#one of our staff stopped in and we were talking about the office worker who got fired recently | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

novankenn · 19 days ago

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I kinda want to see Sienna and Jaune talking about their case against the S.D.C. (Also imagine Illa starts dating Saphron and Terra. Jaune awkwardly brings it up to Sienna.)

Sienna Khan was sitting in the cluttered legal office of one Jaune Arc. She was apprehensive of working with a human, though she had to admit the courtesy service was exceptional. She was situated ina well worn but comfortable padded armchair, currently being served some tea by a fashionable young woman who had an adorable infant in a chest carrier.

"Are you sure you should be working? You little one looks rather young."

"Oh it's fine." the young woman replied. "Jaune needs all hands on deck, and let's be honest... he likes checking out his MILFy Coco-Puff, during the day."

"You and him? That seems rather... contrived."

"Of this who practice is a family business. Me, Bun-Bun, and Jaune are happy and work seamlessly together."

"The three of you?"

"Yes. Why do you have a problem with that?"

"No... I just find it... unique?" Sienna responded.

"Well once little Lilac here reaches two, it'll be Vel's turn to have one."

"I... see..."

"Anyway. Jaune will be with you shortly. He's just running a little late from conducting a disposition for another case."

"I understand."

"If you need anything else, while you wait just give me a shout. I'm Coco by the way."

"Thank you."

Coco exited the room, leaving Sienna to her own devices. So the current Leader of the infamous White Fang stood up and wandered, gazing at diplomas, and various pictures. Some were group shots, probably from cases he worked, some were of a large blond family, others of the trio that ran this office. But there were also a few of Jaune with dignitaries.

"He knows Ghira and Kali?" Sienna whispered to herself as she examined the photo of Jaune with the Chieftain and Chiefess of Menagerie. Squinting he could just make out the sulking form of Blake in the background.

"That was an interesting case." Jaune spoke up as he entered his office. "Blake got herself nicked, and was looking at twenty years... I got it whittled down to seven in house arrest."

"That was you?"

"Yep. My first criminal defense case." Jaune replied as he dropped his briefcase on the floor while taking a seat behind the chaos that was his desk. "It was fun, but a prefer Class-Actions. More fun, and better payout."

"Yes, the payout." Sienna's eyes narrowed, "It always falls back to lien with you're types."

"AND what is that supposed to mean, Ms Kahn?" Jaune asked, his own eyes narrowing. "Was that a remark about me being human?"

"I... um..."

"For future reference, keep those thoughts to yourself. They will NOT go over well during mediation or if that fails, the court."

"I understand. I'll try and temper my..."

"Don't try. Do it." Jaune leaned back in his chair. "So... we are here because I have a proposal for you and your organization. I would like to represent those Faunus who have been injured, or the families of those who have died due to SDC negligence."

"Okay, but I fail to see..."

"The White Fang, speaks for faunus-kind as a whole, though your less... legal activities are a complication."

"So you're suggesting we stop our fight against the tyranny of..."

"Yes and No."

"I... huh?"

"I see this action as a two pronged situation. One the White Fang, namely you offer public support for this Class-Action."

"Okay. The second part?"

"You legalize and become a political party... more specifically a union, with multiple jurisdictions or representation."

"Such as?"

"Manual Labor, Retail workers, and medical staff. Each distinct but under the larger umbrella of the White Fang."

"Sounds reasonable."

"It is, but I feel you will have a little problem with this next part."

"And that is?"

"You will actively not only recruit faunus, but also humans."

"We can't!"

"You can, and haves to."

"No we don't!"

"If you want the power to enact changes, you need to be inclusive, which means offering representation to all individuals that work in specific occupations. There are many human miners who have also suffered due to SDC's unethical practices." Jaune leaned forward in his chair. "You do understand, three thousand claimants all faunus do not have the public impact that five thousand human and faunus claimants would have."

"To force change with the SDC we have to literally overwhelm them with filings, and dispositions. I'm talking a tidal wave of suits."

"But they have a rather expensive legal team."

"That they do, but time is money for them, and when faced with the cost of fighting a class action of current and former workers, some pushing for possible criminal charges under Negligent Homicide..."

"SDC would settle?"

"Yes. It's a formula. Cost of litigation versus cost of maximum potential settlement." Jaune cracked his neck. "Now if you choose to advocate for my proposed class-action... we'll use the newly rebranded White Fang to add further pressure."

"How?"

"Strike. Complete all branches strikes. Medical staff showing solidarity with the Manual Laborers to bring the SDC operations to a stand still."

"And that would accomplish?"

"Ruin their revenue streams, as well as destroying their public persona." Jaune answered. "I'm talking complete ethical smear campaign, along with multiple filings for damages, both physical and emotional."

"I see... and what would this process cost the White Fang?" Sienna asked, her interest peaked. "I know this would not be done, out of the goodness of your heart."

"You right. The class action I take 30% of the total settlement."

"That seems a little..."

"Understand when in comes to class-actions if it fails I make nothing, which is why I'm also hedging my bet with the unionization of the White Fang. That will fall under normal legal representation with standard rates."

"This is a lot to take in." Sienna commented as she leaned back in her own chair. "I will need time to consider and discuss with my advisors."

"Understandable."

"Very well, if there is nothing else I will relay our decision with in the next two weeks."

"There are a couple other things."

"Are there?"

"Vel!" Jaune shouted ignoring his intercom.

"Yes honey?" answered a adorable rabbit faunus who poked her head through the side door of the office.

"Can you provide Ms Khan with a copy of the proposals we drafted, and a listing of our standard charge rates."

"No prob." Velvet responded. "Oh, Coco had to step away to breast feed Lilac so I'll cover the front after I get those documents colated."

"Nope, it's okay, Bun-Bun. You concentrate on the documentations, I'll hand the front desk until Coco returns."

"Your the best honey!" Velvet commented before vanishing back into what was obviously her own office.

"So is there anything else Ms Khan?"

"You said there are a couple of things. What's the other thing you wanted to mention?"

"Ah, yes it's more of a personal request." Jaune reached up and rubbed the back of his neck with his left hand.

"Who do you need... removed?"

"WHOA! NONE OF THAT!"

"Okay, sorry I just thought..."

"You thought wrong!" Jaune snapped. "It has to do with Ms Amitola, and her... growing association with my sister Saphron and her wife Terra."

"I don't see how this is..."

"I need you to impress on Ms Amitola that she can no longer partake in... White Fang activities... specific ones that would potentially bring harm to my family."

"So you want me to bring the faunus to heel as a pet?" Siena started to growl.

"What it is with you and all this anti-human shit?" Jaune countered. "Makes you rather unsympathetic."

"Sympathetic?"

"Yes, public opinion will be important to this case so curb your racist bullshit!"

"Did you just call me a racist?!?"

"If the shoe fits." Jaune replied, "In Ms Amitola's case it's not as you assume. From the way my sister is taking it seems there is some serious feelings developing between the three of them... I need them all to be safe and free to explore that relationship. Understand?"

"And you feel the complication of Ilia's association to the more active branch of the White Fang would hinder that?"

"I do." Jaune responded. "Those three deserve peace and happiness. Can you make that happen?"

"I think I can. Would me assigning Ilia to a more... administrative position satisfy you're concerns."

"It would."

"Very well. If there is nothing else. I should take my leave."

I look forward to hearing from you." Jaune commented as he rose from his seat and offered his hand to Sienna.

[ Master List ]

#rwby #jaune arc #sienna khan #velvet scarlatina #coco adel #saphron cotta arc (mentioned)#ilia amitola (mentioned)#terra cortta arc (mentioned)#saphron x terra x ilia (implied)#reader ask #my answer

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fizzarollitm · 1 year ago

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Hey its the fire hc post. This was written with @wcshedup's barbie and @madefate's blitz & hcs made from our server.

tw for hospitalization, medical trauma, mass disasters, and loss of life.

From the start, a fire was always the nightmare scenario. Cash always skimped where he could and the supplies of the Circus coming from Greed already had it at a disadvantage. A common form of old waterproofing was a combination of wax and gasoline and I think this is why the circus went up so quick. Of course waterproof tents in Hell were the cheapest option and was a tragedy waiting to happen.

Now for the Ring where it happens, I waffled between Greed & Pride but the red sky is definitely Pride's. Talked to Syd about it and we agree that part of the mass loss of life disaster was Pride's emergency personnel are not made for death. 90% of the population are Sinners who can only be killed through exterminations and they can't exactly stop those. Maybe scoop up the odd body until they pop back together but a Hellborn circus fire? Whole different situation.

More often than not they're responding to insurance claims, annoyed owners who got blown up during an overlord fight, a regular Tuesday. When they see Imps running out the whole tone changed. Suddenly they need everything in Pride and scratch that, get fucking Sloth up here too.

Barbie was the first one out because she was never in it running errands for Tilla. Cash ran out of the tent and was swarmed by emergency workers wanting names, info, head count for tickets and staff. Shit that was in his turned-to-ash office. Keeping an eye out for Tilla, Fizz, Barbie, and Blitzø while arguing about what he does and doesn't remember. Trying to sniff out fraud while smokes still in the air.

Blitzø eventually came out and it was actually Cash who goes back in for Fizz. While Fizz's memories of the day after Blitzø left are few and far between (hell the whole 6 months after to a year is) he is told by staff that Cash saved him. And that's why he stays for 5 years. They take a ride to Sloth and its later in the hospital they confirm what they already semi-know about Tilla. It all spirals from there with Cash blaming Blitzø as he has always been and would be the scapegoat. He is banned from the hospital while Barbie is left alone without a mom, a brother, and a Fizz who is MIA. Her own survivor's guilt and isolation already hard at work and Cash's words poisoning her love for her brother. Divide and conquer.

Fizz eventually woke up and it was a grueling recovery. Sloth won't make you pay for it but the system is purposefully frustrating and slow with doctors going back and forth on what was best for him. By the end of it, his life was changed forever, Blitzo tried to kill him, and he can't even hug Barbie when he learns that Tilla is dead. He just lives. And he keeps living. And he survives surgery after surgery because at some point it became a battle between his health and his future as a performer. Would he rather live or die with the chance to be a clown? We all know what he chooses.

#hospitalization tw #medical trauma tw #mass disasters tw #[musings] 「froggy flips」

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bllsbailey · 4 months ago

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Room With an Ugly 'View'—Whoopi and Co. Reportedly Down in the Dumps As ABC Says Quit With the Hysterics

It’s gotta be tough to be one of the performers on “The View,” seeing as the uninformed takes of Whoopi Goldberg, Ana Navarro, Sunny Hostin and company are routinely eviscerated by much smarter people than themselves for the idiotic takes they hurl daily at their sycophantic ABC audience.

They are more a national joke than a national treasure, and it seems even their home network is getting sick of their antics. Having to force Hostin to repeatedly read walkbacks of her “hot takes” to avoid legal peril probably doesn’t make her revered by many in the front office.

So it comes as no surprise that the head honchos are saying, ladies, please—get a grip already, will you? How about maybe reining in the crazy:

The fiery hosts at ABC News’ “The View” have faced pressure to dial back their anti-President Trump rhetoric – leading to tension in front of the cameras, The Post has learned... One source close to the show’s co-hosts — Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines, Alyssa Farah Griffin and Ana Navarro — said the fear and loathing is partly because Brian Teta, executive producer of the daytime gab-fest, spoke to staffers about “going easy” on Trump-related commentary in the days leading up to the 47th president taking the oath of office.

We have no shortage of brain-addling musings from the lovely ladies—some would call them shrieking harridans—of the morning gabfest, a show that once actually enjoyed some prestige when Barbara Walters was at the helm, but here’s but a sample:

A Warped "View" of the World:

Sunny Hostin Trots Out Her Racial Martyr Complex, Says Black Women 'Voted to Save' America From Trump

Harris Faulkner Beats 'The View' in Ratings, Now She's Taunting Them: All They Do is 'Talk, Talk, Talk'

'The View' Has Become Objectively Evil, and ABC News Is Culpable

Click here to see the full list of our coverage of the histrionic fact-free spewings from the ugly “View.” Maybe they want to stop throwing out baseless, defamatory comments for a change?

The directive followed an embarrassing moment in November when the co-hosts were forced to issue four “legal notes” or disclaimers during a broadcast while discussing allegations leveled at several of Trump’s cabinet nominees. Since then, the outspoken hosts have been somewhat more careful, with Haines admitting that she and her fellow panelists are out-of-touch with a large portion of Americans because none voted for Trump.

"Out of touch?" How about out of their minds?

It’s hard to come up with a definitive list of idiotic moments from the show, but here are just a few to give you an idea:

It’s been a tough time for the fear-mongers at ABC News:

….“The View” staffers remain rattled after Teta quietly laid off at least nine workers — including two senior female producers, Jamie Hammer and Audrey Jones, one insider told The Post. “People were shocked that he’d fire such experienced, well-respected producers,” the source said. “Morale is low.”

“Morale is low.” Aww.

The firings were part of parent company Disney’s wider cost-cutting moves in October, but “everybody is waiting for the other shoe to drop,” the source added. “There’s a lot of anxiety even though they just went through layoffs.” The turmoil follows Disney executives’ decision to pay out $16 million to Trump to settle a defamation lawsuit that the president filed against anchor George Stephanopoulos, who wrongly asserted during an interview with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) that Trump was found liable for raping writer E. Jean Carroll.

Incurious George: Sad Days at ABC News: Stephanopoulos 'Apoplectic' Over $15M Settlement, Staff in Turmoil

As my English babysitter used to say, “My heart pumps peanuts.” (What that precisely means, I don’t know, but somehow it seems to sum up my feelings for deeply unsympathetic, ever-race-baiting hosts on perhaps the silliest program on network television.)

Why ABC continues to let them blather on is beyond me, but I can tell you this: unserious, violence-inciting “journalism” like this is one of the main reasons Americans have lost almost all trust in mainstream media. Sorry, Whoopi et al., the reality that regular Americans are expressing quite clearly that they’ve had enough of this junk is not going to go well for you, and I for one am not sad in the slightest.

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afr0-thunder · 8 months ago

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[Poor Chronicles Pt. 44]

TOPICS: “Coworker Hell”/“Old Ladies”/Older Women/MILFs/Work Experiences/My Expenses/My Budget/My “Latest” Interests

I failed to mention…there was another girl, OF THE SAME NAME, as girl I’d never fuck (work bestie). Blonde, big ass, big titties… she quit after I took her shift for her birthday. Unintentionally and intentionally…

She was the “non-Mexican” seeming version.

She called or texted and told my former assistant manager, now “head manager”… that she would not be returning. Hilarious.

Extremely confident, but terribly shy at the same time…

However, older women have been “hitting” lately, I’m talking 50-60+. Not just 30-40. Dolly Parton bitches. I’m talking 100 looking. Wrinkles all over the place. Never in my life did I start to think that was attractive. Had to get some closure…there were like 10 other extremely old women, and some moms. I just usually talk to women AROUND my age, less of a wide range for a dating pool, but I can see why people choose to date older, HOWEVER that should not dictate who you do and don’t date ENTIRELY.

One just straight up grabbed her ass cheeks in her jeans yesterday or the other day. I’m not sure if it was intentional, but she was attractive and had a great ass, surprisingly. Having two teenage kids is crazy though, insane. I could see why a man would do that…

There was even a fucking girl in a wheelchair… I’m getting her to walk, someday. Somebody has to fuck this bitch. Criminal as hell to deprive her of a sexual experience. She’s hot is another bonus. If that hasn’t crossed someone else’s mind, I would argue it is homosexual

My head manager, “resigned”. She kept changing my hours for no reason, so I stopped showing up outside of my scheduled times and ONLY showed up when I was scheduled for about a month or two, to allow others to see the difficulty of working the job at any level without my assistance on new hire training and the overall help of an experienced worker while business is hectic. I just refused to help her cover the reality of our staff (team) performance.

Another girl transferred from another location. Looked like my ex, big BEEFY bitch. Think it’s her cousin, but the Aardvark looking version. She had the WORST attitude. We had to stop working to discuss our issues with the manager, on multiple occasions, in his office. She also had the HOTTEST breath. I was disgusted infuriated to find this out RIGHT after we began having problems with coexisting peacefully while working together. One day, our argument got her sent home for over and hour and asked to come BACK. She eventually left our location, stating that most of us made her experience there horrible and made her want to leave…

It was mostly me, but yes, let’s say it was ALL of us. I said to myself one day, “I’m going to get that fat ass bitch FIRED”, then she transferred. That’s a technical.

I’ve found something to purchase and “waste” my money on that I may “NEED”. I said for Christmas, I would purchase myself a mini refrigerator, but I said, “For what? Will I use because I need it, or because I have it?”. Senseless purchase, if I don’t need it and waste money JUST to keep it full simply because it takes up space and needs to be made use of. Also, they are expensive and have to be cleaned routinely, which requires MORE purchases to maintenance it.

While still poor and comfortable, I feel like I should use any additional income on something that can generate MORE income or simply find a way to acquire a larger income with my current employer.

Videography and photography remain the most fun new interests.

Have a horrible today and horrible tomorrow if you do not wish to have a wonderful forever!

- MH (2024)

#personal #poor chronicles #poor #poverty #life #lesson #life lesson #life lessons #guidance #struggle #chicago #2024 #LilMark #PUNKAssMark #afr0-thunder

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cultivating-wildflowers · 2 years ago

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🐻

#one of our staff stopped in and we were talking about the office worker who got fired recently #this staff hadn't ever met her (lucky)#and I said 'and she was from California and that's automatically two points against a person'#from behind me I hear 'hey!'#apparently the new guy is originally from California #no I didn't apologize lol #he tried pulling the 'like Michiganders are any better' sir I'm not from here either ok?#so yeah he's ok for now #seems pretty chill #won't shut up about how glad he is that he doesn't have kids #(several of the others' kids are going through it this week)#at least he's tidy and actually bothers to dress for the office unlike the last guy

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wonwoosthetic · 3 years ago

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Amour-Haine & Co. | Chapter 2 |

Series Masterlist

Word Count: 6.7k

"Our COO had a tough first two weeks, and I want to make it up to her."

"Dear Advertising, Web-Designing, and App Developing departments of Oksan & Co.,

From now on, I would like to ask you to direct any questions concerning our network, as well as project-related questions to one of our two CEOs, Jeon Wonwoo. Files can also be handed over to him, as he will be conducting and going through every single one, to make sure the three new merged companies can work to the best of their abilities. We are looking forward to a good and friendly work environment and healthy and happy work-based relationships.

Yours sincerely,

COO Yoon (Y/N)"

This was the email you had sent out to the employees of the company last Friday, making it the last thing on your To-Do list before you had left the building. From Wednesday to Friday, you had let the staff come in and out of your office, leaving files and binders behind, asking you questions you didn't even know the answers to, as well as complaining about other co-workers. You waited for the end of the week to inform all employees about the new guidelines, that the CEO didn't know of... yet. Thankfully, Jeon Wonwoo and his new IT team hadn't fully yet figured out the old network your father and his workers had built up, therefore still giving you access to the email account of the CEO, which you used gladly.

Your action got you to sleep peacefully, and enjoy the weekend as much as you possibly could, also being the reason why you entered the office with a smile on your face on Monday.

On your way to your room, you passed other employees and greeted them with a bright smile. Walking through the hallways until you reached your office, the calming thought of knowing you wouldn't have to go through any kinds of files you didn't have any knowledge about didn't leave your mind.

As soon as you reached your desk, you shrugged the bag off your shoulder and threw yourself onto the rolling chair. You unknowingly started humming while turning on the computer, finding comfort in knowing no one was going to barge into your office. Before you could start your relaxed workday, a knock on the door stopped you,

"Good morning," Jisoo's cheerful voice rang through your ear, making you smile,

"Morning!"

He crossed the floor until he reached your desk and took a seat in one of the chairs in front of it, looking at you with a smirk. You were typing in the password to get into your computer as you noticed him staring, "Hm?" you wondered, your eyes not leaving the screen.

"You really are something else, you know?"

You let your glance shift over to him, looked at him with raised eyebrows, "What?" and chuckled. He copied your facial expression and leaned forward,

"You're just gonna direct everything you've done to our boss?"

You leaned back, a smirk plastered on your lips, "Tit for tat."

"He's not just gonna let it slide that easily, you're well aware of that, right?" Jisoo worried for you. He had seen the state you had been in throughout the entire week before, and he was not going to let you go through something like that again.

A heavy breath left your lips. You knew it may not have been professional, but did you care? No. No, not really, if you were completely honest with yourself. Because neither was it professional what Jeon Wonwoo was doing with you and your position within the company. And there was no one you could talk to about it who could potentially change that man's mind. So, this would do for the time being.

"Like I said, I'm ready. I don't care what he's gonna do," you propped yourself back up in the chair, "I'm not backing down that easily."

Jisoo pushed himself up onto his feet, ready to leave your office again, to continue his actual job, that you sometimes forgot wasn't chatting with you,

"I always liked that about you." And he left with a smile.

The day went on to be unsurprisingly quiet, as you didn't get interrupted while answering some work-related emails that had made their way into your inbox. After the merging of Oksan Inc., Vortex & Co., and Goyang & Co., other companies had started becoming interested in potentially investing or working with Oksan & Co..

It seemed like the decision made by your father had attracted a lot of other CEOs, which you were thankful for, but for all the wrong reasons. You had to push your pride away and actually focus on the companies well-being, which resulted in you accepting more offers than your humane heart would have ever wanted you to - but you had to separate your work persona from your private one, and thank god you had always been good at that.

The sound of your voice interrupted the work process you had going on. Without drawing your eyes away from the screen, reading another mail, you reached to your right, getting a holt of your phone. After turning it around, you found Jisoo's contact name right at the top with a short message underneath:

Jisoo:

Cafeteria in 5 minutes! :)

Reminding you of the fact that it was already 1 pm and you had had the possibility of starting your lunch at 12, but got distracted by the computer in front of you. You decided to finish the last paragraph you had to read and got up right after, three minutes later. As you were getting your things together, putting all the important stuff you wouldn't want to leave unattended into your bag, a deep voice made you look up,

"We are looking forward to a good and friendly work environment and healthy and happy work-based relationships?" Letting the last sentence of the email you had sent out sound like a question. "We are?" Jeon Wonwoo wondered with one raised eyebrow, looking at you as he kept on standing in the door.

"Yes, we are." You simply stated, already done with packing your bag and ready to leave, but the man didn't let you go that easily.

He nodded slowly, taking big steps into your office, making you sigh, as his eyes found the floor, "I don't know if I would call the COO letting the CEO do all the work a happy and healthy work-based relationship." As the last word fell from his lips, Jeon Wonwoo raised his head, daring to stare into your eyes that hadn't left his form the moment he had appeared.

You shrugged your shoulders and threw the bag over your shoulder, "I'm happy and healthy because of it." And left the room after sending him one last smile, leaving him standing with a smirk while his eyes followed your moving silhouette.

On your way to the elevator, your phone let you know about another message that had just come in.

Jisoo:

You coming?

You quickly replied with a 'Yep' and pushed the button to go downstairs.

Walking into the big open space, you found the man waving at you quickly. You walked over to the table and were about to open your mouth when he beat you to it, "Where the hell have you been, loca?" Making you stop in your tracks, right in front of him.

"I can go back," you warned him, knowing he knew how much you cringed at the quote, getting a chuckle from him in response and him raising his hands in defence, "Sorry, sorry, sorry," he laughed, "Sit. Please." And with a smile, you did just so.

"But seriously," he started again, "Usually, you're here before me."

You placed the bag on the ground and grabbed the fork from the plate that Jisoo had placed pre your arrival, already knowing your usual order,

"Jeon Wonwoo visited me." You simply answered and took the first bite.

The man in front of you slightly choked on the coke he was drinking and quickly put it down, "H-He visited you? What did he say?"

You shook your head, "Nothing important... just wanted to analyse my email, I guess."

After a comfortable meal and chat with your co-worker, you made it back to the elevator, already being 10 minutes late than you should be. As the both of you were waiting for the metal doors to open, a figure appeared next to you, "Good afternoon, Miss Yoon."

You turned your head to the left and had to look up slightly, even though you were wearing heels, and found the face of Kim Mingyu just as he also greeted Jisoo to your right.

"Good afternoon, Mister Kim," you sent him a kind smile and thanked whoever was up there the moment the elevator finally arrived. The tall man put his arm out, motioning for you to step in first, which you thanked him for with a nod, and followed after the other male had also entered.

Never had an elevator ride felt as long as this one did, but apparently, the CEO knew how to small-talk.

"I must say," he fixed his tie with his free hand that wasn't holding the briefcase, "I'm quite offended."

Jisoo's and your head snapped to look at him, "Sorry?" You wondered, eyebrows raised.

A chuckle left Kim Mingyu's lips, "You trust Wonwoo more than me? With all the work?"

Referring to your email, in which you had asked the employees to direct any questions and files to Jeon Wonwoo, the CEO. You didn't mention the co-CEO Kim Mingyu...

You let out a heavy breath, smiling at the light-hearted comment coming from the man to your right, delighted at the humour he had used. "With all due respect, it's most definitely not because I trust him more than you. I... just thought you might already have a lot to do on your own since the entire lower floor is yours, Sir. Mister Jeon seemed a bit bored to me, if I may say so."

He chuckled, "Yes, you may say so. But you may also drop the formalities," and reached his hand out for you to take, "Mingyu." Your eyes drifted down, only to shoot back up and find his kind eyes already looking at you. Jisoo... seemed to may have been right... he was not the one you should be hating on because he was not making you feel miserable.

"Y/N," you smiled back at him and shook his hand, slightly surprised at the tightness of his grip.

The 'ding' of the elevator made the two of you break eye contact, and Mingyu was the first to let go, "Well then," he nodded, "Nice to see you again, Y/N," before addressing the man behind you as well, "Have a good day, Mister Hong." As he exited the small room, your guys' pairs of eyes followed his figure, watching him as he disappeared around the corner. You leaned back on the railing on the wall when Jisoo's head turned towards you, looking at you with wide eyes, "See you again?!" He wondered in a loud voice once the doors had closed.

Your eyes found his, quickly realising what was going through the man's mind, "Not like that!" You stopped him, "We met in my apartment complex last week," and continued your story while both of you walked out to enter the advertisement office floor again, "He said his sister lives there."

"And I thought you already had him wrapped around your fingers..." Jisoo sighed, "I was so excited..."

You chuckled at his comment, always delighted to hear about the person he would tell you you could be.

"But!" He startled you suddenly, "It's never too late," stopping at his office space that he shared with other employees, giving you a smirk.

"No," you shut him down, "No, stop." Not even wanting to know about his mind drifting off to whatever fantasy he had created in his mind for your future. He had a wild life and a wild mind, as you had found out throughout the years of knowing him. Once he started laughing, you couldn't help but join in, getting affected by the sound. But your fun got quickly interrupted by a stern voice coming from beside you,

"I'm not paying you to chat and laugh." Jeon Wonwoo suddenly appeared, noticing the two of you were not in your usual position of working. While Jisoo changed his attitude immediately, bowing and apologizing to his boss, you turned to the side, seeing he had already passed you but was still close enough.

"But you're not paying us at all yet," referring to the fact that he had taken over your father's company in the middle of the month, meaning that your next paycheck would still be in the name of the former CEO, therefore was HE not paying you just yet. Your statement made him turn around and find the bright smile that you sent him, tilting your head in a sarcastically cute manner.

Jeon Wonwoo made his way back, taking slow, yet big steps to approach you, "You want to discuss that in my office, Miss Yoon?" With his hands hidden in his pockets, he stopped right in front of you, not daring to look away from your glance.

You crossed your arms, trying your best to get intimidated by the taller man almost hovering over you, "A CEO should be able to accept when he's in the wrong and gets corrected by the COO."

A slight smirk made its way onto the man's lips, "Oh, I do accept and understand it," looking down before finding your eyes again, "But I don't think you know that I still haven't signed the final contracts about your paychecks yet. One small change and your earnings will be a lot less than before."

"You can't do that," you scuffed at his threat.

"I can do a lot more than you realise," he continued with his warning voice, "But," and chuckled, "My bad... how would you know."

That freaking bastard.

That motherf-

He knew exactly he had hit a soft spot with that statement. With that smirk that wouldn't leave his lips and the hands that were casually resting in his pockets... he knew it. And god, did you hate him for it.

After one last squint and glare, you brushed past him quickly, making sure to bump shoulders with him as you did, but it didn't even make him stumble like you hoped it would - and that just made you even madder. Passing the other offices, you were happy once you had finally reached yours again but stopped in your tracks as soon as you had walked in. It was not most definitely not in the state you had left it in.

The desk that you remembered being pretty much empty was once again filled with folders, from thin to big, in all types of colours, as well as empty black and grey ones. Thank god, you had just gotten past that time of the month, because if not... this would have been your last straw.

Closing your eyes, you took a deep breath but before you could even open them again,

"You really thought I was just going to let it slide like that?" That deep voice was going to haunt you even in your dreams. You could try to avoid it... it wouldn't work, you knew that.

You turned around, only then noticing how close he was to you, making you take a few small steps back, "Hire a fucking assistant to do your shit," you hissed at him without hesitation.

He entered your office, crossed the room and let himself down on the couch with a coffee table in front of it, "That is neither my shit nor would it be the job of an assistant," pronouncing the swearword you had used particularly sharp after he had told you to watch your language when talking to the CEO.

"Then I'm going to hire one," you simply stated, walking over to the desk and placing your bag on top of the mountain of paper, cardboard, and plastic.

Jeon Wonwoo chuckled at your comment, "Just so I can fire them again?" Making you roll your eyes and let out a heavy breath. He stood up with a smack of his lips and started roaming the room slowly, "I'm gonna assume you haven't realised it yet... even though you appear to be quite smart," he spoke the later part softly, "So I'm just gonna tell you this straight up," before looking you dead in the eyes, "Don't try to win. Just... don't. Because you won't." He came closer to the desk that was separating the two of you, "No matter what you even plan on doing... I'm already at least five steps ahead of you. Whatever you're going to try to do... I will be able to fight back," his eyes scanned the room, noticing you weren't going to interrupt him, before continuing, "I don't know what you're trying to prove here. Or... more like who you're trying to prove it to. But it won't work." With a smile, he ended his speech, "So stop unless you want to lose your job."

As much as his words had left you speechless, you weren't raised to let yourself get put down by some young wannabe entrepreneur, "You can't fire me." Fuck... your voice was shakier than you expected it to be.

Jeon Wonwoo chuckled, "I actually can-"

"I built this company!" You interrupted him with your raised voice, filled with anger and frustration, "I was the one to send out email after email, trying to get some kind of fucking sponsor! I was the one who studied every little thing about what it actually means to have a company instead of just getting the random idea of wanting to have one! I looked for employees to help us out even though we wouldn't be able to pay them much! And now I, as the COO, can do so much more than you know, and I can't be fired!"

"Maybe in the old company," the man seemed unfazed by your outburst, deciding to use an annoying calm tone, "With the new one came new contracts. The one you signed last week? Written by me. I should probably let you read through what you actually signed in your moment of rage." With one last sarcastic facial, the CEO turned his back to you, leaving you unable to talk back as you were able to just stand there in shock. He was right. In the old company, you had always known that the person in the position of COO wasn't able to get fired. Why? You never questioned it. But now... Jeon Wonwoo, in the new position of the owner of the company, had the right to change anything he wanted to change - and so he apparently also did with the contracts. You cursed your past self for not reading through those papers. A mistake you would normally never do, but you had let your anger take over you and your mind...

As you thought he had already left your office, his voice ringing through your ear once again, told you otherwise, "Before considering firing you... maybe I should ask Mister Yoon how to deal with you..." he wondered out loud. How dare he mention his name. You and your father had never had the best relationship. Even though you had worked for him, he never acknowledged the work you were doing for him but was the perfect example of a gaslighting parent, that took your work and credited it as his own, letting the light shine on him.

"Get out," you spat out, ready to cry once that bastard had left your office, but he just continued looking at you, tilting his head slightly pressing his lips together, unhappy with the choice of your words. As much as you would have to respect him, you couldn't at that moment, "Get out before I throw something at you." You warned him one last time, making him squint his eyes, "Mm..." and turn around, "Doesn't sound like employee of the month to me."

"How long has she been lying here like that?"

"I don't know... I came in like thirty minutes ago and passed her office."

"She looks dead."

"What? You think so? Oh god... imagine if work actually kills you."

"I'm not dead, idiots."

The two men screeched and jumped, holding onto each other as they both looked at you wide-eyed. You rubbed your eyes and tried straightening your back but quickly realised that would take longer than expected, thanks to your incredibly uncomfortable position on the carpet.

"You looked like a corpse. Are you kidding me?!" Jisoo raised his voice, filled with concern.

With a heavy breath and the strength you had left in your arms, you managed to push yourself up, sitting with your legs crossed underneath you.

Mingyu looked at you with scrunched eyebrows, "Did you sleep here?" His voice made you look up and sigh,

"Sorry for calling you an idiot, I didn't realise it was you." Remembering the somewhat good terms you were on with the co-CEO.

"It's alright," he chuckled, sitting down on the sofa right next to you, picking up one of the files that surrounded you. Yes, yes you did fall asleep at your workplace. And who was to blame? You can answer that question yourself.

After yesterday's conversation, you had to admit, you got slightly intimidated, knowing that you didn't have as much power as the previous COO had - not even as much power as you had as the President... So yes, you did feel threatened, but it didn't mean you were going to give in as easily as he had probably hoped you would. Again, you were raised differently, had to deal with all kinds of difficult people throughout your life... Jeon Wonwoo was just another one of them.

As Mingyu's fingers turned page after page, his eyes raking over each line they held, he got confused, "You know about HTML and coding?"

With Jisoo's help, you were standing on both of your feet and got to straighten down your hair and clothes, "No," you simply stated, picking up the files you had managed to go through and putting them back on your desk. Last night, you thought it was a good idea to change your position from sitting at your desk to making yourself comfortable on the floor.

"Why do you have these then?" He wondered, getting up to help you.

"Ask your bastard of CEO," with the annoyed undertone of your voice, he knew not to bother you more and decided to let it slide, but definitely not forget about it completely.

You were thankful for it, but Jisoo had a different idea, "He's been giving her all kinds of stuff that she has no idea about. You should have seen the files from last week-" one stern look by you made him shut up quickly. As thankful as you were to have that man by your side, and it looked like Mingyu wasn't too bad of a person to have around either, you still didn't want to dwell on something you were able to/wanted to deal with yourself.

"Alright," the tallest one in the room spoke up after helping you with the folders, "You," he pointed at you, "Go home and get some sleep. Proper sleep." He quickly added, noticing you were about to interrupt him.

"No," you began shaking your head and pushed back the bag he was trying to hand you, "These stupid folders are just gonna get more and more. I want them to be done as soon as possible."

"And I'm gonna deal with them," after dealing with Wonwoo, he added in his mind. "Please, don't worry about them. Get some rest. You've worked hard enough." But as much as he kept on talking, you continued shaking your head, making him frustrated, "My driver's still downstairs, do you want him to drive you?"

"What? No! No!" You quickly stopped him, waving your hands, "You have a driver? Of course, you have a driver...," with a hand on your forehead, you tried to get your thoughts ordered again, "No, no... I have my car..."

Mingyu was still standing next to you, arms reaching out to you with his hands grasping the handles of your bag, "Then go," he nodded towards the door, "Come on."

"(Y/N), go," Jisoo assured her. You had thrown yourself onto the chair, now sighing, unsure of what to do. Looking up to your left, the co-CEO nodded at you with a smile, wiggling with your bag.

After another second passed with you thinking about the possible consequences, you stood up and snatched the bag out of the man's grasp, the tired expression not leaving your face.

"Go and get some rest. Don't worry about this," Mingyu pointed to the folders spread over the entirety of your desk's top. With another sigh, a nod, and a quiet "Good night," you left the office, not caring about saying goodbye to anyone else.

"What are we gonna do with that now?" Jisoo wondered, motioning towards the table once he was sure you couldn't hear them anymore.

The co-CEO shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know," and looked ahead through the glass, trying to spy into the other office that was empty and would be for the next few hours, "But I know who does."

Five folders, filled fully with paper, heavy in Mingyu's arms, got dropped onto Wonwoo's desk without a warning, startling the man who was leaning back in his chair, focused on his phone,

"What the fu-?!"

The man in front of the CEO leaned forward, resting his hand on the top of the desk, "I should be asking you that. What the fuck are you doing?!" He was enraged, Wonwoo could tell. He raised his eyebrows, letting his friend know to continue, "With (Y/N). You're trying to drown her in these?" Grabbing one heavy cardboard folder before dropping it again.

The older man crossed his arms and leaned back slightly more, "What? You're on first-name basis with her now?"

Mingyu scuffed, "Jesus Christ... Don't change the subject. What are you trying to do? Huh? Only a week into this, and you're already acting like an asshole?"

Wonwoo took a deep breath and stood up, rolling up the sleeves of his dress shirt, "This isn't something you should bother yourself with. Alright?"

"But I am bothering myself with it," Mingyu stood his ground, his eyes following the other man's frame, "She's the only COO of this company."

"Exactly. The only one. Obviously, she's gonna have a lot to do," the older one crossed his arms, not giving in and not planning on doing so.

The taller man rolled his eyes and sighed, clearly annoyed by his friend's attitude, "You know that's not the fucking work a COO should do. That's employee stuff. More importantly MY employees' stuff. None of this should even bother her. She's in advertising, not programming." He tried explaining the right point of view of the situation even though he could feel the passive energy coming from the CEO. They've been friends long enough - he could tell when he was talking to a wall instead of his best friend.

"Being a CEO is even more work" Wonwoo stated, "And you heard her," he pointed at Mingyu, "She wanted the title. She thought she could lead an entire company," with big steps, he continued roaming the room, "How could she ever do that if she can't even handle a bit of paperwork? A CEO has to know about E-V-E-R-Y-THING that goes on in his company-"

"So that's it?" The younger man's face held a shocked expression, "You're just trying to show her how much she doesn't deserve that title?!" He turned his face away, not wanting to look at his friend anymore, "Jeez... alright, do whatever the fuck you think is right, but just know if you continue treating our only COO like shit, I'm gonna start acting on it. You're better than that..."

"What do you think you're gonna do? She works on my floor. You go and handle your own one downstairs," Wonwoo started using his deeper threatening voice, not daring to back off.

"I'm still co-CEO," Mingyu simply answered, "And she's taking the rest of the week off." He finished before storming out of the room, with the oldest of the two cursing under his breath,

"Yeah... go and decide that for your little girlfriend..."

"Good morning, m'lady," a loud familiar voice made you look up from your phone, your eyes widening at the sight of him,

"What the hell are you doing here?" Seeing Mingyu at 9 in the morning in front of your apartment complex was definitely not something you were expecting. But there he stood. With a coffee shop paper cup in one hand, while the other was holding the door to the passenger side of a black car open. He nodded his head for you to come closer, a bright smile plastered on his face. You were still unsure of the situation, therefore squinted your eyes and took slow steps forward, which the co-CEO obviously seemed to not like,

"Hurry up, the coffee's gonna get cold."

With five quick steps, you were standing in front of him as close as comfortably possible, "Why are you here?" You truly were confused as hell. Ever since the text message from him last Tuesday, god knows where he had gotten your number from- probably Jisoo, you realised, you hadn't talked or seen him. He had told you to stay at home for the rest of the week and not even dare to come into the office, making you worried about the state of the floors, immediately thinking of the worst like a fire or... something as bad as a fire... you just weren't sure what exactly.

"Well," Mingyu started, getting a hold of your free hand and placing the coffee in it as he pushed you gently towards the car, "Our COO had a tough first two weeks, and I want to make it up to her."

"Mingyu-" you started, but he stopped you,

"No. Get in," quickly realising that it sounded slightly wrong after he noticed your facial expression changing, "Please?" You chuckled and did as you were told, earning yourself a smile from the giant puppy man as he put his hand on the rim of the hood, in case you were to bump your head and closed the door as soon as you were sitting comfortably.

"So?" You started once he had been driving for a bit, apparently not feeling the need to start a conversation.

"So?" Mingyu teasingly repeated, looking at you with big eyes and a smile on his lips.

"What is this?" Motioning all around you, still not fully understanding what he was trying to do here. He could have just answered you. He could have, yes. But he didn't want to,

"That," he pointed at the cup in your hands, "Is a hot white Mocca with two extra pumps of-"

"Mingyu," you let your stern voice out, surprising him slightly, taken aback by your sudden change in sound.

He sighed, turning right, "I told you. You had a tough first two weeks. As a COO you shouldn't have to do all of those things, that's not your job."

"And it's not your job to make up for it," you corrected him, trying to make him understand that as much as you hated him two weeks ago, you had to admit that you had been in the wrong with the type of person you thought he was.

Mingyu chuckled with a sad undertone, "What? You think Wonwoo's gonna do it?"

You scuffed loudly, letting him know about the ridiculousness of his statement, "Pfff, no! I'm not expecting anything from him. What can you expect from an asshole?" Adding the last question rhetorically.

The co-CEO sent you a shocked facial expression, "Ooh..." but started cackling once you reacted to it,

"You're gonna lecture me about my use of words too now?!"

"No," he laughed, "That's Wonwoo's thing... even though that man curses more than me probably." Making you chuckle.

After spending a few minutes in silence, looking around the car and drinking your coffee, you realised something, interrupting the quietness, "I thought you said you had a driver."

"I do," he answered quickly, attentive to every word you were saying, "Well... the company does. He's Wonwoo's and my driver. I prefer driving on my own though," he explained, turning the wheel with one hand to enter the parking garage of the office building, "BUT I have to admit... having a driver does have its perks when you're drunk or hungover."

You started giggling and nodding your head, "Of course."

Once the car came to a stop, Mingyu was quick to turn off the car, take off his seatbelt, and sprint over to the passenger side, opening the door for you while you were trying to get your bag to stay on your shoulder. You looked up, perplexed at the gesture, "You don't have to do that, you know," referring to him holding the doors open for you as well as reaching his hand out for you to get out of the seat easier. The man looked at you with scrunched eyebrows, opening the door behind your to get his briefcase from the backseat, "Wow," he sighed, "You're really not letting a man do anything nice for you."

Your mouth hung open slightly. How dare he assu- well... he wasn't wrong. Your experiences with men of all kinds hadn't been the best.

"My bad," you exaggerated your apology, not only with the tone of your voice but also by bowing, letting your head almost reach the floor, making him laugh out loud and pull you back up, getting a laugh from you as well. The sharing of your good mood was quickly interrupted by someone clearing their throat behind you. Turning around, you came to sight with one of the men you hadn't had the best experiences with,

"Morning," he greeted, more so only his friend after giving you a head nod that you reciprocated. The taller man turned to you, seeing you welcoming the CEO as well, before turning back to his friend, "Hey."

Without exchanging another word, the three of you started making your way to the elevator that would get up upstairs. Let the awkward silence begin...

Deciding you wanted to avoid it as much as possible, you started taking quick steps, overtaking both men with their long-ass legs. Mingyu noticed it and was about to catch up with you, but a hand on his arm stopped him and pulled him back,

"You're her personal driver now?" Wonwoo wondered, not expecting the two of you to show up together.

He shrugged the grip off and huffed, "Jesus, calm down. I'm trying to make better what you messed up."

"She messed it up herself," the CEO snapped back in a quiet but stern voice.

Mingyu scuffed, "Alright," rolled his eyes and caught up with you before you could enter the elevator on your own.

Ever since the elevator ride, with Mingyu alone, thank god, you had been stuck in your office room, once again, sending out work emails as well as creating new schedules for the entire company, instead of only the advertising department. The last week gave you time to think. And damn, did you use it. After the "talk" well... more of a discussion or whatever, the words from Jeon Wonwoo's lips didn't leave your mind. You weren't able to just shake them off. No, not the words that created the name of your father, but the words that let you know that with one wrong action, gesture, or statement, you could be jobless within a second. There was nothing else you could do then to get yourself together and work like you've never worked before. You still would not accept any shit thrown at you, even from the CEO, but maybe you should tone it down with... specific words you had used before... or very expressive gestures you had made. Let's see how long that would last. But you had promised yourself to try.

Well, this was your job, after all. And there was no other option than for you to just WORK. 'You don't have to like him and he doesn't have to like you,' you had told yourself, 'But you have to show him the respect he doesn't deserve and fight passively against him instead of actively. Don't let him notice what you're trying to do.' If only you were as smooth as you had thought you were.

"Miss Yoon," a voice coming from the door made you look up, finding the familiar pair of eyes of an employee you had known for a longer time, "We need you in meeting room 2." You were confused at first, but after taking a look at the clock, you realised it was already 3pm, reminding you of the meeting that was mentioned in the last email you had received Friday night.

"Oh," you shot up from your chair and quickly collected the most important papers and something to write with, "Yes, sorry."

With hasty steps, you followed him into the other room, in which other employees and Jeon Wonwoo were already waiting. No Kim Mingyu in sight whatsoever.

"I'm sorry, I'm late," you excused yourself with a bow before taking a seat in the empty chair, reserved for you, across from the CEO.

"You're forgetting about meetings," he stated. Maybe it was supposed to be a question, but it sure didn't sound like one. You rose your head up to look at him, fiddling with the pen between your fingers,

"Finding interns for your company might be a bit more important, don't you think?"

"I didn't ask you to find new interns," he kept his glance on you, clearly trying to intimidate you, but you just shrugged your shoulders, "Well." Before turning to the employee standing in front of the projected picture on the wall and sending him a kind smile, for him to begin.

Already only 2 minutes into his presentation, you noticed how big of a mistake it was to even let him start... this clearly wasn't a project idea for the advertising department, so what the hell were you doing there. Also, as for one, he had no idea what he was talking about, you, thanks to the files you had had to put in an order and summarize, knew more about what he was trying to explain, and two, you hadn't ever seen him before. You sighed, lowered your head, and started writing down all the things you noticed about not only his idea per se but also about him as a presenter - like his posture, his way of speech, mimics, gestures, etc.

As much as you tried to focus on him, you couldn't. You really couldn't. Which made you start thinking about one of the ideas you had had a few months back but never got to present, thanks to the CEO that your father was.

Wonwoo looked up at the sound of a heavy breath falling from your lips, but his eyes quickly drifted down to what you were scribbling, being able to make out some sketches as well as words. He had noticed you hadn't been giving much attention to the presenter, and was about to speak up, but decided against it once he saw you working on your own idea, most definitely for your department rather than the app development one, like the man in front of you.

The presentation wasn't good. It wasn't even close. He didn't know who that guy was, probably someone from advertising he had never crossed paths with in the office, who wanted to give programming a go. But for somebody working in that department, he was worst than anyone from the web design floor down below would be, in presenting the same idea even though they also have almost no knowledge in it.

He didn't even try to focus, already knowing he wouldn’t do so anyways, therefore letting his eyes not leave your paper, covered in scribbles and drawings of black ink. Whatever you were thinking about could only be better than what everyone else in the room had to listen to. That was for sure.

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Taglist: @nctxtrash @leicy0756 @hoe4wonwoo @whiteprincessofnohr @nothingbutadeadesceane

#wonwoo series #jeon wonwoo #wonwoo x reader #wonwoo #imagines #scenarios #seventeen #seventeen series #kpop #masterlist #amour haine & co.#enemies to lovers #seventeen e2l #e2l #ceo!wonwoo #ceo!wonwoo imagines #ceo!au #ceo au #seventeen au

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thessalian · 3 years ago

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Thess vs Working From Home, Or Not

I am going to preface this entire thing with the following: I have zero issue with the strike action the public transport workers are taking. Is it annoying? Yes. However, I get it. I don’t want to see ticket offices entirely phased out or dozens of bus lines shut down, as much for the people who need those services as for the transport staff who will end up out of work as a result of these ‘cost-cutting measures’. So if I sound like I’m bitching about anything, it’s not about that.

No, I’m bitching about the office right now.

Look, very few of us actually work nearby to the hospital at which we work. We pretty much all require some element of public transport to get to our jobs. And on Friday, there’s going to be a Tube strike and a strike of one of the bus companies that services London. So while the buses I would generally take to get to work will be technically operational, they will be crowded as fuck because everyone will be taking the bus instead of the Tube and that’s a very solid NO THANK YOU from me. Goblin relies on both Tube and train to get to work, and the trains are on strike on Thursday, so she’s not in Thursday or Friday. Temp is one of the few people in the office who can actually get to the office with little more than having to navigate traffic, because she can drive the whole way (though that only because the hospital’s offering free parking on that day).

Now, we’ve known about this strike for weeks. When I was pretty sure it was going ahead - as in, about three weeks ago - I booked Friday off. That annual leave request was approved at the beginning of last week. Same with Goblin’s requests for annual leave on Thursday and Friday because it’s better than taking unpaid leave because of a public transport strike.

And today I got an email from Scruffman - the one who approved my annual leave request, by the way - asking about whether I’d be able to get into work on the strike days. My response was a slightly more polite version of “I should be fine on Thursday but I booked Friday off because it was going to be an issue, and you approved that a little over a week ago”.

Why the living hell didn’t he check our schedules for those days to see if we’d made arrangements in that regard before he sent emails that were basically like, “We want to be able to still provide service so I need to know if there’s any possible way for you to be in”. I don’t know for sure that it was supposed to be a guilt trip but it read like a guilt trip.

Well. If I was less of a polite person, I would not be crafting a carefully-worded email about the current situation and how it relates to other matters in the office. If I was less of a polite person, I would be emailing Head Honcho with a CC to Scruffman saying, “Further to our issues with attendance owing to strike action, we all know full well that the strikes aren’t going to stop any time soon because this government - or at least its appointed representative for this kind of thing - refuses to even attend talks to try to sort things out. This government just ignores it and hopes it’ll go away. Well, it’s not going to go away and we’re going to be in this position many, many more times over the next few months. You’ve already lost one staffer because of your refusal to expedite our ability to work from home (I know I’m not supposed to know that but I do know that), and now you’re losing more productivity days because we can neither work from home nor get to the office. We already have the hardware, as witness the laptops gathering dust on the table next to the stationery cupboard. We’ve already fully migrated to the new system that was your excuse last time someone asked about this. The consultants have been able to work from home for something to the order of two years now. You can avoid this kind of mess in the future by expediting the work from home set-up you’ve been promising your secretaries would happen at the beginning of this year. So if you could move on that - and also maybe speed up the hiring of new staff to replace the staffer that left, even if it involves getting in someone from a temp agency, because we are floundering right now - that’d be easier on all of us. If nothing else, Occupational Health recommended this for me, and they certainly did not recommend me having to push twice as hard to make up for one ragequit and a staffer who still leaves me with all the long energy-intensive typing the second she feels she can get away with it.”

However, I am generally a polite person, or I try to be, so I’m going to wait until I’m not tired and hacked off with everything before I even try to put that into proper office-speak. But this is why I’m having a supremely shitty day.

#Thess has a day job

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jokertrap-ran · 4 years ago

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(光与夜之恋 Light and Night) Main Story Chapter 3-1: 海水与火焰 Seawater & Flames Translation

“The flames of the sunset flicker within your orbs; and the leaves flutter, falling upon the water surface that is your soul.”

*Light and Night Master-list *Spoiler free: Translations will remain under cut *Join the Light & Night Discord (＾▽＾)~ ♪ *CG Image used with permission from 蓝咕咕 ☆ *Main story tag will be #For Light and Night

Brother Mao: It's soooo god-damned hot out today! A new coffee shop opened down the east street with huge grand opening sales. Come on, come on, everyone grab your share!

Brother Mao had just returned to the office after completing his out of office assignment. He didn't even have a minute to spare to put the bag of goodies down, only wiping his sweat before giving said goodies out to everyone.

MC: Thank you, Brother Mao!

Brother Mao waved his hand in dismissal and threw the neatly folded plastic bag into the bin, only for his eyes to suddenly stop on the handle of the door. He incredulously widened his eyes.

Brother Mao: Since when did our door handle get all fixed up?

Li Man'man: No idea. It was already fixed when I came in in the morning.

Hao Shuai: Sister Zheng Lin, did you nag at the administrative department for this?

Zheng Lin: She fixed it. I saw her fiddling around with it when I clocked in this morning.

Zheng Lin retrieved her documents from the photocopier and jerked her chin at me.

Brother Mao: So this is our beloved heroine of the day! Do humbly pardon me!

MC: I'm the one who broke it after all. Plus, it didn't take that long to fix anyway.

Brother Mao poked his head in front of me, curiously twirling the sleeve of the formal dress I was currently fixing up and doing corrections on.

Brother Mao: You're changing it up that much again? You don't have to reply to me, but you're adding these butterflies? That's real creative! ...And they're all made of twisted metal wire?

MC: Yeah. I started out using soft tulle mesh, but it was all droopy and didn't seem very nice for wings that are supposed to look powerful and lively.

Brother Mao: Now not only does this give it a dynamic feel, but also brings about a romantic yet cruel one!

Brother Mao: Not bad, not bad! Keep at it, and you'll definitely be able to finish fixing it up before next week!

MC: But the Deadline got brought forward… She's going to be doing the fitting tomorrow morning, so I have to finish it by today...

Brother Mao: No way! Don't tell me it's that agent again...

He glanced around, checking that no one had their attention turned to us, before leaning down to my ear.

Brother Mao: I asked around about it earlier, and I heard that the agent has a pretty foul temper.

Brother Mao: Not just to the staff, but her daughter as well. She'll start scolding people at the drop of a hat, even if they did nothing!

It felt as if I could hear the piercing and horrid lashing from that day resounding in my ears again. Her words had been ingrained into my very brain like a needle stuck into a pincushion.

Brother Mao: Geez, Lin Yao's such a brilliant kid. What's there for her to be so unhappy about?

Brother Mao: My mom always told me not to blame myself, and that health always comes first, whenever I fail the promotion. She even said that if I couldn't make it big, then I could just go back home and she'd raise me.

MC: I don't know either. Maybe all these feelings we take for granted come on a conditional basis for her, I guess.

He'd stared at the table and spaced out for a long while. It was almost as if he'd retreated into his memory palace as his expression turned a little sad.

Brother Mao: I'll help you twist them into shape too. Just treat it as my way of thanking her for helping us get out of the pickle we found ourselves in that day.

MC: Okay.

Time passed silently, and it wasn't till nightfall that we finished our work. The office had already cleared out a long time ago, and sporadic stars glimmered in the ink-blue sky up above.

Brother Mao: Done!

I nodded at him in gratitude and kept the now completed dress away. That was when a message notification popped up onto my phone screen.

Housing Agent: Miss (Y/n), don't forget that we're supposed to sign the agreement today at 8 PM. Be there or be square!

Brother Mao: What's wrong?

MC: I'm supposed to go check out the new apartment I'm getting with my agent at 8 PM today, and sign the agreement if all goes well.

And the time displayed on my phone right now was… 7:28 PM.

MC: I should run! Thanks for today, Brother Mao! I'll treat you to food next time!

Grabbing my bag and my work ID, I made a mad dash downstairs.

❖☆———————————★❖

I thought that I'd make it there right on the dot if I'd left now, but who knew that the taxi-hailing app had 80+ people waiting in line! Seeing as how the app wasn't an option anymore, all I could do was to run to the nearest taxi stand.

MC: Why's it not here yet…?

I paced back and forth at the stand, but no taxi ever made an appearance. Just as my anxiousness was about to reach a tipping point, a black sports car drew to a stop before me. The car's windscreen slowly rolled down.

MC: ...Evan?

Evan: Waiting for a ride? Headed somewhere?

MC: Yeah. I'm going to take a look at an apartment. The place I'm renting right now is too far from here, so it isn't terribly convenient.

Evan: Location?

MC: Guangqi-Century City.

He slightly inclined his head, glancing at his watch before getting out of his car and opening the door to the passenger seat for me.

Evan: Get on. I'll send you there.

★Night Choice: Turn him down

MC: No need. I'd be causing you too much trouble.

Evan leaned his arm atop the door of the car, beaming as he looked at me.

Evan: Not at all.

Evan: Besides, I don't have anything on tonight. On the other hand, you seem like you're in quite the rush.

Evan: It'll be bad if you end up late for it because you dawdled here.

His eyes were filled with such sincerity that it made me feel like I'd be doing him a disservice if I refused.

I eventually nodded, seeing as there was no way I could shimmy myself out of this without feeling bad about it.

MC: Thanks.

☆Light Choice: Accept his offer

I glanced back at the taxi stand. It didn't seem like a taxi was coming anytime soon. And I'd really be late if I didn't get a suitable ride soon…

MC: Thanks. Don't mind if I do then.

8 PM, right on the dot. We reached the entrance of the housing estate where the agent was already waiting.

MC: Here it is. Thank you for this! I'll treat you to a meal someday!

Evan: Sure.

❖☆———————————★❖

I hurriedly got out of the car as the two agents quickly rushed up to me upon seeing me.

Agent A: You have a good eye, Miss! This apartment's a hot favourite! 10 over people booked slots to come check it out the moment the listing went up!

Agent B: We've kept this apartment for you till now since you seemed especially keen on it!

Agent A: Let's get the contract agreement signed tonight if there are no problems lest it keeps you up at night!

MC: Sorry, but I'll still have to confirm with you again later. Let's go check the house out first.

Both agents sidled up side by side, enthusiastically explaining and introducing things to me on either side as they urged me forwards.

Thud.

The sound of a door closing behind me made me turn, only to see that Evan hadn't left, and had gotten out of his car.

MC: ?

Evan: I'll go with you.

The agents continued their endless stream of marketing chatter as they pointed out every selling point of the apartment.

Agent A: —And that's all from us. If you sign the agreement contract today, then we can persuade the landlord to give us a little discount...

MC: Okay, then I'll-

Evan: Sorry, but we'll think it through a little more. Could you recommend us some other apartments as well? Sorry about that.

I looked at him in surprise, but he gently shook his head. Hence, I calmed my initial excitement down and turned down their request to have the contract immediately signed.

❖☆———————————★❖

The night was already deep into the throes of darkness by the time we returned to the car park.

The riverbank was coloured with streams of yellow light from the streetlamps above in picturesque disorder. I could smell the refreshing scent of blooming greenery that hung in the air.

MC: Was something wrong with the apartment earlier?

Evan: I don't think you'd like to stay in an apartment filled with construction noises, yes?

MC: But I didn't hear anyone renovating anything?

It was only after the words left my mouth that I realized something.

MC: Oh, right. It's nighttime right now, so all the construction workers should be off work by now… Still, how did you know?

Evan: I noticed that there were paint stains at the edge of the neighbouring apartment's door frame upon entering, and it looked rather fresh too.

Evan: Plus, that housing estate was built 10 years ago, yet the elevator has its interiors boarded up with temporary protective boards.

Evan: So, I'd garner that the neighbouring apartment's most likely, not the only one undergoing renovation recently.

MC: I'd never have realized if you didn't point it out…

Evan: And adding on to that, I observed the surroundings a bit when we entered the housing estate and the security personnel stationed nearby seemed rather sparsely spread.

Evan: So it wouldn't be too safe for you to be staying here alone.

MC: Yeah…

Evan continued talking about the pros and cons of the apartment as the enchanting lights from above reflected in his eyes, melding into the smile that wavered within.

MC: You're so knowledgeable when it comes to this. Did you rent an apartment before?

Although, for someone with his family background, he shouldn’t ever need to rent an apartment on his own.

However, Evan nodded, affirming my suspicions.

Evan: I’ve rented a couple of places for my company back when I was in university.

MC: You mean, the company you founded back when you were studying in Lordton?

Evan: You know of it?

MC: I’ve heard of it before! It’s truly a legendary tale!

Evan: Looks like I’ll have to personally clear up the rumours for you then. It wasn’t exactly a smooth experience.

Evan: I, too, encountered a great many difficulties that I hadn’t thought of before during my first time renting an office.

Evan: For example, unreliable agents. The relevant renting procedures never came to pass for a long time due to that.

Evan: Hence, the office wasn’t ready even if all the employees were already in place.

Evan: And another example would be poor property management, with robberies aplenty as a result.

Evan: Also, I had no choice but to take drastic action and relocate the entire office to a new location since I hadn’t initially considered office expansion.

MC: Wow, I never knew that starting a business would be so hard. You’re amazing to have done it!

❖☆———————————★❖

Suddenly, my phone vibrated.

[Guangqi Rental] Whole apartment for lease. Felin Avenue, 199 Street. 1 bedroom and 1 living room. [Guangqi Rental] Whole apartment for lease. Changle Heights. 1 bedroom and 1 living room.

It was the agent, recommending me a couple more apartments.

[Guangqi Rental] How about any of these?

MC: Now that's way too many…

Evan: You can forward them to me if you don't mind. I can check them out with you.

Evan: I might not be very experienced in this, but nothing will go wrong with having another person to think it through with.

MC: Thank you, Evan.

The night breeze blew past, gently ruffling the loose hairs that had fallen out of place in front of Evan’s forehead.

Evan: We've been talking for so long that I forgot that it's already 9 PM. Are you hungry? Do you want to eat anything?

MC: I said I'd treat you! How about we do it now?

MC: Is there anything you'd like to eat?

Evan: Just pick anything you want to eat. I'm fine with anything.

MC: Don't say that! I'm going to need a proper answer from you today.

Evan: Alright then. I'd prefer for it to be something cooling, if possible.

MC: Hmm… Something cooling?

I glanced around, my eyes sweeping past the signboards of teahouses, food stalls, fast food outlets… until it finally stopped on an old and aged sign that stood not too far away.

MC: I know! Wait for me for a while!

❖☆———————————★❖

MC: Auntie! Can I get two servings of red bean ice and two servings of fruit soup?

Many customers surrounded the small shop. The owner stirred the pot of soft red beans, filling the air with a delectably rich scent of sweetness.

Due to the auntie being the only one manning the store, the demand for the red bean ice far exceeded the available supply. Hence, I had to wait for quite a while before my order finally got done.

Just as I happily took the icy delights from her, the pitter-patter of rain sounded from behind.

The rain came down hard and vicious.

The raindrops that pelted against the roof were akin to silver metal wires, trapping me within the confines of the narrow eaves.

With no other option in sight, I held the two cups of icy treats to my chest using my wrist and freed a hand to shoot Evan a message to inform him of my predicament.

However, before I could fish out my phone… a silhouette had come to a stop before me. He put the umbrella away.

MC: I was just about to ping you. What are you doing here?

Evan didn’t say anything, only smiling gently as he took the icy treats from my arms, quietly standing by my side.

Evan: The rain should cease soon. Let's wait together.

MC: ...Okay.

The curtain of rain secluded us in our own little world, and the puddles, reflecting the neon lights of the signboard above, rippled from the night breeze of summer.

And like a domino effect, this soft and gentle ambience made our moods calmer and much more relaxed in turn.

❖☆————— ⊹ For Light & Night⊹ —————★❖

Previous Part: (Chapter 2-24 Light) / (Chapter 2-24 Night) | Next Part: (Chapter 3-3)

#光与夜之恋 #Light and Night #Otome #Translations #Tencent #萧逸 #Osborn #齐司礼 #Sariel #陆沉 #Evan #查理苏 #Charlie #夏鸣星 #Jesse #For Light and Night

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whats-wild-to-you · 3 years ago

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ALL IN (Jay Park fiction)

[Chapter 1]

Back To The Roots

Min Ah

It's been a month since I moved to Korea. Everything was foreign, the food inedible and my social life practically nonexistent. It was work - sleep, work - sleep. Every day.

"I hate it here!" I spat into the phone, chewing on my last bite of toast, washing it down with some coffee.

My sister on the other end chuckled. "You'll get used to it."

"There's nothing I wanna get used to here, Ji Hyun!"

"It'll get better", she doubled down which infuriated me even more.

"You're not helping!"

"What do you want me to say? Pack your bags and come home?"

The thought had crossed my mind. Several times, actually. But I wasn't a quitter. Ji Hyun knew that too.

"You know I can't do that!"

"Then give it time! It'll get better, I promise."

With a heavy sigh I agreed before hanging up. Peeking at the clock, I knew I had exactly 30 minutes left to get to work and I was almost certain I would end up being late. Again. Not that anyone cared if I was late. Half the staff didn't even know I existed and the other half thought my name was Hye Jin."

When I exited the elevator and walked the corridor down towards my office, there was someone who stood in front of the locked door.

"Can I help you?"

"Are you Ms. Song?"

"Yes..?"

"Well, first of all, you're late. We need to talk."

I apologized, unlocking the door and allowing the older male to go in first. "Please, sit."

"You don't know who I am, do you?"

Again, it was my turn to apologize. "I've only been here for a month. There are so many people employed here, I'm afraid it'll take me some time to learn all of the names."

"Don't bother! The only people you need to know by name are the CEO and myself. I'm Lee Chang Wook."

"Nice to finally meet you." I had actually heard a lot about this man. He was a living legend around here.

"I've heard a lot about you, Ms. Song."

"Umm.."

"You were a hotshot lawyer in Los Angeles, your clientele consisted of movie stars and your monthly salary was six figures, I believe. You were regularly invited to the most exclusive parties in Hollywood, too. So why are you here, doing subpar work?"

"Excuse me?"

"Well, I mean, there must be a reason why you left that glamorous life behind."

"Not really, I'm sorry to disappoint you."

"So, there's no one after you?"

"Not that I know." I said, unable to stifle a laugh.

"Then I have an offer for you. One of our high profile clients requested an additional lawyer and I recommended you."

"High profile, you say?"

"The firm recently started working with him. I can't disclose any details if you don't accept first."

I leaned back in my seat. High profile usually meant more work. And more money, too.

But what if it was some crooked politician?

"Can I answer you tomorrow?"

"Of course. Come find me in my office. And Ms. Song?"

"Yes?"

"Don't be late again."

"I won't, Mr. Lee."

The day flew by fast and by 7pm I put all files away, grabbed my bag and left the office. Like every day, I stopped at the same restaurant on my way home and took dinner to go. It was usually a noodle dish of some sort.

Back at home, I switched from office attire to comfy home wear and had dinner in front of the tv. I was bored out of my mind but didn't have the guts to get dolled up and go out for dinner and drinks alone. After all, I knew no one in Seoul. I had to admit, all co-workers were nice and polite but no one ever asked me to join them on their daily after-work outings.

"So? What do you say? Should I accept?"

"I mean, why not?"

"I don't know who that client is though."

"Is that a problem?"

"No. Not really."

"Then do it! Say yes!"

"Hmm. I'll probably accept, yes."

I yawned audibly into the phone, which made Ji Hyun laugh.

"You're getting old! What time is it over there, anyway? It's only 10pm, isn't it?"

"Walking around Seoul all day is exhausting!"

"Might wanna consider buying a car."

"Hmmm."

"Alright. Good night sis. And keep me posted on the mystery client."

"Will do. Love you. Good night."

#h1ghrmusic #h1ghrgang #jay park #jay park scenario #jay park aomg #aomg imagines #aomg jay park #park jaybum #jay park imagines #jay park scenarios #jay park fanfic #jay park imagine #aomg scenarios #park jaebum

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dancinjanssen · 3 years ago

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Life update. Haven’t done this in a while, if ever.

I am happiest to report that I got out of slinging coffee (which I’d been doing since 2014 across two different places) and found an office job. Without doxxing myself, essentially I calculate/reconcile real estate agents’ commission checks and make sure that each person involved in the transaction is getting paid the right amount. Monday through Friday, all the holidays off, no more dealing with customers. It’s been pretty great. (The only thing I’m still adjusting to is working 8 to 5 as a natural night owl who would always prefer to be up until 2 am and sleep until 10.) I’m that weirdo who’s always loved math too, so I feel completely in my element. My boss is essentially the 2.0 version of my favorite math teacher from middle school, which has been hilarious and great too. They literally even have the same first name and look alike.

My barista years will always hold a place in my heart. I worked with some amazing coworkers, got to do barista competitions, and now I have knowledge and appreciation of good coffee that I’ll enjoy on the customer end for the rest of my life. That being said…..

Why after eight years in the industry and four of them at this last place did I leave? I’ll tell you exactly why. MANAGEMENT. Really specifically one manager, but the rest of management defended and protected her behavior, so I really left all of them. In a nutshell:

Year one: Different supervisor. Call him M. M wasn’t great, but he eventually got fired. This supervisor- H- got promoted in his place.

Years two and three: For reasons I still don’t comprehend, H took an immediate abnormally strong liking to me. It went beyond just thinking I was a good worker and appreciating me on a professional level. H would tell me to come hang out with her in the office and just talk to her about life for 1-2 hours a night. She told me to always have her grab my money for the register and that if any other manager offered, to tell them she was doing it. And when Covid hit in 2020 and a big part of our staff got furloughed, she moved me from a station that got shut down to one that didn’t just so I wouldn’t get furloughed because she said she would cry if I did. One of the sketchiest straws for me was the night she told me to close the coffee shop for my lunch (like always) but then to stay closed for an extra half hour to come hang out with her.

Year four: Complaints about H favoring me naturally mounted, and finally after enough of them, the boss above her talked to her and told her it needed to stop. I agreed with that. That alone was perfectly fine and needed to happen. But this was where H just went unhinged and made my final year at this place hell. She blamed me almost entirely for our relationship getting out of hand. She told me I got too carried away and didn’t manage my time well enough and that’s why it got noticed that we were together in the office a lot. When I asked her why she never once told me it was time to leave and get back to work (you know, her job as MY BOSS), she told me she thought all my work was done. Oh yeah. Telling me to come hang out with you at 7:30 when the coffee shop closed at 11 was me clearly having all my work done. [Sarcasm]

And from then on, H was not nice to me. She avoided eye contact with me, said the absolute bare minimum to me, and made big shows of saying hi and talking to everyone else while completely ignoring me. Once we got some new hires, they became her new favorites and did all the stuff she and I used to do. It was like she learned NOTHING from what happened with me. These people hung out with her in the office just like we did, but all the while she still iced me out and acted like I was gum on her shoe for getting her in trouble the first time. It put me in a horrendous place mentally. I blamed myself for somehow not being good enough for her or for being “too much” for her. What did these new employees have that I didn’t?

January this year: I along with 5-6 other employees all went to upper management about H. About her favoritism. About her treating us like garbage while her new chosen ones sat in the office and did zero work. About H giving them Christmas gifts right in front of everyone else. All upper management told me was to get over it, back off, and stop letting it bother me. That all H owed me was to be professional and not to be my friend. I told them she wasn’t even being professional with me and they didn’t care. The single only thing they agreed to tell her was that she needed to look at me when she was talking to me. They agreed the lack of eye contact was rude. (I know some autistic people prefer that, but I don’t. Mileage may vary. And it was her being rude, not uncomfortable with eye contact. She made it with everyone else.)

February to May this year: I went day to day never knowing which version of H I was going to get. Some days she randomly warmed up to me again, others she kept icing me out. Some days she made eye contact, others she didn’t. One day she walked with me into the building and made conversation the whole way, the next she’d avert her eyes and walk on without me.

May 2022: I finally drew the line for my mental health, said enough of this bullshit, and found a new job. Gave H my two weeks on May 23rd (sooo satisfying!) and my last day was June 2nd. I didn’t even have to do that. I could have told her to go get f**ked and walked out right on the 23rd. But I cared about my other coworkers enough to work my two weeks, plus the new place didn’t start me until June 6th anyway.

June 2nd (my last day): Probably the single weirdest day I ever had with H. Each month this year, she planned to bring cake one night and celebrate all the birthdays of that month. She saw that through in January, February, and March only, and then had abandoned it. Back in January, she accidentally announced me with the names even though I’m a May baby. Sometime later when the vibe was right, I let her know that, and she felt bad and said I could pick one of the cake flavors for May. (She always got two cakes.) After no cake happened in April, I thought it was a lost cause anyway, but when I asked a couple of times almost just to be snarky, she kept insisting it was happening.

Finally on my last day, she told me she had my cake. That it was MY cake and she didn’t get cake for anyone else, and it was combination birthday and going away/new job. She said all of this very stoically and mechanically. When I went to her office later to get the cake, it was goodbye for us and I didn’t really know what to say. I thanked her and told her I was sorry that things got rough with us, and she said “It is what it is. I’m glad you can grow in your new career now.” So that told me she was ecstatic for me to leave.

The whole thing was just WEIRD. I never really knew where I stood with her. Getting out was the absolute best thing for me. I wish everyone else luck in their navigations with her.

I still keep in touch with coworkers. I am happy to say that one month later, my job has not been filled yet and they’re now offering $1,000 sign on bonuses for some of the positions. That place can drown in its shitty management. I did my part to try to change it and nobody cared. Sayonara.

#long post #work #management #great resignation #jobs

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breadoffoxy · 5 years ago

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Joy Ride

Summary: Jimin, Taehyung, and you finally go shopping for a new chair. You have to give it a thorough test ride though first thing, just to make sure it meets yalls standards.

Pairing: Jimin x f. Reader x Taehyung

Genre: NSFW, Smut

Warnings: NSFW, vaginal sex, anal sex, sex toys, unsafe sex, teasing, spanking, dirty talk, language, exhibitionism, public indecency, masturbation, double penetration, begging, kissing, chair sex, oral sex, dom/sub/switch dynamics

Word Count: 3,883

A/N: This is the last chapter of Magic Hands. I’m sad to see it end but I’m also ready to move onto other things. I hope you’ve enjoyed this series, it has been a wild ride haha.

<- prev

The car rolls to a stop and you exhale a sigh, “Finally here.”

A sad pout is on Taehyung’s face. Jimin pat’s his leg reassuringly as he puts the car into park. “We’ll go back one day, Tae.”

“I need an office space, not a sex dungeon.” You grumble as you unbuckle and open the door to hop out of the car.

Now that your time of the month was over and you felt like a human being again, the two men now in your life, from an unsuspecting turn, are taking you shopping. They broke your chair, promised you a new one, and dammit they were going to get you one. Taehyung just had a different idea on a chair than you.

“Just think of all the possibilities, y/n.” Taehyung whines, getting out of the car languidly. “That chair was multi-functional, comfort and pleasure. Just think of how good you could feel all the time.”

“Most of the time.” Jimin adds in his two cents. “I’m sure it could be easy to get over stimulated on that thing.”

“…And that’s a bad thing?” Disbelief fills Taehyung voice.

“C’mon let’s just get this done.” You interrupt, wanting to make sure the conversation doesn’t get to risqué in the parking lot. Plus, the more he talks the more likely Taehyung is likely to convince you to go back to the sex store. You will not fall for it!

“Ask me when I’m ovulating.”

Damn It.

Taehyung is now grinning toothily at you, a skip in his step as he passes you by. Before you can take anything back, a strong arm wraps around your shoulders and directs you toward the store. Jimin looks at you with a smile on his face. “I’ll pick you out the best chair, don’t worry.”

A little smile easily slips onto your lips from his encouragement. “I know you will Jimin.”

Upon entering, a worker greets you at the door asking if you needed any help. They point you towards the middle of the floor where chairs are displayed, and the two of you move quickly to catch up with Taehyung. By the time you get there, he is already sitting experimentally in a tall, expensive looking leather chair that looks like it would be in an executive’s office. He crosses his legs and looks at the both of you with a raised eyebrow.

If only you weren’t in the middle of a store right now.

“Do I even want to know the price of that one?” you ask as you eye his form hungrily.

“Nope, way out of budget, but it makes me feel powerful.” He leans forward and smirks, “Is it working?”

Flustered, you clear your throat and look away. You can feel heat travel up your neck. From the corner of your eye you see the store associate hovering on the outskirts of the chair section.

“I’d kneel down for you, sir.” Jimin throws in a cheeky wink.

“Ok, let’s move on to the affordable section!” You place your hands on Jimin shoulders and steer him away from your other partner. While you’d really love to see it, you don’t want to get banned from the store. At least, not until you found your chair.

Jimin giggles cutely, a complete opposite to the earlier mood. He pulls out his phone and scrolls through it, you can see an article about office chairs over his shoulder.

"I see you came prepared." Your heart warms at the thought he put into this simple act.

"Didn't I tell you I was going to get you the best chair?" He reminds you determinedly. "Ok, we need to look for a chair with five legs minimum."

"I don't think I've seen any with more than that." You say, observing the bottom of the chairs as you walk through the show floor. Your face scrunches up as you try to remember how much your previous chair had.

Jimin scrolls through the check list. "Obviously comfort, support, everything adjustable...hmmm, oh they recommend a breathable chair cover too."

"Got it." You nod your head before closing the distance between you and him. Your head now rests on his shoulder as the two of you carefully eye the chairs. "Guess we really can't get Taehyung's chair now."

Your head bobs up and down with Jimin's shoulders as he laughs. "Such a shame, it is really nice."

"You have to sit in the chairs, not just look at them." Taehyung walks past the two of you with purpose. He plops himself down on one and flinches as his butt hits the seat. "Not this one." Groaning, he stands up and rubs his butt. He eyes the next chair over wearily.

After that the three of you try chair after chair a little more carefully than Taehyung's first attempt. You keep track of a couple you like and quickly get through the rest. The longest part is trying to make your mind up between two chairs.

"The arms on this one are more adjustable, which could be nice." you mumble as you play with the chair's arms.

"These ones have more sturdy arms though, so if you lean on them it shouldn't drop on you accidentally." Jimin points out, tapping the arms of the other chair.

"Yeah, and it'll keep your legs more stable if we ever try that position again." Taehyung agrees, eyeing the chairs seriously.

You can feel heat once again creeping across your neck. "That was dangerous and we won't be doing it again."

Taehyung pouts, "But it was so hot." He slithers up to your side to whisper, "I want to see Princess exposed like that again."

"I-" You don't even know what to say.

Luckily though, you are saved by the sales representative approaching your little group. "I wanted to let you know this one here is one of our sale items in today's ad." They point out to the chair with the more secure armrests and hold out an ad. Jimin takes it from their hands and eyes it carefully.

"That's great. I had some questions about the lumbar support of this one."

While Jimin and the associate exchange chair questions and answers, Taehyung pulls on your hand. You lift your eyebrow inquisitively but allow him to drag you over to a couple of stools.

"Doesn't this one look fun?" Taehyung stops in front of a saddle stool.

"Fun, but not too comfortable for long." You respond, fingers trailing along the leather padding. Exaggeratedly, you swing your leg up and over the stool as if you were getting onto a horse. You sit down and your eyebrows furrow. "Huh." There's a raised part that slopes up directly in front of your core.

"Huh indeed." Taehyung eyes how the chair forms between your legs hungrily. He brings down a hand to smack you softly on the ass. "Giddy up."

You let out a squeak as you jump from the unsuspected smack and unintentionally grind into the front of chair with your core. Quickly, you bring your hand up to mute most the sound, hoping no one heard the squeak nearly trail off into a moan. Jimin and the employee look over at the two of you at the noise. Jimin waves happily while the associate just frowns. Both of them have a knowing look in their eye with different connotations. Taehyung laughing evilly behind you doesn't help.

When the two get back to talking chair business, Taehyung presses himself up against your back. "Naughty, naughty princess, trying to go for a ride in the store, how indecent."

The words caressing your ear has you shiver with desire. He just knew how to press all your buttons. His hands fall onto your hips, and you let him push you into the stool to grind against the slope. You bite your lip and turn your head to see him giving you a saucy grin over your shoulder.

"But you like being naughty, don't you princess?"

"Y-yes." You whisper weakly, doing your best not to completely lose it. Subconsciously, you are twisting your body more towards him, with your lips so close to grazing against his.

Someone clears their throat, "Excuse me." Your's and Taehyung's heads shoot up to look at the glaring associate. You can feel warmth spread over your body from embarrassment and shame, and somehow feeling even more turned on by someone stopping you from acting outlandishly in public.

Taehyung and you stare owlishly at the irritated worker and Jimin doing his best to hide his laughter behind his hand. Thankfully for your sanity, you recover quickly. "The stability of this stool is pretty great. I can see myself sitting up straighter on this, but I think it would hurt after long uses which wouldn't work to well for me."

"I agree. Jimin let's get the one you picked out." Taehyung nods sagely.

Who were you kidding, the two of you were pretty obvious, but it gets the staff member to leave you alone as they head off to ring you up at the register. You quickly dismount the stool and rush over to where they are waiting impatiently for the computer to calculate the total. Jimin sticks the card in the reader and the next thing you know the employee is rushing you out the door with a very unfond, "Have a nice day."

After the chair is loaded into the back of the car, you each in your seats, and the last door is closed, the three of you are silent for a second before you all burst into laughter. Jimin is nearly falling out of his seat with how much he is laughing. "Oh my god, their face when they saw you two." Jimin can't say much more than that between his laughter.

"I thought they were going to kill us." You lean forward with your hand over your heart trying to ease its rapid pace.

"Stability check, really?" Taehyung looks at you with a boxy smile.

"Shut up, like you helped any." You wheeze out.

Wiping a tear from his eye, Jimin gets his breathing under control. He shifts the car out of park and you are leaving the parking lot. "How about when we get home, we do a stability check on this new chair hmm?"

"Sounds good to me." You cheer, continuing to laugh as Taehyung wiggles his eyebrows at you.

The drive back to your place goes fairly quickly with the two looks the men keep throwing you in the rear-view mirror thoroughly distracting you. Before you know it, you’re back home with Taehyung’s mouth devouring yours and Jimin nearly ripping the chair box apart.

"Yah! Are you two going to help?" Jimin yells, the box now completely destroyed and chair parts spread around your living room floor. He runs a hand through his hair disgruntled.

Forcing your head away from Taehyung's doesn't distract his lips from traveling to your neck and his hands from creeping up your shirt. You have to put your hands on his shoulders and push him away to get him off of you. "That's y’all's job since you guys broke the last one."

Taehyung's pouting at you and Jimin grabs his hand to drag him towards the chair. You can't help but laugh at the sight.

"Leave it to us." Jimin says proudly. A saucy smirk finds its way onto his face. "Why don't you get ready for us in the bedroom. We'll bring it in when we are done."

You nearly reel back when he throws in a wink, warmth spreading through your body in excitement. Through hooded eyes you say, "Don't take too long now."

If Jimin wasn't still holding Taehyung's hand you're sure he would follow you as you slowly walk towards your bedroom, adding a little extra hip sway to each step. His gaze is nearly burning holes into your ass. You decide to leave the door open as you strip yourself from your clothing and it doesn't take long until you're naked and to hear the quiet bickering of the two men trying to assemble the chair.

You go to your bed stand and after digging around finally find what you are looking for. Pulling out your bottle of lube, you also grab a small anal plug for you to start prepping with. You sit down on the edge of the bed and take a moment to fondle your breasts with both hands. Your nipples harden under your touch and your head lulls back as you pull and twist the sensitive nubs. The sensation makes you feel the wetness between your legs grow and you know it’s good enough time now to lube up the plug.

Dropping a good dollop of lube on the toy, you smear it around eagerly with one hand. Now sitting on your knees, you rest your head and shoulders onto the bed with your ass up in the air. Your lube free hand comes to hold an ass cheek wide as your lubed one swirls around your back entrance. You dip it in just slightly, forcing your muscles to relax.

Slowly, you start pumping it in and out with a come-hither movement inside you every now and then. You allow a moan to fall from your gaping mouth at the sensation, hoping the boys will hear it. Once satisfied with your finger stretching you out you replace it with the plug. It slides in and you let go of your ass cheek to rub at your clit with your other hand.

"Ohhh, fuck." You gasp as the toy finally fills you until it reaches the flared base. The clatter of chair parts stops for a moment and you think you can hear Jimin yelling something but aren't all too sure.

With the task of filling your ass done, you get up and head to your bathroom to wash your hands. Now that your hands are clean, you are free to grope at your chest again. The way your muscles clench around the toy stretching your ass out as you walk feels so good and has you pulling your breasts harder in response. You sit back on the edge of the bed, waiting and waiting.

You're not sure if it's because of how horny you are, if it really is taking a long time for them to come in with the chair, or a combination of both, but you are feeling restless. One hand stays on your breast while the other travels down your torso, grazes your hips to slide in-between your legs. Your fingers swirl through the slick created from the attention your breasts have been getting and the anticipation of what is to come, collecting it to help them slide into your wanting hole.

"Mmmmnnngh," it feels so wet, hot, and tight. Your stretch your legs out allow your hand more room, and it greedily increases the pace. A squelching sound follows each time your fingers pump in and out of you.

"Don't have all the fun without us." A deep voice says and you open your eyes you didn't even realize you closed to see Taehyung strutting in the room.

Jimin comes behind him and wheels the new chair in. "Well if someone didn't put the arm on backwards, then they wouldn't have had to wait so long." He gives Taehyung a look.

"Says the guy who lost one of the screws but was just sitting on it." Taehyung fires back.

Before Jimin can retort you open your mouth, "Thank you for building the chair, but for the love of god will one of you just fuck me right now."

The two men stop glaring at each other to stare at your wanton form on the bed. Normally the frown you are giving them would scare them, but with your fucked-out expression it does quite the opposite. As their blood rushes downward, Jimin and Taehyung strip themselves of all their clothing. Jimin swivels the chair and plops down in it before Taehyung can even get close to it with a victorious "Hah!".

Taehyung pulls your hand from your cunt and uses it to pull you off the bed and into his toned body. "Why don't you reward Jimin for all his hard work picking this chair out for you?"

You can see Jimin preen from where he is sitting on the chair, loving the praise. Biting your lip, you nod, and decide to ignore the fact right now that it's his fault you needed a new one in the first place. Taehyung leads you over to Jimin, and after a little bit of maneuvering you're able to fit between the arm rests and straddle Jimin's waist.

Memories from your last chair experience make you a little hesitant when your entrance is hovering right above Jimin's cock. "And yall are sure it’s safe this time?"

"Oh, hold up." Taehyung kneels down and presses a lever down on each of the wheels, effectively locking them into place. "Yep, all good now."

"Good?" Jimin grunts. He places his hands on your hips to help steady you.

Nodding your head, you place your hands on Jimin's shoulders. "Yeah, help me break this chair in?"

“Of course.” And then a scream is being ripped from your throat as Jimin’s hands on your waist slam you down onto his cock in one hard, fluid motion. You arch your back and Jimin admires the sight of your boobs bouncing in front of his face and the way your mouth is moaning his name. "How does that feel?"

"So good, Jimin, you make me feel so good when you fuck my pussy."

A satisfied smile is on Jimin's face that he hides by burying his face in between your flouncing mounds. "And what about your- ahh fuck Tae."

Your curious about what is happening to Jimin, but you quickly find out when you feel a tongue swipe at your folds only to disappear again and for Jimin to moan out again.

Fuck.

Taehyung is still kneeling in front of the chair, his hands on Jimin's muscular legs, and his mouth moving between where yours and Jimin's bodies connect, tasting you both.

Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.

The added sensation of Taehyung's tongue, has the two of you a moaning, quivering mess. Jimin's hands leave your hips to grope at your ass, exposing you more clearly to Taehyung. "Fill her up and kiss me damn it."

"Bossy." Taehyung grumbles, the vibrations of his deep voice make you and Jimin groan. The kneeling man smacks your ass as he stands up, and leans over to give Jimin a quick peck on his lips. Taehyung moves over to your night stand to apply your lube generously over his large cock.

"Why are you smacking my ass?" Not that you hate it.

"Can't reach Jimin's." Comes Taehyung's reply as if it all makes sense. "Plus, you like it don't you, you filthy little princess."

"Yessss," You groan as you feel Taehyung pulling the toy out of your asshole. His hands grab your chest and kneads them as he slowly sinks is slick cock into you. Jimin holds your hips steady until you are accustomed to the double penetration. It doesn't take too long with how used to your body is to both of their cocks by now.

"Good?" Jimin asks, looking up at you as he licks at your breasts and Taehyung's hands.

"Good." You repeat, nearly breathless.

"Good." Taehyung groans behind you. You feel his torso pressing into your back to lean over your shoulder.

Jimin quickly leans up to kiss the man ardently, and you see Jimin's tongue slither into Taehyung's mouth where it fights for dominance. Tae doesn't go down with a fight and you clench at the sight of the two eating each other's mouths out. They grind into you as they try to get closer to each other and it spurs you on to start riding the both of them as you watch them kiss lustfully. The room is filled with yalls moans, a beautiful and sinful harmony.

You busy your own mouth with the real-estate in front of you that is Jimin's neck. You kiss his neck until you reach the spot that has him groping your ass more fiercely, making you smirk as you suck down on that spot hard. He whines, allowing for Taehyung to win the kiss battle, and now Jimin is a quivering mess beneath the two of you. His muffled whines are high.

"That's it Jimin." You lick the bruise forming on his neck. "Cum in me, fill me up, and make it cream out onto Tae's cock."

Jimin's hips stutter with your words and then he comes, filling you full with his hot seed. He moans loudly into Taehyung's mouth as you milk him for everything he has. You can feel his release being fucked out of you as you continue to ride his dick. Taehyung pulls back for Jimin to catch his breath, which he does gratefully. Leaning back into the chair completely spent, Jimin swears as he looks down between your bodies and watches his cum slide down with your arousal to Taehyung's thrusting cock.

"Shit, you're going to ruin me." He whines, trying to hold out against the over stimulation.

"But the ch- ahhh, the chair is still good right?" You ask between thrusts

Jimin pulls you against his chest, making Tae stumble down with you.

"Careful Jimin." Taehyung warns. Luckily his hands dropped your breasts quick enough and shot out to rest on the chair, caging you further in-between the two men.

"Sorry." Jimin gasps at the new angle. "Looks like both of us need to be taught some manners." He stuffs his hand between your bodies and rubs your clit in a slow, teasing manner.

"Jiminnnnnngh," you whine, his name turning into a moan.

"Say it." He demands, and you easily succumb to his dominance over you and your clit.

"Oh, sweet Jimin, ohhhhh, the cutest angel, love of my life, you are the best. Ahhh fuck please let me come. I'm sorry, please, please, please." You beg, losing yourself to desperation.

The fingers rubbing your clit begin to move vigorously and it has you clenching tightly. Warm breath caresses your shoulder and you feel Taehyung's nose nuzzle into the crook of your neck. He licks the skin there before biting down. With a groan, he is coming, filling up your ass with his release.

Once Taehyung's erratic hips stable out, one of his arms flexes as it holds his weight to allow the other hand to join Jimin's between your legs. Their fingers preform a combined assault on your clit and it isn't long before you as coming undone as well. With a scream you go over the edge, and dive deep into a long orgasm.

The three of you are still, completely exhausted on the chair, panting to catch your breath after that experience.

Jimin breaks the silence with, "I say the chair passes the test."

"Good." you mumble sleepily against his chest.

A low chuckle rumbles against your back. "Only the best for you princess."

Jimin and Taehyung share a look before smile lovingly at your dozing from between them.

#btsghostie #thehouseofbangtan #bts fanfiction #vmin fanfiction #vmin smut #jimin fanfiction #taehyung fanfiction #v fanfiction #jimin x reader x taehyung #jimin smut #taehyung smut #v smut #my writing #joy ride

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citylightsbooks · 4 years ago

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A Women’s History of City Lights: Interview with Nancy J. Peters

We'll be celebrating Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s 102nd birthday on March 24, and what better way to remember his legacy AND to mark Women’s History Month, than to honor Nancy J. Peters, Lawrence’s business partner, friend, and longtime comrade at City Lights Books. While Ferlinghetti certainly deserves all of the accolades he’s received, the fact of the matter is there would literally be no City Lights without Nancy Peters. Beyond shepherding City Lights through various fiscal crises and providing the steady anchor that allowed Ferlinghetti to travel the world as a poet and activist, Nancy's vision as an editor and acumen as a publisher were a vital key to the success and longevity of City Lights Publishers.

***

City Lights: How did you come to know what City Lights was? How did you meet Lawrence Ferlinghetti?

Nancy Peters: In Greece in the early 1960s, I became friends with Nanos Valaoritis and Marie Wilson who were at the center of an international bohemian/surrealist community. They had a large home which was always full of traveling writers and artists whom they made welcome. The Beat writers were among their guests, and City Lights was frequently talked about as a place everyone would meet up someday. I met Philip Lamantia there and in 1965 he introduced me to Lawrence in Paris at one of Jean-Jacque Lebel’s anarcho-surrealist festivals of free expression. Before a riotous crowd Lawrence gave a show-stopping rendition of his “Lord’s Prayer.” I was impressed by his powerful stage presence. Later that year, when Philip and I were living in Andalusia, Lawrence wrote Philip, asking for a selection of poems for a Pocket Poets Series volume. We corresponded some while we were putting the book together, but I didn’t see him again until 1971 when I moved to San Francisco.

I’d been working as an executive-trainee librarian at the Library of Congress in the fall of 1968. In April, Martin Luther King was assassinated and the impassioned protests that ensued left Washington neighborhoods in ruins. There was shockingly little assistance to residents from the government and my part of the city was under military surveillance, helicopters hovering over my apartment through the night. A Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam took place in Washington the following year. Over 750,000 people peacefully demonstrated. In a small way, I was involved in the planning and, during the protests, my apartment was crammed with fellow activists.

The Library of Congress was an amazing, fascinating place with compatible co-workers from all over the world—thousands of book people all in one place. However, the mission of the Library is to serve Congress, and the institution was a huge conservative bureaucracy serving a conservative and ineffective Congress as I saw it. I believed that if I stayed there I would have little contact with actual books or opportunities for civic activism.

So I moved to San Francisco, where Philip was living and urging me to come, and spent an enormous amount of time at City Lights while I was job hunting. It seemed like paradise, such a stimulating atmosphere where people could sit down to read, share ideas, and have conversations about books, politics, art. One day in early 1971 when I was walking down the street in North Beach, Lawrence hailed me and asked if I would like to help him with a bibliography of Allen Ginsberg’s writings. After just a brief meeting at the publishing office, Lawrence went to Europe and his editorial assistant Jan Herman suddenly decided to move to Germany. Jan showed me how all the editorial work was done in the office, told me Lawrence “wouldn’t mind,” and so I found myself beginning an exciting new career in publishing.

What was your experience taking over as executive director and co-owner in 1984?

The store back then employed seven people: six men at the bookstore and one (me) at the publishing branch. So “executive director” is far too grand a title. City Lights was a small, failing organization by 1982. The store was not founded to make profits for the owners and it never did make a profit. Breaking even was the goal. But every year the losses mounted and there came a time when there were very few books left on the shelves. No one had seen a customer venture downstairs to the lower part of the store for many months.

At the time, Lawrence was immensely popular and in great demand as a performer and a speaker, so he was traveling much of the time, visiting foreign colleagues, living abroad, finding new writers to translate. At this low point in the store’s history Lawrence told me in a frustrated moment that if I’d like to own City Lights, he would give it to me outright if I would run the business, freeing him to do all the other things he wanted to do. I declined, but told him I would be honored to be his partner. Theft was seriously addressed, and a protracted payment plan was agreed to by Book People, the East Bay employee-owned distributors who extended us credit for a generous period. Savvy booksellers Richard Berman and Paul Yamazaki headed the re-stocking plan. The three of us would go every week to Book People and Lou Swift Distributors to collect enough books to sell the following week. As time went on, everybody at the store consulted book catalogs and took on the responsibility for buying subject sections. I envisioned a participatory structure. If not a co-op, I wanted a bookstore where all the staff had responsibilities and power.

Why the decision not to have multiple bookstore locations around SF?

At one time we seriously considered additional locations. We explored sites in San Francisco’s Mission district and visited city officials in San Jose to talk about a second store there. But our resources were limited, and we were concerned about the time and money that would be required to create a sister store that would embody the same spirit and ethic as the original. During my time as director, the evolving challenges from chain stores and especially Amazon made beginning a new store a very risky enterprise. In retrospect, so many independents were closing that we decided to invest in our present, iconic location. In retrospect I think it was a good decision after watching attempts by other stores fail to duplicate their success elsewhere.

How has North Beach changed, how has it stayed the same? With the exodus of Big Tech and falling rents, how do you think that will affect North Beach and San Francisco in general in the future? Will there be “a rebirth of wonder”?

North Beach when I came to SF was a small bohemian village, where neighbors shared meals on their flat rooftops watching the sun set over the Bay. My rent was $125 a month, cheap even then. City Lights and the Discovery Bookstore (used books) next door to Vesuvio were key places to spend an evening. Two large Italian grocers delivered (no charge) bags of groceries up four flights of stairs to my apartment. The neighborhood was full of inexpensive Basque, Italian, and Chinese restaurants, and many cafes, many of which seemed unchanged since the 19th century. Change happens, and City Lights is well prepared for the future. It’s never easy to predict how things will develop, but the feeling of a lovely Mediterranean town persists, with the wooden buildings painted pastel colors, and the shimmering sea light on misty days. I feel certain that the light of City Lights will prevail for a long time to come.

Do you feel that your gender had any impact on your experience during your 23 years as director? Do you have any comments about women in bookselling or publishing in general?

Gender always has an impact. The Beat movement was certainly male focused. Even though the undaunted Diane di Prima was recognized, she was never enthusiastically supported by the inner nucleus of Beat poets. It was a long time before the Beat women came into their own. From the start, Lawrence, who insisted he wasn’t a Beat, had eclectic tastes and was open to women’s poetry. He admired Marianne Moore and Edna St. Vincent Millay as much as he did T.S. Eliot, Jacques Prévert, and Allen Ginsberg. In the Pocket Poets Series, he’d published di Prima and, very early in the series, both Marie Ponsot and Denise Levertov.

Women’s rights and opportunities are always vulnerable and cyclic. The Women’s Movement of the 1970s was very powerful and widespread, its impact on women’s lives enormous. At City Lights we hired more women; we published more women. There have always been outstanding women in publishing and bookselling, and during that time increasingly more women writers were published, reviewed, and were given accolades and awards. Women opened general bookstores and women’s bookstores, founded feminist and lesbian presses. It was a thrilling development, to see so many marginalized writers, and not just women, finding established publishers or creating their own presses. Together they created a larger, much more diverse national literature.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with many talented women at the bookstore. And in the publishing branch: Stella Levy, Kim McCloud, and Patricia Fujii. Gail Chiarello collected and edited our bestselling Bukowski stories. Annie Janowitz proposed the timely Unamerican Activities, and Amy Scholder brought us classics by Karen Finley, Rebecca Brown, and others. I’m happy to say that Amy Scholder is again working with City Lights as an editor.

When did you meet the now current publisher and executive director Elaine Katzenberger? What was her position at the bookstore? When did you know that she was the right person to take over as director?

Ah, Elaine, the woman who can do everything! Elaine began at the bookstore sales counter, then reorganized files and the store accounts, and very soon excelled as a book buyer. She had a great feeling for good writing, so I asked her to become an editor and she immediately began adding excellent books to City Lights’ list. She’s smart, witty, multitalented, and politically astute. We are very lucky to have her at the helm.

What is your understanding or vision of what of City Lights is and what it could be? How has Lawrence’s passing impacted this?

Lawrence’s democratic inclusiveness made him the best-selling poet in the U.S. His moral principles, his courage and resilience are a model to be emulated. He conceived City Lights as an educational institution that would open minds to explore and relate to the world through books. “One guy told me he’d got the equivalent of a Ph. D just sitting in the basement reading all our great books,” he often reminded us.

His “literary gathering place” was to be a fulcrum of San Francisco cultural experience, where our bookselling and publishing could amplify the voices of diverse experiences, connect with other creative communities, and serve as a center of dissent and, at the same time, a force for creating a better society.

Lawrence’s vision will continue to be our guiding light. An optimistic realist, he believed that City Lights would long endure as the co-creation of all the dedicated people who work here and make it what it is.

#nancy peters #lawrence ferlinghetti #womens history month #city lights bookstore

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writingletterstothefire · 4 years ago

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She Loves Me

Chapter 1

A/N: Hi guys. It’s been a minute. Here is the long awaited (by no one) She Loves Me AU. I’m putting chapter 1 out here in the hopes that people waiting for updates will spark some creativity in me again. I’m sorry it’s short. If you enjoy, let me know

Word Count: 1703

Warnings: not proof read.

The sun was blazing down on you as you scurried down the busy New York sidewalk. The summer had decided to be blazing hot this wonderful morning, and you had decided to be extraordinarily late for work. Well, perhaps ‘decided’ isn’t the right word— you’d overslept on account of staying up extra late to finish a letter to your Special Friend.

There was no shame in using a dating service, you knew that, yet for some reason the very thought of joining one was something that you had scoffed at for so many years. “I want to meet someone organically,” you’d complain to your friends, “those services are full of strangers who have the weirdest quirks.” To be fair, that had been true in your brief experience using a dating service in college. It was definitely an odd time, figuring out exactly what ‘watersports’ meant. Needless to say, it had taken one single date for you to decide to withdraw your application and swear off dating services.

But you were getting older. And men seemed to just get more and more picky, the older they got. So, when you stumbled across an advertisement in your Sunday newspaper for a matchmaking service called ‘Special Friends’, you jumped at the opportunity. The directions were simple; you filled out the survey in the paper, mailed it to the listed address, and then your answers were compared with other submissions to find the best match for you. Once you received your match, you were to write a letter to them introducing yourself and signing off under the title of ‘Special Friend’. The two of you were given a specific P.O. box to drop your letters off to, provided by the matchmaking service. The only real rules were that the letter had to be handwritten, and you were only allowed to give real names if both parties agreed on it.

Your Special Friend was a true kindred spirit. It had been six months of trading letters back and forth, and the two of you spoke about everything, from your childhoods to your favorite books, from dream destinations to worst fears. About three months into this correspondence, you knew that, whoever this Special Friend was, you loved them. You stayed up until all hours of the night writing draft after draft until you formed the perfect letter. Because of this, you were often late for work in the morning.

Late. That’s right. You were very late. You willed your feet to move you as fast as they possibly could, cursing yourself for choosing this morning to wear heels. Finally, you managed to burst through the door just minutes before opening, scurrying to the back to drop off your bag. You made a mental note to yourself to start carrying flats in your purse, in case of emergency.

You’d just finished touching up your makeup in the small staff room mirror, when you felt someone sidle up beside you. You didn’t have to turn your head to know who it was. The smug energy emanating from his every pore was enough to confirm your suspicions of who was next to you. Santiago Garcia. Your worst nightmare in human form.

“Can I help you with something, Mr. Garcia?” You didn’t even spare him a glance as you finger-combed your hair, which was now windswept from your impromptu jog.

“Not at all, Miss Y/L/N,” Santiago flashed you a smile that, in any other circumstance, would have been charming. You, however, knew that pure contempt lurked behind those pearly white teeth. “I was just marveling at the rare sight of you, here, on time!”

“And why would that be something to marvel at, Mr. Garcia?” you scowled.

“Well, simply because it’s never happened before!” Santiago leaned against the wall, charming smile morphing into the smirk that often adorned his chiseled face. “You know, Miss Y/L/N, you may want to stop frowning so adamantly. At your age, those frown lines tend to stick around.”

“At my age?!” you nearly shrieked at him. “Mr. Garcia, need I remind you that you are older than I am!”

His smirk only widened. “Yes, but you seem to forget that one of us is ageing with grace, Miss Y/L/N.”

Your scowl deepened, and you shoved past him, making your way to the front of the store. You never did understand why Santiago didn’t like you. From the first moment you stepped into the department store, it seemed like he was trying to usher you out. Sure, when he thought you were a customer, he was the most charming man you’d ever spoken to. But once he had realized that you were trying to apply for the new salesperson position, he wanted nothing to do with you. He had insisted that there were no positions available, but Frankie Morales, his friend and co-worker, was quick to usher you to the owner’s office. Mr. Bailey had been a hard man to charm, but when you made your first sale to a woman who was insistent that she was just browsing, he hired you on the spot. After all, you’d gotten her to buy not one, not two, but five jars of various creams and lotions. None of Mr. Bailey’s workers had ever managed to sell that much in one go, not even his prized Mr. Garcia.

Making your way to the front of the store, you said hello and gave a kiss on the cheek to Frankie and each of the Miller brothers, Will and Benny. All three of the boys were quick to welcome you, despite Santi being the unspoken leader of the pack. They quickly became your protective band of brothers, something you’d long wished for as a young child.

“Good morning Frankie! How’s Elisa doing this morning?” You asked Frankie, your tone surprisingly chipper after dealing with Santi in the staff room.

“Round as ever!” Frankie exclaimed, a wide grin on his face. “The doctors estimate that the baby will be here in about a month, and Mr. Bailey’s been so kind as to let me have a month off after the baby arrives. I know it’s going to take a toll on Elisa, and I want to be there for her as much as I can.”

Sometimes, Frankie just melted your heart. It was so plain to see how much he loved his wife and their incoming baby. Their little family was everything you wanted. You only hoped that one day someone would love you just as much as Frankie and Elisa loved each other.

It was beginning to seem as though your Special Friend was never going to reveal himself to you. You had offered to meet for dinner on a few occasions, and each time he insisted that he had prior appointments. You didn’t want to assume anything, of course, but you were getting worried. Surely he wouldn’t lie to you about having a prior engagement, would he? But then, if he was so eager to meet you, as he claimed to be, then why did he never offer an alternative date?

On your way home from work, you stopped at the P.O. box. Your Special Friend had forgotten— or, well, neglected, you supposed— to write you the past two days, but you were adamant about writing at least every other day. You knew how much the letters meant to you, and if they brought him even half as much joy, you wanted to be sure he got it. Perhaps, if you hadn’t been so caught up in your own head, you would have looked up and seen the figure walking away from the wall of P.O. boxes.

To your surprise and delight, there was a letter waiting for you in the box when you finally opened it. If you hadn’t been so excited to read it, perhaps you’d have noticed the flash of a coat turning the corner as they walked away from the wall of boxes.

You hurried to open the letter.

Dear Friend,

I am so sorry to have not been able to write these past few days. Work has been an absolute train wreck, what with the most irritating co-worker constantly fumbling about. Somehow, the boss claims it’s my fault. Could you believe it? My fault that my imbecile of a co-worker is incapable of doing the simplest task that doesn’t involve talking a mile per minute?

But enough about that mess. I am supposed to be apologizing to you, my dear, sweet friend.

I know that you have been wanting to meet me. I am so sorry that I haven’t been able to make any of our appointments. As I’ve told you before, I was once in the army. An experience in war is one that I don’t wish on anyone. It takes a toll on you, emotionally, mentally, and physically. Because of my experience, I’ve decided to counsel other veterans and help them through their traumatic memories. On the nights you had wished to meet me, I’d had previously arranged counseling sessions, as well as one doctors appointment, a check up to see how I am recovering after all of my surgeries that I’ve told you about.

All of this to say, dear friend, that I’ve cleared my schedule for the night of the 27th. If you are available, I would love to meet you at the Ambrosia Garden down on the corner of 12th Avenue. I’ve made a reservation for two under the name Elizabeth Bennett, after you expressed how much you loved Jane Austen’s ‘Pride & Prejudice’. If you show, I will be wearing a purple rose on my lapel. I will look for you, where you will be holding a copy of ‘Pride & Prejudice’, with a purple rose tucked between the pages.

I sincerely hope to see you on the 27the, dear friend. I’ve been longing to meet you since we first exchanged letters, so many months ago.

Sincerely,

Your Special Friend

You had to meet him. You would get to the Ambrosia Garden on the 27th, no matter the cost. You’d find out who your Special Friend was if it was the last thing you did.

#santi garcia x reader #santiago garcia x y/n #santiago garcia x you #santiago garcia fanfiction #santiago garcia #santiago x reader #santiago garcia x reader #she loves me au

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shinydelirium · 4 years ago

Text

MLQC Season 2 Chapter 8 (Kiro) Final Part [High Speed Road] & [Buffer] Translation [CN]

***SPOILERS*** THIS POST CONTAINS HEAVY SPOILERS FOR CONTENT NOT YET RELEASED ON EN SERVER!!! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!***

For the previous translations of Season 2 Chapter 8: Part 1, Part 2

Enjoy~

[High Speed Road]

At three o’clock in the afternoon, all the procedures of the new song conference were ready.

The warm sun dispersed the chill air, and the fans who were selected to participate in this conference have lined up at the ticket gate.

Many fans who didn’t get a ticket also came to experience the atmosphere, and the square was crowded with people for a while.

The security guards patrolled the square at each area with communicators and everything went on in an orderly manner.

I breathed a sigh of relief and when I was about to call Savin and ask him to bring Kiro over, I realized that I couldn’t reach him.

I called Kiro shortly after and the call was quickly connected.

Kiro: Savin isn’t at the company today. Did he go straight to the venue?

MC: Why would he? He should’ve gone directly to the company to pick you up this morning.

Kiro: Huh… I didn’t see him. I thought he was with you.

Kiro’s words left me confused.

MC: Could something have happened?

Kiro: Wait, Savin’s calling me.

Kiro shared the voice call with me. The intermittent signal connection was unstable.

Savin: I….accidentally….asleep in the carriage….

Savin: But who knows….no one in this carriage…..waking up….

Savin: Can’t stop yet….its….

The signal abruptly cut off.

MC: What’s going on?

Kiro: The call can’t be reached and the signal seems to be affected.

Kiro: MC, I’m heading out, wait for me wherever you are.

In the backstage preparation room, Kiro’s fingers tapped on the keyboard quickly.

After a while, a satellite map of Loveland City appeared on the computer screen as well as a constantly moving red dot.

Kiro: This is where Savin is now.

Kiro: Strange, how did he cover so much distance all at once….

Looking at the computer screen, the red dot seems to be moving along a certain fixed track.

I remembered what Savin said just now and I couldn’t believe it.

MC: Is he really on an unmanned train?

Kiro pursed his lips and quickly pulled up another webpage.

It’s the entire route map on the Loveland Rail Transit website.

Kiro: ….According to the route he is moving on now, it should be this one.

He tapped the screen with his finger and a more detailed train timetable and line chart enlarged on the screen.

This is a cross-river train which just opened last year that connects the east and west of Loveland City.

Because it’s famous for driving on the river surface for a certain distance, it attracts many locals and tourists.

In addition, after the opening of this route, detours on both sides of the river have been avoided, so it has become the best choice for many office workers to commute.

MC: Doesn’t Savin take this train to work…

Kiro: But MC, look.

My eyes followed his fingers on the latest operation notice and I quickly realized something wrong.

MC: “We are sorry to inform you that the cross-river air rail train in Loveland City will be suspended tomorrow for maintenance and overhaul….”

MC: ….In other words, someone started this car that was originally discontinued.

Although this idea is absurd, it seems to be the case.

Kiro thought for a moment and made a decision immediately.

Kiro: Let’s go to the scene and see.

Kiro called Ah Liu for help. After a while, Ah Liu, who was holding his head with hair sticking up everywhere, appeared in front of us with grievance.

Ah Liu: Can’t it stop for a day! I was taking a nap! I’m exhausted from having to do all this work for you! ***Changed some wording***

Having said that, Ah Liu kindly transported us to the platform where the train was about to appear.

There was no one on the deserted platform. We waited for a while and a rumbling sound came from the dark tunnel.

But the train passed the platform without stopping.

Every carriage is empty.

Kiro and I looked at each other and realized the situation.

In order to determine if there is a problem with the train, I tried to dial the service number of Loveland Rail Transit.

MC: Hello, is the Loveland City Air Rail Transit operating today?

Staff Member: Sorry, the train is not open today.

MC: May I ask the specific reason?

Staff Member: During our regular maintenance yesterday, we found that some track parts were aging and loose. In order to avoid the risk of derailment, the operation was stopped.

MC: Which station needs to be maintained?

Staff Member: Central Square Station, what’s wrong?

My heart sank.

The Central Square Station is the station where Kiro’s new song press conference was held, and the train track is also located directly above the square.

At the same time, it’s also the place with the most traffic in the afternoon.

If the train derails and falls, the consequences will be disastrous.

Is it a coincidence….?

MC: …Then, is it possible for the train to run by itself?

Staff Member: Are you kidding me? The driver did not go to work today and the door of the operating room was locked.

Staff Member: Please don’t disturb our work.

The “beep” sound of the phone hanging up echoed in my ears. Kiro and Ah Liu obviously also heard the content of the conversation, frowning.

Ah Liu: What’s next? Is this event going to be cancelled?

Ah Liu’s words suddenly reminded me.

That’s right! The anonymous call I received this morning—

I immediately found the call log and called back.

I waited with bated breath for a long time and just when I thought the other person wouldn’t pick up, the line connected.

No one spoke. Only quiet breathing.

MC: Hello, I’m the person in charge of the Inverted Smile Film and Television company that received your call this morning.

The sound of breathing continued on the other end.

Teenage Boy: I don’t know what you’re talking about.

MC: Like you said, we have indeed encountered some issues that affected the organization of the event.

MC: I want to know what the “consequence” you are talking about is exactly.

MC: Did you know what the inside story was before you made the warning call?

Teenage Boy: ….It’s too late!

MC: Are you—on an unmanned train?

The phone hung up with a “beep”.

Kiro: What happened?

Kiro cast a concerned look at me. I took a deep breath and quickly told him and Ah Liu what had happened this morning.

MC: I received a strange call this morning telling me to cancel the afternoon activities or else I will bear the consequences.

MC: I’m just guessing….if these two things are related, otherwise it would be a coincidence.

MC: However, although I was able to get through, the other person was unwilling to explain more and hung up.

Kiro thought for a moment, then turned to look at Ah Liu.

Kiro: Ah Liu, can you take us there?

Ah Liu: Where?

Kiro: To that train.

Kiro pointed to the red dot that was being tracked on the laptop.

Ah Liu: Bro, are you crazy?! Have you studied physics?***Changed some wording***

Kiro: Ah Liu, don’t forget the content of our contract.

Kiro winked, revealing an extremely brilliant but threatening smile.

Ah Liu had no choice but to grab our hands—

A dazzling white light flashed in front of us and when we regained our sight, we were already in the carriage.

The ground under my feet trembles as well as the glass on the windows.

MC: It really worked! Ah Liu, you’re so amazing!

We didn’t waste time as we looked along the carriage and finally found Savin who was unconscious on the ground.

Kiro hurriedly ran to him, shook Savin twice, and saw that he had no signs of waking up. He moved closer and opened his eyelids.

Kiro: Great, Savin is fine. He only passed out.

Kiro: But there must be someone else operating this train here. We must find this person.

Kiro and I looked at each other and realized that things are not that simple.

Ah Liu sent Savin to a safe place. After returning, the three of us continued to search along this weird train.

Finally, when we reached another carriage, we saw a teenage boy sitting in the corner.

MC: Are you trapped on this train too?

He suddenly raised his head, his face full of shock as if he didn’t expect that there would be people here.

His appearance made me feel a bit familiar.

I suddenly remembered that this was the boy who passed by me at the airport that day—

Why is he here? Did he…

MC: You’re the one who called me and asked me to cancel the event.

Teenage Boy: …You’re mistaken.

Hearing his voice, I became even more convinced.

MC: I’m not mistaken. We met at the airport too, didn’t we?

Teenage Boy: ….

The boy suddenly got up from the seat anxiously. His pale lips pressed tight and shoulders shook slightly.

Teenage Boy: This car will derail soon. If you don’t want to die, leave as soon as possible.

Teenage Boy: Don’t blame me for warning you—

A ripple was opened behind the boy and Ah Liu quickly restrain the boy’s arms.

Ah Liu: I got him. Let’s resolve this quickly.***Changed some wording***

Kiro: Thanks a lot.

Teenage Boy: Le-let go! You guys hate Evolvers!

Kiro: You’re also an Evolver, aren’t you?

Kiro: Although I don’t know what your Evol is, I’m guessing you started this train too, right?

Teenage Boy: You—!

Kiro: I command you—

Before Kiro finished speaking, the seat behind him was suddenly torn apart by an invisible power and flew toward us fast!

Kiro: Watch out!

Kiro rolled me to the corner of the carriage without hesitation and the ground where we were standing just now sank.

The glass on the window made a stronger sound and the speed of the train became faster than before.

All of a sudden, I remembered a few years ago I participated in the filming of “Miracle Finder” with the theme of a rare Evol, in which “magnetic field control” was featured.

At that time, we wanted to interview this child but his family rejected because it was too dangerous.

Perhaps…he was that same child.

MC: This child should be an Evolver of the magnetic field control class.

Kiro and Ah Liu both wrinkled their brows, realizing the tricky nature of the matter.

Every part of the train may be used by him as a weapon to attack us and we must avoid the possibility of any accident to the greatest extent.

Teenage Boy: I warned you, if you value your life, leave quickly!***Changed some wording***

MC: Don’t worry, we didn’t come because of you.

MC: Don’t you….like your Evol?

I tentatively took a step towards him, hoping this boy can lower his defense a little.

Teenage Boy: ….It’s none of your business.

A loud sound came from a distance as if something passed along the track from underneath.

The overhead is full of noise and the handrails that run through the carriage seem to be breaking inch by inch with the boy’s voice.

The sharp squeal of metal rubbing across our ears, it is about ot —

I didn’t have time to think about it, and I tried my best to grab the boy’s wrist.

In the next second, my vision suddenly plunged into darkness.

As if pressing a rewind button, the train and people in front of me kept falling backwards.

----I saw the boy’s memory.

[Buffer]

The mixed memory fragments slowly pieced together into a complete picture.

A teenage boy shivered endlessly while pulling a wet schoolbag. He cried as he picked up a book soaked with water.

Teenage Boy: If only I can become an Evolver, they won’t bully me….

Teenage Friend: Don’t be stupid, aren’t Evolvers born?

Teenage Friend: Wipe your tears away. I’ll copy today’s homework for you, okay?

The picture flickers and changes.

Teenage Boy: Ajian! (friend’s name I’m assuming) I’m also an Evolver! I won’t be bullied! The doctor said that my condition is quite normal. It may have been due to poor health which wasn’t detected before.

Teenage Friend: Wow, you’ll be super awesome in the future!

Teenage Boy: Hahaha, but I won’t be like those idiot bullies. They are too naïve!

The picture continued to change but I felt extremely angry and desperate.

??: Sorry, we cannot accept such a dangerous student in a class full of ordinary children….

??: Sorry, the residents of our community think that your child is too dangerous to live here….

??: I’m, I’m sorry…..Xiao Nan(boy’s name) your ability is terrible. We can no longer be friends.

The surrounding voices faded away, falling into a dead silence.

Teenage Boy: I don’t want to be an Evolver anymore. I don’t want to have this kind of power at all. I want to be an ordinary person….

In the large, hushed and silent gray space, the spiral staircase hovered down from the high roof, like a venomous snake lying dormant in the dark.

The light swayed from the long and narrow zenith. The boy raised his hand to block the light in front of him and took a step back subconsciously.

Teenage Boy: Excuse me….are there people here who don’t like Evol?

The teenager’s timid voice echoed in the building.

??: Come, child, don’t be afraid.

The man’s voice is very gentle but his whole body is hidden in the dark, making it difficult to see his face.

??: We understand your pain. There are many people like you here. We are victims of the same kind.

??: But you are different from us. You have the power to wipe out these sources of pain.

He stretched out his hand, like a predator in the depths of the cave waiting for its prey to be snatched-- luring the prey into the cave little by little.

The picture changed again, this time on a plane.

Not knowing what happened, the cabin shook violently.

The teenager sitting in the seat bit his lip and slowly stretched out his hand. His eyes fell on the closed operating room door.

My heart pounded and a familiar word came into my ears very clearly.

??: We rule Evol, for a better future of mankind.

--It’s GRAY RHINO!

My eyes snapped open. The blood from my whole body rushed to my head and I was abruptly flung back by a force.

The ground under my feet kept shuddering and the boy ran away towards the carriage in front of him.

MC: Wait!

The handrail above my head was suddenly torn off and came towards me. Kiro protected me.

Kiro: MC, are you okay?!

MC: GRAY RHINO….

I faintly uttered the name, and my heart filled with anger.

MC: I’m fine.

I propped myself up and quickly told Kiro and Ah Liu about what I saw.

MC: This accident….GRAY RHINO planned it all.

After hearing what I said, Kiro’s brows furrowed deeply and his expression became more serious.

Kiro: Did you…see his memory? Is this boy also a member of the anti-Evol organization?

I hesitated for a moment and shook my head.

MC: I didn’t see the same tattoo on his body so he’s only being used by the people from GRAY RHINO.

Just like the two special police officers who died in the Task Force.

MC: I’m guessing the previous plane incident was also their doing, but…

It was only after the boy used Evol that the shaking of the cabin seemed to lessen.

MC: Kiro, is this their revenge against the Evolver group?

Kiro nodded softly.

Kiro: Probably.

Kiro: Once this train derails, it will definitely cause serious casualties.

Kiro: This accident will also be concluded to be the work of an Evolver.

The train was speeding by, and the floor was bumping underfoot.

The sunlight reflected from the glass curtain wall illuminates the passing cars and I see a familiar building in the distance. My heart plummets.

There are not many stops to Central Square.

If this train isn’t stopped as soon as possible, it will crash into the crowd below.

MC: We have to find him quickly!

Kiro pulled me along the carriages but the young boy was still missing.

Just as I was about to lose hope, we opened the door of the first carriage and found the boy again.***Changed some wording***

He shrank in the corner of the carriage, like a light-sensitive animal.

Teenage Boy: Do-don’t come any closer!

The moment he saw us, the boy stood up and his body shook frantically.

Compared to the state he was before, his entire body seemed to express a sort of tight tension.

MC: Don’t get excited, we won’t hurt you. We’re—

Kiro: We’re here to be friends with you.

Kiro interrupted me altogether, walked over to the boy and sat down.

The unexpected behavior made Ah Liu and I stand still, speechless, but Kiro was very indifferent.

Teenage Boy: Do-don’t lie! I know you’re that star who was on social news before!

Kiro: Eh? Am I that troublesome?

Kiro immediately put on a melancholy expression.

Kiro: But since just now, I think your abilities are very powerful, just like the superheroes in the movies.

Kiro: So I really want to be friends with you.

A look of disbelief appeared on the boy’s face and he looked at Kiro uncertainly.***Changed some wording***

Teenage Boy: I’m not a hero. I have done a lot of wrong things and I don’t want to an Evolver at all.

His voice suddenly became low, as if thinking of something sad.

Teenage Boy: I just want to be an ordinary person with many friends so I won’t be bullied.

Teenage Boy: But after I found out that I had Evol, my life grew worse…

Ah Liu: Hey, I get you. I used to be laughed at and people said that my Evol can only be good for takeaway flash delivery.

Ah Liu: I’ve survived now and those days have gone by smoothly.

After what happened to Ah Liu, a look of surprise came across the boy’s face.

Kiro: When I was a child, I was also troubled by my Evol.

Kiro: Fortunately, I met a very good person. He taught me a lot of interesting skills and made me understand that there many wonderful things in this world.

When Kiro spoke, a ray of light flashed in his eyes. The person he’s talking about must be his master KEY.

Kiro: Those memories that make you unhappy, just lock them in the drawer.

MC: That’s right. People don’t have to be held back by the past all the time.

The boy hesitated for a moment, raised his head, looked at me uncertainly, and then at Kiro.

Teenage Boy: Can I….throw away this drawer key?

Kiro: You can put the key away and when you are brave enough, you can open it and face them. You won’t have to be afraid of anything.

Teenage Boy: But….you’re a superstar. Everyone likes you. How would you have difficulties like me?

Kiro: Before becoming a star, I was an ordinary, humble person.

Ah Liu: No way, I heard that you started shooting at the age of six—

MC: Ah Liu, no need to say so much!***Changed some wording***

As if not hearing our untimely interruption, Kiro turned his head and looked at the tear-stained teenager gently.

Kiro: In fact, whether someone is an Evolver or an ordinary person, they will find their own rightful place in this world to meet people who are in the same position.

Kiro: But before that, there may be a long wait and trials.

Kiro: Perhaps the opportunity that belongs to you has not had time to appear so you will have to be more patient.

Teenage Boy: Really?

Kiro: Really.

Ah Liu and I nodded repeatedly.

As soon as he finished speaking, the bright light poured into the window, making people unable to close their eyes.

The two sides of the window flashed past the cantilever metal structure of the bridge. The neighboring river’s surface and the buildings bathed in golden light suddenly came into view.

Kiro: You see, through the dark tunnel just now, you can see the light all at once.

The boy’s face became paler but his voice became firmer.

Teenage Boy: I will give it a try.

Great! Seeing the boy finally change his mind, I was a little relieved.

He tried to use Evol to control the train. Even though the speed was significantly lower than before, the train did not stop.

Teenage Boy: I, I can’t do it. I’m almost out of strength…

A sharp grinding sound scraped along the wall and the train sped past, even furiously shaking the handrails on the roof.

My heart seized in my chest.

Teenage Boy: It’s too late….I did something irreparably wrong…

Teenage Boy: I, I shouldn’t have listened to that man….I don’t want to hurt anyone….

Teenage Boy: I’m sorry, I’m sorry….

The young boy looked at his palm with a blank look and couldn’t help crying.

Kiro: Now, look into my eyes.

Kiro unquestionably pulled his shoulders, letting the boy look directly at him.

Kiro: I command you, stop this car!

A golden light blazed in his eyes and it seemed to have the power to stir people’s hearts.

The train slowly stopped and the sharp friction between the carriages and the rails gradually subsided.

The boy softened and sat on the ground, staring at the scenery frozen outside the window.

Teenage Boy: It really stopped….

The train had stopped in the middle of the cross-river track and the shimmering water’s surface reflected a hazy light on the window glass.

Kiro showed a relieved expression, with fine beads of sweat oozing from his forehead. Ah Liu was also obviously relieved.

Seeing my nervousness, Kiro gently squeezed the palm of my hand.

Teenage Boy: I’m sorry. I have always been a cowardly person.

The young boy suddenly apologized as if he had mustered up a lot of courage.

Teenage Boy: I was afraid to face it so I chose to escape in the way I hated most. I will definitely try to make myself stronger in the future!

Kiro patted the boy’s shoulder lightly, showing an encouraging smile.

Kiro: Mn, I believe you.

Before we had time to be happy, there was a sudden recoil.

The train that had just stopped suddenly moved forward again!

-End of Chapter 8-

Continue to Chapter 9 Part 1

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softest-cinnamon-roll · 4 years ago

Text

but when it heals, it beats for you

summary: my fic for @thoughtfullyyoungduck for the Writers Revolution Valentine’s Exchange. words: 3,314 rating: T a/n: I made a new taglist as it has been a year! If anyone wants on it, please just let me know! <3

* * * * *

Eddie hated parties, he always had. Even when he was younger and his friends would have birthday parties in their backyards, Eddie hated them. Maybe it was the loud screaming of the children, or the germs as they shoved their fingers into all the food that had been laid out in the open air, Eddie couldn’t tell, just knew that he didn’t like it. Even when he went to college, his hatred for parties never changed as soda was replaced with alcohol, and screaming children were replaced with screaming adolescents.

Those parties though were still a little bit more bearable than these parties. These parties being ‘work social gatherings’, a sorry excuse for all the boring office people he worked with to come together and gossip in a place with alcohol instead of at their desks. These gatherings were also a way for co-workers to cosy up to the Heads of Departments with the hopes of securing a promotion or even a pay rise. The whole thing made Eddie want to barf, and the worst thing about it was that he was obligated to be there as a new member of the staff.

Fresh out of college, Eddie had secured a job as an admin assistant at a lawyer’s firm in New York City. It wasn’t anywhere near his dream job, but when you were poor any job would suffice just to be able to pay the bills. Eddie didn’t have any other option, and he would just have to grin and bear it until a better opportunity came along. With that thought in mind, he stepped up to the bar and ordered a beer, taking full advantage of the free open bar.

“Kaspbrak, I wasn’t expecting you to actually show up. You’ve surprised me!” A voice practically yelled from right next to Eddie. He winced and turned to greet his co-worker, Josh, with a forced smile. “You should come over here, meet some people. Important people, if you get what I mean?”

Meeting people was the last thing Eddie wanted to do, in fact he had hoped to get through the evening without speaking to anyone. However, the look on Josh’s face told him that he wasn’t getting out of this one, and with a sigh he nodded, gripping the neck of the beer bottle and slipping from the stool.

“Sure, lead the way.”

Josh ran his mouth as they made their way through the crowds to whatever table they were heading to. Eddie drowned out his voice, even though it was rather difficult given how loud he was, but it suddenly became a whole lot easier when another voice drowned out Josh’s annoying tone. A voice that Eddie would recognise anywhere. He stopped dead in his tracks, eyes locking onto the back of someone he thought he’d never see again.

He was engaged in a conversation with Eddie’s boss and another co-worker, Janet, who was fake smiling and making ridiculous attempts at flirting. Even though Eddie had no right to, a feeling of jealousy built up in his stomach.

Richie.

Eddie stopped walking, freezing in the spot as his brain started providing him with escape routes. Out of all the people that had to be at the function that night, why did it have to be Richie? What did Eddie deserve to be faced with such bad luck?

Sensing that Eddie had stopped following him, Josh turned around with a frown on his face, before grabbing Eddie by the wrist and tugging him forward into the group. The force of the jolt forward sent Eddie flying, knocking him into Richie himself, who also jolted forward, causing Janet’s drink to spill on her fancy blouse.

Serves you right, Janet.

“Woah, easy there-” Richie started at the same time Janet snapped in her high pitched voice, “Fuck sake, Eddie, watch where you’re going!” Which caused Richie to freeze and look down at who exactly had knocked him sideways. Their eyes locked, and just for a second, no-one else at the work gathering mattered but the two of them. Eddie had forgotten just how easy he could get lost in Richie’s eyes.

The moment didn’t last long, thanks to Janet, who pushed Eddie away just a little to fuss over Richie, making sure none of her drink spilled over his fancy three piece suit. “Eddie is new, please don’t let his clumsiness affect anything we were talking about,” she fussed, and Eddie had to roll his eyes at the dramatics of it all.

“Calm down Janet, it was just an accident,” Eddie muttered, taking a much needed step back from Richie, putting distance between them. No matter how far he moved though, the scent of his cologne was stuck in his nostrils. He swallowed, feeling Richie’s eyes on him and Eddie knew if he looked up, he’d see the same confusion and questioning in his eyes that was there the last time they saw one another.

Eddie wasn’t ready to deal with that issue yet. Nope, no way.

Luck was never on his side though, as Josh took that moment to speak up, addressing why he brought Eddie over there in the first place. “Yes, Eddie is our new co-worker, but he should have an equal chance of meeting important people like the rest of us. Eddie, this is one of our companies interested investors, Richie Tozier.”

There was a pregnant pause before Richie smiled and extended his hand for him to take, which Eddie did. A jolt of electricity shot up his arm and he almost pulled back before he remembered everyone watching them. According to all of Eddie’s coworkers, this was the first time he was meeting Richie Tozier, they had no idea just how well the two knew each other.

“Nice to meet you,” Eddie offered, not sure if Richie wanted the group to know they had history.

Just at that moment, the music changed from an upbeat tune to a much slower one and Janet lurched forward, breaking the trance the two of them were under. “Mr Tozier, I love this song. Would you dance with me?” Eddie had to hold back a scoff at how obvious she was being. The company, of course, had chosen her to charm Richie intp signing a contract with them and she was, no doubt, going all out with her given task. It was a little pathetic, really.

Hoping to make a quick exit back to the bar for one last drink before slipping out the back door, Eddie stepped back, only for a hand to be wrapped around his wrist, tugging him back. It was Richie’s hand, of course it was, and there was a look in his eyes that Eddie couldn’t quite place. “Actually, I was hoping Eddie would dance with me, if that’s alright with you?” He asked, eyes never leaving Eddie’s shocked one’s for a second.

Eddie should say no, he should shake his head and tell Richie to dance with Janet, it was her role in all this after all. God, if he said yes Janet would shoot daggers into his back for the next month, at least. The thing was, Eddie didn’t want to say no. Call him selfish all you want, but Eddie wanted to be alone with Richie, even if it was just for a three minute dance. With his mind made up, Eddie nodded his head, allowing Richie to take his hand and lead him to the dance floor.

It wasn’t until Eddie felt Richie’s hand on the small of his back as he pulled him closer for the dance, that he realised his chest was all compressed in panic. The second that Richie’s hand touched him, all the panic faded and it was as though a bubble had formed around the two of them.

“A lawyer’s firm, eh?” Richie broke the silence, his chin settling on top of Eddie’s head. They had only been in each other's presence for ten minutes and they were already falling into their old habits. “I swear, I didn’t know you worked here.”

That caught Eddie off guard and he pulled back to look up at Richie with a confused frown on his face. “What do you mean? I never- I didn’t think you knew I worked here. Why would I think that?”

Richie shrugged a little, looking bashful as he glanced up at the ceiling for a brief moment, “I just wanted you to know that I didn’t...look you up or anything. I didn’t follow you or check up on what you were doing. Even if I wanted to.” He let out a breath. “You made your decision and I respected it.”

Another lump formed in Eddie’s throat and Richie’s words only seemed to add to the confusion. Yes, he had made the decision to end their relationship, but only because Richie was going to end it first. “I don’t understand. Why would you want to check up on me? Or follow me or whatever? You- I did you a favour by ending things first. I knew you were struggling to find a way to do it, so I did it first.”

The look on Richie’s face was nothing less than pure pain as he registered Eddie’s words. He shook his head, “What are you talking about? I wasn’t- who told you I was going to break up with you?”

Eddie froze up a little and he forced himself to think back, way back to when he had overheard the conversation Richie was having with a friend of his. The words were still bitter to think about and his heart hurt. “No-one told me. I heard you. On the phone. You were talking to someone about finding it hard to change your relationship status, and that you had to be really careful. I don’t know about you, Richie, but that screamed of wanting to break up with me. I just- I don’t know why you didn’t just tell me when things stopped working for you. I’d have understood. We weren’t...it wasn’t like we were public or anything.”

Richie blinked a few times and Eddie could see the moment when it all clicked for him. The confused look turned to one of understanding, but instead of looking guilty, Richie looked...overwhelmed.

“Eddie...holy shit...Eds, no. Fuck.” He stopped moving to the music and instead moved the hand that was on the small of Eddie’s back to his hand and took it in his own. “This is too public a place for this conversation. Five minutes, that’s all I need.”

Even if Eddie hadn’t wanted to follow Richie before then, the pleading look in his eyes was all it took for him to nod. He let Richie lead him off the dancefloor, out a door and into a hallway.

“How do you know where you’re going?” Eddie asked softly, letting Richie lead the way through the corridors of the hotel.

“I had a function here myself a while back, got a bit overwhelming so I went to explore,” Richie replied almost immediately, turning one more corner and opening a door that led to a balcony overlooking the city. “Found this place.” He closed the doors behind them, allowing total privacy, and Richie ran a hand through his hair. “I wasn’t going to break up with you.”

Out of all the things Eddie thought Richie was going to say, that was not even in the top ten. He blinked in confusion, looking a RIchie a little skeptically. “Alright, say you weren’t going to break up with me then. What did that statement really mean?”

Richie moved a little closer to Eddie, but not too close that he’d feel trapped. He reached down to take Eddie’s hand in his once more.

“I wanted to ask you to go public with me, Eds.”

Eddie suddenly felt sick to his stomach, as the look in Richie’s eyes, the sincerity, meant that he was telling the truth.

“I was just nervous because we were, as you pointed out earlier, not exclusive. I was technically your sugar daddy and we had sort of made that unspoken agreement that what we had was just...well what we had.” He squeezed Eddie’s hand, just a little bit, a soothing gesture. “Maybe it was just that at first, but then we started hanging out without the sex, we had movie nights and you’d spend the night just...chilling. We’d laugh and tease each other like it was a real relationship and suddenly that was all I wanted it to be. I wanted it to be real, but I was scared that maybe you didn’t want that. Then you broke it off with me and that sort of just...sealed it.”

The silence let Eddie know Richie was done speaking, letting him know it was his turn. His cheeks were burning red with embarrassment and he let out a frustrated groan at his own stupidity.

“I’m such a fucking idiot.” Eddie tried to step back, but Richie still had hold of his hand, keeping him grounded. “I’m such a fucking idiot, I was so caught up in thinking that you didn’t want to be with me anymore that I didn’t see the signs that maybe it was the total opposite. I can’t believe that I was that much of an idiot that I ruined the best thing I had in my life.” He looked up at Richie then, his eyes filling with tears, “Because you were, you were the best thing I had in my life. Nothing ever compared to the way you made me feel- make me feel- because I’m still crazy in love with you-”

Eddie didn’t get to finish his declaration of love as Richie swooped in fast, his arms securing themselves around Eddie’s waist as he hauled him forward, bringing their lips together in a long overdue kiss. A squeak of surprise left Eddie’s lips before it was replaced with a soft moan, his hands reaching up from where they were handing by his sides and weaving into Richie’s hair. It was just like the dreams Eddie had been having for months, except this time it wasn’t.

They pulled away after a few moments, the need to breathe too much to ignore and Eddie fell back onto his heels. Damn Richie and his height. Richie was grinning, tears clear in his eyes from behind his glasses. “I love you, too. I always have. You’re my perfect match and these six months without you? They’ve been torture.”

“I’m sorry,” Eddie breathed, his fingers clutching at the curls on the back of Richie’s neck. “I’m sorry for fucking up so badly and jumping to conclusions. I’m sorry for not just talking to you about it instead of...you know.”

Richie just shook his head and leaned down to press another, more gentle, kiss to Eddie’s lips.

“We can talk about it, over dinner maybe?” Richie suggested, a hand moving to cup Eddie’s cheek, thumb running over the skin under his eye. “We can discuss everything, lay all our cards on the table. What do you think?”

It was a good idea for them to talk it out before jumping into something with one another again, yet Eddie didn’t want to wait until the next night after dinner for Richie to take him to bed. He’d been without him for six months and now he knew Richie didn’t want to end their relationship and that he loved him, Eddie didn’t want to wait any longer. “I think it’s a great idea,” he breathed, moving his head up to Richie’s ear. “But...I also really want you to take me home,” he whispered and then added, just for clarification. “To your home.”

* * * * *

Richie’s apartment was just like Eddie remembered it, open space and filled with life. He hadn’t had the chance to properly look around the night before, his mind...and body both otherwise preoccupied. Now he was awake though, the bed next to him empty but still warm, which meant Richie hadn’t long since woke up.

Eddie sat up, stretching and groaning as his bones cracked before he climbed out of bed. He grabbed his underwear from the bedroom floor before pulling out one of Richie’s shirts from his drawer. As Eddie stepped out of the room, he could hear Richie’s voice filtering in from the kitchen area, clearly speaking to someone on the phone. He edged closer, peeking his head around the corner, and right enough Richie was on his phone, pacing back and forth.

“Something came up, but I’d be happy to meet with you on Monday morning, at the office,” Richie spoke. “We can talk business and sign contracts.” He looked up then, eyes meeting Eddie’s from across the room and he broke into a smile. “Mhm, yes that makes sense,” he spoke into his phone whilst beckoning Eddie closer with his finger.

With his own, equally large grin on his face, Eddie moved closer and stepped between Richie’s legs as he continued his call. The body heat was welcome and Eddie curled back into Richie’s embrace, taking a piece of toast from the plate in front of them and taking a bite.

“I have to go, I have other business to attend to. I’ll be at the office on Monday morning, 9am sharp and we can talk.” Richie hummed and the voice on the other end, muffled back before the call ended and the phone was shoved into Richie’s pocket. “Stealing my breakfast?”

“If you’re not fast, you’re last,” Eddie shrugged, dramatically taking another bite of the toast. “Was that my boss?” He asked.

Richie nodded, running a hand through his curls, curls that Eddie had messed up the night before. He shuddered and the memory. “Your boss is quite...forward. He wasn’t happy I ditched the party last night.” Richie shoved more toast into the toaster and set the timer, turning back to Eddie. “Do you have somewhere to be today?”

“Not unless you do,” Eddie hummed, wrapping his arms around Richie’s waist, seeking more of his body heat. “Anyway, aren’t we going out for dinner? To talk and stuff?” He looked up just as Richie looked down, their eyes meeting for a brief moment before Richie closed the distance with a soft kiss. “Mhm, morning.”

“Morning,” Richie breathed back, spinning Eddie around so he was pressed up against the counter. “Fuck I missed you, I missed you so much.”

Eddie’s stomach clenched, his eyes softening almost immediately as he glanced towards the floor in embarrassment. It was his fault after all, his fault that Richie had to miss him in the first place. He felt Richie’s fingers under his chin, tilting his head up so their eyes locked.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Richie spoke softly. “Please stop?” His head tilted to the side, curls falling loose and into his face. Eddie thought he was the most handsome man he’d even laid his eyes on. “Come back to bed?”

Richie stepped back and held out his hand, allowing Eddie to turn him down if he wanted to, always giving him that choice. Instead of Eddie’s stomach clenching in a bad way, this time it clenched in anticipation with what was to come.

Yes, they had to talk, sit down and have a conversation about their relationship and what they both wanted. Eddie was going to have to communicate with Richie, tell him everything about his past and why he had thought he was going to break up with him in the first place. The thought was terrifying, but Eddie wanted nothing more than to let Richie get to know him completely.

All that could wait though, until later.

Eddie smiled, reaching his hand out to take Richie’s, letting him lead him back to the bedroom, kicking the door closed behind him.

* * * * *

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