#oh well there's no use in complaining about it that's not gonna get me anywhere

[starpros-sunshine]

hi seb good afternoon ily ♡ i hope your day's been good so far :3

Hi hi good afternoon to you as well <33

My day's been alright not much happened tbh my one friend came over like five minutes after I woke up to vent and recharge on the positive vibes of my cat and we did some tests out of boredom and I got declared unwell again but overall that's pretty much it... I should be doing my homework right now but we're supposed to justify the popularity of an author of which we have read exactly one part of one of his stories. Idiotic task if you ask me but oh well I'll just have to pull something out of my sleeves then

I hope your day's been nice so far as well!!! It's morning where you are right now right? I Suppose I should say that I hope your day's gonna be nice then instead <33

[icarusredwings]

Thinking about Logan, after being officallt together with Wade for multiple months just sitting at the table with this longing look on his face.

"What's wrong, Wolvie? Kitty havin' a bad day?"

"...My wife died today.."

"What?"

And it's not that Wade doesn't already know he's been married multiple times already, but it's the suprise that Logan is just now mentioning this today. I mean its like 4 pm and he just now is bringing this up.

"Well.. Let's go see her!"

"... I can't.."

"Oh... cause it hurts to much?"

Logan is staring at the table, just.. staring.. out of it, looking like he's gonna cry if someone doesn't do something. And seeing as he's sober now, he's trying really hard to stay here. He wants to run off to some bar and drown himself in his own sorrows, but he doesn't.

He's a good boy.

Cause he's staying right here. At home. With Wade. Where he belongs. It's so hard, though. So damn hard.

Theres a big pause before he looks up at wade with the biggest wettest eyes. "..Cause shes in Japan."

And suddenly, Wade Gasps. "Ooh I love Tokyo! Lets go!"

Logan is now frustrated, he thinks wade is teasing him about going. He thinks hes mocking him. Tears fall as he glares at him.

"DONT... not today, wilson."

So Wade blinks and is like 'oh shit' cause he got hit with the army name.

"...so.. you dont want to go to Japan?"

Its now that Logan looks at him, baffled. "Of course I do..."

"Then let's go! Im bringing an empty suitcase, EEHH Im gonna buy so many clothes!" So as Wade runs off, Logan thinks for a second, processing before awkwardly coming to the bedroom. "W-..were actually going?"

Wade stops packing and blinks. "Peanut you really gotta make up your mind. Do you want to go see your wife or not?"

"... yes."

"Then yes. We are. Now come on I cant imagine a ticket this late would be cheap but oh well! Anything for my Logan." He declares.

Logan smiles a bit.

My Logan

"Y-you dont mind? Really? It'll be a lot of money, Wade... wont you feel weird coming with me to watch me talk to her?"

"Oh don't worry about it. I took a couple extra jobs this week, and why wouldn't I be? You let me see Ness. And Death."

"I dont exactly *let* you see death... she just takes you."

"Yeah well. When a girl is needy you dont really complain, now do ya? Now get packed or ill go myself. Ive been itching to go somewhere for awhile. Love new york. Hate america." He states, slamming his case shut and zipped it only for a couple yips to come from the bag.

"...Wade... did you pack puppins?"

"What? Shes an essential."

"Wade..."

"Fine! I'll leave her with al! Jeez."

And so, here they are, packed, sunscreened, and at the airport when Logan remembers how much he hates planes. He's nervous, anxiously staring at the boarding gate and his hands itch. Hes in the corner, waiting for wade to get back with their pretzels.

"You know- Its really convenient that I saved up all that money and we were able to go on this vacation style trip. Oh well. You want your pretzel now or later? Yours has cheese. Mines mustard.. Kinda like that new Kendrick song."

"What??" Logan asks, out of it and is obviously sweating.

"Ooh kitty... shit I forgot. Here. Hurry up and take these. Hank said if we ever needed to go somewhere on a plane or you were going crazy to give you some of these." He says, shifting hands to give him a bottle of pills.

"Im not so sure about this.."

"About going to Japan?"

"No no.. I... I wanna go to Japan. I just.. I really hate planes.. and these I-" he looks at the pills, whining. "I used to do a ton of pills, Wade. Anything I could get my paws on."

"Ha!! Paws."

"?? Did you take one of these?" He questions.

"Oh what? Nah. Did do a ton of coke though before we left... Oh shit... you know what the author just remembered?"

"Huh?"

"Yeah exactly. We cant get through TSA... Welp. Time to go buy a plane."

"Ohh hell no! You are NOT flying us anywhere!.. Look.. I know a guy."

"Oooh. Mysterious cliff hanger. What will happen next? Who knows. Maybe we'll get a plane crash and logan will drown to death over and over-"

"WADE!!! NOT. HELPING!"

[cottonlemonade]

Six And A Half Minutes

word count: 1608 || avg. reading time: 7 mins. (ironically)

pairing: University!AU Suna x chubby!Reader

genre: Smutty McSmutterson, teasing, nipple play, friends to lovers (?)

warnings: mdni, nsfw, swearing, mentions of insecurities

synopsis: you haven‘t had sex in a while and your best friend offers to help out

“Don’t.“

“I wasn’t doing anything.“

“I know that look. Don’t call him.“

Rintarou had just stepped out of his bathroom back to the living room to find you staring at your phone, biting your nails in thought.

“I doubt he‘s even up, it‘s almost 2am.“

“Good, then put the phone away.“

“Ha, bit rich coming from you.“

He confiscated the device of temptation, ignoring the pout that followed.

“You’re getting this back when I know you’re gonna behave.“ He shook his head, flicking some access water from his hair into your face - like spraying a misbehaving puppy with a water bottle.

You turned back to the TV, sinking deeper into the collar of your PJs.

Exams were finally over and to celebrate you had planned a movie marathon with your best friend. Since the news predicted a nasty storm tonight you both decided you would spend the night on his couch.

“Why call the bastard anyways?“

You shrugged, not looking at him.

“Booty call? Christ, y/n, can‘t you just watch porn like the rest of us?“

“Eh, nothing‘s been doing it for me lately. I was so annoyed by the breakup and exhausted from studying that it‘s been well over a month since I-“, you stopped when you realized what you were saying.

He grinned. “You know, if you need it that badly, I‘ll step up.“

“Oh, you brave soul. I‘m good.“, you scoffed.

“You were just about to call a lying, cheating jerk and somehow my offer is ridiculous?“

“Don‘t take this the wrong way, but I don‘t wanna fuck my best friend and I highly doubt you want that either.“

Rintarou bit back a remark, then sighed and said, “We don‘t have to have sex to make you feel good, you know.“

“What are you gonna do? Stare me to orgasm?“

You finally managed to look at him - he didn’t seem to be joking.

“Nah, but I‘ve been told I‘m pretty good with my hands. And mouth.“

“What are you even saying right now? I don‘t want you anywhere near…“, you vaguely gestured to your lap.

“Alright then. Bet I can make you cum by just playing with your boobs.“

“Oh my god, you‘re serious.“

“Well yeah, thanks for noticing.”

You chewed your bottom lip in thought.

“What happens if you manage to make me cum?“, you asked in a small voice.

He shrugged. “Then you owe me one.“

The offer did sound exciting and you’d be lying if you said he had never crossed your mind during intimate moments you had with yourself. But this was insane! So many things could go wrong with this. What if things would turn weird afterwards and you‘d lose him as a friend?

“If it’s too weird like this we can set a timer or something.”, he suggested, as always reading your thoughts right off your face.

“Alright… how long… do you think you need? A minute?”

“One minute?! Are you kidding? I’m good, but not that good!”

You laughed nervously. “Fine. 3 minutes?”

“10.”

“10?! No! That’s too long.”

“Fine, 8.”

“How about 5?”

“7.”

“What are you doing?”

“Just keeping it realistic. 5 isn’t enough.”

“You can do it in 5.”, you said, trying to add a light encouraging tone as a joke.

He didn’t budge. “7.”

“Why 7?”

“Cause 7 minutes in heaven.”

He grinned again.

“I remember those seven minutes always being very long and awkward. 6.”

“7.”

“This is not how this compromising thing works!”

“Hey, you’re the one who wants to get off.”

“Fine…” you say, feeling heat creeping into your cheeks, “6 and a half.”

“For fuck sake. Fine six and a half. But don’t complain if you don’t cum.”

Your ears were ringing from his bluntness and you rubbed your legs together, trying to covertly get some friction.

He muted the TV and scooched closer, nodding towards your top.

You were pretty sure your whole face was bright red at this point.

“You gotta lift you’re shirt for me or take it off, whatever you prefer.“

The insecurities came flooding in. Sitting was not the sexiest pose you had to offer. Your belly fat rolled and bunched, then there were the stretchmarks clawing at your skin, plus you knew you had a terrible posture, making you sit like the hunchback of Notre Dame. You squeezed your eyes shut tightly and took a deep breath, slowly lifting the hem.

“Wait.“, he suddenly said and got up, hurrying out of the room.

Your shoulders sagged. Didn‘t take much for him to run for the hills. You wanted to bury your face in your hands but a few moments later he was already back, a tie in his hand.

“W-what are you doing?“, you stammered.

“Well, you looked super uncomfortable so I figured a blindfold might help. I don‘t have a proper one so I guess my old uniform tie has to do.“

That was… surprisingly thoughtful and sweet. You smiled and relaxed a bit.

With his help you used the red tie to cover your eyes. He made sure your hair wasn‘t caught anywhere and the knot wasn‘t too tight.

“Lay back.“, he said simply. You swallowed and slowly lowered yourself until your head touched the armrest.

“You comfortable now?“

You nodded.

“Alright.“

You heard him tapping on his phone. “Timer’s set, lift your shirt.“

Feeling a little more confident now, you did as he told you.

The complete darkness provided by the makeshift blindfold helped a lot and the cold breeze from his aircon brushed gently over your exposed skin.

If your nipples hadn‘t already been hard from the whole conversation before, they were now.

You heard him curse, then shift on the couch. You waited in your own private darkness. The only sound was the quiet whirring of the air con.

And then your bra was pulled down and his hands were on your breasts, caressing, just on the sides at first. A gasp dropped from your lips and you shivered, arching your back into the touch.

Rintarou‘s mouth was dry. He couldn‘t believe this was real. Your skin was so much softer than he had imagined. With calloused fingers he brushed over your flesh, just teasing at first, so very pleased when, with another shudder, goosebumps started to appear on your skin. Your nipples looked so fucking tempting but he wanted to build to it. Not like he had a lot of time, but he needed to savor this. When he finally cupped your breasts he had to bite his lips to stop a new stream of curses. Pillowy and inviting he wanted nothing more than to rest his head and fall asleep. Or push his painfully hard cock between them.

He was already two minutes down. Shit.

He loved how sensitive you were to every squeeze, every brush. You really hadn‘t had any release in weeks, huh. Fuck, he wanted you. He licked his lips and lowered his head. Holding your breasts in both hands he drew circles with the tip of his tongue around your nipples.

And you moaned. Sending lust filled surges straight to his cock. He felt the twitch in his sweats. He needed you to do that again.

He moved to the other nipple, making sure to flick the abandoned one with his finger. You started to squirm and he was rewarded with another moan.

More. More. He closed his lips around you, sucking gently, swirling his tongue around the perfect little pebble in his mouth.

Oh, he was addicted to you. There was nothing else but you. He let your nipple go, only to set kisses to your skin and blow on your little pearls, wet from his saliva.

“Fuck, Rintarou…“

He was getting dizzy, his movements became needier and it took all of his remaining focus to not start rutting his stiff cock against your plush thighs.

Your whimpers and sighs were almost non-stop now and he just openly groaned with your perfect tits in his mouth now, the vibrations tickling your nipples.

Where had the time gone? When he glanced over at his phone, he only had a minute left.

He nibbled at your breasts, sucking deep red marks into the flesh. His hands, so careful and gentle at first, now became groping and he moaned loudly when his cock made accidental contact with your leg. He was not above humping you like a dog but he really needed you to cum first.

“Oh God, yes… Yes, nngh, Rintarou, fuck…“

Shit, were you close? He pinched your nipples, then let them plop out of his mouth before really latching on like his life depended on it.

Cum for me, he thought. Please.

You raised your hand and he almost came right there himself, when your fingers ran through his hair, pulling him closer to you.

“Fuck, y/n, cum for me.“, he whispered against your skin, “You can do it. Cum for me, baby.“

And the timer went off.

Startled by the noise you shot up, removing the blindfold.

The brightness of the lights left you disoriented for a moment. Rintarou sat before you, out of breath, flushed, disheveled. You had never seen this kind of hunger in his eyes. You felt embarrassed, fixing your bra over your slick covered breasts and lowering the hem of your shirt.

You still felt him on your skin. Why did you stop him? Maybe he would have continued, if you hadn‘t. Shit, you were so close.

While trying to avoid his eyes, your gaze landed on his sweats and the rather sizable imprint of his cock pushing against the fabric.

He didn‘t hide it. He knew you saw it. And he was waiting for your next move.

part 2

@nyctophilicroses - covertly slides over another Suna smut fic with chubby reader

[raythekiller]

I love the masky nsfw alphabet It riled up my imagination.. soo can i request for a hoodie one?? Thank youu

🗒꒰⸝⸝₊ NSFW ALPHABET ❛ ✧

Featuring: Hoodie/Brian

# Notes: its that time of the year again where i make 1 post and disappear for the next seven months <3 also DAYUM new post format?? (also also theres a new toby drawing on the way stay tuned)

A - AFTERCARE

Surprisingly soft. Wants to hold you close and maybe take a shower together. Don't get things twisted though - it's so he can keep feeling your body against his instead of to comfort you. Call it possessiveness or an ego stroke, maybe.

B - BODY PART

Thighs man through and through. Thigh highs drive him up-the-wall insane. Will also just absentmindedly knead them if you're sitting next to him, especially if you're wearing shorts or a skirt/dress.

C - CUM

Oh he likes it messy. Just enjoys having his cum on you in general - backshots, face, dripping from you after he came inside, you name it.

D - DIRTY SECRET

None. He has no shame and is very open about what he likes.

E - EXPERIENCE

Not as much as you might expect, given his demeanour. Don't get me wrong, it's still a lot, but he makes it seem like he worked as a pornstar for a few years with sheer cockiness.

F - FAVORITE POSITION

If you ask him, he'll say "all of them". But if you put a gun to his head and tell him to choose, he'll settle for doggy. Just loves grabbing your hips and ass while he's pounding into you.

G - GOOFY

He doesn't exactly make jokes, but his teasing might be a bit funny at times. He doesn't mind making things more silly or lighthearted as long as you still cum at the end of it.

H - HAIR

Usually clean-shaven, but he might get a bit lazy with it occasionally. Always at least well trimmed though.

I - INTIMACY

Usually adapts to what you like best. If you just want to get your brains fucked out and keep romance out of it, he'll happily do it. If you like something more tender with lots of "I love you"s, he doesn't complain about it either.

J - JACK OFF

A lot. This guy has crazy stamina (we'll talk about that later), I'd say maybe five times per week or so.

K - KINK

A lot but mainly: CORRUPTION!! I've said it before and I'll say it again he wants to bring the worst out of you. If you're a virgin, he wants go be your first. If you're not, he wants to see just how wild things can get when he pushes you a little.

L - LOCATION

Literally anywhere. He is a fan of semi-public sex, though. In the woods, living room of the manor when (you think) there's no one else home, in a busted alleyway, you name it.

M - MOTIVATION

Oh it's very easy to turn him on. Here's a huge one though: when you take iniciative. He's used to being the one starting shit. When YOU do it, though? When you make it clear you want him to wreck you? Fucking hot.

N - NO

Very short but obvious list: anything to do with piss, shit or vomit. Other than that, I think he's pretty open. Not even averse to being submissive every now and then.

O - ORAL

HELL YEAH BABY! Giving, receiving, whatever, he doesn't care. His mouth isn't just good for talking shit — he knows how to use that tongue. When he's getting head, though? He looks so pretty — head thrown back, moaning and whimpering with a grin on his face. Might buck his hips into your mouth for giggles (and because you sound hot choking on him).

P - PACE

Again, he'll go for whatever gets you off. If you like it rough and fast, he's in. If you prefer slow and sensual, that's also hot.

Q - QUICKIE

Biggest quickie fan in the manor. He just can't help himself most of the time and he doesn't really try to, either. If his horny, you best bet he knows how to get you horny as well and things just go from there.

R - RISK

Loves experimenting and finding new ways to make you moan. Doesn't mind getting a bit freakier every now and then.

S - STAMINA

Jesus christ what are they feeding this man. Y'know when guys are like "I'm gonna fuck you all night long" and stop after two rounds max? This motherfucker is serious about it.

T - TOYS

I don't think he'd go out of his way to buy them, but if you already have them you best believe he's using it to his advantage. Big fan of vibrators.

U - UNFAIR

This guy is MEAN. He doesn't make you wait for too long before fucking you but just those few minutes feel like an eternity with the atrocities he's whispering in your ear.

V - VOLUME

LOUD. He moans, groans, whines, whimpers, you name it. Not ashamed to make some noise and LOVES if you're loud as well.

W - WILD CARD

Likes having his hair pulled— WHO SAID THAT???

X - X-RAY

7.4 inches, cut. Not too thick, just the right girth.

Y - YEARNING

Can't go like, a week without having sex or at least jacking off. Homeboy has a lot of steam he needs to let out.

Z - ZZZ

Only god knows how he doesn't pass out immediately after. Chances are you'll fall asleep before him.

[danieyells]

I don't know if you've done it yet but I would like to request Ren lines? I'm having tokyo debunker Ren brainrot bro 😭.

@otomelover23

You're all very welcome! I love you guys too, so far! Sorry you've been deprived of lazy boi lolol HOPEFULLY THESE SATISFY YOU A LITTLE BIT.

He's a little tsundere I think. He's one of those characters who just wants to be normal but he can't just pretend to be normal because he lives surrounded by chaos so he just complains a lot lolol. . .but i think he's a good guy. Aside from that he does not help his mother captain at all.

Hello: (the first time the game is opened after that character is set as home screen NPC. Only happens once per day, unless the character is switched out and back.)

"Great, shift change. I'm gonna head out then... What? Do I really need to be here for that?"

You've Got Mail: (whenever there's something in the inbox, usually Arena rewards)

"I think you've got a notification... Aren't you going to look at it?"

Default: (requires no affinity, has no time constraints)

"Who did I disappoint in a past life to end up in Jabberwock... There's no general students or even a single other sane person, and these jumpsuits are a crime..."

"Why do I have to look after all these weird-ass animals? This is forced labor...  Ugh, they're so gross..."

"If you're just gonna stand there, could you go feed the animals in the aquatic zone?  I'm too busy."

"Ugh, why is that clown calling me... ... Whatever, I'll just let it ring out."

you know damn well that if you don't answer the phone you're gonna have to deal with Haru in person. Better to just answer it.

"Oh, hey... Could you open the link I sent you? No, you don't have to sign up or anything. Thanks."

Affinity 1: (between 5am and 11am)

"Ugh... Tell me how I'm supposed to sit through classes when I've been up since 4 AM? (yawn) I'm exhausted..."

well if you didn't stay up until 4am--oh who am i kidding i stayed up til like 3 watching a stream and reading datamine stuff and then I got up at like 6:30 to get ready for work I'm no better kekw.

Affinity 2: (between 11am and 4pm)

"Ugh... I can't believe I'm hiding right now... Why the hell does that clown have to chase me around at lunch time too?"

Affinity 3: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"Preach about doing it for the sake of your friends or the animals or whatever all you want— I really don't give a shit. People who say that stuff are just deluding themselves."

i've known people with this kind of cynicism before. once he finds people care about him and a little more stability he'll come around a little more.

Affinity 4: (between 8pm and 5am)

"Huh? I can't see that clown anywhere... Hell yes. Gonna get through my watch list. I hope he never comes back."

Affinity 5: (between 8pm and 5am)

"I'm grinding this game on my phone, so could you not talk to me for a while? Crap, I think my RSI is flaring up..."

in Japanese he specifies tendonitis haha

Affinity 6: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"Don't people get embarrassed calling out those words when they use their stigmas? It makes them look like LARPers..."

in japanese he says they sound like they have chuunibyou which is much funnier imo lmao. also i guess that means he can say his in his head? since he'd feel embarrassed doing it aloud, maybe he's practiced already lol

Affinity 7: (between 11am and 4pm)

"You think I sigh a lot? Got a problem with that? You realize trying to take away people's freedom of speech is power harrassment, right?"

you're starting to sound like ritsu. gonna hurt yourself reaching like that.

Affinity 8: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"I'm so done... I'm out of HP... Shouldn't I be exempt from missions and classes since I'm looking after all those animals?"

well based on one of Haku's chats, you can just do missions if you don't go to class, and based on Kaito you can just go to class instead of doing missions. . .but I'm sure Haru forces him on missions anyway lol. . . .

Affinity 9: (between 8pm and 5am)

"Pfft... The video of that clown getting attacked by that hawk thing is getting so many interacts. This editing thing's actually pretty fun."

does editing count as a creative effort? i wouldn't be surprised if he switched to Hotarubi next year if so, assuming he doesn't get used to Jabberwock and the animals. Also why didn't he get stopped by Sophy for uploading a video with an anomaly? Unless he uploaded it to an Institute social media site like WickHive or something. . . .

Affinity 10: (between 10pm and midnight)

"Gotta change the locks so that clown can't get in again. I've bought enough padlocks to start my own business by now..."

life haru finds a way. sometimes that way is "towa, break down the door" if he runs out of lockpicking equipment.

Affinity 11: (between 5am and 11am)

"My head's killing me... This is the worst... Rise and shine! my ass... It's basically still the middle of the night. Guess I should padlock my windows..."

5-6am I can understand being 'basically the middle of the night' but after that you're pushing it lmao

Affinity 12: (between 11am and 4pm)

"The cafeteria's way over capacity... The assholes who save seats before its even noon are ruining it for everyone else..."

Affinity 13: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"Why's my pay so low... huh? What's this deduction for? "Consultation Fee: Ritsu Shinjo..." He's seriously charging me for complaining...?"

Ritsu charges for looking at him too long. i'd try venting on wickhive over complaining to Ritsu.

Affinity 14: (between 5am and 11am)

"That rabbit sure has it good. All it has to do is breathe and everyone fawns over it. Doesn't even have to feed itself. Just wait till it grows up and learns what the world's really like."

WELL BASED ON THAT THE ADULT PEEKABOO WAS STILL BEING FAWNED OVER AND HARU HAD TO STOP PEOPLE FROM PETTING IT BECAUSE IT BITES. . .IT'LL PROBABLY STILL HAVE IT GOOD. Haru takes good care of the animals.

Affinity 15: (between 5am and 11am)

"Sup... Huh? I'm alone today. I just got up on my own since if I don't that clown'll wake me up anyway."

yeah? it's because of haru? not because of your affinity with the pc being more than half so you wanna be up earlier to spend more time with them? sure.

Affinity 16: (between 11am and 4pm)

"Oof, nearly missed the noon raid...  Not like I'll have any time to myself once I get back to the dorm, so I guess I should do it now..."

Affinity 17: (between 10pm and midnight)

"No, I'm not going to sleep yet. I'm gonna watch a horror B-movie. You don't have to think, so they're the perfect thing to watch before bed."

i used to watch/listen to mts3k to go to sleep so. i feel this.

Affinity 18: (between 8pm and 5am)

"Well done me for surviving another day... Oh, same to you too, {PC}. I don't how you can do this stuff voluntarily."

SOME PEOPLE JUST LIKE ANIMALS DAWG.

Affinity 19: (between 10pm and midnight)

"Huh? I'm going to the campus store to buy some stuff, where are you going? Well, I'm going that way, so...bye."

not sure if shy or asocial lmao. could be both!

Affinity 20: (between 5am and 11am)

"You're being forced to help out again? Wow, a doormat out in the wild. So? Where do you want me to carry all this food?"

he's helping you even though he doesn't wanna work. HE'S GOT IT BAD.

Affinity 21: (between 11am and 4pm)

"This? It's a video I uploaded. People seem really into it. It's of that clown getting chased by a dog and flailing around like one of those inflatable air dancers."

Affinity 22: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"What am I doing today? Working at the diner. Oh, if you want to keep me company, feel free to come by. As long as you serve yourself."

it's not a date or anything since he's at work but like. . .he is inviting you to hang out. . . .

Affinity 23: (between 8pm and 5am)

"Huh? You were waiting for me to get off work? Oh... Thanks. Wait, that clown put you up to this?! I'm gonna kill him..."

NO NO WE CAME HERE WILLINGLY probably. although it does seem like Haru to be like "oh hey Ren really really likes you, you should go pick him up from work! he'd love that!!" like a real nosy mom who's trying to get his son together with his crush.

Affinity 24: (between 10pm and midnight)

"When did it get this late? That was horrifyingly fast... I'll walk part of the way back with you. I was gonna go buy something to drink anyway..."

excuses, excuses. . . .

Affinity 25(max): (no time constraints)

"Every day here is a fresh hell, sure, but... You're suffering through it with me, so I guess I'll stick it out a little longer..."

'this sucks but you make it suck a little(a lot) less so i can keep going'. yep, that's our tsundere alright!

Spring: (March-May) (between 5am and 11am)

"That clown's even more slap-happy than usual lately—it's horrible. Has he got spring fever or something?"

(between 11am and 4pm)

"Otonashi keeps trying to make me drink some kind of rice porridge with weird flowers in it... It's actual porridge harassment."

considering the flower Towa associates with Ren is poisonous, i think it's safe to assume he is literally trying to poison him to death lmao. also wtf is porridge harassment--i even tried looking it up in japanese and the first thing that came up was someone screenshotting it and saying "what is porridge harassment" lolol

(between 4pm and 8pm)

"All this farm labor's bad enough without all the caterpillars and weird plants that are out there now...This is harassment."

what's harassing you, nature? as someone who just had to kill a huge mosquito that came into my room, nature is harassing me too.

(between 8pm and 5am)

"I hate cherry blossoms. They're like the flower version of being a legacy kid— all they have to do is bloom once a year and everyone claps."

in japanese what he says is something like 'i hate them just like people born with silver spoons in their mouths'. basically he hates people born into privilege lol i bet he'd have the potential to get along well with haku until he learns he'll be inheriting a shrine. . .then again he's getting along with Ritsu in their own little way

Summer: (June-August) (between 5am and 11am)

"This is the worst... It's not even noon yet, how is it so hot? Summer is for extroverts and party animals, I wish it could just be over already..."

(between 11am and 4pm)

"A group trip to the beach? I'd rather die. No decent person would ever go there of their own free will."

butbutbut. think of the summer skins!!!

(between 4pm and 8pm)

"Summer was our busy period back home, so I always had to kill myself helping out. Now I'm here though... nothing's changed."

. . .did Ren's family run some sort of seaside shop??? And he happened to end up afraid of the ocean and hating aquatic creatures and such?

(between 8pm and 5am)

"How can the A/C be banned in the dorm...? Who gives a shit what temperature some anomalous animal that sneaks in prefers, humans should come first..."

okay i agree with him here though what the fuck kind of rule is that. can we talk to hyde about that, that's insane haru.

Autumn: (September-November) (between 5am and 11am)

"Now it's getting colder, I nearly found myself feeling grateful for this tragic jumpsuit... Am I being brainwashed...?"

(between 11am and 4pm)

"Fall, the season of the harvest—I'll stick with cup noodles, thanks. "Fall, the season to enjoy the outdoors"—screw that. I'm gonna make it the season of naps."

(between 4pm and 8pm)

"Look—I got bitten by some weird bug anomaly. To hell with the stupid bug spray ban, I'm buying some."

(between 8pm and 5am)

"I feel like the mountains are rowdier when there's a full moon. Pretty sure my enemy encounter rate goes up when I'm on patrol too... Maybe I'm just imagining it."

is 'enemy encounter rate' here referring to people or anomalies. . .because if it's people then that's just because of tsukimi. . .although I wouldn't be surprised if there were a lot of anomalies or anomalies were more active on full moons.

Winter: (December-February) (between 5am and 11am)

"There's less patrols in winter but anything involving water like washing up gets even worse... Ugh, I wish I could hibernate too..."

(between 11am and 4pm)

"Since the climate in Jabberwock's so messed up, sometimes it's actually warm in winter. The blizzards are way stronger though..."

have you tried pissing towa off less?

(between 4pm and 8pm)

"Oh god, I just saw what's in the diner's new Mystery Hot Pot... It's gotta be a matter of time before this place goes bust..."

i mean if they had ordinary health inspectors maybe lolol

(between 8pm and 5am)

"That clown broke my window so my room's like a freezer... Oh, don't worry. I just took his room instead."

lmao imagine Ren invites you to hang out and takes you to Haru's room instead of his like nah he broke my window so i'm using his room and he can freeze.

His birthday: (July 25th)

"You got this for me? That clown's been spreading my personal info around... No, it's fine, I'll still take it. Thanks."

i guess he doesn't really tell people his birthday, huh.

Your birthday:

"Happy birthday, {PC}. ...Isn't it kind of rude to look so surprised I'd celebrate your birthday? That came from the heart, you know."

I MEAN YOU NORMALLY DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING. . .it's happy surprise!!!

New Years: (January 1st)

"Happy New Year. My resolution? Escaping the hell hole that is Jabberwock, for starters."

well you got here in like September or something so. you've got a while befor eyou can switch houses lmao but you can do it this year!

Valentine's Day: (February 14th)

"You got me chocolates? You're the type who does all this kind of stuff, huh? No, it's fine, you went to the trouble and everything so I'll take them."

i love when characters kinda mock you for doing getting them something but then they're like "nonono i want it gimme--" lolol from Ren especially it's very tsundere. poor guy wouldn't be straightforward about his feelings unless a damn life was on the line.

White Day: (March 14th)

"{PC}... Here, if you want them. I just bought the first thing I saw, so don't read into it..."

i bet it's actually really nice lolol

April Fool's Day: (April 1st)

"Guess what? I got special permission to switch houses. That nightmare is now behind me! I wish..."

Halloween: (October 31st)

"I hope everyone who gets excited about Halloween lives in misery for the rest of their lives. Why the hell do I have to help out with this stupid themed tour?"

Christmas: (December 25th)

"Can I ask you a question, {PC}? You don't still believe in Santa Claus, do you? Never mind, it doesn't matter. Have a good Christmas."

i mean. . .after coming here santa is a plausible entity to believe in. . .if there's gonna be a santa i don't wanna be caught not believing and missing out on gifts. . . .

Idle: (about 20 seconds without interacting with the game) (below 13 affinity)

"Where'd she go...? Whatever. Guess I'll catch up on some of my games."

(13 affinity and above)

"Pfft... This edit's awesome. I'm a genius. I'll show {PC} when she gets back."

true bonding is sharing the funny memes you worked hard on. . . .

Absent: (logging in for the first time in 2 or more days?)

"It's not like I was waiting for you or anything. It's just this hell hole is even more unbearable when you're not around..."

YEP THAT'S OUR UNFORTUNATE CUSTOMER SERVICE EMPLOYEE TSUNDERE ALRIGHT. His lines don't really get super affectionate but. They still have a charm to them when you realize how much he hides his feelings in the usual tsundere way. He likes you a lot but like. . .it's a bother and it's embarrassing. . .and what're the chances you're into him? He'll just invite you over to watch movies and play games with him and stuff. . .and tell himself it's fine to just be friends until it eats away at him. . .or until Haru spills the beans for him--

this took way too long because i got distracted like three times in the middle and my laptop started freaking out and i had to figure out why and close and reopen everything about 8 times hahaha. . . . OKAY TIME FOR ME TO GO TO BED! I hope this satisfies you a little bit!!

[sanriotraffy]

Vanilla Perfume

Zoroxreader- no warnings only fluff <3

Zoro is not weak. In fact he’s far from weak, he’s wayyyy too strong. But every strong man has its weakness, and Zoro’s weakness was your perfume. That damn expensive signature perfume you’ve been wearing since before you first joined the crew. A vanilla scent, not your boring average vanilla scent but a superior, warm, spicy, and sweet vanilla that haunts Zoro. One whiff and he’s on his knees ready to worship and pray to the owner of the scent, which is obviously you.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were going out?” Zoro was pissed. Pissed because you both had agreed on staying in the Sunny and watching a movie with some food from a nearby restaurant and obviously some booze (and hydrating facemasks too). But when Robin pointed out that the island has some of the best night life in the world you knew you had to have a girls night even if Zoro got mad at you for ditching plans after he ordered food and found a movie.

Did you feel bad? Yea, but if you didn’t go out tonight you’d regret not going. So you did what you had to do. Get ready with the girls and escape while Zoro napped. And maybe you added something to his booze so he would sleep longer. Just because you’re a loving girlfriend it doesn’t mean you can’t commit pirate acts against your man.

“You’re such a bad girl you know, Zoro is gonna wake up pissed when he wakes up and doesn’t find you anywhere” Nami laughs, wasted. “Oh, I will be fine don’t you even worry girl, I have my ways” You replied sloppily, twice as wasted as her. “Oh, and speaking of the devil” Robin spoke pointing to Zoro, who was making its way to your table thru the crowd.

“Let’s go” he spoke when he finally got to you. “But I’m with the girls. The fuck?” You were giving him unnecessary sass that he didn’t appreciate at this moment. He rolled his eyes and told you to get up but you refused again which made Robin (the most sober out of the three) burst out laughing. Zoro rolled his eyes at her, it’s not even funny.

Eventually Zoro won, and got you to leave the bar with him. You were too drunk and sleepy to complain at this point. “Zorooooo, pleaseeeeeeee I’m sorryyyyyyyyy” you apologized to him as he ignored you the whole walk back to the ship. “You think a simple apology is enough after you cancelled our plans after I bought the food you wanted and the movie, and you cancelled without telling me, you just snuck off and lets not forget about the fact that you literally drugged me like I’m your enemy or something” he was mad, he had the right to. “Im sorry baby” you got closer to him eventually wrapping your arms around his waist and looking up at him with the prettiest eyes you can give him. “We haven’t had a girls night in so long, just us, the girls” you pouted at him. He just stared fighting his inner demons. You knew he smelt you, you knew he smelt the lethal perfume combo you chose today. The best vanilla scents in your collection + vanilla honey hair perfume, oh Zoro is a dead man.

“You know you’re getting away with so much shit because you smell so good and I don’t think it’s fair” he complained. You just giggled. “It’s my magic”

———

But wearing the same scent every day gets boring sometimes. “Baby I’m back!” You climb onto the crowns nest to show Zoro a haul of all the stuff you bought at the new island they arrived at. And as soon as you entered a new scent invaded Zoro’s nose. A pleasant sweet cherry scent with a familiar vanilla scent. The smell of an angel to him but a simple good perfume layering to you. “What took you so long?” He dramatically drops the dumbbell he was using to turn to you with a frown. You don’t care that he pretends to be annoyed with you as you cover his face in kisses with the new lipstick you’ve gotten at the store. “This store I went to had a variety of perfumes I had to smell every single one, AND I restocked on my signature scent as well” You kiss the perfume bottle showing it off to your still “annoyed” man.

“We were supposed to go watch that movie with the princess and the knight. You took way too long I had to go with the cook. It was embarrassing but I didn’t want that ticket to go to waste” he grumbled. You laughed. You knew that he liked spending time with Sanji (sometimes), even if he refused to admit it. They’re basically besties.

“Oh yea, well let me make it up to you baby” you stand on your tippies wrapping your arms around his sweaty neck and start kissing it. “Cant. Working out” he says but does nothing to stop you. It’s hard to resist you, specially with that new perfume. “But Zo-“ he couldn’t play it cool anymore. The cherry-vanilla scent won, meaning you had won, meaning you got your way again. Damn woman.

[slimybeth69]

Que Será, Será: Part 7

Rating: Explicit- Smut, violence, drinking/drug use. MDNI!! Summary: It's almost twenty years after some weird outbreak almost happened but the CDC took care of that...Now you're living in Austin, Texas as an adult.What happens when you meet Joel Miller who hasn't been hardened and ruined by twenty years of murder and loss? Warnings/Tags: DaddyDom!Joel/ you. no use of y/n. No physical description of the reader besides one tattoo. Reader has a background story. Drinking/drug use. Slow burn. Smut. Angst. Cheating. Graphic depictions of violence. Eventual loss of virginity. Use of nicknames/pet names (lil girl, baby girl.) DD/lg dynamics. BDSM play. Unbeta'ed. WIP. Cross-posting from my Ao3. Chapter Warnings: nothin' crazy, just some sensual shower stuff. ANGST. SAD.

Sorry if the texting is like, hard to understand. Joel is BOLD and INDENTED. You're just regular-degular.

<- previous chapter

Series Masterlist

You slept not one wink. Not one single fucking wink and guess who slept great? Mr. Miller.

His alarm goes off early as shit. So early. You’re mad at him when he crawls over the bed and snuggles into you. Your eyes are so tired but they just wouldn’t shut. You are praying he doesn’t ask how you slept because you won’t be able to tell him not well. 

“Mornin’.” He kisses the back of your shoulder gently. He can go kiss bricks for snoring as loudly as he did. Morning? Like you weren't up all night? Okay. 

“Morning.” You’re so short with him and you don’t even mean to be.

He notices immediately. This must have been a common issue in his past relationships or... he hasn't fucking had any, or he dated deaf women.

“Snorin’ all night?” 

Oh. So he knows? Cool. Didn't wanna warn you about it? Get you some ear plugs? Awesome. 

“Yeah, kinda.” You roll over and lay on your back beside him, he’s on his side, looking down at you.

“Sorry ‘bout it.” He mindlessly rubs the back of his neck before he leans down and kisses your forehead gently.

Suddenly all the anger is being melted away. All gone. 

“You don’t need a fan to sleep? You just sleep in the dead quiet?” You blink up at him tiredly. Just tired. No more mad. He's so handsome and he has sleep still attached to his voice so it's deeper. 

“I can fall asleep anywhere. Doesn’t matter.” Joel chuckles softly. “I didn’t think y’cared ‘cause y’never complained or nothing when I stayed at your place.” Joel slides the hand that's not supporting his head across your stomach over the t-shirt he gave you last night. “Sorry. I keep ya' up all night?” He feels bad, but…you don’t care that you didn’t sleep. If this is how he’s gonna wake you up every morning? Shit. You’ll get a sleeping pill or something. Ear plugs. A fan. 

“It’s okay.” You’re the one smiling stupidly now. Grinning up at him like no ones ever touched you anywhere ever before (not like this, they haven't). “I don’t care.” Your hand mindlessly rests on the one he has on your stomach, he keeps moving both of them slowly. 

“What time ya gotta work?” He asks softly. 

“Eight. What time you gotta go in?” 

“Whenever I want.” He grins at you and leans down to kiss you softly. “Do you gotta shower before work?” He asks with a raise of his eyebrow.

“Yeah, I usually do. I brought stuff to shower here if that’s okay?” You’re talking to him like he’s going to say no. He just asked if you needed one.

You don’t like how nervous he makes you, not at all. But he is already climbing out of bed and pulling the covers off of you. 

“It’s only six thirty…Do you want this old man to make you come before you go?” He whispers down to you softly, his hand inches down towards your center. You nod. “C’mon. Follow me.” He is already headed into the bathroom.

You scramble out of bed, grab your little shower bag and follow him. He’s already getting the water turned on and ready. and it’s incredible. The inside is… big. For what reason? There's two fucking shower heads in here–two! No fucking way. 

“You did this bathroom?” You ask as you climb in before he does. Getting naked was so easy. So fast. Two things. 

Now, this is the most naked you guys have been around each other and you might end up just calling out of work. You’re going to stay in here with him all day. You've seen him naked when he showered in front of you last time you were here. But now you get to touch him.

“I did… y’impressed?” Joel smirks and turns on the other shower head. 

“Shut the fuck up. Different temperatures?” You eye him suspiciously because who is he? How did he do all this. 

“Yeah. The ex’s request. For no reason. We never did this.” Joel wraps his arms around your waist and pulls you under the water with him. Lil colder than you’d like but that’s fine, still warm. You’ll heat your side up perfectly when he’s done kissing you.

His morning breath isn’t bad and you wonder what god sent him to this earth. You know your morning breath is, and he’s kissing you anyway. He might be a god, honestly.

Joel's tongue slips past your lips and he licks at your teeth and the inside of your cheeks. It's a deep, desperate dance of open mouth kisses as his hands roam across every inch of you he can reach.

You mewl when his fingers and hands cup and grope your tits gently, his palms rubbing across the nipples teasingly as he moves his hands around the curve of your breast. 

“How you want me t’do it?” Joel looks down at you with water dripping all out of his facial hair and his hair is so wet. Fuuuck. Okay. Play it cool.

“Fuck me.” You whine up to him quietly but he snorts at you and shakes his head quietly. “Whyyyy?” You cry softly but with no real tears or sadness. This is a fun lil game– for right now. It will not be if he keeps this up forever. You’ll revoke your offer. 

“Oh are you gonna complain ‘bout it?” Joel narrows his eyes on yours but his smirk never leaves. You freeze. “No. Yer’ not.” Joel decides for you. “How do you wanna come? Mouth? Fingers? I could use the shower–”

“What?” You blink. 

“What?” he blinks back at you. 

“The shower? How–” Joel answers your question and removes the shower head from the holder. There is another shower head still going. This is just an attachment appaenrly. You wonder if this was something his ex-wife requested as well and wanna throw up. But then he does a thing and the shower attachment comes to life and spurts and sputters. “You never had one of these?” Joel ask, twisting the dial around the nozzle. So many different setting. Regular shower head. A fucking super concentrated jet of water that if Joel tries to put anywhere near you… you’ll never speak to him again. It's like a fucking pressure-washer. No. Not that one. Then one that just is fucking… looks broken. What the fuck? Just dribbling out? No pressure? Who uses that one? It makes you actually upset to see that because it’s actually pointless. 

“No. Just a regular, boring shower.” You’re staring at the attachment in his hand and then he finds the perfect one.

Like a fucking lawn sprinkler. One quick, short, fast little blast of water. Not nearly scary as that fucking jet stream. Jesus. Joel already knows that this is the one. Which makes you mad but you have no time to question how he knows the perfect setting before he’s kicking your legs apart. The shower handle is behind held only inches away from your already buzzing and throbbing clit.

Dear God.

It is a leg crumbling pleasure that almost drops you to your knees because you’re not expecting it. Joel grabs you under one arm and pulls the shower attachment away. 

“Good or bad?” Joel needs to know. 

“G-Good. D-Do it again.” You can barely comprehend how you've been shower handled into stuttering.

What just happened?

Before he does it again he has you place your hands on his shoulders for support- ya know in case ya fucking fall over. What the hell did you get yourself into with this man?

“Keep goin’?” Joel holds the shower head so it’s massaging the front of your thigh and even that feels fucking amazing. Oh god. He could do this all over your body…and then you could do it to him. 

“Pleeease,” you whine, holding onto his shoulders.

Joel kisses you again in a slow, searching-for-something embrace as the short, fast bursts of water find your bundle again.

Holy shit.

You can’t even kiss Joel back anymore. He licks at the inside of your mouth while you vibrate against him. It’s incredible and so fucking amazing and almost too much…so concentrated.

You move your hips back and forth to give it some rhythm and that-- well that's just amazing.

The moan that gets pulled right out of your chest is filthy. It's a sound you've never made before, not with Joel, not on your own. You're embarrassed as soon as it leaves you.

"Oh ya' fuckin' like that?" Joel moves his wrist in a small circle, the stream of water focused solely on your clit. "Say my name," he growls down at you.

There is apparently nothing to be embarrassed of, Joel loves the enthusiasm.

"Daddy," you mewl up to him as he leans in to press his forehead to yours.

"S'my good girl," Joel snakes his free hand around the back of your neck and holds you-- grips you-- so you look up at him. He crowds you in the shower, his whole body towers over you. "Ya' s'fuckin' cute. Love watchin', baby."

Everything feels like it's being swept away, pulled out from under you. There is a tautness in your belly and it's threatening to snap.

You clench your eyes shut at the rapture inside of you, but it’s short lived. The water between your legs is gone. “What!?” You exclaim, snapping your eyes open to look at Joel. 

“Yer gon’ look at me when you come…” Joel whispers softly. “I wanna see ya… been relaxed ‘bout it… not anymore. I wanna see them eyes when you fuckin' come,” Joel leans down and you right between the eyes. “You want Mr. Miller to make you come now?” He whispers it against your forehead, and now your knees are weak for a whole new reason. 

“Yes, Mr. Miller. Please make me come.” You whisper into his chest. Joel doesn’t hesitate or make you ask again.

The water and the pressure and everything are back. Right where you want it and you start to move your hips again. His shoulders feel so fucking strong under your hands. His skin? Fucking smooth. Like, incredibly smooth and soft.

Shit. That water is hitting you in all the right spots and leaving you almost breathless. 

“Good?” Joel pulls his lips back from your forehead and looks down at you. You’re already looking up at him, nodding. Unable to speak. “I bet it does. Y'ain't gotta ask me to come…yet. Just gotta look'it me f'now." He rumbles deeply, leans down to kiss your lips, and is met with a moan, a real one as the water touches you in all the best fucking ways. It’s warm like Joel’s mouth. Fuck. “Yeah, lil girl. Move them fuckin’ hips.” Joel is looking down between the two of you and sees your body undulating at his watery command.

“Feels s-so good, D-Daddy,” You sound come-stupid already… but you’re close. He’s pushing you there. Pointing over your shoulder which way to go to feel good. You’re so thankful for him ‘cause you did not know where to go. "Yes. Y-Yes. P-Please keep going..." Fuck, your legs are already trembling and you can barely think. 

“I love makin’ you moan and feel good," He growls down to you and that just pushes you right to where you wanted to be.

You stare at him and try so hard to get your words out before it actually happens. 

"You'regonnamakemecome,” you spit it out quickly as all one big word.

Joel is grinning, and nodding his head softly like he’s giving you permission even though it was going to happen regardless. 

“Ohgod-- Ohgod-- Ohfuck-- Fuck! Mr. Miller!” Each exclaim followed by a gasp for as because you are moaning, so loud.

Joel’s eyes are lock onto yours, never leaving as you come. You barely blink. You’re hypnotized by him. You feel too good and your hips are doing things they’ve never done before. Moving in ways they’ve never twisted and turned while rolling them back and forth. You gush and it’s the first time you’ve done that standing up so, it does make your knees buckle but Joel has you. Had you the whole time. “Ohthankyou.ThankyouDaddy.Fuuck.” 

It's only whimpers and whines as he holds the water to you as the orgasm disperses and now you’re left with now just mind buzzing and jolting electric shocks of too much pleasure. You’re twitching with each one and Joel is smirking down at you as you stare up into his big brown eyes. He pulls the shower head away and kisses your lips. 

“Good?” He smirks and lets you go gently, making sure you’re on your feet and not going to fall. You got it. Can’t fucking think straight…but you can stand. Joel replaces the attachment and gets right to showering. You’re still swallowing hard, standing there. Breathing heavy. You have to move. Have to shower. You have to work. 

“Are you…good?” You ask Joel as your body remembers how to move again. 

“Whaddya mean?” Joel asks as he washes his hair and beard. You also start to wash. 

“You don’t need to.. Ya know?” You nod down to his very obvious erection and smirk. He chuckles and rinses the suds out of his hair. 

“Nah. I’ll be fine.” He chuckles and starts to wash his body with a bar of soap. You..don’t like this answer. Dunno why. 

“Okay.” Is all you say though.

Why? Why will he be fine?

He finishes his shower first and leaves you in there to finish up. To overthink. Shit. Okay. No. You're not doing that. No way. Things are fine. You think and hope and pray to Satan because, fuck. Why didn’t you do something with that big swinging thing between his legs while he was working on you? Idiot, too focused and selfish to worry about Mr. Miller. Sonofabitch.

He’s gonna hate you. 

Nooooo, you don't want that. You… kinda like him, actually.

Humph— No you do not. 

You get out of the shower angrily… like you have a right to be. You grab the towel Joel hung up outside the shower for you and dry. Fast and angry.

You go into the bedroom where Joel is already pulling on a black t-shirt over his head; you only catch the last glimpse of his beautiful, sculpted back before he's fully dressed.

You both are quiet as you finished getting dressed. You bring your little make up bag back into the bathroom and brush your hair and your teeth.

Joel comes in while you’re trying to put on mascara. He reaches over to your mirror and presses a button on the side and all the lights come on. 

“That better?” He smiles at you goofily. So stupidly. 

“Why wouldn’t you let me touch it!? Why are you fine?” You do not keep your composure at all. 

“Uh– wha– I–.. I would’a let y’touch it. I get why y’didn’t but— we gotta work now. Don’t really got time.” Joel snorts nervously and shrugs his shoulders.

Oh. 

“Shit. I’m so sorry.” You turn to him and feel stupid, of course. “I wasn’t even–” Joel doesn’t let you finish. 

“Hey… I’m not mad ‘bout it. I’ll get through the day jus’ fine.” Joel smirks and gives you ass a soft smack. “Make it better fer’ when I see you again. More.” Joel smacks your ass again and then starts to brush his teeth. 

“I’m still sorry. I was distracted and not thinking.” You feel goofy for being so upset. Jumping to conclusions.

“Listen Birdie, you ain’t gotta apologize. M’not mad. I wanted to make y’come before you went t’work. I don’t normally…do that…to myself before work.” Joel shrugs his shoulders. “Makes me tired.” He smirks and cleans his graying beard up with his electric razor. “I was tryin’ to distract ya.” He adds when he turns his razor off. “If I needed you to touch me…I’d tell ya. I didn’t need it.” His reflection is talking to you through the mirror. You’re standing behind him, done getting ready minus the wet hair. 

“You’ll really tell me?” You double check to make sure he isn’t lying to you. 

“T’be honest… if we were already in that situation… and I know ya wanna…I'd make ya touch it.” He winks at you through the mirror and puts on deodorant and then he turns around. “Never gonna force you… unless you wanted me t’force ya…know what m’sayin, baby?” He leans against the sink and crosses his arms over his chest.

Fuck. He’s… fuck. Nothing. He is nothing. 

“I would try that sometime.” You smirk at him– can’t fucking help it. Just happens. 

“I wanna be th'one ya' try it with.”  

“Ok.” It comes out short and fast and excitedly. Joel chuckles. He pushes himself off the sink and walks to you, wrapping his arms around your waist. 

“Yer’ real fuckin’ cute. Makin’ it hard t’wanna wait.” He leans in and kisses you softly. 

“How long you gonna make me wait?” You ask tentatively. Joel shrugs his shoulders. 

“I ain’t gotta time frame. Jus’ want it t’feel right n’ make you comfortable…” Joel kisses you again. “Give ya a lil confidence so yer’ first time is real fun. Yer’ a lil-cute-shy-thang sometimes…” He murmurs against your mouth and, now you’re never leaving his house.

Never. He’ll have to call the police. There will be a domestic disturbance here if he makes you leave. 

“Okay… ” You’re officially obsessed with him. You could kick your feet and hug your pillow and literally giggle. Giggling. Oh god. This is bad. You just got a cat!

“Fuuck. I wish we didn’t have t’work.” Joel groans and so do you but you are going to be late if you stay here any longer. 

Joel walks you downstairs with your bags in his hands like the most perfect, handsome gentleman that he is. You love this. Never want it to end. It’s all happening…he puts your bags in your truck, opens the door for you. Stands by the open door when you’re in so he can kiss you. Then he says goodbye and shuts the door and you have to watch him walk back into your future house without you. 

UGH. 

This is getting out of hand. Out of hand. No. You’re not doing this– he is twenty years older than you. He has been married, and has a daughter your age. He is NEVER going to introduce you to her. He’d probably be so ashamed… oh god. Okay. No. Don’t do it. You buy yourself another overpriced coffee as a treat, for nothing.

You’ve done zero good things today so far. Neglected your ‘has-yet-to-fuck-you' buddy this morning. Got all pissed off about that for no reason. Now you’re making up scenarios in your head. 

Gotta call Patti tonight after work. Maybe on the way home even. Fuuck. Okay. Shit. 

Thank god you got that coffee. You needed it because it's so busy. So busy all day for no reason. So many people all buying dumb, stupid tools you know nothing about.

There isn't much you know about home improvement, but the things you do know, you can list off on one hand.

Screwdriver. Hammer. Nails. Shingles. Saw. 

Boom! Done! Did it!

Fuck this job. 

You stand in the back room and just give the wall that faces the sales floor the finger for a solid thirty seconds. It does the trick and makes you feel better. A little.

It’s almost time to go and you snuck away for a lil break. Haven’t had one all day. Bullshit. Okay. It’s not that bad. The day went by real fast. Just… hate looking at fucking tools all day. Bleh. Rather be lookin’ at Joel if you’re being honest which you know you are. So. That’s fun. You check your phone for the first time today. Three messages from Joel. Two from Cody. A voicemail. One missed call. From Cody. You call him back before anything. 

“You workin’?” Cody sounds distressed. 

“No, I’m home.” You lie so that he will just tell you and not wait until you’re not at work. 

“Okay. Listen t’this. Sam is being admitted into a mental health rehab here in Munich for a while. Carson n’ I are gonna stay close by in an AirBnB or whatever. You good out there? Need any cash or anything? Truck good? House good?” Cody needs to get off the phone and honestly so do you, but you have so many questions.

What the fuck?

‘She’s okay, right?” You ask nervously. “She didn’t do anything stupid, Cody... did she?” 

“No. Fucking dumbass. She’s fine. Sad. Real sad. Maybe not fine but she didn’t do that. Her doting husband is helping, asshole. Are. You. Good?” He asks again because he is clearly busy. 

“I’m fine. I’ll call you later or call me or something I dunn-” Cody hangs up on you like a dick but you get it. He’s probably dealing with shit. Fuck. Thankfully she is somewhere people can help her. You can’t imagine not being able to get help with that. S’gotta feel hopeless. Joel’s messages. 

Better have a good fuckin day brat… ima be thinkin bout you 

Shit. Okay. He is so cute. Fuck. The next one. 

i'm thinkin bout you right now. when i can see you again?

Oooooooh. Oooooooooooohhhh. Okay. You’re fineeeee. The last one says. 

tonight maybe? I can come to you.

OH SHIT. He likes you too! OH. OH. This is so good. Such good news.

He sent those messages hours apart, which means he thought about you multiple times during the day.

You have to sigh. A big deep one. A happy one. You’ll still call Patti when you get out of work, but for a different reason. This could be the start to your first real relationship, and it's with a decent man.

How exciting!?

Work is expecting you back (they didn't ever expect you to disappear), so you'll just call Joel when you get home. There is only an hour left of your shift and it goes by fast.

Unfortunately for you-- Patti isn't the person you call to tell your good news to.

It's the police, and you have no good news for them.

Someone broke the window to Cody's truck and took your ‘spend the night’ bag with your laptop in it.

There wasn't anything incriminating on that laptop, and it's not like they could get into it easily. It's password protected. There's that feeling of 'nothing-can-ever-go-right' feeling creeping up in your stomach as you explain what happened on the phone to the dispatch person on the phone.

The laptop wasn't your whole life, it's just an electronic-- but you did use it every single day. To read your fan fictions, and your murder blog and to video chat with Cody and Carson.

You just want to cry. There is broken glass all over the seat and floor of the truck, and the police officer is very nice and tries to help you get it all off before you climb in and start the annoying drive home with no window.

As if your day wasn't bad enough, when you open the garage door to park the truck inside, there is a mountain of stuff you have to move so there is room. It's not like the truck would get stolen if you left it in the drive way, but with your luck? You're not taking the risk.

It takes you almost forty-five minutes before there is a space large enough for the truck.

There's an excessive amount of tears the entire time.

You finish and head inside, and about to get in the shower when your phone rings. You answer without even looking at the screen.

“S’wrong with you?” Joel doesn't give you time to say hello and he sounds upset. “Mad at me or something’? I thought we were good when you left t'day. Th'fuck is wrong with you?”

You groan loudly- you forgot to call him or even text him.

Why is he being so unforgiving!? He doesn't even know what happened, and he's going to make you start crying all over again! Even in this state, you know what it feels like to be ignored, and to overthink, and to have the worst thoughts running through your head.

Now you feel bad for making him worry, even if he is being an asshole.

"N-Nothin's wrong w-with me," you sniffle in an attempt to try and keep your composure, but it's a sad attempt. "I just h-had a b-bad day. I'm sor-sorry." The words are choked on, and it's very obvious that you're trying to hide your tears from him.

“What're ya' cryin' for?” Joel sounds much less mad. “S’wrong, lil girl?” He coos to you through the phone. 

You whimper, and feel like an idiot, unable to speak.

"Baby girl..." Joel trails off like he's in physical pain at hearing your discomfort.

The shower is still going in the background, and now you're just sobbing against the sink, completely naked.

What a humbling experience.

"Were ya' 'bout t'shower?" He asks softly.

"Yeah," you whine out softly. "S-Sorry--"

"Hey, shhh, s'okay, s'alright. Get in the shower, get nice 'n clean. Relax. Calm down a lil, and call me when ya' get out, 'kay?" His voice is so soothing and it makes you feel so much better than when you had originally answered the phone.

"'Kay," you sniffle and wipe your nose, nodding in agreement, even though he can't see you.

"I'm gon' talk t'ya real soon, baby girl."  

You hang up because the tears continue to come even now, when he's being so sweet and nice to you.

You don’t even know why you’re so upset.

You have the money to do both things… fix the window and get a new computer. It’s just all your extra money– saved money. So, that’s fun and it just feels like you can’t catch a break.

It’s always been like this. 

You spend longer crying in the shower than you would like to admit. It felt good though. You get out of the shower and are puffy and red faced from crying. Of course. You dry off and go to get pajamas on before you call Joel. When you do he doesn’t answer. Of course. Now you’re sad again. 

It’s late-ish. Almost nine now. He’s not gonna even wanna come over anymore. Fuck. You don’t even bother trying to call again in case he fell asleep or something. You read your scary blog on your phone but it’s not the same and you just get more sad. 

The TV is good for Jersey Shore reruns. That’s it. You need some good Ron and Sam drama. Need it. So good (it’s not). It made for such good TV(highly toxic). It’s almost nine thirty when the doorbell rings and now you’re in attack and protection mode. You run up the stairs and fling the door open. 

“Stop it.” It just comes out of your mouth before you can help it. The sigh in front of you is so perfect.

Joel has his stupid 'spend the night' bag in his hand.

“Y'don't want me to stay?” He asks nervously, like maybe he made the wrong choice coming over… but isn’t mad that you might not want him to. He’ll do whatever you say. 

“I need you to stay, I thought maybe you fell asleep. You never called me back."

“I realized fifteen minutes into the drive that I left that stupid phone at home… n’ I don’t need it. Yer’ here.” Joel shrugs his shoulders. “Didn’t think ya were.. Tucks not in the driveway…”

It’s inevitable after he says that! Waterworks. Tears.

Joel doesn’t wait for you to invite him in this time. He just wraps you up in his arms. “S’wrong? Somethin’ happen? I gotta go kick someone’s ass, lil girl?” Joel sets his bag down and leads you into the upstairs living room because it’s just right there when you walk into the house and there is a couch. He sits you down beside him and brings your legs into his lap. 

“Just a b-bad day.” You whimper as he rubs his hands across your thighs slowly. 

“How? What's makin' you cryin’ like that?” He is so worried for you. He probably thinks you got attacked or something. 

“Just a long day a-at work. Someone b-broke Cody’s truck window. Took m-my c-c-comp–” You can’t even finish.

“I’m fuckin’ sorry, baby. Don’t cry. I know someone who can fix yer’ window.” Joel is working on this right now--working on solutions for you. “I’ll text ya his number tomorrow when I get my phone, ‘kay?” 

“Thank you.” You sniffle and sigh loudly. “N’ thanks for comin’ over. I did really want you to come and was… a lil sad when I thought I couldn’t see you.” You whisper. 

“I thought y’were fuckin’ mad at me all day.” Joel huffs in annoyance and it makes you actually laugh. “Thought y’were ignorin’ me. Spent most of the day wonderin’ what I did!?” Joel leans his body over yours so he’s partially on top of you. “I didn’t do shit.” He sneers and kisses you lips softly. “Got me actin’ all big n’ dumb,” He snickers against your lips. 

“Acting?” You tease him and he pinches at you sides but you point at him in warning. “No. Tickling.” You raise your eyebrows at him. “Neither of us get tickled… fair?” You try to come to an agreement on it. 

“What? Jus’ ‘cause you gave up easy means I gotta?” Joel pinches and tickles at your sides anyway and has you cackling. “S’what you wanted t’do t’me last night? N’ you couldn’t. Too bad, lil girl.” Joel is growling at you as you laugh beneath him. “Might be big n’ dumb… ya know what else I am?” Joel pauses and looks down at you, waiting for a response. 

“I dunno. What?” You ask breathlessly. 

“Bigger n’ stronger than you.”

Then then more tickles start on your sides and stomach with his big, strong fingers.

“Noooooo. Dooooon’t.” You whine, and Joel’s fingers stop. “I haaate it.” You’re giggling even though you do not like this. It's torture.

“Okay. No ticklin’. Uhhh, you hate bein’ carried ‘round like a lil baby?” Joel smirks down at you.

You pause…having to think about it for a moment. You shake your head no up at him while he climbs off of you. Standing beside the couch, Joel scoops you– literally a swift swooping motion and he’s got you behind the back of the knees and behind the back– up to his chest. “Hey pretty girl.” 

“Why’re you doin’ all this?” You sigh softly as he carries down to your room.

Joel shrugs. "I dunno. Don't like seein' you sad?"

You love that he doesn’t want you to be sad. You hate that he won’t tell you why, or that he doesn’t really know why he's doing all these things.

Sounds like a crock of shit to you. Just once-- like in the fucking movies (it's stupid, you know it, doesn't matter), you want someone to tell you exactly why they care. It's the confession, it's the desperate need for you to hear them proclaim their feelings for you.

Even though Joel hasn't done that, he’s here. So…. that might be the answer?

UGH.

It doesn’t really matter right now, Joel is laying you down on your bed and he takes two steps back and doesn't do a lil tease or anything— it’s not even a conscious thing he does, you don’t think. Joel just starts to strip. He’s unbuttoning his flannel shirt, smirking at you a little while he does it. You sit up on your elbows as he rids himself of the button up. His thick, strong fingers work on the buckle of his belt and soon he’s just in his boxers and a t-shirt and white socks which is just… ugh. 

“Come here.” You whisper and Joel twists his head around like you could be talking to someone else and then looks back at you curiously and points to his chest. 

“Me?” He teases and looks flustered. “Ya want me in yer’ bed?” He sounds like he cannot believe you. He’s being so fucking cute and you’re punching everyone who even comes close to him. He’s too fucking cute. He doesn’t make you ask him twice as he crawls into bed with you. 

“Sorry I have just a regular sized person bed.” You whisper as he presses himself to you gently. Joel shrugs. 

“I’ll deal with it.” He’s not smirking or being cute anymore. He’s so close to you and there is something different in his voice. “I like bein’ here with ya.” He leans down and kisses your lips softly… but he lingers. His mouth opens slowly, almost like he doesn’t know if should but you part your lips to let him in– graciously accept his tongue into your mouth– greedily even. He exhales heavily through his nose as your tongues touch and sinks into your mattress besides you. His whole body melts and you lean into him as his hands find your waist. “Get on me.” He growls into your mouth, tugging at your shirt as he rolls onto his back. 

You get on Joel quickly and desperately, crawling to be straddling his waist and leaning over him to kiss him again. His fingers spread across your cheeks on both sides as he moves his hands into your hair so it’s not hanging down around either of your faces. He grips it gently in both of his hands as you deepen the kiss, moaning softly into his mouth. He is breathing heavily and pushing his hips up into yours as you grind down into him– feeling how excited he’s getting. 

“Are we gonna?” You whisper quietly as one hand drops from your hair to between your legs. He’s rummaging around down there like he’s looking for something. He smirks against your lips as he adjusts himself to be more comfortable. Not touch your pussy or put his dick inside you. 

“Nah. But I know when we are.” he whispers quietly, his lips barely moving as he speaks against your mouth. Then he sighs deeply and his other hand leaves your hair and finds your waist. 

“When?” You moan softly as he starts to move your body against his. 

“Soon.” He smirks. “Sit up.” When he speaks it’s not a demand or an order but he’s firm about it and his fingers dig into your hips through your pajama shorts softly. You do what he wants, and run your hands over his chest– still hidden behind his t-shirt– as he pushes and pulls your body along his slowly. You help him this time. You weren’t able to the first time he did this but now you’re not stuck and in shock on his lap. You’re ready for this and want to be the reason he comes in his boxers again. “Fuck.” Joel strains it out softly under his breath as his arms stop having to work and your hips take over.

“Do you like this?” You coo down to him, pushing your hands against his chest softly so you can lift your hips off of him lightly and with a gentle and slow sweep forward of your hips, you can push your body down against him and drag the heat and softness of your pajama covered pussy back down his shaft over his boxers. 

“Jeeeeeesus fucking Christ...yes.” Joel sighs loudly as you do this. He lifts his head so he can watch where your bodies meet even though there is nothing to see. “Yer’ doin’ so good, lil girl. D-Don’t fuuh-cking stop.” You stammer his speech as you do it again, a little rougher now when you grind down into him. 

“Yes, Mr. Miller. Whatever you say.” You purr softly and Joel has to close his eyes tight and stifle another moan. 

“Fuck.” He snaps breathlessly as you move against him, his hands are still on your waist but they’re moving with no meaning, searching your sides helplessly as you start to lead him to euphoria– for the first time on your own and you’re excited. 

“You like my young pussy on you like this, old man?” You whisper down to him and his eyes snap open and his hands stop moving and grip you tighter, he looks… a little shocked at first. “What?” You're just as shocked by his reaction.

“Dunno… say that again..” He whispers softly and pushes the hardness of himself up into you, his eyes never leave your face as you whisper it to him again, more hesitantly now because of his reaction, but your hips keep moving and he keeps bucking up into you rhythmically.

“Y-You like…m-my…young pussy—” You can’t even get the rest of the sentence out before Joel’s mouth drops open slightly and his tongue glides across his bottom lip but he stays silent, just gazing up at you with his smoldering brown eyes. “...on your big, hard cock like this, old man?” You put a lil twist on it this time and get a very positive reaction from the man underneath you. 

“Fuck. Fuck." He chants quickly. "Yes I do.” He whimpers. “P-Please don’t stop.” He begs you. You almost go completely still because he’s a different man underneath you right now and you fucking love it. 

“You gonna fuck my tight little pussy soon, Mr. Miller?” You lean over and watch his face, pinning him below you with your hands on his chest as you rock your hips against his rhythmically and drag a low groan from the back of Joel’s throat before he can speak again.

“So f-fuckin’ bad, lil girl. F-Fuck.” His body is quivering underneath yours. “Don’t stop, please don’t stop.” He begs more and it’s doing something to you. 

“Open your mouth.” You coo to him and he doesn’t question you at all. While still moving your body against his, you grips his face under his chin and hold him to look at you while you work your mouth together. Joel is moaning softly, looking up at you while his body starts to twitch and jerk underneath him. His cock is throbbing already between your legs. You lean in close and spit onto his tongue. 

Joel grips you tightly, closes his mouth and groans loudly, keeping his eyes open so he can look at you while you make him come. He swallows and then he talks for you. 

“Fuck yeah, bad lil girl. Oh fuck. Fuck. Yer’ so fuckin’ naughty, baby. Jeeeesuuss.” He is breathless and panting those words loudly as his stiff body twitches underneath you. He holds you like that down on him– keeping you still, pushing his hips up into yours. You inch your hips forwards slightly and make him hiss sharply and clench his jaw as his eyes clench shut. “Shiiit.” He sighs softly as you lift your body off him. He lets you, his hands falling to his sides. 

The room is silent besides him catching his breath. You don’t climb off of him yet, you just look down at him as he lays on your bed, his brow beaded with sweat as is the base of his neck. His eyes are still closed and he is just breathing. 

“You ok? Do you want a water?” You snort softly and lean over to kiss him. His hands come to your hair again and he kisses you with those big, slippery, open mouthed kisses that feel like a tidal wave when he kisses you. Feels like you’re drowning in the best way. His tongue– fuck, is so soft and warm and strong as he slithers it around yours. He kisses you like that for only a moment before he pulls away. 

“I’m good.” He smirks and his hands start to trawl up and down your sides and hips and the outside of your thighs. “How you wanna come?” He asks, nodding up at you with a smirk. 

“I don’t.” You grin down at him but he frowns. 

“You got me this morning. I’m paying you back now. N’ now you can be tired n’ sleep real good and snore in my ear all night.” You’re smirking harder and feel silly but he smiles now and tilts his head up to steal another, gentle kiss. 

“Yer’ somethin’ else, baby. Really are.”

Joel’s snoring that night isn’t that bad with your jet engine sounding fan blasting as high as it will. You sleep fine. You just need to get one for his house… You’re trying to not…freak the fuck out? Because…this might be the first guy who you like…really start a real relationship with. Which makes you sad because…why are you just starting now? Silly. But…everything you ever did led you right here…sleeping next to Joel Miller the carpenter and the sex god. Jesus. The sweetheart. The dirty old man. Fuck. Okay. Don’t get too ahead of yourself. It’s fine. Having fun. Takin’ things slow. It’s good. Fine. You’re good. 

The next morning Joel’s watch alarm goes off and you don’t want him to go. You don’t have to work today and you’d rather just him not leave. He turns his alarm off without rolling over to you and goes back to sleep. You don’t question it. The next time you’re waking up it’s him touching your stomach and thighs gently. 

“Hey. Get up.” he’s shaking you gently. 

“Why?” You groan quietly.

“We gotta go get yer’ window fixed.” he whispers quietly. “C’mon I’ll get you an iced coffee.” He smooches your face and you finally open your eyes. He’s changed into clean clothes and showered already. It makes you smirk and you dunno why. “I don’ gotta work today. Jus’ takin’ care of ya. S’my only job today.” He stands up and pulls the covers off of you. 

“What?” The sleep is still rolling all around in your brain. “Why?” 

“I dunno.” Joel shrugs his shoulders. “I don’ gotta job today. Next one doesn’t start ‘till next week.” 

“No why are we doing the window?” You’re so confused. So tired still honestly. 

“It’s broken, right?” He’s just as confused as you are. “Ya need t’shower? I can wait. Roll up fer’ us, if ya want.” He suggests, standing at the end of your bed. You stare at him, blinking. You rub your eyes and wipe the crusties out of them. 

“Okay.” You get out of bed and shower. 

Joel is going to take you to get your window fixed and get you coffee… sonofabitch. Motherfucker. He’s too good. Something’s wrong with him. Has to be. Not just him being an asshole either. He’s perfect. Why wouldn’t some hot bitch have snatched his ass up sooner? It’s too suspicious but you… don’t even really care. That man sitting on your couch– which lets not forget, is located in your older sister's basement— could ruin your entire life and you…wouldn’t care. You’d be sad about it, obviously…but he’s so hot you might thank him as walks out of your life forever. No. That’s…unhealthy. Obviously. You’re swallowing hard in the shower by yourself thinking about all of this. 

Joel is waiting for you with two joints and a smile when you come out of the shower. 

“I uh… took th’liberty of…” Joel trails off and looks at your bed and doesn’t say anything else. You turn to see what he’s looking at and he… picked an outfit for you while you were showering. “Hope you don’t mind. Don’t gotta wear it. I think it’s cute though.” 

Uuummmm. Okay . He picked such a simple outfit. Black denim jeans and a black v-neck t-shirt. Low cut. He also picked out your undergarments. A pair of light pink cotton panties and a black bra. Fuck. He is perfect. 

“I don’ wanna do it all the time… just… dunno. I was peekin’ at all yer’ stuff.” Joel smirks as you get dressed. He watches the entire time. “I do alright?” 

“You did. Somethin’ I’d pick.” You try and sound not in love with him as you go to blow dry your hair and do some quick sprucing up. Whatever you’d normally do to get ready. When you walk out of the bathroom, Joel is ready– joints in hand and his cute little spend the night bag in the other. 

Joel drives back to his place to get his phone, gets you an iced coffee and on the way back to your place calls the guy who can fix the truck window. When he gets off the phone he smiles over at you. 

“Lucky yer’ man knows so many people. He said t’bring it over now and he’d be able to get it back t’ya tomorrow.” Joel is smiling and resting his arm on the center console, his wrist facing up. You know what to do. You scratch your nails up and down the underside of his arm. You’ve seen the scars on his arms and back before. Assumed they were from years of carpentry but…looking at them now…they’re weird. Patterned. 

“Thank you. I really appreciate it.” You say, still inspecting the slightly raised lines of skin on his arm. More pale than the rest of him. “How’d you get all these? Work?” You ask curiously, flicking your eyes up to him. He pulls his arm away, swaps his grip on the steering wheel and rests his other arm on the open window. 

“Yeahhh. Been in the trade fer’ a long time. Get cut up real good.” Joel doesn’t look at you when he says this. Doesn’t sound very genuine about it. You don’t push it because he either doesn’t wanna talk about it or doesn’t want you to know. Either way… scars are scars… you have a bunch, don’t always wanna talk about how you got them. So you respect him and let it go. 

“Well, if you ever get scratched up again like that, I’ll come clean it up for ya. Take real good care of ya.” You wink at him and make him smile. Now he turns his head to take in your face. 

“I’m holdin’ y’to that.” He growls and drives back to your place. You’re about to climb out of your truck when an unknown number starts to call you. You answer. 

“Hello?” You’re curious. 

“Hey, it’s Matt from the cat shelter…” His voice is like nails on a chalkboard and you start to shake like a leaf. Your phone isn’t on speaker but it’s not quiet. And Joel's truck is quiet. 

“Hey…” You don’t know what else to say and Joel is staring at you. 

“Hey…uh… Agatha is ready for you to come pick up whenever. Today or tomorrow. Whatever works for you.” He says simply. 

“Oh!! Oh god. Okay! Thank you. I’ll be in either tomorrow or the day after– is that alright?” You ask less nervously now, more excited but still…don’t wanna be talking to Matt. Not in front of Joel. 

“Yeah. She’ll go back up for adoption if you don’t get her by next week though.” He explains not sounding mad or annoyed that you blew him off. 

“No. I’ll be there for her before then. I will.” You speak firmly now so he knows you’re not having second thoughts. 

“Yeah, sounds good. Have a good rest of your day.” Then Matt hangs up. You glance over at Joel who is watching pretty intently. 

“My cat.” You smile nervously at him and he smirks, shaking his head. 

“You wanna go get her?” Joel asks curiously. “I’d take ya….” This is an excuse for him to go eye up Matt. See how you act around him. You know it. 

“Yeah, if you don’t mind… I’d like her here and not in a small little cage.” You nod at him slowly. 

“Alright. Let's go meet Matt." Joel sounds so excited.

Joel leads you to the car repair shop, Agatha’s carrier is in his backseat and you’re going to pick her up after you drop Cody’s truck off. This is the first time you’ve been around Joel and seen him interact with someone else. Joel shakes his hand with vigor when the men greet each other. 

“Heyyy buddy. How ya’ been?” The taller, older man pulls Joel into a hug and slaps his back with just as much vigor as the handshake. 

“Ken. Nice t’see ya man. Been good. Jus’ workin’. How’s the old lady? How’s Mags?” He asks curiously. 

“Shiiit. Mags is ‘bout to be graduatin’. Headin’ off t’college soon. Goin’ to Penn State. So fuckin’ proud of her.” Ken does sound proud of his daughter. So fucking cute. You’re a little jealous but whatever. “Ole Lady? She’s fuckin’ perfect as always.” Ken smiles again. He’s kinda handsome. Older than Joel– not as handsome as him. But he takes care of himself it looks like. 

“S’fucking good to hear, man. I ‘ppreciate you gettin’ the truck in here s’fast. Needed it done pronto, so thanks.” Joel tips his head to the side slightly when he thanks him. You love his little mannerisms. 

“Shiit. No problem. Ain’t busy so it’ll be quick. Get it back t’ya tomorrow mornin’.” Ken nods. “It yer’ truck or the young woman’s?” Ken asks, giving you a small nod and a smile. 

“Shiit, I’m sorry. This is Birdie.” He introudices you with his pet name for you and you…melt. 

“Nice t’meet you.” Ken holds his hand out and you shake it. 

“Nice to meet you too. Thanks for helping me out. Takes a lot of stress outta my life.” You chuckle and are very appreciative. 

“Anything for Joel. Did work on my house when me n’ my wife n’ daughter moved t’Austin a couple years ago. He’s a good guy.” Ken talks him up to you and Joel’s pinky finger brushes against yours so gently it’s almost like he didn’t do it. But then he does it again. And again. Then he holds it there against yours. 

“He’s alright .” You joke and rub your pinky against his as you say it and get goosebumps…all over. Ken laughs, a good laugh and points at you knowingly. 

“We’d love t’stay and chat…but she’s got a cat waitin’ fer’ her at some sad shelter. We’re gonna go get her’, right ?” Joel looks down at you for confirmation. 

“Sure are. Spend the rest of the day lookin’ for her, ‘cause she’s probably gonna be scared and hide.” You are excited and as you speak your excitement leaves because you know you’re not gonna see that cat once you get her home for at least three days. You researched it. She’s gonna be scared. 

“Well go on then, go save that lil pussy cat!” Ken exclaims and gestures with his hands to leave. You smirk and Joel slides his fingers between yours and walks you back to his truck– opens your door for you. 

“Thanks.” You smirk as you climb up. It’s getting easier now. Joel gives your ass a soft smack as you get in. 

“No. Thank you. ” Joel is grinning as he shuts the door. 

The ride to the shelter isn’t long. It’s close by. You hadn’t been nervous at all but now… you’re shitting your pants as you walk in and Matt is right fucking there to look at and now ‘yer’ man’ is right behind you. Matt looks confused as to why you brought him, but doesn’t… say anything weird or act out of sorts when he takes the carrier from you. He puts Agatha in there and hands it back to you. 

Joel is right behind you the entire time, standing so close you can feel him breathing down your neck but it’s not bothersome at all. You like it– like how his fingers graze at your lower back under the hem of your shirt.

“She’s gonna be a little spooked for a couple days. She’ll come out n’ eat at night when you’re sleeping. Just make sure she uses the litter box within the first couple days. If she doesn’t… let us know. She’s had some kidney issues— nothing crazy! It’s why she has that special food–”

Joel pinches your ass gently. It makes you shiver before you cut Matt off.

“I know. We talked the other day about it. I’ll call if I have any issues or anything. Thank you,” You’re so polite and respectful and nothing weird happens. It’s perfect. You and Joel are walking out, Joel is about to put his hand in yours when Matt calls to both of you.

“Hope you and your dad have a good rest of the day.” 

You stop dead in your tracks and look back at Matt and he’s not even looking at you anymore. He’s already walking into the back area behind the counter.

Joel does not grab your hand after that and you die inside. 

The walk to the truck sure is quiet after that. Most of the ride too, minus Agatha howling like she is being tortured inside her spacious and comfortable carrier. He speaks halfway back to your place. 

“Uh– so… did you have any place, uh…else ya’ needed t’go?” He asks, with hesitation all over his words. 

“No… I’m fine. Thanks though.” You answer nervously. “ Sorry –”

“Nope. It’s fine.” Joel doesn’t let you finish. 

“I don’t care. I know you’re not , so—”

“Yeah… but does everyone else?” Joel scoffs softly and now. You’re dead. Fully dead. A dead body with a screaming cat on her lap. Fuuuck. Joel pulls into the driveway and doesn’t move. Doesn’t turn the truck off. Nothing. 

“Do you…still wanna come inside?” You don’t even wanna ask. You know he’s not going to. 

“I know I said we’d hang out—”

“It’s fine. I hope you have a good rest of your day. Talk to you later.” You do not let him finish. You get out of his truck and carry your screaming cat up to the front door. Joel rolls his window down but doesn’t get out. 

“I’ll call ya later, ‘kay?” He calls out as you put your key in the door. 

“‘Kay.” You call back to him and slam the front door shut. 

Stupid fucking Matt. Fuck Matt. And his stupid tattoos. Fuuuuck. You wanna run back outside and tell him not to leave but when you look out of the window he is gone already. You’re doing nothing to try and hold your tears back. You bring Agatha downstairs, shutting the door at the top so she can’t explore the rest of the house yet. 

You get the litter box ready in the bathroom and set it out of the way. You get her fresh water and open the food you got. Angrily. All of this is done so angry. The tears you have aren’t even sad ones. They’re mad ones. You’re a woman. A grown fucking adult woman. Who gives a shit how many years there are between you and Joel? You’re both grown. Fully. No more growing left to do. Why is there an issue? Why is it weird? It’s because he has a daughter your age. Almost. She’s younger than you, yes. But not by much . 

Agatha doesn’t bolt like you expect her to when you open the carrier. She pokes her little head out and looks around very curiously and takes one hesitant step out, sniffing everything. Very intently. She looks right up into your face and meows. It’s high pitched and adorable. Sounds like she says ‘hello’. 

“Hi.” You sigh to her sadly. “You don’t care how old or young I am. Do you? ” You let her smell your hand and she does, for two seconds and then rams her head into your fingers and rubs her head all over you. This fills you with love and now…you’ll die for this cat. Fuck, she is perfect. Small and sweet. 

The next four hours are spent playing with her because she doesn’t hide. Not one time. She eats her food and drinks her water. You show her where the litter box is, but she doesn’t use it right away. S’fine. You’ll keep an eye on it. You might keep checking your phone to make sure you didn’t miss a call or a text even though your phone is on the loudest ringer setting. You listen to your sad music and cry a little because you might have lost ‘yer’ man’ before he was ever really even yours. 

You cry a lot. Sad tears now. Jersey Shore reruns don’t even help and they always do. 

“ Are you friends with her? Lemme know know. Are you friends with her?.... Are you?” TV gold and it didn’t even touch the sadness inside of you. You wanna call Joel but he doesn’t wanna talk to you. Obviously. You call your job around five and let them know you’re not coming in tomorrow because of your truck. They understand, they’re not mad. They feel bad that the security cameras didn’t catch anything. Didn’t see who did it. 

Joel doesn’t call you all night. The next morning he texts you. 

Your truck is ready.

And gives you the address. You text him back.

Thanks.

That’s it. He doesn’t offer to give you a ride or ask how you are. Nothing. You order an Uber to the repair shop. Ken smiles when he sees you. 

“Lady Bird, how are you doin’?” He asks happily. You do your best to not sound like your insides are being pushed into a wood chipper. 

“I’m good. Thank you again for doing it so fast.” You smile at him half-heartedly and he gives you a small sad smile and hands you the keys. 

“Don’t look s’sad. I dunno why yer’ sad, but… just don’t. Try n’ smile.” Ken offers some kind words but they do nothing. 

“Thank you. How much do I owe you?” You ask, reaching for your wallet. 

“Oh. Nothin’? Joel paid for it over th’phone this mornin’” Ken explains. 

“Oh– okay. Thank you again.” You thank the mechanic and jump into your truck. You text Joel immediately. 

Thanks. Didn’t need to do all that. I can pay you back.

You will pay him back if he has no intentions of seeing you again. You’ll drop an envelope with like four hundred dollars at his door and run away. Joel doesn’t text you back right away. You know he’s not working. Said he doesn’t have to until next week. So he is just ignoring you. Cool 

Joel doesn’t text you or call you for four days. You are fuming. So mad. Not sad anymore. Rage filled. But you only text him one thing on the fourth day and nothing else. 

Cool. 

And then you almost throw your phone against the wall but…you can’t afford a new phone and a laptop. Not even with Joel paying for the window. Your phone dings and it’s him. Your heart flutters until you open it. 

Sorry.

taglist: @immyowndefender @korikolove @untamedheart81 @fanficlover1414, @creepycorbeaux (i'll add or take you off, just let me know!)

[kuroppiii]

     little mermaid ᵕ̈           boyfie!kuroo tetsurō x gn reader ˎˊ˗

⋮⋮ ˒ ₍ᐢ..ᐢ₎ 𖥻 ⿻ : "not even the ocean could ⋮⋮  rip me away from you. i'm not going ⋮⋮ anywhere. what am i? sea foam?"

📋 content         ♡ # 𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘧𝘧 🐮         ♡ # 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘣𝘭𝘦 🥛         ♡ # ~800 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴

🧸 directory  ‹ ✩  like what you read ? check out more of my blog !  •ᴗ•

💬 kuroppiii ─ “ i ' m in the summer mood thanks to @lcvemiyuki 's account xx . hot writer summer !!! ( not proofread !! ) ”

you turn to the next page of your book. you try your best from letting the sand that's stuck to your sunscreen-ed arm deposit little grains into the nooks and crannies of the novel's binding, but it's hard considering your lounging on your towel stomach-first. the seagulls circling above you and the shade of your beach umbrella mock you as you inevitably fail to do so. you try to lean forward and gently blow the sand off the neatly-printed letters when–

"stop moving babe!" your boyfriend of 6'2" whines like a child. "you're going to ruin art. my art."

and with that, you feel more sand getting dumped on the back of your legs and the light patting of hands to shape it around your body. kuroo was currently trying to give you a mermaid tail.

"how much longer is this gonna take, tetsu?" you struggle to say without giggling through your words. you hear him return your laughter, and although you can't turn around to see it, you can picture his smile and the way his eyes crease at the corners as he does so. you hear his steps in the sand as he comes up to join you and your book.

"it's almost done," he announces before nosing at the side of your face and leaving loving kisses from your temple to your slightly-sunburnt shoulder. you feel the ocean water still remnant in his hair from the swim you two shared earlier.

"you said that about 20 minutes ago if i recall correctly," you tease, trying your best to dodge his sea salty kisses.

"i told you to stop moving! oh, i'm gonna have to start all over again at this rate," he complains with the most dramatic sigh any one person has ever mustered, making you laugh more. "and how do you know it's already been 20 minutes, anyway? i haven't seen you check your phone at all, you've had your nose stuck in that book."

"well can see from the shadow of the sunscreen," you start through your fit of giggles, but as you start your defense kuroo starts to shift so he's right in front of you–face-to-face with you and leaning on his side. maybe it's heatstroke, but you swear you can see a twinkle in your boyfriends eyes, like the way the ocean shimmers in the midday sunlight. "and y'know if the egyptians, if they can use their sun dials to, to tell the passage of time, then... then..."

your laughter dies down and sound of your voice trails off. a subtle smile graces kuroo's lips, and you start to feel small by how devoutly he's admiring you.

you two share a peaceful moment, a lull where it's just you two and the sound of waves crashing against the shore nearby.

"i should bury you in sand more often," he suddenly blurts out, interrupting the silence.

you start laughing again, "why on earth would you say that?"

kuroo shakes his head and places his hand to the side of our smiling cheek, "because that way i know you won't go away. i like having you here, with me."

"i could never leave you, tetsu. even when i get my legs back. not even the ocean could rip me away from you. i'm not going anywhere. what am i? sea foam?" you lightheartedly joke. kuroo hums in response, and you feel the pad of his thumb start to caress your cheekbone.

suddenly you realize how close you two were, you can almost feel his lips on yours and the feeling makes your eyes flutter shut. at last, you feel his soft and tender (and a little sandy) kiss as his hand comes down to take your hand away from your book and into his own.

you depart and it's like you're in a daze. you have to take a deep breath of seaside air and rest your head down on your arm as you and kuroo smile at each other like the two lovestruck idiots you are.

then he goes to brush off the sand from his swim trunks and sit up, "alright babe, what do you say to some sea shells to decorate your marvelous tail–the one you definitely love and will stay still for because yours truly is making it?"

you reach out and grab a fistful of sand and launch it at his torso, which he lets out a pitchy yelp at in response.

"whatever you want mr. artiste, as long as i can get my legs back soon so we can go out and swim again," you say as you shift to continue your book.

kuroo gives you a wink, "anything for my little mermaid."

[hmhas-00]

Ch. 8

Hit Me Hard & Soft

A/N- Hi lovelies! Plz don’t forget to like & rb. It means the world to me! :)

Remy’s POV

“Look at you. You don’t even respect your fucking self, man.” Billie mumbled, barely making any sense. Her eyes looked angry, bothered, annoyed. It wasn’t her.

“Let’s go home, you’re drunk as fuck. You don’t mean that.”

She swayed to the bass in place, slightly nodding her head to the beat. I didn’t even notice how much time had passed, standing there awkwardly to the side of the dance floor. Finneas came up to us. He had probably seen her yank her arm away and wondered what was going on.

“Let’s head out. She’s had too much.” I pointed towards the exit.

He took one look at her and nodded, calling the car out to the front.

“No! Fuck it, I do mean it. You’re too fucking scared to take a risk, so you keep sitting in your fucking office hoping one day you’ll do more than shred paper.”

That stung. I ignored her as Finneas and Claudia began to walk her outside. I wasn’t much of a help since I was struggling on my feet too.

“When I get back, you’ll be right where I left you. You’re not gonna go anywhere working for a fucking pig like him.”

“Is that what you think, Billie? What else?” I knew it wasn’t a good idea to argue back, but I didn’t care what state of mind she was in. I couldn’t believe she was saying any of this to me.

“Let’s just get in the car, Rem. She’s too fucked up, she doesn’t know what-“ Claudia shook her head.

“No! I’m not! And I’d like to- I want you to know I’m so serious. You let everyone treat you like shit! Your fucking ex, your boss, your parents!” She pointed.

“Shut up, Billie! Stop talking!” I put her seatbelt on her, struggling to put the buckle in the hole the first few times as Finneas drove off.

“Who took care of you when that motherfucker left you for another bitch?! Who lived with you and held you all day and night, and fed you, and made you whole again?” She shouted, scrambling her words, closing her eyes for emphasis.

“You want to throw that in my face now?” I was pissed. How dare she bring that up. There was no need to be that petty. I didn’t understand what brought this on her. She had never said anything so mean before. I knew it was the alcohol talking, but this hurt deep.

“And now! You’re just gonna leave me!” She pointed her finger.

“Leave you? Like you said, I’m not going anywhere! You’re the one leaving me!”

“She doesn’t mean any of this Rem, just ignore her.” Finneas reassured me, trying to deescalate the situation.

“No, say how you really feel, Billie!” I looked at her, squinting.

“You don’t believe in your fucking self! You beg me to believe in you, when you won’t even give yourself a fucking chance!” Her eyes closed as she tried to be louder.

“Oh, is that why you boss me around and tell me what to do with my life? Because you think I could do so much better being your fucking groupie?” I snapped back.

“You might as well be my fucking groupie! Better than being assistant TO the groupie!”

“You wish! So I could clap for you and gas you up every night? Like everyone else does?” I shouted back.

“Well, it’d be nice to have you be there for me once in a while, instead of putting work first like you always do!” Billie crossed her arms.

“You KNOW I can’t just do that!”

“Yeah, okay, whatever. You just wanna stay there and be a martyr so you can have something to complain about!”

“OH! So now I bitch about everything! I thought I kept things to myself and didn’t accept people’s help? Which one is it, Billie?”

“Whatever dude, you wanna be a sexy little office receptionist, and bend over for some bald fuck, and write some bullshit on a magazine, when you know you want to do more with your life.” She waved her hand around, her eyeliner running a little on the corner of her eyes.

“No, that’s your girlfriend Rachel! Weren’t you the one trying to suck her dick so she’d let me hop on a damn column?”

“I was trying to help you, dumbass!”

“I was trying to hang out with my best fucking friend before she travels the world for, like, a year!”

“Right! That’s why you wanted to get fucking wasted tonight! So you wouldn’t even remember our last night together.” Billie got teary eyed, blinking away her anger. “I didn’t even want to drink tonight!”

“No one forced you! You got all weird when that guy talked to me, and you shoved 2 shots consecutively up your ass!”

Claudia looked at Finneas. They shared a look and I wondered what that was about. He turned the corner toward my apartment and turned on his hazard lights.

“No one is concerned with who you wanna make out with, Remy!” She mumbled.

“Except you, because you act like my damn mother anytime anyone even looks at me!” I pointed at her. She stared at my finger, looking nauseous.

“Maybe if you had better judgment I wouldn’t have to fucking-“

“Whatever bro! You don’t get to tell me what to do with my life! And when you get back, you’ll see how fucking wrong you are! And how shitty of a fucking friend-“

“Shitty friend?? Because I want better for you?!” She leaned forward.

“You wouldn’t even know what being wrong feels like! Everyone always tells Billie Eilish yes!” I said, immediately feeling terrible. Immediately feeling like I crossed a line. But she had crossed multiple already.

Her face turned a shade of hurt I hadn’t seen before.

“No, fuck that! Fuck you, Remy!” She yelled.

“Fuck you, too!” I open the door and slam it, walking out before the car was even in park. Finneas fully stopped the car and ran out. He walked me to the door as I keyed in the code.

“I wanna make sure you get inside safely.” He held the door open for me when it unlocked. “God, I’m sorry, that was a lot.”

I held back tears and rubbed my arms, feeling the midnight breeze give me goosebumps before quickly walking in.

“She’s definitely not in the right mindset and I really don’t think she meant to be that-“

“Honest?” I asked, tears starting to stream down my face. “I think she did.” I called the elevator, pressing the button 18 times.

“Remy, she loves you. More than you think. You’re everything to- She just-“

“It doesn’t matter, Finneas. That fucking hurt. Drunk or not.“ I stepped into the elevator as the door slid open.

“Please, Rem. Listen, I know she was pushing it. I’m not gonna make excuses-“ He was visibly frustrated, pushing his hair back as he spoke. “And trust me, she’s going to feel like such a dick tomorrow-“

“I don’t care. I don’t want to hear it anymore from-“

The elevator door began to slide, when he stuck his hand in the way to stop it from closing. “Promise me you’ll see her tomorrow before she leaves for tour.” He looked serious, as if it would change anything. As if seeing her tomorrow would make it hurt any less.

I didn’t say anything. I just leaned back on the elevator wall, crossing my arms.

“Please. Think about it… I’m sorry, Remy. Have a good night.” He nodded, removing his hand and letting the door shut. My heart dropped as the elevator rose to the 5th floor.

In my apartment, I got ready for bed and threw myself into the pillows. My head spun and throbbed as the effects of alcohol slowly left my body. I knew everything would hurt tomorrow morning. I stared at my ceiling, hoping to fall asleep. I thought about Billie’s face when she said those things. When she told me I’d stay exactly where she left me. How can I give up all the hard work I’ve put in. I wonder if she was ever proud of me. I wonder if she knows how much I care about what she thinks of me. I thought about her face when I practically told her she doesn’t know what no means. I thought about her face when she told me “fuck you”. I wonder if tomorrow she’ll be hurting about all this as much as I am right now. We’d never spoken to each other like this before. It felt like she wanted to say more than she actually did…

Eventually my eyelids became heavy, and I drifted into a deep, deep sleep.

******

My eyelids slowly blinked open, staring at my wall. I groaned, stretching and turning on my other side. The light from my window was so uncalled for, causing me to squint and curl up into a ball. My head pounded, reminding me of the events last night.

“Oh shit.” I gasped, grabbing my phone faster than my brain could register. It was 1:02pm and a missed call from Billie displayed on my screen. I put my passcode in, messing up twice before finally being able to call back. The phone rang for a while. I sat up in bed, impatiently. No answer. I had overslept and didn’t have a chance to say good bye before she left on the tour bus. She was probably so angry at me. I remembered how much she hurt me last night, the words all freshly dancing around in my mind. I didn’t know what to make of it, but clearly she didn’t want to talk about it anymore. I figured if she did, she’d call back.

I threw my phone at the foot of the bed and pulled the covers over my head, wishing away the awful headache. I closed my eyes and tried my best to fall back asleep so I didn’t have to think. Obviously, that didn’t work out. My brain wanted to walk me through the least blurry bits of our fight instead.

I threw the covers off and got up, going straight for the medicine cabinet and taking some Advil, dry. I rotted into the couch for the rest of the day, watching the tv show I wasn’t allowed to watch without her. I don’t know if I did it out of spite or to feel close to her. I’m sure she’ll be watching it without me anyway.

Each time I checked my phone for any calls or texts, my stomach did this weird flip thing. I waited all day to receive anything from her to no avail.

Around 8pm, I realize I haven’t had a bite to eat. As I put some almond butter toast on a plate, my phone dinged. I pulled it out of my pocket to see Billie had posted on instagram. An update to her fans letting them know she was on the road, and excited to see them in Quebec, Canada.

I made it a point to like the insta story post, so she knows that I know she’s ignoring me. This is bullshit, I thought. How petty, I thought, the irony going straight over my head.

[maddy-k-reads-all-day]

Making A Kite!

The episode begins with Amanda and Wooly standing in the backyard. Amanda is wearing a ski mask… again. 

“Hi friends! I’m Amanda!” 

“And I’m Wooly…” Wooly is looking over at Amanda in confusion. 

“And today we’re robbing a bank!” 

“HUH?!” Wooly shouts, “What are you talking about?” 

“Yeah Wooly we’re robbing a bank!” 

“No we’re not!” Wooly snaps. Amanda seems to find this incredibly amusing. 

“You’re right!” Amanda laughs, taking off the ski mask and pulling out a lighter, “We’re committing arson instead!” 

“NO NO NO NO NO!” 

“I’m just kidding Wooly.” 

“Yeah, you’re just kidding. We’re going to break into the white house instead.” Wooly scoffs. 

“That would be fun… but we’re making a kite!” 

“Oh thank god…” Wooly sighs in relief. “Why’d you do that to me?” 

“I just wanted to see your reaction. And it was hilarious.” 

“Gotta admit that was pretty funny.” Riley adds. 

“Be serious you two!” Wooly scolds. 

“Pssh, back to being a fun killer I see.” Amanda scoffs. “Wha-What?! This is not the time for jokes!” 

“I’m just trying to lighten the mood in here a little geez.” Amanda rolls her eyes, “Every time I try to have fun in this place things always get depressing.” 

“Well… okay then… what are we doing today-” the tape glitches with some loud static. Wooly and Amanda cover their ears. “whoa…  um… that’s new… heh heh…” Amanda looks pissed but takes a deep breath. 

“Today we’re making a kite!” Amanda announces. She stares at all the pieces laid out in front of her for a couple awkward seconds. “I don’t know how to make a kite!” she shouts cheerfully. Suddenly a strong gust of wind comes and blows all their pieces away. 

“There goes our kite.” Wooly sighs exhaustingly. 

“Oh well!” Amanda shrugs, “Let’s go to the store-ore-ore-ore-ore-ore-ooooooorrrrreee-” the tape starts skipping for a couple seconds. Sophie and Riley look at each other with concern. The tape glitches to the store. 

“So what do we need to make a kite?” Wooly asks. 

“Nah, we're not making a kite.” Amanda says nonchalantly. 

“Um Amanda… you said today we’re making a kite.” 

“Yeah and now I’m thinking of going back to the arson plan.” 

“Amanda…” Wooly groans. 

“What? Hameln clearly approves of it.” She says. Wooly looks so done. “No but I actually don’t know how to make a kite. Do you?” 

“No…” 

“So we’re just gonna buy one and fly it. See? The easy way isn’t half bad!” 

“But making the kite ourselves could be better!” 

“Or the kite could fall apart and then no one could save it. It’ll just be in a painful unfixable mess forever and ever. Sometimes it’s better to just give up.” 

“That sounds so sad…” 

“I just wanna fly a kite, Wooly is that so wrong?” Amanda complains, “Can you tell me where the kites are?” Amanda asks. There is a sign for craft supplies, a sign for a kite, and in the center a sign of a door. Riley first clicks on the craft supplies. “I told you I don’t want to do that anymore.” Amanda groans. Riley sighs and clicks on the kite. “Ya-” the tape glitches to the kite section. “Ooooh so many choices! I don’t know which color to pick!” Riley clicks on the red kite. Amanda smiles wide and picks it up. The tape glitches to the park.

“So how do we fly a kite?” Wooly asks. Amanda looks at him in shock. “What, you don’t know how to do that either?” 

“No I’m just surprised you don’t… well okay then. To fly a kite you gotta… hmm… I think you kinda just throw it and run and hope the wind catches it.” Amanda demonstrates. “Oh hey that worked!” Wooly looks at the kite handle excitedly, bouncing up and down a little. Amanda smiles and hands it to him, he snatches it excitedly and eagerly watches the kite sway and dance in the wind. 

“You know… that kite is kind of like us…” Amanda says softly, “It looks like it can fly anywhere… but it’s still tethered to a string…” Wooly looks at Amanda, at the kite, and then at the handle and lets it go. “Wha- Wooly?!” The kite floats up into the sky. “What did you do that for?!” 

“It didn’t need me anymore. Now it’s free.” Wooly answers. They see the kite fluttering to the ground. “It’s funny… I feel like… the old me would have never let that kite go…” Amanda looks at the ground sadly. 

“We could’ve been out of here by now… if she’d just let that kite go… but she didn’t want to watch it fly away…” Amanda sighed, kneeling to the ground and drawing a little owl in the dirt.

“Mmm…” 

“Wanna get the kite back?” 

“I don’t know… I feel really tired. I think I just wanna rest for the day…” Wooly says before yawning. 

“Didn’t sleep again?” Amanda questions. Wooly looks away, but his embarrassment kinda speaks for itself. “Co’mere.” Amanda says, patting the ground next to her. Wooly flops down and they lean on each other. “Going on adventures all the time is exhausting huh?” 

“Yeah…” 

“Maybe one day we’ll finally get to rest…” Amanda mumbles. Wooly nods off. “Oh… hm guess he really was tired.” Amanda glances at us, “To be honest I don’t think either of us have been sleeping well lately… you’ve been kind of quiet today… it’s a bit lonely." The silence remains and Amanda looks a bit sad and confused. “You know… it’s okay… to let us go…” the tape fades out and falls from the machine. Sophie stops recording on Riley’s phone. Riley gives her a weak smile. 

“Come on Soph. You know what they were telling us.”

“I know… I know…” Sophie whimpers. 

“Let’s see if it works…” Sophie hands Riley their phone and they hit play. The episode begins with Amanda and Wooly standing in the backyard, looking… confused. 

“Hi friends… I’m Amanda?” 

“And I’m- okay is it just me or did we literally just do this?” Wooly questions. 

“Hey guys!” Sophie beams, “you’re pocket sized now!” 

“Huh?” Amanda tilts her head in confusion. 

“Apparently you can exist through any recording of Amanda the Adventurer. So I tried recording an episode onto my phone.” Riley explains. 

“Excuse you? I held the camera the whole time while you interacted with them!” Sophie pouts.

“Thank you Sophie.” Riley sighs with a loving smile, “Anyway, the point is we can take you on the go. Which means after I go visit my family for a bit, there will be no more of Sophie and I randomly leaving you.” 

“Well, except for life stuff. I mean we still have a life to live.” Sophie adds. 

“Which is allowed.” Amanda nods in agreement but Wooly looks uneasy. Then he gasps excitedly.

“Wait a second this is great! You guys could break into Hameln with us! I mean we vaguely remember the building right? We could show you the way-” this was the most excited they have seen Wooly all day. 

“Hate to burst your bubble Wooly-” 

“Then please don’t.” Wooly grumbles. Amanda’s eyes flick back and forth between the phone screen and Wooly. He lets out an extremely long exasperated sigh, “Fine, go on.” 

“First flaw, even if we remember SOME parts of the building, what the heck are we going to do with that? We have no plan! Second flaw, we haven’t been there in about twenty years! Right? There’s no way that building is exactly the same as it was twenty years ago, IF they are even in the same building. Third, we don’t know how to get there.” 

“Wow… you popped that bubble right in my face…”

“I don’t know what to tell you Wooly, other than the truth.” Amanda shrugs. 

“Okay but, this WORKS!” Riley announces triumphantly, “Finally! Finally!” Amanda notices tears in their eyes, “SOMETHING IS GOING RIGHT FOR ONCE!” Amanda smiles. Riley collapses on their knees in relief. “Oh if one more thing went wrong I don’t know what I’d do…” 

“Quit blubbering Riley… we still got work to do.” Amanda teases gently. 

“I’m not blubbering! I’m just… so relieved that we might be able to do SOMETHING for you guys.” 

“Wait, you're going to see your family for a bit?” Wooly questions. Everyone stops and looks at him. “Sorry, my brain is just catching up.” 

“Yeah. Apparently Kate left some Amanda tapes with my Grandma. Plus, you know, you gotta visit your family every now and again right?” 

“Yep. Enjoy your time… don’t worry about us.” Amanda smiles warmly. “You never know… when you’ll have to say goodbye.” 

“Mmm. And I’ll be sure to introduce you at some point.” Riley mentions. 

“Huh?” 

“I thought it’d only be fair. I mean, her daughter… died trying to save you…” 

“Right…” Amanda says sadly. 

“Oooor we could record more Amanda episodes on my phone while they’re gone to have as a backup! Hmm… should we re-play and record all the tapes we’ve done or just record the tapes that we haven’t watched yet?” Sophie suggests. 

“I wanna have as many adventures as possible together!” Amanda beams. Wooly looks at her with surprise. 

“Amanda… shouldn’t we be focusing on… other things?” “You guys could also hang out while I record and work on other things. That’s productive right?” Sophie asks. 

“I guess…” Wooly mumbles. “I just feel like we’re running out of time…”

“We could do all of those things, you know. It’s not like Wooly and I can’t be in multiple places at once!” Amanda points out. 

“HUH?” Sophie gasps. 

“Yeah, I mean we were interacting with like- hundreds of kids individually all at the same time. We can handle two.” 

“Hmm…” Riley muses, “I wonder what would happen if we uploaded you to Youtube…” 

“RILEY NO!” Sophie shouts.

“What’s a Youtube?” Wooly says, tilting his head in confusion. 

“It’s a website where you can upload videos to the entire world.” Sophie explains. 

“Web…site?”

“Yeah Wooly like on a computer?” Amanda elaborates.

“Okay yeah, I don’t know anything about computer stuff. My mom never let us use ours. If I let my sister anywhere near that computer my mom would totally freak out.” 

“I see… there were a TON of computers at the library… I would use them all the time to-” 

“No thanks, I don’t think I wanna know what you used them to do.”

“Play computer games Wooly… I used to play computer games.” 

“There were games? I missed out on GAMES?!” Wooly sounds incredibly appalled and annoyed.  

“Considering when you got trapped you both missed out on some pretty good ones too…” Sophie adds. 

“Oh shut up!” Amanda shouts stomping her foot, “I don’t even want to know!” 

“Wait guys, back on topic. Why can’t we upload Amanda to the internet? If we did then Amanda could tell everyone the truth and Hameln could never take it down… I mean on the hopeful note that it goes viral and gets shared and reposted a ton.” 

“That’s exactly why we shouldn’t. People went missing when they watched Amanda, they’d get their souls trapped in the show remember? If we unleash that on the world-” 

“Okay Sophie I get it.” 

“That should only be used as a last resort then…” Wooly decides. 

“Wooly?!” Everyone gasps. 

“What? If people did get hurt it would remind the public how dangerous Hameln’s shows can be and then they definitely wouldn’t want another one…” 

“True but…” Amanda says, looking unsure. 

“Look, that’s why I said last resort. As in the absolutely last possible option to stop them.” Wooly explains. 

“But using social media… might not be a bad idea…” Riley considers. “I think… we might have a chance… or at least a plan…” 

“Well I don’t really get what’s going on but… I trust you Riley… I know you’ll do what’s right.” Amanda says. The video stops, even though there is more runtime available. 

“Okay Sophie… Here's what we’re going to do. You’re going to record some tapes on your phone… and maybe copy them to a harddrive. Make that a couple harddrives just in case something happens to one. While the tapes are being recorded, gather all the evidence we have against Hameln.” 

“What are we going to do?” 

“We’re going to leak it. All of it.” 

“Riley, are you insane? Tha-that’s so crazy that’s like… it’s… perfect. Oh my gosh it’s perfect- but… if we do that… then… what if Hameln does something to Amanda and Wooly?” 

“We’ll have to ensure their safety first then leak anything.” “So we’re taking their show and then leaking a bunch of dirt about them? I mean… it’s a good plan but like… that would probably piss them off right?” 

“They won’t be happy about it, that's for sure.” 

Author's Note: So much to unpack in this episode huh? Amanda is trying really hard to lighten the mood here, feels like I’ve been having her do that for awhile now. She’s just sick of the misery. Anyway… are you all ready for the finale of Part 3? :) I tried to be less angsty with this part. Hopefully this was the fluffiest part of the series!

[muttsupreme]

LIPSTICK ON ROMAAAAANNNNNNNNN

him w this hair in s1……ROMAAAANNNN!!!!! bring back ur s1 hair and my life is yours..

I’ve written so many drafts previously (um obviously not here but privately) about Roman using your lipstick/lipgloss and most frequently, your chapstick.

It starts with him wanting to smell like you; vanilla lip masks that look way too sticky but he tries a little on his fingertip and rubs it on very lightly after you leave your desk. Shiv’s face scrunches up when she sees him with a glossy lip for the first time since she let him borrow her Polly Pocket makeup kit when they were kids (her mom got it for her before it was even released, and assumed she’d be so excited; she was not).

Shiv will make some snide quip, privately for once.

“Uhh, did you…just come back from Sephora, or…?”

“What?” He immediately goes on high-alert, higher defense, and realizes that it must be glossy, the fucking lip mask bullshit that smells like warm vanilla and cookies and tastes like pure sugar when he stupidly licks his lips without thinking (or maybe to hope, y’know, that your spit is in it, so it’s indirect kissing). “Oh - fuck you, do you want chapped, dry, disgusting lips? Because some of us don’t want to look like ogres, Fiona.”

“Hey, I was just asking,” she says in a higher pitch with a dismissive chuckle. She doesn’t mention it again; she recognized the smell, who that smell usually follows. Roman’s wary of her from then on, for weeks.

Next time, he’s going through your bag that you refuse to unpack, because it’s only a weekend trip and then you’re going somewhere else immediately after. Why unpack when you’re gonna repack the next day?

He sees stuff, tons of stuff. Sniffs sweaters when you turn around. He’s got your blanket pulled out already, draped across the bed and him, laying on his side looking at you as you get ready for bed in the ensuite bathroom, door open so he can continue making fun of your regiment and the things you’ve packed.

From your purse nearby, or your makeup bag, he picks up a lipstick (I imagine Diorelita). It opens with a quiet ‘pop’ that you recognize and turn around to see him looking attentively at the color.

“Think it suits me?”

“Mmh, maybe. Wanna see?” You reply with a grin, watching him get a little shy on you.

“C’mere,” you encourage him, sitting on his lap as he leans against the headboard, your lipstick in hand. “Lemme make you pretty.”

He lets you, and you’re shocked he’s staying so still. When you’re done, you snarkily - but entirely jokingly - say, “Now what do we say?”

“Fuck you? Thank you, for…making me pretty,” and he does, he’s very, very pretty with that color on, and you did very well gliding it on evenly. He leans up to kiss you just as you lean down to kiss him; the lipstick smears onto your lips.

“Roro - your lipstick’s getting on me,” you try to rub it off, unsexily. You don’t really have to be sexy around him, it’s one of your favorite things.

“Um, it’s your lipstick, I’m just…temporarily borrowing it,” he huffs defensively. His heart literally does fucking cartwheels when you call him that stupid, almost maternal nickname. “Just come here - shut the fuck up, stop complaining. I’d lick the lipstick off you if you’d just get a little - closer.”

“Aw, romantic boy,” you coo, kissing him sweetly and feeling his tongue stick out, lapping at your lips, making good on his promise like a little puppy. When you’re almost positive he must be done, you pull away, but he’s not having it.

“Whoa - slow your fucking roll, you’re not going anywhere, you look…you look like a clown, lipstick’s still all over everywhere,” he says, trying to get you to come back instead of going back to the bathroom. You’re pretty sure, not positive but willing to bet, that he’s lying and you have no lipstick left anywhere on your face.

“I’ll come back,” you reassure with a whisper; you hate to leave him alone when he’s being so sweet, with such pretty makeup on. “Aww, pretty baby,” you can’t stop yourself from cooing at the unintentionally pouty look on his face, one he’d be humiliated by if he saw. You give him a chaste peck.

“Jesus, give me a second to brush my teeth and pee and I’ll be back. Promise.”

“Yeah, but then you won’t taste like you, you’ll taste like…mint and tap water,” he complains. There’s no pleasing him, other than you being beside him at all times.

Okay whatever that’s just two of my many one billion ideas of Romulus and his obsession with…….indirectly kissing you, being pretty for you, being close to you, and um, your lips in general. I could and might write another little thought-post about his obsession with your lips and stuff, who knows. I’m feeling romantical (‘roman’ being the main part of the word).

[misguidedasgardian]

I want to steal the bride (2)

2. Desserts, Yi-ti and old things

MASTERLIST

Summary: Aemond finds himself without you for the first time in ten years, so he starts to realize certain things 

Pairings: Aemond Targaryen x BestFriend!Reader, Cregan Stark x Fem!Reader

Warnings: Cursing, Aemond goes around hehe, Criston is sort of a red flag, but that is nothing new, since its an adaptation of the movie, I will be using sort of stereotypes, and there are some jabs about marriage and married men in this part.

Wordcount: 3.8 k

Disclaimer: This is a direct adaptation of the movie “Made of honor” and its script! also the pictures of the header aren’t mine, I took them from Pinterest 

Notes: UPPSSSS

It hasn't even been a week, and Aemond already missed you terribly, he had barely spoken to you, you whined with him about not getting service anywhere, and you were almost always disconnected from him

But he had his weekly meeting with his friends and his brother, and he was ready to play basketball and keep his mind off of things for a while

He met with his brother Aegon, and his friends Criston and Adam Velaryon 

“So, how was the old man’s wedding?”. teased Aegon

“You would have liked it, the bride I mean”, he muttered while tying up his laces of his shoes 

“What was this one? the fifth?”

“Sixth actually”, he said, Aegon chuckled

“For the gods!”, he laughed, “I’m guessing you went with Looooove”, he teased

“Yes, next wedding you go instead please”, he said seriously

“Oh please, you love to find any excuse to take her everywhere”, he mocked, they walk back towards the group and find the guys arguing

“I'm not gonna be able to play today, man. My back”, whined Addam

“If we don't have a fourth, we're gonna end up with Tiny Shorts Guy”, complained Criston

“How's it going?”, Larys Strong appeared with a basketball in his hands, he was known on the court for not being very handy with the ball, and for wearing booty shorts when he played, it was not pretty, “need another?”

“No, our friend Ramsay, with longer shorts, is coming”, said Aemond, he laughed and left, cleary not getting the hint

“No he is not coming!”, remembered Addam, Myranda signed him up for some art-walk thing”

“Art walk? Are you serious? Tell me something, what do you think Myranda did with his balls when she cut them off?”, mocked Criston

“Gods”, mocked Aemond, I go to art walks with (y/n) all the time”, he defended 

“Oh, come on, guys, marriage isn't that bad”, defended Addam

“I agree”, said Criston, playing with the ball in his hand, “without marriage, there'd be no divorce. So, without divorce, I wouldn't have my condo in the Vale”

“There you go”, laughed Aegon, “Good one” 

“I'm serious, man. You're missing out on the best parts of life”, continued the only current married man in the group, now speaking only to Aemond and Aegon, “the most important part of life”

“This coming from the guy whose wife won't let him go to bars”, said Aegon

“Hey, I thought we weren't gonna talk about that, huh?”, he said back, “and besides you are you to talk?”, asked Addam, annoyed, “you are single and you've been single ever since… What was her name, in sophomore year?”

“Um, Cer-, Cerse….Ceresse!” said Criston mockingly, everyone laughed, except for Aegon

“Ceresse, that's it!”, laughed Addam, “Ceresse dumped you for him sophomore year”, he mocked pointing at Aemond

“You've never been the same. You haven't been able to sleep”, mocked Addam

“Scarred”, mocked Criston

“Yeah. You have no idea how nice it is to have someone who's gonna be there for you, no matter what, forever”, concluded Addam

“And you don't know how nice it is to sleep with a different girl every night”, snapped Aemond

“That's true”, said Criston

“Nice rebuttal”, peached in Larys

“You know, you got the best of both worlds, Aemond”, said Criston

“It's true. I can sleep with whoever I want, but I still get to hang with (Y/N) afterwards. It's a perfect setup”, he said with the brightest of smiles, only thinking of you

“Well, maybe not for her”, muttered Addam, Aemond’s smile got wiped out pretty quickly

“What's that supposed to mean?”, he asked

“Come on, Aemond. She's a woman”, continued Aegon

“Yeah, I got that”

“You sure?”, mocked Criston

“Yeah”

“Dude, she's pushing 30. You think her idea of happily ever after is coming home to you and hanging out after you got laid?”, mocked Aegon, Aemond frowned 

“Makes you think, right?”, asked Larys, sneaking into the group

“Yeah”, nodded Addam

It did made him think

You had never shown yourself annoyed when he discussed his conquests with you, you loved hanging out with him on fridays, and… anytime, yes you were annoyed when he asked you to go to his grandfather’s weddings with him, but… anyone would, right?

With a sigh, he picked up the phone, and dialed you

It rang a couple of times, until you picked up

“Hello?”, he asked enthusiastically

“Hey”, you whispered lowly

“What’s going on?”, he asked, “were you sleeping?”, he mocked 

“Its very late here Aem”, you whined 

“How's the weather in White Harbor?”, he asked

“It's great. Only I'm in Winterfell”, he had woken you up, you were exhausted 

“Oh, right. Right”, his smile didn’t waver as he listened to your voice, “So, it's sunny”, he assumed 

“It's 3 in the morning”, you whined

“Oh, right. Sorry. So it's dark”, he said

“Yeah”

“Hey, have you seen the Big black wolf yet?”, he didn’t hear anything back, so he just dropped it, “I know, a terrible joke. Anyway…”

“Is there something important?”, you asked, falling asleep with phone in hand 

“Yeah, you'll never guess what happened”, he said with an enthusiastic tone

“What?”

“They filled in the pothole”, he said matter-of-factly

“The pothole?”, you asked, frowning

“On 83rd”

“Terrific. Hey, Aemond?”

“Yeah?”, he asked

“I'm gonna go back to sleep now”

“Oh, okay. Sure”, he said, finally catching on

“Love you”, you whispered, and Aemond jumped on his seat, it wasn’t the first time you had said it, but clearly it played with his mind

“Good night. Call me Tomorrow”, he said but you were already gone, and he hadn't said it back

He was more confused than before

He loves hearing your voice, and he missed you, but he didn’t know what to think, he didn’t even know what he was hoping for, what he expected with just one phone call, if that could give him more clearance 

It hadn’t

No, he shook his head, he couldn’t, no, he couldn’t

You were his best friend 

But his male friends were right, you… were a girl… a woman, you have had boyfriends before and it's not going to be long before you get another one, maybe one day you’ll get married…

The thought frightened him, he realized with surprise

The thought of being without you scared him to death

So he came to a conclusion…

A bad one…

He invited the last girl in his little black book, to meet her in the vintage store you both liked going to, it had to work… You were going to move on from him, and even though that scared him, he had to be prepared

He was with women all the time, he was going to prove everyone else wrong, he could get girl-friends….

“This stuff's all old”, Jeyne mumbled, looking everywhere, bored out of her mind

“Yeah. That's the point”, he answered, she looked back at him and shoot him a wink and a smirk

“Let's go to Fendi”, she said, perhaps it was a mistake to tell her how much he gained

“Fendi? No. No, no”, he said dismissively

“Yes!”, she shrieked 

“We're here. Let's just stay here”, he said, trying to convinced her

“I'm not into old stuff”, she whined like a little girl

“Why are you talking like a six-year-old?”, he said, immediately regretting his choice 

“I'm not”, she answered sharply

So the next day, he invited Floris to the famous bakery, to try his luck

“This line is too long. Can't we just go somewhere else?”, she asked, anoyyed

“No. This is the best bakery in the world. That's why it's worth waiting in line”, he said simply, but as she looked terribly annoyed, those stilettos she was weaning weren’t making her any favors to stay for two long on her feet, he tried a bit harder

“Come on, we'll play a game. Wanna play a game?”, that seemed to pick her interest

“Yeah, we can play a game”, she said, visibly more engaged

“Okay, good”, he said, now more confident, “Tell me what to order”, he teased

“Why?”, she asked back

“We are playing, that’s the game! you'll see. It'll be fun.Make a suggestion.

“A cookie”, she suggested

“No, no, you have to be specific, like what type of cookie?”, he pushed

“A really big cookie”

Alright this was a bad idea 

“Aemond, your phone's ringing”, said Alys Rivers, the girl he had been seeing every week, he ran back from the bathroom to pick it up, it was you! it had to be you

“Hello?”, he desperately asked into the phone, but there was no answer, only noise, “Hello?”, he asked, but no answer

“What's wrong?”, Alys asked when she say him sighing loudly and desperately

“Missed an important call”

“That's because you're an important person”, she teased. He looked at her, she was gorgeous, he liked having sex with her

“Do you like Yi-ti food?”, he asked curiously 

Half an hour later he was sitting on the same table he used to sit with you, and Alys was right in front of him

The cart was approaching and she smiled widely

“Hey, come to mama”, she giggled, “Uhh, we will have, um, two fried dumplings, two of the wontons, and six of the, uh, fried porky thingies”, she ordered

“Yeah, but that's fried”, he said, annoyed, once her order was on the table, she grabbed a fried piece with her chopsticks 

“Come on”, she teased

“It's not healthy”, he said seriously

“Have some of the fried. It won't hurt you”, she insisted, nearing the fried piece into his mouth. She dropped it, making the piece fall into his pants and staining them

She gasped apologetically

“Sorry…”

“Thank you”, he said, rolling his eyes

This was a bad idea 

It’s been weeks, he had dated, actually taken on dates, many women, and none of them, not one, had made him feel the way you do

He missed you

He realized there was no replacing you, there is no other woman he rather be with… and… that was driving him insane

So today he decided to calculate the hour properly, and call you early, it was nighttime still, but at a  night he knew you were going to be awake 

But it was a glitchy call, he knew it from the beginning

“Hello?”, he tried, rubbing his forehead

“Hey. Hello?”, your voice, so beautiful and melodic, it made Aemond feel like everything was well, like he was at peace, relaxed 

“Hello?”, he repeated, “Love?”

“Hello?”, you asked back

“Hey”, he said, excited of actually being able to talk with you

“Aemond? Aemond, is that you?”, you asked, “Aemond?”

“Hello?”, he asked, annoyed

You could barely hear him, you were on a two day trip to a castle on the outskirts of Winterfell, it started pouring, the road was a mess and you were surrounded by huge cows, they were everywhere

“Hello?”, you asked back, actually, the thought of hearing your best friend right now is just what you needed, but you couldn’t

“You're cutting out. I can't hear anything you've said”, you whined, “I'm stuck in a thunderstorm. I'm surrounded with a herd of cows. Listen, I'll call when I get to the hotel”, you tried to explain

“Love, I can't hear you”

“Aemond?”, you asked, “Hello?”

“Hello? Hello?”, you were interrupted, and hang up when someone knocked on the window of your car, you smiled apologetically, and found yourself in front of the most handsome man you had ever seen

“Oh Hello”

“You lost lass?”

. . .

“Oh, I hate Winterfell”, whined Aemond and threw his phone away to bag, it was basketball day again, and he need to get ready

But his mind was thousand of miles away

As the days passed he realized there was no other like you, you are the only one he liked to hang around with, he loved being with you, he… he loved you 

And the thought scared him

“C’mon C’mon C’mon!”, called Criston, but Aemond was barely able to move before Addam snatched the ball from him 

“We're having a hard time”, mocked Criston, “We're having a hard time”

“Oh, yeah? Want a hand?”, asked aegon, who got the bal and had no problem avoiding Aemond and threw a three pointer from half the court

“Give it up, baby”, he mocked

“Come on, Aemond. Aemond, Aemond”, called Criston, but Addam intercepted him

“Easy”, he mocked, Aemond tried to grab him, tired of failure

“Aemond, foul. That's a foul, Aemond”, called Aegon, “what's the matter with you today??”

“I don't know”, he whined, stopping in the middle of the court, “I think I might have feelings for (y/n)”

“Oh, come on, come on. Let's just play”, mocked Criston, but Aegon and Addam shared concerned looks 

“It's just... without her, something's off”, he explained, like it pained him, “It's got me thinking that, maybe, there's more to life than just sleeping around”

“I don't understand”, said Criston

“I-I'm not following”, muttered Aemond

“Come on, let's just play”, dismissed Aemond 

“I know exactly what you mean, Aemond”, said Addam with a shy smile on his face. Aegon and Criston shared concerned looks and passed the ball to each other

“I'm gonna tell her, when she gets home… I'm gonna tell her that I wanna be with her”, he said with a wide smile, “nothing about marriage, just be together”, Addam’s smile wiped out pretty quickly

“Yeah, that's romantic”, mocked Aegon

From hare, and for the next few weeks he still had ahead of him without you, he could breathe a bit more easy

. . . 

You have one unheard message.

A message from you! Aemond was so excited when he heard it

“Hey, Aem, I'm back. Gods, I cannot wait to see you! I don't care what you're doing tonight, cancel it. We're going to dinner”,  he smiled at the sound of your voice, this was going to be perfect, he knew exactly what he was going to say. “Meet me at that new trendy place next to the small Bravoosi  place we hated that used to be the Mantari-fusion place we loved. Meet me there, at 8 o'clock. I have so much to tell you!”

He had heard the voice message like eight times already while ha changed clothes, he was so so excited, he had his apartment cleaned, his suits pressed, his cologne, - the one you liked- stocked, his hair fixed, tonight, he was going to tell you that he had feeling for you, that he wanted to explore it further

With any luck, he was going to take you back to his palace for the night

You were going to be the first woman even going up there

And he was okay with that 

He entered the new place, it was very nice, as could turn into a date kinda nice, he looked at the flowers he bought on the street for you, and took a long breath as he told your name to the receptionist who led them to the back of the restaurant 

And there you were, gorgeous, like always

He could recognize you everywhere, anywhere 

But as he catched your glance and you smiled at him, you look back to someone else, and there it was, some guy, tall handsome, he hadn't seen him, instead he hugged you and kissed your neck

Fuck no

No no no no

Who was that?

he got so distracted that he didn’t see the waiter coming at him at full speed

They clashed scandalously, plates flew as the flowers and Aemond fell to the ground, not very elegantly, on top of the poor waiter

“AEMOND!”, you called, running to him. He was whining on the floor, “Aemond. You okay?”, you asked sweetly

“I'm all right. Are you all right?”, he asked, turning to the waiter who was moaning and wheezing in pain

“I think I broke a rib”, you helped Aemond up from the floor, and he smiled apologetically at you 

“His rib. I'm fine. I'm fine”, said Aemond, helping the poor waiter up on his feet, he was fine, he hoped 

“Are you okay?”, you asked to Aemond

“I'm so sorry”, muttered Aemond, the manager approached you

“I'm sorry, sir. Here are your flowers”, she said apologetically, trying to grab them front he floor

“Oh, but…”

“You had flowers?”, you asked him

“No, they're not my flowers”, he said dismissively

“They're your flowers. Those are yours”, said the waiter, grabbing his side

“I didn't have flowers”, fought Aemond, grabbing you softly and walking away from the scene. He finally turned to you and smiled

“Hi. It's good to see you”, he purred softly, his eye shining excitedly

“I missed you”, you admitted, hugging him quickly, “there's someone I want you to meet”

Aemond wanted to be the one that broke a rib

“Oh, good”, he said, not expecting you to notice the change in his demeanor 

“Aemond, this is Cregan”, there it was, this tall, handsome, beautiful man

“oh”, they shook hands, and Aemond didn’t know what to think

So fifteen minutes later, with a drink in hand, Aemond was pinching his own leg under the table, because he wanted to scream 

“It started pouring and suddenly it was just me in a field of cows…”, you laughed, Aemond watched in horror the way you were looking at that man, “of course, we're in the North there are no street signs anywhere and it's getting dark…”

“I think she thought she was in some bad werewolf movie”, he chipped in, and Aemond even hated to hear the sound of his voice, "Stay off the moors, lassie.", he continued

He only had eyes for you

“So, anyway, all of a sudden, out of nowhere, Cregan comes riding up on horseback”, your eyes are finally back on him, so he had to muster a weird smile. You laughed excitedly, Aemond had never seen you like that, “Can you believe it?”, you asked him “A horse! And asks me if I need any help”

“Wow!”, he said, faking it, not that you’d notice 

“You were a lady in distress. What was I gonna do?”, he said, Aemond wanted to throw up

Dammit Cregan, we are in a public place! Aemond was sure that if a policeman would have been here he would have arrested him, for public indecency and being a creep

“It was right out of a Valyrian novel”, you said lovingly, you could see that Aemond wasn’t that invested, so you smiled at him, what he had said that you where a “love slut” came back to you, “So, anyway, he shows me to this charming little inn where he proceeds to buy me the most awful dinner I have ever had”, you said, with a bitter taste in your mouth

Probably Aemond thought this was stupid, that you were being silly 

“Right. Okay. Aye. It was pretty bad, even by Northerner standards”, Cregan agreed with you

“Then, we just spent the next month traveling around the country, getting to know each other, and visiting museums. It was…”, you sighed, looking into Cregan’s eyes

“It was perfect”, he said right there with you, looking into yours

“So, when it was time for (y/n)  to leave, I just… I don't know, I just… I couldn't let her go”, Cregan finally found it in himself to look at Aemond

“Ah…”, he muttered

“So, I got down on one knee…”, you smiled widely, showing Aemond your hand, and the huge rock that decorated your ring finger

“And he proposed, and I accepted”, you said excitedly

Aemond was never a man who let himself be controlled by his emotions, that being said, he never thought he even had a nervous breakdown, or a panic attack… until now

He felt his heart beating sot wrongly he thought he was going to pass out 

“Wow, that's just… It's huge, it's…”, he couldn’t stand it, his legs were getting numb

“So, the wedding's coming together very quickly”, you continued

Oh suit fuck, shit, he started looking for the emergency exit, couldn’t find it anywhere 

“Ah, it sounds like it”, he managed to say, his mouth was dry

“We're gonna get married in Winterfell, at Cregan's parents' summer home”, you continued, another nail on his coffin

“It's gonna be a pretty small thing. We can't expect too many people to make the trip overseas in just a fortnight”, Cregan chipped in

“A fortnight”, he said, trying to calm himself

“Right!”, you said

“That's two weeks”, he said seriously

“It's crazy, isn't it?”, you asked him, he seemed to notice how incredibly nervous you were

“Have you ever been to Winterfell, Aemond?”, asked Cregan

“You know, I haven't”, he said, trying to smile, but his cheeks were numb too

“You should see the little church where we're exchanging our vows in”, that smile on your face, Aemond’s heart broke, if he could be the one that caused it, it was so beautiful and bright, filled with love, “It's the same church that Cregan's parents were married in”

“It's pretty spectacular. Just across the loch from our distillery”, of course

“Distillery?”

“Yeah, Cregan's family owns the largest whisky distillery in the North”, you said with a knowing smile

Did you expect him to like this Cregan person?

“Aemond, look…”, oh shit, he thought, “If you were getting married I'd expect to be your best man”, you said surely, and he paled even more, “Aemond… will you be my maid of honor?”, you asked excitedly 

“Your maid of honor?”, he asked, it felt like the knife this Cregan guy had plunged into him, was being twisted, he got up, he needed to get out of this place, he needed to run,t o scream to

He turned and BAM

He crashed against the same waiter, both ended up in the floor covered in some warm soup

“Oh, I'm so sorry”, he whined

“WHAT IS IT WITH YOU MAN?”, he screamed high pitched

taglist!

@snh96 @sagelovesreading @toodlesxcuddles @ammo23 @bananzaa @ttkttt @at-a-rax-ia

[sulumuns-dootah]

1. 12. Juno - Organising festivities

      ༺☆༻

⟡ Masterlist ⟡ 

⋆꙳·❅‧The Yule festival of Hell 2‧❆ ₊⋆

A/N: Reader is one of the demons and is separate from the MC ^^

      ༺☆༻

“Y/N! Let's go for a drive!” Ppyong in his human form plops down next to you on the sofa in your room in the Gehenna castle.

“Can't... Sitri asked me to write down the itinerary for this month.” you sigh. You really wish you could, but this month is going to be hectic from the looks of it, considering how much preparations and events needs to take place.

“Oh? And what's all gonna happen then?”

“Well... The castle needs to be decorated... Sitri decided that his year he'll oversee the baking... Astaroth wants to do a Christmas reading evenings... Oh! And I also need to make a list of gifts for every demon in Gehenna from Satan...” you start looking through all the papers where all the nobles wrote their request and ideas for festivities.

“Huh? And can I request some activities too?” Juno perks up and snatches the closest empty paper with you pen, eager to partake in the nobles' planning.

“Sure, but I'd have to run it through with Satan or Sitri...” you hum and look around for another one of your pens.

After finding one, you turn back to your itinerary and start writing again, only occasionally hearing Juno swear and complain about how difficult it is for him to use pen in his human form as opposed to his lump form.

Paimon requesting a fashion show, Amy wants a Gehenna-wide snowball fight with a reward to the last one standing, Satan's dinner with all the other kings in Hell (Do NOT invite Asmodeus!!!)...

The list is slowly getting longer and longer and soon enough you've covered both sides of you paper. You're about to reach out for another empty cheet of paper when the door to your room is slammed open so hard it almost falls off.

“Oi red lump! You gotta got to the human world!Solomon's kid needs some of that human cum again!” it's Amy who, now for the first time you're seeing anywhere close to your room since it's relatively close to Sitri's.

Juno gets up with a sad sigh. This might be the only time you see him disappointed to go see his friend in human world.

“Okay... But Y/N, do look at my suggestion list for when I'm back, okay?” he turns to you with a grin before disappearing into a black cloud of mist. Amy is already gone too and you're left alone.

Looking over to where Juno sat and struggled to write, you pull the paper with his suggestion closer to you. The paper is almost covered with unintelligible attempts at writing which, to be fair, start getting better towards the bottom of the page. You're only able to read the last line without guessing most of the words:

'Goe fro a drife w me :)'

      ༺☆༻

But wait, this demon also has a gift for you!

"Since you're so worried about your safety on our drives, here... I gto you a helmet!"

[writingsbychlo]

UNDER THE MISTLETOE (day eight)

summary; on your final day, you and az spend some time with kallias, while vivianne plans a party and a few surprises.

word count; 8848

notes; the last part!! I hope you guys love it 🤍

The hustle and bustle of the palace had been apparent from the very moment that you’d opened your eyes this morning. Azriel had been curled around you when you woke up, soft whispers of good mornings until the two of you had been ready to get out of bed. Now, as you stood at the bottom of the main stairway, staring in shock at the flurry of motion and hustle of workers, you felt like that peaceful morning had been years ago.

“What…”

“Viv.” You both jumped as Kallias appeared beside you, slipping out from the corridor beside the stairs and clutching a mug of tea in his hands, still steaming. He looked even more shocked and frazzled than the both of you, eyes wide as you stared out at the crowds. “Viv is throwing you a party.”

“Why?” The words tumbled from Azriel faster than you could process the statement, a giggle leaving you as you nudged him with your elbow for his brashness. As though sensing herself about to be teased, Vivianne wove through the crowds, steely gaze fixed on her husband, whose eyes only widened when he saw her.  

“Shit, I—” 

“Kallias!” She did not seem pleased, and his spluttering came to a halt as she stopped before the three of you, one hand coming to rest on her hip as the other clutched a clipboard. “You said you were going to get more berries!”

“I think we have enough berries.” 

She only scowled, a look flashing across her face that told all three of you the berry debate wasn’t over. When her attention moved to the both of you, her expression became far sunnier. “It was brought to my attention last night that we didn’t have a Christmas party! You can’t not have a Christmas party at your first Christmas.”

“It was a joke,” Kallias grumbled the words into his tea, sipping from him and wincing. 

“A joke I’m taking seriously.” She pinched his cheek, and he only scowled deeper. “Plus, it was a challenge, and I never turn down a challenge. You told me there was no way I could get a whole Christmas party together in less than a day. Well, not only can I do it, it’s going to be a fantastic party, at that.”

“Viv, you really don’t have to do that for us.”

“Oh, this party isn’t for you two, anymore,” Kal sighed, turning to face you both and shrugging. “This party is purely for my wife, at this point.”

“You won't have a wife if you keep up all this attitude.” She sniped, and he finally smiled at that. 

“Uh-huh, sure.” He looped an arm around her, pulling her into him until her clipboard was pressed to his chest, and he left a wet kiss on her cheek. “You’re not going anywhere, so I’m going to keep complaining.”

Wiping at her cheeks, she was doing nothing to hide her blush or her smile, as she softened against him and kissed his cheek in response. “You’re lucky I love you.”

“I love you too, snowflake.” With a final kiss to her lips, Kallias let her go, leaving a less than discrete tap on her ass as she walked away again, and you chuckled, turning to hide your expression in Azriel’s shoulder. When you emerged again, his attention was on the two of you. “While Viv takes care of everything else, it’s my job to distract the two of you today. You can’t be here in the ‘prepping area’.”

“So, we’re going out?” Excitement raced through you at the chance to get a little more sightseeing done before you left, your only regret is not having gotten enough in before it all to see everything. You would have to come back for sure. 

“We are.” Scanning his gaze over you both, Kal smirked. “You two might want to change, we’re going to do some manual labour today. You’re gonna’ be busy and cold.”

You idled for a second longer, before he was ushering you back up the stairs, telling you to be back in ten minutes. The pair of you stumbled over your own feet, giggling as Azriel compared him to Cassian on a training day, and falling back in fits of laughter against the door of your room. 

“So, can I at least get away with wearing my leathers for this?”

“No!” Your giggles were renewed, standing up to point at him as you wandered over to the packed cases sitting at the base of the bed, knowing you were going to have to gently unpack them to find some warmer clothes again. “Not the leathers!”

“What’s wrong with them? You’re going to have to get used to them, baby. I mean— I really don’t know how you haven’t already, it’s been—” You spun to him, throwing your jumper at him as you stripped it over your head in order to add some more layers underneath first. “Hey!”

“There’s nothing wrong with the leathers, that’s the whole point!”

“That’s the whole point?” He echoed, balling up the fabric and throwing it back at you with force. “Oh, I get it. Do my leathers distract you, baby? I did tell you they made my ass look good.”

“Go and get changed!” Your cheeks warmed, shaking your head at him and shooing him out of your bedroom, into his own, the door slamming on his laughter. 

He had his own cases, and you rifled through your own, sorting for jeans and layers and thicker socks, until you had a pile to change into, and had to refold everything back up, including the outfit you’d already chosen. You’d barely finished getting dressed again when the door reopened, and you nudged your re-packed bag back under your bed with your foot.

When Azriel reemerged, your mouth went a little dry at the sight of him. Adjusting his collar, his head was tucked down, and you were given a chance to observe him. He had donned the leather pants of his training gear, tucked snug around his thighs and into his boots, one of his siphons now clipped onto his belt. Two sat over the backs of his hands in their straps, half covered by the sleeves of his thick flannel coat. With a dark grey long-sleeve underneath, the shades of pale blue threaded through the fur-lined jacket were a startling contrast to his usual moody outfit choice, and your mouth dried out.

He looked like he was glowing in the Winter scenery. 

“What?”

His head snapped up, and you wondered how he’d known you were staring, preparing to look away, before the flustered haze cleared for just a second. You’d likely been sending him all of those astonished feelings down the bond, and it was that bond that meant you were absolutely allowed to check him out, whenever you damn well pleased.

“Seriously, what is it?”

“I’ve never seen you in that jacket before.” Your throat felt dry, and you swallowed a couple of times, taking a few steps closer to him. He raised his hands, waiting for you to walk into them so he could settle them on your hips. 

“I bought it for this trip. There’s a lot of outfits I didn’t get to wear, we’ve spent considerably more time out of our clothes than in them.” You grinned, running your hands up his forearms, and scanning your gaze over him once more. He tensed a little, flexing the longer you stared, and you bit your lip. “You’re checking me out.”

“Yeah, and what of it? You’re hot, and you’re mine.” Reaching one hand behind him, he jumped as you grasped at a handful of his ass, his cheeks going red. “Turn around so I can check out the rest of you.”

“Only if you’ll do the same for me.” His sultry whisper lost all effect as his blush remained, and you pat the same cheek you’d grabbed, before pulling your hand back to his hip. He’d managed to do up the buttons under his wings himself this time, likely to avoid becoming the same wobbly-kneed mess you’d reduced him to last time as he fought all these new instincts that same way you were. “Kiss me?”

“You don’t even have to ask.” You mumbled, leaning up enough to meet him halfway, clashing together in the middle. 

It was messy, and lazy, and so sweet that your heart skipped a beat. His lips were in languid drags over your own, noses bumping with the occasional breaths taken. Sliding his hand under your thick jumper, you shivered at the brush of the cold metal of his clasp on your skin, pulling back with a gasp and pressing into his hand more. 

“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this.”

“I hope you do. I hope you start to see my kisses as a part of your everyday life, I hope you grow to expect them, I hope—” You cut him off with another kiss, grinning against his lips as he returned it more than eagerly, chasing you again when you pulled away. 

“I get it. You’ll be there every time I need a kiss.”

“Every time.” He promised, stealing one final one, before stepping back. “I believe we still have two minutes to spare.”

“There’s no way we’ve been less than ten minutes.”

“I thought he said twenty… we’re definitely late.” He tipped you up under your chin, pecking the tip of your nose, before running his sights over you. Snatching up the scarf he’d gifted to you, he looped it around your neck, before plopping a bobble hat haphazardly and half-over your eyes, and deeming it a job well done. 

Taking your hand in his as he grabbed both of your sets of gloves, you grinned, digging your heels in and failing to slow him down at all. “Wait, what about your other siphons, you’ve only got three on!”

“I’m not gonna’ need the other ones. I think we’ve expelled enough energy over the last few days that I’m still drained.” At your shock, he managed to tug you along further, out of the room and into the halls. He glanced at you over his shoulder, “I don’t know how you’re even walking, I clearly haven’t been fucking you good enough.” 

“Az!” Your head whipped around, looking for any other people in the halls, grateful to find them empty. 

“What? It’s true! I’ll have to do something about that later.”

You weren’t sure your cheeks could get any hotter without you catching fire, and you squeezed his hand in your own, only earning a head-tipping laugh in response. “You’re unbelievable.”

“I want you to remember those words, and scream them later tonight.”

“Oh, for—” 

Kallias was standing at the bottom of the stairs, leaning on the railing with his arms crossed. He had also changed, swapping out for a thick coat and some sturdy jeans and boots, his white brows furrowed as he watched you both come down the stairs. “You’re late! Luckily for you both, I happen to be quite fond of you, so I’ll let it slide.”

At his words, you grinned, but Azriel’s shoulders locked a little and his wings ruffled pridefully, his eyes widening as Kallias turned his back, motioning for the two of you to follow. He glanced at you, seeming shocked at such an open affirmation of friendship, and you could only smile. One day, Azriel would see just how loveable he was to everyone else, when he let those guarded walls down. 

Connecting bit!!

There was a carriage waiting for you outside, and you slid into it, Azriel sliding in beside you, and you leaned forwards, making space for his wings to stretch out, before sitting back and nestling into his side instead. 

“So, I thought we might start with some charity work.” As the carriage kicked into gear, Kallias decided to finally tell you both what you’d be doing with the day, and your interest was piqued. “There’s a shelter in the city for children on the other side of the events of the Mountain and the War, I volunteer there every year. Viv did it during the time I was away, for all the children whose parents were trapped with me.”

His attention was fixed out of the window, throat bobbing as he spoke, and your eyes were wide at such a confession. “Kal… We don’t want to intrude. If you want to go alone, we can find something else to do with our day.”

Reaching out, he caught your hand, squeezing it as he turned back to face you, eyes a little glassier than they had been. “No, I’d like it if you’d come. I want to share this with friends.”

“Then we’re happy to be a part of it,” Azriel promised, the two men sharing a smile, before Kallias cleared his throat and looked back to the passing scenery. 

“I thoughts afterwards we could go and get some lunch. You’re likely just to get nibbles at the party, Viv loves that whole finger-food party thing, she never misses a chance for it.” He smiled at the thought of his wife, “Then we can see how much time we have left, maybe see a carol service.”

When you finally pulled up to a stop, it was in front of a large cathedral-like building, with stained glass windows and tall spires, but it looked far more modern, like it had been recently converted. Only when you stepped out of the carriage were you able to truly appreciate its grandeur, letting out a low whistle at the sight. 

“It used to be a part of the priestess’ worship, but it fell into a lot of disrepair during those fifty years. Services weren’t so popular, people struggled to find their faith when everything seemed so bad. The priestesses moved back to the temples. Viv fixed it up, and made it into a shelter instead for anybody who needed it.” The doors were pinned open, lots of people spilling in and out as you passed them by carrying boxes of donations, offerings of food, or coming for help. 

You made an extra mental note to show your memories of it to Rhysand and Feyre when you got home, to perhaps install something similar in Velaris. Guiding you up several sets of stairs inside to reach the main floor, you were surrounded by tables filled with things to be out sorted, even more laying on the floor underneath, with runners taking things out as more came in. It was a truly impressive service. 

“This is the donations centre. Everything that comes in needs sorting through, everyone here is volunteers.” Patting an empty table, Kallias lifted two heavy boxes onto the space. “I’ll leave you two here, I’m going to go and help out at the food station downstairs. I’ll be back in a little while. If you run out of boxes… well… you won't.”

Looking around, a chuckle spilt from Azriel’s lips as he did the same, noting the piles of things from floor to ceiling, wobbling precariously. 

“Who are they?” Azriel pointed over toward the fireplace, a collection of what looked o be about ten children sitting around it, games and books and snacks spilt out around them. 

“Uh, might be volunteers children, could be kids of the shelter.” He shrugged, a saddened look taking over his face, and Azriel glanced at them again, his frown matching. “Alright, I’ll come back to check on you guys in a little bit.”

He waved as he went, disappearing out into the halls again, and you took up a place behind the table, Azriel falling into step beside you, leaving a kiss on your cheek as he did. 

“I love you.”

Your lips flicked up at the edges, tearing open the first sealed-up box, and turning to face him as he did the same. “Yeah? What’s brought that on?”

“Just, y’know, it’s our vacation, and you’re happy here working at the volunteer shelter, instead of sightseeing and all that. I wish the kids at the camps had something like this, I wish I’d had something like this when I was young, before I met Cass and Rhys.” Your heart clenched, and Azriel’s jaw rolled a little as he swallowed back emotions. “It feels fitting that the love of my life would be everything I wished I had since I knew what wishing was.”

“I love you, Az. I’m glad we’re here, and I’m glad we’re here together.”

“Me too.” With a simple peck to finish the conversation, the two of you moved on with your work, beginning to clear space for piles, and falling into a good harmony of sorting things into joint piles, making your way through the boxes gathered around your bodies. 

You worked in simple silence, mumbled conversation about anything that came to mind taking place between the two of you, the time flying by as you put your vacation time into something that might just change someone's life, and would certainly make you feel better for taking some time off. 

You waited, your latest dumb questing hanging in the air between you both, and you looked up to see what was taking Azriel so long with his answer, only to find his attention frozen once again, a shirt hanging in his hands to be folded.

This was the fourth time you’d watched Azriel’s eyes flicker towards the group of children gathered around the large fireplace, roasting hazelnuts and marshmallows in the flames. Trepidation and anxiety were strumming at that bond, feelings he didn’t bother to hide from reverberating to you, maybe he didn’t even know he was feeling it. 

When he glanced again, you sighed. Nudging him with your hip, you stole his attention back to you, temporarily. 

“Az?”

“Yeah, baby?” He didn’t look away, he kept working on the box before himself, folding the shirt he’d gotten stuck on and pulling out another item. He continued sorting it into the correct piles, only turning his gaze to you when you stayed quiet this time. “What is it?”

“Maybe you should go check on the kids, they’re all alone over there. Go make sure they’re all okay.”

He twisted, glanced over his shoulder at them, and when he turned back, there was a look in his eyes so full of love it nearly drowned you. With a meaningful nod and a kiss on your forehead, you watched him wander away, wings jerking at the pop of a log and pulling in tightly to his back, before crouching down beside the group of children. 

You couldn't hear him now, but his lips flickered up into a smile at the edges as one of the children offered him a fresh stick with a marshmallow on the end. He settled to kneel properly with them, poking it into the fire. As he watched over them, he helped adjust their grips, subtly pulling all of their little hands further away from the flames, relief beginning to trickle to you instead as he worked, chatting gently with them all as they heeded his advice.

You continued to sort through the boxes, trying to control the racing of your heart and get the work you and Azriel had been set done, all while trying not to miss a single second of his interactions. You watched as he taught them to make smores, sticky marshmallows pressing between chocolatey crackers, and he seemed to be telling them all some kind of story as they giggled and ate. 

When they were finished, he wiped all of their hands and cheeks, chubby-cheeked little ones settling in front of older ones before him, and one pointed at his wings. Flaring one out to the side and away from the fire, and the shouts of awe and wonder reached you on the other side of the room. 

He gave it a flap, strong enough that the hair of those kids in the front row flew out of their faces, dragging laughter from them all, and the look on Azriel’s face only brightened. You didn’t realise you’d stopped working entirely until someone bumped their hip against your own, and you found Kallias at your side, pulling a blanket from the box and folding it neatly. 

“Where’s your other half gone?”

Lifting a hand, you pointed him out by the fire, all the children crowded around him now, one little girl sat across his lap as a young boy clung to his shoulders, barely visibly in the crowd of little ones. 

Sniffling back the emotions welling up at the sight of him, you refocused on the task at hand, only having made it through one of your two boxes. Lifting the empty one to the floor, you and Kal worked silently for a couple of minutes as you gathered yourself, distributing donations to the correct piles. 

When you’d made it through that box together, he disappeared for only a moment, before returning with two more, practically overflowing, for the two of you to work through.

“He’s a good man.”

“He’s the best,” You whispered, plucking a bagful of children-sized clothes that someone had clearly grown out of, and beginning to sort them into various items. “I wish he’d see it in himself.”

“He sees in you that you see it in him, and that’s enough.” Your motions paused as you wrapped your head around his words, glancing up at your friend, who offered a vulnerable smile. You knew how much Rhysand had suffered on the other side of the reign of Amarantha, and how long it had taken your friend to truly recover. Perhaps this one was one of Kallias’ scars, and how he soothed it when the pain flared up.

Turning to him, you couldn't stop yourself from wrapping your arms around his middle, face in his shoulder as you squeezed him tightly. It was unprofessional, especially in front of his court, but Kallias had offered so many painful parts of himself to you today, and you didn’t know what else to do. A hug was the only thing that felt right.

It broke your heart to hear him let out a hurt sound, before wrapping his arms around you just as tightly, breaking those pieces further when he whispered a series of shaky ‘thank you’s into your ear. Your hands stroked up and down his back, his body shuddering a little as you held him. 

“You’re a good man too, Kal. I’m so lucky, for getting to be your friend.”

“It’s me who is the lucky one.” He whispered, giving you one final squeeze before pulling back, his bottom lip trembling a little as he smiled. He busied himself with a stack of jumpers, claiming he needed to take this pile to the clothing tables immediately, and wandering away with a conspicuous sniffle. 

You rubbed at your nose, letting out a watery laugh at yourself, before glancing back at your love. He was already looking at you, brows furrowed, a concerned stroke along the string connection you both to follow. Are you okay? He mouthed the words to you, and you offered a smile, tugging on that string in affirmation, and drawing a smile from him too. 

Another moment longer with the children, and he was standing, brushing off his knees and waving them goodbye, before making his way through the bustling shelter and back towards you. When he was only a few steps away, he lifted his hand, closing it quickly over your cheek and swiping his thumb under your eye, worrying his bottom lip as you leaned further into his palm. 

“What happened, love?”

“Nothing, I swear. I was just having a moment with Kallias, he told me some things about that time, and it made me a little emotional.” He stared, and you twisted your head, kissing over the strap across the centre of his palm. The furrow between his brows loosened, and his shoulders relaxed down, his thumb swiping again. “You looked like you were having fun over there. Make some new friends?”

“They’re just like what I know Nyx will be like soon. So curious about the world, so positive despite everything that's happened. They had so many questions, and they weren’t afraid of me.” He spared a look at them all, watching where they’d gathered once again around the fire, a huddle as one of the older children took the stage to tell tales in Azriel’s place. “It was nice.”

“I bet. You looked so happy.”

“Thank you.” He dipped down, brushing his nose with yours in a ghost of a kiss, and smiling. A throat cleared gently behind you both, and Kallias looked far more composed when you took him in now.

“You two ready to go for some lunch? I think we’ve done enough here for today.”

Kallias led the two of you out, the next stop on your tour being a small-town pub, somehow even smaller than the one you’d visited on your walk. It had a total of six tables, and you were sure Azriel’s wings took up half of the room you were in no matter how tightly he tucked them in to weave through the crowded tables. 

He’d settled eventually, the three of you crowded around a small table, and you were sure you looked like one of the paintings that were hung lopsidedly on the walls. Cheerful people, happy smiles, and for once, a sense of complete normalcy. As the three of you had crowded around a table, cramped in and laughing, you hadn't wanted it to ever end. 

Except, it had only gotten better, you’d gathered in a huddle outside under the snowfall to watch the carol singers in the town square. Azriel’s arms had been wrapped tightly around you from behind, keeping you warm and secure against his chest as Kallias had stood to the side, mouthing words along to beautiful songs you’d never heard before. 

The priestesses who were singing had offered one final blessing to you all, a Christmas prayer that made your eyes water a little. 

In the carriage back, you’d listened to Kallias and Azriel, listened to Az extend his offers for them to come and visit on behalf of Rhysand, and Kallias had only grinned. If it hadn't been for the party you knew you were going back to, it would have been the perfect final day all on its own. 

The moment that you step back through the palace doors, Vivianne is already waiting. The doors to the ballroom had been shut, but you can hear the music loudly on the other side, a band playing upbeat music and the roar of conversation from what must be hundreds of guests, some already spilling out into the hallways. 

“Oh, Gods, Viv!” She only beamed at you, practically bouncing with excitement as she cornered your trio in the doorway. “You went all out, huh?” 

She had changed, the leggings and bun from this morning had been traded from an elegant silk dress and a braid crown, and before she even said the words, you knew what she was going to say. “You have to go and change! Kal, I laid something out for you.”

“Whatever would I do without you, dear?” He pressed a kiss to her cheek as he passed by, waving to you both and disappearing into the mansion, doing well to avoid any guests before he was ready to start mingling. 

“You two have to wear your Christmas jumpers!”

“What? Why?” You dreaded having to wear that itchy thing again, especially to a party, but she wasn’t taking no for an answer, already beginning to shake her head to silence your protests. 

“Ah! It’s a Christmas party for you! You have to wear them, no excuses!” You sighed, and Azriel let out a heavy groan beside you, earning himself a wicked glare from Viv that came with a smirk. “Chop, chop! Go and get ready, and hurry back down. There are people here waiting to see the guests of honour, you know!”

Glancing up at the stairs, you groaned, knowing just how many you’d have to take to get back to your room. 

Dropping your forehead to your lover’s chest as Viv took off after her husband, you burrowed a little closer to him when his arms came up on either side of your body to hold your hips. 

“I don’t think I can take any more stairs, Azzy.”

“S’okay, baby. We can travel my way.” The earth seemed like it melted out from underneath your feet, only to rematerialise a moment later, in the softer hues of your room as the faelights began to warm into life. “How’s that?”

“That’s the exact reason you were made to be my mate.”

“Good to know we’ve solved that mystery.” His drawl made you smile, face still resting in the soft shirt covering the hard muscles underneath, and you didn’t want to ever leave. Azriel seemed to decide for you, pulling back enough to tip your head up, and leave a brief kiss on your lips. “Chin up, baby. You love seeing me in smart clothes.”

“Says who?”

“Says the way I watch you blush every time Rhys makes us dress up for events.” His smirk was far too much for you to take, and you scoffed, pushing him backwards and spinning out of his arms, which only made him laugh. “Don’t be so embarrassed, it was a great ego boost while I was waiting for you. Tell me, what is it about my suits that get you going so much, huh?”

Pushing him back towards his room, he let you do so, but not without giving you the kind of look that made everything in your body ignite. You had to play dirty to win this. “I’ll tell you all about it, when you tell me what it is about sundresses that make you stutter?”

His jaw dropped, eyes widened, and a matching blush spread on his cheeks. 

“Oh, yeah. I know. Now that I think back on all those summers in my summer dresses where you’d be tripping over your own tongue. When I’d catch you staring at you’d tell me you were just checking I was safe, or you thought you saw a bee land on me.” His blush only deepened. “I can’t believe I was so oblivious.”

“Neither can I.” He muttered, eyes scanning down your body to your thighs, where all your little sundresses would usually sit. “Touché, baby, you win.”

“Get used to it.”

He bit his lip, turning away to get changed himself, and the air between you crackled and pulled the further he got, until the mood snapped and you could breathe again. 

With him gone, you were finally able to focus on your preparations, going first to the bathroom to top up your makeup and fix your hair. When you were satisfied with that, you dug out both of your Christmas jumpers from the bags, laying them on the bed neatly. 

Turning your head at the zap along your spine, you found Azriel leaning on the doorframe, smart pants on, shirtless and arms crossed, a soft smile on his face as he watched you. “Stop trying to seduce me.”

“I’m not!”

“That’s a shame, it was working. We should totally ditch the party and stay here so you can fuck me.” His eyes widened, a hopeful look crossing his face, until he watched a smirk form on your lips, and a growl left his. 

“You’re so cruel to me.”

“It almost worked. Next time flex a little, and you’ll have me.” You winked at him as he lifted himself off of the doorway, your attention turning away back to the bed as you got down onto your knees before it. 

“This is the third time we’ve had to get dressed today.” You sighed dragging your suitcase out from under the bed once again, and beginning to sort through the clothes that Azriel had already neatly folded back up twice. So many of the clothes you hadn't gotten a chance to wear, your cases full of new and original items, things you’d bought along the way, the gifts you’d given. Yet, none of them had what you were looking for.

“I promise that the next time we’re up here, I’ll be undressing you.” He leaned over, kissing your shoulder as you stood, hands on your hips. “You won’t need any clothes for what I have planned.”

A chuckle left your lips as you turned to face him. “Have you seen my—”

He held up a soft purple dress with two fingers, brows raising as the soft fabric swayed in the wind. “Your dress?”

“How’d you know that’s what I was looking for?” He only grinned, and you took it from him. 

“You only brought one fancy dress, and I know how much you love it. You wouldn't miss a chance to wear it.” Placing the bed down on the bed, you turned back to him, noting the leather pants had been swapped out for smart dress pants, but the boots remained. He had no shirt on, his themed jumper laying out beside your own, and you ran your hands up his chest. “Are you gonna’ get dressed?”

“Yes.” You whispered, curling a little closer to him, wrapping your arms around his waist. He offered a breathy laugh, tucking his arms around your shoulders and dipping his head down to rest his cheek on the top of your head. “I’m just taking a second to be with you first.”

“I know, my love. But we only have tonight with our friends before we go home, we have the rest of our lives together.” Smoothing his hands down your arms, he cupped your elbows, squeezing lightly and leaving a kiss on your head, before easing you backwards. “Come on, let me see you in this pretty dress, so I can get an eyeful before stripping it off you, later.”

“Well, the effect will be entirely ruined by this jumper.” Slipping out of your clothes as you walked, you were painfully aware of the lingering gaze on you, all the way as you stepped into the dress and adjust it across your body. His fingers did the zip up the back, sweeping your hair back over your shoulders, and turning you around. “See? This dress was not made to be covered up with a jumper.”

Azriel’s eyes dipped, a smirk pulling on his lips as she took in the plunging neckline and the tight bodice, his bottom lip pulled tight between his teeth. “No, it most certainly was not. Perhaps you should wear it for our first date.”

“Our first date?”

“Of course.” He reached beyond you, picking up your jumper and lifting it up slowly to hang over your head. “I have to take you on a proper date when we get home, court you properly.”

“Courting is old-fashioned, and to test a connection. I think we both know we have a connection, a pretty damn good one at that.” 

“Let me treat you right, stop making it a challenge.” Easing your arm through each sleeve, you grinned up at him when the collar was around your neck, the jumper settling over your torso. You gave in, a giggle on your lips as he reached for his jumper, tugging it on with much less care than he’d taken with you. He disappeared, for only a second before returning with the only pair of heels you’d brought, one fancy dress and one set of fancy shoes, just in case. 

Dropping to one knee, you balanced yourself on his shoulders, slipping one foot after another into the shoes and letting him fasten them up securely. When he stood back up, you were a few inches closer to his height now, no longer letting him tower over you completely, and you were able to press a kiss to his chin without having to lean too far. 

“Let’s go.”

Your hands wove together, shadows crawling around your bodies, and when the light cleared again, you were back at the entrance to the party, the doors wide open and the noise at full blast once again. 

Viv really had gone all out, faelights twinkled from the ceiling, a full band was playing loudly in the corner as the room was packed with dancing and mingling, a crowded bar taking up almost half of one wall, the queues filling the other half. You spotted more than a few familiar faces with just a single glance; Helion was lounging on a couch in the back, a usual crowd gathered around his charming self as he spun tales and stories, laughter following every word. 

Several more Christmas trees had been set up, and in the back corner, you spotted Thesan lingering near one, his lover close to his side, murmuring into his ear. Tarquin was admiring the snow, Cresseida by his side, and you had to be impressed at how she’d managed to pull all this together. 

“I think half of Prythian is in this room.”

“I can’t even see our actual hosts, can you?” You had to lean closer to one another just to be heard over the music, and you scanned the crowds again, searching for those pale flashes of hair. 

You didn’t find them. 

You found bright red and deep black, blonde and blue and everything in between, even a set of purple eyes, but—

“Az.”

“Yeah?” His head was tipped up, attempting to scan over the people filling the room, and you tugged at his sleeve. 

“Az, that’s Rhys.”

“What?” His head snapped back down, following where you pointed, and the crowds seemed to part a little more for you to be able to see through. As you got a better look, a red dress shone with golden hair, a tall pair of Illyrian wings that were dangerously close to getting tangled in the tinsel of the tree he was half stood behind, and lots of smiling faces. “That’s everyone.”

Your hand squeezed his a little tighter before letting go, a squeal slipping past your lips as you took off through the crowds ahead of him. 

Darting through the busy crowds, all formality and regality were temporarily abandoned. Your friends had already spotted the two of you, had been looking your way since the moment you’d turned your head in their direction, and were beaming as you neared. This was far from the longest you’d been away for work from any of them, but you were ashamed to admit just how little you’d thought of them in the week you’d been gone, it felt more like you hadn't seen them for months with everything that had taken place. 

The first to meet you was Cassian, using his broadness to shove his way to the front, arms opening wide and sweeping you up into a hug, deep laughter rumbling from him and into your ear as your feet slipped from the floor. 

The moment you were put back down, it was to the feeling of shadows swirling at your ankles, crawling happily up your claves to your knees and signalling that their owner had managed to catch up. He barely made it to your side, before Cassian was barrelling forward to sweep him into a hug too, and Feyre was tucking you into her embrace. 

“Fey! Where’s Nyx? Your gaze flickered across the members of the group in search of the boy, to Rhys who was now standing by Azriel, to Nesta and Cassian, Mor and Amren, Elain and even Lucien. None of them were holding him. The woman in your arms chuckled as she pulled away, only to be immediately replaced by Mor. 

“He’s at home, being looked after by Gwyn and Emerie.” There was a tremor to her voice, but she offered a reassuring smile to Nesta, a promise of trust that extended through her to her friends. You know how hard they had worked to reconnect and mend that bond, make it so much stronger than it had ever been before, and this faith was a part of that. You wondered why they hadn't brought him, Nyx had winnowed many times before and would likely have loved the Winter Court, but the question died on your tongue as a warm hand settled on your lower back. 

Leaning a little closer to Azriel, you let go a sigh of relief, the bond still chafing a little at being so surrounded by people and having felt so far from him. 

By the time all the greetings had been achieved, it felt like hours had passed by, and your shoulders slumped, cheeks aching with the smile on your face as they all gathered around. Cassian was busy retelling stories of his week alone training the Valkyries while Nesta smirked into her drink, and you leaned back into the warm touch of Azriel’s hand on your lower back.

You felt him move, like a magnetic pull the closer he got the stronger it felt, until you could picture him clearly leaning down to whisper into your ear, without ever having to turn your focus to him. “I’m going to go and get us a drink. It’s only a matter of time before Cassian starts into the old stories, and I need to be at least halfway drunk to endure those again.”

You bit down on the inside of your lip to keep your laughter inside, that large palm on your back smoothing up along your spine as you let it flood down the bond between your hearts instead. His hand drifted higher still, to tangle into your hair softly and pull you closer, until he could capture your lips in a sweet kiss. 

You swayed into him a little, twisting to place a hand on his chest, a smile forming as you kissed him back at the simplicity of it all, an ‘I’ll see you in a minute kiss’, and it was certainly something you could get used to. 

“Uh, what?”

You snapped back, Azriel’s lips still pouted a little as you pulled away enough to catch his gaze. Rolling them together as he straightened up, your cheeks flushed with heat, and you turned to face your friends. Cassian’s jaw was dropped, matching that of Mor and Feyre, while Lucien and Nesta smirked to themselves, and Rhys sipped his drink, a cheeky look on his face. Elain was merely smiling, a look on her face like she already knew, which she possibly did, if she’d seen it before you’d ever known it would happen. 

“Since when?” Cassian demanded, a frown taking over his lips as he planted one hand on his hip, the other clutching his drink, and Nesta hid her laugh in his bicep as her face pressed into his arm. 

“I’m gonna’ leave this one to you, baby.” With another quick peck, Azriel spun away and disappeared into the crowds before you could even splutter out a response to stop him. 

“Baby?” Feyre squeaked, only seeming to get more and more excited as Rhys wrapped an arm around her waist, tugging her closer to his side. “Explain! Now! That’s an order.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, High Lady.” You scoffed, and she giggled, but the anticipation and eagerness of them all were hanging over your head like rain clouds. “Azriel and I are… together.”

“It’s a solstice, sorry, Christmas miracle.” Rhysand teased, his smirk only growing fuller. 

“‘Bout damn time!” Cassian’s yell drew the attention of those around you, various heads turning in your direction, and his mat pinched at his ribs roughly, smile now a scowl as she flushed with embarrassment at all the odd looks cast her way. He swatted at her hand, but never stopped smiling. “So you’re just together?”

“Yes, we’re together. In the same way… you all are.” You cringed a little, unsure why it felt so hard to say the words to them all, why your throat felt like it was closing up. 

The uproar started once again, an amused tug echoing in your chest as you glanced around the room, locking eyes on him stood at the bar, waiting patiently for your drinks. He leaned on one elbow, not even bothering to hide his grin, and you shook your head at him. A feeling that you hoped was flipping him off was sent back, and you swore you could hear his laugh from here. Perhaps it was the question of whether it had always been so obvious, to everyone except for you, whether they’d known all along. 

Without turning back to them, holding Azriel’s gaze across the room, your own smile formed. “Azriel and I are mates.”

“I fucking told you!” At that proclamation, you laughed, turning back to the group as Mor held her hand out, a victorious look on her face at Cassian, who scowled. Pulling out his wallet, he pressed a handful of notes into her hand, and Mor tucked the collection into the bodice of her dress. 

“I can’t believe he didn’t tell me!” Cassian sounded genuinely hurt, and if it wasn’t for the love shining on his face, you might’ve believed he was. 

“How do you know it was him that knew, huh?” Your hands fell to your hips, brows raising at him. 

“Because I watched him pine after you for years and never tell you how he felt, no matter how many times I told him to! He knew.” A pang of that same guilty pain shot through you, quickly comforted on the other side of your heart by your mate, like a hand reaching out to hold your own. You clung to that feeling. 

“He didn’t tell any of us, Cassian. You know how private he is.” Amren was like the voice of reason, and your sights snapped to Rhys, only a twitch of his brow acknowledging what you both knew, and that you wouldn't tell any of them, less Cassian actually lose his mind. Once again, that feeling took you over, like a compass finding North, feeling Azriel weave his way back through the crowd until his bicep was brushing your shoulder. 

Rhysand beamed at his brother as he pressed a drink into your hands, leaving a kiss on your cheek. You took a deep gulp of it, grateful for the relief and taking the attention off yourself, all turning to look at Azriel. Congratulations spilled out of everyone, except the other winged warrior, who continued to frown and stare off into the crowd. 

Azriel frowned at that too, and you curled a little closer to his side, pressing a kiss to his shoulder as his arm looped your body, wing following protectively. “Cass?”

“You didn’t tell me!”

“I didn’t tell anyone.” At that, Cassian looked back, rolling his jaw a little. 

“You told Rhys.” Your heart thudded over a skipped beat, Azriel’s lips parting in shock, and Rhysand looked even more surprised than you both. “I knew that… I knew you told him something. This big secret, you were in and out of it that night and I was getting fresh rags and I heard you ask Rhys to tell you the truth. I figured it was just about your feelings, it never made sense why it seemed like such a big deal to Rhys after you passed out, but now I get it.”

“Shit, Cass,” Dragging a hand over his face, Azriel looked positively destroyed. “I didn’t mean to tell Rhys. I didn’t want anyone to know until… but I couldn't risk dying and her not knowing. I would’ve asked you if you’d been there, Rhys just happened to be the one in the room at the time.”

“Ouch, way to make a guy feel special.” Rhys grouched, but there was no hurt in his tone, and you chuckled. 

“We okay?”

“Yeah, of course, we are. I get it.” With a heavy sigh, Cassian let that frown turn into smile, striding forward to embrace his brother. The two collided so solidly that they stumbled backwards, and you almost fell with them as Azriel struggled to retract his arm in time to wrap it tightly around his brother’s back. Heavy pats and whispers not meant for anyone else, and you all pretended you didn’t hear the gentle sniffles as the two embraced. 

Finally, they parted, and you were free to wrap yourself back up in your mate's embrace as his shadows wrapped possessively around your waist, tugging you urgently back to his side. 

“So, what’s the story?” Feyre finally burst, and you chuckled. 

“Not quite as exciting as yours, nobody was on the verge of death.” Your gaze flickered over all of them, realising just how dramatic and heartbreaking each pair’s story had been, and you swallowed thickly. “We kissed under the mistletoe.”

“That’s so… interesting.” The High Lady’s brows furrowed as she thought it through, looking up to her husband for clarification only to find him just as amused, and Azriel’s chuckled washed against your temple as he left a soft smattering of kisses there. 

“It’s a tradition here. You should ask Vivianne to tell you all about it.”

“If you get caught under the mistletoe with someone, you kiss them.” Azriel shrugged, sipping some more of his drink, and Rhysand raised a hand. Summoning a small branch out of thin air to hover before you all on a fraction of power, all attention fell to the white-berried sprig. 

“This?”

“That's the one.” You smiled fondly at it, leaning up to kiss Azriel softly at the image of it, and he returned the gentle affection with a smile.

“Oh, boo,” Rhysand snapped his fingers, the night-touched magic that was his signature wrapping around you until the sprig was hovering over your heads instead, and you chuckled at it. “Give her a real kiss, Az. That was pathetic.”

“Rhys!” Placing his drink down and taking yours from your hands, Azriel turned you to face him, lifting both of your arms to loop around his neck. “Az—”

His mouth descended onto your own, a crush of his lips to yours that knocked your breath from you, and left you dizzy. Your eyes fluttered closed, his arms circling your body and pulling you flush to him, before bending you backwards over them. A squeak left your lips as you went, his wings flaring around you until they draped to the floor, and you clung to him as you returned his enthusiastic kiss. 

When his tongue swept along your lower lip cheekily, you scolded him through the bond, but parted your lips long enough for a single sweep of his tongue over your own, before you were pushing him back up, straightening until you were stable on your feet again. When you pulled back your heart stopped pounding quite so loudly in your ears. The fragile pants between you both, as your foreheads pressed together, were almost drowned out by the hollers and cheers of your friends. 

“Now that was a kiss,” The general whooped.

“You’re telling me.” You mumbled, and Azriel dipped down, nipping your lower lip with a smirk. Your hands smoothed down over his shoulders, still gripping the fabric of his cheesy Christmas jumper for support, and you focused on the feel of the soft knit under your fingers, to soothe the swell of hormones trying to overflow within you. “By the way, Rhys, these Christmas jumpers…”

As though reminded himself, Azriel freed one hand from where they’d connected at the bottom of your back, to travel up your spine, and trace over the letters spanning your shoulder-blades that spelt out your name. His nose stayed nuzzled in your hairline as you turned to glare at the High Lord.

“There will be revenge for these, just so you know.” You already had the revenge you spoke of upstairs in your room, tucked away neatly in your suitcase for the prime opportunity. At your smirk, his face fell, glancing between both you and Azriel, paling a little further as he realised you’d teamed up against him. “Just you wait.”

Just like this, surrounded by your family as your cheek rested against Azriel’s chest, feeling the heart that beat for you steadily underneath, you realised once again just how much you loathed all the years that had passed, that you could’ve had this. That large hand was now sitting on the back of your neck, thumb stroking over your pulse slowly, holding you to him. 

“I love you, Az.”

“I love you.” His whisper was low enough for only you, lips by your ear as his head bowed, and your eyes screwed shut, swaying to the music from the band and sinking into the feeling. This was exactly where you wanted to be, for the rest of your life. 

The mistletoe continued to bob over your heads, and you gave another kiss to Azriel, pecking his lips sweetly, before dragging him out from underneath it.

“Alright, who’s next under the mistletoe?”

[leverage-ot3]

notable moments from The Cross My Heart Job

leverage 4.09

(team comes down an escalator toward the main floor)

Sophie: Well, that trip was a complete disaster.

Hardison: It was a train wreck.

Eliot: No, it was a shipwreck. And you know how I know that? 'Cause I was in the wreck.

Hardison: Hey, man, I don't want to hear you complain. At least you don't have to fix th-the ear buds. You know what?

Eliot: Man, don't talk to me about the ear buds! I just fought three ex-Brazilian combat divers with spear-guns, underwater!

Hardison: I don't want to hear it. I don't want to hear it.

Eliot: You believe this? (taps Sophie’s arm)

Sophie: Ow, don't touch me. I am sunburnt everywhere. I hate playing the French heiress on the topless beach.

Parker: Oh, I don't know what you're complaining about. I didn't even get to see the emerald.

Hardison: Are you for real?

Eliot: Oh, my god, for the last time, it's not an emerald. All right? It's an island. It's the "Emerald of the Caribbean."

chaotic family on an escalator

- - - - -

Parker: The heart could be anywhere by now. They could have jumped in a taxi and driven off.

Sophie: No, no, we have to assume it's still in the airport, that they're planning to fly it out.

Parker: Why?

Eliot: 'Cause otherwise, we've already lost

- - - - -

Eliot: All right. They're in there. We're gonna need a distraction.

(Sophie takes off her pants and uses her long shirt like a dress, then shakes out her hair and pulls a pair of heels from her purse. Parker counts some cash)

Parker: All right, they told Linda to call from a pay phone for instructions once she made the drop.

Eliot (hands Parker money): Better hurry up, or they're gonna start getting suspicious.

Parker: It's a good thing we didn't stay on that island to see those emeralds.

Eliot: Parker, I just t...

(Sophie leans on Eliot to put on her shoes)

Eliot: You carry high heels in your purse?

Sophie: I always travel with heels. (takes Parker’s scarf and ties it around her waist) How's this? Distracting enough?

Parker: Hmm.

parker and eliot both look away, partially to give her privacy but partially to act as a wall so that other people won’t see her changing

notice the stark contrast between this scene and the other changing scene in this episode

- - - - -

(the clerk closes the doors. Inside, Eliot pulls the kidnapper between two tables while Parker talks to Tanya)

Paker: Yeah, that will work. We'll get you a little taser, carry it with you wherever you go-

parker and her tasers + being surprisingly good with kids

- - - - -

Nate (to Eliot): What do you got on this guy?

Eliot: He's not a professional. He has no combat training. Lousy Zanshin.

Parker: The what?

Eliot: He's a loc... It means "personal awareness." Thug for hire, but very well funded. (hands Nate tickets) Two first-class tickets, one for him and one for the girl, and that's how they got past security, and (hands gun to Nate) plastic gun. One or two shots in the barrel warps, but that's pretty much all you need, very pricey hardware.

Parker: Why would someone pay for that but not hire a professional?

Eliot: He doesn't want a professional. He wants a local so we can't trace him back to him.

- - - - -

(Eliot uses a cord to tie the kidnapper’s hands)

Eliot (to Sophie): Don't suppose you travel with handcuffs.

Sophie: No, not on this trip.

👀👀👀

- - - - -

Parker: Plus the ear buds are busted.

Hardison: And I burned our phones and our credit cards so we can't be traced.

Sophie: Most of our money went on bribing the waiter.

Eliot: We're operating in a secured area.

Parker: And my lock picks are checked.

Hardison: And airport wi-fi is a joke. Face it, we're practically naked.

- - - - -

(Eliot and Parker walk out of the Restaurant and part ways. Parker approaches a kiosk that sells computers and looks around, then crouches to look at the locks before walking away. Eliot approaches an electronic store before yelling catches his attention from a check in desk not far away)

Platinum Flyer: You guys! Hey! Platinum flyer over here. Come here. Somebody look at me.

Airline Clerk: Sir, please calm down.

Platinum Flyer: Ju... let me stop you right there, okay? I don't care what seats you have left, all right? Do you see this? (holds up a card) I am a vista Atlantic platinum flyer, all right? Is this card gold? No. Look at it. Is it silver? No.

(Eliot looks around, sees a magazine and picks it up)

Platinum Flyer: It's platinum, all right? So if you think that I am sitting back in coach with the rabble, you got another think coming, all right?

(Eliot puts the magazine over the Platinum Flyer’s briefcase as the man tries to drop his wallet into it)

Platinum Flyer: You can just forget it. I don't even want to talk to you anymore. Who's that? Thing one and thing two, come here. You guys. Hey!

(Eliot walks back to the electronics store and pulls the Platinum Flyer’s credit card from the wallet. He enters the store and grabs several packages of walkie talkies, then flags down a clerk)

Eliot: Yo, yo, yo. Come over here.

(Parker tries on various sunglasses, stealing a pair before walking away. She walks past again and steals a snow globe. On another pass she steals a bag. She returns to the computer kiosk and breaks the sunglasses to picks the locks, revealing an old style CRT monitor)

all this competence porn, it’s SO GOOD

- - - - -

(later Parker and Eliot take apart the walkie talkies at a table while Hardison uses an old computer at the bar with Sophie and Linda watching while Nate paces)

Nate: Hardison, come on.

Hardison: Look, man, this is like stone knives and bearskins, okay? Nobody's asking Eliot to fight a guy with a nerf sword.

Eliot: Damascus, 2002.

Hardison: Like you've been to Damascus.

domestic parker and eliot taking apart walkie talkies? eliot legit sword fighting with a nerf sword? amazing

- - - - -

(the clerk watches from behind them, amazed)

Hardison: Wh-what? Come on, man. Like you've never seen a man travel with a desktop before. Go.

LMAO

- - - - -

Nate: Right there! Right there. Him.

Sophie: Dean Chesney?

Nate: Dean Chesney, CEO of Vertronics defense contractor. I had my eye on him for quite a while, but he was never a high-priority target.

Hardison: Why not?

Nate: He was dying.

- - - - -

(Eliot sits down and his feet hit against the struggling kidnapper. Eliot kicks him in the head but he continues making muffled sounds)

Nate: Are you done?

(Eliot kicks the man again)

Eliot: Yeah

- - - - -

Hardison: After we get out of the public areas of the terminal, we work on level two. It's ground crew, tarmac access. It gets us from here to the private terminal.

Parker: How do we get that? Break Eliot's wrist?

Hardison: What? N-no, no. We just pick one up from where the ground crew left it.

[Locker Room]

Parker (opening combination lock): Yeah, this will keep my stuff safe, from a 6-year-old with the DTs.

(Parker opens the locker and removes a jacket. Eliot closes the locker and hits the lock on the one next to it, opening the lock. He pulls out a level 2 badge and hands it to Parker)

Eliot: That's two.

(Parker and Eliot begin to change clothes)

🔥🔥🔥 scene tho 🔥🔥🔥

also, notice how they start getting changed without turning around or anything, like hardison would have immediately turned around because that’s who he is. she literally immediately takes her shirt off without a care. he doesn’t even blink at it. eliot and parker have a very strong, nonverbal, physical bond because they’re similar entities. they understand each other on a deep level because of their pasts and there isn’t that type of need for modesty between them.

also they’re literally so close to each other when they’re doing this??? literally, personal space? they don’t know her

ALSO, eliot throws his shirt at the camera and idk it feels like he’s giving parker privacy from the “onlookers” (aka the camera) if you get what I’m saying,,,

- - - - -

Sophie: Well, we have to lure them out.

Parker: Oh, okay. Set Nate on fire?

Eliot: Settle down

she mouths “no” back at him and they have a silent exchange where she ends up smiling I love them

- - - - -

Hardison (pacing): Come on, Eliot. Come on, come on. Come on, man.

Announcer: Mr. Picard. Mr. Kirk Picard, please meet your party at door "E.

ELIOT KNOWS HOW TO GET HARDISONS ATTENTION. HE KNOWS TO MAKE A STAR TREK REFERENCE AND BAM HARDISON KNOWS WHATS UP. WHAT D O R K S

- - - - -

(Eliot gets into a cart that Parker is sitting in. She holds up the keys and hands them to him)

Parker: Let's ride

her SMILE and EXCITEMENT

- - - - -

Hardison: Excuse me. Uh, something's wrong with my pin. Can you reset it for me?

(Hardison hands the card to the guard, who scans it)

Guard: Can you confirm your old pin?

(the screen shows that the card belongs to a woman and the guard looks at Hardison in surprise)

Guard: Uh...

Hardison: What?

Guard: Wh—

Hardison: what? You got a, you got a problem? My little transformation? Go on, speak your mind. Yeah, I had some surgery, huh? A little nip, a little tuck, a little pop, okay? And now I am who I'm supposed to be. I used to be Francesca. Now my name is Frank!

Guard: Um...

(a second guard turns to look at Hardison)

Hardison: You got a problem? You... excu—excu—I didn't know this was the club. You all up in the mix, don't even know the flavor. What's your problem? (walks around the desk aggressively) You got a, you—everybody got a problem with this? Look, racism, sexism, anti-semitism? That's how you y'all want to play this? Cool. I thought it was a no-no in airport security, but I see y'all profilin' me right, left, and center, everywhere. You know what? Shame on you. Shame on your mama. Shame on your kids.

(Hardison glances at the monitor to see the pin number, then walks back around the desk)

Guard: I-it's fine. I-it's fine. I got no problem with anything. Uh, it-it looks like you used to, used to be a-a really pretty girl.

Hardison: Used to be?

Guard: A-and n-now you're a-a very handsome gentleman.

Hardison: You hitting on me?

Guard: C-can you confirm your old pin?

Hardison: It's 5135.

Guard: Uh. (scans the card) Okay, there. Try that.

Hardison: Thank you. (looks at second guard) You better re-adjust your peripherals.

Guard 2: Real smooth.

(Hardison returns to the card reader and scans the card, entering the pin)

Reader: Pin accepted.

Hardison: Don't care what anybody else says. Next time, I'm taking the train.

I can’t tell if this scene was transphobic or not ??? like, it could have been worse and he called out people who would be judgmental of his “transformation” ???

like there was like one other kinda transphobic thing they did in the show but I forget the episode

- - - - -

Nate: I know what you're gonna say.

Sophie: I think you should have a drink.

Nate: Okay, I didn't know what you were gonna say.

Sophie: Look, we don't like it when you drink, (pours him a drink) but we trust you when you do. We both knew this was gonna get personal. We need you to stay clear-headed. You let it get to you now, it's gonna go bad for all of us. Be very careful, Nate.

- - - - -

Nate: Sam would have been 13 this year. A teenager. Almost a man. I mean, you know, probably a big pain in the ass, but… Joshua Spin is getting out of that hospital bed.

(Sophie nods. Nate sighs and takes the drink, looking down at Sophie’s hand over his)

- - - - -

hardison’s GRIN when he sees all the computers in the tower 🥺

- - - - -

Parker: It took us 8 minutes to get there. It's gonna take us 8 minutes to get back. Wait. (goes around to the front of the cart)

Eliot: What are you doing? Wait. No way!

(Parker lies on the ground and reaches under the cart)

Eliot: Come on, Parker, we got to go! We got to get-- Let's go! What are you do-- Quit monkeying around under there!

(Parker stands up holding a piece of electronics)

Eliot: Did you just pull something out of the engine?

Parker: Yeah. Spark regulator, keeps the cart from going more than 25 miles an hour. Now we'll get there in 4 minutes.

(Eliot starts the cart and takes off quickly)

Parker: Hey! Whoa! Whoa! Yeah!

- - - - -

Nate: Last week on that island, you faked a volcanic eruption. How is this harder?

HE DID WHAT NOW

- - - - -

Nate: You just sell it to the tower.

Sophie: Massdot special?

Nate: Massdot special.

Linda: Massdot special?

Sophie: Yes! (takes Linda’s phone and makes a call)

[National Weather Service]

Rachael: National Weather Service. This is Rachel.

Sophie: Oh, thank God!

[Crab-a-Rama]

Sophie: I was just out walking my dogs, and I saw a tornado touch down!

(Nate pulls up pictures of tornadoes on the computer)

Rachael: Are you sure?

[National Weather Service]

Rachael: The current forecast don't indicate any severe-weather patterns.

Sophie: I'm sure.

[Crab-a-Rama]

Sophie: I took a photo of it with my phone. I'm sending it to you now.

(Nate sends a picture of a tornado to Rachael as he dials the phone)

[National Weather Service]

(Rachael looks at the picture in shock)

Rachael: Uh, please hold, ma'am. (places Sophie on hold and takes another call) National weather service. This is Rachel.

[Crab-a-Rama]

Nate: Are you asleep at the wheel? There's a tornado out here by the airport right now! A freaking tornado! Come on!

[National Weather Service]

Rachael: Bill. Bill!

Bill: What is it?

Rachael: We got calls here. I think we need to issue a tornado warning for the Cincinnati metropolitan area.

- - - - -

Chesney: --to make the top of the list. This is my only chance. I've planned for months. I have eight backup contingencies. I'm fighting for my life, Mr. Ford! What are you fighting for?

[Crab-a-Rama]

Nate: I am fighting for that 15-year-old boy that you're going to kill.

[Chesney’s Room]

Chesney: God helps those who help themselves.

Nate: And I help people who can't.

[Crab-a-Rama]

Nate: And God help you if anything should happen to that boy, because if he spends more than one second longer in that hospital than he needs to, I will make it my mission in life to end you.

[Chesney’s Room]

Nate: I will ruin you.

[Crab-a-Rama]

Nate: I will ruin your name. I will ruin your company. I will bring down everything you have ever touched. And when I am done, I will hunt you down--

[Chesney’s Room]

Nate: --and I will kill you myself.

[Crab-a-Rama]

(Nate hangs up the phone)

- - - - -

parker yells “yee haw” a lot and I love her for that

- - - - -

Pilot: Tower, field is in sight.

Program: We have you in sight. Clear to land on runway 1-8.

Hardison: Okay, flight 4-0-9. W-we have a visual. You are clear to land on runway 1-8.

Pilot: Roger. Clear to land.

(the airplane lands safely)

Pilot: Tower, we are down.

Hardison: Yes! Hell yeah! That's what I'm talking about.

Pilot: Say again, tower?

Hardison: I'm sorry. No, no, I'm sorry. It's cool. It's cool. It's cool. Celebrate with me. All right.

hardison managed to land an airplane with 300 people on it with nothing more than a computer and a flight simulator and we STAN our intelligent man

- - - - -

eliot was always standing next to hardison in all the extra scenes in this episode and we love to see it

- - - - -

(Eliot looks at Nate and Sophie, then nudges Hardison)

Eliot: Let's go.

(Eliot grabs Parker on the way down the hall, Hardison follows them)

his lil pat on hardison’s shoulder? how he places a guiding hand on parker’s arm, leading her away? we LOVE to see casual touches and casual intimacy between them

- - - - -

so hardison likes to assemble model helicopters in his spare time sometimes and nate assembles model ships in his ???

- - - - -

Chesney: So now what? You can't report me without exposing yourself. And what's to stop me from trying again?

[Leverage HQ]

Nate: I am. (hits remote to bring up information and a video feed on the monitors) I'm watching you. I'm watching your money, your people, your company. What have you got there, a pulse rate of 86?

[Chesney’s Room]

(Chesney looks around in alarm)

[Leverage HQ]

Nate: Oh, look at that.

[Chesney’s Room]

Nate: Just jumped up to 104. That can't be good for you.

[Leverage HQ]

Nate: Make your peace now, Chesney. (continues putting model together) Because if I see anything, anything I don't like...

[Chesney’s Room]

Chesney: Well, Mr. Ford it seems you've killed me after all.

[Leverage HQ]

Nate: Oh, I didn't kill you. God killed you. I just made sure it took. (hangs up)

[mattsturnioloscasket]

𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐃 (STURNIOLO 𝐒𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐄)

“God I’m so sick” Nick sniffles to the camera. “Everybody pray for Nick, he’s sicky poo.” Chris says, making a baby voice toward the end. Y/N looks at him with a weirded out face, just staring at him causing Matt and Chris to laugh to laugh. “What do you mean pray for me? You act as if I'm dying.” “It's just a cold.”

———————————————————————

Well it wasn’t just a cold. Nick ended up having Covid-19, sickening his middle brother, Matt. Nick always sits right next to his younger sister, Y/N, so you’d expect her to get sick. Nope. Only Matt and Nick had gotten Covid, not that Y/N or Chris were complaining. Even when sick, Nick made everyone film themselves and their day to upload for Wednesday's vlog.

———————————————————————

It was 7:45 AM, Y/N would be getting ready for school, but Matt was sure to call her off, I mean, she was the only one taking care of them. Y/N stands in the kitchen, starting her camera to film. “Hey guys, I'm sure Nick already told you guys, but Nick and Matt have covid!” Y/N picked up her tone at the end with a sarcastic happy tone, also making L hands at the camera. The camera cut to Matt. “Fortnite, Movies, Sleep. Fortnite, Movies, Sleep, Fortnite, Movies, Sleep, is all I’ve been doing for the past, what, 3 days.” The camera was now on Y/N again. “I will be using Matt's sickness to my advantage. I mean Chris and him never let me go anywhere, ever!” Y/N groans. “I'm going out tonight, and there's nothing they can do about it!” She had forgotten that Matt's room was just down the hall from where she was standing, he could hear everything. “Like, I understand he's trying to keep me safe and everything, but-” Y/N was cut off by her phone dinging, signaling she got a text. She opens her phone, revealing a text message from her sibling group chat. ‘Y/N, you’re not going out tonight. I already told Chris, so he’s not letting you leave.’ Y/N groans aloud, showing her phone to the camera.

———————————————————————

“Y/N, make me a bagel and leave it at my door!” Yelled Nick from inside his door. Matt and Nick had been treating Chris and Y/N like maids, making the two youngest siblings do everything for them, well mostly Y/N, Chris always screams that he's sleeping. “Ask Chris!” “I'm sleeping!” Yelled Chris, clearly not sleeping. “He's sleeping!” Repeated Nick. Y/N groans, beginning to make Nick’s bagel. “Y/N!” Calls Matt. Y/N groans, throwing the bagel onto the counter, grabbing her camera and walking to her door. “WHAT MATT?!” She calls from outside. “Go walk Trevor! Oh! And grab my phone charger from the car!” Trevor barks at Y/N. “Okay!” She yells back. “Where's my bagel?!” Yells Nick from inside his room. “Just hold on!” Screamed back Y/N, she was beginning to feel overwhelmed. “Y/N!!” Screams Chris from his room. Y/N barges into his room, an angry and overwhelmed look on her face. “What?! What, Chris?! What could you possibly need?!” Screams Y/N. Chris goes quiet, pointing at his remote on his counter. “Give me my remote?” Y/N looks at him, an angry look on her face. Y/N grabs his remote, throwing it at him, which he caught. She turns to walk out, going to make Nicks bagel. “Thank you! I love you!” Calls Chris. Y/N rolls her eyes not responding. “Y/N my phones gonna die!” Yelled Matt. “Wait!” Y/N walks to Nick's door, knocking on it and placing his bagel in front of his door. “Y/N!” Yells Chris. She ignores him. “Y/N!!” He calls again, still being ignored. “Y/N, Y/N, Y/N, Y/N!!!’ Y/N barges into his room, “Shut the hell up Chris!” “You didn't say it back” “Say what back” “I said I love you and you didn't say it back.” Chris pouts. “I love you, happy?” “Very.” He smiles.

Y/N goes into her room, throwing herself on her bed, the camera in her hand. “It's been like 5 hours. I cleaned the house, made lunch, did laundry, Put away the laundry, and did all my schoolwork.” She sighs into her bed. “Y/N!” Calls Matt. “What?” She cries from her room. “I'm hungry!” “I just gave you your nuggets!” She had doordashed them Mcdonalds. “Still not enough!” He calls. Y/N looks at her two cheeseburgers sitting on her counter and sighs standing up. She places her food at his door, knocking on it. Matt counts to twenty, getting up and grabbing the food. Matt sees Y/N at the end of the hall, waving at her with a smile and going back to his room. Y/N smiles back, turning back around toward her room. Matt barges out once again. “Wait, Y/N!” She turns around. “You know that party you wanted to go to later tonight?” Matt gives a soft smile. Y/N eagerly nods, a large smile on her face. Was he going to allow her to go. “Yeah, you’re still not going.” Matt slams the door, not giving her a chance to respond. Her smile drops, screaming a ‘Fuck you!’ at the door before walking back to her room.

———————————————————————

MY FIRST TIME WRITING AHHHH HOW I DO