#redheaded bouncer

[christinered]

Road House Official Trailer #1 - Patrick Swayze Movie HD

Do you think some girl ever told him after he dropped his drawers...."I thought you'd be bigger."?

Yeah. I think about these things sometimes.

I have that kind of mind.

~Red

[hope-you-brought-kneepads-bitch]

Club Fun

A/n: this is a draft that I’ve had for a while and I just kept putting it off posting because I wasn’t sure I liked it but I wanted to put it out and see what other people think 💕 thanks for reading I appreciate it 💕

(This also isn’t proofread at all soooo I’m sorry for any mistakes)

Warnings: 18+ minors DNI, adult themes and Nat being a pain in the ass

"Come on Y/n how bad could a gentleman's club be?" Nat pushed you through the doors even with you groaning and pushing back against her

"Nat I have a literal alien in my body and I don't know what will set them off" you felt a grumble in your head

"I am not a prepubescent teenager Y/n I am sophisticated"

"Only because you can't survive without me out of my body" you grumbled back and Nat really wished she could understand what you were saying to the alien

You looked up and sighed "okay let's go in"

Nat smiled wide and guided you through the small hallway to the second bouncer "hey we're Nat and Y/n, we have a table booked under Tony Stark?"

The man looked you both over the at the list seeing your names and allowing you past "please keep your hands to yourselves and don't try and get any dancer's numbers because they'll just laugh at you" he laughed and you rolled your eyes turning to Nat

"does he think we're kids? Pretty sure I can control myself around some scantily clad women"

Nat scoffed "talk about yourself Y/n, I see a hot woman staring at me I'll give her money my number, my soul anything the sexy lady wants"

You giggled "you'll get us kicked out the moment we sit down at the booth"

Nat ignored you as she eyed up a waitress walking past who gave her a wink in response "yeah yeah whatever I'm gonna go and get some free drinks" she patted you on the back leaving you alone, well with the alien obviously

"We are being stared at"

You glanced around not noticing anything "what are you talking about?"

They turned your body around suddenly nearly falling over before you managed to steady yourself "dude what the fuck, you can't just turn me around like that!" You whisper shouted at them but they ignored you

"There is a redhead lady who is looking at us and biting her lip, I think she is older than us" you were pointed towards said woman and she gave you a wink

"Oh you're right, do you think she wants us to go over?" Before you could say anything else the woman in question walked over to you "hi pretty girl, do you need some help? You look a little lost"

The sweetness in her voice made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and your mouth go dry "oh-er no-no thanks my friend is just getting drinks" you glanced at Nat who was very much not getting your drinks but instead was making out with the waitress she followed after

"It seems you're friend is a little busy right now, I'll take you to your booth" she pulled you towards a booth, her hand gripping your own sweaty mess of a hand.

You were near enough thrown into the booth and the woman followed close near enough sat in your lap "how about I get us some shots? They should loosen your cute tongue"

"...okay" you whispered and the women smiled kissing you on the cheek turning around and singling for a waiter to come over with their tray of shots

"How many miss Scarlet?" The man asked and she told him to put the tray down "thanks Brucie"

He left without another word and she took a glass from the tray pointing it towards you "here you go pretty girl" she tipped the drink towards your mouth and you opened your mouth taking the drink "good?"

You nodded licking the left over liquid from your lips "yeah it's good"

The woman's piercing green eyes were locked onto yours sitting in silence for a few moments before she spoke again "can I interest you in a dance?" She asked sweetly and you shook your head maybe a little too much making her pout

"Awe are you sure? I can relive all of that clear tension coming off of your shoulders, you're too pretty to be stressed"

She stood up bringing you with her and walking off towards Nat who managed to pull her face away from the waitress long enough to talk to you

"Y/n! This place is amazing! This is Maria, she's great" her ragged breath made you laugh "I'm sure she is amazing Nat"

Maria looked behind you to the woman and winked "so Scarlet, is this your new little conquest?"

So her name was Scarlet, or maybe just her stage name, you were certain no one gave their real names out, but this Maria did? She's not a dancer though you guessed?

Scarlet's arms wrapped around your waist getting your attention and she chuckled when you jumped "don't think too hard there pretty girl" she looked to Maria "I offered a dance but she turned me down Mia"

You couldn't see her face but you knew she was pouting about you refusing a dance "Y/n you can't refuse a dance! That's the whole point of the club!"

"I know but-

"No buts Y/n! Go on Scarlet take her to a room and help her relax" Nat demanded ignoring your embarrassed face

"Whatever the costumer wants they get Natalia" Scarlet smirked grabbing your hand leading you through the club away from the safety of people and noise for a quiet private room

"You need to relax honey, I promise you're okay I'll take such good care of you" she purred sitting you down on the couch and you finally looked at her properly seeing the dark red blazer wrapped around her body

"Y/n your body is heating up is everything okay?"

You couldn't answer them instead watching Scarlet unbutton her blazer dropping it to the floor

"Holy shit" you whispered letting your eyes wonder over her lingerie barley covering her body, it was useless being there in all honesty, her breasts were practically spilling out and that's where you met her finger pointing to her face "my eyes are up here princess" she chuckled and your eyes snapped up

"S-sorry!"

She giggled coming towards you and straddling your lap placing a leg on either side "don't say sorry for admiring beauty honey, let's start with your name again"

"Y-y/n" you whispered feeling your hands unintentionally land on her thighs and she gasped "getting bold Y/n? I like it"

"You were moving too slow so I needed to help you Y/n"

You knew they where right, you had a woman, a hot woman you may add on your lap wearing the hottest thing you’ve ever seen and yeah sure it’s part of her job but you could have fun right?

“Get out of your pretty head Y/n” she brought you out of your thoughts and jumped at how you could feel her breath on your face as she whispered in your ear “so Y/n are you going to tell me what you I can do for you?

“This is all new to me so I don’t know what to ask for”

Scarlet looked over you and your slightly trembling body “how about a kiss?" She didn't really wait for answer before kissing you on the lips softly, you remained frozen until you were mentally slapped by your symbiote

"Y/n I do not get aroused or feel sexual tension but even I am suffering through this air of arousal, kiss her back"

You relaxed into the kiss sighing as you kissed her back, feeling Venom slip into your body and elongate your tongue and force her mouth open slipping the long tongue inside and wrapping around her own, Scarlet either didn't realise or didn't care because she moaned into the kiss trying to gain some kind of control

When you both had to pull away for some air Scarlet was shocked seeing the tongue lull out of your mouth "what the hell is that? Looks like your tongue had an erection" when she laughed and didn't run away from you or slap you your heart grew ten sizes, it was nice you guessed if still little strange.

"Can you even talk with that thing?" she giggled and wen to kiss you again but you pulled away letting your tongue return to its normal size

"Everthing okay?" She placed a kiss on your cheek as a reassurance and you smiled

"Have you ever heard of symbiotes?"

She sat back on your lap thinking about it "like that alien that tried to destroy the world? Are you that alien?"

You shook your head "no! No at all, I was just infect-sorry chosen to be a host for one...do you want to meet them?"

Scarlet had to bite her lip to keep herself from laughing "well this is nothing like my normal encounters here but sure, let's see the little alien"

Venom didn't need to be told twice and their tendrils appeared forming a their head smiling at Scarlet

"You are a very pretty lady miss Scarlet, I cannot feel aroused or these silly human feelings but you have a hot body and Y/n agrees"

"Venom! Just stop talking" you groaned trying to get away but you were still trapped under Scarlet's thighs

"God this is so weird, it's a good thing you're hot" she lent forward placing a kiss on your neck and then biting you there, you looked at Venom whispering "go back"

They looked at you funny so you said it again "it's a private moment now Venom"

They understood and retreated back into your body quickly and you focused back on the feeling of her soft lips on your neck.

******************************************************************

“My lips are chapped Nat” Maria pulled away from Nat who still tried chasing after her “oh come on, they’re not that bad”

The waitress gently pushed her away “you’re insatiable, I like it, give me a few minutes and I’ll take you somewhere nice”

‘Where?” She questioned

“To the best room we have, it’s got a mini fridge” Maria kissed Nat again softly refusing to let her take over the kiss again “plus we can watch the cameras for your friend”

Nat’s eyes widened “there’s cameras in the room?”

Maria laughed “obviously, how else are we supposed to protect our girls?”

She lead Nat through the club into a closed off area and through a door to a room with a couch, a mini fridge and the cameras she mentioned

“This looks like a pervs hangout” Nat commented but Maria just rolled her eyes pushing the redhead to the couch “just sit there and be quiet, if that’s something you can do”

"I prefer being loud" Nat winked

"I can’t wait to prove that later" Maria took some wine out of the fridge and sat next to the woman giving her a kiss on the cheek “okay let’s get this started" she turned on the Tv changing the channel through the rooms before finding you and Scarlet

"Ugh boring they're just talking" nat looked through the screen, she hoped she could read lips so she knew what you were saying, when she got a closer look she noticed Venom's head at the side of you "what the fuck?!"

Maria put down the wine quickly looking at these screen "what's that?! Is that a puppet? Does your friend have a puppet kink? A little odd but I'm sure Scarlet can work with that" Maria was laughing but Nat only let out a small chuckle too focused on why the hell Venom decided to make themselves known, suddenly Scarlet lent forward kissing and started kissing your neck

"The puppet worked" Maria laughed and Nat managed a small laugh "hah yeah sure" she turned the TV off instead not wanting to focus on you and your weird alien friend, she had no idea why Scarlet didn't mind it though

"Well they're boring now"

******************************************************************

Scarlet's lips moved up to your ear "you're not the only one with a secret princess"

Your smile dropped and you pulled away suddenly but Scarlet just laughed "it's okay honey nothing horrible, do you know what a coven is?"

You flexed your hands on her thighs and swallowed nervously "like witches?"

She smiled "yes"

"Are you a witch?"

She simply nodded and flashed her red eyes making you gasp "shit that's so cool!" You were memorised, maybe a little scared since witches were seen as strange or evil but a dancer at a gentleman's club couldn't be evil...right?

"I'm not evil honey, just someone who gets bored easily and needs something to do"

Did she read your mind?? You looked at her surprised and she giggled "yes princess I can read minds and yours has been a delight to listen too"

That's so weird but cool as well, so what so we do now?"

"Well, my real name is Wanda to start with, I use Scarlet because the guys like it, and for security of course"

You were really trying to listen honestly you were but your eyes kept flickering down to her chest

"You're not listening to a thing I'm saying are you?" Wanda laughed using her finger to lift up your chin "it's okay, I know what you really want" she lent forward to kiss you but a bell went off stopping her in her tracks "oooh sorry princess times up"

She tried pulling away but your fingers dug into her thighs keeping her there "but you were going to kiss me again?”

She raised her eyebrow and smiled at you "I know, I love leaving my clients on edge, it guarantees they come back"

This time Venom growled and appeared again "that seems a little unfair Wanda, we showed you me, I think we deserve a treat"

She just shrugged managing to pull away from you standing up and covering herself with her robe "are you saying you don't want to see me again?"

Both you and Venom were confused

"Because if I slept with you that's what would happen, and I'm quite enjoying your company"

"She is teasing us Y/n"

You agreed "she is"

Wanda watched you as you were thinking, and you knew she was reading your mind "you have some hot thoughts in there Y/n, a stark difference from when we first started, now come on, your friend will be waiting for you"

You sighed reluctantly getting up and going past Wanda when she gave you a small smack on your ass "hey!"

She laughed "I couldn't help myself honey"

****************************************************************

"Nice to finally see you two out of the room, did you give her the full dance Scarlet?" Maria laughed glancing between the two of you and the redhead smiled wrapping her fingers around your waist "she had a wonderful time Maria, she'll be coming back tomorrow night"

Nat gasped and you looked at her "you're coming back?! Wow Y/n, she must've given you the full treatment eh?"

When your face blushed Wanda kissed your cheek "you're so cute malen'kiy you can have my number, so call me when you're here tomorrow and I'll come and get you"

You nodded and went to kiss Wanda but you weren't too sure until Wanda pulled you in close kissing you hard

"Oooooohhhh!" Nat exclaimed excitedly "Maria did you see that?! My little virgin is getting somewhere!"

You instantly pulled back going bright red "Nat! I'm not a virgin! I've slept with loads of women"

Both women laughed and Wanda tried hiding her own smirk "it's okay princess, I'm an excellent teacher"

You groaned pulling away from the woman "come on Nat before I sink into the ground from embarrassment"

Nat giggled and kissed Maria one more time "so it look's like I'll see you tomorrow?"

"I'll have the usual room ready" she winked in response kissing the redhead again

"Do I get a good-bye kiss?" Wanda pouted and you rolled your eyes walking back to her "I never expected this coming into a strip club" holding the woman's face in your hands you kissed Wanda softly before pulling away then kissing her nose

"Hmm you're my favourite client malen'kiy"

"I have no idea what that Russian word means but I hope it's good"

Wanda giggled kissing the side of your head "Ty takaya ocharovatel'naya printsessa, dumayu, ya ostavlyu tebya ty moya"

You heard Nat soft gasp from the side of you and you whipped your head around to her "did she say something shocking?"

Wanda looked to Nat shaking her head and Nat nodded "just some sickly sweet thing about you, typical for you to come into a gentleman's cub for a dance from a stripper to come out with a potential partner"

You shrugged "hey I can't help it if I have incredible game"

The group burst out laughing even Wanda joined in making you pout

"Y/n I love you I really do but you're really terrible with women, I'm surprised Wanda actually made out with you"

You blushed hard leaner closer into Wanda "yeah well fuck you Nat" okay it wasn't the best comeback but its the only one you could think of

"It's okay Y/n I thought that was a very good comeback" Wanda kissed your cheek "okay honey, I've got to go back to work"

You started to talk back but a finger shushed your lips "I still need money my love but I want you back here tomorrow okay?"

You nodded "I'm definitely coming back all the time Wanda, I'll sit in the corner with a snack"

Wanda held in a giggle rubbing your shoulder "oh honey I don't think my clients would enjoy that"

"Then they'd to keep their hands off of you" you retorted and Wanda laughed "my little possessive girl don't worry, you'll get the special private dances"

It was your turn to blush hard again and you had to keep yourself steady "o-oh okay cool yeah! Great"

Nat laughed “you’re a mess, come on idiot let’s go”

[waayoutofline]

Murder on the Dance Floor (part 2)

(from the When the Cat and the Mouse Go For a Midnight Dance series)

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Marvel Masterlist

Pairing: Natasha Romanoff x F!Reader

Prompt: Vigilante!Reader x Agent!Natasha

Summary: Natasha isn’t having the best of luck in trying to bring one of the ex Hydras general down. You however may be able to assist her. Will you two be able to cooperate? Or is it your fate to always stand on opposite teams?

Warnings: A tiny bit suggestive.

WORD COUNT: 2724

The pulsing beat of the music could be heard from outside the dimly lit street, matching Natasha’s tense state. She was usually calm, collected when handling missions, but this was the exception—because this time, she was working with you. Just the thought left a bitter taste in her mouth.

Honestly, if someone had told her a year ago that she’d agree to cooperate with you of all people, she would have laughed right to their face. But that didn’t matter now. She needed to get her hands on Horvat, and, unfortunately, you were her best—if only—shot at it.

Adjusting her earpiece, Natasha willed herself forward, slipping past security and flashing one of her fake IDs to the bouncer. After a quick nod, she was finally able to sweep her gaze over the crowd moving around the dance floor. In her earpiece, Yelena’s voice crackled. “See her yet?”

“No,” Natasha muttered, keeping her tone low as she moved toward a secluded spot by the bar. “She’s late. And honestly, I’m not even surprised.”

The blonde hummed thoughtfully. “Hmm. She seems…”

“Irresponsible? Selfish? A brat?” Natasha interrupted, her words sharp as she shrugged off her vest and left it on the stool beside her. “Those are just on top my head.”

“I was going for interesting. I have never seen anyone getting under your skin the way she does.” The redhead rolled her eyes, tapping her feet on the ground as she was searching between the participants.

”This is just unprofessional. I mean, who even isn’t on time for their own plan?” She sighs. “I should've known she’d pull something like this.”

Natasha remembers perfectly your encounter a few hours ago. 

The two of you ended up meeting in a neutral spot to, as you put it, “chat things up.” It was weird for the two of you to just… talk. You were as teasing as ever when you explained that the way for you both to gain access to the Hydra operative was to do something as ridiculous as joining a dance competition.

“You are joking.” Natasha repeated, baffled. But you made no move to correct yourself. 

“It is what it is, Agent Romanoff. Seems our friend is one of those eccentric types—loves all forms of art, but dance is his favourite. The competition is being held here by him.” You handed her a slip of paper with a hastily scribbled address and a list of pairs. “These are the couples registered.”

Natasha scanned it, her eyebrows furrowing slightly. “Wait—some of these couples, I know them. They’re actual professionals, Raven,” she noted, using your codename. Not like she was sure that the name you’d given her was even your real one.

“Oh, calm down agent. You’ve got me on your dream team now,” you answered with a wink that did nothing to reassure her. “And it’s not like we have other options. The winners get a super-duper exclusive VIP card that grants access to the elite party Horvat is hosting.”

Natasha’s reluctance must’ve been clear because you sighed in exasperation at the clear lack of enthusiasm. “Look, it’s the best I could do given your strict rules, alright?”

“I wouldn’t say that not murdering or maiming anyone counts as strict rules,” she replied, unimpressed. 

“Oh, come on. Where’s your sense of adventure? Aren’t you the fearless Black Widow?” you teased, your voice low, just loud enough for her to hear. You leaned in, a playful smirk tugging at your lips. “And here thought you were this fearless superspy. But See, I have a different perspective. To these people, we’re just amateurs. That’s our advantage.”

“Is it?” Natasha raised an eyebrow, her gaze sharp, but something about the way you were looking at her made her uneasy.

You grinned, stepping closer, your breath warm against her ear as you leaned in conspiratorially. “Absolutely. They won’t even see it coming when I take them down one by one…”

The intensity in your voice caught her off guard. There was something almost dangerous in your tone, that manic glint in your eyes that she couldn’t quite ignore. Natasha’s eyes narrowed as she put distance and shot you a warning glare.

You slightly raised your hands in mock surrender, but there was still something in your smile that made her pulse quicken. “Alright, alright, no need for that. I promise, no murder on the dance floor. Besides, I’m not here to show off.”

Her gaze never left you, knowing better than to believe that. You thrived on chaos, on the twisted thrill of it all. And she hated how it seemed to pull her in each time, how close you were making her feel to something she couldn’t quite control.

“This is the plan,” you continued, your voice soft but insistent. “We get through a few rounds, win that VIP pass, and make it into Horvat’s inner circle. Nice and easy.”

You closed the distance even more, your face just inches from hers. Without hesitation, you pulled a card from your pocket, letting it slip between your fingers with a practised ease. “Here’s the address. Dress to impress. Preferably black and burgundy?” you murmured, your hand brushing against her chest as you slipped it into the pocket of her vest, your fingers lingering a moment longer than necessary. “The color really suits your eyes.” You purred. 

Natasha could feel the heat of your touch, every movement too intimate for comfort, and yet, she couldn’t look away. You had a way of getting close—too close—and she watched every movement, every subtle shift of your body, all while her heart beat a little faster than she wanted to admit. It was like every single nerve on her body screaming in conflict whenever you acted this dangerously. 

She is only bought out of her stupor when she notices a shift in between the crowd. For an instant, she thinks that the contest already started, but that thought quickly goes away when she saw the true reason for the multitude to part like melted butter.

There you are, walking as if you owned the place with a confidence that bordered on arrogance. Seemingly ignoring all the eyes landing on you like dominoes and yet preening under the attention like a lazy cat basking under the sun. Your smile was deceivingly innocent, gentle yet cocky in the subtlest of ways. 

Her eyes couldn’t help to take you in. 

The dark red dress you wore hugged your body perfectly, like a second skin, as if melting with each of your movements. The dress was seamless, held up only by thin straps that dipped into a daring neckline, exposing just enough to make anyone want more. The shimmering sequins embroidered along the curve of your hips glinted teasingly under the retro disco ball, casting a mesmerizing array of shimmering reds. The lacy fringe of the hem stopped just shy of your mid-thigh, blending with the flowery skirt that revealed both your legs in tantalizing glimpses.

As embarrassing as it was, she was just another victim that couldn’t seem to take her eyes away. Try to regain composure, she did her best to maintain a bit of her dignity, not wanting to give you any leash for you to tug on. 

Taking a steadying breath, Natasha forced herself to fold her arms, straighten her spine, and lift her chin, trying to cloak herself in her usual calm and untouchable persona. But her eyes had a mind of their own, betraying her as they lingered on you, watching every movement despite herself.

When you finally reached her, your gaze met hers, and Natasha had the unsettling feeling that you saw right through every barrier she’d put up. That awareness sent a chill of discomfort down her spine. Stepping closer, you set your purse down on the stool beside her with slow, deliberate movements that she couldn’t help but follow. Without breaking eye contact, you smirked.

“Enjoying the view, Agent Romanoff?” you purred, each word slipping from your lips as if laced with honey. But Natasha knew that the sweetness could be someone’s poison just as easily.

She scoffed. “Your arrogance is staggering.”

Feigning a pout, you tilted your head, feigning hurt. “Is it so wrong to give a lady a compliment once in a while?” Then, with a playful glint in your eyes, you leaned in, letting your gaze trace over her in a way that was unmistakably bold, yet foolishly innocent. “Well, I’m not scared to admit that you look gorgeous.”

You complimented while taking her in. 

Her hair was pinned up into a tight braid that left her neck exposed. The dark red shirt she wore clung to her perfectly, the satin fabric being comfortable and hinting at the lines of muscle and curves beneath. Sleeveless, it exposed her toned arms. The neckline went straight into a tight V, just enough for showing the delicate, pale skin of her sternum. Opting for practically, she paired it with paired with sleek, tailored trousers in a matching deep red—almost black in the low light (not that she had in mind your previous recommendation when choosing this of course). A polished belt cinched her waist, the silver buckle slightly off centred.  There was no doubt in your mind that she wore a strapped in blade attached to her ankle, ready and waiting. 

The thought did nothing but send a rush of excitement up your spine.

A blur at the corner of your vision catches your attention, and the teasing persona you reserve for Natasha vanishes abruptly. As much as you enjoyed being the cause of her losing her composure, you had a job to do—and you’d be damned if you failed.

Without giving Natasha a chance to react, you catch her shoulders and pull her against you, manoeuvring both of you closer to the bar. Natasha flinches slightly at the sudden movement, instinctively placing one arm around your waist and the other on the counter to steady herself. Her eyes widen as she meets your gaze up close, the rich scent of vanilla filling her senses.

Your cool hand resting on her bare shoulder makes her breath catch in her throat. “What do you think you’re doing?” she manages to say, intending it to sound like a reprimand, but the words come out soft and breathless, betraying her surprise.

“Just trying to avoid starting at a disadvantage,” you replied smoothly, as if the lack of distance between you two wasn’t affecting you in the slightest. Natasha hated that—hated how unbothered you seemed. If anything, you leaned in even closer, your lips hovering just shy of her ear. Natasha heard a muted complaint of disgust, followed by her sister saying something about “This is worse than Papa and Mama.Cutting off now.” She wasn’t really paying attention.

“Over my shoulder. One of the three judges,” you murmured, voice low and soft against her skin. “They’re not just ranking our dancing skills, but the… chemistry between partners. So if you want this to go smoothly, I’d suggest pretending you don’t hate my guts for a while.”

The last sentence dripped with a teasing mockery, and Natasha clenched her jaw, willing herself not to react. The word "hate" echoed in her mind, though, twisting uncomfortably as if not really settling in. Hate wasn’t exactly the word she’d use to describe her…complex feelings about you. Sure, you were frustrating, irritating, and always knew how to push her buttons with an infuriating ease. 

But did she really hate you?

She shook her head. This was exactly what she couldn’t stand about you—the way you made her doubt herself, fall into chaos in her own mind. She couldn’t afford to debate what she really thought about you now. Closing her eyes briefly, she exhaled, letting her professional persona handle her next movements. This was a mission like any other. And Natasha Romanoff always succeeded in her missions.

Just as she was about to locate the judge you’d told her about, her eyes fell on three men across the dance floor, next to the snack table. There was no mistaking the way their eyes draped all over you, watching you with no shame as their mouths likely ran with sick and degrading comments about what they would do with someone like you.

A tightening feeling in her chest struck her, taking root until the infection controlled her next actions. Strengthening her grip on your waist, Natasha pressed further into you, subtly spinning your bodies so that her taller frame shielded you from predatory eyes. Noticing the change in her demeanour and the way she glared at something behind you, you tilted your head slightly but decided to not comment on it. As much as you liked to keep her on her toes, you knew when to refrain yourself. 

“I assume you got the judge’s backgrounds?” she muttered, leaning in closer, taking a page from your book. Her hand slid over your waist, caressing your side while maintaining a firm, almost possessive grip. Lost at the moment, you opened your mouth to answer, but hesitated, caught off guard by the soft, deliberate touch. You couldn’t decide whether to feel relieved that she was listening to you or startled by how her fingers seemed to burn against your covered skin.

Natasha’s eyes glinted as they dropped onto you, a flicker of satisfaction crossing her features at the rare sight of you losing your so well maintained composure. You never stuttered, always remaining a step ahead, but for once, it was you who was caught off guard. If only for a fleeting moment, Natasha couldn’t help but take the moment in, greedily absorbing your hesitation. Is this what you felt when you got under her skin?

For anybody who glared at you two, it would seem like an intimate couple, flirting and rendering each other speechless with seductive flirtation and close touch. If that's what you demanded of her, then that’s what Natasha will deliver. 

Sensing this shift, you cleared your throat and did your best to regain control. To return to your sleek persona that you always maintained. “You assume well. The first one is Ethan Cole, a dance professor on a wealthy university. Had big dreams for Hollywood, but his addiction to gambling and alcohol closed those doors for him. Owes Horvat some numbers.”

Deliberately, you moved your hand to her jaw, redirecting her face to the right, then leaned in as if you were whispering something inappropriate in her ear. “The grey-haired man, Richard Harper. A self-declared “man of the arts,” you stated dramatically. “More like a man of perversion. He owns several sex clubs, most of which don’t follow safety regulations and serve as covers for prostitution rings.” Natasha clenched her jaw ever so slightly, the feeling of it under your fingertips making you sigh in satisfaction.

“Perhaps when we’re done with this I ought to pay him a visit,” you taunted, making Natasha turn to face you with a warning glare. Before she had time to respond, you silenced her with a gentle but firm motion.

“Right behind me, just a few stools away. The woman with glasses and uptight lips. Leah Montgomery. Our biggest threat to win the competition. She was in competitive figure skating, pretty good, too. Until tragedy struck and she ruptured her ACL. Clearly, she hasn’t got over it yet as she now spends her days tormenting her pupils, “encouraging” them in partaking into illegal substances to win her titles.” 

Just as you finished, the low bass music cut off, a call for all the participants to gather on the dance floor resonating through the walls. As everyone started to move toward the centre, Natasha eventually released her grip around you. Just as you were about to tease her about the reluctance, she placed her hand on your lower back, guiding you through the crowd.

Surprised, but not wanting to reveal your true feeling, you hummed pleasantly, masking the unexpected stir in your chest. Finally reaching your spot, Natasha extended her hand to you. Her eyes look down on you, the green of her irises going a few shades of green darker. But this time, you can't find the anger. No…it was something else that you haven’t quite seen before. 

Accepting her offering, you place your hand into hers. 

This will be interesting. 

[show-us-kaidenshenandoah]

i was watching the movie again and went "...wait a second" at the designs of The Gammas (or Gamma Mu Mu). i looked up trivia and couldn't find anything to confirm (or deny, i guess) my thoughts, so i guess?? this is a theory? (someone with a DVD/Bluray version, please check the Special Features for me to see if anyone mentions this. i have no idea) i'm surprised i haven't seen this parallel thrown around more but yeah, i think im onto something if this is a new thought in the Goofy Movies fanbase lol

sorry for the low quality of the image, ill type the transcript up in the post to make up for how blurry my text is. there just isn't a lot of pictures of these guys, period, much less that i could find of this specific scene so i could make my point

but yeah, my theory is The Gammas are all based off the classic villains in the Mickey-Donald-Goofy multiverse (plus Bigfoot, but i know many people noticed the redhead member of the Gammas is just "a shaved down version of Bigfoot" from the first "A Goofy Movie" lol)

(also, im a novice at learning about this extended Mickey-Donald-Goofy multiverse, im still new to the Carl Banks comics and havent seen all the media. so forgive me if im wrong at any point and please kindly correct me ♡)

so there's:

named: Bradley Uppercrust III — no idea if he is based off of anyone

named: Tank — based off of: Pete / Peg Leg Pete (but make him unrelated to PJ, basically) (hence, why he looks the least like his source, if im correct. he has a shirtless scene where he's revealed to have a farmer's tan, that i think you could argue is a very subtle nod that would have been slightly closer to a Pete-like coloration. but yeah, if im right, they had to make Tank's pallette lighter ao he wouldn't be mistaken as a relative of PJ's)

unnamed bearded member — based off of: the main Beagle Boys trio (Babyface) (Bigtime) (if you don't know the lore: there's a lot of Beagle Boys as the gag is they're a BIG family, but the main trio in the original "Ducktales" show is the first set of parentheses. the second set of parentheses is their names in the classic Ducktales comics. both the original "Ducktales" show and the reboot "Ducktales" show features both sets of the trio/s though. though the Carl Barks version of the comics preferred the route of "they go by their prison-numbers rather than their names". also, inbetween the two "Ducktales" TV shows, a lot of Disney media just merged the two trios into one kind-of-amorphous trio, as far as i can tell, like with "Mickey, Donald, and Goofy: the Three Muskateers". but still, they're part of a HUGE family who tend to be clones of said main trio. but i digress. they're a confusing family lmao rip)

unnamed member wearing sunglasses — based off of: the main Beagle Boys trio (Bankjob) (Bouncer) (i like to think his sunglasses (and i guess also the unnamed bearded member's glasses, but mainly these sunglasses) as a homage to the Beagle Boys' black masks lol)

named: Slouch — based off of: the main Beagle Boys trio (Bugle) (Burger) (also: im entirely banking off differentiating Bugle/Burger to Slouch and Bankjob/Bouncer to sunglasses-guy on how Bugle is commonly reffered to as "a hipster" and i personally associate fedoras with a similar type of crowd. i could have those mixed up tho, idk, neither of these guys even have any lines lol but i do like the idea that maybe the fedora is flipped like that as a reference to the Beagle Boys' billed caps? idk, that might be a stretch) (i would also like to mention i hc these guys are The Beagle Brats now in college-age, who are an unnamed trio that goes by "1, 2, and 3" in the comics but, from what i can tell, that the Beagle Brats in general (not 1, 2, and 3 specifically) were first seen(?) in the "Ducktales" original show (who also have a v small cameo in the reboot) that were meant to parallel the triplets Huey and Dewey and Louie; these specific ones im talking about the nephews of the general-amorphous-main-trio of Beagle Boys, but it is possible to call any Beagle Boy who is young a Beagle Brat. but, yeah, i have no basis for why i think Slouch and the other two are specifically the Beagle Brats 1, 2, and 3; that's entirely headcanon)

unnamed member that's a redhead — based off of: Bigfoot in "A Goofy Movie" (again, i know a lot of people caught this one lmao)

unnamed member that has black hair — based off of: Mortimer Mouse (who was once also known aa Montmorency Rodent/Rodawn, but they've been retconned into being the same character by now, but that'a a tangent.) (if you don't know the lore: Mortimer is a bit complicated to describe? but the tldr is that he's basically Mickey's love-rival for Minnie. to go more in depth though, uh, he's more wealthy, usually, and claims to be "in love" with Minnie Mouse but is also a jerk and she generally does not have any interest in him (well, unless the plot the writer wants includes a love-triangle). Pete is usually considered a more recognizable villain, so Mortimer rarely shows up, esp since Pete can be easily be written as also harboring feelings for Minnie. so sometimes shows re-write Mortimer from this personality so he is more distinct, sometimes as a toxic friend of Mickey's or overall bad influence but well-intentioned; so the character has some flexibility. but i know him best, as do many others, via his "House of Mouse" recurring role where he'd show up just to try to break Mickey and Minnie up or otherwise flirt with any female guests. i think he works well in competition wirh Pete, who has more of a Goliath-and-David relationship with Mickey when Mickey and Pete are antagonistic, as Mortimer is an antagonist that is just as clever and capable as Mickey (if not more so, since he is clever, competent, and generally wealthy enough to have more resources than Mickey) but does not have Mickey's sincerity or good intentions. though i dont mind how kid shows re-write him either, i think toxic friends and bad influences are good lessons for children to learn. i like Mortimer being a frenemy who has good intent but bad follow-through lol but anyway, thank you for allowing me this debatably-overexplanation of Mortimer since he's my favorite and also, uh, the only one here where #1 he isnt in the Goofy Movie series and ergo may not be known to others, #2 has a consistent personality beyond "bad guy in story" i can talk about unlike the Beagle Boys trio/s and their huge extended family of might-as-well-be-clones, and #3, again, he's my favorite if you couldnt tell lol) (also, i do think you could argue this unnamed character's quiff is a nod to Mortimer's mouse-ears tho, since there's a curve and all. and then the idea he has some stubble as a possible ref to Mortimer's whiskers is hilarious to me if my theory has water and he was intentionally designed after Mortimer lmao)

anyway, i apologize again if this idea has been discussed before. i really did try to google if anyone was spreading the same idea that The Gammas are just a fun College AU-Variant of these guys already

+ bonus, since i mentioned them, The Beagle Brats:

please let me know if you think the idea has merit, and especially let me know if Bradley is a reference to anyone (tho i can also fully buy Bradley being original to this movie!) thanks so much for reading ♡

ps. i am dyslexic so do forgive me for any misspellings. i am editing this unseriously from my phone ✌️

[bangaveragewhitewine]

✰ fic authors self-rec game ✰

When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics you've written, then pass it on to at least five other writers. Let's spread the self-love 🩷

@rebelfell thank you so much for tagging me!! this is fun and you’ve given me plenty more to read!! ☺️🩷

1. crazy-mad for you (bouncer!Eddie x bartender!reader)

this is something I am still so proud of, my first Eddie fic almost a year ago!!! I’m going to be honest, this is one of my fics I reread and just think ‘yeah this is great’

2. soft slow, morning glow (dad!Steve x mom!reader)

what started out as a rambling character study about whether Steve was a morning person or not became At Home With The Harringtons (which is still a wip I swear!) I love this little family, and DILF Steve?! Hello?! Love.

3. such a flirt! (bouncer!Eddie x bartender!reader)

more bouncer Eddie for the gals! I remember spending so long wanting to get this just right as a follow up to CMFY and I think it paid off! my love of cherries and redheads really can’t be hidden

4. feel the magic (Steve x reader)

Steve Harrington in the role he was made for - romantic lead in a Christmassy meet-cute. I still giggle and kick my legs about him tbh

5. the boy is mine (Eddie x reader)

this was part of a writing challenge that helped be beat a real writing funk, and reminded how fun writing Eddie is (especially when he’s goofy and in love w you)

I could go on and do some honourable mentions but this really helped me to remember how much I enjoyed my own fics!

🏷️ (no pressure, but it’s fun!!) (I’m tagging more than 5! try and stop me!)

@carolmunson @powderblueblood @loveshotzz @rosewaterandivy @oneforthemunny @superblysubpar @stevenose

[florianniss]

Here's some smut for your holiday enjoyment.

Dungeons and Drag Queens -

ratedE, identity porn, complete

It is Sunday. The food has been cleared, patrons long since gone. The tight-knit group of performers lounge around the table. Hair is let down, high-heeled shoes discarded. It’s a joyous atmosphere.

Robin is a hit. She laughs louder and harder than Steve has ever seen before, leaning against a pretty redhead who’s the stuck-up cheerleader type. A couple of hours spent watching a private show the Queens needed to test on an audience, however, has loosened her up. Her lipstick is smeared across her smiling face.

Steve stands by the bar near the stairs, watching his friend and her date bond with new friends. There’s something hopeful in the way they can be themselves here. Even the burly bouncers are enjoying the camaraderie.

“Steve,” Helen says, crooking a finger his way. “Don’t be afraid to wrinkle that fantastic suit. Come back to us.”

Steve smiles, feeling stiff, nervous. “I’m just fine right here.”

The whole table makes kissing sounds, mocking the way he’s so head over heels in love. It’s all in good fun; Steve knows they’re as happy for him as he is for himself. He’s just got to get past this waiting.

Steve glances at his watch and thinks about red scales on a mermaid dress, dangerous scarlet nails and an actual flaming throne for his Dragon Queen. It almost smoked them all out, but the effect was stunning and totally worth it. He’s kind of proud they’re taking his DnD campaign and turning it into a drag show.

He checks his watch again and does a quick calculation. They’ll have to take the highway to make it into the city in time. They’ve had these reservations for a while now, and the closer the date, the more and more anxious Steve becomes. He wants everything to be perfect.

The creak on the wooden stairs above him catches his undivided attention. One hand flies to the knot at his throat to straighten it, the other runs along the length to smooth it out. Stella tiptoes over and plants a wet one on the apple of his cheek, laughs, and then hands him a clean handkerchief.

“Oops! Wanna rub that off, Honey. Wouldn’t want anyone to get jealous.” And then, "Good luck!"

Steve hardy-hars at her and presses the cloth to his cheek, unworried about any jealousy, but concerned about lipstick on his white collar. He and Robin from JCPenneys put together a stellar look; it’s sex and confidence that he’s going for. Can’t afford to miss his mark.

Someone shorter than him appears on the final step and lifts the handkerchief out of his hand. Big brown eyes, dark, slicked-back hair. She’s dressed in a cornflower blue sundress that shows off her amazing legs and bare (bare!) feet, carrying a clutch purse in one bejeweled hand, a glittering gauzy scarf at her throat.

“Oh my god,” he says on a terrified inhale. 

She smiles shyly and touches the cloth to his cheek. Bare arms reveal clear, unmarked skin. She’s covered over her ink.

“You didn’t have to do that,” Steve says, weak in the knees at how lovely she is.

She laughs. Steve melts. “I wanted us to match.”

Catcalls erupt from the table, whistles and whoops and cheers. His date slots an arm through his elbow. Steve recovers and escorts her away.

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” Robin shouts. 

“That’s great advice! You should follow it!” Steve shouts back. The woman on his arm chuckles to herself.

The bouncer Steve head-butted once upon a time holds out a pair of sparkling strappy sandals. She takes them, holding tightly to Steve’s arm as she slides into them one at a time. He watches the graceful curve of her bare back as she bends over and has to close his eyes to stay focused.

Wayne’s bike awaits at the curb. It’s her virgin ride, the first other than the test drive up and down the driveway. The late afternoon is breezy, cooling fast. Steve holds out his leather jacket to keep her skin safe. He wouldn’t dream of taking her for a ride without it.

She helps Steve into his helmet, and he with hers. He thrills a little as she sinks into the seat behind him, as long, stockinged legs grip tightly around his own.

Steve risks temptation and runs an ungloved hand along the outside of her knee. It’s just as silky as he imagined. 

God, he’s the luckiest asshole alive.

She doesn’t distract him, other than the occasional squeeze of his elbow, her chin on the backside of his shoulder. Steve is glad because he doesn’t know what he’d do if she were to fondle the tightness of his crotch.

Steve straps the helmets and jacket to the bike while she watches, stunning smile on an amused face.

“I think we should work you into the show, somehow,” she teases. “Knight in Shining Armor that you are.”

Steve takes her hand and raises it to his lips; he’s liking this role he’s playing much more than he thought he would.

“Anything you desire, M’Lady.”

They are greeted with polite smiles, and Steve’s nervousness subsides again. Appreciative eyes linger on their joined hands, welcoming them, seating them, taking their orders without unsavory commentary.

“I think this might work,” she whispers conspiratorially, as if they’ve robbed a bank and gotten away with it. Her wine glass has a crescent-shaped lipstick smudge on it. One thumb runs seductively along the thin edge.

“Thought it would.” Steve absolutely did not. He is still terrified for his date; her heart must be racing just like his.

“It’s because of your James Bond vibe,” she continues, drinking him in once again. “People can’t take their eyes off you.”

Steve laughs quietly. He hasn’t noticed. He’s too busy watching her.

“Happy to be a distraction,” he says. She raises her fork to her mouth and Steve goes a little dizzy as her tongue pokes out.

God, he wants to be that fork.

They skip dessert and return to the bike, but something’s missing, and he says so.

“I want to take you dancing.”

She smiles, but it’s sad. “You think that’s a good idea?”

Her hesitation is understandable, and Steve doesn’t want to push things too far. It’s their first time out together, and he’s hoping for many, many more. Something primal inside of him wants to show her off, wants to flaunt her to the world, wants to shout that she’s his and nobody else can have her.

An idea presents itself, and Steve swivels his head, looking up and down the street. It’s fairly quiet, just the passing cars, and even that is few and far between. It’s Sunday, after all.

He turns the key in the bike and switches the radio on, tuning it until he finds something that will work. When he straightens and faces the love of his life, there’s a strange emotion on her face.

Steve slips a hand around her waist and pulls her in. “Would you like to dance?”

She melts into him, cheek on his shoulder, hair pushed up right into his nose.

He laughs. “That’s a yes.” 

They sway on the street. Steve closes his eyes and pretends they’re at some swanky, sweaty club. Pretends that they’re accepted the way they are, eyes passing over them like they’re just another couple in love.

It tweaks something inside his chest.

They decide to walk the three blocks to the hotel. Steve repositions the bike so it’s further off the street and up on its stand. He unfastens the packed bag. She holds a helmet under each arm, eyes shining with anticipation with what they’re about to do.

The reception inside the lobby is the same as the restaurant, pleasant smiles that flick over them nonchalantly. Steve recognizes that other people around them are staring, but they’re focused on him and not his date. Maybe he overdid it.

He doesn’t care. They’re opening the door to their room, and it’s cost him more money than he’s ever spent before. But as she closes and locks the door, draws the safety chain and turns to face him, Steve knows he will never deny her anything she wants.

He sets the bag on the floor and lifts a hand to take her scarf. She lifts her chin and looks away, and oh, the slide of pale blue fabric over her Adam’s apple makes him want to bite it. But he’s a gentleman, and he pushes that urge way down deep. Patient, he can be patient.

His date, however, cannot. She pushes him back against the wall with the palm of one hand and skewers him still with a look. The sound that comes from his throat is tortured, weak, and it’s not the way he wants to begin.

So he covers her fingers with his own and gently tugs them away. He gently brushes a stray strand of hair off her face and softly says her name.

“Nat.”

She smiles and the aggression subsides. “Biker Boy.”

Read on AO3

[autumnslance]

FFXIV Write 2024: 11 Surrogate

A Desertwalkers Weird West AU Story (I did not intend to write any of the FC AUs, but such things happen. How the Strikers' perpetual helpfulness lands them a new home...)

“Now hold on just a minute,” Zaine said, staring at the Landsguard officer. The doppro rider stared back, impatience evident. “This was supposed to be a temporary position.”

“I am simply the messenger,” the officer replied with a shrug of his mottled shoulders. “Take it up with the city if you wish to change the terms of the contract.”

Zaine stared down at the paper before him. He had sort of fallen into helping Stonewood’s judiciary with the claims office, as he was a decent mediator, able to make friends with both locals and those coming to the plains of Xak Tural for work in the ceruleum refineries and railway expansion. There were land disputes, and water disputes, and animal issues, and crop concerns...

But he was just here for the interim. They would find a real officer from Tuliyollal to take over, and Zaine and his sister could move on, exploring the land as they had planned. Once things settled down a bit for Stonewood and the friends they had made here.

The writ from the city, delivered by the increasingly impatient Landsguard officer, not only confirmed Zaine permanently for the role, but expanded the responsibilities—as someone dealing with the local property issues would also be responsible for estate settlement and the probate of wills.

“I might have to,” Zaine said, a headache coming on. “I didn’t really think they would hire an immigrant drifter into such a position.”

Then again, he and Aeryn had stood up to Baelsar and his aggressive expansion on behalf of this town and neighboring communities. That probably had a chunk to do with it.

The officer chuckled. “What you get for being good at it,” he said. “And Tuliyollal is more concerned with what one chooses to do, than where one is from. We could not have formed our nation otherwise.”

“Suppose that’s true,” Zaine muttered. “All right, I won’t take more of your time. I’d best speak to my sister and see what we do from here.”

“Great. Have a good day,” the officer said, leaving before Zaine could get his own farewell in.

Well. All right then.

He closed up his office for the day (and it really was his office now, wasn’t it?) and stepped out into the hot, dusty street. He thought of getting a drink, thought better of it, and continued on to the schoolhouse, where Aeryn had been helping out.

Aeryn was outside, class apparently dismissed for the day. She was talking to one of the adolescent students, a petite redhead she seemed fond of. Or maybe it was the girl’s uncle, a smarmy, fair-haired, gunblade-using bodyguard for the local coven, and sometimes bouncer for the Cat’s Eye Cabaret. Normally Aeryn didn’t notice anyone who noticed her. But there was...something...in the way her and the bodyguard interacted that made Zaine’s brotherly hackles rise.

His sister saw him coming now, smiling and waving cheerfully, her student following suit. Nice girl, that Ryne. Her mum was a lovely blonde mining foreman, often busy, hence the girl spending more time with her uncle. There was some connection to the cabaret owner, too. Zaine hadn’t thought he needed to worry too deeply about complicated family dynamics around here.

Maybe he would have to start.

Ryne stayed long enough to greet him before skipping off to meet with her friends, taking the hand of a dark-haired gal as the youths rushed off. Aeryn let out a deep breath. “I have something to talk to you about,” she said with no preamble.

“I have something to talk to you about,” Zaine answered, walking with her toward the rooms they were renting. “You go first.”

“The superintendent rode out today,” she said. “They want to extend my contract.”

Zaine frowned. “Thought this teaching gig was a temporary thing?”

“I thought so too, but they’re having trouble finding anyone qualified willing to come out here, and I’m apparently doing well enough for the board and the parents both. And the children are all so good…”

“And you want to stay,” Zaine said.

“I’ve thought about it,” Aeryn admitted. “It still may not be forever, but...for awhile?” She looked over at him.

“Well,” he said. “That could work. Considering my interim position isn’t so interim now.”

“Were you fired?”

“What? No! Why is that your first assumption?”

She rolled her eyes. “I’ve only known you my whole life.”

“Whatever, smartypants. It’s the opposite actually. They made my role permanent.”

Aeryn hugged him, grinning. “This is a good thing, right?”

He hugged her back. “I mean, yeah. I didn’t really expect it so it caught me off guard.”

“This is what you get for standing up to Baelsar.”

“I guess. You did too, though, and that might have convinced the board to keep you around.”

She shrugged. “I helped a little. You did most of it.”

He shook his head. He couldn’t ever seem to convince her that she was, possibly, more instrumental to such actions than himself. She would continue to blow it off until getting angry if pushed, so he let her change the subject.

“If we’re staying, we need somewhere to live besides a couple rented rooms.”

“I’ve thought about it,” he said. “Funnily enough, I am aware of available land around here. There’s a couple acres just outside town that I think between the two of use we could afford and manage, with our other work.”

“When you say a couple—”

“Literally two.”

She considered that, then nodded. “It’d be nice to have our own place. Weird, maybe, but nice.”

They stopped at the same time and looked at one another. Zaine began to smile, which made Aeryn smile in return.

“All right,” he said. “I guess we’re staying.”

[tddott]

ShowStopper (JoMaria)

Jazz Singer Anne Maria / Bouncer Jo

The club was busy tonight, people crowded around the bar wanting to whine down and relax. As some regulars sat at the booth, drinking and talking among themselves, others chose to grab a seat near the stage where a beautifully maintained piano was being checked over. Jo leaned against a wall, watching the crowd buzz with an electric atmosphere as she scanned through the crowd. She was lucky she got this job, the establishment wasn't too rough, but the extra muscle helped keep some of the regulars from getting too rowdy. All she had to do was look tough, something she enjoyed, and make sure a bar fight didn't break out. Everyone was excited this time, word that a local up-and-coming singer was performing tonight, Jo wasn't really a live music type- but the gossip and buzz over the performer had least caught her interest. She still maintained an unbothered expression, she wasn't being paid to listen to small talk and music after all. Once everyone had their drinks and settled, her coworker stumbled up on the stage with a nervous smile. 

“Thank you for com-” The microphone peaked, making the redhead wince, Jo couldn't help but snort. Zoey was terrible at talking to a crowd, yet management always insisted on dragging her up there to introduce the performer of the week. It was always entertaining to see her stumble and adlib until the real show started. In fact, it was the highlight of Jo’s week sometimes. Zoey tried again.

“Thank you for coming everyone, we have a very special guest performing tonight!” 

These nights were the easiest, everyone was so preoccupied with the live music that all Jo had to do was at worst shush a loud regular or help a girl find the bathroom. It was an easy paycheck, and sometimes she would be entertained by a cover band fumbling over a top 20 radio hit. She made herself comfortable against the wall, waiting for Zoey to stop trembling like a leaf and to introduce the singer already.

“Please welcome the lovely Anne Maria!” Zoey announced to a cheering crowd, quickly making her way off the stage to brush by the bouncer with a pout. She noticed her laughing at her microphone blunder. Jo pretended to not notice. It wasn't her problem, you would think that after a while Zoey would get a hang of it, from the corner of her eye she watched her retreat to the bar, talking to patrons and making orders. Strange how she could talk the ears off her customers, but on a stage she fell flat. Jo’s thoughts were interrupted when the crowd cheered once more as the performer made her way to the stage.

The first thing Jo noticed was the deep purple sequin cocktail dress she wore, in the club’s dimmed lights it shimmered effortlessly, her eggshell white shaw floated over her shoulders. The next thing she noticed was her hair. It was tall, fluffed- Jo wondered how long it took for her to style it- or if it could touch the ceiling. Her makeup was flawless, dramatic teal eyeshadow that demanded attention dazzled, nothing that Jo had ever seen in her life. She could barely remember to put on chapstick. Diamonds rested in her ears, draped over her neck as a velvet teal glove reached for the microphone. Behind her a tanned lanky man dressed in a suit, his hair slicked back with gel sat at the piano wearing a confident smile. The woman spoke. 

“Thank you, thank you for having me.” Her accent was thick, American which further intrigued the bouncer. It was an accent she had only heard on TV, from her guilty pleasure trashy reality TV show. The crowd whistled, and Anne Maria gestured to the man at the piano. “Alright Vito baby, hit it.” 

Vito started with an upbeat melody, his long fingers glided over the keys effortlessly as Anne Maria sang, her voice was utterly captivating, not only to the crowd but to Jo. The bouncer felt the piano in her chest, she was hanging off of every word, and she momentarily snapped out of it to check the crowd. The last thing she needed was someone starting a scene and her not catching it. Thankfully Anne Maria had everyone distracted, Jo felt her eyes go back to the woman. She just couldn't stop staring, she was gorgeous. Even in the crowded club, it felt like for a moment it was only the two of them sharing a personal moment. Jo was so fixated, that she didn't notice that the singer caught her staring. They locked eyes, Anne Maria continued singing but was it her, or did the singer slip her a smile? She tossed her shaw off, letting it drape over the piano as she leaned against its frame, engrossed in her song. When she finished, she smiled at her pianist, to the roar of the audience. Jo snapped out of the trace, she glanced at the bar noticing Zoey was staring at her with a cheeky smile. She scowled, checking her crowd as Anne Maria started up another song. This time, a duet with her and her pianist. The two voices paired well, Vito’s voice was smooth, with a similar accent to hers. But to Jo, he couldn't hold a candle to the performer. It’s all her mind could focus on, her voice and that purple dress. Anne Maria wasn't like Zoey, so stiff and awkward on stage- she was graceful, like a siren Jo felt like she was being sucked in. She reached out to Vito to trace a gloved finger over his jawline as he sang to her. Jo couldn't help but be….somewhat jealous? Seriously? Jo couldn't sing to save her life, nor would she be caught dead on a stage. She broke away from the wall to go to the bar ordering a glass of water. Zoey so desperately wanted to say something, but thankfully chose to keep it to herself as she slid over the ice water. The bouncer gulped it down, staring at the glass like it was hard liquor. C'mon, she had to be a little more resilient than that, like hell she was going to let a girl just waltz into her club acting like she owns the place. The audience roared to life once more, and this time Jo refused to look up. Zoey held her tongue getting her friend more water. A few more songs later the show finally wined down much to Jo's relief. She was hoping that the rest of the night would go smoothly and that no one would bother her when suddenly she felt a velvet hand on her shoulder.

“Excuse me Darling, but is this seat taken?” Anne Maria spoke, somehow she was even more beautiful up close. Jo grunted, her eyes snapping to Zoey who quickly turned her back to polish an already spotless glass. The singer took her seat, gently touching up her hair.

“Vodka Martini, dry please.” the singer asked, which Zoey put the glass down to make. Jo glared at her coworker desperately trying to hide a smile. If this singer thinks she can talk sweet to her and slip her up, she has another thing coming.  Zoey placed the martini in front of the singer returning to her glass polishing. 

“Where did that pianist guy do?” Jo remarked dryly. The singer laughed while taking a sip of her drink. “Don’t you worry about him, he’s only a good friend.” she stirred her drink with the olive garnish.

“Did you like the show?” 

Jo wasn't going to go down easily. She swallowed her water. “It was alright. I don’t like jazz.” 

“Is that so?” Anne Maria had a flare of offense in her voice. “Because to me, it looked like you were totally into it. You were staring so hard it was kinda distracting.” 

Jo gripped her drink, hearing her coworker stifle a giggle as she shot back. “Uh, that’s my job. I’m supposed to make sure someone doesn't throw a drink all over your dress.” Dress. Why did she bring up the dress? Anne Maria caught on to it, going in for the kill.

“Don’t work yourself up over it Darling, I know I’m beautiful, but it's always good to get a reminder. I appreciate what you do, I felt safe with you watching over me.” Jo tried to fire back when the singer finished her drink, placing down cash and a napkin.

“Well, it was a nice chat. But Vito will have a fit if I keep him waiting, see you~” With that she was gone, leaving Jo slack-jawed and speechless. Zoey collected her money, but when she looked at the napkin her cheeks went pink, slowly she handed it to the bouncer. 

“I think….this is for you.” she giggled, quickly leaving to tend to customers, possibly to avoid Jo’s reaction. Jo snatched it up, and when she read over it her heart pounded. It was a phone number, signed with a pink lipstick kiss.

She glanced around to confirm that the singer was in fact gone, and then traced a thumb over the kiss she stuffed into her jacket. If she had the foresight, she would have offered to walk her to her car (no way that skinny guy could defend her) or…do literally anything else but gawk. Her words raced in her mind, Jo thought over it when Zoey came back humming. 

“You know, I heard the boss saying he’s definitely hiring her again, I’ll tell you when, k?” 

Jo only grunted out an “Alright”, making her way back to the wall. The rest of the night all she could think about was purple, and pink lipstick.

[lustfulslxt]

Concupiscence - Matt Sturniolo

no summary, just read.

warnings : sex, mentions of suicide, depression, alcohol, && italian matthew! you’ve been warned, so i don’t want to hear shit ab shit :)

a/n : i wrote this months ago, and y/n had a name at first, so sorry if i fucked up at any point.

—

The night was still young. The air felt refreshing as the wind blew softly. Infinite amount of stars glistened across the beautiful dark sky. Y/N strutted down the street, observing everything that she came across. People littered the streets, every single one of them holding smiles on their faces. Y/N felt envious, she wanted to feel happy. She wanted to feel something.

She was confident that this was it for her. The last time to have a good time, before it was all over. She wanted to have one more night of fun before ending it all. She couldn't fix her broken mind, or her broken heart. Something was wrong with her mentally, and she couldn't fix it. It was taking its toll, everyday harder than the one before. In hopes of lifting her spirit, she turned to alcohol, but it only lasted so long. There wasn't a permanent solution, her problem was unfixable. The only cure being death.

Y/N wanted to make this last night something great. She wanted to feel alive one last time. Saying that, she strolled the corner, dead set on finding a nice club to enjoy. She was walking for another fifteen minutes, before coming across Zerilli. It looked elegant, yet exotic. There was a long line of guests, waiting to make their way in. You could feel the vibrations in the air from the music inside.

Not wanting to wait in the long line, Y/N strolled up to one of the bouncers. "Excuse me sir? I think I left my wallet in here a little bit ago." He stared at her for a minute, unsure of whether to believe her or not. "Please, I really need it to get a cab home." And just like that, she made it through, in front of all those people waiting outside.

It was dark in the club, with neon lights shining all over the place. The music was extremely loud, everyone had to shout in order to hear each other. Y/N immediately made her way to the bar, desperately wanting a drink. She needed something to get her going. She sat on a stool and waited for the busy bartender to have a second to help her.

"Thank you for your patience, sweetie." A gorgeous redhead smiled at her, "What can I get for you?"

"Something strong, I don't care what. Surprise me." Y/N smiled back.

A minute later, a glass was slid in front of her, containing clear liquid and ice cubes. She didn't hesitate and threw her head back, drinking the glass in one gulp.

"Can I get two more?" She asked, licking her lips.

The lady grinned at her and did as she asked. Once Y/N got a few more drinks in her system, she made her way to the dance floor. Eyes closed, she began dancing to the music, letting her body flow freely.

Matthew Sturniolo sat in his seat, above the dance floor, watching his club flourish. Drink in hand, his eyes roamed the whole building, before landing on Y/N. The moment he saw her, he immediately stood up and leaned forward on the railing, watching her closely. The way her body moved, the way her hands played in her hair, the way her lips curved into a breathtaking smile that nobody but herself caused. Just from watching her for a few minutes, he could tell she was by herself. He could tell she was sad, more than sad. He could feel it coming off of her, and knew she was trying to feel good.

Over time, she made her way closer to the seats lining the back wall, and he made his way down the stairs in that same direction. She pulled herself from the crowd and danced in her own space, a cup in one hand while her other hand was moving in the air. Matthew was now only a few feet away from her. Their eyes met, smirks arising to both of their lips. He held his hand out, beckoning her to take it. Without a second thought, she placed her slender hand in his.

His lips found it, placing a soft kiss on it. "What's your name, darling?"

"Y/N." She whispered back to him in a laugh, "And you?"

"Matthew." He licked his lips, looking down at her. Her laugh sounded like what they would play at the heaven gates. "Dance with me tesoro." {sweetheart}

She eagerly obliged, placing her back against his front. She swayed to the music, trailing her hand to the back of his neck. Their bodies moved in perfect sync, his hands roaming her body without full on groping her. He placed his face in her neck, inhaling her sweet scent. Just her aroma made him want to devour her. Every millimeter of skin of hers that he touched, started tingling with heat. He spun her around, so she was face to face with him, placing a hand on her lower back, pulling her even closer. Her hands were placed on his chest, gripping his suit jacket to keep them close together. The two stood there, sexily swaying in each other's embrace, for what seemed like forever.

He took a step back, picking his cup up from the table right next to them. He took a sip of it before offering it to her. She bit her lip, grabbing the cup and downing the rest of it. Knowing what she knew, she didn't care to take precautions. She didn't plan on being here tomorrow.

Matthew sat down in one of the chairs, before patting his lap. "Sit, piccola." {babygirl}

Y/N did so, happily, wrapping her hand around his neck. Once she sat down, her dress rose up, slightly showing more skin. Matthew found himself placing his hand on her exposed thigh, slowly rubbing back and forth. His touch gave her goosebumps, and he certainly noticed. She smiled, looking directly into his eyes. He did the same thing right back, causing her cheeks to flush. He was intense and she liked it a lot.

"You're beautiful, Y/N." He whispered into her skin.

The way he said her name made her tremble. It sounded like it was meant for his mouth. She bit her lip and placed her forehead on his, inhaling deeply. The two had already stopped dancing and just held each other, intimately. He was softly rubbing her legs; she was playing with the hair at the nape of his neck.

"Who are you?" He barely spoke.

"I'm nobody." She whispered back.

He just pulled her closer, if that were even possible, and lifted her chin up. Their faces were only centimeters apart, they could feel the heat radiating off of each other.

"Come home with me." He stared into her eyes.

"I scratch and bite." She warned him.

Licking his lips, he promised, "You'll crawl and beg too."

Y/N only thought about it for a split second, before she stood up and grabbed his hand. "Let's go."

With that, Matthew walked her out to the car waiting for him. He had an uber driver waiting for him because he knew he would be leaving soon. He opened the door for her, ushering her to get in first. He followed in suit, the driver making sure they made it in before starting the way home.

The second both of them were seated, Matthew pulled her face to his. Their lips met in a soft yet rushed manner, it was hot and steamy. Y/N couldn't get enough, tugging him closer. She didn’t care if anyone seen anything, because nobody would know who she was tomorrow. He swiftly pulled her onto his lap, placing his hands on her butt, squeezing it ever so slightly. She moaned into his lips, feeling more turned on with every touch. He took that opportunity to shove his tongue in her mouth, exploring every part of her. Her hands made their way into his hair, softly tugging his head back as she worked down his neck, leaving wet open mouth kisses. She could feel him physically tense underneath her, and it drove her crazy.

"You're so fucking sexy, amore mio." He groaned. {my love}

The whole way back to his place, they couldn't keep their hands off each other. By now, his boxer briefs were tight from his rising member, and her panties were dripping with her arousal. The second the car stops, he jumps out, elegantly pulling her out as well. With the shut of the door, Matthew had her in his arms as he quickly made his way into the house.

It wasn't long before they made it to his bedroom. As soon as the door shut, he had her pinned against it. Her legs were wrapped around his waist; her arms around his neck. He kept his hands on her ass, burying his face in her neck, sucking and biting all over. He pulled back just to put his lips on hers again. They couldn't get enough of each other.

He softly put her down at the edge of the bed, before beginning to take of his shoes, suit jacket, and shirt. She stared at him, admiring everything about him. As soon as he had his shirt off, her hands made it to his chest, feeling every muscle. With one quick motion, she pushed him back onto the bed. He licked his lips, feverishly, while watching her step out of her shoes and dress.

He told her that she was beautiful, she didn't really believe him. He told her that she was sexy, she couldn't quite take it seriously. But now, as she stood before him, in nothing but lace lingerie, she could see the look in his eyes. Maybe he was right.

She slowly crawled over him, placing herself right on top of his bulge. Her hands made their way back to his chest again, leaning her face closer to his. Without waiting, he grabbed the back of her head and pulled her into him. He kissed her so deeply and passionately that she quivered above him.

After breaking their kiss, Matthew wrapped his arms around her back, easily undoing her bra. He pulled the straps down her arms, placing soft kisses on the newly exposed skin. Her nipples were already hard with her feeling more and more turned on by the minute. He grabbed both of her boobs, squeezing tenderly, before placing one nipple in his mouth and swirling his tongue around it, then doing the same to the other. Y/N couldn't help but moan softly, grinding her hips into him for more friction.

He easily flipped them so that he was towering over her. Without hesitation, his hand trailed down between her legs. He slowly rubbed her through her underwear, causing her to open her legs more, giving him more access. She moaned, grabbing his hand and pressing it more into her, wanting to feel more of him. He pulled his hand up ever so slightly, tugging her panties down her legs and off her feet. Spreading her legs wide open, he brought his face close to her heat. His lips brushed softly against her thighs, leaving a small trail of saliva. He could see her pussy dripping with arousal, and he couldn't wait to taste it.

Y/N’s breathing was getting heavier by the second, slightly bucking her hips towards him. Without waiting another second, Matthew's mouth found where she needed him most. His warm, wet tongue licked her slowly up and down. She couldn't help but let out a loud moan, encouraging him more. His mouth closed around her, sucking all of her flavor into his mouth. He moaned into her at the taste, causing her to tremble. His tongue continued to lap her, before closing his lips around her clit. He slowly shoved a finger inside her, softly sucking her clit.

"Ohh, fuck-" She moaned, her sultry voice going right through him.

He stuck another finger in, quickening the pace, curling in just the right spot. She gripped his hair, tugging it with pleasure. Her legs began to shake, not a second later, she let herself go all over his hand and into his mouth. He didn't waste time swallowing all of her. He sat up, placing his two fingers into his mouth, sucking her fluids off. Licking his lips, he shot her a breathtaking smile, before putting his lips to hers, letting her taste herself. She wrapped her hands around him, pulling him close to her. Her breathing was still heavy, and it was turning him on even more. She placed her hand at his belt, slightly tugging it.

He sat them both up, flipping her over so she was on her stomach. He stood up behind her, slowly undoing his belt while she waited with anticipation. He undid his pants and removed them and his briefs.

"Mettiti a quattro zampe." He spoke, and she eagerly listened. {all fours}

Not a second later, he brought the belt down on her ass. A loud slap rang through the air, the skin immediately burning. She let out a loud yelp, moaning at the feeling of it. He did it once more, and then again, getting the same reaction out of her every time. At this point, her ass had red welts and it was tender to the touch.

He leaned over her, gripping her jaw and neck, slightly pulling her back so his face was right above hers. "If you want me to fuck you, I'll fuck you until you can't remember your own damn name and you never forget mine."

Y/N barely nodded, her eyes begging him to take her. A second later, he's lined up at her entrance before shoving himself in. A loud moan escapes her lips as he sharply sucks in air, both of them feeling immense pleasure from the way each other feels. He slowly inched more of himself in, letting her adjust every few seconds. The second she pushes back onto him; he knew she was ready.

He began thrusting slow, letting her take all of him. His pace picked up, as well as both of their moans. He was consistently fucking her, hitting the right spot over and over and over. Her eyes were beginning to roll to the back of her head as he started licking and biting her back. Everything he was doing to her felt so good, she never wanted it to stop. All of this was distracting her from everything, and she felt better than she's ever felt before, she felt alive.

"You feel so good Matthew." She moaned, pushing even closer to him.

His hands firmly gripped her waist, throwing his head back at the pleasure he was feeling from her. "I could fuck you forever, love."

She inhaled sharply, coming to realize that this was something she'd love to have forever. Not just for the night, but forever. She abruptly sat up, pushing him back with one hand. Before he could say anything at all, she had pushed him back onto the bed and climbed on top of him. She took his member, and slowly slid down, taking all of him inside of her.

Matthew’s head went back, taking his lip in his mouth, moaning loudly. His hands made their way up her body, gripping everything. They rested on her boobs, squeezing them and pinching her nipples. She bounced up and down in a quick and consistent pace, bringing both of them closer to the edge. He brought one of his hands down to the middle of them, slowly rubbing her clit with his thumb. Her legs were shaking, he was driving her crazy.

Once again, he flipped them over, so he was on top. He quickly placed himself back inside of her and put her legs on his shoulders. His thrusts were hard and fast, causing Y/N to let out pleasurable screams. Her hands dragged down his back, digging into his flesh. He could tell she was close to release.

"Cum for me tesoro." He moaned into her lips. {darling}

And she did just that, letting herself go all over him. That alone brought him to the edge. He felt himself twitch and he emptied his load into her, his thrusts slowing down until he stopped completely. Their breathing was erratic. He pulled himself out of her and dropped down to the bed, their bodies still touching. After catching her breath, Y/N rose to gather her stuff.

"Where are you going?" Matthew caught her hand.

"Um-"

"Stay." He looked at her, his eyes filled with hope. "Please, stay."

She stared into his eyes, something stirring in her stomach. She knew she planned to end it after her night was over, but he made her want to stay. So, she did. She crawled back into bed with him, and he pulled her into his arms, placing sweet kisses against her skin. They laid in silence for a while, just enjoying each other's presence.

"I thought your laugh was my favorite thing about you, until I heard your moan, and once I heard those gasps and sighs, you turned on my soul." He admitted to her, rubbing her cheek while staring into her eyes.

"Well, when you pushed it deeper and deeper, I go crazy for that shit." She teased, a smile playing on both of their faces.

Silence fall upon them once again, until he broke it, "What were you doing tonight?"

Suddenly, she pulled away from him and looked at him with furrowed eyebrows. When she didn't say anything, he sighed. She didn't have to tell him how she was feeling earlier in the night, he could read it all over her. The way she drank glass after glass, how she closed her eyes to shut everything out. For some reason, he could see right through her.

"Stay with me." He took her hand in his. "If you don't want to talk about earlier, we don't have to. But stay with me."

"I'm right here, aren't I?"

He pulled her closer, taking her face in his hands before placing a few small kisses on her lips. "No. Stay with me."

He didn't have to explain further, she knew what he meant. He wanted her to stay with him, not just for the night.

She sighed, sadly, "You don't know me."

"So I'll get to know you." He rubbed her cheek, "I don't want this right here to be the last time I see you." When she didn't say anything, he continued. "I don't know what it is about you. As soon as I laid my eyes on you, I knew you were the one that I wanted. And I just have a feeling, if I let you walk out of here, I'm never going to see you again. So, stay."

She brought her lips to his, kissing him passionately. Somehow, right now, he's done more than any and everyone in her life. He's made her feel more. He did everything right, said everything right. This feeling he rose in her, she never wanted it to go away.

When she gave him a soft nod, he shot his fists in the air, "Yes!"

With that, he pulled her entire body into his and squeezed her tightly, as if he didn't, she would slip away.

—

a/n : i was depressed and horny lol.. hope you enjoyed, send in reqs!

[average-limbus-fan]

Pt4 of Limbus Speed Dating?

Ishmael

You awoke the next morning still sore from the amount of walking you had done the night before, only to walk out and be met with with an angry looking Heathcliff and a disappointed looking Ishmael and Charon. “The rest of the names disappeared from Charon’s hat this morning” she said as Vergilius stared daggers into Heathcliff. “So the last three sinners will pick straws” Charon said, “damn it” Heathcliff muttered, “what was that Heathcliff, do you have something you’d like to share with the rest of us…” Vergilius said threateningly, quickly causing Heathcliff to go silent. The remaining three sinners then gathered around Charon to pick a straw, shortest had to take you out next, you then noticed Ishmael sported a very bashful look as you saw her straw and looked to the others, “whatever let’s just get this over with” she said quickly as her face reddened. “Meursault I think it’d be best if you headed back to your quarters” Vergilius said “I need to have a word with Heathcliff… alone” you heard him say as you and Ishmael stepped off the bus… you didn’t even need to turn around to picture the terrified expression on Heathcliff’s face. Although you did notice Ishmael sported a rather satisfied look, “serves him right” she says under her breath… you decide not to ask. “So where are we headed” you asked Ishmael, “…hmm your in a pretty chipper mood… don’t expect me to do whatever the others had though” she retorted angrily, her face quickly reddening. What did she think the others had done…? You wondered to yourself as Ishmael stopped at a small stand buying two ice cream cones before hurriedly shoving one into your hands “here” she said quietly, “thank you Ishmael” you replied happily, this seemed to improve her mood a bit, as you followed her to the edge of the railing on the peer. “So do you want to talk about your time out at sea or something” you said trying to start up a conversation with the quiet redhead, “your seriously going to ask me that after all we’ve just been through” she said emotionlessly, …good point you thought. “Besides I kinda wanna finish this up quickly” “if we get back soon enough we may be able to catch the end of Heathcliff’s punishment” she said with a smirk, “ISHMAEL” you said horrified. Your words however left her unperturbed… you spent the rest of the “date” silently staring off into the ocean… and a considerable distance away from Ishmael. The two of you then made your way back to the bus where Heathcliff was nowhere to be found, much to Ishmael’s dismay… you simply decide to make your way back to your room as you still had one more “date” for the day.

Meursault

You however would be disturbed only a few hours later when Charon and Meursault came knocking on your door. “Meursault has volunteered to go next as his planned destination has time restraints” she stated. You looked up to Meursault “yes we can only attend at night” he said curtly …where exactly did he plan to take you? You figured the robotic seeming man would simply take you out to some restaurant but it seemed he had other plans as you reluctantly followed him off the bus and to an upscale part of town. The two of you would then approach a loud building with a bouncer …it seemed Meursault knew the guy. Although come to think of it you did remember something about him dancing a lot in his youth. Your thought’s would promptly be cut off however as the blaring music filled your non-existent ears, you could barely hear yourself think as you watched Meursault head to the dance floor before gesturing for you to follow him. You would then spend the rest of the night dancing while noticing a few snickers being thrown your way… no doubt at your pathetic excuse for dancing but you decided to ignore them. You then practically had to be carried back to the bus as you were throughly exhausted once again, you however were able to make your way back to your room with the help of Meursault.

Heathcliff

You left your quarters the next morning to see Heathcliff sitting on the floor, “oi, clockhead your finally up” you looked down at him questioningly “well it’s time to get this over with” he said standing and grabbing your arm to lead you off the bus. The blinding light of the early morning filled your non-existent eyes as you were dragged along somewhere. You would finally be let go of in front of an old looking building… it seemed to be the cities library. You looked at Heathcliff in confusion “Ishmael said this was a good place to go on a date and stuff…” he trailed off, oh dear… you thought to yourself. Ishmael’s intentions definitely hasn’t been good and you could only hope Heathcliff wouldn’t start some sort of scene… lest he be punished again. You walked inside to be greeted with silence and the smell of old books. “So are we just supposed to like look at the books or something” Heathcliff asked rather loudly earning him a stern look from the librarian, he seemed annoyed by that and quickly walked into one of the other sections of the library with you in tow. He picked out a book randomly, it seemed to be some sort of romance novel “do you like books like that” you asked him, “of course not” he said angrily putting the book away. “So what kinds books do you like” you asked again trying to start up some sort of quiet conversation, “…none of them” he responded. You spent the rest of your “date” following Heathcliff around the library as he looked around at the titles but never picked any of them up …you had the feeling he was just trying to pass time so it could look like he did something to Vergilius, you didn’t mention that thought though. “Hey I know we didn’t do much but I enjoyed getting to hang out with you” you said, “yeah whatever don’t make it weird” he replied as you left the library to head back to the bus.

[shouga-nai]

@healingbrews said:

"i can't believe you talked me into this." [Mirror!Genji]

Prompts for suspicious circumstances || Accepting!

"Come on, Songbird, live a little." Genji laughed, amused by her apparent hesitance. It's a little too late to back out now.

Feather light touch at her waist, he led Hinoka right past the bouncer and into the foggy scene of shimmering lights and dancing patrons. Normally the Shimada would enter the club alone, but this time was accompanied by one redheaded doctor. His wife.

Already he could feel the stares on them, likely those acquainted with him having their curiosities piqued, one way or another.

What was he getting at, insisting - or rather, persuading her to join him this time around? Was this a genuine attempt at bonding, or was there some sort of angle? In any case, it was either a carefree night on the town, or being cooped up in their palatial abode.

"You need to let loose some time."

Like the time she drenched his face in sake. If it wasn't as intriguing as it was infuriating...

[minisugakoobies]

Should be leaving for work but laying here (yes I got back in the bed) and thinking about best friend's bro San and the threesome with the Topaz bros

I got about 90 minutes of sleep last night so I took a sick day, so I'm more than happy to lie here and pick up your train of thought, Luce…

At the party, San brings two of his friends from the club where he's been picking up shifts as a bouncer. He tells you that Wooyoung, the dark-haired one with the cheeky smile, is the most popular bartender, and given that he immediately starts flirting with you as soon as San finishes saying your name, you can see why.

He introduces the redhead as Hongjoong, says he's the in-house dj. Hongjoong doesn't say much, just sort of nods coolly along with whatever the other two say as the four of you converse, but you feel his gaze on you the whole time.

BFF comes over to drag San away to meet some people she knows from work, trying to help her lil bro do some networking. San doesn't want to talk to them, but BFF informs him that she's tired of tripping over his hand weights and wants him out of her hair sooner than later, so he sighs and follows her. As soon as he's out of sight, Hongjoong inclines his head, silently asking you to come closer.

"We brought some party favors," he says, peeling back his bomber jacket to reveal three perfectly rolled blunts in his inner pocket. "There's one for San, but he's busy, so - you want?"

You do want, so you lead the two of them out onto the little terrace that's decorated with cheap lawn furniture from the thrift shop and several fake plants because your thumb is steadfast black. Woo pats the space on the lounge chair beside him while HJ sits on the folding chair on your other side.

HJ sparks up the first blunt, but rather than taking it for himself, the three of you pass it around. Woo asks you questions about what you do, where you're from, and HJ still mostly listens. Around and around it goes, smoke filtering through the dim lighting provided by the string of tiny bulbs hanging overhead.

When the joint makes its way back to HJ, he holds on to it for one, two, three puffs. You're already feeling a little loose, that pleasant buzzing snaking its way through your body, so you pout.

"Excuse me, I believe it's puff puff pass."

HJ's lips curl as he hums. "You're right, how rude of me. Here."

He inhales again, orange embers flickering briefly, and tilts his head to the side as he leans towards you. You eagerly slide forward, pressing your mouth to his. The tip of his tongue against your lips encourages you to open, breathing in the smoke he exhales. His lips linger, lazily moving against yours, and you hold the smoke as long as you can until your lungs are screaming for air.

"Fuck, that looks like fun. My turn," Woo insists, tugging on your arm to bring you back down to earth. Taking the blunt, you suck in a mouthful. You've barely tipped your face up when Woo cups your cheeks, pulling you in for a heated kiss. More smoke ends up in the air than it does in his mouth, but he clearly doesn't care, taking the opportunity to slip his tongue between your lips, whining when you caress it with your own.

"Damn, Woo, always so needy," you hear HJ laugh. Woo ignores him, continuing to plunder your mouth like a pirate. "Come on, dude, you gotta share."

You break away from Woo's embrace to ask HJ whether he means the blunt or you, only to catch sight of San standing by the kitchen window, staring out at the three of you, wearing the most sober expression you've ever seen on his handsome face. It shakes you a little, and you nearly drop the joint, stumbling to catch it before it lands in Woo's lap. When you look up again, the window's empty, and you wonder if he was really there or if the weed's making you see things.

By the time the last toke is taken, you've convinced yourself you were just imagining things. But maybe the three of you should go somewhere a little more private. You don't realize you've said that out loud until HJ nods and Woo jumps to his feet. Your room is off limits to the party, so there's no one inside when you enter, hand in hand in hand.

……tbc?

[mybrainismelted]

WIP Wednesday

thanks for the tag @sam-loves-seb

A little snipped of an as-yet-unnamed wip

The change of vantage point seemed to have helped because he got through the entirety of Curtis’ shift on the podium without being spotted.  His eyes tracked the redhead as he moved smoothly through the crowd, stopping from time to time to let eager fingers tuck bills into the waistband of his shorts, squeezing arms and shoulders, laughing and flirting with the men flocking into his path.  He made his way to where Barry was standing in his usual spot at the end of the bar, leaning in to listen to what his handler had to say. Nodding, Curtis made his way towards one of the back hallways, stopping to talk to the bouncer stationed at the entrance.  The bouncer waved to someone in the crowd, and they were quickly joined by an older man who scanned Curtis up and down before smiling.  The bouncer waved them down the hall and the two disappeared. Mickey tensed, anticipation and fear thrilling through him.  He stayed in place, waiting, for what he guessed to be about thirty minutes before Curtis reappeared.  Alone.  He stopped to talk to the bouncer, who nodded and headed down the hallway.  Once he was gone, Curtis slowly raised his head until his eyes locked onto Mickey’s.

tagging @takeyourpillsbitchh, @crossmydna, @catgrassplantdad, @thepupperino, @callivich

@mmmichyyy, @energievie

[wildskissed]

@dxnse-macabre gets our rockstar!au starter

Finding a way to unwind, was one of the things that Eve looked forward to after a long day at work. She loved her job, but every once in a while she needed something else, and tonight felt like a sign. One of her favorite performers was playing, so she had dolled herself up a little and headed out, getting familiar with the bar before the screaming happened and the lights dimmed.

The moment Astarion's voice floated through the microphone, Eve found herself getting a little more into the spirit of it all. His voice had a way of caressing all of her senses, which was part of why she had wanted to come see him. She didn't want to think of herself as just some groupie, but she knew all the words to his songs, and at one point had managed to push her way up to the front by the stage. Whether she liked it or not, he had to know from the way she was singing along and smiling up at him that he had a fan...one way or the other.

Eve had come here to let loose, and let loose she did...so much so that by the end of his set, she eventually found herself in the bathroom, having to eat a ginger chew from her purse to keep the alcohol down, heels in one hand. She wasn't used to wearing them too often, and much preferred to be barefoot even though this probably wasn't the most sanitary place. Still, one thing led to another, and she was starting a fight with some guy twice her size, which ended in her landing a punch, him going down, and then a slightly inebriated redhead slipping into the VIP section of the bar, asking the bartender for ice by name.

Realizing Astarion was there with body guards and at least one club bouncer, Eve paused a moment, setting her heels on the bar as she took a seat on the bar stool. "Thanks, Luke," she managed when she got the ice, pressing it to her knuckles before she chanced a look at Astarion. If she said the wrong thing, she was sure one of his bodyguards would usher her out. Only reason they hadn't yet was her acting like she was important, all buddy/buddy with the bartender, but there was a good reason behind that. "You should see the other guy," she told Astarion, flexing her fingers and wincing just a little before she gave him a smile. "You look familiar..." No, Eve, that was not smooth.

[dracarialove]

📄 Posting my finished fics here, too 📄

*Check the 'shadow's heart' tag if you haven't read chapter 1

[Chapter 2: Guidance]

The sky was orange and purple with the transition of dusk into evening. When Shadow pulled into his parking spot, the headlights of his bike illuminated the front of the building and he saw a familiar face turning to look at him.

His brows rose at first, then quickly furrowed while he stepped off his bike, holding eye contact with fierce purple irises. Knuckles' expression softened and Shadow saw embarrassment creep onto his face.

The echidna glanced at his guard outfit and took a step back. "You work here?"

The last time they'd seen each other, Knuckles had suffered an injured jaw by the Ultimate Lifeform's hand in response to the reckless punch he'd thrown. Now the same hedgehog was about to make him leave without giving him a chance to see Rouge.

Shadow stepped next to the club's front door and stared him down, replying, "More than work here, I make sure everyone in this building stays safe. I was told you decided to make a nuisance of yourself."

"Wait," Knux started, his eyes apologetic rather than angry. "I'm sorry for being a jerk to the bouncer. I just got frustrated that he pushed me out, and-"

"I don't care. You don't need to be here."

The redhead's mouth pinched into a disheartened frown and his brows strained together in a display of unease. "I just wanted to talk to Rouge. You know, tell her I'm sorry about everything, and just... talk to her."

"So, you think you can pull on her heartstrings and be forgiven, just like that?" Shadow raised his voice a little, his defensiveness climbing. "A half-assed apology won't undo any of the pain you caused her."

"Hey, if it wasn't for that, you wouldn't have even met her!" rebutted Knuckles, raising his guard. "We'd be married by now!"

The hedgehog's hands balled into fists and he clenched his teeth behind a closed frown to keep from acting on his anger.

"Don't," he hissed, "use our relationship to justify what you did."

A searing pause permeated the air, Knuckles seeming to consider his words thoroughly before speaking. "I want what's best for her, really. I don't even want to get back together. But what she deserves isn't a guy who's possessive and controlling. So prove you're not that and let her decide, as an adult, if she's willing to speak with me."

They stared at each other, the silence now icy as Shadow took in his words. He didn't think he was being possessive; just preventing his girlfriend from having to face the man who'd once broken her heart.

But she also had a handle on her emotions well enough to overcome adversity. He had to maintain respect for that and not make decisions for her.

"Fine," he answered coolly, relaxing his hands. "You'll get your talk if she wishes. But you can't just show up here; you're not welcome."

The echidna frowned and Shadow continued, "And she's away for a few weeks, so you won't be hearing from her anytime soon."

A short sigh escaped Knux's nose and he gave a begrudging nod. "Fine. Just hope she's not the one running around this time." He turned to leave as his rival lifted an eyebrow, then paused to add over his shoulder, "Long missions are a pretty good cover for cheating."

Shadow rolled his eyes, dismissing the redhead's comment as quickly as it came, and watched Knuckles leave before going into the club.

'Trying to plant seeds of jealousy?' he thought. 'Pathetic. He should've stayed away.'

***

Saturday nights were the most hectic at Club Rouge. The crowd was massive and the patrons got insanely drunk. Once the sun went down, the gray wolf that usually guarded the lobby stood outside to control the amount of people going in, while Shadow took his place.

Throughout the night, Shadow got called to the second and third floor three times to deal with hostile customers; twice to break up fights and once to confront a badger who threatened the bouncer.

It was a stressful shift, and at the end he was physically tired and emotionally exhausted. They ushered out the last stumbling drunk and Shadow exhaled a deep sigh, running his fingers through his quills while the others started cleaning up.

"Shadow," the wolf called. "You go on home, I'll lock up."

The speedster nodded at him and took his leave, feeling grumpy while he drove to the home he shared with Rouge. Entering the dark, empty house was a lonely feeling, but he was relieved to be back in his comfort zone.

He went upstairs and stripped off his uniform shirt, then put his radio and keys in the top drawer of his nightstand before slipping into bed. It sucked not to have Rouge there to curl up with, her body so familiar to his at this time of night. And he'd found, through dating her, that he slept a hundred times better with a loved one in his arms.

Feeling the bat's warmth and hearing the barely audible whispers of her breathing lulled him so well that it made him realize he was getting terrible sleep before. Now it was difficult to be rested without her. To compensate, he took Rouge's pillow and held it, half against his face and half against his chest.

It smelled of lavender and teaberry, the scent of her shampoo and perfume mixing in the fabric to make it feel like she was still there. Shadow laid on his side of the bed, embracing the pillow and thinking of skipping work the next day, then drifted to sleep.

***

Waking up the next morning confirmed his desire to call off work. He still felt tired at the thought of dealing with the clubbing crowd again, grateful only for the fact that his body didn't ache from his previous shift; any normal Mobian would be stiff and sore from the amount of activity it took to do his job.

Shadow grabbed his phone and peeked one barely-open eye at the time. It wasn't noon yet, but close enough. So he called Jay and let him know about his absence, remembering then to inform him that Rouge would be away from work, as well.

After hanging up, he laid on his back with his phone resting on his stomach, staring up at the ceiling and contemplating going back to sleep. But he knew he wouldn't feel any more rested, so he got up and went downstairs for coffee.

He poured a big cup and toasted a buttery biscuit for breakfast. Even after two years, he still found the silence of the house unsettling whenever Rouge was gone.

He could put on some music, as she often did, or finish the movie he'd been watching while he ate, but a task burdened his mind – one that he had a perfect opportunity to complete now that his girlfriend was on an assignment.

So he sat at the kitchen table with his coffee and his biscuit, and began an online search through his phone. He typed 'engagement rings' into the browser and was bombarded with images and shopping links of many different stones.

Varying colors, diverse shapes, unique mineral components – it was impossible to sort through besides looking for something that felt like 'Rouge.'

'Should I get a silver or gold band?' he wondered. 'Would she prefer flashy, or something that can be matched with more of her outfits?'

He took a big bite of the biscuit and sat up straighter, both elbows on the table as he leaned into deciphering the mystery of what she would like the most while scrolling through options. 'What about the gem? A classic diamond? Or something more personal?'

He thought about taking one of the 'quizzes' that would choose for him; though, he didn't trust a website's ability to pick the best ring for his beau. And while he didn't think Rouge would be too harsh on his choice, he didn't want to screw it up and get her something she didn't love.

He would only be doing this once – it had to be perfect. After a burning swig of coffee and a deep breath, Shadow decided he needed assistance to narrow the options.

'Who better to ask than her best friend?' he thought, pulling up the contacts on his phone. They were few, mostly consisting of Rouge's friends and his coworkers; and near the top was the opinionated princess, Blaze.

Their text conversations weren't much to look at, usually check-ins if one of them couldn't reach Rouge. But the hedgehog felt he could trust her judgement more than anyone's.

So he went back and took a screenshot of his online search, then texted Blaze with, "Hey, can I ask for your guidance on something if you won't tell Rouge about it?"

He read over the message once it was sent, then a second time, overthinking if he'd said it in a strange way. But he stopped himself and finished his breakfast without glancing at the screen again.

He put away the dishes and then heard the rumbly tone of his notification sound. It felt weird to be nervous again – his heart was beating the way it had after his first date with Rouge.

Shadow opened the message and read Blaze's response: "That depends on what it is."

He did appreciate that she wasn't willing to keep certain secrets from her friend. Fortunately, he felt she would keep this one. He answered back by sending the photo of his search results, followed by the simple plea of "Help."

Then he was getting a call from the purple cat, which surprised him – neither of them were the calling type, at least with each other. Shadow cleared his throat and answered, "Hello?"

"This isn't a joke, right?" she asked, sounding optimistic, and he could tell she was trying to conceal excitement.

"I'm hardly a jokester," he replied with a smile. "It's been on my mind long enough, and... well, Rouge is on a mission right now, so..."

When he trailed off, Blaze's regal voice chimed, "Say no more. Of course I'll help you. She'll be so excited!"

"Great." He rubbed the back of his neck. "So, where do I even start? I'm having trouble pinning down what she would like best."

She spoke with a cautioning tone, "Well, Rouge has very expensive taste-"

"Money's no object here. Trust me, I've been saving for this."

"Wonderful, then!" There was a pause, then she suggested, "How about you come over to ours? It'll be easier that way, and I'm sure Silver will want to hear the news."

"Sure. Do you have time now?"

"Yes. Don't keep us waiting!"

"See you soon," his rumble concluded, then they hung up and Shadow crossed the living room to the front door.

Peeking briefly past the window's curtain, he noticed the sky was cloudy, and so grabbed his car keys instead of the bike's, just in case. His eyes trailed over Rouge's white Corvette still sitting in the driveway; the government always sent a vehicle to bring her out for her assignments. He thought of giving the cherry-scented car a nice cleaning before she returned home.

[the-graves-family]

WIP: how angsty can i make this

“You even eighteen, kid?”

Johnny had been having a quiet enough night. Then he’d gone and opened his big mouth and said that outloud. Of course, the universe has ears everywhere, and some skinny asshole who definitely wasn’t an adult decided to ruin his peace and quiet.

“Duh,” the kid huffs, with a complimentary eye-roll.

“Huh uh. Does that ‘duh’ come with a real ID?”

“Come on man, I just forgot it at home.”

Definitely his first time trying to get into a club. That was a bad excuse. Johnny can even find it in himself to pity him, but he’s getting paid to not let him in. Ain’t much that’s gonna change that. He’s not getting in trouble just because someone’s glaring at him. Not with his employers and not with the law. Wouldn’t be a good bouncer if he did.

And tonight is special, after all, wouldn’t want anything to happen to the club’s most prestigious clientele.

“Kid, just go home.”

That seems to trigger him something awful, and the kid sneers, looking like he’s about ready to jump him. He looks like he’d weigh 120 pounds soaking wet. It wouldn't end well for him, and Johnny doesn’t know if he wants ‘hospitalizing a child’ on his conscience. He will if he has to, but he’d rather not.

“Don’t worry, Johnny, this cutie’s with me.”

Like she always does, Miss Harada seems to materialize out of thin air, resting an arm on the small of the kid’s back. He jumps a little and looks over at her, clearly surprised, and maybe a little bit uncomfortable. But he doesn’t say anything. Just looks at the bouncer expectantly. Little prick.

And Johnny’s not about to go against one of the night’s VIPs. Not willing to risk his job and everything else.

“‘Course, Miss Harada. You’re free to go in. Please enjoy your night.”

The redhead smiles, and Johnny’s always amazed at how someone like her can seem so genuinely nice sometimes.

“Thank you, darling. Come on, now.”

He steps aside to let them both through, staring at their backs for a moment before turning away.

He’s not sure if he wants this on his conscience, either.