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syoddeye · 9 months

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the christmas party

ceo!price x reader / smut free / ~2.8k words

A very belated Christmas drabble thing. Definitely not inspired by real life events. 👀 Featuring a fem!Reader x Price, background Ghost x Soap, and Gaz, the incredi-boss. Might fuck around make this a series, we'll see! Maybe I'll clean it up and throw it on AO3, too.

CW: alcohol, substance abuse (mentioned) inappropriate comments from coworkers

You came to expect drama at the company Christmas party. It was as traditional as the optional White Elephant gift exchange, the hired group of carolers, and the ugly sweater competition.

Last year, a 'mystery' baggie of powder and a credit card belonging to the former Head of Sales was found in a bathroom stall. Two years ago, it was the unexpectedly raunchy dancing between an engineer and a project manager you swore hated each other. Three years ago, a division head went home with someone who was definitely not her spouse.

You'd seen a lot in your tenure. The good, the bad, the ugly, the hilariously mortifying.

Coming up on your fifth year with The 141 Group, you were a rarity. Most folks job-hopped. More power to them, no shame in gaining good experience after a year or two to leave for greener pastures. The fact you stuck around labeled you a 'veteran', a cheeky if not sensational label, though there were times you certainly felt like you'd seen war. Acquisitions. Rebrands. Reorgs. Yeesh.

But life at 141 suits you. You are an executive assistant, a good one. It helps that your direct supervisor and the VP of Finance, Kyle Garrick, a fellow 'vet', was an incredible boss. He lets you work from when you need to, doesn't micromanage, and treats you like a person, unlike other execs. He had faith in your ability to manage his calendar, prep materials, book travel - in short, you organized his work life. In return, whenever some new hire got too fresh with you, all it took was one teensy mention in a morning meeting, and by lunch, the offending party had only apologies for you. Most importantly, though, the job nets enough money to make rent and let you pursue your hobbies.

With years of Christmas parties under your belt, you were looking forward to tonight's low-grade yet cataclysmic event. Pre-gaming and primping at a fellow assistant's house, Jordan, you clasp the silver holly leaf pendant around your neck where it lies just above your modest cleavage. The dress code was simply 'Christmas Color', another tradition. Formal attire was expected, if not an unsaid requirement, which meant slipping into a gorgeous dark green dress you spied weeks ago in a boutique window. You thank yourself for earning that last pay bump to afford it because you look fantastic, in your humble opinion.

Lacing her leather Oxfords, Jordan gives a low whistle when you turn away from the mirror. "Like a big, sexy pine tree."

You smirk. "Thanks. Remind me why we both couldn't wear red tonight?"

"Because of the two of us, red is my color. Do I not look like some kind of holiday vampire?" She asks, standing with a sweeping gesture down at her deep, red velvet suit.

"More bellboy, but-"

"Rude!"

The two of you lovingly bicker all the way out to the awaiting car. The 141 Group, ever mindful of its image, always reimbursed rideshares for its company parties. Given the amount of liquor that flowed at these events, it wasn't only generous but smart. Like the higher-ups needed a scandal. The car ferries you across town to the ritzy event space at a local art museum. Leaving your coats at the complimentary bag check, you enter the well-underway party.

The events team needs a raise, like yesterday. The sprawling space was completely done up. Several open bars, a champagne wall, a photo op with a to-scale Santa's Sleigh, and dining tables with place settings that probably rival a monarch. Silvery white birch trees enveloped in lights line the walls, with clusters of small fir trees fully decorated dotting the space. The dancefloor was already busy with a DJ fully dressed as Santa.

Four going on five years, and it was still quite the sight.

You gently elbow Jordan. "So. Cheesy themed cocktails first or canapes?"

"Obviously drinks. I just saw one with an ornament in it!"

Three hours in, it was a dead heat for Most Dramatic Event. Two separate calamities slowly built throughout the night.

At the nexus of the first, Chad from marketing was almost blacked out. After winning the ugly sweater with a true abomination of a sweater (working lights, a mini speaker, and an ungodly amount of sequins), he celebrated. A little hard. He bopped from open bar to open bar as the bartenders cut him off one by one. He was trying to convince a coworker to grab him another Mistletoe Martini, and it was progressively getting louder.

The second was from the rumor mill more than anything. Apparently, a developer named Scott brought the wrong gift for the exchange. As the story went, his wife used the same paper for an identically sized gift, one of a titillating nature, and now he was visibly paranoid that he nabbed the wrong one on the way out the door. The man stalked the pile of gifts as folks drew numbers.

Jordan bet on the first, and you bet on the second. From the corner, you watch, giggling behind a cup of Prancer's Punch.

The sound of your name drew your attention. Kyle, in a charcoal gray suit with a sleek snowflake tie bar and green tie, approaches with a Tiny Tim Collins in hand. Though you waved hello earlier in the night, he spent most of the evening in the company of who you deemed his 'buddies' - Johnny MacTavish, VP of Technology and Jordan's boss, and Simon Riley, the Chief Security Officer. You learned in your first month to leave the trio to it.

"Having fun, are we?" Kyle grins and turns to observe the twin events.

"I love this party. Every year, delivers just like Santa," Jordan gleefully said.

"Someone should stop them," You add, knowing nobody would. At least not Kyle.

And as if on cue, the man chuckles. "Not my circus, not my clowns."

The three of you chat, swapping bits of office gossip collected through the night. Not the most appropriate, but not the worst social crime, surely. You're the right amount of tipsy: warm and relaxed but solid.

The wager came up naturally.

"What do you want if you win, my pine tree?"

"Hmm. It's gotta be something outrageous but not a fireable offense. Hmm. Maybe I'll have you sing on a video call, pretend you thought you were on mute or something."

"...That's boring."

"Do I want to know?" Kyle asks, sipping his drink.

"We have a bet on who's gonna be this year's drama - Chad or Scott." You explain.

"Maybe I ought to get back…" Your boss said with a laugh. "Better not witness to whatever you two plan."

"Might be for the best. Night, Kyle," You accept the brief hug from the man, then poke a finger against his chest. "Listen, if I get one DM about work during the holiday, I'm switching your coffee to decaf."

Kyle claps a hand over his heart as if he's been shot. "Monstrous. Fine, have it your way, no work during Christmas…Now, behave yourself, both of you."

Watching him retreat back to MacTavish and Riley (who look quite cozy - perhaps another piece of gossip?), Jordan nudges you. "If I was into guys, that's who I'd be into."

"You and like fifty other people here," As Kyle's assistant, you're more than his Girl Friday; you're also a professional gatekeeper. You could wallpaper your apartment with the amount of cringy notes you've stopped from reaching his desk.

"Not your type, then?"

You whip your head back to Jordan, utterly horrified. "No way. Not that Kyle isn't an absolute dreamboat; he's just not my dreamboat. Plus, at this point, it would be so, so weird."

Jordan laughs. "Y'know, even though we've been work besties for a year, I don't think we've ever discussed this. What is your type? As dudes are not my specialty, I have no clue."

Your type, huh? As if you don't know. Your type's been the same for as long as you can remember. Big and brawny, the kind of guy who could haul you around. Dark hair. Well-groomed, well-dressed, well-endow–You could still make it onto the naughty list.

Using better and cleaner terms, you relay this information to Jordan.

"Huh. A man's man. Whodathunk–oh! Oh shit, look who it is!" The other woman pats your arm and gestures with a nod.

Joining Kyle and his buddies, is none other than John Price - CEO of The 141 Group. Fashionably late (very fashionably late), yet another tradition. Adorned in a Santa red suit jacket and a matching red tie, he somehow makes the boring dress code dashing. Flanking him is a pair of bodyguards. He's just in time for the wager to come to a head.

God, he looks good.

As Kyle's assistant, you see John fairly regularly. Not that he sees you. No one above a certain pay grade sees assistants. You kind of just blend right on in. Not even Mr. Riley, whom you've been introduced to a dozen times by Kyle himself, recalls your name. When you tag along to meetings to take notes for the boss man, you assume you're on the same level as a lamp or plant. That doesn't mean you haven't ogled John Price before. Kind of hard to not to, what with his commanding presence. You're kind of ogling him right now.

"Wow, you really do have a type," Jordan hums with a shit-eating grin.

"Shut up," You hiss into your drink and look away, just in time to see Chad from marketing lift a gift box-shaped ice sculpture and smash it onto the ground next to one of the open bars with a frustrated yell. The poor bartender and caterers jump back, and the music scratches to a halt. A thick silence fell over the party, impressive for a crowd of over a hundred, and your eyes flick to Mr. Price.

He glares daggers in Chad's direction, then nods at the taller of his bodyguards. Without hesitation, the man crosses the event space toward a petrified, drunk-crying Chad. As the guard hauls him away, your coworker, or former coworker, you assume, bursts into ugly tears and then disappears from sight. But your eyes are still on John, whose gaze turns to the DJ. The music starts again, as does the chatter.

"Fuck yes," Jordan giddily whispers.

"Well, shit."

"You know what this means, don't you?"

"...Unfortunately, yes. Yes, I do," You sigh and down the rest of your drink. "Before you swing the axe, let me grab another punch."

"Hurry back, I've got my thinking cap on," Jordan impishly smirks.

With a groan, you make your way to the nearest open bar. One far from Chad's little tantrum. Most folks are on the dance floor at this hour, leaving this particular bar quiet. Waiting in line behind other tipsy coworkers, a clearing throat behind you grabs your attention.

"D'you have a recommendation?" A low, gravelly voice from all your best dreams asks.

You turn, and the sweet Hallmark-worthy image that blossomed in your mind in the last two seconds promptly morphs into a nightmare. Not a running-for-your-life nightmare, but a you're-the-only-naked-person-in-class nightmare. Laughable, considering the topic of conversation not three minutes ago.

John Price stands tall behind you, arms crossed, testing the fabric of his red suit jacket. He smells like tobacco and something spicy, and his eyes are a shade of blue you hadn't noticed before. You never got this close. They narrow slightly, and you realize you haven't answered him.

"Prancer's Punch." The name sounds cornier aloud.

"Hmm. Brandy or rum?" He sounds unimpressed. Was he unimpressed?

You're quicker to answer this time. Except, you babble. "It's, uh, made with dark rum. It's delicious. I've had a few. The cranberry juice isn't too tart, compliments the sparkling wine and–It's good."

Santa, run me over with your reindeer.

Kyle would be humiliated to have heard all of that. You are humiliated for having said all of that.

To your surprise though, the corner of John's mouth hooks in a smirk, then he chuckles. "How many qualifies as 'a few'?"

You, apparently committed to acting moronically, answer honestly. "Five."

It gets you an actual laugh this time. His hand raises up to scritch at his cheek, flashing the band of a watch you're certain is worth more than your life, then juts his chin forward slightly. "You're up, miss."

"Oh, no, Mr. Price, I insist, please-" You start to sidestep to let him up in line, but his hand lowers immediately and stretches out to stop you. He doesn't touch you, but the hair of your arm stands up at the proximity.

John smiles again, and his head tips toward you. "I insist. Join me, Miss…?"

"Mr. Price?" A voice suddenly interrupts. The taller bodyguard that removed Chad steps up and steals away Mr. Price's attention. "The problem's been dealt with. Regarding…"

You don't hear the rest of the conversation because you hurriedly ask for a punch and bolt back to Jordan.

And Jordan saw everything. Your heart is racing, and you miss half of her teasing.

"You made him laugh. Twice. I don't think I've ever seen him smile, let alone laugh."

"Because I basically admitted to being drunk!"

"Calm down, you're not, you're solid," She reassures. "Besides. You saw that death glare at Chad. If he was upset, I reckon you'd be on the receiving end of one of those."

You groan and take a swig of punch. You hope you've had enough of the good stuff to burn away the memory of your embarrassing rambling. You look back to Jordan to say something and find your friend once again grinning devilishly at you.

"I just thought of what I want for my victory."

Any time, Santa. Put me out of my misery.

"What?"

"So…You know #AskPrice?"

You know where this is going, and your eyeballs nearly bulge out of their sockets. "Jordan. Please. No. Do not make me post something stupid there."

#AskPrice was the name of the open channel at work. Anyone across the company could post questions for Mr. Price to answer. More often than not, it was a venue for bootlickers and kiss-asses to rain praises and share bad proposals. Rarely was there a legitimate question or a good idea.

"Darling, of course not. I have something far funnier in mind," She started, and you swore you saw the flames of hell itself in her eyes. "You're going to direct message Mr. Price and ask what he wants for Christmas."

Jaw, meet floor. "Absolutely not!"

Jordan laughs and hooks an arm around your neck, pulling you in. "Come on. It's harmless. Believe me, I considered making you send a selfie or asking if you're on the naughty or nice list."

"He could fire me!"

"For what? It's just a question! He always says we're welcome to DM him."

To be fair, Mr. Price did say that at the end of every company-wide call or in email announcements. He always harps on 'transparency' and 'open channels of communication', hence #AskPrice. To your knowledge, however, no one ever takes him up on that, at least at your level.

"Jordan…Mercy. Please."

"My sweet pine tree, you lost fair and square," She releases you and pats your shoulder. "If it makes you feel better, I bet he gets a thousand messages a day. The notification will get lost in the noise."

It doesn't take much more prodding and encouragement from Jordan. Your phone ends up in your hand, and you tap into the chat app. Your hand shakes a little when you pull up John's username and open the message dialogue.

johnprice - invisible Hi, Mr. Price. I was wondering what you want for Christmas?

Short and to the point. Jordan calls it 'boring', but you're already putting your neck on the line for a stupid wager. You're not risking anymore by dressing it up. Bet fulfilled, you press send, quickly turn notifications off, and shove your phone back into your little purse. Jordan rewards you with a squeeze to the shoulder.

"That was terrifying." You whine.

"That was a rush. Come on. Let's dance."

The next morning, when you're all but molded to your couch and housing takeaway, there's a little ping from your phone. It's the chime of the chat app.

"Kyle, for the love of everything, it's Sunday–"

You nearly drop your phone.

johnprice - invisible Hi, Mr. Price. I was wondering what you want for Christmas? > World peace. > I'd settle for a drink, though.

#call of duty #john price #captain john price #captain price #price x you #price x reader #john price x you #john price x reader #john price x female reader #price x female reader #cod fanfic #cod fic #ceo!john price

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ririka-ilios · 6 months

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Eidolon art "blueprint"

I've been looking over Eidolons in Star Rail today and thought it'd be fun to try and figure out how exactly the art on them works (i.e. what is the principle behind it, what they have in common between different characters, that sort of stuff).

There will be 1 (ONE) 2.1 story spoiler in here, so beware!

I haven't seen anyone else discuss this, so I've taken it upon myself to write an essay on it! This is relatively small and based entirely on my observations of the art. Feel free to use this as a basis for designing eidolons for your OCs if you want.

There will be example(s) for each part to help visualise the point I'm making as well as descriptions for the ones I'll use (some of the descriptions are much more detailed than others).

Eidolon 1

Shows view of the character from the back 3/4th to the left, up to their shoulders.

Eidolon 2

A close up of either of the character's eyes, showing off the details.

Eidolon 3

The view is entirely unique: the perspective, pose, and focus of the composition is meant to showcase an aspect of the character's personality.

Examples:

● Dan Heng. Back view, focus on his earphones as well as the maple leaf in his hand;

● Silver Wolf. Front view, focus on the game console in her hands;

● Himeko. Front view, focus on her facial expression and the pen in her hand.

Eidolon 4

Gives view of the character mostly from the front (either full-on or at an angle) or with them facing the camera in some way, up to their shoulders. Often has characters establish eye contact with the camera, but not necessary. Another showcase of their personality possibly might even represent how they interact with others.

Examples:

● March 7th. Back view with her head turned to look at the camera, making a peace sign. She's the only real outlier I've found so far, but it fits her personality fully;

● Aventurine. Front facing the camera, tipping (pulling down?) his hat and hiding one eye behind his hand as a result, obscuring his face;

● Bronya. Front, turned to the right, has a serious listening expression, one hand one her chest, closer to the heart. Perhaps a show of sincerity and dedication.

Eidolon 5

A close-up of the character's neck/collarbone area (despite the popular belief, it doesn't actually focus on their chest). The angle varies, as does the amount of character's expression shown, but generally, most of it is obscured (even in fuller pictures).

Examples:

● Herta. 3/4th angle, focus on the key hanging from her choker. The only part of her expression we see is her typical smug little smile;

(This Herta is one of many puppet avatars so the key might be a play on that. She also has a keyhole on the front of her outfit, though they're different sizes. There's also a key on a book cover in her splash art. Another fun fact, her upgrade materials are "Keys" as she is one of the first Erudition characters)

● Dr. Ratio. Focus on the pendant/decoration on his collarbones (maybe the Intelligentsia Guild insignia?), he has that "lips in a thin line" sort of expression;

● Black Swan. Focus on the heart decoration on her collarbones (reference to the stained glass in her ultimate, which in itself, loosely, calls back to Fuli, the Remembrance). She has her slight enigmatic smile.

Eidolon 6

Like E3, the view is entirely unique. The only consistent thing is that it ends at about the middle of a character's chest. The character is naked, showing them at their most vulnerable.

Examples:

● Misha. View from the side, his body turned in on itself as he hugs some sort of glowing orb. As a result, he's only illuminated at the points of contact. His expression is relaxed, but there's an interesting amount of seriousness in it, as if he's soothing/protecting the object;

● Sparkle. 3/4th to the left, has her hands up to her chest, one holding onto the other. A red string is tied into a four-petal flower shape around her pinkie finger, which sticks out from the rest of her fingers. Her expression is fully relaxed, her mouth is even slightly open, but the face paint is still on, and her hair is tied up;

● Acheron. View from the front, though her body is slightly turned to the left. She's in her self-annihilator state: hair white, the red thorn-like tattoos surround her lower neck and collarbones. There are red flowers outlined in white, either blooming on or flowing near her, some on her shoulders, some covering her left eye, others flying off. Interestingly, the flowers are placed loosely on a diagonal, bottom left to top right. Her expression is fully relaxed, mouth open slightly, and her hair is flowing to the side. That, paired with the flowers, makes it seem like there's a breeze passing by.

The conclusion I came to, upon finishing this analysis, is that Eidolons can be interpreted as the layers to characters' personality. With E1 being what anyone in the crowd could see – their back, no face, nothing to truly identify them by, and E6 is them at their most relaxed, most open point.

#honkai star rail #hsr #eidolons #analysis #don't mind me tagging literally everything I can #trailblazer #dan heng #silver wolf #himeko #march 7th #aventurine #bronya rand #herta #dr. ratio #black swan #misha #sparkle #acheron

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14dyh · 8 months

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Nerdy Love | H.Z.

Pairing: Hange Zoë x reader Summary: Hange with a nerdy lover headcanons! (Science Edition: Chemistry, Botany, Physics, and Astronomy) A/N: the physics part was pretty self-indulgent, i just want to share the world of science with Hange :")

Hange with a nerdy lover...

Chemistry

if you're a chemistry nerd,

Hange would be overjoyed at having someone who shares their favorite subject with them

when you first met, they sat beside you in the lab and went on talking about chemistry and such

enthused by your knowledge, Hange will begin to search even deeper chemistry knowledge so they can keep longer conversations with you

periodic table of elements jokes (Hange will, I just know)

will probably bring their own microscope kit when there is no schedule for lab

will look at you like you hung the stars even when you're talking about highly toxic chemicals

looks at you with heart eyes even if your hair is mostly disheveled from working for hours in certain chemicals

thinks you look adorable in safety goggles

shares a matching chemistry-themed coffee mug with you that looks like a beaker

one time, you had a lab accident but Hange was there, and unsurprisingly, they are efficient at first aid. their presence was a huge comfort, and they made sure you wouldn't panic the entire time

making sure you have appropriate experiment equipment is their love language

Botany

if you're a botany nerd,

Hange will try to impress you by identifying leaves around the school garden

will give you a leaf with a unique shape they found

will also pick the best tree bark piece for you (the one that doesn't have a brittle texture, it's sturdy enough that you can turn it into a pendant)

will show you a collection of dried leaves they tucked on their enormous books as a bookmark

they adore textured plants so they would be so happy to find some in your garden

loves the vibrant flowers that grow in your garden

they would likely want to surprise you by growing a plant and giving it to you on valentine's day

lotsssss of plant puns

knows how you water each of your plants because they always observe you when doing it

loves the way you observe each plant, knowing well if it grew new leaves, flowers, or fruits

they take you to garden dates <3

Physics

if you're a physics nerd,

Hange loves interactive toys that use physics. they would probably share lots of that with you

both of you would fall asleep together listening to Feynman lectures (it was relaxing, trust me)

this post:

you could talk to them about the most obscure physics theories and they'll know what you're talking about (which makes your heart leap with joy and end up kissing them on the cheek several times)

they're genuinely interested even if you're talking about steam engine history for hours

you get pissed off when the laws of motion are discussed in such a shallow, abecedarian way in high school and Hange adores your pouting face.

loves helping you out with calculus problems in physics

they became invested in chemical physics because of you

exchanges science books with annotations for you at least every week

loves silly, theoretical questions with you

listens attentively to you even if you're describing light and optics during a school disco party

adores you when you discuss torque mechanics using a basketball during PE

even when walking past a river, you can't help but tell them the amazing hydrodynamics of the flowing water. Hange loves seeing the sparkle in your eyes whenever you describe the beauty of the world using physics

volunteers to participate in your mini physics experiments

they are very resourceful so they mostly help you with applying physics to real-life devices/inventions

their eyes lit up when they see both of your inventions materialize but they're more happy to see how delighted you are

(i still remember how happy they were when they successfully developed the "Executioner from Hell")

it's canon that Hange has the best intuition and analyzing skills in AOT so you get along very well since those qualities abide by the principles of physics

these headcanons are mostly modern au bc AOT is depressing but I bet you and Hange would most likely bond over developing or designing weapons or devices for the Survey Corps

(personally, I believe that they would most likely be a physics teacher in modern au since most of their inventions use physics)

This teacher reminds me of Hange so much

Astronomy

if you're an astronomy nerd,

Hange still teases you about the day you met because your conversation starter is what is your favorite star

they adore you and even tell you their favorite constellation

probably gave you one of those glowing circular glass lamps with the solar system inside for valentine's day

romantic stargazing :D

and planetarium dates!

they love hanging out in your room because you can talk for hours while gazing at glow-in-the-dark astronomy stickers on your ceiling

you have matching astronomical sphere ball necklaces (probably have both of your initials too)

you share an astronomy playlist (could just be music or podcasts)

(self-indulgent but I think they would enjoy StarTalk and SciShow Space marathon with you)

they have this cute habit of giving you star-shaped food or any object that happens to be star-shaped ("this reminded me of you :D" they'll say)

your space movies watchlist will be playing on movie nights, Hange will also share a sci-fi movie list with you in return

they'll surprise you with intriguing astronomy questions and your heart leaps because you know they've been paying attention whenever you talk about your interests

I'm pretty sure Hange would also enjoy watching Rick and Morty, Futurama, The Big Bang Theory, Fullmetal Alchemist and such with you, especially in their downtime. Aside from science documentaries, that is.

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readercognito · 7 months

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Where in the World is the Real Professor Avalon?

Palladium x Reader

I had been keeping an eye on Avalon ever since he came to the school, especially due to his entrance. I mean really he could have just talked with Faragonda, or at least cleared the methods with her! While this had made Faragonda and the other professors wary in the beginning they had all warmed up to him rather quickly. Almost too quickly...

But no matter how much I talked to him there was always something… off about him. Something I couldn’t quite place, and I didn’t like how close Bloom was getting to him. I understand why she wanted to talk to him, she was desperate to understand herself and her powers. Something Avalon had promised to provide answers too. I would be the same in her place, but that didn’t give me any comfort when Bloom would spend time alone with him. So I had been spying on them, I know it wasn’t really the most appealing method. But after Bloom was spelled the first time (recently coming out of Avalons office I might add) I had to make sure that wouldn’t happen again. So I had been keeping an eye on her using an enchantment all of my own creation. Any dark magic that made itself known around bloom would make my ring buzz. Naturally her tight knit group of friends have done their best to keep her safe. But that isn’t enough, plus they’re teenagers. Easily trusting, and easily distractible...

Then a gentle voice pulled me from my musings.

“What are you still doing here?” Asked Athos, leaning against my desk.

The last class had just let out, but I hadn’t gotten around to leaving my classroom just yet. At least I thought the last period had let out, until I glanced at the clock. Just how long had I been sitting here lost in thought?

“Sorry Athos, I guess I just lost track of time...” I said, looking into the amber eyes of Professor Palladium.

We had known each other since I started work here a year or two after my graduation from Alfea. He ran into me during one of the faculty gatherings, spilled tea all over my skirt. But I couldn't hold a grudge, or even be angry really. Especially since he had bought me a replacement only the day after. We became fast friends after that. He asked me out my second year at the school, (after his confidence boosting change in appearance) and we had been happily dating since. Which only Stella and Flora had figured out, Flora because she often stays back to talk with Athos about nature related topics. Stella found out because she is a drama and relationship bloodhound. Thankfully Faragonda (L/n)sn't seem to know of (or mind really) our relationship.

Athos smiled knowingly, "don't worry too much about it. Let's just head out, I want to show you something in the glade."

That brought a grin to my face, the glade. Correction, our glade. Something Athos and I had found while looking for a plant for one of his classes. It's a beautiful place, a ring of ancient willows surrounding a sparkling blue lake. The grass is covered with clovers and bushy wild flowers. I still keep the four leaf clover he found for me when we found the glade. I spelled into a tiny glass pendant with a gold chain to hang around my neck.

"This isn't another 'surprise' is it?" I asked playfully.

Palladium flushed, "it was one time! I knew I shouldn't have asked that blasted pixie for help." He grumbled.

I let out a laugh, not able to witness Athos' face soften and a gentle blush return to his cheeks.

We are walking through the woods outside the school, nearly to the glade when Athos goes behind me and covers my eyes. Carefully guiding me into the glade.

"Oh, so it is a surprise~" I chortled.

"Oh hush," he said, with a chuckle.

Then with a flourish of his strong yet delicate hand, he revealed the most magical thing I had seen.

Little glowing orbs were dancing around the trees and above the flowers, clearly enchanted to glow and swaying softly to the tune being played by an unmanned harp at the waters' glittering edge. In the middle of it all was a picnic set up on a beautifully embroidered quilt. A dainty tea set with intricate china plates lay on a short wooden tray of sorts.

The gasp of awe was involuntary, Athos grabbed my hand and gently led my frozen feet to the blanket, then swiftly pulled me into him. I was ripped out of my stupor and fell with a shout.

After regaining my senses, looking a flushed Palladium in the eye. He was so adorably red, I couldn't help but laugh. He seemed as shocked by my fall as I did! Athos joined me with a chuckle of his own, then stilled.

Athos fixed me with those amber eyes, brimming with a yet unknown emotion. Those deep, warm, gentle, eyes. Just as I was about to lean in, my ring buzzed.

"Bloom!" I stood with a shout.

"What? What are you talking about?" Athos asked, confused, moving to stand.

"There's no time! Bloom's in danger!" I shouted before quickly teleporting to her location.

I looked around the room I had popped into, seeing Bloom in a yellow bubble. Avalon standing menacingly behind her, face and body glowing with red marks.

"Bloom look out!" I shouted and quickly shot a spell at Avalon.

But it bounced off the bubble they were in, Avalon letting out a wicked bark of laughter. Throwing a dark orb of magic at me and everything went black.

•

Palladium was frantic, what did you sense? How were you able to teleport so quickly to Bloom? How did you know that she was even in danger? These questions and many like it flooded his thoughts as he ran back to Alfea as fast his long legs could carry him.

Athos Palladium returned to an all too silent campus… What horrible thing had (Y/n) been trying to prevent? Was Bloom alright? He only just registered his surroundings before storming into Faragonda, so consumed by his own spiraling thoughts.

"You're looking for (Y/n) aren't you?" She said solemn but matter of fact.

How had she known? But before he could say anything Faragonda beckoned him to her office. Closing the door behind her and walking gracefully to her desk.

"I know about you and (Y/n)." Faragonda started.

Athos' eyes widened with shock, but he remained silent awaiting what Faragonda was going to say next.

"But I believe Professor (L/n) has been kidnapped along with Bloom. That both of them have been taken to Shadow Haunt, I'm not sure what Lord Darkar wants with (Y/n), but I am certain he has every intention to use Bloom's dragonfire to get to the Realix realm."

That answers some of Palladiums questions, replacing his mild panic with a deep sense of dread.

"What do we do now?" Athos' mind was too bogged down with worry to think.

"There isn't much we can do I'm afraid, but the Winx Club is putting together a rescue party with some of the red fountain boys. The same ones that helped when Stella and Bloom went to save the pixies." Said Faragonda almost conspiratorially.

“What? You’re letting them storm Shadow Haunt all by themselves!?” Athos said incredulous, he knew the girls were capable but facing Darkar all by themselves?

“They certainly won’t be, the red fountain boys will be helping them. Apparently one of them has a connection with the underworlders there… But we are ready to step in if anything were to happen that our girls cannot handle.”

So that’s what they did, Palladium bid the students adieu. Then went to watch them on a scrying spell in Faragonda’s office, with the other headmasters on standby. Which honestly Athos was a little surprised at, he didn’t know that Faragonda had such a long history with them. They were talking with a familiarity only very old friends would have.

The Winx Club was doing surprisingly well against the Shadow Haunt monsters, the girls even undoing the gloomix enchantment on them. But things got serious when a particularly large monster cornered Stella and Aisha (Layla). That’s when things really got into motion.

•

With the headmasters distracting Darkars lackey, Athos escorts the girls with the pixie elders. They gather the shards required to create a secondary portal to the Realix realm, but before the girls are able to make their way through, another fairy comes through the portal. A very familiar fairy.

It was (Y/n), but there was something off about her, there was a darkness in her aura. Even her clothes and hair seemed darker, and more jagged than her usual appearance. Then with a growl, she launched a plasma sphere at Aisha, who was only just able to dodge it.

“Professor (L/n)?! What happened to you?” Stella exclaimed in shock. Dodging yet another bolt of magic from the corrupted fairy.

“She must have been affected by Darkar’s magic! He most likely used a similar enchantment on bloom! Hurry girls, through the portal! I’ll hold her off…” Palladium shouted, his hands sparking to life with magic, throwing a sphere at (Y/n). Which she deflected, but the attack served its purpose, the girls were able to sneak through the portal and with (Y/n) preoccupied by Athos she didn’t even notice the portal closing. That was until it was too late…

“YOU SIMPLETON! You think those prissy fairies will be able to stop Lord Darkar and Bloom!? They’ll be destroyed!” (Y/n) screeched, then let out a wicked cackle.

Then Athos and (Y/n) went hand to hand for what felt like ages. Each landing a hit and then returning the favor, it got to the point where both of them were panting, and disheveled. Athos took a good long look at (Y/n). Her (h/c) hair was messy and almost entirely pulled from it’s usual style, giving her a deranged edge to her already twisted appearance. Her skin had a sheen of sweat, and there were several burn marks in her clothes, he was sure his appearance matched. But behind those glaring (e/c) eyes, a familiar spark was seen, one he missed so dearly in the moment. And before he could stop himself he said,

“What did Darkar do to the woman I love?”

“What?” Said (Y/n) the venom only just receding from her voice. Which didn’t go unnoticed by Athos.

Ignoring (Y/n)’s question Athos asked another question with thinly veiled hope.

“Do you love me?”

“Do I what?!” She nearly shouted, the wickedness in her voice starting to fade.

He could do nothing but smile softly, seeing that familiar spark start to grow.

“Do you love me?” He asked again, a glint of knowing twinkling in his eye.

“You’re a fool!” (Y/n) seethed, but once again the anger seemed more fabricated than the last.

Athos let out a tired laugh, “I know, but do you love me?” Then he continued, “Because, though I haven’t said it before. I’m sure of it now, however strange that may seem. That without a doubt I love you. I love your kindness, and patience. I love just how confident you are, you get along with the students so well! But they all respect you, I can see it. They admire you, and how capable you are. I love you, all of you. Do. you. love. me?”

At those words (Y/n) was bathed in a bright light, making Athos close his eyes due to its intensity. Then as quickly as it came, the light faded and before he could even blink the black spots out of his eyes he felt a soft and warm body envelop him in a hug. Feeling warm and wet tears fall on his exposed shoulder,

“I’m so sorry,” (Y/n) sobbed into his shoulder “I saw- I felt what I was doing, but-but I couldn’t stop! I’m so, so sorry Athos…”

Athos returned the embrace full force, rubbing calming circles in (Y/n)’s back, “Don’t worry about that, I knew it wasn’t really you. I’m just glad I’ve got you back now.” He said soothingly.

“Did you mean what you said?” (Y/n) asked hesitantly.

Athos paused for a moment, a blush rushing to his pale face. He just now realizes that was the first time either of them had said those life changing three words. Just then his blasted nerves decided to get the best of him, his carefully cultivated confidence flying right out the window.

“E-eh, We-well of c-cor-course I did-d” He said, face getting even redder and cursing his blasted nerves.

Not that (Y/n) seemed to mind, letting out a cute chortle and kissing him on the cheek.

“You are wonderful Athos, I love you too.” She said.

#Palladium x reader #reader insert #x reader #female reader #Professor Palladium

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agathne · 1 year

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CHAPTER FIVE | THERE'S MILLIONS OF ME DARLING

Description: Thranduil and Legolas are transported to the past - where the late Elvenqueen was still alive - minor hiccup, she doesn't know who they are.

series masterlist | chapter four

"Where are you going, naneth?" the young elfling asked while attempting to bury his head on your skirt. "Off to war, my darling." you reply, kneeling down to his length. Oh, there were millions of things that an elfling was supposed to do with his mother - watching her go to war wasn't one of them.

"And will you return?" he inquired, playing with the silver necklace on his neck. You reach for his chin, lifting his face with a false smile. "The question my elfling is; will you?" you whisper - placing a kiss to his forehead. "I am always here, do not worry." you add, while rising to your full height. "This isn't goodbye, my leaf." you remind with the wave of a hand.

Legolas plays with the same necklace - inching the pendant in between his fingers while the pressure relieved his palms of the itch. He couldn't believe that he was in Lindon - he couldn't believe that he felt alive at the smell of real flowers.

"A silver coin for your thoughts? Legolas." you lean on the pillar beside him - watching as a smile stains his lips.

"I was thinking of my mother," he admitted - refusing to stare at your features, as they were too familiar. "I'm sure that she longs for your return," you comfort - looking up at the balcony above you - seeing the shadow of your Adar and his newfound friend.

"She was taken by war," he informs, feeling his heart drop to the floor. "- I was an elfling then. I wouldn't stop crying for her." he bites the inner corners of his lips. Legolas knew that he was nothing compared to the thousands of children that the war orphaned - nor was he anything out of the ordinary - but his grief was far too strong. He longed for a mother that he knew in the earlier stages of his life.

You place a hand on his shoulder - a silent gesture of comfort. "She waits for you in the shores of Valinor, I'm certain." you comfort again, feeling his posture soften at your words. "I can only hope," he breathed - eyes interlocking with yours. You always told him that he had the same hues as his father's - it was his first time in a thousand years to gaze upon your eyes once more.

"I- this may seem strange," he began - throat threatening to release bile. "What is it mellon?" you frown and he takes another breath. "Can I request your embrace?" he pleaded, and you open your arms - wide and welcoming him.

He has forgotten this feeling.

Thranduil swears to all his subjects that he has no memory of you - that he cannot remember the sound of your voice. He lies to his subjects. At night - he is forced to relive the memory of everything - forced to stare into your eyes, to hear your voice, to see your smile. He often wondered if the memory serves to give him bliss - or the darkest of agonies.

"You do not understand, Galion." he clawed at his chest, unbuttoning his robe. "I-I cannot remain in Arda - the sea calls for me." he breathed - not understanding why he longed for the Shores of Valinor. "She calls for me." he added. His entire room was in disarray - entire shelves taken down, and paper scattered everywhere. It resembled a pigsty more than the King's bedroom.

"She does not, sire." Galion answered in a matter-of-fact tone.

"What you feel is longing and grief - but the Queen does not desire to see you this soon." Galion replies - taking another step forward. "She would want you to take care of Prince Legolas - to rebuild the Kingdom that the darkness has destroyed. She wouldn't want you to join her - because she knows that there is a greater destiny for you here." the butler explained, squatting down.

"Adar Elrond can raise my son - he does not deserve a father like me. An ada who allowed his mother to die at the hands of -" Thranduil ranted, unable to utter the name of Sauron. "Thranduil," Galion refers to the King in his elven name - void of any titles. Thranduil. The name he bore when his father was yet to be king.

"Ada!" Legolas yells with tears running down his eyes. The King's door was ajar, leaving enough room for the elfling to enter. "Legolas," he whispered opening his arms to provide his son a deep embrace. "Naneth," he cried while burying his face deep in his father's chest.

Galion and Thranduil exchange a meaningful stare.

"Do not cry, my leaf." he pressed a kiss to the boy's forehead.

Galion was right, he couldn't leave.

Thranduil opened his eyes again, mind floating back to reality. "You used to be older than me," he began with a chuckle - fingers playing with the stem of his goblet. "- and now I am older than you, yet my wisdom does not allow me to grapple the calamity of the situation." he adds, taking another sip of his wine.

"I need to return, Ad-Lord Elrond - we know nothing of what my return has brought. What lesson it stands for." he added - tongue leaking with wisdom of old age. He stands up while dusting his robes.

"If you will excuse me - I wish to pray to the Valar."

next chapter>>

@murder0fcr0ws @cheyxfu @8hgel

#thranduil x reader #thranduil x oc #legolas' mother #thranduil's wife #thranduil x elrond's daughter #thranduil x elrond daughter

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girlbloggercher · 11 months

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shein dupes!

a lot of high end brands sell things for hundreds, sometimes even thousands of dollars. here are some cheap dupes i found for you guys! and if i'm being honest, most of the dupes are cuter than the originals!

1. Selkie: The Castle Pink Marshmallow Puffer

the original jacket costs $295! but, if you get the 'kawaii drop shoulder knot detail crop puffer coat' from shein, it only costs $23.49 during their sale and $33.49 normally.

2. Ugg: Classic Heritage Bow

you probably didn't even know how expensive uggs were since everyone has a pair, but the originals cost $170. don't worry, though, because the 'winter outdoor skiing & camping all-match snow boots for keeping warm' cost $29.50, and $11.88 if you get them before the flash sale is over in a few hours. but fear not, because this won't be shein's first or last sale.

3. Victoria's Secret: Satin Long Pajama Set Pink Stripes

victoria's secret may be considered "cheap" if you compare them to brands like gucci or chanel, but their prices are still pretty upsetting. the original? $115. shein sells pretty much the exact same thing for just $16.99.

4. My Mum Made It: Puffer Tote Bag

if you said that a square pink bag cost $114, then you're right. shein has the same thing with 3 straps and no logo for $19.08.

5. Michael Kors: Jet Set Carryall Tote Crossbody

okay, this isn't funny anymore. there's no way shein hasn't been sued yet. this isn't even the only michael kors-esque bag. there are more from the brand siyu1 bags & luggage. mk sells it for $129, but shein has it for just $16.10.

6. Viki Lynn: 925 Sterling Initial Necklace

remind you of anyone? that's not the point, the original necklace costs $15.99, which isn't expensive overall, but it is pretty expensive for a necklace that probably doesn't contain real silver or diamonds. shein has the 'letter charm necklace' for $1.30. yes you read that right.

7. Lululemon: Define Jacket

there are a few differences. like the fabric and pockets. but unless you're literally just buying the $118 lululemon jacket for the pockets and fabric, then you'll be fine. shein sells this for $14.99.

8. Crocs: Classic Clogs

unlike the majority the things on this list, crocs are less than $100, but you can still get them for cheaper. shein calls them the 'women's hollow out clogs with soft sole and solid color, lightweight slippers for indoor and outdoor, white sandals', but let's just call them croc dupes.

9. Tiffany & Co.: Double Heart Tag Pendant

this is literally the same necklace with a different logo.

10. Elsie Love: Clover Leaf Necklace

you've seen it all over pinterest, the $69.99 necklace. but shein sells a $2 one.

#that girl #wonyoungism #clean girl #glow up #coquette #health and wellness

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lailoken · 7 months

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Gilded Hawthorn Pendant (24k Yellow Gold or .999 Fine Silver)

These unique devotional pendants are made with real segments of Hawthorn wood, which have been lovingly hand-gilded using either 24k Yellow Gold Leaf or .999 Fine Silver Leaf.

Every piece of wood used was hand-harvested from an old, propitiated Hawthorn Tree, before being slowly hearth-dried. Thereafter, each piece was gently smoothed with sandpaper and coated with a thin layer of ritually empowered wood varnish (composed from an array of potent arboreal resins, such as Dragon's Blood, Storax, and Black Fankincense), which was used to carefully adhere precious the metal leaf. Once fully dried, all excess metal was brushed away and the entire surface was meticulously burnished with agate stone in the traditional manner, before being lightly sealed with a final layer of protective lacquer. Finally, each piece was outfitted with Sterling Silver jewelry fittings and hallowed in a simple rite.

Between the rich and powerful history of folklore attributed to the Hawthorn—particularly where the Otherworld and its Denizens are concerned—and the preciousness of the metals used, I believe these will make lovely pendants for any who claim one; particularly those who follow the holy mysteries of the Whitethorn Tree.

Each piece is made to order—harvested especially for the client—and so each segment of thorn wood will be unique. However, each piece will bear two spines and measure approximately 2.5 inches / 6.5 centimeters in length. Additionally, each piece comes with a solid Sterling Silver box chain measuring approximately 18 inches / 46 centimeters. If you want pictures of your thorn segment for final approval before I begin working on it, simply reach out and I will be glad to provide them.

If interested in acquiring one of these, you can reach out to me here on Tumblr, or you can purchase it directly from my shop, Wending Wares. Please allow up to 10 days following purchase for your order to be crafted and shipped.

[Care Instructions: Handle with care. Avoid scuffing the precious leaf or being pricked on the thorns, and avoid prolonged exposure to high heat or moisture.]

#hawthorn #whitethorn #wending wares #gilding

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quintessentialarts · 8 months

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Etsy | Facebook | Instagram

The Acer genus has quite the interesting array 🍁

Acer circinatum, or vine maple, is definitely a favorite 😍

#acercircinatum #vinemaple #naturejewelry #treelovers #mapleleafjewelry #jewelry #quintessentialarts #witchy #forestjewelry #forest #forestlovers #leafnecklace #leaf jewelry

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steelhipdesign · 2 years

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Three Roses

I was asked to create an original pendant/necklace based on the client's name. For privacy concerns, I can't tell you her name but this is the finished piece.

It takes time to flesh out a design based on words or a specific theme. I'm not like an AI bot - spitting out rendered images from a collection of terms. With the way I design, I need to work with real components to see how, and if, they will work together. The first one I started was a single vintage brass mesh rose. Despite a great multicolored aged patina, it wasn't really speaking to me. The next design was a single mesh rose set in a wood base, surrounded by a tangle of leaves and branches. It wasn't going anywhere either.

Finally, I found in my supplies these tiny rose gold roses - only 6 to 8mm wide. I mounted each flower on a plaited brass wire. On two of them I included a tiny copper leaf. I also made some curled tendrils coming off the stalks. It was a tight fit but eventually the roses were in the right position to seal the vial. I made each cap with brass tubing and metal disks. It looks like a specimen collection with the brass fittings and hanging bar.

I did try to include a LED light but it didn't really work with the design only illuminating the top rose.

I hope she loves it but if not, no problem, I'll try again and list this one in my store. It's so difficult photographing small items, even worse if they are under glass.

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valeria-prieto · 7 months

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#clover #shamrock #st patricks day #lucky #good luck #necklaces #jewelry #botanical jewelry #4 leaf clover

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feverinfeveroutfic · 6 months

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The Confectioner’s Tale

a/n: no idea if this will remain a one shot or if i’ll expand it further. the fanfic community just doesn’t like me no matter what i do and i don’t think any of them realize how isolating this is, either.

They call the neighborhood “the tombstone mile”, mainly because every other establishment had fallen on hard times in recent months, and we were the only place that had our heads above water. The pink lettering stared out to the busy street of Los Angeles, and I had a way of honoring the whole shebang from my beginnings as a standard pastry chef fresh out of the Central Valley and back to the place where it all began for me there, in the southland.

As far as I knew, the higher-ups of Smell the Magic had enough money to open up a couple of new venues out here on the western wing of the country, one back in my real home of Reno and one out in Hawai’i.

And as far as I knew, because the shop here in L.A. was the only one running at its best and ran on my elbow grease as I carried it upon my shoulders, I could qualify for a transfer to one of those spots. And if I went back home or out to the ocean, I knew that I would be turning over a new leaf, after I had turned over a new leaf already.

You wouldn’t think of a girl who had lost over seventy pounds to be working in a funky little bakery, but here we are: I tightened up the belt at the small of my back, and I let the blood red apron fit my body like a glove. I had the net over my hair and my Soundgarden pendant close to my chest: I never went to the bakery without my pendant, just so long as I kept it at a certain length on my chest.

I had done something so stupid ten years before. I was your given obsessed fangirl who had the bad idea of writing a letter to Ben Shepherd. I had a crush on him, there was no way around it. The reason why I say it was a dumb idea was because the letter coincided with a time in my life I would choose to forget if presented with the choice. I had made peace with my demons a long time ago, but he loomed over me like a dark specter, especially when I thought about that time of my life.

It felt as though I could never find the right words upon writing, even with the shards of sanity I had left within me. I wrote the damned thing in pen, too, so I had hope that he found me sincere. I had filled out three pages of paper, front and back.

I had no idea about his relationship status, especially as I had never seen him with a wedding ring on his finger or heard any mention of a girlfriend other than a failed relationship prior to my writing.

You know. Typical “scoop this dude up from the muck before someone else does” type of shit that I soon realized was a bad idea. Never mind the fact that this was a major long shot, writing a letter from the forefront of a broken mind and a fragile heart to a guy whom I had never met let alone the bassist of my favorite band Soundgarden, but I was going in deep here.

He had gotten it. As far as I knew, he read it. I wound up writing him four more times as a result: my fifth letter to him was on his birthday and no one had seen him for months prior to then, either, so it was like coaxing out a venomous snake out of hiding so I could try and capture it.

We were hundreds of miles apart but I could feel him, though, and I knew that he could feel me as well…

Sometimes, whenever I thought about him, I had the strangest, most inexplicable sense of nostalgia overcome me. He just got up and left, it felt like, and I hadn’t seen him since then, I hadn’t talked to him since then, and to make matters worse, I had seen a photo of him back around Christmas and time had not been all that kind to him: an otherwise young man with a head of scraggly rich dark hair grayed out to cigarette smoke, smooth skin now with the texture of leather, crooked teeth now browned and made to look like those from a corpse, and a slender beautiful body now incredibly heavy and massive, and to the point where I could feel the heart disease coming on just with a mere look at him. I choked up at the sight of him, as I knew that I had something to do with his transformation into the portrait tucked away in the attic.

A part of me wanted to write to him again, but I had long lost his address, and thus, I had no other means of contacting him. I still yearned the idea of writing him another letter.

But at the same time, I also had no desire to pick at that old wound.

Ben had hurt me and went on with his life with someone else, and last I heard, they had had a couple of kids together, which in turn left me in the weeds.

But I never had the chance to leave him behind, however, even as I myself started over again in a new place and with a brand-new look to me. His ghost still haunted me.

I never got closure.

Sometimes I held my Soundgarden pendant and wondered as to what could have been with him, had we not drifted apart and gone our separate ways. I needed an answer, whenever I thought about it long and hard enough. His parents and entire family had lived up there since like World War Two, so I knew that should push come to shove, I would have to dig around for him. Ask people where the big tall dead man walking resided on Bainbridge Island because I needed an answer.

I ran my fingers down the edge of the pendant, which had been crafted in the shape of a guitar pick. It ran through my mind, the tombstone of my love for him. I had the stone but no way to place it six feet under.

But I vowed to remain as soft as water no matter what, though. He was slowly digging his own grave and I had no way of saving him.

I turned my attention to the counter behind me to prepare for the day’s work, and no sooner had I done so when the tallest man I had ever seen in my life strode into the bakery. Ben looked at well over six feet in height but he must have easily been more than that. He towered high over me with his long beautiful smooth black hair and stern facial expression: his green eyes penetrated through me as if they emanated from the shadows. He was long and lanky but strong and sinewy, as if he worked out on a regular basis.

“Hi,” I could hardly muster the word out of me. He stooped down and folded his arms over the edge of the display case so we were face to face with each other. He showed me a quaint smile, to which the corners of his eyes crinkled up.

“Hi.” His voice was smooth and low, with the biggest timbre I ever heard in my life. He made me think of a vampire.

“What can I do for you on this fine morning?” My heart pounded in my chest at the sight of him: I had no idea if it came from his towering, almost overwhelming height or from those deep, penetrating eyes that seemed to be gazing into my soul.

“I’m looking for a green cake… with Bailey’s or some kind of liqueur mixed in,” he stated to me.

“We have our Bailey’s chocolate cake and cupcakes for St. Patrick’s Day,” I replied.

“Only for St. Paddy’s Day, though?” he reiterated with a furrowing of his eyebrows.

“Pretty much. We do have a green cake in the works, though. It’s pistachio and chocolate, and we’re experimenting with green tea in some cupcakes as well. But I’ll tell you this.” I gestured for him to come in closer to me; when he did, I caught a whiff of a smoky cologne on the side of his neck. “I could put an order in and we could whip one up for you if you’d like.”

“Please do,” he said in a soft tone of voice. An absolute gentle giant, nothing like Ben. I reached to my left for the pen and the notepad to take it down.

“A green cake with Bailey’s incorporated?” I asked him.

“You know it, doll.” I picked up on a slight New Yorker accent: not the most exotic accent I had heard there in the bakery, but not the most common one, however. “Bailey’s, pistachio, and a chocolate layer on top.”

“Like a ganache?”

“Yeah, that! Something nice and nutty and chocolate with a bit of decadence drizzled within.”

I scrawled it all down in one fell swoop, and I could feel him looking at the pendant around my neck.

“And, may I have a name?” I asked him.

“Pete.”

“The dynamic Pete,” I repeated. “And an address?”

“I’m staying at the hotel across the street for the next week,” he replied. “Room 513.”

“Room 513, got it.”

“And I can pay then?”

“You absolutely can,” I assured him as I clicked the pen and tucked it back into the front pocket of my apron: I never intended it to do so, but he looked down the collar of my shirt when I put the pen back.

“You know, you are really beautiful,” he remarked to me with a slight twinkle to his eyes.

“You’re just saying that because you took a peek down my shirt,” I teased him.

“Not necessarily,” he assured me with a slightly smug look on his face. “I really do mean that, my dear.”

A warmth washed over me, and I bowed my head at that. I was glad that I had been growing out my bangs at that point because I would have wanted them to sweep over my face for that glamour magazine look for him anyway.

“Maybe when I have it delivered, I can have a note included that reads ‘from the gorgeous baker’,” I joked, but he looked on at me with a thoughtful look on his face.

I only joked around, but I would think about that look all day long.

There was another guy who came in later that day. He was tall as well, but he only leaned against the edge of the display case with only one elbow. He had the cutest bulbous nose and the smoothest lips, like little Rainier cherries, and the longest blackest curls I had ever seen in my life: at the crown of his head was a tiny plume of silver about the size of a thumb of ginger.

His electric blue eyes locked onto me as if he was watching me from the nearest lighthouse overlooking the ocean.

“Hi,” he greeted me; his voice made me think of molasses given it was rich and full and yet very soft. He showed me a sweet little grin which hung off to the side a bit.

“Hi,” I returned the favor to him.

“Word on the street is that you make a mean cheesecake here,” he told me.

“And you’d be right, too,” I assured him. “Classic New York, plus Basque and Japanese. And we also have a raspberry cheesecake, and a cinnamon apple one.”

“Cinnamon apple, really?” He raised his eyebrows and his entire face lit up

“We make it for the Jewish New Year and the first day of fall,” I explained. “There’s this one Jewish family who comes in the day before Rosh Hashanah and they always ask me for it.”

“Oh, man, that sounds amazing,” he decreed with a hand pressed to his chest. “I’m Jewish so I’ll have to remember that.” He waggled his eyebrows at me a bit, to which I smiled at him.

“What exactly makes it Japanese cheesecake, too?” he asked me.

“It’s really emphatic on the ‘cheese’ part,” I replied, “and to the point it’s quite pillowy and soft. The crust is thin and almost nonexistent. It’s so… delicate.” I raised my eyebrows and flicked the tip of my tongue to him.

“I really like the way you just said that,” he admitted to me.

“What, ‘delicate?’”

“Yeah. Like you were trying to entice me or something.”

“Because it is enticing,” I assured him with a little gyration of my head. “We’ve been thinking of incorporating a vein of matcha into that one, too. Make it a little more authentically Japanese.”

“I’m such a sucker for authenticity,” he confessed with a sly smirk and a shake of his head. “Those perfectly imperfect human breaths of fresh air in an otherwise phony world that’s becoming more and more fake as time goes on.”

“We try our best,” I assured him. “And I do, too.”

“It’s so brave,” he said, and he showed me the tip of his tongue as well as the hooding to his eyes. Even with a display case between us, I could feel something else in there. The whirring rush of a waterfall in a sunrise in a dance of fire and water. Where Pete gave me a dose of heat, this boy here sent a chill up my spine and a feeling that I had found an oasis in an otherwise scorched, parched desert. A great number of souls came through the front door day by day, but none of them had as much of a hold on me as these two guys.

“Sign me up for a New York one,” he suggested, and he flexed his long thin fingers before me. A fair number of thoughts went through my mind at the sight of those fingers.

“A whole one or a slice?” I offered him.

“I’ll just take a slice for the time being,” he quipped. “You can take it over to the hotel across the street to Room 518.”

“Room 518, really?”

“Yeah.” He paused. “Something significant about the hotel across the way?”

I shook my head. “No, not really.”

“You wouldn’t react like that if you didn’t have a significance to it,” he pointed out to me. I locked onto his blue eyes again. He dug out the truth from me just like how standing on the edge of the ocean washed away the sands of time and beheld the truth.

“There was a guy who came in here earlier who’s staying over there,” I told him. “Like… a few doors down from you.”

I couldn’t lie to him. I had stretched the truth with Ben in my letters to him, but I could never do that with him. And I had a feeling that I could never do it with Pete, either.

“Wow.” He raised his eyebrows. “It’s gonna be busy over there, if you catch my drift.” He chuckled, a full hearty chuckle that sounded as though it came from deep within him. I couldn’t help but chuckle as well.

“What’s your name?” I asked him as I held the tip of the pen to the notepad.

“Alex,” he replied.

“Jew boy Alex,” I reiterated. “I’ll make sure there’s a nice, fat slice of rich, decadent New York cheesecake waiting for you and your tummy.”

He flashed me a wink, and a shiver ran up my spine. I watched him go out to the street with those long black curls drifted back from his head in thick waves.

I may have lost Ben but I had been sent two more angels in his wake. But then there was the rumor that had been started against me in particular by the kids down the street.

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