?”

“He ran away and I followed him down here.”

“And now you can't find him.”

“Look, unless you know where he is, leave me alone.”

“Of course I know where he is.”

“You do?” Fiona looked surprised.

“Would I lie to you?” he asked. Fiona gave him a look. “Don't answer that. Follow me,” he muttered the password and a part of the stone wall behind him opened up; he turned to her.  “Aren't you coming?”

“I'm not going in there,” she said shaking her head.

“Scared?”

“I really hope you’re not going to say you’ll protect me again,” Fiona said. Draco winced. “Besides, I don't know the password so I'm not allowed in.”

“Are you always this difficult? I'm trying to help you.”

“If Grimm is in there, bring him out here,” she said as she crossed her arms. “I'm not setting foot in there.” She put her arms around herself in more of a self hug. Draco let out a sigh and shook his head.

“Fine. Wait here,” he said. He went inside and the wall closed behind him. A few minutes later Draco came back with Grimm in his arms. “Happy Christmas,” he said jokingly with a chuckle. “He likes it down here,” he said. “This isn't the first time he's been down here either; seems to always be waiting out here until someone lets him in.”

“So this is where you go all the time,” Fiona said to the cat that looked at her lazily.

“I think he likes me,” Draco said with a smirk as he looked down at the cat.

“That makes one of us,” Fiona said. Draco frowned.

“I helped you find him. The least you could say is a thank you,” he muttered as he put the cat down. Fiona frowned and looked away.

“Thanks,” she said.

“Was that so hard, Gaunt?”

“Stop calling me that,” Fiona snapped with a frown.

“It is your name,” Draco reminded her.

“My name is Fiona.”

“Fine then... Fiona,” he said with a smirk.

“Thank you. Good night," she said before turning, Grimm following by her side.

“I have a name too you know!” Draco called after her.

“Good night, Draco,” Fiona said without looking back at him but she knew he was smirking even more.

…

Fiona and Grimm returned to the Gryffindor common room. No one was still awake, the room was empty. Fiona noticed the book Harry had picked up earlier on a desk but thought nothing of it. She simply went upstairs to bed.

After getting changed she was about to get into bed when she stopped. She turned to look at the little black box she’d put on her bedside table. Fiona shook her head and laid down, facing away from it. Grimm meowed softly and Fiona turned to see him holding the box by the ribbon in his mouth.

“I don’t want it, Grimm,” she whispered. “If he wanted me to have it he should have given it to me himself.” The cat walked around the bed and put it down in front of her. Fiona let out a sigh and picked it up. She looked at the cat before looking back at the box. Fiona pulled at the ribbon and lifted the lid of the box. There was a note inside and she could easily recognize the handwriting.

 Merry Christmas

Fiona put the note aside and pulled out a chain, at the end was a sphere pendant. She held the chain up and saw that inside the sphere it looked to be snowing, like it was a mini snow globe charmed to have an endless snowfall.

____________________ 

(Next Chapter)

[belovedyuuri]

God Save Yuuri Katsuki (2/?) (ao3)

“Wait, wait, wait,” Phichit says with his face still in his hands. He's just stopped laughing at Yuuri’s misery, cheeks red with exhilaration. ‘A friend’, he calls himself. “Tell me again.”

Yuuri doesn't even try to look for any warm feelings he's ever had towards the other man; there are none left. Phichit Chulanont is officially not his friend anymore. How long does it take to evict a roommate, again?

“Maybe you'd like to record it?” Yuuri asks dryly, busying himself with their dishes. “This way you can listen to it forever.”

Phichit makes a move like he wants to reach for his phone (Yuuri wonders if all roommates are so rude; maybe he should note on his next ad about an available (Phichit’s ex-) room that rudeness toward him is strongly prohibited) but stops in the last moment.

“I'm sorry, Yuuri.” He doesn't look too sorry. “You have to admit, though. If a babysitter for your kid tried to fight you out of your apartment with a toilet brush, you would be laughing too.”

“Toilet brush and an air freshener,” Yuuri mumbles, like it makes it any better.

Phichit bursts into a fit of giggles again and because Yuuri is such a good friend, he only swats him with the kitchen towel when the dishes are done.

“I hate you,” he mutters on his way to his room.

“No, you don't!”

For her part, Mila tries very hard to stifle her laughter when she sees him at the entrance to the LGBTQ+ meeting. Yuuri doesn't even need to ask; it takes one glance at her to guess that she already knows.

At least she doesn't mock him.

“How was your first day of work?” she asks innocently, biting her lower lip.

Ah. Teasing. What a lovely change.

Sara Crispino looks at him with curiosity in her eyes. “Oh?” She smiles. “You got a new job?”

Bless her pure heart, at least she knows nothing about his shame.

“He babysits the son of my cousin,” Mila answers for him.

“I babysat the son of her cousin.”

Both girls tilt their heads at him. It's scary how in tune with each other they are, they spend so much time together even outside of the club they started together in uni.

“Why the past tense?”

“You're not going back?”

“Was Yuri really that scary?”

Yuuri glares at Mila. Even though she hasn't told Sara anything about what happened, she is sure trying hard to make the girl ask all the right questions.

“I plead the fifth,” he mumbles and moves to go past them.

“We're not in the court,” Mila sing-songs and tries to block the way with her arm but Yuuri is faster and slides into the classroom anyway. “I won't let you go off so easy! I'll catch you later, Yuuri!”

He pretends not to hear.

“You thought somebody broke into the house?” Sara asks two hours later when all three of them are sitting in the café Phichit works at, eyes wide. Her right hand nearly covers her mouth. “You must have been so scared!”

Yuuri has never wanted to hug somebody more in his life. He gives Mila a pointed look. This is how a friend should react.

“Thank you,” he tells Sara who only nods in reply.

“I've been there, I understand.”

It's Mila’s turn to gape. “Somebody broke into your apartment?”

Sara tilts her head in confusion before her eyes clear with understanding. “Oh! No, no! But when I was a kid, Emil broke into my and Mickey’s room. You know we live so close to each other, he simply climbed from his window to ours on the tree between our houses.” She smiles in soft embarrassment. “Apparently, he was bored and wanted to play a game that Mickey borrowed from him. Well, I woke up, the light was off, so I didn't know it was him. I threw all my toys at him before my parents found us like that.”

Mila coos and pulls her sweetheart into a one-armed hug, then presses a kiss to the top of her head. “You were a kid, though,” she defends. He curls a lock of Sara’s hair around her finger. “Yuuri here is an adult.”

“Are you talking about the skin magazine Yuuri bought for the kid?” Phichit joins in out of the blue, still wearing his apron as he falls onto the only empty chair at the table.

Both girls stare at him in shock. “He did what?”

P h i c h i t!

“Aren’t you supposed to be working?” Yuuri asks through gritted teeth.

Phichit carefully looks around the table. “Lunch break?” he says slowly, surely realising what he’s just done.

Mila gawks at Yuuri, like she's seeing him for the first time. “You bought a five-year-old a porno?”

“N-no, it wasn't like that!”

“A five-year-old, Yuuri!”

“The kid wreaked havoc at the store,” Phichit defends him. Defends him, for a change. “What was he supposed to do?”

“Get him a toy. Or a candy bar,” Mila supplies, looking at them both ridiculously. “Literally anything else!”

Sara is openly laughing next to her, drawing attention from several other patrons to their table.

Yuuri tries his best to curl in on himself and disappear. The closest thing he manages to do is to hide his face in his crossed arms, resting on the table. “He found it and grabbed it and wouldn't let go of it, and wouldn't stop screaming unless I bought it,” he mumbles to the table. “He thought his father was in it and wanted me to buy it.”

Phichit pats his back in sympathy.

“Vitya? In such a magazine?” Mila asks, doubtfully.

Yuuri shakes his head. “It was just a lookalike with the same first name on the cover.”

For a moment all he can hear is just the usual chatter of the café, none of his friends talking. For some reason, his head feels heavy. When he looks up, all three pairs of eyes are glued to him, amused.

“You looked inside?” Mila asks, a teasing note back in her voice.

Yuuri only groans and lets his head fall back onto his arms.

It’s settled. From today on, he officially has no friends.

The phone rings just when he’s about to fall asleep that night. Yuuri sighs and looks at the screen, only to frown at the hidden number. Private. For a moment, he considers not answering – it is late, after all, and he doesn’t know anybody whose number isn’t already saved in his phone.

Unless...

His eyes widen in surprise at the idea of who exactly could be calling him and, not even fully aware of what he’s doing, he accepts the call.

Shit. Now what? He can’t cancel it now without looking like a jerk. Not saying anything isn’t very nice of him, either.

“Hello?” comes from the phone after the longest three seconds of his life. Yuuri immediately puts the phone against his ear.

“Hello.”

“Is this Yuuri Katsuki’s number?”

Yuuri recognises that voice, no matter how few words it uttered to him the last time he heard it.

He could safely say that the call is a mistake and forget about the babysitting fiasco once and for all. He can’t help but wonder, though...

“Uhm—I guess,” he stutters and promptly winces at how silly that sounds. ‘I guess?’ He quickly adds, “I mean, yes, it’s me.”

“Oh, good! This is Viktor Nikiforov speaking, we met yesterday.”

How could I forget?

“Oh... Right.”

“You never showed up today,” Mr Nikiforov says. “I had to find somebody else to take care of Yuri while I was at work. It was very unexpected and very last minute. Has anything happened?”

‘Has anything happened?’

Yuuri frowns at the words and looks at his phone to check if he’s not imagining the call after all, but no, it’s real. The seconds are ticking away. The private number hidden from his eyes truly belongs to Viktor Nikiforov who is asking if something has caused him to miss a day at work.

“Yuuri?”

The sound of his name pulls Yuuri back to the present and he quickly presses the phone back to his ear.

“Um, yeah, about that,” he croaks, “I thought—I thought I wasn’t supposed to come back?”

There’s silence on the other end of the call. One second, two...

“Was that a question?” Mr Nikiforov asks, sounding confused. “Why did you think you weren’t supposed to come back?”

Yuuri frowns. Isn’t it obvious? “Are you serious?” He shakes his head, incredulously. “I took you for a burglar! I—I nearly sprayed air freshener into your eyes!”

The voice chuckles quietly.

Here we go again.

“You were protecting Yuri and the apartment. That was quite a brave thing to do. Besides, I hadn’t got to introduce myself yet; as far as you knew, I could have been a burglar.”

But he didn’t lock the damn door...

“Yes, but—”

“I haven’t even paid you for babysitting Yuri yet,” Mr Nikiforov adds then. “You left so suddenly.”

Yuuri winces again. “I’m really sorry for that. I was just—very...”

Embarrassed? Ashamed?

“I see,” Mr Nikiforov’s voice is soft again, like he’s smiling, like he knows exactly what Yuuri wants to say. For a second, Yuuri feels a little bit better. “I suppose I shouldn’t mention the magazine I found in the bathroom, then?”

Any relief and warmth that have found their way into Yuuri’s heart are gone in a blink. He’s never thought his blood could turn so cold in a matter of mere seconds.

The magazine. Oh God.

He left the magazine in the—and he never even—he never even closed it.

Yuuri sits up straight on the bed, fingers clutching to his phone. “Mr Nikiforov!” he calls, petrified. “I promise I—I—It’s not what you think—!”

The man laughs, and even though he does it quietly, the sound of it drums in Yuuri’s red ears. “Don’t worry about it,” he says, catching some breath. “Yuri told me the magazine was his when he saw it—“

Yuuri chokes out an embarrassed sound and hides his face in his free hand. Where’s the death he requested yesterday?

“—and he said he still wanted to ‘see me in it’. I put two and two together.”

What two and two? There’s no math in this situation that could even begin to explain Yuuri’s actions.

Mr Nikiforov continues, though. “You know, you aren’t the first babysitter he tried to scare off.”

That sentence grabs Yuuri’s attention. What Yuri did throughout his first day taking care of him was all... on purpose?

“He wanted me out,” Yuuri speaks slowly with a frown, “so he made me buy him the magazine?”

“Well, I believe he really thought it was me on the cover. But yes, it sounds like him, to tease and try to manipulate his babysitters.”

“But—The magazine was—And you’re alright with that?”

“Of course I’m not alright with that,” Mr Nikiforov sounds more strict now. “I talked to him about it and I fully expect you won’t buy such things again when you’re babysitting my son.”

Yuuri wants to say that he won’t buy such things at all, ever, he promises, but he only nods his head. And then he remembers Yuri’s father can’t actually see him, so he hums in agreement. And then...

“Wait...” He rubs at his eyes. “Mr Nikiforov, does that mean I’m not fired?”

There’s a sigh in his ear. “My name’s Viktor, you can call me that. And yes. Both me and Yuri are expecting you tomorrow. Is that alright?”

Is it? Yuuri clenches his eyes. He made a complete fool out of himself yesterday, he ran out of the apartment like it was on fire. And all the suspicious looks he got when he was grocery shopping with Yuri, and when they got out of the store, too...

But then he remembers how... easy it was when the dirty magazine was hidden in his backpack, forgotten, when he and Yuri were sitting at one of the tables in the ice cream parlour and the five-year-old was stuffing his face full of chocolate mush and whipped cream. Yuri behaved like a little angel when eating ice cream or watching the opening of The Lion King, ready for his nap.

Maybe he will act more like that when he sees Yuuri is back for day two—never mind there was a hiccup—and understands that he isn’t that easy to scare off?

(Never mind that he is. The kid definitely doesn’t need to know that, though.)

“Same time and place?” Yuuri asks finally, letting out an inaudible sigh as he rubs at his eyes again.

“Yes, if that’s alright? Yuri has a private dancing class right before you come to our apartment. His instructor will be waiting for you to take over.”

Yuuri nods to himself. Private dance classes. Of course.

“I’ll be there,” he promises.

As soon as the call is off, Yuuri plugs the phone to charge and falls back on his bed, hands covering his face.

He’ll show the little Yuri that he’s not a pushover and he’ll prove the boy’s father that he isn’t a pervert. It’s not important that the man doesn’t seem to think that. Yuuri thinks Mr Nikiforov might be secretly thinking that, and that’s all that matters.

He nods to himself and rolls onto his side, arm hugging the pillow, ready to sleep.

...why the hell did he agree to go back?

[constructionaccounting]

0219: Unique Proven Marketing Tips For Your Contracting Company

This Podcast Is Episode Number 0219, And It Will Be About Unique Proven Marketing Tips For Your Contracting Company

 For Most Construction Contractors Your World Is “Hurry Up” And “Wait.”

Hurry up and answer the Call from the Customer.  

Wait to make the appointment.  

Hurry up and get to the job.  

Wait for the Customer to come home, to be available.  

Hurry up and create the proposal.  

Wait for a decision.  

In some cases, the Customer says “Yes” and then it is Wait for the Job Deposit.

Wait to Start The Job

Contractors doing Insurance Work are expecting to wait for Approval from the Insurance Company

Wait for the 1st Installment from Insurance Company

Wait for Inspection By Insurance Company

Wait to collect Homeowner’s Deductible

Wait for Final Payment By Insurance Company

All of this Hurry Up and Wait for activity makes it hard for The Contractor to schedule other jobs. Many contractors are only holding a place open for the customer once a job deposit has been received.

There Is A Better Way - Fill The Funnel And Let Them Clamor To Get On Your Schedule!

Unless your Construction Contracting Company has lots of work stacked up, there will be times when there is nothing to do, and that is the best time to think about Strategic Marketing and following the adage:

"Dig Your Well Before You Are Thirsty"

Everyone over a certain age remembers the Big Telephone Book with Lots of Yellow Pages

The Telephone Books was so thick that it was the first thing used as a “Booster Seat” for little kids at Holiday Dinners. Those days are gone along with the Full Page – Triple Truck Ads. Today’s telephone book is small, thin and looks closer to an oversized paperback book. Remember the Thomas Guide Map Books. Everyone had them and bought a new copy every year. Today it is the world of internet marketing and phone apps. When in doubt – Google It, Bing, Safari, or search on Yahoo. There are other places, but these are the most common.

While waiting for something to happen here are few companies that may help generate leads Here are a few of my favorite companies that provide services that are helpful to contractors

Home Advisor – Marketing Nationwide - http://www.homeadvisor.com/

The best part is that you choose the areas you want to work and the types of projects you'll service.

They have resources on the pricing your construction services HomeAdvisor is the place to be found - here's why:

• Over 12 million project requests in the last 12 months • More than 5 million reviews submitted by homeowners • Nearly 140,000 service pros in their network

Houzz.com - Marketing Nationwide - https://www.houzz.com

The website for Contactors to Market to Homeowners and upload pictures of past project

  Footwork Express – Marketing to Real Estate Agents - http://www.footworkflyers.com

Real Estate Agents need the assistance of contractors to put their listing in the best light

Footwork Express Provides Real Estate Marketing in King & Snohomish Counties

They deliver flyers, postcards, counter card promotions to Real Estate Offices

They work with Builders, Agents, Marketing Cos, & Companies with Services which Help Agents List & Sell Homes

Deliveries are Posted on their Home Page with the link to our client's website if available

They also post the Flyers on their Facebook, LinkedIn & Twitter

Postcard Mania – Marketing Nationwide - http://www.postcardmania.com/

Business Cards and Matching Postcards that you can pass out or mail

Business cards never go out of style – the just seem old fashioned

When the internet goes down, or customers do not have Smart Phone that trusty business card comes in handy

Your Construction Company Business Card Should Have:

Your Company Name

Your Company Address

Your Contact Info

Your Company Web Address

Your Company Phone Number

A business card is two sided – print something on both sides. Add a Flyer-like the one you used with Footwork Express and do a little “toe & heel work.” In other words Market, Market, Market.

Pick a neighborhood that is profitable to you.

Pick a neighborhood you know.

Pick a neighborhood that is developed with sidewalks.

Get in the Habit of passing out cards.

Our Marketing Favorite is called “Six Pack Marketing.”

Warning! Contractor Six Pack Marketing Can Put You In A Higher Tax Bracket!

Because of all the money, it can make you if you do it right...which means if you do it at all!

Contractor Six Pack Marketing is extremely powerful so be very careful with this one...several years ago in one of our construction companies we would send a crew to do a small two or three-day project, and they would wind up staying in the area for several months at a time.

What a scheduling nightmare! We had to hire more workers, train them using our documented process and send them out to a new project in a new neighborhood and BANG! More often than not they would plant the flag and set up operations and be there for a very long time.

Here is how it works: Your crew shows up to a house to do construction project and before things get really busy you go to three houses on each side of the place where you are working (six pack) and introduce yourself to the people living there by handing them a business card and in your own words say something like "Hello, my name is ----- and we are doing a construction project for your neighbor ------ and I just wanted to let you know that if any of our trucks or vans get parked in your way or if you have any concerns about what we are doing you can contact me personally and I will handle it."

WOW! You will amaze and delight them! Now do the same for the six houses across the street and when you are finished if nobody has asked for you to "stop by and see about a construction project" at their house you re-visit them and ask if he or she were inconvenienced in any way. This works because most people are curious about what is going on their neighborhood.

Numbers, Numbers, Numbers! In baseball, if somebody hit home runs 30% of the time they went up to bat they would earn a lot of money. Most of the time you will not find new work in the neighborhood; however, if it works just 10% of the time and one more person hires you then repeat the six pack again, and in most cases, human nature is "Me Too, Me Too!" Nobody wants to be left out, and very quickly you are getting a backache hauling all your money to the bank!

Now for the big news Figure out how much money it costs to "Mobilize" get your vehicles, labor, material, tools and equipment to a job site and how much does it cost to "Demobilize" or reverse the process. Now add an increased efficiency of at least 1% to the bottom line because the crew is familiar with the people and the neighborhood.

Every time your contractor six pack works you just put that "Mobilize and Demobilize" money and the 1% increase to the bottom line in your "vacation, retirement, kids college fund or whatever makes you smile fund."

If you would like to try the contractor six pack but need someone to do it with you and if you are within 20 minutes driving distance from my office in Lynnwood Washington and offer to buy me breakfast ahead of time I could be persuaded to do it with you at no additional charge other than breakfast because I always enjoy a good meal with a contractor! Contact Sharie 206-361-3950 or by email sharie@fasteasyaccounting.com and let her know you are interested in Six Pack Marketing.

Alternate Method For Six Pack Marketing

If it is a nice friendly neighborhood, the neighbors will be watching your work and come over. Why they might want something done at their house. Neighborhood with sidewalks – walk the block. Years ago we made up packets that consisted of a Door hanger, Flyer, Free Marketing pieces from the supplier, business card and a coupon. Paper-clipped together and bundled in groups of ten:

Hired High school kids to work in pairs put out door hangers

One driver and one person to pass out

They changed who drove and who walked or parked the vehicle

Sometimes both of them walked depending on the neighborhood

Gave them a street map, a highlighter to keep track of where they had been

Usually worked 2-3 Hours productively several days a week

Be sure your truck is lettered because it and mobile billboard advertising your contracting company

Add a few Yard Signs for the job sites

When you see a New Construction Project, there are signs everywhere on the project

Why – The Contractors want to have a “Next Job” to go to before this one is finished

Coolfront – Invoicing Software Nationwide - http://www.coolfront.com/

The World's Smartest Service Businesses Use Coolfront Mobile.Coolfront is a Mobile Flat Rate Pricing App for Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC. Has the ability to customize for additional services. Designed for especially the Mechanical Trades doing Service and Repair. Anyone who has had to build a Flat Rate Pricing Guide appreciates all the built-in features.

Construction Document Collection and Management System

We are always looking for a software to use internally, and you help you. Clients love the new Document Management System that links to their Bank Account, Credit Cards and can send other documents to it and they can view 24/7 previous documents sent.

  Hubdoc automatically pulls your bills and statements into one secure hub. This means you have one login to view and manage the documents from all of your accounts. No more logging into ten different sites each month to gather your recurring bills.

Already A Client? Click The Logo Below

To Login To Your Hubdoc

Three ways to collect paperwork to Hubdoc:

1. Snap a Photo with the App

Simply take a photo of your receipt, invoice or bill with the mobile app. Hubdoc scans, extracts, and stores your documents, ready to be published.

2. Forward your Email Paperwork

When you become a client, Hubdoc automatically creates a personalized email address just for you. Email in your documents, and we'll do the rest.

3. Scan/Upload your Documents

If you've already scanned your receipts, invoices, statements or bills, you can upload them directly to Hubdoc and the software will extract the key data for you.

Safe and Secure!

Hubdoc uses bank-level security to ensure your data is safe. This includes 256-bit encryption, SSL/TLS, and a Premium Extended Validation certificate -- as well as monitoring and verification from McAfee & TRUSTe, the trusted industry standards in data security.

Simplify and Go Paperless!

Your important financial records are organized automatically for you, backed up forever and available on any device. Hubdoc is your digital filing cabinet in the cloud.

TSheets – Time Cards Construction Contractors And Their Empolyees Love - http://www.tsheets.com/

  Whenever possible, we try to use the services before recommending them so yes, We use T-Sheets.

Coming Soon

We are currently testing a Dispatch Software with built in estimates, invoices and merchant services. It is a game-changer in the world of dispatch software because IT ACTUALLY WORKS! This particular dispatch software works with QuickBooks Desktop on your desk or in our QuickBooks Desktop in the cloud, and it will be a help to all contractors and the technicians and customers.

Fast Easy Accounting Store - QuickBooks Setup and QuickBooks Chart of Accounts For Construction Contractors

We are adding content to  www.FastEasyAccountingStore.com to meet the needs of the Do-It-Yourself Contractor. This is helpful to our US, Canadian and other international contractor friends who want to purchase QuickBooks setup Templates and QuickBooks Chart of Accounts for their specific construction company.

Short List Construction Contractors We Serve

Short List Construction Contractors We Serve 

Brand New Construction Company    Handyman Company

Cabinet Installer    HVAC Contractor

Carpentry Contractor    Insulation Contractor    

Carpet And Tile Contractor    Interior Designer      

Commercial Tenant Improvement Contractor   Land Development Company

Concrete Contractor    Landscape Contractor    

Construction Company   Masonry Contractor

Construction Manager   Mold Remediation Company      

Contracting Company    Moss Removal Company      

Contractor   Painting Contractor      

Custom Deck Builder    Plumbing Contractor      

Custom Home Builder    Pressure Washing Company      

Demolition Contractor    Remodel Construction Company      

Drywall Contractor    Renovation Contractor      

Electrical Contractor    Restoration Contractor      

Emerging Contractor    Roofing Contractor      

Excavation Contractor    Spec Home Builder      

Finish Millwork Contractor    Specialty Contractor      

Flipper House Contractor    Subcontractor

Flooring Contractor    Trade Contractor      

Framing Contractor    Underground Contractor      

General Contractor    Utility Contractor      

Glass Installation Contractor    Construction Employees    

Gutter Installation Company    Construction Support Specialist

  Additional QuickBooks Templates, Resources, And Services

QuickBooks Set Up Templates   Solopreneur

QuickBooks Chart Of Accounts     Free Stuff

QuickBooks Item Lists Templates     Consulting

  We Serve Over 100 Types Of Contractors So If Your Type Of Company Is Not Listed

Please Do Not Be Concerned Because If You Are A Contractor

There Is A Good Chance We Can Help You!

Call Now: 206-361-3950

We Serve Over 100 Types Of Contractors So If Your Type Of Company Is Not Listed

Please Do Not Be Concerned Because If You Are A Contractor

There Is A Good Chance We Can Help You!

Call Now: 206-361-3950

As summer is approaching here is wishing you a safe trip as you go about your adventures.

Enjoy your day.

Sharie

About The Author:

Sharie DeHart, QPA is the co-founder of Business Consulting And Accounting in Lynnwood Washington. She is the leading expert in managing outsourced construction bookkeeping and accounting services companies and cash management accounting for small construction companies across the USA. She encourages Contractors and Construction Company Owners to stay current on their tax obligations and offers insights on how to manage the remaining cash flow to operate and grow their construction company sales and profits so they can put more money in the bank. http://www.fasteasyaccounting.com/sharie-dehart/ 206-361-3950 or sharie@fasteasyaccounting.com

  I trust this podcast helps you understand that outsourcing your contractor's bookkeeping services to us is about more than just “doing the bookkeeping”; it is about taking a holistic approach to your entire construction company and helping support you as a contractor and as a person.

We Remove Contractor's Unique Paperwork Frustrations

We understand the good, bad and the ugly about owning and operating construction companies because we have had several of them and we sincerely care about you and your construction company!

That is all I have for now, and if you have listened to this far please do me the honor of commenting and rating podcast www.FastEasyAccounting.com/podcast Tell me what you liked, did not like, tell it as you see it because your feedback is crucial and I thank you in advance.

You Deserve To Be Wealthy Because You Bring Value To Other People's Lives!

I trust this will be of value to you and your feedback is always welcome at www.FastEasyAccounting.com/podcast

One more example of how Fast Easy Accounting is helping construction company owners across the USA including Alaska and Hawaii put more money in the bank to operate and grow your construction company. Construction accounting is not rocket science; it is a lot harder than that, and a lot more valuable to construction contractors like you so stop missing out and call Sharie 206-361-3950 or email sharie@fasteasyaccounting.com

Contractor Bookkeeping Done For You!

Thinking About Outsourcing Your Contractors Bookkeeping Services?

Click On The Link Below:

www.FastEasyAccounting.com/hs

This guide will help you learn what to look for in outsourced construction accounting.

Need Help Now?

Call Sharie 206-361-3950

sharie@fasteasyaccounting.com

Thank you very much, and I hope you understand we do care about you and all contractors regardless of whether or not you ever hire our services. Bye for now until our next episode here on the Contractors Success MAP Podcast.

Warm Regards,

Randal DeHart | The Contractors Accountant

Our Workflow Removes Your Paperwork Frustrations

For Contractors Who Prefer

To Do Your Bookkeeping

Fast Easy Accounting Do-It-Yourself Construction Accounting Store Is Open

Most Contractors Setup QuickBooks Desktop Version In One Of Three Ways:

#1 EZ Step Interview inside QuickBooks Setup #2 Asked Their Tax Accountant To Setup QuickBooks #3 They Attended A How To Setup QuickBooks Class Or Seminar

And QuickBooks Does Not Work The Way They Want It Too!

The Answer:

#1 Click Here To Buy An Entire QuickBooks Setup For Your Specific Contracting Company

#2 Click Here To Buy Just The Chart Of Accounts For Your Specific Contracting Company

Short List Construction Contractors We Serve 

Brand New Construction Company    Handyman Company

Cabinet Installer    HVAC Contractor

Carpentry Contractor    Insulation Contractor    

Carpet And Tile Contractor    Interior Designer      

Commercial Tenant Improvement Contractor   Land Development Company

Concrete Contractor    Landscape Contractor    

Construction Company   Masonry Contractor

Construction Manager   Mold Remediation Company      

Contracting Company    Moss Removal Company      

Contractor   Painting Contractor      

Custom Deck Builder    Plumbing Contractor      

Custom Home Builder    Pressure Washing Company      

Demolition Contractor    Remodel Construction Company      

Drywall Contractor    Renovation Contractor      

Electrical Contractor    Restoration Contractor      

Emerging Contractor    Roofing Contractor      

Excavation Contractor    Spec Home Builder      

Finish Millwork Contractor    Specialty Contractor      

Flipper House Contractor    Subcontractor

Flooring Contractor    Trade Contractor      

Framing Contractor    Underground Contractor      

General Contractor    Utility Contractor      

Glass Installation Contractor    Construction Employees    

Gutter Installation Company    Construction Support Specialist

  Additional QuickBooks Templates, Resources, And Services

QuickBooks Set Up Templates   Solopreneur

QuickBooks Chart Of Accounts     Free Stuff

QuickBooks Item Lists Templates     Consulting

  We Serve Over 100 Types Of Contractors So If Your Type Of Company Is Not Listed

Please Do Not Be Concerned Because If You Are A Contractor

There Is A Good Chance We Can Help You!

Call Now: 206-361-3950

If you are a blogger, who writes about construction we would like to hear from you.

https://www.fasteasyaccounting.com/guestblogger

                                                                  Contractors_Success_MAP, Contractors_Success_Marketing_Accounting_Production, Contractor_Bookkeeping_Services, QuickBooks_For_Contractors, QuickBooks_For_Contractors,Contractors_Success_Map_Unique_Proven_Marketing_Tips_For_Your_Contracting_Company

Check out this episode about Contractors Marketing - Accounting - Production (M.A.P.)!